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This is Case Closed crime stories from the golden age of radio. On this episode of Case Closed, our hour of old time radio crime begins with Gangbusters. We'll hear their story from October 2, 1948 titled the Case of the Chicago Tunnel Gang. After that, it's the Sounds of darkness. And for two pins, that story aired August 18, 1967. Busters Gangbusters presented in cooperation with police and federal law enforcement departments throughout the United States. The only national program that brings you authentic police case histories. Tonight, Gangbusters presents the case of the Chicago Tunnel gang who dug their way to thousands in stolen currency until their ringleaders passion for saving a dollar put them in the hole. Gangbusters has asked Lt. Thomas J. McGrath, retired, of the Chicago Police Department, to narrate by proxy tonight's case. Thank you, Don Gardner. But first I'd like to mention that one of your Gangbusters listeners, a Missouri sheriff, just last Sunday apprehended a murder suspect from Ohio whose description he had first heard on Gangbusters. I think that the sheriff and Gangbusters deserve a lot of credit for this latest assist to law enforcement. Well, thank you, Lieutenant McGrath. As a matter of fact, we hope to have the sheriff himself tell the story of this capture to our Gangbusters listeners on a later program. But now, how about tonight's case? Well, Don, this case had its beginnings in the city of Chicago just about a year ago. On a cold, windy morning, inside the candy store she ran. Bella Momer, as she was known, straightened the magazines left poured over by the kids who dropped in on the way to school to spend their nickels playing her punch boards. She heard a bell on the front door tinkle and looked up to see a slightly built red haired man come in out of the cold. Hello, Bella Bonna. Me? Not if you expect warm. Go to Florida. It's coming. Don't worry. It's coming. You got a scratchy jet, you know. 11 o' clock comes the scratch sheets. Hey. Hey. I. I just ran out the magazines. Keep your hands off, huh? Okay, okay. Gotta do something. Waiting for Nick. Nick's here? In the back. He told me he's gonna get a haircut. He's getting a haircut in the back. You're kidding. In Joliet they teach Harry the trade to be a barber. So Nick lets him practice and saves a few cents. Yeah, don't make any difference. Let Harry butcher him. Save a few cents. That's important, huh? Sure is important. Yeah, I know. And back, huh? I just tell you no, bring Me a scratch sheet when I get here, will you? Bella Mama. I bring, I bring. Hello, Nick. Come in, Red. Hold your head still, will you, Nick? Get through, Harry. I'm getting nervous. Okay, you're next, Red. No, thanks. What's the matter? I'm doing a beautiful job on Nick. Just get through and keep the hair from running down the back of my neck. So you'll take a bath? Be careful about them baths, Nick. They run up the water bills. You got some objection to saving money? I make big, I spend big. A 10 cent dip to a barber. I think nothing about it. Okay, you don't have to get wise. Is everything simple set as it'll ever be. Okay, I want a clean job. Old still, Nick. Yeah, well, spill it, Red. The works. It's an easy mark, Nick. 15 or 20,000, no less. How much? Cut the hair. Okay, but after that haul, I'll throw the scissors right down the sewer. Let's have it, Ren. The money wagon gets there about 11 o' clock in the morning. Maybe a few minutes sooner, a few minutes later. And the burger on lamb. Two cashiers, cages, foot button in each of them. Foot button. Hey, that's not good. Cut the hair, will you? Guy can't even have an opinion around here. What about the gift shop next door? Yeah, that's a ticket all right. Nick, It's a one man outfit. The guy opens up for business about 9 in the morning. Okay, we do it that way. Will we have any trouble getting in the gift shop? None that I can see, Nick. There's a window in the alley. Two minutes with a jimmy and we're inside. Hey, what's the gift shop got to do with this? We're taking the check, cash and outfit. What do we want with the gift shop? Finish the haircut. Will you tell me what the gift shop has got to do with it and I'll finish the haircut. You think that's the only thing I got to do do with this is is cut your hair. You know I got a stake in this thing too, you know, we got a burglar alarm to worry about. We can't walk into the joint and heist it just like that. One of those cashiers will step on the button. Well, what do you need the gift shop for? You tell him. Right. Tell him yourself. Well, somebody tell me. Look, we break in the gift shop the night before. So we go to work on the wall. What war? What war do you think? The war between the gift shop and the check, cash and joints. We cut it down to a Thin layer of plaster. The truck delivers the money. B truck goes. We take a sledgehammer, knock out the plaster, and we're in the gym. What's the matter? Walking in the front door is too simple for us. We got to make it a big production. Look, we knock out the wall. We're in back of the cashier's cage. We can see that. They don't put their foot on the button. We make a cleaner getaway. Well, I don't know. Hey, what about the guy that runs the Gift? Oh, he won't shoot. That was neat, Nick, Neat. Shut up with the names. I come back and get them tied. Yeah. Come on, R. Go on, do it yourself. He won't give you any trouble. But he's heavy. Do it yourself, will you? We got to work this thing out. All right, come on, you jerk. Gotta get the sign up. Okay, right away. Wait a minute. What? The money truck pulls up at 11 o'. Clock. About then. Yeah. You go outside and wait for it. It's almost two hours. Go outside and wait in the street and give me the high sign when the money truck pulls away. Okay, boys. It's okay? Yeah, sure. They left it up. What do you say? What are we waiting for? How's Junior back there? Oh, he ain't going no place. Okay, grab one of them sledges. All right, I got mine. Now stand back. Hey, get easy, will you? Get on that side here. You mean? Yeah. You all set, Red? I'm set. Okay, now, when I give the word, both of you knock out the wall. I'll jump through with a gun and you come right after me. Yeah, yeah. Come on, come on. Give the word. Get set, Harry. I'm set. Okay, knock it through. There she goes. I just have him coming through. Go on, get him up all you want. It's a heist, lady. Give your foot away. In the butt. Go on. Keep him covered. There's the doe in the bag. Get him. You bet you, boss. Okay, Ollia, move to the back. Go. Come on, come on. All right, in the closet. All of you. Get in there with him. Go on. You shut it. All right, lock it. Yeah. You got the dough? Yeah. Come on, come on, let's go. Well, how's it come to Nick? Let me add it, will you? Add two? Yeah. 14,000, 332 and some change. Who needs a change? Come on, cut it up. Why don't you wait for Harry to get back from dumping the car? He'll get his. You take it and you cut it three ways. Just a Second. Where you going? Just a second. Balamana. Yeah, Nick. Come here a minute, William. Sure, Nick. What's the matter? Come in, come in. What's the idea, Nick? Bella Mama. How'd you like to make a fairy note? This is a real money. What do you think it is? Jelly beans? Listen, Bella Mama, when Harry gets back here, tell him things got awfully hot. A couple of cops were around, Red and me. We flew to the hotel and that he should wait until tomorrow morning and give me a ring on the telephone. Okay, Warnick. You want your C note? Sure. Then never mind why. Give her 100, Ren. Okay, 20, 40. You take the 100 and tell Harry, huh? 80. Okay, Nick. If you say 100. Hey, 20, 40. Go on, Bella Mama. Get out front. Sure. You want a spot sheet, Red? Yeah. Bring one in, will you? He ain't got time for horses today. Go on, Bella Mama. Yeah, I'm going to. What's the pitch, Nick? Harry's good for cutting hair, but he wouldn't know what to do with this kind of dog. He worked, didn't he? He's got his slice coming. Don't seven grand sound better to you than four and a half? A little better. Harry won't be so pleased. Well, style him along. I got another job just like this one. It's all set. We could use his help. Then the kiss off. Look, Kim, you do this to Harry, maybe you got me in mind. Now, Red. I'll give you that now, Red business. I know how you are with a buck. We'll cut it half in two right now. There's plenty of time. We'll cut it half in two right now. Okay, if you want it that way. Yeah, I want it that way. What happens about Harry when he wises up? What's the matter? You don't think there's enough water in the lake? Yeah. Yeah, I guess there's plenty. But we need him on the other job, so we store. Okay, Red? Yeah. Okay. Come on, let's split it half in two. Slow down. Within an hour after this sensational robbery, the ringleaders were already planning to dispose of the weakest member of the gang and share the money between themselves. But what criminals consider a weak link often proves the strongest wedge for investigating authorities. Now, back to gangbusters. Lieutenant McGrath, you were telling us that a gang of bandits led by Nick Lococo held up a Chicago currency exchange and robbed it of a large sum of money. That's right, Don. And the first move of the police was to thoroughly question the witnesses in the case. For information that might lead to an identification of these men. The next morning, Captain Rogers of the Chicago Detectives went to the hospital where the gift shop proprietor was taken for treatment as a result of the blow on the head he'd received. While the victim rested, Captain Rogers sat alongside his bed attempting to get facts that would be valuable in the investigation. Mr. Klein, how much of a look did you get at these men? Not much at all, I'm afraid. They hit me almost as soon as I walked into the store. Would you be able to recognize any of them if you saw them again? The one that dragged me back, I don't think I recognize his face. But when he was pulling me, I did notice something. Oh, what? He thought I was unconscious, and I wanted him to think I was so he wouldn't hit me again. But when he was dragging me, I noticed he had a tattoo on his arm. Huh? A which arm? Let's see. Now he's pulling me backwards. He had me. Yes, it was right arm, between the wrist and the elbow. Do you remember what kind of a Tattoo it was, Mr. Klein? Was a girl, I think. A bathing beauty. You sure of that? Well, I'm pretty sure, Kevin. Well, I think this will be a lot of help to us, Mr. Klein. If anything turns up, we'll be in touch with you. Hello, Bellamont. Oh, hello, Harry. Say, it's not safe. Look, I don't care what's safe anymore. I'm trying to locate Nick. Well, I didn't see him since yesterday. Not since the cops was around. You didn't call him at the hotel? Yeah, I called him, but he ain't there. I. I gotta get in touch with him. He's got something of mine. You know, Harry, I like to help you, but I don't know nothing. Okay. Give me a change for a quarter. I'll try to call him again. Sure. You ain't seen Red either? No, neither of them. Listen, Harry, the cops was here. You'll get in trouble. Give me the change. Sure. I'll try him once more. You like that? I'll get it. Okay, Harry. Hello, Bella. Mamas, Let me talk to Bella. Mama. Is this Nick, Harry? Yeah, it's Harry. I've been trying to reach you all over. What do you think I've been trying to do? I want my dough. Rhett and me, we had to fly we think we're hot we spent last night in Kankakee and you had to leave me. Well, listen, I need the dough. Where can I meet you? We decided to pull another job tomorrow and Cedar Grove. We'll pick you up tonight. You know where? Yeah, I know where, but what about now? I want my end. You'll get it. You'll get it. We take what we get tomorrow, add it together and split up the whole business. But I need it now. Be there tonight. We'll talk about it. What's to talk about? You be there. Come on, Nick. Let's start splitting up the dough right now. This is the second job, Harry. Right now we got more to think about than splitting up. There's a million cops in the neighborhood. Traffic's pretty bad, Aaron. It ain't good. Well, look, this is the second job I broke my back over and I ain't seen a dollar yet. Pull over, Red, quick. Yeah. What's the matter? Listen, Harry, the traffic's heavy. Three guys in the car looks bad. Now, go on. You take the street car to Bella Mama's Outcome. Make it snappy, will you? Every cop in town is headed this way. Okay, give me the score. I'll take it to Bella. Mom, get going, will you? We can't stand here. Come on. I'll phone you in an hour. Okay, but be sure you do. No. Phone him. All right, Red. He'll never want to talk on the phone again. Captain, cashier made an identification. The guy with the tattoo. Paul? Yep. She nailed one picture immediately. Harry Wagner. This one. Ah, good. Good work, Sergeant. Have you got a line on his present whereabouts? The records show his last address. Oh, I'll be right with you, Sergeant. Captain Rogers. Oh, where? Cedar Grove. Cedar Grove. Okay, we'll get going out there. See you. Come on, Sergeant. What's up? Another currency exchange? Stick up, same tunnel game. Let's get out there. I'm right with you. Hello? Is this Bella Mamas? Yeah. Is that you, Nick? Yeah, it's me, Harry. Where are you anyway? Never mind where we are. Listen, where can I meet you? I want my end. What end? What end do you think? The doll from those two junk. Hey, what's going on? That's too much money for you, Harry. Now, listen, Nick, I got a right to my cut. I'll give you a right to something else. Now get your things together and get out of town. Out of town? Yeah. And the father. The better for you. Please, Nick, give me some of it. I got it right. Didn't you just hear me tell you to blow town? I don't leave without my cut. Okay, Harry. I'll send a couple of guys over to see you. What for? What for? Do you think you're gonna get pushed no, Nick, don't send no guys. I'll get out. Just give me a chance to go home and get my stuff together. I'll give you nothing. Well, Red, you like the way I handle it? Not too well, no. You think you could have done better? He got his cut. Why scare him to death? You might want another free haircut sometime. The more he's scared, the faster he's out of town. Nick, you're a wonder with Harry. But just think twice before you try something like that on me. Open up, Harry. Open up. Let's push the door in, Sergeant. Looks like that's the only way we'll get in. He's got it bolted in the inside. All right, Together. All right, Once more. Given again. Okay, Harry must be around someplace. Hey, the closet. Watch him now. Okay, Harry, come out of that closet. Come out of there or we'll shoot through the door. Come on. Now, listen, guys, please. I'll get out of town. Tell Nikki can keep my cut. I'll get out of town. No. Tell Nick I don't want to get pushed. I'll get out. He can have. He can have my end. Your end of what, Harry? The tunnel jobs. You. Who are you guys? He didn't send you, did he? You're law. Yeah, Harry, we're law. What were you saying about Nick? Nick? Nick, I. I don't know any such guy, Nick. Well, you don't, huh? Well, come on, let's go downtown. We'll see how much you do now, Red. Hello, Nick. How you doing? Sit down, Red. Thanks. Are you buying the drinks? You got plenty of dough. So have you. Listen, for the last time, don't make any more cracks about me being tight with it. Owl. Okay, okay. Forget it. You hear anything from Harry? No, Jill. He must have left town. Okay, so that same. Look, lad, I got another guy lined up and another job. Prettier than the last two. What do we do with the other guy after job? Dump him. Like Harry, maybe. Or is it me this time? All right, just watch yourself, Stepnick. Harry and me are entirely different guys. I'm always than one. Hey, bartender, over here. Well, Captain, I'd say Harry don't know any more than he's told us. Nothing doing on that hotel address he gave for Nick, huh? No. Nick checked out three days ago. And Red, him too. Well, I guess Bella Mama's Candy Store is the only bet, huh? But it's a good bet. Okay, keep a setup on the place. One of them's bound to show up there sooner or later. From force of Habit. If nothing else, when one shows up, he'll lead us to the other. Hello, Bellavana. Dad. All right. You don't like Bella Mama no more. I love you, Bella Mama. I love you like a mother. But I don't see you no more. You know, things got a fast moving business. How's. How's the Nick? Oh, he's fine. Fine. Richer he gets, the more worried he gets about breaking a dollar. And Harry? Well, don't see Harry much anymore. You got a racing for him? Sure. Right. Help yourself. Over there's a couple of good ones going to mom. Bella Mama don't play the horse. That's the only thing I don't like about you. You remind me too much of Nick. Keep the change. Hey, Nick. Yeah? What's happen Will ait the job, Red? What do you think? You sure? Nothing else? What do you mean? I just want to tell you I got about 20 bucks in my pocket and that's all. Well, what's that got to do with it? Plenty. Did I get an idea you're gonna get me out there and pull a gun? Now, Red. No, no, Red. Me. You don't think I'm doping up the cart around that 10 grand with me, do you? I told you, this is a job tonight. Okay, partner, this is a job tonight. Take the other bridge. Red. Huh? What's the matter? I think we're being dog. Yeah, yeah. Sedan and back. The two guys cops, you think? Hold on, we'll find out. They're staying with us. Yes, sir. Give them more, Red. An awful lot of traffic. Here they come. It's cops. All right, hold on, I'm gonna take the turn. Watch it, Red. They're gonna crowd us. Let's go. Go on, hurry. Police officer. Stay where you are. Come on. Oh. Okay, copper. Okay. Don't either of you move. What's the idea? Shake em down, Sergeant. You keep your hands up. All right. That's more like it, Nick. Nothing on them, Captain, except that racing sheet from Bella Mama's. Okay, go on, walk over to the sidewalk. Go on, walk, he said. And that, Don, was the end of this notorious gang of tunnel bandits. The ringleaders are now serving maximum terms of 40 years each in the Illinois State Penitentiary at Statesville. Well, thank you, Lieutenant Thomas J. McGrath for this most enlightening case history. And gangbusters. Congratulations to all the members of the Chicago Police Department who participated in the investigation leading to the arrest and conviction of these dangerous criminals past nine. I'm sorry, Lee, but we have to go. I'm not A socialite. And I'm not a politician. Why do I have to rub shoulders with the so called elite? Boss is ordered. Senator Hardy is a personal friend of a guy right at the top of the FBI. Or very near the top. Now, Senator Hardy has sent an invitation to you. You have to attend. I'll send Johnny and you along. No, Goodly, No. Better get along home and change. Black tie. We're expected at Senator Hardy's home at 7 for cocktails. The three of us. Goodyear presents the Sounds of Darkness. Foreign. Good evening. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, makers of passenger truck and tractor tires for every requirement in South Africa's farming, commerce and industry, bring you Lee Masters, the blind detective who challenges the sounds of darkness. In tonight's sons of darkness you will hear tony j as lee masters, james white as johnny bridges and elaine lee as samantha darlington. Others in the cast are june seymour, john hayter and hugh rouse. Now let's join the world of Lee Masters in tonight's Sons of Darkness. For two pins, Miss John Bridges. Mr. Charles. Master Charles. Where'd he get that from? Lee is short for Charlie Charles. Where he got it from, I wouldn't know. Ah, good evening, Mr. Masters. I know you so well that I feel I should call you Lee. Know you're by reputation, I mean. You mind? Not at all, senator. My secretary, Ms. Darlington. Assistant. Mr. Bridges. I do. May I present my secretary, Ms. Duncan. She's acting as my hostess tonight. Unfortunately my wife is not feeling well. She hadn't missed the party. She's most disappointed. How do you do, Senator and Mrs. Blackwell. If you'll excuse me, the bar is at the other end of the room. Go right ahead, Senator. Ms. Duncan, we'll look after ourselves. I need the way to the bar. Follow me. Lee, Something out for you, eh? Please, but you go ahead. We're off duty. For once I'll have a go about you, Sam. I think I'll be a real southern bell and have mint too. I'll get the barman's eye. What does this place look like, Sam? Well, like I told you as we came out the drive, it's more like a castle in a private house built or I guess he'd call it Moroccan Murray style. You know, pointed windows, big dome to the room and on a very grand sale. We're in what is obviously the banqueting hall. Grand stairway curves down from the upstairs. Really? How many stories? Ground floor and one upstairs. Very, very expensive. The whole set. Here you are. Benjula for madam. Wow. See the band? That's playing. Must have cost a fortune to blow them away from Las Vegas. Hey, Sam, would you care to. Why? I don't know. Don't worry about me, children. Go ahead and enjoy yourselves. It is later than you think. How about it? Oh, Johnny, I'd love to. And I hope you put on your dancing shoes. Daddy's really going to jump tonight. Jump by all means, Daddy, but not on my feet. I'm enjoying the music and the company, Ms. Duncan. The company? Yeah, I've been eavesdropping into some very interesting conversations. Lucky for the people concerned that I'm not a gossip columnist. Senator Hardy was so pleased that you were able to come. What's the shindig in aid of? Well, in the world of politics, nothing is done without a good reason. This particular reason is to introduce a man that the senator's backing for the District Attorney of New York in the next election. Oh, who's that? His name is Meredith. John Meredith. Yeah, I heard the name. So now you know the reason for the party, but I don't know the reason for inviting me. Oh, why, Mr. Masters, you're a celebrity. That's the only reason. The price of fame. That's good for my ego, Ms. Duncan. But I wonder if that is really true. Why? What do you mean, Mr. Magic? Oh, nothing. Maybe I just have a suspicious mind. Thanks so much, Johnny. I enjoyed that. That's enough. What do you mean, enough? Not tired, are you, old lady? Four dances in a row is enough to remind me that I'm closer to being an old lady than I was five years ago. What's the time, Johnny? Five after 10. You think maybe we could make a duck for it? I've had enough socializing to last me for 10 years tonight. I suppose we could. Look, if you and Sam are enjoying yourselves, just find our host for me and I'll make my apologies and phone for a cab. You two don't have to tag along with me. Oh, here comes the senator right now. Well, Mr. Masters, I'm sorry that I have neglected you all evening. Have they been looking after you fine? Everything's fine, Senator. But I think, if you'll excuse me, I'll call it a draw. My bed is calling me. You want to leave? Oh, I wouldn't hear of it. The party's only just starting now. Mr. Bridges and Ms. Darlington will stay on, but I. I think if you don't mind, I'd prefer it if you'd excuse me. But it can't be a quarter after 10 yet. Have another drink. I've had so many root beers that it's coming out of my ear. Well, some more to eat then. The buffet is scheduled to run right through breakfast. Really, Senator, your hospitality overwhelms me, but I think. What was that? Sounded like a shot. Good heavens, I hope. Well, it came from this side of the house. Let's follow him, Johnny. Don't lose him. Okay, Lee, hang on to me. I'm pushing her up. Excuse me. I hope. I hope I mistake him. That shot seemed to come from my wife's room. Well, this is my wife's room. Celia, are you all right? Celia? It's locked. She must have locked herself in. Oh, dear heavens. I hope there's nothing wrong. You any reason to suspect that there would be, Senator? Why? She was very depressed this evening and has been for the last couple of days. And then the shot we heard, of course. Yeah, yeah, of course, the shot. Johnny, take a look through the keyhole. Does the key seem to be on that side? No, Lee, it's not there. All right, break it down. Okay. Senator, I must ask you to allow my assistant to go into the room first. Oh, very well. Go ahead, Johnny. Looks like she's been shot. She's dead, all right. Right. Now, the fingerprint boys have been over the place and the body has been removed. Let's start from the beginning. Right. It's a smallish room compared to the others in this mausoleum. Just the one door, which we came through. Two windows, both in the wall opposite the door. Open or shut the windows. I mean, one's closed, the other's open. But these ain't ordinary windows. You know, this place is built sort of like a Spanish castle. They're very narrow, pointed windows and they're burglar proofed. Absolutely impossible for anyone to have got through either of those. The body? She was sprawled over her writing desk to the right of the door as you come in. Suicide note on the table. Gun found on the floor beside a chair. A point two to Italian pistol. And the key to the door was found on a small ornamental table right in the middle of the room. That's right, luckily. What's bugging you? It must have been suicide. The key was on the table inside the room. The door was locked. No other way out of the room. Yeah, I know. The classic sealed room, like a darn detective novel. But it must be suicide, mustn't it? I mean, unless it was an accident. I don't like it, Johnny, but it can have been murder. If it had been, the murder would still have been in the room. And we unlocked the door with the other key, wouldn't it? Well, that's what we're supposed to think. Johnny, that suicide note, where is it? Oh, the fingerprint boys took it with them. See if I can remember it. It was oddly worded. I remember. Yeah. Hang on. It's coming back. Yeah, I remember now. I can't take it anymore. This is the end, Celia. As you say, odd. Very odd. But its meaning is very clear. Is it? What couldn't she take anymore? Well, life, I suppose. Yeah. What is it, Lee? This is murder, Johnny. I'm sure of it. But how? I mean, a room locked and the key inside. No way out. That shot, did you hear it? Well, sure, we all heard it. Doesn't that strike you as odd? No. Should it? Sure it should. This house is built like a castle. Thick walls. We were in the ballroom, the other side of the place. There was a band playing, people shouting, talking. And the murder weapon is supposed to be a tutu. Yeah, now I get you. Of course. Would we have heard it? No, we wouldn't. For sure we wouldn't. But we did. Well, that's what first made me think there was something screwy. What we heard was a high powered rifle shot. Not a pistol. A rifle, Johnny. And it sounded to me at the time as if it was fired outside. How about that? The open window. Yeah. Have a look outside. I'll bet you'll find a couple of footprints outside the window. And maybe, if we're lucky, a cartridge case. A cartridge case from a rifle. You are listening to for two pins. Tonight's Sounds of Darkness brought to you by Goodyear, the greatest name in rubber. You're rightly. You're absolutely right. Cartridge case. Yeah. And in the soft earth of the fire bed under the window, a couple of perfect footprints. So very interesting. How big are the footprints? I phoned the lab boys to get down here again, but they look pretty small to me. Come to think of it, very small. What size feet has the senator got, Hardy? No, he's got pretty big feet. I think he's a pretty big man. It doesn't always follow. Have a look next time you talk to him. Yeah, okay, okay. Wait a minute, Lee. The senator was with us when we heard that rifle shot. He couldn't have fired a gun. That's right, Johnny, he couldn't. So the suicide was a fake job. She was shot through the window. Is that the score? It would seem like it, wouldn't it? But who and why? Like you say, at the time the shot was fired, Senator Hardy was talking to us. You know something, Johnny, it struck me as a bit odd at the time, but didn't you think that the senator was very disappointed at the idea of me leaving? You come to think, I mean, what am I in his young life? Why the heck couldn't I go if I wanted to? But he was most insistent that I stayed. Unnaturally insistent, I thought. Didn't you, Johnny? Yeah, I suppose you could say that, yeah. I've been puzzled from the start as to why we were invited to this joint in the first place. I'm no politician. I'm no use to the guy or have no interest to the guy. Not in the normal course of events, but. But supposing he wanted to establish an alibi. How about that? Then what better alibi could he have than the fact that he was standing, talking to me at the time the shot was fired? You're right, of course. But it is an alibi. A perfect alibi. He was standing, talking to you, so he couldn't have fired that shot, could he? So what did you get, Bob? Oh, I got a couple of good casts from outside the window. Very small foot. Must have been a very small guy. Or a woman. Yeah, yeah, could have been a woman. From where you found the footprints outside the window, would it have been possible for someone to have fired and hit the woman where we found the body? Oh, sure. It was in a direct line of fire. Yeah, I see. Lee, I just spoke to the police. Close the door, Johnny. Oh, sorry. I spoke to the police surgeon. Yeah, so you said. Let me make one of those inspired guesses that fill you with amazement, shall I? Well, you can't guess this. The theory that she was shot from a rifle outside her window doesn't hold water anymore, does it? I mean, now that you've heard the doc's report. No, that's right, it doesn't. Because the doc has decided that the little tutu was the murder weapon after all. Am I right, for Pete's sake? Yeah. Yeah, you're right. She was killed by a bullet from the gun that we found on the floor beside her body. Howly, how the heck did you work that out? At the risk of sounding like that famous detective, it was elementary. You see, a rifle fired at that short range would have blown her head half off to begin with. Second, the bullet would have emerged from the back of the head and we would have found it in the room. We didn't. The wound was small, so it couldn't have been a bullet from a rifle that killed her. Follow Me? Yeah, but where does that leave us? You mean it was suicide after all? Oh, no, no, Johnny, it was murder. All right. I don't get it. Then that shot you heard, I mean, the shot we all heard wasn't a rifle shot after all. I didn't say that. I said she wasn't killed by a rifle shot. A rifle was fired, all right, and it was fired from outside this window. But Mrs. Hardy was killed by a bullet from the Italian revolver which was found by her side. But that's impossible, Lee. You're forgetting that the room was locked and the key was found on that table over there. And there's no other key. We had to break the drawer down, remember? I remember very well. Then what you're saying prove that she committed suicide? Honey, at the moment I don't know how, but Mrs. Hardy was murdered. Murdered with that tutu pistol which we found in here. But how in the name of Judas's priest was it done? You trying to tell me that somebody shot her, faked it to look like suicide? Locked the door, put the key on the table and crawled through the keyhole? The windows, you say are too small by a mile. They're little more than slits. In any case, they got burglar proofing on them. The bars ain't been touched. Fan light over the door. Yeah, there is that. I told you. But that's also tiny. Also a little more than a slit horizontal one. But a kitten couldn't have climbed through there, let alone a man or a woman. Why the rifle shot? That's what bothers me. Why the rifle shot? Search me. Nothing makes sense to me in this business. Hey, I've got it. Huh? The rifle. Wait a minute. The rifle was fired to establish an alibi, all right. Yeah, but we've been through all. We haven't no. Phone the doc. I want to know time of death exactly. I want to know it. And I'll tell you this before you phone him. What time did we hear that shot? About 10, 15 minutes after 10. Yeah. Yeah, we got to the party at 7. Let's see, the time of death must have been before 6 this evening. Yeah. Thanks, Doc. Bye. Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle. Well, time of death between 4 and 6 this evening. That's what he figured. But how the heck did you know he was going to say that? The rifle shot, Johnny, what other reason could there be for someone firing that shot? We had to hear it. That's why a rifle was used. We had to hear it over all the noise and the reason was to establish a time of death. Yeah, so we would think a time of death when the senator was talking to me. So he couldn't be the murderer. Again, we're supposed to think that. But it's him all right. He's the murderer. He shot his wife. He shot her before any of the guests came to the party and he rigged it to look like suicide. He couldn't shoot her too much before the party, otherwise rigor mortis would set in and everyone would know that she wasn't killed. At the time, she seemed to be. Hold it, Lee. Hold everything. You're forgetting one important fact. The room was locked. The key was on a table in the middle of the room and there wasn't another key. We had to break the door down to get in. So, admitting your theory for the time being, Senator Hardy planned the whole thing, Killed his wife, shot her early this evening, and then either took the body to her room or shot her there. Doesn't matter which at the moment. But then what? How then did he lock the door and leave the only key inside? That's just one little problem we have to solve. That and the suicide note. That table, the table where the key was found. Where is the key, by the way? It's still there on the table. Right where it was when we came in here. No prints on it. Anything else on that table? No, nothing. Oh, hang on. Wait a minute. Yeah? Pin. A pin? Yeah, an ordinary pin, that's all. Nothing else. Wait a minute. Take me over to that table. Well, it's right here. There you are. Thanks. Uh huh. What do you see here, Johnny? Here. Right here where my fingers are. Nothing. Oh, I see. Wait a minute. Looks like pin pricks. Try again. They're not pin pricks. No, that's right. They're deeper. Two little holes. I'll tell you what they could be. They could be the holes that would be made if somebody stuck two pins in the top of the table or stuck one pin in twice. Huh? Of course. That's it. One rehearsal and one when he actually did the job. Johnny, I want you to get Senator Hardy and his secretary, Ms. Duncan, here. They did it. He killed her. And she fired that rifle shot to establish a false time of death. Bring them here. And I only wish I could see their faces when I tell them that they'll go to the chair for this. Now look here, man. Don't interrupt. Senator, I want to tell you a little story. But first, how long has the love affair between you and your secretary been going on? Masters, you Go too far, I'll see your busted down so low that they won't even use. You have a garbage collection. We found the rest of the letter. You should have burned it. What are you talking about? The letter that started the whole thing. The letter your wife wrote to Ms. Duncan telling her that she wouldn't put up with things any longer. She showed it to you, and you realized that the last page could be used for a suicide note. That's when you got the idea. You can't prove a thing. Oh, yes, I can. I knew that note was screwy from the start. You see, if a suicide leaves a note, then he's very much aware that this is the last thing he or she is going to write. They spread themselves a little. They always do. And they nearly always sign their full names. A note reading, I can't take it anymore. This is the end. Celia might have sounded like a suicide note to you, but not to me. Not even forgive me or love? No, it stank from the start. That's nonsense. She wrote to Ms. Duncan and told her she couldn't stand your love affair with your secretary any longer. This was the end of the marriage. But that didn't suit you at all. So you rigged the suicide. You shot her, left the gun and the note beside her and locked the door of her room so that the body couldn't be discovered until you were ready. You're talking nonsense. Anyway, you've got no proof. I haven't finished yet. You arranged with Ms. Duncan that at 10 after 10 she would fire a rifle shot outside your wife's window. At that time exactly you would be talking to me. Your only reason for inviting me to this affair in the first place. No one would miss your secretary. And you hoped that no one would realize that the shot was a rifle shot and not a tutu. It had to be a rifle so that we would hear it over the noise. Lies. It's all lies. I found the shoes that Ms. Duncan wore. They fit the footprints. You're guessing. You're guessing. The key was inside the locked room. It was suicide. You can't prove otherwise. You can't even advance a theory. You killed her, locked the room from the outside and put the key back inside. And I can prove it. Take him away. And, Senator, I hope you burn for this. But how did he put the key back inside? It don't make sense. The pin, Johnny. The pin. And the slit over the door. That's how he did it. I still don't get it. Look, he shot her. He went out of the room and took the key. Yeah, he locked the door. But before he did that, before he went out and locked the door, he took a pin, an ordinary pin, and he tied cotton to it just below the head. Yeah, I'm with you. Then he stuck the pin in that table where we found the key, the other end of the cotton. He led through the slit over the door. Yeah. Then he went outside the room, locked the door, stood on a chair or something, threaded the cotton through the handle of the key and let it slide down, of course, through the slot and land on the table inside. Then he pulled the cotton free. But the pin was left behind on the table. Yeah. You know, if it hadn't been for that pin, I wouldn't have known how it was done. And our friend the senator might have got off. So ends tonight's Sounds of Darkness, presented for your entertainment by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, makers of world famous passenger tires, truck and tractor tires for every requirement in South Africa's farming, commerce and industry. Join us next Friday and every Friday night at 9:30 when Goodyear will again present the blind detective Lee Masters in the Sounds of Darkness. That's Case Closed for this week. 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