Mr. District Attorney and Inspector Thorne

Summary

Case Closed! – Episode: "Mr. District Attorney and Inspector Thorne"

Release Date: June 11, 2025
Host/Author: RelicRadio.com
Description: Dive into the thrilling crime stories from radio’s golden age, featuring relentless cops, cunning robbers, and sharp private investigators. Revisit these classic tales as we reopen cases and relive the suspense and drama that captivated audiences decades ago.

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1. The Gas Station Robbery and Murder

Overview

The episode kicks off with a gripping storyline centered around a daring robbery at a local gas station, starring the District Attorney as the relentless law enforcement figure and Nick alongside Mary as the perpetrators. The narrative delves into the motivations and consequences of their actions, culminating in a tense confrontation and the ultimate capture of the criminals.

Key Events and Discussions

• The Robbery Unfolds ([01:08] - [04:00])

  • District Attorney: Introduces the evening's case, emphasizing how minor circumstances can escalate into criminal acts. He sets the scene in a large city park at dusk, hinting at the impending crime.
  • Nick (Narrator): Confesses to robbing a filling station with Mary, revealing their motives tied to a desire for success and the promise of a better future.

    "We stuck up a filling station." ([03:19])

• Investigation Begins ([04:00] - [10:14])

  • District Attorney: Strategizes the investigation, highlighting the meticulous collection of evidence, including tire marks and oil residues.

    "This is the spot here where the attendant was shot down." ([05:33])

  • Detective Harrington (Chief): Collaborates with the District Attorney, utilizing sketches from witness descriptions to narrow down suspects.
  • Witness Account: Ms. Miller reports a vague description of the suspects, prompting further analysis and the creation of sketches.

• Confrontation and Capture ([10:14] - [27:00])

  • Mary: Attempts to intervene, urging Nick to abandon the criminal path and seek help.

    "He killed a man this afternoon, didn't you?" ([07:21])

  • Nick: Defends their actions, showing reluctance to flee and a sense of camaraderie with the District Attorney.
  • District Attorney: Orchestrates a strategic trap at the Green Top filling station, deploying the riot squad and utilizing advanced police tactics.
  • Climactic Shootout ([23:00] - [24:10]): A high-stakes confrontation ensues, resulting in the demise of both Nick and Deuce Wilton, effectively closing the case.

    "The two sprawled bodies on the sidewalk are the real answers to tonight's case." ([25:00])

Notable Quotes

• District Attorney ([01:08]): "All the crimes perhaps will figure the rights and privileges of all citizens."
• Mary ([07:01]): "I won't let Mickey get mixed up in it."
• Nick ([16:14]): "I think to myself, now, Harrington, if you start something, that little girl might get shot."

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2. Inspector Thorne and the Divorce Payoff Murder Case

Overview

Transitioning into a new narrative thread, the episode introduces Inspector Thorne, a shrewd and unassuming detective tackling the enigmatic Murder Case of Pamela Beekman. This segment showcases Inspector Thorne’s investigative prowess as he unravels the complexities surrounding a wealthy heiress, her impending divorce, and a subsequent murder.

Key Events and Discussions

• Introduction to the Case ([34:00] - [36:00])

  • Inspector Thorne: Receives the report of Harold Beekman’s murder outside his wife Pamela’s mansion. He immediately senses inconsistencies in the situation.
  • Mary (Pamela Beekman): Provides an initial account of the evening, revealing the planned marriage to Lord Cyril Allerton and the simultaneous pending divorce.

• Investigation Deepens ([36:00] - [43:00])

  • Inspector Thorne: Scrutinizes Mary’s statements, sensing deception. He discovers a suspicious million-dollar check on the victim’s body.

    "It's a million I promised Harold for giving me a divorce." ([37:34])

  • Deuce Wilton (Uncle Rufus): Enters the narrative, attempting to deflect suspicion onto Cyril Allerton, who claims innocence and accuses Rufus of being an impostor.

• Turning Point and Revelation ([43:00] - [56:16])

  • Mary: Struggles with internal conflict, eventually revealing critical information about her uncle's motive to eliminate Harold and secure her fortune.

    "I killed him because ... I gave Harold what he demanded." ([55:56])

  • Inspector Thorne: Pieces together the deceptive tactics used by the suspects, leading to the unmasking of the true murderer.

• Climax and Resolution ([56:00] - [57:01])

  • Final Confrontation: Through clever interrogation and evidence analysis, Inspector Thorne exposes Mary as the murderer, bringing justice to the case.

    "You killed your about to be divorced husband and you know you did." ([56:16])

Notable Quotes

• Inspector Thorne ([37:45]): "He should have taken his check out of his pocket after you killed him."
• Mary ([43:55]): "I killed him because ... I gave Harold what he demanded."
• Inspector Thorne ([56:16]): "You killed your about to be divorced husband and you know you did."

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Conclusion

"Mr. District Attorney and Inspector Thorne" masterfully weaves two compelling crime narratives that highlight the complexities of human motives and the unyielding pursuit of justice. Through meticulous investigation and sharp dialogue, the episode captivates listeners, offering an immersive experience into the golden age of radio crime storytelling.

Key Takeaways:

• Motivations Matter: Both cases emphasize how personal desires and pressures can lead individuals down paths of crime.
• Justice Prevails: The unwavering dedication of law enforcement figures like the District Attorney and Inspector Thorne ensures that justice is served, no matter the deception or danger.
• Classic Storytelling: The episode pays homage to traditional radio drama, combining suspense, character development, and resolution in a seamless narrative flow.

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Author’s Note: This episode stands as a testament to the enduring allure of crime dramas, blending intricate plots with rich character portrayals to keep audiences engaged from start to finish. Whether unraveling a bank robbery or a high-stakes murder case, "Case Closed!" delivers timeless stories that resonate with listeners keen on classic radio mysteries.

Transcript

[Narrator]

This is Case Closed Crime stories from the golden age of radio.

[District Attorney]

I Pan A toothpaste and sal hepatica.

[Harrington]

Present.

[District Attorney]

Mr. District Attorney, champion of the people.

[Harrington]

Defender of truth, guardian of our fundamental.

[District Attorney]

Rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Mr. District Attorney. Is brought to you by. Ipana Toothpaste and Sal Hepatica.

[Harrington]

Ipana.

[District Attorney]

For the smile of beauty. Sal Hepatica. For the smile of health. Ipana Sal Hepatica. And in sharing my duty as district attorney.

[Harrington]

Now.

[District Attorney]

All the crimes perhaps will figure the rights and privileges of all citizens. One of the real tragedies in some criminal histories, ladies and gentlemen, is the exaggerated role minor circumstances play in the making of a transgressor. In tonight's unusual case of spring fever, for example, it is apparent that insignificant factors, a mood, a normal, impatient yearning for success and a spring night all combine to help make a criminal. We begin at dusk in a large park here in the center of our city.

[Mary]

Nicki.

[Narrator]

Yeah?

[Mary]

Feelographs. Oh, isn't it wonderful? When you run your hand put on. It's almost like film.

[Narrator]

You'll catch cold lying on your ground like this, Mary.

[Mary]

No, I won't. Couldn't on a night like this. The city seems a million miles away.

[Narrator]

Only a block.

[Mary]

I know, but it seems that way. Hold my hand, Nick.

[Narrator]

Mary, listen a minute.

[Mary]

After we're married or when we have children, I'm going to bring them over here. Every night, this same spot.

[Narrator]

Mary, I saw Deuce Wilton today.

[Mary]

Mickey. Nicky, you promised. You know what he is?

[Harrington]

He's.

[Mary]

Well, he's trouble. He even has a police record.

[Narrator]

Listen, Mary, you gotta understand this. Deuce Wilton and I, well, we.

[Mary]

Nicky, tell me. Tell me quick.

[Ms. Miller]

Scared all over.

[Mary]

Nicky.

[Narrator]

Don't get mad, honey. We got some money, that's all. This afternoon. What? Enough for everything. We can get married, fix up your old lady's arm. Take a trip, even. Why, we.

[Mary]

What did you do? Tell me, Nicky. Tell me now.

[Narrator]

We stuck up a filling station. Well.

[Mary]

Is there more? Nick, I want to know it all.

[Narrator]

More what else? The filling station guy is dead. All right. Brophy, string that line along the driveway. Yeah, that's right. Okay, Chief.

[District Attorney]

About Herring.

[Narrator]

Well, we got the ropes up, Chief. This whole side of the gas station is closed to traffic.

[District Attorney]

Oh, good. Has the lab truck arrived yet, Ms. Bennett?

[Ms. Miller]

Yes, it has, Chief. Only the medical examiner wants to know if he can take the body downtown.

[District Attorney]

Yes, I believe so.

[Narrator]

Okay.

[District Attorney]

We have all the measurements, haven't we, Harrington?

[Narrator]

That's right, Chief. In pictures, too. I had Ray shoot from all the angles, Laura.

[District Attorney]

Then we'll let the lab crew go to work on the driveway here.

[Narrator]

Why? Did you find something, Chief?

[District Attorney]

Well, you never know in a case like this. Tire marks, pieces of broken glass, even the oil that dripped out of the car standing here at the pumps. It's just as well to cover everything, Jack.

[Narrator]

The diagrams ought to be easy, though, Chief. As I see it, the car pulled off the street and stopped right here in front of this gas pump.

[District Attorney]

Yes, yes, I was just going over there. The attendant was inside the office, wasn't he?

[Narrator]

Yeah, that's right, Chief. According to the dame across the street, he was.

[District Attorney]

She's here. Ms. Miller, the witness?

[Ms. Miller]

Yes, yes, Ted's with her inside.

[District Attorney]

All right, I'll talk to her in just a moment. We're agreed then, Harrington, the attendant came out of the office, approached the car about here?

[Harrington]

Yeah, that's right.

[Narrator]

That's my guess, Chief. One of the men must have got out of the car right here where the chalk mark is, and backed him up to the office door.

[District Attorney]

Yes, and then opened the cash drawer. Oh, how much did they get, incidentally?

[Ms. Miller]

Well, Max. Checking the Ledgers, Chief, about $400, he thinks.

[District Attorney]

As much as that?

[Narrator]

Yeah, that's right, Chief. It was just before they changed shifts in these stations. You know, the whole eight hours take was in the drawer.

[District Attorney]

Yes, I. This is the spot here where the attendant was shot down.

[Narrator]

Where to red chalk his, Chief. I figure he must have made a move maybe toward that phone and maybe the bums got nervous.

[District Attorney]

Yes, yes, that seems likely. And now, what about that witness, Harrington? Anything at all?

[Narrator]

Nothing positive on the car, Chief. A black sedan, she says. No make license. She didn't look.

[Ms. Miller]

She does have a good description of one of the men. There were two in the car and the one was considerably younger than the other, she said.

[District Attorney]

Well, let's get her story then, Harrington. I want to know where she was standing, what she saw and, oh, yes, if she can point out either of the men in the file.

[Ms. Miller]

Well, she's waiting, Chief.

[Narrator]

Good.

[District Attorney]

We'll get right down to work.

[Mary]

Mr. Wilson.

[District Attorney]

Mr. Wilson, wait a second. Little girl. Hey, Nick, get this.

[Narrator]

Now, get this ending. It's.

[District Attorney]

Well, deuce.

[Mary]

Mr. Wilton, you've got to talk to me.

[District Attorney]

This is your girl, eh, Nick?

[Narrator]

I told you about Mary Goose. We're gonna get married, are we, honey?

[District Attorney]

Nice looking kid. Only you made a mistake, Nick.

[Narrator]

Me? What do you mean? Goose? I'll get you.

[Mary]

I made Nick keep bringing me here. Mr. Wilton, I want talk to you.

[Narrator]

All the bright eyes.

[District Attorney]

Hey, Look, Nick. Look at the tip of my nose. Come on, look close.

[Narrator]

Yeah. No, I'm Nikki.

[District Attorney]

Just so you remember, I told you not to bring anybody up.

[Narrator]

You don't have to hit a guy, Deuce.

[Harrington]

Mary made me bring her.

[Narrator]

Yeah? What for, blue eyes?

[Mary]

Because Nikki's in trouble, that's why. You killed a man this afternoon, didn't you?

[Ms. Miller]

He isn't.

[Mary]

I won't let Mickey get mixed up in it.

[District Attorney]

All right.

[Narrator]

Well, you shut up.

[District Attorney]

Lay off, Nick. Go on, little girl, talk some more.

[Mary]

There's no more to say. I just want you to keep away from Mickey, that's all. Oh, yes, and he's going to give you back his share of the money.

[District Attorney]

Oh, well, that's real nice of now, isn't it?

[Mary]

Go on, Nicky, give it back to him.

[Narrator]

Listen, she's excited.

[District Attorney]

Clam up.

[Narrator]

You're just a little late.

[District Attorney]

You know, little girl, Nick is mixed up with me. Plenty mixed up.

[Mary]

He didn't kill anybody. You did.

[District Attorney]

Oh, you know that too, huh? You get more mixed up all the time, Nick. Oh, before I forget, I got a little present for you, Nick.

[Narrator]

That's a Come, ducifer.

[District Attorney]

No need to get excited.

[Narrator]

Nick.

[Deuce Wilton]

It's for you.

[Narrator]

What?

[District Attorney]

Go on, take it.

[Mary]

Nicky.

[District Attorney]

Don't take it, I said. And as for you, kid, get a loss. You think the cops don't want you, Nicky, Just because I did the shoot? We're partners, sister, right up to here.

[Mary]

Oh, Nicky, he can't do this to you. He can't.

[District Attorney]

Get lost, I said. I got another job lined up, Nick. We'll pull it off as soon as I get the junk case.

[Narrator]

The gas station? Yeah.

[District Attorney]

Finch, I figure. Well, what are you staring at?

[Mary]

This isn't true. It can't be. Nicky, come on.

[District Attorney]

He ain't going, Mary. As a matter of fact, neither are you.

[Narrator]

Now, wait.

[District Attorney]

Don't look so scared, Nick. I just forgot to tell you, that's all. About your girl here.

[Mary]

How about me?

[District Attorney]

Yeah, we're putting you to work, bright eyes. Starting with this gas station today.

[Narrator]

You put on an alert, Harrington citywide, Chief. It was underwire at noon.

[District Attorney]

We may be wrong, of course, but if experience is right, this pair will try another job soon.

[Narrator]

Sure, chief. Like that gang a few weeks back, they knocked over four liquor stores. And the fifth one, we nailed it.

[District Attorney]

Yes, yes, I was thinking of that. Or the Garretson couple. Oh, yeah, John and Kay.

[Narrator]

Same thing, chief. They specialized in bus drivers.

[Ms. Miller]

Please excuse me. That artist is here with the first draft.

[District Attorney]

Oh, thank you, Ms. Butter. Ask him to wait for you, Honors.

[Narrator]

Chief. What's more.

[District Attorney]

Well, as per usual, I had one of the men in the drafting room talk to that witness. He's doing a sketch from her description.

[Narrator]

Oh, good. Everything helps, Chief. Me, I'll just keep looking for bums around filling stations.

[District Attorney]

Yes, Hello. Now, the woman's hazy on some important details, but I thought we'd try her on a few sketches before we go any further. Then there are the lab reports from the filling station itself. All right, I'll go over those this afternoon. Yes, Ms. Miller, what is it?

[Ms. Miller]

That was the 19th Precinct.

[District Attorney]

Yes?

[Ms. Miller]

They just got a report on the Green Top filling station in their district.

[Narrator]

Yeah? What report, Ms. Miller?

[Ms. Miller]

Oh, it's not a hold up, Harrington, but the station attendant was warned this morning. You know, they all were.

[Narrator]

Well, for Pete's sake, will you get to the point?

[Ms. Miller]

Well, I'm trying to, Harrington. This attendant says a man has been hanging around his patient since noon.

[District Attorney]

Harrington.

[Narrator]

I got you, Chief. If that joint's gonna be cased, we're.

[Mary]

Mickey, please stop the car.

[Narrator]

Please. Honey, that's it up ahead, Mary. See the Green Top service station? You said it'd be quiet.

[Mary]

We can't do this, I tell you. Oh, Nikki, listen to me. Dude isn't here now. We can drive right to the police station and tell him the whole thing.

[Narrator]

Mary, will you use your head?

[Mary]

But I don't see what.

[Narrator]

We can park here. Matt, I still say maybe there's nothing we can do. Don't you understand that I go to the cops? Now, Deuce will say I was with him on the other job, but they might make allowances. Will you listen to me? We gotta knock this joint off and get back to Deuce in one hour. If we don't, he'll.

[Mary]

He'll.

[Narrator]

Honey, he wouldn't stop at anything. Take your old lady.

[Mary]

Mama. What about her?

[Narrator]

You don't want her to get hurt. Thee. Nicky, you gotta think of things like that. Mary, we ran on Deuce. He might do anything.

[Mary]

Oh, Nicky, no.

[Ms. Miller]

Why, Mama's just.

[Narrator]

Oh, you see, kid? We got it.

[District Attorney]

Come on.

[Mary]

I'm scared, Nikki. I don't want to do this.

[Narrator]

Take it easy, Mary. I'm turning into the station.

[Mary]

Oh, Nikki, please, can't we try it?

[Narrator]

Baby, there's the attendant coming out of the office.

[Mary]

I'm so scared I can't even see.

[Narrator]

It's funny. Deuce said the guy was just a kid. Here we go, baby. Come on. Open the door and get out. No, nothing's gonna happen. Go on. I'll be right behind you all right? Fill her up, sir?

[Harrington]

Oh, yeah, yeah, fill her up.

[Narrator]

Regular or high test? High test. Boy, it's a wonderful day, ain't it? You'll find out, pal. Start backing up, huh? You heard me. Out of the office, buddy.

[Harrington]

Stand for me, Mary.

[District Attorney]

Okay.

[Narrator]

I ain't moving, son. Get in there, I said. Come on. Listen to me, son. Listen hard. We've been waiting for you. You ain't got a chance. Shut up. Come on, Mac, move, I said. Look for yourself, son. Go on.

[District Attorney]

Look.

[Narrator]

You see those men on the corner? They're detectives, boy.

[Mary]

Mickey, look.

[Narrator]

That's right. The other side too, Nick. See, we've been waiting for you. Why don't you be a good kid and make it easy? Mary, come here.

[Mary]

Nick, let go, Nick. You're hurting my arm.

[Narrator]

See this, copper? Got my gun right in this kid's back.

[Mary]

Oh, Ricky, don't shoot me. Please don't.

[District Attorney]

Shut up, Mary.

[Narrator]

All right, copper, start something. Let the girl go, Nick. Go ahead, start.

[Mary]

Let me go. I haven't done anything. Nicky, let me go, please.

[Narrator]

Getting back in the car. You understand, copper? Sit. Mary, just come straight back.

[Mary]

You're hurting me.

[Narrator]

Please don't be a fool, Nick. Let the girl go.

[District Attorney]

Drive in the car.

[Narrator]

If she does it. Now, get this, wise guy. One shot. Get that. I don't see the tires or anything else. One shot and I let her have it. Right here, mister.

[Mary]

Do what he says. I don't want to get good job.

[District Attorney]

Understand me, mister?

[Narrator]

Well, do you.

[District Attorney]

Ralphie?

[Narrator]

Hold your fire. Shut the door, Mary.

[District Attorney]

Slam it.

[Narrator]

I said.

[Mary]

I am the king.

[Narrator]

Jimmy Ned Sullivan. Hold your fire. Letting them get away.

[District Attorney]

In just a few moments, we will pick up the developments of this interesting case. But first, here's an important question.

[Ms. Miller]

Tell me, who should know best the difference between toothpaste.

[District Attorney]

Who should know best the difference between toothpaste?

[Narrator]

Why, that's easy. Who else but your dentist?

[District Attorney]

That highly skilled friend of yours whose.

[Narrator]

Life work is the care of your.

[District Attorney]

Teeth, the health of your gums. So just ask your dentist about ipenna toothpaste and gentle gum massage.

[Ms. Miller]

So many dentists recommend massage.

[District Attorney]

And a nationwide survey shows more dentists recommend I Pana toothpaste than any other dentifrage.

[Harrington]

And wait a moment.

[District Attorney]

More dentists personally use ipenna than any other toothpaste. That's right. There's an overwhelming preference for ipenna. You see, I panna followed by gentle gum massage is the modern way to aid the health of your gums and the brilliance of your smile. Help your dentist. Help your smile for Remember, your dentist knows best the difference between toothpaste.

[Ms. Miller]

Begin now getting your new Ipana smile. Taste the freshness, Feel the cleanness. See the sparkle.

[District Attorney]

Get I panna toothpaste for your Ipana smile. And now back to Mr. District Attorney.

[Narrator]

Well, I. I just had to use my own judgment, Chafe. What decided me was the kid himself, this Nicky.

[Ms. Miller]

How do you mean, Harrington?

[Narrator]

Well, I'm looking for a murder, Ms. Miller, right? Yes. A guy that looks something like that sketch the chief had drawn up.

[District Attorney]

Yes, from the description by that witness.

[Narrator]

Oh, yes. Yeah. Okay. So when this Nicky kid uses the girl as a shield, I think to myself, now, Harrington, if you start something, that little girl might get shot.

[District Attorney]

Go on.

[Narrator]

If this Nicky looked at all like the killer, Master Chief, maybe I'd handle it different. But it ain't the same face at all. Well, I let him get away.

[District Attorney]

It's all right. I agree with you completely. It was the only thing to do.

[Narrator]

Thanks, Chief. Of course, we got right on it. After the car pulled out, I got every precinct in town alerted.

[Ms. Miller]

Well, I shouldn't think it'd be so hard from now on, Harrington. The description you gave of Mickey and Mary is in all the papers this noon.

[District Attorney]

That's what puzzles me, is the new set of people. The first filling station robbery, the murder that is, was done by two men.

[Narrator]

Sure. And the one that saw one of them sure ain't talking about this Nicky team.

[District Attorney]

Well, we're making some progress. At least the ballistics report is in on the shooting.

[Narrator]

Oh, yeah.

[Ms. Miller]

Oh, Chief, that other report is here, too. The one on the tire mark.

[District Attorney]

Oh, yes. Thank you. Ms. Merriman. I've got Ted on the files, Carrington. He's checking all the pictures that look anything like the murderer.

[Ms. Miller]

Excuse me.

[Mary]

Hello.

[Ms. Miller]

District attorney's office.

[Narrator]

Yeah, Chief, what about the ballistics report? Anything in it?

[Mary]

Speak slowly, please. I can't hear you.

[Ms. Miller]

Yes, Yes, I have that. Mrs. John Evans. Your daughter, Mary. Oh, in the newspapers? Yes.

[Mary]

What was that?

[Ms. Miller]

I'm sorry, I didn't get that, Nikki. What?

[Narrator]

Oh, for crying. I thought. Let me have that, Ms. Moore. This is what we've been waiting for. It was simple, Deuce. I didn't even shoot at the car.

[District Attorney]

You ought to get one of these things, Nicky. You can play good music on them.

[Mary]

Mr. Wilton, you gotta do something. That policeman saw us. They'll be looking everywhere.

[Narrator]

Lucky you told me to smear the license plates with mud, Deuce. Otherwise I'd have traced a car here.

[District Attorney]

A kazoo, I think they're called. Ever Play one little girl.

[Mary]

Mr. Wilton, please listen to us. They'll be looking for Nicky.

[District Attorney]

You're just humming them, sort of.

[Harrington]

Listen once.

[Narrator]

Noose. Will you stop it? We're in trouble, Deuce. You gotta tell us what to do.

[District Attorney]

You got any money?

[Narrator]

Just what's left of my share.

[District Attorney]

Any more?

[Mary]

I have money. I mean, I can get some. They owe me back pay at the store where I work.

[Narrator]

You can't go there, Mary.

[District Attorney]

Somebody recognizes. Why, can't she? You're the only one they'll be looking for. How far is this place, Sister?

[Mary]

It's the up to the Minute Cleaners. It isn't far, Mary.

[Harrington]

No, I won't let you.

[District Attorney]

You'll do what I tell you. Nicky, get your hat on. Mary, go get that dough.

[Narrator]

Ann, about your daughter, Meredith.

[Ms. Miller]

District Attorney's office calling. Is this the up to the Minute Cleaners? Well, just a moment, please. The district attorney wants to talk to you.

[Narrator]

Mary Evans.

[Mary]

What?

[Narrator]

Hi, Mary.

[Mary]

Let me go. Please let me go.

[Narrator]

Mary. Eve, doesn't the name Mary remember me? What, are you on your way to Nick with that pay envelope?

[Mary]

I. I don't know what you're talking about.

[Narrator]

You know, it's funny, but I still think you're a nice kid, Mary. Otherwise, I'd have let you lead me right back to your boyfriend.

[Mary]

I. I don't understand.

[Narrator]

You will. I just don't want you to get hurt. Come on, Mary. We better date.

[District Attorney]

I think you're telling the truth, Mary. Don't you, Harrington?

[Narrator]

I think she is, Chief.

[District Attorney]

Don't you see, Mary? It isn't Nick we want so much. It's the other man. Now, there is another man, isn't there?

[Mary]

Please, I don't know anything.

[District Attorney]

Let me have that sketch. Harrington.

[Narrator]

Yeah, right here, Chief.

[District Attorney]

Now, this is the man we mean, Mary. You know him, don't you? Oh, don't you?

[Mary]

Please, won't you just leave me alone?

[Narrator]

Can I try, Chief? Yes, sure.

[District Attorney]

Of course.

[Narrator]

All right, Mary. Nick's in trouble. You know that, don't you?

[Mary]

Yes, sir, I do.

[Narrator]

All right, Mary, listen to me. Being in trouble is one thing and murder is another.

[Mary]

But Nick didn't kill anybody on it.

[Narrator]

Who did?

[Mary]

I. I can't. I can't squeal on Nick.

[Narrator]

Mary.

[Ms. Miller]

Mary, I'm sorry to interrupt, but this is important. One of the detectives you assigned just called in.

[Mary]

He's located.

[Ms. Miller]

Yeah. Wait a minute. I got it written down here. 717.

[District Attorney]

You sure?

[Ms. Miller]

Ms. Miller's waiting on the phone for instructions.

[District Attorney]

Harrington.

[Narrator]

Yeah, what is it?

[District Attorney]

Everything we need. I hope. Oh, Ms. Miller, call the emergency crew, will you, please? Four cars on the truck right away.

[Narrator]

The riot squad.

[District Attorney]

What fort for a killer, Harrington? Come on, let's go.

[Narrator]

The crews are all station, Chief.

[District Attorney]

What about the street blockade?

[Narrator]

All set up. They got traffic stopped for two blocks in every direction.

[District Attorney]

That's fine. In the back of the building.

[Narrator]

I put Brophy back there with Squad.

[District Attorney]

C. All right, then we're ready, I think. Is the public address system set up?

[Narrator]

Yeah. Here's the mic right here, Chief. Just give me a chance to get up those stairs.

[District Attorney]

That won't be necessary, I hope. Just keep your eye on that doorway. All right. Let's see. Get this turned on. Hello. Hello. Turn this on, will you, Jack? Thanks.

[Narrator]

And let's not play with these babies too long, Chief. They're tricky.

[District Attorney]

Nick Arden. Nick Arden, this is the District Attorney, Ogden. Come out with your hands in the air.

[Narrator]

Nothing yet, Chief.

[Harrington]

We know you're in there, Ogden.

[Narrator]

You and the other man. You haven't got a chance, Chief. They dust the light in the apartment.

[District Attorney]

You have ten seconds, Arden.

[Narrator]

A thousand and one.

[Harrington]

Both of you come out with your.

[District Attorney]

Hands over your head.

[Narrator]

Re. One thousand. Four. A thousand and five.

[District Attorney]

Watch that doorway, Harrington.

[Narrator]

Yeah, I am, Chief. One thousand. Eight. A thousand and nine. A thousand and ten times and that should change. Crazy bums. They're in that hallway.

[District Attorney]

Stay down, Harrington. I'll signal the mess.

[Narrator]

Okay. Get out of my way, Chief. I'm going in.

[District Attorney]

Not without me. Or not.

[Narrator]

Come on, now. Watch it, Chief.

[District Attorney]

There go the tear gas bombs.

[Narrator]

We can use this car for a shield, Chief. Okay. And, hey, boy, that shoots pretty good. You okay, Chief, there?

[District Attorney]

Sure. I'll signal the second squad.

[Narrator]

Hey, Chief, look. Here comes one of them. Watch it.

[Harrington]

Come and get me, your lazy cat.

[Narrator]

Feel.

[District Attorney]

He'S fallen, Herrington. On the sidewalk.

[Narrator]

Yeah, yeah. Watch a. Chief, there's still one more. I'm coming in to get you, punk.

[District Attorney]

Hangs and lift up.

[Narrator]

Shoot your rat. Shoot.

[District Attorney]

Come on, copper. Come on in and get me.

[Narrator]

Don't worry, mister.

[District Attorney]

I'm coming.

[Narrator]

You couldn't, Harrington. Hey, Chief, Give the signal.

[District Attorney]

It's all over.

[Narrator]

Hey, Nicky Herring, you're all right? Yeah, sure, Chief. And you, Nicky Perish, Har Dick. Is that what you want to know? Yeah.

[District Attorney]

Is he dead, Harrington?

[Narrator]

Yes, he is. How's the other one?

[District Attorney]

Yes, same thing. Both of them are all truth. Your district attorney will return in just a moment to explain the capture of Deuce and Nick. But first, a reminder that tomorrow morning a lot of people will wake up.

[Narrator]

To hear.

[District Attorney]

And To a lot of people, that sound can mean a wonderful morning with a good day ahead. But to a lot of other people, there's another sound that can mean the same thing. And that's the sparkling sound of Sal Hepatica in a glass of water. Yes, and unlike slow acting laxatives, a sparkling glass of Sal hepatica when you get up brings quick, gentle relief, usually within an hour. That means you don't have to feel dull and headachy all day, waiting until night to take the laxative. You need it in the morning. And if at the same time you're troubled with excess gastric acidity, let Sal hepatica help sweeten your stomach. So keep a bottle of Sal hepatica handy. Then anytime you need a laxative, morning, noon or night, see how much faster you feel better. Thanks to gentle, speedy Sal Hatataka. Now, here is your district attorney. The two sprawled bodies on the sidewalk are the real answers to tonight's case, ladies and gentlemen. The final payment in full for murder. As for Mary, we're quite sure that with proper help, her rehabilitation will be.

[Ms. Miller]

Complete yet at least she tried.

[District Attorney]

Yes, she did, Ms. Miller. But for the real solution, we have a great deal of excellent police work to thank. The laboratory technicians, detective crews, research men, they all combine to make the capture of Deuce Wilton and Nick Ogden possible.

[Narrator]

Yet that call from Mary's mother helped Tucci. When I saw her after, she thought maybe her Mary was the girl in the newspapers. She told me where the kid worked.

[Ms. Miller]

And then when you found out that she had pay coming, you just waited for her. Isn't that right, Harrington?

[Narrator]

That's right, Ms. Miller. But it was the chief, though, that led us to Duce's Joint.

[District Attorney]

Well, thanks to the lab, Harrington, as you know, we made a careful check on every criminal in the files whose face resembled that in the sketch our artist drew up.

[Ms. Miller]

The one he drew from the witness's report.

[District Attorney]

Right, Ms. Miller. And one of these men in the file was Deuce Wilton. And in due course, one of the detectives checked at his apartment.

[Narrator]

Yeah, and his garage, Chief. Don't forget that.

[District Attorney]

Yes, Harrington and his garage. Well, there you see? Our man found what we were looking for. A rear Left tire, size 717. A tire that fit exactly into the pattern we found on the driveway of the Filling Stick.

[Ms. Miller]

And when he found that, you knew he'd found the killer, right, Chief?

[District Attorney]

Exactly, Ms. Merritt.

[Narrator]

That was that correct?

[Ms. Miller]

Oh, Chief, don't forget graduation.

[Narrator]

Graduation?

[District Attorney]

Oh, yes, indeed. Right. Now, with school graduations at hand, many young people are wondering what life work to take.

[Ms. Miller]

Do you have the answer?

[District Attorney]

Well, I want to suggest that these intelligent young folks give careful consideration to teaching as a career.

[Narrator]

Just what does teaching offer?

[District Attorney]

Well, teachers enjoy such advantages as security, long vacations, and now a rising standard of pay. But even more important, the teachers hold a unique position of honor and respect in the community. Quite naturally, people look up to a teacher, for it is the teacher who molds the characters and futures of our children and through our children, shapes the future of our country. And that's why I want to say to every young person graduating from school this spring, give a thought, a very serious thought, to a teaching career. Teaching is not only good work, it is a truly great profession.

[Ms. Miller]

And now, what about next week?

[District Attorney]

Well, friends, we have another exciting story for you next week in the case of the Deadly Snowflake. Another dramatic episode in our constant war on crime. So until then, thank you and good night. Here it is, man.

[Harrington]

Yes, here it is.

[District Attorney]

Brand new liquid cream that grooms hair without an unsightly greasy look. Sentry S E M T R Y Sentry Hair Cream. What makes Sentry so different? Unlike most hair creams, there's no mineral oil in Sentry, just pure vegetable oil. No whitish film on your hair. Sentry seems to vanish on your hair. But Sentry's secret ingredient actually keeps hair neat longer without an objectionable greasy look.

[Chief]

Guard your grooming with Sentry.

[District Attorney]

S E N T R Y Sentry Hair Cream. Hi, Ingram yourself. The names of all characters of the night's dramatization are fictitious in any resemblance to names of living persons or actual places. It's purely coincidental. Our stars with Jay Justin in the title role, Len Doyle as Harrington and vicki va as Ms. Miller. The music was under the direction of Peter Van Steden. The program is produced and directed by Edward A. Byron and written by Robert Shaw. Mr. District Attorney was originated by Philip Sage Lord. Remember, I pan a toothpaste for the smile of beauty. Sal Habatica for the smile of health. Bristol Myers invites you to tune in again next week for Duffy's Tavern and Mr. District Attorney. This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.

[Chief]

And now the National Broadcasting Company presents Inspector Thorne in the Fabulous Divorce Payoff Murder Case. Tonight, the National Broadcasting Company presents for the first time on the air the exploits of the spectacular young Inspector Thorne of the Homicide Bureau, whose investigations rank with many of the most celebrated ones in the annals of crime fiction, an investigator smart enough to claim he is dumb and modest enough to believe it. Tonight, Inspector Thorne turns to the fabulous Divorce, payoff, murder case. Now we look in on the intimate drawing room of Pamela Beekman, heiress to one of the world's great fortunes. Young, beautiful. We see her with the highly publicized Lord Cyril Allerton, whom she is to marry in a few days as soon as her divorce from her present husband is granted. And as she looks fondly at Cyril, we hear her say the words that lead to one of Inspector Thorne's most famous murder cases.

[Mary]

Silly boy. Always asking me how much I love you. Well, I love you buckets in barrels.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

Do you really mean it? Forever and ever and ever again.

[District Attorney]

Pamela, darling.

[Mary]

I've paid my husband, Harold a cool million to get rid of him so I could have a divorce and marry you. Cyril.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

A big bite he took out of you.

[Mary]

I weren't utterly mad about you. I wouldn't have stood for it.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

Tomorrow is the day your divorce from Harold will be granted, isn't it?

[Mary]

Yes. Tomorrow and Monday we'll be married, Cyril.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

And off to England together in a star studded sky.

[Mary]

Pamela, my angel, darling, over the clouds in a star studded sky. Cyril, as my wedding gift to you. Wedding gift to me?

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

Pamela, you're my wedding gift.

[Mary]

I've instructed my lawyers to make over a part of my fortune.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

Oh, I say now, it's not your money, it's you I adore. How much did you say, dearest?

[Mary]

You know, on our wedding day. Now kiss me, darling.

[Narrator]

You're divine.

[Mary]

Nobody ever made me feel like this before. Cyril. Uncle Rufus.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

Oh, my word.

[Deuce Wilton]

Wait until I close the door.

[Mary]

Well, what's happened?

[Deuce Wilton]

A husband that you're not quite divorced from is here.

[Mary]

What? Harold here?

[Deuce Wilton]

You and Harold are birds of a feather, Cyril.

[Mary]

Uncle Rufus. What does Harold want?

[Deuce Wilton]

Wants to see you about the divorce.

[Mary]

The lawyers warned me not to see him alone until after the decree. That might stop the whole thing.

[Deuce Wilton]

I'll stay here with you, Pamela. And you, Cheryl, scamper into the library.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

All right. Ho.

[Deuce Wilton]

Now, Pamela, mind what you say to Harold. Come in, Harold.

[Harrington]

Thanks.

[Narrator]

Hello, Pamela.

[Mary]

What do you want here, Harold?

[Harrington]

We're still husband and wife, you know.

[Mary]

Not after tomorrow when our divorce comes through.

[Harrington]

I've changed my mind about the divorce, Pamela.

[Mary]

I paid you a million to let me get it.

[Harrington]

I want an extra million. You never miss it.

[Mary]

What?

[Deuce Wilton]

Pamela's not made of money, Harold.

[Harrington]

Stay out of this, Uncle Rufus. I'd hate to tell you what Pamela's made of, what you need.

[Deuce Wilton]

Shut up.

[Harrington]

Well, what about it?

[District Attorney]

Pamela?

[Mary]

I'd like to kill you.

[Harrington]

Sure you would. But isn't it worth another Million to marry that dicky bird you're singing love songs with.

[Mary]

Keep Cyril Allerton's name out of this.

[Harrington]

You and I both know the divorce.

[Narrator]

We'Re getting is a cooked up affair.

[District Attorney]

All I've got to do is say.

[Harrington]

A few words in court to blow it up.

[Narrator]

That's not cute.

[Mary]

But I've already paid you off. I gave you a million.

[Narrator]

Sure.

[Harrington]

I've already got it banked. Now I want another million to keep it company or no wedding bells for you and Cyril. Make up your mind, Pamela.

[Deuce Wilton]

I'll make it up for her, Harold.

[Mary]

Never mind, Uncle Rufus. Listen, Harold. Give me until tonight to think it over.

[Deuce Wilton]

All right.

[Harrington]

I'll come back at 9 and get it into your head.

[Mary]

It's a hold up, Harold.

[Harrington]

It's a payoff, Pamela. A divorce payoff.

[Chief]

And shortly after 9 that night, we see Harold Beekman leaving Pamela's house once again. And as he proceeds jauntily down the street, we hear him say to himself.

[Harrington]

One little million added to another little million makes.

[Narrator]

Oh well, there's gold in my heels.

[Harrington]

What a terrific hunch I had. Say now, what's this?

[Chief]

Oh, no, no.

[Harrington]

You Killed.

[Chief]

And a few minutes later, in a stark and frightening office at the Homicide Bureau, its walls adorned only by pictures of killers he has sent on their way to justice, we see a young man who looks anything but what he is. The spectacular Inspector Thorne of Homicide. As the door opens, he looks up and says.

[Harrington]

Oh, Sergeant Muggin. What's up?

[I]

Top draw murder.

[Harrington]

Who? Where?

[I]

Harold beekman. Shot down 200ft from his estranged wife's house.

[Harrington]

More than estranged, Muggin. Her divorce decree was coming through tomorrow.

[I]

Funny thing, Inspector Thorne. She reported the murder herself.

[Harrington]

The fantastically rich Pamela Beekman in a murder case. Come on, Sergeant Muggin. We'll get out there. Stay here with the body, Sergeant Muggin. Go through his pockets. I'll go to the house.

[I]

I'll follow you in a minute, Inspector Thorn.

[Harrington]

Okay.

[Mary]

You're Inspector Thorne, I suppose.

[Harrington]

And you're Pamela Beekman?

[Mary]

Yes. Please come in. My husband had just left the house when we heard the shots.

[Harrington]

I understand you and your husband were to get your final decree of divorce tomorrow. Why was he here tonight?

[Mary]

The sort of last farewell. I invited him to drop in and have a drink with my Uncle Rufus and me and Lord Cyril Allerton.

[Harrington]

Cyril Ellerton. I read somewhere you planned to marry him when your divorce was final.

[Mary]

Yes. Monday.

[Harrington]

Let's get this straight. The husband you were divorcing, the man you were divorcing? Him to marry and you were having a farewell drink together.

[Mary]

And my Uncle Rufus. The divorce didn't mean anything. We were all terribly good friends. Harold and I had a deep regard for each other as persons. But we couldn't make a go of it as husband and wife. That explains why he was here tonight.

[Harrington]

It doesn't explain why he was murdered here tonight.

[Mary]

However, the dreadful shock to all of us, Inspector Thoen.

[Harrington]

It's at least puzzling.

[Mary]

Yes, isn't it?

[Harrington]

I'm puzzled at his being here on the eve of his divorce.

[Mary]

There's nothing so strange about that. I knew a girl who had her three divorced husbands at dinner with her present husband only last week.

[Harrington]

And I know where there's divorce, there's usually hate.

[Mary]

Pamela, I had no reason to hate him.

[Harrington]

You're booked to marry Cyril Aterton next Monday, aren't you?

[Mary]

You're not very bright, Inspector. When a girl is being divorced from her husband, she doesn't have to kill him to marry someone else.

[Harrington]

There's many a slip between the cup and the lip.

[Mary]

What?

[Harrington]

Your divorce was set for tomorrow and tonight is tonight. What went on here?

[Mary]

Nothing, Inspector Thorne, except what I told you.

[Harrington]

Come in, Muggin.

[I]

Have a look at what I got off the murdered man's body, Chief.

[Harrington]

Give it here.

[Mary]

Who is this man?

[Harrington]

Sergeant Muggin, Pamela. And he gave me this check.

[Mary]

Check?

[Harrington]

It's for $1 million. It's made out to your about to be divorced but now murdered husband and signed by you. What's the answer?

[Mary]

I don't know.

[Harrington]

You don't know?

[Mary]

Great. It's the million I promised Harold for giving me a divorce. I promised to give it to him months ago when we first talked of the divorce.

[I]

He should have taken his check out of his pocket after you killed him.

[Mary]

I didn't kill him.

[I]

Murders have been committed for a lot less than a million bucks easy, Muggin.

[Harrington]

Let her try to explain.

[Deuce Wilton]

Perhaps I can explain, Inspector Thorne.

[Mary]

Oh, on the Rufus.

[Deuce Wilton]

Don't worry, Pamela. Inspector Thorne. I'm Rufus Spells, Pamela's uncle. When her father, my brother, died, he left her 10 millions. She's been making a fool of herself ever since.

[Harrington]

It looks like murder this time, Mr.

[Deuce Wilton]

Spells, step in here. I'll tell you exactly what happened.

[Mary]

I wonder what delaying. Cyril should have been here by now.

[Deuce Wilton]

You always say the wrong thing at the right time, Pamela. Come in, Inspector Don.

[Harrington]

Well, what did happen? Mr. Spells, make it as brief as you can, please.

[Deuce Wilton]

I'll tell you and let you draw your own conclusions, Inspector.

[Harrington]

Yes.

[Deuce Wilton]

Whenever a parasite crosses Pamela's path she sets out to marry him. She was married to one in Harold Beekman. Things were going fine with him blowing her money.

[District Attorney]

Yes.

[Deuce Wilton]

Then came a bird of the same feather. That English was Lord Cyril Allison. Nothing would do but pay off Harold so she could marry him.

[Harrington]

Cyril Allison.

[Deuce Wilton]

Pamela paid Harold a cold million to agree to a divorce. That was six months ago.

[Harrington]

This check we found on her murdered husband is dated today.

[Deuce Wilton]

That's what I'm leading to, Inspector Thorne. After pocketing a million six months ago, Harold came back at Pamela this very afternoon and demanded another million.

[Harrington]

Another million?

[Deuce Wilton]

Yes, on the threat that he'd stop their divorce tomorrow.

[Harrington]

In other words, he'd already got 1 million from her and was playing for a second. What did Pamela say?

[Deuce Wilton]

Well, the first started flying and then Pamela, always unpredictable, quieted down and told Howard she'd think it over to come back at nine tonight.

[Harrington]

You've presented a top murder motive for your niece, if nothing else.

[Deuce Wilton]

Not so fast, Inspector Thorne. This Englishman that she wanted to marry, Cyril Ellerton, he was in the house at the time. This afternoon in another room.

[Harrington]

Allerton here. What did he do? Tell Pamela to pay off Harold so he could marry the rest of her millions next Monday? Yes.

[Deuce Wilton]

Then Pamela knocked me off my feet by telling Cyril Allerton that she was going to flatly refuse to stand for the holdup.

[Harrington]

What?

[Deuce Wilton]

That was it. Said it might stop her marriage to Cyril altogether. And when that cadger saw himself going on peanuts instead of caviar, he blew up. Darned if Pamela did tell him to come back at 9 tonight too.

[Harrington]

Did he get here?

[Deuce Wilton]

No. Now Pamela's out there wondering why Cyril is delayed. Draw your own conclusions, Inspector.

[Harrington]

Thor, the conclusion I'm drawing is that you're trying to protect your niece from a murder charge.

[Deuce Wilton]

And the one I'm drawing is that you're not so smart as the papers cracked you up to be. Inspector Thomas.

[Harrington]

That's right. Fact is, I'm pretty dumb. Except when it comes to catching murderers. That's practically the only subject I know anything about.

[Narrator]

Here.

[Deuce Wilton]

Here's Cyril Alison's address. Arrest him and you've got this case solved. Hope he hasn't jumped town. You better start moving. Feather in your cap, Fawn. If you can nab the killer in a big murder case an hour after.

[Harrington]

The crime was committed, I'll give this address of Aladin's Back to you, Mr. Spells. I don't need it.

[Deuce Wilton]

Don't need it? What do you mean?

[Harrington]

Sergeant Muggin, quick.

[I]

Yes, chief.

[Harrington]

Hop across the hall and smash open that door where the knob's moving.

[Narrator]

Gotcha.

[Harrington]

The man Mr. Spells is sending me to find on a wild goose chase is in that room.

[Deuce Wilton]

If Cyril Allerton is in that room. I didn't know he was.

[Harrington]

You kept looking back at that door, Mr. Spells. Daisy.

[Narrator]

Daisy.

[I]

Inspector Thorne. Come on, step fast, buddy.

[Harrington]

You're Cyril Apperton.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

Lord Cyril Appleton.

[Harrington]

It's a thrill to meet the nobility, especially on a murder scene. Watch the lowdown.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

This old buffer gave me a dope drink when I got here a little after nine to see Pamela. Then he locked me in that room all doped up. While he slipped out and killed Harold Beekman. It's like one of those American gang cinemas I saw in London before I came to this country. He's trying to put the murder on me.

[Deuce Wilton]

That's a lie. I didn't know he was here, Thorne. He must have murdered Harold and sneaked back into the house through one of the upper windows. It's a hot night.

[Harrington]

I think it is.

[I]

Plenty Waste is trying to slip a fast one over on us, Chief.

[Harrington]

How so much?

[I]

Here's the miter gun. I found it in the room he claims he was locked up in. Guns don't walk through locked doors.

[Harrington]

You're a smart cop, Muggin.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

I've never seen that pistol before. I tell you, I was doped by this old buffer.

[Harrington]

I wonder why.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

Don't you understand? It's to plant his crime on me. He's a clever old devil. Who'd expect his fiance's uncle to dope him?

[Harrington]

I don't think you are. Dope your lordship.

[Narrator]

What?

[Harrington]

Sergeant Muggin. Rush his lordship to the nearest hospital. Have his stomach pumped. Find out if he has been doped.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

I say, old chap.

[Narrator]

I protest. Come on, buddy.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

In England, a policeman would be reprimanded.

[I]

You're in the United States of America.

[Deuce Wilton]

Well, Inspector Thorn, I must say you're not so dumb as you said.

[Harrington]

I may have pulled a boner there. Mr. Spells boner, my boy.

[Deuce Wilton]

You've got the case clinched.

[Harrington]

I remember that when your brother died and left 10 million bucks to your niece. His entire fortune. That you went into the courts and claimed you had an oral agreement with him. That one third was to go to you.

[Deuce Wilton]

What's that got to do with the murder of the husband that my niece was divorcing to marry that lady, Dar Lord Ellington.

[Harrington]

You don't know the half of it. Maybe you're as clever as I'm stupid. Anyway, stay here. I want to see your niece Pamela again.

[Narrator]

Wait a minute.

[Harrington]

You wait here.

[Mary]

Spell Inspector Thorne. Did my Uncle Rufus explain everything to you?

[Harrington]

Yes, but sometimes I'm a little slow getting things through my head. You know, dumb.

[Mary]

Oh, now you're being very modest.

[Harrington]

In my slow way. I'm trying to figure out how come this million dollar check was on the body of the husband you were planning to divorce tomorrow.

[Mary]

The explanation is so simple that if this didn't involve a murder, it might be laughable.

[Harrington]

I've never seen anybody go to the chair laughing. But anyhow, let's hear the story.

[Mary]

When I promised Harold a million six months ago to give me a divorce so I could marry Cyril, I delayed giving the check to him until tonight. The night before the divorce.

[Harrington]

What gives me a headache is that your uncle told me your husband was blackmailing you for a second million and that's what the check was for.

[Mary]

I'm afraid I fibbed a bit to you, Inspector Fawn. The truth is, Harold did blackmail me for a second million. I was so utterly mad to marry Cyril Allerton, I. I gave Harold what he demanded. That explains it all, doesn't it?

[Harrington]

It explains this much. You might have yielded to his blackmail, given him the check, and when he left, followed him out and murdered him.

[Mary]

No, that's not it at all.

[Harrington]

Isn't it? You're a nice girl, Pamela. Pretty as a picture. I hate like the devil to stop you on the road to the chair.

[Mary]

Inspector Thorne. This is the most agonizing moment of my life. I know who murdered my husband. But don't ask me to tell.

[Harrington]

You must tell me. Otherwise.

[Chief]

Inspector Thorne in the fabulous Divorce Payoff Murder Case will return in just a moment. It's the Silver Jubilee on NBC. We'd like to give you a brief program guide for your future listening pleasure on NBC this Sunday. Be sure to hear the best of the adventure programs, starting off with Tom Conway as the gentleman detective known as the Saint. Next, there's screen actor Lloyd Nolan in the hard hitting role of Martin Kane, Private Eye. Then Carlton Young appears in the double role of Philip Galt. And the Whisperer. As the Whisperer, he is able to enter the underworld and secure information desperately needed to solve the most puzzling cases.

[Harrington]

Later.

[Chief]

Sunday evening, there's action with ace Japanese American detective, Mr. Moto as he takes you on adventures designed to bring you plenty of suspense and intrigue. And here's a note about next week's program schedule. Dimension X is now broadcast on Thursday evening. Dimension X brings you stories dealing in time and space and brought to you in future tense for the Very best in dramatic radio entertainment. Keep tuned to NBC. Now back to Inspector Thorne and the fabulous Divorce Payoff murder case. Investigating the murder of Harold Beekman, Inspector Thorne finds he was killed shortly after demanding a second million dollar payoff from his very rich wife, Pamela, in order to let her divorce him to marry an Englishman, Lord Cyril Allerton. Suspects are the three who were near the murder scene. Pamela herself, her Uncle Rufus, and Lord Cyril Allerton, who was found hiding in the house. Now Inspector Thorne continues his questioning of Pamela, who is saying in a frightened.

[Mary]

Tense voice, I. I know who murdered my husband. But don't ask me to tell.

[Harrington]

You must tell me. Otherwise.

[Mary]

All right, I'll tell you. I think it was my Uncle Rufus who killed Herold.

[Harrington]

Take it easy, Pamela. I know how tough this is for you.

[Mary]

What makes it so hard is that Uncle Rufus tried to protect me. I'm practically accusing him of murder.

[Harrington]

Why did he kill your husband? Harold?

[Mary]

He killed Harold because he didn't want to see a million dollars more of my money. Get away. You see, when my father died, he left all his millions to me. Go on with the provision that if I died, all my money would go to Uncle Rufus.

[Harrington]

You're pretty good at supplying motives, aren't you? Or am I just dumb getting that idea?

[Mary]

I don't know what you mean, Inspector Thornton.

[Harrington]

I mean, you had the same motive as your uncle. A million bucks is not hay. Any way you figure it.

[Mary]

This is dreadful. I think you are choosing me.

[Harrington]

Maybe yes, maybe no.

[Mary]

I wish I hadn't told you anything.

[Harrington]

Oh, you. Sergeant Muggin back already?

[I]

I left His Lordship Cyril Allaton, at the hospital with the docs. Get ready to pump his stomach out. You should have heard him squawk when they got out the tool.

[Harrington]

Why didn't you wait to find out if he'd been doped?

[I]

Because when I was taking His Lordship to the hospital, a dame followed me in a car and got the doorman.

[Chief]

And slipped me a note.

[Harrington]

What?

[I]

Sure.

[Deuce Wilton]

And a note.

[I]

Said she saw the murder with her own eyes.

[Mary]

Sergeant Muggin did. Did she say my uncle did it? Oh, how terrible.

[I]

No, Pamela. What she said sort of let your uncle out.

[Mary]

If she said Lord Seal yet, she's lying.

[I]

I'm not saying what the dame said.

[Harrington]

Have you got that woman here, Muggin?

[I]

No, Chief. I got a cop sitting on her at the hospital waiting for you.

[Harrington]

Okay, Muggin. That should kill two birds with one stone.

[I]

Sure, you can pump the dame while the docs are analyzing what they pumped out of His Lordship's barrel. Well, excuse me, I mean, stomach.

[District Attorney]

Let's go.

[Harrington]

Leave a couple of cops outside this house to see Pamela or her uncle. Don't make a break.

[Deuce Wilton]

You don't have to leave any of your cups outside, Thorn, to watch me.

[Harrington]

No, Mr. Spells.

[Deuce Wilton]

Old as I am, I've got good ears. I overheard Pamela accusing me of killing her husband. Al that's left for me now is to tell you that Pamela killed him herself. I lied to keep her out of the law's hands. When I said that Cyril Allerton did the job.

[Harrington]

I'm not so dumb, Spells, that I don't know. Two lies won't add up to the truth. Stay here until I get back. Try to figure out a story between you while I'm gone.

[Narrator]

Bye.

[I]

This hospital looks more like a classy hotel than a hospital, Chief.

[Harrington]

Is that the woman over there, Sergeant Muggin?

[I]

Yeah, the one next to the cop.

[Harrington]

Bring her into this room, Muggin.

[I]

Ms. Jones, come over here.

[Mary]

Oh, yes, Sergeant Muggin. I suppose the gentleman with you is Inspector thorne.

[Harrington]

That's right, Ms. Jones. I'm Inspector Thorne.

[Mary]

For your information, Inspector Thorne, my full name is Heather Jones.

[Harrington]

Pretty name. Heather Jones. Sounds nice.

[Mary]

I like it too. It was my mother's idea.

[Harrington]

Sounds like Scotland to me. Or is it Ireland, where heather grows?

[Mary]

I really don't know.

[Harrington]

I understand from Sergeant Muggin that you saw the about to be divorced husband of Pamela Beekman murdered tonight.

[Mary]

Yes. Harold Beekman. It was the most extraordinary thing.

[Harrington]

I'm a little slow on the uptake, so I don't catch on to just what you mean, Heather.

[Mary]

I mean, I just happened to be walking on the other side of the street from the Beekman mansion when I saw Harold Beekman walking along a bit on the jaunty side.

[Harrington]

I see.

[Mary]

Then I saw Lord Cyril Allerton sneak out of the house, run behind Mr. Beekman and shoot him down. Oh, it was a horrible experience for me. I don't think I'll ever get over it.

[Harrington]

Don't get me wrong, Heather, but cop has to ask questions.

[Mary]

I understand.

[Narrator]

Lucky break.

[Harrington]

You knew the murdered man and Lord Cyril well enough to identify.

[Mary]

But I'm not acquainted with either of them. Oh, Well, I mean, I. I don't know them personally. Only from seeing their pictures in the papers.

[Harrington]

A girl like you with such a terrific gift for identification ought to be a lady cop.

[Mary]

You're trying to make a fool of me. And after me tipping you off to who killed the poor gentleman.

[Harrington]

What part of America were you born in?

[Mary]

What? Roger? In New York.

[Harrington]

Sergeant Muggin. Prisca's woman.

[District Attorney]

Gotcha.

[Narrator]

Cheers.

[Mary]

You go of me.

[Harrington]

This woman isn't what she claims to be. She's from the British Isles. I'd say she's connected with Cyril Allerton.

[Narrator]

Yes.

[I]

An English Wembley gun on it, Chief. But not a single shot fired.

[Mary]

It's not my gun, it's my husband.

[Harrington]

Who is your husband? Where is he?

[Mary]

I won't take.

[Harrington]

Where is your husband?

[Mary]

I won't tell you. You can't make me.

[Harrington]

Sergeant Muggin, send this woman in. Hold her for further questioning.

[I]

Come on, Heather.

[Harrington]

That's what you think. Excuse me. I must ask you to remember this is a hospital and sick people are being disturbed. I'm sorry, sir. I'm Inspector Thorne of Homicide. I see you're a doctor.

[Narrator]

Yes, yes.

[Harrington]

I'm Dr. Conway and I have a report for you on the contents of that Englishman's stomach. Was he doped or was he kidding? Both, Inspector Thorne, both. Well, his stomach contents reveal, let's say, one eight grain of a barbituric sleeping pill. Not enough to make him as dopey as he simulated. That confirms what I suspected, Doctor. The highly suspicious part, however, is that we found this box of sleeping pills in his pocket, indicating he doped himself. To me it looks like a rather stupid criminal's effort to deceive the police. All criminals are stupid, Doctor. That's why they're criminals. What have you got? Lord Allerton? In the next room. Follow me. Inspector Thorne.

[District Attorney]

Here he is.

[Harrington]

Inspector, I must leave you now.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

This is the most outrageous treatment I've ever experienced, Inspector. It couldn't happen in England. I wonder why I ever left there.

[Harrington]

Maybe the English cops chased you out, your Lordship. Tough break, old man. But I've got a witness.

[Chief]

A witness?

[Harrington]

Yes, a woman. Says she saw you murder Harold Beatman, husband of the ten million dollar heiress Pamela you were inveigling. And marrying you.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

Ten million is a packet. But I didn't murder her husband.

[Mary]

Why should I?

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

They were being divorced tomorrow. She paid him a million to get rid of.

[Harrington]

Stop kidding. You know he threatened Pamela this afternoon to stop the divorce unless she gave him a second million.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

Well, does that make me a murderer?

[Harrington]

And you told her to give it to him, didn't you?

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

Yes, but she refused. So what could I do?

[Harrington]

Ever hear of a thing called murder?

[I]

Everything is tied up, Inspector Thorne. That dame Heather is on the way to the who's gal.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

Heather Jones. Heather Jones, you say?

[Harrington]

You guessed right the first time, Sergeant Muggin.

[I]

Yes, Chief.

[Harrington]

Take this character back to the Murder House. Hold him there. With Pamela Beekman and her uncle Rufus spelled all night, we've got four first rate murder suspects in the net. I'll see you there early tomorrow morning. And we'll leave together with the murderer.

[I]

Rakop was always saying he's dumb. You're doing all right, Chief.

[Harrington]

It looks that way, Muggin. Let's start moving.

[Chief]

Now it is 10 o' clock the next morning and we see an obviously pleased Inspector Thorne at the Murder House. The home of one of the richest girls in the world, Pamela Beekman. And we hear him say.

[Harrington]

Well, Sergeant Muggin, I understand you've got our net of suspects in the house.

[I]

Sure, Chief. You're a Pamela Beekman. A love interest. Lord Cyril allerton, her uncle, Mr. Spells and of course 12. Yeah. Which one do we pinch?

[Deuce Wilton]

Pinch? My niece, Pamela. She murdered her husband, Harold. Reason? She didn't want to pay him an extra million for giving her divorce so she could marry this panty waist.

[Harrington]

Lord Allison.

[Mary]

To think my father could have had a brother like you. Uncle Rufus. I was heartbroken when I told Inspector Thorne. I thought you had killed Harold. No, I'm not sorry I did.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

Good girl, Pamela. Monday we'll be married and off in a star studded sky on our honeymoon.

[Mary]

And I, Lady Allerton, I only hope, darling, we'll both forget my own uncle tried to have me arrested for Harold's murder.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

When we're married, Pamela, my sweet, you'll write it off as an unfortunate incident and forget it.

[Harrington]

I hate to break up a ten million dollar romance, Allerton, but I'm afraid Pamela can't marry you. There's a complication.

[Mary]

Complication?

[Harrington]

Heather Jones, Come in.

[Mary]

Yes, Inspector Jones.

[Narrator]

Heather. You here?

[Mary]

You here?

[Harrington]

Shut up, Allerton. This woman, Heather Jones is your wife.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

She's lied to you. She's not.

[Harrington]

Here's the marriage certificate that proves she is.

[Mary]

Yes, Cyril. Husband and wife, that's what we are. You and I were butler and parlourmaid at a real lord's house in London. Husband and wife we were. And husband and wife we are.

[Lord Cyril Allerton]

Pamela, let me explain.

[Mary]

So you're not a lord, but an impostor? Cyril and I paid out two millions for a divorce to marry you. I hope I never set eyes on you again.

[Harrington]

You won't have the chance to see him again, Pamela. What you'll be entailed. Charged with murder. You killed your about to be divorced husband and you know you did.

[Narrator]

Yes.

[Mary]

Yes, I killed him. I killed him because after I'd given him a million as a divorce payoff. He came back and blackmailed me for another million. And I did it so I could marry this creature, this servant posing as Lord Cyril Allison. I thought I had it worked out so well.

[Harrington]

You worked it out too well.

[Mary]

Too well.

[Harrington]

The slip you made was in giving him the second check for the police to find on his body. You thought it would be evidence that the uncle you so cleverly accused had murdered him. To me, it was a clue that led straight to you.

[Mary]

You tricked me, Inspector Thorne. I fell for your talk about being slow thinking and dumb.

[Harrington]

Cops will try trick Spamala. They find it paid. Come with Sergeant Muggin and me. All your money won't save you. Murder is murder and the price is execution.

[Chief]

And so ends the fabulous divorce payoff murder case. The part of Inspector Thorne is played by Carl Weber. Direction by Kenneth McGregor. The script was written by Eugene Edward Francis from the original story by Frank Hummert. This is Fred Collins inviting you to tune in again next Friday at the same time when the National Broadcasting Company will present Inspector Thorne in the Vacant lot Murder Case Jubilee on NBC. NBC presents a new comedy team consisting of Bob and Ray. Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding. A merry duo who specializes in light satire and nonsense sketches. Bob and Ray have more changes of voice than a 13 year old boy with a hiccup. The lads have been bringing fun to the New England area for quite some time now. They've been called in by NBC to spread their hilarity around on a coast to coast basis. Hear Bob and Ray every weekday afternoon and for a solid hour of laughs every Saturday on your NBC station. Stay tuned now for Mr. Keane, tracer of lost persons on NBC.