Case Closed! Podcast Summary

Episode: Mr. District Attorney and Sam Spade
Date: November 5, 2025
Theme:
A classic double-feature of radio crime stories from the golden age, featuring an episode of Mr. District Attorney ("The Case of the Dead Reporter," April 5, 1953) and The Adventures of Sam Spade ("The Insomnia Caper," October 24, 1948). Each story delves into noir investigations, featuring courageous but fallible heroes facing murder, organized crime, and deception.

Story #1: Mr. District Attorney – "The Case of the Dead Reporter"

(Starts ~00:24)

Main Theme

The district attorney, Paul Garrett, investigates the murder of an investigative reporter, Tom Carter, uncovering a tangled web of organized crime, deception, and betrayal within a city plagued by a crime wave.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Developments

• Opening Monologue (00:24-02:09)
  Mr. District Attorney (David Bryan as Paul Garrett) reflects on his duty "to defend with equal vigor the rights and privileges of all its citizens" and fight the "disease in the bloodstream of democracy"—crime.

• Inciting Call & Murder (02:11-03:29)
  Tom Carter, a reporter at the Daily Clarion, calls Garrett claiming to have discovered the identity of “Mr. Big,” the mob boss. The call ends abruptly as Carter is apparently attacked.

  • Quote:

    “Mr. Garrett, I'm sure glad I caught you in. This will knock you right out from under your hat. I'm just about certain I know who Mr. Big is.”
    (Carter, 02:42)

• Investigation at the Clarion (03:48-06:43)
  Garrett interviews Carter's colleagues (Harris and Walker) and discovers Carter has been killed. The clue "Venus” is mentioned—a possible witness or accomplice.

• Leads from the Expense Ledger & the Club (06:44-10:31)
  Carter’s expense records lead Garrett and his assistant Harrington to Club 711, owned by Harry Trigo. There, “Venus” is identified as Loretta Nelson, who had connections with both Carter and Trigo.

• The Threatening Note (10:03-10:43)
  Dippy, a pickpocket, produces a threatening note addressed to the newspaper—"Better lay off or the undertaker will lay you out"—which Garrett collects as evidence.

• Bombing Incident (12:23-13:19)
  At Walker’s apartment, Harris (the publisher) takes Walker’s car to the office—only for it to be destroyed by a car bomb, killing Harris.

  • Quote:

    “A bomb on the starter... For me? That bomb was meant for me. Now I've got two deaths to avenge.”
    (Garrett, 13:19)

• The Hunt for "Venus" and Dippy (15:00-16:51)
  Garrett and Ms. Miller follow leads to locate Venus. She is evasive but clearly anxious about her safety, revealing her relationship to both Carter and Trigo but denying deeper involvement.

  • “I'm so frightened. Take it easy.” (Venus, 17:39)

• Climactic Confrontations (18:01-24:59)
  Dippy is found mortally wounded and points towards George, Trigo’s henchman, as being involved before dying.
  The investigation leads to Trigo’s hideout at Lake Pinewood, where a shootout results in Trigo being killed. Venus tries to frame Walker, but Garrett reveals she was the true murderer, using the opportunity to cover for her and Walker’s criminal plans.

• Final Reveal & Arrest (24:59-25:26)
  Garrett unravels the scheme:

  • Walker—the city editor—was “Mr. Big,” using the newspaper as a front for crime.
  • Venus loved Trigo but helped set him up.
  • All are apprehended.
  • Quote:

    "The rats are leaving the ship, Chief. ... Oh, no, Harrington. They've gone down with it. ... I just wish one thing... that Tom Carter were alive to write this story."
    (Garrett & Harrington, 25:26)

Notable Moments & Quotes

• On Police Work:

  “It can be a very frightening thing to see the ruthless force of organized crime at work. As district attorney, it was my sworn duty to follow through on every lead, no matter how thin. To put a stop to the unleashed terror.”
  (Garrett, 14:19)

• On Justice:

  "The people heard the truth about Walker, about the Venus and about George. ... And as always, the people made their decision and ended the career of these hoodlums."
  (David Bryan epilogue, 26:14)

Story #2: The Adventures of Sam Spade – "The Insomnia Caper"

(Starts ~27:48)

Main Theme

A hard-boiled, sleep-deprived Sam Spade gets drawn into a convoluted case involving a neighbor in distress, a violent sailor, a murdered man, ship models hiding narcotics, and a cast of unreliable witnesses. The tone is lighter, with classic Spade wit and cynical humor.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Developments

• Spade’s Insomnia & Introduction (28:05-29:41)
  Suffering from sleeplessness, Spade encounters a woman (“Doreen Dubar”) from the building across the alley who claims to be afraid of her violent seaman boyfriend, Dan McCrae.

• Bedroom Confrontation & Brawl (31:31-34:37)
  Dan bursts in, accuses Spade of interference, and a fight ensues. Doreen disappears in the confusion.

• The Murder of Frank Shepherd (35:21-37:47)
  Dan calls Spade in the middle of the night—Shepherd has turned up dead on his ship. Dan, confused and fearful, asks Spade to clear him.

• The Belt Buckle Mystery (37:47-38:50)
  Spade inspects Shepherd’s body and finds an odd belt buckle with a steel prong—potentially the murder weapon.

• Kafkaesque Investigation (40:13-42:56)
  Police Lieutenant Dundee investigates, casting suspicion everywhere. Spade’s confusion mounts when the “Doreen” he meets is an elderly woman who claims residency for decades, with her brother Sven, who is crafting ship models.

• Revelations and Twists (44:03-47:46) Dan recalls that Shepherd was a federal agent investigating a narcotics ring. Shepherd’s role as an undercover narcotics cop is gradually revealed through dialogue and evidence.

• Climax at Balboa Apartments (46:59-48:42) Spade uncovers that Sven has died of natural causes (or possibly stress), and Mrs. Brownrigg, the elderly Doreen, is complicit. A hidden lock mechanism and narcotics are discovered in burned ship model remnants.

• Wrap-Up and Spade’s Signature Wit (49:42-51:15) Doreen clarifies the narcotics plot: she discovered drugs in the models, was used as an unwitting dupe, and tried to seek help. Mrs. Brownrigg is revealed as the mastermind, but Spade maintains his droll detachment.

  • Quote:

    “Did it ever occur to you that some people, especially old feeble people, just die quietly sitting in a chair? ... The point is, Effie, it does happen. Never in detective stories. Only in real life.”
    (Sam Spade, 50:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On fatigue:

  “Medical authorities agree that lost sleep can never be made up.”
  (Effie, Spade's secretary, 28:51)

• On the absurdity of nighttime cases:

  “I dreamed the whole thing. But those ship models, I didn't dream them. McCrae mentioned them. The girl mentioned them.”
  (Spade, 42:48)

• On Realism in Crime:

  "Never in detective stories. Only in real life."
  (Spade, 50:47)

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• Mr. District Attorney – Case Opening: 00:24

• Carter’s fatal phone call: 02:37

• Discovery of Carter’s body: 05:19

• Venus connection uncovered: 09:10

• Bomb kills publisher Harris: 13:15

• Showdown at Trigo’s cabin / Unmasking the criminal bosses: 22:00-25:13

• Sam Spade – Case Opening: 27:48

• Doreen’s appeal for help / Apartment skirmish: 31:33

• Discovery of Shepherd’s body: 37:19

• Police confusion with the "wrong Doreen": 41:04

• Discovery of drugs in ship models and case wrap-up: 48:11-50:14

Tone & Style

• Mr. District Attorney:
  Serious, earnest, invokes a sense of public duty, and features hard-hitting dialogue on justice and crime.
• Sam Spade:
  Irreverent, sardonic, and driven by Sam’s dry wit even as the case spirals into chaos and confusion.

Summary

This episode of Case Closed! presents two mystery classics, each showcasing the best of Old Time Radio’s blend of intrigue, deduction, and period character. In the first half, "Mr. District Attorney" delivers high-stakes investigative drama rooted in civic responsibility and the perils of organized crime. The second half, "The Adventures of Sam Spade," provides a tangled and playful noir romp through insomnia, mistaken identity, and a ship model drug ring—punctuated by Sam Spade’s legendary wisecracking. Both shine as icons of the genre, mixing suspense, surprise, and a touch of tongue-in-cheek commentary on the detective’s lot.