Case Closed! – "Nick Carter and Rogue’s Gallery"

Podcast: Case Closed! (Old Time Radio)
Host: RelicRadio.com
Episode Date: December 31, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Case Closed! brings listeners two classic crime mysteries from the golden age of radio: a Nick Carter, Master Detective tale titled "The Funeral Wreath: Or Nick Carter and the Mystery of the White Verbenas", followed by a suspenseful case featuring Dick Powell as Richard Rogue in Rogue’s Gallery. Both stories highlight the era’s love for clever detectives, elaborate alibis, and the unmasking of murderers through sharp observation and keen deduction.

Part 1: Nick Carter, Master Detective

Story Title: The Funeral Wreath: Or Nick Carter and the Mystery of the White Verbenas
Featured Characters:

• Nick Carter (Detective)
• Patsy (Assistant)
• Lieutenant Riley (Police)
• Officer Green
• Johnny (Feature Writer)

Key Discussion Points & Story Progression

[02:30] – The Case is Introduced

• A series of robberies plague Pine Street, culminating in the murder of old man Bramwell.
• Officer Green describes the night: while his partner steps away to check on his wife, Green spots a suspicious “undertaker” leaving Bramwell's house and placing a funeral wreath on the door.

[04:51] – The Corpse and the Undertaker

• The mysterious man, dressed in undertaker's attire, claims Bramwell died suddenly and hands over a card: “J. Atherton Osgood, mortician.”
• After a struggle, the man escapes; inside, Bramwell is found murdered, his head smashed in.

"This man interests me. He goes to commit a murder and takes a funeral wreath along to hang on the door of his victim's home. That's a new one on me."
— Nick Carter ([06:57])

[07:25] – Clues and Deduction

• Nick focuses on two clues: the funeral wreath and the business card, suspecting their authenticity might offer a lead.
• Johnny is dispatched to the library to dig up the Mortician’s Annual for information on J. Atherton Osgood.

[11:18] – Research Results

• The card belongs to a legitimate funeral home in Akron, Ohio. Johnny is tasked to find connections between Akron criminals and the current case.

[13:25] – The Wreath as a Key Clue

• Nick and Patsy visit local florists. Mr. Schwartz identifies the wreath as homemade, created by someone familiar with wreaths, not a professional florist, and notes the rare white verbenas used in the arrangement.

[17:01] – Linking the Suspect

• Nick contacts Mr. Osgood, who confirms an assistant—matching the killer's description—left his employ abruptly three months ago.

[18:35] – Undertakers Canvassed

• After questioning several undertakers, Nick and Riley learn a new assistant, “Mr. Carnes,” recently joined a local firm—matching their suspect’s profile.
• Carnes is preparing to escort a body to Cleveland and is suspected to be leaving with stolen jewels.

[21:22] – The Flowers Give Him Away

• Using the clue of the white verbenas, Nick locates Carnes’ home by spotting the rare flowers in the garden.

[23:07] – The Confrontation and Capture

• Nick confronts Carnes, accusing him of murder and robbery, and reveals the incriminating details:
  • The funeral wreath was homemade with unique flowers from Carnes' own garden.
  • The business card led back to his former job in Akron.
• Carnes attempts to shoot his way out, but is apprehended.

"Convicted by his own funeral wreath. Which is poetic justice if I ever heard it."
— Nick Carter ([25:10])

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Policemen’s Banter: Riley’s exasperation and Nick’s genial teasing, e.g.,
  "So long. I don't envy Riley when the reporters get after him." — Patsy ([10:06])
• Floral Clue Realization:
  "A florist told me that wreath wasn't made by a real florist, but by someone who's seen lots of them." — Nick Carter ([23:50])

Key Timestamps

• [02:30] Introduction of the crime
• [05:46] The undertaker’s business card clue
• [11:18] Mortician’s Annual yields lead to Akron, Ohio
• [14:44] Discovery that wreath is homemade
• [17:01] Confirmation: suspect was undertaker’s assistant
• [21:22] The flowerbed leads to Carnes’ home
• [23:00–25:10] Carnes confronted; confession and capture

Part 2: Rogue’s Gallery

Case: The Death Threat to Judge Colin Baker
Featured Characters:

• Richard Rogue (Dick Powell)
• Judge Colin Baker
• Betty Callahan (Reporter)
• Urban (Detective Friend)
• Mike (Photographer/Assistant/Accomplice)
• Mary Miller

Key Discussion Points & Story Progression

[29:44] – Characters and Setting

• Judge Colin Baker, notorious “hanging judge” turned criminal defense attorney, throws a cocktail party after a big case win.
• Rogue attends with Betty Callahan, reporter, and mingles with party guests, including figures with grudges against Baker.

[35:29] – The Death Threat

• Judge Baker receives an anonymous death threat:

  "You won't be alive at this time tomorrow night. You can't run so far that I won't find you and kill you.” ([35:39])

• Suspicion is shrugged off, but Baker is shaken and asks Rogue to stay as a bodyguard for $500.

[39:18] – Rogue Gets Sidetracked

• After Betty leaves, Rogue is knocked unconscious and kidnapped to Mulholland Drive, chained to a tree by the mysterious assailant.
• Urban rescues Rogue, who realizes someone wanted him out of the way for several hours.

[46:57] – The Judge is Dead

• Returning to the penthouse, Rogue and Urban find Judge Baker strangled to death in a locked apartment ("blue in the face," no external marks).

"Well, the judge will never be any debtor. Blue in the face. He’s been strangled."
— Urban ([47:27])

[50:00] – The Locked Room Puzzle

• Suspects include Mary Miller, recently acquitted by Baker and present at the party.
• Rogue detects a strange smell (cyanide) in the air and investigates further, suspecting cyanide gas poisoning instead of manual strangulation.

[52:11] – The Motive Uncovered

• Research at the library uncovers the anniversary of the wrongful execution of Harold Michael, sentenced by Baker; the real killer confessed later.
• Motive points toward revenge for a legal murder.

[55:03] – Confronting the Killer

• Rogue discovers Mike, the judge’s photographer at the party, placing a crock of acid in the air conditioning.
• Mike, revealed as Harold Michael’s son, had engineered cyanide gas release, using a timed acid drop mechanism to dissolve string suspending a cyanide pellet over acid.

“I executed the man who executed him in his own private gas chamber. Just like they do it at Quentin. I waited a long time for the chance.”
— Mike ([55:03])

• Mike refuses to surrender and leaps to his death.

[56:13] – Denouement

• Rogue recaps the mechanics of the case:
  • The murder was staged with scientific precision.
  • The death was both personal and poetic justice for the killer.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Dick Powell’s Cynicism:
  “Yeah, we couldn’t cred them. You can’t call a prominent guy like the judge a crook. And you can’t call a murderer a murderer after a bought jury says he’s not.” ([32:14])
• The Locked Room Logic:
  “How could he be strangled? ... The odor of cyanide is brought out by cigarette smoke.”
  — Rogue ([49:59], [52:41])
• Killer’s Righteousness:
  "I'm glad I killed him, Rogue. I'm coming after you, Mike. I'm not waiting. Rogue. I don't like the gas chamber. Mike, Mike, don’t come back here. I'm not sorry for anything. Tell them that was my payoff line, will you, Rogue?" — Mike ([55:57])

Key Timestamps

• [29:44] Introduction to Judge Baker’s penthouse and party
• [35:29] Judge receives death threat (anniversary reference)
• [39:18] Rogue is ambushed and kidnapped
• [46:57] Discovery of Judge Baker’s body
• [49:59] Rogue suspects gas poisoning (cyanide)
• [52:41] Motive uncovered – anniversary of wrongful execution
• [55:03] Confession and confrontation atop the penthouse

Thematic Notes & Tone

Both radio dramas feature brisk, witty dialogue and clever plotting—the hallmarks of vintage detective stories. The tone alternates between comically light (teasing among cops and sidekicks) and suspenseful, especially as each case races to its reveal. Listeners are treated to old-time charm, methodical clue-gathering, and poetic justice, with each culprit’s undoing tied to their own signature mistake.

Episode Highlights

• Nick Carter’s Analytical Skill: Tracking the killer through a rare flower, an undertaker’s card, and a homemade wreath.
• Rogue’s Locked Room Mystery: Ingeniously resolving how a murder is committed in a sealed penthouse via a timed poison-gas device designed for revenge.
• Classic Radio Wit: Banter such as,
  “Have your fun. But you’re laughing at this sick man. So long.” — Officer Green ([10:01])

Conclusion

This Case Closed! episode is an exemplar of old-time detective radio, seamlessly blending gripping mysteries, colorful character work, and slices of period lingo. Nick Carter’s stakeout pivots on rare flowers and a thorny trail of undertakers, while Richard Rogue cracks a scientifically elaborate murder and unmasks a son’s quest for justice. Both cases showcase the enduring appeal of radio’s golden age detectives and their sharp, humane, genre-defining style.