← Case Closed! (old time radio)
Case Closed! (old time radio)
This Is Your FBI and Richard Diamond
This week, Case Closed begins with Operation Ransom, from This Is Your FBI. That story was originally aired on March 9, 1948. (29:06) Our final story is The Rene Bennet Protection Case, the October 22, 1949, episode of Richard Diamond, Private Detective. https://traffic.libsyn.com/forcedn/e55e1c7a-e213-4a20-8701-21862bdf1f8a/CaseClosed944.mp3 Download CaseClosed944 | Subscribe | Spotify | Support Case Closed
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Narrator
This is Case Closed. Thanks for joining me this week. We'll begin our hour of mystery with this Is yous FBI with their episode from March 19, 1948 titled Operation Ransom. After that, it's Richard diamond, private detective and the Renee Bennett protection case. That story aired October 22, 1949. The Equitable Life Assurance Society presents this is your FBI. This is your FBI. The official broadcast from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Presented as a public service by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and the Equitable Society's representative in your community. Foreign. Are you covered by Social Security? Then please listen carefully. Public opinion polls by the Equitable Life Assurance Society show that millions of Americans know little about their Social Security. Yes, according to these Equitable Society surveys, you may be failing to safeguard rights worth thousands of dollars. Therefore, as a public service, the Equitable Life Assurance Society will devote this program's entire middle commercial due in just 14 minutes to information on Social Security. Information that may mean money in your pocket. Tonight's FBI file, Operation Ransom. The motives which lie behind the more than one and a half million major crimes committed every year in this country are as varied as the types of crimes themselves. Some criminals engage in illegal activities because of the temptation for so called easy money. Others commit crimes out of passion or because of a craving for revenge. But whatever the motive, every criminal believes that he will succeed without paying for his crime. He is sure that circumstances will conspire to make his capture impossible. Because, as he sees it, he has every advantage on his side. Not only must he be captured, but he must then be proven guilty beyond the shadow of a doubt. What he does not realize is that actually there are no advantages on his side except for one. That single asset, which always belongs to the criminal is the element of time. For he alone is the one who decides when the crime is to take place. He alone is the one who decides which is the proper moment for him to strike. Tonight's file opens near a bridal path in a large park in a Midwestern city. Two men are strolling along a gravel path. Take it easy, Harry. For walks are fast. We're not going anyplace. Yeah, okay. It's a lovely spring morning, Harry. Man doesn't get enough of these. Yeah. Look around you, Harry. Isn't it glorious? George, you didn't come out to admire the scenery. I know. Harry, we got work to do. Still enjoy nature. Just look at that grass. The tiny green buds in the trees. George, there she goes. I see her. She's right on Time again. She's been on time every day now for a week. So she has, Harry. Well, ain't it about time we made our move? We're not ready yet. That's what you've been saying all week. Ain't ready now, we'll never be. Harry, I've told you before. The success of any venture rests on the clock. We got plans. If we haven't insured them yet. When will that be? When we know everything there is to know about Alice Woods. Every habit she has, every friend she has, even every hat she wears. Those things take time, Harry, but they reduce the risk. That's the important thing. I know, I know. We'll be ready soon. When we are, the young lady will be kidnapped. A few days later. In the local FBI field office. Special Agent Jim Taylor has just entered the office of Agent in Charge Evans. Good morning, sir. Good morning, Jim. Sit down. Thank you. Here's the name and address of a woman who just called me. I'd like you to go over and see her. All right, sir. This is Martha Wood, 720 North 50th, Sweden. Mrs. Wood said that her daughter is missing. How did she happen to call here? She called the local police and they suggested that she get in touch with us. There's a suspicion of kidnapping and that's why we're in it now. It may may not be the reason she's missing, but we're better off playing it safe and getting in at the start. I see. Sir, did Mrs. Woods tell you anything? Yes. She said that she got a phone call from a girl named Rosemary Rice who's a friend of her daughter's. What's her daughter's name? Alice Woods. The girlfriend said that she was riding a horse in the park this morning. Some hundred yards or so behind Ms. Woods. She saw the missing girl stop and dismount. Where was that, sir? Near 53rd street entrance to the park. She walked over to talk to a man who had called her while she was riding. Ms. Rice didn't recognize this man, did she? I don't know, Jim. At any rate, the man walked the girl over to a car that was parked at the roadside. There they met another man and the three of them spoke for a few seconds. Then Ms. Woods was forced into the car and it drove off. Any description on the car? Yes, it is a 1947 Buick sedan. Color black. Any license plate number? No, but it was an out of state license. Out of state? Go up and see if you can get a picture of Alice woods from her mother. You can have some copies made. All right, sir. I'm also putting Bob Clinton on this case to work with you, Jim. Fine. As soon as you get back, we can have a meeting and decide which move to make first. Who's that? Me. Oh, how is everything? Young girl's asleep. I was just in there. Did you wake up at all? No pills, really. Put her away. I wish I'd taken some. What do you mean? I couldn't hear that music. What are they playing on? Washboards? Harry, you just aren't a music lover. That's music customers. Think so. You ought to go downstairs and see the business at Joint Store. No, no. No, thanks. Bad enough up here. I just sent the note to Jocko. What'd you ask for? 25,000. I wonder if he'll go for it. Got to. This is his daughter. He loves a kid. 25,000 is a lot of moolah. Not to Jocko. I say, suppose he goes to the comps? Harold Bookmaker can't go to the computer. That's why we picked the guy. That's one of the things I was trying to explain to you when I told you about calculated risks. I know. I remember. What's our next move? Well, we wait for Jocko to answer the note with the ad in the paper. Then we tell him where to plant the dough. Now, how long do you figure that'll take? If all goes well, about another day. How many times a day do they play that music now, Mae? From nine to closing? About six hours. Just about. Make it. Excuse me, sir. Yes, Jim? I got Alice Wood's photograph from the mother. Good. Have you ordered any copies? Yes, sir. Oh, I found out something about the girl that might give us the motive for the kidnapping. What's that, sir? Her father is Jocko Morgan. The bookmaker? That's right, sir. How'd you find that out? Mrs. Woods told me that she had received a phone call from her ex husband. He said that he'd gotten a ransom note and wanted to know whether or not the girl really had been kidnapped. And Jack O'Morgan is her ex husband? That's it, sir. They've been divorced for 15 years and Mrs. Woods has resumed her maiden name. Oh, incidentally, she told me that her daughter believes that her father is dead. Have you been to see Morgan? Yes, sir. I went over to his apartment. Did he give you the note? No, not at first. In fact, he denied any knowledge of it. He was probably going to pay them money and not say anything to the police. I imagine so, yes. But he finally agreed to talk about it. In fact, he wound up dead, begging us to help him find his daughter. That's a bit ironical, a man like Morgan asking the law to help him. Yes, isn't it? Well, we have to give the same cooperation give to any other citizen. I realize that, sir. So I advised Morgan to follow the kidnapper's instructions and place the ad in tomorrow morning's papers. Where's the ransom note? I have it right here, sir. Send it down to the lab for a check against the paper and typewriting standards. All right, sir. Mr. Evans? Oh, come in, Bob. Yes, sir. Hello, Jim. Hi, Bob. I just interviewed the Rice girl, sir. Alice Wood's girlfriend? Yes, sir. She told me she could recognize one of the men if she saw him again. Did she describe him to you? No, not very well. But I'm going to meet her tomorrow morning at police headquarters and have her go over some pictures for us. Jim. Sir? You take Bob out to your desk and bring him up to date on the new elements in this case. And when you're finished, check back here with me. Who's that? Who are you? Don't you remember? Oh. Oh, yes. You had a good sleep, didn't you? Where am I? In room. I mean, where. What is this place? It's village. I want to go home. I don't blame you. Why are you keeping me here? It's a matter of money. What do you mean? We're holding you here till your old man pays off. My father. That's right. But my father's dead. Since when? He died when I was a little girl. Oh. Had me scared for a minute. So you won't be collecting from him? Oh, yes, we will. How? He ain't dead. What? I just seen him last week. My father? Yes. Your old man is Jocko Morgan, the biggest bookmaker in town. But if you think he's dead, you can get three to one from him personally. That he ain't. You're lying. Well, now, look. I can boo with you. Who's that? I'll be right with you. But wait a minute. See you later. The girl awake? Weak and crying. What's she crying about? I don't know. I just told her old man was a bookmaking. She'd bust into tears. Sure wouldn't make me cry if my old man was a bookmaker. Yeah. Look at this. What is it? Chuckle ran the ad. See it? Oh, yeah. When do we get the dough? You go in for it tonight. Busy, sir. Come in, Jim. The ransom money has been planted. Good. We went to the Vacant lot where it was supposed to be left. Morgan put the package beside the big rock with a white cross on it. Clinton stayed up there? Yes, sir, he did. He has a good vantage point. He'll call in just as soon as the money is picked up. Fine. Oh, did anything come back from the lab on that ransom note, sir? Yes, but it wasn't much help. The paper is a cheap, common brand, and the typing was done in a typewriter without too many distinguishing marks. Pardon me, Jim. Evan's talking. Hello, sir. This is Clint. Yes, Bob, what have you got? The money was just picked up. Who is it? Right. Did you get it? Hey, yeah, swell. Any trouble? No. All right, let's have the package. Sure? Yeah, it's torn open. I. I just took a peek at stuff, make sure it was real. You sure nobody tailed you? No, no, nobody tailed me. Last five miles, I was the only car on the road. What would you help? You. How? Counting the money. I can do it. All that tweet stuff, and it's real and it's hours. It's beautiful. Beautiful. Now all we got to do is return the girl. The job's over. I forgot to tell you. We're not returning them. Why not? Well, I had a talk with her. It seems she's not willing just to go home and forget all about this. She says she's going to the police and tell them that we did the job. She don't know who we are. She knows what we look like. Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's true. Well, what are we going to do with it? You're going to take her partway back to town to the Smith Park Bridge. Then what? Then you get rid of her. Oh, now, look, Harry, all I said in the note was that when we got the money, we'd release her. Well, when you get to the bridge, release her into the river. We will return in just a moment to tonight's file, which shows how your FBI provides national security. Now, a timely announcement on Social Security. Equitable Life Assurance Society surveys indicate that most people know little about their rights under Social Security. To correct this situation, the Equitable society offers listeners a special service consisting of three steps. First step, full information. Your Equitable Society representative is an expert on Social Security. He's qualified to answer such puzzling questions as. Suppose a widow waits three years after her husband's death before making a claim for Social Security. Can she collect all the back payments she might have received? The answer is no. Your equitable representative will explain. Why does a man automatically start to receive Social Security benefits on his 65th birthday. Again, the answer is no. Your Equitable representative will explain why. The second step in this Equitable service is an immediate checkup on your position under Social Security. Since some errors cannot be corrected after four years, the Social Security Administration advises you to protect yourself by checking up regularly. Your Equitable Society representative will supply you with a special form approved by the Social Security Administration and show you what to do with. Then you're ready for the final step. That step is to help you build Social Security into full security. After you've found out where you stand in Social Security, your Equitable Society representative will show you how a comparatively modest investment in life insurance will build Social Security into full security. He'll show you how life insurance and Social Security working as a team can give you and your family a future free from money worry. There's no obligation whatsoever. So see your Equitable Society representative or write care of this station to the Equitable Life Assurance Society. That's EQI T A B L E The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. And now back to the FBI file. Operation Ransom. Those who have made the field of crime their life work, who study constantly in an effort to understand the mind of the criminal and the forces which impel him to break the law, have agreed that there is no common prototype among the seven and a half million persons with arrest records in the United States. Some dress well, some dress badly, some are well educated, some are totally unschooled, some are tall, some are short. The various discrepancies between any two criminals can be as wide as those between any two law abiding citizens. And yet they do have their common bond. The things which make every criminal kin to every other criminal. One of those things, and this applies to those who commit crimes against property or crimes against a person, is that he is insulated against any feeling of compassion for his fellow man. To him, to the true criminal, the world exists so that he may live. And the easier that living comes, the better he likes it. Tonight's file continues at the local FBI field office. What time is it, Jim? I have 12:23, sir. So have I left my watch steps? I hope nothing has gone wrong. So do I, Jim. Girls should have been released by now. Unless they've been holding her an awful long way from town. Yes, I know. How long do you think we ought to wait, sir, before we start searching? We don't hear anything by 1:00, we'll go into action. We got the serial numbers and the bills that Morgan used to Pay the ransom? Yes. The stenographic section is making copies of the list now. As soon as it's prepared, we'll start printing the ransom list for distribution at 1:00. We'll send a copy to each of the newspapers, ask them to print it. You know, it's too bad we can't mark the money in cases like this. Yes, it is. But we don't dare gamble with the victim's life. I don't know, sir. Mr. Evans, can I come in? Yes, Bob, what have you got? Alice woods has been found. Where? She ran up to the toll gate at the Smith Park Bridge a few minutes ago. She all right, Bob? Well, she was exhausted and suffering from shock. Where's she now? At the Memorial Hospital, sir. Jim, you and Bob get over there at once. Hello? Hello, George. This is Harry. What are you calling up for? We got trouble, George. Why? What happened? Well, I. I go to the bridge like you said. Yeah? And I. I stopped the car and opened the back door. Go on. But I. When I opened the door, she ran out the other side of the car. How could she do that? She was tied up, wasn't she? Yeah, but I. I guess she must have worked herself loose. What? Did you catch her? No. No, I couldn't. What? It was dark. She got away. You stupid fool. I planned everything perfectly. I'm sorry, George. A lot of good that'll do us. There's no telling how much she knows about where she was being held. She could lead the cops right back here. No, no, no, she can't. She was still blindfolded just before I stopped her. George, what should I do now? Come on back here as fast. Ms. Wood, do you feel up to talking about your experience? Huh? Yes, Mr. Taylor. I'll tell you whatever I can remember. That's fine. Thanks. Now, first we'd like to know how the kidnappers approached you. Well, I was riding in the park when a man standing on the side of the bridal path called after me. Did he know your name, Ms. Woods? Yes, Mr. Clinton, he did. That's why I stopped. I see. I rode back to where he was standing and that I had to come with him right away. My mother had been in a serious accident. He didn't say where it is? No, sir, he didn't. What happened then? I dismounted. The man led me to a car. When I got there, I saw another man. This second man, was he behind the driver's wheel? Yes, that's right. I asked what kind of an accident Mother had, hadn't the man said she'd been driving her car down Oak Avenue, been hit by a truck. I knew then that they were lying to me because Mother doesn't drive. I started to scream, but the man had called me, clapped his hand over my mouth and threw me into the car. And that's when they drove away with you? Yes, sir. What did they do once they had you in the car, Ms. Woods? The man in back with me blindfolded me and put a gag in my mouth. Then he covered me with a blanket. And did both men drive you back to the Smith Park Bridge tonight? No, sir. Only one of them. That's how I was able to escape. I heard them planning to kill me. So when I got in the car, I used all my strength and finally I got my hands loose. Were you gagged and blindfolded on the return trip, too? Yes, sir, until I got my hands loose. And that wasn't until just before we got to the cliff by the bridge. Ms. Woods, you don't know where you were held, do you? No, sir. I haven't the faintest idea. Well, is there anything you can tell us about the ride? After you got in the car park, did you hear any odd sounds or any conversation between the men? Well, let me think. Oh, a little while after we started, one of the men asked the other one for a quarter for the bridge. Must be the Smith Park Bridge. It's all there's a quarter for. Ms. Woods, would you know which way you turned when you got off the bridge? No, I don't, but. But I remember after we rode a while, I heard some planes warming up as if they were about to take off. You're sure they weren't flying above you? Oh, no, sir. I've done some flying and I can tell the difference. Good. Now, is there anything else? Oh, yes, A little bit after that, we went past what sounded like a waterfall. A waterfall? Yes. There are no waterfalls in this section. That's what it sounded like to me. Mr. Clinton. I'm sorry. Please go on. Let's see, we rode for a little while more and. And then we got on a bumpy road. Do you remember which way you turned to get onto this bumpy road? I don't remember turning. We only went a very short way on it, though, before we stopped and I was carried into a building and taken upstairs. Still blindfolded? Yes. Now, did you hear anything in this building? Well, not then, but. But later on, after they fed me my dinner, I heard some music. You remember where it came from, Ms. Woods? It seemed to come from underneath where I was first. I thought it was just a radio, but they played so badly, I decided it was real music. Ms. Woods, can you describe these two men to us? Yes, surely. Good. Suppose you start right now, Father. Yes, Jim. Alice woods identified the two pictures I brought her as the men who kidnapped her. Oh, good. Who are they? One of them is George Payne. The other is Harry Rawlins. Here's some copies of the pictures. Fine. Now our job is to find out where they took the girl. Oh, I picked up that map you wanted as well. That's it. Mm. Now, here's where the trip started. And this is the exit they used to leave the park. Right. And they went up the drive to the Smith Park Bridge. Now, the problem is which way did they turn when they got off the bridge? We know they went past an airport very soon after they left the bridge. Look, there's Hurley Field. Right. They'd have gone by that if they turned left. Jim, if they turned right, they'd have gone by Western Airport. Yeah, well, they could have gone either way. That's right. Now, the next thing Ms. Woods remembered was that waterfall. That's a real baffle. I know that section. There is no waterfall. The only. Bob, I know what it was, but it was the Barrel Point Dam. I remember seeing a story in the paper this week that they opened the sluice gates on the dam because the water got too high. Well, then they must have turned right off the bridge. Check. And the next thing is that bumpy road. If we find that, we can find out where she was held. Let's see. She said they only went short way on it. I know that highway. There are no side roads on it. And I drove it last summer. It's as smooth as glass. I shall. Hey, wait a minute. What is it? Got an idea, Bob? Let's get to a phone. Who's that? No. Doug. Hello, genius. Look, I. I told you I was sorry, didn't I? It doesn't make up for your mistake. There was nothing I could do. Could have seemed to it that you didn't get away. You need brains in this business, Harry. Look, George, I know how smart you are, but I'm kind of tired of hearing about it. Suppose you give me my money and we'll call it quits, huh? What money? My cut. You better forget that. You're not getting anything. That's a joke. I ain't laughing. I'm dead serious. George, you can't do this to me. Harry, I have a gun here that permits me to do anything. Who's that? All right, step back. Hey, what is this, the FBI? You let him tear you back here. No, he didn't. All right, come on, you two. Yeah, but we. We're not going to blindfold you like you blindfolded, Ms. Woods. We're going to let you see where you're going. And I have a hunch you'll recognize the jail when we get there. George Payne and Harry Rollins were tried, convicted and sentenced to serve 50 year terms in a federal prison for kidnapping. Your FBI was led to the roadhouse where Ms. Woods had been held captive. Because every clue, no matter how slim it appeared, was followed to its conclusion. One of those clues was that Ms. Woods remembered that she had been driven by the kidnappers over a bumpy road. And that the car had stopped. Shortly afterwards, a check with the State Highway Commission showed that there was a part of the highway under repair but open to traffic. The roadhouse was situated beside that section of the highway. And so your F. B I was able to close another file. To close it the way almost every kidnapping file has been closed. With the word convicted stamped across it. In just a moment, we will tell you about next week's exciting case from the files of your FBI. Now a quick review of the 3.6 Social Security Service offered by your Equitable Society representative. First, it gives you a clear picture of what Social Security can accomplish for you. Second, your Equitable Society representative supplies you with the special form approved by the Social Security Administration for checking up on your position. Third, he shows you how easy it is to build Social Security into full security. Take advantage of the special service offered without charge by your equitable representative. And the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. Next week we will dramatize another case from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A factual account of the operation of a stolen car ring. Its subject, interstate theft. Its title, the unwilling partner. The incidents used in tonight's Equitable Life Assurance Society's broadcast. Are adapted from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, all names used are fictitious. And any similarity thereof to the names of persons living or dead is accidental. Tonight the music was composed and conducted by Frederick Steiner. The author was Jerry Lewis. Your narrator was William Woodson. And Special Agent Taylor was played by Stacy Harris. This is your FBI is a Jerry Devine production. This is Larry Keating speaking for the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. And the Equitable Society's representative in your community. And inviting you to tune in again next week at this same time when the Equitable Life Assurance Society will bring you another thrilling story from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The unwilling partner on this is your FBI. This is abc, the American Broadcasting Company. Here's Dick Powell as Richard diamond, private detective. Hello, there, this is Diamond. You know, I like to say that. Hello, there, this is Diamond. I don't know why. Maybe it's just because I say it all the time. Hello, there, this is Diamond. You know, I think it sounds kind of. Well, pretty bad. Of course, I'd rather say, hello there, this is. I've got a sponsor, Diamond. But that's silly too, because if I had a sponsor, I wouldn't have time to say, hello there, this is Diamond. I'd be overshining his shoes. Confused. Well, so am I. Want to get really mixed up. Let me tell you what happened last week. This is real silly. So silly, it wound up with murder. I was sitting in my office thinking about June Allison, when the phone rang. Diamond Detective Agency. No other corpse can make that statement. Oh, Rick, don't believe it. Just listen to what one of our satisfied customers has to say about Diamond. I've been buried now on the third year. Rick. Hello? Alan, you idiot, what are you doing? I know this will throw you nothing. No washing today. Finished an hour ago. Oh, by the way, I got a beef. A beef? Yeah. Those socks you knitted for me shrunk so much, I need four more pair. Well, if they shrunk, what do you want with four more pairs? Gonna start a new fad. Gonna wear them on my toes. You know, toe socks. Well, if I knit you four pair, that'll only give you ten altogether. By George, you really pulled off a speedy, didn't you? Well, howdy. Wasn't half as bad as some of those gas plays you come up with. All right, smarty. Now, what's on your rural mind? Want you to do me a favor. Like for instance? No. For instance, I told you a friend of mine would come up and see you and I want you to do what you can for him. Mr. Diamond. Hold it a minute, honey. Yeah? Mr. Diamond, I was told to look you up. I am Renee. Rick. What is it, Helen? Yeah, what's the matter? Something just tiptoed into my office. I got a hunch you know about it. Oh, maybe that's Renee. That's what it says. If you are Mr. Diamond, I wish you'd please pay a little attention to me. Or aren't you interested in a potential client? Hold it a second, honey. Sure. I'm always interested in a potential Client. What did you do, lose your wedges? I beg your pardon? Forget it. I've got Ms. Asher on the phone now. She just told me you were coming up. Oh, well, please say hello to Ms. Asher. She's such a darling. Yeah, Honey? Renee says to say hello. Says you're a darling. Well, say hello to Renee. He makes my hats for me. I get the story from him. Call you later. Now, Mr. Renee, your full name is Benet. Renee Binet. How do you do? How are you, Mr. Benet? Mr. Diamond, I have a problem and Ms. Asher seemed to think that you could help me with it. Depends. Cigarette? No, thanks. I never use them. Depends on what? You don't even know my problem yet. Look, I don't care if you swipe John Frederick's toupee. For a hundred dollars a day in expenses, I'll grow a mattress on his skull. Mr. Diamond, I can see that you don' Know much about hats. You are so wrong. Am I? Well, it may interest you to know that John Fredericks are two people. Mr. John and Mr. Fredericks. Look, Mr. Benet, I don't care if they're patrol number three of the brownies. Can you afford a hundred a day in expenses? Mr. Diamond, I am the new sensation in hats. You must look lovely. Okay, Mr. Benet, I take it you can afford me. Now. What's your problem? I want you to prevent a theft of my three latest creations. Hats. Creations, Mr. Diamond. Okay, creations. Why do you want to protect them? Why? Because someone is going to steal them before my false showing. How do you know that? Because on similar occasions the same thing has happened. Twice to be exact. The designs were stolen and two weeks later that low life George, my son, had his showing and my hats were the high point of his show. What did you do? What could I do? I couldn't prove it. If I attempted to expose him, he would have said that I was lying. Everybody knows how much we hate each other. I'd have been a laughingstock. Do you think he had the hat stolen? I'm sure of it. And I'm also sure that someone in my salon is responsible for the actual theft. You know, definitely no. No. But I suspect my partner, Gerald Winters. He's always been jealous of my ability. Mr. Diamond, couldn't you open a window or something? It's frightfully hot. Oh, it's. It's the air conditioning. I keep a bag of red lipped jumbos up in the vent. Sometimes they get stuck. Red lip jumbos? Pistachio nuts. You like hats? I Get hung up on pistachio nuts. Perhaps you should see a psychiatrist. I did. What happened? I sent him 5 pound of pistachios just yesterday. Oh. Oh, well, here's my card. I'll see you at my salon, Mr. Diamond, in about an hour. Oh. Oh, and something else. I don't want my partner or the help to know that you are a private detective. What am I supposed to do? Buy a hat? Well, I'll tell them that you're a designer from Hollywood. That way whatever you say will be all right. See you in an hour. You say this Richard of Hollywood is coming here to look at our new line? That's correct, Lillian. Never heard of him. Well, that's not so surprising, Gerald. There are a lot of people I'm sure you've never heard of. Especially the more famous ones. I don't like that. Oh, don't you? Well, I'm overjoyed that you're sure of one thing at least. Now don't you two start fighting again. I've never heard of this Richard of Hollywood either. Well, he's a. He's a new man. Works for the studios. He's made quite a sensation the last year or so. Well, I'm sick and tired of temperamental artists. I'm going back to my office. Well, why don't you do that, Gerald? Keep the books in the black, dear Potter, while I work to pay for your salary. You know, Rennie, someday I'm going to strangle you with one of your own hats. Why don't you buy yourself a barbell instead? Then the next time you get into a bathing suit, there'll be no doubt that you have muscles. Office boy. How can you two continue like this? It's frightful. Lillian, my love, I would rather join forces with a cobra than to keep on with Gerald. But he has an iron bound contract that assures him of at least 50,000 a year. I'm helpless. Yes? Come in. Oh, mister. I mean Richard. Come in, come in. Thanks. Thanks. You better go out and pour some water on your partner. I just ran into him. Gerald? What do you mean? Well, I was looking for you and he came up, introduced himself. You told him your name, Told him I was a hat designer from Hollywood. So he pointed out your office and said something about my lily white hands. And what happened? I didn't like the remark, so I shoved one of them down his throat. Oh, wonderful. This I'll have to see. I put a feather in his mouth. He can't miss him. Renee, don't you think? Oh, I'm sorry. Stupid of me. Lillian, this is Richard of Hollywood. What? Oh. Oh. Oh, yeah. Is something wrong? Oh, no, no, no. How do you do? This is Lillian Richmond, my junior designer and chief model. Now, you two think of something clever to talk about. I want to see Gerald, bloody nose, feather and all. Cigarette? You look nervous. No, thanks. So Gerald was the victim of a collision? Yes. Your friends call you Richard? It depends on how friendly they get. Then sometimes they come up with some real hair curlers. What do your friends call you? I prefer Lillian, but sometimes they call me Lil. Lil sounds more interesting. That's when they call me Lil. When things get interesting. You don't act much like a hat designer, Richard. More like you should be playing football. Oh, well, I. I started by designing helmets for Notre Dame. I understand you work for the movies. You with any particular studio? Oh, no, no, no. I. I'm. I'm with an independent company, Real Square Productions. We make training films. Training films? It was simply wonderful. I had to pour a glass of water on him. Several customers were so frightened they left. But it was worth it. And how are you two getting along? Arisha, I was just talking about foot. He was explaining the merits of a short pass. Oh, well, if you don't mind, Lillian, Mr. Richard and I have some business to talk over. Not at all. Get him to tell you how he started by making helmets. Maybe you'll get some new ideas. Renee. Helmets. Oh, my goodness. See you later, Risha. I'll wear my muzzle. Isn't she lovely? She has about as much conscience as a tiger in a chicken Cooper. Okay. Now. Now, what about our business? Oh, of course. Now, here's a retainer. I trust that 500 is enough to start on? My landlord will think so. What do I do? Well, I've told everyone that you're going to be with us until the fall showing. You want to see how I work? Perhaps take some designs back to Hollywood with you. Now, all you really have to do is to get to know the people that work for me. Now, be here from 9 in the morning to 6 at night and keep those designs from being stolen. Oh, by the way, where are the designs? In my safe here. Tomorrow they go to the designing rooms and that's when the situation becomes acute. We'll have nothing to worry about until tomorrow. So I'll see you tomorrow in the morning at 9. Okay. Oh, in case you need me, as my card, I'll write my home number on it. For some reason, when I get a client, they always run into silly little things. Like murder or something. You just might need me. See you in the morning. I left Renee and headed for my apartment. I had suddenly found myself in the horrible position of a man with a steady job. Nine in the morning until six in the evening. Now I'm a guy who can get along without too much sleep. Especially when the situation calls for it. Like the little blonde dancer that works over on 52nd Street. There was a situation. But this time I figured a good night's rest wouldn't do me any harm. So when I got home, I fixed a bite to eat, took a hot shower and climbed into my little sack. Okay, okay. Diamond. No. Hello honey. Now you stop that. Wake up. Oh, no, no. Who is it? It's Lieutenant Levinson. Well, bully for you. What time is it? It's 4:30 in the morning. Goodbye, Walt. Now you wait a minute. I'm just trying to make things easy on you. And what was that hello honey for? Oh, I was dreaming. What do you mean make things easy for me at 4:30 in the morning? Nothing's easy. I wanted to let you get here under your own steam. I know what a shock it'd be if I sent Otis down there to drag you out of bed. Oh yeah. Horrible. And a lady ate the fire. The Dracula was loose again. Hey, what do you want me there for? Well, I know you won't be surprised, but there's been a riddle killing. So what? So you're mixed up in it. Now get down here. Now wait a minute. Wait a minute. Who's dead? A guy named Benet. Auto accident. Renee Benet? Yeah, I guess that's the way you pronounce it. You see Otis, you mallet head, you were wrong. It's pronounced Benet, not Benny. That idiot was calling him Rennie. Benny what? How did you know I was working for Benet? Your card was found in his pocket. I'm at 125th street, so come on up as fast as you can. As soon as I get my football helmet off. Football helmet? You sleep in a football helmet? Well, I do. Don't you? Bye. I left the apartment and took off. The address Walt had given me. It was way uptown on Riverside Drive. It was cold and the fog had begun to drift in. I found Walt over near the prowl car and he briefed me. Rene Benet had been killed in an automobile accident. His car had crashed over a hundred foot viaduct. He went through the guardrail up there. Rick. Oh. Wonder what he was doing way up here. Certainly wasn't headed home. Maybe he was going to See someone? Maybe. Better check and see if he knew anyone out this way. Now, you wait a minute. You think something's wrong? Could be. Huh? He had a partner who might want him out of the way. Oh, it's a mess, isn't it? Yeah. Pretty badly burned before the fire boys got here. Wait a minute. Otis is over there with him. Otis? Probably warming his feet. He couldn't warm those big things on an atom bomb. Otis. Yeah, Lieutenant. Yeah, Lieutenant? Yeah, Lieutenant, did you find anything? Yeah, there's been a fire. Oh, get over here, Walt. What about that card you found in his pocket? Why didn't it get burned? It was in one of his suits over at his apartment. I put in a call, checked his license plate, found out who he was, where he lived and sent a couple of boys over. They came up with your card. You know how they all love you. Anything else in the apartment? Nothing yet. We'll get a report. Here I am, Lieutenant. He's getting smart. Oh, hello, Shamas. Otis, get the car started. We'll go back to the station, wait for a report about this accident. Yeah, a lieutenant. No, no. That's right. You touch that siren and I'll throw you out of the car. Guy can't have any fun anymore. Walt, when are you gonna get that report? At 6:30 in the morning. I know it's 6:30. I always yawn like this when it's 6:30. Maybe this is it. Yeah, I got that report, Lieutenant. Take the marbles out of your mouth. What did you say? Oh, yeah, sorry. I'm a little sleepy. Maybe you'd like me to sing your lullaby. That'd be silly. Well, then make sense. I got that report. Benny Bennet. Okay, he died from the fire. Autopsy showed he had slight concussion but not serious enough to kill him. What about the car? Wasn't tampered with. There was something funny, though. A steering wheel was smeared like someone had been wearing gloves. No, Prince Benny didn't have on any gloves. How'd the fire start? Cigarette in the upholstery. Cigarette in the upholstery. Okay, Otis, I'll call you if I need you. Go on back to sleep, you hear? Yeah. Renee was murdered. What makes you so sure, Walt? Otis said he had a slight concussion, but not enough to kill him, Right. Okay, you're gonna tell me that he was unconscious the whole time it took that fire to start. Ordinarily, a cigarette smolders a long time. Then why didn't he get out of the car? Because he didn't have time to wake up. Someone helped that fire along, got it burning in a few minutes and then pushed the car over the viaduct. That isn't enough. Okay, how's this then? Benet didn't smoke. Now that I'll buy. But how do you know? He told me. I offered him a cigarette. My office, this morning. Who do you think did it? Well, I know he had two enemies. His partner, Gerald Winters, and another hat designer, a George Marshawn. I'll have them picked up. No, no, no. Let him alone for a while, huh? Have some breakfast first and then go down to Renee's Salon when it opens. Quite a store. Yes. Oh. Oh, good morning. How's Richard from Hollywood? From hunger. Richard from Hollywood. All right. Oh, I wish Otis was here. He'd love this. Well, whose side are you on? Walt, this is Lil. Lillian Richmond. Walt. Lillian, this is Lieutenant Levinson. Lieutenant, Homicide. Oh, well, I hope he's just in to buy a hat for his wife. I'm not married, Ms. Richmond. Well, to buy a hat. Lillian, I just called Renee's apartment. Oh, what do you want? Walt? This is Gerald Winters. Who split his lip. He ran into a fist. Where were you between 3 and 4 o'clock this morning, Mr. Winters? What do you want to know for? Gerald, this is a lieutenant from Homicide. I think maybe something's happened. What could have happened? I was in bed from 11 o'clock till 8. Besides, what's a policeman doing with a great Richard from Hollywood? Did someone see one of his creations and strangled to death? Where were you around for this morning, Lillian? Also in bed, but I can't prove it. Why? Renee's been killed. What? You don't seem too upset, Mr. Winters. No. Well, you're right. As a matter of fact, I'm not. How did it happen? Carr went over the viaduct. Burned to death. Then why ask us where we were? It was an accident, wasn't it? No, it was not an accident. Mr. Winters. What happens to you now? You take over the firm? Yes, it all goes to me. I think you'd better come down to the station, answer a few questions. Oh, no you don't. This is absurd. I. I hated Renee, but I'd never kill him. Rick, do me a favor and go over to this George Marchand. Talk to him until I can send notice down to pick him up. You. You aren't a hat designer, are you? Bingo. You want another split lip? No, not. Lay off him, rick. Come on, Mr. Winters, let's go. I knew he wasn't. I just knew that man couldn't be famous in Hollywood. Or anywhere else. Well. Mm. Police? Private detective. The name's Diamond. Mm. Did you ever play football? Yeah. Stop back after you see Marshall. I'd like to find out more about the game. Strong line and a good backfield. You've played it. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. What can I do for you? George Marchand? Yes? I'm from the police, Mr. Marchand. The police? Your competitor, Rene Benet, was killed last night. What? He was burned to death in his car. Oh, but this is horrible. Horrible. But what has Rene's death to do with me? Well, we think he was murdered, and we're trying to find a good motive. Mr. Diamond, it's true that Rene and I were enemies. Everyone knew it. But to think that I would take his life is utterly absurd. Yeah. Where were you about 4 this morning, Mr. Mahjong? Well, I. I was in bed, asleep. Everybody sure had a dull evening. How well do you know Gerald Winters, Renee's partner? Oh, just slightly. How about Lillian Richmond? By reputation. Only one more question. When's your fall showing, Mr. Marshall? In two days. Well, be sure to be around for it. The police get very unhappy if a murder suspect catches the first plane for the border. Murder suspect. See you later, Mr. Marshall. I left Marshall counting his pulse and wondering just how much I did know. And if he could have seen what was going on in my little old mind, he might have grown a few white hairs. I grabbed a cab and headed for the 5th Precinct Police Station. And Walt Levinson, needless to say, he was not happy. Oh, now, you wait a minute, Diamond. I'm satisfied with Gerald Winters. He's the only one who had a motive. The only one who had a motive. That you can see. Too many things point to someone else. Give me a for instance. Oh, you always want a for instance. Well, hang it. You're trying to convince me that Winters isn't the killer, aren't you? Yes, I am. All. And I want a for instance. I want to know your reason. Well, Winters and Rene hated each other. Even as partners, they really wanted each other out of the way. Are you crazy? You just gave me the best reason for hanging on to Winters. Walt, when Rene was killed, he was 10 miles away from his apartment going in the other direction. So what did you find out? If he knew anyone who might live out that way. Even if he didn't know anyone out that way, I still say so. What? The killer went for a drive with him, got out there, hit him over the head, poured gasoline on the seat and dropped a cigarette. Pushed him off the Viaduct Winter smokes. I know. I sent a whole carton down to a cell to make sure you're right about how the killer did it. But do you think Renee would have taken a drive like that with a man he hated, knowing how much a man hated him? And another thing, it was pretty warm yesterday last night, wasn't it? Certainly was lousy weather. Okay. The killer wore gloves. Isn't that a little strange on a warm night? So we slipped on some gloves, didn't want to leave any fingerprint. No, no, no. The killer was driving. The report said there were absolutely no fingerprints on the steering wheel. If Renee was in the driver's seat, there would have been a few of his. Anyway, we couldn't tell whether he was in the driver's seat. He could have been thrown aside when the car crashed. But I don't get this glove angle. You want to catch a killer. What kind of a remark is that? Well, come on. Where are we going? Down to Renee's shop. We can get in through a window. I notice in the alley there are some designs in his safe. And, Walt, the killer has to get them out tonight. And there you are, Lieutenant. It's Jimmy. Rick, I don't like this. Busting into a place without a warrant. Oh, go on, climb in. And watch out for the burglar alarm. All right. Come on, Otis. Okay. Yeah, I'll give you a hand. Diamond. Well, that ought to be easy for you, Otis. Yeah. Why? Well, you could hold on with the other four and still have one left over. Grab me. Oh, is that so? You two layoff. Come on, Rick, show me where to go. Right over here in Renee's office. What makes you think the killer hasn't already stolen the plans? I wouldn't have done it the night of the murder. That would have shown a motive. Wouldn't have done it today. Too many people in the shop. Go on in. Gee. Spooky. I can't see a thing. Walt, watch this. Boo. For Pete's sake, Shaw, lay awful this time on them. Where do we hide? Just sit down anywhere and be quiet. The first person through that door is our killer. Clock is going to drive me crazy. You want me to shut it off? How do you shut off a clock? Stupid. Busted. Rick. Yeah? I still don't understand why that glove angle is so important. Well, as a single item, it's not so important. But along with the rest, it was the first thing that gave me an idea of the killer. Yeah, I think I got it. I did. Oh, Rick, it's 3:00 I don't think your killer's gonna show. Yes, I'm getting stiff. Hold it, Walt. I think we have a customer. Otis, get up and stand next to that light switch. Flip it on when I tell you. Yeah, right. Okay. Otis. Oh, hello, Lillian. Oh, you startled me. What's this all about? What are you doing here? Waiting for you. For me? I don't understand. I was just coming over to pick up some of my sketches. I forgot them this afternoon. So you waited until three in the morning? I had a date. Yeah. Otis, go out and drag in her date. Now, you wait just a minute. I don't know what this is all about. Mr. Diamond, would you mind telling me what this is all about? Sure, lover. Point by point, it goes something like this. Renee Benet was killed by someone he knew and trusted. He never would have gone for that riot otherwise. Benet didn't smoke. So the killer was an amateur and started the fire with a cigarette. The killer wore gloves and it was too hot that night for a man to wear them without looking suspicious. Are you saying that you think. Did you kill Bennet? Sure you did. Come on, you. Get in there. Take your dirty hands off of me. Here he is, Lieutenant. This is the guy in the car. What is this all about? You better ask Mr. Diamond. Although I don't think he'll make much sense. He just accused me of killing Rene. What? Good morning, Mr. Mahjong. I thought you didn't know Lillian. Well, prior to this evening. I did not. I. I called her because I. I wanted to talk to her about Renee's day. You're lying. Today at your shop, you call me Mr. Diamond. How did you know my name? Well, you told it to me. No, no, no, no. You're fibbing again. I just said I was from the police. Only one person who knew both of us could have called you. And she also knew I was on the way over to your shop, didn't you, Lil? The name is Ms. Richmond. Now prove that I killed Renee. You've got no motive. Well, the designs are enough to start with. You probably suspected I wasn't a hat designer. And you knew you had to work fast if you were going to get those designs to Marchand here before this fall showing. That's not true. Lillian never gave me any designs from Rene. You know, of course, Mr. Marchand, that if we stick your girlfriend with a murder wrap, you're an accessory before and after the fact. What? Sure, maybe you'll. Maybe you'll get to sit in a nice electric glove seat and hold hands. Oh, but I had nothing to do with the murder. Well, you know about it and you know who did it. That's enough to put you away for 20 years. Being mixed up in the actual motive might get you lied. No, no, no, no. She was the one that did it. She knew Winters would be blamed for it. George. Yes, she stole the designs for me because she wanted to ruin Bene and take over his salon. But I did not know she was going to kill him. Why, you dirty little man. You did know it. You did know it. You helped me plan it. If I got the best sketches for you, I'll take my eyes out. Get her away from me. Come on, lady, let's go. Okay, haul them both out of the car. Rick, I don't know how. Rick. Oh, no. Rick. Oh, why does he always disappear like that? Rick, what's that you're playing? That's a new thing. Kind of pretty. Don't cry, Joe. Well, sing it. All right, but. But you know that gripey neighbor in the other apartment building? Oh, don't pay any attention to him. You don't hear any of the other tenants yelling for you to shut up? Well, maybe they're not as forceful as the Grouch. You see, honey, I. I got a couple of letters. Letters from the people in that building. Most of them like the singing, but a couple feel the same way the Grouch does. Well, there's only one way to find out what all the people in the building think. How's that? Open the window and sing so they can all hear you. Okay, I'll buy it. You open the window. Don't you think maybe this is silly? I like you to sing when you come over here, but I don't want you to do it if no one else does. Now, go ahead. Okay. Don't cry, Jo. Let her go. Let her go. Let her go. Don't cry, Jo. Let her go. Let her go. Let her go. You've got to realize this is the windup. You'll feel much better once you make your mind up. Don't cry, Joe. Let her go. Let her go. Let her go. No reaction yet. Maybe they all took poison. Well, give them time. We'll find out soon enough. I guess so. Come on, let's go to the kitchen and case the ice box. You have just heard Richard Diamond, Private Detective, starring Dick Powell. Helen was played by Virginia Gregg, Lieutenant Levinson by Ed Begley. Also in our cast were Wills Herbert hi Averback, Kay Brinker, Clark Gordon and Jay Novello. Music was under the direction of Frank Wirth. Richard diamond is written by Blake Edwards and directed by Richard Sandville. Dick Powell soon will be seen in the screen version of the best selling novel Mrs. Mike. Now this is Eddie King inviting you to be with us again at the same time next week when we will again bring you Dick Powell as Richard Diamond, Private Detective. Saturday night brings you some of the week's best radio entertainment when you tune for the Stars on NBC. Stay tuned to NBC every Saturday evening for a great lineup of programs including Hollywood Star Theater, Ralph Edwards, Truth or Consequences, your Hit Parade, A Day in the Life of Dennis Day, the Judy Canova show and Grand Ole Opry. All the best on NBC. Stay tuned for Irene Dunn and Hollywood Star Theater on NBC Foreign for this week. You can find more from this is your FBI Richard diamond, this podcast and all of the Relic Radio shows at the website relicradio.com our shoutcast stream is up and running there as well with even more old time radio lots to listen to there, all made possible by your support. If you'd like to help out, visit donate relic radio.com or click on one of the links on the website. Thanks to those who have thanks for joining me this week. Be back again next Wednesday with another hour of Case Closed.