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Danny Clover
Welcome to Choice Classic Radio, where we bring to you the greatest old time radio shows like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube and thank you for donating@ChoiceClassicRadio.com Broadway's My Beat. From Times Square to Columbus Circle. The gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. My beat with Larry Thor as Detective Danny Foger. There are several ways to consider the moon over Broadway. It depends upon your job or the company you keep. You can hold somebody's hand and point to it. You can stand on a street corner and sneer at it. Or you can do it the way I did. Stick your head out of the window at police headquarters and try to focus through the haze laid down by the neon. I had just about focused when the interruption came.
Mr. Goodwin
My name Goodwin. They said. Walk right in.
Danny Clover
All right. Close the door.
Mr. Goodwin
I never saw such a sight in all my life.
Danny Clover
Sit down, Mr. Goodwin.
Mr. Goodwin
You really expect me to sit down after what I just saw? You really do.
Danny Clover
What did you see?
Mr. Goodwin
A murder with my own two eyes.
Danny Clover
Sit down, Mr. Goodman. You don't believe me, do you? I tell you, Mr. Goodman, the statistics are against you. We get a dozen calls a day from eyewitnesses to murders.
Mr. Goodwin
You see? I told you.
Danny Clover
Mostly they turn out to be nothing at all. Drunks, that sort of thing.
Mr. Goodwin
I saw a murder. I saw a man strangle a woman. I saw his face. I saw her face. He was furious. She was dying. I saw it. Now, don't tell me to sit down either.
Danny Clover
Tell me about it.
Mr. Goodwin
From the bus. The Acme Sightseeing looks to us. I got there early, so I got a seat near the window.
Danny Clover
What are you talking about, Mr. Goodwin?
Mr. Goodwin
The sightseeing bus. I had a seat by the window. That's how I saw it.
Danny Clover
Go ahead.
Mr. Goodwin
We had just left Chinatown. That was part of the tour. I didn't like Chinatown. It was murky and Oriental and made me feel finicky.
Danny Clover
Go ahead, Mr. Goodman.
Mr. Goodwin
We left Chinatown and we were riding along. I was watching the street signs go by. You know, 31st Street, 32nd Street, 33rd.
Danny Clover
I do that myself, Mr. Goodman. Go ahead.
Mr. Goodwin
Well, around about 35th street and First Avenue, I saw a murder.
Danny Clover
Go ahead.
Mr. Goodwin
It was in one of those houses. And I remember to observe something.
Danny Clover
And what was that?
Mr. Goodwin
The house was on the right hand side of the street going north.
Danny Clover
What did you do when you saw this murder, Mr. Goodman?
Mr. Goodwin
What does a responsible citizen do when he sees a murder while he's riding on a bus? He tells the bus Driver.
Danny Clover
And what did the bus driver tell you?
Mr. Goodwin
Exactly what an irresponsible bus driver always does. He said he had a schedule to keep.
Danny Clover
Pardon me, Mr. Goodman. Danny Clover speaking. Danny Mugavin. What's on your mind? Downtown, Danny. Girl's been strangled. Huh. Where? 2416 First Avenue, near 35th. Second house in the corner on the right hand side, going north. Danny? Yeah. Where are you? Back here, Danny. In the bedroom. Hi, Danny. In here. That overstuff chair facing the window. While she was. Yeah. What's that, my friend? People upstairs. Noisy type. Noisy plumbing. Yeah. Another kid tossing a ball on the floor. Sounds like a ball. Strangled. The bruises on her throat, Ripped dress. She's just a kid. 18. Music student. From London, Iowa. You saw the piano in the front room? Yeah. Who was she? Mugden. She took down to the big city to study music. Then here a month. Named Ann Cornell. Anything? Nothing. Danny. The ball game's over. Few letters from home. Danny. Pictures of her mother and father. A couple of dresses, coats in the closet. All the ordinary things for a girl from a small town. Maybe the boys from Technical. How do you do it?
Mr. Goodwin
How? How do you stand over a dead girl and haggle over a death? Tell me, how do you do it? Because I want to know.
Danny Clover
He called us, Danny. It says his name is Sandy McKay. Says he found a girl like that. You knew Anne, Sandy? Oh, get out.
Mr. Goodwin
Please.
Danny Clover
Get out.
Mr. Goodwin
Leave me alone with aunt. Just for a while. So many things that I never told her.
Danny Clover
Just for a while, please. How old are you, Sandy?
Mr. Goodwin
Oh, get out.
Danny Clover
19. Help us, Sandy. We want to find Anne's murderer. You'll help us do that, won't you, Sandy? What does it matter?
Mr. Goodwin
She's dead. Ann.
Danny Clover
You knew her back home in Iowa? No. No. Where? Where did you meet Ann? Through friends, Someone?
Mr. Goodwin
It was a school. I was walking down a hall and I saw her in one of the classrooms. I just went right in, right up to her and talked to her.
Danny Clover
Everybody laughed. What school? Panda.
Mr. Goodwin
This fence.
Danny Clover
School of Music.
Mr. Goodwin
She was studying piano there. My family wants me to be a musician. I hate it. But it was all right because all of a sudden, there was Ann in a room.
Danny Clover
You found her here like this? Tell me about that, Sandy.
Mr. Goodwin
We had a date. When I knocked, she didn't answer. And I called, and still she didn't answer. Then the door just opened. I guess it was a draft someplace. It just opened. So I came in and. Hey.
Danny Clover
Hey.
Mr. Goodwin
Don't touch her.
Danny Clover
Leave him alone. Leave him alone. A little while after that, the Technical Squad Arrived very efficient with their cameras, their dusting powder and their little black books. Sometime after that, they took Sandy McKay down to headquarters for further questioning. Then I went home to please. The next morning, I walked down Broadway, turned left two blocks and found myself in front of a tired building that has a lot of names. You take your choice, you walk up four flights and you get four offers. You're perfect for a fairy tale ballet that's opening in New York. You make a stunning cover on a muscle magazine. You can play ukulele with a college boy combo in Atlantic City. Have you got a song that's trying to be published? All of a swipey, of course. And on the fifth floor, you find what you're looking for. Alonzo and Blank Spence, School of Music. Learn as you learn. I went in. I beg your pardon? All right.
Mr. Goodwin
Trumpet playing like that gives me pimples.
Danny Clover
I don't know why, but my name's Danny Clover.
Mr. Goodwin
Danny Clover. Oh, you don't have to worry about that. We'll think of a fine name for you. Something that'll look good in life. Alonzo. Alonzo.
Danny Clover
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Mr. Goodwin
What is it, Blanche? Oh, another student, huh? What's your name, young fellow? He told me. Danny Clover.
Danny Clover
You don't have to worry about that. I'm from the police. Oh, the police band, huh? Let's hold that for a little while. I want to talk to you about one of your pupils.
Mr. Goodwin
That's a thing.
Danny Clover
Ann Cornell. Tell me about her.
Mr. Goodwin
A very talented girl. She is a nursing.
Danny Clover
I don't care about her talent. Mr. Spence. I've come to tell you. She said. I said she's dead.
Mr. Goodwin
But how? Yesterday she was here. How?
Danny Clover
Murdered. Strangled.
Mr. Goodwin
Oh, poor girl. Oh, sorry. What I've said, truly I'm sorry.
Danny Clover
You said she was here yesterday, Mrs. Spence. What time?
Mr. Goodwin
In the afternoon, as usual. Every day, Mr. Clover. She was a talented girl. She really was, Mr. Clover.
Danny Clover
Did you notice anything about her yesterday?
Mr. Goodwin
She was happy since that boy, Sandy McCain. Yes. Lucy walked into her classroom one day and started to talk to her. Since then, so happy, it showed her face. Music. Oh, who'd want to kill her?
Danny Clover
We're trying to find that out.
Mr. Goodwin
We'll help, won't we, Alonzo?
Danny Clover
Of course.
Mr. Goodwin
Ann Cornell enrolled a month ago. Paid for her tuition in advance. She came from London, Iowa. London, Iowa? Thank you, Blanche. She came regularly for her instructions. She met Sandy McKay. She seemed happy. What else? Well, that's all we know of her, Mr. Clover. Nothing more than that? Nothing at all. Hi, Danny.
Danny Clover
Guess who, huh?
Mr. Goodwin
I said, guess who, Danny? A former child's play. I play with the Cartaglia bloodhound Giuseppe, who always gets a laugh. Oh, when the cartaglia bloodhound responds to my humor like that, I just gotta up his rational, strong heart. I don't know, Danny. That dog, he just wraps me around his third finger last night.
Danny Clover
Whenever you finish laughing. Protective.
Mr. Goodwin
Oh. Oh, I'm finished, Danny. The next item on the agenda, Danny, is Fanny. I apologize for being funny. So kill me.
Danny Clover
I may.
Mr. Goodwin
Yeah, well, the next item on the agenda. To wit, the police department of London, Iowa have graciously completed our files on the deceased, Ann Cornell.
Danny Clover
You'll tell me about it?
Mr. Goodwin
Oh, it's a pleasure, Danny. Anne Cornell was indeed 18 years old. Did indeed come here to study the piano. Was from a respectable Iowa family indeed. Never a mark against the girl. Loved and respected by all on Sunday, eh? Her death is a big tragedy in our hometown.
Danny Clover
Danny, where is me? What else did I get?
Mr. Goodwin
New reports from Technical. They went over the girl's room with a fine tooth comb, claw and nail. Nothing. Nothing that didn't have a reason for being there.
Danny Clover
Fingerprint hers.
Mr. Goodwin
The boys, Sandy McKay and the set identified as belonging to the landlady who has 10 fingers and a dare tied alibi.
Danny Clover
Nothing.
Mr. Goodwin
I told you, Danny, in these departments, nothing. But in another department, something. Yeah, it could possibly be something.
Danny Clover
You'll share it with me, Cotaglia.
Mr. Goodwin
Oh, Danny, why should I share it? Belongs to you. While you were out, a phone call came in. I have the transcript here.
Danny Clover
Just telephone.
Mr. Goodwin
It's from a Mrs. Doris Beeler. Friend of yours, then?
Danny Clover
Never heard the name before. What did she want?
Mr. Goodwin
She sounded like a nice lady. She says if you will come to her apartment hotel, the Jackson on West 87th.
Danny Clover
She will. What I do?
Mr. Goodwin
She will tell you about the murderer of ann Cornell. Yes?
Danny Clover
Mrs. Bealer? Mrs. Doris Bealer?
Mr. Goodwin
Yes. What do you want, young man?
Danny Clover
I'm from the police, Mrs. Bealer. Danny Clover. I had word that you called.
Mr. Goodwin
Oh, yes. Please come in, Mr. Clover.
Danny Clover
Thank you.
Mr. Goodwin
The hallways in your city, they're so long and dark. No windows. I suppose it's because there's so little room to spread out here. This is my first time here. Mr. Clover. Yes. I'm from Iowa. I've never been away from home in my life, except once when I was a little girl. Oh, please sit down, Mr. Clover.
Danny Clover
Thank you.
Mr. Goodwin
You'll find that chair the most comfortable. They're all so wealthy.
Danny Clover
But you're from Iowa, Mr. B. From London, Iowa.
Mr. Goodwin
For a Year from London Ioway. Born and raised there and married there to Mr. Beer. I'm the teacher in London Ioway. How did you know?
Danny Clover
They told me over the phone. You could tell me about an Cornell's murderer.
Mr. Goodwin
Oh yes I can, Mr. Cover, I can. Oh, just the doorbell. I go see who it is and Send him away. Mrs. C. I'll only be a minute. Mrs. Bealer. Mrs. Bealer.
Danny Clover
Mr. Bealer.
Mr. Goodwin
What happened?
Danny Clover
Who was it?
Mr. Goodwin
Tell me, am I.
Danny Clover
She lay her body pressed against the wall of a narrow shadowed hallway. There was something serene in her face, a serenity that denied the spectacle, violent death it made of her. That closed her eyes against the blood. That soiled her clean dress. Her going away dress that was all. The silent corridor receiving her death and the serenity, nothing else. You are listening to Broadway's My Beat, written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and starring Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. There's this about Broadway. It'll lay your odds on anything. The girl walking towards you will smile. Two to one. Sorry, kid, you lose that one, but you're welcome to try again. The little guy eyeing the dances on the Spectacular. Three to five. He got lost in Dream Alley and can't go home. No play? No. Here's a good one. A Parlay on murder. 18 year old girl, studied music. Strangled. A woman shot down because she opened the door. And both from a whistle stop called London, Iowa. Clever, huh, kid? Make your play any way you want it. And at headquarters the next day, a man has been trying to tilt the odds in your favor.
Mr. Goodwin
You haven't listened to a word I said, Mr. Clover. All I ask of you is that you listen.
Danny Clover
All right, Mr. Goodwin, I'll listen. You were saying?
Mr. Goodwin
Now see, you haven't heard a word. Do you want to solve the murder of that poor little girl I saw being strangled? Do you really want.
Danny Clover
What is it you want to tell me, Mr. Goodwin? That you've solved the murder?
Mr. Goodwin
Practically. Practically? It was I who saw the deed. In the excitement of revealing the crime to you, I. I completely forgot a most important detail. A most lurid detail.
Danny Clover
And that is?
Mr. Goodwin
The man who was strangling that girl wore eyeglasses. Thick eyeglasses. There.
Danny Clover
The clover.
Mr. Goodwin
It's all yours.
Danny Clover
Taglia. Taglia.
Mr. Goodwin
Yeah, Danny, I am at your beck and call. Oh, you got company.
Danny Clover
The company's leaving. Sergeant, will you hold the door open for him? Goodbye, Mr. Goodwin.
Mr. Goodwin
But see here, you can't just dismiss.
Danny Clover
Goodbye, Mr. Goodwin.
Mr. Goodwin
That's the thanks I get? Well, it takes all kinds to make A word. I always say goodbye, Mr. Goodman. Whenever you're in the neighborhood, stop in to see it. I said something wrong, Danny? All right, so I apologize. Don't stand there biting my head off without opening your mouth.
Danny Clover
What have you got on Mrs. Beeler?
Mr. Goodwin
Thanks, Danny. Mrs. Beeler here we check the elevator. Boy, that's first. Nobody asked for her while you were in her apartment talking to her. Nobody went up even to that floor. They know because it's very quiet that time of day in that hotel.
Danny Clover
The other exit.
Mr. Goodwin
Check, Danny. There's a service entrance in the back. Nobody saw nobody come in or go out. Mostly because they didn't bother to care if anybody came in or out. They admit the possibility that somebody might have birthday.
Danny Clover
All right, all right.
Mr. Goodwin
Well, Danny, you yourself asked me.
Danny Clover
I hate myself for it. How do you got on? Mrs. Beeler from the London, Iowa police.
Mr. Goodwin
What? I expected that. She was a nice lady, known and respected by her neighbors. She was married to a Mr. George Beeler, music teacher, who is at present out of town from London Island. Oh, then those small towns, you know, there's something so peaceful about them. Many times have Mrs. Tartaglia and I entertained the wanderlust to go to such a town. We even. Yeah.
Danny Clover
Then you think the wanderlust can lead you back to your desk, huh? I think it can. Go on. Try Itaglia. Close the door gently on your way out.
Mr. Goodwin
Roger, we'll call.
Danny Clover
There was nothing to do after that except think about it. The process didn't lend itself well to the old familiar scars and the gently falling dust of police headquarters. I went outside. I almost made it to the sidewalks of the civilians pulled alongside of me and shot and the door open and Officer Torio lean toward me.
Mr. Goodwin
Hey, Danny.
Danny Clover
Yeah, what do you want?
Mr. Goodwin
Come on, Danny.
Danny Clover
Hi.
Sandy McKay
34Th Street, east side.
Danny Clover
Right in the subway. It took seven minutes to get there. The subway was going about its business. The comings and goings of the underground civilian. Except a corner of it. The corner defined around the green bench near the magazine stand. Three policemen in uniform held back a crowd whose face looked like it had a veil drawn over it. And the subway trains and the soft clickings of the mob. A man in a brown ready made suit shouldered his way. All right, Danny. Here, Come on, hold my hand. I'll get you through this barrier of curious omelets. What happened? Muggerman guy searched out on the bench. It happened to him. What's it? He was pushed into the side of a moving subway train. Witnesses? Yeah, that lady with the bundles the brown paper bag. Uh huh. Brief me. My L. Well, according to her, she just put a dime in a turnstile. She sees this man here standing near the edge of the platform reading the newspaper. And all of a sudden. Did you hear me?
Mr. Goodwin
Dang.
Danny Clover
And try it again. Yeah, yeah. Well, anyhow, a guy walked up and back up and pushed him against the train. The guy ran before anyone he knew.
Mr. Goodwin
What happened?
Danny Clover
The man on the bench. Identification? Oh, yeah, plenty of that. Hotel key, driver's license, Social Security card. Large cars. It works. Okay. Who is it? Right here. Name is Arthur Walker. A traveling salesman of shoes employed by the Black Parrot Shoe Company. A letter in his pocket indicates he was here on a buying trip. Where'd he check in? Anything on that? Yeah, Vickers Hotel in 47th Street. I know the place, Danny.
Mr. Goodwin
Respectable.
Danny Clover
Did you find out where this Arthur Walker came from? I permit you for you to ask me, Andy. Arthur Walker came from London, Iowa. I beg your pardon?
Mr. Goodwin
I'm sorry, sir. We can't register you with our baggage. Unless, of course, you pay in advance. And you can do that?
Danny Clover
I can do even better. Look.
Mr. Goodwin
Oh, a policeman. That's what the bad says. Does it? I'm quite near sighted. You might be from the gas company.
Danny Clover
Yeah, I might. You had a guest here. Arthur Walker?
Mr. Goodwin
Oh, he's one of most. My most desirable clients, Mr. Walker is. Whenever he makes a buying trip to New York, he comes to our hospital. The vicar in the vicar's chain had a guest. But we still have him.
Danny Clover
No, he's dead. Murdered, perhaps.
Mr. Goodwin
Shoten. Positively shocking. Poor Mr. Walker. He was always so generous. Never said goodbye without money in his time. Never.
Danny Clover
Tell me more about him.
Mr. Goodwin
Oh, he's a shoe salesman. Gave me a sample pair once. His demands were polite, modest. Only once did he call on me, the manager, personally.
Danny Clover
What did he call on you for?
Mr. Goodwin
For a ridiculous tourist type of thing. He wanted me to arrange a ticket for him on some Acme sightseeing tour. A sophisticated man like Mr. Daca in shoes and so on.
Danny Clover
The tour, when was it?
Mr. Goodwin
Why, it was the day before yesterday. That's it. The day before. Anything else?
Danny Clover
Nothing. Except your carnation wilted manager. Hey, Danny. I'm enjoying myself. I'm glad you are, Muggin. Exactly. Bus tour up nooks and down the crannies of old Manhattan is a revelation to me. I'm enjoying it. But I don't get it. Two men we know of took this ride. One saw murder, another got pushed in front of a subway train. Maybe somewhere.
Sandy McKay
Ladies and gentlemen, we see the Edifice known as the Radio City Music Hall. The fact to remember about this place is that in the lobby there is a mechanical boy that once an hour sings the song of the Mexican nightingale, the original Spanish language. Also in the lobby there are many interesting. We stop here for five minutes so that you can look at the Fulton street market.
Mr. Goodwin
In this market it is possible to negotiate for the purchase of Florida parfano lump crab meat gumbo shrimp.
Danny Clover
It's just a coincidence, Danny. What can happen on the sightseeing two and has to do with two murders? I don't know. Maybe just what you said, a coincidence.
Sandy McKay
On either side of the street. Ladies and gentlemen, we present the Bowery where the Fleis meets the Jack Up. I'm J.
Danny Clover
All out.
Sandy McKay
All out for Dreamy Dreamy China.
Mr. Goodwin
We will have a 30 minute stop over here.
Danny Clover
We too then. Sure.
Mr. Goodwin
Now. Now I want all of us to sit together in our little party. Acne Tours by special arrangement with the shopkeepers of Chinatown has arranged a delightful side tour during which you will be able to buy valuable and rare examples of oriental art at wholesale prices. Please follow me.
Danny Clover
We too, Danny. Just few mugged them, huh? Huh? How long do you think it'll take to get over to the house where Ann Cornell was strangled? To First Avenue and 35th by subway maybe seven minutes. Yeah, about that. That'll give a sightseer plenty of time to commit a murder and get back here to become a sightseer again. Wouldn't it Mugaban? Huh? Wouldn't it Mugaban? Enjoy Chinatown, kid. I'm gonna try it. Mugaban was wrong. The trip took eight minutes, but on the way up to Antonell's room there was a delay. A woman who told me she was the manager asked me what I wanted. I said the room of Antoinelle and showed her my badge to underline the point. He said Ms. Cornell's room had been rented to a piano teacher because it had a piano in it. She said listen. Then she said, see? I the music teacher sat there, his fingers moving over the keys of the battered upright. His face too. I watch.
Mr. Goodwin
That's the way it should be played. And see, I'll play it again.
Danny Clover
Easily.
Mr. Goodwin
I you are there. Now watch my right hand.
Danny Clover
I didn't know you were a piano teacher, Mr. Goodwin. Mr. Goodwin. Mr. Goodwin.
Mr. Goodwin
No one by the name of Goodwin is here. What do you mean by interrupting this lesson? Get out of here.
Danny Clover
I'm sorry. I didn't know you were giving a lesson, Mr. Beer. That's right, isn't it? You are. Mr. Beer.
Mr. Goodwin
Pay no attention to a man here. Now, I'll show you once more.
Danny Clover
I want you for murder. Mr. Beer. Mr. Beer.
Mr. Goodwin
Leave me alone.
Danny Clover
Leave me alone. For murder, Mr. Bernard.
Mr. Goodwin
You understand why I had to kill my wife, don't you, Aunt? She followed me here. She didn't want me to love you.
Danny Clover
And Arthur Walker? Why did you kill him? Please. How did you kill him, Mr. Bealer?
Mr. Goodwin
I had back home. It was scandal, Aunt and I. That's why you went away from me, wasn't it, anne?
Danny Clover
Arthur Walker, Mr. Billy.
Mr. Goodwin
Oh, I had to kill him. He was in New York selling shoes.
Danny Clover
Yeah. He was also on the Acme sightseeing tour with you.
Mr. Goodwin
Of course he was. Then he read in the newspaper about my wife's death.
Danny Clover
He knew you killed her, didn't he?
Mr. Goodwin
Yes.
Danny Clover
What about Ann?
Mr. Goodwin
Mr. Walker remembered he missed me. All the while. The bus stopped in Chinatown. He didn't see me again until the.
Danny Clover
Bus was ready to leave. And Walker did just what I did. Retraced his steps. You killed him in the subway.
Mr. Goodwin
He found out about Anne when he read that Ann was dead.
Danny Clover
Dead?
Mr. Goodwin
But you're not dead, Ann. You're not. Now, listen. Listen to me. I didn't mean it. You made me angry. You ran away from me. And then I came to you. And you tried to run away again. And I. I had to keep you here. I didn't mean to hurt you. Anne. Ann. Ann. Ann. Play. Play. Kiss me. I'll show you. I'll show you how.
Danny Clover
His finger gripped the ugly sounds and hurled them against the fact of an death. Again. Again. Again. Then the thread that bound his sanity gave way. There was a secret smile on his face. He knew Anne was sitting beside Broadway's dreaming Now it sneers and makes a fist at the night and the midway's boiling its yokels and clowns Are a jack in the box with leaps and dark doorways and it's a geek with no arms, no legs and no heart. It's Broadway. The gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway, My beat. Broadway's mighty stars Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover with Charles Calvert as Tartaglia. The program was produced and directed by Elliot Lewis. The musical score was composed and conducted by Alexander Curry. Included in tonight's cast were Joseph Turns, Norma Varden, Florence Robinel, Jack Crucian, Sam Edwards and Bert Holland. Sam.
Mr. Goodwin
Tonight on Sen Presents, you've been listening to the adventures of Detective Danny Clover.
Danny Clover
And Broadway as my beat and Pippa.
Mr. Goodwin
McGee and Molly join us again Monday.
Danny Clover
Night at 9:05 once again for Fen Presents. This is Air Force Sergeant Mark McCormick. Ram Sam.
Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode Title: Broadway Is My Beat: The Ann Cornell Murder Case
Release Date: May 14, 2025
Original Air Date: May 26, 1950
Host/Author: Choice Classic Radio
Broadway Is My Beat transports listeners to the bustling and often shadowed streets of Broadway, where Detective Danny Clover navigates a maze of intrigue and deception. This episode, titled "The Ann Cornell Murder Case," delves deep into a chilling murder mystery that intertwines the lives of two individuals from the quiet town of London, Iowa, now entangled in the vibrant chaos of New York City.
The episode commences with Detective Danny Clover receiving a call from Mr. Goodwin, an agitated individual claiming to have witnessed a murder. Mr. Goodwin describes seeing a man strangle a woman, identifying both victims by their faces and emphasizing the brutality of the act. Despite Detective Clover's skepticism—evident when he remarks, "the statistics are against you" ([01:25])—Mr. Goodwin persists, recounting the event that took place on an Acme Sightseeing bus after leaving Chinatown.
Notable Quote:
"I saw a murder with my own two eyes. I saw a man strangle a woman. He was furious. She was dying." — Mr. Goodwin [01:12]
Detective Clover delves into the details provided by Mr. Goodwin, identifying the location as 2416 First Avenue near 35th Street. Ann Cornell, the victim, is described as an 18-year-old music student from London, Iowa, studying piano for the past month. Clover uncovers ordinary facets of her life—letters from home, personal photographs, and typical student items—all suggesting a quiet existence disrupted by tragedy.
Notable Quote:
"She took down to the big city to study music. Then here a month." — Mr. Goodwin [03:00]
As Detective Clover investigates further, he discovers another suspicious incident: Arthur Walker, a shoe salesman from the same hometown, was found pushed in front of a subway train. Both victims share a common thread—a background from London, Iowa—which piques Clover's interest, hinting at a possible connection. The detective interacts with Alonzo Spence at the School of Music, uncovering Ann Cornell's positive demeanor and her interactions with Sandy McKay.
Notable Quote:
"Murdered, perhaps." — Sandy McKay [18:34]
The investigation leads Detective Clover to contact Mrs. Doris Beeler, a friend of Mr. Goodwin. Visiting her apartment at the Jackson Hotel on West 87th Street, Clover seeks vital information about the murders. During this encounter, tensions rise as Mrs. Beeler exhibits evasive behavior, prompting Clover to press further. Meanwhile, Sandy McKay provides additional witness testimony about Arthur Walker's last moments, revealing that Walker was recognized as a generous and respectable individual.
Notable Quote:
"She was happy since that boy, Sandy McKay. Yes. Lucy walked into her classroom one day and started to talk to her." — Mr. Goodwin [09:07]
In a dramatic turn, Detective Clover confronts Mr. Goodwin, leading to the unveiling of the true perpetrator. Mr. Goodwin's facade crumbles as he reveals his motive: jealousy and personal tragedy rooted in his past relationship with Ann Cornell and his subsequent actions leading to Arthur Walker's death. His deranged confession underscores the depths of his obsession and the personal vendetta that fueled the murders.
Notable Quote:
"I had to kill him. He was in New York selling shoes." — Mr. Goodwin [25:09]
Eyewitness Account: Mr. Goodwin's initial claim of witnessing Ann Cornell's murder serves as the catalyst for the investigation, despite skeptics dismissing such calls due to their often unreliable nature.
Connection to London, Iowa: Both victims hail from the same small town, suggesting that their lives were intertwined before tragedy struck in the bustling streets of New York.
Sandy McKay's Testimony: As a contemporaneous figure linked to both victims, Sandy provides crucial insights that bridge the two separate incidents, hinting at a common antagonist.
Arthur Walker's Background: Walker's respectable standing and recent participation in the Acme Sightseeing tour reveal discrepancies that lead Clover closer to the truth.
Mrs. Doris Beeler's Involvement: Clover's interaction with Mrs. Beeler introduces layers of deceit and hidden motives, complicating the investigation.
Final Confrontation: The climactic revelation where Mr. Goodwin confesses ties together all loose ends, exposing the personal vendetta that drove the heinous crimes.
Broadway Is My Beat: The Ann Cornell Murder Case adeptly weaves a narrative that underscores the complexities of human emotions and the unforeseen connections that tie individuals together. Detective Danny Clover's unwavering determination unearths a web of jealousy, past grievances, and ultimately, justice served in the neon-lit corridors of Broadway.
This episode exemplifies the golden age of radio detective dramas, combining suspense, intricate plotting, and rich character development. For enthusiasts of old-time radio and gripping mystery tales, Broadway Is My Beat: The Ann Cornell Murder Case remains a timeless classic that continues to captivate listeners with its compelling storytelling and unforgettable twists.
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