Broadway Is My Beat: The Ben Justin Murder Case 12/08/1950

Summary

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Podcast Summary:

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: Broadway Is My Beat: The Ben Justin Murder Case (12/08/1950)
Release Date: September 10, 2025
Host: Choice Classic Radio

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Overview

This episode of "Broadway Is My Beat" features Detective Danny Clover investigating the murder of Ben Justin. Set against the smoky, bustling backdrop of Broadway during the winter holidays, the episode weaves a tale of past secrets, blackmail, and a relentless quest for justice. The case pulls in old acquaintances, a cold-blooded insurance fraud, and an explosive revelation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Crime (01:38–04:33)

• Atmosphere: The story opens with evocative narration describing Broadway's winter setting, sharply contrasting the happiness of the city with the darkness of the crime scene.
• Discovery: Ben Justin is found in an alley, dying from gunshot wounds. He utters cryptic, vengeful words before dying, refusing to reveal his assailant.
• Notable Quote:
  • "Kill him. Kill him with my bare..." – Ben Justin's last words (03:06)

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2. Ben Justin's Widow: Evelyn (04:35–05:46)

• Interview: Danny interviews Ben's widow, Evelyn, who is curiously detached and uncooperative.
• She suggests Ben's life was full of shady connections, particularly at his former workplace—Imperial Insurance.
• Notable Quote:
  • "You get what you work for in this world... You want Ben’s killer? Find him. That way he'll belong to you. Just you." — Evelyn Justin (04:50)
• Evelyn hints that the insurance company might know more about Ben's dealings.

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3. Clues from the Insurance Company (06:32–08:21)

• Imperial Insurance:
  • Danny questions Kogan from Imperial, learning Ben investigated the infamous Colton murder case. After failing to incriminate the chief suspects (Johnny and Dottie Reed), Ben quit and became oddly close with those same suspects.
  • The Reeds inherited a large sum after their aunt’s murder, leading to suspicions.
• Notable Moment:
  • Kogan laments missing breakfast for police questioning (06:37), adding a touch of noir mundanity.

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4. Confronting the Reeds (08:45–10:37)

• Johnny and Dottie Reed:
  • The couple is defensive and disdainful toward police, showing irritation at being repeatedly questioned since their acquittal.
  • The encounter is tense, but unproductive.
• Notable Quote:
  • "It's gonna be like this for the rest of our lives... No matter what we do, where we go, it's gonna be the same way." – Dottie Reed (10:29)

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5. Revisiting the Colton Case & Forensics (12:20–13:34)

• Clover and Mugavin:
  • They pore over the old Colton murder trial, trying to find discrepancies. Ballistics proved the murder weapon was Johnny Reed's but there were no fingerprints.
  • The episode notes the Reeds’ airtight alibi and the failure to convict them, highlighting Danny’s frustration.
• Notable Exchange:
  • "What are you trying to build here?" – Mugavin (12:43)
  • "It bothers me. You mind, Mugavin?" – Clover (12:46)

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6. Murder Attempt on Evelyn Justin (13:53–17:38)

• Incident:
  • Danny and Mugavin respond to a panicked call from Evelyn Justin but arrive to find her dead after a brutal beating and a booby-trapped explosion triggered by the doorbell.
• Forensics:
  • The bomb is deemed amateurish. The technical expert describes it as "a clumsy imitation." (18:10)
• Notable Quote:
  • "Ring the doorbell and boom. Blast. Poof." – Tartaglia (18:22)

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7. The Post Office Clue (19:38–21:10)

• Crucial Evidence:
  • Swifty Crenshaw at the post office delivers undelivered mail for Evelyn, including a pivotal manila envelope.
  • The envelope contains a carbon copy of a magazine subscription—pointing back to the Colton murder.

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8. Tracking Down the Salesman (21:23–23:10)

• Lead:
  • The subscription was signed by Donald Fraser. He confesses he saw Johnny and Dottie Reed at Mrs. Colton’s house the day of the murder, which contradicts their alibi.
  • Fraser admits Ben Justin blackmailed him to keep silent.

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9. The Final Confrontation (24:28–28:36)

• Truth Revealed:
  • With the magazine subscription form as hard evidence, Clover confronts the Reeds with proof of their presence at the murder scene and their involvement in both Ben Justin's and Evelyn Justin's deaths.
  • Johnny tries to bribe Clover, then pulls a gun, but is ultimately subdued.
• Notable Quote:
  • "You going to stir it with that gun?" – Clover (28:18)
  • "No, I'm gonna kill you with the gun. You want one slug or two, Johnny?" – Johnny Reed (28:20)
  • "I've got what I want. Let's get your coat, Mrs. Reed." – Clover (28:36)

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Opening Narration:
  • "Broadway comes up with a miracle. Silver trees grow out of the sidewalks..." (01:38)
• Reed's Resignation:
  • "Let me sit down. Think about it. Serve the coffee, Dottie." – Johnny Reed, when faced with evidence (28:11)
• Holiday Irony:
  • "Merry Christmas, Danny. How much you want?" – Johnny Reed, offering a bribe (27:54)
• Coda:
  • The episode closes with a moody narration reflecting on the loneliness and vibrancy of Broadway at night (28:36–29:38).

---

Timeline of Key Events

| Time | Event Description | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 01:38 | Discovery of Ben Justin dying in alley | | 04:35 | Interview with Evelyn Justin | | 06:32 | Imperial Insurance interview, connection to old Colton case| | 08:45 | Interview with Johnny and Dottie Reed | | 12:20 | Cold case reevaluation with Mugavin | | 13:53 | Evelyn Justin's murder/explosion scene | | 19:38 | Undelivered mail clue from Swifty Crenshaw | | 21:23 | Donald Fraser’s confession | | 24:28 | Final confrontation with the Reeds | | 28:36 | Reed attempts to shoot Clover, is arrested | | 28:36–29:38 | Broadway nighttime closing narration |

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Tone & Style

“Broadway Is My Beat” stays true to the hard-boiled noir style, blending poetic, vivid street descriptions with clipped, emotionally charged dialogue. The exchanges crackle with 1950s sensibility: cynical cops, disillusioned suspects, and tension you could cut with a knife.

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Closing

This episode delivers a classic murder mystery with layers of misdirection and shadowy motivations. The poetic narration, sharp plot twists, and tightly written dialogue invite listeners into a world where justice is hard-won and no one—especially on Broadway—is ever truly innocent.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

I love it. I really do.

[F]

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 [e-mail].

[C]

Broadway's My Beat. From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world.

[G]

Broadway is my beat. With Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover.

[C]

When it's December and the winter has caught hold, Broadway comes up with a miracle. Silver trees grow out of the sidewalks. Men with beards and red velvet suits suddenly appear from out of the bowery, dedicate themselves to being jolly and reindeer roam the tundra of the spectaculars. It's a time of Crosby records noses against department store windows and wishing you'd kept up the Christmas club payments. Everybody's happy. Even the finance company sends you season's greetings. The atmosphere hadn't touched the alley. Littered and dark, except for a stark cone from a flashlight held by a policeman.

[A]

Up here, Danny. Shot twice in the back. Still breathing.

[C]

Come on. Come on, Doc. Take a look, Doc.

[A]

Let's put him on the stretcher. I don't think this one's got much time.

[C]

Give me a hand here.

[A]

Easy. Have you in the hospital in five minutes.

[C]

Know who he is? Mugman? Yeah.

[A]

His wallets. Is Ben Justin Here it is.

[C]

The ideas of what happened.

[A]

I think he knows who shot him. Danny. He was saying he'll get even.

[C]

Any names?

[A]

Uh, no. Easy with him now. Just slide the stretcher in here.

[C]

We'll ride with him. Let's go, Mugavan.

[A]

Okay, Joe, let's get this ambulance on the road.

[H]

Kill him. Kill him with my bear.

[C]

Who are you going to kill, Ben? Watch it.

[A]

Denny Platinum.

[C]

Here.

[A]

Hold the bottle up like this?

[C]

Yeah. Is it all right if I talk to him? You better hurry. Who shot you? Ben, can you hear me? Ben? Ben, wait a second.

[A]

Hey, Joe. You can take it easy. Take your time. He's Dead, Danny.

[C]

Then the slow ride through swarming avenues. The slow tolling of the ambulance bell because the rhythm of death is slow through the windows of the moving car. The procession of fleeting faces, of melting forms scurrying from the bitter touch of an unknown wind. Then suddenly at a stop. Because death in the city must wait its turn. The face peering in, avid for a furtive glimpse of pain, seeing only the shroud covered man turning away in regret. The ambulance moves again. Within it silence. Because there are no more questions that can be asked of the dead at headquarters. The setting up of a file on Ben Justin. The word murdered neatly typed in triplicate. Then the fragments of his life drifting in, to be pieced together, to be entered under the correct heading on the correct line. Ben Justin lived in an apartment on West 86th. He was married to a woman named Evelyn. Go there. Ask her the question the dying man wouldn't answer.

[I]

Ben didn't tell you he was bleeding to death and he wouldn't tell you who killed him?

[C]

No, Mrs. Justin.

[I]

I like him for that. There are a lot of other reasons, but this one's the best.

[C]

And you will want to help us find his murderer.

[I]

No. That's your job. That's what you get paid for.

[C]

They shot him down in an alley.

[I]

Sorry, but that's how I feel about things. You get what you work for in this world. No one can do it for you. You want Ben's killer? Find him. That way he'll belong to you. Just you.

[C]

If you know something, Mrs. Justin, we can hold you now.

[I]

Wherever did you get an idea like that? How would I know who killed Ben? It's his secret. He's taking it to his grave with him.

[C]

Maybe I didn't tell you. Ben's last words were that he would kill him with his bare hands.

[I]

Ben can't do that now, can he?

[C]

But you can do something, Mrs. Justin. You can tell me about Ben. You can tell me who wanted him dead.

[I]

Tell you about Ben? I could take my lifetime. But I'll brief it down for you. Ben did good by me. Dressed me in fancy clothes. Showy. Showed me off to his friends. Didn't mind if one made a play for me. Grinned it off. Grinned about it when we got home. Cuffed me a little. Then we go to sleep laughing. That's about Ben.

[C]

Doesn't help as much.

[I]

Then try this. Ben used to work for the Imperial Insurance Company. An investigator. Go ask them about Ben. I bet those insurance people knew more about him than even his wife knew. It's Their business, Imperial Insurance on Lower Broadway. You can excuse yourself now, Mr. Clover. I want to go over my wardrobe, pick out a black dress for Ben's funeral. Silk. Yeah, silk. He liked me in it.

[D]

Yeah, it's very intriguing. What? You tell me, Mr. Clover. Look, why don't we go downstairs and chat about it over a cup of coffee?

[C]

Now, Mr. Kogan.

[D]

Oh, you don't understand, kid. I haven't had my breakfast. How can I do my best for Imperial Insurance without something hot in my stomach?

[C]

We're trying to find out who killed.

[D]

A man for this, I have to miss my breakfast. I tell you, you don't understand. My wife sleeps in the morning. She doesn't then.

[C]

Justin used to work for you. I want you to give me what you know about him now, because it.

[D]

Won'T wait on an empty stomach. All right? All right. Yeah, he worked for us. One of our hottest cases. Year ago, he kissed us goodbye.

[C]

You don't know anything about him. After that, you're just.

[D]

Look, kid, did I say that I know a lot about Ben? Let me open my mouth a little, huh?

[C]

It's open.

[D]

A year ago, we put Ben on the Colton murder case. Remember it? Who doesn't? Mrs. Colton found murdered. Shot to death in her house on Long Island. That one cost us the company 100 grand.

[C]

Police were handling it. Why'd you put a private investigator on it?

[D]

Oh, don't let it bother you. Justin flopped, too. He said he couldn't find a thing to prove that Mrs. Colton's nephew and his wife committed the man. Remember Johnny and Dottie Reed? The lovable kids that all of us thought were the murderers. The state us. Till they were acquitted. No evidence, not even from our own boy, Ben.

[C]

After that, Ben quit.

[D]

How did you know? Oh, I told you. Yeah, he turned in a memo that we should pay the kids the hundred grand insurance. The aunt left the boy, shook hands all around, resigned. Then right away we find out he was making merry with the Reed kids all over town in their home.

[C]

How do you know that?

[D]

It was a password in our office. How Ben and his wife were always in the company of the kids.

[C]

Why the kids were acquitted. They have the right to make their own friends for 100 grand.

[D]

We keep trying. Do I get coffee now?

[C]

Yeah. Here's a dime. Let it be on me. Hello. What can I do for you? My name is Danny Clover from the police. Yeah. Is your name Reed?

[A]

Yeah, that's right.

[C]

I wondered.

[F]

You got to look in your eyes. You want to talk to me, don't you?

[C]

Come on in. And here.

[F]

I know that look, Mr. Clover. The police and I have been chummy before.

[C]

Is your wife here?

[F]

Vacuuming the rugs in the dining room.

[A]

Dottie. Hey, Dottie.

[I]

Yeah, what do you want?

[F]

Johnny, Turn off the loot and come in here. We gotta call her. I hope you don't mind the way Dottie looks. Holiday cleaning.

[I]

What'd you say?

[F]

Oh, this is Danny Clover, Duddy. He's from the police.

[I]

I'll be honest with you, Mr. Clover. I'm busy.

[C]

Well, just a few questions about Ben Justin.

[F]

Guess I'm right, Daddy, huh? Soon as I saw this morning's paper, I told you a policeman would be twirling his hat at the door.

[I]

Then you talk to him. Johnny, I've got to get my work done.

[C]

I'm afraid you'll have to hold it off for about five minutes, Ms. Reed.

[I]

Do you have a warrant?

[C]

I don't need one.

[F]

All I want, Dottie gets all mixed up. Ever since a cop scattered her death last year, she just could be lost. And the only person around, a cop. And she wouldn't ask him which way was whom.

[I]

Johnny isn't kidding. Cops.

[C]

How well did you two know Ben Justin?

[I]

We're not going to his funeral.

[F]

Not even flowers, Mr. Clover?

[C]

Funny, I heard you were pretty good friends.

[I]

Two weeks ago, Johnny and I took turns yawning in his face. He still wouldn't go home then.

[C]

He used to drop in here often.

[F]

Maybe a couple times a month. When I shook his hand after we were acquitted, he took that to mean buddy. He couldn't get through his head out of shaking anybody's hand.

[C]

Ben Justin tried to send you to the chair. I don't understand.

[I]

Neither did we.

[C]

You inherited a lot of money when your aunt was killed, didn't you, Mr. Reed?

[I]

You people can't leave us alone, can you?

[F]

Hey, you shouldn't have asked that, Mr. Clover. Dottie's gonna be upset all day.

[I]

It's gonna be like this for the rest of our lives. No matter what we do, where we go, it's gonna be the same way. Get him out of here, Johnny. Get him out of here.

[F]

You heard him, Mr. Clover. He better get out. Dottie's busy.

[A]

Mind if I turn on the radiator, Danny? It's cold in here, huh? How can you stand? Ever wonder what life is like with a phantom screen?

[B]

It's magic.

[C]

It is?

[D]

Oh, wow.

[C]

Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow.

[A]

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[C]

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[B]

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[A]

There.

[I]

Annie.

[A]

You've been over and over the transcript of a year old trial maybe a hundred times. You want something juicy to read? Try this pulp.

[C]

It's good, huh?

[A]

Tells me the thrilling things detectives have happened to them for two bits. It thrills even me the things that go on.

[C]

Mrs. Colton was killed with Johnny Reed's gun. Our ballistics man proved it. Brought it in. Evidence exhibit A.

[A]

But no fingerprints.

[C]

No fingerprints.

[A]

And if you read the transcript another hundred times, there still won't be any. What are you trying to build here?

[C]

It bothers me. You mind? Mugavin?

[A]

Danny, listen to me. The kid had a right to the gun. Messenger boy for a brokerage house. Briefcases full of stocks and bonds, sometimes even money. A boy needs a gun in a career like that. They present him with it, courtesy of the house.

[C]

And it killed his aunt. Endowed two kids with $100,000.

[A]

The gun could have been stolen from him, just like he said. His wife put her arms around him. He felt different somehow to her without the gun. That was the first. They knew it was missing. Just like they said in court.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't understand what you're after, Danny. The kids were acquitted.

[C]

I know.

[A]

They said they spent the day picnicking on the Jersey Palisades. Nobody could prove different. Nobody could prove they were at the murder house that day. They were acquitted.

[C]

I told you. I know, Mugaban.

[A]

Then what's with you? You think you found a free and easy way to solve Ben Justin's murder? I take it back, Danny. I didn't mean to say that.

[C]

Why so chummy with the Reed kids?

[A]

You mean Justin and his wife?

[C]

You care about anyone else?

[A]

Justin was a top Insurance investigator. He couldn't find a thing to prove that the kids were anywhere else but eating ham and cheese sandwiches on the Palisades. That cinched it. When an insurance company.

[H]

Danny, you gotta go. You just gotta. Here, I brought you overcoat. I'll help you into it.

[C]

It's not too much. Titaglia. Where am I going?

[H]

To the residence of one Mrs. Evelyn Justin. She just phoned in, Danny. She was crying, then screaming in between. Said cries and screams were sandwiched that someone was trying to kill her. I made her go slow so I could take it down in shorthand. Here, Danny. Her very words.

[C]

Yeah. Get your coat, Mugavin. It's a cold r. Down this hall, Mugavan. Come on.

[A]

Right behind you.

[C]

Wish I'd taken that call. Sounds real quiet in there.

[A]

Locked, huh, Danny?

[C]

Lean on the bell, Mugavan.

[A]

Yeah, Dan. Danny, Something happening.

[C]

Take it in, Mrs. Justin.

[A]

Watch it, Danny. The place is a furnace.

[C]

Mrs. Justin.

[A]

Danny, you can't come in there. Don't be crazy. I don't understand what happened.

[C]

We ring the bell, we blow the place up.

[G]

You were listening to Broadway's My Beat, written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and starring Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. There should be plenty of action on CBS Hopalong Cassidy show. Tomorrow night. Hoppy will be invading the land of the gun hawks. And though this may not sound full of action at first, he'll finally play dead to capture a band of vicious marauders. Hopalong Cassidy, starring Bill Boyd, comes your way every Saturday evening on most of these same CBS stations Join him in the land of gun hawks. Tomorrow night.

[C]

On the eve of the holiday, Broadway opens wide. Its loudspeakers takes last year's tinsel off a back shelf, considers its tarnish, shrugs and hangs it in a doorway in a shop window just above the summer resort sports shirt sprinkled with artificial snow and decked with dust covered Hollywood. It makes glints in the winter sun, sways gently in the winter's wind. And it makes you all warm inside, doesn't it, kid? The warm eyed women walking by, hugging the warm fur close to them. Makes you merry. And the music floating out of the metallic throats. Good, huh, kid? But turn it up. That way you won't hear the dissonance of death. That way it won't intrude, that explosion uptown. Anyone killed? No one knows yet. But when they do, it'll be given to you, hot off the presses, shining from the Translux gift wrapped with red ribbons. But before that happens, they've Got to clear away the charred litter, hold the crowds back. Assure the lady her kid wasn't in there. You don't know where he is. Then finally a man comes up to you.

[A]

It's all clear now, Danny. We can go in.

[C]

Did they find anything?

[A]

Uh huh. They said in the kitchen. They said to watch ourselves. The walls are still smoldering.

[C]

Okay, let's go.

[A]

Yeah, he said in the kitchen.

[C]

Uh huh.

[A]

Watch it, Danny. Doorway don't look any.

[C]

Come on.

[A]

Not much left, is it, Danny? You were here before. Not much left, huh? Broken up in smoke, hey. Yeah. Mrs. Justin.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

Explosion must have done it, huh, Danny?

[C]

The way she. The way she was beaten up. First slugged. See? Here, here.

[A]

Yeah. They made sure, huh, Danny?

[C]

We hadn't rung the doorbell. Maybe call it in. Mugaban to hom.

[H]

Hi ho, Danny. I come bearing gifts from the boys in Technical to you.

[C]

You thank them for me, Gino?

[H]

Goes without saying. Christmas is coming, Danny. Courtesy is the motto of the season. A fellow has to.

[C]

It goes without saying. What have you got?

[H]

Gift number one. You are confirmed in your deduction that Mrs. Justin was slugged, left unconscious to.

[C]

To.

[H]

Well, you were there, Danny. I don't have to spell it out for you.

[C]

No, Gino.

[H]

For this pearl, my thanks. This a poet once said. Yeah, Danny, Gift number two. The doorbell was rigged to a booby trap of a type commonly used in the last. Last. What am I saying? Ring the doorbell and boom. Blast. Poof.

[C]

It was that professional?

[H]

To the Contrary, wise is Mr. Gordon from Technical. He says it was a clumsy imitation.

[C]

Gordon didn't like it, huh?

[H]

He sniffed his nose at it. However, in the matter of an inferno machine. What matters? Clumsy, huh, Denny?

[C]

Anything else?

[H]

Nothing else except an itching in my brain.

[C]

Huh?

[H]

Yeah. I am making out my Christmas list and it itches me. Want to give Mike Shrek, the bald headed miracle detective from Philadelphia for Christmas? Ah, the joy he has brought me. I should return it with a likewise.

[A]

You.

[H]

You got a suggestion, Danny?

[C]

Only a question, Gino. How did you know it was Mrs. Justin you talked to on the phone?

[H]

Well, she told me, Danny, several times. She told me. For what reason would I have to disbelieve what a lady tells me? You're trying to make out I'm a gulliver, Danny, you know.

[C]

Pardon me, Gina.

[H]

Likewise, I'm sure. When they tell you their name, see if you.

[C]

Danny Clover speaking.

[D]

This is Swifty Crenshaw of the 34th Street Post Office. Mr. Clover. They referred me to you.

[C]

Why?

[D]

Oh, because I'm holding some undelivered mail for Mrs. Evelyn Justin. Bet you'd love to get your hands on it.

[C]

Yeah, I would.

[D]

Fine. Just ask for Swifty Crenshaw. Everybody knows me. Bye now.

[H]

Who was it, Danny?

[C]

A Swifty Crenshaw from the post office.

[H]

Swift Crin. See? See how you too can be a gulliver? Den.

[C]

You, Mr. Crenshaw?

[D]

You bet.

[C]

My name's Clover. I spoke to you on the phone a little while ago.

[D]

You bet. Just wait here. Here you are. The mail addressed to Mrs. Ben Justin.

[C]

Uh huh.

[D]

There's not much there. Circulars, a few Christmas cards from people who heed our message to mail early. One there, that's sealed. And the sender tried to mail it third class postage due on that one. But I guess we can forget it. I can save you trouble turning over that postcard. It's for a free grease job with 15 gallons of gas. That other is for a book overdue at the library.

[C]

You've been having yourself a time, haven't you, Mr. Crenshaw?

[D]

Hey, you bet.

[C]

What's in this envelope?

[D]

How do I know? It's no use holding an envelope like that up to the light. It's manila.

[C]

It's postmarked Yesterday. Addressed to Mrs. Ben Justin. The old box. 626, 34th Street Station, New York, New York. Return address? The same.

[D]

She addressed it to herself. What's in it?

[C]

You bet. Mr. Crenshaw.

[I]

Hold on, please. Mr. Jasper is looking up the records now.

[C]

Okay, okay. Tell him to hurry.

[I]

Mr. Jasper will speak to you.

[C]

Good.

[A]

Mr. Jasper on the phone.

[C]

What about it, Jasper?

[A]

You say you have a carbon copy of a subscription form for today's lady magazine. Where did you get it?

[C]

In an envelope. Come on. Your girl said you were looking it up, Jasper. The form is used by your company, signed with the initials D.F. who is D.F.

[A]

Donald Fraser. He would have gotten 400 points if he'd handed the subscription in. But why didn't he?

[C]

Where does Donald Fraser live?

[A]

19 West 16th. He's a pretty good.

[C]

Yeah, thanks. You better come along, McAvan.

[A]

Right. You ring the bell this time, Danny? No, I'll ring it. I read someplace if you crash in an airplane, the first thing to do is to go up in another one.

[I]

Nah.

[A]

You ring the bell, Danny.

[C]

Thanks.

[A]

What do you want?

[C]

You Donald Fraser?

[A]

So what do you want?

[C]

We're from the police.

[A]

Didn't you hear, Donald? We're from the police. Let's go inside.

[C]

Sit down, Donald. You want a cigarette, Donald?

[A]

I don't smoke. You drink? No. I Can't stand the taste. He's got refined taste.

[C]

Danny, you signed this magazine subscription form, didn't you? Didn't you? I don't know.

[A]

You know. You know, don't you? I signed it.

[C]

All right. You took a Magazine subscription on November 2, 1949. That's the date on this form.

[A]

It's also the date Mrs. Colton was shot to death.

[C]

So?

[A]

What's that got to do with anything?

[C]

It's got this to do with it. It's a magazine subscription for Mrs. Colton. You took the subscription. Who signed it?

[A]

I'll tell you. You're not kidding.

[C]

Let him alone, Michael.

[A]

I. I came by Mrs. Colton's that morning. Selling subscriptions. Mrs. Colton said to come back later. She wanted time to make up her mind. When you came back, Johnny Reed was there with his wife.

[C]

Said leave him alone.

[A]

Yeah, that's right. They were there that day. The girl yelled up to her aunt that I'd come back. Mrs. Colton said, Take the subscription the girl signed for her. That does it, Danny.

[C]

Not quite, Donald. Then. Then Ben Justin got to you, didn't he? Was investigating the murder and tracked down a lead that a magazine salesman was on the Colton block that day. That right?

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. The very next day, before I had a chance to turn the form in to Mr. Jasper. I shouldn't have done it. I know I shouldn't have done it. For $1000 a the trouble I'm in. I didn't mean to do anything. He talked me into it.

[I]

No, it's you. What do you want?

[C]

Let's go inside, Mrs. Reed.

[I]

Remember how busy I was yesterday? I'm busier today.

[C]

That's too bad. I want to talk to you. And I want to talk to your husband.

[I]

All right. Come in. I've got an idea. Johnny's going to throw you right out, and I want to watch. Johnny. Johnny.

[C]

Yeah?

[I]

Look who's here. Johnny, huh?

[F]

Oh, hiya, Mr. Plover. Can I get you something? I just broke out a quart of beer.

[C]

No, thanks. I want to talk to you alone.

[F]

Sure, sure. My pleasure. Hey, go make us some coffee. Daddy.

[I]

I told him you were gonna throw him out. Johnny, you're making a liar out of me.

[F]

Just get the coffee, Daddy. Then you'll throw him out if he annoys me.

[I]

All right, Johnny.

[F]

Now, what's a good word, Mr. Clover?

[C]

What have you been doing with yourself lately, Johnny?

[F]

Oh, this and that. I got enough money. I'm lucky with the horses. The money gets used up and replenished.

[C]

I envy you.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Got a sister that's fine. I'm glad to hear of it.

[F]

Is this what you come all the way out here to talk to me about?

[C]

You impressed me the last time I talked to you.

[F]

You kidding?

[C]

No, I'm not. Say, you think Dottie needs any help with the coffee? Probably.

[F]

She's all thumbs. But she doesn't like you, Mr. Clover.

[C]

Maybe if I help her with the coffee.

[F]

Yeah, yeah, why don't you do that? Help her with the coffee. Mine's with cream, Mr. Clover. Two sugars.

[I]

What do you want?

[C]

I just came in to tell you to get your hat and coat.

[I]

That sounds familiar.

[C]

That's right. You're under arrest. You're under arrest for murder.

[I]

Let me tell you why it sounds familiar, Mr. Clover. Because it's happened before.

[C]

What happened before?

[I]

A year ago, when Johnny and I were arrested for the murder of his aunt the police said separated Johnny and me. Then one cop came to me and said Johnny confessed. That way I was supposed to break down. They did the same thing to Johnny. As a policeman, you're A real nothing, Mr. Clover. A real nothing.

[F]

Hey, let me laugh with you, huh?

[I]

Say, you remember what they tried on us before Johnny? Trying to make us confess? Your friend Clover just tried it again.

[A]

Oh, Clover, Clover.

[F]

All right, you had your fun. Don't you think you ought to go home now?

[C]

I haven't had my coffee yet.

[F]

Daddy makes such lousy coffee. It really isn't worth it.

[C]

I don't understand you.

[I]

Throw him out, Johnny.

[C]

That's what I mean. I came here to give you something for Christmas. Maybe I'm a little early. Maybe I should come back.

[F]

If you're giving, we're receiving. What do you got?

[C]

This. The magazine subscription form that your wife signed last year in your aunt's house.

[I]

Where'd you get it?

[C]

From Mrs. Justin's post office box at 34th Street Station.

[F]

You got it figured, huh, Mr. Clover?

[C]

Sure. It's proof that the two of you were at Miss Colton's the day she was murdered. The piece of evidence the DA didn't have at your trial.

[I]

Johnny, they can't try us again, can they?

[F]

You planning to reopen the trial with new evidence, Danny?

[C]

It won't be necessary. Justin bought this subscription form from the salesman. He was blackmailing you with it. Then a little while ago, he got afraid of you two, passed it on to his wife.

[F]

That's where she had it, huh?

[C]

That's where she mailed it for safekeeping after you killed her husband. You thought you destroyed it. When your wife called headquarters and had Me. Set off that booby trap.

[F]

And now you got it. Merry Christmas, Danny. How much you want?

[C]

How much were you paying Justin before you killed him?

[F]

Don't bargain. How much?

[C]

All of it. Everything you got. I want you to sign a confession. You and your wife.

[F]

Let me sit down. Think about it. Serve the coffee, Daddy.

[C]

You gonna stir it with that gun?

[F]

No, I'm gonna kill you with the gun. You want one slug or two, Johnny?

[I]

Hey.

[C]

This will put you out of your misery, Johnny.

[I]

You can have half of it, Mr. Clover. All of it. You can have anything you want.

[C]

I've got what I want. Let's get your coat, Mrs. Reed. In the midnight cold, Broadway echoes with sounds you hear only in darkness. The fleeting whispers that speckle places where there's no sun. People pass and touch you. You look down. There are fingers of dust on your shoulder. It's Broadway. The gaudiest, the most violent. The lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway, my be.

[G]

Broadway's my beat stars Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover with Charles Calvert as Tartaglia. The program is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with musical score composed and conducted by Alexander Courage. Included in tonight's cast were Anthony Barrett, Sam Edwards, Virginia Gregg, Michael Ann Barrett, Sydney Miller and Jack Crucian. Now here's Larry Thor.

[C]

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's program concludes the present series of Broadway's My Beat. We thank you for listening and hope to return to the air in the near future when Danny Clover will bring you more adventures along the Great White Way.

[G]

Next week at this time, most of these same CBS stations will bring you a new program featuring Edward R. Murrow, Columbia's famed news reporter. This new program will be called Report to the Nation. And during its 60 minutes, Mr. Murrow will bring you not only important war and political news but also summaries of all that's bright and new in the world of music, the theater, sports and the other colorful, varied fields of American life. You'll hear recordings of great speeches and great events in the week preceding each Friday night broadcast. Report to the Nation will report the news for CBS listeners in this unprecedented series of broadcasts. Be listening for Report to the Nation next Friday evening on C. Dan Coverley speaking. This is cbs. The stars address the Columbia Broadcasting System.