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Shannon Maldonado
My name is Shannon Maldonado. I'm the founder of Yaoi, a gift shop. From the lens of artists and handmade objects, I chose Shopify because when I was testing other platforms, it was definitely one of the most user friendly. It was important to me to think about where we would be in the future. All of the tools for reading your sales, like planning inventory, they're just right there on your dashboard. For anyone starting a small business, the biggest thing I can tell you is it doesn't have to be perfect. Shopify can help you build upon it. Start your free trial on shopify.com.
Philo Vance
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.
Mr. Ward
I'm sorry, Ms. Westcott, what you ask is impossible. I cannot release your aunt.
Joan Westcott
But there's nothing wrong with her. There's no reason for her to be locked up in your. Whatever you call this place.
Mr. Ward
It's a rest home, Ms. Westcott. The finest in the East. Our patients have every comfort, every care.
Joan Westcott
Maybe. And if they're ill, maybe that's what they need. But not my aunt. There's nothing wrong with her. She's a wealthy woman. And her family had her put here so that they could get her money.
Mr. Ward
I'm sorry. That may be so. But your aunt has never said she was unhappy here, never asked to be released. Apparently, she's quite content. The only person making trouble, as far as I can see, is you. Oh, excuse me. Yes. Yes, I'll see him. Send him right in. I'm sorry, Ms. Westcott. I'll have to ask you to leave. To leave this building and these grounds. I have an appointment with my chief assistant.
Joan Westcott
With your chief guard, you mean. I've seen the way he treats Aunt Alice, Mr. Ward, believe me, I'm going to do something about this place. And about you.
Al Durant
You got company. I see.
Mr. Ward
Ms. Westcott was just leaving. Good day, my dear. We'll keep you informed as to your aunt's condition.
Joan Westcott
There'll be an improvement in that condition with her out of here. And I'm going to see to it that she does get out. I promise you that. I promised that to Aunt Alice. And what's just as important, I promised that to myself.
Al Durant
She's really got a beef, ain't she, boss?
Mr. Ward
She thinks she has. Durant, I sent for you because there have been complaints about your tactics. You're a little too rough with our. Our guests. Guests?
Al Durant
Stop kidding. You know, I've been meaning for you and I to have a talk, Ward, and this is as good a time as any. Oh, you got a good racket here. I want in on it.
Mr. Ward
Racket?
Al Durant
Don't raise your eyebrows at me.
Bill Williams
I work here.
Al Durant
That kindly little kisser of yours and your pretty snow white hair don't fool me. This joint's practically a prison for people whose families want him out of the way. You ain't such a nice character as you look, Ward.
Mr. Ward
Well, that does call for a little talk between you and me, Al. Shall we say this evening?
Al Durant
Look, Mrs. Westcott, I didn't bring your dinner up to your room just to have you sit and look at it. Eat it and hurry up.
Alice Westcott
I just don't think I want it right now. I leave, Mr. Durand, I. I just don't care for anything right now. Thank you.
Al Durant
You don't, huh? Well, you better. I'm through for the night. As soon as you eat. Now, Mrs. Westcott, I ain't got much patience. Start eating.
Alice Westcott
Thank you very much, but I really couldn't have a thing.
Al Durant
I said start eating.
Alice Westcott
Well, you mustn't hit me like that. I'm an old woman and I've done nothing to you.
Al Durant
I'm just starting.
Bill Williams
Now, eat.
Mr. Ward
Well, what's going on here? Quite a slugger, ain't you, Al? Like any woman. You'll wait, I bet.
Al Durant
What's up to you, Bill?
Mr. Ward
Nothing. Go ahead and hit her again for all I care.
Al Durant
Now, look, Bill, Mrs. Westcott here is on this floor. This is my floor. That's got nothing to do with you. You belong downstairs.
Bill Williams
Yeah, sure.
Mr. Ward
What I came up to tell you, though, Al, was that I ain't got the dough I borrowed from you.
Al Durant
No?
Mr. Ward
No. Maybe I'll be able to pay you in a couple of weeks. Maybe.
Philo Vance
Maybe? What do you mean, maybe?
Al Durant
You'll pay me that dough. Believe me, you'll pay it.
Alice Westcott
Please, please, gentlemen. You're giving me a headache with all that arguing. I'd much rather you didn't argue.
Mr. Ward
It ain't making Al very happy either. Just to make him just a little bit more unhappy. Take your time about eating. He'll wait. I'm making him wait for his dough. You make him wait, too.
Al Durant
Now, look, just because you work here too, Bill, don't give you any license to hold me up for my money or try to run this floor. Maybe I.
Mr. Ward
You won't. You ain't got the guts. You wouldn't take a chance at taking a poke at me after All. I ain't an old lady.
Joan Westcott
Aunt Alice. Aunt Alice, please wake up. Aunt Alice.
Alice Westcott
Joan. Joan, dear, what. What are you doing here at this time of night?
Joan Westcott
Let me in, quickly. Of course, Aunt Alice. Get your clothes together. I'm going to get you out of here.
Alice Westcott
But why, dear? I have no place to go. My family doesn't want me at home.
Joan Westcott
You always have a place to go as long as I have an apartment. Now hurry, please. I've been hiding here in this building till everyone went to sleep. And then I came right here.
Alice Westcott
Did you, dear? I wasn't sleeping, you know. I was just lying on the bed and thinking. Just think.
Joan Westcott
And Alice, please hurry. Something terrible has happened. But he deserved it. We know he deserved it.
Alice Westcott
You mean that Mr. Durant who is supposed to look after me? He's lying outside my door, isn't he? And he's quite dead. You know about that? Oh, yes, and I'm not a bit sorry. Not a bit. He was struck down by Providence, you know.
Joan Westcott
No, I don't know. I only hope that's what it was.
Alice Westcott
Oh, it was. Of course, sometimes, like in this case, Providence has to have a little outside help. Today's solution of murders lies not so much in the mistake made by a murderer, but in the absence possibility of the investigator to find that mistake. Well, I got that, Mr. Vance.
Philo Vance
That's good, Ms. Woods. Now, let me see.
Alice Westcott
How am I doing since Ms. Deering's been away? Seeing her mother, Mr. Vance. Great, huh?
Philo Vance
Adequate. Adequate but refreshing. Ms. Woods.
Alice Westcott
Mr. Vance. You seem a little unoccupied. Something on your mind?
Philo Vance
No, nothing. That's the reason for my being preoccupied, I imagine. I heard over the radio a little while ago of an unusual murder. And it disturbs me that my friend, the district attorney hasn't called me.
Alice Westcott
Who got killed?
Philo Vance
The guard at a private sanitarium. I don't understand. Why, Mark. I'll get that myself. Ms. Woods. It's probably Mr. Markham. Hello?
Joan Westcott
Mr. Vance?
Philo Vance
Yes.
Joan Westcott
This is Joan Wescott, Mr. Vance. There's something you must do for me, is there? Yes, yes. I'm calling from the Ward Sanitarium where that guard was murdered. I'm being held here because I tried to get my aunt out last night. Mr. Markham is here and Sergeant Heath. I heard Mr. Markham say that he was going to call you.
Philo Vance
And you're calling for him.
Joan Westcott
No, no. I want to beg you not to work on this case, Mr. Vance. Please. Please don't. The man who was murdered deserved to die.
Philo Vance
I'm afraid that isn't within Your province to judge. Ms. Westcott, I'm glad you called and told me Markham was there, though it gives me every reason to go up. Goodbye, Ms. Westcott.
Bill Williams
You see now why I didn't want you to call Vance. Mr. Markham, how can I miss solving this case myself?
District Attorney Markham
I don't know how you can. I just hope you don't. And I did phone Vance Heath, only he wasn't in. Now, let's see. The dead man was killed by a blunt instrument. Blackjack, probably. And in his hand you found three black hair.
Philo Vance
Yeah.
Bill Williams
Dang. He probably yanked him out of his murderer's head when he was struggling with him. Now, I talk to everybody in this joint that's got any sense. And there are three suspects, and all of them got black hair. First, that Joan Weskett, the young Damon got locked in Mr. Ward's private office there. She's a brunette.
Mr. Ward
Hmm.
District Attorney Markham
Quite attractive one, I'd say.
Bill Williams
It all depends on how old you think she is.
District Attorney Markham
On the contrary, it all depends on how old you think you are. Maybe.
Bill Williams
Well, my second suspect, anyhow, is her aunt. She's a little touched, I think. She's a patient here and she's old, but her hair is pitch black.
District Attorney Markham
Yes, I saw that. And the hair of Bill Williams, the guard you suspect is black, too.
Bill Williams
Sure. So all I have to do is take samples of their hair, send them down to the police lab with the samples taken from the dead guy's hand. Whichever checks, that's our killer.
District Attorney Markham
Somehow I'm sure that Vance would have another theory.
Mr. Ward
Mr. Markham. Mr. Markham.
District Attorney Markham
Yes, what is it, Mr. Ward?
Mr. Ward
There's a Mr. Philo Vance outside. He says you're expecting him. Or rather, that you should be expecting him.
District Attorney Markham
I'll go out. Well, Heath, Vance is here.
Bill Williams
Yeah, I know, but am I happy? No. Hey, wait a minute. Sure, I'm happy. Now Vance will have a chance to see how I work. Hey, Mr. Markham. You tell Vance I'm glad he's here. I'm very glad. I'm overjoyed.
Philo Vance
Please, he.
District Attorney Markham
Don't overdo it.
Philo Vance
Thanks, Markham.
District Attorney Markham
You're welcome.
Philo Vance
Just give me a few minutes in Mr. Ward's office with Joan Westgate and that other guard, Mr. Williams, and I'll be satisfied. All right. You know, of course, that the reason you didn't reach me on the phone was because I was on the way up here.
District Attorney Markham
Of course, my fault for calling late. Go right in, Vance. I'll wait for you here.
Philo Vance
All right.
District Attorney Markham
You know, murder in a sanitarium is such a delicate thing. I'M really gratified that you did come.
Philo Vance
Right. And thanks again. It's all right. Well, hello, you two.
Alice Westcott
Hello.
Mr. Ward
Hiya.
Philo Vance
My name is Vance.
Alice Westcott
Oh.
Philo Vance
I have a purely academic question to ask both of you. Ms. Westcott, did you kill Mr. Durant?
Joan Westcott
So you came after all, didn't you, Mr. Vance? Even after I begged you not to.
Philo Vance
I told you I would. Mr. Williams.
Mr. Ward
Don't bother me.
Philo Vance
I'm sorry, but I must. Mr. Williams. What's that? Changing of the guard.
Mr. Ward
Patients are exercising. We march them around. What about it?
Philo Vance
I'd like to see that.
Mr. Ward
So look. Yeah, Look, Vance, you can see it very plain from this window.
Philo Vance
Well, I'll try. Hmm. That's quite an imposing sight. Does Mr. Ward always lead the patients through those maneuvers?
Mr. Ward
No, that's my job. I'll show you where I generally do it from. You see, right about. I've got him.
Bill Williams
His waistcoat.
Mr. Ward
Clip him. Now grab that towel and cram it in his mouth. Get that towel. Hurry, or I'll take care of you, too.
Joan Westcott
Oh, here. Here it is.
District Attorney Markham
Good.
Mr. Ward
Now, get that roll of wire from the top drawer in Ward's desk and step on it. We'll tie him up good and get out of here.
Joan Westcott
I don't want to get out of here. Not this way.
Mr. Ward
Do what I tell you. Get that wire. Well, make it quick.
Joan Westcott
Okay.
Mr. Ward
That's better.
Joan Westcott
I don't like doing this.
Mr. Ward
Who cares what you like? Do what I tell you so I can get out of here. You want to stay, stay. I'll tie Vance up and then go to work on that window.
Joan Westcott
Here. Here's the wire.
Mr. Ward
Okay, Vance. Guy just walked in here. Wrong time for him.
Joan Westcott
There.
Mr. Ward
There. That takes care of his hands. I use my handkerchief to make sure that towel stays in his mouth. Tie it good and tight.
Joan Westcott
All right, but I.
Mr. Ward
Hurry up and shut up. Feet. There. One more turn to make sure. That does it. Well, you coming with me?
Joan Westcott
No.
Mr. Ward
Well, then, so long, sister. I'm getting.
Bill Williams
Now, what's going on in here?
Mr. Ward
Sergeant Heath, I guess that's. That seemed like a good idea at the time, though.
Bill Williams
Hey, come on in, Markham. Take a look at your friend Vance. All he needs is a spit and he's ready to be barbecued.
Philo Vance
Vance, what happened? Just a moment.
Mr. Ward
I'll have this.
Philo Vance
Look. There you are. Thank you for removing that gag, Markham.
District Attorney Markham
It's all right.
Philo Vance
Please get to work. On my hands?
Bill Williams
Of course.
District Attorney Markham
What happened here?
Philo Vance
Ms. Westcott and Mr. Williams didn't want to be questioned? I imagine so. Mr. Williams knocked me out. Oh, thank you. Markham. I'm all right. Now
Bill Williams
I'm gonna show you how all wrong you are, Vance. I'm solving this case myself. You can watch if you like.
Philo Vance
I'd like to very much.
Bill Williams
Okay. Now, Al Durant, the dead man had three black hairs in his hand when we found the body. So a black haired guy or a gal killed him.
Philo Vance
That's entirely reasonable.
Bill Williams
Sure it is. Now I'm taking samples of the hair of this black haired gal and this black haired guy. Hold still, you.
Mr. Ward
Hey, what are you doing to my head?
Bill Williams
Just taking a couple of hairs off it. You won't miss him. Now you miss.
Joan Westcott
Don't you dare use that scissors on my head.
Bill Williams
Okay, do it yourself. Here.
Joan Westcott
Oh, all right. This is all completely ridiculous.
District Attorney Markham
Perhaps not, Ms. Westcott. Sergeant Heath is going to have your hair compared down at the police laboratory with the hair found in Alduran's hand.
Philo Vance
And if it checks, I'm afraid you're in rather a serious spot.
Joan Westcott
I'm not afraid.
District Attorney Markham
Heath.
Philo Vance
Let me ask you something.
Mr. Ward
Yeah.
Philo Vance
Suppose, just suppose, mind you, that you find that neither of those hair samples match the ones you took from Durant. Then what?
Mr. Ward
Whoa.
Bill Williams
Then that old Mrs. Westcott's hair will match. It's gotta be one of these three.
District Attorney Markham
Just supposing it isn't though, Heath.
Philo Vance
Well.
Bill Williams
Well then I'll take samples of every black haired person in this place. Even you agreed it had to be somebody here who killed Durante.
District Attorney Markham
Yes, we're reasonably certain of that.
Bill Williams
Well, okay then. One of them killed that guard. And that one's hair will match the sample we got. Then we got our killer.
Philo Vance
As simple as that. Ehe sure.
Joan Westcott
How much longer are you going to keep me here, Sergeant Heath?
Philo Vance
I don't know, Ms. Westcott, you're a rather contrary person. As I understand it, you wouldn't leave this place before Mr. Durant's death. Now, you're quite anxious to go.
Joan Westcott
Yes. Yes I am. I want to get out of here and take my aunt with me. I never want to see this. This awful place again.
Philo Vance
Well, Ms. Westcott, I wouldn't be so anxious to leave here if I were you. In the event that Sergeant Heath's hair test points to you. You'll be going to a much more uncomfortable place, I assure you.
Shannon Maldonado
My name is Shannon Maldonado. I'm the founder of Yaoi, a gift shop. From the lens of artists and handmade objects, I chose Shopify because when I was testing other platforms, it was definitely one of the most user friendly. It was important to me to think about where we would be in the future. All of the tools for reading your sales, like planning inventory, they're just right there on your dashboard. For anyone starting a small business, the biggest thing I can tell you is it doesn't have to be perfect. Shopify can help you build upon it. Start your free trial on shopify.com.
District Attorney Markham
This is District Attorney Markham. The blackjack murder case began when Al Durant, a guard in the private sanitarium run by a Mr. Ward, was found dead. Suspects include Bill Williams, another guard, a patient, Alice Weskert, and her niece, Joan Westcott. Vance has one important clue. Three strands of human hair that have been found in the dead man's hand. Vance told me he was on his way to interview Mrs. Westcott, and he should be there.
Alice Westcott
Sit down, Mr. Vance. Please do.
Philo Vance
Thank you. Mrs. Westcott.
Mr. Ward
Yes?
Philo Vance
I have a few questions to ask you.
Alice Westcott
I don't mind. Really I don't. Only you won't slap me if I don't answer them, will you? I'd rather not be slapped, Mr. Vance.
Philo Vance
I won't slap you, Mrs. Westgate. In fact, I'd like to see anybody raise his hand to you while I'm around.
Alice Westcott
Mr. Williams. The other guard made Mr. Durant stop hitting me the day Mr. Durant was murdered. Just before they quarreled Yesterday, I believe.
Philo Vance
Mrs. Westcott, do you think Mr. Williams killed Mr. Durant?
Alice Westcott
Oh, no.
Philo Vance
Your niece, then, Mrs. Westcott?
Alice Westcott
Oh, my goodness, no. She's so nice and gentle. She wouldn't hurt anyone.
Philo Vance
I wonder, then, who did kill him?
Alice Westcott
Oh, I did.
Philo Vance
You? You killed Mr. Durant?
Alice Westcott
Yes. But he was mean and very rude to me. He slapped me. I'd rather not be slapped, Mr. Vance.
Philo Vance
I know. You told me that before. How did you kill him?
Alice Westcott
I opened the door and there he was. And he had a blackjack in his pocket. I took it out of his pocket and hit him with it. I'm sorry if I've caused everybody so much trouble, but nobody asked me until now whether I killed him.
Philo Vance
All they wanted was a few strands of your hair. Is that right?
Alice Westcott
Yes, but I don't know why.
Philo Vance
You're sure of what you just told me, Mrs. Westcott, that you hit Mr. Durant with his own blackjack.
Alice Westcott
Oh, I'm positive. I used to kill him very often. Every night, right after I fell asleep, I used to kill him, and always the same way. So you see, I know I did it.
Philo Vance
I see. I'll tell you one thing, Mrs. Wetcott. You've confused me, and very nicely. I wonder how ill you actually are, how imaginative you actually are. And above all, how clever.
Bill Williams
What a case this is, Mr. Markham. The only clue is a couple of hairs. And listen to this report the police laboratory sent me. You can listen too, Mr. Ward.
Mr. Ward
Thank you, Sergeant Heath.
District Attorney Markham
Go ahead, Heath.
Bill Williams
I sent him the hairs we found in Al Durant's hand and the hairs from our three suspects. Now listen, Sergeant Heath, this is to inform you that there is no similarity between the samples taken from the heads of your suspects and the original hairs found in the dead man's hand. Signed, Morgan Police Laboratory.
Mr. Ward
Hmm.
District Attorney Markham
Looks like we haven't gotten very far in this case, doesn't it, Heathen?
Bill Williams
Yeah, sure does. Fine time for your friend Vance to run out on us.
District Attorney Markham
Oh, he'll be back. I know that.
Philo Vance
You know it.
Bill Williams
But what do I know? All I know is a black haired guy killed Al Durant. Ah, well, I'll leave you with Mr. Ward. I'm gonna go looking for another black haired guy. See you later, Mr. Markham. Mr. Ward.
Philo Vance
Right.
Mr. Ward
How soon will the police leave here, Mr. Markham? They spoiled my discipline, my routine. They've ruined this office.
District Attorney Markham
How do they ruin it, sir? By using it.
Mr. Ward
Look and see. Papers, helter skelter, the desk moved, everything topsy turvy. Nothing is in its proper place. Everything must be in its proper place, Mr. Markham.
District Attorney Markham
Yes, I know. And the reason we've made such a mess out of your office, Mr. Ward, is because we're trying to put a murderer in his proper place. Behind bars.
Police Laboratory Doctor
Very well. Now, Mr. Vance, you may look through the microscope now if you like.
Philo Vance
Thank you, doctor. It's very nice of you to allow me here in the police laboratory.
Police Laboratory Doctor
Ah, just nothing. Mr. Markham phoned me and asked for me to let you come in. I was glad to have you. Sometimes even scientists like a little audience here. Now look through the microscope, Mr. Vance.
Philo Vance
All right. Tell me. First though, doctor. Your test showed that none of the hair samples from the three suspects match the hair found in the hand of Mr. Durant, the murdered man.
Police Laboratory Doctor
None of them match, Mr. Vance. Ah, you are looking through the microscope now.
Al Durant
Good.
Police Laboratory Doctor
The single hair on the right, that is the one which was found in the murder man's hand. The one on the left is one of the samples.
Mr. Ward
Hmm.
Philo Vance
Vast difference, isn't there, Doctor? Under a microscope?
Police Laboratory Doctor
Definitely notice, Mr. Vance, at the very tip of the hair on the right, a little unusual substance, that is Gum arabic, generally used as a glue.
Philo Vance
As a glue? Well, doctor, perhaps the hair samples found in Mr. Durant's hand came from a
Police Laboratory Doctor
wig now, Now, I'm sorry, Mr. Vance. It came from no wig. They came from a human head, and they were pulled from that head when the head was alive. Now, Mr. Vance, that hair came from no wig. It came from a living head.
Philo Vance
But the gum arabic. That must mean something.
Mr. Ward
Yes.
Police Laboratory Doctor
Yes, I imagine it does. But what?
Philo Vance
What, Doctor? Well, unless I'm very much mistaken, it means I know who murdered Al Durant.
District Attorney Markham
Well, Vance, welcome back.
Philo Vance
Thank you, Markham. Any progress on the murderer of Mr. Durant?
District Attorney Markham
No, none at all. Frankly, I've been waiting for you.
Philo Vance
I have an idea you'll be glad you did. Where's heath?
District Attorney Markham
He and Mr. Ward are gaving in Ward's office. You know, Vance, I was thinking that perhaps an outsider killed a guard. That is possible, you know.
Philo Vance
Undoubtedly. Only I'm quite sure that isn't what happened. Where's Joan Westgate? I'd like to see her.
District Attorney Markham
She's in that room right there, Vance. It wouldn't surprise me any if she were about to break down.
Philo Vance
I'd like to talk to her. Markham. I'll meet you in Mr. Ward's office in a few minutes, all right.
District Attorney Markham
Certainly, Vance. I'll be there with Ward and Sergeant.
Philo Vance
Hello, Miss Westcott.
Joan Westcott
What is it, Mr. Vance?
Philo Vance
Why were you crying, Miss Westcott? Any reason I might do something about.
Alice Westcott
No.
Philo Vance
Perhaps there is. I'd like to tell you something. This is no trick, believe me, but I know that neither you nor your aunt murdered Al Durant.
Joan Westcott
You know that?
Philo Vance
Very definitely. Now, will you tell me why you were crying?
Joan Westcott
Mr. Vance, I didn't mean to break down, but the hopelessness of this whole thing just got me. Just got me, that's all. I thought my aunt had killed Mr. Durant, and that's why I couldn't tell you about this place.
Philo Vance
I'm afraid I don't know what you mean.
Joan Westcott
Well, if she had killed your aunt, I wanted you to think that she was insane, that she belonged in a place like this. Only this isn't a rest home or a private hospital, Mr. Vance. It's a prison. None of the patients here have anything wrong with them.
Philo Vance
I'm beginning to understand a lot of things now, Ms. Westcott. The one thing missing from this case so far was a motive. I believe I have that now. You'd do all of us a great favor, Mr. Ward, if you'd cooperate with Sergeant Heath and me.
Mr. Ward
I'd be glad to, Mr. Vance. How can I help?
Philo Vance
I'll get around to that in a moment. First of all, as I understand it, Mr. Durant, the murdered guard wasn't too gentle with his patience.
Mr. Ward
Well, in this sort of institution, sometimes it's necessary to use force.
Philo Vance
Of course, Mr. Durant knew what kind of institution this was.
Police Laboratory Doctor
What?
Mr. Ward
I don't understand.
Philo Vance
I think you do, and I think he did. I think he knew you were operating this place as a wide open racket, keeping certain people in it because of the convenience that might provide to others, Mr. Vance.
Mr. Ward
Do you know what you're saying, Sergeant Heath?
Bill Williams
I don't know either. All I know is he generally does.
Philo Vance
Thank you, Heath. Mr. Ward, this Durant came to you the night of his death. Probably came to your room and demanded money in return for keeping his mouth shut.
Mr. Ward
What?
Philo Vance
You quarreled and you killed him, then dumped his body outside Mrs. Westcott's door. Ridiculous.
Bill Williams
This guy is the murderer of ants.
Philo Vance
That's right. Joan Westcott thought that perhaps her aunt had done it so she wouldn't talk and in fact tried to keep me off the case. The aunt thought Joan had done it, so she pretended to be slightly insane and confessed. But I have proof that it was Ward Vance.
Bill Williams
The murderer is a black haired guy. That much we know. Ward's hair is snow white.
Philo Vance
I think Mr. Ward's hair, what's left of his own hair, is black. Take that toupee off his head, Heath. Keep away.
Mr. Ward
Don't touch me.
Bill Williams
Vance says that's a toupee. Now get your hands down or I won't touch you. I'll scare.
Mr. Ward
Hey.
Bill Williams
Hey, Vance. It came off in my hand. It is a wig.
Philo Vance
So I see. What's left of his original hair is black. And I think you'll find the black hair matches the ones you took from Durant's hand.
Mr. Ward
I'll get you for this, Vance. If you live to be a thousand, I'll get you.
Philo Vance
I doubt that, Mr. Ward. I doubt you're getting me. I doubt my living to be a thousand. And I doubt that you'll live to your next birthday. See to that, will you, Heath?
Alice Westcott
You know, Mr. Vance, I'm so mixed up about that hair thing, I don't know how to begin asking you. What made you so sure I'm dumb, huh?
Philo Vance
Leading question, Ms. Woods. Perhaps I might explain, though. The one clue we had was the black hair. Yeah, it had a bit of gum arabic on it. I believe that the gum arabic or glue got on the hair from a toupee.
Alice Westcott
That's the way it turned out, too.
Philo Vance
That's right. I was sure then that Ward wore a toupee. And I reasoned that Durant must have come into his bedroom when he was preparing for bed. At which time he'd have taken off the toupee.
Alice Westcott
Oh, hey. Then they battled. And that's how Durant got some of Ward's real hair in his hand.
Philo Vance
That's right. Sergeant Heath spent his time looking first for a black haired individual.
Alice Westcott
Sure that Mr. Ward's toupee was snow white. He had quite a racket, didn't he, Mr. Vance?
Philo Vance
For a while. But like all rackets, eventually it backfired.
Alice Westcott
This one backfired. Very convenient for me. You got back here just at 5:30, right at the end of the day.
Philo Vance
That's right, Ms. Woods. And right at the end of the day where? Right at the end of the Blackjack murder case,
Mr. Ward
Sam.
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Episode: Philo Vance: The Blackjack Murder Case (11/30/1948)
Date Released: June 13, 2026
Host: Choice Classic Radio
Original Air Date: November 30, 1948
Episode Length: ~28 minutes
This episode features a classic Philo Vance mystery: "The Blackjack Murder Case." Detective Philo Vance is called in to unravel the suspicious death of a guard, Al Durant, at Ward’s Rest Home, a private sanitarium with questionable practices. With a set of suspects, uneasy alliances, and a single physical clue—a few strands of black hair clutched in the victim’s hand—Vance must sort through deception, false confessions, and a web of greed to identify the real murderer.
(01:08 - 03:18)
Joan Westcott (01:25): “She’s a wealthy woman. And her family had her put here so that they could get her money.”
(03:44 - 07:15)
Alice Westcott (06:15): “You mean that Mr. Durant who is supposed to look after me? He's lying outside my door, isn't he? And he's quite dead... He was struck down by Providence, you know.”
(07:15 - 08:38)
Joan Westcott (08:10): “Please... don’t. The man who was murdered deserved to die.”
(08:38 - 13:09)
Bill Williams (09:48): “So all I have to do is take samples of their hair, send them down to the police lab... Whichever checks, that’s our killer.”
(16:16 - 18:01)
Alice Westcott (17:07): “Yes. But he was mean and very rude to me. He slapped me. I'd rather not be slapped, Mr. Vance.”
(19:49 - 21:11)
Police Laboratory Doctor (20:35): “Notice, Mr. Vance, at the very tip of the hair on the right, a little unusual substance; that is gum arabic, generally used as a glue.”
(21:30 - 25:03)
Philo Vance (24:41): “I think Mr. Ward's hair, what's left of his own hair, is black. Take that toupee off his head, Heath.”
Bill Williams (24:48): “Vance, it came off in my hand. It is a wig.”
(25:31 - 26:31)
Philo Vance (25:53): “I was sure then that Ward wore a toupee. And I reasoned that Durant must have come into his bedroom when he was preparing for bed, at which time he'd have taken off the toupee… That's how Durant got some of Ward's real hair in his hand.”
For fans of classic detective radio, this episode provides a prime example of psychological manipulation, forensic reasoning, and the moral clarity of Golden Age sleuths.