Philo Vance: Vanilla Murder Case 12/21/1948

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Philo Vance: Vanilla Murder Case" (Originally aired 12/21/1948)

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Host: Choice Classic Radio
Episode Release Date: July 4, 2026

---

Main Theme

This episode features a classic Philo Vance detective story, “The Vanilla Murder Case,” originally broadcast in December 1948. Listeners are taken through an intricate murder mystery set around the Kingsway Luncheonette, following the suave and methodical private investigator Philo Vance as he unravels the unexpected killing of a soda fountain clerk. Through sharp exchanges and a web of debts, jealousy, and deceit, the episode highlights the classic conventions of Golden Age detective radio dramas, complete with red herrings and a tense confrontation in the District Attorney's office.

---

Key Discussion Points and Storyline Breakdown

1. Setting the Stage: A Desperate Plea

• [01:24]
  • District Attorney Markham welcomes Vance, describing a late-night call he received from a desperate young woman.
  • June Mills arrives, distraught, begging for help: “Can you help prevent a murder? That’s what I want to know.” (June Mills, 02:33)
• [02:47]
  • She reveals her boyfriend, Johnny Blake, is marked for death but is too terrified to say more, fearing for her own life if she talks.

2. At the Luncheonette: Tensions and Threats

• [04:17]
  • Vance visits the Kingsway Luncheonette. Johnny Blake is shown interacting with Tony Amrotti, a small-time gangster and loan shark, who makes clear, “If you don’t pay me, I gotta take it out on you. Nothing personal, Johnny.”
• [06:50]
  • June and Johnny share a tense moment: Johnny is caught between fear for his safety and frustration that June involved the authorities.
  • Mr. Mills, June’s father, confronts Johnny and delivers a chilling ultimatum: “If I ever catch you with her again, I’ll kill you.” (Mr. Mills, 08:07)

3. Discovery of the Murder

• [08:33]
  • The next morning, Vance meets Dick Jackman, Johnny’s coworker, at the luncheonette.
  • [09:26]
  • Together, they discover Johnny’s body in the basement next to a vanilla syrup pump.
    • Dick hesitates to get involved, hinting at fear of the same fate: “I don’t want to be in a spot where nobody can help me either.” (Dick Jackman, 11:34)
• [12:23]
  • Vance phones Markham, confirming that, as predicted, Johnny is dead.

4. Investigation and Suspects

• [13:03]

  • Vance quickly establishes that Johnny had borrowed money from Tony Amrotti, a local loan shark—a common setup for violence among low-wage workers.

• [13:34]

  • Vance interrogates Tony, prompting a memorable exchange:
    • “Now I’ll never get my dough. That ain’t good business, Vance.” (Tony Amrotti, 14:16)
    • Tony, unfazed, jokes about his business’s ‘advertising’: “Maybe they should pay me what they owe me or they wind up like Johnny... Hey, that’s pretty cute, Vance.” (14:29)

• [16:05]

  • Markham brings another suspect: Mr. Mills, who had threatened Johnny out of fatherly disapproval.

• [18:14]

  • June tries to come clean, but Vance believes he has already worked out the solution.

5. Piecing Together the Motive

• [19:22]
  • Vance notices something odd: Tony will lend money to anybody except Dick Jackman.
    • Tony claims Dick is a “bad risk” due to a previous unpaid debt, but Vance connects the dots between Johnny’s recent loan and Dick’s payoff to a bookie.
• [21:01]
  • The timeline of debts suggests Johnny borrowed $50 from Tony to help Dick pay his own gambling obligations.

6. The Confrontation and Reveal

• [22:29]

  • Vance gathers all the suspects—Tony, Dick, June, and Mr. Mills—at the DA’s office for the classic drawing-room revelation.
    • “In a few minutes, I promise you three of you may leave now. Let me bring you all up to date on some details, please.” (Philo Vance, 23:17)

• [24:01]

  • Vance tricks Dick by falsely announcing the murder weapon had his fingerprints (“The fingerprints on the syrup pump are Dick Jackman’s”), forcing Dick to panic and try to flee.

• [24:52]

  • Vance reveals there were actually no fingerprints—he only made up the story to provoke a confession.

7. The Solution Explained

• [25:34]
  • Vance: Motive was money. Johnny took out the loan for Dick, who, when pressured to pay, panicked and killed Johnny to keep his secret.
• [26:25]
  • The critical clue: When Dick and Vance discovered the body, only Dick recognized the murder weapon as the vanilla syrup pump—even though it was too far away to see. This knowledge implicated him.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [02:47] June Mills:
  “Can the DA help prevent a murder? That’s what I want to know.”

• [08:07] Mr. Mills:
  “If I ever catch you with her again, I’ll kill you. Do you understand?”

• [11:34] Dick Jackman:
  “I don’t want to be in a spot where nobody can help me either.”

• [13:58] Tony Amrotti:
  “He owed me dough, but I can write it off.”

• [14:29] Tony Amrotti & Vance exchange:
  Tony: “Hey, that’s pretty cute, Vance. I should have thought of that myself.”
  Vance: “Are you quite sure you didn’t?”

• [23:17] Philo Vance:
  “In a few minutes, I promise you... let me bring you all up to date on some details, please.”

• [24:01] Philo Vance:
  “The fingerprints on the syrup pump are Dick Jackman’s.”
  (Followed by Dick’s breakdown and attempt to flee.)

• [25:04] District Attorney Markham:
  “You knew Dick was the murderer and there were no fingerprints? How?”

• [26:25] Philo Vance (the critical deduction):
  “The only way he [Dick] could have known [the murder weapon] is if he’d used it to kill Johnny.”

---

Key Timestamps

• [01:24] – Vance and Markham discuss the late-night plea
• [02:07] – June Mills’ desperate entrance
• [04:17] – Johnny’s confrontation with Tony Amrotti
• [08:07] – Mr. Mills threatens Johnny
• [09:26] – Discovery of Johnny’s body
• [13:34] – Tony questioned about Johnny’s debt
• [16:05] – Markham introduces Mr. Mills as a suspect
• [19:22] – Dick’s unusual “bad risk” status discussed
• [22:29] – Gathering at the DA’s office
• [24:01] – “Fingerprint” trick and Dick’s exposure
• [25:34] – Motive explained; Dick’s guilt is clear

---

Tone and Language

The dialogue is quintessentially 1940s radio drama: sharp, snappy, and loaded with sardonic wit (especially through Vance’s cool, unflappable manner), noir-ish metaphors, and underworld slang (“dough,” “shylocks,” “soda jerks”). The pacing is brisk, with tension and suspicion mounting as each character is given a plausible motive before Philo Vance methodically exposes the real killer.

---

Conclusion

“Philo Vance: Vanilla Murder Case” exemplifies classic radio detective storytelling, combining suspense, deduction, and characterful exchanges. The murder of Johnny Blake is initially shrouded in secrecy and fear—courtesy of a loan shark, a protective father, and a fearful girlfriend—but ultimately unraveled by Vance’s logic and psychological insight. The twist, hinging on Dick Jackman’s accidental slip with the vanilla syrup pump, is a satisfying resolution that showcases both the strengths of the genre and the cleverness of its hero.

Transcript

[Yael Eckstein]

I'm believing that whether it's in the streets of Jerusalem or wherever it might be, that the enemies of Israel might seek to inflict and to wound, to maim. I'm believing that God will use this fellowship to alleviate, to heal, to bind up the wounded, to feed, to clothe, to build more bomb shelters. Nobody should have to live like this.

[International Fellowship Announcer]

An emergency gift of $45 to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews will help rush medical aid through food, water and emergency supplies. The need is urgent. Donate [e-mail] that's ifcj.org

[Choice Classic Radio Announcer]

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] it.

[District Attorney Markham]

Sit down, Vance. Sit down. Nice of you to drop in.

[Philo Vance]

Well, thank you, Markham. Well, I'm glad that being district attorney gives you the same privilege of working late that my chosen profession affords me.

[District Attorney Markham]

Haven't seen you in a week, Vance. Don't tell me that the public has taken over my favorite private investigator.

[Philo Vance]

Oh, I've been busy, but mostly routine cases. Then this evening I was driving by this way, saw the light in your office and thought I'd take a chance that it was you up here and not a cleaning woman.

[District Attorney Markham]

I'm glad you're not disappointed. Or are you?

[Philo Vance]

If the cleaning woman had a murder case for me to work on. Or if you don't, I will be. Anything unusual going on, Markham?

[District Attorney Markham]

Yes. I'm working late because a young lady phoned me and asked me to wait for her. She said it was urgent.

[Philo Vance]

Well, that sounds very interesting, Markham. Perhaps I.

[June Mills]

Which one of you is the district attorney? Please. Please.

[District Attorney Markham]

Well, please come in.

[June Mills]

I must see Mr. Markham. I phoned him a while ago. It's a matter of life and death.

[Philo Vance]

Yours?

[June Mills]

Are you Mr. Markham?

[Philo Vance]

I'm Philo Vance. This is Mr. Markham. How do you do, Mr. Markham?

[June Mills]

My name is Mills, June Mills. And you've got to help me.

[District Attorney Markham]

I'll certainly try if you'll give me a hint as to how.

[June Mills]

I'm sorry. It's just that I'm so upset. I've never done anything like this before. I don't even know if you can help me.

[Philo Vance]

If he can't, I'd like to. Ms. Mills. What's the trouble?

[June Mills]

Well. Well, I know the district attorney is called in to help convict a killer after a murder takes place, but can he help prevent one? That's what I want to know.

[District Attorney Markham]

Can he he certainly can try. Tell me what it is you're troubled about.

[June Mills]

It's my boyfriend, Johnny Blake. He works at the soda fountain down at the Kingsway Luncheonette. He's going to be killed.

[District Attorney Markham]

Who's going to kill him?

[June Mills]

Who?

[Philo Vance]

Yes, Ms. Mills, who?

[June Mills]

Why? I can't tell you. I can't tell you that. I don't dare tell you.

[District Attorney Markham]

Why not?

[June Mills]

Because they'll kill me too if I do. And you won't be able to stop them. They might kill me if they knew that I came here. I just thought of that. You've got to forget that I was here. Promise me that you will.

[Philo Vance]

What about your boyfriend, Johnny Blake?

[June Mills]

I'll think of something else. I'll have to. Nobody must know about this. Promise me, both of you, that you'll do nothing about it. Please. Please promise me. I'm frightened.

[District Attorney Markham]

You've given us no alternative, Ms. Mills. We have nothing to work on.

[June Mills]

Yes, I know. I'm sorry I came up here when I heard about. No, no, I can't tell you. I mustn't remember. You promised that you'd forget what I said. Please forget that I was here tonight. Please.

[District Attorney Markham]

Well, what do you think of that, Vance?

[Philo Vance]

I don't know yet. That girl was terrified. Something tells me I ought to see her boyfriend. And I will, first thing in the morning.

[Johnny Blake]

Chocolate soda, all black, no whipped. There you are, sir.

[District Attorney Markham]

Thank you.

[Johnny Blake]

What's yours, Miss?

[June Mills]

Strawberry soda. No ice cream, please. And a bacon and tomato on toast.

[Tony Amrotti]

Right.

[Johnny Blake]

BT Down.

[Dick Jackman]

Echo.

[Johnny Blake]

BT Down.

[Dick Jackman]

Right.

[Philo Vance]

BT Down.

[Johnny Blake]

Strawberry.

[Tony Amrotti]

Right, miss.

[June Mills]

Yeah. And a bacon and tomato on toast.

[Johnny Blake]

Well, that's coming up. I'm only vice president in charge of sodas. Ah, there you are. Your sandwich will be right up.

[June Mills]

Thank you very much, I'm sure.

[Dick Jackman]

Yes, sir.

[Johnny Blake]

While you.

[Tony Amrotti]

Oh, finish it, Johnny. You want to know what I wanted. How do you know, kid?

[Johnny Blake]

I know. Tony, I've got to talk to you.

[Tony Amrotti]

Nothing says I gotta listen. Only one thing talks with me, kid. Doe.

[Johnny Blake]

Wait a minute. Hey, Dick, take the counter for me for a minute, will ya?

[Dick Jackman]

Yeah, sure, Johnny.

[Johnny Blake]

Tony, I. I haven't got what I promised you I'd have.

[Tony Amrotti]

Oh, Johnny, not too bad. I'll take a plate of vanilla.

[Johnny Blake]

Oh, sure, sure, Tony. Coming up. You're not sore, Tony There.

[Dick Jackman]

Sore?

[Tony Amrotti]

No, I ain't sore. Only I'm disappointed in you, Johnny.

[Johnny Blake]

Here you are.

[Dick Jackman]

White. That's right.

[Tony Amrotti]

It's a good ice cream. You promised me something. You don't keep that promise. That ain't right.

[Johnny Blake]

Next Saturday I'll have it for you, Tony. The whole $50.

[Tony Amrotti]

Johnny, let me show you how I worked. You borrowed 50 bucks from me a month ago. Supposed to be for one week. Next week you were supposed to pay me 55.

[Johnny Blake]

I know, but I couldn't that week.

[Tony Amrotti]

Okay, so? So you paid me the interest. Five bucks. But the next week and the week after and the week after that, nothing. Now, you say next week you'll pay me the 50. Nothing doing, Johnny.

[Johnny Blake]

But I haven't got it, and I can't get it. Tony, don't you understand that?

[Tony Amrotti]

I don't understand anything. Except if you don't pay me, I gotta take it out on you. Nothing personal, Johnny. Just that guys like me, we don't ask for security when we lend you guys dough. If I let you get away with it, other guys will get the same idea. Who's got ice cream?

[Johnny Blake]

Look, Tony, there must be some way I can make a deal. Will you? There must be something you'll take.

[Tony Amrotti]

Sure, kid. My money. You better run around tonight and get it, Sunny. Or tomorrow maybe you won't even be able to walk. It's good ice cream you got here, you know.

[June Mills]

Sit down on the porch for a minute, Johnny. Please.

[Johnny Blake]

I don't want to sit down. June. I brought you home. I've got to leave now. All I need is for your old man to catch me here.

[June Mills]

Good night, Johnny. Wait.

[Johnny Blake]

What is it?

[June Mills]

He did come to the store tonight, didn't he, Tony?

[Johnny Blake]

Yeah, he came in. June, I gotta get out of here. Your father.

[June Mills]

Johnny, the rate of interest Tony charges isn't legal. You could go to the police.

[Johnny Blake]

Forget that, and quick. That'll only mean more trouble. Hey, where did you disappear to before? Where'd you go? The cops.

[June Mills]

I went to the district attorney's office.

[Johnny Blake]

Oh, Junie, you little fool. If you told anything to the da, I'm cooked. Don't you realize that? You didn't go to the police.

[June Mills]

You didn't, Johnny, it was for your own good. I know you don't have the money. I knew what Tony would do. I had to go. But I didn't tell him anything. Honest, I didn't.

[Johnny Blake]

You little dope. Why, I told you anything. I don't know. If a cop shows up at that store, Tony will take care of me. Sure.

[Mr. Mills]

June. Who's that with you?

[Johnny Blake]

It's me, Mr. Mills. Johnny Blake.

[June Mills]

Daddy only took me home. That's all, dad.

[Mr. Mills]

That's all. Johnny, you listen to me. I've told you to keep away from June. If she hasn't enough sense to Know what kind of a guy you are? I have.

[Johnny Blake]

Mr. Mills. You don't understand about us.

[Mr. Mills]

I understand why you.

[Philo Vance]

What are you attracted to?

[Mr. Mills]

We don't understand, eh?

[Philo Vance]

Let me.

[Mr. Mills]

I understand this, that you're no good for my daughter, Johnny. You're no good to anybody. And I'm telling you now as quietly as I can, that if I ever catch you with her again, I'll kill you. Do you understand?

[Dick Jackman]

Yes, sir. What do you have?

[Philo Vance]

Oh, good morning, young man. My name is Vance.

[Dick Jackman]

If you're selling anything, Vance, you better see the manager, Mr. Kelly. He'll be in in about a half an hour.

[Philo Vance]

My name is Philo Vance.

[Dick Jackman]

I'm sorry, I can't do a thing. Philo Vance, the private detective.

[Philo Vance]

I'm really a private investigator, but the difference is so subtle. We'll skip it. I'm looking for Johnny Blake. Is that you?

[Dick Jackman]

No, I'm Dick Jackman. Johnny ought to be around, though, somewhere.

[Philo Vance]

Where's that?

[Dick Jackman]

I don't know for sure. I just came to work. He gets in before I do. Maybe he's downstairs in the basement grabbing a smoke or mixing some syrups or something. What's up, Mr. Vance?

[Philo Vance]

I don't know. That's what I came to find out. Which way is the basement?

[Dick Jackman]

Right down the stairs at the back of the store. Say, I'm off for a couple minutes. You want me to take you down?

[Philo Vance]

I'd appreciate that very much.

[Dick Jackman]

Okay. Just walk along outside the counter, Mr. Vance. Meet you in the back.

[Philo Vance]

That's fine. Thank you again.

[Dick Jackman]

Here we are, right through this door, down the stairs. Oh, I'll go first, Mr. Vance, if you will. See, we keep all kinds of stuff down here, Mr. Vance. Syrups, big refrigerators, everything. Hey, Johnny, got company.

[Yael Eckstein]

I'm believing that whether it's in the streets of Jerusalem or wherever it might be that the enemies of Israel might seek to inflict and to wound, to maim, I'm believing that God will use this fellowship to alleviate, to heal, to bind up the wounded, to feed, to clothe, to build more bomb shelters. Nobody should have to live like this.

[International Fellowship Announcer]

An emergency gift of $45 to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews will help rush medical aid, food, water and emergency supplies.

[Tony Amrotti]

The need is urgent.

[International Fellowship Announcer]

Donate [e-mail] that's ifcj.org

[Dick Jackman]

that's funny.

[Philo Vance]

Maybe he isn't down here.

[Dick Jackman]

Oh, no, he's got to be. One of the boys said he saw

[Philo Vance]

him go down here about an hour ago.

[Dick Jackman]

Hey, Johnny. John. Mr. Vance.

[Philo Vance]

I see it is that was that Johnny Blake.

[Dick Jackman]

Sure looks like him from here. Mr. Vance, I wouldn't like to go over there. I would like to look at it from up close.

[Philo Vance]

You won't have to, Dick. He's dead. I can tell that. I can see from the way he's crumpled up. What's that on the floor next to him?

[Dick Jackman]

Well, that's a syrup pump. Vanilla syrup pump. We keep all of them down here in the morning where they can be scrubbed.

[Philo Vance]

Well, I'd say somebody hit Johnny over the head with it and killed him. Dick, who was it Johnny was afraid of?

[Dick Jackman]

Don't ask me, Mr. Vance. I didn't know. I haven't any idea who it was. No kidding. I wouldn't know, Mr. Vance. I wouldn't know.

[Philo Vance]

It might help me find whoever killed Johnny, Dick.

[Dick Jackman]

Yeah, maybe, Mr. Vance. But I'd say that nobody can help Johnny anymore. And, well, I don't want to be in a spot where nobody can help me either.

[Philo Vance]

Dick, listen, Johnny's girlfriend, June Mills, told me part of the story.

[Dick Jackman]

She told you about Tony?

[Philo Vance]

Vaguely. I need a little more information.

[Dick Jackman]

Well, Tony's the reason I won't talk, Mr. Vance. See, he's a pretty tough character. June probably told you that Johnny borrowed dough from Tony, didn't she?

[Philo Vance]

Not exactly, but she didn't have to. As a matter of fact, Dick, you don't have to do any more talking either.

[District Attorney Markham]

Hello, Markham?

[Mr. Mills]

Speaking.

[Philo Vance]

Markham, this is Vance.

[District Attorney Markham]

Hello, Vance.

[Philo Vance]

I'm down at the Kingsway Luncheonette. You remember the girl who came to see you last night?

[District Attorney Markham]

Yes, very well.

[Philo Vance]

Why, I should have come down here last night, only she begged so hard I postponed it until this morning. What she was afraid of has happened. Her boyfriend, Johnny Blake, has been murdered.

[Johnny Blake]

What?

[Philo Vance]

That's right. He was hit over the head with a syrup pump, a vanilla syrup pump. And his body was tossed in a corner. You'd better get Sergeant Heathen some men down here right away.

[District Attorney Markham]

Yes, I will, of course. So, Vance, it's finally happened. You found a murder and called me in.

[Philo Vance]

Well, I hope that's as far as precedent breaking goes on this case, Markham. I'd like to solve this case. Incidentally, I have something to work on.

[District Attorney Markham]

You have? What's that, Vance?

[Philo Vance]

Johnny Blake's soda fountain partner, Dick Jackman told me what it was that Johnny's girl was afraid of. He'd borrowed money from one of those small time gangsters who lent money to soda clerks and barbers and small salaried office workers who have no security, as we call them.

[District Attorney Markham]

Shylocks Vance. They're usually pretty hard customers.

[Philo Vance]

Are they, Markham? Well, I'm going to see this one. Maybe I can soften him up a bit.

[Tony Amrotti]

Good ice cream, Vance. Sure you don't want any?

[Philo Vance]

Quite sure, Tony. You seem to be enjoying that quite a bit.

[Tony Amrotti]

Why not? I like it. I get ice cream sent up here to my office every day. If I like something, I enjoy it.

[Philo Vance]

It's very hard for me to find fault with that logic. Let's talk about Johnny Blake, though.

[Tony Amrotti]

Nothing to talk about. You told me he got murdered. It's too bad. He owed me dough, but I can write it off.

[Philo Vance]

Listen, Tony. I found Johnny in the basement, killed with a syrup pump. The basement window had been smashed and the murderer got in that way. Where have you been all morning?

[Tony Amrotti]

Me? Right here. I got six people who swear I was here all morning.

[Philo Vance]

I have no doubt about that. You admit that Johnny owed you money and couldn't pay it, don't you, Tony?

[Tony Amrotti]

That's right. Only I wouldn't knock him off for that. You see, now I'll never get my dough. That ain't good business, Vance.

[Philo Vance]

It might be in your line of work, Tony. You might credit it to advertising.

[Tony Amrotti]

That's pretty cute, Vance. You mean other guys will remember that? Maybe they should pay me what they owe me or they wind up like Johnny. Hey, that's pretty cute, Vance. I should have thought of that myself.

[Philo Vance]

Are you quite sure you didn't?

[Tony Amrotti]

I'm positive. But I'll remember about that, Vance.

[Philo Vance]

I wouldn't if I were you, Tony.

[Tony Amrotti]

Vance, haven't you got any curiosity, or haven't you got any nerves?

[Philo Vance]

I assure you I have both. Why?

[Tony Amrotti]

You know those sounds you hear in your shots? How come you don't ask about them?

[Philo Vance]

You'll tell me, Tony. You were just dying to tell me the minute I heard the first one.

[Tony Amrotti]

No wonder you don't eat ice cream, Vance. You don't need any. You're the coolest thing I ever ran up against. You want to know about those shots?

[Philo Vance]

Well, let's say you want to tell me about them.

[Tony Amrotti]

Yeah, I do. You see, Vance, those are my boys shooting off those guns. They're practicing. It's my idea. You like it?

[Philo Vance]

Not well enough to shout bravo. They have permits?

[Tony Amrotti]

Sure. That's my idea, too.

[Philo Vance]

I see. What are they shooting at?

[Tony Amrotti]

Well, right now it's targets. Targets I set up downstairs. They practice that if they ever get in a jam, they'll be able to shoot straight. I got the idea from the FBI. How do you like it?

[Philo Vance]

I like it. All right, Tony. Only I have an idea that anybody that commits a crime ought to be caught. That's something I got from the FBI.

[District Attorney Markham]

This is District Attorney Markham. The vanilla murder case began when Johnny Blake, a soda dispenser, was found dead in the basement of the store where he worked. Vance and Dick Jackman, another soda clerk, discovered the body and beside it, a syrup pump, which Vance found to be marked vanilla. Vance has found out that Tony Amrotti, a loan shark, had threatened Johnny. I've uncovered some information that might be helpful to Vance, and I've phoned him to meet me outside the basement window. He should be along any minute now because it's about half an hour. Vance, is that you?

[Philo Vance]

Yes. Hello, Markham. What's going on that you couldn't tell me on the telephone?

[District Attorney Markham]

I could have told you then, I suppose, but I thought I'd like to have a private chat with you, Vance. First, though, here's the news.

[Philo Vance]

You sound like a radio commentator, Markham.

[District Attorney Markham]

No analysis, Vance. That's your department. I'll stick to the fact you can tell me what they mean. You remember the girl who came to my office last night?

[Philo Vance]

June Mills? Of course.

[District Attorney Markham]

Well, I've talked to her, and she admits to me that her father threatened Johnny. He's not too involved. He didn't like Johnny. In fact, he threatened to kill him if he found him with his daughter again.

[Philo Vance]

Is that so?

[District Attorney Markham]

Definitely. Well, this little piece of information of mine gives you another suspect, Vance. Right?

[Philo Vance]

No question about it. Where is Mr. Mills now?

[District Attorney Markham]

June and her father are at home. Sergeant Heath is keeping them there temporarily.

[Philo Vance]

In that case, I think I'll pay them a visit. I might as well clean up that little detail, Vance.

[District Attorney Markham]

I've given you some information, but you've been a little reluctant to part with any news. Have you made any progress at all in this case?

[Philo Vance]

I think so, Markham. In fact, I can tell you with every confidence that when I return from the Mills house, I'll tell you who murdered Johnny Blake.

[Dick Jackman]

No.

[Mr. Mills]

Stop crying, baby. There's nothing that crying will do that'll help.

[Philo Vance]

Let her cry if she likes, Mr. Mills. Surprising as it may seem to you, an expression of grief does offer a measure of consolation.

[June Mills]

Thank you, Mr. Vance.

[Philo Vance]

Not at all, Mr. Mills. I'm not going to do any routine questioning about your threatening Johnny Blake. That isn't important at the moment. The only thing that is important is who killed him.

[Mr. Mills]

Well, it wasn't me.

[Philo Vance]

I hardly expected you to sign a full confession just because I decided not to question you. Mr. Mills. But on the other hand, saying it wasn't you doesn't absolve you either.

[June Mills]

Mr. Vance. I want to tell you now what Johnny was worried about. What I couldn't tell you last night. I don't care what happens to me now. I want you to know the truth.

[Philo Vance]

I think I know the truth, Ms. Mills. And after this little talk I've had with you two, I think I know something even more important. I think I know the killer.

[June Mills]

I'll have a large strawberry soda, no ice cream, and a bacon and tomato on toast, please.

[Dick Jackman]

Right. Stretch of strawberry. Beat T down.

[June Mills]

Thank you.

[Dick Jackman]

Hello there, Mr. Vance. Something I can serve you?

[Philo Vance]

No, thank you, Dick, not right now. Listen, you've been very helpful to me. Would you do one more thing, please?

[Dick Jackman]

Well, if it'll help. Count me in, Vance.

[Philo Vance]

It will help. I want you to borrow $50 from Tony Amrotti.

[Dick Jackman]

Uh, Mr. Vance, no can do.

[Philo Vance]

But you said you'd help.

[Dick Jackman]

Tony wouldn't lend me a dime. Don't believe me? Ask him yourself. He's sitting right over there at the corner of the counter, eating ice cream.

[Philo Vance]

Vanilla, of course.

[Dick Jackman]

Natch.

[Philo Vance]

So Tony won't lend you any money, Dick.

[Dick Jackman]

No. Don't ask me why. Isn't as if he was afraid he wouldn't get it back. Tony's got his own way of collecting, you know.

[Philo Vance]

Yes, so I've learned. Well, thanks just the same, Dick. I think I'll have another talk with him.

[Dick Jackman]

Good enough. See you around, Mr. Vance.

[Philo Vance]

Hello, Tony.

[Tony Amrotti]

Hi, Mr. Vance. Come on over and have some ice cream.

[Philo Vance]

I'm coming over, but not for that reason.

[Tony Amrotti]

Come on. There's a stool right here, just waiting for you. Sit down.

[Philo Vance]

Thank you. Tony, I understand you lend money to anybody, with or without security.

[Tony Amrotti]

That's right.

[Philo Vance]

That's a little illegal, isn't it? I mean, at the rate of interest you charge, maybe.

[Tony Amrotti]

Only there ain't no such thing as a little illegal, is there, Vance?

[Philo Vance]

I suppose not, Tony. Inasmuch as you lend money to anybody, why won't you lend any to Dick

[Tony Amrotti]

Jackman, that soda jerk over there? He's a bad boy, Vance. He forgets to pay back. And if you start putting any pressure on him, he'll yell for the cops.

[Philo Vance]

And you don't like that, eh, Tony?

[Tony Amrotti]

Look, if you was in my line of work, with you, that's the only risk we take in this racket. The guy don't scare was sunk.

[Philo Vance]

If you've never lent Dick any money, Tony, how do you know he's a bad risk?

[Tony Amrotti]

Information? I got information about six months ago on that guy. He owed a bookie half a C for five months and only paid him a month ago.

[Philo Vance]

Half a C?

[Tony Amrotti]

Half a century. Century's a hundred bucks.

[Philo Vance]

I know. Let me understand something. Dick paid your bookmaking friend $50 a month ago, just a little after Johnny borrowed $50 from you.

[Tony Amrotti]

Ah, I guess that's right. Coincidence, huh?

[Philo Vance]

Perhaps. Perhaps not. Well, thanks, Tony. I hope you enjoyed your ice cream as much as I've enjoyed this little chat.

[Tony Amrotti]

I'm only starting on my ice cream. Only one portion. Hey, Dick, another plate of vanilla, huh?

[Dick Jackman]

Right. Coming up. Tony.

[Philo Vance]

Tony, you know where the District Attorney's office is?

[Mr. Mills]

Sure.

[Tony Amrotti]

Somebody once pointed it out to me.

[Philo Vance]

Why be there at six o' clock tonight? Unless you'd rather I had an escort sent to invite you down.

[Tony Amrotti]

I see what you mean. What do you want me there for, Vance?

[Philo Vance]

Oh, a lot of reasons. And you won't be alone. I'm going to ask Dick Jackman and June Mills and her father to be there too. You're really going to want to come, aren't you, Tony?

[Tony Amrotti]

Am I?

[Choice Classic Radio Announcer]

Why?

[Philo Vance]

Why? Because I'm going to name Johnny Blake's murderer. And I couldn't very well do that without you there, now could I?

[District Attorney Markham]

I'm sorry you all are being kept waiting. But Mr. Vance is due here in a moment. We stopped by to see Sergeant Heath at police headquarters to get the results of some fingerprints we were checking.

[Mr. Mills]

Is that why our prints were taken when we came in here, Mr. Markham?

[District Attorney Markham]

That's right, Mr. Mills. Yours, your daughter's and Dick Jackman's.

[Dick Jackman]

We.

[District Attorney Markham]

We already had Tony's, didn't we?

[Tony Amrotti]

Don't be so proud. Cops in six cities have got my prints. Maybe seven. Let me see now. Yeah, it's seven. Hey, Mr. Markins, can I send down for some ice cream?

[District Attorney Markham]

No, not at the moment, Tony.

[Dick Jackman]

Ice cream. All I hear all day is ice cream. I'd like to forget that for a while if it's all right with everybody.

[Tony Amrotti]

Listen to him. The kid's getting nerves. Right, Ms. Mills?

[June Mills]

I don't know. I don't know anything anymore.

[Philo Vance]

Good evening, all.

[District Attorney Markham]

Oh, here's Vance now. Hi, Vance.

[Philo Vance]

Well, I see that all our invited guests are present, Markham.

[District Attorney Markham]

Yes, they are.

[Philo Vance]

Thank you all for being here. In a few minutes, I promise you. Three of you may leave now. Let me bring you all up to date on some details, please.

[Tony Amrotti]

Any way we could stop you?

[Philo Vance]

No, Tony, I think not. To begin with, when Dick Jackman and I found Johnny's Body? It was lying in the corner of the basement. Quite a distance from the stairs so far, in fact that Dick wasn't quite sure it was Johnny at first.

[Dick Jackman]

That's right, Mr. Vance.

[Philo Vance]

Dick and I saw the murder weapon at the same time. The vanilla syrup pump. I didn't know what it was at first, but Dick identified it for me.

[Dick Jackman]

That's right too.

[Philo Vance]

What he didn't know and what I didn't know then was that there were fingerprints on that pump. Fingerprints of the murderer.

[Tony Amrotti]

All I know is they ain't mine. Unless this is a trick.

[Philo Vance]

They aren't your prints, Tony. You see, the fingerprints on the syrup pump are Dick Jackman's.

[Dick Jackman]

Why not? I handle that pump a lot. Isn't that reasonable?

[Philo Vance]

Yes, but you didn't handle it this morning. You had just come to work, remember? And the pumps were downstairs in the basement to be scrubbed. You got your fingerprints on it when you hit your friend Johnny Blake on the head.

[Dick Jackman]

Oh, no.

[Philo Vance]

You can take him, Margaret.

[Dick Jackman]

Oh, no, he can't. Nobody takes me.

[Johnny Blake]

Nobody gets me. I'm good.

[Philo Vance]

I had no idea.

[June Mills]

Hmm.

[Philo Vance]

Quite a wallop you have, Tony.

[Tony Amrotti]

Yeah, tell that to your friends, will you, Vance? Good advertising. What a chump this Dick Jackman was. Left fingerprints.

[District Attorney Markham]

I'm sorry to have wasted your time in this case, Vance. In as much as there were fingerprints, it actually was nothing but a routine police case.

[Philo Vance]

That would be true, Markham, except that there were no fingerprints.

[Johnny Blake]

What?

[District Attorney Markham]

I beg your pardon?

[Philo Vance]

I made up the detail of the fingerprints merely to force Dick into making a break. You see, I knew he was our murderer.

[District Attorney Markham]

You knew Dick was the murderer and there were no fingerprints? How?

[Philo Vance]

Just think over the facts for a moment, Markham, and you'll know how I knew too. Well, Markham, where do you want me to begin? Now that our three other suspects are out of the office and Mr. Dick Jackman is in Sergeant Heath's hands.

[District Attorney Markham]

I like my explanation. Slowly, Vance. Start with the motive, please.

[Philo Vance]

Motive? Money. You see, when Johnny Blake borrowed money from Tony, he actually borrowed it for his friend Dick Jackman.

[District Attorney Markham]

How did you find that out?

[Philo Vance]

It added up. Tony told me that Dick paid a six months old debt shortly after Johnny borrowed money from Tony.

[District Attorney Markham]

I'm beginning to understand. When Tony demanded money from Johnny, Johnny went to Dick and insisted that Dick

[Philo Vance]

pay him the $50.

[District Attorney Markham]

Dick couldn't pay it. Knew he was in a spot of Johnny talked and he had to do something desperate.

[Philo Vance]

He had to. And he did.

[District Attorney Markham]

Let me see now. On his way to the store the morning of the murder, he passed the basement window and saw Johnny working down there. He broke the window, jumped down and hit Johnny with the pump. Johnny had just finished cleaning.

[Philo Vance]

Exactly. Then he climbed out the basement window and came in the front entrance to work.

[District Attorney Markham]

I see. Well, I'm satisfied about the motive. Now tell me about the clue.

[Philo Vance]

The clue was there when I found the body, only I didn't realize it at the time. Malcolm, Dick and I were 15ft away from Johnny's body and the syrup pump. But Dick knew it was a vanilla syrup pump. The only way he could have known is if he'd used it to kill Johnny.

[District Attorney Markham]

Mmm, that's right. It was too far away to see the lettering on it, wasn't it?

[Philo Vance]

Of course. And in the maze of complicating details, I overlooked it. Temporarily, of course. When I thought back on the case, I realized what an error Dick had made right at the very beginning.

[District Attorney Markham]

I'm glad you did, Vance. Because it was an error at the beginning that brought us to the end of the Vanilla murder case.

[Philo Vance]

Sam SA.

[International Fellowship Announcer]

An emergency message from the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.

[Yael Eckstein]

The enemies of Israel have hit it's cities and people with a massive attack. Serious casualties are rising by the hour at hospitals across the Holy Land. I'm Yael Eckstein of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and we urgently need your response now to help bring emergency food, shelter and life saving supplies.

[International Fellowship Announcer]

Right now, Israel and her people need our prayers and support during this terror crisis. With an emergency gift of $45 to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, you'll help brush vital equipment for first responders, medical needs for those injured, water, food resources for homebound elderly, trauma care for children, bomb shelter, construction and much more. The need is urgent. Donate [e-mail] that's ifcj.org.