Richard Diamond Private Detective: Gibson Murder Case 10/08/1949

Summary

Podcast Summary:

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: Richard Diamond Private Detective: Gibson Murder Case (10/08/1949)
Host: Choice Classic Radio
Date: February 2, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode features the classic "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" radio drama, with Dick Powell as the wisecracking gumshoe. The case at hand—the "Gibson Murder Case"—centers on Richard Diamond being pulled into a tricky murder investigation involving a locked-room mystery, mistaken identities, blackmail, and a trail that runs from the upper echelons of New York society to its criminal underbelly—all with Richard Diamond's trademark mix of humor, charm, and detective smarts.

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Key Points and Discussion Breakdown

1. Opening: Diamond’s Beef and a Sweltering Summer

• [00:49] Richard Diamond humorously complains about the price of groceries and why killings always seem to happen when it’s hot.
  “Why can't people start their killings in December when it's cool? Now, about a week ago, I got mixed up in the case.” — (Richard Diamond, 01:18)

2. Plot Setup: The Crime and Its Aftermath

• [02:05] A group (Harvey Austin, Virginia Gibson, Esther Blodgett) argue about blackmailing an elderly man, Mr. Gibson. When confronted, tempers flare, and Gibson is struck. The group panics, considering how to dispose of the "problem."
  • [04:07] The confrontation escalates until Mr. Gibson ends up dead, and the group scrambles for a solution.

3. The Case Lands on Diamond’s Desk

• [05:55] Esther Blodgett calls Diamond, reporting a body in her apartment. Her confusion around "Hepplewhite" (her chair, not the corpse) and her anxious but prim personality create comedic moments.

  • “I found this corpse sitting on My—on your what? Hepplewhite. I don't know how he could have gotten there.” — (Esther Blodgett & Richard Diamond, 07:27)

• [08:04] Diamond explains to Blodgett why the police must be involved, despite her concerns about her reputation as a schoolteacher.

4. Investigation: Identifying the Victim

• [10:25] At Blodgett's apartment, Diamond and Lt. Walt Levinson identify the corpse as Leland Gibson, noting oddities such as brown lint on the clothing, likely not killed at the scene, and the locked-room scenario.
  • [12:06] Gibson’s address found: 12 East 64th St.—a clue sending Diamond out to investigate further.

5. Tracing the Victim’s Last Days

• [14:29] At the Gibson residence, Diamond informs Virginia Gibson of her father’s death. She reveals that Leland Gibson had recently moved to a hotel and was seeing a woman named Virginia Pilgrim (“Gibson was being blackmailed…”).

  • “Dad left the house about three weeks ago and moved into a hotel… I think it was a woman.” — (Virginia Gibson, 15:36)

• [17:12] At the Adams Hotel, Diamond learns that Gibson was obsessed with Virginia Pilgrim, a waitress who left the hotel soon after he moved in. She is now his main lead.

6. The Pilgrim Clue and Suspect Identities

• [19:11] Flower clerk provides the address where Gibson sent flowers to Pilgrim. The landlady at the apartment confirms Pilgrim had male visitors—a younger, greasy man, and Gibson himself. Last seen after an argument the morning of the murder.

7. Breakthrough: The Rug and the Locked Room

• [21:02] Diamond returns to Blodgett's apartment. The police have identified brown lint on Gibson’s clothes as rug matting; the ritual of rug removal for painters points to the body being moved in a rug, specifically from a second-floor apartment.
  • “Dead body in a locked room… Carried in in a rug. Bullseye.” — (Richard Diamond, 22:55)

8. Piecing It Together: The Austins and the Connection

• [23:48] The Austins, former tenants of Blodgett’s apartment, now live on the second floor. Mrs. Austin fits Virginia Pilgrim’s description exactly.

  • Reveal: Mrs. Austin (Virginia Pilgrim) and her husband killed Gibson, hid the body in a rug, and dumped it in Blodgett's vacant apartment before the painters arrived.
  • “You and your husband killed Mr. Gibson and carted him downstairs in a rug.” — (Richard Diamond, 25:22)

9. Resolution and Closing Banter

• [26:18] Diamond wraps up the case and heads for a lighthearted dinner with Helen Asher, full of playful, romantic banter and piano serenades.
  • "Sing for your supper." / "Oh, honey, I'm hungry." — "You sing first, and then you can eat." — (Helen Asher & Richard Diamond, 26:38)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Diamond’s Trademark Wit:

  • "Murders financed while you wait… Is this Toodles Asher, the bell of Park Avenue?" — (Richard Diamond, 06:01)
  • "Just call me Blue Eyes." — (Richard Diamond, 12:55)

• Blodgett’s Nervousness:

  • "I'm so nervous. I just lit a cigarette. It tasted so good, I offered one to the dead man." — (Esther Blodgett, 08:43)

• Locked-Room Deduction:

  • "Dead body in a locked room. Blood on body and floor around body, but nowhere else in the room. Carried in in a rug." — (Richard Diamond, 22:55)

• Final Romantic Note:

  • "I said, come here… Oh… Ricky!" — (Helen Asher & Richard Diamond, 28:06)

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Important Timestamps

• Case Introduced / Murder Scene: 00:49 – 05:55
• Blodgett’s Call to Diamond: 07:12 – 08:34
• Diamond and Police at Crime Scene: 10:25 – 13:48
• Diamond Investigates Gibson’s Life: 14:29 – 17:12
• Gibson’s Relationship with Pilgrim Unveiled: 17:21 – 19:11
• Flower Clerk & Landlady Provide Leads: 19:11 – 20:26
• Diamond and Police Link the Rug: 21:02 – 23:36
• Culprits Confronted (Austins): 24:15 – 25:49
• Case Closure & Closing Romance: 26:18 – end

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Tone and Style

• Language: Snappy, punchy, full of period-wisecracks typical of hard-boiled 1940s detective stories.
• Energy: Fast-paced, with sharp humor balancing dark crime elements and light romantic interludes.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode is a classic, compact detective yarn brimming with snarky detective humor and noir intrigue. The locked-room mystery is cleverly unraveled—from a cryptic call to rug lint to blackmail, ending with Richard Diamond piecing together human frailty and criminal cunning. It’s a perfect example of why old-time radio detectives like Richard Diamond endure—delivering equal doses of suspense, clever deduction, and sly wit.

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Listen for:

• The interplay between Richard Diamond and the police, especially Lt. Levinson.
• The “Hepplewhite” confusion—a priceless bit of comedy around a murder victim sitting in an antique chair.
• The quick unraveling of alibis and identities, especially as both detective and audience realize “Virginia Pilgrim” and Mrs. Austin are one and the same.
• The classic call-out on the importance of paying attention to small details (brown lint) in solving the crime.

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Ideal For: Fans of armchair mysteries, classic radio drama, and anyone who appreciates a blend of sharp detective work and breezy banter.

Transcript

[Richard Diamond]

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].

[Announcer]

Here transcribed is Dick Powell as Richard diamond, private detective.

[Richard Diamond]

Hello there. This is Diamond. Hey, I got a beef. I went shopping for my girl Helen Asher the other day. You know, stuff for dinner. This town's gotten hotter than the blast furnace in Death Valley. So you gotta pick out things that make for a cool meal, like salads, cold cuts, beer, real picnic style. Well, I figured I could whip up a fancy tossed salad or something until I got around to the tomato counter. Have you glommed onto the price of tomatoes lately?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Now what's with that?

[Richard Diamond]

So the cost of living is inflated so a T bone makes like I just arrived direct from the Sultan's Classiest cow. Okay, a T bone I can understand. But what's with a tomato when it costs so much, it should be hanging from a charm bracelet instead of lying in a salad bowl? Who needs it? So I bowed from the waist and figured you could still do a lot of things with a plain head of lettuce. Oh, I got another beef, too. Why can't people start their killings in December when it's cool now? About a week ago, I got mixed up in the case. And before it was over, I took so many salt tablets. I am now the best seasoned private detective in New York. It started last Tuesday morning about 11 o' clock in an apartment on the Upper east side.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Ginny.

[Esther Blodgett]

Yeah, genius?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

No cracks.

[Virginia Gibson]

No cracks.

[Esther Blodgett]

We're both waiting for old Gibson to turn us into the cops and you say no cracks. This whole rotten mess is your fault.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

How did I know the old goat.

[Harvey Austin]

Wouldn'T fall for it?

[Virginia Gibson]

Well, he didn't. So we better start packing.

[Harvey Austin]

What for?

[Esther Blodgett]

Because I don't want to play hostess to a lot of little men in blue. I'm allergic to handcuffs.

[Richard Diamond]

Relax, will you?

[Harvey Austin]

They won't find us.

[Esther Blodgett]

They can trace me from the other apartment.

[Richard Diamond]

How?

[Harvey Austin]

Gibson don't know your real name.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Do you leave anything in the other.

[Harvey Austin]

Place or we'll leave him here.

[Esther Blodgett]

No, Cleaned out everything except the clothes.

[Virginia Gibson]

I didn't have time to move them.

[Harvey Austin]

Notice she got away with a mink?

[Esther Blodgett]

What do you want me to do, leave it behind?

[Harvey Austin]

No, no. We can hock it.

[Helen Asher]

Hock it? Yeah.

[Harvey Austin]

Wanna blow town? Takes cash. Cash I ain't got.

[Virginia Gibson]

You're telling me.

[Harvey Austin]

Look, baby, if Gibson does go to the police, I'll have to hack the court. So we can blow this joint, eh?

[Esther Blodgett]

All right, you go get rid of.

[Virginia Gibson]

It, and I'll start throwing some things into the suitcase.

[Harvey Austin]

Who's that?

[Helen Asher]

How would I know?

[Virginia Gibson]

Maybe it's a landlady.

[Harvey Austin]

Oh, I forgot the paint in this floor today.

[Helen Asher]

Yeah, I saw.

[Virginia Gibson]

The paint isn't 206.

[Esther Blodgett]

I'll probably start in this room in a couple of hours.

[Richard Diamond]

Okay?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Okay.

[Harvey Austin]

Duck that code. I don't want them there later to spot it.

[Helen Asher]

Yeah.

[Harvey Austin]

Yeah. Gibson.

[Richard Diamond]

So you really are married, huh?

[Esther Blodgett]

Who is it, har?

[Mr. Gibson]

Hello, Virginia.

[Virginia Gibson]

Mr. Gibson.

[Mr. Gibson]

Yes. I waited around in front of the other apartment and followed you here. I wanted to be sure to send the police to the right place.

[Harvey Austin]

Look, Mr. Gibson.

[Mr. Gibson]

You look, whatever your real name is, I don't like being blackmailed or threatened. But please, Virginia, my mind's made up. In a way, I'm sorry for you, but you didn't think about me. I'm past 60 and I'm tired of being made a fool.

[Harvey Austin]

Look, why don't you give her a break, Mr. Gibson? I'm not asking for me.

[Mr. Gibson]

I'm very noble of you.

[Richard Diamond]

You should have thought about that a.

[Mr. Gibson]

Few hours ago when you accused me of making love to your wife.

[Richard Diamond]

You're not really married.

[Mr. Gibson]

There is no need of displaying your indignation. There'll be plenty of time for that.

[Richard Diamond]

When the police arrive.

[Helen Asher]

Harv.

[Richard Diamond]

Yeah.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Come in.

[Mr. Gibson]

How dare you. Take your hands off me.

[Harvey Austin]

Look, you ain't calling nobody. You gonna listen to me?

[Mr. Gibson]

You take your hands off me.

[Esther Blodgett]

What are you gonna do, Harv?

[Harvey Austin]

I'm gonna change this old goat's mind about calling the cops.

[Mr. Gibson]

You can't threaten me.

[Esther Blodgett]

No?

[Mr. Gibson]

You struck me.

[Harvey Austin]

How'd you guess?

[Esther Blodgett]

Pop, take it easy. He's an old man.

[Mr. Gibson]

Your concern is misplaced, my dear. I can take care of myself. Why, you.

[Harvey Austin]

Give me that chain.

[Mr. Gibson]

I'll be glad to give it to you across your shoulders. Give me that.

[Esther Blodgett]

H. Be careful.

[Mr. Gibson]

Hit me with a can. With you? No.

[Richard Diamond]

Young.

[Mr. Gibson]

I'll set you up for good.

[Esther Blodgett]

Harpy. Poppy.

[Virginia Gibson]

You idiot.

[Richard Diamond]

Huh?

[Esther Blodgett]

You big, stupid idiot. Look what you've done.

[Harvey Austin]

All right. So what? Know better. Next time, throw some water on him.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, you hear me?

[Harvey Austin]

Throw some water on him. What's wrong? Come on. Come on, Gimpsy. Come on.

[Helen Asher]

Come on.

[Harvey Austin]

Holy cow.

[Esther Blodgett]

You see?

[Harvey Austin]

Yeah, yeah.

[Mr. Gibson]

Shut up.

[Harvey Austin]

Gotta get him out of here.

[Esther Blodgett]

Why'd you have the name of the cane? Now you're in trouble.

[Mr. Gibson]

I'm in trouble?

[Harvey Austin]

We're in trouble, baby.

[Richard Diamond]

We? We.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Stop that crying all over the place. Help me get him out of here.

[Esther Blodgett]

Oh, we're gonna do it. It's broad daylight.

[Richard Diamond]

Yeah.

[Harvey Austin]

Can't get him out of the building like this.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

We'll have to wait till the night.

[Esther Blodgett]

We can't leave him in here.

[Richard Diamond]

Why not?

[Esther Blodgett]

The painters.

[Harvey Austin]

What do you mean?

[Richard Diamond]

What?

[Esther Blodgett]

They'll be here in a little while.

[Harvey Austin]

Yeah, yeah.

[Esther Blodgett]

Oh, yeah. Now what, genius?

[Mr. Gibson]

Shut up. Shut up, will ya?

[Harvey Austin]

I gotta think.

[Richard Diamond]

Diamond Detective Agency. Murders financed while you wait oh, you idiot. Oh, is this Toodles Asher, the bell of Park Avenue?

[Helen Asher]

Ah, this is Helen Asher, the girl that goes steady with a Diamond detective agent.

[Richard Diamond]

Sounds like a fine organization. Are they reliable?

[Helen Asher]

Very seldom. Oh, I'll tell you better as soon as I find out what I'm gonna do tonight.

[Richard Diamond]

You're gonna give your butler the evening off. And the Diamond Detective Agency is gonna march through your front door single file and show you a shortcut to spin the bottle.

[Helen Asher]

What time does all this begin?

[Richard Diamond]

How long will it take you to pucker?

[Helen Asher]

About two seconds.

[Richard Diamond]

I won't get there until eight. Don't hold it or you'll end up looking like a Yubangi.

[Helen Asher]

You're terrible.

[Richard Diamond]

Yeah, but I'm pretty.

[Helen Asher]

So's a baboon.

[Richard Diamond]

Oh. What? You said.

[Helen Asher]

You won't be late, will you, Rick?

[Richard Diamond]

I don't know. After that last crack, I think I better start going steady with King Kong. Rick, no. I'm mad.

[Helen Asher]

Ricky, I love you.

[Richard Diamond]

Only because I can hang by my tail and my fangs have that toothpaste smile.

[Helen Asher]

I think you're the most wonderful man in the world. Well, I think you're the handsomest, the strongest, the smartest.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, all right. Now tell me something I don't already know.

[Helen Asher]

Rick.

[Richard Diamond]

Bye, baby. See you at 8. A, I'm adorable.

[Mr. Gibson]

B I'm so beautiful.

[Richard Diamond]

C, I. Now look, honey, I can't make it. Delayed o'. Clock. I got a fan dancer who's a client. She wants to go out and trap an ostrich this afternoon.

[Esther Blodgett]

Is this the Diamond Detective Agency?

[Richard Diamond]

Huh? Oh, yeah.

[Esther Blodgett]

Is this Mr. Diamond?

[Richard Diamond]

Yeah. What's the matter? You sound like you're standing on a body.

[Esther Blodgett]

Oh, Mr. Diamond, please, you've got to help me. I. I just don't know what to do.

[Richard Diamond]

Now, take it easy. Who is this?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

What's wrong?

[Esther Blodgett]

I thought it moved.

[Richard Diamond]

What moved?

[Esther Blodgett]

The man sitting in my chair.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, that happens now and then. Why shouldn't he?

[Esther Blodgett]

Oh, because he's dead.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

What?

[Esther Blodgett]

Yes. I came home this afternoon from girls camp, and when I unlocked my door and went in, I found this corpse sitting on My height on your what? Hepplewhite. I don't know how he could have gotten there.

[Richard Diamond]

He?

[Esther Blodgett]

No, the dead man.

[Richard Diamond]

What about Hepplewhite? Oh, the guy this corpse was sitting on.

[Esther Blodgett]

Oh, no, no, no, no. That's a chair. Hepplewhite's an old antique chair. Oh, now I'm so confused.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, move over, honey. Now, take it easy and give me one thing at a time. Who's the dead guy?

[Helen Asher]

Well, I don't know.

[Esther Blodgett]

I never saw him before in my life.

[Richard Diamond]

Okay. Now, why haven't you called the police?

[Esther Blodgett]

Well, I thought about that, but I'm a schoolteacher, Mr. Diamond, and I was afraid of the scandal. I read a lot of detective stories, and the first thing that came to my mind was calling a. A private eye.

[Richard Diamond]

Private eye?

[Esther Blodgett]

You had the biggest ad in the phone book. So naturally.

[Richard Diamond]

Naturally. Well, give me your name and address and I'll be right over.

[Esther Blodgett]

Oh, Esther Blodgett. 419 East 79th street, apartment 108.

[Richard Diamond]

Okay, Esther. Now, don't let anyone in and don't touch anything.

[Esther Blodgett]

Oh, I know that, silly. After the initial shock wore off, I found myself in complete control.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

What's the matter?

[Esther Blodgett]

I'm so nervous. I just lit a cigarette. It tasted so good, I offered one to the dead man.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, if he takes it, remember how you did it. I'll be right over. Is Walt gonna have fun with this? Homicide, Sergeant Otis. Hello, Otis. Let me talk to the lieutenant. Diamond? No, this is Black Beauty. I just did a mile in 112, and I want to report that I'd been doped. Very funny. I thought so. I didn't win the race, but I was the happiest horse on the track. Now, put the lieutenant on the phone.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Lieutenant Levinson.

[Richard Diamond]

Diamond. Walt.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

I don't want any. You take your killings to another precinct.

[Richard Diamond]

Oh, now, don't be a sore head. Giving you business is just my way of showing my friendship.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Can't we just be buddies at a distance? I'm getting tired of chasing corpses.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, grit your teeth and get over to 419 East 79th street, apartment 108.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Homicide?

[Richard Diamond]

Yeah, a dame named Esther Blodgett reported that she lives there.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Who's dead?

[Richard Diamond]

Well, I don't know. Oh. Oh, yeah, yeah. A guy named Hepplewhite.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Applewhite.

[Richard Diamond]

You ask Esther about it.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

She'll put you straight. Are you coming over?

[Richard Diamond]

Yeah. Bye. As I went out of my office, I thought about Esther Blodgett and wondered how mad she would Be with the police turned up. I had to call them whether she wanted a scandal or not. Because homicide comes first in my book. I'm an ex cop, and I still follow the rules. It's not a conscience. I just like staying in business. So when someone turns up with a killing, I always let Lieutenant Walt Levinson know about it. I grabbed a cab, and 20 minutes later, I was standing in Esther's apartment along with Walt, the dead man, and Hebblewhite.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Oh, you're a swell fellow, you are.

[Richard Diamond]

What's the matter, Walt?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

I've been going through that Hepplewhite routine for the last 10 minutes. I just found out it was a chair. That one right over there. The one that stiffs in.

[Esther Blodgett]

Mr. Diamond, why did you call the police?

[Richard Diamond]

I thought you'd ask that.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Because that man's been murdered, Ms. Blodgett. That's what good citizens do when they find a dead man in the apartment.

[Esther Blodgett]

But the scandal. I'm a schoolteacher. What will my students, mommies and daddies think, honey?

[Richard Diamond]

Just confuse them with that hebble white routine. What did you find out, Walt?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Not much. The coroner will be here in a few minutes.

[Richard Diamond]

Looks like someone gave him a pretty good beating. What's that all over his clothes?

[Esther Blodgett]

Isn't that blood, Mr. Diamond?

[Richard Diamond]

Yeah. He's been bleeding, all right. I mean that brown stuff, Walt. Looks like lint or something.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

I notice that too. I don't know what it is. We'll have the lab analyze it.

[Richard Diamond]

Tell me, Esther, you said when you came in, you unlocked the door.

[Esther Blodgett]

Yes, that's right.

[Richard Diamond]

Are you sure it was locked?

[Esther Blodgett]

Why, yes, it has a catch lock. Besides, you have to turn the key and then use the other hand to turn the knob.

[Richard Diamond]

Did you touch anything, open any windows?

[Esther Blodgett]

I touched nothing.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, there's a good one, Walt. Yeah?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

A corpse sitting in a room with the door and all the windows locked. Do you always lock the windows when you go out, Ms. Blodgett?

[Esther Blodgett]

Well, I've been away for several weeks at a girl's camp.

[Richard Diamond]

Aren't you a little old for that sort of thing?

[Esther Blodgett]

Oh, I've been counseling one of the teachers who goes along to take care of the young girls.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

What do you think, Rick?

[Richard Diamond]

Well, he wasn't killed in this apartment. No.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

No signs of a struggle.

[Richard Diamond]

There's only blood around the chair and on the body. He must have been carried in.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

There would be blood trails on the floor.

[Richard Diamond]

Not if he was carried in something. You say you never saw this man before, Esther?

[Esther Blodgett]

Never in my life.

[Richard Diamond]

Any identification in his wallet? Yeah.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Name's Gibson. Leland Gibson. No money taken either, so that eliminates the robbery angle.

[Richard Diamond]

Any address?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Yeah, he's got an old driver's license. 12 East 64th Street. Pretty classy district.

[Richard Diamond]

Judging by his clothes. He was well fixed, tailored, good store.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

As soon as the coroner arrives, I'm going to check this apartment building. Maybe somebody heard something or saw something.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, let me check the 64th street address for you. This is a police jab.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Why do you want to check it?

[Richard Diamond]

Because poor Ms. Blasey looks so unhappy.

[Esther Blodgett]

I am, Mr. Diamond. I am very unhappy.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

She was so she's unhappy. If you want to check the place on your own, go ahead. But I'm sending some men over.

[Esther Blodgett]

Anywhere, Mr. Diamond, I like you.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, thank you, Esther.

[Esther Blodgett]

No, I want to hire you to catch the killer and free me from this awful policeman.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Awful policeman? Do you know how I got this way, Ms. Blodgett?

[Esther Blodgett]

Oh, I'm sure it wasn't easy.

[Richard Diamond]

Good for you, Esther.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

I got this way because of this. This private detective.

[Richard Diamond]

Just call me Blue Eyes.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Ever since he stopped working with me and left the force, I've gotten mixed up in more screwy cases than an alcoholic in a whiskey truck. There isn't one week that he doesn't turn up with one or two killings.

[Esther Blodgett]

My, he gets excited, doesn't he, Mr. Diamond?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

And in his spare time, he intimidates my sergeant.

[Richard Diamond]

Just call me Rick, dear.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

I've taken enough bicarbonate in the last year to stop Vesuvius erupting. And if he doesn't give me a little peace and quiet, I'm going to end up solving a killing of my own.

[Esther Blodgett]

Rick. My, that's a nice name.

[Richard Diamond]

How did you ever to be a schoolteacher? You don't look the type.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Are you listening to me?

[Esther Blodgett]

What makes me so different?

[Richard Diamond]

I've seen signs on highways that say it better than I can.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

What are you two babbling about?

[Esther Blodgett]

You mean the ones that say danger, stop, look and listen?

[Richard Diamond]

Well, that fits. But I was thinking about curves and soft shoulders.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Oh, no. Now you listen to me, Diamond. This is serious business. A man's been killed in Soft shoulder. I mean, Ms. Blodgett's apartment. If you want to take her on as a client, go ahead. But any questions from here on in will have to be gotten down to police headquarters.

[Esther Blodgett]

You are taking me in, Captain?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Lieutenant? Yes, you'll have to come down for questioning, Rick.

[Richard Diamond]

You go along with the big bad policeman, dear. I'll have you out in no time.

[Esther Blodgett]

Well, all right, if you say so. But this has never happened to me before.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

That's unfair. Stop blubbering. Yes, what is it? Oh, you get out of here.

[Mr. Gibson]

Otis. Where the devil is Otis?

[Richard Diamond]

I left Walt jumping up and down in front of Esther and the corpse and headed for 12 East 64th Street. It was an old brownstone in one of the wealthier districts. And when I rang the doorbell, I got another surprise.

[Esther Blodgett]

Yes?

[Richard Diamond]

Yes. Don't tell me you're a schoolteacher.

[Virginia Gibson]

I beg your pardon?

[Richard Diamond]

You. Forget it. It's the landmarks that threw me.

[Virginia Gibson]

What do you want?

[Richard Diamond]

Do you know a Mr. Leland Gibson?

[Helen Asher]

Yes, he's my father.

[Virginia Gibson]

Now, just who are you?

[Richard Diamond]

Name's Diamond. I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you, Ms. Gibson.

[Virginia Gibson]

It's Father. Something's happened to Father.

[Richard Diamond]

May I come in?

[Virginia Gibson]

Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Yes, please. What is it? What's happened to dad?

[Richard Diamond]

Well, he's dead.

[Esther Blodgett]

Oh, no, no.

[Richard Diamond]

Look, I know this is tough, but you've got to help me. The police will be here any minute.

[Virginia Gibson]

The police?

[Richard Diamond]

Yes. Your father was murdered.

[Virginia Gibson]

Oh, I knew something like this would happen.

[Richard Diamond]

You did? Well, tell me about it.

[Virginia Gibson]

Well, I. I don't mean that I expected dad to be.

[Richard Diamond]

Okay. Now, just take your time. Try it out.

[Virginia Gibson]

I'm sorry. Have you a handkerchief?

[Richard Diamond]

Sure. Here.

[Helen Asher]

Thank you.

[Richard Diamond]

Now, think you can talk about it?

[Virginia Gibson]

Dad left the house about three weeks ago and moved into a hotel.

[Richard Diamond]

Did you have a fight or something?

[Virginia Gibson]

Oh, no, no, Everything was fine. But.

[Richard Diamond]

No, no, hang on.

[Virginia Gibson]

Things couldn't have been better. And he was in wonderful spirits when he left.

[Richard Diamond]

No arguments, no hard feelings? He didn't leave mad?

[Virginia Gibson]

Oh, no, no, nothing like that.

[Richard Diamond]

Then have you got any idea why he suddenly packed and moved into a hotel?

[Virginia Gibson]

Well, I'm not sure, but I think it was a woman.

[Richard Diamond]

A woman?

[Virginia Gibson]

Yes, he. He told me one day that he met someone he liked very much. The day after that, he moved to the hotel. But I never saw her and he never said anything more about her.

[Richard Diamond]

Weren't you a little worried?

[Virginia Gibson]

Naturally, Father isn't a young man any. I mean, wasn't.

[Richard Diamond]

Just one more question. What hotel did he move to?

[Virginia Gibson]

Was the Adams, on Madison Avenue. He used to go there three nights a week for dinner and a game of bridge before he decided to move in.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, thank you. Are you all alone?

[Helen Asher]

Yes.

[Richard Diamond]

Got any friends you can call?

[Virginia Gibson]

A few, I guess.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, call them. It's better not to be alone and ball your head off. It'll do you some good.

[Virginia Gibson]

I'll send You. Your handkerchief, mister.

[Richard Diamond]

Diamond. Richard Diamond. It's in the book. For some reason, I've got a talent for leaving people emotionally disturbed. Walt hops around like a rabbit in a cabbage patch. And Otis always tears his hair out with a hands full. Ms. Gibson was less active about it. She just tried to smile and shed enough grief to fill a tub. I grabbed another cab and headed for the Adams Hotel.

[Mr. Gibson]

Yes, sir. Do you wish to register?

[Richard Diamond]

No, but I want to find out about someone who did three weeks ago. Oh, yeah? Oh, Mr. Leland Gibson.

[Mr. Gibson]

Why, yes.

[Richard Diamond]

He's staying at the hotel from now on. That's past tense.

[Mr. Gibson]

I don't understand. He hasn't notified us that he's leaving.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, it might be a little difficult. If you'll run down to the morgue, I think you'll find out you're stuck with an empty room.

[Mr. Gibson]

Morgue?

[Richard Diamond]

Yeah, Mr. Gibson has taken over one of the slabs rent free.

[Mr. Gibson]

Oh, my goodness. What happened?

[Richard Diamond]

He's kind of dead. When did you last see him?

[Mr. Gibson]

Early this morning. He left the hotel around 10.

[Richard Diamond]

Know where he was going?

[Mr. Gibson]

Why, no.

[Richard Diamond]

Do you remember him having any visitors in the last three weeks? A girl, I mean. No.

[Mr. Gibson]

Are you looking for a girl? Yeah.

[Richard Diamond]

Mr. Gibson's daughter seems to think he was running around with a woman since he moved into the hotel. Oh, you say that like you knew what I was talking about.

[Mr. Gibson]

It was common gossip around the hotel.

[Richard Diamond]

What was?

[Mr. Gibson]

Well, Mr. Gibson has been coming to the hotel for many years. He used to eat dinner here three nights a week and then play bridge with some of the hotel regulars. Now, about a month ago, we took on a new waitress. It was very obvious that Mr. Gibson was quite taken by her. So much so that he moved into the hotel and ate at her table every night.

[Richard Diamond]

Oh, what was her name?

[Mr. Gibson]

Virginia Pellgr. Quite good looking, about five three, dark, brunette.

[Richard Diamond]

Very. Well, I like to see her.

[Mr. Gibson]

That's impossible. She left the hotel about a week after Mr. Gibson arrived.

[Richard Diamond]

Oh, so I'll. Wasn't Mr. Gibson unhappy?

[Mr. Gibson]

Oh, no, he was rather happy. In fact, I believe he wanted her to move so he could see her more often.

[Richard Diamond]

Now, what makes you say that?

[Mr. Gibson]

Some of the things she said in the kitchen to the other girls.

[Richard Diamond]

You know where she might have moved?

[Mr. Gibson]

No, but you might check with the flower shop. Mr. Gibson used to send flowers every day.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, thank you. Well, I wasn't sure just where I was going, but a Virginia pilgrim was my best lead. And maybe she could tie the Gibson murder up with a silk ribbon. I talked to the flower Clerk and he gave me the address that the flowers had been sent to every day. It was a nice apartment in the Village and the landlady stuck her nose out like she was trying to smell me instead of see who was calling.

[Helen Asher]

Yes.

[Richard Diamond]

I hope that door doesn't slam shut sometime. You'll have a bloody nose for weeks.

[Helen Asher]

What do you want?

[Richard Diamond]

Roll out an eye with that nose and I'll show you my badge.

[Helen Asher]

Aren't you cops ever polite to anyone?

[Richard Diamond]

Well, there's a face that goes with it. I'm looking for a girl about five foot three. Dark. Brunt.

[Helen Asher]

No, in the wrong place.

[Richard Diamond]

Her name's Pilgrim.

[Helen Asher]

Oh, she lives upstairs.

[Richard Diamond]

She does, huh? Is she in now?

[Helen Asher]

No, went out this morning.

[Richard Diamond]

Hasn't come back and she probably won't. She have many visitors?

[Helen Asher]

Only a couple men I'd figures.

[Richard Diamond]

Ever see an elderly man, gray hair, about 60?

[Helen Asher]

Sure, every day.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Know his name?

[Helen Asher]

No.

[Richard Diamond]

You said she had a couple of visitors. Who else?

[Helen Asher]

Another man, younger, kind of greasy, Only came around a few times. Old man was there this morning, had an argument.

[Richard Diamond]

Could you hear what they said?

[Helen Asher]

I don't. Nope.

[Richard Diamond]

Anyone else? No. Who paid her rent?

[Helen Asher]

She did. Cash.

[Richard Diamond]

Mind if I take a look at her apartment?

[Helen Asher]

Got a search warrant?

[Richard Diamond]

No.

[Helen Asher]

Then you can't.

[Richard Diamond]

Okay. Thanks. You've been charming. I left the old bat and headed back to the school teacher's apartment. If I was right, I'd seen setups like this before. But there was still the problem of finding out how Gibson was killed and how he got into a locked room. When I pulled up, I saw the wagon, complete with corpse and coroner, pulling away for the morgue. And when I went in and knocked on the door, I was certain that they'd forgotten one of the bodies. Oh, it's you, Shammas. Why, Otis, they're leaving without you. Who is? The hearse. Shouldn't you be lying down or something?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Now, you stop that, Rick, and get in here.

[Richard Diamond]

Hello, Walt. What's new?

[Esther Blodgett]

Well, Rick.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, Esther. Has Otis been using his rubber hose on you?

[Esther Blodgett]

Oh, no, no. But I was getting lonesome. I'm glad you got back so soon.

[Richard Diamond]

You are?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

As soon as you two stop rolling your eyes, maybe you can tell me what you found out, Mr. Diamond.

[Richard Diamond]

Now, Walt, send Otis down to the station for a search warrant. Then tell him to get over to 9 West 12th street and see what he can find in the Miss Virginia Pilgrim's apartment.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Who's Virginia Pilgrim?

[Richard Diamond]

The only person who was mixed up with a murdered man. There was another man who used to see her But I can't find out who he was.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

All right, Otis, go get the warrant. Yeah, Lieutenant. Thanks, Diamond.

[Richard Diamond]

A pleasure, Sergeant. What did you find out, Walt?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

There were 11 people in the building at the time of the killing. None of them ever saw the guy before. Here's a list of the names. Three people on this floor. Five on the second and three more on the third.

[Richard Diamond]

Have you talked to the landlady?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Certainly. She doesn't know any more about it than the rest.

[Richard Diamond]

What about that funny brown lint on the dead man's clothes?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

We're checking on that right now. The lab said they'd call me.

[Richard Diamond]

Did the landlady say she had a key to this apartment?

[Harvey Austin]

Sure, sure.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

But she hasn't used it but once since Ms. Blodgett was away at girls camp.

[Richard Diamond]

When did she use it?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Three days ago, when she had let the painters in. And she says that the windows and door were definitely locked. Because after she aired the paint smell out, she locked them herself.

[Richard Diamond]

Painter, huh?

[Esther Blodgett]

Yes, and I've been looking. You know, I think they did a terrible job. Why the kitchen alone? Yes, Rick.

[Richard Diamond]

Later, dear.

[Esther Blodgett]

Yes, Rick.

[Richard Diamond]

Walt, did they paint the whole building?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

They finished the second floor today. Well, I'll get it, Ms. Blodgett.

[Richard Diamond]

Probably the lab.

[Esther Blodgett]

Rick, do you know who did it?

[Richard Diamond]

Yeah, I got a hunch. Aw, I see.

[Esther Blodgett]

You're wonderful.

[Richard Diamond]

Yeah. Okay. Thanks.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Lab.

[Richard Diamond]

Walt.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Yeah? That lint you spotted on the dead man's clothes is from the mat that they put under rugs.

[Richard Diamond]

Mm. Walt, you were on all the floors. Did one of the apartments have a rug missing?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

They're all missing from the second floor. The tenants took them down to the basement when the painters moved in.

[Richard Diamond]

Any off this floor or the third?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

No, just the second.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, your killers are on the second floor, Walt.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

How do you figure?

[Richard Diamond]

Let's look at what we've got. Dead body in a locked room. Blood on body and floor around body, but nowhere else in the room. Carried in in a rug. Bullseye.

[Esther Blodgett]

Oh, this is so exciting, Esther.

[Helen Asher]

Sorry.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Yeah, but how does a dame called Pilgrim figure in it? There's no Pilgrim listed in this building.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, there shouldn't be. If I'm right, the dead man met Virginia Pilgrim while she was working as a waitress in his hotel. She gave him a pitch and he fell. He put her up in an apartment so he could see her more often.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

So what?

[Richard Diamond]

I think she was working with another man. A man who was seen around her apartment by the landlady.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

And how did the body get over here?

[Richard Diamond]

The guy the Dame was working with probably lives here.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

What about the motive?

[Richard Diamond]

Well, my guess is that Gibson was being blackmailed and he followed the girl here. He was probably going to yell cops, so they killed him. Okay.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Now, what about the locked room? Explain that.

[Richard Diamond]

Let the landlady of this building explain it. Walt, go ask her one question. Who had this apartment before Ms. Blodgett?

[Esther Blodgett]

Esther.

[Richard Diamond]

Oh, I'm sorry, Esther.

[Esther Blodgett]

Well, I can tell you that a Mr. And Mrs. Austin, they moved to a smaller apartment and let me have this one. It's more rent and they couldn't afford it. I expect this is a better apartment, though.

[Richard Diamond]

What apartment did they take?

[Esther Blodgett]

Oh, it's on the next floor. Apartment 209.

[Richard Diamond]

According to this list of people who were on the second floor at the time of the killing, the Austins are the only couple. What did Mrs. Austin look like, Walt?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

No, about five foot three, dark, brunette. Very, very.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, say no more. Come on, Walt.

[Esther Blodgett]

May I come?

[Richard Diamond]

No, Esther, you stay here. I'll be back later and discuss the better features of your nice little apart.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Yeah. I want to talk to you again, Mr. Austin.

[Mr. Gibson]

Why?

[Harvey Austin]

Told you everything I know.

[Richard Diamond]

Where's your wife? In the back.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

We're coming in.

[Richard Diamond]

Okay.

[Harvey Austin]

You don't have to shove.

[Esther Blodgett]

Who is it?

[Richard Diamond]

Ha.

[Harvey Austin]

Them cops again?

[Richard Diamond]

Well, hello, Virginia.

[Esther Blodgett]

Do I know you?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Where's your rug, Mr. Austin?

[Richard Diamond]

What? It's down to basement, Ms. Pilgrim. How long have you been married to this man?

[Esther Blodgett]

About three. Hey, how'd you know me?

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Shut up.

[Richard Diamond]

Know your name, you might as well tell the lieutenant everything. Why did you lie about knowing Mr. Gibson?

[Esther Blodgett]

I didn't. I never saw him before in my life.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

I didn't tell you the dead man's name was Gibson. How'd you know that?

[Harvey Austin]

Don't answer that.

[Richard Diamond]

Oh, shut up. You and your husband killed Mr. Gibson and carted him downstairs in a rug.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

Why'd we do that?

[Richard Diamond]

Because the painters were on their way to paint your apartment. You had to get him out without being seen. You dumped him in Ms. Blodgett's apartment because you knew she was out of town and you used to live there, so you still had a key.

[Harvey Austin]

Shut up.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

We've got enough to hold both of you on. The rug will have blood stains on it.

[Mr. Gibson]

Get out of my way.

[Richard Diamond]

Get out. Walt. Why Walt, you're so rough.

[Esther Blodgett]

I didn't kill him. Harvey did. I didn't kill him.

[Richard Diamond]

Okay, okay.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

You can tell me all about it down at the station.

[Richard Diamond]

Hey, where are you going? Well, it's 6:30.

[Lieutenant Walt Levinson]

I got a date what about Ms. Blodgett? She's going to get lonesome again.

[Richard Diamond]

She was born that way. I've got to see a girl who's going to hold a pretty interesting class of her own. Bye.

[Helen Asher]

Hi.

[Mr. Gibson]

Hi.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, don't you look comfortable. Where's Francis?

[Helen Asher]

I gave him the night off like you suggested.

[Richard Diamond]

You're cute.

[Helen Asher]

I've got a cool dinner in the library.

[Mr. Gibson]

School day. School day.

[Helen Asher]

You sound happy.

[Richard Diamond]

Well, I was just thinking about a school teacher I knew once. Mmm. That looks mighty toothy.

[Helen Asher]

Sing for your supper. Well, got a new tune on the piano.

[Richard Diamond]

Oh, honey, I'm hungry.

[Helen Asher]

You sing first, and then you can eat.

[Mr. Gibson]

Oh, all right.

[Richard Diamond]

What is it?

[Helen Asher]

Right here. So, enough.

[Richard Diamond]

Oh, okay. Strange, dear, but true, dear I'm close.

[Mr. Gibson]

To you, dear the stars fill the.

[Helen Asher]

Sky.

[Mr. Gibson]

So in love with you am I oh, keep going.

[Helen Asher]

I'll get it.

[Virginia Gibson]

Even.

[Mr. Gibson]

Without you, my arms pull about.

[Richard Diamond]

You.

[Mr. Gibson]

You know, darling, why so in love with you am I.

[Helen Asher]

Some girl asking for you.

[Richard Diamond]

Oh, some girl. Well, well.

[Helen Asher]

I told her there was no one here but the piano tuner.

[Richard Diamond]

Oh. She leave her name?

[Esther Blodgett]

Huh? He.

[Helen Asher]

Yes.

[Esther Blodgett]

Who's she?

[Richard Diamond]

Come here, baby.

[Esther Blodgett]

No.

[Helen Asher]

I want to know who she is.

[Richard Diamond]

I said come here.

[Helen Asher]

No.

[Esther Blodgett]

Oh.

[Helen Asher]

Ricky.

[Virginia Gibson]

Who's he?

[Helen Asher]

White.

[Richard Diamond]

Oh, just a chair, baby. A cute blonde chair.

[Announcer]

You have just heard Richard diamond, private detective, starring Dick Powell. Transcribed Helen was played by Virginia Gregg, Lieutenant Levinson by Ed Begley. Also in our cast were Williams, Herbert, Georgia Ellis, Tony Barrett, Joan Banks and Norman Field. Music was under the direction of Frank Worth. Richard diamond is written by Blake Edwards. Now, this is Eddie King reminding you that Dick Powell soon will be seen in the screen version of the bestseller novel Mrs. Mike, and inviting you to be with us again at the same time next week, when we will again bring you Dick Powell as Richard diamond, private detective. Saturday night brings some of the week's best radio entertainment when you tune for the stars on NBC. Stay tuned every Saturday for a great lineup of programs including Hollywood Star Theater, Ralph Edwards, Truth of Consequences, your Hit parade, A Day in the Life of Dennis Day, the Judy Canova show, and Grand Ole Opry. All the best on NBC.