Podcast Summary:

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: The Saint: "Greed Causes Murder" (AKA "Mr. Ritchie's Loss")
Original Air Date: August 14, 1949
Podcast Release: November 30, 2025
Starring: Vincent Price as Simon Templar (The Saint)

Overview

In this thrilling episode from the Golden Age of Radio, the ever-suave Simon Templar—better known as "The Saint"—is embroiled in a deadly pursuit revolving around a seemingly worthless old car, a hidden fortune, and the unrelenting greed that leads to murder. What begins as a simple car theft escalates into a series of murders, all linked to $400,000 stolen years prior. The episode, marked by sharp wit, gritty underworld intrigue, and Vincent Price's signature charm, demonstrates the enduring allure of classic detective radio drama.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. The Attempted Car Theft & Introduction of Main Players

[01:29 - 03:00]

• The episode opens in classic noir fashion: a distressed old man (Collins) is threatened by toughs Mac and "Fancy Dan" Turner trying to take his battered 1929 sedan.
• Simon Templar (The Saint), intervening, uses clever banter and observation, noting the thugs’ odd interest in such a junk car.
  • Notable Quote [02:30]:

    “Why should you want to steal this gentleman's old automobile when you've got nicer, newer ones to choose from?” — Simon Templar

2. An Old Car Worth a Fortune

[03:10 - 06:00]

• Templar learns both a man and a woman recently tried to buy Collins’s car—and the old man is intent to keep it until he knows why.
• Templar makes the connection: notorious crook Fancy Dan Turner is involved. The stakes are obviously higher than they seem.

3. Underworld Encounters & Shady Deals

[06:01 - 09:09]

• Templar visits Smitty’s “pool hall,” a front for criminal dealings. He confronts Mac and Turner about their real intentions.

• Turner all but confesses to there being “big potatoes” involved—strongly implying a literal fortune.

• Templar is briefly held but manages to create a distraction and escape.

  • Notable Quote [07:55]:

    “There's a handle with care sign on this deal and I don't want just anybody cutting in.” — Fancy Dan Turner

4. Discovery of Murder and the ‘Swag’

[09:10 - 11:10]

• Templar finds Collins dead—brutally murdered. Another shady character, O’Brien, is at the scene, denying guilt but clearly on the trail of something valuable: a missing wallet, supposedly containing $400,000.
• O'Brien is mortally wounded soon after, dying with a cryptic hint: “the old man's car…”
• The trail then leads to Mr. Ritchie, the victim of the original theft, and to Quaily, the deceased embezzler.

5. The Root of the Mystery: A Seven-Year-Old Heist

[11:11 - 13:30]

• Templar confronts Mr. Ritchie and lays out his theory: Seven years ago, $400,000 was stolen from Ritchie’s company by head accountant John Quaily. Quaily died in prison without revealing where the money was.

• Templar theorizes Quaily’s wife may have received a clue. Ritchie is dismissive, but clearly troubled.

  • Notable Quote [12:58]:

    “Not even the subject of $400,000, Mr. Ritchie?” — Simon Templar
    “Quaily never revealed where the money was hidden until the day he died.” — Mr. Ritchie

6. The Widow and the Hardware Store Heist

[13:31 - 16:03]

• Templar visits Mrs. Quaily, who bought Collins’s car from him at a high price, suggesting she knows its significance.
• Amidst an array of hardware tools (suggesting she planned to break into something), Templar discovers the presence of mysterious license plates.
• The call is interrupted—Mrs. Quaily is killed, the plates snatched away by a mysterious killer.

7. Unmasking the True Villain & The Final Confrontation

[18:02 - End]

• Templar is taken at gunpoint by Mac to another meeting with Turner, who reveals his and Smitty’s connection to the inside information—leaked by Smitty who met Quaily in the jail hospital.

• Templar deduces Smitty sold Quaily’s secret to multiple parties, which led to the spree of competing criminals and deaths.

• Key Reveal:

  • The real mastermind is Ritchie himself—Smitty’s "silent partner"—who seeks to recover the entire $400,000.

• Climactic Scene [23:30+]:

  • Ritchie uses an acetylene torch atop an elevator shaft to access where Quaily hid the money—revealed via a secret hidden in a license plate.

  • Templar resigns himself to being held at gunpoint but stays alert.

  • As the elevator rises, Ritchie frantically scrambles to grab the cash, refusing to leap to safety—ultimately sealing his fate as the elevator crushes him and the ill-gotten loot.

  • Notable Quote [24:55]:

    “$400,000 in currency, Templar. Think of it. Think of it.” — Ritchie

  • Notable Quote [Finale]:

    “You see, you saved your money. And you saved the state some money, too. I’m sure you didn’t plan on saving the cost of your execution.” — Simon Templar

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Simon's Charm Under Fire:

  “If you have a mind to look at him, make it a quick look. [Collins] Dead? Very. How? Every way. Beaten, stabbed and tortured. Maybe even shot.” — O’Brien [09:40]

• Humor in Danger:

  “There’s nothing as relaxing as a game of pool. Particularly with a hoodlum’s head as the cue ball.” — Simon Templar

• Final Wisdom from Vincent Price/Simon Templar:

  “Nor is there any juster law than that the contrivers of death should perish by their own contrivances.” — Vincent Price, quoting Ovid [Epilogue]

Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|---------------------------------------------| | 01:29 | Saint intervenes in car theft | | 06:00 | Showdown in pool hall; Turner’s threats | | 09:10 | Collins’ murder discovered | | 12:00 | Templar questions Mr. Ritchie | | 13:30 | Encounter with Mrs. Quaily, license plates | | 18:02 | Templar recaps events, deduces connections | | 23:30 | Final confrontation in elevator shaft | | Epilogue | Price delivers Ovid quote on poetic justice |

Tone and Style

The episode blends classic detective grit with Templar’s sardonic wit—balancing hard-boiled crime drama and light, tongue-in-cheek banter. Vincent Price’s delivery adds suave charisma, making even the most dangerous moments sparkle with irony and intelligence. The show’s pacing moves rapidly between suspense, comic asides, and philosophical musings on justice and greed.

Conclusion

"Greed Causes Murder" (Mr. Ritchie's Loss) is a classic Saint adventure: fast-paced, filled with colorful criminals, moral ambiguities, and a dash of poetic justice. The plot’s twists—centered on a hidden fortune and the lengths people go for greed—unfold seamlessly until a finale that delivers both excitement and wry reflection.

Standout Theme: Greed corrupts and destroys. In the end, poetic justice prevails as the ultimate criminal is hoisted by his own petard—echoed perfectly in Vincent Price’s closing narration.