This is Your FBI: The Innocent Killer 01/11/1946

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "This is Your FBI – The Innocent Killer" (01/11/1946)

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode Date: November 30, 2025
Original Air Date: January 11, 1946
Main Cast: Choice Classic Radio
Episode Title: The Innocent Killer

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Overview

This suspenseful episode from "This is Your FBI" dramatizes a case from the FBI’s Alaskan files about a murder pinned on an innocent man by circumstance and clever manipulation. Set against the stark, isolated backdrop of rural Alaska, the story exposes how easy it is for the guilty to exploit circumstantial evidence and how determined investigation is critical to true justice. The narrative follows a murder investigation that evolves into a tale of deception, greed, and escape, culminating in a classic Golden Age radio resolution.

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Key Discussion Points and Plot Breakdown

1. The Setting and Crime Unfold:

• (03:44 - 06:34)
  • The episode establishes the dangers of relying on circumstantial evidence.
  • In a remote Alaskan village, Nan Miller mans a trading post as a blizzard howls. Kurt Williams arrives, interrogates her about the government assayer’s murder in Fairbanks, growing tense when she mentions the suspect matches his description: "He was wearing a red and black mackinaw, just like the one you got on." (06:23, Nan Miller)
  • Nan attempts to defuse the situation with calm, offering tea, while implying to Kurt that she expects to take some action.

2. FBI Investigation Begins:

• (07:04 - 08:46)
  • Special Agent Rankin and Marshal Henderson arrive in Fairbanks. They analyze the crime scene, rule out robbery, and note signs of struggle.
  • A suspect, Uncle Andy, is linked due to previous threats but appears a dubious fit.
  • Key insight: The investigation remains professional and focused on facts, not assumptions—"We're not overlooking any angle. Marshall, let's run them all down." (08:22, Marshal Henderson)

3. Back at the Trading Post:

• (08:46 - 10:14)
  • Nan and Kurt share a tense dialogue, each revealing frustrations and desperation. Nan leverages Kurt’s predicament to pressure him into taking her with him when he flees: "You're getting me out of here and back to the States." (09:59, Nan Miller)
  • Uncle Andy, a drunken prospector with a history of quarrels with the victim, arrives, further complicating the situation.

4. Shifting Suspicion and Conspiracy:

• (12:17 - 15:03)
  • Uncle Andy boasts about his wealth kept in the trading post’s safe; Kurt sees him as their "passport" to escape, planning to exploit Andy’s nest egg.
  • The relationship dynamics between Nan, Kurt, and Andy portray a web of opportunism and mistrust.

5. The Frame-Up and Its Consequences:

• (18:16 - 20:22)
  • The murder of Uncle Andy is staged to look like self-defense by Nan; she tearfully recounts (falsely) to the authorities that Andy, drunk and armed, tried to shoot her, leading to his death during a struggle.

6. Investigation Breaks Down the Deception:

• (22:49 - 24:08)
  • Special Agent Rankin and Marshal Henderson begin questioning Mrs. Miller’s story. Forensic inconsistencies emerge: no powder burns on Andy's coat, multiple unidentified fingerprints on the liquor bottle, and witnesses confirm Andy wasn't seen with a pistol.
  • They suspect Nan and an unknown man (later confirmed as Kurt) conspired in the murders and theft.

7. The Escape and Final Pursuit:

• (24:28 - 27:18)
  • Nan and Kurt attempt to escape by train with the stolen money, arguing over terms of their partnership.
  • The FBI picks up their trail through clues left on the red and black mackinaw.
  • Notable moment: The link is made via a hotel envelope found in the coat, tying Kurt back to his hotel and revealing his identity.

8. Resolution:

• (27:31 - 28:19)
  • Marshals confront the fugitives at the hotel, stating: “The red and black mackinaw that you used to make Uncle Andy appear guilty established your own guilt." (27:48, Marshal Henderson)
  • Both are arrested: Kurt is convicted of first-degree murder; Nan receives a lengthy sentence as an accomplice.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• FBI’s Philosophy:
  "Your FBI… takes nothing for granted, suspects all evidence until proven valid, and never jumps at conclusions."
  —Narrator (03:44)

• Revealing Tension:
  "You are the guy the marshal's looking for?"
  "That's right."
  —Nan Miller & Kurt Williams (09:22–09:26)

• Nan’s Manipulation:
  "You're getting me out of here and back to the States."
  —Nan Miller (09:59)

• Cynicism About Justice:
  "Occasionally justice comes too late to fully spare an innocent person... But the truly guilty will not escape justice."
  —Narrator (28:19)

• Investigative Insight:
  "I wonder if you'd go out and get Mrs. Miller and bring her in here for further questioning. Meantime, I'm going to try and find out who belongs to that third set of fingerprints."
  —Marshal Henderson (24:01–24:08)

• The Clue That Broke the Case:
  "The red and black mackinaw that you used to make Uncle Andy appear guilty established your own guilt. I found a hotel envelope that had slipped down in the lining of that coat."
  —Marshal Henderson (27:48)

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Important Timestamps

• 03:44 – Introduction to the FBI’s cautious investigative philosophy
• 06:22 – Nan describes the suspect as "a fellow about your size…wearing a red and black mackinaw"
• 08:22 – FBI refuses to overlook any possible angle
• 09:59 – Nan coerces Kurt into taking her with him
• 14:43 – Andy declares his money is in John Miller’s safe: "$5,000 if he's holding a nickel"
• 18:55 – Nan recounts (fabricated) shooting of Uncle Andy to agents
• 23:40 – Bottled evidence reveals a third person's fingerprints
• 27:48 – FBI links the coat directly to Kurt’s guilt

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Tone and Style

The episode's tone is classic radio noir: terse, suspenseful, and steeped in moral ambiguity. Characters speak in hard-boiled, clipped dialogue, and the narrative voice delivers sober lessons about the fallibility of justice and the necessity for vigilance and reasoned investigation.

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Conclusion

"The Innocent Killer" offers a thrilling window into both historical law enforcement storytelling and the enduring dangers of circumstantial evidence. The plot’s twists underscore the importance of rigorous investigation as embodied by the FBI agents, whose commitment to truth ultimately ensures that justice catches up with the guilty, even when initial appearances deceive. The episode delivers both entertainment and a subtle cautionary tale about the limits of coincidence and the power of careful detective work.

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Transcript

[Announcer]

Plastic bags, plastic lids.

[Nan Miller]

What do we do with you?

[Announcer]

You can't go in the recycling bin.

[Nan Miller]

But you can be recycled if taken to a new recycle on center.

[Announcer]

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[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].

[Narrator]

The Equitable Society presents this is your FBI. This is your FBI an official broadcast from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, presented as a public service by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and the Equitable Society's representative in your community. Before opening tonight's file, will you imagine for a moment that you're looking in the dictionary? There's one word in it of special importance for millions of you who have tuned in this program. If you look in the dictionary, you'll find that the word society comes from an ancient Latin word, societas, which means literally a group of allies. So don't you agree that the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States is well named a society? It is a group of allies. Every member of the Equitable Society has three and a quarter million trustworthy allies. They are his fellow members, the men and women who have joined forces with him to provide the security of life insurance for themselves and their families. So now you know that the word society in the name Equitable Society has a very deep significance. It means that this great mutual organization is owned entirely by its members, the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. Tonight's file, the innocent killer.

Too Often grave injustices have been committed against innocent persons through circumstantial evidence and coincidence. Therefore, your FBI has never relied solely on either in fixing the guilt for a crime, considering rather the establishment of innocence as a first principle of true justice. Your FBI, as tonight's case from its Alaskan files demonstrates, takes nothing for granted, suspects all evidence until proven valid, and never jumps at conclusions. All day long, the blizzard sweeping down from the Arctic has howled across the flat, bleak country surrounding the little Alaskan village of Rutland. And now, as the deeper gloom of night closes in, a woman sits all alone in John Miller's log cabin trading post is mending a sweater near the old pot bellied stove. Suddenly, the front door swings open. A man enters.

[Nan Miller]

Well.

[Kurt Williams]

Where'S the trader?

[Nan Miller]

You got something to trade?

[Kurt Williams]

I said where is he?

[Nan Miller]

Mr. Miller ain't here.

[Kurt Williams]

When'll he be back?

[Nan Miller]

He's up north. Be down about a week.

[Kurt Williams]

Anybody else here?

[Nan Miller]

Would that be bad?

[Kurt Williams]

What do you mean?

[Nan Miller]

What could I mean? You put up your dogs.

[Kurt Williams]

I haven't got any.

[Nan Miller]

You haven't got any snowshoes either.

[Kurt Williams]

I rode with an Eskimo sledding this way. That thing on the counter behind you.

[Nan Miller]

What does it look like?

[Kurt Williams]

Shortwave radio.

[Nan Miller]

That's right. Works both ways.

[Kurt Williams]

What does it reach?

[Nan Miller]

Airbanks.

[Kurt Williams]

Any news?

[Nan Miller]

About what?

[Kurt Williams]

About anything.

[Nan Miller]

Why should you be so interested?

[Kurt Williams]

Answer my question.

[Nan Miller]

Okay. They signaled here about 15 minutes ago.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Yeah.

[Nan Miller]

There was a report on some trouble in Fairbanks.

[Kurt Williams]

What kind of trouble?

[Nan Miller]

The government assayer was shot and killed in his office earlier today. They asked me to be on the lookout for the guy that done it.

[Kurt Williams]

Any description? Yeah.

[Nan Miller]

Real good one. They said he was a fellow about your size.

[Marshal Henderson]

Mm.

[Nan Miller]

He was wearing a red and black mackinaw, just like the one you got on.

[Kurt Williams]

Anything else.

[Nan Miller]

That's enough, ain't it?

[Kurt Williams]

What'd they tell you to do if.

[Nan Miller]

He showed his call him back.

[Kurt Williams]

That might make trouble for you.

[Nan Miller]

I know.

[Kurt Williams]

Well, what are you gonna do, sweetheart?

[Nan Miller]

Gets awful lonesome here. How about some tea?

[Narrator]

Immediately after the body of the government assert was found on the floor of his office, United States Marshal Henderson had contacted the FBI office in Juneau. Special Agent Rankin caught the next plane for Fairbanks, where he is now. Going over the scene of the crime, they say.

[Marshal Henderson]

I must have put up a fight. Looks like signs of a struggle, Marshall.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Sure does, Mr. Rankin.

[Marshal Henderson]

Do you have any opinions?

[Special Agent Rankin]

Could have been somebody had a grudge.

[Marshal Henderson]

Somebody who thought the government was trying to cheat him on weight or quality.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Yeah.

[Marshal Henderson]

How about robbery?

[Special Agent Rankin]

Could have been Only nothing seems to be missing. Safe. Wasn't even touched.

[Marshal Henderson]

How did you fix the time of the killing?

[Special Agent Rankin]

I was here myself at 11. Then just a little before 12:30, Charlie the barber stopped in to say hello and found the body instead. Charlie was the one who reported it.

[Marshal Henderson]

Where does the man with the red and black mackinaw fit in?

[Special Agent Rankin]

Charlie again. His shop's just across the street there. He saw the man come in here around 12 or so.

[Marshal Henderson]

Did he recognize him?

[Special Agent Rankin]

No, he was too far away. According to the books, Uncle Andy was the only one in today. Brought a little panning in.

[Marshal Henderson]

Who's he?

[Special Agent Rankin]

Old booze fighter. Does a little panning and trapping down around Ruckland, a few miles south of here.

[Marshal Henderson]

Ever make any trouble?

[Special Agent Rankin]

Oh, he's rowed with the assayers, huh? Even threatened to blow his head off a time or two.

[Marshal Henderson]

But just liquor talk. Or maybe and maybe not. There's been a man killed, and we're not overlooking any angle. Marshall, let's run them all down.

[Nan Miller]

More tea, mister?

[Kurt Williams]

Her name is Kurt.

[Nan Miller]

Some more tea, Kurt?

[Kurt Williams]

No, thanks, Nan.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Nana.

[Marshal Henderson]

Tell me something, will you?

[Nan Miller]

What?

[Kurt Williams]

What's with you on a setup like this?

[Nan Miller]

What do you mean?

[Kurt Williams]

How'd you wind up here?

[Nan Miller]

I married the guy.

[Kurt Williams]

You like it?

[Nan Miller]

What do you think?

[Kurt Williams]

Why do you hang around?

[Nan Miller]

Because I've had no way of getting out. Now, suppose you tell me something.

[Kurt Williams]

Okay.

[Nan Miller]

You are the guy the marshal's looking for?

[Kurt Williams]

That's right.

[Nan Miller]

How'd it happen?

[Kurt Williams]

Kill him? Well, I was kind of in the same spot you are, baby. So I made a stab at some.

[Nan Miller]

Getaway dough which the assayer didn't want to give you. Did you get the money?

[Special Agent Rankin]

No.

[Kurt Williams]

After the killing, I had to get out of there fast. Why do you want to know all this?

[Nan Miller]

If you'd gotten the money, it would have made it easier.

[Kurt Williams]

Made what easier?

[Nan Miller]

You're getting me out of here, huh? That's what you're gonna do, you know.

[Kurt Williams]

Are you kidding?

[Nan Miller]

You're getting me out of here and back to the States.

[Kurt Williams]

Oh, look, baby, I got enough worries taking care of myself.

[Nan Miller]

Ain't you forgetting the marshal? I told him I keep a lookout for a man.

[Kurt Williams]

Listen, you ain't blowing no whistle on me.

[Nan Miller]

Then get me out. That's your problem. Get in the back room quick.

[Kurt Williams]

Okay, but if he's wearing a badge.

[Marshal Henderson]

Get rid of him.

[Kurt Williams]

Or don't stand between.

[Uncle Andy]

Okay.

[Nan Miller]

Just a minute. Howdy, Ms. N. Oh, hello, Uncle Andy.

[Uncle Andy]

Got to have a snort of antifreeze. I'm fresh out.

[Nan Miller]

Wouldn't say you've been doing so bad.

[Uncle Andy]

No, no, but the whiskey run out on me between Fairbanks and here.

[Nan Miller]

You were in Fairbanks today?

[Uncle Andy]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, and I had another row with that thick headed assayer. Someday I'm gonna blow his head plumb off his shoulder. I mean it, Ms. Nan. Dog gone around.

[Nan Miller]

Haven't you heard?

[Marshal Henderson]

Heard what?

[Nan Miller]

He was shot and killed today.

[Uncle Andy]

It's about time, huh? What'd you say?

[Nan Miller]

I said the assayer was shot and killed today.

[Uncle Andy]

You mean that? When did it happen?

[Nan Miller]

Got it over the radio. The marshal said about noon.

[Marshal Henderson]

About noon What?

[Uncle Andy]

I was in Rowan with him about that time.

[Nan Miller]

Must have happened right after. How come you didn't hear about it?

[Uncle Andy]

Well, I hit the trail right after I was in his office. I want to take a look at some traps up the way before come around here. Well, what do you know?

[Nan Miller]

Yeah, have a drink. That'll kick your pump over a little faster.

[Uncle Andy]

Yeah, yeah. Thank you, Ms. Nan. Thank you. Who done it?

[Nan Miller]

They don't seem to know.

[Uncle Andy]

Well, guess that'll get me over to my cabin.

[Nan Miller]

Take the bottle with you.

[Uncle Andy]

Well, thank you, Ms. Nan. Thank you. Just a minute, pal.

[Kurt Williams]

Hey, no need of your rushing off, mister.

[Uncle Andy]

Who is this, Ms. Nance?

[Nan Miller]

He's a friend of mine. Kurt, this is Uncle Andy.

[Kurt Williams]

Hi.

[Uncle Andy]

Hi, son. What'd you. What you want with me?

[Kurt Williams]

Just your company.

[Uncle Andy]

Well, now. Well, that's real nice of you.

[Kurt Williams]

Pull up a chair.

[Uncle Andy]

Don't mind if I do.

[Kurt Williams]

Nan, you got another bottle of that stuff? I'd like to buy Unc a little drink.

[Uncle Andy]

Well, now, Nan, this is a man after my own heart. I'll get some cups, honey, let's be stylish.

[Nan Miller]

What is all this?

[Kurt Williams]

You told me I had a problem to solve, sweetheart. Maybe now I got the solution.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Hello, Mr. Rankin.

[Marshal Henderson]

Why show?

[Special Agent Rankin]

Pick up anything?

[Marshal Henderson]

I took a look at the slug they got out of the assay's body. No.32 caliber.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Well, that may be a help.

[Marshal Henderson]

Will be when we find the pistol that fired it.

[Special Agent Rankin]

I did some more asking around, but nobody but Charlie seems to remember seeing anybody wearing a red and black Mackinaw Marshall.

[Marshal Henderson]

Where did you say this Uncle Andy is located?

[Special Agent Rankin]

He's got a cabin down around Ruckland. Why?

[Marshal Henderson]

Well, he was seen hitting the trail in a hurry a little after 12 noon today.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Yeah.

[Marshal Henderson]

Maybe we ought to take a run down there.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Be kind of rugged going tonight. Yeah, I can get Miller's Trading Post down there on the radio. You want to do that?

[Marshal Henderson]

For what? For?

[Special Agent Rankin]

Uncle Andy's around there a Good deal.

[Marshal Henderson]

No, no, there's no need letting him know we're coming. We'll get down there in the morning.

[Uncle Andy]

Say, you know, I'm beginning to like this young fellow an awful lot.

[Kurt Williams]

Ms. Nan, you're okay yourself, huh? Give us another bottle, Nan.

[Uncle Andy]

Yeah. Yes, another bottle, honey. And you know something? You ought to make him stay around this country. You and him might hit it off.

[Nan Miller]

You know, Maybe I'm not his type.

[Announcer]

Sure.

[Uncle Andy]

Sure, you're his type. Sure, she's. She's any man's type, huh? Ain't she, son?

[Kurt Williams]

That's what they tell me, Rat.

[Uncle Andy]

What do you say, son? Eh? Like to settle down here and kind of be a neighbor? No.

[Kurt Williams]

No, I don't think so. Can't make any money here.

[Uncle Andy]

What money? Why, you can make lots of money around here.

[Kurt Williams]

Isn't that so?

[Narrator]

How?

[Nan Miller]

Sure.

[Uncle Andy]

Prospector, trapper, like me.

[Kurt Williams]

You make money.

[Uncle Andy]

Well, you just asked John Miller when he comes back if old Randy ain't doing all right. Yeah, sure, sir. He's keeping a lot for me over in that there safe right now.

[Narrator]

Hear that, man?

[Kurt Williams]

Unc's got a couple of bucks put away.

[Uncle Andy]

Yeah, couple of bucks.

[Kurt Williams]

Couple.

[Marshal Henderson]

Wait.

[Uncle Andy]

He's holding $5,000 for me. If he's holding a nickel.

[Kurt Williams]

That's all I wanted to know, baby. This guy's our passport.

[Nan Miller]

What do you mean?

[Uncle Andy]

Yeah, what do you mean? Call me. Passport.

[Kurt Williams]

When's Miller coming back?

[Nan Miller]

About a week. Why?

[Kurt Williams]

That's plenty of time pass.

[Uncle Andy]

Email. Thank you.

[Kurt Williams]

I got it all figured out now.

[Uncle Andy]

Oh, please, please give me. You want a little drink?

[Narrator]

Sure.

[Kurt Williams]

Pour them one, sweetheart. A stiff one.

[Nan Miller]

Yeah, a stiff one.

[Kurt Williams]

Okay.

[Nan Miller]

There you are.

[Kurt Williams]

Bottoms up, huh?

[Uncle Andy]

Yeah. Here's a steel, son.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Maybe.

[Nan Miller]

Yeah.

[Kurt Williams]

Get on that radio and tell them they can come get the body of the guy who killed the Isaiah.

[Narrator]

The frozen north crime, the FBI. These are the ingredients of a thrilling story. But there's another kind of story that can be thrilling to Americans. The sort of kindly human story such as happened this week at the Equitable Society. This week at the Equitable Society, I read a very sincere letter of thanks received by the Equitable agent in Olympia, Washington. It was from a widow who had just received a totally unexpected check from the Equitable Society. I did not realize, she wrote, that I had anything coming on this old policy which my husband dropped many years ago, as I'm now well along in years. This money is surely a godsend to me as it will give me something each month to live on. I didn't realize that a company such as yours would make all this effort to locate me, I cannot thank you too much. And would you please give my heartfelt thanks to the officers of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, who are so kind and of so much help to me. Now, I'd like to point out that the Equitable agent in Olympia, Washington, didn't receive 1 cent of pay for the time and trouble he devoted to this widow's case. He did it gladly and willingly because he is the kind of man who enjoys doing good turns for other people. And in that respect, he's typical of all the agents and representatives of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. The equitable representative in your community is more than just professionally trained on security. He's a man who went into life insurance because he saw in it unlimited opportunities to benefit his fellow men. He's the sort of man who takes deep satisfaction in the thought that this week and every week for 86 years, the equitable Society has been building security for you, your home and your country. And now back to the file on the innocent killer.

The crime files of this country contain hundreds of cases in which criminals have temporarily escaped justice by manipulating circumstance and coincidence to pin the guilt on an innocent person. But invariably, the truly guilty person pays for his crime. Regrettably, however, as in the case of the unfortunate man lying dead on the floor of the trading post, justice occasionally comes too late to fully spare the innocent. It is now some four hours later, and Special Agent Rankin and Marshall Henderson have arrived at the trading post.

[Special Agent Rankin]

That's uncle andy. All right, Mr. Rankin.

[Marshal Henderson]

Tell us what happened, Mrs. Miller.

[Nan Miller]

Well, I'm still so upset, it's hard to remember everything, but he was awful drunk when he came in. He said he'd been to Fairbanks.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Yeah.

[Nan Miller]

I asked him if he'd heard the news about the killing.

[Special Agent Rankin]

That was after I talked to you on the radio.

[Nan Miller]

Yes.

[Marshal Henderson]

And I believe the marshal told you to be on the lookout for a man with a red and black mackinaw.

[Nan Miller]

Yes. Yes, he did.

[Marshal Henderson]

Well, didn't you suspect something right away when this man walked in wearing a mackinaw like this?

[Nan Miller]

Well, of course I. I noticed it. I just couldn't believe that Uncle Andy would.

[Marshal Henderson]

What did he say when you asked him if he knew about the killing?

[Nan Miller]

He just looked at me kind of funny. I told him the marshal had warned me to be on the lookout for a man wearing a red and black mackinaw.

[Kurt Williams]

Yes.

[Nan Miller]

Then he pulled out a pistol and said, what was I gonna do about it?

[Marshal Henderson]

I see. You go on.

[Nan Miller]

Well, he was so drunk I thought maybe I could handle him. And I started fighting with him for the gun. Before I knew went off and he was lying there on the floor.

[Marshal Henderson]

At any time during the struggle, did you get possession of the pistols?

[Nan Miller]

No. No. I tried to jerk it out of his hand, but he was too strong for me.

[Marshal Henderson]

What's this bottle here?

[Nan Miller]

Oh, that. He asked for a drink when he first came in. I gave him the bottle.

[Marshal Henderson]

Well, Marshall, I guess we'd better get the body into the sled and head back to Fairbanks.

[Nan Miller]

All right, Rankin, is there anything else you want me to do?

[Marshal Henderson]

We'll Let you know, Mrs. Miller, if there is. Marshall, will you give me a hand, please?

[Special Agent Rankin]

Sure.

[Nan Miller]

All right, I'll open the door for you.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Good night, Miss Nan.

[Nan Miller]

Good night. Good luck on the trail back.

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[Nan Miller]

Keep going, Kurt.

[Kurt Williams]

You did a good job, baby.

[Nan Miller]

I was awful scared. Kurt.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Yeah?

[Nan Miller]

What are we gonna do now?

[Kurt Williams]

I got that all figured out.

[Nan Miller]

Well, would it be asking too much to let me know about it?

[Kurt Williams]

Don't get jumpy, sweetheart.

[Nan Miller]

Well, what are we gonna do?

[Kurt Williams]

I pull out of here tonight. I'll take the old guy's sled and head down for Nenana. That's the first stop on the railroad south of Fairbanks.

[Nan Miller]

You go alone?

[Kurt Williams]

That's right. I'll grab a train and go on to Anchorage and wait for you.

[Nan Miller]

When do I leave?

[Kurt Williams]

You gotta stick around here for a couple of days in case the law wants to ask any more questions. We get Uncle Andy's dough out of the safe, cut it up, take 2,500 a piece.

[Nan Miller]

Wait a minute.

[Kurt Williams]

What's the matter?

[Nan Miller]

You think I buy that deal? You're out of your mind.

[Marshal Henderson]

Well, what's wrong with it?

[Nan Miller]

Oh, not a thing. It's just peachy. You kill two men, get a gift of 2,500, use the dough for a getaway and leave me holding the bag.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Now, look.

[Nan Miller]

Well, it just ain't gonna work out that way. You're leaving here tonight. All right, but I'm going with you.

[Kurt Williams]

It'll make it look bad for you.

[Nan Miller]

I'll take that chance. I'm going with you, and furthermore, I take charge of the dough.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Can I come in, Mr. Rankin?

[Marshal Henderson]

Oh, yes, come in. Marshall.

[Special Agent Rankin]

How you making out?

[Marshal Henderson]

The doctor just left here. He performed the autopsy.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Did he find the bullet?

[Marshal Henderson]

Yes.

[Special Agent Rankin]

What's the story on it?

[Marshal Henderson]

Well, there hasn't been time for a ballistic check, but I'd say it matches with the one taken from the assayer's body.

[Special Agent Rankin]

That figured.

[Marshal Henderson]

I think it figured a little too well.

[Special Agent Rankin]

What do you mean?

[Marshal Henderson]

I'm beginning to wonder if that woman at the trading post gave us the true story of what happened out there. Why, Marshall, several factors have come up. First of all, remember your telling me you never saw Uncle Andy ever carry a pistol?

[Special Agent Rankin]

Yeah.

[Marshal Henderson]

Well, I confirmed that around town. He's never been seen with anything but a hunting knife and a deer rifle.

[Special Agent Rankin]

What else?

[Marshal Henderson]

I checked the prints on that liquor bottle I picked up at the trading post. There were three different sets. One was the old man's. One I assume was the girl's.

[Special Agent Rankin]

What about the third?

[Marshal Henderson]

Well, right now all I can do is ask the same question. And there's another factor in this thing I don't like.

[Special Agent Rankin]

What's that?

[Marshal Henderson]

Here, look at this red and black mackinaw that the old man was wearing.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Yes.

[Marshal Henderson]

The woman said the bullet was fired at close range. There's no trace of powder burns. In fact, there isn't even a bullet hole. Well, of course, his coat might have been open when the struggle occurred.

[Special Agent Rankin]

There'd still be powder burned.

[Marshal Henderson]

That's right. Marshall, I wonder if you'd go out and get Mrs. Miller and bring her in here for further questioning.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Sure.

[Marshal Henderson]

Meantime, I'm going to try and find out who belongs to that third set of fingerprints.

[Nan Miller]

Did you get the ticket?

[Narrator]

Yep.

[Nan Miller]

When's the train due in?

[Kurt Williams]

Any minute now, I guess.

[Nan Miller]

What do we do with this dog team?

[Kurt Williams]

Just leave it here.

[Nan Miller]

Well, now, that ain't very smart. Somebody will find it.

[Kurt Williams]

So what?

[Nan Miller]

They'll know we came here to take this train.

[Kurt Williams]

By the time that happens, we'll be in the clear.

[Nan Miller]

I don't see.

[Kurt Williams]

Look, I'm the one that's got real trouble in this deal. Remember, we leave the dogs right here.

[Nan Miller]

Okay. What do we do when we get to Anchorage?

[Kurt Williams]

I got a hotel room there. I want to stop by and pick up some things.

[Narrator]

I left.

[Kurt Williams]

Then we head right for the States.

[Nan Miller]

Here it comes.

[Kurt Williams]

Yep.

[Nan Miller]

Take my bag, will you?

[Uncle Andy]

Okay.

[Nan Miller]

Oh, how much for the ticket? Why, I gave you $50. There ought to be changed.

[Kurt Williams]

Now, look, this ain't gonna work.

[Nan Miller]

I told you, I take care of the dough.

[Kurt Williams]

Okay, but I'm holding out five of it for carrying your b.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Mr. Rankin.

[Marshal Henderson]

Oh. How did you make out, Marshall?

[Special Agent Rankin]

Not so good.

[Marshal Henderson]

What happened?

[Special Agent Rankin]

I went out to the trading post. The woman wasn't there. From the looks of things, she's gone for good.

[Marshal Henderson]

What do you mean?

[Special Agent Rankin]

Well, I looked around the place. All her clothes were missing. Safe was open and empty.

[Marshal Henderson]

I see. Well, that more or less ties in with the information I picked up around town.

[Special Agent Rankin]

What's that?

[Marshal Henderson]

I talked with some friends of Uncle Andy's. They saw him the morning of the killing. He wasn't wearing this red and black mackinaw.

[Narrator]

No?

[Special Agent Rankin]

No.

[Marshal Henderson]

And I also learned that Uncle Andy let John Miller at the trading post keep money for him in that safe out there.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Oh, then she skipped out with Andy's Doe.

[Marshal Henderson]

Looks that way.

[Special Agent Rankin]

You think she killed him, too?

[Marshal Henderson]

No, no. I have another theory on that killing.

[Special Agent Rankin]

What?

[Marshal Henderson]

I believe that the murderer was the real owner of this red and black coat.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Oh, then that would be the owner of the third set of fingerprints.

[Marshal Henderson]

That's right.

[Special Agent Rankin]

But who is he?

[Marshal Henderson]

His name is Kurt Williams.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Well, how'd you find that out?

[Marshal Henderson]

I'll explain that later.

[Special Agent Rankin]

You think he's run off with Mrs. Miller?

[Narrator]

Yes.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Well, we better get an alarm out on him right away.

[Marshal Henderson]

Yes, send out an alarm, but I have an idea. We may be able to pick them up ourselves.

[Special Agent Rankin]

How?

[Marshal Henderson]

Let's get the airport on the phone. We're taking a little trip.

[Nan Miller]

That the hotel?

[Kurt Williams]

Yeah.

[Nan Miller]

Crummy looking joint.

[Kurt Williams]

Honey, you weren't exactly living at the Ritz.

[Nan Miller]

How long do we stay here?

[Kurt Williams]

I told you, just till I pack up and check out and dig into that bankroll. Sugar, this hotel tab is on you.

[Nan Miller]

Okay.

[Kurt Williams]

Open the door, will you?

[Nan Miller]

Go ahead.

[Kurt Williams]

Thanks. While I'm upstairs packing, you find out about flights to.

[Nan Miller]

That'll be a pleasure.

[Kurt Williams]

I gotta get my key. Let me have the key to room 27, please.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Yes, sir.

[Marshal Henderson]

Hello, Mrs. Miller? Remember me?

[Nan Miller]

Yes. FBI.

[Marshal Henderson]

The marshal and I had an idea we might find you here.

[Special Agent Rankin]

Who's your friend, Mrs. Miller?

[Marshal Henderson]

You mean him Yeah, I believe his name is Kurt Williams.

[Narrator]

Tip you off?

[Special Agent Rankin]

Take it easy.

[Kurt Williams]

How'd you know we'd be here?

[Marshal Henderson]

The red and black mackinaw that you used to make Uncle Andy appear guilty established your own guilt. You see, I found a hotel envelope that had slipped down in the lining of that coat.

[Nan Miller]

This hotel?

[Marshal Henderson]

That's right. So I called here, gave them your description, Williams. They said you still had a room, you stupid. Now, I think we ought to have a little talk about a double murder.

[Narrator]

Kurt Williams was tried and convicted in a federal court on the charge of first degree murder. His female accomplice was sentenced to a long term in the penitentiary. Yes, occasionally justice comes too late to fully spare an innocent person of a malicious conspiracy to fix a crime on him through criminal manipulation of circumstance and coincidence. But the truly guilty will not escape justice. As for your FBI, we repeat, it never takes anything for granted. Suspects all evidence until proven valid. And never jumps at conclusion.

There's another thrilling story from FBI Files ready for next week's broadcast. Before we tell you about it, just a few words about a man in your community who is helping to bring this program to you. Just as you look to your FBI for national security, so to the Equitable society you look for the financial security of life insurance. Yes, like the FBI agent, the Equitable Society representative in your community is a specialist on the subject of security. His job is to preserve homes, to help keep children in school and to make old age a time of happiness and contentment. It's a good job and one that has won for him the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens who recognize his contribution in bringing security to you, your home and your country.

Next week we will bring you another colorful story from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The cold blooded kidnapper.

The incidents used in tonight's Equitable Societies broadcast are taken from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, all names used are fictitious. And any similarity thereof to the names of persons living or dead is accidental. Tonight the music was under the direction of Frederick Steiner. The author was Frank Pereys. And your narrator was Dean Carlton. This is your FBI Is a Jerry Devine production And now this is Carl Frank speaking for the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. And the Equitable Society's representative in your community. And inviting you to tune in again next week for this is your FBI. This is abc, the American Broadcasting Company.

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