← Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)
Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)
Episode 598 - Voices from The Shadow (Gang Busters, The Whistler, The Line-Up, Lives of Harry Lime, & Black Museum)
02:22:51
Several great actors gave voice to The Shadow, but today we're shining a spotlight on those stars and their roles outside of the cloak of radio's invisible avenger. We'll hear Frank Readick as a crook in "The Case of the Cincinnati Narcotics Ring"...
Loading summary
Transcript1 lines
- [00:00]
Vincent Price
Get this and get it straight. Crime is a sucker's road and those who travel it wind up in the gut of the prison of the grave. The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. The Adventures of Sam Spade Detective the Adventures of the Saint starring Vincent Price. Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action packed expense account, America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Hello and welcome to down these Mean Streets and more old time radio detectives and crime fighters. The Shadow is the show that really got me into old time radio. I think that and Sherlock Holmes are most people's gateways. And as I listened to the Shadow and learned more about the actors who voiced the character, it made me curious to track down some of the other shows they appeared in. Of course, it didn't hurt that its stars were extremely prolific. And learning more about them helped me to discover a ton of wonderful shows which in turn led to more finds and more favorites. So today I'm picking three of the actors who gave voice to the Shadow and taking a dive into some of their other work in the mystery genre. Now a very quick bit of Shadow history. The character was originally employed as a narrator, not unlike the Whistler or the mysterious Traveler. He served that role on the street and Smith Detective Story Hour. The Shadow would introduce that week's tale, but listeners were captivated by the mysterious host who was given voice on those shows by Frank Reddick. Reddick was a celebrated radio actor who today is is probably best known as doomed reporter Carl Phillips in the infamous Mercury Theater broadcast of the War of the Worlds. The character of the Shadow proved to be so popular that street and Smith launched a new magazine devoted to his adventures with the character's backstory, fleshed out by pulp writer Walter Gibson. That magazine was such a hit that a new radio series focusing on the Shadow as a crime fighter was launched in 1937 with Orson Welles as the hero. But even though he wasn't voicing the character anymore, Frank Reddick could still be heard each week, as it was Reddick and not Orson Welles who performed the show's iconic introduction. The Shadow knows Wells played the shadow from 1937 until 1938. First in a fall season sponsored by Blue Coal, and then in a summer season sponsored by Goodrich Tires Wells. Shadow was more malevolent and manipulative. Often he tricked the villains into turning on each other through his powers of suggestion and mind games. Who's opening that door? Don't get up, Professor. I'LL close it after me. What? I thought I might find you in. Who said that? Who are you? You're conscience speaking, Professor. Or have you a conscience? I'll show you what I've got. Don't excite yourself. I'm only a voice. A voice they call Professor. Have you ever heard of the Shadow? The Shadow? Yes. You seem to have heard of me. What do you want? I've come to warn you, Sneed. Warn me? Warn me about what? I know what you're doing. What? And I know how it's going to end. The end is death. Welles left the show in 1938 as his Mercury Theater was growing in popularity and with the troupe getting their own radio show, the same show that produced the War of the Worlds that October. Succeeding him as the Shadow was Bill Johnstone, who played the part from 1938 until 1943. Although in his early episodes Johnstone's characterization was closer to that of Orson Welles, his take on the character evolved to one that was more avuncular and closer to a traditional radio detective, albeit one that was invisible. Well, Ms. Lane, I. I'm afraid I can't wait any longer. I'll deal with Mr. Cranston separately. But you are going to die. Now. Don't touch that control panel, Dr. Forbes. The Shadow. Tonight, Dr. Forbes. Instead of destroying the three strategic points in this city, the machines that would have caused this damage have been destroyed. And you, Dr. Forbes, will be giving another lecture on your machine, but this time to the police. And during John Stone's tenure, it all came full circle as Frank Reddick returned to the show. In one of my favorite episodes, the Shadow challenged where the one time Shadow played an imposter who was framing the real Shadow for murder. What was that? I'm sorry to interrupt your work, Professor Rice. Who is that? Who is speaking? I see no one. I am called the Shadow. The Shadow. I've heard of you. What are you doing here? That manuscript you're translating, Professor Rice, it is of great value, is it not? Yes, of course. I want you to give it to me, Professor. Give you this manuscript? Why. Why, that's impossible. It's not mine. It belongs to the museum. It. It's a direct key to ancient Hindu culture. I know. That's why I've come here. I want that manuscript. Now. See here. I've always had a great respect for you, Shadow. You worked for the forces of good against the forces of evil. But now you're behaving like a common thief. Give me that manuscript. No. No. Very well. I see that I must use other methods. What do you mean? What are you going to do? This is what I'm going to do, Professor Rice. Shadow. Shadow, why did you do this? Today we'll hear all three of those gentlemen out of the shadows and in some of their other radio roles. We'll kick things off with Frank Reddick in the Case of the Cincinnati Narcotics Ring, an episode of Gangbusters that originally aired on ABC on September 25, 1948. Then we'll hear Bill Johnstone, first as a duplicitous character in Devoted Couple from the Whistler, originally aired on CBS on July 9, 1950, and then in good guy mode as Lieutenant Ben Guthrie. In the lineup, we'll hear an episode known as the Cop Killer that originally aired on CBS on November 30, 1950. And finally, we'll hear Orson Welles, perhaps the actor most associated with the Shadow despite his short tenure in the role. We'll hear Mr. Welles in two shows he starred in, overseas and syndicated in the US by producer Harry Allen Towers. First, Welles recreates his Third man movie role in the Dead Enchantress from the Lives of Harry Lime. And then he narrates the story of how a bedsheet is tied to a murder on a cruise ship in the Black Museum. They know what evil lurks in the hearts of men, and we'll hear more from them right after these messages. Are you looking for a smooth shave, men? Then try Fitch's no Brush Shaving Cream. It'll give you the kind of shave you want because 40 years of experience have gone into the making of this product. Fitch's no Brush contains a special skin conditioner ingredient that takes the work out of shaving. You won't have to struggle and scrape against stubborn whiskers because the skin conditioner prepares your face beforehand. It holds the whiskers up so your razor can zip them down closely and quickly, even against the grain of a tough beard. Your razor will glide swiftly, never nicking or scraping pitches. No Brush is a boon to sensitive faces because it lubricates gently, keeping that tender skin from being irritated. After this quick, easy shave, your skin will feel cool and refreshed, wonderfully smooth. And if you prefer a lather cream, try Fitch's Brush Cream. It forms a rich, abundant lather when applied with a brush. This lather stays moist all during the shave. Fitch's Brush Cream also contains the special skin conditioner for sensitive faces. Fitch's Brush and Fitches no Brush Shaving Cream are available in handy 25 and 50 cent sizes. For a shave you like, switch to Fitch. Do you like rich delicious chocolate flavored malted? Well, you can make a malted just like that right in your own kitchen with Kraft Chocolate flavored malted milk. Just make a tasty paste of Kraft Chocolate flavored malted milk and a little milk in the bottom of a big glass. Fill the glass with chilled milk, stir it once more and there. A craft malted is mighty nourishing too because it's filled with all the food values in milk. Get a jar of craft chocolate flavored malted milk from your grocer and enjoy a craft malted off. There's a big change going on, an important one for car buyers. It's the countrywide change to Rambler. Passing car after car in sales. Rambler now leads all but two other makes in state after state. What does it all mean? That Rambler has what people want and cannot get in other cars. Rambler is the quality compact car. For instance, Rambler has plenty of hat room, shoulder room and leg room for six big people. Yet Rambler is so trim on the outside, it handles and parks with the greatest ease for first cost, gas, economy and resale value. Rambler is America's top economy car. Yet only Rambler offers the fine features of personalized comfort. There are front seats that glide back and forward separately to perfectly fit short legs or long adjustable headrests, airliner reclining seats, twin travel beds, finest air conditioning at lowest cost. Throughout, Rambler engineering is more advanced, Rambler workmanship more careful. Come in and drive the quality compact car Rambler. See your Rambler dealer. I dedicate this program to the fight against crime. Not merely crimes of violence and crimes of dishonesty, but crimes of intolerance, discrimination and bad citizenship. Crimes against America. Now Gangbusters presented in cooperation with police and federal law enforcement departments throughout the United States, the only national program that brings you authentic police case histories. Tonight, Gangbusters presents the case of the Cincinnati narcotics ring, whose deadly dealings in drugs spread across two nations until the Royal Canadian Mounties, the Federal Narcotics Bureau and Cincinnati police cornered the ringleader in a final duel to death. Gangbusters has asked the Honorable Clem W. Merz, chief of detectives of the Cincinnati Police Department, to narrate by proxy tonight's case. Chief Merz, I know the case you're going to tell us about tonight has an international flavor. Well, that's true, Don Gardner. But most important, it shows the effectiveness of cooperation between federal, local and Canadian authorities despite the handicaps of international borderlines. Well, it sounds as though you have quite a case for us, Chief Mers. Why don't you start right in? All right, Don. Suppose we begin. Just a few months ago in the city of Toronto, Ontario. Late one night, two men were in a room on the fourth floor of a second rate hotel near the Union Station. One, a middle aged bald fellow, strangely nicknamed Sonny, sat on the edge of the bed while the other, Big Jim Labard, occupied the only upholstered chair in the room. After a moment, Big Jim got up and walked to the dresser to pour drinks to bind the deal they just closed. Okay, Sonny, we'll have a drink on it. Take it easy with mine. What's the matter, Sonny? Our Canadian whiskey bites a little hard? It all bites hard after you tease it too much. There you are, Sonny. May you make a fortune out of the deal? Yeah. Much obliged, Jim, for wishing me a fortune. You already made yours when a lick and I took. Nobody asked you to come here and buy. You want, you gotta pay the price. Well, here's luck. 400 a piece. It's the first time I ever paid 400 an ounce. In the last. Here's the last. Look, Sonny. An ounce of heroin is just as hard to come by in Canada as it is in the States. And I'm the hottest guy in Toronto. Just now they got three Kings warrants out for me. I should lay low if there is a deal I got to make. Okay, okay, you may don't beef. When do you deliver? When are you leaving? All you gotta do is walk across the hall to my room. You can pick up the package anytime. What do you mean pick up the package? I ain't carrying 30 pieces over the border. You got to deliver to Cincinnati. You take it with you. Sonny, who are you kidding? My understanding of the deal was you delivered to Cincinnati. I ain't running no drugs across the border. That ain't my business. It ain't my business either, sonny. Not at 400 an ounce it ain't. Okay, you won't deliver to Cincinnati, the deal's off. Sit down there. What's the matter with you? You made a deal, you stick to it. Not if I gotta run the border, I don't. It'll cost you an extra hundred apiece if I got it delivered to Cincinnati. Who do you think you're holding up? You an extra three grand for running the border with a two pound package. What do you think I am, crazy? You can run the border for nothing, Sonny. It won't cost you a dime. Okay, you rob me. When do you Deliver. Won't be in a hurry. It'll get there. Come on across the hall of my room. I'll show you what you bought. That's always a good idea, seeing what you buy. Have a look in the hall. It's okay. There's not a soul around. You can go. Wait a minute. Ask. What? Back inside, fast. What's the matter? Somebody's in my room. You're crazy. Don't you see that light over the transom? I didn't leave no lights. How should I know? We'll find out quick. Don't be a dope stick in here a while. I got about 50 pieces of heroin over there. I gotta protect my investments because you'll duck that gun. You'll stick here. Come on. You don't get me involved killing no cops. I need help in your. Up and open that door. Go on. The door was unlatch. Walk across the hall. Open up and jump back. Now, look. Go on. Hold it. Okay. Open. All right. Don't move. Well, what are you after, Sister? I'm sorry. I must have made a mistake in the rooms. Is that so? Yes. I must be on the wrong floor. Sonny, come in and shut the door. Really, it is a mistake. As long as you made a mistake, you figured you might as well take advantage of it. Then I. Is that why you piled up my clothes? Ready to go out the door with them? Take it easy, Jim. Maybe she's. Laura. Laura? She's a sneak thief. Ain't that right, Sister? Please. I've never done anything before. Don't call the police, please. What's your story? I'm stuck in Toronto. I want to get back home to Montreal. I had to get there somehow. So you picked on me, huh? I didn't know it was you. I didn't care who it was. I tried every door. Please don't call the police, Jim. She didn't find the. You know. Don't worry. That'll take a good deal of looking. What's your name? Lucille. Lucille Beauvais. You won't call the police? No, I don't think so. You're a little too pretty to rot in jail. I think I'll give you your lesson myself. This is what you need. A lot of it. You need. Oh, God. Oh, that ought to cure you. Get rid of it, Jim. All I want. I was pit Montreal. That's all. Well, you can walk it. Go on, get out. Oh, all right. Thanks. Thank you very much. Thank me for what? For not calling the police. Goodbye. Wait a minute. Yes? Loose seal. Didn't you say yes. How'd you like to earn car fare to Montreal? Earn it? How? Are you off your nut, Jim Gilbert? Stick your head out of this. What's in Montreal? That's home. I'm broke. There's no place else to go. You got a job, Lucien? I have, Jim. Sure you have. Now go in there and get rid of those tears. I'll tell you all about it when you feel better. Okay in there? Yeah. Go on. Thanks. Thanks ever so much. You know, you're really nice. How crazy can you get? Jim, did you ever see such eyes? Black as the ace of spades. What do you want to get mixed up with a lousy sneak thief for? He was telling the truth, the first thing she ever tried. Who are you kidding? They all got the same story. Telling the truth. Dreamed about running into one like her. How can a guy as hot as you take a chance? How do you know she won't crack the law the minute she finds out? You want your 30 pieces delivered to Cincinnati, don't you? What's that got to do with it? Not much. Except little Lucille is going to carry him across the border for me. Oh, well, I don't care how, just as long as it gets across. It will. Tomorrow you take a train to Windsor. And you? I'll drive with Lucille. You check into the Buckingham in Windsor. You'll hear from me by Tuesday night. So you never been on a trip across to the States, Lucille? I've always wanted to go. You have your wish. Tomorrow, first thing in the morning. Let's have a drink on it, huh? Jim, why do we have to lie to them? Why do we have to tell them we're married? Oh, saves a lot of unnecessary questions, baby, that's all. Oh, for just a couple from Toronto going on a little vacation. There's nothing to it. We drive right across. Well, I suppose it's all right. Sure, it's all right. Only I don't have the clothes to take a vacation. Wait till we get across to Detroit. You'll get nice clothes. Honest, I can't get over it all. Especially when I think I could have been in jail. How could I have done such a dumb thing? Well, at least you picked the right room. You've really been swell. That's because I want to be. Don't worry about it. You. What's the matter? Should still keep your mouth shut. Those two guys coming to. Cops. Cops. Are you out for a good time, Big Jim? Yeah. Yeah, I'd like a good time as well as anybody out of My way. You stay with her. Hello, sonny. How's this, Jim? Yeah. Had some trouble? Plenty. Couple of cops made me in the joint. I just did get away. You didn't lose the goods? No, I got the goods. Was in the car. They hauled in loose seal. So what? As long as they didn't get you with the goods. You got a pencil handy? Yeah. Why? I'm gonna give you the name of a lawyer. Get hold of him. Tell him to get a writ or make bond for her. Anything. Are you kidding? I want her out, do you hear? You don't need her to get the stuff across and you know it. Get hold of that lawyer and get her out. You get on a train and head for Cincinnati. I'll see you there in a couple of days. Have my dough ready because I'm gonna need it. Don't forget the lawyer. She don't get out. The 30 pieces stay in Canada. Showdown. The fugitive, Big Jim Labard, a notorious Canadian dealer in narcotics, had a narrow escape from capture. The next time he was face to face with police officers. A shower of bullets closed the gap between them. You were telling his chief mers that the Canadian narcotics dealer, Big Jim Labard narrowly missed arrest in Windsor, Ontario, the night before he planned to smuggle 30 ounces of heroin into the United States. That's right, Don. But the police did pick up the girl, Lucille Beauvais, whom Labard planned to use as an aid in the smuggling venture. There was no evidence against her, and she didn't even know the identity of Labard. So she was released shortly after dark the next night. Walked out of the house of detention for women. A stranger in town, Lucille had no particular place to go, and she headed toward a brightly lit restaurant, which was the first thing she saw as she walked out of the jail door. What? Keep walking. Keep your head straight. He told me who you are. I was about to tell you myself before I had to leave. Meet me in an hour. Victoria park bench under the Queen's statue. Make sure you aren't fallen. Change cabs a couple of times. Here. Listen, Dough, I don't know whether I want to meet you. Be there. I'll see you. Hello. What, me back here in the shadows? I wanted to see if you had the place set up with cops. You know I wouldn't do anything like that. I didn't know. Mind if I come around and sit down? No. Well, what'd they tell you about me? I'm a pretty mean customer, huh? That's what they said. Would you still like to go across to the States to help you smuggle dope. Only you care why. Cigarette? Yes, thanks. I didn't know what to think of you bringing me from Toronto. Wanting to take me to the States. Especially when you caught me robbing your room. I thought maybe you fell in love with me. Maybe I did. You wanted to use me. You had a purpose. If I only wanted to use you, why should I take the chance meeting you tonight? If they caught me, it'd be 10 years, baby. @ least that's what they told me. Come here, please. No. I said come here, please. Chip. There. Does that look like I just want to use you? How to go back home to Montreal. You think you're too good for me? You think a sneak thief is any better than I am? It's not that, Jim. You're coming to the States with me. No, I can't. You wonder when you know it. All right. I want. What are you waiting for? I. All right, Jim. I'll go with you. Sure you were. They're watching all the borders, Jim. I know. They've got the US Customs on the lookout. Oh, you'll get caught. Yeah, plans have changed, baby. We're not going as tourists anymore. Now, come on. All right. Hold yourself, baby. Gotta keep my eye out for control. How much longer, Mac? Another 15 minutes maybe. Keep that voice down. Caddy's over the water. Detroit sure looks near. Looks like it could reach out for those lights. 15 minutes, baby. That's 15 minutes. That seems like a century. Get it done. What are you worried about? Doesn't. Hey, turn around, Mac. At the patrol boat, Jim. Hey, that looks like it. Get dim. Shut up, Jim. What are we going to do? Don't you know when to keep quiet, Jim? Oh, you heard of me? Then keep quiet. Stay low on the boat. Maybe they'll pass us by. Jim, if one of their search. Jim, drop the package overboard. Not on your life. Drop the package and I have us for nothing. I don't throw 15 grand overboard. I fight for it. Jim, please. What goes over, Jim? Watch out, Mac. You'll be the first to get shot. Very well. The boat's going away. I think it is. It's a pleasure craft. That was a squeaker. Well, let's get to the point. Yeah. Go on, roll. Captain Hoffman, lead off. Captain, Agent Laney of the Narcotics Bureau. Treasury Department is here to see you. Laney. Laney. Is he from the Cincinnati office? Just a second, Captain. You from the local office, Mr. Laney? No, I'm out of Washington. He's from Washington, Captain. Ask Mr. Laney to come in. All right. Right through that door, Mr. Laney. Thanks. Come in, Laney. Hello, Captain. I'm glad to meet you. Have a chair. Thanks. I'm in Cincinnati on a special job, Captain. How can we help? Did you ever handle a narcotics dealer, Sonny Wilton? Yes, we've handled him. Do you know where I can put my hands on him? At the moment, no, but I'll put a couple of my boys to check in with you. Well, we're more interested in a guy he's been dealing with lately. Big Jim Labard, a Canadian. You think he's in Cincinnati, too? It's just a tip. The Canadian Mounties have been looking for him on three warrants. Narcotics cases. They picked up a boatman who's been running smugglers across the Detroit River. Their information is that Big Jim made a deal with Sonny and came to Cincinnati. Okay. We'll be on the lookout for them. Both Mounties almost got their hands on this Big Jim last week. He saw them coming and ducked out of a bar. They couldn't shoot in the kind of the crowd. But they did get a girl he was with. Oh? How does she figure in it here? Well, they had no charge to hold her on. According to the boatman, Big Jim just took her along when he smuggled in the narcotics. I see. Excuse me a second. Yes, Captain? Ask Mayor and Stuss to step in here right away. Yes, sir. There are a couple of my best men on this kind of deals. Good. We don't have too much to go on, Captain, but the Canadian authorities doing a little further checking on the girl. If they find out anything, we'll hear about it. They want Labard and want him bad. Jim. What? I don't feel like going out and drinking and staying up all night again tonight. I do. Do you think it's time we got out of Cincinnati? Sonny's friends are good people to know. Well, I don't care for them. Well, act like you care for them. This is business. Oh, Jim. I want to go home. I want to go to Montreal. You don't stop nagging me about going home, I'll give you something really to nag about. All right. Jim made a lot of Dolph, Sonny. Good chance to make more. We're not taking that boat trip again. Yep. You're gonna help with a load more dope. No, no. Something is just as hard to come by in Canada. Guns. Guns? Yeah. A lot of guys I know will pay a good price for a heater. And that's what we're Taking back a good stock of guns. Didn't you make enough money? There's never enough money. And listen, baby, wake up. When we get to that party, these are people I'm doing business with. I don't want them to think I got a corpse traveling with me. All right, I'll wake up. Captain Hartman. Laney, Narcotics Bureau. Captain. Oh, hello, Laney. Anything new? I think so. I just spoke to Washington. They got a message from the Canadian modded police. They had a mail cover on the home of the girl's mother in Montreal. Oh, A letter showed up from her mail from Cincinnati. Yep, with a return address on Maple Avenue. I went by and looked at the building. It's a big apartment house, huh? I suppose we put a plant there and wait for them to come out. That's all right with me. Okay. You come on by here, Lainey, and we'll see what arrangements we can make. Hello, Lainey. How's it going? You haven't seen a soul that looks like the bard of the girl, Captain. Well, a lot of people live in the apartment house. Stick here long enough and we'll spot them. Yeah, I suppose so, if we. Wait a minute. Someone coming out? Yeah. No, it's not Big Jim. Like I say, if we know it's not Big Jim. But wouldn't you like Sonny? Is that him? I couldn't miss Sonny two blocks away. Come on. Right there. Let me handle this, Laney. I know him. Great hit. He's coming this way. Let's stop and light a cigarette. Have one. Thanks. Light. Thank you. Where do you think you're going, Sunny? Hey, police officers. Is that so? Where's Big Jim? I don't know what you're talking about. He lives in that building and you know it. Why'd you go in and get him? Okay, we're gonna knock on every door, and you're going to be right in front of us. No, no, no. Look, you don't get me mixed up in this. Which is his apartment? He's got guns. He got plenty of guns. He'll use them. You don't get me to knock on his door. Which is his apartments, honey? H5. Look, don't take me up there. Haul me in. He'll use those guns. All right. All right. We'll see that you get a nice seat on the sidelines. Good. That's where I want to be, on the sidelines. You keep your eye on him, Laney. I want to call downtown, Get a couple more men out here. We may need them. Yeah, I'll say You will? Go on, Captain. I'll watch him till you get back. What? Run over here and give me a hand with this stuff. Oh, Jim, I'm busy trying to pack. What is it? Let me get the stuff out of that drawer and into the carton. Well, come on, Jim. I don't want to handle guns. Guns are the safest thing in the world when you know how to handle them. Come on, help me pack them. Are they loaded? Sure, they're loaded. What good do you think they'd be if they weren't? I can't touch him. You want to go back to Montreal, you'll give me a hand. No. Listen, can I tell you something? I mean, it's. Please. You hurting? Hurt too. Easy now. Give me a hand. Who's that? Expecting anybody? Unanswered? You'll find out. Yes? Who is it? Sonny. Open up. I want to see J. Jim. Jim, it's Sonny. Let him in. He can give me a hand. All right, Sonny. Just a minute. Sonny, I thought you were. What? Police officers. One side. Okay, Jim. Get him up. Quick. Yeah. Watch him. He's got a gun. Jim, no. Get him. Watch out. I did it. Come on, Jim. Jim. Looks like he's through, miss. I owed him so much. I can imagine. Lead off. Call an ambulance. All right, miss. Now let's have the story from beginning to end. That, Don, was how Cincinnati police and agents of the Narcotics Bureau Treasury Department dealt with James Labard, a dangerous fugitive from Canada. The girl, Lucille, was deported to Canada to face various charges. And Sonny Wilton, the Cincinnati narcotics dealer, was held on a charge of parole violation and returned to prison to complete his term. Well, congratulations, Chief. Mers to all the officers, Cincinnati, Federal and Canadian, who showed such excellent coordination in bringing about an end to this dangerous criminal. Tonight's case was dramatized by Stanley Niss and directed by William Sweets, with Frank Reddick and Susan Douglas in leading roles. Don Gardner speaking Gangbusters is a Phillips H. Lord production. And now stay tuned for the mystery program that is unique among all mystery programs. Because even when you know who's guilty, you always receive a startling surprise at the final curtain in the Signal Oil program. The Whistler Signal, the famous Go Farther Gasoline invite you to sit back and enjoy another strange story by the Whistler. I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak. And now for the Signal Oil Company. The Whistler. Strange story. Devoted couple. The big house on Orange Grove Drive seemed to reflect the merriment inside. The new Mr. And Mrs. Walter Blake were at home to friends following their honeymoon. And it was truly an occasion. Mrs. Blake had lived quite alone for several years. A widow with only a servant girl as a companion. And now it was all changed, and Claire Blake's friends were pleased. Pleased for Claire. And pleased with the charm and manner of her new husband, the wealthy Eastern sportsman, Walter Blake. Yes, an occasion good cause for laughter, happiness and congratulations. Oh, and Clare, darling. To think how it was such an accident that you two met when you're, well, simply made for each other. Thank you. Thank you, Max. Yeah, she's right, you know. And I'd say you both made a fine catch. Well, I'm the lucky one, Mr. Shelley. Oh, make it Bob, will you? After all, Walter, the husband of our dear friend Claire. Sorry, Bob, but I repeat, I'm the lucky one. Claire's the sort of person I've been searching for for years. Thank you, dear. Mr. Blake's the telephone. Oh, excuse me, dear. Everyone. Probably some long distance congratulations from my side of the fence. I'll be right back. Hello, Mr. Blake? Walter Blake? That's right. Congratulations. Well, I. I'm afraid. Who is this? The name is Spiker. I'm afraid we haven't met formally, Mr. Blake. But you see, I'm. I'm from the east myself, so quite well informed about a number of prominent sportsmen there. I know who's who and who isn't. What are you driving at, Spiker? You'd better talk to me. I'll meet you in the garden in back of the house. 10 minutes. But. Hello? Hello? Well, Walter, who is he and what does he want? The questions race through your mind. You can't place the name Spiker, not at all. But you know one thing. You have to meet him. Have to watch your opportunity and slip away from Claire and her friends. Make your way out into the garden and back of the house. Over here, Mr. Claire. Oh, Spiker. That's right. Now, see here, I. I don't want you to get the idea that because I've come out here like this that you're worried, scared. Oh, no, Mr. Blake, not that. Come on, I haven't much time. What's this all about? What's it all about, eh? It's all about you, Mr. Blake. I know all about you. You see, I was paid my regular fee just to find out all about you. Your regular fee? I'm afraid I'm a private investigator, Mr. Blake. A private investigator. Been checking on you for several weeks now. Hired by the present Mrs. Blake. Clare. Clare hired you? Yes, to look into your background, find out the truth about you before she listened to your proposals, went ahead with a marriage. Why, I don't believe it. Because she went ahead with a marriage, you mean? No, no, Simply I don't believe that Claire would stoop to such. Oh, come off it, Mr. Blake. Oh, Walter, it's no time for pride. If it'll help your feelings any. Her attorney did the insisting. But the. The fact remains that you investigated me, found out that Walter Blake, wealthy sportsman, is about as wealthy as I am. Well, then why on earth did Claire go through with it? She said nothing. Why did she marry him? Mr. Blake, I dreamed up a beauty. Handed you a character, bank account and background that made it ridiculous to even think you had anything with love and devotion in mind. You're. You're a very amazing person, Mr. Spiker. Oh, not two. Let's just say I'm human. That I had myself in mind. Wanted my share, of course. What else? How about Mrs. Blake? Quite well off, isn't she? Yes, she's very well off, as you put it. The sort of person. Person I've been looking for for years. Here. My card, Mr. Blake. There's an address. Not a very fancy place, to be sure, but a place to hang my hat. And a place where you can start sending money. Starting, say, tomorrow. All right, Spanker. Starting tomorrow. You have a partner, haven't you, Walter? An unwelcome but full partner in your carefully prepared plan to acquire the wealth belonging to your new wife, Claire. The problem is on your mind all evening through the remainder of the little reception party. And you're thinking about it later as you drive Claire's friends, the Shelleys, home because their car has stalled. And then. Then alone in the car, on your way back home to Claire, you hit upon a solution. Yes, Walter. You find the only kind of answer to this sort of thing. The only kind of answer. You know. The next morning at breakfast, Claire seems disturbed over a little item in the paper. What is it, dear? You have an odd expression on your face. Have I something in the paper? Why, no, not really. It's just that. Well, an accident victim, dear. A man who was found dead in his apartment. Suffocated or something. His name seems familiar to me somehow. Oh, what is the name? Spiker. Harry Spiker. No, I can't place it. Neither can I. Oh, may I look at the financial page, dear? It's going well again, isn't it, Walter? The weeks that follow the little incident with Mr. Spiker are uneventful. Comfortable. Also, you managed to turn some profits for your wife, Claire, on a number of minor business investments. She has unquestioning confidence in you, hasn't she? Of course, Claire has no way of knowing or any reason to suspect that the profits you've shown for her on her money are false profits. You're using your own money, what little you have left of it, for the purpose of winning her good will and faith. Yes, Walter. You've got to spend money to earn money, as you so often tell Claire. Oh, Walter. Again. And you've given me such a large return on such a little investment. Just pointing the way for you, my dear. Later on I'll run across something where you can splurge, make a tremendous amount. You see. Actually, Claire, you've got to spend money to make it. Anything you say, dear. My, even if we couldn't afford it, we've made enough to spend weeks at the beach. Take a cottage, a nice one. Walter, you're a genius at business. A wizard. Nothing magic about it, dear. Just the right move at the right time. What about that beach cottage idea? I think it's wonderful. Yes. Walter, you're sure that before too long, Claire will be turning everything over to your management, giving you power of attorney. It's perfect, isn't it? Going more smoothly than you anticipated at the beach. Claire's confidence even inspires her to hire a social secretary. Your new wife is blossoming out, Walter, taking an interest in things. But you find another kind of interest in her new secretary. A girl with titian hair and laughing blue eyes. And it all begins on the day you first meet her. When you drive back to the beach from town, go for an afternoon swim out to a raft just offshore. She's sitting there as you swim up. Oh. Didn't notice I had an audience. You swim very well. You're Mr. Blake. That's right. Oh, and you're Nadine Wilson. Yes. I'm Mrs. Blake's new secretary. Well. Oh, my. I wish I could swim as well as you do. Oh, not as good as I used to be. Out of shape, I'm afraid. Oh, I wish you'd help me. I'm glad to. Yeah. Oh, the stroke. I just don't get that overhand business. And the. And the breathe in and breathe out. I keep drinking in half the ocean. Well, we'll try to correct it. Yes, we'll try to find some time together every day. If you wish, Ms. Wilson. It'll be a pleasure. That was the beginning, Walter. But only the beginning. First, the lessons every afternoon, and like you said, a real pleasure. Then later, a chance meeting one evening when Claire retired early. A stroll along the beach, Quiet conversation, lulled by the gentle lapping of the waves against the beach. Just the two of you. You and Nadine. Soon it's a nightly thing, a silent agreement, that you two will meet and walk and talk. And suddenly you find yourself discontented. The thoughts of Claire's money aren't enough, are they? They're new thoughts. Thoughts of you and Nadine. Until finally you can stand it no longer. You're wondering what to do and when to do it, until suddenly Nadine brings everything up short. Mr. Blake, please. Nadine, dear. Walter's been quite good enough for a week. Surely you're not going to change something that's so. Mr. Blake. I've wanted to say this before. Now I have to say it. I. I simply must. Well, what is it, dear? Maybe I will sound mid Victorian or something, but I don't care. I don't know what's got into me. I've never acted this way before. I mean, with a married man. It isn't fair. No. Mrs. Blake's been very decent to me. I feel all wrong about this. Like. Like a cheat. I see. Please. What, Mr. Blake? Say you understand that you don't think badly of me. I mean, for. Well, giving you the wrong idea, perhaps. You see, I do. You do care for me. Isn't that what you were going to say? Yes. Yes, I do. But this is insane, what we're doing. Insane. Unfair. Neither of us can help it. Neither of us can do anything about it. No, please don't say that. We can do something. I can. I can leave. I can go away. No, Nadine, don't do that. It won't be necessary. You mean that? You understand. If I don't mind, dear, I'll make every effort to. Only please don't run off. Let me work this thing out properly, decently. I'll do it, I assure you. The proper, decent thing that you promised Nadine would involve a divorce, wouldn't it, Walter? Yes. Complete freedom from Claire. Divorce. That would clear the way for you and Nadine, wouldn't it, Walter? But you don't intend to take that step, do you? Divorcing Claire would leave you penniless, and that doesn't fit in with your plans. Plans that will make you a wealthy man. On Claire's death, the following evening at dinner, you're thinking about your next move, Paying little attention to Claire's constant chattering. That is, until something she says causes you to look up at her. What? What was that, darling? The Grangers, darling, I promised Madge we'd drop over this evening. Oh, I wish you hadn't, Claire. Well, I didn't know you had plans, Walter. Well, it's just that Emerson is coming over here. Emerson? Well, you introduced me to him at the country club last month. Oh, yes, of course. He's in insurance or something. Yes, insurance. That's why I asked him over. My darling, it's the sensible thing to do. If anything happened to me. Darling, don't talk like that. Really, Clarence, let's face it. You're right, of course, but I just don't like to think of those things. You don't have to, darling. But I do. It's a responsibility. I owe it to you, Walter. Really, Clara, I'd feel much better about everything. Well, I suppose if you've made up your mind. I have, darling. It'll be the best investment I've ever made, believe me. During the rest of dinner, you manage to keep the topic of insurance alive, don't you, Walter? And you can tell Claire is interested. You almost know what she's thinking. Yet you're a little disappointed. Once dinner is over and she decides to go on to the Grangers alone. You'd hope she'd remain. Sit in on your conversation with the insurance agent. You spend an hour in the study with Mr. Emerson discussing your insurance plans in detail. And then a few minutes after he's gone, you hear Claire in the entry hall. Walter, he in the study. Darling. Have a nice visit? Very. Oh, were you alone? What? Oh, you mean Emerson? Well, he left a few minutes ago. Oh, dear. And I came back early, hoping he'd still be here. Uh. Oh, yes. I've been thinking things over, Walter. About the insurance. Now, Claire, I've already agreed to take it. Well, that's fine, dear. But if you take out insurance for me, I want to take out insurance for you. Oh, now, really, Please. I've made up my mind. You'll call Mr. Emerson in the morning and ask him to come out again, won't you, Walter? Well, ask him to lunch tomorrow, why don't you? And we'll talk. All right, Claire. Whatever you say. It's happened just as you knew it would, Walter. Claire fell for your insurance idea and insisted on taking out an equal amount of insurance on herself. Just as you felt sure she would. Within a week after Mr. Emerson's second call to the house. The luncheon. You and Claire share a joint life insurance policy for $50,000. In addition, there's the rest of Claire's that you'll inherit the day she dies. You haven't decided just when that will come about or how. Six months or so. A year, perhaps. But in the weeks that follow, as you continue to meet with Nadine, you find yourself becoming more and more impatient. And then one morning, as you come downstairs to a late breakfast, you see a taxi pull out of your driveway and disappear down the street. Morning, dear. Morning, Claire. Who was that? The. The taxi. Oh, Nadine. She couldn't wait. Darling. Told me to say goodbye. Goodbye? Yes. The poor girl was so upset. I knew something was wrong the moment she brought the mail in this morning. Wrong? What do you mean? Bad news from home. Her mother's quite ill. Oh, I see. I do so hate losing Nadine. She was such an efficient little person. Well, now I suppose I'll have to start all over again. Break in and use it. Secretary. Really, it's so annoying. Wait a minute. You. You mean she's not coming back? No. No. I'm afraid Nadine's left us, Walter. For good. What? Helena. Didn't think I'd find you, did you? I didn't think I would myself. Walter, please go away. Please. I've been looking for you all week. Please let me come in. But I told Mrs. Blake that I was. That you were going east. I couldn't believe that. How did you find me? Through one of the employment agencies. Why, Nadine, Why did you run away? I just couldn't stand it anymore, Walter. Living in the same house, being near you. And yet I've missed you terribly. House is like a tomb now. Those walks at night along the cliffs. That's when I miss you so much. Walter, listen to me. It's no use. I just don't want things the way they are now. It's better that we. We forget it ever happened. Forget each other? Just like that? Just like that? No, no, it isn't quite that simple. I am going away, Walter. I've got a new job. Where? What difference does that make? Where? Nadine, there really isn't a new job, is there? No. But don't you see, Walter? I've got to get away. A new city. I don't know where. A new job, new friends. They do wonders for girls. So I understand. Oh, look, darling, we can. Please, Walter. I've made up my mind. This is the way it's got to be. I don't Suppose I'll ever see you again? I don't know. We'll see how it works out. Who knows? I might come falling back on my hands and. And perhaps not. All right, Nadine. Let's see how it works out. But promise me one thing. Yes? You let me know where you are. You'll write. Please, Nadine. I must know. All right, Walter. I promise. You're afraid you're going to lose her, aren't you, Walter? Once she's gone to another town, a new job and new friends. Nadine's an attractive girl. And she'll find someone else. You're certain of that? Someone who'll help her forget you. But that isn't going to happen, is it? No. You're not going to give her the chance to forget you, Walter. And that means you've got to speed up your plans to get rid of Claire. In the days that follow, you carefully consider several in which you can bring about your wife's death. Consider and reject them as dangerous, complicated and apt to cause suspicion. One evening, when you're alone in the house, you receive a phone call. Hello, Walter? Nadine, is Mrs. No, no, it's all right. She's out for a walk. I'm leaving in the morning, Walter. A job in San Francisco. You at the apartment? Yes. I'm packing my things. I'll be right over. Walter. No, but I've got to see you before you go. I'd rather. Only for a minute or so. I won't answer the door, Walter. I swear. But, Nadine, I. All right, all right. I. I couldn't persuade you to change your mind about going. Probably that's why I'd rather not see you. Oh, Nadine, this is crazy. Please don't go. We can work something out. Cat, it's no use. Listen to me, darling, please. No, I'm going to hang up now. Nadine, wait. Goodbye, Walter. All right. You, Nadine. You replace the receiver, walk slowly across the room and step out onto the terrace. As you light a cigarette, you notice your hand is trembling. And you know that the murder of your wife must take place soon. Very soon. Hello, darling. You turn and watch Claire coming up the path towards you. You're annoyed, aren't you, Walter? You wanted more time alone to think. You're back, Curly. It turned rather chilly. I just came back from my coat. I'll get it for you. Oh, no, don't, Father dear. I want to change my shoes, too. The path along the cliffs is rather slippery. The rain today. Oh, yes, yes. The path can be dangerous. After a rain. Claire, I. Now don't fret. I'm always quite careful. It's as simple as that. A walk along the cliffs. Oh, Claire. Yes? I think a walk would do me good. Mind if I join you? Why, of course not, darling. Love to have your walk with me. Be right back. Two travel aids now being offered free by signal dealers are a must for anyone planning a vacation. The first is a 20 page guide to where to eat and sleep. Called Lane's Guide. This handy pocket sized booklet includes a representative selection of eating and lodging places in 350 cities and towns throughout 16 Western states. The second free travel aid is Signal state maps. In addition to the usual road information, signal maps contain handy extras such as a radio log showing where to dial the popular network stations as you travel, a list of interesting places to visit, a western states mileage chart and enlarged sections of metropolitan areas. Remember, both of these Signal travel aids are free. The 20 page guide to where to eat and sleep and the state maps. Remember where to get them from any of the friendly independent dealers throughout the Pacific coast states who feature Signal the famous Go farther Gasoline. The tragedy at the cliffs, at first believed an accident, had turned out to be something else. A clear case of murder. There had been a witness to the shocking affair who saw the victim pushed off the cliffs. And that witness now sat in a crowded office at police headquarters, white faced, staring across the room at the killer. The low hum of conversation ceased suddenly as police Lieutenant Lieutenant Jameson reentered the room. He stopped to glance at the stenographer's notes for a moment and then he turned and faced the witness. Ms. Wilson. Nadine Wilson, is that right? Yes. You were Formerly Secretary to Mrs. Blake? Yes. How do you happen to be at the cliffs at the time of the murder, Ms. Wilson? I asked you how you were. I was on my way to meet Mr. Blake. A meeting had been arranged. No. You see, I had planned to leave town, but at the last minute I changed my mind. I wanted to tell him that. Mm, I see. I see. All right. I was in love with Walter Blake. Yes. You knew then Mr. Blake was in the habit of taking a stroll along the cliffs in the evening and I went there to meet him. That's when I saw them together. Walter and Mrs. Blake. When I saw the killing. Thank you, Ms. Wilson. Mrs. Blake. Yes, Lieutenant? You knew about Nadine Wilson and your husband, is that right? Oh, no, I didn't know anything about that. Then why did you push him off the cliff, Mrs. Blake? Money. Money? But Mrs. Blake, your first Husband left me a great deal. Yes, I spent it all. That's why I married Walter Blake recently. For many reasons, I began to suspect he had no more than I have. I see. So you persuaded your husband to take out a $50,000 insurance policy. No. No, the insurance was his idea. The joint policy, proceeds payable to the survivor, was my idea. Why? Just a gesture of affection, Lieutenant. At the time, I still thought Walter was wealthy. Later, when I was sure he didn't have much money, I realized I'd allowed him to trick me into that joint policy for $50,000. So I. I decided to make sure I would be the survivor. Let that whistle be yourself. For the Signal Oil program. The whistler. Each Sunday night at this same time, brought to you by the Signal Oil Company. Marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil and fine quality automotive accessories. Many drivers, when buying gasoline, forget what a big part of the price goes for tax. In fact, every time a driver in the average Western city buys a dollar's worth of gasoline, tax adds 30, 33 cents to his bill. In other words, the tax you pay on three would give you a fourth gallon free. Featured in tonight's story were Bill Foreman, Bill Johnstone, Barry Lansing and Francis Robinson. Marvin Miller, speaking for the Signal Oil Company, this is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System. Ladies and gentlemen, we take you now behind the scenes of a police headquarters in a great American city where under the cold, glaring lights will pass before us the innocent, the vagrant, the thief, the murderer. This is the lineup. We can sit right here. Charlie. Yes, Lieutenant. Hey, Lieutenant, I don't. It's all right. It's all right. They won't be able to see you. If you identify one of them, they won't know who you are. He is Lieutenant. And now just take your time and make sure. We've got to have these men, Charlie. May I have your attention, please? Have a cigarette. Thanks. You people out there on the other side of the wire in the audience room, May I have your attention, please? Thank you. My name is Greb. Sergeant Matt Greb. I'll explain the lineup to you. Each of the suspects you will see will be numbered. I'll call off a number, their name and charge. If you have any questions or identifications, please remember the number assigned to the prisoner. As I call his name at the end of each line. When I ask for questions or identifications, call out the number. If you're sure or not too sure of the suspect, have him held. The officers who took your name will assist you. They're seated among you. Please Be prompt with your questions or identifications. When the prisoners leave here, they are sent to the bathroom and dressed back into their jail clothes. It makes it quite difficult to bring them back after they leave here. The questions I ask these suspects are merely to get a natural tone of voice. So do not pay too much attention to their answers as they often lie. Bring on the line. All right. All right. Move up to the end of the stage. That's right. Keep it moving. Keep it moving. All right, now turn and face front. Hands to your sides. Look straight ahead. Number one. Alex Polk, breaking and entering. Where do you live, Alex? 718 East 108. On the night of November 16th, you broke into the house of R.R. forster, 2243 South Rockford Street. I didn't take nothing. Nothing? Well, you don't have to in this state, Alex. Just breaking in is enough. Yeah, what do you know? As long as I didn't get nothing. I should have rang the doorbell, I guess. Number two, Vitaminski, narcotic suspect. Where do you live, Peter? Fairmont Hotel, Madison Avenue. That's a pretty nice hotel, Peter. Service is. How about it, Charlie? Where do you live? I am working right now, Sergeant. Stand still. I'm sorry. I'm nervous. You got a monkey on your back? No, no, Sergeant. I put the junk down a long time ago. A year, anyway. Number three, Nicholas Garcia. Disorderly conduct. What's your business, Nicholas? I work for the city in Con. This is your first offense, Nick. Yes, Sergeant. You were pretty drunk. My wife left me. Ran off with a guy. He wasn't a policeman, was he? No. You used some pretty rough language on Patrolman Duff. I don't remember. I'm sorry. Well, watch your language the next time. Some of the boys are sensitive. Yes, Roger. Number four, Oscar Cook, narcotic suspect. Where do you live, Oscar? How about that one, Charlie? You know any one of them? There's a frame. The pig slipped it on me when he picked me up. This is your third offense. It's going to be pretty rough. I wasn't hauling, see? The coolest, the pig stashed it on me. Look who's calling. Who? A pig. Number five. Ernest Schaeffer, narcotics suspect. Where do you live, Ernest? 76 East 103rd Street. Where do you work? How about it? I don't work, son. Not that one either. How long have you been putting a dollar, huh? What are you dreaming about? Beats me. It's pretty crazy, though, man. Oh, hello, Ben. This is Charlie, man. Hello, Charlie. Hi, Sergeant. I'm sorry you couldn't identify Any of those men. So am I. Take him down and show him the mug file. Maybe you can find one of them there. Yeah, sure. I'm going up to Narcotics. I'll be in Captain Walter's office. Okay. Come on. Let's go, Charlie. See you Later, Lieutenant. Yeah. 32671 South Lincoln. Attention all units. All units in the vicinity of 45th Avenue and 108th Street. A2 11 and a shooting, code three. Attention all units. Hello, Ben. Hello, Bill. Relax. Yeah, old boy. Identify any of them? No, but we'll keep trying. And I'll have the boys keep hauling them in. Charlie can look at every narcotic suspect. We've got a package on. Some we haven't. It's a rotten mess. Yeah, rotten. You sure this old bum can identify the three men? Charlie says he can? I don't know. He was flopped under the bridge. Says he heard the car pull up and stop. Got scared. Couldn't figure who'd be stopping that late at night. And he saw these guys kill Fisher? No, no, no, no. He didn't see them kill him. He heard the shot and looked up. Saw the three men lift Fisher up over the railing and drop him in the riverbend. And he could recognize three men standing up on a bridge late at night? He says so. A couple of lights on the bridge, only 20ft to the riverbend. He says so. I hope he can. I went over and saw Fisher's family myself. Yeah, I've had dinner over there. Mom's a great cook. She took it pretty hard. So did his wife, Jane. Fisher was a good cop. Boys in the precinct are taking it pretty hard too. We'll get the guys. Fisher was going to make the contact at 8 tonight. Yeah. You're supposed to meet a man named Black. Francis Black. My department's been trying to bust this ring for a long time. Fisher was close. Ms. Black was a pusher for the stuff. Fisher got his confidence and made a deal to buy 10,000 in heroin. He was supposed to meet Black last night at 8:00 in the bar. And then Black was supposed to take him to the Big Boy. We had a stakeout in the bar and across the street Fisher met Black. All right. They got into Black's car and drove to the river, where they took the ferry. We staked out a car on the other side. And they switched cars on the ferry. Yeah, so we didn't catch on until Black's car didn't drive off. Had it all set up. Must have known Fisher was a cop. Before Black met him in the bar. Yeah. Now, what about Blank? He's got his apartments take down, but he won't show. Ben. Come on in, man. Hello, Captain. Hi. You want to go over there now, Ben? Yeah, I guess so. I've got Charlie looking at the mugs with Sergeant Quine. Okay. Well, we'll see you later, Bill. He thought we'd take a few minutes and go over and see the Fisher's family. It won't make you feel good, Mom. Fisher's fed the whole department at one time or another. She's a fine person. I'd feel a lot worse if I didn't stop by. Well, yeah. Well, go on, ring it. Okay. Hello, Gene. Hello, Ben. Hello, Matt. Hi. Come in. Thanks. Where's Mom? In the kitchen, fixing young Jeffy's dinner. Be back from school soon. He's in school? He'd already gone before Bill came over and told us. Jane, I'm all right. It won't be bad for a while. Till I get lonesome. Till I miss him. I'm just kind of numb now. Mom's in the kitchen. Little Jeff doesn't know. He was already in school when we heard. I'll tell him tonight after his dinner. After he watches television. Mom. Hello, Mom. Hello, Mom. Hello, boys. Matthew. Benjamin. I'm fixing Jeff something for his dinner. Some cookies, too, for later. Oatmeal cookies. He likes them. Would my two big policemen like some cookies? Well, we can't stay long, Mom. I shouldn't have to entertain you in the kitchen. But the little ruffian has got an appetite like you. Maddie, listen. Nobody's got an appetite like Matt, Mama. It's your cooking, Mom. Yeah, I'm a good cook. The men in my family are particular. Jeff's now eight and he's very particular. Jean is a fine cook, too. I guess we spoil our men, don't we, Jean? Oh, Mama. Jean, look in the oven and see if my cookies are done. Yes, ma'am. They look done, Mom. Oh, you have to be going, Benjamin. Jean, you take the cookies out of the oven and I'll go with my two big policemen to the door. Yes, Mama. Bye, Jean. Bye. Bye. Please come back soon. Sure. Jean's a good girl. Fine girl. My son was lucky. What? What should we say, Mom? Say, Benjamin. You have said it without saying it. My two big policemen. You have said it. Bye, Mom. Matthew. Mom. Benjamin. Oh, what is it, Mom? The little ruffian. Little Jeff, running this way down the block. I'll have to hurry and get him a few cookies so we can eat them while he watches. Hop along, Cassidy. Mom? Yes, Matthew. God bless you. Oh, Ben. Yeah, Bill, I didn't want to call you over at. Mom. What's the matter? I just brought a guy in a 211 shooting. Francis Black. Dead. Very. Four slugs them. I was just going to get that old bum from identification. He's down with Sergeant Quan. Yeah. Yeah. Let's go get him. Where'd they find the body? 45th and 108th Street. Witness say he came out of a hotel and somebody opened up across the street with rifles. Man who runs a jewelry store caught a wild shot in the hip. How was Mom? Oh, magnificent. I feel terrible. I want to get those guys. Bill Quine. Matt. Yeah? Bring Charlie here. He found something. Charlie found something. He spotted one of them. I found one, Lieutenant. I found one. You sure? He says this is one of them. I just take it. Just going to call you. That's one of them, all right. That's one of the fellows that pushed that guy off the bridge. Here's his package. You know him, Bill? Yeah. Joseph Bolger, FBI. Kick back here. We've had Bolger before. You sure this is one of them? Yeah, I seen him clear him and two others. Charlie. He had a lieutenant, no mistake. No, sir. I mean a lieutenant that fell right there is one of the men. I'll put out a picker. We'll be in the morgue. Come on, Charlie. We got another one for you. Another one down in the morgue. He was mixed up in it. Might have been one of the three who pushed Fisher off the bridge. Hi, Matt. Lieutenant. Hi. The one you just got in, George. 211 shooting Francis Black. Yeah, that's right. Right here. Come here, Charlie. Stand right. Okay, that's it. Pull it back, George. Sure. Well? Know him? I. Well? Yes or no? I think so. You do? It's hard to tell with him lying down. Set him up. Oh, I would look, set him up, George. Sure. Well, Charlie, that's one of them. Sure. Yeah, I'm sure. Lieutenant, I've got a dragnet out on Joseph Bulger. Well, if Charlie's identifications are right, we've tagged two of them, Bill. Pretty easy to figure why Francis Black was killed. Guys with those rifles didn't like him getting mixed up with a cop. Knew we had him spotted, so they blasted him before we could pick him up. Yeah. You said that Fisher made his contact with Francis Black in a bar. What bar? A place on 73rd Street. Angelos. We've got a man watching it. Well, what about the guy who runs it? No record name's Angelo Giuseppe. We talked with him, showed him Black's picture. Never saw him before. Didn't remember him coming in last night. Has he seen the mug on Joseph Bulger? Not yet. You want to take it over? Yeah, long shot, but I don't want to sit around and wait. I don't blame you. Let me know if you get anything. I don't want to miss it. Nobody does. Everybody wants in on this one. There will be four more amateur songwriters on hand, and one of them will sell his song for nationwide distribution when Songs for Sale comes along this Friday night on most of these same CBS stations, Songs For Sale gives these new writers a great chance. Their songs are judged by a panel of experts. Their music is sung by Rosemary Clooney and Richard Hayes. They're made to feel at home under the guidance of the experienced showman Jan Murray for an hour of fascinating fun behind the scenes of Tin Pan Alley. Hear Songs for Sale this Friday and every Friday on cbs. Sure, Lieutenant. I talked with some of your boys this morning, and they. They showed me the picture of some guy named Francis Black. Angelo? Yeah. Yeah, he was supposed to have been in my place last night. Supposed to have met that couple, got killed, but I never saw him. I see. Well, how about this guy? Oh, let me get my glasses. Name's Joseph F. Let's see. Yeah, Joseph Folger. Hey, Lieutenant. Yeah? This one. This one's been in my place many times. Joseph Volger. Well, he don't call himself a Joseph Bulger, Al. I think. When was the last time he was in Angelo? Oh, two or three days ago, I think. Comes in once or twice a week. Been coming in once, twice a week for about a year. Once or twice a week. I said, well, how well do you know him? Well, not too well. He don't send. I know he calls himself Al. I don't know something. Never said where he lived. Well, never said nothing. No, I. I heard a couple of guys call him Al one time or another. Yeah, I always said hello, Al when he came in. It's a good policy, customers, names make them want to come back. Look, Angelo, you haven't seen him in two or three days. No, but he probably. And I'm sure he lives around here. Oh, why are you sure? Well, a guy don't keep stopping into a bar once or twice a week for a year in the evenings. We don't live close by. You know, you. You go out of your way to a real crashy joint Maybe, but not to my place. It's nice. It's a comfortable. I don't water my drinks, but class, I ain't got. Angelo. Yeah, yeah, look at him now. This is Sergeant Greb. Angelo. Hello, Sergeant. Hello, Angelo. Angelo. Starting now, there'll be two offices in your place from the time you open in the morning till you close at night. Sergeant Greb and I'll take over for today. Tomorrow there'll be probably two others. All right, now, look, if Joseph Bolger comes in, try to act like there's nothing wrong, understand? Yeah, but. Get out of the way. Go to the back room or something and we'll try to take him without any shooting. Yeah, yeah. Now, we'll sit over at that table. Bring us a beer or something. Okay. Glad I paid my insurance last month. You think Bulger will show? I hope so, man. The captain's got a bunch of boys out with pictures covering this area for about three miles each way. That's a lot of walking. Yeah, yeah. Oh, thanks. Now, just forget about us, Angelo. That ain't easy. Let me try to act like it. Well, that I can do. What's the time? It's 3:40. Cop spends half his time waiting. 5:00, boys. Yeah, well, there'll be two more tomorrow morning. Sure, sure. Good night, Angelo. Good night. Good. Yeah, I hate to do that every day. Yeah, Yeah. I can't think of anything more terrible than sitting all day and half the night watching a perfectly good beer go flat. Morning. Good morning, Ben. Well, three days now, Bill. Yeah. Quite a Nash are in the bar today. Matt and I go tomorrow again. I wish we'd get something. Take it easy, take it easy. How close can you get? Gut one, identify the other. My boys have showed Bulger's picture to everybody in that area. Nobody knows him, nobody's seen him. Yeah, yeah, I know. Too bad more of us couldn't have been to Fish's funeral. I'm sure mom understood. Ben. We've run in every narcotic suspect we can get our hands on. We've sweated stoolies for three days now. We've questioned every hood in the city. We've got all the roads covered, airports, bus stations. Where is Bolton? I wish I knew. I'll see you later. I gotta go down to the line. Okay. Ben. Yeah, get mad. Just got a call. Bo is in the bar now. I told Klein not to take him till we got here. How do we do it? Well, the more of us, the less chance of Bo just using his gun. Matt, cover the alley. Right. All right, let's go, Bill. Now. Let me go in first. I'll get next to him. Let's see. Give me about 30 seconds. Okay. Hello? Angelo. Oh, hello. Hello. Now. Beer, please. Coming up. There you are. Thanks. How you been? Oh, fine, fine. Oh, my gosh. What's wrong? I forgot to call my wife. She'll kill me. Don't move, Bolger. He said don't move. Look out. Fine. Asher, go. Let me go. Get him out in the alley now. I got his gun. Open the door. There. Get out there. Hey, what is this? Now, wait a minute. We want the other guy. What other guy? What are you talking about? You know what we're talking about, you lousy cop killer. No. You're going to tell us where he is. No, no, no, no. Wait. Bulgin. You got 10 seconds to make. Hello. Hi. What'll it be? Better make it a Thompson and a shotgun. One Thompson, one shotgun. There's the Thompson. Okay. Who gets the shotgun? I'll take it. Okay. How much ammunition? Two drums for the Thompson, six rounds for the shotgun. Here. Sign off. Okay. What's the number on the Thompson? Six, seven six one two. Six seven six one two. One Thompson, a shotgun. Uh. Six, four, five, one two eight. Six four five one two eight. Yeah. Six, four, five, one. Two drums for the Thompson, six runs for the shotgun. Okay. I sure been hopping the last half hour. Everybody's been down here. We've got a lead on the third guy who killed Fisher. Yeah, I heard. Some guy, name is Shaw. Yeah, well, this is one time I don't mind being busy. We've got the area closed off. Two men at the alley entrance, cars at the end of the blocks. Three cars on the street here. Where's Shaw? We talked with a hotel clerk. Says Shaw hasn't come in yet. Usually comes in between seven or eight. Fine. Sitting in the lobby. Do we wait in his room, Captain? Yeah. Nearly seven now. Shaw's room is 208. Clerk. Yes, sir? Give us the key to 208. Yes, sir. There you are. Quine. Yes, sir. We're going up to the room. If Shaw comes in, just get behind him, follow him up. Right. Take the elevator. Two. Yeah. Office called. Bulger signed a full confession. Bolger and Black were pushing the stuff for Shaw. Mm. 215, 214. Down this way. Sean Bolger met Black and Fisher on the ferry. Shaw recognized Fisher as a copy. Drove the bridge, killed him. Yeah. Oh, here. Two hundred and eight. Bulger still says sure. Pull the trigger. Yeah. Hey. Hey. Come On. Let's go. Take the stairs, man. Captain, Charles came in and shot that officer. Yeah, Quiner. Quine went down. He saw me start after him and started shooting these down in the basement stairs. Right over there. Get an ambulance. Warn the men on the street. Go and tell them. And get an ambulance. Come on. Matt. Yeah. You, clerk, stay with this man. Yes, sir. Down here, Matt. You want some light? No, I'll go around that way. Right. Must have gone through that door. No, no, no. Matt, look. Service elevator. He's going up. Yeah, the roof. Come on, let's go. He can't get off. He's 10 stories up. Two boys coming up the fire escape. He's probably waiting for us to come through this door. Now, stay low. Go through one at a time. What about that Thompson? He'll throw slugs all over the city. I won't use it unless I have to. Keep the door open. I'll go first. Okay, Matt, Go right. I got him pinned down. Let's go, Bill. He's behind that row of vents. Hear that big air conditioning unit Spit out. Look out, Captain. Sure. Give it up. They're all around you. He's coming around your way. Now, Matt, stay. We are, Bill. Just a minute. All right. I'll go around this way. He's coming back. He's circling. Watch it, Ben. Surely, Ben. Okay, boys. You get him, Ben. Let's get him off the roof. Get out of this wind. I should have worn a heavier coat. Yeah. Yeah. A guy could catch a bad cool up here. The lineup. Where before you pass the innocent, the vagrant, the thief, the murderer. Listen again next week when we again bring you the lineup. May I have your attention, please? You people out there on the other side of the wire and the audience room. May I have your attention, please? Thank you. My name is Greg. Sergeant Nat Grabb. I'll explain the lineup to you. Each of the suspects you will see will be numbered. I'll call out the number, their name and charge. If you have any questions or identifications, please remember the number assigned to the prisoner in my caller's name. At the end. The lineup, starring William Johnstone as lieutenant Ben Guthrie and Wally Mayer. Sergeant Matt Greb was written by Blake Edwards with music by Eddie Dunstetter. Featured in tonight's cast were Junious Matthews, Stacey Harris, Larry Dobkin, Jay Novello, Lou Krugman, Jack Moyles, Eda Reese Marin, Ed Begley and Virginia Gregg. The lineup is produced and directed by Jaime Do. Every Friday night, Broadway's My Beat brings you the latest adventure of Danny Clover, the handsome young plainclothesman who patrolled the Great White Way. Wealthy playboys and panhandlers, Apple Annie's and chorus girls, flashy big shots and shoeshine boys. They're Danny's friends. And when a crime is committed, their inside stories help Danny to find the thief or killer. Friday night also brings you the CBS famous anti crime series, up for Parole. The hard hitting, factual stories of men and women behind bars who seek another chance at freedom. You're sure to enjoy both Broadway's My Beat and Up for Parole. They're heard every Friday on most of these same CBS stations. This is cbs. The Star System addressed the Columbia Broadcasting System presenting Orson Welles as the third Man. The lives of Harry Lime. The fabulous stories of the immortal character originally created in the motion picture the Third Man. With Zither, music by Antonio Kara. I once thought I knew all about women. Of course, I was pretty young at the time. How was I to know that Mercy would squeal on me? So I soon grew up, and since then I made a few simple rules. Blondes cannot be trusted. Redheads aren't reliable. And if you want to avoid trouble, never get mixed up with a brunette. Yes, if you follow these rules, life is much more simple. There's only one trouble. It isn't any fun. In my life, I'm glad to say I've had a lot of fun. Take that time in Algiers. Some people say you live and learn, but I for one, prefer to learn and live. And now, Orson Welles as Harry Lime, the third man in the dark enchantress. Algiers. Algiers. You've all heard of it. Algiers, the port of mystery and intrigue. Invaded by the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, the Byzantines, the Arabs, the Turks, the French and Harry Lyon. Algiers. I wish you all heard about it. A city that is all things to all men. Algiers, the Indianapolis of North Africa. Then there's the Casper, made so popular some seasons ago by Mr. Charles Boyer. But jokes are probably. There is a place there where tourists definitely aren't invited and where I'm welcomed, or at least permitted to enter. And it's called the Barbary Queen. Harry. Line, come back to the Casper. I've been saving your favorite table here for how long is it? How long? Oh, too long, tutor. I see the Barbary Queen hasn't changed since. Same sight, same smells. Haven't your customers gone home since my last. Please, mon ami. It's not so much like the old days anymore. The Barbary Queen Is becoming almost dull. Nothing ever happens. Almost dull, eh, Tutu? Nothing ever happens. How many throats a sled on a night when things do happen. Stop it. Come on, stop it. I kill you. All right, the fight is finished. The trouble is over. You have not been served yet, monsieur. No. Chutro was wrong. It appears the trouble is just beginning. That depends on what you call trouble. May I join you? Allow me. Thank you. You haven't been to the Barbary Queen before? Not recently. Not since you joined the staff. Ah, Magda. I'm glad you discovered my friend. This is Harry Lime. You treat him good. He's a fine man. I shall do my best, Tutu. Now, I send over two drinks on my house. Tutu is a busy little being. Your friends are Tutu. And you're an American. Few Americans ever come here. And none of them are friends with Tutu. Oh, we aren't exactly bosom chums, Tutu and I. But we've been partners in a couple of deals. No. So that's it. I knew you must be valuable to him, you magna. Just how valuable are you to you? We'll take that up in a minute. What's your connection with Tutu? I sing. I entertain the custom. Mm. That's what it says on your passport. With your looks, you're going to have a couple of rackets. Maybe I can help. And you, Harry Lyon. You're one of those men who profess to know women too well, not me, honey. I profess to know nothing whatsoever about your sex. I just enjoy it. You know, Harry Lyon, I'm a little sad for the years I didn't know you. Well, don't burst into tears, honey. Remember, to know me better is to like me less. Is that a warning? As you like. I like it very much. Here you are. Harry Lyne. Very freshman. Just about time to do your Magda. Had me backed into a corner. Where is she? Not the worm. And Med. After you finish the drink. Another song, please. No, of course. But for now, just enjoy yourself. Now, what were we saying? I believe I was warning you about me. Oh, yes, and I was. Oh, Meg, I'm so glad I found you. I was scared to death. I thought perhaps you'd gone home. Or Susan. Say, the Barbary Queen is turning into a regular grab bag of surprises. Since when do high school girls to vote about in such a den of inequity? You're an American. Did you think you were the only one? You don't have to be nasty about it, Susan. I thought I told you never to come to the Queen. Oh, but Magda, I wanted to hear you sing. You have no business in the Casper at all. It's dangerous for tourists, particularly for a young girl like you. Oh, it was all right, Magda. Nobody paid any attention to me. And I arrived here just in time to see the last of the fight, wasn't it? Truly, he must just leave. Susan, I can't give you any time tonight. As you see, I'm working. Go back to your hotel. I'll see you tomorrow. That's the way you want it? That's the way I want it. You're not angry? No, no, of course not. Go now, Susan, like a good girl. All right, then. I hope I didn't cause you any trouble. Mag, these Americans, we try to be nice to them, show them around. I'm an American. Yield. You're not an American or a European or anything. You're Harry Lyle. I drink to our long friendship. Thanks, honey. Now, you better go sing your little song. I've got something to attend to. Susan, that's what you're going to attend. Honey, you're a mind reader. That's cool, girls. Nothing wrong with getting an education. Schoolgirls are okay with me, particularly when they're cute little redheads. But I. I don't think they've got much business in. The car's been up part of it. Not this late at night. It just occurred to me that your friend Susan may have more trouble getting out of the Cosmo than she had coming in. Very well, Harry Lyon, if you wish to be gallant when you tire of her, then you know where to find me. I'm always here or in my rooms above the cafe. Okay, honey. Now, if you excuse me. You're very insulting, Harry Lyman. Now, I'll tell you something. I don't care whether you come to see me or not. I don't care whether I ever see you again. Magdalene. Don't say I didn't warn you. Remember, to know me is to loathe me. The Magda Ferraris of this world are an old story to me. But this particular one had an interesting agenda, one I couldn't quite fathom as yet. So I gave her time to solve it for me. Meanwhile, there was this young Susan. I found her at the doorway of the Barbary Queen, peering somewhat unsaid down the narrow cobbled streets of the castle. It's no use waiting for a street car. What? Oh, you're the man who is with Magda. Yes, I was just leaving. Suppose we scram out of here together. Thank you, but I can take care of myself. I Can Take Care of Myself. A familiar title. So many sad little stories of girls like you. You're going to start late. My dear Susan, an election is the farthest thing from my mind. If you want to get kidnapped, it's your business, not mine. I think it's silly. The ca. No, no more dangerous than. Marcus. Marcus. I thought you heard from San Francisco. Knob here. Old family, isn't that right? How did you. It shows, Susan. It shows even the dusky shadows of the Cosmo. Don't your parents worry about you? Never mind my parents. I never minded my own. Of all the fresh. A fresh, a fresh old. All right, I'll go with you. Okay. The routine wasn't sparkling, I know, but it worked. Worked? I'd smelled money from the first moment I set eyes on Susan. Well known, Lime, luck was in. Just how it would pay off. I had no idea. So I took Susan to the edge of the Cosmo, found a cab for her and was just sending her off home to mother when I noticed a bulky individual observing us a little too closely. He caught my eye and then left the neighborhood fast. I pounded this over a cup of so called coffee at a friendly tavern and then went on to my own hotel. Come right on in. Harry Lime. Come on. This is a night of surprises. Who are you? Call me Mike Nolan. Oh, you're a detective. Right on the button, Mr. Lime. What do you want for a prize? A cupidal, maybe, or a genuine plaster of Paris ingen? How would you like me to call the manager? Or haven't you heard about invasion of privacy? Seems there's some sort of law. You were suspect the minute you landed in that J line. Next thing I know, you're Chef Rosing. Susan Clement. Oh, that's pretty fast work. E for you. You seem to be speaking English, Nolan, but I don't get it. Passing over the fact that I'm suspect, as you call it, just who is Susan, Clem? Oh, Susan. See the light, Mr. Lime? That girl I put in the cab? It may interest you to know that her father asks us to keep an eye on his daughter. He's worried. Seems she's taken up with the wrong friends in Algiers. After tonight, I can see why. Sounds like he has money. Mr. Moneybags himself. As if you didn't know. No, I didn't. Look. Thanks just the same. And you may tell the authorities that I was merely escorting Ms. Claremont to safety. You may also advise her father that his daughter went into the Cast, but quite alone. If he's so concerned about her welfare, might devote more time to her whereabouts. Good night, Mr. Nolan. Only engaged a single here at the hotel. If you insist on staying, I'll have to notify the management. Of course, you'll pay the additional fee for your stay. What? Oh, well, they warned me you were sniffer line. But if you try any funny business, just remember we're wise to you. Good, Good. I expect the same protective interest from the authorities that they extend to other American tourists. Okay, wise guy, but watch it. Good night, Mike Nolan. In my business, twists of fate are a specialty. I usually know how to keep the police wondering where I am during working hours. But just let me tell. A vacation. And all the authorities in town are suddenly very busy. In this case, the cops worrying about Susan only wheded my interest. I hadn't a notion of the spot she got herself in the next afternoon. 352. 300. Oh, this must be a charming visitor. I must have the wrong address. I thought this is where Ms. Polaris. But of course. You are Suzanne. Magda told me to expect you. Oh, then I am in the right place. May we please come in, mademoiselle? Not there. Will be somewhat delayed. But she told me to amuse you. After all, she planned this rendezvous for us. Please, please help me. Really, Susan, this is. This can become a habit. Needs parents mustn't. No, no, no, no, thank you. No. You. You spell trouble for me, Susan. Just. Just go your own sweet way and I'll go my. Hey, wait a minute. What's wrong? Oh, she's been drugged. No, no, she's done it. All I need is for Mike Nolan to walk by and see Susan draped in my arms like this. What if I must? I must. Taxi. Taxi. Yes, miss? You heard me. I want a taxi. No taxis, miss you, please. Buy a rug. Find a. A rug. Get me a horse and carriage. Shakes to nar, missy. Like to see some pretty girls? Dancing girls? I got my own pretty girl. We're not going dancing. She's unconscious now. I want to get her. Get her home quick. Get me a donkey or something. Get me a camel. Get me a helicopter. Get me out of here. Orson Welles returns in just a moment as the third man. And now, Orson Welles as the third man continues with the Dark Enchantress. I didn't dare take Susan to my place. It was just possible she was a police plant. So I took her to the last place I ever thought Harry Lime would enter. The Convent of the Little Sisters of Charity. Just off the cos B. The poor child. This is a terrible thing, Mr. Lyon. Where am I? You are quite safe, my child. You fainted, Susan. I brought you to this convent. But Charles. Charles. There is no one here by that name. Oh, what a fool I've been. Would you like to tell us just what happened, Susan? Well, I went to Magna's apartment to meet her, I thought. But he was there instead. He said his name was Charles Poncair. He was very good looking, about my height and dark. He said Magda had arranged the meeting and he served cocktails. It was after that that things grew easy. And I. I don't remember Mickey's. What? Mr. Ly Sue. Susan was evidently drug, Sister. The cocktails were drugs. Oh. Oh, yes. When I came two, Charles was very different. He said if I didn't get him 5,000, he'd tell my parents I'd been along with him. And he knew all about me and where we were staying every. There, there, there. How did you manage to get from Magda's rooms over the Barbary Queen to where I ran into you, Susan. Your condition certainly didn't warrant me. Maggie doesn't live above the cafe, Mr. Lyon. She said she was staying at 356 Rue Madeline, Rue Madelon. I fought with Charles and I ran out in the street. And I didn't know what I was doing. Mr. Lyne, this is Rue Magnus. That 356 address is almost across the street. And the building on the corner also. Magda keeps two establishments. She must have given me the wrong address. What'll I do? Go home to Mother and tell all. That's what you do. It's the only way, Susan. Unless you prefer the police. Oh, no. You happened into an unscrupulous blackmailer. And the best way out of the truck to inform your parents what has happened and then leave the rest to me. You'd do that for me? I find I do have an Achilles heel, my dear. Oh, how can I ever thank you? No, don't start weeping again. I will flood out the Little Sisters of Charity. Come on, Susan. Let's get to your parents before I change my plan. Mr. And Mrs. Claremont were exactly what I'd expected. Wealthy, well meaning and incredibly stupid about the realities of life. All this fitted into my plan perfectly. And his mother Claremont bustled her child into the boudoir. Father Clement and I discussed business. This is a terrible thing, Mr. Lime. Why? Such a scan could wreck my daughter's reputation. I can't understand how she could allow herself to get into such a predicament, what happens all the time. But how such things happen to beautiful young girls is beside the point. Now, Mr. Grand. The important thing is how to deal with this Charles Pon. I'd like to beat him to a pot. Make a pretty headline for the Chronicle. Financier Manhandles Daughters Blackmailer. Please, this must never get to the press. That's why I suggest you keep the police out of it. What shall I do then, Clement? You trust me? You? Of course, Mr. Limewire. You save my little girl. Then give me the 5,000 in cash. What? Allow me to pay off your blackmailer and see that he doesn't come back for more. Mr. Glen, you see, I understand these things. Yes? Yes. Monsieur Harry Lime. Who wants him? Charles. Well, if you come in, I should probably thank you. Need I say I hardly expected you. But since I realized it was merely a matter of time until you visited my quarters, monsieur, I thought I would save you the trouble. That's very nice, old man. I'm sure. I followed the girl into the street. When she fled, I saw her approach you. As simple as that. And from said meeting, you know my identity. That Susan would tell me all and that you would offer to aid the distressed family that you have. In fact, my $5,000. First, tell me one thing. Wait. Even though I am a bird of your feather, for you, what's to stop me from going to the police with the whole story? You did not think I would allow you to continue living, monsieur? I suppose I have no choice in the matter. None whatsoever. Even though I planned how to get much more revenue for Mr. Clement. 50,000 as a starter. 50,000. And this time no one will tell. Magda. We split the take, you and I. Come no closer, Miss you. I was just going to deliver this down payment. Miss me? And I track a buck and snare a dough. Let me go. Oh, no. Oh, no, Magda. This is too good a joke. It'll cost you five thousands. Come on. Up your hands, both of you. Well, well, Mike Nolan again. You're a busy guy. This is my doing, Mr. Lime. I try to explain. Well, gentlemen, this looks like the end of the story. The clock has struck 12. The coach has turned into a pumpkin and the prince has changed into Cinderella. What are you talking about, Lime? If you'll take this lady off my hands, Nolan, I'll attempt to explain him. Is that the man of my daughter? Hold it. Hold it. Claremont. Nolan, allow me to introduce Magda Polaris. You fool. You fool. This is unbelievable. Magda and Charles Vanquare are one in the same, Mr. Claremont. She assumed masculine disguise to blackmail her own sex and used her own devastating personality interference to hypnotize the masculine. Quite a girl, I should say. Don't believe him. He was trying to talk me into getting more money from you. Claremont? That I believe. Like I said, Ben Claremont told me you were helping him. Lime. He was jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Looks like we got here just in time. As always, Detective Nolan, you have performed magnificent. What are you trying to give me, Lime? Nothing but praise, you flat foot. But to Mr. Claremont, I give $5,000, the blackmail fee, for which I did not have to pay. I can't find words to thank you, mister. Just wait a minute, Mr. Claremont. This guy's trying to weasel out of a fast deal. I believe what this Magda dame says. He was in on the deal with her and he's hungry for more. Mr. Nolan, I asked the authorities to watch my daughter's activities, yet she fell into the worst kind of trouble. Mr. Lime was the one who saved. Don't you see his angles? He was trying. I came here with you to prove to you his innocence. But that wasn't necessary. Mr. Lime has pleaded his own case and won. What? No, no. He's guilty, I tell you. As guilty as I am. Take this woman away, Officer. I'll be down later to prefer charges. Oh, whatever you say, Mr. Cameron. Come on, you. You. I'll get even with you, Harry Lime, if it takes a hundred years. I don't know how to thank you, Mr. Lime. Now I'm doubly in your debt. Won't you accept a more substantial expression of my gratitude? This $5,000. For $5,000? With pleasure, Mr. Crown. With pleasure. Another payoff. What's the game now, Lime? What do you think that might for? Charity, old man. Charity? Charity? That's a move. Yes, as a matter of fact, it is. Entirely new. I'm surprising myself, old man. But then, I'm a surprising kind of guy. I swore a solemn oath years ago never to do anything fundamentally decent if I could possibly avoid it. And look what I'm up to now. Taking money again. That's exploiting these people. Nolan, there's a reward out for Magda, isn't there? A reward? Well, don't try to chisel in. The reward goes to me. Now, just a minute. I don't want to be greedy, old man, but I've got my expenses to cover. But you got $5,000. But that isn't for me, Nolan, old Man, no, believe it or not, this 5,000 is going to the convent of the Little Sisters of Charity. It's quite a right. Right. That ought to help more for sanctuary to someone else's wandering daughters. Well, now I've heard everything. Tell you what, old man, I'll cut you in on the reward. Now you look, you're off your rocker. Now I know it, Line giving dough to a convent and splitting the reward with you, Nolan. The reward? A small percentage if you promise never to tell about the split about the convent. After all, old man, I've got my reputation to think of. So now friends, you know all. Harry Lime, who started his career by putting his hand in the poor box. Slipped so far that he even gave some money to a convent. Believe me, I was so depressed after doing it, I got right out of town. Took a trap steamer that night. Funny thing, the name of the ship was the SS Polaris. Yeah, she had been a beautiful craft. Well, well. Heaven helped the poor working girl. And so does Harry Ly. This is Orson Welles speaking from London. The Black Museum. Here in the grim stone structure on the Thames which houses Scotland Yard is a warehouse of homicide. A warehouse where everyday objects. A tallow candle, for example, a mounted cat, an andiron. All, all are touched by murder. A bedsheet. That's a familiar object. You see them every night, except on rare occasions when you're roughing it. Linen is the usual material. Sometimes they're made of silk. This one is linen. It bears the imprint of the steamship Bengal Tower. May I make up your bed, Ms. Parsons? Oh, certainly. Steer Death. We're on our way, aren't we? Yes, miss. That's the last we'll see of Cape Town. I'll just change your sheets, miss. Thank you. Fresh ones for the first night out. Today that bed sheet can be seen in the Black Museum. From the annals of the criminal Investigation department of the London Police. We bring you the dramatic stories of the crimes recorded by the objects in Scotland Yard's gallery of death. The Black Museum. Well, here we are. The Black Museum. Scotland Yard's very special, very particular museum of murder. If you're a student of criminology, a student with some imagination, I don't think you'll be alone. Here in the Black Museum, each small card meant solely to identify crime and criminal will bring to life for you a sinister ghost. And you walk here, attended simultaneously by killer and killed. Here's a long necked chemist's flask. It was meant to hold life giving medicine. But somebody intervened. There was acid in this flask, a few pellets dropped in, dissolved. The flask was smoky with lethal vapor. Sleeping man died. Here's a bicycle made for fun. But notice the wheels, the crumpled spokes, crushed tires. A girl rode this bike downhill and a wire was stretched across the roadway. Ah, here we are. The sheet. A common everyday bed sheet, stamped in one corner. SS Bengal Tower. That's a luxury liner on the route between Cape Town and Southampton. It's a nice ship and a voyage to enjoy, particularly when you are young and homeward bound. Natalie Parsons was young and homeward bound and very lovely. The first night out. There were two gentlemen friends to dance attendance. Thank you, Ms. Farsons. You make even a lieutenant's life a pleasure. Why, Lieutenant, I thought the navy was the life for a young man with adventure in his soul. Well, that's just the legend, but all legends come to an end. Just like they're dancing tonight. Mr. Morrow. Holding the fort at our table all alone. Let's be nice to him, Lieutenant. I hear he knows the captain of our ship. The dancing was over in the main salon. The orchestra retired for the night. High above the brilliantly illuminated decks, on the dim binnacle lighted bridge, Captain Booth had his own thoughts as he paced away. His watch ought to be all right. Full passenger list, decent crew, engines in good shape. Ship all squared away, topside and below. You never know. That's the worry and the fascination of it. You never know. No, captain, you never know, do you? You never know. Ah, but such thoughts are ridiculous. Look at the three people at that table near the bar in the first class lounge this minute. The parson's girl. Actress and passenger list says a naval lieutenant. What was his name? Jeff Hennessy. That's it. And Noel Morrow. Past middle age, but quite distinguished. Heavy stockholder in the line which owns your Bengal tower. Nice people having a fine time. And this gentleman concludes our performance for this evening. But it's early yet, Ms. Partridge. Well, I'm not used to the sea air, Lieutenant. I'm tired, so I'm going to bed. And thank you both for a lovely first night at sea. May I see you till, captain? Hold on. I claim that bridge privilege. You dance with her all evening, son. Now it's my turn. Oh, don't fight, gentlemen. Well, not the first night out anyway. I think we'll exceed to Noel's wish tonight, Jeff. He has some basis to his claim, you know. There you are, young girl. I. I surrender. There's plenty of time to Southampton and lots of moonlight. He has plenty of Time for fun and enjoyment and even playing at love. As the great ship knifes through the tropic seas north homeward bound. So Noel Morrow walks Natalie Parsons to a cabin and returns to the bar for a nightcap with Lieutenant Jeff Hennessy. To Natalie. A nice girl. I'll drink to that. A fine talent, I hear. Yes, I saw in a play in Johannesburg. Three Cornered Moon. Very amusing. That so? I never heard of it. Still, I'm glad I heard of Natalie Parsons. Nice girl. Good looking, too. Yes, all of that and more. Well, here's to a pleasant voyage. Two gentlemen converse over whiskey and soda, then repair to their respective quarters and fall asleep. 2am Four bells on the bridge. The watch is changing. First officer reporting relieving, sir. Thank you, Mr. Posyth. We're making 15 knots. Course three, four, eight. All quite below. Thank you, sir. I took the liberty of checking before I came topside. Watch station, sir. Stewards and stewards turn in, Sir. Very well, Mr. Take over. Carry on. North, northeast roughly is the course the ship moves on. The captain goes to his cabin. First Officer Forsyth and the quartermaster stand to on the bridge. All quiet below. On B deck, the watchman makes his round. Hmm, that's a funny one. B24 ringing for steward and stewardess both. We'll have a look. What is it, man? Is something wrong, sir? Nothing's wrong. Why? Both your buzzers are ringing, sir. For your steward and stewardess both. There must be a mistake. Everything here is fine. The watchman is puzzled. He goes back. The buzzers have stopped. He checks the cabin list. B24. Ms. Natalie Parsons. He hesitates. Back to the cabin or up to the bridge? Was it a mistake he chose the bridge? What is it, Peter? B24. The ladies cabin a single. Occupied. Mr. Forsyth. Is it now? Fuzzers was ringing. I answered. A man came to the door. All I did see of him was his trouser leg and shoe. Black. Both of them. Well, strange things can happen on shipboard on a cruise like this, you know. You just go on with your rounds and fill out your report when you go off watch. Yes, sir. Very well, sir. In a few moments I'll go below and check. I want to make sure. Meet me at B24 at five bells. Aye aye, sir. Thank you, sir. Strange things do happen on Shipwood. Even without tropic seas and a voyage home. Quite strange things. Five bells. Half past two. First officer for scythe with Watchman Petrie at his elbow. Knocked discreetly on the door to B24. Unlocked. Is it careless so it seems, sir. Swing your torch in here, Petrie. Aye, sir. Nobody here. Cabin's empty. All right, Petrie, make your report. I'll enter this on the log. We'll let it go at that. Girls will be girls. Petrie, I trust you haven't forgotten that discreet fellow, that first officer. But then, he'd had plenty of crew's experience. He noted the matter in the log. After all, he had left the bridge for a few moments. And that was all. Now it happens that one of the duties of the first officer is to call the roll. A boat drill. You know how that goes. The bells clang all over the ship. The passengers joke as they reach for life, bells dusty with disuse. And scramble to the boat deck and the stations noted on their cabin doors. And after a bit, the first officer comes around and checks the roll. Yes, I know. I quite agree. Answer to your names, please. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a boat station for cabins B18 to B45. All passengers and crew assigned here will answer. Mr. Ainswell. Here. Alan Birch. Here, sir. Ms. Lawrence? Here. Mr. Leary. Present. Nancy Meadows. Yes, sir. Major Norton? Yeah. Ms. Parsons. Ms. Parsons. Miss Parsons. The first officer reported to Captain Booth. Captain Booth thought it might be courteous if Ms. Parsons were under the weather to pay her a courtesy call. Captain knocked M2. Strange Stuart. Yes, sir. You wanted me, Captain? I do. You see Ms. Parsons this morning? No, sir, I haven't. It's a little queer, rather. How so? She wasn't at boat drill either. So her night things are missing. You laid them out last night, did you? Yes, sir. Pretty things, too. Just right for her, but not a sign of them this morning. And stains all over the sheet. How's that? Where? Here, sir. Sort of red and a few black ones, sir. Streaks like. I see. Just a moment. There are times when I'm glad first class cabins have telephones. This is the captain speaking. I want Dr. Stout in B24 at once. Thank you. You don't think something's happened, do you, sir? She's such a nice girl. That's what everyone says. Funny goings on in here last night. Watchman's report, the log. Notice anything else peculiar here this morning, stewardess? Well? Yes, sir. When I first came in to straighten up, first off, I noticed the porthole, sir, swinging open. It was all by itself. I fastened it before anything, sir. Yes, that's right. You call for me, captain? Yes, Doctor. Take a look at the stains on that sheet, will you? Right. All right, stewardess, you can go, but stay on call. Yes, Sir. I'll be right outside. And send in the watchman. Yes. Yes, sir. Well, Doctor, These are probably lipstick. The other red spots, they look like blood. I'm afraid I'll tell better after I've run a test. The black marks beat me. Not a very pleasant prospect. Blood on the sheet and an open porthole. Watchman Petrie came. Oh, yes. Don't go, Doctor. Now see here, Petrie. This man you reported speaking to last night, did you see his face? Sorry, sir, I didn't. Only his trouser and one shoe, like I told Mr. Forsyth. I see. It's too bad. What about his voice? It was muffled, sir, by the door. But he did have, well, a kind of accent, sir. What kind? American, Welsh, Scots, Irish, if anything. It was Scotch, sir. All right. Dismissed. Thank you, sir. Well, Doctor, I don't like the looks of it. I'd seal this cabin and notify owners if I were you. I'll do that and more. This is the captain. Give me the bridge watch Officer, please. Hello, Mr. Matson? Captain Booth here. I want a complete search of the ship at once for a passenger, Natalie Parsons. Crow's nest a block hole and put the ship about, mister. We're going back on a sea search as well. Calculate our position at four bells this morning. I'll be topside directly. We're not going to find her alive, you know, Doctor, but we've got to have a look. I know this girl went through that porthole alive. The sharks have got her by now. If she went through dead, we have a murderer aboard. As I said before, not a very pleasant prospect, Doctor. Now it didn't look so pleasant. An empty cavern, an open portal, and blood on the sheet. And I'd remind you that that sheet today can be seen in the Black Museum. There was no sign, of course. Nothing aboard ship, nothing beyond but empty, heaving sea. The Bengal tower slowed at the position she'd sailed through the night before. She circled while anxious eyes scanned the surface of the water. They saw nothing. Nothing but the sea. Then the captain said quietly, engine room, all engines ahead full speed. Aye, aye, sir. And presently the wireless room crackled with the sound of a coded message. Master, Bengal Tower to Indian Mail Steamship Company, Southampton advised disappearance early morning. 18th passenger, Natalie Parsons. Cape Town to Southampton. Circumstances puzzling. Making all possible inquiries. Inform Southampton CID will report further development. Signed Booth. Back in his quarters. Captain Booth sent for the two men last known to have seen the missing girl. Sit down, gentlemen. May I offer you a drink? No. I assume you know that Ms. Parsons is presumed Lost at sea. Tragic. Lovely girl. Great talent. Ship is buzzing with it, sir. Why should a girl like that, with a whole world before her, commit suicide? Why indeed, Lieutenant. That's one reason I asked you here. Did either of you gentlemen notice any signs of depression about her that evening? Why, everything seemed to indicate the exact contrary. Don't you agree? Heresy. Absolutely. We danced almost every dance. She was as happy as anybody could be. She did get tired. Mr. Morrow took her below to her cabin. Mr. Morrow? Yes. We said good night at the door and I rejoined the lieutenant for a nightcap. I see. And neither of you gentlemen have anything to add, have you, gentlemen? Neither of them did. But in Southampton, the Criminal Investigation Department did have a few items to add. All right, Hobson, what's the report on this Parsons girl? Well, exactly what she said she was, Inspector. Actress. Apparently quite well accepted in Joburg. Plenty of men at the stage door, so to speak. Age 25. Never a touch of scandal. Two points. She was in the Army Intelligence during the war. Had languages. Good actress. Quite a help. Possibly in secret service nowadays. No, I call the Special Branch on that. Positively no. She's back in civil life. Completely. Well, that's a possible theory down the drain. Yes, sir. Well, you had two points, Sergeant. Yes, sir. The other is she said she left Joburg for a theatre job here. Well, there's no sign of it, sir. No manager in England has signed her, though some of them knew the name. We'll keep after that. Oh, how about the passenger and crew list? Anyone familiar? No, not a criminal record in the lot. And we've checked all 368 of them. All right, Sergeant. I'll keep after that theater job angle. Meanwhile, alert the technicians and the harbor police. We'll be going aboard that ship before the pilot takes her over. The ship with a seal cabin drew nearer to home. Somehow the festive quality of a voyage home was missing. Tension settled over the Bengal tower from the bridge to the boiler room. At long, long last, the anchor dropped into Southampton water. The passengers gathered to watch for the pilot boat. That's no pilot boat, is it, Helsie? Ah, police launch. I expected as much. Funny. You dance with a girl, you know her for 8, 10 hours out of your life, she stays with you. It happens, son. She was a lovely thing. Don't fall in love with a ghost. Wind up rather lonely, you know. Thanks. I remember that. Quite a few of them coming aboard. Yes, we're in for a going over. Apparently the captain spoke to the passengers and crew over the public address system. Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, representatives of the Southampton police have come aboard to proceed with the necessary inquiry into the tragic disappearance of one of our fellow passengers. Until this inquiry has run its course, it will be necessary to lie off and not to proceed ashore. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated. And I'm sure you realize that all which can be done is being done to place you ashore as soon as possible. Thank you. I wish them luck how I wish them. On B deck, Inspector Rice took over from a greatly relieved Captain Booth. No time was wasted. Set up a lab in the ship's pharmacy. Get at those stains. Compare them with a girl's lipstick and get the blood type. And find out what's in those black markings. Yes, sir. I'll strip the bed and go through her things top to bottom. Now, I want to talk to the watchman, the stewardess, and from what you say, Captain, the man in here that night had a Scots accent. That's correct. Well, how many Scotsmen aboard? Have you checked that we have 26, Inspector. 18 passengers, eight in the crew. Oh, very good, sir. You have been thorough. Now you, I take it, are the watchmen. They work quickly, but they work thoroughly. The watchman and the stewardesses reasserted their statements to the captain with one addition. Oh, yes, sir. I cleaned the cabin thoroughly, wiped everything. That was too bad. No chance now for fingerprints in the improvised laboratory in the ship's pharmacy. They did better. The lipstick stains match the lipstick in her luggage exactly, sir. The blood type on that spotted sheet. Typo, sir. The girl's army record gives the same type. Meanwhile, information arrived from ashore. She had a job waiting for her inspector at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, sir. And then the police chemist came up with a long awaited answer. The black streaks on the sheet, sir. Lamp black wax and petroleum oil. That shoe polish. But there's a trace of silver polish mixed in, sir. Ah, no. We've got something, Hobson. Yes, sir, but what? Well, who'd get silver polish on his boots aboard ship, Sergeant? Well, it's a weird combination, sir. A ship steward, Hobson. A steward with a Scots accent. Now, let's see the captain, shall we? I'll cooperate in any way I can, Inspector, but even if it is one of my men, there's not a thing to tie any of them to the incident. Well, sir, I have an idea. We can let the passengers ashore now, but hold the crew. Then you invite the police detail and the ship's officers to luncheon. Set up four tables well apart, waited on by the four stewards. You Say, are Scots born at the end of the meal? Thank you, steward. I will have some more coffee now. As I was saying, gentlemen, it's practically over. That one fingerprint on the glass of the porthole will hang the man. No question about it. They always forget something. Make at least one silly mistake, there'll be a ship's mechanic from our harbour police aboard it. All right, young fella, you can stop polishing that portal cover now. What's the meaning of this? I'm doing my job. There's no fingerprint on the glass. You fell for the inspector's plan. I'll have to take you in charge. Willful murder on suspicion. And I must warn you, anything you say may be taken down. They smoked him out, all right, but he refused to give in without a struggle. It was interesting to watch his mind work as they questioned him. You're Alan Burt? I am. Your first trip aboard the Bengal Tower? Round trip. Went out in her. This is the return. Like the ladies, do you? They seem to like me. Ever had any trouble with one before? No, never. What do you mean, before? Your forearms, Birch, and your neck. All scratched. No dame ever scratched me. Where did you get them, then? Ship's cat. I tried to pet her. She let me have it. It won't wash, Birch. No cat's claws ever scratched like that. Ship's doctoral certified of that. And those scratches aren't old enough to have happened ashore. All right, then. It was a woman. A stewardess. Which one? I'm not saying she'd lose her job. Nonsense. Who are you protecting, Birch? Nobody. Stop it, Burch. You're only making it harder for yourself. You were on duty for that cabin. Among others. She rang from the watchman's story. The buzzer was stuck, but you didn't realize it until he knocked on the door and spoke to you. You went to B24, forced your way in, attacked the girl, and when she resisted, you killed her and pushed her through that porthole. Wasn't that the way it was, Burch? I never attacked nobody. We say you did. There's blood on the sheet. Her blood. We'll find it on your clothes, too. I never attacked her. We had a date. After she ditched the two jokers she was dancing and drinking with. Be careful what you say, Burch. It's all being taken down and may be used in evidence. I'm telling the truth. I didn't kill her. I was waiting in the cabin like she said, when she came in. She changed her mind or something. She tried to push me out. I don't take that from no woman. I grabbed her. She fell against me. She was foaming at the mouth. In a sort of fit, she collapsed. I put her on the bed, tried to give her artificial respiration. That's how the black got on the sheet. Maybe. Probably. Go on, Bert. When that fool Petrie came to the door, I lost my head. She looked dead. I didn't know what. I locked the door. I couldn't find no heartbeat, nothing. I figured Petrie would report to the bridge. I picked her up and pushed her out of the port hole. Why did you decide to tell this tale? But you'd pin it on me anyway? I know coppers, so better than have youse cook it up. You got it my way. I didn't kill nobody here. I didn't kill nobody. Stanley Burch had told his story. Not a very good story. For there in contradiction was the testimony and evidence, including that bloodstained bedsheet which you can see today in the Black Museum. Orson Welles will be back with you in just a moment. Stewart Burch was a ladies man. There was no doubt about that. After the evidence was in, the jury had little doubt either. They convicted Mr. Birch of first degree murder, despite his protestations and despite the fact that for the first time in 200 years, a jury had been given a homicide case without a corpus delicta. This was a major aspect of the case, a very interesting one, I think. And further, just after the conviction, the House of Commons suspended the death penalty in England. As for Stuart Birch, you'll find him spending the rest of his natural life in Dartmoor Prison. And as for the spotted bedsheet, it remains in its customary place in Scotland Yard, in the Black Museum. And now, until we meet next time in the same place, I tell you another story about the Black Museum and remain, as always, obediently yours. We just heard Gangbusters, the Whistler, the Lineup, the Lives of Harry Slime and the Black Museum. That will do it. For this Week's episode, episode 598, we're closing in on 600 episodes of the podcast. 600 will be here soon enough, but next week I hope you'll join me for a collection of radio mysteries centered around works of art. In the meantime, you can check out Stars on Suspense, my other old time radio podcast. New episodes of that show come out on Thursdays. If you like what you're hearing, don't be a stranger. You can rate and review the show on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen. And if you'd like to lend support to the show, you can visit buymeacoffee.com meanstsotr Next time, mystery and masterpieces. Until then, good night and happy listening. And now, here is our star, Vincent Price. Ladies and gentlemen, In a prejudice filled America, no one would be secure in his job, his business, his church or his home. Yet racial and religious antagonisms are exploited daily by quacks and adventurers whose followers make up the irresponsible lunatic fringe of American life. Refuse to listen to or spread rumors against any race or religion. Help to stamp out prejudice in our country. Let's judge our neighbors by the character of their lives alone and not on the basis of their religion or origin.