← Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)
Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)
Episode 623 - Mother of All Mysteries (Sherlock Holmes, Let George Do It, Box 13, Richard Diamond, & Dragnet)
02:32:22
Happy Mother’s Day! We’re celebrating moms with five old time radio mysteries where they play major roles. In “The Case of the Lucky Shilling,” Sherlock Holmes comes to the aid of a woman whose son is wiped out by a crooked gambler (originally...
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Narrator
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 Doll. Hello and welcome to down these Mean Streets with more Old Time radio detectives and crime fighters. Today is Mother's Day and we're celebrating mom, the Old Time Radio Detective way with five radio mysteries where moms are major players in the plots. First up, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson come to the aid of a woman whose son has been wiped out by a crooked card player. In the Case of the Lucky Schilling. Originally aired on Mutual on January 18, 1948. It stars my favorite radio residents of 221B Baker Street. John Stanley as Sherlock Holmes and Alfred Shirley as Dr. Watson. This is an original Holmes mystery penned by Edith Miser, though it features characters that were introduced in the Arthur Conan Doyle story the Empty House. Next up is an adventure of George Valentine starring Bob Bailey in his big pre Johnny Dollar radio role. We'll hear Problem Child from Let George Do It. Originally aired on Mutual on June 21, 1948. George's new client is on the verge of being declared an unfit mother and losing custody of her daughter unless George can prove that she's being set up. Mystery writer and amateur detective Dan Holliday is hired by a mother to prove her son was murdered and not accidentally killed in a drunken brawl. In a syndicated episode of Box 13 called Suicide or Murder, Alan Ladd stars as Dan Holliday. A dangerous convict breaks out of prison and his mother hires Richard diamond to make sure her son goes right back behind bars. Talk about tough love. Dick Powell stars as radio singing sleuth in the Pete Rocco Case. Originally aired on NBC on October 4, 1950. And finally, we'll hear Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday in the Big Little Mother from Dragnet. Originally aired on NBC on October 6, 1953. It finds Friday and his partner, partner Frank Smith, on the trail of a serial shoplifter, a woman who's been robbing department stores of children's clothes for the last several years. Now let's solve some mysteries for Mom. We'll kick things off with Sherlock Holmes right after these messages. Friends, the name Fatima has always stood for. Quality Fatimas are distinctive, with a truly different flavor and aroma. And in King Size Fatima, you get an extra mild and soothing smoke plus the added protection of Fatima quality. Remember, in Fatima, the difference is quality. 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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 Fitch's no Brush Shaving Cream are available in handy 25 and 50 cent sizes. For a shave you like, switch to Fitch. Good evening. This is your Rexall Family Druggist with a welcome from the 10,000 independent druggists who have made the word Rexall part of our own store names. We've done that because we recommend and sell the 2,000 or more drug products made by the Rexall Drug Company, like Rexall Milk of Magnesia. For example, here's the milk of Magnesia that's so pure and creamy smooth, so free from that unpleasant earthy taste. Even children spot the difference. Ask for the Rexall Milk of Magnesia at Rexall drugstores everywhere. And remember, you can depend on any drug product that bears the name Rexall. 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 Wor New York 7:00 clock by Long Jean the world's most honored Watch along Jean Whitnore Product from New York City, the makers of clipper craft clothes for men. And 1036 leading retail stores from coast to coast present the world's most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. Tonight's adventure, the case of the very best butter. Well, here we are once again on the threshold of Dr. Watson's cheerful study. The lamplight streams over the handsome bindings of his library and the fragrance of many bowls of hyacinths fills the room. The curtains move gently in a slight evening breeze and I for one am glad to sit down and just listen. Doctor. Sounds like a bad case of spring fever. Mr. Harris. Yes, I have an idea tonight's story may make you forget that. But before we discuss the case of the highly emotional lady who took a violent interest in butter. And suppose you say a few words on a subject every self respecting male takes quite an interest in nowadays. You mean how to present a well groomed appearance without bankrupting his budget? Well, this is an important announcement because it affects the cost of your living. You know very well that the cost of many things you buy has risen considerably. Some costs are still rising. The reasons are many. Increased costs of material, increased labor costs and so on. Now it's true manufacturing costs are higher. However, in the face of sharply mounting costs, Clippercraft brings you superbly tailored suits at only $40 and $45. Beautifully made topcoats including fine coverts and worsted gabardines at only $40 and $45. And sport jackets at only $26.50. Tropicals too at 33.75 to $40. ClipperCraft offers these amazing values even today because of the unique Clippercraft plan concentrating the buying power of 1036 of the nation's finest stores from coast to coast, making possible steady year round operation affecting tremendous savings in manufacturing and distribution costs. Only comparison will prove what this means in money saved on your spring clothing budget. Yes, compare Clippercraft with clothes selling for many dollars. And now Dr. Watson, back to the lady who was so interested in butter. Yes, it occurred while I was sharing lodgings with Holmes at 221B Baker Street Honest Injun. Was there ever really such an address as 221B Baker Street? Oh, this modern generation. Nothing but doubting Thomases. You know. Would you believe it, There are people who go so far as to suspect that Sherlock Holmes is nothing but a figment of my imagination. Why, sacrilege, Doctor. Why, it's worse than that. So, to silence all skeptics once and for all, I'd like to read a small item from that guidebook to end all Guidebooks. The well known Baedeker. It's right here on the first shelf somewhere. Yes. Baedeker's Paris, Baedeker's Rome. Oh, here we are. Baedeker's London and the environs. Don't tell me Baker street is actually mentioned in Baedeker. Oh, it is indeed. Yes, I have the page marked some. Yes. Melbourne Road. Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospital. That's not it. Baker street station. Yes, there we are. Baker street, chief thoroughfare between Oxford street and Marybone Road. Mrs. Siddons lived from 1817 till her death in 1831 at number 27 Upper Baker Street. House. Demolished tablet. Lord Lytton, the novelist, was born at number 68 in 1803. Tablet. And William Pitts lived in 1802. 04 at number 120. Tablet. Sherlock Holmes also had rooms there. Don't tell me there's no tablet at 221B, Doctor. Not yet. Give us time. After all, Holmes is still mortal. Tablets are for the immortals, Mr. Harris. Well, that certainly should settle any doubts about Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Reality once and for all. I certainly hope so. Well, as I was saying, it was in the good old Baker street days. It was rather late ish of a gloomy afternoon. I remained indoors all day for the weather had taken a sudden turn to rain and my practice wasn't too thriving at the moment. With my body in one easy chair, my legs upon another, I listened with growing irritation to Holmes as he practiced interminable scales, roulades, glissandos and what have you on his violin. At last a particularly screeching dissonance was more than my frazzled nerves could bear. Holmes, must you do that? Calm yourself, Maria Watson. I was not responsible for that last bit of cacophony. It was caused by the scraping of a carriage wheel against our curb. Yes, we are about to receive a client. A rather portly lady of means, unless I'm very much mistaken. Oh, how can you possibly tell? You haven't even bothered to look out of the window. The outraged creak of the carriage springs as its passenger descended to the pavement indicates a person of substance. The tap of French heels on the pavement indicates the person's a lady. And the fact that the vehicle remained at the curb indicates that it's either a private carriage or. Or a public conveyance that's been told to wait. Either eventuality indicates a person of means. I swear I heard nothing except the first scrape against the curb. I must say, Holmes, you have ears like a whore. Your metaphor is a trifle mixed, my dear Watson, but I accept your tribute. Come in. Mr. Holmes. Mr. Holmes. Mr. Sherlock Holmes, naturally. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson. How do you do? Thank heavens you're at home. You must dine with me tonight, both of you. I may need a doctor as well as a detective. Interesting. I mean, what brings you to that rather startling conclusion? I am in grave danger and you are the only person who can save me. How, madam? My husband wishes to be rid of me. I am being poisoned systematically, cold bloodedly poisoned. That is, I was until I hired an old nurse of mine to do the cooking and refused to eat anything that wasn't served to everybody in the house on a common plate pipe, not urine. So that if poison were pleasant, all members of your household would be in equal danger. Exactly. I'm no fool. How many members of your household are there? Mrs. I am Madame de Pavane. My husband is Pubis de Pavan, the famous violinist. Oh yes, I've heard him in concert. Remarkable technique. They tell me his trills compare favorably with Paganini. Oh yes, Pubis is a great violinist. If you've heard him play, you have doubtless also seen my daughter who plays his accompaniments. My husband, my daughter Therese and myself. There are only three of us in the household. We are, I may say, the eternal triangle. Pubis is infatuated with Therese. Well, really. Your daughter, I gather Madame de Parvanne is the child of a previous marriage? Yes and no. As a matter of fact she is my stepdaughter. The child of my first husband by his first marriage. Rather complicated menage, eh, Watson? Quite. I was a fool to marry a man so much younger than myself. But Pubis was well ardent. You know what These Latins are, Mr. Holmes. Swept me right off my feet. Would you believe it? He refused to eat or sleep until I named the day. It all happened in the south of France, that land of languor and romance. Oh, I see it all. The courtship, the honeymoon, the return home, the meeting with the daughter of the household, the inevitable call of youth to youth. Pubis isn't that young, Dr. Watson. I'm not a cradle snatcher. And besides, he'd known to raise long before I met him. She accompanied him on a concert tour. Much against my better judgment, I will say. I sometimes think their romance may have blossomed even then. Yes, but in that case, why did Monsieur de Pavannes marry you or not your stepdaughter? Because Dr. Watson, I happen to be the one who has the money. These realistic Frenchmen, eh Watson. Tell me Madame de Buffon, when did you first suspect you were being poisoned? About a month ago. I began to have a marked distress after every meal. You don't think it could have been flatulence brought on perhaps by overeating? Certainly not. I have an extraordinary good digestion plus an excellent appetite. Obviously. I will say Puis has tried to persuade me to eat less of the fattening foods. But I tell him that here in England men appreciate fine figure of a woman. No Mr. Holmes. I know the difference between flatulence and a definite and even painful burning sensation in the pit of my stomach. And I can guess what causes it when I see that the weed killer I keep for the garden is disappearing in the middle of the winter. Weed killer? But that's full of arsenic. I know that, I know. Fool. That's why I sent Panani three weeks ago to do the cooking. What a pity you didn't come to me instead. I should have enjoyed making the Reinsch test on the contents of your stomach. Now of course after three weeks it would be very difficult to prove the presence of arsenic in your system. Short of an autopsy of course. Well I'm not giving anyone a chance for that. Not if I can help it. I take it you've had no further distress since your nurse was brought in to do the cooking? No, that I haven't. Then why do you come to me at this late date? Because I think Pubis is getting set for another try. He leaves tonight for a concert tour of the continent. I have forbidden Therese to accompany him. But just half an hour ago I heard them plotting together. I was counting the silver in the butler's pantry when I heard them come into the dining room. They didn't know that I was listening. I don't care what she says, I can't. I won't go without you. But you'll have to Puvis. You have a week before your first concert. You'll be able to find another accompanist in Paris. But they don't want another accompanist. I want you to know I can't do anything if you want with me. You've got to come with me. Sneak out of the house when she's not looking. But I can't do that Puvis dear. She'll disown me. I'll be disinherited. We'd both starve. Ah, confound the woman. If she only went so big headed and so rich. I've tried to persuade her Puvis, but she won't listen. She won't listen to words. Perhaps there are other ways of persuading people. Therese, promise me that if anything should happen, you will come to me by the next boat. Of course. But what could happen? Don't worry, I have a plan. And needs little plan and it shouldn't take too long to work out. Hmm. A rather ambiguous conversation, if you'll permit me to say so, Madame de Pavanne. What makes you so sure your husband will try to poison you at dinner tonight? First, because it's his last meal at home. The boat train leaves at 9.30. And second, because I found this bottle in the waste paper basket in his study. Hmm. A pharmacist bottle with a label partly torn off, the letters POIS still visible. P, O, I, S. Holmes, if you add on, that spells poison. Brilliant. My dear Watson, positively scintillating. There seems to be a small bit of white crystalline powder still left at the bottom of the bottle. What do you make of it, Watson? Well, from the look and the smell, it might be of some salt. Holmes, what are you doing? Tasting it. What? Just the slightest suspicion of a taste, Watson. Yes, it's slightly acrid and metallic. That too might be Epsom salts. Want to try it, Watson? No, no, no thanks. I'm not interested in tasting anything that comes in a bottle marked poison. Perhaps you're right. Yes, I think perhaps we should try some more extensive tests before we make up our minds about the contents of this bottle. Madam, I don't care what you do, but don't be late for dinner. We dine at 7:30. The address is 49 Rathbone Place. You enter from Oxford street, it's close to Tottenham Court Road. We shall be there, madam, on the door. Well, here we are, Holmes. Rathbone Place. The name sounds vaguely familiar. Yes, you may have heard me mention it, Watson. The street is named after a distant connection of mine. Say, just what did you find in the bottom of that bottle, Holmes? Antimony. Antimony? But that's deadly poison. Quite. It's also a constituent of many crack pills. Monsieur de Parfann may be dosing himself for anything from blood pressure to hangnails. Just the same, it doesn't improve my appetite to know we're dining at a house where there's poison. Poison about? What if he gets in the wrong person's soup? Perhaps we should have brought your stomach pump. Don't be indelicate, Holmes. Personally, I shall follow Madame de Pavan's example and eat or drink nothing that doesn't come from a community Dish. Very sensible, Watson, very sensible indeed. Yes, here we are, number 49. Give the bell a pull, Watson, there's a good chap right here. I must say there's nothing particularly sinister looking about the house, eh, Holmes? Nice cheerful little ruffled curtains. Yes, the poisoners have been known to live in the most innocuous surroundings. Holmes, I do wish you'd refrain from indulging your sepulchral sense of humor. Yes sir, I. That is, if Madame de Pavane lives here. I believe we are expected. Ah, but this is a great honor. Come in gentlemen, come in. Who will believe me when I say I have the honor of entertaining the world's master detective and his amid the good doctor? Then. Then you. You recognize us? Naturally. Who does not know the great Sherlock Holmes? Besides, my wife has taken great trouble to impress upon me just who it is she has invited to dinner. That's certainly forthright of her, eh, Holmes? Madame is a forthright person. She says what she thinks even when she changes her mind. But will you not step into the parlor? We shall have a glass of sherry. Madame and her charming daughter will be down there. Thank you. But you know, I don't think that that is not before dinner. I, I mean it might take away my appetite. Oh, come, come, Dr. Watson. It is such excellent sherry here. I pour from the decanter for you, for the great Mr. Sherlock Holmes and for myself. Oh, well, well, in that case, eh, Holmes. Sunday, Monsieur. To your continued good health. But what do you wait for? Bottoms up, as they say. I see. You wish to see if I drink first. Very well. So you see, it is quite harmless. Well, that's a relief. May I say, monsieur, it is no secret to me why you are here. My poor wife thinks she's being poisoned and she suspects me. Well, that's dashed frank of you, I must say. Why not be frank, Monsieur Doctaire? I've nothing to hate. Yes, you are a medical man. You must realize that many women, particularly if they are well bred and shall we say a bit high, strong, when they come to a certain age, they develop curious ideas. You do not know how quickly Madame Pavin recovers from her little eccentricities. You know how these things are, Dr. Watson. Oh yes, yes. I must say if the lady is suffering from, oh well, ni defix, you are very wise to go away and give it a chance to blow over. You are planning to go alone, Monsieur de Parfums? But of course. What about an accompanist? Oh, you mean Therese? I think at this time it is best she stay with her mother after all. I do not want to leave her entirely alone. She might develop a melancholia. Very understanding of you, Monsieur de Parvin. Ah, but I am a man of the world. I have traveled, you see. I know many women. I understand them better perhaps than you. Englishmen. Perhaps. And now if you will excuse a moment, I must see if madame needs my assistance. Her maid is not very strong. And since madame has put on a few pounds, she needs a man to what you call hoop her up the back. Please do pour yourself more share in my absence now that you know it is safe. Au revoir, monsieur. Well, Watson, what do you make of our friend, the violinist? You know, Holmes, he may be perfectly right. Madame de Pavan may be suffering from a slight form of female hysteria. Then in that case, why has he booked two passages to France? See, here are the pickets sticking out from beneath this platter. One is for tonight, the other is for a week from now. So Sherlock Holmes didn't think Monsieur Pavin was as innocent as he pretended to be. Doctor. No, Mr. Harris, don't ask me what Holmes thought. No one ever knew that, not even I, until afterwards. Well, pretty soon they made announced. There you are, sir. What's that? The sherry flips you ordered, Dr. Watson. For you and Mr. Ayers. Oh, yes, thank you, Kitty. Right on cue. Well, Dr. Watson, this is what I call hospitality. Yes, I thought we might take a breather and drink a toast to our sponsors. Continued success, Brighto. Fine local independent stores in every community report increasing demand for clippercraft. So every day even more millions of men are becoming acquainted with unrivaled clippercraft values. These values are the result of the Clippercraft plan, which is just about the best possible example of the true American way in production. The famous clipper craft plan concentrates the buying power of 1036 of the nation's finest stores from coast to coast. Perfectly amazing economies result. And here's the answer. You can secure truly fine clipper craft suits this spring for only $40 and $45. And superb topcoats in fine coverts and worsted Gabardine at only $40 and $45. Sport jackets for only $26.50 and tropicals at 33,75 to $40. See these remarkable values tomorrow. Yes, selling expensive clothes at inexpensive low prices at the nation's finest stores is the great big idea behind the Clippercraft plan. That's why men who know insist on clippercraft clothes. So be sure to visit the clippercraft store in Your city. These leading stores in the metropolitan area are proud to add their names to Clippercraft. In your suits, topcoats, sport jackets and tropicals. In Manhattan, Saks 34th Broadway at 34th, John Wanamaker Men's Stores, Broadway at 8th and 67 Liberty street in Brooklyn, Abraham & Strauss in Newark, New Jersey Boulevard, Men's Shop, Kresge, Newark. And in Jamaica, the B and B Clothes Shop, 164.08 Jamaica Avenue. Well, new, now that we've had our pause for refreshment, suppose we return to our story. Fair enough, Doctor. As I was saying, pretty soon the Pavane's little parlour maid announced dinner. Holmes and I repaired to the dining room where we found Madame de Pavanes and her stepdaughter, a rather toothy female, already seated at either end of the table. Monsieur Pavane stood in back of his chair at the far side. Madame, who was ladling soup out of a large tureen, her napkin tucked away well over her bodice, turned and pointed imperiously to the two empty chairs at the near side. You sit here, Mr. Holmes, next to me. Dr. Watson. You sat there next to Therese. Oh, delighted, I'm sure. I'm afraid this soup isn't as thick as it should be. Old nanny isn't the best cook in the world, but at least I know that it won't give me a stomachache. Oh, darling, you have such a delightful sense of humor. Soup of the evening. Beautiful soup. You know the songs from Alice in Wonderland, Mr. Holmes? They have been so charmingly set to music by Lisa Lehman. Never mind Alice in Wonderland. Pubis, you may pour out the carrot. Certainly, my dear. No, not from that bottle. The one that's not been opened with a cork still sealed. Perhaps Dr. Watson will do the honours. He looks like a person who could handle a bottle. I confess quite freely that I have never been able to master that little object you call the corkscrew. Of course, if you like. Here it is. Aha. Magnificent vintage, Madame. My father laid down quite a respectable cellar before he died. Bravo. Bravo. And now, to add further to the festivity of this occasion, I have a special surprise for my dear little wife. Oh, what's that? Butter. You may not know it, but, Holmes, but ordinarily I do not approve of butter on the dinner table. Bread, I believe, should be eaten in the continental fashion with just a pinch of salt. My wife, however, bless her dear little heart, has a weakness for butter, even though it is forbidden by the doctor. However, tonight being my last meal at home. And to honor two such distinguished guests, I. Well, I myself went out and bought a roll of butter. And here it is in a beautiful silver butter dish. Oh dear. Pretty. But I. I really don't think I ought. Come, come my dear. There is no possible danger. It is all in one piece. You can cut off your portion for yourself and we will all follow suit. Does look so good. I assure you, my dear, it's the very best butter. That too is from alice in Wonderland, Mr. Hall. Oh yes, that tea party. Another, shall we say, unusual meal. Ah, delightful, delightful. Allow me, my dear. I'll cut you a piece of butter from this end. No thank you. I'll do it myself from the other end. As you please. And now for our guests. One two pieces. And another piece for little Therese who is almost as fond of butter as her charming mama. Oh, pubis. And last but not least, I too shall indulge. There now, my dear, if you'll pass the bread. Allow me. Oh my God, Watson, how could you? You've spilled your wine all over Mr. Rainsey's frock. Clumsy fool. But I wasn't anywhere near the glass. Your best blue frock race at the Nutri. That will do. Pubis Deraiser's frock isn't that important. If it's spoils, I'll buy her a new one. I apologize, my friend, Madame. There are times when he's like a great big Newfoundland dog. What? I know you didn't mean to, Elboin. No, no, as my wife says, what they say, dress the race will have many more. I apologize if I have been hasty. My nerves, you understand, before a concert tour are always a little on the edges. As you say in English. But come, let us enjoy the meal. If I may trouble you for the bread, Mr. Holmes? Why certainly. Well, on appetite, as you say in French. Another cup of coffee, Puvis? No, no, no my dear, many thanks. Excellent meal. I only hope I shall ha not regret crossing the Channel. Let us hope that you will not regret many things crossing the Channel. A very cryptic remark, Mr. Holt. But if by any chance anything should occur. You are here to prove. My conscience is clear, Nez. Perceive nothing like having the greatest of all detectives as a witness to one's innocence. You too may know what you're talking about, but I assure you it's gibberish to the rest of us. Beg pardon, Madame. Yes, what is it? The master's carriage, the one he ordered to take him to the station, is waiting outside. Yes, I must not miss my train. Pardon, my Hasty departure. But you know how it is my dear. Did you pack my goggle? It's in your medicine case Pulis with your tooth wash and your hair tonic and your bismuth and your eye wash. My husband, Mr. Holmes is a veritable traveling chemist. Chop. I hope he carries the antidotes for all of his medicines. Antidotes? You speak in parables Mr. Holmes. And why should I use an antidote? I have merely one of my wretched sore throats coming. Ah well of where Dr. Watson? Of where Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Bon voyage Monsieur de Pavange. Morning herbs. Morning. Well I must say that was a curious dinner party last night. It was for breakfast. Kippers. And don't monopolize them. Tasty. Well I gather Madame de Provence survived the evening. I left word that she was to send for me immediately if she felt the slightest qualms. If you ask me Monsieur de Pavane was quite correct in his diagnosis. Pass the terse. The old girl's stomach aches and suspicions were probably a mild form of female hysteria. I wasn't concerned in the least for Madame de Pavanes safety, Watson. It was her husband I rather wondered about. What do you mean? You haven't read the morning papers I take it. Here, take a look at this item. Famous violinist dies in channel crossing Puis de Beauvin succumbs to nausea and convulsions. Good lord. Yes, I rather thought he might. As I suspected the butter was poisoned. Antimony poisoned? Careful Watson, you spilled your coffee. But I ate some of that butter. You ate some of it. So did everyone else. Calm yourself. The poison was all in the end portion where Monsieur de Pavin so carefully put it. The piece that Madame de Pavane cut off for herself. Yes, but he offered her the other end. Naturally Watson, he knew she'd be contrary. Monsieur de Parvanne was a very shrewd judge of his wife's character. Great Scot. Suppose she hadn't turned it around? One of the rest of us might have had the poisoned slice. No Watson, I rather imagine if that had happened Monsieur de Pavanne would have continued serving from the harmless end and left the poisoned bit instead of serving from the other end. It was this, shall we say, change of direction that made me suspect he was up to no good. Yes, but look here Holmes, it still doesn't make sense. It wasn't Madame de Provane who died, it was her husband. Naturally. Why do you think I upset that glass of claret over the daughter's dress? I might have Known it was you. I did it in order to create a diversion so I could shift Monsieur and Madame's butter plates without anyone being the wiser. Of course, even there was no proof that the butter was poisoned. I did it just in case. Then you didn't actually know the butter was poisoned until you read the morning's paper? Oh no, Watson. But antimony, as you doubtless remember, is rather a slow acting poison. One of the first symptoms, however, is a soreness of the throat. I suspected the little Frenchman had taken a dose of his own poison when he inquired about his gargle. That's why I advised him to use an antidote, remember? You think he understood that warning? Quite. Then why didn't he take the antidote? He knew we were onto him, Watson. Rather than face the consequences of his crime, he decided to let nature take its course. Yes, Spare me another kipper, Watson, if you can spare it. Well, that was a lurid dinner party, Dr. Watson. Yes, Mr. Harris. Meals with Sherlock Holmes were often rather rough on the nervous system. Oh, the doses of bicarbonate I used to consume. That's neither here nor there. I dare say you'd like to inquire about next week's story, Mr. Harris. That's right, Dr. Watson. What are we to have next week? No more poison butter, that I can promise you. No, next week. I think I'll tell you how Holmes and I encountered a strange 17th century highwayman on the wilds of Hampstead Heath. He was known as Jack o' Lantern because he carried a lighted skull for a lantern. There was another Jack in the story as well, a the Jack of Diamonds. The makers of Clipper craft clothes and 1036 leading stores from coast to coast have brought you another in the new series of broadcasts featuring the world's most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. Our stories are based upon the character of Sherlock Holmes created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes is played by John Stanley, Dr. Watson by Alfred Shirley and the dramatizations are by Edith Miser. Sherlock Holmes is produced and directed by Basil Loughran with special music by Albert Berman. If you don't know your Clipper Craft dealer, write ClipperCraft, 200 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Be sure to listen next Sunday to Sherlock Holmes in the Return of the Jack of Diamonds. This is Cy Harris speaking for Clipper Craft Cove. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System Standard of California. On behalf of independent Chevron gas stations and Standard stations throughout the west, invite you to let George do it. Another adventure of George Valentine. Personal notice. Danger is my stock and trade if you feel that you're one against the world and the help you need must be discreet and confidential, call on me, George Valentine. Write full details. Dear Mr. Valentine, in this whole world there's only one person I care about. My 12 year old daughter, Penny. This Friday I lose her unless I can make her change her mind about me. You may be the one person who believed my side of the story instead of the juicy tabloid version everyone else chooses to believe. If this appeals to a, let's say, chivalrous night to your, let's say chivalrous side, I'll be home all day tomorrow. 19 Montclair Drive, Lakeside Heights sign. Barbara Ebersole. Barbara Eversole. What do you know? What do you know? Barbara Lawson Eversole. All right, so she has a maiden name. You know I flung medieval History in college because of this gal. You mean she wouldn't let you copy from her paper? Nothing as intimate as that. Angel. You see, she was in a musical comedy and had stayed in town for six weeks. Matinees Tuesday and Thursday, 2:30. Same time as my class in Medieval History. Yeah, I know. You had a conflict on my history exam. They asked me who sank the Spanish Armada and the only name I could think of was Barbara Lawson. The most beautiful girl in the world, to quote the posters. And I thought you worked your way through college. Yeah, except on those Tuesdays and Thursdays. Brooksie, we're gonna drop in on Barbara Ebersole if just for Aul lang syne. Pardon me, young lady. Yes, the maid showed us in. We're looking for Mrs. Ebersole. She's my mother. She's upstairs, but she's probably listening to see if I'm practicing my piano lesson. Oh, so your Penny. You know something. What's that, dear? I could play like. Well, that's a great improvement on what we heard when we came in. That's the way she'd like to hear me play. When she's in the house, I play like this. You're a real nice kid. I think so. Oh, Mr. Valentine. Oh yes, Mrs. Eversole. And this is Ms. Brooks, my assistant. How do you do, Ms. Brooks? Are these people here to take your pictures for the tabloids again? Pammy? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I hate my pictures. I don't know if it's any use at all, Mr. Valentine. Even if the courts let me keep Penny, I can't make her love me. What is it that's so wrong between you and Penny? Mrs. Eversole? Her father her wonderful, irreproachable father who drove his car off the cliff a year ago. Oh, I didn't know. I'm sorry. Why should you be? No one else ever was. I was the lucky one to have such a charming, attentive husband. Even his own child never suspected he was mean, cruel and deceitful. No, that irresistible boy's smile took care of everything like that. I see. The last few months before he died, I started going out every night just to get away from him and his indifference to whether I was dead or alive. Of course, everybody was saying, how can she do that to Jerry? Poor, charming Jerry. You said your husband drove his car off a clip. Somehow he doesn't sound the type. I'll never forget that night. We had the most bitter quarrel we ever had and he stormed out of the house. Yes, Penny overheard us. Ever since, she's blamed me for what happened. Well, what's this about losing her? On Friday, when Jerry died, his mother was determined to take Penny away from me. She almost did. Because Penny said she wanted to leave me, the judge decided to put me on a sort of parole. One misstep and I lose my child because I'm an unfit mother. Now I think I get it. That business about tabloids. That was the picture of you in the papers when you were brought up on a traffic charge. You don't have to be so charitable, Mr. Valentine. They called it drunk driving, but I tell you, I was framed. Framed? I had dinner with Dan Edwards. I swear I had nothing stronger than coffee. Next thing I knew, I was alone in my car on the side of the road. And there was the policeman. Who is this Dan Edwards? I met him a short time ago. He was fun. We went out a few times. And then, well, this thing. Well, certainly there's. Mr. Edwards can explain you weren't drinking, that you were ill or something. Seems the little gentleman can't tell a lie. His version is that I had a little too much. Created a scene in the parking lot at Club 44 and drove off without him. And you want me to prove it was a frame, is that right? I don't know how you're gonna do it, but you must before Friday. Penny's all I got. I can't lose her. She'd gone thinking of me as a. Oh, Mr. Bells. Oh, now, Mrs. Eversole, don't. Two days isn't an awful lot of time, Mrs. Eversole, but I'll do my best. I won't be hypocritical, Mr. Valentine. Ms. Brooks, I'm glad this thing happened to Barbara. Mrs. Eversole. Isn't that a pretty harsh thing to say about your daughter in law? I told Jerry you should never married a girl like that. Now mad Barbara was Jerry's wife and you're his brother Leonard. You should be glad we're getting Penny away from this woman on Friday. Oh, we've heard so much about your son Jerry. Yes, when Jerry walked into a room, the other men there stopped existing. You could tell that just by looking into the eyes of every woman. Yet he was kind and gentle. And when he smiled. Yes, we've heard all about that smile. I can understand your skepticism, Ms. Brooks, but Mother's quite right. My younger brother was admittedly perfect. Mrs. Eversole, I just dropped in to tell you I'm playing on Barbara's team. Young man, you're wasting your time. There's no other explanation for what happened to Barbara that night except the obvious one you'll find on the police blotter. I'm afraid, Mr. Valentine, my sister in law hired you to make her story sound a little more plausible. Could be. I'm going to have that child if it's the last thing I do. And I'm going to see that Barbara gets an even break if it's the last thing I do. Come on, Brooks. Yes, George. Hey look, Woodsy, how would you like to go to Club 44 tonight? I can recommend the food. The music's not too bad. Oh, I love it. Darling. What time will you pick me up? You're gonna be there alone? Alone? Well, not exactly. If I've got the right slant on this thing. You'll be with Dan Edwards most of the evening. Dan Edwards. I'll be waiting at Barbara's for your call. What am I supposed to do? Mostly be a beautiful city. But to be more specific. Here's the deal. Oh, I declare, Mr. Edwards, I'm just dreadful. I mean, being here alone in a nightclub in a big city with a strange man. Not a strange man, Claire, just a lonely man. When Edward of the head waiter told me that you were here all night, I couldn't resist coming over to your table and introducing myself. And I wouldn't have it any different. Mr. Edwards. It's Dan. Yes, Daniel. I wonder what Daddy would say if he could see me now. Daddy? He's always saying player. Honey, people with our position and money have to be mighty careful whom they meet. Oh, isn't he so right? Would you believe it? I slipped out of the hotel after Daddy and mother went to bed. Aren't I? Just awful. Let's compromise and say you're the sweetest thing that ever walked into my life. Oh, Daniel. And I'm going to find out a lot about you. What your daddy does, that great big house you must live in. Yes, Dan. And I'm gonna find out a lot about you, too. Not just practicing tonight, eh, Penny? Oh, Mr. Valentine. Anyway, she can't hear me. She's in her room and the door is closed. Penny, you love to play the piano, don't you? Yes, when I'm alone. Well, tell me something, pie face. Who started you taking piano lessons? She did, and made me practice every day whether I wanted to or not. Now you love to play, but not when she can hear it. Now, that's kind of cockeyed, isn't it, kid? Well, I. I don't have to talk to you. I'm going up to bed. Where's my book? Oh, that's it. Yes. Let me have it. Yearbook. Denfield College, 1933. Yes, my father's picture is in there. I'll show you what they say about him here. Doesn't he have a wonderful smile? Listen. Ebersole, Jerry. Most popular man on the campus. Captain, water polo team. Most likely to succeed. Yeah, that's all right. None of the others had things like that written about him. Look at the very next one under Father's picture. Eggleston, Frank, campus clown. Good old Eggie to see what I mean. Eggie the clown. It's good to hear you laugh, dear. Oh, I was just going up to bed. Penny, wait. Good night. Never mind. Did you find out anything, Mr. Valentine? No, no. But I did want to know a little more about this Stan Edwards. Well, he introduced himself and said he was a friend of Jerry's at Denfel College. Yeah, he told me about the time just before he and Jerry were supposed to graduate. Jerry stole the clapper out of the chapel bell. Oh. Leonard had to square things with the dean and make sure his mother never found out. I see. Mr. Valentine, there was nothing wrong with my going out with Dan. For a year, I kept myself cooped up in this house, trying to be the perfect mother. Always remember remembering Judge Blanchard saying, one misstep, Mrs. Ebersole, and Penny goes to her grandmother. And having dinner with Dan once in a while sort of helped take the pressure off. That's right. I can't think of any reason Dan would lie about what happened that night. But what'd you find out about him? Not much, Mrs. Ebersole, not much. But I have an Idea that even at this distance I'm learning more and more about Dan Edwards every minute. Well, tell me, Claire, what would it take to impress your daddy? Like I keep saying, Daniel, he judges everybody by the substantial people they know. Well, I know some pretty important people in this town. You do? Yes, I advise them on their investments, help them to spend their money. Here, just look at this check. Oh, my goodness. $5,000. Agnes Ebersole. Oh, I'm afraid the name wouldn't mean anything to Daddy. Oh, Mrs. Ebersole. Her family stand for just about everything in this town. I didn't know you were so clever, Daniel. Oh, dear, I've made up my mind. I'm going to call the hotel and tell Daddy I'm right here at Club 44 with a very, very respectable gentleman he'll be proud to meet. Oh, thank you. You stay where you are, honey. I'll be right back. I got here as soon as I could, Brooksy Ed was inside. Yes, Daddy. And I just bet Mr. Dan has get awful fidgety in there. All right, all right. Are you sure about that check? Yeah, I saw the signature, Agnes. Ever so. Oh, good. That's a break I didn't even hope for. I go on back inside. What are you gonna do, George? Oh, that's the surprise angel. The question is, who is it going to surprise Most? Dan Edwards, Mrs. Eversole or Barbara? We'll return to tonight's adventure of George Valentine in just a moment. Meanwhile, a word about an extra service. When you're on your vacation trip, you don't expect to find everything just as convenient as it is at home. But when you stop at independent Chevron gas stations and Standard stations, you can be sure all along your trip of restrooms that are spic and span. Folks have said that one of the things that makes a long trip more pleasant is knowing there are clean and tidy restrooms along the way. That's why these restrooms are cleaned thoroughly every day, inspected often and well supplied with soap and towels. The men who offer you this service never want you to feel obliged to buy something when you stop. Just drop in anytime at Standard stations and independent Chevron gas stations where they say and mean, we'll take better care of your car. And now back to tonight's adventure of George Valentine. Under what circumstances would you say a mother deserves to lose custody of her child? Well, Barbara Eversole, ex chorus girl, is almost certain to be declared an unfit mother unless George proves that Barbara's recent front page escapade was a frame up at Club 44. Now George makes his way toward the table where Claire is sitting with Dan Edwards, the man who seems to be the key to the whole problem. Hello, beautiful. I beg your pardon? I don't say you don't know me just because it happens to be true. Now wait a minute, friend. Friend? Okay, prove it. Introduce me to the lady. Just you pay him no heed. Daniel, honey. Aha. A bell from Brooklyn. Mind if I sit down? Look, we don't know you, mister. Not on your way. Please, Daniel, not here. What would Daddy say if he found out I was involved in a fuss? Why, the lady's absolutely right, sir. But I'll be glad to give you satisfaction out in the alley. Okay, smart guy, come on. Don't you hurt him too much. Now, Daniel, honey, don't you think you'd better give me the name of your nearest kin so I can notify him? Okay, brother, how do we begin? You want to knock the chip off my shoulder or do I just poke you in the nose? Stop the kid stuff. I've got a proposition to make. Now, what are you talking about? I'm working up a business deal with a young lady in there. I've got to impress her. Now, what do you say you take this 10 bucks and have yourself a time somewhere else? The whole thing. Oh, come on, boy, let's play rough. You're a big husky lad. Let's see if you can take care of yourself. Okay, I gave you your chance now. Oh, what an opening. Hey, what do I have to do to make you sit down? I don't teach you to like. You go around waving checks in front of you ladies. Now, where is it? Here we are. $5,000, Mrs. Agnes Eversole pay to Dan Edwards. Well, I wonder how she's going to explain this little payment. Yeah. Hello, George. What happened to you? I've been calling your apartment for an hour. I know. Angel just came in. I went out to see old Mrs. Eversole. Oh, then you got the check. What did she say? Nothing, because she wouldn't see me. Oh, but maybe it's just as well. She can explain it to the judge tomorrow to see you in the office, nice and early. Oh, and Brooksie. Yeah? Just wanted to say you did a smooth job with Edwards. Thanks. Oh, it want nothing, honey. Good night. Chicka chow. Not as smooth as you thought, Valentine. What? How'd you get my room? Edwards, I've been waiting for you to show up. Oh, maybe I underrated you. Boy, you're quite a grim character when you're Holding a gun. I could just ask you to hand over that check. But I'm going to do it the hard way too. How's this for a star, George? You said nice and early in the office this morning and I. George, I know comments are my appearance, Brooksie. Let's just say I overslept with somebody's help. The important thing is I don't have that check anymore, huh? Hey, wait a minute. Hello, Valentine. Yeah, Barbara. What's that? Oh, when'd you miss her? Look, getting hysterical isn't going to help. Just a minute, Brooksy. Yeah, I have an idea where to find her. So stay where you are. I'll get in touch with you. Grandma. Grandma, don't let him take me away. I won't go back to her. Never. I'll see to that. Penny, dear, this is something you have nothing to say about, Mrs. Eversole. Can't you see, Valentine, it's better this way. You can call Barbara and tell her to meet us at Judge Blanchard's this afternoon. It's a foregone conclusion he's going to award Penny to us anyway. Leonard, I hate her. I hate her. I thought this might be the kind of stunt you'd pull, Penny. Now here, look at me. I mean straight in the eye. You know, if you came to the judge with your grandmother, your mother wouldn't stand a chance of keeping you. Now, didn't you? What about it? Just this. You're coming home with me. Take your hands off her, Valentine. Young man, you're not the police, you know. And it's a good thing, Mrs. Eversole. You could be charged with abduction trying to keep Penny here. And another thing, what have you got to say about a five thousand dollar check you gave Dan Edwards? What? I never issued any such check. Oh, I see. We're going to have to play this right out to the end. Come on, Penny. No, no, don't give me any trouble, pie face, because I got a lot of things to do between now and two o' clock. Dean Bronson, Young Jerry Eversole was quite a big man here at Denfield College, wasn't he? Well, Mr. Valentine, he had one of those rare personalities that ingratiated him to everyone he met. Yeah, I know that charming smile. That's right. Wouldn't you say that the way he died, I mean, suicide was way out of character. Well, since you say this information is important to his wife, the whole Ebersole family, you can take my word for that. Dean. I guess it's my duty to tell you there Was a regrettable weak streak in Jerry's character. Oh, what do you mean? He forged quite, quite a sizable check against the student body funds in his junior year. Of course, his mother made good and, well, we hushed it up. You know, the family endowed the Everso Library here at din. Yeah. Thank you, Dean Bronson. You've been a great help. A great help. Mr. Dunlap, Jerry Eversole was working for your brokerage firm when he committed suicide, wasn't he? Why, well, yes. He was one of our best contact men, Mr. Allentine. He made that Ebersole personality go a long way. Well, I've heard enough about that. Let me ask you a simple, direct question. Yes. How much did Jerry Ebersole steal from your firm? What. What are you saying? I. I don't understand. There are two big reasons people commit suicide. Suicide? One's love, the other's money. Everybody loved Eversole, the personality boy. Now, how much money did they steal from you? I. I don't know how you ever found this out, Mr. Valentine. His mother made good. Oh, Grandma to the rescue. We never prosecuted. And I do hope there won't be any publicity at this late date. The firm of Dunlap and it is very conservative. How much was it? A shortage of $20,000 in his account. I see. I've always thought poor Jerry began to loathe himself so much he just couldn't go on anymore. That was the real reason for his suicide. You're a good psychologist, Mr. Dunlap. Thanks a lot, Brooksie. I've made up my mind. I'm going to tell both Barbara and the kid the truth about Eversole. Where are they? Upstairs. Get getting ready to leave for Judge Blanchard. Oh, that's right. We don't have much time, George. We usually see eye to eye about things, but I think you're wrong this time. Penny's a sensitive, unpredictable child. You don't know what a thing like this might do to her. Well, it may just jar enough to realize what she owes her mother. Or it may have the very opposite of things. All right, so it's taking a chance. Okay, but look, Brooksie, Peggy is young with a whole life ahead of her to get over any kind of shock. What does Barbara have left if they take a daughter away from well. Oh, no, Booksy. I'm going to tell them both what the score is before we meet the judge. And I'll need your help. Just the way we worked it out, Barbara. We still have a few minutes and the courthouse is only crossing. Yes, well, there's something I must tell you. What's that, Mr. Valentine? Suppose we go into this little park and sit down. Penny wouldn't even walk down here with you. She insisted on walking with Ms. Brooks a half a block behind us. What chance do I have? Let's wait and see, huh? Those chimes from the tower, they're. They're beautiful, aren't they? Yes. What did you want to say, Mr. Valentine? I'd like to see the judge and get this over with, please. Barbara, those chimes, they make me feel like praying. It's been such a long time since I prayed. But there's only one thing I want. What I've got to say can wait. Barbara, why don't we both just sit here and listen to the chimes for a while? Dear Lord, if I can't have Penny, let her be happy wherever she is. And. And if the only thing that will really make her happy is to forget that I was ever her mother, let it be that way, too. Barbara, this is what I wanted to tell you. I found out today why Jerry killed himself. What? He stole $20,000 from Dunlap and Garrett. Oh, no. That's the truth. And his mother covered for him, just as she did every other time he got into trouble. I don't believe it. You're lying, both of you. Billy, what's she doing here? I didn't know she. I'll never believe that about my father. Please, Penny, wait. Wait. Oh, Mr. Valentine, I'm sorry. I thought if Claire brought Penny here, whatever slight chance I had is gone. But it doesn't matter. Judge Blanchard's already made up his mind. Let's go and get the formalities over with. Penny, come here, dear. Yes, George Blandford. The last time we were together, about a year ago, I had to make the decision about you and your mother. Now it's up to you. I. I know. Don't be frightened, Penny. Tell the judge how you feel. Yes, Grandma. There's something I'd like to say. Judge Blanchard, please. Mr. Valentine, what else is there to. You can see the nervous state of this child. It'd be a crime to let her stay with her mother. Let penny Go on, Mr. Valentine. Okay, but I'm not through. Take it easy, darling. Penny, you're a sensible little girl. And you're old enough to know whom you'd like to live with. Well. Well, I. I. Don't be afraid to talk to the judge, Penny. I. I would like to go on. I want to go home and live with my mother. Oh, Mother. Mother, My baby. I heard what you said when you were over there in the park. But it would be better if I forgot all about you. It would make me happy. Now, hush, darling. That doesn't matter now. I kept thinking about it. Somehow I know what Mr. Valentine said about Father is true. Oh, Mother. Mother. It's been a whole year since you've called me that, Judge Blanchard. I don't know what came over Penny, but certainly we can't forgive this woman's scandalous behavior. Don't you dare talk about my mother that way. Penny, what are you saying? Couldn't we go home now together? Mommy? Judge, I think you can decide the way your heart's telling you to, Judge Blanchard. And if we can have a few minutes alone, I think we'll even be able to satisfy the law. Yes, Judge Blanchard. Leonard hired Dan Edwards to have Barbara conveniently drugged that night. But what with being Leonard Ebersold's reason for doing anything like that, well, the old girl was prepared to leave her entire fortune to Penny if she could get her legal custody. Leonard wanted to be in the position to administer the estate. After all, Penny doesn't come of age for nine years. What about this check to Dan Edwards? Who said it was signed by Mrs. Ebersole? Some fancy blackmail judge. When Edwards was through with Leonard, he started on his mother. The episode. Hard to believe. George, how did you suspect Leonard Edwards never graduated from Denfield with Jerry in the college yearbook it was Ebersole and then Eggleston. No Edwards. Then who could have told Edwards about that little escapade Jerry had in his senior year? The one with the chapel bell? Well, that was all hushed up, Pussy. The mother never knew about it. It had to be Leonard. Pretty good work, Valentine. You know, I was dictator attorney. I would have a job for you. Well, thanks, George. May be able to return the compliment and have a job for you someday soon, Judge, I hope. Beg your pardon? Oh, of course. We could go to a church. Oh. Oh, no. I'll be more than glad to say the all important words, Ms. Brooks. Oh, wait a minute now. Who's getting framed? Come on, Brooksie. I'd be willing to bet there's not one car owner in a thousand who could lubricate his car thoroughly. For there are more than 20 vital wear points on the average car. And if most of us tried to find them, it'd be pure guesswork. Even the expert lube men at independent Chevron gas station stations and standard stations don't rely on experience alone when they grease your car. Instead, they Follow a precise lubrication chart recommended by the manufacturer of your car. And they use RPM, greases and oils, each one tailor made to protect those key wear points. Tailor made, too, to smooth out shocks and give you easier riding. So for low cost maintenance and better riding, get a lube job with RPM oils and greases every thousand miles at a Standard station or an independent Chevron gas station where they say and mean, we'll take better care of your car. Next week, when you tune our way for another adventure of George Valentine, you'll hear. George, the door isn't locked. Wait a minute, Angel. Put the light on. George. Well, they couldn't have done a better job in this room if they used a bulldozer. Mr. Karoski. Mr. Karovski. Don't be naive, Brooksie. They didn't make rubble out of this place just for exercise. Yeah. They gave Karowski this little party and took the guest of honor away with him. George. Oh, come here. Look. Huh? Oh, yeah. Blood. They couldn't wait, could they? Oh, but he's such a. Such a little man. We're up against a racket that thrives on little people, Brooksie. And we're gonna keep at it until we find out what it. Tonight's adventure of George Valentine has been brought to you by Standard of California. On behalf of independent Chevron gas stations and Standard stations throughout the west, let George do it stars Robert Daly as George, with Francis Robinson as Claire. Tonight's story was written by David Victor and Herbert Little, Jr. And directed by Don Clark. Also heard in the cast were Virginia Greg as Barbara, Dawn Bender as Penny, Noreen, Camille as Mrs. Ebersole, Stan Waxman as Leonard, Jay Novello as Edwards and Herb Butterfield as Judge Blanchard. The music is composed and conducted by Eddie Dunstetter. Your announcer, John Heaston. Listen again next week, same time, same station. Do not let George do It. This is the Mutual Don Lee broadcasting system, box 13, with the star of Paramount Pictures, Alan Ladd as dan holiday. Box 13. Kara star times. They said my son was killed in a drunken brawl. I know he wasn't. He was a good boy. He was murdered. Why, I don't know. If you come to 733 Windshield Ave. If you'll come to 733 Winship Avenue anytime and listen to my story, I'll be grateful to you forever, Mrs. Katherine Daly. And that was the letter to box 13. Just a few lines. But, brother, what those few lines led to. And now back to box 13. I get some funny letters through box 13. Some don't mean a thing. Others are from people who answer all the ads. But this one, from Mrs. Catherine Daly, it had a real ring to it. I get so I can spot the letters from cranks and curiosity hunters. They're full of big phrases. It's the simple ones that count, like Susie said. Well, it's short, Mr. Holliday. Uh huh. What are you gonna do about it? Well, what would you do, Susie? Mm. Well, you know, Susie, I don't know how you manage to get right to the point of things so quickly. Oh, it's easy. Okay, you talked me into it. I don't know what I'd do without you. I try to make myself indisposable. The word Susie is indispensable. What's the difference? None, I guess. All right, Susie. I'm on my way to 733 Winship Avenue. Mrs. Kathryn Daly was a little woman, maybe about 50, 60. It was difficult to tell because gray hair was pushing hard against the brown. It was her eyes that got me. Maybe not too long ago they'd been able to smile, but now they were dead, lifeless. Something had been taken away from. From well inside. She led the way to a little living room, furnished cheaply but neatly. She sat down, pointed to a chair for me and then. Are you serious about that advertisement, mister? Well, yes, I am, Mrs. Daly. I. I haven't any money. That is, not much. I can afford something if it's not a whole lot. Now look, Mrs. Daly, I'm a writer, and sometimes box 13 leads me to a good plot. You see, I don't take money because I get paid very well for the stories I get. You see, I used to be a newspaper reporter. Newspaper reporter? Anything wrong with that, Ms. Staley? Arthur, my son, he was a reporter. Oh. What paper? The Evening Record. Your. Your letter said that your son was killed. He was. They said he was drunk, that he got into a fight in a cheap saloon. Arthur was never drunk in his life, and he hated fighting. That his picture on the table? Yes. In uniform. That's the Distinguished Service Cross, isn't it? Yes. Okay, Mrs. Daly, start from the beginning. Tell me how you want me to help. I'm sure Arthur was murdered. Murder's a tough word, Mrs. Daley. Tough to say and tough to prove. But for a week before he was killed, he kept telling me that we could get out of this house soon. That he was going to make a name as a reporter. But he didn't tell you why? No. Then the night he was killed, he got a phone Call from home? I don't know. He hurried out and the next time I saw him was when they asked me to come down and identify him. That's as much as you can tell me. It's every word. Mrs. Daley, this may sound brutal, but. But your son's dead. Now, why would you rather have it said he was murdered? I want to show everyone he couldn't have died in that cheap, shoddy way. Well, that was that. I believed her. Maybe it was the way she talked. Maybe it was her eyes. I don't know. Anyway, I left her house with nothing to go on but what she had told me. And that was little enough. Just that he was onto something would make a name for him as a reporter. Anyway, I went to see what Lt. Kling knew about it. About what? Are they? About the kid that got killed in the saloon brawl. Well, that's what the records show. They show anything else? No. No, they don't. You know, I. I like you. Thanks. You can have the next dance. I'm serious. Okay, so you're serious. What about? You're not satisfied with the daily case either. What makes you think I'm not? Just the way you talk. You don't believe it's right. I believe what the witnesses in that dive said. The Daley kid got drunk, somebody said something, their girl he was with. Nothing bad. But Daley got mad and started swinging. And? And he ended up in the red. You didn't arrest anybody? Look, we get a dozen calls a night from down at the hill, places like that. Somebody's always getting pushed around, roughed up, killed. Some of the things don't even hit the newspapers. Run of the mill stuff. Sure, sure. But look, cling. What kind of guys get killed in places like that? Bums, winos, characters who hang out in those joints. But not a kid like Daly. And you're an honest cop. What was that crack for? For a compliment. The daily thing bothers you because you know as well as I do that something's wrong about it. Then you tell me. I'll try later. Now look, Holliday, I'm not on the case anymore. Homicide's got enough to do without running down a fight in a saloon. But. But what? But I don't like it. You're right. I knew I liked you. Okay, I'll marry in the morning. The place you want is 183 River Street. Oh, nice neighborhood. Great. The cops go in quartets down there. Thanks. See you later. And for the love of Mike, don't end up on the Meat wagon, like Daley did. Kling was right. It wasn't a neighborhood to raise kids or anything else. And the place I wanted was called the Riverview. Fancy name. Oh, a great place. I stepped over a couple of borders, spending the night on the doorstep, and walked inside. There was a tinny piano played by a guy mechanically banging out a tune that its own composer wouldn't have recognized. The bar was set at the back, facing the door. I went over to it. The bartender took a long, good look at me. I must have looked strange. I was wearing a necktie and a shirt. He walked over. Yeah. What's with Bud? How are you? Awful. You? Practically dead. Okay, now that we know each other, what's on your mind? What do you got to drink? Arsenic. Want some Straight water on the side. Funny man, ain't you? Sure. Look, what do you want? A drink, maybe. No, you don't. That suit you got on cost maybe 150. The tie, five bucks. Any cookie comes in here dressed like you don't want to drink. All right, you win. Swell. Slumming, huh? No. Looking for what? Last week there was a fight in here. A kid got killed. Arthur Daly. I didn't see nothing. My back was turned. Did you ever see the girl who was with Deli? I told you, I didn't see nothing. Oh, all through the fight, you just kept your back turned? Yeah. I hate fights. Can't stand the sight of blood. That what you told the police? Same thing. Who are the witnesses? Look, when a fight starts in here, there ain't no witnesses. Everybody's blind. That makes it easy. You are a friend of this daily character. Yeah. Yeah, a good friend. I still don't know nothing. Now blow mister. Out. Get it out. He knew something, all right, but he was clammed up tight. I left and walked up the street. I was close to the spot where I'd parked my car when I heard something. I stopped. Somebody was tailing me, following me from the saloon. Okay, somebody didn't like me nosing around. I walked past my car. Just ahead of me was an alley, and pulling out of the alley was a truck. I walked a little faster. I got to the alley, skirted around back of the truck so my trailer would lose me for a couple of seconds. Then I stepped inside. A dog. It was dark. The truck pulled away. I waited. Then I heard the steps. He didn't know where I'd gone. But if he was going to pick me up again, he'd have to pass the doorway where I waited for him. Come here. Let Go. You hurt me. Shut up. Please, Mr. Ain't no Crook. I wasn't going to put this thing on you. What's your idea telling me? I heard you talking to barkeep back there. I wanted to talk to Honest, that's all. You could have caught up with me before this. Gee, mister, I didn't want anybody to see me, Honest. All right, talk. Oh, you want to know something, huh? Come on, come on. What do you want to say? Well, Honest, I might get in trouble. Look, I got to know. I'll get something out of this, eh? Still what you've got and we'll see how much it's worth. Maybe a fiver. Maybe. Go on, talk. Look, I could get in bad trouble. You are right now. All right, all right, make it a fiver. What do you know about Arthur Daley? I saw the fight. I saw the whole thing. Did you tell the police? Me? I don't get nothing to do with the cops. All right, tell me. This guy, that was Bump, he didn't start the fight. Who then? A pug. Ex pug named Billy Connor. The Daily guy didn't have nothing to do with starting it. It was a frame. Was Daily drunk? Nah, nah. He had one drink. The girl slipped something in it. I saw her. She was a good looker, so I was watching. Do you know her? Me? Me know a damn like that? Nah. All right. Well, here's your five. Now keep your mouth shut, understand? Oh, sure, sure. Maybe you'd like to know something else, huh? What? Well, mister, ought to be worth something. I. All right. Here. Oh, thanks. You ain't been out of the joint down the street more than a couple of seconds when the barkeep goes to the phone. So I heard him tell somebody that you was nosing around. Mister, something tells me that you're in bad trouble right now. And now Back to box 13 with Alan Ladd as Dan Holiday. Well, I had a few facts. Now, first, Daly knew something that might have got him killed. Second, the girl who was with him put something in his drink so he'd look. Third, an ex pug named Billy Connor started the fight. Why, the answer to that would put me on first base. So I asked around a little and found out that Billy Connor, a third rate fighter down at the heels, suddenly came into money. And right after the fight in the saloon, I found him in a second rate nightclub. You the guy that wants to see me? Yeah. Billy Connor. I'm the guy. Who are you? Knowing that won't make any prettier. You're A smart boy, huh? Maybe. But you're not acting smart. What? What are you talking about? You're making too much splash, Connor. The. The boss doesn't like it. People might start asking questions about the money. The money you got for killing Daly. Me? Oh, no. I just started the fight. Then I ducked. Somebody else banged his head for him, not me. Ah, that's the way it was, huh? Sure, you know. Who are you, anyway? I get it, Connor. Wait a minute, fella. Why'd you say that's the way it was? Didn't you know? Sure I knew. You ain't from them. Come on, you dirty sneak, you. You a copper? Maybe. Think it over, Connor. Hard. I left him standing there with his mouth open. I thought I'd find out what I wanted to know, but Kling told me. Doesn't mean a thing. You can't prove anything, Holiday. What if I get proof? How? You've got the name and address of the girl Daly was with the night he was killed. And you want him, is that it? You could get hurt. Meaning you won't give me the girl's name? Meaning that if I do, you're on your own. I'll take that chance. Do I get a name and address? Eileen Simmons. 4674 Roberts Drive. And I hope you get more out of her than we did. I hope so, too. I didn't like walking up a blind alley with murder at my back and maybe in front of me. I got to the girl's home boarding house in a shabby section and took a look at the mailboxes downstairs. While I was walking up to her flat, something tingled the back of my neck. Something that screamed a warning. I got to her flat. She didn't answer. Then I smelled it. Gas. I stooped down, and one look at the crack between the door and the sill was enough. It was stuffed with newspapers. There was only one thing to do. Eileen Simmons wasn't going to talk to anybody. The room was heavy with gas. The window I broke let in some air. Scared faces stared into the door I smashed open. Then I yelled at him. You call the police. Ask for Lieutenant Kling. Come on, hurry. I took a quick look around before I left. In one closet was a fur coat, and from what I knew about fur, this one took money to buy. It had her initials embroidered in the lining, but it didn't fit with the cheap flat. Well, I thought it was about time to make a trip to the Evening Record, where Daly worked as a reporter. Some of the boys knew me so it was easy to get to talk to Daley's editor. I don't know, Holliday. All I know is that Daley promised me a big story, something he was working on. I'll look, Charlie. Any idea what it was? None. The kid was close mouthed. Oh, but you must have some idea. Didn't he give you any hint? Just that it was big and would blow off the top of the building when we printed it. How long did he work for you? Oh, about six months, no more. What big assignments did you give him? None. Routine stuff. He didn't have enough experience. Just out of journalism college when the war broke. Went through it, then served at the war trials in Germany. And in the six months with you, there wasn't anything important enough to get him killed, huh? No. No there wasn't. Oh, let's see. We sent him on a routine assignment to San Carlito and. San Carlito, what's that? Just one of those little islands in the West Indies. The paper's doing a series on Latin American neighbors and we. Anything there that might have been the big story. You mean what he was talking about? Yeah, that's it. How long after he got back did he begin to talk about the something big? Hey, just about the same day he walked in here. Where's his desk? Just outside this office. All his stuff in there? Most of it. We were going to send it to his mother but, well, you know how things are. It was too soon. We figured we'd wait. Come on, let's take a look. Just the usual stuff. What are these? Photographs. Never saw them before. Full face profiles of men. You know them? Not from Adam. Oh, Charlie, can I have these? Well, I don't know. Holiday 1. Ex newspaper man to an editor. Come on, let me have him. Okay. I didn't see you take them. Thanks. Now. Mind if I go through the rest of his stuff? No, help yourself. I'll be at my desk. Right. I went through Daley's papers. There was one little notebook with an entry in it that read, got to be careful. Never be alone. They won't dare make a try for me unless I'm alone. I've got proof on film photos of the men I recognized. Okay, so Daley's notebook gave me another lead. But where to? Well, maybe Daley's mother would know. I looked at my watch, but it was after midnight so I figured it was too late to see her and I decided to wait until morning. I wish I'd have gone right then and there. The next morning I went to see Daley's mother and I found her in the middle of an excited bunch of neighbors. When I got her alone, she told me what was up. There were burglars. They ransacked Arthur's room. Well, let's take a look. But there's nothing missing. Well, let's look anyway. They went through all the drawers. You didn't hear them? No, I slipped right through it. Uh huh. Mrs. Daly, what could they have wanted? I don't know. There's nothing of value here. Look, when Arthur came back from San Carlito, did he bring anything with him? Why, I don't think so. A camera, maybe his own. But he took that with him when he went. Now think hard, Mrs. Daly. Did he take any film out of that camera when he got back? I think he did, yes. I remember he hurried out with some film to have it developed. Where is it? I don't know. Did he get it back from the shop where he took it? I don't think so. I think he'd have shown him to me if he had. And the roll of film he took out of his camera is still in the shop? It must be. Mrs. Daley, we've got to find a check for that film. The kind you get when you leave film to be developed. Come on, let's look. We looked and looked and looked. No check. Began to seem as though whoever ransacked the room found the check. And if he had, well, the thing was over. After half an hour, we gave up. But there was still one more thing to find out. Mrs. Daly, would you mind taking a look at these photographs? Do you know any of these men? Why, I'm not sure. They look familiar. But his scrapbook, the one he brought back from the war. There are pictures like those in the scrapbook. Well, show it to me, will you? It's in my room right next door. Here it is. Here they are. The pictures. But I don't see. I think I do, but I'm afraid to believe it. Look, Mrs. Daly, whatever you do, stay with your neighbors. Don't be alone for a minute. I left the house and the idea I had was buzzing around inside my head. If I was right, then the whole thing was fantastic. But the pieces began to fit together. Maybe I was thinking too hard. I didn't see the big black car that turned down the corner. I didn't see it until I was almost staring between its headlights. I jumped back and up and the fenders of the car took the skin off my legs. And the car roared away. That big black buggy had my name for a license plate, it would have looked just like an accident. But it told me something. That whoever was doing the dirty work didn't have the check for the film. Because the proof of what Daly knew was on that film. And if Mr. Accident Maker had it, he wouldn't have risked another accident. I called Kling, got him on the phone. What do you want me to do? Check every Photoshop in the city for a roll of film mailed just before Daly was killed. How do you know he mailed it? Because he wouldn't have been fool enough to take it to a Photoshop. He knew they were tailing him, waiting to grab that film, so he mailed it with a note that he had called for. Okay, I'll pick up the film if I can find it. Oh no Clayne, don't pick it up, please. But you just said you weren't cling. Tell me where it is. Call my office and I'll pick it up. Look, you're asking for a craybreath in your door. If those babies are what you say, they'll cut you little pieces. You want them, don't you? Sure, but I don't. The only way to get them is to make them come after that film. And they won't call it headquarters for it, Kling, but they will try to get it from me. I waited. Finally Kling gave me the word. I picked up the film and prints at the little finishing shop. Kling had given orders that I was to have it. I got in my car, looked in the rear vision mirror and saw a big black sedan pull in behind me. This was it. I couldn't spot Kling and the squad car he said would be handy. Maybe something held it up, I didn't know. I got to my apartment, the sedan pulled up behind me and parked. I walked up to my apartment, went over to the window and saw a man get out of the sedan. He walked slowly and disappeared into my apartment building. I sat down with the film and prints burning a hole in my pocket. Then who is it? It's a holiday. I'd like to talk to you. I took one more look out of the window. The street was empty except for the sedan. No squad car, no cling brother. If ever I wanted to see that big guy, it was now. I walked to the door. Mr. Holliday? Uh huh. Who are you? My name is, we'll say Stefan. Okay, you're Mr. Steffen. So what? I should be brief. You have a role of film and some prints. I am a camera Enthusiast. I shall pay you a good price for the film. How much? You're going to be very simple. That's fine. Shall we say 10,000? That's big money for a strip of celluloid. I am very enthusiastic about photography, you know. I like pictures myself. Especially pictures of some nice little Nazis who got out of Germany with a lot of money. Oh, you guessed, huh? Yeah, but Daley wasn't guessing when he recognized them in San Carlito. He wasn't guessing that San Carlito's a little island with lots of deserted coastline, easy to land on. Yes, very handy. And they paid well to escape the trials in Nuremberg. You just talked yourself out of $10,000. Oh, now, that's very funny. You would have killed me anyway, as you killed Daly to keep him from spreading the story. You're so right. Now, Mr. Holiday. Oh, that gun didn't look nice. He had it right at my head. I sat still. Stefan came slowly toward me. The black hole in the bell of his gun looked like the business end of a cannon. Then get the claw out of the gun. Cling. At this particular minute, you're the most beautiful thing in the world. Then what happened, Mr. Holiday? Well, at that moment, Susie, Lieutenant Kling landed and took over. Sorry I drew it so close, Holiday, but I had let Stefan talk a while. Yeah. By the way, where was that squad car? There wasn't any. The squad car would have scared Stephan away. I had to make it look safe. Boys and I were right next door. Had been for an hour. Now he tells me. Well, it's up to the Federals now. We're clean on this end. Gee, I sure. Oh, Mr. Holliday, you might have been killed. Oh, it's okay now, Susie. It's all over. But. But you might have been killed. And I like this job so much. What I say? Very funny. Cling. Nothing, Susie. Nothing. Good night. Next week, same time, Alan Ladd stars as Dan holiday in box 13. Alan Ladd appears through the courtesy of Paramount Pictures and may currently be seen in wild harvest. Box 13 is directed by Richard Sanville with original story by Russell Hughes. An original music composed and conducted by Rudy Schrager. The part of Susie is played by Sylvia picker and Lieutenant Kling by Edmund MacDonald. This is a Mayfair production. Listen. While the makers of Rexall drug products and 10,000 independent Rexall family druggists bring you Dick Powell as Richard diamond, private detective, good evening. This is your Rexall family druggist speaking to you. For the 10,000 independent druggists who have made the word Rexall part of our own store names and who recommend and sell the 2,000 or more drug products made for the Rexall Drug company. Like Rexall Mi31, for example. Rexall's popular and versatile mouthwash, gargle and breath deodorant. Full Strength MI 31 kills contacted germs almost instantly, yet will not harm the delicate membranes of the mouth and throat. Ask for Rexall Mi31 at Rexall Drugstores everywhere. And remember, you can depend on any drug product that bears the name Rexall. Good health to all from Rexall. Now your exo family druggist brings you a transcribed half hour with Richard Diamond Private Detective starring Dick Powell Parent Detective Agency. I'll help you out if you're in trouble, but if it's a murder, it'll cost you double. Rick. Oh, hello, Helen baby. What's new with the wealthy? Not much. Only we had a date last night, remember? Well, did we have fun? Oh, load. Only we'd had more fun if you'd shown up. Now, Helen, don't overestimate me. I don't. Oh, look, honey, I am sorry about last night. Set up with a sick aunt, you know. Tender. Well, don't you believe me? No. Expect me to? No. Then we're even. Helen, I hate people who hold grudges. You busy tonight? Doing what? Oh, I'll probably end up listening to some idiot play the piano. Anyone I know? Maybe. He's a little boy who never grew out of the cops and robber stage. Oh, yes, the good looking one. He's the. Oh, client just walked in. I'll call you back and squirm later. Bye. Simon in the rough. What can I do for you? You seen the morning papers? Only the funnies. Seen the story on page two. What are you, a traveling quiz show? Look at it. Pete Rocco broke out of prison. That's right. You sent Pete up for murder. He always said he'd get out and take care, you know. Gee, I wish I hadn't cut my fingernails. I got nothing to chew. You better find something. Pete's a nasty little boy. What's all this to you? My name's Danny, Danny Rocco. I'm Pete's brother. Oh. Looking for a piece of cheese? I found one. Get your hat, Shammas. There was a bulge in Danny's coat pocket that hadn't come with a suit. Believing in a statue person slogan, I picked up my hat and was led to a car outside. We drove through town and then the Mulberry street near Five Points to the section that used to be the heart of the Disney. We stopped in front of a cigar store. Okay, diamond, get out. Oh, it's so comfortable here. Come on, move. Well, if you put it that way. The Rocco Smoke Shop. Yeah, it's mine. That you sell opium in the back behind those curtains. That's fine. Enough. Hey, Maya. I'm right here, Daniel. You know I don't like shouting. Standing in the doorway. It was a little gray haired old lady with a sweet, tired smile on her face. If this was Pete Rocco, he worked quite at disguise you just examined. I've given up a denying it. Sit down, please. Then you'll stop looking mean. Go outside and tend to shop. Okay, Mark. Well, now I've seen everything. Daniel's a good boy, Mr. Diamond. But one must be stern at times. Oh, yes, one must. You're probably wondering why I sent Daniel to bring you here. Well, I have thought about it. Between prayers, Mr. Diamond. I tried to raise my boys the best I could. Peter and Daniel had every chance for success. But Peter favored me. He killed a man. Go on. I trained my boys could be pickpockets. That was during their school. School days, of course. Oh, yes, of course. They'd like to take them to a nice, tidy little bookmaking business. Like any mother, I wanted to keep them away from violence. Very thoughtful, Mrs. Diamond. I've known crime and criminals all my life. My husband was an immigrant, a criminal. Killed him in gang war. The only life I could teach them. But Peter saved me. Peter turned to murder. Mrs. Rocco, this is very interesting, but why was I brought here? I'm getting to that piece. The patient. I'm sorry. You see, as long as my boys stuck to bookmaking, I was happy. I was proud of them. But when Peter killed that man, he failed me. You said that before. Yes, I did, Mr. Diamond. You're the one who sent Peter to prison. Police couldn't catch him, but you did. I want you to send my boy back where he belongs. Behind bars. I see. I'll pay your usual fee. If he's out long, he might kill another man. I couldn't stand that. I don't hold with violence, Mr. Diamond. There was a sad look on her face as she pushed the buzzer. But beside her chair, she was a proud little thing. But you could see the hurt in her eyes. And she spoke of Pete. She was determined to have him put back in prison. After all, she'd only raised him to be a pickpocket. This modern generation, absolutely no regard for their parents. You ring for me, Ma. Then you'll drive Mr. Diamond back to town. I'll watch the shop. Oh, dear, you haven't said that you'll take the job, have you? Mr. Diamond, Ma would like for you to Shammis. Well, I thank you so much. Daniel, you're looking mean again. Danny drove me downtown. Instead of going to my office, I went to the fifth Push sink where I found Sergeant Otis laboring over a crossword puzzle. Poor Otis. He couldn't find a four letter word for something that swims. Even if he hit him in the face with a herring. Well, hello, brainchild. What? Oh, you. Clever as always, I see. J. Why don't you dig a hole and jump on it? And disturb your worm? Your relatives? Oh, perish the thought. Get lost. My, I'd be touchy today. Well, can't you see I'm working a puzzle? See it? Yes, believe it. That's another matter. How about. Work on it, genius? I'm going to see Wharf. Good afternoon, Lieutenant Lenson. My, you look impressive with your feet on the desk. Savings. You leather. Rick, where have you been? I called you 50 times this morning. Well, I've been chatting with a very pleasant little lady. Blonde or brunette? Neither. Her hair was gray. Well, for you that's a switch. But boy, you better go in hiding for a while, Pete. Rocco's out of prison. Yeah, so I heard. That why you called me, Right. Rocco said he'd get you. And he's not the type to kid. He'll be looking for you, Rick. Well, that's just Andy Walt, but I'll be looking for him. What? I've got a client wants Rocco back behind bars. Any idea where he is? Not much to go on. He's here in town somewhere, that's for sure. Why do you say that? Well, remember that role he took from that bookie before he plugged him? More than 50,000 bucks. He never would tell where he hid it. Oh, yeah? You think he'll hang around long enough to dig it up and then go south, huh? If that looks to me. On the other hand, you might contact one of his old cronies here to get the door and meet him somewhere else. Maybe, but Pete wouldn't trust many people with 50,000. What? There was a guy named Roscoe Ward, used to pal around with Pete a lot. He's still around town? Yeah, I got a location on him this morning. Seems he's a bowling fanatic. Bowling? Yep. Hangs out at an alley around North Broadway. Joint called Atlas Alley. Another place. Well, I think I'll get a little exercise. Bowling, maybe. Beats snooker See you around, Walt. I drove up to the Atlas Alleys and parked in a lot across the street. The bowling fanatics ratted hot and heavy and I sat down in one of the spectator seats. Half an hour later, a pale little punk came in, got an alley and began bowling alone. I decided to join him not because he was look lonely, but because his name happened to be Rosco Ward. Hello, Rosco. Do I know you? Well, I have the ugliest friends in town. Maybe you'd like to be one of them. Sorry, I'm antisocial. Mind if I ball with him? Yeah, thanks. I'll go first. Oh, I knocked them all down. Now, what'll you play with? Hey, hey, that's not bad. You got a swell approach. Thanks. What's your pitch, anyway? What do you want for me? I'd like to meet some of your friends, Roscoe. Like I said before, a man is social. So is your friend I want to meet. Just got back in town and won't let anyone see him. Now I remember you. The name's Diamond. Good memory. Try it again. Know where Pete Rocco is? Oh. Oh, so that's it, huh? But you better head to the Catskills. Word says that Petey's gonna put a slug through your private eye. Yeah, so I heard. I thought I'd look him up and beg for mercy or something. Yeah, I bet. But sorry I can't help you. Go look it. But if I should see Pete, I'll tell him he was looking for. Yeah, he'd get a big kick out of there. Now beat it. Late man. I got a bowl. Roscoe went back to his game and I left the alleys. The only thing I knew about Pete Rocco was that somewhere in this city of millions he was waiting to kill yours truly. Not a pleasant thought. But then I'm not in the very pleasant business. I crossed the street to the parking lot and went to my car. Hi, pal. Been waiting for you. Wow, Pete Rocco. Yeah, yeah. Kidding. It looks thinner. Pete, can I go across the street and get you a hot dog? No, thanks, pal. Right now I've got my heart sitting on a little ride. Now get in. Before we continue with the adventures of Richard diamond, private detective, here's your Rectal family druggist. Last week, a customer told me that something I really like about Rexall milk of magnesia is that one bottle won't be so thick I can't even pour it. And the next one thin and watery. Somehow Rexall milk of magnesia always seems to be just right. Well, ma' AM that's because every bottle of Rexall Milk of Magnesia has to meet an exacting standard of viscosity or it won't wear the Rexol label. What do you mean by viscosity? Well, an easy definition would be the degree of thickness in a liquid. Now, Rexall scientists conduct scientifically precise tests on every batch of Rexall milk of magnesium to make sure it meets this constant standard of viscosity. Because that's one big reason why you'll always get a uniform dosage from every bottle. Oh, and I thought it was all just an accident. Oh, no, ma' am. There are no accidents behind the fact you can always depend on any drug product that bears the name Rexall. And now back to tonight's adventure with Richard Diamond, Private Detective. Starring Dick Powell. With a gun pointed at me and Pete Rockawood myself side I followed directions and drove to a Harlem address. Pete led me upstairs and into a half furnished flat. Far enough. Now sit right here, bright boy. That's good. You know, pal, I've been waiting a long time for this. You always were the patient type. What are you waiting for now, Pete? An audience? Oh, I'm in no hurry. You just sit there and square him for a while. Who's there? It's me, Roscoe. Well, hello, Snoopy. Can you beat this guy, Petey? He was looking for you. Let's not rub it in, boys. What you're waiting for, baby? Take care of him. Let's beat him. Shut up. We don't leave till I get word it's all clear to pick up the money. Yeah, but when are you gonna find out? Who's gonna let you know? Don't get too nosy, Roscoe. Darren, after you picked me up, I had a rough time during that trial. I didn't know what they were going to throw at me. Life with a chair just had a weight. Well, that's what you're going to do. You're going to sit there and you're going to wait. When you're least expecting it, I'm going to put three slugs through your head. My barber won't like this. Yeah, just keep making cracks by his guy. You break before long. Yeah, you break before long. Is there an echo in here? Roscoe, did you shake that police tail? Yeah, he's still looking for me in the bowling alley. Good. Tie diamond up tight and keep an eye on him. I'm going out for a while. Ah, please. You ain't going to take the chance on getting sneaked. Shut up. Been away for Five years. I'll do what I want. A time up. Pete kept the gun on me while Roscoe tied my arms behind a chair. Then he put the gun he had taken from me in his left pocket. His own and his right. He resembled a walking armory as he went out the door. You know, Snoopy, you're not so bad. Oh, now watch it about go. You'll hurt my feelings. Pete's a rough boy. I'm gonna enjoy watching him settle with you. Oh, you have such simple taste. I've done this for you. Pete giving you a cut? Yeah, if he ever gets around to picking up the dough. He's gotta wait until he gets the all clear signal. So there's someone else in this. Who, Roscoe? I don't know. If I did, I wouldn't yak to you. It's too bad you'll be a corpse. Thanks for the pleasant thought. No, I mean it. That strike you made at the bowling alley tonight, that. That just wasn't luck. You got a swell approach. You think so? Yeah. That's when I have my trouble with my approach. But when Pete gives me my cut at the door, I'm gonna buy me an alley and bowl all the time. Oh, how exciting. Say, you want to give me a few pointers? What? The approach. Maybe you could help me improve mine, huh? Now, look, this floor is kind of slippery. Now, watch. Now, I always hold the ball like this, you see? I swing it back and approach like this. There. How's it look? Well, I. I couldn't see too well from here. Suppose you untie my hand. No, no, no, no, no, no. You got to stay tight. Well, I'm. I'm afraid I can't help you. Then come around this side. I can't see through that table. Oh, all right. Y. Got it. I can. I'll slide towards you this time. All right. Here. How do you think of it? Well, I. I won't hurt you now. No, go on, be brutal. Well, it's. It's too sloppy, Roscoe. You keep your head up too high. The head, huh? Oh, yeah, sure. And keep the head down. That's right. Ward followed instructions and kept his head down low, just in line with my foot. Talk of a strike for diamond. He went down like the number 10 pen. I managed to work my hands up over the back of the chair. Then a few calisthenics in my hands were in front of me, still tied, but free enough to call Walt Levinson on the phone. Fifteen minutes later, he arrived. Put the cuffs on Ward and untied me there. You're loose, you know, maybe I should have kept you tied up. You might stay out of trouble then. You're so considerate, Walt. I'll put some men around the house. When Pete comes back with. Oh, maybe him. Now, Otis, bring Roscoe Ward over here. Come on, Ward. Ward, you pick up that phone and act like nothing's happened. Hold the receiver so we can hear who's on the line. If you don't, I'll see that the judge throws the book at you. Hey, hello, Roscoe. Yada, yada. Is this Pete? Of course you don't. Oh, no, no, no, no, Pete. No, everything's fine. You sound funny. Take the phone over and put the receiver in front of Diamond. Sure. Sure, Pete. He said. I heard him. Give me that phone. Hello, Pete. Check up to see if I'm comfortable. How long you been loose, pal? Come again, Diamond. I left you in a chair across the room. The phone don't reach that far. Well, Pete, you're getting smarter. Yeah, thanks. Too bad I'll have to postpone those three slags in the head. But maybe later. I'm glad you said maybe, Pete. I have different ideas. Yeah, we'll see, pal. We'll see. Well, he tricked us, Walt. He won't be back here. Does this bird know where he is? I don't think so. Costco. You mentioned that Pete had to wait for the word from someone before he could pick up that money. Who is that someone? I told you before, I don't know. Look, punk, you're all through. Help us out and you'll get a better deal in court. Tell him. If I knew, I'd tell you. All I know is that people go near the don't. If someone gives him the green light. I think he's telling the truth, Walt. Take him downtown and book him. I'm going visiting. I drove back out Mulberry street to the Rocco Cigar Store. I was hoping Pete's brother Dan might remember some of Pete's old hangouts. I wanted to wrap up this case quickly for two reasons. One, Pete was a killer. Might kill again at any minute. Until I might be the one he killed. Diamond. Oh, yeah. Hello, Danny, I'm trying to get you in the office. I think I know where Pete is. Hello, Mr. Zam. I'll tell you later. I do hope you have something to report. Well, not much, Mrs. Rocco. I met your son today on the wrong side of a gun. I don't know where he is now. Well, that's too bad. You will catch him. I'M sure of that. Peter must be punished. I don't hold with violence, Mr. Diamond. Ma, don't you want me to drive you over to visit Mrs. Montelli? Oh, that would be nice, Daniel. I'd like that. Well, you get your wrap and we'll go now. All right. And Mr. Diamond, remember, I want my son caught quickly before he can kill again. Good day. Now then, Danny, what were you saying about Pete? I know where you can locate him. I didn't want to talk in front of Ma. I want to kept out of this gone. Pete called me a little while ago. He's coming over tonight. I'm taking Ma to visit a friend so she'll be out of the way. Tonight's your chance, Famine. Tonight. I made plans to meet Danny out in front of the shop around 8. Then I went back to my office. I called Helen both my dinner date for that evening and waited as the hour sick by 7:30 and I was ready to go. Pete had taken my gun earlier, so I slept a spare in my pocket and drove to the cigar store. I parked down the street, walked halfway up the block and met Danny Diamond. Yeah? Our boy showed up yet? No, but he should be here soon. Come on. We walked up to the shop and Danny unlocked the door. The shop was dark as I entered and I tripped over something on the floor. Hey, we have some light in here. Sure, why not? That's better. And then I saw what I tripped over. Pete Rocco with six bullet holes in his body. And then it was clear. Why had Pete come here? To get the money that made the strong army boy. Behind me to contact the one Pete was waiting for to give him the all clear was little brother Danny. Right, Shamus? I'll be honest. Yes, I am. Pretty smooth, huh? Yeah. Catch. That's good. You'll notice it's your gun. Pete was bragging about how he took it from you. He let me see it. And that was fatal, Right? And this gun I got on you now was Pete. I kill you. Put the gun in Pete's hand. Then I'm clear. You shot each other. No one will blame me. You thought this all out, huh? That's right. Pete and I robbed that bookie together. He left the Dopamita Chief after he was picked up. I figured he'd never get out. But when he did. Well, it's real convenient your being around now. Say your prayers, Shammas. This is it. Is he. Is he dead, Mr. Diamond? No, you. You hit him in the shoulder. Better call an ambulance though. Yes. My boys, Peter And Daniel, look at them. I tried to teach them. I told them I wouldn't stand for violence, but they wouldn't listen. You know, sometimes you've just got to be stern. You rang for a minute? Yes. Francis, will you fix us some drinks, please? Soda with mine. And you, Mr. Diamond? No, I'll take soda through fancies about a jigger hole. Yes, sir. Rick, don't you ever get tired playing the piano? Never. That's not what I meant by today. You were almost killed twice. Honey, you can only be killed once. Ah, all right, then you were threatened twice. Don't you ever wish you were in a different profession, for instance? Oh, insurance. Maybe. You can talk fast enough. Well, you may have something there. Need a lot of gals in the insurance game. On second thought, he'd be better as a Good Humor man. Meet a lot of children instead. Gals are like better. So I've noticed. Oh, hell. What's wrong with my own business? Now, where else could I find excitement all day and a beautiful girl to sing to at night? Flattery will get you everywhere, Mrs. Allen. Don't I know it. A little bit independent in your walk a little bit independent in your talk. There's nothing like you in Paris or New York. You're awfully easy on the aisle. A little bit in the independent when we dance. A little bit independent towards romance. A bit of sophistication in your glands and yet you're easy on the eyes. Whenever I'm with you alone you even add expell and though it be a danger zone I only know that you're swell. A little bit independent with your smile A little bit independent in your style how can I help but love you all the while when you're so easy on the eyes? Rick. Yes, baby? I've been wondering which holds more attraction for you to me. My piano. Oh, come here, baby. Here's your drink, Mr. Oh, Mr. Diamond. Miss Helen. Oh, dear. Why did I ever leave Cambridge again? Here's your rectal family druggist. Whenever you have a headache, remember this about Rectol aspirin. When taken with water, the five full grains of pure aspirin in every Rexall tablet are ready to go to work for you even before they reach your stomach. So whenever you have a headache, remember that about rectal aspirin. Ask for it at Rexall drugstores everywhere. And remember always, you can depend on any drug product that bears the name Rexall. Good health to all from Rexall. Richard diamond, private detective, stars. Dick Powell in the Pacific. Vital role with Music composed and conducted by Frank Wirth. Look for Dick Powell in the Metro Golden Mayor production Right Cross, in which he co stars with June Allison and Ricardo Musselban. Richard Diamond, Private Detective is transcribed in Hollywood by Jaime Del Valle this is Bill Foreman inviting you to be with us next week at this time when we will again present Dick Powell as Richard Diamond, Private Detective. Hiya, beautiful. Get lost, bristle puss. You need a shave. But I have shaved. What else do you want me to do? Silly boy. She wants you to go stag. Go stag? But why? Because Stag is Rexall's exclusive line of men's good grooming aids like SAG Brushless Shave Cream. No fuss, no massage. Just smooth it on and presto. You get a clean, close shave. Your face stays smooth and whiskerless all day long. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll go. Stay. That's it. Join the Stag line now at Rexall drugstores everywhere. Yes. To make girls care. Go Stag. I sound off for Chesterfield. Chesterfield, low in nicotine, highest in quality, best for you. Chesterfield brings you dragmet. Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a forgery detail. For the past six years, a forger has been working in your city. The victims describe the suspect as a woman. Her M.O. is simple, but it continues to work. Your job Stopper Smokers by the thousands are now changing to Chesterfield. No wonder more and more smokers are learning this fact for themselves. Chesterfield low in nicotine, highest in quality. A published fact proved by chemical analyses of the country's six leading cigarette brands. Chesterfield the only cigarette ever with a record like this. Regular or king size. Chesterfield is best for you. Dragnet. The documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. Was Friday, September 18th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of forgery detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Welsh. My name's Friday. We're on our way out from the. And it was 10:42am when we got to the ninth floor of the Beckworth department store. The credit manager's office. Yes, we'd like to see Mr. Donaldson, please. May I say who's calling Sergeant Friday, Los Angeles Police Department. Oh, yes, he's expecting you. Just a moment. Thank you. Yes? The gentlemen from the police department are here, Mr. Donaldson. Send them in, please. Yes, sir. You want to go right in? That's the door. Thank you very much. Come on in, gentlemen. Thank you. Mr. Donaldson? Yes. I'm Sergeant Friday. This is my partner, Frank Smith. How do you do? How you do, sir? Sit down. Thank you very much, sir. Do you want to tell us what this is all about? Well, it's a little mother again. I've got the receipts here on the desk. Is Sergeant Ferguson still working on this case? Yes, sir. I talked to him the last time we were stuck. Usual type of things, charge? Yes. Children's shoes, dresses, sweaters. Same as always. I see. Now, I wonder if I could have those slips, Mr. Donaldson. Sure. Here you are. Thank you. All made out the same day, August 22nd? Yes. Our experience is that she usually comes in on a Saturday. Seems that the store is more crowded then. And the girls don't take any more time to verify the accounts than they have to. Can I see those, Joe? Yeah, here he is. What if we could talk to the sales girl who waited on her? Sure. I'll have her set up fine. Yes, sir. Ms. Firestone, would you please have Mrs. Allen set up? Yes, sir. I notice here the only items you charge not for children is a woman's slip. Yes, we've had a couple of them in the past. Pieces of women's clothing. I talked to Sergeant Ferguson about it when he was here. Mm. Did you get the bulletin we sent out this month? Beg pardon? The bulletin giving the woman's description, samples of. Of her handwriting. Did you get it? Yes, sir, we did. You've got to understand, Sergeant, this is one of the biggest stores in the city. We do a lot of business. It'll be almost impossible to alert all of the sales girls to watch for the woman. Yes, sir, we understand that, but was the description sent to the children's department? It was. It didn't do any good, though. If the woman charged large amounts, it might be easier. But look at the sales slips yourself. Four dollar shoes, three dollar bill addresses. Nothing to make a charge like that stand out. We make sure that there's an account in the name and then let it go. Don't you use the charger plate system? Yes, we do. But if a customer wants to charge an item and hasn't got the plate, we usually just verify the account and let them sign the sale slip. How about identification? Well, normally we do ask for it. As I said, these sales are such small amounts, and the woman comes in when the store is crowded. The girls just called the credit department. Let us sign the receipt. I see. Excuse me. Yes, sir? Yes? Mrs. Allen's here. Oh, all right. Just a moment. Yes, sir. Woman who waited on her is out in the office. Do you want to talk to her in here? Well, we don't want to take up any more of your time, sir. We can see her out there. All right. If there's anything else you need, I'll be here. Yes, sir. Oh, Officer. Yes, sir? You know, I feel a little funny about this thing. Why is that, sir? Well, the thing she's charged. What's that? Things she's taken are almost all kids clothes. Doesn't seem to be interested in anything else. Total amounts of the articles she's taken don't add up to much. It's the principle of the thing more than the value. It just seems that the only thing she's interested in is the children. It feels a little funny to call the police about a person. Yes, sir, we understand we've got a lot of this going on, but the others, they. They take things for themselves. Luxuries, you know, expensive items. But she doesn't. Just with kids, she doesn't seem to be at all interested in herself. Well, we are. Yes, well, I suppose so. Well, I'll be here if you need anything more. Thank you, Mr. Donaldson. Thanks very much. We'll be in touch with you. You'll bring the sale slips back, won't you? Yes, sir. As soon as we've had the chance to photograph. Well, I hope you can do something about it. Yes, sir. So do we. Thank you very much. Anything you need, you let me know. Yes, sir. Thank you. Just a moment. Mrs. Allen? Yes? These are the police officers. How you doing, ma' am? I'm Sergeant Friday. This is my partner, Frank Smith. Hello. How do you do, Ms. Allen? You want to sit down over here, please? Yes, all right. I feel just terrible about this, ma' am, all this forgery thing. Now, you waited on the woman, didn't you? Yes. At least in the little girl's department. Uh huh. What if you could describe her for us? Well, she was a little woman. I'd say a 10. How's that again, ma' am? A size 10. Oh, five one. About 105 pounds. Cute as a button. Did she have the children with her? No, no, she didn't. I thought it was a little funny at the time, but as I say, we were so busy with the school rush that afternoon, that none of us girls had a chance to really think about anything. Yes, ma' am. What color hair did she have? Kinda sandy color. Guess you'd call it a blonde. Wore it up in a bun, you know, back here, you know? Yes, ma' am. The other girls noticed it. Long looked nice. Different than all the other short haircuts. Kind of old fashioned and homey. Yes, ma' am. How was she dressed? Not very well. Well, a little blue hat, dark coat, cloth coat. Collar came up like this, you know, slash pockets. Nice, but not expensive. I say, ma' am, now, would you know her if you saw her again? Oh, my, yes. Sure would. Well, we'd like you to come over to our office and look at some pictures, if you would. All right. I'll have to talk to the floor manager. We'll take care of that, Mrs. Allen. All right. You think that you might have a picture of her? We don't know. I kind of hope not, ma' am. I hope you don't have a picture. I guess it's a little sinful to even think of it. But she had a reason for what she did. I'm sure of it. Why do you say that, Mrs. Allen? Officer, I've been selling for a long time. I met a lot of people in that time, nice ones and nasty ones. And believe me, this is one of the sweetest people I've ever served. Mm. I understand that you call her the little mother. Is that right? Well, we don't, ma' am. That's what the newspapers call her. Well, it fits her to a T. Right to a T. Where she bustled around those dresses, looking, testing. She was just like a mother hen, trying to find something for her brood. Little doll, cute as a button. She just got to have a reason for what she's doing. Sergeant Friday. Yes, Mr. Donaldson. I'm glad I caught you. I think we've got it, sir. The little mother is downstairs now. For the last six years, the same woman had been operating in the downtown department stores. During that period, she'd forged a total of $1,300 worth of merchandise that we knew of. Because of her M.O. there was no way of telling how much more had gone undetected. The operation was a simple one. She'd enter a store, go to one of the departments there. She'd pick up articles of apparel, mostly for children, and then ask to charge. She'd explained that she'd forgotten her charger plate, and after the account had been verified, she'd sign the charge slip These slips would be put in the mail to the people who maintained the account, and it wouldn't be until they noticed a discrepancy that we'd be notified. Usually a month would pass between the time the clothing was taken and we were told of it. In the six years that the little mother, as the newspapers had dubbed her, had been operating, almost every team of detectives in the forgery detail had worked on the case. Statements from salesgirls had waited on her were taken. Photo stats of the sales slips were made. Witnesses were interrogated. And then when the sum total of actual physical evidence was weighed and sifted, there was no lead to the identity of the forger. The police department had gotten out printed bulletins and copies of composite drawings of the suspect, and these had been distributed to all department stores in the area. But because of the suspect's appearance and the way she operated, none of the victims became suspicious in time to notify us. The department Stores Protective League was working with us, but the they met with the same dead ends that we'd found. Meanwhile, the evidence continued to pile up. The operation continued to work. When the manager of Beckwith's Department Store told us that the suspect was in the store, Frank and I were able to come up with the first concrete lead we'd had since we'd been working on the case in the company of the manager and the saleswoman, Mrs. Myra Allen. Frank and I went down to the boys department where the suspect was reported to be. Down this way. Yes, sir. Girl said she was over by Boys Suit. I hope they're wavered. And hold her. Mm. Just a minute. Yes, sir. I know I don't have to tell you gentlemen about the store's liability in a situation like this. No, sir. Now, I'm sure it's her, but it could be very embarrassing and expensive to the store if we made a mistake. All right, sir, we understand. Good. Over here. All right. Mr. Donaldson? Mr. Donaldson? Yes, Ms. Franklin? Why is she. It's not my fault. You've got to believe that. What's the matter, miss? Don't tell me you stopped the wrong person. You cause trouble with an innocent party and she could sue the store. I'm sorry, Mr. Donald. Where is the woman, miss? That's what I'm trying to tell you. Yes, ma' am. She wouldn't wait. A quick search at the immediate vicinity in the store failed to turn up the suspect. The department store security staff was notified and a watch was put on all of the doors. The credit department was notified and they took action. We checked with the elevator operators. We found one that told us she'd seen a weapon woman who answered the description get in her car. She explained that the woman seemed to be in a hurry and had left the elevator as soon as it had reached the main floor. A further check of the store netted us nothing. The suspect had escaped. In the downtown crowds, it would have been almost impossible to try to find her on the streets. However, an additional broadcast carrying a complete description of the clothing she was wearing was gotten out to all cars in the area. The first good chance we'd had for apprehending her was gone. We had to go back to the legwork and the waiting. Three months passed. During that time, Frank and I cleaned up a series of counterfeit payroll check cashings. Another 30 days went by without activity for the little mother. There were four new sales slips added to the file. But when the leads resulting from these were checked out, we were no closer to her than we'd been six years before. Thursday, December 17, 12:55pm I checked into the office. Joe, that's you. Yeah, what do you got? Oh, just talking about the skipper now. Got a couple of more beeps about the little mother when they come in this morning. Where are they? Don Meyers got him. He's checking the handwriting. Well, how about the name she used? Wait a minute. I got them here in my book. There they are. Mrs. Norris Farrell. Mrs. James Slagle, I guess it is. And Mrs. Ross Neiman. I called the stores and got the information on these people. Did you talk to them? Yeah, asked all the routine stuff. None of them can think of any friends who match the description. How about the thing she charged? Anything there? No usual items. Let's see. A pair of Levi's for kids. One child's cotton dress. There is one thing different. What's in? I checked the sizes of the clothes. Last bunch of sales slips we had, the dresses were for a 10 year old. This time she bought them for a 12 year old. Kids are getting bigger, Joe. You know. That's a big help. All we got to do is look for a couple of kids that are growing. Well, I was just trying to help, Joe. No, I mean, there just doesn't seem to be anywhere to go. All the time we've put in all the people we've talked to, all we got for it is a file drawer all to ourself on the thing again. Forgery Friday. Who? Yes, ma' am. Mm. Yes, ma' am. I remember. Where is she now? I see. Yeah, we can be Right over. Yes, ma' am. Bye. Bye. Well, we got it. What do you mean? That was Mrs. Allen. Remember? The sales lady over at Beckworth's? Oh, yeah, I think I do. What'd she have to say? Told me she's having lunch in a restaurant at the corner of Jackson on Hill. Yeah, Our suspect sitting next to her. 102:00pm we checked out of the office and drove over to the restaurant. It was located at the rear of a large drugstore. When we came into the place, Mrs. Allen met us at the entrance. She took us back down the counter and pointed out a small woman sitting on the last stool. That's her. You sure, ma' am? I'm positive. That's her, all right. Let's go. Yes. You want to wait here, Ms. Allen? Certainly. Something you gentlemen want? We're police officers, ma' am. We'd like to talk to you. Police? Yes, ma' am. You want to step over there to talk? Might be better. Well, if you want to say anything to me, you can say I haven't done anything wrong. What if we could see your identification? Why your identification, ma' am. Could we see it? All right. Just a minute. I've got my purse getting terrible. I don't know what you officers are trying to find out, but I'm gonna tell you right now, if you can't prove you've got a reason for making me do this, you're in trouble. We're not making you do anything, ma' am. We don't want to cause you any embarrassment. Funny way of showing it. I want to tell you that my husband knows people in this town. When he hears about this. Oh, here you are. Here's my driver's license. Would you take it out of your wallet, please? Here. Mrs. Evelyn Nelson. That's who I am. This your present address? No, it isn't. We moved a few months ago, but I haven't had a chance to have it changed. Is that all you want? No, Ms. Nelson, it isn't. I wonder if we could talk to you in our office. Why? I always thought you had to arrest people before you could order them around. We're asking you to come over the city hall with us, if you will, ma' am. And a few things we'd like to check out. What things? Wonder if I can see what you've got in the bags here. What are you looking for? Do you mind if we took a look? Well, they're just some clothes for my children. Nothing in there to interest you. Well, then it wouldn't hurt if we Looked. Would it? Go ahead. You won't find anything. You want to take a couple of these, Frank? Yeah, I got it. Well, what about it? Did you find anything wrong? Maybe a gun? No, ma' am. But I wonder if you could explain this. What's that? This charge slip here, signed by Mrs. Ross Neiman. Well, certainly. That was probably in the bag when I bought the things. I don't know anything about it. All right, Ms. Nelson, afraid we're gonna have to ask you to come with us. On what charge? Suspicion of forger. You are listening to Dragnet. The authentic story of your police force in action. At cigarette dealers, in vending machines, at supermarkets and stores, coast to coast. Chesterfield, please. Smokers by the thousands. Yes, smokers by the thousands are now changing to Chesterfield. The only cigarette ever to give you one proof of low nicotine, highest quality. Chemical analyses of the country's six leading brands confirm that 2. The only cigarette ever to give you this proven record with smokers again and again over a full year and 1/2 a group of Chesterfield smokers have been given thorough medical examination. The doctor's reports are a matter of record. No adverse effects to the nose, throat and sinuses from smoking Chesterfield. A responsible independent research laboratory supervises this continuing program. Chesterfield, the only cigarette ever with a record like this. Chesterfield. Best for you. We returned the suspect to the city hall for questioning. While Frank checked her name through the files, I tried to get her to talk for 20 minutes. Her attitude was one of surprise and she answered the questions I put to her with indignance. Finally, she lapsed into silence and wouldn't reply at all to further interrogation. Frank came back from R and I with the information that there was no arrest record for Mrs. Nelson. We put out calls to the sales girls who had waited on the little mother in the past and asked them to come down to the office to see if they could identify the suspect. Yes, ma' am. Room 29. Yeah. Come right in the first street entrance, turn left into the police department. That's right, ma' am. There's an arch there. Go right through it, straight down the hall and to the right. Well, it's the only way you can go. It's on the left as you go down the hall. That's right, 29. If you last sergeant Friday or officer Smith. No, ma' am. Smith. It's all right, ma' am. We'll expect you. Goodbye. I'll call the next one. Yeah. You know, you'd save yourself and us a lot of trouble if you'd tell us the truth. Mrs. Nelson? Mrs. Nelson. Hello. May I speak with Miss Brundage, please? And Children's Wear. Yes, ma' am, I will hang up the phone. Beg your pardon? You don't have to go through this anymore. All right, ma' am. You want to tell us about it? Ms. Nelson? I only did it for them, the kids. I didn't want to. How do you think I felt when I knew I was stealing? How do you think I felt? You want to go ahead. My husband Paul's a good man. What he's done, he thinks is right. I can't quarrel with him. But he doesn't know. He doesn't understand. It isn't that he doesn't love the kids. He does. He really does. It's just that he doesn't understand. You can see that, can't you? He doesn't understand about them. Do either of you have a handkerchief? I came away this morning without one. Yes, ma' am. Here you are. Thanks. Wanna go ahead, Please? All his life he's worked. Put in long hours without a thought of what he was doing to himself. Every nickel. Every nickel he made was put away so he'd be able to feel secure. So he wouldn't have to worry about anything. It was all right when we first got married. I could understand it then. I went along with what he thought. But the last few years of. It's gotten to be an obsession with him. The almighty dollar. That's all that seems important to him. What kind of work does your husband do, Mrs. Nelson? He owns a grocery store. Small place, but it does good. Makes a good living. Only we aren't living, we're existing. He gives me $10 a week to run the house and buy clothes for the kids. I've tried. Lord knows I've tried. Budget meals, cheap cuts of meat, day old bread. Any way you spend it, no matter how you feel. Figure $10 just doesn't go very far. Now, Mrs. Nelson, didn't you talk to your husband about it? Didn't you ask him for additional money for the expenses? Yes, I'd ask him and he'd tell me that I had to make do all the time, make do just a little longer until he had the money in the bank and we'd be all right. Only the more it went on, the worse it got. It didn't seem to make any difference how much money we had how the total in the passbook went up. He wasn't satisfied. Had to be a little more. A little more. I guess I'm feeling sorry for myself. But you see, he could afford to buy the kids decent clothes. At least that you agree with me, don't you? Well, that's hard to say, man. Not for me. I'll never forget the day when my boy came home crying. Been fighting. One of the other boys at school had said something about the patches on his clothes. Just a little kid, that's all. He was ridiculed by his friends. That's when I made up my mind to do something about it. Does your husband know anything about your activities? No, nothing. How'd you explain the new clothes for the youngster to him? I didn't have to last year. He's been working so hard at the store, I hardly ever see him. The kids don't hardly know him. He even spends Sunday at the store dressing the windows. You mean he spends all his time there? Every minute he's not asleep, he let one clerk he had go so he could save the money. Always save the money. It doesn't make any difference who gets hurt. Get that dollar and put it away. That's what count. Put the dollar away. You know something, officer? What's that, Ms. Nelson? I haven't been able to sit down and talk. Talked to my husband for six weeks. Six weeks. He gets home at 12:30, 1:00 clock in the morning. He's up and gone at 6:30. Kids are always asking when Daddy's coming home. How do you answer him? How do you make him understand? I can't. I've tried the only way I know how. And I did it so wrong. That all right, Ms. Nelson. We'll try to work it out. Can I use your phone? I've got to tell the children what to do about dinner. I'll call for you if you like, ma' am. What's the number? Hollywood, 9884. Where's your husband now, Ms. Nelson? At the store, I guess. You're gonna call him? I think we should, ma' am. Let him know what's happened? I guess so. Somebody's gotta take. Hello, I'm calling for Mrs. Nelson. I wonder if I could speak to her son. Mrs. Sgt. Friday, Los Angeles Police Department. Who? Yes. No, she's down here now. Room 29. All right, fine. Was that my boy? I wanted to talk to him. No, ma' am, that was your husband. He's on his way down here. 2:14pm Paul Nelson walked into the office. Frank and I took him and his wife to the interrogation room. She'd asked us while we waited for him if we'd let her talk to him for A few minutes alone. We stayed out in the hall and after a brief wait, Paul Nelson opened the door and asked us to come into the room. His wife had evidently told him the full story because he was visible. He walked over to his wife and sat down beside her. Well, I guess I've really done it, haven't I? What do you mean, sir? I've really ruined everything. My home, my kids, everything. All the time it was happening, I never knew it. Never had an idea. Don't blame yourself too much, Paul. But I should have known. I should have seen it myself. Even when you tried to tell me. I was too busy to see it, too wrapped up with the business. It wasn't for me, Paul. It was for the children. It doesn't make any difference who it was for. I'm the one who caused it. I'm the one. It's my fault. I'm sorry, Evelyn. How can I ever make it up to you? Don't think about that now, Paul. It won't do any good. What's been done can't be changed. How about it, Officer? Sir? What happens now? Well, your wife is going to be given a preliminary hearing. She'll have the chance to plead guilty. If she does, the court will decide what to do. What's the punishment for what she's done? Well, According to Section 473 of the Penal code, it's imprisonment in the state penitentiary for one to 14 years or for not more than a year in the county jail. Is there any way out of it? What do you mean? Any way of getting Evelyn out of it. If I went to the judge and told him why she did it, if I told him it was my fault, would that make a difference? I don't know. I'd be up to the court. But I could try. Yes, sir. If I paid the money back for all the things she's taken, I can afford it. I could go to the stores and pay him. Maybe they'd feel different then, huh? I could make it up to him. Everything would be all right. Well, it's been going on for six years, you know. But if I did pay the stores back, it'd make it up to him, wouldn't it? Maybe. But how about your wife? What? How you gonna make it up to her? 4:30pm the suspect was released on a rip. The next afternoon, Frank and I met with Mr. And Mrs. Nelson and their attorney. We talked over the case. Seemed that the husband's change of heart was permanent. He swore that he'd never give his wife cause for unhappiness again. Two weeks later, in Department 89 of the Superior Court, Mrs. Nelson entered a plea of guilty to 14 counts of forgery. When the court reviewed the circumstances and was informed that Mr. Nelson intended to make full restitution, the Probation board recommended that Mrs. Nelson be placed on probation for three years. After the hearing, Frank and I had a brief talk with the couple. They thanked us for our consideration and understanding. Apparently, the cause of trouble between the Nelsons had been erased. Another two weeks went by. January 22nd, Frank and I got back from lunch and we checked into the office. Here they are, dear. Mr. Friday, Mr. Smith, Ms. Nelson. Mr. Nelson, how are you? Just fine, Sergeant. How are you two? Fine, thank you very much, ma' am. What can we do for you? It's what we want to do for you, sir. You got the boxes, honey? Yeah, here they are. It's not much, but we thought that you. You'd like. I made them ourselves to say thanks. Look at that, Joe. That's not necessary, ma' am. You didn't have to do that. No, no, we wanted to. Toll House Cookies. He made a box for each of you. Real good. Lots of chocolate. Well, that's very nice of you. We just hope you'll enjoy them. Yes, ma' am, I'm sure we will. Yes, ma' am. How are things going with you? Oh, just fine. Paul and I have gotten everything straightened out. I help him out at the store now. That way he's got more time to spend with the kids. Things just couldn't be much better. Well, we're glad to hear that. It's a funny thing to say, Mr. Friday, but it's true. The best thing that ever happened to us. What's that, Ms. Nelson? My getting arrested. The story you have just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On January 8, the meeting was held in the County Probationer's Office in Infant the county of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that meeting. Now, here is our star, Jack Webb. Thank you. George Feniman. Friends, we've been getting letters from people all over the country telling us that they've switched to Chesterfield. Just as I've been telling you, thousands of smokers are changing to Chesterfield because only Chesterfield gives proof of low nicotine, highest quality. That's why I recommend you try them today. Regular or king size? You'll find Chesterfield best for you. At the end of three years, Mrs. Evelyn Margaret Nelson had fulfilled the requirements of her probation and the case was officially marked closed. You have just Heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police W.H. parker, Los Angeles Police Department Technical Advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Vance Brasher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Vic Rodman, Joyce McCluskey. Script by John Robinson, Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking. Watch an entirely new Dragnet case history each week on your local NBC television station. Please check your newspaper for the day and time Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet. Transcribed from Los Angeles have you tried new cork tipped Fatima? It's the smooth smoke. Here's why. New Fatima tips of perfect cork king size for longer filtering and Fatima quality for a much better flavor and aroma. Remember, Fatima has the tip for your lips. Try new Fatima. See how smooth it is. Fatima is made by the makers of Chesterfield, Liggett and Myers, one of tobacco's most respected names. This is the NBC Radio Network. We just heard Mother's Day Mysteries starring Sherlock Holmes, George Valentine, Dan Holliday, Richard diamond and the cops of Dragnet. That will do it for this week's show. Thanks for joining me and thanks for your patience as the release schedule has gotten shifted slightly due to some unforeseen complications. But I'm back now and we should be on a more consistent schedule going forward. In fact, I'll be back next Sunday with more Old Time Radio Detectives with a few bonus episode sprinkled throughout the rest of May. In the meantime, you can check out Stars on Suspense, my other Old Time Radio podcast. New episodes of that show are 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 meansch sts otr. I'll be back next week with more Old Time Radio Mysteries. But until then, good night and happy listening. 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.