Podcast Summary: "Black Museum-31-A Piece Of Iron Chain"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Date: October 4, 2025

Overview

In this episode, "A Piece Of Iron Chain," from the classic radio series The Black Museum, listeners are taken on a suspenseful journey into a case involving haunting noises, inheritance-driven murders, and methodical police work. The story revolves around Joan Tomlinson, a young woman tormented by what seems to be supernatural occurrences in her London home. Inspector Hall of Scotland Yard investigates, revealing a grim and cunning plot rooted not in the supernatural, but in family greed and calculated violence. The chain, originally an object of mystery, becomes a key piece of evidence in a chilling series of crimes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Black Museum Introduction (00:25–02:00)

• The episode begins with the iconic narration introducing the Black Museum, a place where everyday objects, now tied to murder, are kept.
• This episode's focus: “a piece of an iron chain... in this case, it was the cause of death.”

Joan Tomlinson's Ordeal (02:40–05:30)

• Joan, haunted by nightly noises and her deceased father’s voice, reports the incidents to the police.
• Inspector Hall and Sergeant Preston are skeptical of ghosts, suggesting more human motives.
  • Quote: “In modern times, no one believes in ghosts.” (03:32, B)

The Investigation (05:31–10:00)

• Sergeant Preston spends the night at Joan’s house, hearing eerie sounds himself.
• The narrative builds tension:
  • Joan (B): “It sounds so like him... my father.” (07:22)
• After a terrifying encounter, Joan is injured and hospitalized. The inspector concludes someone tried to harm her, not a ghost.

Uncovering the Plot (12:00–17:00)

• Inspector Hall finds evidence: the iron chain, sawn stairs, and manipulated furnace air ducts used to mimic a ghost’s voice.
  • Inspector Hall (A): “A stair tread was sawn through. I understand ghosts have difficulty with cross cut saws.” (12:09)
• Joan’s relatives—her second cousins—have all suspiciously died within days of each other.
• The inspector suspects the murders are committed for inheritance.

Tracking the Killer (17:00–19:23)

• Inspector Hall travels to various cities, uncovering the suspicious deaths of Joan's cousins.
• In Bristol, a landlord recalls Joan’s cousin Ruth being visited by “Michael Stroud” from London—now a suspect.
  • Mrs. Ross (B): “Her cousin, Michael Stroud, had come.” (18:10)
• Michael Stroud vanishes after the last cousin’s death.

The Trap is Set (19:23–22:00)

• Legal review shows that with all other second cousins dead, the next in line for the inheritance would be Michael Stroud.
• Inspector Hall devises a plan, using Joan as bait to lure out Stroud.

The Final Showdown (22:15–24:05)

• Michael Stroud confronts Joan, planning to kill her for the inheritance.
  • Stroud (A): “Now that you have seen me, what else is there to live for?” (22:35)
  • Plans to use carbon monoxide: “You’ll be a lovely Swiss idea. Carbon monoxide from the register, from the furnace...” (22:43)
• The police intervene just in time, arresting Stroud.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Skepticism:
  Inspector Hall:
  “A stair tread was sawn through. I understand ghosts have difficulty with cross cut saws.” (12:09)
• On Family and Inheritance:
  Inspector Hall:
  “Three people have died because of Ms. Tomlinson’s inheritance and that her own life is in danger.” (19:26)
• On the Killer’s Motive:
  Joan (B):
  “You couldn’t get away with it.”
  Stroud (A):
  “Oh, yes, I could. I can. I will. You’ll be a lovely Swiss idea.” (22:43)
• The Ghost Revealed:
  Joan (B):
  “He is a very corporeal ghost, isn’t he, Inspector?” (24:05)
  Inspector Hall (A):
  “Definitely. And I believe his corporeal fingerprints will match those on the handle of a very corporeal knife in Manchester, a steering wheel in Norwich, a bottle in Bristol. And a certain chain in the possession of Scotland Yard.” (24:12)

Timestamps For Key Segments

• 00:25–02:00 – Black Museum Introduction & episode object: the iron chain.
• 02:40–05:30 – Joan’s encounter with ghosts and her fears.
• 07:22 – Joan reacts to the ghostly voice imitating her father.
• 12:09 – Inspector Hall uncovers the mechanized “ghost” plot.
• 17:53–18:32 – Insightful comments from Mrs. Ross about Michael Stroud.
• 19:26–20:50 – Inspector Hall’s meeting with the solicitor about inheritance.
• 22:24–23:41 – The killer reveals his plan during the final confrontation.
• 24:05–24:12 – Joan and Inspector Hall’s closing remarks; case resolution.

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a classic, suspenseful tone, blending atmospheric tension with sharp police deduction. The language is formal and period-authentic, with moments of dry wit (particularly from Inspector Hall) and growing anxiety from Joan Tomlinson. Each voice is carefully delineated, with the sinister rationality of Michael Stroud standing in stark contrast to Joan's vulnerability.

Summary

This installment of The Black Museum unravels a cunning murder plot veiled in ghostly phenomena, ultimately exposing family greed and cold-blooded calculation behind a series of apparent accidents and hauntings. With methodical detective work and clever narrative turns, the story delivers suspense, satisfying resolution, and a memorable lesson: sometimes the real horrors are strikingly human. The iron chain—once an everyday object—remains, as always, a testament to the dark tales preserved in Scotland Yard’s macabre collection.