Casey Crime Photographer 46-12-19 Christmas Shopping

Summary

Podcast Summary: Casey, Crime Photographer — "Christmas Shopping" (December 19, 1946)

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Casey Crime Photographer 46-12-19 Christmas Shopping
Original Air Date: December 19, 1946
Summary Date: December 2, 2025

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Overview

In this festive yet suspenseful episode, Casey, the ever-vigilant crime photographer, embarks on some last-minute Christmas shopping with his partner Annie Williams. Their holiday trip to the department store is quickly interrupted by a chance encounter with a notorious pickpocket, and what seems like an ordinary theft soon unravels into a deeper mystery involving kidnapping, ransom, and attempted murder. Set against the bustling background of the postwar holiday rush, the episode delivers both seasonal cheer and classic crime drama with witty banter, sharp observations, and a satisfying resolution.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Department Store Mayhem and the Pickpocket Incident

• Setting: Crowded pre-Christmas department store.

• Main Characters: Casey and Annie Williams.

• Action:

  • Annie drags Casey around for Christmas shopping; Casey protests, relying on Annie's good taste for boring gifts ("Suppose I shop for all the uninteresting items while you go up to the toy department..." — Annie, 01:57).
  • Casey spots "Fingers" Fogarty, a notorious pickpocket, stalking shoppers.
  • They witness Fingers steal a wallet from a fat man but, when Casey confronts the victim, the man aggressively denies being robbed.
  • Annie and Casey are bewildered; Casey is sure of what he saw, but the victim's reaction is suspicious.

  Quote:

  "I tell you, I saw him." — Casey, 03:40
  "When a guy sees something that couldn't be seen, he's either goofy or drunk. On your way, fella." — Gus Pence, 03:41

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2. The Blue Note Bar & News of the Kidnapping

• Characters: Casey, Annie, bartender Ethelbert.

• Key Developments:

  • Casey complains at the bar while Annie and Ethelbert poke fun at his supposed “eye trouble.”
  • Ethelbert breaks the big news: the police have arrested Fingers Fogarty with part of the ransom money from the famous Walters kidnapping/murder case (06:46).

  Quote:

  "Your police reporter Jake Birkin was in a few minutes ago and tipped me off... the cops arrested the kidnapper and murderer of Gregory Walters." — Ethelbert, 05:46
  "It's that little runt Fingers Fogarty." — Ethelbert, 07:06

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3. A Theory Emerges: Who's Really Guilty?

• Characters: Casey, Annie, Captain Logan.

• Investigation:

  • Logan wonders if Fingers was setting up a fake theft as an alibi, expecting Casey to witness.
  • Casey flips the theory: What if the fat man was the real kidnapper, using Fingers as a patsy to test if the ransom money was still “hot”?
  • Logan is intrigued and asks Casey and Annie to help by reviewing mugshots of possible suspects (09:52–10:39).

  Quote:

  "Let's assume that Fingers is the real kidnapper... he acts like he's lifting it from a guy's pocket while Casey is watching him. He picked you for his star witness, pal." — Logan, 08:48
  "Logan, hasn't it occurred to you that the fat guy might have been sending up that trial balloon?" — Casey, 09:20

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4. Connecting the Dots: Two Pencers

• Development:
  • Reviewing police photos, Annie and Casey notice a resemblance between their fat man and a mugshot of Nick Pencer, but the details (age, weight) don't match (12:21–12:53).
  • Casey wakes up next morning with a hunch: Nick Pencer and the fat man could be relatives.
  • He finds a John (Gus) Pence, and he and Annie set out to investigate.

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5. The Confrontation and Peril

• Setting: Neighborhood near John Pence’s contracting business; a local drugstore.

• Action:

  • Annie and Casey discover Gus Pence, the fat man, is indeed related to Nick Pencer.
  • Gus recognizes the reporters, pulls a gun, and forces them at gunpoint to his garage, where Nick and Gus plan to kill them by carbon monoxide poisoning (18:16–21:34).

  Quote:

  "This hand in my pocket has a gun in it, mister. So do exactly as I tell you, okay?" — Gus Pence, 18:59
  "Oh, the carbon monoxide treatment, huh?" — Nick Pencer, 21:31

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6. Escape and Resolution

• Action:

  • Casey and Annie manage to free themselves from being taped and bound inside the garage as the gas fills the room.
  • Thinking quickly, they use the truck in the garage to forcibly escape, smashing the garage doors (23:32–24:06).
  • Gus and Nick attempt to flee; Casey uses the truck to ram their car, disabling their escape.

  Quote:

  "This 10-ton truck does a nice job when it hits a tin can like that." — Casey, 24:24

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7. Denouement at the Blue Note

• Setting: Back at the bar, safe and sound.

• Wrap-up:

  • The real kidnappers (Gus and Nick Pence) are in custody; the ransom money is recovered thanks to Gus’ confession.
  • The pickpocket, Fingers Fogarty, ends up imprisoned for a string of admitted thefts while trying to clear himself.
  • Casey and Annie get a little comic relief with a comically large Christmas tree delivered to the bar.

  Quotes:

  "Gee, and all because you and Ms. Williams did some Christmas shopping." — Ethelbert, 26:40
  "What happened to the little dip, Fingers Fogarty?" — Ethelbert, 26:44
  "The cops can keep him in jail until 1999." — Casey, 26:48

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Pickpocketing:

  "Pocket picking is considered antisocial. I've got to get Mr. Fogarty." — Casey, 02:46

• On Casey’s Determination:

  "What burns me up is I didn't find out why the fat guy denied it." — Casey, 04:56

• Humor Amidst Tension:

  "Oh, golly, Captain, why don't you have some good looking crooks in your files? I'm gonna have nightmares looking at pictures of so many ugly men." — Annie Williams, 12:06

• Nail-Biting Escape:

  "I'm putting you in this truck... It's taking us out of here." — Casey, 23:33

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Key Timestamps

• 00:58 — Episode introduction and department store scene
• 02:08 — Casey spots Fingers Fogarty
• 04:23 — At the Blue Note Bar
• 05:46 — News breaks about the Walters kidnapping
• 07:06 — Fogarty is revealed as the suspect, furthering the plot
• 08:48–10:39 — Strategic theories debated with Captain Logan
• 12:21–12:53 — Looking at police mugshots
• 13:29–14:26 — Casey's hunch and plan to investigate Gus Pence
• 16:03–18:19 — The investigation at the neighborhood drugstore
• 18:59 — Gus Pence confronts and threatens Casey and Annie
• 21:04–23:32 — Casey and Annie tied up, threatened with carbon monoxide
• 23:33–24:24 — Their dramatic escape by truck
• 26:26 — The case is closed, recap at the bar
• 27:08 — Lighthearted ending with a massive Christmas tree

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Episode Tone and Style

The episode deftly balances classic noir detective intrigue, witty repartee (“Maybe you only need glass... I do after this, several glasses” — Annie & Casey, 04:06), and Christmas season warmth. Snake-like plot twists, playful banter, and a gritty sense of holiday hustle fill the air, making for a fast-paced yet jolly installment. The chemistry between Casey and Annie delivers heart, while the moral—crime doesn’t pay, even at Christmas—rings out clear, reinforced by a foray into festive humor with the closing Christmas tree gag.

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In sum:
A delightful Golden Age radio crime story where a simple act of Christmas shopping unravels a deeper criminal plot; Casey and Annie’s sleuthing brings two crooks to justice, all wrapped in wit, seasonal spirit, and the nostalgia of radio drama’s heyday.

Transcript

[Tony Marvin]

The Anchor Hawking Glass Corporation brings you crime photographer.

[Ethelbert]

Hey, Ethelbert. Oh, hello, Casey.

[Casey]

What's Tony Marvin worrying about over there?

[Ethelbert]

Why, he's writing a holiday poem. And he stuck for something to rhyme with Christmas stocking.

[Casey]

But Ethelbert, are you kidding?

[Ethelbert]

Certainly not. Oh, you mean Anchor Hawking.

[Tony Marvin]

Oh, gee, fellas, that's wonderful. Anchor Hawking. A great name in class.

[Captain Logan]

Good even.

[Tony Marvin]

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Tony Marvin. Every week at this time, the Anchor Hawking Glass Corporation of Lancaster, Ohio, and its more than 10,000 employees bring you another adventure of Casey, crime photographer, ace cameraman who covers the crime news of a great city. Written by Alonzo Dean Cole. Our adventure for tonight, Christmas shopping. Late afternoon, crowded aisle in one of our city's largest department stores. Making slow headway through the jostling shoppers are Casey.

[Annie Williams]

I've never seen the store so crowded.

[Casey]

Yeah, we say that every year during the week before Christmas. Annie, where. Where are you taking me now, huh?

[Annie Williams]

Well, you haven't anything for your Aunt Harriet yet, so I thought we'd look at umbrellas there on this side of the store somewhere.

[Casey]

Yeah. Annie, look, you can pick up a much nicer umbrella for Aunt Harriet than I can. I trust your judgment absolutely, Annie. So suppose.

[Annie Williams]

Suppose I shop for all the uninteresting items while you go up to the toy department and watch the electric.

[Casey]

Well, you know, I've still got to pick up a few more things for my sister's kids. Annie.

[Katie]

And.

[Casey]

Hey, Annie, wait a minute. Hang on to your pocketbook. Keep an eye on that little guy in the black overcoat just ahead of us. That's Fingers Fogarty, one of the best known dips in the city.

[Annie Williams]

Pickpocket?

[Casey]

Yep. Shove through this mob a little faster, Annie. Now, keep him in sight. I think he's closing in on a prospect.

[Annie Williams]

You mean he's made up his mind about whose pocket he's going to pick?

[Casey]

Sure. Smart dips like Fingers don't dive into just anybody's pocket. They hang around bars and wait for some guy to flash a rol. And they tail him if he gets into a crowd like this. Look, Fogerty's doing his stuff now, ain't he?

[Annie Williams]

No.

[Casey]

Yeah, that big fat guy. He just bumped into Fingers. Took a wallet from his inside pocket.

[Annie Williams]

Well, I didn't see him.

[Casey]

Neither did the fat guy. Fingers is a smooth worker. Come on. You'll feel very badly when we stop his special brand of Christmas shopping, but pocket picking is considered antisocial. I've got to get Mr. Fogarty.

[Annie Williams]

Well, he squeezed through the crowd. I can't see him anymore.

[Casey]

Neither can I.

[Annie Williams]

Look, Casey, yell out for somebody to stop me.

[Casey]

What'll I yell? Stop, thief.

[Annie Williams]

Well, you can't let him get away.

[Casey]

You won't get away. Every cop in this precinct knows Fingers. He'll be picked up quick after a charge is brought against him. I'll help that guy who lost his wallet. Bring the charge?

[Annie Williams]

Yes, if you appear as a witness, I will. Where's the fat man?

[Casey]

Excuse me, mister. Something happened to you a minute ago that I don't think you know about.

[Gus Pence]

What do you mean?

[Casey]

Your pocket was picked.

[Gus Pence]

My pocket?

[Casey]

Yeah. A little guy bumped into you, and as he did, I saw his hand go into your inside pocket and come out with a wallet. Well, I happen to know who he is. And when you report your loss to.

[Gus Pence]

The cops, I'll be glad you're mistaken, mister. I didn't lose my wallet.

[Grandpa]

Huh?

[Casey]

I'm sure.

[Gus Pence]

I'm more sure.

[Casey]

I tell you, I saw him.

[Gus Pence]

When a guy sees something that couldn't be seen, he's either goofy or drunk. On your way, fella.

[Casey]

Well, I'll be.

[Annie Williams]

Good thing you didn't get your hands on Fingers Cogarty. He could have plastered you with a nice suit for false arrest.

[Casey]

And I know he took a wallet from that fat guy's pocket. I was watching every move that Fingers made.

[Annie Williams]

Well, I was watching him too, and I didn't see him take anything. And that fat man says he didn't lose a wallet.

[Casey]

So, okay, I'm goofy or drunk.

[Annie Williams]

Maybe you only need glass.

[Casey]

Well, I do after this, several glasses. Let's head for the Blue Note.

[Ethelbert]

You and Casey get your Christmas shopping done this afternoon, Ms. Wills.

[Annie Williams]

Well, I accomplished quite a lot, Ethelbert, but not Casey. He got sore, and after that, nothing would please him.

[Ethelbert]

What you get sore about, pal?

[Casey]

Nothing.

[Annie Williams]

Oh, he had a little eye trouble.

[Ethelbert]

Oh, gee, that's too bad. Did you see spots floating in front of your case?

[Casey]

My eyes are okay. Now, fill that glass up again, Albert, and don't ask so many silly questions.

[Annie Williams]

Mine too.

[Ethelbert]

Right away, Ms. Williams.

[Annie Williams]

Oh, now, Casey, don't you think it's about time you snapped out of your grouch? Well, it's pretty silly to get yourself all burned up just because you made a mistake.

[Casey]

I didn't make a mistake, Annie Fingers Fogarty took a wallet from that fat guy's pocket. What burns me up is I. I didn't find out why the fat guy denied it.

[Annie Williams]

Well, how could you have found out?

[Casey]

I don't know, but I'M supposed to be a newspaper guy. Annie, we may have missed a story with Pict.

[Ethelbert]

Your refreshment, folks.

[Annie Williams]

Oh, thanks, Ethelbert.

[Ethelbert]

Say, have you stopped into your office since you finished shopping?

[Annie Williams]

Hey, my tender. Who's the boss here?

[Ethelbert]

Well, what do you want?

[Annie Williams]

You want to buy a nice Christmas tree?

[Ethelbert]

You got some nice ones.

[Annie Williams]

A wagon full of them. Fresh from Nova Scotia.

[Ethelbert]

Hmm, let's see one.

[Annie Williams]

I'll be right back.

[Ethelbert]

Say, Casey, have you two stopped in at your office since you finished your shopping?

[Annie Williams]

Certainly not. This is our day off.

[Ethelbert]

Then you ain't heard the big news yet.

[Casey]

Not big news.

[Ethelbert]

One of your police reporters, Jake Birkin, was in a few minutes ago and tipped me off about it. G was all excited.

[Annie Williams]

What happened, Ethelbert?

[Ethelbert]

About half an hour ago the cops arrested the kidnapper and murderer of Gregory Walters.

[Captain Logan]

They did?

[Casey]

Where? Where'd they get him?

[Ethelbert]

Well, like you know, before the Walters family paid over that $50,000 ransom to the kidnapper, the FBI made a list of the serial numbers on the bills which they circulated all over the country.

[Casey]

Of course, we know all that effort.

[Annie Williams]

How's this tray, mister? Nice and pushy, huh?

[Ethelbert]

Let's see. One a little taller.

[Gus Pence]

A little taller.

[Annie Williams]

Okay. F O. Bert, will you tell us about that kidnapping?

[Ethelbert]

Well, I'm getting to it.

[Casey]

Come on, come on.

[Ethelbert]

Well, a guy walks into a TAVERN over on 36th street tonight, orders a drink and hands a barkeep a 20 buck bill with one of them hot numbers on it. The barkeep checks the number, calls a cop and when the cop searched the guy, he found about 500 bucks more of the ransom doe in his pocket.

[Casey]

Well, Ethelbert, who is the guy who had the ransom dough? The cops identified him here.

[Ethelbert]

They knew him as soon as they laid eyes on him.

[Annie Williams]

But Ethelbert, who? Who is he, please?

[Grandpa]

Hey, is this tray big enough, mister?

[Ethelbert]

Let's see. Well, let's see. One a little thicker around the bottom.

[Annie Williams]

Thicker around the bottom.

[Katie]

Will you please?

[Ethelbert]

Casey and I know him. He's always been a small time crook and I was surprised to learn he was mixed up with anything so big as kidnapping and murder.

[Casey]

Say, will you tell us?

[Ethelbert]

I am telling you. It's that little runt Fingers Fogarty.

[Casey]

Fingers Fogarty?

[Grandpa]

Yeah, the dip.

[Casey]

He had Walter's ransom dough on him.

[Ethelbert]

About 500 bucks, just like I said. Naturally, Fingers denies having anything to do with the kidnapping. He said he lifted the dough out of the pocket of a guy who was Christmas shopping in S.J. frankens department store around 4 o' clock this afternoon.

[Casey]

Casey Frankens and that fat guy denied he's been robbed.

[Annie Williams]

Do you think he was?

[Casey]

I can't see Fingers as a kidnapper. He's always been just a slimy little sneaky.

[Ethelbert]

Hey, what's this about a fat guy?

[Casey]

Casey, Annie, come on. We're going to tell Logan what happened in Frank.

[Ethelbert]

What did happen?

[Casey]

Well, never mind. Hear it later, Ethelbert.

[Ethelbert]

So long.

[Katie]

So long.

[Annie Williams]

Hey.

[Grandpa]

Hey.

[Annie Williams]

Is this one big enough for you, mister?

[Ethelbert]

I tell them to a whole complete news story in two short words. Then they run off and leave me out on a limb.

[Annie Williams]

What limb?

[Grandpa]

Too big.

[Casey]

H. Oh, you.

[Ethelbert]

Oh. Oh, no. We've got to have a really big tree.

[Captain Logan]

You think Fingers Fogarty may be just the victim of circumstances, Casey? Circumstances peculiar to his profession.

[Casey]

Ms. Williams and I have told you what happened. Logan, you can add it up.

[Annie Williams]

Captain, have you got anything on Fogarty outside of the 500 found in his pocket?

[Captain Logan]

And I did, Ms. Williams. The joint he lives in is being searched. But we don't think he was chump enough to hide the rest of his ransom money there.

[Casey]

If he lifted the five Cs and that fat guy, he has no rest of the dough to hide.

[Captain Logan]

Now, look, Casey. Fingers Fogarty knows you pretty well, doesn't he?

[Casey]

Yeah, sure. He knows me, certainly.

[Captain Logan]

Now, hasn't it occurred to you that he may have put out an act for your benefit?

[Casey]

Hm? I don't catch it.

[Captain Logan]

Let's assume that Fingers is the real kidnapper. It's been over a year since the ransom money was paid. Fingers has been careful. He hasn't tried to pass any of the 50 grand because he knows it's red hot. But now he figures the heat has died down, so he sends up a trial balloon.

[Annie Williams]

How do you mean, trial balloon?

[Captain Logan]

He's got a record as a dip, Ms. Williams. He figures if he gets caught passing that dough, we'll believe that he lifted the money from a guy's pocket. And to cinch it, he acts like he's lifting it from a guy's pocket while Casey is watching him. He picked you for his star witness, pal.

[Casey]

Logan, hasn't it occurred to you that the fat guy might have been sending up that trial balloon?

[Grandpa]

Huh?

[Captain Logan]

What do you mean, assume?

[Casey]

The fat guy is the real kidnapper and he wants to know how safe it is to pass those ransom bills. He knows that Fingers is a pickpocket. Well, he goes to one of the little runts hangouts and flashes a roll in front of him. And then he leaves the joint, saunters into a crowded store where it'll be easy for Fingers to work. And Fingers does exactly what's expected of him.

[Annie Williams]

That's a reasonable theory, Captain.

[Casey]

Sure. If Fingers gets caught passing that dough, the kidnapper learns about it from the papers and continues to let the money cool off. Also, Fingers has a long record. You cops won't believe anything he tells you. You'll tag him as the Walters kidnapper, which will leave the real one sitting pretty. The only thing the real kidnapper didn't figure was that someone might see Fingers take his wallet.

[Captain Logan]

Well, maybe you got something there, Casey. You and Ms. Williams have never seen that fat guy before?

[Casey]

No, no, but we'll know him if we see him again, though.

[Annie Williams]

Definitely.

[Captain Logan]

Your description might fit a thousand guys in this town. I want you two to go up to the record room and look at some pictures we've got in the file.

[Casey]

Oh, great. That'll only take us about four or five hours.

[Katie]

Okay.

[Annie Williams]

See, and this was to have been our night off.

[Tony Marvin]

Perhaps you'll forgive this last minute reminder, but there are now exactly four more shopping days until Christmas. That means a very real problem to those of us who like to put things off as who doesn't? Is there anyone you've overlooked? Anyone to whom you want to give something beautiful, practical and inexpensive? Well, you'll find the answer in Fire King oven glass. Whether it's a single Fire King casserole or an entire set of Fire King oven glass. Prices are unbelievably low and it'll take a minimum of shopping time at your favorite chain, variety, hardware or department store. So remember, with housekeeping a real problem in this post war era, Fire King Oven glass is a gift that makes it easier in so many ways. Because Fire King makes foods go farther and enables you to turn leftovers into delicious main courses. Fire King Oven glass is a product of Anchor Hawking, a great name in glass.

[Casey]

I don't recognize any picture here, Logan.

[Annie Williams]

Oh, me either. Oh, golly, Captain, why don't you have some good looking crooks in your files? I'm gonna have nightmares looking at pictures of so many ugly men.

[Tony Marvin]

You should see the women.

[Casey]

Logan. You know, there's one picture here that bothers me. It resembles the guy a lot, but look at the description that goes with it.

[Captain Logan]

Nick Pencer, Woolstock Prison. Discharged 1944, armed robbery. Age 30. Height five feet. Well, you said your fat guy was a six footer and at least 45 years old.

[Casey]

Yeah, he weighed a good 250 plus to this, Nick Pence's weight has given us only one hundred and thirty five.

[Captain Logan]

Well, they can't be the same man then.

[Casey]

No, no, not a chance. It's funny though. There is a resemblance.

[Tony Marvin]

Well, we need more than that.

[Captain Logan]

Let's all go home and get some sleep.

[Annie Williams]

Me for that.

[Casey]

Me too. I'm so tired I can't think.

[Annie Williams]

I'm falling over. I'll murder anybody who wakes me up before noon tomorrow.

[Grandpa]

Oh, no.

[Annie Williams]

No, thank you. No thanks. Hello?

[Casey]

Morning, Annie.

[Annie Williams]

Who's this?

[Casey]

Wake up, kid. It's Casey.

[Katie]

Casey? Oh, oh, Casey.

[Grandpa]

Casey.

[Casey]

Yeah. You remember me, don't you?

[Annie Williams]

Yes, I do and it's only 9 o'.

[Casey]

Clock.

[Annie Williams]

And what is a big idea?

[Casey]

Honey, look, I think I know where to look for that fat guy.

[Annie Williams]

You do?

[Casey]

I certainly do. The old beam wasn't working last night, but when I woke up a few minutes ago I had it. The strong resemblance between that young half pint crook Nick Pencer and our big fat 45 year old guy can't be just coincidental, Annie. They must be relatives, maybe brothers. Well, I've looked in the phone book and found only one pencilist, a John Pence, a contractor who lives and does business out on Dudley Road. I thought you might like to drive out there with me and see what John Pencer looks like.

[Annie Williams]

Why don't you have the cops go out and look at him?

[Casey]

Annie, you're not awake yet. Only you and I can identify that fat guy. Besides, if you and I find him, Annie, we get an exclusive. The cops are in on it. Every paper and towel.

[Annie Williams]

Well, I'm awake now. All right, Where'll I meet you?

[Casey]

I'll be outside your door with a car in 15 minutes.

[Annie Williams]

Casey, I've got to dress.

[Casey]

We'll make it a half an hour.

[Annie Williams]

Then we'll make it a full hour and no sooner.

[Casey]

What do you got to dress yourself or a Christmas tree? Listen, Annie, I can bathe, shave and get into my clothes in 10 minutes.

[Annie Williams]

I put on underwear. Goodbye.

[Casey]

We're getting close to that address, Annie.

[Annie Williams]

Yeah, this isn't a very attractive neighborhood.

[Casey]

No, John Pence, a contractor, can't be much of a concern.

[Annie Williams]

And John Pence, a contractor, may be no relation whatever to the Nick Pencer in the police files.

[Casey]

Name's very unusual, Anne. I have a hunch.

[Annie Williams]

Oh, there's the place.

[Casey]

Yeah, I'll stop here so we can look the joint over.

[Annie Williams]

Well, there's a concrete garage attached to the house with a good sized truck.

[Casey]

Inside and room for another concrete mixer in the workyard.

[Annie Williams]

Oh, Casey. Established businessman don't go in for Kidnapping? I think we're on a wild goose.

[Casey]

Annie, that guy coming out of the garage.

[Annie Williams]

What about him? He's just a skinny little.

[Casey]

Annie, you need glasses and a more photographic memory.

[Annie Williams]

He's the man of that police picture.

[Casey]

Of course. Nick Pencer. Now I know my hunch was right.

[Annie Williams]

He's looking over here.

[Casey]

Well, he's never seen this before, but I'll get rolling anyway.

[Annie Williams]

Now, how can you find out if he has a fat brother?

[Casey]

Well, drop into one of these neighborhood stores, make a few inquiries.

[Annie Williams]

Then what?

[Casey]

Well, how can I tell until I find out what I hope to find out? Annie, you're the darnest girl for asking questions.

[Gus Pence]

You really are. Stop there.

[Casey]

Now we'll stop here. We're going to this little drugstore right here. Druggist usually knows everybody in the neighborhood. Come on.

[Annie Williams]

Okay, but I think it would be simpler and more sensible to make inquiries at the precinct police station.

[Casey]

I don't want the cops in on this. Until we know where we stand here, let me do the talking.

[Annie Williams]

It's your party, wise guy. You handle everything.

[Grandpa]

What can I do for you young people?

[Casey]

Hello, Pop. We're gonna have. Well, what kind of ice cream soda do you want?

[Annie Williams]

Annie, if I must have an ice cream soda. Chocolate.

[Casey]

Chocolate. Same for me.

[Grandpa]

Two chocolate. Showed it.

[Casey]

That's right. By the way, I'm looking for a party in this neighborhood by the name of Pencer. I imagine you know the family well.

[Grandpa]

Pencer?

[Ethelbert]

Yeah.

[Grandpa]

Never heard the name before.

[Casey]

You never heard of it?

[Annie Williams]

Change my order to raspberry.

[Grandpa]

Yes, miss. One raspberry. I'm just a stranger here. Come down from upstate to handle this place while my son's away hunting. Maybe my granddaughter can tell you what you all know. There he is.

[Casey]

Katie.

[Katie]

Yes, Grandpa?

[Grandpa]

Come here. Feller's looking for a party by the name of Penner.

[Katie]

Penner?

[Casey]

No, not Penner. Pencer.

[Katie]

Oh, I know the Pencers. All of them.

[Annie Williams]

You do?

[Casey]

That's swell.

[Katie]

Mr. Pencer lives down the street over his office. He's a contractor.

[Casey]

What's he look like? Is he.

[Katie]

He's mister. Mr. Pence is short and skinny and his first name is Nick.

[Casey]

Well, Nick Pence is not the contract.

[Katie]

Yes, he is. Ever since he got out of prison a couple of years ago.

[Grandpa]

You say somebody's gone to prison, Katie?

[Katie]

No, Grandpa, they've come out.

[Grandpa]

That serves him right then.

[Katie]

The man's reformed now.

[Grandpa]

Oh, that's bad. Very bad.

[Katie]

Grandpop's a little dance.

[Casey]

Yeah, I can see that, sister. I understand that my friend Nick has A brother or a cousin?

[Annie Williams]

No.

[Casey]

Maybe an uncle?

[Annie Williams]

No.

[Grandpa]

Here's the sodies. Who gets a raspberry?

[Annie Williams]

He does.

[Grandpa]

Here you are, mister.

[Casey]

Thanks.

[Annie Williams]

And Mr. Casey. You have earned it.

[Casey]

Sister. You mean Mr. Nick Pencer has no relatives at all?

[Katie]

He's got a sister and a nephew.

[Casey]

That's a great help.

[Annie Williams]

How old's the nephew? About 10? No, ma'. Am.

[Katie]

It's the funniest thing. Mr. Gus Pence is a lot older than his uncle's.

[Casey]

Huh?

[Katie]

Mr. Guts is Mr. Nick Partner, I think. And he comes in here all the time.

[Casey]

What does Mr. Guts pencil look like?

[Katie]

Well, he's tall and fat and in the face he looks like Mr. Nick.

[Casey]

Annie, give me that chocolate. You take the raspberry.

[Katie]

Here's Mr. Gus now.

[Annie Williams]

Oh, Casey, he's our fat guy.

[Katie]

Mr. Gus, these people were just asking about you.

[Casey]

They're friends in Mr. Nick. Oh, that's Ben.

[Gus Pence]

Is that so?

[Annie Williams]

He recognizes us, Casey.

[Gus Pence]

Yeah. Wasn't it lucky I had dropped in here when I did to find friends of Nick's? Grandpa, go back to your back room and put me up two bits worth of turpentine.

[Grandpa]

Two bits worth of turpentine.

[Gus Pence]

Go along and help him, Sissy. He can never find anything.

[Katie]

I'll show him.

[Annie Williams]

Mr.

[Katie]

Guy.

[Gus Pence]

You two were asking about me?

[Casey]

You've been told that we were.

[Gus Pence]

I noticed a car outside with a press sign on it.

[Casey]

Yours? Yeah.

[Gus Pence]

And you were looking for me because of what you happened to see in Franken's yesterday.

[Casey]

If I said no, you wouldn't believe me, right?

[Gus Pence]

This hand in my pocket has a gun in it, mister. So do exactly as I tell you, okay? Remember and don't pull anything.

[Grandpa]

Here's a bottle of Terps.

[Gus Pence]

Thanks, Grandpa. Here's your two bits. Come on with me, folks. You said you wanted to pay Nick a visit, Casey.

[Casey]

We got no choice, honey.

[Gus Pence]

Right. So long, Grandpa.

[Grandpa]

Hey, ain't you folks going to finish your sodies?

[Annie Williams]

No, we lost our appetite.

[Katie]

You didn't take even a sip of your raspberry, mister.

[Casey]

That's what you think, sister.

[Gus Pence]

Get into your car. Open the front seat. You drive, fella. I'll sit in the back with this gap. Well, I drive to just down the street to next place mine. He and I are partners and everything and he'll be tickled to see your old. Turn into the work yard and park in our garage and next to the truck there.

[Ethelbert]

Okay.

[Gus Pence]

That's fine.

[Annie Williams]

Now what do we do?

[Gus Pence]

You and your boyfriend don't do anything, lady. And to make sure you don't you.

[Katie]

Hit Casey with your gun.

[Casey]

And you get the shape.

[Gus Pence]

That'll keep the two of you quiet for a while.

[Casey]

Nick.

[Grandpa]

Nick. Yeah, what do you want, cuss?

[Gus Pence]

Come out of the garage, quick.

[Ethelbert]

Okay.

[Grandpa]

Whose car you got in there?

[Gus Pence]

You'll see. Come inside and help me close these doors.

[Grandpa]

Okay.

[Ethelbert]

Hey.

[Grandpa]

Hey, what's the idea?

[Gus Pence]

Take a look inside this car.

[Grandpa]

Who's a guy and a dame?

[Gus Pence]

They're the two I told you about last night. Saw that dip take the hot dough from my pocket. They got wires to the layout and located us.

[Grandpa]

Hey, police.

[Gus Pence]

No, these two are newspaper mugs. I figured they were making this play on their own, so we gotta take care of them.

[Grandpa]

We can't bump them off here.

[Gus Pence]

We can. We do it nice, clean and quiet. Get those big spools of adhesive tape from the house.

[Grandpa]

What are you gonna do?

[Gus Pence]

You'll see.

[Casey]

Get that t.

[Grandpa]

Hey. Got the guy all tied up, Gus.

[Gus Pence]

And help me with this guy.

[Grandpa]

Yeah.

[Gus Pence]

Perhaps some more tape around his ankles.

[Grandpa]

Okay. Yeah. Hey, he's fixed now and solid.

[Gus Pence]

All right. Climb into that truck and start the motor, Nick.

[Grandpa]

Oh, the carbon monoxide treatment, huh?

[Casey]

Yeah.

[Gus Pence]

Nice. Clean and quiet. You just lock them in this closed garage to breathe the gas. Tonight, when it's dark, we get rid of their bodies in the car. Start the motor.

[Casey]

And I worked the tape off my mouth against that fender. Nod your head if you're okay, kid.

[Tony Marvin]

Good.

[Casey]

I'm gonna try to pull the adhesive tape off your wrists with my teeth. I'm getting lightheaded. Gas is beginning to work. I got the tape. Now pull and turn your wrists. Pull more, Annie.

[Grandpa]

There.

[Casey]

That did it. Your hands are free. Pull the tape off your mouth now.

[Grandpa]

Oh.

[Katie]

Okay.

[Annie Williams]

Thank you. Again.

[Casey]

Keep your head down low, kid. Try to hold on.

[Annie Williams]

I will.

[Casey]

I will pull this tape off my hands.

[Annie Williams]

You better let me free my ankles.

[Katie]

First so I can get to that truck and shut off the.

[Casey]

No, no, no. Free my hands. Those two guys may be just outside where they can hear.

[Annie Williams]

Yeah, but.

[Casey]

But.

[Katie]

But if it keeps on running.

[Casey]

If it doesn't keep on running, we'll have no second chance like this. Free my hands.

[Annie Williams]

All right, all right. I. I've got the end loose.

[Casey]

Pull now. Does it? Now unwind your ankles while I get this stuff off of my.

[Annie Williams]

What.

[Katie]

What good will it do us?

[Annie Williams]

We. We can't get out of here.

[Casey]

We'll get out. Don't breathe, Jesse.

[Katie]

This garage is solid concrete. And I heard them lockless heavy doors.

[Annie Williams]

When they went out.

[Casey]

So I've got My ankles free. Hang on, kid. I'm picking you up.

[Annie Williams]

What are you going to do?

[Casey]

I'm putting you in this truck.

[Katie]

This truck? Why?

[Casey]

It's taking us out of here. Keep your head down. Okay, I'm driving through those doors.

[Katie]

Okay, we're through pure air.

[Casey]

Wait a minute.

[Annie Williams]

Look.

[Casey]

Also those two Panzer guys. They hurt us.

[Annie Williams]

Listen.

[Katie]

They have guns, too. Step on my gas. Casey, drive past them. Let's get away.

[Gus Pence]

I can't.

[Katie]

You can. What's the matter?

[Casey]

Call the motor. Duck the.

[Annie Williams]

Why are they running away?

[Katie]

They're getting into that car.

[Casey]

They're going to try to get away. If I can only get this motor started again. Did it now?

[Katie]

Come on, Casey, don't drive toward their car.

[Ethelbert]

They rebuild driving into their car.

[Casey]

This 10 ton truck does a nice job when it hits a tin can like that.

[Annie Williams]

Oh, Casey, my nerves will never be the same again.

[Casey]

I'll never recognize mine either. Come on, let's call city desk. Get the cops out here so we can get to the Blue Note. I need another pair of glasses, the kind you'll fill.

[Tony Marvin]

Recently, in a big eastern city, a group of trained men and women called on thousands of housewives and asked this simple question. What kind of container do you prefer for the food you buy? An overwhelming majority of housewives said they prefer to buy food packed in glass. Among them were a great many mothers of small children. And by a ratio of more than eight to one, these mothers said they insisted on prepared baby foods packed in glass. They gave many reasons, as you might expect. But here are the three reasons mentioned most frequently. First, glass lets you see what you buy before you buy it. Second, you can heat, serve and store leftover portions of prepared baby food in the same glass container. And third, these young mothers agreed that sterilized glass containers are cleaner and more sanitary. You can buy an increasing number of the better brands of food packed in glass. And all of the better brands of prepared baby food come to you in Anchor glass containers sealed with Tampa proof Anchor vacuum caps. Both products of Anchor Hawking, a great name in glass.

[Ethelbert]

You didn't kill them two kidnappers when you threw that truck at him, Casey, No.

[Casey]

Bethelburg?

[Ethelbert]

No.

[Casey]

Cops pulled him out of the wreckage in fairly good shape, considering they'll be.

[Annie Williams]

Able to walk to the chair.

[Ethelbert]

How about the ransom money? Did the cops find it?

[Casey]

Yeah.

[Ethelbert]

Yeah.

[Casey]

Gus the fat guy confessed the Walters kidnapping and told where he and Nick had hidden the dough.

[Ethelbert]

Gee, and all because you and Ms. Williams did some Christmas shopping. Say, what happened to the little dip fingers? Fogarty?

[Casey]

Well, in trying to clear himself of the kidnap and murder charge Ethelbert Fingers made so many admissions about his own specialty that the cops can keep him in jail until 1999.

[Ethelbert]

Gee, 1999, huh?

[Annie Williams]

Good heavens, Casey, what's that coming in the door?

[Casey]

What on earth?

[Annie Williams]

That's. That's. What do you say, mister? That's the biggest tree I got on the wagon. Okay.

[Grandpa]

Yeah.

[Ethelbert]

Now, that's what I call a real Christmas tree.

[Casey]

What are you gonna do with such a big tree?

[Ethelbert]

Well, you couldn't get a little tree in that big room.

[Tony Marvin]

Prime Photographer, starring Stotts Cotsworth as Casey is brought to you each Thursday at this time by the Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation makers of Fire King oven glass. Anchor glass containers, anchor caps, enclosures, all products of the Anchor Hawking Glass Corporation, a great name in glass. Ryan Photographer, directed by John Deetz is written by Alonzo Dean Cole and is based on the fictional character of Casey created by George Harmon Cox. The original music is by Archie Blair and The program features Ms. Leslie woods as Anne and John Gibson as Ethelbert. Herman Chittison is the Blue Note pianist. Thursday night on CBS is the biggest show in town so stay tuned for exciting dramatizations on Reader's Digest Radio edition which follows immediately over most of these stations. Now for our sponsor, the Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation and all of us on the show this is Tony Marvin wishing every one of you a joyful and happy holiday at this Christmas time. This is dbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System.

[Casey]

It.