Epic Casebook [SA] xxxxxx xxx Consignment For Death

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Title: Epic Casebook [SA] xxxxxx xxx Consignment For Death
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Release Date: April 12, 2025

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Introduction to Epic Casebook

In this thrilling episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, titled "Epic Casebook: Consignment For Death," listeners are transported to the Golden Age of Radio, where Inspector Carr delves into a perplexing murder mystery. Hosted by Harold's Old Time Radio, the episode masterfully blends suspense, investigation, and classic radio storytelling to captivate its audience.

The Murder of Sidney Bramsell

Timestamp [00:29] – Inspector Carr opens the case by setting the scene:

"Good evening. On all sides we hear of acts of heroism and noble selflessness only to be counterbalanced with horrible newspaper stories of a battered baby or a cruel and senseless murder of torture and mayhem." [00:29]

He introduces Sidney Bramsell, a well-regarded man known as "the Spender," whose life takes a tragic turn when he is found murdered in his home.

Initial Investigation and Clues

Timestamp [04:10] – Inspector Carr describes the grim discovery:

"Sidney Bramtall was found by his housekeeper early one morning as she went to take her employer his pot of tea." [04:10]

The housekeeper, Jessica Moore, urgently calls the police upon finding Bramsell dead, lying on the carpet with severe wounds. Inspector Carr and his colleague, Dr. McPherson, begin piecing together the evidence.

Timestamp [06:52] – Inspector Carr notes a crucial detail:

"He [Bramsell] must have had the means to kill. The killer used his own razor. This shows a lack of planning." [06:52]

Interrogating the Housekeeper

Timestamp [12:08] – Jessica Moore provides her account:

"He was a great wamp of fresh air. He always had quite a bit of money on him. That's why they called him the spender." [12:08]

Inspector Carr questions Jessica's alibi and her knowledge of Bramsell's personal life, uncovering that Bramsell had a girlfriend and a cautious nature regarding his aftershave lotion, which becomes a subtle clue in the investigation.

Timestamp [22:16] – Inspector Carr confronts Jessica Moore:

"I don't think you murdered your boss. And if you are an accomplice." [22:16]

Despite the mounting evidence, Jessica maintains her innocence, prompting Carr and Dr. McPherson to further scrutinize her involvement.

Uncovering the Motive

Timestamp [28:08] – A breakthrough occurs when Inspector Carr interrogates Mr. Lane at Bramsell's warehouse:

"Sidney Bramsall seems to have been a highly successful, good-natured, happy individual with not a care in the world." [28:08]

Through meticulous investigation, Carr connects Bramsell's legitimate business with an illicit drug smuggling operation. The dolls shipped from the warehouse were fronts for hiding narcotics, leading Carr to deduce the true motive behind the murder.

The Climax: Arrest of the Culprit

Timestamp [28:34] – Inspector Carr reveals the key to solving the case:

"Sidney Bramster was having his warehouse used as a clearinghouse for drugs. The killer, Mr. Lane, took advantage of Bramsell's trust to facilitate the operation and eliminate obstacles." [28:34]

Mr. Lane's involvement becomes clear as Carr connects his lies and the missing razor to the murder, culminating in his arrest.

Conclusion and Resolution

Timestamp [31:23] – Inspector Carr summarizes the case:

"Despite his full confessions to killing his employer, Lane was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. The narcotics bureau also cracked down on multiple drug centers, showcasing the effectiveness of the investigation." [31:23]

Inspector Carr wraps up the episode by highlighting the importance of attention to detail and the role of diligent investigation in solving complex crimes.

Notable Quotes

• Inspector Carr [00:29]: "Our feelings may have become blunted over the years. Let's pray we never become so insensitive as to be able to look at a thing like this without a feeling of revulsion."

• Jessica Moore [15:07]: "Girls. That was his weakness." [15:07]

• Inspector Carr [26:46]: "It won't. He'll be behind bars and in the ass." [26:46]

• Inspector Carr [30:49]: "Once again a demonstration that sometimes it's the silly, unbelievably foolish little mistake that unravels some of the most bewildering murder mysteries."

Final Thoughts

"Consignment For Death" showcases Harold's Old Time Radio's exceptional ability to blend dramatic storytelling with engaging character development. Inspector Carr's methodical approach and the intricate plot twists keep listeners enthralled until the very end. This episode is a must-listen for fans of classic radio dramas and mystery enthusiasts alike.

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Tune in next Thursday night at 9:30 for another exciting installment of Epic Casebook, where Inspector Carr tackles another perplexing mystery from the annals of Old Time Radio.

Transcript

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[Jessica Moore]

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[Inspector Carr]

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[Inspector Carr]

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[Inspector Carr]

Pick a pack of Blossom. Sidney Bramtall was found by his housekeeper early one morning as she went to take her employer his pot of tea.

[Jessica Moore]

Mr. Bramble? Mr. Bramsel. Come on, Spender. You weren't all that late. I heard you come in. Mr. Bramble sleeps like the dead, he does. Oh, well, let's hope you're decent, Mr. BR. Now I can't come anymore. Keep calm. Don't touch nothing.

[Inspector Carr]

Police.

[Jessica Moore]

Oh, police. Something already happened. There's been a murder. Baby murdered. Spender. I mean. I mean Mr. Bransel. He's lying there on the carpet with his fat gut. He was such a lovely fellow. Won't never get another job like this one.

[Inspector Carr]

Did you telephone the police immediately?

[Jessica Moore]

As soon as I opened the door and I saw he was lying there. I dropped me tray and I ran downstairs to telephone. Oh, dear. I've got the shivers, I have.

[Dr. McPherson]

Mrs. Moore, isn't it? Isn't that the name you gave?

[Jessica Moore]

Yes, that's my.

[Dr. McPherson]

I don't think you need come into the room. Why don't you go down and make yourself a cup of tea and put plenty of sugar in it.

[Jessica Moore]

That's right, Doctor. I'm a bit shaky, but I'll be all right there in that room. Look at him.

[Dr. McPherson]

Dear, dear. What an unpleasant sight to come upon.

[Inspector Carr]

Mrs. Moore, is this bedroom window always kept open?

[Jessica Moore]

Well, yeah, in the summer. Mr. Bramble was a great wamp of fresh air.

[Inspector Carr]

I see. This is a very convenient drain by. Well, Mac.

[Dr. McPherson]

A very sharp instrument indeed. If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say it's either an old fashioned type of razor. Or a razor blade fixed to a handle.

[Inspector Carr]

No wonder they used to call them cutthroats. What time did he come home last night? You know, early.

[Jessica Moore]

I heard the church clock strike 12. I haven't been sleeping well lately. But then I heard a taxi pull up. And I heard Mr. Bramsell say, that's all right. Keep the change. Quiet as a church mouse. He was always considerate with Mr. Bramble. Of course, he didn't know I was awake.

[Inspector Carr]

You Heard him pay off a taxi. That'll be very useful. Well, then, what else did you hear?

[Jessica Moore]

Well, I heard him close the door.

[Inspector Carr]

Are you sure you heard Mr. Bramsell shut the front door?

[Jessica Moore]

Yeah, and put the chain on it.

[Inspector Carr]

How can you be sure of that?

[Jessica Moore]

Well, because the train was on when I got up this morning.

[Inspector Carr]

You didn't hear any other voice other than your employer's?

[Jessica Moore]

No. He was on his own. I swear for that.

[Inspector Carr]

Mrs. Moore, it's not yet 9:00 and I've missed my morning cupper. I wonder if you'd mind making some tea. I'm sure that Dr. McPherson could do some.

[Dr. McPherson]

That's a good idea. Now. And here, Mrs. Moore, take this pill. Go on. It's only a sedative.

[Jessica Moore]

Well, all right, Doctor, if you say so. I'll give you a shot when the tea's been made.

[Inspector Carr]

Tough little girl there. Anyone else would have passed up. Not her. Insists on coming back to the ghastly scene. The scene of the crime was indeed ghastly. Sidney Bramall was a short run. A corpulent individual dressed in pajamas made from a rich green silk. His almost bald head and curved stomach would have made ideal material for some good humored cartoonist. Were it not for the red stain on the pajama jacket and the horrible wound.

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[Jessica Moore]

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[Dr. McPherson]

It's difficult to say at this stage, Carter, but he's been dead for at least five or Six hours, I'd say.

[Inspector Carr]

Chances are more than that, Mac. What would you say to seven or eight hours?

[Dr. McPherson]

It could be.

[Inspector Carr]

I'm taking into consideration the housekeeper's statement. If he arrived just around midnight, did his ablutions. His shoes are placed neatly on the shoe rack. I assume he put away his suit tightly. The bed hasn't been slept in.

[Dr. McPherson]

Which means that the killer waited until Bramsell went into that bathroom, stood ready to strike, and when Bramsel was about to get into bed.

[Inspector Carr]

He killed him. Yes, I think it's about the measure of it. Which means we've got to find the taxi man who brought him home. Shouldn't have much difficulty there. Something worrying you, eh?

[Dr. McPherson]

There is. You know, I've been mixed up with brutal assaults and murder for over a quarter of a century, and I've never become inured to this sort of thing. Seeing a sight like this.

[Inspector Carr]

I mean, a man with his throat cut. Neither have I. Our feelings may have become blunted over the years. Let's pray we never become so insensitive as to be able to look at a thing like this without a feeling of revulsion. But that's not what's worrying you.

[Dr. McPherson]

Oh, it's the housekeeper. She's under emotional stress, all right. But to be able to talk to us so calmly with a boss lying there in a pool of blood.

[Inspector Carr]

She's a tough woman, all right. Just a minute. Moore. Jessica Moore.

[Dr. McPherson]

What else crossed your mind?

[Inspector Carr]

The Moore case. Mrs. Moore was found not guilty. Her husband went inside for 10 years, having been found guilty of robbery with violence. They used to keep a lodging house near the Millwall docks. Many a drunken sailor had reason to regret seeking their hospital. You realize what this means, Mac? We've only got her word for it. The open window may be a blind. She may have left the front door open. There may have been something in this house of great value. Except.

[Dr. McPherson]

Except what? Car.

[Inspector Carr]

Except she must know that we always check on the person who first discovers the dead body. I'm going to take a look around the back. Care. Come with me. Well, Mac, if the killer did gain entry through the bedroom window, he'd either have to use a ladder or climb this drain pipe. Take a look at this.

[Dr. McPherson]

Paint's very soft.

[Inspector Carr]

That's been newly painted. No one could have climbed that pipe without leaving some kind of mark. Even though the paint is dry, it's.

[Dr. McPherson]

Pretty evident that no one did.

[Inspector Carr]

And how are they going to get a ladder? They'd have to climb over the brick wall separating this garden from that one. Let's go over and take a look. Now, the street running parallel with this is called Ross Avenue. We'll have to find out whether anyone had access to that house. Although it's extremely unlikely, the culprit is.

[Dr. McPherson]

Hardly likely to knock at the door and see you. Can I take a ladder through your back garden over the wall to Mr. Bramsel's house, sir.

[Inspector Carr]

Pity it didn't rain during the night. The soil had a pretty. Provided us with a footprint or two. Oh, let's try the back door.

[Jessica Moore]

Please ask.

[Inspector Carr]

Oh, well, she's heavenly for it. Mrs. Moore. No sign of any forced entry. No tradesman's entrance. There's just this door leading onto the garden.

[Jessica Moore]

Oh, we always keep it locked. I just unlocked it. And the key was inside the lock. So no one got in through this back door.

[Inspector Carr]

Let's go and have his tea. What, does your husband come out?

[Jessica Moore]

This is more not a two years if he keeps his nose clean. I'm scared, Inspector. Terrified. I knew you'd tumble to me, but I wouldn't arm the spender. He's been marvelous.

[Inspector Carr]

You realize the position you're in? You say that the chain was on the front door. So no one could have gained entry that way. And even if they did, how could they put the chain back on the door?

[Jessica Moore]

Through the window. The open window. The house had to come in that way. It had to be unobined.

[Inspector Carr]

Otherwise things look pretty black for you, Mrs. Moore. Because nobody climbs into that first floor bedroom window. There's nowhere to get a grip on the outside except by using the drain pipe. And that's been newly painted.

[Jessica Moore]

I know it was. It was painted a couple of days.

[Inspector Carr]

Ago while you were waiting for the cops. You must have had a look around what's been pinched. An old campaigner like yourself. That's the first thing you'd look for, wouldn't you? Did Mr. Bramsell keep any valuables in the house?

[Jessica Moore]

Valuables, Jules, and take that sort of thing now. Always said he didn't go for possession. Mind you, he always had quite a bit of money on him. That's why they called him the spender. They didn't call him that for nothing. Had art as big as a docs, he did. Believe me, Inspector, I didn't do him in. I loved him. Came all the way down to East End. India Dock Road.

[Inspector Carr]

I don't go for what Alan did. But I do remember when you and he had that cafe in Victoria Road. I got many a free meal from you both after I lost my job with Sampson's what are you gonna do, mister?

[Jessica Moore]

What can I do? I have to leave here by Friday, the latest. Every five. And we had went in solicitor's fees. I'm skink broke, hardcore and scrub floors. Except there are so many foreign girls about. Well, it's good of you to call, Mr. Branfield. Isn't everyone who remembers a good turn?

[Inspector Carr]

Look, I've got a house in Lewisham. My housekeeper's had to go into a home. She's a very sick woman. I need someone to look after it. As soon as I read the verdict in the paper, I thought of you.

[Jessica Moore]

You mean. You mean you trust me?

[Inspector Carr]

They found you not guilty, didn't they? It'd be a good job. It's six years since I left this district. Things have gone well for me. I'll pay you a reasonable wage.

[Jessica Moore]

He was the nicest, kindest bloke you could ever wish to meet.

[Inspector Carr]

What business was he in?

[Jessica Moore]

He's got a warehouse. He imports kiddies, toys, that sort of thing. He got an agency from behind the iron curtain.

[Inspector Carr]

Where is this warehouse?

[Jessica Moore]

Millwall Docks. Not very far from where we used to have our lodging house.

[Inspector Carr]

You referred to him as the Spender. Was that his nickname?

[Jessica Moore]

Yeah. Everybody called him the Spender. He didn't mind it. It wasn't only because he was so free with his money. He was no fool, not by a long chalk. But when it came to tipping or helping someone out, well, he was known as a spend everywhere he went.

[Inspector Carr]

Did he gamble, Mrs. Moore?

[Jessica Moore]

No. He used to say it was a mug. I don't think he ever went on a race course in his life.

[Inspector Carr]

What about cars, roulette, that sort of thing.

[Jessica Moore]

I tell you, he hated gambling.

[Inspector Carr]

Then what was his weakness?

[Jessica Moore]

Girls. That was his weakness. The number of kids he's taken him for a ride.

[Inspector Carr]

Has he got a cut and girlfriend?

[Jessica Moore]

Yeah, but I don't know who she is.

[Inspector Carr]

Then how do you know?

[Jessica Moore]

You could always tell by his aftershave lotion. If he wasn't going to meet a girl, you wouldn't tell he got any on. But when he said, I won't be home for dinner, Mrs. Moore, and he'd stink the place out with his aftershave lotion, I used to think, oh, well, he's got somebody else on tow.

[Inspector Carr]

And what about last night?

[Jessica Moore]

You could smell it a mile off. He went to see a girl last night.

[Inspector Carr]

He did, did he? That's interesting. That's very interesting.

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[Dr. McPherson]

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[Inspector Carr]

Pick a pack of blossom. Neither Dr. McPherson nor I had the slightest doubt but that Mrs. Moore was innocent of the actual killing. But at this stage, everything pointed to the possibility that she was an accomplice to the murder. With the arrival of the photographers and the print men and the removal of the body to the police mortuary, the entire resources of the murder squad concentrated on solving the mystery car operations. Your inspector? Yes, ops. Sydney Bramsell, age 58. Well thought of in the East London patch. Nothing known against him, sir. Bachelor, no immediate relatives, parents died in Lithuania during the water. Known to subscribe liberally to local charities. He's known boys associates as the spender. Owns and operates the Brownsville Trading Company, Thames Walk, Millwall Docks. Thanks. OP. I wanted the tail put on his housekeeper, Jessica Moore. I want to know where she went last night, what time she got home, the lot. And organize a vehicle. I'll go down to the trading company. Mr. Lane? That's right, sir. You must be the gentleman from Scotland Yard, the one that telephone. I am. As I told you, I'd be grateful if no mention was made of this. The press will have it within an hour or two. Now, you said on the telephone that Mr. Bramsell left this warehouse at 5:00. That's right, Tony. Did you. Did he tell you where he was going? No, just Told me to make sure the place was locked up. Who else works here? Sadie Farmer. She's gone out to get some milk. She'll be back soon. How long have you been working for Mr. Bramthall? Ever since he opened this warehouse. Just on six years. What happens here? Well, we don't sell to the public. We have travelers on the road. They come in for their stops and out they go again. I see. They all come from Czechoslovakia. Yes, that's right. Lucky break for the boss. That there's one of the largest toys factories in the world. In bra. Mr. Bramslow is their sole agent. Don't have much difficulty selling this stuff. Not too expensive, nice. Produced. Does your boss have any enemies? Mr. Bramsl? I think so. He's been good to me. Good to his housekeeper too. That old man still in jail? How do you know that? Well, she told me she used to sometimes come out here with sandwiches and beans just before Christmas. You know the rush. Things got pretty epic. So there you have it, Mac. The late Sidney Bramsall seems to have been a highly successful, good natured, happy individual with not a care in the world. According to Ex Branch, she was seen at the Silver Slipper tripping the light fantastic from 8 to 11:30. We traced the taxi driver who says that he dropped some young female at 21 Bradley Street, Stepney and then proceeded to Bramsall's residence, arriving about midnight.

[Dr. McPherson]

Confirming what Mrs. Moore says?

[Inspector Carr]

Yes. I suppose someone could have taken a ladder to that rear window. We've had a sergeant questioning the occupants of the house facing Bramsell. They seem highly respectable.

[Dr. McPherson]

Nothing seems to have been taken. Unless, you know, there seems to be a murder completely without motive.

[Inspector Carr]

Look at these reports. 18 plain clothes men, 22 uniform policemen. Not one has come up with a glimmer of a clue. No suspicious character. Seen anyone near the house. Now it has to be Mrs. Moore. And yet.

[Dr. McPherson]

And yet she's been mixing with criminals most of her life. Would she be fool enough to say that the chain was on the front door? Would she not go down the back and use the heel of her shoe to make false clues? Put some markings in the dream pipe and mud the soil on the window ledge or.

[Inspector Carr]

I know, I know, it just doesn't add up. Request from the girl he was with. Apparently poor, alone. That Mr. Bramhall belonged to something known as the Friendship Club. She got ten pounds for tripping the light fantastic with him. Can't see her even remotely connected with the murder. Why?

[Dr. McPherson]

How come? Come, car. This is not like you. We don't Know why. But we do know how you were given a full report of the medical examination.

[Inspector Carr]

Yes, I know, Mac. I know. But when I say how, I didn't mean. I'd better have another word with Mrs. Moore. Mrs. Moore, I don't think you murdered your boss. And if you are an accomplice.

[Jessica Moore]

I'm not, believe me.

[Inspector Carr]

No, I don't think you are. My colleague, Dr. McPherson, has given ample reasons why you shouldn't be suspected. But somebody got into this house. How? And you're the only person who might be able to tell us. Now, did you open the door to anyone at any time?

[Jessica Moore]

No.

[Inspector Carr]

What happened when your boss came home from work?

[Jessica Moore]

I don't know exactly. I went down to the fishmonger to get a piece of paste for my supper as the boss was going out.

[Inspector Carr]

I see.

[Jessica Moore]

When I get back, he was in the parlor having a drink.

[Inspector Carr]

Oh, There you are, Mrs. Moore. You remember what I said, That I was having dinner out.

[Jessica Moore]

Oh, yes, I remember. Mr. Brownsville. This is for me.

[Inspector Carr]

For Miss.

[Jessica Moore]

Supper. I'm sorry I wasn't here when you got home, but you're a bit early.

[Inspector Carr]

Yes, I got young Harry Lane to give me a lift in his Mini. I was in a hurry, and there were certain problems we had to talk about. Oh, well, get the bath running, will you? Here's a good soul. I'm shaking the old light fantastic tonight. No, it's not shaking it. It's tripping. New weight use here. I wouldn't mind taking a trip with her.

[Jessica Moore]

I ran his bathroom, and then I went and cooked me supper. I eat in the kitchen when I'm on me own. As I was eating it, he opened the door and said, well, I'm off. Bless his heart. You could smell that aftershave lotion a mile away.

[Inspector Carr]

And that's the last time you saw him alive?

[Jessica Moore]

Yeah. As I told you, I only heard him when he come in and put the chain on the lock.

[Inspector Carr]

You should be grateful for that, Mrs. Moore. Otherwise, never mind. Did you obey my instructions and check on your employer's belongings?

[Jessica Moore]

I went through everything and I've checked everything. If something valuable was pinched, it must have been something that the spender had without my knowing it.

[Inspector Carr]

Well, I've been through his papers, and I don't think there was anything stolen. Except I noticed on his diary next to the telephone a mark which said F796D. Any idea what that could mean?

[Jessica Moore]

I saw it. I thought it was a number of a motor car. No idea.

[Inspector Carr]

Well, the shaving lotion shaving lotion. Your boss shaved. You talked about the lotion, but what about the razor? I've just realized that there was no razor in the bathroom. There was a brush, soap. What sort of razor did Mr. Bramsell use?

[Jessica Moore]

A cutthroat.

[Inspector Carr]

And it's no longer there. The poor chap had his throat cut with his own razor. I'm going to take that page from his diary with the numbers F, 7, 9, 6.

[Dr. McPherson]

What you think those numbers represent, Carl?

[Inspector Carr]

I don't know. I don't know could mean anything. Except right now I'm cutting at straws. There's one thing I do know. When the killer first entered that house, he didn't plan to murder.

[Dr. McPherson]

What makes you say that?

[Inspector Carr]

But the very crudity of the killing the missing razor demonstrated. Surely had he planned the murder in advance, he would have made sure he would have the means to kill. You can't seem saying. Well, I wonder if there's a razor about the place. Particularly a cut throat razor. If. No, wait a minute.

[Dr. McPherson]

You thought of something?

[Inspector Carr]

Yes. I remember seeing packing cases in the warehouse with similar numbers. I wonder.

[Dr. McPherson]

What do you wonder?

[Inspector Carr]

Supposing the culprit was in the house searching for something. Supposing he hears Bramfell returning home, he nips into the bathroom, waits until his victim gets undressed, puts on his pajamas.

[Dr. McPherson]

Well, I do some for your previous theory that Bramble went into the bathroom first. No, he didn't. Of course.

[Inspector Carr]

What have you thought of, Mac?

[Dr. McPherson]

Mrs. Moore kept going on about how heavy handed her boss was with the aftershave lotion. She didn't exaggerate because when I examined him, which was hours after he'd shaved, I could still sniff traces of it.

[Inspector Carr]

Well?

[Dr. McPherson]

Well, he was harder likely to apply the lotion after he'd washed and cleaned his teeth just prior to going to bed. That substantiates your theory that Bramo never.

[Inspector Carr]

Went into the bathroom and the man never went to the house in order to kill. He hid in the bathroom. Probably hoped to make him his getaway. Seize the razor. Probably as Ramsel opens the bathroom door. Killed him.

[Dr. McPherson]

Aren't you forgetting one thing? The chain on the inside of the front door. Now unless Mrs. Moore is covering up for the killer and she puts the chain on, how did he get out the house?

[Inspector Carr]

Easy window.

[Dr. McPherson]

But we both agree.

[Inspector Carr]

We agreed that no one could have scaled the drain pipe without leaving some telltale marks behind. It would have been a simple matter for the intruder to have jumped from the first floor without leaving any traces or hurting himself.

[Dr. McPherson]

That's true. Mrs. Moore said he kept the window open in summer. He could have landed on the paving leading to the back door.

[Inspector Carr]

Or if he did land on the flower bed. Smooth it over, jump over the wall. I think I'll have another word with the people in Rock Avenue and those frightful beds. Business, Inspector. Frightful. But we believe the killer made his getaway through this house. Is your back door leading to your garden kept locked? No, it doesn't. No one can get access to it unless I see what you're getting at. Come to think of it, there was some soiled in the hallway. I was blaming our cleaning woman for leaving it like that. Well, now we're getting somewhere. But what about your front door? Is it bolted on the inside? No, it's one of those self locking jobs. Was it full grown up anymore, sir? You very much. What about the killer? Does it mean I miss bolt and bar all my windows? I don't want the same thing to happen to me. It won't. He'll be behind bars and in the ass. Ah, Mr. Lane. Just the man I want to see. Oh, what can I do for you, Inspector? These cases all marked with the letter F, what are they? Dolls.

[Dr. McPherson]

Why?

[Inspector Carr]

What happened to case F796D? Unpack. And the contents? Well, what happened to the contents delivered to customers. He found you out, didn't he? That's why you killed him. Slashed the poor man's throat with his own razor. I'm arresting you on suspicion of having murdered Sidney Bramthall. My duty caution you.

[Dr. McPherson]

So the unsuspecting Sidney Bramster was having his warehouse used as a clearinghouse for drugs, is that it?

[Inspector Carr]

That's right. The stuff would be placed inside the dolls. An ordinary consignment of dolls would contain one case specially marked so that Lane would be able to remove the dolls and hand them over to the drug ring. Apparently some glamorous young female persuaded him to start smuggling and by then he was hooked. Poor old Bramsol didn't die in vain though. Our narcotics boys will have smiled. Smashed the biggest drug ring since Snowy Phillips.

[Dr. McPherson]

To kill in such a clumsy, brutal fashion. How did he get access to the place? We know how he got out.

[Inspector Carr]

It's simple. A piece of soap. While his boss was otherwise engaged, he took an impression and had a key cut. Funnily enough, what he couldn't take an impression of was Bramble's safe. Only he knew the combination and he kept a record of it at home. In the safe was a doll that was to be handed over to the Police. He warned Lane that he would have to do this. Luckily for us, the young man lost his head. When I first questioned him, he was so busy disassociating himself from his boss's activities that he told a very stupid lie. Well, listeners, did you notice Lane's stupid lie? A lie that was to cause me to link the number on the telephone diary with the possibilities of his being the killer? Not sure. Then listen to the commercial and I'll be back to tell you.

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[Inspector Carr]

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[Blossom Advertiser]

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[Inspector Carr]

Make a pack of Blossom. Well, listeners, once again a demonstration that sometimes it's the silly, unbelievably foolish little mistake that unravels some of the most bewildering murder mysteries. If you remember, you said that Mr. Bramsell left this warehouse at 5:00. Did he tell you where he was going? No. Just tell me to make sure the place was locked up. And yet Mrs. Moore told us that when she arrived back at the house after shopping for her supper.

[Jessica Moore]

I'm sorry I wasn't here when you got home, but you're a bit early.

[Inspector Carr]

Yes, I got Harry Lane to give me a lift in his Mini. I was in a hurry and there were certain problems. We had to talk about the problems, of course. Referring to Bramfell's discovery that he was an innocent importer of drugs. Despite his full confessions to killing his employer. But pleading that he wasn't responsible for his actions, Lane was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. But before the trial took place, the narcotics bureau had swooped on various so called toy shops but which were in effect drug pushing centers. 14 of these despicable peddlers were put behind bars. Good. The Epic Casebook was produced by Michael Silver for the makers of Epic Sunflower Oil Maple Margarine, Yum yum. Peanut Butter Niblets, Cheese Twist, Pulverine Bread Spread and Blossom Yellow Margarine. With Hugh Rouse as Inspector Carr. Listen again next Thursday night at 9:30 to another exciting story. From our epic casebook.

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[Inspector Carr]

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