Fabian Of The Yard 195x.xx.xx Co Co Marquess

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Fabian Of The Yard"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Description: Reliving the Golden Age of Radio, featuring classic shows like The Shadow, Abbott & Costello, Amos & Andy, Dragnet, and more.
• Episode: Fabian Of The Yard 195x.xx.xx Co Co Marquess
• Release Date: February 27, 2025

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Overview

In this riveting episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, listeners are transported back to the 1950s with the enthralling tale of "Fabian Of The Yard." The story unfolds around Inspector Robert Fabian, a seasoned detective from Scotland Yard, as he delves into the mysterious case of Arthur Marquis, the charismatic director of British Cocoa Pools Limited. This episode masterfully blends suspense, intrigue, and the classic detective narrative, offering a captivating listen reminiscent of the era's beloved radio dramas.

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Detailed Summary

Introduction to the Case

The episode opens with Marcel, a waiter, seemingly advertising unemployment benefits in Oregon, which sets a curious tone before transitioning to Robert Fabian introducing the main narrative.

[00:26] Robert Fabian:
"Fabian of the Yard Stories of the war against crime as told by the detective of the century, ex Superintendent Robert Fabian."

Here, the stage is set for a true crime story from Fabian's personal records, promising an authentic and gripping account.

Encounter with Arthur Marquis

Inspector Fabian recounts his initial encounter with Arthur Marquis, a young and successful director whose company, British Cocoa Pools Limited, has experienced remarkable growth under his leadership.

[02:23] Inspector Fabian:
"There."

[02:24] Arthur Marquis:
"How was the wine, Mr. Fabian?"

This simple exchange at a restaurant marks the beginning of Fabian's suspicions. Marquis's charm and the impressive 60% annual dividend from his cocoa investment scheme pique Fabian's detective instincts.

[03:20] Inspector Fabian:
"A dividend of 60%. First time I've ever heard of anything like that. It's fabulous."

Investigation and Suspicion

Intrigued by the unusually high returns promised by British Cocoa Pools Limited, Inspector Fabian conducts a discreet inquiry.

[04:08] Inspector Fabian:
"Could he pay 60% dividend and himself live like a raja?"

This conversation with a contact named Jack underscores Fabian's growing unease about the legitimacy of Marquis's operations.

Despite his suspicions, Fabian faces a procedural hurdle: without official complaints from investors, the police cannot act. Time passes, and the signs of a potential scam become more evident when Marquis disappears during a holiday in Paris, absconding with £25,000 and evading capture by fleeing to Spain amid the chaos of Franco's forces.

[06:08] Inspector Fabian:
"If somebody knows of a more poetic justice than that which fate meted out to Arthur Marquis, I should be interested to hear it."

The Capture and Revelation

Two years later, a breakthrough occurs when Marquis is apprehended in New Haven under deplorable conditions—his appearance drastically altered by mistreatment and hardship.

[07:16] Inspector Fabian:
"Good Lord. You sure this is the man?"

Upon his return to London, Marquis's dilapidated state contrasts sharply with his former image. During his interrogation, clues emerge in the form of folded rice paper letters Julien found in Marquis's clothing, hinting at deeper layers of his story.

[09:24] Inspector Fabian:
"My dear, if this letter reaches you, it will be because I shall never have the joy of seeing you again."

Marquis divulges a harrowing tale of survival in war-torn Spain, where he was mistaken for a Franco spy, tortured, robbed, and left for dead. His escape from Madrid and subsequent capture by Republican forces add a complex dimension to his character, suggesting that his crimes may stem from a tumultuous past rather than greed alone.

[10:00] Inspector Fabian:
"I'd have posted them anyway, as soon as I was sure they were genuine."

Resolution and Reflection

Despite Marquis's suffering, the judge sentences him to three years of penal servitude—a decision Fabian finds anticlimactic given the devastating experiences Marquis endured.

[11:55] Inspector Fabian:
"Needless to say, we were all shocked by his story, but none of us felt like wasting much sympathy on him."

Fabian muses on the nature of justice and whether Marquis's ordeal justifies leniency, leaving listeners to ponder the complexities of morality and punishment.

Teaser for Next Episode

The episode concludes with a tease for the next gripping case: "the Black Butterfly," promising listeners another dark and tragic murder story that delves deeper into the shadows of crime.

[13:38] Marcel:
(Repeats the earlier advertisement in Spanish, maintaining the episode's thematic consistency.)

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Notable Quotes

• Inspector Fabian on High Dividends:
  "A dividend of 60%. First time I've ever heard of anything like that. It's fabulous."
  [03:20]

• Inspector Fabian Questioning Feasibility:
  "Could he pay 60% dividend and himself live like a raja?"
  [04:08]

• Arthur Marquis on His Plight:
  "My dear, if this letter reaches you, it will be because I shall never have the joy of seeing you again."
  [09:24]

• Inspector Fabian Reflecting on Justice:
  "Needless to say, we were all shocked by his story, but none of us felt like wasting much sympathy on him."
  [11:55]

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Conclusion

"Fabian Of The Yard" delivers a classic detective narrative filled with suspense, unexpected twists, and moral dilemmas. Inspector Robert Fabian's investigation into Arthur Marquis's suspicious activities exposes not only the mechanics of a potential scam but also the human elements of desperation and survival. The episode skillfully balances factual crime detection with dramatic storytelling, making it a standout addition to Harold's Old Time Radio. Listeners are left eagerly anticipating the next episode, which promises to delve into another intriguing case.

Transcript

[Marcel]

Perdio Sutra bajo reduheron susoras presente su solicitud. Oy mismocondel Departamento de Emplude, Oregon Es gratis Basil Yey servicios de interpretacion dis ponivles. Llame al uno ocho. Siete, siete. Tres. Cuatro Cinco. Tres.

[Robert Fabian]

Fabian of the Yard Stories of the war against crime as told by the detective of the century, ex Superintendent Robert Fabian. Here is another factual crime detection story drawn from the personal records of ex Detective Superintendent Fabian of Scotland Yard.

[Inspector Fabian]

Although, like most policemen and ex policemen, I believe that crime does not really pay over a lifetime, the basis for this belief is largely my knowledge of just how efficient the police machine can be in tracking criminals. Unfortunately, it is almost invariably only in fiction that Fatehva steps in to deal out poetic justice to criminals. I say almost invariably because there are one or two examples of poetic justice even within my own experience. They're all the more outstanding because there are so few of them. And probably the most fantastic of all is the strange story of a man who managed to steal £25,000 and smuggle himself across the Channel without leaving any trace or clue by which we could hope to catch up with him. You will hear this story in a moment. And about the payoff fate arranged for Coco Marquis.

[Robert Fabian]

Everybody liked young Mr. Marquis. He had a pleasant, easy manner and a twinkling eye. And in three hard working years he'd moved his company, British Cocoa Pools Limited from a back room into a suite of prosperous West End offices. With nearly £50,000 capital. He worked hard and played hard, always lavish with money. It was whilst dining one night at crystals that Mr. Fabian first noticed him.

[Inspector Fabian]

There.

[Arthur Marquis]

How was the wine, Mr. Fabian?

[Inspector Fabian]

Oh, excellent, thank you, Marcel. Near enough to perfect, by the way. Tell me something, sir. Who's that fair haired young ass over there with all that easy money?

[Arthur Marquis]

Where, sir? Oh. Oh, I see. Oh, Inspector. Are you thinking of making an arrest? Eh?

[Inspector Fabian]

Oh, just curious myself. Who is he?

[Arthur Marquis]

That is Mr. Marquis. Mr. Arthur Marquis.

[Inspector Fabian]

Marquis? What's he do?

[Arthur Marquis]

Oh, he runs British Coco Pulls Limited. Don't look at me like that, Inspector. I tell you, you may save your time. Since two years now, I invest my savings in Coco Pulls and always I get the dividend.

[Inspector Fabian]

That sounds very interesting. How does it work?

[Arthur Marquis]

You buy a unit certificate for £20. And with all the money Mr. Marquis makes big purchases of cocoa at a discount. Then he sells the cocoa and makes a profit. And with the profit he pays the dividend to the certificate holders.

[Inspector Fabian]

What Sort of a dividend do you.

[Arthur Marquis]

Get every three months? I have been getting three pounds for each certificate I hold.

[Inspector Fabian]

Three pounds? That's 12 pounds a year for each 20 pounds you invest.

[Arthur Marquis]

That is correct.

[Inspector Fabian]

A dividend of 60%. First time I've ever heard of anything like that. It's fabulous.

[Robert Fabian]

It was that 60% dividend that intrigued Inspector Fabian. And led him to make a phone call the next day from his office.

[Inspector Fabian]

Hello? Is that you, Jack? Is Bob Fabian here? How are you? How's the cocoa market these days?

[Robert Fabian]

That's good.

[Inspector Fabian]

Why do you needn't complain? You're still in business, aren't you? Well, listen, Jack, I don't know much about your trade, but there's something I'd like you to tell me. Assuming a cocoa buyer is particularly smart and has all the luck in the world. Could he pay 60% dividend and himself live like a raja? Well, don't explode, old man. I take it you've never heard of anyone being able to do that. All right. Nothing special. Just a point I was checking on. Well, thanks very much, Jack. Come on.

[Robert Fabian]

That phone call, following on the information Marcel the waiter had given him. Convinced Fabian that there was something very fishy about British Cocoa Pools Limited and Mr. Arthur Marquis. However, in matters of this kind, the police are not expected. And in fact, not even permitted to take any action until they receive a complaint. And as all the investors in the company seemed perfectly satisfied, there was nothing to be done. A few months went by. And then, in the autumn of 1936. The bright, popular young director of British Cocoa Pools, Ltd. Sailed for a holiday in Paris. He didn't return. Mr. Marquis got away with 25,000 pounds. And the police discovered he'd never bought cocoa shipments at all. Dividends being paid from investors own money. Radio messages were dispatched to Continental police. But too late. The astute young fellow had slipped into Spain. And in Spain that February of 1937, there wasn't much the police could do. Franco's troops were storming Madrid. And then two years later, on a windy April morning of 1939, a phone rang in Vine Street CID office.

[Inspector Fabian]

Inspector Fabian. Hello, Inspector? New Haven Police here. We have a man in custody. A stowaway on a boat from Spain. Oh, yes. What's his name? He gives it as Arthur Marquis. Does that mean anything to you? My word, it does. I'll come right down. Well, where's the golden boy? Golden boy?

[Robert Fabian]

You can't mean Arthur Marquis, surely? I don't envy your job of taking him back to London. A Little cold doubt swept over Fabian. The description didn't sound like the man he was after. The New Haven inspector led the way to the cells and unlocked one of them. Inside was a man wearing dilapidated trousers and a filthy gray jersey. From which his shriveled neck stuck out like that of a tortoise. His hair was tangled gray and lifeless as cellar cobwebs. His eyes, beneath which sagged resinous lids. Were crisscrossed by ruptured veins.

[Inspector Fabian]

Good Lord. You sure this is the man?

[Robert Fabian]

Quite sure. Arthur Marquis. He stowed away on a ship from Santander.

[Inspector Fabian]

But how on earth did he get like this?

[Robert Fabian]

How do you mean?

[Inspector Fabian]

Wasn't he always like this? Oh, look. There's a photo of him taken three years ago.

[Robert Fabian]

Great Scott. Yes, it's the same chap, all right, but what a change. Hanged. If I know what happened to him, he won't give us any information except his name.

[Inspector Fabian]

Well, anyway, we'd better try to clean him up a bit. What's happened to his fingers?

[Robert Fabian]

Good Lord. The ends of him look like blobs of ceiling wax.

[Inspector Fabian]

Marquis, what happened to your fingers? Hmm.

[Arthur Marquis]

My fingers. I lifted my nails out with a knife blade.

[Robert Fabian]

Grimly, the detectives cleaned the repulsive creature as best they could. And Fabian took him back to London. After giving him a meal of sandwiches and light ale, which he consumed ravenously. Back at Vine Street, Fabian stripped him and searched his repulsive clothing, as is customary with detained persons from abroad. In the folded sleeve of the filthy jersey, the inspector found two tiny objects. They were bits of rice paper, folded as small as aspirin tablets. And secured to the will with crisscross stitches. As the detective began to unfold the bits of paper, the prisoner for the first time showed interest in the proceedings.

[Arthur Marquis]

Be careful with those. Here, give them to me.

[Inspector Fabian]

They're mine. Watch yourself, Marquis, unless you want to be handcuffed.

[Arthur Marquis]

You see, my cellmate wrote those letters the morning before they shot him. I promised if I ever got free, I'd post them.

[Robert Fabian]

Silently, Fabian unfolded. The letters were very similar and written in Spanish. One was to the dead youth's mother, the other to his sweetheart.

[Inspector Fabian]

My dear, if this letter reaches you, it will be because I shall never have the joy of seeing you again. I've lived these past three years with that hope to devote my life to your happiness. But God's will be done. Let my memories serve you as an incentive to live and be happy. Be assured that I have loved you dearly. I have prepared myself to die as a Christian. So you see what a lot I shall owe to you, for in this your love guided me. Where did you get these letters, Marquis?

[Arthur Marquis]

Post them for me and I'll tell you.

[Inspector Fabian]

I'd have posted them anyway, as soon as I was sure they were genuine. Here, have a cigarette.

[Robert Fabian]

And then Marquis began to talk. A tale he told was one calculated to curdle the blood of even hard bitten policemen. He had slipped into Spain, as Fabian knew, and had planned to drift towards Lisbon and get a ship to New York. But in Madrid some partisans had accused him of being a Franco spy. He was beaten senseless and robbed. He awoke among Blitz rubble to find he was utterly naked, bruised and gashed, and his nose crushed into his cheeks. The British Legation found clothes for him, but the thieves who had robbed him had been to his hotel room in the meantime and taken everything. Marquis knew he must get away from Madrid before the British Legation discovered too much about him. He got out of Madrid and managed to get a job cleaning out a stockyard. A patrol of Franco's men raided the farm and took him prisoner. Later they themselves were captured by Republican forces. Each side tortured Marquis a little to discover if he knew any more, and then lost interest. He became one of the forgotten men in various prisons. By the time Franco had won the civil war, nobody could remember much about the Marquis. To release him would have given him official status, so they merely withdrew his guard and let him escape. He begged his way to Santander and stowed aboard a ship to England. The wheel had turned full circle. And here is Mr. Fabian's footnote.

[Inspector Fabian]

If somebody knows of a more poetic justice than that which fate meted out to other Marquess, I should be interested to hear it. Needless to say, we were all shocked by his story, but none of us felt like wasting much sympathy on him. Although he'd been submitted to most ghastly physical ill treatment, one wonders if his suffering could really counterbalance that of his victims. Mostly people like old Marcel, with a few hundred pounds life savings to invest. The story is completed by the sentence of three years penal servitude passed on Marquis at the Old Bailey. But personally I couldn't quite help feeling that after what he'd gone through, the jail sentence was something of an anti climax. Next week I will deal with a particularly tragic type of murder case. It is the case of the Black Butterfly.

[Marcel]

Perio Sutra bajo redujero susoras ponderia calificar para los beneficios del segro de desemplo de Oregon. Es gratis applicar sin costos nitarifas paroptender beneficios y los servicios de interpretacion estandis ponibiles presentar. Su solicitud es facil Yame al uno ocho, siete, siete, tres, cuatro, cinco, tres. Cuatro, ocho, cuatro. Uno, ocho, siete, siete, tres, cuatro, cinco, tres, cuatro, ocho, cuatro. Para recivira Yuda, encual quier.