Man Hunt 45-10-01 (022) Clue Of The Stairway Slaying

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Man Hunt 45-10-01 (022) Clue Of The Stairway Slaying"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Episode: Man Hunt 45-10-01 (022) Clue Of The Stairway Slaying
• Release Date: March 4, 2025

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Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "Clue Of The Stairway Slaying," listeners are transported back to the Golden Age of Radio, immersing themselves in a classic whodunit drama. The story revolves around the mysterious murder of Fred Jackson, a watchman at the Fulton warehouse, and the ensuing manhunt to uncover the killer’s identity.

The Incident

The episode opens with an atmospheric introduction that sets the stage for the unfolding mystery.

• [00:01] Narrator: "Manhunt. The clue of the stairway slaying that led to manhunt. No crime has been committed yet. No murder has been done yet. No manhunt has begun yet."

At [00:44], Jackson reports from the Fulton warehouse at 2 AM, hinting at the impending turmoil:

• Jackson: "Hello, this is Jackson. It's 2 am at the Fulton warehouse. All quiet. A little lonely, but all quiet. When the relief watchman comes, have him bring up some coffee, will you?"

The tranquility is shattered moments later by the discovery of the murder, prompting immediate action.

• [01:16] Narrator: "Into the quiet of a waterfront warehouse. Death blasts. An announcement of its presence. Man-made death called on the police records by a much uglier name. Murder. Who will avenge the death of the watchman? Who will solve the secret of his murderer's identity? Who will start the manhunt man hunt. And the clue of the stairway slaying."

Initial Suspicions: Don Andrews

Detective Drew Stevens and seasoned officer Bill Morton engage in a conversation that unveils initial suspicions.

• [02:15] Bill Morton: "You remember Don Andrews? You helped send him up for a warehouse robbery five or six years ago."

• [02:27] Bill Morton: "He admits he was at the Fulton warehouse last night, but let him tell you himself. He's in my office now. You'll die laughing."

Don Andrews becomes the primary suspect due to his recent release from prison and his presence at the crime scene.

• [02:21] Bill Morton: "He got out yesterday. When I heard this was a warehouse job, I grabbed Andrews."

However, Doubts arise as Drew Stevens begins to piece together inconsistencies in Bill's assumptions.

Seeking the Combination: Jane Jordan's Lure

Drew Stevens decides to investigate further by visiting Jordan and Company to examine the blown safe. Here, he encounters Jane Jordan, who offers unexpected assistance.

• [04:22] Jane Jordan: "I come by that honestly enough. I worked on my college papers."

As they inspect the safe, Jane reveals crucial information about its unique, burglar-proof design.

• [04:44] Jane Jordan: "The people who built this safe gave dad several possible combinations. He was to select one of them and to set the tumblers himself."

Her expertise hints at her deeper involvement, setting the stage for the impending reveal.

The Breakthrough: Analyzing the Clues

Drew Stevens conducts a meticulous interview with Fred Jackson's colleague, uncovering vital timeline details.

• [06:00] Watchman: "He was killed at 2 am on a dot, our report says."

• [07:16] Drew Stevens: "Somebody has to blow the Jordan safe, take the money out of it, run down a hall, down a flight of stairs and kill the watchman all in three seconds."

This revelation challenges Bill Morton's initial theory, suggesting that Don Andrews alone couldn't have committed the crime within such a constrained timeframe.

Confronting Thomas Jordan

Suspecting the company's owner, Thomas Jordan, Drew confronts him alongside Jane Jordan. Their interaction is tense, leading to a pivotal moment where evidence surfaces.

• [09:01] Thomas Jordan: "Just why are you asking me these questions, Mr. Stevens?"

As Drew examines a photograph taken by Jane, he discovers incriminating evidence hidden within.

• [10:07] Drew Stevens: "Say, this letter on your desk. Nice words. May I keep it?"

Upon scrutinizing the photograph, Drew identifies a threatening letter from a gambler, linking Jane Jordan to the motive behind the theft and subsequent murder.

The Revelation of Jane Jordan's Guilt

The climax unfolds as Jane Jordan’s true intentions are exposed. Her meticulous planning and desperate need for money drive her to commit the heinous act.

• [11:07] Drew Stevens: "You couldn't, Mr. Jordan, but her camera could. She must have snapped candid photos of you when you opened the safe."

• [11:17] Jane Jordan: "Yes. Yes, it is. I had to have that money. So I figured out what I thought was a perfect plan. But I didn't mean to shoot the watchman."

Her confession reveals the tragic accident that resulted from her desperate actions, solidifying her culpability.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Jane Jordan's arrest, a bittersweet resolution to the intense investigation. Drew Stevens underscores the complexity of human motives and the unforeseen consequences of desperation.

• [11:35] Drew Stevens: "You'll die attacking her, Bill. Have this print for evidence. It's too bad for you, Ms. Jordan, that the hypo solution developed not only my picture, but. But also a murder charge against."

The story serves as a poignant reminder of the thin line between right and wrong, and how quickly circumstances can lead to irreversible actions.

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Notable Quotes:

• Narrator [00:01]: "Manhunt. The clue of the stairway slaying that led to manhunt."
• Bill Morton [02:15]: "You remember Don Andrews? You helped send him up for a warehouse robbery five or six years ago."
• Jane Jordan [04:44]: "The people who built this safe gave dad several possible combinations."
• Drew Stevens [07:16]: "Somebody has to blow the Jordan safe... and kill the watchman all in three seconds."
• Jane Jordan [11:17]: "I didn't mean to shoot the watchman."

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This episode masterfully weaves suspense, character development, and intricate plot twists, delivering a captivating narrative that honors the legacy of classic radio dramas. Listeners are left contemplating the complexities of human nature and the unforeseen paths that lead to tragedy.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Manhunt. The clue of the stairway slaying that led to manhunt. No crime has been committed yet. No murder has been done yet. No manhunt has begun yet.

[Jackson]

Hello, this is Jackson. It's 2am at the Fulton warehouse. All quiet. A little lonely, but all quiet. When the relief watchman comes, have him bring up some coffee, will you? Thanks, I'll go on. Hold everything. I've got to see what's happened.

[Watchman]

Hey, you.

[Drew Stevens]

You coming down those stairs.

[Bill Morton]

Stop.

[Drew Stevens]

Hello?

[Narrator]

Into the quiet of a waterfront warehouse. Death blasts. An announcement of its presence. Man made death called on the police records by a much uglier name. Murder. Who will avenge the death of the watchman? Who will solve the secret of his murderer's identity? Who will start the manhunt man hunt. And the clue of the stairway slaying.

[Bill Morton]

I gotta laugh too. I gotta. Sometimes an old fashioned cop like me can get results too.

[Drew Stevens]

What are you laughing at, though?

[Bill Morton]

Come on across the hall to my office.

[Drew Stevens]

Okay.

[Bill Morton]

You know that the watchman at the Fulton warehouse was shot to death at 2:00 this morning?

[Drew Stevens]

Yes, I know. Is that what's breaking you up?

[Bill Morton]

No, no, I gotta laugh at the. Come on, come on. I'll tell you.

[Drew Stevens]

All right, I'm with you.

[Bill Morton]

You remember Don Andrews? You helped send him up for a warehouse robbery five or six years ago.

[Drew Stevens]

Yes, I remember him well.

[Bill Morton]

He got out yesterday. When I heard this was a warehouse job, I grabbed Andrews. So you know what?

[Drew Stevens]

What?

[Bill Morton]

He admits he was at the Fulton warehouse last night, but let him tell you himself. He's in my office now. You'll die laughing. Come on in.

[Drew Stevens]

Hello, Andrews.

[Jackson]

Hi.

[Bill Morton]

Tell him your story, Andrews. Give him a laugh, too.

[Jackson]

I don't know what's with this hyena. Look, Stevens, I got out of prison yesterday and I did steal a truckload of stuff in my warehouse at midnight last night. But I don't know anything about any murder or any $50,000 either.

[Drew Stevens]

What $50,000, bill?

[Bill Morton]

A safe was blown open in the office of Jordan and Company, third floor of the warehouse. 50 grand is missing.

[Drew Stevens]

Say, that's a lot of loot. As I remember it. You don't ever carry a gun, do you, Andrews?

[Jackson]

No. That's why I only got 5 to 10 years for my last job. Make this guy lay off, will you, Stevens? He's trying to pin a murder rap on me.

[Bill Morton]

What do you mean trying to? It's a cinch.

[Drew Stevens]

Hey, Drew, where you going? Maybe Andrews didn't kill the watchman, Bill.

[Bill Morton]

Are you kidding?

[Drew Stevens]

I'm going up to Jordan's office to find out who cracked that safe. So I can crack this case.

[Jane Jordan]

May I help you?

[Drew Stevens]

I'm Drew Stevens, Police.

[Jane Jordan]

Oh, hello. My name is Jane Jordan. My father owns this firm and I work for him. Please come in.

[Drew Stevens]

Thank you. Ms. Jordan, I wonder if I could take a look at that safe that was blown and robbed last night.

[Jane Jordan]

Yes, I suppose so. It's in Dad's private office. That's right. I'll open the door for you. The police had to keep it locked.

[Bill Morton]

Thanks again.

[Jane Jordan]

I have the key right here. There, there. Come on in.

[Drew Stevens]

Hey, somebody did a mighty fine job on that safe. The door is completely off.

[Jane Jordan]

You know about this face, don't you, Mr. Stevens?

[Drew Stevens]

Know about it? What do you mean?

[Jane Jordan]

Well, it. That is, it was the only one of its kind in the country. Specially built and burglar proof. It is alleged.

[Drew Stevens]

That it is alleged. Sounds like newspaper man talk. They qualify everything, you know. It is reported, according to the police, it is alleged. Stuff like that.

[Jane Jordan]

I come by that honestly enough. I worked on my college papers.

[Drew Stevens]

Oh, that's all. What'd you work with, Speed graph?

[Jane Jordan]

Leg? No, I do Candid Camera work mostly. Well, Mr. Stevens, you've been squatting there by the state for a whole minute now. What have you found?

[Drew Stevens]

Promise you won't tell anybody?

[Jane Jordan]

Cross my heart.

[Drew Stevens]

Okay, then. I haven't found a thing.

[Jane Jordan]

I like that. Mr. Stevens, maybe this might help you. The people who built this safe gave dad several possible combinations. He was to select one of them and to set the tumblers himself. Which he did so that he was the only man in the world who could open that safe without having to force it.

[Drew Stevens]

Steven, I don't think that means anything. Considering the fact that somebody did blow it open. But thanks just the same.

[Jane Jordan]

Well, Mr. Stevens, could I go with you wherever you're going? I could take pictures of whatever you're doing. And maybe they'd be valuable to you later on.

[Drew Stevens]

Have you got your camera with you?

[Jane Jordan]

Now, I've got a secret for you. I always have my camera with me.

[Drew Stevens]

My turns are like that. Sorry to disappoint you, Ms. Jordan, but all I'm going to do is make a routine phone call.

[Jane Jordan]

Come into my Officer Magic Ben. You can sit at my desk and I'll snap your picture while you're calling.

[Drew Stevens]

Oh, all right. Oh, see that I come out handsomely here.

[Jane Jordan]

I'll do my best. Go ahead. Sit over there at the desk while I lock up here.

[Drew Stevens]

All right.

[Jane Jordan]

You look fine sitting there. I'll get My camera. It's right here.

[Drew Stevens]

Okay, but I'm not responsible for broken lenses.

[Jane Jordan]

Mr. Stevens, turn a little bit more this way, will you, please?

[Drew Stevens]

Like this?

[Jane Jordan]

Uh huh.

[Drew Stevens]

Uh huh.

[Watchman]

Hello? Businessman's Protective Service.

[Drew Stevens]

Hello, this is Drew Stephens, Police say Fred Jackson, the watchman who was killed this morning, was one of your men, wasn't he?

[Watchman]

Yes, he was.

[Drew Stevens]

Well, I'm just doing some routine checking. How often did he report to your office during the night?

[Watchman]

He came on at midnight, the same as I did, see? Checked in every hour on the hour. We've got a phone booth on the second floor of the warehouse.

[Drew Stevens]

He was killed at 2am on a dot, our report says.

[Watchman]

That's right. He was talking to me on the phone. Then I heard a dull explosion and Fred put the phone down. Not more than three seconds later, I heard the shot that killed him.

[Drew Stevens]

How many seconds later?

[Watchman]

Three or four. Maybe five. Not more. Anything else?

[Drew Stevens]

No, no, nothing else, thank you. Except to tell you that you've been very helpful. You see, you practically told me who murdered Fred, Jack. Don't scroud me, will you, Bill? I can't stand people looking over my shoulder while I'm working.

[Bill Morton]

All right, then tell me what you're doing.

[Drew Stevens]

I'm thinking, Bill. The Jordan office is on the third floor of the warehouse, right?

[Bill Morton]

That's right.

[Drew Stevens]

Okay. Watchman was calling in from the second floor when the explosion was heard. The pistol shot that killed him followed almost immediately. Got those facts.

[Bill Morton]

Jordan office on third floor, watchman on second floor. Explosion and pistol shot almost together. I got that. But still, I got nothing.

[Drew Stevens]

You're gonna get credit for an arrest, Bill. That's something. I just hold everything while I put this all together.

[Bill Morton]

Put this together, he says. What for? Don Andrews stole that 50 grand and killed the watchman. I'd bet my badge on it.

[Drew Stevens]

You're liable to the awful cold under the lapel this winter, Bill. Now get this. Somebody has to blow the Jordan safe, take the money out of it, run down a hall, down a flight of stairs and kill the watchman all in three seconds.

[Bill Morton]

Andrews could have done it. He's fast.

[Drew Stevens]

Uh, nobody could have done it. It's impossible, though. But here's what actually happened. The safe was opened by somebody who knew the combination. Then it was fixed to blow open as a cover up while a thief was halfway downstairs. A few seconds later, the watchman spotted him and was killed.

[Bill Morton]

Okay, I won't argue with you. You say it was done that way. Then that's the way Don Andrews did it.

[Drew Stevens]

Oh, I'm a little tired of saying this, Bill, but Andrews didn't do it. Only one person knew the combination of that faith. Thomas Jordan, the man who owned the company.

[Bill Morton]

Yeah, but what about Don Andrews?

[Drew Stevens]

He's no murderer, Bill. You know, if I were you and I were looking for Fred Jackson's killer, I wouldn't pick on Andrews. But I'd pick up Thomas Jordan.

[Jane Jordan]

Hello, Mr. Stevens.

[Drew Stevens]

Oh, Ms. Jordan. Is your father at home?

[Jane Jordan]

Why, yes, he is. He's in the library. Won't you come in?

[Drew Stevens]

Yes, thank you. Come on, Belle.

[Jane Jordan]

Right this way, please. Dad. Oh, dad.

[Drew Stevens]

Yes, Jane?

[Jane Jordan]

Dad, These two gentlemen are from the police. Mr. Stevens and Mr. Morton.

[Bill Morton]

How are you?

[Drew Stevens]

How do you do, gentlemen?

[Thomas Jordan]

Won't you sit down?

[Drew Stevens]

Thank you.

[Jane Jordan]

Mr. Stevens, I'm developing the picture I took of you at the telephone this afternoon. It ought to be about ready now. I'll go and see if he don't bother.

[Drew Stevens]

Oh, well, Mr. Jordan, maybe it's best that your daughter has left. We have some rather personal questions to ask you. Yes?

[Thomas Jordan]

What are they?

[Drew Stevens]

Just what is your present financial situation?

[Thomas Jordan]

Well, you can see for yourself. This house, my business.

[Drew Stevens]

You look fine, Mr. Jordan, but appearances could be deceiving.

[Thomas Jordan]

Just why are you asking me these questions, Mr. Stevens?

[Bill Morton]

You don't understand why.

[Drew Stevens]

I'll tell him. Never mind, Mr. Jordan. We know you were the only living person who knew the combination of your safe.

[Thomas Jordan]

That's correct. I originated the combination, never told it to anyone. And, in fact, never even wrote it down.

[Drew Stevens]

Well, your safe was blown open after it was robbed, Mr. Jordan. That's why I want to know. Could you have used the $50,000 that was in it for some, well, shall I say personal reason?

[Thomas Jordan]

To be Frank about it, Mr. Stevens, I could have used that money. This house is mortgaged. That money in the safe was not mine. We were agents, you see, and we were given that money to pay for the shipment of woollens.

[Drew Stevens]

Well, you're honest enough, aren't you?

[Thomas Jordan]

Well, why not? I have nothing to hide.

[Jane Jordan]

Here's your picture, Mr. Stevens. It's still wet from the high post. Looks like it came out pretty well, though.

[Drew Stevens]

Oh, thanks. Would you excuse us a minute, please, Ms. Jordan? We have to.

[Jane Jordan]

Not till you look at my picture.

[Drew Stevens]

All right. That's very good. You've got a wonderful camera, Ms. Jordan. Photographs every detail. Even the numbers on the telephone dial are readable. Say, this letter on your desk. Nice words. May I keep it?

[Jane Jordan]

You can see a letter in that picture. Let me have it.

[Drew Stevens]

Just a second. No fair grabbing. I know this Makes me pretty much of a social outcast reading other people's mail. But I see why this letter is important. Very important. I think it tells me why you robbed your father's safe.

[Jane Jordan]

I did not. Give me that photograph. Give it to me.

[Drew Stevens]

Do you hear me? I want to keep her quiet, Bill. Keep it quiet. I'll read the rest of this letter now. I can make out most of this.

[Jane Jordan]

Keep your hands off me. You go ahead, mastermind. Read it.

[Drew Stevens]

Jack Barnes, the gambler. It says that unless Ms. Jordan pays him the $35,000 she lost at Roulette in his place, he's going to. I can't read the rest, but it doesn't matter. You paid Barnes, didn't you? Ms. Jordan, wait, please.

[Thomas Jordan]

Mr. Stevens, you said the safe was open before the explosion. No one knew the combination but me. Jane couldn't have taken the money.

[Drew Stevens]

Oh, yes, she could, sir. Jane worked in your office. She saw you open the safe a dozen times. Of course she did.

[Thomas Jordan]

But she was never close enough to see the numbers on the dial.

[Drew Stevens]

She couldn't, Mr. Jordan, but her camera could. She must have snapped candid photos of you when you opened the safe. Taking a new shot for each turn of the dial. And later enlarge them. Isn't that what you did, Ms. Jordan?

[Jane Jordan]

Yes. Yes, it is. I had to have that money. So I figured out what I thought was a perfect plan. But I didn't mean to shoot the watchman. All I wanted was the money. But then while I was running down the steps, I. I heard him call for me to stop him. Well, I must have shot him.

[Drew Stevens]

Well, you better take her, Bill. Have this print for evidence. It's too bad for you, Ms. Jordan, that the hypo solution developed not only my picture, but. But also a murder charge against.