Secrets Of Scotland Yard - Accurate Spelling Is Essential

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Secrets Of Scotland Yard – Accurate Spelling Is Essential

Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Date: July 28, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode from Secrets of Scotland Yard dives into a real-life murder investigation centered around the importance of spelling as forensic evidence. The story unravels the meticulous process Scotland Yard employed to catch Thomas Henry Alloway, a cunning murderer, who was ultimately undone by his careless spelling mistakes and a series of remarkable coincidences.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Progression

Setting the Scene: The Ordinary Criminal [00:32–02:22]

• Narrator sets a philosophical tone, contrasting the fictional portrayal of sinister criminals with reality: "In real life, the most hideous crimes cast no such shadows before them. The background could be quite cheerful and ordinary." [00:32]
• The murder of Irene Wilkins, a Londoner lured to Bournemouth by a telegram, is introduced.
• The suspicious telegram was the first clue: "Come immediately, 4:30 train, Waterloo, Bournemouth Central. Something will meet...car will meet." [01:55]

Discovery and Initial Investigation [03:10–06:26]

• The police examine the scene; clues include car tracks and a damp body, suggesting timing and method.
• Detective Sergeant Ellis and Superintendent Garrett begin tracing the origin and contents of the telegram.
• The victim's mother reveals Irene responded to a job advertisement via telegram.
• The original telegram is analyzed: its poor spelling ("immediately" spelled with an 'i', "Bournemouth" missing the 'e', "expense" with a 'c') stands out as potential leads. [05:40]

The Pattern of Misspelled Telegrams [06:41–08:51]

• Scotland Yard begins a wide search for similar telegrams, focusing on handwriting and spelling errors.
• Two more telegrams with similar errors are found, both job offers with unusually poor spelling and identical phrases ("Car will meet train"). [07:13]
• Det. Sgt. Ellis states: "I think both telegrams are decoys sent by the same person in contact with the employment agency, of course." [08:35]

The Key Witness: Ms. Watkins [09:19–11:26]

• Det. Sgt. Ellis interviews Ms. Watkins, a postal clerk, who recalls the sender as a man and is especially struck by his unsettling voice.
• Ms. Watkins: "His voice gave me the creep. I'd recognize that voice again anywhere." [11:03]

Following Car Clues and Initial Suspects [12:18-13:54]

• Investigators canvass local chauffeurs and car owners based on tire and vehicle measurements.
• Thomas Henry Alloway, a chauffeur, becomes a person of interest, but his handwriting and spelling during testing don’t match the telegrams initially. The investigation hits a dead end.

A Breakthrough: Coincidence and Voice Recognition [15:47–17:38]

• Fortuitously, Ms. Watkins, newly transferred to a Bournemouth post office, encounters the telegram sender again—it's Alloway, sending a parcel.
• Ms. Watkins recognizes his voice: “That's the man who sent that telegram. Quick, come to the window.” [16:16]
• She and Ellis identify his car's license plate: LK7405, later confirmed to belong to Alloway’s employer.

Building the Case: Luggage Rack & Spelling [18:18–21:24]

• Humphreys, a motor car body designer, witnesses Irene entering a car with a unique luggage rack—a detail he recalls after seeing Alloway’s car again by chance. [20:01]
• Police retrieve Alloway’s original chauffeur license application and match the handwriting to the telegrams: "They did. Perfectly, proving beyond a doubt that Alloway had disguised his handwriting during the priest death." [21:22]

The Net Closes: Arrest and Trial [21:37–26:17]

• Alloway, realizing he’s being watched, flees but is soon arrested. A duplicate garage key is found, explaining how he accessed the car.
• Cards and letters matching the incriminating handwriting are recovered.
• Ms. Watkins is asked to identify Alloway in a voice lineup, which she does successfully:
  • Superintendent Garrett: “If you recognize any of their voices, I want you to say so at once.”
  • Ms. Watkins: “That's the man.” [24:26]

The Final Twist: The Fatal Spelling Test [25:23–26:17]

• In court, Alloway is asked to spell words as in the telegrams. He repeats the same unique mistakes—sealing the case:
  • Prosecutor: “Now expensive. The word expense.”
  • Alloway: “E X T E N S E.”
• The narrator concludes: "His error coming when it did was enough to tip the scales of justice against him. Thomas Henley Alloway was convicted and hanged." [26:17]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Narrator: "If you set out to plan a crime... you should always make allowances for the unexpected. Alloway didn’t. His complete disregard for anyone but himself brought about his downfall." [24:59]
• Ms. Watkins: "His voice gave me the creep... I'd recognize that voice again anywhere." [11:03]
• Detective Sergeant Ellis: "I'm not oversensitive, sir, but I get the feeling they think I'm a nuisance." [09:00]
• Prosecutor in court: "Now, Mr. Alloway, there are certain words I want you to spell. And I want you to be very careful." [25:23]
• Narrator: "The Long Armor coincidence played a large part in this case. But if none of these things had happened as and when they did, the murderer of Irene Wilkins might never have been brought to justice." [27:45]

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Important Timestamps

• [00:32] – Show’s central theme about ordinary criminals; introduction to the murder case
• [05:40] – Analysis of the key misspelled telegram
• [07:13] – Discovery of additional suspicious, poorly spelled telegrams
• [11:03] – Ms. Watkins remembers the telegram sender’s unsettling voice
• [15:47] – Ms. Watkins identifies Alloway at the post office
• [20:01] – Luggage rack detail from Humphreys helps connect Alloway and the crime
• [21:22] – Handwriting analysis confirms Alloway as the author of the telegrams
• [24:26] – Voice identification of Alloway by Ms. Watkins
• [25:23] – In-court spelling errors seal Alloway’s fate

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Tone & Style

The episode retains a classic, suspenseful radio drama style, with a dry British wit and a strong emphasis on methodical investigation, serendipity, and the fallibility of criminals. The characters speak plainly, with emotional yet restrained delivery fitting the detective genre of the era.

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Final Thoughts

This episode illustrates how small mistakes—in this case, spelling errors—can unravel even the most carefully plotted crime. It also highlights the critical role of ordinary observant citizens, the relentless work of investigators, and the ever-present role of chance in criminal justice. As the narrator wryly notes: "It’s always wise to keep a dictionary handy."

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Transcript

[Carvana Advertiser]

Best thing that's ever happened to you. Financially.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Go easy.

[Carvana Advertiser]

Sold my car on Carvana. Amazing offer, really.

I hit 200 on the scratcher.

Did the scratcher come to your house and hand you a check?

[Narrator]

No.

[Carvana Advertiser]

How many scratchers did you hit to get that? I hit a button on Carvana.com once.

Okay, that's fair.

It's like the lottery, except you always win.

Not like the lottery at all, actually.

Exactly. Inexplicably good offers worth bragging about. Sell your car today on Carvana. Pickup fees may apply.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Have you ever thought of murdering somebody?

[Narrator]

I have. I suppose most of us have. But there's something that's different between thinking about it and carrying it out. At least I hope so. Something that's different, but not something you can see or recognize or that may give you warnings. For example, a murderer may have stood next to you in the list this morning. He might be the man who asked you for a light for his cigarette. Or sat next to you in the cinema. Or shared the same table as a restaurant or. Anyway, there was nothing to show that he was a murderer. That is where truth differs from fiction. I've acted in a lot of films about murder, read many crime stories. There's always something strange about the man who convicts crime. Something remote, something sinister. As a background that sinister too, an implication of evil is always present. But in real life, the most hideous crimes cast no such shadows before them. The background could be quite cheerful and ordinary. The criminal, a simple, prosaic sort of fellow. Now, let us take such a theme and such an ordinary sort of chat. Going into a post office one sunny morning in the little English town of Boston and.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Telegram, please, miss.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Thank you. Morning post. Come immediately. 4:30 train, Waterloo, Bournemouth Central. Something will meet. I'm afraid I can't read this bit here.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Where? Let me see here. That's car. Car will meet.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Oh, yes, yes, of course. Car will meet people. Train extends no object. Urgent.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

You've got it. How much will that be?

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Two shillings, please.

[Narrator]

Just a simple little act, sending a telegram. The girl behind the counter thought nothing further about the man who sent it.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Why should she? Would you?

[Superintendent Garrett]

No reason why you should.

[Narrator]

Unless you happen to know, as I do, that he's a murderer. Two days later, the body of a woman was found in a field about three miles outside Bournemouth, a seaside resort on the south coast of England. That is where our casebook history begins. The police are inspecting the body.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

See her clothes, Fred, are still damp. Stopped working early last night, didn't it?

[Chauffeur Thomas Henry Alloway]

That's right.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

About half a seat. Must have happened before that, then. Last piece of work.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Yes, poor woman. Somebody made a solid job of her all right. This car track show how she was brought here.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

The car must have pulled up just

[Superintendent Garrett]

down the road there. I'd recognize those power marks anywhere.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Said.

[Chauffeur Thomas Henry Alloway]

Well, we better take measurements of the track and wheel base, Fred.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Not much more we can do to the doctor comes.

[Superintendent Garrett]

We'll be along any minute now.

[Narrator]

It didn't take the police long to discover the identity of the murdered woman. She was Irene Wilkins of Streatham, London, and within a few hours her widowed mother was then on her way to Bournemouth to see Superintendent Garrett in charge of the case.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Irene had been advertising in the paper for a position as lady cook. They answered by telegram asking you to come down immediately.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Where is the telegram from? Mrs. Wilkins, do you remember? This may be very important.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Well, I remember where it came from all right. It was from Boscom. L hope he'll get the brute that killed my poor girl.

[Superintendent Garrett]

We'll get him away. You must be brave and help us all who can.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

I'm sorry I gave way like that, but it does seem such a shame.

[Prosecutor]

I wonder if you can remember the

[Superintendent Garrett]

date on the telegram.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Well, it came Monday morning.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Now that would be December 22nd. This gives us something to work on. Dr. Ellis.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Yes, sir.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Come here, Emily.

[Prosecutor]

I want you to go to the

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

post office at Boscombe. Yes, sir.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Tell them I want to see the original telegram form that a customer handed in on the 22nd to be sent to this address. Wilkins Pilmier Road, sir.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Very good, sir.

[Narrator]

Boscombe. We've heard that name before, haven't we? And Buscombe is only a couple of miles from Bournemouth, so it didn't take Detective Sergeant Ellis long to get there. Nor does it take long for one of the post office clerks to search through the files and find the original copy of the telegram sent to Irene Wilkins. Sergeant Ellis made a quick trip back to Superintendent Garrett's office at Bournemouth.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Now, let's see what we can get from this telegram. Morning post. That must be the newspaper Ms. Wilkins advertised in. Come immediately. 4:30 train, Waterloo Bond Central something. We'll meet car, that's what it is. Car will meet train expense. No object. Urgent. Signed Carver will beat house.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

I've checked up my name. Address fictitious.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Well, that is to be expected. I believe this was probably written by a man you did Anything peculiar about the spelling?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

I did, sir. It's almost as bad as the handwriting. That's pretty awful.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Right here's immediately spelled with an I instead of an E. No E in Bournemouth and expense with a C instead of an S. This might give us something to work on.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Well, a car did meet our innie Wilkins. We've got the measurements. We know the maker's tires it was fitted with.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Yes, we may be able to do something with that in time.

[Prosecutor]

I think our best line for the

[Superintendent Garrett]

present is through this telegram.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

The handwriting and spelling are distinctive, sir.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Provide general inquiries if any more telegrams of peculiar spelling have been sent off lately. If so, get me the original. Try the Boston area first and work out from there.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Very good, sir.

[Narrator]

When Scotland Yard takes over, investigation no. 2 is too small to be considered. Postal headquarters in London were asked to make inquiries throughout all their offices in the British isles. It took a bit of time for Ellis to check all the branch post

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

offices in the Bournemouth district.

[Narrator]

And it was some days later before he reported back to the superintendent. Weary but triumphant.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Come in. All right, you, Ellis? Any results?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Yes, sir. Not bad at all. Two telegrams received during the last month with similar areas of spelling.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Good.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

This is the first one, sir.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Investor Dippington?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Yes, sir. The handwriting matches.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Odd name, miss. And then from Hempstead. This time we get into new desire to come mortally. Bournemouth remain night of desire expensive. Given car will meet train. Sign Mrs. Cooper. Train. Spelling mistakes. Hunter needed with an I instead of an E. Bond without an E again. If with two Fs and expenses filled with a C. Definitely looks like the same chap.

[Narrator]

I agree, sir.

[Superintendent Garrett]

What happened to Mrs. Or Miss? Whichever it is, Dickenson?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

The car didn't meet her, sir, so she went back to London.

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

What?

[Superintendent Garrett]

You've heard of me? When Was this print?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

December 17th. Here's the other one. They're sent two days later on the 19th to a domestic play. Employment agency, please send by 5:30.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Wardle Boscombe. Train. Young, pleasant nurse companions. A girl of 20. Cow meet train. There's another spelling mistake in this one. Pleasant with no A. In addition, all of them seem to have the same phrase. Car will meet. What do you think about his Ernest?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Oh, well, sir, I think that both telegrams are decoy sent by the same

[Superintendent Garrett]

person in contact with the employment agency, of course.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Yes, sir. They sent a letter at the address given Butler Boscombe Grange, asking for more particulars. They got no reply, so I did. Nothing further in the matter.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Right. Well, he's back to the Boston post office for you, Ellis. You must be getting quite popular with the young ladies there.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

No, sir.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

What?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

I'm not oversensitive, sir, but I get the feeling they think I'm a nuisance.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Well, now's your chance to change all that. Get talking to the clerks and see if you can find one who remembers accepting any of our illiterate friend's telegrams.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

It's only a small post office, sir. Just a man and a girl. The girl seems intelligent. Fine.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Off you go and good hunting.

[Narrator]

So Sergeant Elliot trotted back to the little post office at buscoup, and his luck was in. He found Ms. Watkins, the girl park there alone. Ellis had not overstated the case. She was intelligent and not reluctant to talk. Quite the reverse.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

I brought along a copy of a telegram, Ms. Watson, one that was sent from this office. Would you mind looking at it and

[Narrator]

seeing if you remember it?

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

I'll try, but I don't promise I'll recognize it.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Mind you, I understand that. Here it is. Take a look.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

We have so many tools here, you'd be surprised. They're talking of opening a bigger post office. We've really got more business than we can handle here.

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

Come to that, it might have been

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

the other clerk that took this one.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Well, now, isn't that funny? After all the excuses I've been making. I do remember taking in this wire.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Splendid. Recollect a little bit about the sender.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Now, wait a minute. There was something. It was a man. I'm certain of that.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

What's he look like?

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

I'm a afraid I can't remember much about his looks, Sergeant Ellis, or what he was wearing. Still, there's something about that telegram nagging at the back of my mind.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Don't worry and take your time. That's what I find helps most when I'm trying to remember something.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Try too hard.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

It just takes you that much longer.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

But you say it's important.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Oh, it might be.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Let me read it again. Morning post come immediately. 4:30 train, Waterloo, Bournemouth. Sentence. Terrible writing, isn't it?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Yes.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Something will meet. Oh, car will meet.

[Prosecutor]

That's it.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Of course I remembered.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

I knew you would.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

His voice. I'd remember it anywhere. Now I'll tell you why. There was that one word. I couldn't read that word, car. So I asked him what it was and he said, car. Car will meet. Now, I don't know why, but his voice gave me the creep. It wasn't anything he said. I'm just sensitive to voices. I'd recognize that voice again anywhere.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

It's going to be a bit of a job finding a man by the sound of his voice. Still, never know.

[Narrator]

Well, I don't blame Ellis to you for thinking it was pretty much of a wild goose case. But as he said, you'll never know.

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[Narrator]

Meanwhile, other detectives were busy in the Bournemouth Boscombe area questioning both owners and chauffeurs of all cars whose general measurements might fit the tracks left with the scene of the crime. And here's where the name of Thomas Henry Alloway comes into our story. Give a chauffeur to a Mr. Sutton who owned a big gray saloon.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

What's your move, Mr. Arroway?

[Chauffeur Thomas Henry Alloway]

During the late afternoon evening of December

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

22nd last that was Monday being the

[Narrator]

old man's late night I went down

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

to the station about 5:30, picked him up, drove him back and put the

[Superintendent Garrett]

car away at 6 o'.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Clock.

[Chauffeur Thomas Henry Alloway]

Do you have your own key for garage?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

No, there's only one Mr. Sutton keeps tight hold of it. I locked up, turned the key in like I always do. Thank you.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Then I went into Bournemouth and had

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

a bit of supper, a new charm and went to a cinema. After that, came over and went to bed. What else was there to do?

[Superintendent Garrett]

Pubs were all closed. But then you seem to remember it

[Chauffeur Thomas Henry Alloway]

all very clearly considering this happened over a month ago.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

What's the matter?

[Superintendent Garrett]

Is it a prime to have a good memory?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Have you got a good memory for spelling? What do you mean spelling? Yeah. What are you getting at?

[Chauffeur Thomas Henry Alloway]

Well, did you ever have any difficulty with certain words?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

I don't know.

[Chauffeur Thomas Henry Alloway]

Well, let's find out. Here, take this pencil and write in this notebook while I dictate.

[Narrator]

The experiment was a flop. Alloway's handwriting turned out to be entirely different from that on the telegram. And what's more, his spelling was quite correct when it came to writing out sentences that use the misspelled words. No, it didn't look as though he could be the man Scotland Yard was after. More and more, Superintendent Garrett was coming to realize he had a real case on his hands.

[Superintendent Garrett]

You know, Elliot, we shouldn't have let the postal authorities talk us into publishing those telegrams in the newspaper.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Well, so it did seem a good idea at the time. Made a lot easier for them to circularize the details of what we were after.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Yeah, but it probably tipped off our murder to change his handwriting and brush up on his spelling. He's clever, whoever he is.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Of course there haven't been any more telegrams.

[Superintendent Garrett]

No, no, no. Judging from the support, it doesn't look as if Elouet's our man. Car's about the right size, but the tires don't match.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

He says he hasn't changed them since he put them on himself four months ago.

[Superintendent Garrett]

What about the owner of the car, Mr. Stockton?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Another chance there. Watertight alibi for the whole evening, that is my friend.

[Superintendent Garrett]

I'm afraid for the moment we are stuck.

[Narrator]

Yes, Scotland Yard was stuck just for a moment. Then coincidence took a hand, as is so often does in crime investigations. You'll hear about it in just a moment. Against any criminal, getting away with it are enormous. Just think of all the details he has to take care of in planning other crimes. If just one goes wrong, he's likely to find himself in more than a spot of bother. He's got to think of himself and what he's doing first, last and always. And he may overlook the fact that other people unimportant to him may notice things and remember them. Like Ms. Watkins. The postal clock, with her flair for remembering what it is. One day Thomas Alloway took a parcel into a Bournemouth post office. And it so happened that the talk he handed it to was.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Yes, you're right.

[Narrator]

Ms. Watkins, who had just been transferred there from the Buscombe branch.

[Superintendent Garrett]

I want to send this parcel.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

I'm in a hurry.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Let me have it. I'll wear it. I know that.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Was he an old boyfriend? Yeah.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

That'll be eight.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Can take me eight and a half.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

I've got the exact change. I think Half a check. Yes, yes.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Here you are.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

You don't t that parcel around. If you bother to look at it,

[Superintendent Garrett]

you'll see it's more fragile.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

That's the man who sent that telegram. Quick, come to the window. Yes, he's getting a little car. A gray one. Can you see the license number? O tail. I can't quite see. See it?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

LK7405 LK7405.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Look out to the counter. I must get on to the police at once. What a bit of luck meeting him. And it was him, too. I'd know that voice anywhere.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Yes?

[Superintendent Garrett]

Hello, Ms. Watkins?

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Huh?

[Superintendent Garrett]

Here is this course out of india he has. You got the number? Excellent.

[Narrator]

LK7405.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Good work. Thank you, Ellis. As your friend, Ms. Watkins, he's recognized

[Narrator]

the man who sent the wire.

[Superintendent Garrett]

And he's got the license number of his car.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Lk7404.5 did ring a bell, justice. I'll look through the chauffeur.

[Superintendent Garrett]

No, no, no.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Yes, that's the sutton's car. The chauffeur was Thomas Henry Alloy.

[Superintendent Garrett]

That fellow again. We can't charge a man with murder because his voice resembles somebody who once sent a telegram.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

There's not much support for his alibisa Apart from the car being locked in the gallows that night. He could have had a duplicate keymate.

[Superintendent Garrett]

All we can do for the moment is to keep a very close watch on that gentleman. If he is our man, perhaps he'll slip up somewhere.

[Narrator]

No such luck. More time went by and nothing happened. And then, believe it or not, another coincidence. Remember, this is a true case, and I'm telling you too, exactly as it took place. Another little fact popped up that alloway hadn't accounted for because he'd been concentrating on himself at the time, superintendent Garrett received a call from a man named Humphreys.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Now, Mr. Humphrey, tell us your story in your own words.

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

Well, superintendent, I traveled down to Boston on December 32nd in the same train as Ms. Wilson.

[Chauffeur Thomas Henry Alloway]

Excuse me.

[Superintendent Garrett]

You didn't know Ms. Wilkins?

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

No, but I recognized her photograph later in the paper. Although by that time there was nothing much I could do about it.

[Superintendent Garrett]

But I don't follow.

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

Well, I'll explain. I'd come to Boston to spend the night with friends just before a business trip I was taking abroad. Next day, early, I took the train to Southampton and went on board the boat. I probably wouldn't have seen the papers at all except that we were late in sailing and my cabin was. You had brought on board an early afternoon addition.

[Superintendent Garrett]

I see. That is when the lot. Yes.

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

As a matter of fact, I didn't see the paper until after dinner that night, and we'd been at sea several hours.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Right. Go on.

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

Well, of course I was horrified to read what had happened. She was a nice looking girl, but there didn't seem to be anything I could do, so. Well, I'm afraid I just left it

[Superintendent Garrett]

at that too bad. Yeah, I quite understand. Now, to come back to the day of the murder. It was there in your letter that you saw Ms. Wilkins get into a car.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Yes.

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

When we got off our train and were having our tickets collected, I was standing right behind her. That's when I noticed her hat.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

I saw her into this car.

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

And I noticed it particularly because it had a peculiar luggage rack.

[Superintendent Garrett]

A design I hadn't seen before.

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

That may seem obvious, you, but I must explain that I'm a motor car body designer by profession.

[Superintendent Garrett]

So naturally a beater like that would catch your eye.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

That's it.

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

But I didn't notice the license number of the car. And it wasn't until the day before yesterday that I came back on a visit to Boston. And by a strange coincidence, yesterday I spotted that same car again.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Recognized it at once by the luggage rack.

[Narrator]

Yes, the whole thing came back to

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

me in a flash. And this time I took the number.

[Superintendent Garrett]

As the car wheels past me.

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

My friends told me the case hadn't

[Narrator]

yet been cleared up.

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

And so I immediately wrote to you.

[Superintendent Garrett]

That's very interesting indeed, Mr. Humphrey. I think this evidence may be of great value to us. Now, just one more thing. You see this pile of ladies hats on the table? Can you identify any one of them? Yes, this one.

[Mr. Humphrey (Motor Car Body Designer)]

The girl I saw get into the

[Superintendent Garrett]

car was wearing it. That's the hat found beside the murdered body of Irene Wilkins.

[Narrator]

Definite proof, you say? No, not yet. But the case against Thomas Alloway was building up. What about the handwriting on the telegram? Superintendent Garrett had a bright idea. He knew needed something written by Alloway before the time of the murder. And was able to obtain the application form Alloway filled out for his chauffeur's driving license. Would they match?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

They did.

[Narrator]

Perfectly proving beyond a doubt that Alloway had disguised his handwriting during the priest death. Somehow, we'll never know how Alloway learned of this new development. And knowing that he'd been totally watching Weeks, it was too much.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

He cracked.

[Narrator]

He forged his bus's signature to six decks and bolted. Well, that did it. ALLA was off like a fox with a hound's outlet. The police immediately issued a warrant for his arrest and searched his plat. There they found a duplicate key to the garage. So he could have taken the car out again that fatal night without Mr. Sutton knowing. And Alloway? Where did he disappear to? How on earth do you find one person among 45 million? You and I couldn't do it on our own. But if we had a vast organization like Scotland Yard behind us, it would only be a matter of time before we found our man. And so Superintendent Garrett wasn't too surprised when he got a telephone call from the police at the reading. That's 90 miles away from Bonda.

[Superintendent Garrett]

And. Hello, Superintendent Garrett here.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

We got some good news stories to conf. This is wedding headquarters. We picked up.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Oh, nice going.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

How'd you pick him up? He came to take care off here. That is a job of a mechanic. We'll bring him along for you.

[Narrator]

Sounds simple letter. But I'm sure, sure you could imagine the many hours of patient work and the hundreds of inquiries that finally resulted in Alloway's arrest on him. The police found cards and letters in his own handwriting that matched up nicely with the telegrams. As Superintendent Garrett put it, a distinctive ugly scrawl as nasty as the man himself looks.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Now that we've got an open shut case, at least there's just one thing more. Get a dozen of those shots we interviewed. And Mr. Alloway, I want to see if Ms. Watkins can pick him out of a crowd by his voice alone. Now, Ms. Watkins, you're not nervous, are you?

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Just a little. Now, don't mind me. I'll do whatever I can to help.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Good. Well, what I want you to do is very simple. In the next room are several men. When we go in there, they'll have their backs turned. You and you turn? Yes. To them.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

I can't see them then.

[Superintendent Garrett]

No, that's very important. They'll each in turn say certain words. If you recognize any of their voices,

[Narrator]

I want you to say so at once.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

All right.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Ready?

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Yes.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Now then, just stand here facing the wall. All right, when you're ready.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Very good, sir. Will you read the words written on this card? Car will leap.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Second man.

[Narrator]

Car.

[Superintendent Garrett]

Car will meet. Third man.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Car. Car will meet.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

That's the man.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Thank you, Ms. Watkins.

[Superintendent Garrett]

That is Thomas.

[Narrator]

Without any doubt. Thomas Alloway was a clever man in several ways. But like every other human being, he unfortunately had his weaknesses. If you set out to plan a crime, and I hope you don't do

[Superintendent Garrett]

it very often, you should always make

[Narrator]

allowances for the unexpected. Alloway didn't. His complete disregard for anyone but himself brought about his downfall. When brought to trial, Alloway put up a bold defense. In spite of the overwhelming weight of evidence produced by Scotland Yard, the vital and decisive moment came while Alloway was in the witness box being questioned by the Council for the prosecution.

[Prosecutor]

Now, Mr. Alloway, there are certain words I want you to spell. And I want you to be very careful.

[Superintendent Garrett]

B All right, go ahead.

[Prosecutor]

The first word is Bur. Will you spell that, please?

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

B O U R N E M O U T H. Magic.

[Prosecutor]

And now expensive. The word expense.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

E X T E N S E. Right. Let immediate I N N E D I A D E. Now you can spell pleasant. P L E S E N T

[Prosecutor]

C L E S E N T. I like to spell pleasant.

[Detective Sergeant Ellis]

Yes.

[Narrator]

His memory had failed him. He'd forgotten to check over the spelling in the telegram to the employment agency asking for a pleasant young nurse. His error coming when it did was enough to tip the scales of justice against him. Thomas Henley Alloway was convicted and hanged. We've called this case Accurate spelling is essential, of course. You say if Alloway hadn't been a poor speller, he might have got away with murder. But there are more ifs in the story than that one. If Humphries hadn't been a motor car body designer, he probably never would have noticed that luggage rack on Alloway's car and so wouldn't have remembered it. If he hadn't left on his business trip when he did, his evidence would have been available immediately after the murder. If the police hadn't been forced to concentrate on the only other evidence they had, the telegram sent by Alloway to his victim, they might never have discovered Ms. Watkins the postal chart. If she hadn't had a special talent for remembering voices, he might never have noticed Alloway. I think you'll agree with me that the Long Armor coincidence played a large part in this case. But if none of these things had happened as and when they did, the murderer of Irene Wilkins might never have been brought to justice. By the way, are you good at spelling? I'm not bad. But after listening to this case, I'm sure you will agree that it's always wise to keep a dictionary handy. In the next case I should be telling you about, coincidence plays no part at all. But that's for next time. Now, until we meet again, I must pose this case. Book of the Secrets of Scotland Yard.

[Prosecutor]

Sa.

[Ms. Watkins (Postal Clerk)]

Sam.

[Carvana Advertiser]

Sa.