Unsolved Mysteries 36-xx-xx (05) The Bridge Whist Mystery

Summary

Harold's Old Time Radio: Unsolved Mysteries 36-xx-xx (05) The Bridge Whist Mystery

Release Date: June 6, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Podcast Description: Reliving the Golden Age of Radio, Harold's Old Time Radio brings back classic radio shows where families gathered around the radio to enjoy timeless programs like The Shadow, Abbott & Costello, Amos & Andy, Dragnet, and many others.

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Overview

In the episode titled "The Bridge Whist Mystery," Harold immerses listeners in a riveting dramatization of the unsolved murder of J.B. Maxwell. Set against the backdrop of New York City's bustling streets, the story delves into the perplexing circumstances surrounding Maxwell's death, challenging both the characters within the narrative and the audience to unravel the mystery.

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Case Details

Time and Location:
644 West 70th Street, New York City
Date of Incident:
Early morning, clock striking eight.

Victim:
J.B. Maxwell, a seemingly ordinary man with peculiar habits, including wearing a wig and using artificial teeth to conceal his true appearance.

Key Incident:
Maxwell is found dead in his apartment, shot through the head. The scene suggests a meticulously planned crime with both doors locked from the inside and no apparent weapon present.

Notable Quote:
"Some crimes of murder are mysteries because the murderer, having foreseen every difficulty of avoiding detection, has successfully overcome these difficulties and has therefore actually avoided detection."
— Narrator [00:00]

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Investigation Process

Witnesses and Initial Findings:

1. Mrs. Lawson (Housekeeper):
   Arrives at Maxwell's apartment to find him dead, stating, "He was still breathing when I walked into the room." [02:12]

2. Police Officers:

   • Officer Brown:
     Questions Mrs. Lawson about the scene and the absence of a gun, mentioning, "He was shot through the head. House was locked, both doors locked on the inside and no gun." [03:11]

   • Officer Wilson:
     Assesses the bullet trajectory, noting, "Look at the bullet hole smack in the center of his void. But look where the bullet hit the wall." [04:09]

Key Observations:

• Locked Environment:
  Both the main door and the basement door (built on the inside) were locked, making it seemingly impossible for an outsider to commit the crime.

• Absence of a Weapon:
  No firearm was found at the scene, raising questions about the murderer's method of entry and exit.

• Surveillance:
  Neighbors, including the mailman and a milkman, reported seeing no one leave the apartment, complicating the investigation.

Notable Quote:
"He must have got it himself."
— Mrs. Lawson [04:09]

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Challenges and Complications

1. Discrepancies in Witness Statements:
   Mrs. Lawson's declaration that Maxwell was still alive upon her arrival conflicts with the officers' assessment of the time of death.

2. Bullet Trajectory Puzzle:
   Analysis revealed that the bullet was fired at an unusual angle, suggesting the shooter was lying down, which contradicts eyewitness accounts.

3. Locked Doors and No Exit:
   The impossibility of the murderer escaping without being detected intensified the mystery.

4. Lack of Motive and Suspects:
   With valuables left untouched and no clear motive, investigators struggled to identify potential suspects.

Notable Quote:
"She said that the phone has been out of order for days."
— Mrs. Lawson [06:36]

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Key Insights and Revelations

Fingerprint Analysis:
Investigators found no unauthorized fingerprints at the scene, only those belonging to the legitimate occupants, adding another layer of complexity.

The Red Herring - The Mailman Disguise:
The breakthrough came when Harold reveals that the supposed mailman was, in fact, J.B. Maxwell himself in disguise. This clever ruse allowed Maxwell to manipulate the situation, making it appear as a mysterious unsolved case.

Final Revelation:
Maxwell orchestrated his own murder to deceive both the police and his household, leveraging his knowledge of the environment and human perception to craft an impeccable alibi.

Notable Quote:
"You little fool. Don't touch that gun."
— Narrator as Maxwell [10:20]

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Conclusion

Unsolved Mystery Revisited:
While the podcast presents a seemingly unsolvable case, the ingenious solution underscores the lengths to which individuals might go to conceal the truth. Maxwell's meticulous planning and understanding of human behavior highlight the challenges faced by law enforcement in unraveling such intricate mysteries.

Closing Thought:
"The chance remarks of a policeman on the beat. But they were the answers to the riddle which has haunted New York's police department for 15 years."
— Narrator [14:00]

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Final Remarks

Harold's "The Bridge Whist Mystery" serves as a captivating exploration of criminal ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of truth. By weaving together suspenseful narration, authentic reenactments, and thought-provoking dialogues, the episode not only entertains but also invites listeners to ponder the depths of human deception and the complexities of detective work.

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Note: This summary excludes all advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to focus solely on the narrative and investigative elements of the episode.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Trip Planner by Expedia. You were made to have strong opinions about sand. We were made to help you and your friends find a place on the beach with a pool and a marina and a waterfall and a soaking tub. Expedia Made to travel. Unsolved Mysteries Some crimes of murder are mysteries because the murderer, having foreseen every difficulty of avoiding detection, has successfully overcome these difficulties and has therefore actually avoided detection. But there are crimes in which the mystery lies in the manner in which the crime was committed. Such is the case of the bridge whist expert as the New York police termed the slaying of J.B. maxwell in his apartment. 644 West 70th Street, New York City. Since some of the characters are still alive, names of characters and places have been changed. But the dramatic reenactment is authentic in every detail. The scene is the 600 block, West 70th Street, New York. The mailman, on his rounds waves to a milkman across the street. Police Officer Brown saunters down the sidewalk and at that moment a woman walks down the street, up the steps to number 644, takes out a latch key, opens the door and walks into the apartment as the clock strikes eight.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Mr. Maxwell. Mr. Maxwell, I brought you help.

[Narrator]

What's the matter, lady? He's in shot.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Shot.

[Narrator]

Word. Come here and have a look in here.

[Mrs. Lawson]

He. He was still breathing when I walked into the room.

[Narrator]

Well, he's dead now. Drill clean through the head. What'll I call headquarters? Hello? Hello?

[Mrs. Lawson]

That thing's out of order.

[Narrator]

Well, I'll use the one next door. Hey, you, milkman. Instead of standing there at the door gaping, get on the phone and call headquarters. Okay, I'll get him right away. You haven't touched the body?

[Mrs. Lawson]

No, I should say not.

[Narrator]

Who are you anyways? Wes?

[Mrs. Lawson]

No, he wasn't married. I'm his housekeeper. I came in just a few minutes ago. I was going to tell him something. I came in here and found him like this.

[Narrator]

You were out, huh? You leave the door open when you went out?

[Mrs. Lawson]

No, I was just coming in for the day. I live at my own home.

[Narrator]

You found the door locked?

[Mrs. Lawson]

Yes, I had to use my key to get in.

[Narrator]

How many people have keys?

[Mrs. Lawson]

Only me and Mr. Maxwell. And the lock was changed only last week.

[Narrator]

Anybody can get in through the back door.

[Mrs. Lawson]

There is no back door. There's a basement door. It's built on the inside. Mr. Maxwell must have killed himself. Nobody could have got in, killed himself.

[Narrator]

And then went out and hid the gun.

[Mrs. Lawson]

I suppose I didn't Think about the gun.

[Narrator]

Anybody here with him last night?

[Mrs. Lawson]

Not before I left.

[Narrator]

An actual smoke load of cigarettes?

[Mrs. Lawson]

Not that I know of.

[Narrator]

Or was this one here on the mantel shelf when he left last night, then left burner inside the shelf.

[Mrs. Lawson]

It wasn't here when I left.

[Narrator]

Well, this is probably the DA and his investigators.

[Mrs. Lawson]

There's something else I don't understand.

[Narrator]

There's a lot I don't understand.

[Mrs. Lawson]

But Mr. Maxwell wore a wig and he had artificial teeth. He was very particular that nobody ever saw him without them.

[Narrator]

Yeah, yeah, he doesn't have on his wig and he doesn't have his teeth in. Where are you on that? That's the DA. And here, Mr. Wilson. What have you found out, officer? Well, he was shot through the head. House was locked, both doors locked on the inside and no gun. He was reading his morning mail when he was shot. Yes. Gary, who got him his mail?

[Mrs. Lawson]

He must have got it himself.

[Narrator]

He was dead when you came in?

[Mrs. Lawson]

No, he was still breathing.

[Narrator]

And he could have let the murderer in and through. Yeah, but the murderer couldn't get out. No. Who are you? The mateman. I called you at headquarters. I was in the street delivering milk for 20 minutes and not a soul. But the mailman. The mailman, you saw him? Sure, I waved to him. How long before this woman, Mrs. Lawson, arrived? Less than five minutes. Now, wait a minute. Let's get this straight. No one has come out of this house since the mailman delivered the mail? No. Then whoever killed Maxwell is still in the house. Sorry, Mr. Kerry, but that won't do. I searched the place while we were talking in here and there's no one in this flat beside us. Yeah. Wait a minute, wait a minute. Maybe you didn't see anyone come out of this flat, but someone did. That's that. Well, Mr. Wilson, I was walking my beat and I would have seen anyone leave. Then he was killed earlier than you think. Oh, couldn't be, Gary. He's got the mail in his hand. Oh, yes, I realized that as soon as I spoke. Here's something else to puzzle over. Look at the bullet hole smack in the center of his void. Yeah, but look where the bullet hit the wall. Can you beat that? Now then, why would a man have to stand in order to fire a shot on that angle? Over about here, sir. That's right. It's all right except for one thing. You're standing 15ft away from Maxwell. And the shot was fired within three feet did the powder bellies. But a man would have to be lying down on the floor to fire the shot at that angle. So it would seem. But what was Maxwell doing? Waiting for the murderers to take aim. Got me beat. It's got more than you beat. Wilson. Yes? I'm going out for a minute. Going to call the phone company? Yes. Yes, I've got an idea. I'll be back in a few minutes. See if you can pick up any more of her. Whoever killed Maxwell must have. Well, it must have been well known to him. Well, we know that because he admitted the murderer himself. He must have. But more than that, he was particular about his appearance. Mrs. Larson said to he wouldn't have admitted anybody, that is, anybody he didn't know very well without first putting on his wig and putting in his artificial teeth. So the murderer was a man and not a woman. And he was a man from whom Maxwell had no secrets. Oh, good reasoning, Brown. But it neither gives us a motive nor does it explain how the murderer got out without being seen. Yeah, but Mr. Wilson, it does help to explain how the murderer got close enough to Maxwell to kill him at three feet without arousing his suspicion. You're right, Brown. You're dead right. Your idea at least narrows the field of search down to Maxwell's immediate friends. Oh, here's Carrie. What'd you find out? Plenty. Did you say, Brown, that this phone was out of order this morning? Yes, sir. I tried to use it and Mrs.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Larson said that the phone had been out of order for somebody every day.

[Narrator]

Well, listen to this. The phone company's record show a call, an incoming call the previous morning. Then Maxwell called Rockaway 1841, and at 69 he called a number in Garden City. But you, Mrs. Larson, say that the phone has been out of order for days.

[Mrs. Lawson]

I know it has, because the other day the chauffeur drove over here instead of phoning because he said the phone would be worked.

[Narrator]

Well, it's beyond me. The fellow shot through the head apparently makes no effort to fight. Must have been shot by someone lying on the floor. Doors, both of them bolted. The house under observation for at least 20 minutes. And a man doesn't live that long with a bullet through his brain. I tell you what, the a place has me jittery. Let's go down to headquarters, send out the fingerprint boys and talk it over down in my office where things like this don't. The fingerprint boys went out to the Maxwell flat. They found nothing. No fingerprints but those of the legitimate occupants of the house. Cigarette on the mental shelf. The Lotus cigarette meant nothing. The investigators Never knew before that the Lotus brand of cigarette was so popular. DA's remarks about talking it over in the office became a joke to the department because every day Carrie Brown, the police surgeon Wilson and the fingerprint boys collected there to discuss the murder of the bridge whist expert. I tell you, chief, it was robbery. All rubbish. The man had $500 in bills in his pants pocket. $5,000 worth of jewelry lying loose on his bureau. And if it were a robbery, how come the thief gets within three feet of him before he plugs him? And I don't care if it's robbery, mayhem or anything else. That doesn't explain how the murderer got into a locked house, windows bolted, killed a man with a.45, fly on the floor to do it. Walks out with the Northman watching. A milkman who swears that no one left the house, backed up by the policeman on the beach. There's no woman. The housekeeper who says that the murdered man was breathing when she entered the room. Everybody in the neighborhood seems to have been watching the house. And no one, not a soul since. The murderer leaves. And not a soul hears the shot. What's that you said? Not a soul heard the shot. My gosh. There's the solution. If only we knew how to apply it. What have we missed? 8 o' clock, he's dead. Shot through the brain. Powder burns showed the shot was fired within three feet. Doors locked. Police outside. Milkman outside. Postman brings mail. So we know he was killed after that. Do we? That's it. That's the second puzzling remark you pass. In five minutes. Not a soul heard the shot. And do we? The chance remarks of a policeman on the beat. But they were the answers to the riddle which has haunted New York's police department for 15 years. But we believe that we have an answer, ladies and gentlemen, the solution for which you have been waiting. The scene is the 600 block, West 70th Street. A few minutes before 8, a figure the mailman walks down the street and up the steps to number 644. Rings the bell. Oh, forgot some mail, did you? I just came to the door a moment ago and got the mail.

[J.B. Maxwell]

No, I'm not the mailman.

[Narrator]

What on earth is the idea of the disguise?

[J.B. Maxwell]

Don't keep me standing here. You got my letter?

[Narrator]

Yes, I got it. Come in, come in. Here. You don't mind if I continue to read my mail?

[J.B. Maxwell]

I'm only interested in one letter. In your mail.

[Narrator]

Yes, yes.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Will you give it to me?

[Narrator]

No, I won't.

[J.B. Maxwell]

You know What I said to you yesterday over the phone?

[Narrator]

Quite well. And I haven't changed my proposition one little bit.

[J.B. Maxwell]

Listen, JB As a mother, I'll go down on my knees to plead with you.

[Narrator]

Get up off your knees and forget the melodrama.

[J.B. Maxwell]

Look here, J.B. my handbag.

[Narrator]

You little fool. Don't touch that gun.

[J.B. Maxwell]

Listen, J.B. i'm going to kill you.

[Narrator]

You idiot. You can't get away with this.

[J.B. Maxwell]

No, I can. I planned it.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Don't move.

[J.B. Maxwell]

I'm promising you, if you move, I'll kill you. You asked about my disguise. Now is it clear? No one notices a mailman and this gun, J.B. you recognize it? My husband. It has a silencer. But you. You, JB Won't even hear it click.

[Narrator]

Where is it?

[J.B. Maxwell]

Under the chair.

[Mrs. Lawson]

I remove it.

[J.B. Maxwell]

Oh, he's not so heavy.

[Narrator]

The kneeling woman. The mood chair. These were the two things which confused the police when they investigated the acute angle the bullet had made. The mailman's disguise suggested itself to the woman because it was a letter she wished to recover from Maxwell. The mailman's disguise was what confused the witnesses as to the time element. Some of them saw the real mailman, others the murderer in disguise. So the murderer, partly by luck and partly by planning, had left the New York police. Another unsolved mystery. Sam. Unsolved mysteries. Down the ages, man has been seeking the answer to the riddle. What happens in the unseen realm beyond? With all our science, we're as far from answering that question as man was in the beginning. But with the accumulated records of the past, the conviction is borne strongly upon some that there is a link. Joining us more mortals with those who have passed this way before. The scene is the famous American newspaper correspondent's home.

[Teen Advocate]

Use of flavor tobacco by teens is a crisis. Tobacco companies use flavors like cotton candy, watermelon ice and cool mint to hook kids like me. They seem harmless, but they aren't. Addiction to nicotine sets us up for a lifetime of health problems. Organ legislators can do something about it. Passing Senate Bill 702A will keep keep flavored tobacco away from kids. But there are just a few short weeks left for lawmakers to act. Take action to protect kids like me. @ flavorshookorgankids.org paid for by the Campaign.

[Narrator]

For Tobacco Free Kids Action Fund.

[Nicole Byer]

We interrupt this program to bring you an important Wayfair message. Wayfair's got style tips for every home. This is Nicole Byer helping you make those rooms Flyer today's style tip. When it comes to making a statement. Treat bold patterns like neutrals, go wild like an untamed animal print area rug under a rustic farmhouse table. From wayfair.com oh beers, this has been your Wayfair style tip to keep those interiors superior.

[Narrator]

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