Unsolved Mysteries 36-xx-xx (xx) Washington Square Mystery

Summary

Harold's Old Time Radio: Unsolved Mysteries 36-xx-xx – The Washington Square Mystery

Release Date: June 26, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Unsolved Mysteries 36-xx-xx – Washington Square Mystery

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Introduction to Washington Square

The episode opens with host Jack Hunter setting the eerie atmosphere of Washington Square, an old residential district frozen in time amidst the rapid modernization of the city. Hunter paints a vivid picture of the neighborhood:

"Washington Square, an old residential district which has stood still and aloof as the rest of the city is rushed on in the mad world of modernism [...] Soft snow falls, softening the harsh outlines of the building's sidewalk and street parking lawn."
(00:07)

This nostalgic yet haunting description sets the stage for the unfolding mystery within the historic confines of the square.

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Gathering of the Past Residents

Jack Hunter welcomes a group of guests, all of whom share a common thread—they have all resided in the same house within Washington Square at different times over the past 32 years.

"Every one of you, ladies and gentlemen, has at some time or another lived in this house sometime during the past 32 years."
(03:00)

Hunter reveals his personal connection:

"I lived here in 1911 for exactly four nights."
(03:00)

Among the guests, Mr. Strange shares a similar unsettling experience:

"That's just exactly what happened to me."
(03:58)

This collective residency hints at a shared supernatural phenomenon haunting the house.

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Haunting Experiences and Paranormal Activity

The core of the episode revolves around the guests' paranormal encounters. Jack Hunter recounts his terrifying nights:

"The bedroom fills with ghostly, shadowy shapes. [...] They range themselves about the bed and in ghastly silence, they stare down upon the man, Jack Hunter, lying there."
(06:23)

Mr. Strange echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the eerie similarities in their experiences:

"I saw them the first night. They just stood there and stared and stared."
(04:00)

These accounts build a chilling narrative of persistent hauntings that have plagued the house over decades.

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The Mysterious Murder in the Park

A pivotal event in the mystery is the unsolved murder of a woman found in Cortland Park. Jack Hunter narrates the discovery:

"Wet and sticky and red. He's been murdered, Pat, and that's no lie. For never yet did anybody stab themselves with a smile of the back like this one's been stabbed."
(05:43)

Mr. Strange adds historical context:

"I do. There never was a trace of the murderer or anything. The papers were full of it. Called it Philadelphia's unsolved mystery."
(06:23)

This unresolved case serves as the catalyst for the lingering spirits haunting the house.

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Accusations Against Jack Hunter's Wife

In a shocking revelation, Jack Hunter admits that his wife was implicated in the murder:

"The horrible part of it was. It was true. You can't mean it. My wife had been in a private institution for the violently insane for years. She escaped."
(09:28)

Despite her apparent escape, she returned to the institution with blood-stained clothes two days later, raising more questions:

"She returned to the institution two days later, her clothes blood stained. The institution management glad to get her back so easily."
(09:24)

This personal turmoil adds depth to the supernatural disturbances within the house.

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Introduction of Mr. Crawford and the Supernatural Theory

Mr. Crawford arrives with a proposed solution to the haunting:

"This house used to be the morgue."
(10:55)

He introduces the concept of emotional imprints left by past events, likening them to "invisible photographs":

"You must realize that Washington Square is very much changed. What it was back in the 80s [...] This house used to be the morgue."
(10:25 - 11:03)

Mr. Crawford elaborates on the theory:

"Comparisons of happenings of a like nature. Comparisons with the experiences of thousands of reputable people. [...] That is the claim of many."
(12:46 - 13:14)

Jack Hunter seeks clarification:

"You mean that if someone is emotionally upset in a certain house. The imprint of that emotion will be left in the house, almost like a photograph?"
(13:04 - 13:21)

Mr. Crawford confirms:

"Yes. That is the theory advanced in that state between sleeping and waking. These previous happenings took on an almost tangible form."
(13:57 - 14:07)

This theory suggests that the emotional energies from the morgue's past contribute to the current hauntings.

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Climactic Revelation and Conclusion

As discussions progress, the gravity of the situation becomes evident. Jack Hunter confronts the supernatural presence:

"Jack Hunter follows the woman through the archway into the living room. He stops before the grand piano, turns her ghastly eyes upon him, and then, pointing to a portrait, his wife's portrait, Dak claps his hands to his eyes, rocks to and fro, and with a crash, falls to the floor in a dead face."
(08:45 - 09:24)

This intense interaction underscores the unresolved tensions within the house, leading to the proposed solution by Mr. Crawford.

The episode culminates with Mr. Crawford's explanation, providing insight into the supernatural activities as residual emotional imprints from the house's time as a morgue:

"These previous happenings took on an almost tangible form. When you came back to consciousness. Fully aware of what had happened. And fully convinced that you had been quite awake the whole time."
(14:07)

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Final Thoughts

The Washington Square Mystery delves into the haunting remnants of a bygone era, intertwining personal tragedies with unexplained supernatural phenomena. Through engaging narratives and expert theories, Jack Hunter and his guests explore the depths of unresolved mysteries that continue to echo through the walls of Washington Square.

"It's like a photograph of past emotions, lingering and influencing the present."
(13:21)

This episode encapsulates the essence of the Golden Age of Radio storytelling, blending suspense, intrigue, and the supernatural to leave listeners pondering the mysteries that lie just beyond the visible world.

Transcript

[Jack Hunter]

Unsolved mysteries. An old saying is dead men tell no tales. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In the United States alone, there are several cases on record in which the police, after finding no clue upon which to work, have been led directly to the murderer by a force which, for want of a better name, we call supernatural. It sa Washington Square, an old residential district which has stood still and aloof as the rest of the city is rushed on in the mad world of modernism. The houses still have iron railings before them. The street lamps are few and far between. The causeway is cobbled, uneven and hard to walk on. Not a house, but has its 5 or 6 Epstein leading up to the front door. And full bells have not yet been replaced by the shrill ringing electric bells. Soft snow falls, softening the harsh outlines of the building's sidewalk and street parking lawn. And these are all one a wavy blanket of glistening white. A light shows in number 21, where Jack Hunter addresses a strange company of guests. No, everyone, please make yourselves as comfortable as possible. Cigarettes in that lacquer box, cigars in the humidor. You'll find drinks to your taste in that cabinet. I. I'm going to stand here, if you don't mind, and explain this. Well, rather unusual situation.

[Mr. Strange]

I've simply been on pens and needles ever since I received your letter.

[Jack Hunter]

Yes, I can believe that. Putting it as simply as possible. Every one of you, ladies and gentlemen, has at some time or another lived in this house sometime during the past 32 years. I lived here in 1911 for exactly four nights.

[Mr. Strange]

Well, that's one night longer than I would say. I insisted that George move me out. The third night I couldn't stand it.

[Jack Hunter]

I believe that I am right in assuming that each and every one of us has had the same experience. I lived here one whole year, so possibly I did experience a little more than the rest of you. Yes, Mr. Strange, according to my records, you have lived longer in the house than anyone else. Suppose you summarize. Well, the first night I slept here, nothing happened. But the second night, I woke with that strange feeling that somebody, something was in the room. I was about to turn up the light when I came to a realization. It wasn't necessary. Although it was quite dark, I could see figures. They were ranged along the sides of my bed. Then across the bottom. I couldn't tell about the top because, frankly, I was too frightened to move.

[Mr. Strange]

That's just exactly what happened to me.

[Jack Hunter]

I saw them the first night. They just stood there and stared and stared. They never said a word. And I couldn't. That was my experience. And it happened no less than 103 times in one year. Gradually, I got used to them. Used to speculate to myself that some of them were more dense, more immaterial than others. Especially one. One who very often came by herself. A woman. May I interrupt? Certainly. The woman is the key to the whole problem. May I take the story from there? Of course. Almost any minute now, Mr. Crawford will arrive. He wrote to me and said that he had the solution to this visitation. And that he'd be here tonight. Until he arrives, I'll tell you about the woman. It was nineteen nine. I lived about a mile and a half from here. One morning, snowing wintry as could be. I left the house to go downtown to my office. I was walking along past Cortland park. And the officer on the beat, Pat o' Malley, hailed me. Good morning to you, sir. And it's a right brisk morning. That it is, Mr. Hunter. Oh, yes. That's like the old days when we were kids going to school. Ah, yes, sir. That was the days. We never appreciate them till we have to be up and going in the mornings and off to work. Why, sir? What are you looking at? Look, Pat, over in the park, doesn't that look like the outline of a body there under the snow? Sure, and that it does, sir. And we'll be after going and satisfying ourselves that everything is all right. All right. Forget open the gate. But it's frozen stiff in this cold. Then we'll just have to clean the rail of them. That we will. Ah, sure, now. And don't you be spoiling them good gloves of yours, Mr. Hunter. I'll open them gates. They're opening. Well, whatever it is, it must have laying there all night. There's not a trace of footprints or anything else.

[Mr. Crawford]

Yes, that.

[Jack Hunter]

And now that I'm close to it, it looks more like a body than ever. Well, we'll surely after finding out that we will. Oh, wet and sticky and red. He's been murdered, Pat, and that's no lie. For never yet did anybody stab themselves with a smile of the back like this one's been stabbed. Well, I'll call the patrol and we'll take her to the bar. I. I don't know if any of you remember the affair.

[Mr. Strange]

I do. There never was a trace of the murderer or anything. The papers were full of it. Called it Philadelphia's unsolved mystery.

[Jack Hunter]

Correct. I appeared at the inquest. But today no one but myself knows any more than they did then. You say no One but yourself? Yes. I. I moved from where I was living about five years later and came to live here. The first night I went to bed dead tired from all the hustle of moving. And just as soon as I'd set my alarm clock, I fell sound asleep. Midnight. The bedroom fills with ghostly, shadowy shapes. Wisps of an intangible something formed in the likeness of human form. Transparent. Horribly transparent. They range themselves about the bed and in ghastly silence, they stare down upon the man, Jack Hunter, lying there. Jack stirs uneasily in his sleep, turns and tosses, twists himself about and opens his eyes, frozen with fear. He lies staring with wide eyes. His lips form words, questions, but nothing that he can do. No effort that he can make will force words out. Another sheep enters the room. A woman. Those shadowy nothings about the bed look at the newcomer. And one by one, they melt into nothingness. The woman advances to the bed.

[Mr. Strange]

You can help me. What?

[Jack Hunter]

What is that? Your pen.

[Mr. Strange]

You can help me. I was murdered. I. I cannot rest until my murderer is known.

[Jack Hunter]

A woman. A murdered woman I found in the park.

[Mr. Strange]

Yes. You found me in the park. You know my murder.

[Jack Hunter]

I know your murderer, yes.

[Mr. Strange]

Come with me. Follow me to the living room. You will help me. You will let me rest.

[Jack Hunter]

Jack Hunter follows the woman through the archway into the living room. He stops before the grand piano, turns her ghastly eyes upon him, and then, pointing to a portrait, his wife's portrait, Dak claps his hands to his eyes, rocks to and fro, and with a crash, falls to the floor in a dead face. It was almost daylight when I came to. I. I was pretty roggy.

[Mr. Strange]

What a horrible experience to find your wife accused of murder.

[Jack Hunter]

The horrible part of it was. It was true. You can't mean it. My wife had been in a private institution for the violently insane for years. She escaped. I knew nothing about her escape. But I investigated. She returned to the institution two days later, her clothes blood stained. The institution management glad to get her back so easily. Never said a word. But why? Why in the name of heaven has all this happened in this house to the rest of us? We've never done anything for which we should be haunted. Not by one ghost, but by dozens. I think that that ring at the doorbell is the answer we're seeking. Mr. Crawford. Yes, Mr. Crawford. I'll go and let him in. Make yourselves comfortable. I'll be down if I know what to make of it.

[Mr. Strange]

No lie. I'm just as puzzled as I was when I lived here.

[Jack Hunter]

Well, we'll see what Crawford has to say. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Crawford. How do you do, Mr. I have told them, Mr. Crawford. The story today about your.

[Mr. Crawford]

Your wife.

[Jack Hunter]

Everything.

[Mr. Crawford]

In order to understand this, you must realize that Washington Square is very much changed. What it was back in the 80s over where the hotel stands today. Is where the old courthouse used to be. Down there was the gasoline station stand. Used to be old Meeker Stables. Dale used to stand where the hotel stands now.

[Jack Hunter]

This house. That's what we want to know.

[Mr. Strange]

Yes. I've been on pins and needles. I still am.

[Mr. Crawford]

This house. This house. This house used to be the morgue.

[Jack Hunter]

After you've heard from your sponsor. A solution to the Washington Square mystery will be given. Ladies and gentlemen, the solution for which you've been waiting.

[Mr. Strange]

You said, Mr. Crawford, that this house used to be the morgue.

[Mr. Crawford]

Yes, I did, but.

[Jack Hunter]

But that still doesn't explain it. It does as far as I'm concerned.

[Mr. Crawford]

You see, when you begin dealing with the mysterious realm beyond the practical and concrete things of life. Things that can be weighed, seen, felt and otherwise measured. You start dealing with situations that can only be investigated by comparison.

[Jack Hunter]

What do you mean by comparison?

[Mr. Crawford]

Comparisons of happenings of a like nature. Comparisons with the experiences of thousands of reputable people. Who have testified to similar experiences.

[Jack Hunter]

You mean that if someone is emotionally upset in a certain house. The imprint of that emotion will be left in the house, Almost like a photograph?

[Mr. Crawford]

That is the claim of many.

[Mr. Strange]

Even if people know nothing of what has happened?

[Jack Hunter]

Yes.

[Mr. Crawford]

Have you ever walked into a house. And had an unexplainable feeling of dislike for the place?

[Jack Hunter]

Of course.

[Mr. Crawford]

What causes it? Well, there are many people who say it's an invisible influence. Left by the previous occupants or previous happenings. It is easy to imagine the heartbreaking scenes in this morgue. The air of gloom. The constant stream of people walking through this building. With nothing in their mind. But the identification of persons who have been murdered or otherwise met violent death.

[Jack Hunter]

Then these things which we saw and heard are. Well, our own sensitive natures. Becoming aware of the. What you call. Invisible photograph of previous happenings.

[Mr. Crawford]

Yes. That is the theory advanced in that state between sleeping and waking. These previous happenings took on an almost tangible form. When you came back to consciousness. Fully aware of what had happened. And fully convinced that you had been quite awake the whole time.