Ep.489 Nick Carter Master Detective: Death In The Pines

Summary

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Nostalgic Mystery Radio, Ep. 489

Nick Carter, Master Detective: "Death in the Pines"
Original broadcast: March 4, 1944
Podcast drop: February 12, 2024
Host: Stevie K.

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Brief Overview

This episode of Nostalgic Mystery Radio, hosted by Stevie K., features a classic installment of the radio drama Nick Carter, Master Detective—the suspenseful "Death in the Pines." In this tale, Nick Carter investigates a deadly web of truck hijackings, blackmail, and murder in the New Jersey pines. When a trusted truck driver is slain during a job, Nick and his associates must pierce layers of deception to reveal a shocking mastermind behind the racketeering and violence.

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Key Discussion Points and Plot Breakdown

1. The Crime: Hijacking and Murder

• Setup: Trucks belonging to Tate's company, hauling produce from South Jersey to New York, are targeted by violent racketeers who demand "protection" payments.
• Murder: Regan, Tate's oldest and most trusted driver, is killed after recognizing one of the hijackers' voices during an attack.
  • Notable moment: “You guys can’t get away with this.” – Scubby Wilson (03:38)
  • The hijackers cover their tracks by burning the truck and bodies.

2. Investigation Begins

• Nick Carter meets with Tate (04:08–05:40):
  • Carter learns of escalating protection demands: $25 per truck, later raised to $40, intended to drive Tate out of business.
  • Tate describes attempts to involve state troopers but notes the hijackers always seem to avoid the protected trucks.
  • Patsy Bowen, Nick's assistant, is sent undercover as a typist in Tate’s office.

3. Probing for the Informant

• Suspects within the Company (06:05–06:43):
  • Only Tate, fleet foreman Al LaParo, and assistant Dave Morgan know truck schedules.
  • Morgan is supposedly a victim from a previous attack, providing him an alibi.
• Nick Carter’s Theory (08:14):
  • Carter hypothesizes that an inside man is leaking information and that Regan was killed because he recognized someone in on the racket.

4. Operation Undercover

• Scubby Wilson Gets Hired (10:11–11:46):
  • Scubby secures a job as a truck helper; an old driver is suspiciously rejected.
  • Scubby notes someone eavesdropping on his initial call to Nick—hinting someone’s onto him already (12:22–12:48).

5. Another Attack

• Scubby’s Route Hijacked (14:12–15:38):
  • Dressed as state troopers, hijackers ambush the truck. Scubby realizes the uniforms are fake and is soon overpowered and knocked out.
  • Both Scubby and his driver, Matt, are abducted and tied up.

6. Nick’s Parallel Investigation

• Nick uncovers new leads (15:38–16:25):
  • Learns that Morgan has been trying to borrow money, hinting a plan to take over Tate’s business.
  • State troopers close in on the gang’s location for a planned raid.

7. Escape and False Accusations

• Hostage Drama (18:32–20:22):
  • Scubby and Matt, bound in a hideout, are interrogated by gang members.
  • Violence erupts, but a chaotic interruption allows Scubby to seize an unattended gun.
  • Scubby appears to shoot the apparent gang boss—later revealed as Mr. Tate.

8. The Twist Revealed

• Confrontation and Forensic Evidence (21:13–26:16):
  • State troopers and Nick arrive; Scubby is accused of murder.
  • Nick explains Tate had been dead for hours—Scubby’s gun fired only blanks.
  • The real mastermind, Dave Morgan, had staged the scene to frame Scubby.
  • Nick: “How does it happen that you shot him with blank cartridges?” (26:16)

9. Denouement: Understanding the Scheme

• Nick’s Analysis (26:41–28:13):
  • Morgan killed Tate, then manipulated Scubby into believing he killed him, planting evidence to ensure conviction.
  • Nick’s closing advice: “Before you can be a really first-class detective, you’ll have to learn to distrust everything until you’ve analyzed it in the light of all the evidence.” (28:13)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nick Carter’s deduction:

  "Somebody in Tate's outfit must be in league with the hijackers. That's the only way they could know as much as they do."
  — Nick Carter (08:40)

• On crime's psychology:

  "They don't balk at a couple more [murders]."
  — Nick Carter warns Scubby (09:50)

• On the perfect frame-up:

  "Boy, what a setup. It was perfect. ...I would have confessed to the murder in any court in the country."
  — Scubby Wilson, realizing how close he came to being framed (28:01)

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Important Timestamps

• 03:00–03:45: Murder of Regan and attempt to obliterate evidence
• 04:08–05:40: Nick Carter and Tate discuss the blackmail and protection racket
• 06:01–06:43: Patsy reports from inside Tate's office
• 08:14–08:56: Carter theorizes about an inside leak and murder motive
• 10:11–11:46: Scubby is hired; old driver rejected
• 12:28–12:48: Scubby suspects he's being tailed
• 14:12–15:38: Hijackers ambush Scubby's truck
• 21:13–25:03: Aftermath—Scubby, accused of Tate's murder, pleads his case
• 26:16–28:13: Nick dissects the plot and exonerates Scubby

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Tone and Language

The original broadcast features the brisk, punchy patter and suspenseful inflection characteristic of 1940s radio mysteries. Nick Carter is logical, calm, and somewhat wry; Scubby provides comic relief and credulous bluster; Patsy is sharp and efficient.

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Conclusion

"Death in the Pines" is a prime example of old time radio detective drama: a fast-moving tale of misdirection and betrayal, where the truth is ultimately revealed through sharp reasoning and attention to forensic detail. Nick Carter dismantles a cunning frame-up, revealing the true criminal and saving his own assistant from the gallows.

Next episode tease:
"Next week: The Horoscope Murders—Nick Carter and the Mystery of the Avenging Astrologer." (29:14)

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Transcript

[Nick Carter]

Foreign.

[Stevie K]

Hello, and welcome to another episode of Nostalgia Mystery Radio. I'm your host, Stevie K. And it's my honor to bring you the radio shows of. Yes D. For this episode, I bring you Nick Carter, Master Detective. Episode titled Death in the pines, originally aired March 4, 1944, where Regan was Tate's oldest and best driver, and when racketeers stopped his truck, he recognized the voice of one of the hijackers and was shot dead along with a helper. So sit back and relax, and I hope you enjoy this nostalgic mystery radio. Thank you for listening.

[Jake]

What's the matter? What is it?

[Scubby Wilson]

Another case for Nick Carter, Master Detective?

[Narrator]

Yes, it's another case for that most famous of all manhunters, the detective whose ability at solving crime is unequaled in the history of detective fiction. Nick Cotter, Master Detective. Tonight's curious adventure, Death in the Pines.

[Nick Carter]

Or Nick Carter and the mystery of the murdered driver.

[Jake]

Well, let's see. There's a truck coming up the grade now. It ought to be them.

[Nick Carter]

Yeah, just 1:30. That's a tape truck.

[Jake]

All right. Now, you guys know what to do. We've done it often enough before. Ash, you all right? Get going. When the truck gets close enough, I'll put the searchlight in the driver's face like before. He'll stop fast enough. Here goes. Guys.

[Scubby Wilson]

Hey, what the blazes goes on here? What's the big idea?

[Jake]

Get those hands up, wise guy, and get down out of that cab.

[Scubby Wilson]

You guys can't get away with this.

[Jake]

You want to stay alive? Get down out of that cab and keep quiet. And bring your helper down, which you're.

[Scubby Wilson]

A bunch of crooks, don't you? Don't. Don't. They got us.

[State Trooper]

There ain't nothing we can do.

[Jake]

Okay, boys, get busy. Get up on that truck and get that stuff dumped out in the road. Shake it up, boys. We want to get out of here. Hey, keep your boys moving, Jake. We got another one to take care of yet.

[Scubby Wilson]

Hey, I know that voice. So you're the guy who's in back of all this hijacking now. I know.

[Jake]

Well, I hope you enjoy it.

[Scubby Wilson]

What's the idea? What'd you have to kill him for?

[Jake]

Shut up, punk. You don't want to get bumped off, too, but you didn't have to kill him. Shut up. Hey, that changes our plans a little. Jake, get your men down off the truck. Pick these two stiffs up and put them back in the cab of the truck. Then put a hole in the gas tank and touch a match to it. Okay, boys, come on down. There won't be much left for the cops to work on when they get here, which is all right with me. I don't like to see them get killed. But when they know too much, it's the only way.

[Nick Carter]

I see. Coroner? Yes, thanks very much. Yes, thanks. So long.

[State Trooper]

Might as well let me know the worst, Mr. Carter. After what I've been through, a little more or less doesn't matter.

[Nick Carter]

Mr. Tate, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but your driver wasn't burned to death. He was shot. Murdered before the truck was set on fire.

[State Trooper]

I was afraid of that. Regan was my oldest and best driver. Been with me for 10 years.

[Nick Carter]

You're having trouble with racketeers?

[State Trooper]

Yes, have been for the past year.

[Nick Carter]

How do they work?

[State Trooper]

Well, I operate about 40 trucks hauling vegetables and green stuff from South Jersey to the New York markets. It has to be done at night, so we get to New York market before morning. About a year ago, somebody called me on the phone and said he represented a protective agency. That he'd like to sell me protection at $25 a truck.

[Nick Carter]

$25 a truck? That's pretty steep, isn't it? It's exorbitant.

[State Trooper]

I told him I wouldn't pay it.

[Nick Carter]

So what happened?

[State Trooper]

Two days later, one of my trucks was stopped and the drivers were beaten. The produce was dumped and destroyed. Next day, the guy called again. I told him I wouldn't pay.

[Nick Carter]

Did you try getting protection from the state troopers?

[State Trooper]

Sure I did. And they did what they could. Whenever a trooper followed one of the trucks or when one of their men rode on the truck as a helper, these trucks were never bothered. But the other trucks. And with the same old story.

[Nick Carter]

The same. Well, how do you account for the fact that the trucks with the troopers on them were never touched?

[State Trooper]

I don't know. Unless the hijackers had spies at the loading points to watch if the trucks had their regular crews.

[Nick Carter]

And what was the outcome this time?

[State Trooper]

In the end, I had to agree to pay the $25. Then for six months, there was no more trouble. A week ago, this same guy called and said the Andy had been raised from 25 to $40 a truck. I told him I couldn't pay that because I didn't make that much. And you know what happened last night?

[Nick Carter]

Yes. Yes, I know. Well, you're going to try to keep riding the stuff through.

[State Trooper]

If you can help me, I will.

[Nick Carter]

I'll do it. And to begin with, I'd like to put my assistant Patsy Bowen in your office as a typist? Sure. Maybe she can learn something that will start us off in the right direction. Well, Patsy, did you have a nice, eventful day in Tate's office?

[Patsy Bowen]

I learned a few things, Nick, if that's what you mean.

[Nick Carter]

Good. Let's have them.

[Patsy Bowen]

Mr. Tate makes up the daily schedule of operations based on the orders he receives. Then he turns the completed schedule over to Al Aparo, who's the fleet foreman. Only Mr. Tate Luparo and Dave Morgan, Ms. Tate's assistant. Know what the orders are? As far as I can find out.

[Nick Carter]

I see. Any suspicions?

[Patsy Bowen]

Not yet. The power has been with Tate nine years and Morgan for about four years. The trouble started about a year ago. Both of them rode the trucks. Morgan was one of the drivers that got beaten up, got knocked out cold before he could see anything.

[Nick Carter]

Doesn't leave us much in the way of anything to go on, does it?

[Patsy Bowen]

Sorry, Nick, but that's all I could get today.

[Nick Carter]

Don't feel bad, Patsy. You did what you could.

[Patsy Bowen]

What's the next step?

[Nick Carter]

I want to talk to the state trooper who found the truck in which Regan was killed. He may be able to tell me something that's been overlooked.

[State Trooper]

You say you read my report, Mr. Carter. I don't know that I can tell you anything else.

[Nick Carter]

Were you on the state police force when Tate started having his trouble about a year ago?

[State Trooper]

Yes, I was.

[Nick Carter]

Well, that business of the hijackers never picking in a truck guarded by state troopers needs explaining. Could there have been any leak from this end?

[State Trooper]

Absolutely not. I rode several of the trucks myself. None of us ever knew where we were going until Tate's office gave us our orders. Then we went out on the road just as soon as we got those orders.

[Nick Carter]

Good. And the leak must be on Tate's end. Now, the next thing. Your report gives the impression that the thug simply stopped Tate's truck, killed the driver in cold blood, and then burned the truck for good measure. Was that your personal impression?

[Scubby Wilson]

Well, no.

[State Trooper]

When I first got there, I was suspicious because the truck hadn't gone off the road or collided with anything that would cause a fire or a wreck. Then I remembered that Tate's trucks had been having trouble a while back. So I took another look around.

[Nick Carter]

And the result of that second examination.

[State Trooper]

The truck was surrounded by crates which had been thrown off the truck. Crates that were smashed and broken, but not burned. Now, if the hijackers were going to burn the truck, why bother to throw all those crates off the truck first? It just didn't make sense.

[Nick Carter]

That's what I wanted to know. I'd say the gang started out to do the usual job, smashing the cargo and manhandling the crew. But then something happened, something that made them switch their tactics. And they did something they'd never, never done before. They killed the driver.

[State Trooper]

Yeah, that explanation would fit the facts as I saw them. But what do you suppose caused the change in plan?

[Nick Carter]

Well, I can make a guess. Maybe. Tate told me that Regan was his oldest driver.

[State Trooper]

Yeah.

[Nick Carter]

Now, somebody in Tate's outfit must be in league with the hijackers. That's the only way they could know as much as they do. I believe that Regan recognized one of Tate's men in the Highgate gang.

[State Trooper]

Sure, and that fits right in with the idea that somebody in Tate's outfit was crossing him.

[Scubby Wilson]

Yes.

[State Trooper]

Mr. Carter, I believe you've hit something.

[Scubby Wilson]

Have you arranged with Mr. Tate for.

[Jake]

Me to go to work for him?

[Nick Carter]

Oh, no, Scoffy. I haven't said anything to him. I don't want him to know.

[Scubby Wilson]

Well, then how do you know I can get the job?

[Nick Carter]

Tate's lost so many men since Regan was killed a couple of nights ago that he'll be glad to hire anybody. Patsy will fix you up with the necessary papers, licenses, references and so forth. Wear your old clothes and don't wash your neck and you'll have no trouble getting hired.

[Scubby Wilson]

And what do you want me to look for, Especially Nick?

[Nick Carter]

According to what Patsy says, the leak either goes through Tate, which hardly seems likely, through the Paro or Morgan or through somebody else we haven't found out about yet. So get a line on things in general, on anyone who may look suspicious. Oh, and if you're riding a truck that gets held up, don't try to shoot it out, scubby. Just let things ride.

[Scubby Wilson]

We'll see about that when the time comes.

[Nick Carter]

It's a 40 to 1 shot against her getting stopped, but that's the same. Watch your step. These men, whoever they are, have two murders on their head and they won't balk at a couple more.

[State Trooper]

All right, cowie, let's have that over here, will you?

[Scubby Wilson]

Come on.

[Jake]

Men looking for jobs, line up over here. New men over here. Hey, buddy, who's the guy over there at the desk? Oh, that's Al Liparo, the fleet foreman.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, that's the guy.

[Jake]

Looks like a tough egg. Don't worry, fella. He ain't turning nobody down these days. This outfit's got the finger on it. They had 40 men walk out on him yesterday and I got a hunch this new gang ain't gonna last long either.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, you mean on account of the killings the other day?

[Jake]

Yeah, that and the beating up of a couple other drivers recently. Yeah, night before last.

[Scubby Wilson]

Hey, that ain't so good, is it?

[Jake]

Ah, what's the difference? A job, ain't it?

[Scubby Wilson]

Hey, who's the other guy? Huh?

[Jake]

Oh, that's Dave Morgan, old man Tate's assistant. All right, report to the garage at once. Next. Mike Clausen's the name. Mr. Licaro. Here are me papers.

[State Trooper]

Mm.

[Jake]

You worked here before, ain't you? Sure, I drove for you. Never mind that. You ain't working here no more. Right, Morgan? Right, Licaro. Nothing doing on that guy. Oh, but what's the matter? I got a good record. I ain't never had no trouble. Maybe not, but you ain't wanted here. Get out.

[Scubby Wilson]

Next.

[Jake]

Who's next?

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, me. The name's Wilson.

[Jake]

Where's your papers?

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, yeah. Here.

[State Trooper]

Mm.

[Jake]

Wilson, huh?

[Scubby Wilson]

Yeah.

[Jake]

Okay, you're hired. Report to Matt Stigo in truck number 11. You start as helper at 23 bucks a week. Satisfied?

[Scubby Wilson]

Sure, boss. Okay by me.

[Jake]

Tell Steiger he picks up his load tonight at Freeman's farm down South Jersey. He knows where it is. Get going.

[Scubby Wilson]

Right. Thanks.

[Nick Carter]

So they took you on, did they, Scubby? I thought they would, yes.

[Scubby Wilson]

I'm falling from a lunchroom where I just ate.

[Nick Carter]

Anything happen yet?

[Scubby Wilson]

Well, just before they gave me a job, an old timer named Mike Clausen was turned down. He used to work for Tate years ago, but l' Apparel wouldn't take him back.

[Nick Carter]

I see. Maybe they didn't want to take on anyone who ever worked there before or who has been there for long.

[Scubby Wilson]

Well, maybe it doesn't mean anything, Nick, but it looks as if the.

[Nick Carter]

What's the trouble, Scubby?

[Scubby Wilson]

I'm not sure, Nick, but I just realized the guy in the booth next to me here isn't saying a word. He went into his booth as I came into this one, but he hasn't dialed a number or said anything yet.

[Nick Carter]

Looks as if somebody's on to you already. Any idea who it could be?

[Scubby Wilson]

No. No idea at all. Oh, but how could anybody know about me so soon?

[Nick Carter]

There's always a chance that somebody's recognized you. I'll keep your eyes open, Scubby. Don't start anything.

[Scubby Wilson]

Any orders?

[Nick Carter]

No. Let me know at once if anything worthwhile happens. And good luck to you.

[Scubby Wilson]

Thanks. Hey, what are you going to be doing?

[Nick Carter]

I have several lines of investigation that I want to follow up here in the city. There are certain angles of this case that I want to clear up here before I do anything else. So long, Scott. We see you soon, I hope.

[Scubby Wilson]

Gosh, Matt, driving one of these trucks is no sense, is it?

[Jake]

How do you mean, kid?

[Scubby Wilson]

Well, I've been driving the truck around in the city and it ain't been like this at all. We spent the afternoon loading the stuff on the truck. Now we gotta spend all night riding.

[Jake]

It back to town.

[Scubby Wilson]

You don't like it, huh? I'm beginning to think it wasn't such a bright idea. Iron on with this paid out there. Especially with a chance of getting beat up throwing in three. Ah, cheer up.

[State Trooper]

You might ride for weeks and never.

[Scubby Wilson]

Get stopped at all. Gosh, this is a lonely section of the country, ain't it? Nothing but these scrub pines both sides of the road. That's right. Hey, I'm getting tired, Matt. You know, it's been a long time since I done so much work. Mind if I take a little nap?

[Jake]

Oh, go ahead.

[Scubby Wilson]

About one o' clock now. I'll drive till three, then you can take over. We'll be out in the main road by then. Okay. Call me if you need me. Yeah, sure, Ken. Hey, what's the matter? What you stopping for? Somebody is signaling us with a flashlight to stop by when the. Oh, no, no, no. Don't stop, Matt.

[Jake]

It may be a hold up.

[Scubby Wilson]

Remember old man Tate's orders. No truck stopped for nothing. Oh, it's a state troopers.

[State Trooper]

Nothing to worry about.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, yeah, yeah, I can see the uniform now. Okay, I'll get out and see what he wants. Hey, what's the matter, officer?

[Jake]

What?

[Scubby Wilson]

Hey, that's our phony uniform. You're no regular cop.

[State Trooper]

This is a guy. All right, one of you fellas take care of the driver.

[Jake]

Look out, Matt. Come down out of that cab, fella. You know what's good for you.

[Scubby Wilson]

Matt, it's a trap.

[State Trooper]

Shut up, Dick. And don't move. I got you covered. I don't try to pull you.

[Scubby Wilson]

No.

[Jake]

Hey there.

[Scubby Wilson]

That takes care of you, you rat. Now for the.

[Jake]

There you are.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, Matt. Matt.

[Jake]

Not out yet. Here, you won't do no more fighting for a while. Okay, boys, come on.

[Nick Carter]

Oh, gosh, I'm tired, Bessie. I've done more of my own legwork today than I've done in years. I almost wish I'd kept Scubby here to do the walking around. Gone out on the truck myself.

[Patsy Bowen]

Did you find out anything, Nick?

[Nick Carter]

Yes, Patsy, I think so. But I can't be sure for a little while yet. Not until I get some more answers to some of the thousands of questions I've asked today.

[Patsy Bowen]

There have been several messages for you. I think this is probably the only one that's really important. Yeah.

[Nick Carter]

No, thanks. I thought so. He's trying to borrow money. At least all that much of it makes me positive I'm on the right track. Any report from the state troopers, Patsy?

[Patsy Bowen]

Yes, they think they've located the place. They're going to call you later this evening when they get the details.

[Nick Carter]

Good. That'll give me time to join them before they make the raid. I don't want to miss being in at the kill.

[Scubby Wilson]

No.

[Nick Carter]

Hey.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh. You awake, Wilson? Oh, yeah. Oh. Who are you? Matt Stagger, your driver. Oh, yeah, I remember now. They stopped us. I tried to fight and they knocked me out. How about you? Yeah, they count me too. Yeah, I wonder why they didn't shoot us and be done with it. Yeah, I wonder. Hey, where are we now? Any idea? No, but I seem to remember taking a long ride last night after we left the truck. I wonder what time it is. I don't know. It's still dark though. Yeah. Hey, Wilson, I've been wondering. I heard one of them thugs call you Dick and Copper when they were scrapping with you. Are you a copper? Well, kinda one, yeah. Just trying to get a line on what's going on in this Tate outfit. Yeah, but how in heck did that guy know it was me? Did Tate know what you are? No. Nobody knew about me working for Tate but me and my boss. Hey, wait a minute. What? Right after I got the job, I phoned my boss and somebody in the next phone booth overheard what I told him. Boy, they trapped me neat as you please. They probably was afraid of you. Looks like it. Well, the first thing to do is get out of here. Well, I've been working at the ropes. I got my tied hands tied together with and I. I can't budge them at all. They're too tight for me. Well, I. I think maybe I can get mine loose if I have time. I think my boss taught me several tricks to get out of ropes like this. Yeah. She'll have to get us out of this one then. I can't hold it. Matt. Yeah, Somebody's coming.

[State Trooper]

Time we got that red headed punk waked up. Boss is due any minute now.

[Jake]

With pleasure. Come on. You leave me assist you to a chair. Sorry, you can't walk by yourself tied up like that. But that wouldn't be etiquette come on, come on.

[State Trooper]

Cut the comedy.

[Jake]

Wake up, you. Come on, copper. Get them eyes open.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, hey, what's the matter? Hey, what youse trying to do?

[Jake]

There you are, Mike. You want me to soften him up for you?

[State Trooper]

Let's see if he talks first. Maybe he'll talk without any persuading.

[Jake]

Well, okay, but I hope he needs some working over. I enjoy that.

[State Trooper]

All right, punk, you gonna talk?

[Scubby Wilson]

Talk about what?

[State Trooper]

There's no use stalling. We know you're Nick Carter's man.

[Scubby Wilson]

Well, if you know that, what youse want me to say?

[State Trooper]

We know you called Carter yesterday before you left New York. What'd you say to him? What'd you tell him?

[Scubby Wilson]

Hey, I know you. Huh? You're the guy who wore the phony state trooper's uniform when you held us up last night.

[State Trooper]

Yeah, well, knowing that ain't gonna help you none. Come on, spill it. How much do you know?

[Jake]

Okay. He ain't gonna talk. Mike, it's gotta be a real job. I gotta go to work on him.

[State Trooper]

Yeah, I guess you're right, Jake. Go ahead, make it good.

[Jake]

Sure. Let me take me coat off first so I don't feel cramped.

[State Trooper]

Let me have it. I'll put it on the back of the chair.

[Jake]

Thanks, Mike. Oh, you better put my gun in the pocket of my coat so it won't get in me way when I really get going.

[State Trooper]

Okay, now let's see some action.

[Jake]

All right, you red headed stool pigeon. Now spill it. Spill it all or I'll. What the.

[State Trooper]

Come on, Jake. There's trouble out there.

[Scubby Wilson]

Well, that's a funny one. Matt, do you see what I see?

[Nick Carter]

What?

[Scubby Wilson]

What do you mean? Jake left his coat hanging on the back of that chair there. There's a gun in the pocket of that coat. Oh, boy, what a break. If we can only get loose. Just a minute. My hands are almost free. Good. Wait a minute. There. Now get the feet loose. There. Yeah, that does it. Now the gun. Now let him come back.

[Jake]

Hey. What?

[Scubby Wilson]

Drop that gun. You're covered.

[Jake]

Oh, yeah? Well, this will show you.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, you would, was it here? Oh, you killed me. You giggled me. You got him, Wilson. Get me loose and I'll give you a hand. They'll be back in here.

[Jake]

Right.

[Scubby Wilson]

But the gun is empty. Gee, we're in a spot. He killed the boss.

[Jake]

Come on. The boss is dead. I'm getting out of here.

[Scubby Wilson]

Listen, this rope. Listen, they're leaving.

[Jake]

Yeah.

[Scubby Wilson]

Wait a minute there. There you are, Matt. Oh, gee, thanks, Wilson. Gosh, am I glad to get out of them ropes. Hey, Matt, this is the screwiest thing I ever heard of. Yeah. Why do you suppose they beat it off like that? You got me. But come on, let's get out of this place. They might come back as fast as they went out. Okay. Give me a chair. I'll break this door down for you. Okay. Gosh, man. There he is on the floor, the boss. And two holes through his forehead. You sure hit him square in the bullseye. Wait till I take off his mask and see if I know. Matt. What? It's Mr. Tate. Who? The owner of the trucking company. Mr. Tate? Yeah, Tate. Racketeering his own business, attacking his own trucks. But that doesn't make sense, Matt. Boy, I'll say it doesn't. Why should he want to destroy his own business? And why would he ask Nick to investigate the. Hey, we gotta get out of here. We're gonna get our.

[State Trooper]

Maybe some more of them in there.

[Scubby Wilson]

Can you see them?

[Jake]

Yeah.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, they're state troopers. It's okay, Matt.

[State Trooper]

Up and up in there. Come on with your hands up.

[Jake]

Come on.

[State Trooper]

You're surrounded and outnumbered.

[Scubby Wilson]

Don't shoot. We're coming out. Get that door open before they shoot. We surrender.

[State Trooper]

Get your hands up. I got two here men watch the back of the house.

[Scubby Wilson]

Right. Sergeant. Oh, gosh, are we glad to see you.

[State Trooper]

Yeah. Keep your hands up.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, yeah, sure, sure. Look, I'm Scubby Wilson and this is Matt Steiger. I'm Nick Carter's assistant.

[State Trooper]

You look it. Who's the dead man lying there?

[Scubby Wilson]

Well, that's Mr. Tate. I just shot him.

[State Trooper]

No, you did. Well, that'll send you to the chair, all right.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, no, no, you don't understand. He's the chief of the hijackers. Well, he was holding us prisoners here.

[State Trooper]

That's a good one. Where's the gun you killed him with?

[Scubby Wilson]

Well, I. It's in the other room.

[State Trooper]

Keep your hands up.

[Scubby Wilson]

But, officer, you don't understand.

[State Trooper]

I suppose you're gonna tell me you shot him in self defense, huh?

[Scubby Wilson]

Yeah, that's just what I did. Well, look, you can ask Matt here. That's right, officer. He was gonna kill a spoon.

[State Trooper]

Yeah, sure, sure. Where's the gun he was gonna kill you with?

[Patsy Bowen]

Whoa.

[Scubby Wilson]

It was in his hand when I saw it last.

[State Trooper]

Well, it ain't here now. You're a bum liar, feller. I suppose that after you shot him between the eyes, killing him instantly, he walked over to the window, threw his gun away and then came back here, lay down and died.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, but. But gosh, Officer, I saw him.

[State Trooper]

Put your hands out.

[Scubby Wilson]

Huh? What?

[State Trooper]

Put your hands out.

[Scubby Wilson]

How about you? Can't put handcuffs on me. No.

[Nick Carter]

Watch me. Be sure they're on good and tight, son.

[State Trooper]

I will, lad.

[Scubby Wilson]

Nick. Nick.

[Nick Carter]

Oh, hello, scubby. Having a good time?

[State Trooper]

You know this guy, Mr. Carter?

[Scubby Wilson]

Does he know me or tell him who I am? Nick?

[Nick Carter]

Yes, Sergeant. I'm afraid I have to confess that I do know him. He's my assistant. Although he hasn't been much of assistance in this case.

[State Trooper]

Shall I let him go, then? Yes.

[Nick Carter]

Yes, I'll take charge of him.

[State Trooper]

Okay, if you say so.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, gosh, Nick, am I glad to see you. Oh, this is Matt Steiger, the guy who was driving the truck I was on. Hello, Mr. Carter.

[Nick Carter]

Right to know you.

[Scubby Wilson]

Hey, look, I heard some shooting a few minutes ago. Did you get some of the gang?

[Nick Carter]

Yes, Gabby Morgan and four men. We ran that car off the road and caught them all. Morgan's pretty badly wounded, but he pulled through.

[Scubby Wilson]

So Morgan was in on it after all.

[Nick Carter]

Morgan was the head of the gang.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, no, no, Morgan wasn't the head of the gang, Nick. The head of the gang is lying there dead. And I shot him. Put two bullets in him in self defense.

[Nick Carter]

Who is he? You know him?

[Scubby Wilson]

Know him? It's Mr. Tate.

[Nick Carter]

Mr. Tate? He had nothing to do with this.

[Scubby Wilson]

He sure did, Nick. Why, he was holding us prisoners here, Jermaine can tell you. That's true, Mr. Carter. He tried to kill Wilson and Wilson shot him.

[Nick Carter]

I tell you, Tate had nothing to do with this gang.

[State Trooper]

Scummy.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, what makes you so sure, Nick?

[Nick Carter]

I did a lot of investigating in town today. And I found that Morgan has been trying to borrow money anywhere and everywhere he could to take advantage of what he called a chance to get going. A good business, dirt cheap. Well, that obviously meant Tate's business. Especially since the $40 a truck the racketeers asked was unquestionably intended to drive Tate out of business rather than to get the money out of him.

[Scubby Wilson]

But Morgan was one of the drivers who got beaten up, Nick.

[Nick Carter]

Who said so? Morgan. Nobody else knew anything about it and it gave him a swell alibi. I think that Regan, the driver who was killed the other day, probably was shot because he recognized Morgan.

[Scubby Wilson]

But, Nick, everything you say about Morgan could have been true of Tate just as well.

[Nick Carter]

Not quite, Scubby. I found out several other things during my investigation today that prove definitely that Morgan's the one.

[Scubby Wilson]

But, Nick, I shot Tate not five minutes ago while he was trying to kill me.

[Nick Carter]

I Wonder you shot him five minutes ago. How does it happen that he's been dead for at least three hours?

[Scubby Wilson]

Dead for three hours?

[Nick Carter]

No question about it. Rigor mortis has already begun to set in.

[State Trooper]

It's got me.

[Nick Carter]

Somebody's put one over on you.

[Scubby Wilson]

Well, what do you mean, Nick?

[Nick Carter]

Where's the gun you shot him with?

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, the. The trooper took it.

[State Trooper]

Yeah, that's right. Here it is, Mr. Carter.

[Nick Carter]

Thanks. Mm. Look here. How does it happen that you shot him with blank cartridges?

[Scubby Wilson]

Aw, Nick. Now, don't say.

[State Trooper]

Here are the shells I just took.

[Nick Carter]

Out of that gun you used to. Four of them have been fired previously. And you can see that the other two, the two left for you to fire, have had the bullets pried out of them. You see the mark on the edge of the shell?

[Scubby Wilson]

Yeah.

[Nick Carter]

So you couldn't have shot him.

[Scubby Wilson]

But, Mr. Carter, I saw Wilson plug him. I saw him fallen dead as the door closed behind him. There's no question about it.

[Nick Carter]

There's no question but what you thought you saw that. But it was all planned just that way.

[Scubby Wilson]

Planned?

[Nick Carter]

Certainly. How come you were able to get out of the ropes you were tied up with so fast? How come there was nobody in the room when you got hold of the gun? Why do you suppose that gun was left where you could get your hands on it? That is what happened, isn't it?

[Scubby Wilson]

Yes, Nick. As right as if you'd been here to see it.

[Nick Carter]

It couldn't have been any other way. Tate probably had a hunch Morgan was guilty and trailed him here. Morgan caught him, shot him with his gun. Then he wiped his prints off it and he planted it where you could get at it. Then, at the psychological moment, Morgan, with a mask over his face, opened the door so you could see him and shot at you. And you shot at him as he knew you would, using the two shells he had left in the gun for you. The two shelled with no bullets in them. Then he pretended to fall dead, carefully shutting the door as he did so. So that you couldn't see what happened next.

[Scubby Wilson]

Oh, I see, Nick. And then he put Tate's body there by the door with a mask over his face.

[Nick Carter]

Right.

[Scubby Wilson]

Gosh.

[Nick Carter]

When you opened the door, there was Tate's body shot through the head with the very gun you held in your hand. A gun in which the police would find your fingerprints. And yours. Only Morgan would have made sure they found it.

[Scubby Wilson]

Boy, what a setup. It was perfect. Matt would have had to swear he saw me do it. And I was so completely fooled. Why I would have confessed to the murder in any court in the country.

[Nick Carter]

Yes, Gabby, you still trust too much to what you hear and see. Before you can be a really first class detective, you'll have to learn to distrust everything until you've analyzed it in the light of all the evidence.

[Narrator]

This has been another of the Strange adventures of Nick Carter, Master Detective, which are brought to you regularly at this time by WOR Mutual. Well, Nick, what about next week's story? Can you give us a hint?

[Nick Carter]

Next week? My story concerns a murderer who killed his victims according to the sign of the zodiac under which they were born.

[Patsy Bowen]

A very unpleasant and dangerous man, I might add.

[Nick Carter]

Yes, definitely. Patsy and I got so close on his trail that he tried two different times to get rid of us.

[Patsy Bowen]

But in his attempts to be very clever, he made a bad mistake and Nick caught him.

[Narrator]

And caught the murderer too, I imagine.

[Nick Carter]

Quite right after a chase. I call the story the Horoscope Murders. So long. See you next week.

[Patsy Bowen]

So long.

[Narrator]

So long to you, Nick and Patsy in the strange adventure you have just heard, Nick Carter was impersonated by Lon Clark, Patsy by Helen Choate, scubby by John Kane. Original music was played by Lou White. The entire production was written and Directed by Jock McGregor. Next week at the same time, listen to another curious experience of Nick Carter.

[Nick Carter]

Entitled the Horoscope Murders or Nick Carter and the Mystery of the Avenging Astrologer.

[Narrator]

This story is a copyrighted feature of street and Smith Publications Incorporated. The Return of Nick Carter is produced in the studios of WOR and is broadcast over most of these stations every Saturday evening at seven o' clock Eastern war time. And don't forget that the adventures of Nick Carter's adopted son Chick Carter are broadcast over most of these stations Mondays through Fridays at 5:30pm Eastern war time. This is mutual.

[Stevie K]

This has been a Nostalgic Mystery Radio presentation. I hope you enjoyed this episode. Please feel free to like and rate this podcast on your favorite app. Also, there's a nostalgic mystery radio YouTube page for your perusal to subscribe to. You can contact me by emailing me at Nostalgic Mystery Radio at gmail com. I hope you have a blessed day or evening. And again, thank you for listening.