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.

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.

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)

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)

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

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.

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)