Memorial Bridge by Suspense

Summary

Relic Radio Thrillers – "Memorial Bridge" by Suspense

Podcast: Relic Radio Thrillers
Episode air date: August 22, 2025 (original broadcast July 17, 1960)
Writer: William N. Robeson
Summary by: [Your Name]

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Episode Overview

In this classic Suspense episode, "Memorial Bridge," listeners are plunged into a tale of domestic resentment, murder, and a chilling twist of fate. The story follows Charlie Adams, a construction boss embittered by his wealthy and domineering wife Clara, whose "mysterious disappearance" leads to both a police investigation and a dark legacy embedded—literally—in the bridge he helped build. The episode explores themes of greed, marital strife, guilt, and the inescapability of conscience, all delivered in the moody, tense style characteristic of Old Time Radio's Suspense.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Setting the Stage: Marital Discord and Motivation

• Opening Monologue by Charlie (Bob Dryden):
  • Memorial Bridge (aka Blackstone Overpass) represents both a construction achievement and Charlie's personal vendetta against Clara.
  • Charlie’s deep resentment is clear:

    “Clara was not smarter than I was. She was just older and richer, and she never gave me an opportunity to forget it.” (00:45)

• Clara’s Character:
  • Portrayed as cold, controlling, and dismissive toward Charlie.
  • Memorable Quote:

    “Hate you? I don’t hate you. Hate is an emotion. I don’t feel anything for you.” – Clara (02:51)

2. The Murder and Cover-Up

• Kitchen Confrontation:
  • Argument escalates, culminating in Charlie’s fantasy of killing Clara.
• Internal Monologue and Crime:
  • The murder is depicted almost as a daze, supported by moody narration:

    “One doesn’t kill every day of the week… a unique, once in a lifetime experience.” (03:36)

  • Charlie stuffs Clara’s body in his car trunk, and later, contemplates hiding her in the bridge pier.
• Bridge Site Decision:
  • At the construction site, Charlie realizes the perfect way to dispose of Clara:

    “Here. Her obstinate strength could do some good. She could hold up the Blackstone overpass.” (07:07)

  • He drops her into the cement forms and releases the concrete, entombing her.

3. Alibi and Investigation

• Charlie Begins Laying Groundwork:
  • Notifies his business partner, John, about Clara’s disappearance—careful wording to seed gossip and concern.
  • Dialogue with John:

    “Clara’s disappeared.” (11:48)

• Police Investigation:
  • Detective Lieutenant Watson interviews Charlie, suspicious due to Charlie’s financial motives and lack of a police report.

    “Mr. Adams, I think you killed your wife?” – Watson (14:29)

  • Charlie calmly retorts:

    “You can’t accuse me of killing her until you prove she’s dead... you’d have to prove that.” (15:06)

  • Despite suspicions, the absence of a body or evidence stalemates the investigation.

4. Time Passes: Charlie Enjoys Freedom…for a While

• Life Moves On:
  • The bridge is completed; Charlie is socially accepted again, with the rumor of Clara’s disappearance fading.
  • He entertains new romantic interests, always showing off “his” bridge:

    “I felt a surge of pride and power as I passed by the cylindrical pillar which... contained the mortal remains of my vanished wife.” (19:10)

5. Twisting Fate: The Bridge Reveals Its Secret

• Fatal Encounter:
  • On a romantic drive, Charlie and his date crash into the bridge support.
  • In the aftermath, a grisly discovery:

    “I looked and I know before I look what I’ll see there in the pebbles in the cement of the pillar. A human hand, petrified, mummified, concretized... ” (21:24)

• Inevitable Justice:
  • The suspenseful irony: Charlie’s attempt at a perfect crime is undone by chance and the enduring evidence within the very monument he built.
  • Final haunting reflection as rescuers approach:

    “But now doesn’t make any difference whether they do or not.” (22:09)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Clara’s Disdain:

  “I married you and your money, and that sets you in business…”
  —Clara (02:12)

• On Killing Clara:

  “Too bad you don’t hate me, Clara, because I hate you.”
  —Charlie (03:27)

• Charlie’s Calm with Police:

  “You can’t accuse me of killing her until you prove she’s dead. And you can’t.”
  —Charlie to Watson (15:06)

• Pride in the “Memorial” Bridge:

  “The Blackstone overpass had now become the Clara Adams Memorial Bridge.”
  —Charlie (09:17)

• Climactic Revelation:

  “A human hand, petrified, mummified, concretized, but unmistakably a human hand…”
  —Charlie (21:24)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:45 — Introduction to Memorial Bridge and Charlie’s resentment of Clara
• 02:51 — Clara’s statement of emotional void
• 03:36–07:07 — Crime, disposal, and internal monologue
• 11:48 — Charlie tells John about Clara’s disappearance
• 14:29–15:06 — Police suspicion and Charlie’s defense
• 19:10 — Charlie flaunts the bridge to a date
• 21:24 — The hand in the cement revealed
• 22:09 — Charlie’s final acceptance

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Tone and Style

The language is taut, brooding, and laced with bitter irony, consistent with the style of classic radio thrillers. The story's first-person narration immerses the listener in Charlie’s troubled psyche and rationalizations, while Clara’s acerbic dismissals sharpen the drama. The suspense is built less on whodunit and more on how justice, or fate, inevitably catches up.

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Takeaways

• Murder leaves traces—sometimes embedded in stone and steel.
• Suspense masterfully turns architectural pride into a vertical tomb and stage for poetic justice.
• The character-driven storytelling and strong voice performances make this an exemplary Old Time Radio thriller.

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For Further Listening

Listen to this and more suspenseful tales at RelicRadio.com, streaming 24/7. Next week: "Cold Canvas" by Walter Black.

Transcript

[A]

Relicradio.com presents stories of mystery and intrigue, espionage and suspense. Hear tales of ticking time bombs, mysterious crime scenes and cloak and dagger action. This is Relic radio Thrillers. Welcome back to Relic Radio Thrillers. We've got more from suspense this week. CBC series that aired from 1942 to 1962 produced over 900 episodes. Our story today is Memorial Bridge. This one aired July 17, 1960.

[B]

And now, another tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. Memorial Bridge, written for suspense by William N. Robeson. It is officially called the Blackstone Overpass, but to me it'll always be the Clara Adams Memorial Bridge, in tender memory of my late, unlamented and mysteriously departed wife. Clara was not smarter than I was. She was just older and richer, and she never gave me an opportunity to forget it.

[C]

That you, Charlie?

[B]

Yes, dear.

[C]

What kept you?

[B]

I stopped by the overpass job.

[C]

You said you'd be home early.

[B]

Yeah, I know, but I wanted to check on things over there. They're ready to pour the cement for the main bridge. Pierce. Tonight?

[C]

That's nice. Nice, yes. But it has nothing to do with the fact that you said you'd be home early.

[B]

She'd been building up this head of steam all day. When she got like this, there was nothing to do but let her run down. I'd heard it all before. So I went into my room, washed up and got into some comfortable clothes. When I finished, I joined her in the kitchen. She was still out.

[C]

Charlie Adams. First you marry me and my money, and that sets you in business. Then you get John Ferrand for a partner. He's forgotten more about the construction business than you'll ever know. Yes, you're a lucky man, Charlie. Where would you be without my money and John's brain?

[B]

What are you doing in the kitchen?

[C]

It's Thursday.

[B]

Oh, maid's day off, huh?

[C]

That's right.

[B]

Nobody home but us, huh?

[C]

That's right, Charlie. Just you and me in our little honeymoon cottage. Scared, lover boy?

[B]

Scared.

[C]

But don't say I won't expect you to act like a husband.

[B]

Why do you hate me?

[C]

Hate you? I don't hate you. Hate is an emotion. I don't feel anything for you.

[B]

I know why. You got what you wanted. A husband, as you like to remind me, bought and paid for. Where do I fail?

[C]

Shut up and hand me that spider.

[B]

Spider?

[C]

That iron skillet. Tonight's the steak is going to be fried the way I like it. Well done.

[B]

Hey, it's heavy.

[C]

Of course it's heavy. It's cast iron.

[B]

Must Weigh five or six pounds. Need two hands to manipulate it properly.

[C]

Stop swinging it like that and put it on the stove.

[B]

Too bad you don't hate me, Clara, because I hate you.

[C]

Now stop it.

[B]

I say it's too bad you don't feel anything for me, Clara.

[C]

Now stop it.

[B]

Couldn't you feel any emotion, Clara, before you die? Not even fel. You did, Clara. I believe you did. I believe you were scared just a little bit. Weren't you? One doesn't kill every day of the week. It is, for most of us, a unique, once in a lifetime experience. So a state of mild shock is to be expected. Shallow breath. Things slightly out of focus. A strange kind of logic operating. Such as something unpleasant in the house. Get rid of it. Stuff it into the back of the car and get it out of the house. And somehow you find yourself out of the house. And driving the car down the parkway. Without quite knowing what. Why you're there or where you're going. And then slowly, like in a dream. Like it was happening to somebody else, you hear a siren somewhere. You look into the rear vision mirror. And you see the flashing red light. And there's nothing else to do but pull over to the curb. In just a moment, we will return for the second act of suspense. Get the really light refreshment. This is where I talk. Hey. Get the really light refreshment. That's Pepsi Cola, of course.

[C]

I just wanted to say, be sociable, Charlie.

[B]

Of course. Kay. Be sociable. Have a Pepsi on the road or at home. It always refreshes without filling.

[C]

Charlie.

[B]

Pick up extra cartons. Now, Pepsi is so delicious it goes fast. That's why you should keep plenty of Pepsi on hand.

[C]

Maybe I'd better sing.

[B]

Be sure to say, keep Pepsi handy.

[C]

Yes, Charlie. But the song says it sociably. Be sociable. Love smart. Keep up to D with Pepsi. Drink light, refreshing Pepsi. Stay young and fair and billionaire. Be sociable. Have a Pepsi.

[B]

What Kay means is get plenty of Pepsi next time you shop.

[C]

Well? Yes?

[B]

What is it, officer? What did I do wrong? I'm sure I wasn't speeding. No, no, you're okay. But I just noticed the lid to your trunk come unfastened. I'll fix it for you. Oh, no, no, no. Don't bother. I'll do it myself. I need the key, probably. And there, under the friendly and helpful gaze of the officer. I fought to close the trunk lid of my car. And Clara fought back. Even in death, she fought me. In obstinate death. She lay in that luggage compartment. And Defied me to close the lid. Looks like you got it back to full. Yeah. Yeah, maybe I have at that. Yeah, that does it. Thanks, Officer. Thanks. Evening, boss. Evening, Jerry. I thought I'd drop back and see how the concrete works. Coming? Well, we poured two piers of the overpass bridge so far. We'll do this next one as soon as the men have had some chow. Mixer's right in position, I see. Yeah, she's all ready to go. Oh, you're doing a good job, Jerry. You're running the night shift. I think we'll have this job finished ahead of time. That's what I'm aiming for, boss. Oh, by the way, d' I tell you there's a hundred dollars in it for you for every day you bring it in ahead of schedule. Oh, well, thanks, boss. The Blackstone overpass. It's hard to believe that a few months from now this confusion of dirt mounds and concrete pillars will be carrying a thousand cars an hour on an eight lane roadway over the heads of another thousand or so cars an hour going the opposite way. Listen to me, philosophizing and keeping you from your supper. Go on down to the shack with the gang, get your job. Well, if it's all right with you, Mr. Adams. Oh, sure it is. Run along. All right then, I'll do that. I'm a little hungry, Jerry. Are Jerry. Yes, sir. You say this pier is ready to be poured? Yes, the mix is in position. We'll be pouring after we eat. Would you like to wait around and watch? I might do that, Jerry. And he was gone down the slope of dirt filled to the construction shack where the rest of the night shift was having their food. And I was alone with Clara on the Blackstone overpass. But not quite alone. Behind me, the concrete mixer kept chunking away, turning slowly, agitating with elephantine thoroughness its huge load of pebbles and cement and sand. Tons of it. Enough of it to fill the forms of a bridge pillar 30ft high. It was in position, Jerry had said. And all that was needed to dump its contents into the waiting form was a of piece. Pull on a lever, of course. Perfect. The perfect resting place for Clara. Here. Her obstinate strength could do some good. She could hold up the Blackstone overpass. It was a matter of seconds to unlock the trunk of the car. The construction shack was out of sight. It was dark. I was alone. I dragged the bony and stiff body of my ex wife to the edge of the wooden forms and toppled her over the side. A yank at the lever and that was the end of Clara forever and ever. And while the form was filling and the bridge pier taking shape, it first occurred to me that the Blackstone overpass had now become the Clara Adams Memorial Bridge. I went home to a quiet house and the first peaceful night's sleep I'd had in years. Next morning, as I took my time over coffee and toast, I planned my next move. Clara's disappearance must be established. But how? Well, the surest way of launching a piece of gossip is to confide in a friend. Especially a married friend. So I took my partner, John Floran, to lunch and I played distraught, distant and preoccupied through three pre prandial martinius. What's the matter with you today, Charlie? Huh? You don't seem to be here. You're not with it. Something bothering you? Oh, no, no, Nothing special. Ah, come on, Charlie. Don't try to get pappy. John, can you keep a secret? Why, sure. You know me, pal. Yeah, well, I wouldn't want this to get any further. My lips are sealed. Thing like this is embarrassing to talk about and I wouldn't want it to be general knowledge. Well, fire away, pal. I'm all ears. John, I'm worried about Clara. What's the matter? Is she giving you a bad time? Oh, no, no, no. You know how it is, requiring me. I'm her ever loving honey lamb and she's my little lump of sugar. I may be sick. Yeah, well, that's the way she wants it. And that's the way it's going to be. I gotta hand it to you, Charlie. You've been a model husband and frankly, I don't see how you do it. What do you mean? Well, Clara isn't the easiest of women to get along with, from what I've seen. Well, we all have our shortcomings, John.

[C]

Only.

[B]

Only what? You promise you won't breathe this to a soul? I already promised. All right. John, it's this. Clara's disappeared.

[C]

What?

[B]

Yeah, gone. Vanished in the thin air. When? I dunno. Sometime yesterday. She wasn't home when I got in last night. No, no, not like that. No. Nothing. Had you had an argument with her? No. Everything was peaches and cream. She'd say maybe she went visiting her family. She hasn't got any family or. That's right. I forgot. Well, how about her friends? What friends? The ones who warned her against marrying me. He's only after your money, Clara. Don't say I didn't warn you, Clara. Friends. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of knowing that my wife walked out on me. How do you know she's walked out? Well, I. I don't, but that's the way they'd interpret it. Don't you think you better report this to the police? I just said I don't want to be a laughingstock, didn't I? Yeah. Report it to the police. It gets in all the papers. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, well, I wouldn't worry, Charlie. She's okay. She's just going on a little trip or something. She'll be back safe and sound and sooner than you expect. You think so, John? Sure, I know so. Don't you worry. Ah, I'll try not to. It's. It's funny. I feel better just talking to you about it. Sure you do. Only remember, John, this is just between you and me. Don't breathe a word of it. Promise, pal? I promise, pal. Yeah. It was all over town and thoroughly established that Clara had vanished. Sometime Tuesday, John's wife had done her job well. A little too well. Yes? Mr. Adams? Yes. Lieutenant Watson, Police Department. May I come in? Why, yes. Certainly, Lieutenant. Please do. Thank you. Won't you sit down? I think you'll find that chair over there comfortable. Thank you. Well, now, what can I do for you? Not from the Missing Persons Bureau. We gotta report your wife is missing. Well, yes, in a way. What do you mean, in a way? Well, she isn't here, and I don't know where she is. Yes, I guess you could say she's missing. How long has she been missing? A little over a week. A week ago Tuesday. How come you didn't make a report to the police? Well, I don't know. Each day that went by, I expected to hear from her. Only it didn't. That's right. Any idea where she could have gone to? If I did, I'd go find her, wouldn't I? Yeah, I guess you would. Just walked out, did she? I guess so. She didn't take a car and she didn't take a cab. How do you know? Why, I checked the cab companies. Oh. Well, you gotta admit, it looks kind of suspicious. Does it? Mind if I look over the house? Wouldn't do me much good if I did, would it? Not much. Well, I'd be my guest. Of course, he found nothing. There was nothing to find. But this didn't stop Lieutenant Watson failing to find any evidence of foul play in the house. He sought to find reason for it elsewhere. He dug into my background and Clara's background, and he came up with an interesting theory. Which happened to be the truth. Mr. Adams, I think you killed your wife? Indeed. Why would I do such a thing, Lieutenant? The usual motive. Money. Oh, you married her for her money. You insured her Heavily. Of course, you can't collect on that until you prove she's dead. And you can't accuse me of killing her until you prove she's dead. I'm quite aware of that. Nevertheless, I'm convinced you did it. How, Lieutenant? I don't know. But don't suppose you tell me, huh? Spoil all your fun. You're reconstructing the crime. Yeah, that's just it. I'll have to admit to you there's no evidence of a crime. Mrs. Adams has just vanished, that's all. So without any evidence of a crime, why not assume that there isn't any? But people don't just vanish. My wife did. Not without help. You'd have to prove that. I know. And you can't? Frankly, no. Then may I suggest you go away and leave me alone. All right, Mr. Adams. But with me out of sight is not out of mind. What do you mean? Murder, it is said, will out. Come on, Lieutenant. How corny can you get? We'll see, Mr. Adams. We'll see. In just a moment, we will return for the concluding act of suspense. Now here are Edgar Bergen and Jolly McCarthy. Charlie, where have you been?

[C]

Well, it's a long story, Bergen. Remember you said you wanted the car lubricated?

[B]

I said I wanted a guardian maintenance lubrication. Like all Chevrolets, Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles, Buicks, Cadillacs and Chevy and GMC trucks, our car deserves the best of service. And that means guardian maintenance at our dealer service department.

[C]

Yes, Well, I drove our car to our dealers without an accident. Oh, most of the way, Charlie.

[B]

Where's the car now?

[C]

It's on Main street between fourth and fifth.

[B]

Is it closer to fourth or fifth?

[C]

It's all the way from fourth to fifth.

[B]

All right, young man, you're going to get it now.

[C]

I'm only kidding, Bergen. It's just a scratch fender. Our dealers, GM train mechanics have already.

[B]

Got it looking like new again.

[C]

It's part of their quality appearance service. Shall I still meet you in the woodshed?

[B]

You drove the car without permission. It's the woodshed. And I'll see you there as soon as I phone the dealer.

[C]

Well, take your time. If you're not there in 10 minutes, I'll start without you.

[B]

Well, it seems like it all happened a long time ago. The Blackstone overpass is finished now, and 50,000 cars a day stream over and under it. People have stopped asking me if I've heard from Clara. They've stopped clucking and shaking their heads when they meet me on the street. I live a quiet and serene existence as befits a man who tragedy is touched and who furthermore, must wait another year for the big insurance payoff when his wife will be declared legally dead. Which is not, however, to say that I live a completely anchorite life. As much red blood flows in my veins as in the next fellows. And from time to time, when I encounter some lovely creature as lonely and as spirited as I, I'm not above an evening of genteel misbehavior. On such occasions, I seem compelled to include the Blackstone overpass among the earlier gambits of the rendezvous. Are you acquainted with Blackstone overpass, my dear?

[C]

Acquainted with it? Well, I've driven over it once or twice.

[B]

You like it?

[C]

Well, yes.

[B]

Would it surprise you to know that I designed and built it?

[C]

You did?

[B]

I did.

[C]

Well, I had no idea.

[B]

Care to drive over it again with me?

[C]

Oh, my, yes.

[B]

Isn't far out of your way. Really? And so I would proudly escort my lady of evening through the sweeping cross cloverleafs of Blackstone overpass, extolling to her its aesthetic and engineering virtues, reciting the liturgy of its statistics, the ever mounting total of vehicles that rushed through it daily. And always. As I swung around the gracefully steep off ramp to the lower level, I felt a surge of pride and power as I passed by the cylindrical pillar which supported the upper level and which contained the mortal remains of my vanished wife. Sometimes I'd murmur to myself, the Clara Adams Memorial gr.

[C]

What you say, honey?

[B]

Oh, nothing. I didn't say anything again. It's one of the those nights. And beside me is a little lady who's a real charmer.

[C]

Oh, Charlie, I just can't get over it. You building this great big bridge all by yourself.

[B]

Oh, I had a little help.

[C]

It's so, so. Well, so very. Charlie, look at all that car coming towards you.

[B]

He's out of control. He's jumped to the right of the. The car is crushed against one of the cylindrical bridge supports, Rammed against it head on. And my lady and I are jammed inside, cut and hurt. And then from somewhere far away, there's a voice. Hang on.

[C]

Just hang on. Look at you out of there. Charlie. Look.

[B]

What?

[C]

Look ahead.

[B]

In.

[C]

In that concrete cellar.

[B]

I looked just beyond the broken windshield where the impact had torn at the cylindrical bridge support. I look and I know before I look what I'll see there in the pebbles in the cement of the pillar. A human hand, petrified, mummified, concretized, but unmistakably a human hand connected, I know, to the rest of a body that had once been Clara Adams.

[C]

Hang on, we're coming. We'll get you out.

[B]

But now doesn't make any difference whether they do or not. Suspense. You've been listening to Memorial Bridge, written for suspense by William N. Robeson. In a moment, the names of our players and a word about next week's story of suspense. Hi, this is Dennis James with a longtime favorite. Yes, the longtime favorites are usually the best, aren't they? And one favorite folks have relied on over the years is Kellogg's all brand. Since 1919, America's favorite natural laxative cereal. Kellogg's All Brand is the safe, gentle way to overcome irregularity caused by lack of bulk in your diet. It tastes good, too, and it never gets mushy in milk. There's only one All Brand. Kellogg's All Brand. So relieve constipation the way millions do with Kellogg's All Brand. A double L hyphen. B, R, A, N. Yes, you're so right to stay regular with Kellogg's All Brand. Try it. Okay. Okay. Heard in tonight's story were Bob Dryden as Charlie, Charlotte Manson as Clara, Ralph Bell as Foreman, Sam Gray as For Anne, and Larry Haynes as the detective. Others in the cast included Lawson Zerby, Roger de Koven and Pat Hosley. Listen again next week when we return with Cold Canvas by Walter Black. Another tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. The Kingston Trio next, followed by latest CBS news and Half Gun will travel on CBS Radio.

[A]

There's more from suspense, Relic Radio thrillers and all of the other podcasts@ RelicRadio.com. there's a Shout cast stream there as well. Streaming 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Lots of old time radio to listen to there. All made possible by your support. If you'd like to help out, visit donate. Relicradio.com or click on one of the links on the website. Thanks to those who have. Thanks for joining me this week. Be back tomorrow with the horror and next Friday with our next episode of Relic Radio Thrillers.