Adventure Ahead: Inside the FBI (A0035)

Summary

---

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode Summary: Adventure Ahead – "Inside the FBI"

Original Airdate: August 26, 1944 | Podcast Release: November 9, 2025

Host: Adam Graham
Featured Radio Play: Adventure Ahead: “Inside the FBI”

Episode Overview

This episode cross-posts a classic “Adventure Ahead” installment on the Great Detectives feed. Intended for younger listeners, “Inside the FBI” dramatizes real investigative techniques as practiced by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, inspired by incidents from John J. Floherty’s nonfiction book of the same name. Through a guided tour of the FBI lab, the episode uses a fictional, composite mystery—spanning everything from cattle rustling to murder—to showcase the scientific methods and ingenuity harnessed by G-men to solve complex crimes.

---

Key Discussion Points and Episode Structure

1. Adam Graham’s Introduction [01:35]

• Context: Adam introduces Adventure Ahead as an anthology series originally aimed at young people, especially boys, blending coming-of-age tales and adventure. “Inside the FBI” stands out as rooted in real investigative science.
• Insight: The episode is meant to highlight “the way the show’s writers likely compiled this story from the book. Mixing details from different cases to form a composite case.” (32:43)

---

2. The FBI Lab Tour—The Narrative Begins [04:09]

Setting the Scene

• Sarah/Narrator (FBI Agent) guides Tommy, a young visitor, through the FBI laboratory.
• Technique: The narrative frames an “imaginary crime” and, as they tour the lab, each technique is demonstrated through story.

---

3. Case #1: Murder and Cattle Rustling [04:28–12:16]

Crime Reconstruction

• Crime: An old rancher, Mr. Tuttle, is murdered in Texas; cattle have been stolen.
• Initial Suspects: Slim Saunders (has bloodstains on his pants), Cactus Dawson (ranch wrangler).
• Clues and Evidence: Bullet type, blood on clothing, tire tracks, truck paint and broken tail light, and cartridges from rifles.

Key Science and Investigation Methods

• Blood Analysis shows blood on Slim's Levi's is wildcat blood, not human, clearing him as suspect.

  “The chemist was able to tell us in a minute that the blood on Slim's Levi's was not human, but wildcat.” (Sarah, 08:48)

• Comparison Microscope is used to match bullets, determining which gun fired the fatal shot.

  “Those bullets were fired from the same gun. Only bullets fired from the same gun will match. Exactly.” (Sarah, 09:32)

Forensics: Matching Vehicle Evidence

• Automotive Forensics: Broken tail light glass is matched to a specific truck make, model, and year.

• Paint Transfer: Scraped paint reveals color and type of truck.

  “We fit piece together of broken lenses together and compare them with these. When we match them up, we know the year and model of the car we're after.” (Sarah, 12:24)

• Fingerprint Analysis: Prints in truck cab are compared to the FBI’s immense file of 91 million prints using a mechanical sorting device.

  "All fingerprint information is punched on a card... Then we run them through this machine." (Sarah, 15:04)

---

4. Mob Ties & Escalation of Crimes [14:14–23:14]

Expanding the Investigation

• **FBI tracks cattle rustling to a larger mob operation led by “Frank O’Connell”—involved in bootlegging, stolen ration books, and more.
• Fingerprint Evidence again directly ties suspects to specific acts.

Notable Ballistics Case

• Incident: Nightwatchman shot in the leg; defense argues he may have accidentally shot himself.
• Resolution: Comparison microscope confirms the gun—found in his own possession—matches the bullet, debunking the defense’s theory.

  "Again we turned to the comparison microscope. And again the microscope found the guilty man." (Sarah, 18:57)

Human Ingenuity in Investigation

• G-man applies “plain old horse sense” to gain a suspect’s surrender peacefully, highlighting the necessity of interpersonal “soft skills” alongside forensic science.

  "All because that G man used plain old horse hand. Besides, by making friends with Jed's father, he was able to get quite a bit of information." (Sarah, 22:53)

---

5. The Hair & Fiber Section—Solving a Murder with a Single Clue [23:30–26:22]

• Crime: Gas station attendant murdered; very few clues.

• Forensic Breakthrough: Hair fibers found in victim’s hand are matched, using the FBI’s extensive collection of animal and human hair samples.

  "The hairs in the hand of the murdered man match yours exactly. That's what the Hair and Fiber section has to do with our case." (Sarah, 25:48)

• Memorable Quote:

  “They pinned a murder app on Anderson with just a couple of hairs.” (Tommy, 26:11)

---

6. “No Man’s Fingerprints Have Ever Been Changed”—Criminal Myths Debunked [26:23–28:02]

• Criminal’s Attempt: O’Connell tries to surgically alter his fingerprints.
• Lesson: Fingerprints cannot be changed by acid, surgery, or any other means; they always grow back.

  "Fingerprints cannot be changed. Acid burn surgery. Nothing affects them for long. That's why the 91 million prints that we have on file here at the FBI are the biggest man trap ever devised." (Sarah, 27:47)

---

7. Dramatic Showdown & Resolution [28:02–29:54]

• FBI Raid: The mob’s hideout is surrounded; after a brief standoff and use of tear gas, the gang, including O’Connell, is apprehended or killed.

  “All right, you inside there. The house is surrounded. Come out with your hands up.” (28:18)

---

8. Reflection—Fact, Fiction, and the Real Work of the FBI [29:54–31:11]

• Sarah/Narrator’s Wrap-up:
  The case is “imaginary,” but based on composites of real FBI files; all investigative techniques depicted are in active use:

  “In the FBI files are actual case histories which parallel the very things I've been telling you.” (Sarah, 29:54)

• Tommy’s Reaction:

  “Oh, boy. I'm gonna be a G man when I grow up.” (Tommy, 30:56)

---

Host Adam Graham’s Final Commentary [32:43]

Observations and Takeaways

• The episode is a clear primer on “emerging police sciences” for young audiences.
• Human “soft skills,” exemplified by the fiddling G-man’s interaction, play a real role alongside hard forensic science.

  “The human element in criminal investigation. We might even call it soft skills today...a nice counterbalance in a story that I think is quite rightfully dominated by science and action.” (Adam Graham, 32:43)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Only bullets fired from the same gun will match. Exactly.” (Sarah, 09:32)
• “This machine right here has sent thousands of criminals up for life just by selecting a fingerprint card that same way.” (Sarah, 15:43)
• “No man’s fingerprints have ever been changed by an operation.” (Sarah, 27:44)
• “Oh, boy. I’m gonna be a G man when I grow up.” (Tommy, 30:56)
• “All the investigative techniques depicted are based on actual cases and are in daily use at the FBI.” (Sarah, paraphrased, 29:54–31:11)
• “Being a good fiddler is a useful job skill [for Southern FBI agents]!” (Adam Graham, 32:43)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:35 | Adam Graham’s Introduction & Podcast Cross-posting Explanation | | 04:09 | Sarah welcomes Tommy to the FBI Lab; begins the “imaginary” case | | 08:48 | Wildcat blood analysis clears primary suspect | | 09:10 | Use of comparison microscope to match bullets | | 12:24 | Exhibit of car headlight lenses, vehicle forensics | | 14:14 | FBI ties rustling to mob activity | | 15:04–15:43 | Explanation and demonstration of mechanical fingerprint sorting | | 18:57 | Ballistics in the nightwatchman’s leg shooting | | 22:53 | The G-man negotiates with Jed’s father peacefully | | 25:48 | Hair and Fiber case—matching murder suspect via two strands of hair | | 27:47 | Debunking fingerprint “change” myths | | 28:18 | FBI raid on mob hideout | | 29:54 | “Imaginary” case parallels real FBI files | | 32:43 | Adam Graham’s final thoughts and humor about “soft skills” |

---

Final Thoughts

"Inside the FBI" is both an engaging detective yarn and an accessible, educational demonstration of policing science for younger (or nostalgic older) listeners. The script deftly integrates multiple forensics disciplines—blood analysis, ballistics, fingerprints, hair and fiber analysis—with the importance of investigative persistence and people skills. Adam Graham’s afterword underscores the balance between methodical science and the intrinsic “human touch” in solving real-life mysteries.

Great for fans of classic audio drama, true crime, and anyone curious about the origins of modern forensic investigation.

---

For More Classic Radio Mysteries:
Subscribe to The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio and explore Adventure Ahead for more historical suspense, drama, and detective fiction.

Transcript

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Hey, this is Sarah. Look, I'm standing out front of a.m. p.m. Right now and well, you're sweet and all, but I found something more fulfilling, even kind of cheesy. But I like it. Sure you met some of my dietary needs but they've just got it all. So farewell oatmeal. So long you strange soggy. Break up with bland breakfast and taste AM PM's bacon, egg and cheese biscuit made with ktree eggs, smoked bacon and melty cheese on a buttery biscuit. AM P M. Too much Good stuff. What do you think makes the perfect snack? Hmm, it's gotta be when I'm really craving it and it's convenient. Could you be more specific when it's cravenient? Okay, like a freshly baked cookie made with real butter available right down the street at a.m. p.m. Or a savory breakfast sandwich I can grab in just a second at AM pm. I'm seeing a pattern here. Well yeah, we're talking about what I crave, which is anything from AM pm. What more could you want? Stop by AMPM where the snacks and drinks are perfectly craveable and convenient. That's cravenience and too much good stuff. Hey, this is Sarah. Look, I'm standing out front of a.m. p.m. Right now and well, you're sweet and all, but I found something more fulfilling, even kind of cheesy. But I like it. Sure you met some of my dietary needs, but they've just got it all. So farewell oatmeal so long you strange soggy. Break up with bland breakfast and taste AM PM's bacon, egg and cheese biscuit made with K tree eggs, smoked bacon and melty cheese on a buttery biscuit. AM PM Too much Good stuff.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Adventurers of Old Time Radio from Boise Seattle. This is your host Adam Graham. In a moment we are going to bring you this week's episode of Adventure Ahead. But first I do want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow the podcast using your favorite podcast. And I also want to encourage you to check out our other podcast and this week I'm highlighting the amazing world of radio. This is a feed. It contains the summer series that have been voted on by our patreon [e-mail] including recent summer series such as the Summer of Robert Louis Stevenson and the Summer of the Batman Villains as well as spring series, holiday specials and so much more. Check it [e-mail] and you can find all of our podcast over@great adventures.info now this episode is being cross posted on the Great Detectives of Old Time radio feed as this particular episode really could fit in with that podcast. And rather than a Sunday encore on the Great Detectives feed, I did to this week highlight what we're doing on the Great Adventurers podcast. And for the rest of the year. We are featuring an anthology series on Tuesday called Adventure Ahead. And this was a series that was advertised as targeted towards young people. Really seem to be more young men with various tales of adventure and coming of age stories. Some of them are still quite well known, while others have faded into obscurity. And we will be playing these until we go on our holiday break. And we'll wait to start Tarzan until we get into the new year, since the first months of Tarzan will be serialized episodes and I'm trying to minimize the number of breaks that I take. Now, this particular episode of Adventure Ahead is inspired by a nonfiction book called inside the FBI. The original air date August 26, 1944 let's go ahead and take a listen.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Which are used daily by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in solving crimes and protecting the safety of our nation and our home. Okay, Tommy, this is it. At least one part of it. The FBI laboratory someplace.

[Tommy]

All right. Safe. What's that fellow over there doing?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Him? He's running a blood analysis, Tommy.

[Tommy]

What for?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

I'm going to hear that a hundred times this afternoon. So suppose we do this. Let's reconstruct an imaginary crime, then as we go through the various laboratories, try to work out the solution from what we see. Now, what sort of a story would you like to hear?

[Tommy]

Well, my daddy says that now with the war on and all, any criminal here at home is an enemy of our country.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Your dad's right, Tommy.

[Tommy]

Maybe we ought to trap a couple of meters.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Oh, I knew we'd have to have at least one killing to satisfy you. All right, then, let's start with this blood analysis.

[Tommy]

What's blood analysis have to do with solving crime?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Suppose we're trying to trap a ring of big time criminals. They're stealing cattle, shipping it east and selling it undercover. They're nationwide operators, Tommy. And since the FBI has ruined bank robbing and kidnapping, they've been forced to try new angles.

[Tommy]

Jeepers, some outfit, huh?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Quite an outfit. And let's suppose that the whole thing started somewhere in Texas. The sheriff has been out to one of the largest ranches in his town. Howdy, men. Oh, hadn't been moved? No, nothing been moved at all. He drilled right between the eyes? Yep. Old man didn't have a chance. Somebody plugged him just as he opened the door. Any idea who might have done it? Slim Saunders was around this way a couple of days ago. Saunders? I thought he was in prison. Was, but he's out now. Bullet went clean through the old man Tuttle. Up behind his summers, see? Shot was fired up front here. Should have put in the back wall. Here she is. Yeah. Steel jacket from a.25.35. I think I'll look up Slim and see what kind of gun he's toting. All right, Slim, hold up. Oh, boy. Oh, howdy, Sheriff. What brings you up this way? Murderer. Well, that's so who you, Slim? Sure enough. Who'd I kill? Old man Tuttle. Now, Sheriff, why'd I want to kill Tuttle? You and him had words, didn't you? Well, sure, we had words. I have words with lots of people, but I don't kill them. And you're a pretty good shot, ain't you? I guess I'm about as good as the next man with a rifle. You always use a Winchester.25.35? For about three years now, I ain't used nothing else. Hey, how about that blood on your Levi's? It's from a wildcat I killed about a week ago. Hey, Sheriff, did you hear that shot? Yeah. Now, that's a.25.35 or I'll eat it. Let's go have a look. Hit here, boy. Help you? There he is, Sheriff. It's Cactus Dawson, wrangler for Old man Turtle. Yeah. Hey there, Cactus. Hold up there. Howdy, Sheriff. What's up? Let's see a rifle. Cactus for sure. 25. 35, huh? Yeah. I'm taking in Cactus. Maybe you can tell us something about the murder of old man Tuttle. Old man murdered? That's right. Now, well, who'd want to do a thing like that, Slim? Cactus tells a pretty convincing story while your yarn's pretty weak. Now, there was a trail of blood where old man Tuttle was dragged across the porch. And there was blood on your Levi's. I told you a dozen times, Sheriff, it was. It was from a wildcat I killed about a week ago. It's funny you didn't have no hide in your pack. I killed him cause he was stalking a yearling of mine and knocked the skin. And that's the truth, Sheriff. Well, the FBI settled the whole thing. Ought to be hearing sometime today. What's the FBI got to do with it? I sent your Levi's to him along with yours. And Cactus rifles several cartridges. So you see, Tommy, that brings us right back to that piece of cloth you were asking about. The chemist was able to tell us in a minute that the blood on Slim's Levi's was not human, but wildcat.

[Tommy]

Maybe so. But he could have killed old man Tuttle.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

That's right. So we had to go a little further and find out which gun fired the shot.

[Tommy]

How could you do that?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

This gadget right over here, that microscope. Not an ordinary one. It's what we call a comparison microscope.

[Tommy]

What's it do here?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

I put a bullet in this side, another bullet in the other side. Now look.

[Tommy]

Uh huh. I see him.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Now I turn this gadget right here. What happens now?

[Tommy]

There's only one bullet.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

That's where you're wrong, Tommy. It looks like one bullet. Actually, you're seeing half of both bullets.

[Tommy]

But both halves look the same.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Now you're getting it. Those bullets were fired from the same gun. Only bullets fired from the same gun will match. Exactly.

[Tommy]

So that's how you knew whose gun did the killing.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

That's how. Of course. As soon as we knew, we wired the sheriff what we had learned. All right, men, here's that telegram from the FBI. Now let's see what's what. Stain on pants. Murder bullet fired. Well, I guess that settles it. There was wildcat blood. The murder gun belongs to Cactus. What's that? All right, Cactus, you can't prove nothing. I don't have to. The FBI has already done it. Start talking. It was self defense, Sheriff, so help me. It was about three days ago. A couple of city fellows offered me $200 if I'd sort of keep an eye on the old man that night. Just to make sure he kept to the ranch house. If the old man stirred, I was to give a coyote howls a signal. I was sitting in the saddle about 50 yards in front of the ranch house. Wasn't no moon out. Darn that horse. Who's out there? Speak up. I got a mighty itchy trigger finger. The old man was a dead shot. I knowed I'd have to beat him to the draw. Mighty cheap, killing a man for $200. Cactus. I didn't aim to kill him, Sheriff. Pretty good aiming. Just the same, it drilled Tuttle right between the eyes. I suppose them city waters was rustling the old man's cattle. I. I guess so, Sheriff. You know darn well I was. I got no more use for a murderer than I have for rustlers. After I lock you up, Cactus, I guess I better have a Look, not much to go on, Sheriff. I don't know about that, Slim. You see, I've been right smart interested in this here FBI. For instance, the FBI man would take a close look at them tire tracks. Now, what kind of tracks would you say there was? Wouldn't say. Now, if it was a cattle brand, I could spot it in a minute. He's using a big truck, ten wheel job. You can lug quite a few yearlings in one of them backed right through a fence post too. You can see where the paint scraped off. What you doing now? Picking up a few pieces of glass. Wonder where that came from. I wouldn't be at all surprised what it comes from. A busted tail light. Let's go back to town.

[Tommy]

But why? The sheriff father was picking up a few little pieces of glass.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Those were mighty important pieces, Tommy. You see this display over here?

[Tommy]

Holy cow. Look at the headlight lenses.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Sample from every car made, Tommy Z. We fit piece together of broken lenses together and compare them with these. When we match them up, we know the year and model of the car we're after. Now, let's assume that the sheriff sent us those tail light pieces. We found out that they belong to a red 10 ton international.

[Tommy]

Even know the color? Oh, sure. The paint that scraped off on the fence post.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

You see how it all fits together? Besides, the sheriff had another clue. The kind of tires that truck carried. Now, as a general rule, the FBI would have stopped there. But since this case we're imagining looked like rustling, we would have figured that the rustlers were stealing the beef for transport to eastern states. So chances are, a few days later, the sheriff would have had a business. Sheriff Crockett? Yep. Davidson FBI. Oh, howdy, young feller. You find that truck, kid? Yes, we did. We have a pretty good idea who made off with old man Tuttle's cattle, sure enough. How'd you figure that? This job was planned by a well organized mob run by Frank o'. Connell. Used to be a bootlegger in the old days. Now he's operating in stolen beef, counterfeit and stolen ration books and bootleg alcohol. What made you so sure this o' Connell was in on this rustling business? Well, the truck was driven by one of o' Connell's trigger men, Limpy Smith. He and another of o' Connells rowdies drove the truck. How'd you know? Their fingerprints were plastered all over the cab of the truck.

[Tommy]

Jeepers. You mean you could have found the truck that quick?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Sure, Tommy. It wouldn't have been much of a job we knew we were looking for a 1939 Red 10 Ton International. And we knew exactly what kind of tires it had. There could have been only one truck that fitted our description perfectly.

[Tommy]

But how did you find the guys that drove the truck?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Tommy, I'm afraid you're not listening very closely.

[Tommy]

Oh, I know you said their fingerprints were plastered all over the cab. But how could you tell whose prints they were?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

We would have just sticked them against our fingerprint file here at FBI headquarters until we found the ones that matched.

[Tommy]

Is the file very big?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

I guess there must be about 91 million sets of.

[Tommy]

91 million. Holy cow. You have to go through all of them?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

It's really not such a job. Tommy. Ever seen an old fashioned player piano?

[Tommy]

Oh, sure. Grandma has one. I play it all the time.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

You know how the rolls are punched?

[Tommy]

Uh huh. Sort of like a conductor punches a train ticket, only more holes.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

All fingerprint information is punched on a card. Something like that. Then we run them through this machine.

[Tommy]

How does this thing work?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

See all those little steel fingers? Now watch.

[Tommy]

Hey, they move.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

That's right. I'm setting them to select cards. Punched one certain way. Now I turn it on. Now see. See how those little steel fingers sort of feel each other?

[Tommy]

How about that? It throws the card into this little slot.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

That's right. Those steel fingers haven't found any holes that match the way they're set there. See that?

[Tommy]

They caught the little steel finger caught right in those holes.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Now what?

[Tommy]

Hey, that card went into a different slot.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Right. That may be the very card we're looking for. Now we'll turn it off. Yes. Tommy, this machine right here has sent thousands of criminals up for life just by selecting a fingerprint card that same way. Every once in a while those hoodlums probably look at their fingers and say, if you hadn't snitched on me, I wouldn't be here.

[Tommy]

So that's how you found out who drove the rustler's truck.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

That's how we would have done it.

[Tommy]

What happened to the cattle?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Well, we'll assume that it was shipped east. Of course, a couple of FBI men would have followed it. Because we'd have known that sooner or later we'd catch the big shot.

[Tommy]

Yeah, the big shot. You said this was gonna be a big case.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Uh huh. But of course we wouldn't want to lose track of the guys who drove the truck, would we?

[Tommy]

Heck no. What you reckon they would have done after that?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Let's suppose they met up with two other characters who had also been Mixed up in the liquor racket back in Prohibition days.

[Tommy]

But what would they be up to?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

We wouldn't know at first. We just have to wait. But maybe this time, local police officials would stumble onto something that would give us a clue. All right, Doc, what's the story? This man is employed as night watchman at the Morris Building. Morris Building? Night watchman? That's the building. Anyway, this man was shot while stepping in his car after work. Where was his car parked? In an alley reserved for parking space and building employees and tenants. You got the slug? Just removed it from the man's leg. Nickel jacket at 22, you say the man was stuck in the inner part of his thigh? That's right. Bullet took a sharp downward course. Well, then the shot was fired from above. Is this the kind of gun you have in mind, Captain? Yes, Mr. D.A. it's was just such a gun that fired the bullet. I'll have a comparison shot made with this. Now, you can save yourself the trouble, Captain. That could not possibly be the gun. Oh, why not? Because that gun belongs to the wounded man. We found it locked in the grub compartment of his car. Well, old man, looks like we've solved our case. You mean you caught the man who shot me? I think so. But the defense is working up a pretty strong case. They're going to intimate that you might have carried a gun for your own protection. Oh, that's ridiculous. You know the company forbids me to carry a gun. And they'll say you could have carried a gun inside your shirt and held it in place with your belt. But proof, man, they can't prove a thing like that. Well, suppose you had carried a gun that way. And suppose in stepping into your car, the trigger had caught in your clothing and was pulled, the bullet would have plowed down your leg. You mean they're going to try to prove I shot myself? Well, that's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. Ridiculous or not, it could have happened. If the gun had a long barrel like this one, that would Misty, never. That gun belongs to me. I know. But fear of an investigation as to why you were carrying a concealed weapon might have kept you from circumstances of the shooting. It might have, yes. But who'd believe a crazy story like that? Oh, most any jury. You see, a ballistics expert has proved that this is the guilty gun. Oh, you see, Tommy, again we turned to the comparison microscope. And again the microscope found the guilty man.

[Tommy]

But why would this guy have shot himself?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Well, maybe the two fellas who drove the truck might have had some idea of robbing a bank. So they bribed this night watchman to let them into the second floor of that building. See Tommy's First National Banks on the ground floor. And maybe our friend took a gun along just in case the racketeers tried to double cross him. Then he accidentally shot himself. Was afraid that an investigation would tie him up with the robbery. So he might have tried to make out like someone else had done the shooting Keepers.

[Tommy]

Crooks just don't have a chance, do they?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

I'm afraid they don't, Tommy. Sooner or later the law always catches up with them. And Tommy, while it's true G men are specially trained to collect evidence and apprehend criminals. Even shoot it out with them when necessary, there are times when these G men most depend on their ingenuity alone to crack the case. How do you mean? Well, let's bring another stolen car into our case.

[Tommy]

You mean a stolen car to fit into this case? We're imagining Absolutely.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Now we've traced this stolen car across a couple of state lines. And we suspect that the man we want is in a little cabin in the mountains. But this time we'd have to take it easy because the regular raid would. Would have caused a lot of unnecessary shooting, maybe killing. Well, that would mean we'd need a special agent who was pretty familiar with that part of the country. A man who knew how to talk people's language. So it might be able to get our man without fireworks. G man was strictly on his own. He just had to depend on plain old horse sense. So early one morning, this G man set out alone up the steep trail that led to a lonesome dwelling. Presently he came to a weather beaten shack. He opened the door there. Inside he found an old mountaineer seated near an ash filled fireplace. You're a gov' men man, hain't you? Yeah. You're Jed's father, ain't you? That's right. I'm Jed's papa. And you ain't gonna take him. You're right. He ain't here, so I can't take him. Somebody play that fiddle around here? Sure I do myself. And folks say I'm the best fiddle betwixt here and Nashville. You don't say. Well, I used to fiddle a little bit myself. Looks like a mighty good violin. You mind if I look at it? Sure. Pick it up. Love a dog. He can play at this. Pretty. I never heard that one before. Well, strangers that are first class fiddling. Maybe after a bite of it. Or you play some more I never know there was so much music in that old Fiddler Four. Well, I gotta be getting back. How about Jed? You. You want him, don't you? No, I don't want him. The government wants him. You know how it is when the government wants a man. May take days or months or years to get him. But the longer it takes, the worse off he is. Look here, stranger, I reckon you're all right. I like the way you talk and I like the way you fiddle. I'll have Jed at the sheriff's office tomorrow. Noon. Noon tomorrow? Well, so long. Go land.

[Tommy]

Gee. I mean, you could have nabbed him just like that.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Just like that, Tommy, without firing a shot. All because that G man used plain old horse hand. Besides, by making friends with Jed's father, he was able to get quite a bit of information.

[Tommy]

You mean you could have got the goods on the whole gang?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Maybe not the whole gang, but not enough to know definitely that everything was planned by one mob. The cattle rustling, the attempted bank robbery. Everything.

[Tommy]

Frank o', Connell, eh?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Could have been. At least we'll presume that all the men we'd watched so far had worked for o' Connell at one time.

[Tommy]

Then why didn't you nab o'? Connell?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

We hadn't completed our case.

[Tommy]

Wow. This case is getting bigger and bigger.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

For instance, we might have had to call on that gentleman over there.

[Tommy]

Why? What's he doing?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

He's checking a clue under a comparison microscope. Here, take a look at this display.

[Tommy]

What are they?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Hairs, Tommy. Hairs from different animals. As well as a collection of slides showing 28 distinct shades of human hair. This is known as the hair and fiber section.

[Tommy]

Does it have something to do with our case?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Well, let's see if it does. Let's suppose that our crooks, like all crooks, finally ran up against the wrong man. A few days later, local police officials found a murder on their hands. It happened in a small filling station just on the edge of town. After two days of exhaustive search, the officer in charge of the investigation reported to his superior. Got anything on that filling station murder, Sergeant? Ah, not a clue, Captain. No fingerprints, no footprints. Worth checking. The murderer wore rope soled sport shoes, you know. Apparently he just walked in, stuck a knife in the old man and cleared out. Oh, it's fine. Just dandy. Reckon the old man was tied up in black market gasoline? Not a chance. Why, just the other day he chased a fella out of his place and tried to pedal some coupons to him. You say someone did try to sell him coupons that's what I was told. The old man's a stickler for honesty, so he chases a guy. Hey, wait a minute. Why didn't I think of that before? Hello? Yes. In his left hand, huh? Nothing else? Okay. Coroner's office found a couple of hairs in the old man's left hand. Hey, Chief, I just thought of it. The old man tossed out the last guy to try to pump gas coupons on him. Now, suppose the same guy tried again. He might have gotten pretty hot, threatened this guy, and the guy knifes him. Well, it's a good guess. Find who tried to sell him those gas coupons. I tell you, you guys got nothing on me. No, haven't we? Now, would you be interested to know you're booked for murder? Fat chance. Where's your proof? So it's proof you want, eh, Anderson? Remember that filling station killing last week? What about it? Just this about it. The murdered man tangled with his assailant just before he got a knife in his ribs. And a couple of hairs got caught in a ring he wore on his left hand. Very interesting. So now you got a couple of hairs. You wanted proof, Anderson, you're carrying it under your hat. The hairs in the hand of the murdered man match yours exactly. That's what the Hair and Fiber section has to do with our case.

[Tommy]

Tommy, what do you know? They pinned a murder app on Anderson with just a couple of hairs.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Yes, Matt would have just about sewed up our case except for one thing.

[Tommy]

What was that?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

O' Connell tried to drop from sight entirely.

[Tommy]

How could he do that?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

He couldn't. But maybe he thought he could. Let's suppose that he tried to dodge fingerprint identification. You see, Tommy, skin corrugations on the fingers appear about three months before birth, and they never vary. The criminal knows this. O' Connell knew it. But suppose, like all criminals, he tried to convince himself that in his case, nature would make an exception. All right, o', Connell, let's remove the bandages and have a look at those fingers. The sweet surprise the feds will get when they check my new fingerprints. You know, Colonel, if this works, it'll be the first time. What do you mean, it'll work? It's got to. No man's fingerprints have ever been changed by an operation. All right, come on, get those bandages off, Doc. Okay. Anyway, that's a ticket. No fingerprints. Well, can't even. Hey, Doc, look at that finger. And that one. I told you it wouldn't work. O', Connell, your fingerprints are coming back just as they were before. I operated.

[Tommy]

You mean, even an operation didn't change his fingerprints?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

No, Tommy. Fingerprints cannot be changed. Acid burn surgery. Nothing affects them for long. That's why the 91 million prints that we have on file here at the FBI are the biggest man trap ever devised. Wow.

[Tommy]

What did I Connell, do after that?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

O' Connell went back to his old hideout. But he already had that spotted. Then to clean up the case. Of course, we would have planned to attack at night. Let's imagine that shortly after midnight, the lead car drew up a short distance from the high. All right, ma'. Am, We've blocked all roads. There's no chance for them to escape. Have your guns ready. Okay, Chief, we're ready for them. All right, you inside there. The house is surrounded. Come out with your hands up. They heard you, Chief. Looks like we'll have to smoke them out. Come out. We'll come in. The whole gang's in there. All right, drive them out. Are you all ready to come out yet? Well, give me a few g. Here they come. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Only six of them, Chief. There should be seven. Whoever's left in there better come along. All right, don't cover. You want me, come and get me. That's o', Connell, Chief. He's upstairs. That's why the gas didn't get him. Give him another dose. That'll bring him out. That did it. Here he comes. Watch it. He's liable to try to shoot his way out. All right, ma', am, load the rest in the car. What about o', Connell, Chief? Well, I think we're. Let her and the morgue handle that. That last blast got him.

[Tommy]

Gee, you almost had me believing you there for a while. Sometimes I forgot this was just an imaginary case.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

It wasn't as imaginary as you might think, Tommy. I told you a story just to connect all the things you saw here. Blood analysis, the work of the hair and fiber section, ballistics, fingerprints. We change names and places. But in the FBI files are actual case histories which parallel the very things I've been telling you.

[Tommy]

You mean it actually could have happened?

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Yes, indeed, Tommy. It happens every day. We take a piece of blood stained cloth and clear one man by proving the stains weren't from human blood, and convict another by proving that his gun fired the murder bullet. We locate a criminal's truck by identifying its make and model, color and tires. We discover who drove the truck by fingerprints found in the cab. And finally pin a murder rap on a black market operator by identifying a couple of hairs caught on the ring of the man he killed. What do you think about that?

[Tommy]

Oh, boy. I'm gonna be a G man when I grow up.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

Today's chapter of Adventure Ahead has taken you behind the scenes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For obvious reasons, names, dates and places were purely fictitious. But the entire story was based on actual incidents and factual material contained in the book Inside the FBI by John J. Floridy. Investigative techniques were those which Mr. Florida describes, which are used daily by the Department of Justice in solving crimes and safeguarding America. Today's chapter in Adventure Ahead was adapted for radio by Howard Carraway and was directed by Joseph Mansfield. Music was by Doc Whipple. Adventure Ahead is presented as a public service by NBC and its affiliated independent stations. This is the National Broadcasting Company and Doug. Here we have the Limu imu in its natural habitat helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us. Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty Savings. Very underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. A really engaging episode that serves as a good introduction to youthful listeners about the emerging police sciences and how they worked in real life investigations. The way the agent told the story also probably illustrated the way the show's writers likely compiled this story from the book. Mixing details from different cases to form a composite case. And I think think that it did a good job for its target audience by maintaining a good balance for the most part of action and science. Also, we learned that when recruiting southern FBI agents, being a good fiddler is a useful job skill. In all seriousness, I think that scene was a nice acknowledgment of the human element in criminal investigation. We might even call it soft skills today. And that's a nice counterbalance in a story that I think is quite rightfully dominated by science and action. Now I do want to go ahead and thank our Patreon supporter of the day and I want to go ahead and thank Eddie, Patreon supporter Since July of 2023, currently supporting the podcast at the first mate level of $7.14 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Eddie. And that will do it for today. If you are enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your Facebook favorite podcast software. And if you're listening to the Great Detectives podcast and you'd like to hear more Adventure Ahead, be sure and subscribe to the Great adventurers of Old Time Radio, wherever you get your podcast from. For the Great Detectives Podcast, we'll be back on Monday with an episode of Danger with Granger. And for the great adventurers of Old Time Radio, we will be back next Saturday with Cloak and Dagger. And a week from Tuesday we will be back to our normal schedule with another episode of Adventure Ahead. In the meantime, do send your comments to box13greatdetectives.net Follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives. Check us out on Instagram instagram.com Great detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham signing off.

[Sarah / FBI Agent / Narrator]

This is the story of the One As a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility, he knows keeping the line up and running is a top priority. That's why he chooses Grainger. Because when a drive belt gets damaged, Grainger makes it easy to find the exact specs for the replacement product he needs, and next day delivery helps ensure he'll have everything in place and running like clockwork. Call 1-800-granger. Click granger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. This is the story of the 1. As head of maintenance at a concert hall, he knows the show must always go on. That's why he works behind the scenes, ensuring every light is working, the H Vac is humming, and his facility facility shines with Grainger's supplies and solutions for every challenge he faces. Plus 24. 7 customer support. His venue never misses a beat. Call quickgranger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. Lowes knows that saving is always top of mind, especially this season. That's why we've picked some great deals for early Black Friday. Get free select dewalt Cobalt or Craftsman tools when you buy a select battery or combo kit. More tools? Why not? Plus we've got select pre lit artificial Christmas trees starting at $59.98 because it's never too early to think Christmas. Get Black Friday prices without the crowds. Lowes we help you save wall supplies. Last selection varies by location.