Broadway's My Beat: The Earl Lawson Murder Case (EP4853)

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Broadway’s My Beat: The Earl Lawson Murder Case (EP4853)

Podcast: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
Host: Adam Graham
Original Air Date of Drama: June 9, 1951
Summary Date: November 26, 2025

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Overview

In this captivating episode of Broadway’s My Beat, Detective Danny Clover is thrust into the heart of a double murder on the bustling streets of New York. The case begins with the public stabbing of a wealthy financier, Earl Lawson, and quickly takes shape as a tangled web of family strife, betrayal, and a deadly plot involving a terminally ill ex-con, Ray Brewer. The story blends sharp character studies with classic noir tension, culminating in a dramatic reveal where even seemingly comedic subplots are crucial clues to the mystery’s solution.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Developments

1. Discovery of the Murder (03:06—05:30)

• Setting: Times Square in June; the city is buzzing, but the festive mood is shattered when Earl Lawson, a prominent financial figure, is found stabbed amid a crowd.
• Quote:

  “Safest place in the world to kill somebody, Mugavan—in a crowd. Walk up to him, stab him in the back, keep walking.”
  —Danny Clover (05:21)

2. Visit to the Lawson Residence—Family Dynamics (06:48—08:02)

• Danny meets Dr. Harlan Lawson, Earl’s brother:
  • Harlan, an unfulfilled social worker, holds deep resentment toward his brother.
  • Their strained relationship and Harlan's bitterness are apparent; he’s quick-witted but jaded.
• Memorable exchange:

  “Every time he fingers the gold lettering, I tell him how grateful I am.”
  —Dr. Harlan Lawson (07:12), referencing Earl’s pretentious gift of his bound doctoral thesis.

• Clue: Harlan has an alibi for the time of the murder—brunch at home, confirmed by the butler.

3. Clue from a Tourist’s Photo (10:12—11:08)

• Peggy Drake's involvement:
  • Peggy, a visiting tourist, provides a photo with the apparent killer in action: Ray Brewer, a known criminal.

  “Wait till my society back home hears about this. I belong to the literary society.”
  —Peggy Drake (11:31)

• Police track Brewer via records and find he was recently released from a hospital for the terminally ill, with a month to live.

4. Brewer on the Run & Harlan’s Murder (13:03—16:18)

• Danny confronts Ray Brewer:
  • Brewer toys with Danny, referencing his short life expectancy.
• Quote:

  “Throw away the gun, Ray. They tell me you’ve got a month. If you throw the gun away, maybe you can live a part of it out. All of it.”
  —Danny Clover (13:12)

• After a tense scene, Brewer escapes. Soon after, Harlan Lawson is found murdered in his home—killed by a similar knife wound.

5. Piecing Together Brewer’s Plans (19:17—23:02)

• Visit to Milford’s Haberdashery:
  • Brewer, with Harlan, had been outfitted for a trip to Mexico but abruptly canceled.
• Central American Lines Agency confirms:
  • Brewer canceled travel plans to Mexico, accepted a refund, and gave no forwarding address.
• Both witnesses identify Harlan as Brewer’s companion and benefactor in these transactions.
• Motive begins to solidify: Harlan, in league with Brewer, is suspected of orchestrating Earl’s murder.

6. Crucial Deductions (24:03—25:14)

• Danny and Mugavan deduce Harlan hired Brewer to murder Earl, promising him “a month in paradise” in Mexico. Brewer, realizing he was double-crossed (possibly due to Peggy’s involvement), kills Harlan in revenge.
• Key insight:

  “Let’s play it that way for a while.”
  —Danny Clover, when suspecting Harlan (08:56) “He found out Brewer only had a month to live. Promised him a fling that month in Mexico for killing brother Earl.”
  —Danny Clover (24:41)

7. Peggy’s Trunk and the Final Reveal (25:20—29:58)

• Subplots involving Peggy Drake:
  • Her antics (jogging in a negligee, struggling with a heavy trunk) are initially comic relief but actually clues.
• The “trunk” is intercepted en route to her hometown, returned, and opened by the police at her residence.
• Shocking discovery:
  • Brewer’s body is in the trunk—Peggy, caught in a web of her own making, breaks down.
• Memorable moment:

  “I won’t look. I’m not gonna look at him again. All the while I was putting him in there, staring at me. Staring. And I couldn’t get the trunk closed. His hand. I was alone. All alone. His face staring at me.”
  —Peggy Drake (29:58)

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Notable Quotes & Character Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:21 | Danny Clover | “Safest place in the world to kill somebody, Mugavan—in a crowd.” | | 07:12 | Harlan Lawson| “Every time he fingers the gold lettering, I tell him how grateful I am.” | | 13:12 | Danny Clover | “Throw away the gun, Ray. They tell me you’ve got a month.” | | 24:41 | Danny Clover | “He found out Brewer only had a month to live. Promised him a fling that month ...” | | 29:58 | Peggy Drake | “I won’t look. I’m not gonna look at him again. All the while I was putting him in there, staring at me...” |

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Key Timestamps by Segment

• Episode Theme & Opening Monologue: 03:06–05:30
• Interview with Dr. Harlan Lawson: 06:48–08:02
• Peggy Drake’s Photo & Police Progress: 10:12–12:19
• Confrontation & Brewer’s Escape: 13:03–15:20
• Harlan Lawson Found Dead: 15:20–16:18
• Piecing Together the Plot: 19:17–25:04
• Trunk Discovery & Conclusion: 26:04–29:58
• Host Commentary: 32:46–End

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Host’s Post-Episode Commentary

• Adam Graham praises the narrative’s clever misdirection—seemingly comic incidents with Peggy are actually vital clues.
• He critiques the “killers being too clever by half,” noting the flaw in relying on Brewer’s imminent death as a failsafe.
• Graham also remarks on the moral ambiguity—Harlan, a "selfless social worker," manipulates a dying man into murder.
• Critical observation:

  “If they had just let him live, leave, and there had been no witness...they would have gotten away with it.”

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Conclusion

This episode weaves a classic tale of murder, betrayal, and dark psychology set against a vibrant, indifferent New York. It showcases Broadway’s My Beat at its best—layered character work, pulpy tension, and a sharp detective who pieces together tragedy from the small details others miss.

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Transcript

[Danny Clover]

Limu Emu and Doug Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Save hundreds with Liberty Mutual.

[Danny Clover]

Fascinating.

[Mugavan]

It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[Danny Clover]

Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us. Cut the camera.

[Mugavan]

They see us.

[Ben]

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[Danny Clover]

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[Sergeant Tartaglia]

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[Danny Clover]

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[Sergeant Tartaglia]

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[Danny Clover]

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[Sergeant Tartaglia]

See valsparpro.com for details.

[Danny Clover]

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Broadway's My Beat. But first I want to encourage you, if you are enjoying the podcast, to please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show on a one time basis at support.greatdetectives.net and I want to thank Nicholas so much for sending a donation. That way you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month at patreon.greatdetactives.net now from June 9, 1951, here is the Earl Lawson murder case.

[Danny Clover]

Broadway's My Beat. From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway's my beat with larry thor as detective danny clover. When the rumor gets around that summer has begun, Broadway is beside itself with glee. Somebody notices the sunlight and tells somebody else and the word gets around it drifts cross town And a man reaches into his closet for a hand organ, puts the funny hat on his monkey and takes a walk up to Broadway just to grind out background music for the big grin. It's the time for the dachshund and the silken ankle and the flowered print dress. The orange juice is sweeter, the knish is lighter. The guy runs down the street screaming, I'm in love. It's June. And it was June under the Translux 2. A rare day. And the Times Square crowd had gathered there to consider it and take the story of it home to the little woman, dad and mom. There was a man lying in the circle of their feet. He was expensively dressed.

[Mugavan]

He's dead.

[Danny Clover]

Danny, what happened? Mugavan.

[Mugavan]

Ah, come on, come on you people, break it up. Come on, get going. What is it with them?

[Danny Clover]

Danny, what happened?

[Mugavan]

How can you tell what happened? People milling around, crossing streets, going to lunch, looking at the want ads over there in the Times building. Suddenly a guy's face down on the pavement. Somebody laughs drunk and somebody sees blood. So we got him on the pavement and them watching.

[Danny Clover]

Stabbed.

[Central American Lines Agent]

Yeah.

[Danny Clover]

Know who he is?

[Mugavan]

Uh huh. Here. Wallet, loads of identification.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah. Earl Lawson, Park Avenue. Earl Lawson.

[Mugavan]

Earl Lawson. Stock some bonds. He's got a name. Wizard or something. Makes money by the buckets.

[Danny Clover]

Anybody see it happen?

[Mugavan]

A million people on Times Square, high noon. Nobody saw anything. Nobody. Now look, you people, why don't you move along, Go home, get out of here.

[Danny Clover]

Safest place in the world to kill somebody. Mugaman in a crowd. Walk up to him, stab him in the back. Keep walking. Well, it started off to be a pretty day.

[Mugavan]

Yeah, real sunny.

[Danny Clover]

Just across the street, the file of crowd waiting for the movie that was better than life held on close to its place in line. Held on close against the insinuating whisper of the violent dead. It was a trick, kid. A trick to make you lose your place. To cheat you out of a front row seat where love and beauty and other high class things are handed you on an air conditioned platter. But a few were sold by the whisper and were drawn by it and joined the cluster attending the dead man. A woman pushed her way close and turned away. She opened her purse, smeared a lipstick nervously across her lips, studied their reflection in a window and then carefully, carefully retraced them with the perfumed scarlet. And death had raised its banner on Broadway. The home of the murdered man was a place whose sounds had been geared down to the soft purr of wealth. The swish of the ankle deep carpets, the flute like Trills of the taking, the noonday sun in exclusive cages. The butler who murmurs you into the library and asks you to wait quietly. You don't dare open a book because turning a page would release a clap of thunder. And finally, when you'll wait no longer, the soft voice at your shoulder.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

I'm glad you made yourself at home, Mr. Clover. This is a difficult house to do that in.

[Danny Clover]

It's quiet. You can say that for it. You're Harlan Lawson.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Dr. Harlan Lawson.

[Danny Clover]

Oh, then the books on this shelf.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

My one literary effort. All 20 copies. 20 copies of the same drivel. New Freedom, Pennsylvania. The utopia that Failed. Nice binding, though, wouldn't you say?

[Danny Clover]

Quite expensive.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

That's my brother. He's everything you say. He gave me those when I got my PhD. Made a grand gesture of binding my doctor's thesis and burying it 20 times over on this shelf. Every time he fingers the gold lettering, I tell him how grateful I am.

[Danny Clover]

You don't get along, you and your brother.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

We suffer each other, let's put it that way. He has his world, I have mine.

[Danny Clover]

And your world would be the back alleys of poverty.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

You see, I'm in the nature of a failure, Mr. Clover. I'm a social worker. Doesn't pay very much, but I take in tears and give in exchange. Baskets of fruit, my brother's castaway clothing, and the gestures of sympathy they taught me in post grad humanities.

[Danny Clover]

But you keep on living here with your brother, With Earl Lawson.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

I exist here. Is this why you came, Mr. Clover? To run your hands over my brother's library? To probe into me?

[Danny Clover]

Or is it.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

No, no, don't say to me Earl has somehow run afoul of the law. Don't say it because I wouldn't believe it.

[Danny Clover]

Earl. He's dead. He was murdered.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Your manner of saying it. You leave me nothing but to believe you.

[Danny Clover]

He was stabbed. Left lying on the street in Times Square.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

He must have shuddered. That it found him in a place like that, I'd swear he shuddered.

[Danny Clover]

Your brother dies and that's how it hits you?

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

To each his own way, Mr. Clover. You're implying that it was I who killed him?

[Danny Clover]

Let's play it that way for a while.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

I dreamed the wish sometimes. But I couldn't have killed Earl. I slept the morning through. Earl's butler will testify to that. He was serving me brunch when you came in it. Expensive brunch with wine.

[Danny Clover]

Who else would want your brother dead besides me?

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

That would be your thesis, wouldn't it, Mr. Clover? I suggest the scholars approach.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, thanks, I'll try. Then back to headquarters and to the desk. Get on the phone, make inquiries. Send out to the newspapers for files. Read them, digest them, extract them. Start a file of your own. Label it Earl Lawson, Homicide. Fill out the form. Date of birth, hour of death, murder by sharp instrument to be filled out in detail by the coroner. And on the lines on the bottom of the page, the incidental information. Jot down the phrases a self made man, shrewd financial mind, known enemies, probably many due to financial manipulation. Send out for coffee and the sandwich because it's suddenly nighttime and read some more. Then your door opens and Sergeant Tartaglia is all business.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

Lady to see you, Danny.

[Danny Clover]

What does she want?

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

She knows who killed Earl Austin. What she says she.

[Danny Clover]

Bring her in.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

This way, you see? Danny Clover, man.

[Peggy Drake]

Thank you. My name is Peggy Drake, Lieutenant.

[Danny Clover]

Please sit down. Close the door, Tartaglio. All right, Art, you can stay, Ms. Drake. The sergeant said you know.

[Peggy Drake]

Not exactly, Danny.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

She told me she knew all about it. She said.

[Danny Clover]

What's on your mind, Ms. Drake?

[Peggy Drake]

I have the murderer's picture here. Here it is.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah. How'd you happen to take this picture?

[Peggy Drake]

Well, I'm here on vacation. This afternoon was a good day to take pictures and I was at Times Square. I took a lot of pictures and, well, this is one of them. You can see for yourself. Yeah, I found a store with six hour developing service and I got them developed. I was looking through them and I saw this one. That's why.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah. Come here. Totaglia, look at this.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

Ray Brewer.

[Danny Clover]

That's right. Ray Brewer sticking a knife into Earl Lawson on Times Square. Call records. Gino, get the last known address on Ray Brewer and anything else they've got. Interesting.

[Peggy Drake]

Guess I did help with.

[Danny Clover]

I don't know how much. This man here with a knife, his.

[Peggy Drake]

Name is Ray Brewer.

[Danny Clover]

A known hoodlum. Record of every misdemeanor on the books.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

Yeah, yeah, I got a pencil.

[Peggy Drake]

Wait till my society back home hears about this. I belong to the literary society. We have open for. I suppose this will be in the papers, won't it?

[Danny Clover]

Front page.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

What else is what else? Yeah. What's happened to him lately? Uh huh. Uh huh.

[Danny Clover]

How are you making out, Gino?

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

Wait a minute, Danny. Uh huh. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got all that. We appreciate it and thank you. Very interesting. If I may comment on the material gathered from records.

[Danny Clover]

What's interesting?

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

Up until a week ago, Ray Brewer was confined to the county hospital for incurables.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, I remember he was a pretty Sick man? Incurable.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

His heart. Docs gave him a month to live, but last week he was discharged from the hospital.

[Danny Clover]

How come?

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

To die in the bosom of his family, as the records guy phrased it.

[Danny Clover]

Where is this family?

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

1212 West 16th, the man says. Where you going, Dan?

[Danny Clover]

See that Ms. Drake gets home. Gino, I'm going to pick up a killer. Open up, Brewer, or I come in anyway. Brewer. Where are you, Brewer?

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Huh?

[Narrator]

Out here, Danny.

[Central American Lines Agent]

Taking my ease on the fire escape, watching you. Watching you spill out your strength.

[Danny Clover]

Throw away the gun, Ray. They tell me you've got a month. If you throw the gun away, maybe you can live a part of it out. All of it.

[Central American Lines Agent]

It's arranged. I live all of it. 30 days hath ray Brewer.

[Danny Clover]

If I come out after you, Ray, it'll cut your time down to a half minute.

[Central American Lines Agent]

Make me shake with fright. Stay where you are, Danny. I'll bring it to you.

[Danny Clover]

The gun, Ray.

[Central American Lines Agent]

Now, don't drool, kiddo. You'll get it. Funny, when you rang the doorbell, I thought it was a boy from Milford's. But no, it was you. How come you find me so lightning quick, Danny?

[Danny Clover]

A girl. A visitor. Got you a picture. Sticking a knife into Lawson.

[Central American Lines Agent]

I never could learn to be camera shy. Poke a camera in my nose. I smiled for all birdies. Turn your back to me, Danny. I feel a new smile coming out.

[Danny Clover]

Listen to me.

[Mugavan]

You don't turn your back.

[Central American Lines Agent]

You bleep in the face. Turn.

[Mugavan]

You did that.

[Central American Lines Agent]

You brought sunshine into my short life.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

One for the roadie.

[Danny Clover]

It splintered through me, puncturing, ripping into the dark cells where pain lay waiting for being released. Scurry darted through me, opening endless doors on endless hurt. These new ones took over, finally gave up because they'd overdone it. I couldn't feel it anymore. And then the hall went cold on the sweat that had drenched me. And looking for Brewer, knowing he wasn't there. Call into headquarters and tell him to put out an all points bulletin on Ray Brewer. Then to Park Avenue to ask a question. Why had Brewer wanted Lawson dead? What had Lawson been to a hoodlum like Brewer? Help me in my bag.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

Get you in my bag.

[Danny Clover]

Hold back. You didn't. You didn't help. Down the long hall, I could see the parakeets preening, pecking into their clipped wings. The new stillness of the man lying there with a knife in his back. Dr. Haren Lawson dead. The nap of the thick rug furrowed where his hands had tried to tear life out of it. And suddenly the. The Flute Song of the Parakeet started again and it wasn't still any.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Broadway's My Beat, written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin, with Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. The sensational young tenor Mario Lanza will take the place of Charlie McCarthy and Edgar Bergen on CBS while the famous pair are on summer vacation. Mario Lanza starts his new series tomorrow. And you'll be heard each Sunday this summer on most of these same stations. And while Jack Benny is off for Korea, Guy Lombardo and his orchestra will be on hand to entertain you in CBS familiar Jack Benny time.

[Danny Clover]

Last year's bride. Mannequins are dusted off, brought out of Broadway's basements, propped up on a rod and arranged tenderly at the sight of last year's groom. Mannequins. And Broadway knows June is passing through it, presses its nose against the shop window, sighs at the cascade of white satin flowing slowly over the wax figure, sheds a tear at the coronet of cloth lilies of the valley and blows its nose for the sweetness of it all. It's the time of youth. The two week romp in the Catskills. The burial in the sand at Far Rockaway. The breathless ecstasy on the heights of the roller coaster at Coney for the stay at homes. Other sweets, other delights. The subway ball games, the band concerts in the mall. The moon burned girls on the dark grass. And the my hand and your hand talk about two brothers dead of knife wounds. Summertime talk. At headquarters. The next morning, it was difficult to talk about anything because. Because Sergeant Ataglia had his mouth full of tacks and his fist full of hammer. Building something, Gino?

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

Oh, it's you, Danny. Yeah, you might say I'm building a site for sore eyes.

[Danny Clover]

Oh. Mind if I look?

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

Oh, my pleasure. Pardon me for obstructing your view.

[Danny Clover]

Nice.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

I think so. Also, a Pinup picture of Mrs. T hammered to the door of my closet. This I consider a worthy hobby, Mrs. T. I call Mrs. Tartaglia that whenever I'm in a hurry. Consider her Danny in her Catalina swimsuit. Joan's beach underneath her, the Tartaglia progeny forming a garland of angels at her feet.

[Danny Clover]

Nice family picture. Gino. Do you mind taking the tax out.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

Of your mouth now so's I can tell you about Ray Brewer, huh?

[Danny Clover]

So's you can do that.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

Naturally. Permit me to close the closet door on Mrs. T first. I don't want every Tom, Dick and, well, nothing on Brewer. Danny, the hoodlum killer is still at large. All points bulletins have been sent nothing. Bread and butter. There is something I forgot. The Milfords of which the Hood spoke to you is Milford's Haberdashery on Madison Avenue. But Roman Curcio traced it down. After thousands other Milfords, it seems.

[Danny Clover]

I'll check it.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

Well, don't go away, Danny. I got something else.

[Danny Clover]

Another pinup?

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

You might say that. Remember that Peggy Drake came in here with the snapshot of Brewer killing Lawson?

[Danny Clover]

What about her?

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

Precinct 12 picked her up last night running down East 60 street in her, you should excuse the expression, negligee.

[Danny Clover]

What, was someone running after her?

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

The precinct boys asked her the same question. She said no. She said she dared herself to do it and she took the dare. So the boys decided on a small fine and let her go.

[Danny Clover]

A lonely girl in the big city. Sometimes it hits them that way. All right if I leave now?

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

You always leave me, Danny. I'm used to it. Go, Danny.

[Central American Lines Agent]

Good morning, sir.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Is someone helping you?

[Danny Clover]

I'm looking for Mr. Milford.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Mr. Milford is dead.

[Danny Clover]

What?

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

12 years ago. Like that. Zut. He was discussing plans with a buyer and.

[Danny Clover]

I know. Zut. Who are you?

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Mr. Milford Jr. May I be of some service?

[Danny Clover]

I'm from the police. I want some information.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Oh, what is it you want?

[Danny Clover]

The police department called you a while ago. You said you had some dealing with a man named Ray Brewer.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Oh, yes, I did. I did indeed.

[Danny Clover]

You want to tell me about it?

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

I don't see why not.

[Danny Clover]

Then tell me.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Surely. Last week Mr. Brewer entered Milford's and was fitted for a complete outfit from linens to huarachas.

[Danny Clover]

Huarachas?

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Buttery a la Mexico. Mr. Brewer was going to Mexico. Note that I said was.

[Danny Clover]

Note that Mr. Brewer changed his mind.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

That's a man's right.

[Danny Clover]

Mr.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Brewer decided to stay around the city. Thus he cancelled the Mexican clothes and ordered townwear. Gabardines.

[Danny Clover]

And he paid you? I only ask because it's been bandied about. That Mr. Brewer is not a wealthy man.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

His friend paid me. The friend who was with him when first he ordered.

[Danny Clover]

This friend here? This man's picture in the newspaper?

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

The very one. Dreadful clothes. Not ours. Is he from here in town? What's his name?

[Danny Clover]

Says right here. Harlan Lawson, PhD.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

It says this chap was murdered.

[Danny Clover]

That's right. Do you have any idea why Mr. Brewer changed his mind about going to Mexico?

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

None. He was so delighted too, the first time he was in here. Showed me a travel brochure put out by the airplane People. Central American Lines. I think I've been to Mexico. You Know, ridden on a donkey.

[Danny Clover]

Thanks, junior. Thanks a lot.

[Central American Lines Agent]

May I be of service to you, senor?

[Danny Clover]

I think so. I'm from the police. Danny Clover.

[Central American Lines Agent]

Oh, my privilege. You wish to tour Central America to observe our police methods? It can be easily arranged. I will speak to the Latin consul.

[Danny Clover]

I just want to know about Ray Brewer.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Brewer?

[Central American Lines Agent]

The name has a familiarity. Si, si, Senor Brewer. The man who wished to live out his days in Mexico, the land of tradition and romance.

[Danny Clover]

He's a murderer. You think he'll make it?

[Central American Lines Agent]

What a dying man sets his heart to do is difficult to restrain him from, senor. At least from my father I learn. But Senor Bruo will not make Mexico by way of Central American lines, senor. Of this I am certain.

[Danny Clover]

Tell me why?

[Central American Lines Agent]

Because only yesterday he canceled the ticket. It took me so long to prepare. Cancelled the tour I had mapped for him. Acapulco, Zapoteca, the floating garden.

[Danny Clover]

When Brewer came in here to arrange his trip, was he alone?

[Central American Lines Agent]

With another gentleman who subsidized the excursion?

[Danny Clover]

This one in the newspaper picture.

[Central American Lines Agent]

See? See this one? Dr. Lawson. A gentleman of refinement. Now dead, I perceive.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah. Brewer didn't give you an address, by any chance?

[Central American Lines Agent]

Oh, no, no, no. He simply took the cancellation money. Told me he preferred your city as. Who would not?

[Danny Clover]

You pedal tickets to romantic places and you like it better here.

[Central American Lines Agent]

Who would not? Why pay extra fare? Senor, Romance is where you.

[Mugavan]

Danny.

[Danny Clover]

Come in, Mugavan. Sit down.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Nice.

[Danny Clover]

Got anything?

[Mugavan]

Nothing. Guy Brewer's hiding someplace Where? I can't even begin to guess. Nobody knows anything. Stool pigeons? Old friends of Brewers? Not a thing.

[Danny Clover]

If he gets out of the city, it's gonna be tough.

[Ben]

Yeah?

[Mugavan]

How do you figure it, Danny?

[Danny Clover]

Figure what?

[Mugavan]

This. The case. The killing of the Lawson brothers.

[Central American Lines Agent]

You know what I mean.

[Danny Clover]

You piece it all together, it comes out easy.

[Mugavan]

Show me.

[Danny Clover]

Sure, Harlan Lawson wanted to get rid of his brother for money, maybe. But more than that, I think Earl Lawson was a man who beat up the world. Harlan just stood there and cried for it.

[Mugavan]

Harlan was a social worker, Danny. He probably did a lot of good where it counts.

[Danny Clover]

Sure he didn't. But I met Harlan. It's the way he impressed me. Muggerman. He felt sorry for himself, so he.

[Mugavan]

Finds a little hood like Brewer, hires him to kill Earl.

[Danny Clover]

Like you said, Harlan was a social worker. Brewer was in a charity hospital. That's where they met. Harlan found out Brewer only had a month to live. Promised him a fling that month in Mexico for killing brother Earl.

[Mugavan]

Well, then why did Brewer Turn around and kill the hand that fed him. If we go on the assumption that he killed Harlan too.

[Danny Clover]

Brewer killed twice, all right. The knife in Harlan matches the stab wound in earliest. He killed both brothers.

[Mugavan]

But why?

[Danny Clover]

I don't know why he killed Harlan. Another thing I don't know is why Brewer changed his mind about going to Mexico if he found that out.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

Danny, all I can say is thank goodness.

[Danny Clover]

Let's say it and sit down in the corner. Mugavan and I were discussing it.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

It's about Peggy Drake.

[Mugavan]

Peggy Drake? Say, isn't she the girl?

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, the girl who took the snapshot.

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

She should have taken the snapshot and left the city, what? Just a few minutes ago at 500 midnight, to be specific. She had a to do with a cab driver. Tried to force him to take a wardrobe trunk in his backseat. Broke a window while so forcing quite. The police suggested a moving company and.

[Danny Clover]

And what?

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

Give me a breathing spell, Danny. And Officer Padjunik suggested his father in law and stood guard over the trunk until his father in law, the Murphy movers, hauled it away. Thank Jeep as this girl leaves for her hometown of New Freedom Penns in the morning.

[Danny Clover]

Where?

[Sergeant Tartaglia]

New Freedom, Danny. The trunk has already left by Murphy Trucking Company. And the girl, Peggy Drake leaves tomorrow. For which leaving the police only again waved a finger under her nose.

[Danny Clover]

Highway patrol Mugman. Pick up that van. Escort it back to Peggy Drake's place.

[Mugavan]

Right there.

[Danny Clover]

How do you know? So that's why Brewer changed his mind about going to Mexico. Then I waited. It was a little less than an hour when the phone call came. The highway patrol had picked up the van at the entrance to the Delaware Bridge. There was plenty of time. Time to grab a bowl of chili and walk over to the 60s into the rooming house where Peggy Drake was staying. Inside, the banisters of the staircase had been worn smooth by a thousand respectable hands. And the color had just begun to drain from the flowers in the wallpaper. On the third floor landing was a trunk. Beside it. Detective Mugavin.

[Mugavan]

She's in there, Danny.

[Danny Clover]

She know we're here.

[Mugavan]

We talked loud. She knows.

[Danny Clover]

Stay with the trunk, Mugavan.

[Mugavan]

Okay.

[Peggy Drake]

Oh, it's you, Mr. Clove. Glad you're here. Come in. Please, come in. What goes on in your town? I don't understand you people.

[Danny Clover]

Something wrong, Peggy?

[Peggy Drake]

There was all that noise a little while ago. I opened my door a bit. I saw my trunk expectations. Explain it to me, Mr. Clover.

[Danny Clover]

You were sending it back to New Freedom, huh?

[Peggy Drake]

Of course. Where I live. Where I Came from?

[Danny Clover]

That's where you met Harlan, wasn't it?

[Peggy Drake]

What's he got to do with. I need some sleep. Mr. Clover. My bus leaves early tomorrow.

[Danny Clover]

You're not leaving. You want to bring your trunk back in here and unpack?

[Peggy Drake]

Not leaving.

[Danny Clover]

Wait a minute. Magevan, bring that trunk in here.

[Peggy Drake]

What are you doing? I don't have to unpack.

[Mugavan]

Trunk's pretty heavy. Danny. I'll need some help.

[Danny Clover]

Okay, I'll give you a hand. Yeah.

[Mugavan]

Better grab the handle on the other side. Okay, Danny.

[Danny Clover]

Uh huh. Wait outside.

[Dr. Harlan Lawson]

Yeah.

[Peggy Drake]

I wish you'd tell me what this is all about.

[Danny Clover]

How long did you plan to stay in New York, Peggy?

[Peggy Drake]

Four days.

[Danny Clover]

You needed a trunk that big for a four day trip. That's a brand new trunk, Peggy.

[Peggy Drake]

Yes, I just bought it. It's for things I want to take home. Books, lamps.

[Danny Clover]

Books, huh? I like books. Let's see what you bought. Don't open that.

[Peggy Drake]

Don't.

[Danny Clover]

Why not? Peggy? Leave me alone.

[Peggy Drake]

What's the girl have to do? I come here for a good time.

[Danny Clover]

I'd say you had quite a busy trip. Running down the street at night in a negligee.

[Peggy Drake]

I had something to drink. I didn't know what I was doing then.

[Danny Clover]

Creating a stir with his trunk. With a cab driver.

[Peggy Drake]

It wasn't my fault. People here aren't helpful, Peggy.

[Danny Clover]

We're looking for a man, Ray Brewer. We want him for two murders.

[Peggy Drake]

Brewer?

[Danny Clover]

You know him, Peggy? You took his picture, brought it to me.

[Peggy Drake]

That's right. I remember his name.

[Danny Clover]

I'm sure you do. Let's open the trunk, Peggy.

[Peggy Drake]

No, don't. Get it out of here. Take it away later.

[Danny Clover]

You took the picture, Peggy, because you knew the murder was going to be committed. The murder you planned so well with. Ron. Get out of here.

[Peggy Drake]

Just get out of here.

[Danny Clover]

Gave us a picture of the murderer. You figured by the time we found who he was, traced him, he'd be roaming around Mexico. By the time we got to him, he'd be dead. Because Ray Brewer only had a month to live.

[Peggy Drake]

I didn't do anything. I didn't kill anybody. It was harmless.

[Danny Clover]

One thing was bothering me, Peggy. Why Brewer changed his mind about going to Mexico.

[Peggy Drake]

He saw me taking his picture. We didn't tell her we were gonna do that.

[Danny Clover]

You double crossed him, huh? That's why he killed Harlan. That's why he was going to kill you.

[Peggy Drake]

I ran from him. It's like a nightmare. Somebody grabbed me by the shoulders and choked me. And I was in the middle of the street dressed.

[Danny Clover]

Dressed when you finally got back here, Ray Brewer was dead. He didn't live his month. His heart gave out. Let's open the trunk, baby. There he is. Brave Brewer.

[Peggy Drake]

I won't look. I'm not gonna look at him again. All the while I was putting him in there, staring at me. Staring. And I couldn't get the trunk closed. His hand. I was alone. All alone. His face staring at me.

[Danny Clover]

Dawn touches Broadway now. The remnants of the night are driven back into the earth. You walk the streets. From behind a doorway you hear the old sound, the sound of weeping. You know the nighttime will never leave. It's found its refuge. It's Broadway. The gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway. My beat.

[Narrator]

Broadway's my Beat. Stars Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. With Charles Calvert as Tortaglia and Jack Crucian as Mugavan. The program was produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with musical score composed and conducted by Alexander Courage. In tonight's story, Peggy Weber was heard as Peggy Drake, Ted Osborne as Harlan Lawson, Anthony Barrett as Ray Brewer, and Don diamond as Milford. For a full hour of outstanding musical entertainment, plus one of radio's biggest cash awards play Sing It Again every week over most of these same CBS stations. Laugh along win along with Jan Murray as he picks up his coast to coast telephone and invite you to Sing It Again and land a big batch of loot. It's exciting. It's outstanding radio entertainment. Stay tuned now for Sing It Again, which follows immediately over most of these same CBS stations. Bill anders speaking. This is cbs where you meet adventure with charlie wilde, Sundays on the columbia broadcasting system.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. An interesting episode and I like Dani's key deduction, mainly realizing the impracticality of her bringing a trunk, although she really worked to cover that up and to prevent him from checking all the sort of pleading. I also thought they did a nice bit of misdirection in this episode of having Tartaglia bring up her seemingly unrelated little exploits in the city at various times, almost making them seem like comic relief. Though it was actually the key to the main plot, though I think some astute listeners probably caught on. This is another case of killers being too clever by half. Betting the police would only catch up to their hired gun after he died in Mexico was a huge gamble with limited payoff. The police could have caught up to him before he got to Mexico or in Mexico before he died, and then you would be in a very difficult situation if they had just let him live, leave and there had been no witness and no one to tie the brother in, then they would have gotten away with it. And of course they didn't realize the even bigger risk is that your hired killer would realize he'd been double crossed and seek revenge. I also thought it was a bit cruel they got this terminally ill guy to commit murder with a promise of a life of ease in paradise, but then set him up to be hunted down like a dog. And if anything, it exposes the true nature of the supposedly selfless social worker rather than the initial killing for hire. Alright, listener comments and feedback now. And we start out with Nicholas, who sent along a nice note with his donation. Keep up the great work. Truly appreciate the show. Well, thank you so much. And again, I really do appreciate the donation. And then we also have a comment on Spotify from Mechanic66 regarding the Eleanor Corbett murder case. And it says good one. Well, thanks so much. Appreciate you taking the time to leave that comment. Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to go ahead and thank Judy patreon supporter since July 2024, currently supporting the podcast at the Psalmist level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Judy. That will actually do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And if you're enjoying the podcast on YouTube, be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, mark the notification bell, and even leave a comment. All those great things that help YouTube channels to grow. We'll be back next Wednesday with another episode of Broadway's My Beat. But join us back here tomorrow for.

[Ben]

Dragnet where Joe, hi, how's it going? Ben, we're not gonna be able to talk to him anymore tonight. Doctor said maybe late tomorrow morning. How's the old man making out? He's resting a lot better. Doctor gave him a sedative. Old fella sure had a rough time. Well, how about since I've been gone? Did he tell you anything else? No, just kept repeating the same thing. Two guys forced their way into his house, beat his wife, tortured him, took all the jewelry. That's about it. Well, I put in a call to the office. I got a broadcast out on the information that we have. There's not much to go on. We should be able to pick up a little something more tomorrow. Doc said it's been a long time since he's seen anything like this. Where they worked old man over. What'd they do to the fellow's hands anyway? The doctor able to tell? He thinks they used a hat pin on him, something like that. It's sharp and thin. At least a dozen wounds in both hands. He's pretty badly burned, too.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah.

[Ben]

Hard to imagine somebody that cold blooded. 71 year old man. Soles of his feet a mass of burns. Wonder his heart stood up through the beating I gave him. Has he got a weak heart? He's had a little trouble.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah.

[Ben]

Terrific shock going through something like this. It is, eh? Well, maybe we better check back at their house, huh? See how the old fellow's wife is doing. Yeah, right. How's it shape up for you? Well, there's not an awful lot to go on yet. Wasn't a shot in the dark. I think we can count on that. Whoever the thieves were, they had some kind of an inside tip. The old man and his wife, well, they don't put up much of an appearance. You wouldn't be apt to figure that they had 3 or 4,000 in jewelry put away at home, would you? Maybe his wife might have some ideas. Joy's a lousy shame.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah.

[Ben]

Yeah, you might halfway understand that. They just held him up. But working them over the way they did, there was no sense to it at all. Trying to show off what a couple of rough bums they are. Maybe that's it. Let's do them a favor. Let's show them what it costs.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box Thirteenreatdetectives.net Follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com Great detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.