Broadway's My Beat: The Ed Koster Murder Case (EP4928)

Summary

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Podcast Summary

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: Broadway's My Beat: The Ed Koster Murder Case (EP4928)
Date: March 11, 2026
Host: Adam Graham

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Overview

This episode features the classic radio drama Broadway’s My Beat, specifically “The Ed Koster Murder Case” originally aired October 13, 1951. Detective Danny Clover investigates a deadly fire at the Russell Chemical Company that kills a fellow policeman, Ed Koster, and reveals a twisting web of arson, murder, family trauma, and organized crime. After the drama, host Adam Graham analyzes the episode’s emotional impact and contrasts its style with "Dragnet," followed by listener feedback.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Crime Scene and Immediate Aftermath

• [03:25] The story opens with a vivid narration of Broadway at night, capturing the mood and bustling atmosphere before revealing a fire at Russell’s Chemical Company.
• Detective Clover and his team arrive to find two men: the arsonist Joe Gant (dead) and policeman Ed Koster (critically wounded).
  • “Somebody better get a priest. They're both dead. This one is. The other one, Danny...” – (Narrator, [04:35])
  • The fire is later confirmed as arson.
• The episode delves into the emotional impact among the police: Dr. Sinski references Ed's close ties to the department and personal friendships.
  • "Ed's been to the Tartaglia house. Dangled a Tataglia child on his knee. He'll make it. Ed will make it. Sorry, Danny. I keep thinking about Ed's wife, Vera." – Dr. Sinski ([06:12])

2. The Victims and Suspects Emerge

• [08:14] Detective Clover interviews George Russell, owner of the plant, and his daughter Patrice, who was nearly killed in a car bombing.
  • Patrice displays a dark sense of humor about her injuries:
    • "I only wheedled him for the car. This much. This much. And he patted me and said, yes, my darling daughter... You stepped on the starter and it... And it blew. The way things do. Bang. Like that. Bang." – Patrice ([09:01])
• It is established that Joe Gant, the dead arsonist, had connections to underworld figure Frankie Crown.
  • Frankie previously bailed out Gant in a past arson case.

3. Frankie Crown’s Involvement

• [11:09] Clover questions Frankie Crown, now an ostensibly legitimate businessman with roots in crime. Frankie maintains innocence and distances himself from criminal activities, especially any connection to the Russells.
  • “Blessed, that's me. I've been blessed. Wipe your hands of the old life and a new world shivers on the horizon, waiting just for you. You ought to try it, Danny.” – Frankie Crown ([11:47])
  • Frankie admits to helping Gant's mother but denies involvement in the present arson/murder.

4. Personal and Emotional Fallout

• [14:15, 16:40] Koster dies from his injuries. The show lingers on the scene with his widow Vera, revealing the grief and devastation among colleagues and family.
  • Vera refuses comfort, expressing bitterness and loss: “They say death comes when it—They say bitterness won't help. They're dead. Wrong. It helps.” – Vera ([17:27])
  • Adam Graham later notes how this episode uniquely explores the personal impact of a police officer’s death, contrasting it with the stoic professionalism of “Dragnet”.
    • “...this is the first where it's really kind of visited the meaning of that to characters, particularly outside of Danny…you actually saw people visibly by the death. You saw Mugavan kind of struggling with his emotions a bit.” – Adam Graham ([33:07])

5. Complications: Drug Charges and Motives

• [19:32] Mugavan brings Koster’s records—revealing that Koster had once arrested Patrice Russell (George’s daughter) for drug possession, which becomes a key motive.
  • “Patrice Russell…Ed arrested her for possession of narcotics. Now you know why I wanted you.”– Mugavan ([19:51])
• The fire and attempts on Russell could be linked to revenge or attempts to cover up the prior narcotics scandal.

6. Rising Body Count and Final Confrontations

• [20:07] George Russell is murdered by a bomb in his living room. His daughter goes missing, turning into a citywide search.
• [23:45] Clover locates Patrice at a Greenwich Village party, informs her of her father’s death, and questions her about the murder and her past struggles.
  • “Every morning I'd wake up and say to myself, this is a day that I'm not gonna hurt Daddy. And it never worked out.” – Patrice ([25:06])
• Patrice claims to be clean after her prior arrest and seems genuinely shocked and pained by her father’s death.

7. Final Accusation and Showdown

• [26:26-29:13] Clover confronts Frankie Crown in his lavish penthouse, piecing together the case:
  • Russell, to save his daughter or take revenge over the narcotics arrest, orchestrated the fire using Frankie’s contacts.
  • Frankie, whose criminal reputation suffered after an associate (Joe Gant) died, retaliated by planting a fatal bomb in Russell’s home.
  • “The phone call, Ed, came from Russell. Russell rigged the place to blow up. When the fire started, it blew. …Gant was killed, Ed died...You couldn't let Russell get away with that. …The bomb in the car didn't work, but the bomb in the living room did.” – Danny Clover ([28:46])
  • The confrontation ends with Clover disarming Frankie.

8. Notable Quotes & Moments

• "Somebody better get a priest. They're both dead." – ([04:35])
• Frankie's sardonic explanation of his transformation: “Wipe your hands of the old life, and a new world shivers on the horizon, waiting just for you.” – ([11:47])
• Vera's bitter grief: "They say bitterness won't help. They're dead. Wrong. It helps." – ([17:27])
• Patrice’s introspection: “Every morning I'd wake up and say to myself, this is a day that I'm not gonna hurt Daddy. And it never worked out.” – ([25:06])
• Clover’s climactic summary of the criminal scheme: ([28:32]–[28:57])

9. Host Commentary & Listener Feedback

[33:07]

• Adam Graham highlights Tony Barrett’s layered performance as Frankie Crown.
• Contrasts Broadway’s My Beat's emotional realism with Dragnet’s muted professionalism.
  • “...you actually saw people visibly by the death. You saw Mugavan struggling with his emotions...As opposed to Dragnet, you actually saw people visibly by the death…they don’t really stray far from that professional mode.” – Adam Graham ([33:07])

Listener Comments

• “Compton gave himself away the first time he spoke with Danny…” – Mechanic66
• "I love It's a Wonderful Life, so it's really cool to hear these actor promos for it before it's even released.” – Harrison

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:25] – Atmospheric opening & discovery of fire
• [06:07] – Revelation of the arsonist's identity, police camaraderie
• [08:14] – Russell family interview, booby trap incident
• [11:09] – Frankie Crown confrontation
• [14:15, 16:40] – Koster’s death, poignant grief scenes with Vera
• [19:32] – Patrice’s narcotics charge revealed
• [20:07] – George Russell’s murder at home
• [23:45] – Patrice confronted with news of father’s death
• [26:26] – Final penthouse confrontation with Frankie Crown
• [33:07] – Host Adam Graham’s commentary and listener feedback

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Memorable Moments

• The powerful, poetic narration heightening Broadway’s gritty mystique.
• The nursing of personal wounds and regrets (Vera’s grief, Patrice’s guilt, losses within the police department).
• The noir realism of betrayal and vengeance rippling through family, police, and criminal ranks alike.
• Clover’s patient untangling of a messy case where nearly every character carries scars.

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Conclusion

“The Ed Koster Murder Case” exemplifies Broadway’s My Beat’s melding of hard-boiled mystery, emotional depth, and poetic, atmospheric storytelling. In combining a procedural detective plot with deep personal consequences for all involved, the episode stands out as a poignant exploration of loss and revenge in the shadowy corners of mid-century New York. Adam Graham’s subsequent analysis provides modern listeners with context, drawing comparisons to other radio dramas and showcasing the unique tone and approach of Broadway’s My Beat.

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Transcript

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[Detective Danny Clover]

It.

[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 do want to encourage you if you are enjoying the podcast to please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Our listener support and appreciation campaign continues. You can become one one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month and help to pick our summer series of the Amazing World of Radio. If you sign up by the end of the month, just go to patreon.greatdetectives.net and I want to thank our latest Patreon supporters. Thank you to Juan supporting the podcast at the Detective sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month and JM supporting the podcast at the shamus level of $4 or again, thank you so much for your support. But now, from October 13, 1951, here is the Ed Coster murder case.

[Narrator]

Broadway's My Beat From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world.

[Announcer]

Broadway's my beat with larry thor as detective danny clover.

[Narrator]

When it's October and the night has slipped down over Broadway, the street is spangled with autumn strollers. They come here, the seekers, after something or other. Pick a doorway with promising neon. Pick a smile and run after it. Pick a postcard, write home about it. It's the place to be. You've got to leave your mark Buy a turtle and have your name painted on its back. Buy a necktie, buy a pillow and send it back to Mom. Sometimes you'll be lucky and get lipstick on your handkerchief. But the odds say you'll buy a newspaper and go to bed. But it's Broadway, Kid, and you've had it. Where Broadway ebbs off into the side streets downtown where I was close to. Where I was close to where 18th street touches the river. The shock was a thing composed of crowd and a nighttime sky lit by flame. The elements later to be noted in police and fire department records. Fire at Russell's chemical company. Time, 4:15am you're bringing somebody out now, Danny. Strange. What?

[Detective Danny Clover]

What'd you say?

[Narrator]

Said it's strange. Mug of him. After four in the morning. Why should anybody be? Come on, let's see. Put the sketches down here. Somebody better. How are they, huh? Oh, hello, Danny. These two, I think that's always in there. I just started to say somebody better get a priest. They're both dead. This one is. The other one, Danny.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Look at him.

[Narrator]

Ed Proster, huh?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Do something for him. Don't let.

[Narrator]

Doc.

[Doctor Sinski]

Doc.

[Narrator]

Over here. Ed Coster.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Hurry up, Doc. You know him, Danny?

[Announcer]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

He's a policeman. A policeman? What was he doing in.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Doc, do something for me.

[Narrator]

The flames beating against the night sky, burning and opening for dawn in the street. Their reflected glow darts across the face of death holds for an instant then scurries at the breath of the October wind. This is the time of shadows. The brief time. The time for shrouding of the charred body of a man. The time for quick gentleness. The other man still in anguish. And the lifting of them into the vehicle reserved for the dead and the dying. The closing of a door upon them. The hushed ride that puts an end to night. In the morning at headquarters, watch the sergeant lift a phone, dial a number and after a silence, ask for news of a man who was known to him, who was a friend.

[Doctor Sinski]

It's me again, Dr. Sinski, about Ed Coster. Any change? Any? No, thank you, doctor. I'll keep calling.

[Narrator]

Gino. What do you want, Ed?

[Detective Danny Clover]

How is he?

[Doctor Sinski]

You heard? No change.

[Narrator]

Hits us all. Gino Costa's that kind of man.

[Doctor Sinski]

Ed's been to the Tartaglia house. Dangled a Tataglia child on his knee. He'll make it. Ed will make it. Sorry, Danny. I keep thinking about Ed's wife, Vera. I keep thinking.

[Narrator]

You got something for me, Gino?

[Doctor Sinski]

Yeah. Yeah, I got something. I'm sorry, Daddy. The man found with Ed. The dead man technical checked up on him in ways they got to check on such things. Fingerprints.

[Narrator]

Maybe they know who he is.

[Doctor Sinski]

We got a file on him this long to my arm. Joe Gant, professional arsonist. A man who sets fires. This way he makes his daily bread by burning.

[Narrator]

Anything else?

[Doctor Sinski]

It's on the record. Gant was friends to Frankie Crown.

[Narrator]

Oh, how were they friends?

[Doctor Sinski]

Gant once lit a playful little bonfire in a machine shop. Concerned Frankie Crown bailed him out. Treated him to Frankie's lawyer. Gant got off. Let's see Frankie get out of this one.

[Narrator]

I hear Frankie's a big man now, eh?

[Doctor Sinski]

Not that big.

[Narrator]

I'll want to talk to him.

[Doctor Sinski]

Yeah, but maybe you better listen to this other thing first. Danny. What was called in A few minutes ago, the automobile of one George Russell exploded. Blew up in the face of his daughter Patrice in the driveway with a booby trap. Russell of The Russell Chemical Company. Where the fire was home address? Uptown. 1923 East 112.

[Narrator]

Thanks, Gino.

[Doctor Sinski]

Doctor Sinski, me again about Ed. Any change? Any?

[Patrice Russell]

No.

[Narrator]

I'll call again in a little while. Yes, Mr. Russell?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yes, what is it?

[Narrator]

My name's Clover. Police.

[Detective Danny Clover]

All morning long.

[Narrator]

You police? Mind if I come in?

[Detective Danny Clover]

I suppose you may. In here. This is my daughter, Patrice. Mr. Clover, another policeman.

[Patrice Russell]

Hi.

[Narrator]

How do you feel, Ms. Russell?

[Patrice Russell]

Got my pinching hand in a cast. Oh, the disadvantage of it all. Wait till Jimmy sees it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Patrice.

[Patrice Russell]

It was your fault, Daddy, Wasn't it? His fault?

[Narrator]

Mr. Clover, I understand your car blew up this morning.

[Patrice Russell]

Not mine, his daddy's.

[Narrator]

What happened?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Her car is in the garage being repaired. I loaned her mine.

[Patrice Russell]

You see how it's his fault, Mr. Clover. He spoils me. I only wheedled him for the car. This much. This much. And he patted me and said, yes, my darling daughter.

[Narrator]

You stepped on the starter and it.

[Patrice Russell]

And it blew. The way things do. Bang. Like that. Bang.

[Detective Danny Clover]

She's a lucky girl.

[Patrice Russell]

Fortunate me. Hand in a sling, gauze on my cheek and plaster dappled with it. Poor Jimmy.

[Narrator]

Your car booby trapped. Mr. Russell, your plant set fire to by an arsonist.

[Detective Danny Clover]

An arsonist?

[Narrator]

That's right. The man who died had a record of arson.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What's happening? I don't understand.

[Patrice Russell]

Oh, Pop. Hey, Pop. How's business? Pop?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Patrice, you'd better do what, Pop? My business is fine, Mr. Clover. You've got any idea I had.

[Patrice Russell]

My mother carries a lot of insurance.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Cut it out, Patricia.

[Narrator]

Look, Mr. Clover. What? Don't pay any attention to her.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I know you police have to think along certain lines. If it was arson, what happened to my plant? You got to think maybe I was the cause of it. Look, for reasons. Well, I netted 70,000 last year. And this year.

[Patrice Russell]

It's better than ever, to coin a phrase.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What am I going to do with you, Patrice?

[Patrice Russell]

I'm a mess, Daddy.

[Narrator]

Mr. Russell, there's some connection between the arsonist who was found and a hoodlum named Frankie Crown. Do you know Frankie?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Frankie Crown, A hoodlum? Why should I? Look, Mr. Clover, I didn't ask you

[Narrator]

into my house to listen. I just asked, that's all.

[Patrice Russell]

He did, Pop.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I don't know him.

[Narrator]

Never heard of him. All right.

[Patrice Russell]

It's fun, huh, Mr. Clover? Hoodlums, arson, booby traps. The nice things that can happen to a modern miss. Brother Whittle. Jimmy hears tonight's the night he won't be able to shut me up.

[Narrator]

And consider the girl for a moment. Consider the delight she had found in the touch of horror upon her. Then the intrusion of her father's face, stricken with a sudden, fleeting understanding of the girl. Then turning to you, trying to smile, trying to erase the impression his child has made.

[Detective Danny Clover]

She's suffering a shock she doesn't understand, Mr. Clope.

[Narrator]

She doesn't know. And the girl looks up, laughs at him, and leave them like that. Then to the discreet office of Frankie Crown in a discreet downtown building dedicated to the deep understanding of stocks and bonds in the affairs of commerce. The shiny new setting for Frankie Crown, hoodlum, alley boy, friend of dead arsonists. And Frankie holds out a discreetly manicured hand to have it shaped. Only it doesn't happen to him. Mm.

[Patrice Russell]

Mm.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Have it your own way, Danny. I thought it would spark something between us if he shook my head.

[Narrator]

You're a long way from home, Frankie.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Blessed, that's me. I've been blessed. Wipe your hands of the old life, and a new world shivers on the horizon, waiting just for you. You ought to try it, Danny.

[Narrator]

Been to any good fires lately, Frankie?

[Detective Danny Clover]

No. Busy, busy, busy, busy. Frankie Crown has been so busy, you couldn't conceive. No fires, no street dances, no fun anywhere. The penalties of the new life.

[Narrator]

Friend of yours was at a fire, though.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I got crazy friends. They flip over the craziest things.

[Narrator]

Joe Gant, arsonist. Friend of yours, Frankie?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Somewhere in the back of my brain, the name Gant shivers.

[Narrator]

Help me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Then.

[Narrator]

The consensus is he set a fire early yesterday morning at the Russell Chemical Company. He died in it. Can't you bailed him out once. Favored him with your private lawyer.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Got him off Joe Gann. I did all that.

[Narrator]

We got a memory course at headquarters, Frankie. You just signed up.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Don't get hard, Danny. Suti, I always said about.

[Narrator]

Come on.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Touch of your hand brought it back to me. Ken. Some way he's got a mother. I know because she came to me that time. Cried on my sleeve. Please help Jo.

[Doctor Sinski]

She.

[Detective Danny Clover]

He's a good boy.

[Patrice Russell]

She cried.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Made my eyes water.

[Narrator]

How?

[Detective Danny Clover]

With my Doe and lawyer. Joe Gantt was gonna reform, so he gave in. I break up at her mother's tears.

[Narrator]

Maybe she'll cry something for me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You goin looking for her? Don't bother, Danny. I bought her a place in her old country. She impressed me so much as a typical mother.

[Narrator]

You close all the doors behind you, don't you, Frankie?

[Detective Danny Clover]

The mark of a polite man to close to.

[Narrator]

How about the one on George Russell?

[Detective Danny Clover]

It come over the tape. The Russell plant burned to the ground this morning. His car blew up in his daughter's lap. Now there's a door. It's never been opened to me, Danny. The Russell dog. I'm blasting. Absolutely blasting.

[Narrator]

Get out of there. Back to headquarters. Sit at your desk and shuffle your thoughts. The coincidence of a booby trapped and a fire. The link between a hoodlum newly respectable and an arsonist newly dead. And another man, a businessman who had a daughter. Try to find a category for her. Try to find Danny Clover.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Dr. Sinski, I'm calling from the hospital.

[Narrator]

How's Ed Coster?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Get down here, Danny, right away.

[Narrator]

And go there. And the only sound in the corridor is your footsteps. A sound that hurries toward pain. Open a door and find it. Doctor. He's dead.

[Doctor Sinski]

Danny.

[Narrator]

Vera.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'm sorry.

[Patrice Russell]

Ed. Ed. Oh, ed.

[Announcer]

You are listening to Broadway's My Beat, written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and starring Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. In days of old, when knights were bold, King Arthur and his Round Table were the rage. History's not exactly repeating itself, but the best entertainment of Arthur Godfrey's weekday shows is every Sunday afternoon on King Arthur Godfrey's Roundtable. Listen for it starting tomorrow afternoon on most of these same stations. King Arthur Godfrey's Roundtable on CBS radio.

[Narrator]

The October wind shrills through Broadway's corridors, sets in motion the light bulbs dangling from twisted, frayed cords. Grates the new autumn soot against scarred window panes. And Broadway walks faster now. The wind that slept in the summer warmed river is awake now. And sirens. The coming of the cold days, the gray days, the days sodden with autumn's mists and the Corridor people. The doorway people try to hold back. Clutch once more at the sunlit visions that never happened. But the October wind shrieks it out of their hands. Pushes it into a corner with the rest of the debris. That's how autumn happens to Broadway, kid. Go fight it. And autumn has other sounds. The lingering overtones that float in from a hospital corridor. The woman's call to a dead husband and Ed. Vera.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Vera. Let me give you something. Let me get.

[Patrice Russell]

Don't. Don't talk to me. Just for a minute. Don't talk to me.

[Narrator]

Vera.

[Patrice Russell]

It's all right now, Danny.

[Narrator]

Empty.

[Patrice Russell]

Nothing. There's no more crying left in me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'll get you something, Vera. Something. It says on the bottle that makes you feel better.

[Patrice Russell]

I told you, Doctor. There's nothing I want. Nothing I need from anyone.

[Narrator]

Ed was a fine man, Vera. We.

[Patrice Russell]

You'll miss him. You, Danny. You Dr. Sinski. All of you.

[Narrator]

Vera.

[Patrice Russell]

They say death comes when it. They say bitterness won't help. They're dead. Wrong. It helps.

[Narrator]

I'll take you home, Vera. Then when you. Some other time.

[Patrice Russell]

We'll talk about Ed.

[Narrator]

Yes.

[Patrice Russell]

What's wrong with now, Danny? You can talk to me about Ed now. We never held secrets from each other.

[Narrator]

I couldn't understand something.

[Patrice Russell]

What was there about Ed Coster you couldn't understand?

[Narrator]

Only how he happened to be at the scene of the fire. How he must have been there even

[Patrice Russell]

before he was called. Danny. An anonymous call. It told him a fire was being set at that chemical company. It even told him what time to get there.

[Narrator]

Did he have the call traced?

[Patrice Russell]

It came from a public phone booth.

[Narrator]

Ed was new on the burglary squad.

[Patrice Russell]

He was glad for the tip. He thought it would make for a good start on the burglary detail.

[Narrator]

He thought he'd been on the narcotics squad before that. Put in for a transfer. Do you know why, Vera?

[Patrice Russell]

Because I asked him to. Because I didn't like the idea of his being in the narcotic squad. Didn't fit Ed. Ed was fine. A good man. He gave me all his love. All his gentlemen.

[Narrator]

And listen to her. Until the time comes when your only answer is silence and not silence quite. Because the screaming questions intrude themselves. What is the word to give to a woman whose husband is dead? How do you fill in reports? How do you make a statistic out of it and file it in a ledger? How do you write heartbreak as a number you don't know how. So you turn your back home leave. And to headquarters again. Call in Detective Mugavan. Tell him to get out the record of Ed Coster and wait. And a while later, a door opens and Detective Mugavan walks in.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I got it, Danny.

[Narrator]

Okay, put it down.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Aren't you gonna look at it?

[Narrator]

What's the matter, Mugavin? You're restless. I'll look at it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I know you will, but I think you ought to look at it right away.

[Narrator]

Look, Mugavin.

[Detective Danny Clover]

All right, then I'll show you. You see it? Here. This arrest. June 12th this year.

[Narrator]

Patrice Russell. Uh huh.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Ed arrested her for the possession of narcotics. Now you know why I wanted you.

[Narrator]

Take it. Mugaman.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Lieutenant Clover's office. Mugaman.

[Narrator]

Speak. What? Bad?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Oh, sure, sure. Right away, Danny.

[Narrator]

Uh huh.

[Detective Danny Clover]

A bomb was thrown into the home of George Russell.

[Narrator]

When?

[Detective Danny Clover]

A few minutes ago. Into the living room. The fire department.

[Narrator]

Let's go.

[Detective Danny Clover]

No one else in the house, Danny. I checked with the boys in the fire department.

[Narrator]

You looked yourself?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah, Danny, I did. There's no one else in the house. Just him, you and me.

[Narrator]

You ask about his daughter?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Woman in the crowd outside told me she saw her go out a couple of hours ago. Described her wearing apparel right up to her hat. The woman in the crowd leans out her window and notices things like that about her neighbors.

[Narrator]

You make a note of what the girl was wearing?

[Detective Danny Clover]

It happens to me. Like a reflex.

[Narrator]

Now, they tried to kill Russell once before.

[Detective Danny Clover]

This time they made it. Can't we go into another room and talk to anyone? The way it hit him at.

[Narrator]

In a minute. He must have been sitting at this window. The force of the explosion threw him.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah, like that. They sure wanted him dead, didn't they?

[Narrator]

Then routine. Put it on the teletype for all the precincts. Have men go to places where a girl like Patrice Russell might be. Wait. Patrice Russell is at none of these places. Then an all points bulletin. Find Patrice Russell and more routine. Out of your office, down two flights of steps, down a corridor, open a door, and for all that effort, a man named Gordon greets you. Close the door, Lieutenant. Thank you very much, Lieutenant. Don't you ever open a window in here, Gordon? For fresh air. You need fresh air, Lieutenant. Oh, poor you. Down here in Technical, you're hermetically sealed. Take a whiff, Lieutenant. Hermetic.

[Patrice Russell]

Hmm?

[Narrator]

About the fire at the Russell Chemical Company. I've been sitting here for two hours watching the door, waiting for you to scrape in here. Lieutenant. You need Gordon again, don't you? Look, Gordon, raise your voice. I'm a civilian technician. I don't have to bow my head and shuffle my feet. When you talk to me. Next time you walk in here, say to yourself, don't raise your voice to Gordon. What about the report? Nicely phrased. Here. In case the three syllable type words. Make you scratch your head in utter dismay, I'd better tell you the fire was not only set by an arsonist, but there was an explosion. Explosive neatly placed to explode at a comparatively low heat.

[Doctor Sinski]

It was a. Danny, I got a morsel for you.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You close the door.

[Doctor Sinski]

Close it yourself.

[Narrator]

Let's get out of here. Gino. I say.

[Doctor Sinski]

I heard what you said.

[Narrator]

Come on, Gino, what have you got?

[Doctor Sinski]

Patrice Russell. Detective Fuller spotted her in the Village. She climbed the stair, went to a party at 1212 Banks street where she is at this moment.

[Narrator]

Banks. Gino.

[Doctor Sinski]

Russell.

[Narrator]

Thanks. Patrice, cut in.

[Patrice Russell]

Danny cut in. Come on, dance with me. Come to me, Danny. Come to me.

[Narrator]

Come on. We're getting out of here. Patrice.

[Patrice Russell]

Hoodie. Where'll we go?

[Narrator]

Just away from here. I've got to talk to you.

[Patrice Russell]

My car's outside. I know a lovely place to talk.

[Narrator]

Outside. In the hall's far enough.

[Patrice Russell]

Halls are tracks. Come on, or you will bruise me. All right. Come on. Let's go out in the hall. Here.

[Narrator]

Here.

[Patrice Russell]

For what?

[Narrator]

Your father's dead.

[Patrice Russell]

Kidding. No, you're not, are you?

[Narrator]

How someone tossed a bomb in your living room.

[Patrice Russell]

Poor dad. Poor Daddy.

[Narrator]

Who did it, Patrice?

[Patrice Russell]

Honest, I don't know. Poor Daddy. I loved him, you know. I really did.

[Narrator]

He loved you.

[Patrice Russell]

I know. I know he did, Patrice. I wasn't very nice to him, Danny. You know something? Every morning I'd wake up and say to myself, this is a day that I'm not gonna hurt Daddy. And it never worked out.

[Narrator]

I want to ask you something, Patricia.

[Patrice Russell]

I never tried. Around breakfast time, I'd think of something to do. And during the day, I'd find out a way to do it.

[Narrator]

What about the narcotics? The narcotics?

[Patrice Russell]

Oh, no more, Danny. I promised him that. And I kept my promise. I took the cure and it worked. I haven't touched it since. Not since that detective pick me up for it.

[Narrator]

His name is Ed Costa, Patrice. He died because of that fire at your father's place.

[Patrice Russell]

I'm sorry. Listen, Danny. About the narcotics. I want you to know it's all over. You lost me. Everything. I had a boy. We were going to get married. And he's gone. You know what I do now? I go to parties like this. Goodbye, Danny.

[Narrator]

And leave her. And leave Greenwich Village? Ride uptown to the one stop you had to make the final Stop in front of a canopied entrance to a greystone apartment house. Have your badge sniffed at, then be told the man you're looking for is a penthouse dweller. Find the elevator, press a button, because the man you want is 30 floors away. Get there, and the man you want is waiting for you as you step out.

[Patrice Russell]

Hey.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Come on in, Danny.

[Narrator]

Thanks.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah. Like Frankie's new house, Danny?

[Narrator]

Classy.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What'll I show you outside? I got the city for an awning. Come on, I'll show you.

[Narrator]

All right.

[Detective Danny Clover]

My Manhattan Tower.

[Narrator]

Denny, I'm happy for you.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You began renting a place like this. That's why you come to look.

[Patrice Russell]

Uh.

[Detective Danny Clover]

And then what?

[Narrator]

I want to take you away from all this, Frankie.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Too much sweat got me here, Danny. It isn't going to be easy.

[Narrator]

Not hard. Just to walk to the elevator and a ride downtown.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Uh, there were times when that could happen to Frankie.

[Doctor Sinski]

No more.

[Narrator]

It's going to happen. It's got murder in it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What are you talking about?

[Narrator]

George Russell.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What about him?

[Narrator]

Dead. Had a bomb pitched through his living room window. Rumor said you used to do things like that, Frankie.

[Patrice Russell]

Mm.

[Narrator]

Mm.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Rubber balls. Threw tenement windows when I was a kid. I give it up.

[Narrator]

No future. It all gets back to Joe Gant. Frankie.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Come on, Danny. You're in a classy place. Make classy conversation. What about Joe Gant?

[Narrator]

The connection between you and Hugh?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Finish the visit, Danny. I got a dame.

[Narrator]

It'll wait.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Maybe I can still catch it.

[Narrator]

Danny.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Maybe she's got a friend. You want me to try?

[Narrator]

Don't bother.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Well, I'd finish your visit.

[Narrator]

Sure. It started way back in June.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What did, Danny?

[Doctor Sinski]

Come on.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Come on.

[Narrator]

When Patrice Russell was picked up on a narcotics charge.

[Detective Danny Clover]

George Russell. Patrice Russell. What is it with all these Russell.

[Narrator]

George Russell must have pleaded to the officer not to press charges against his daughter, Patrice. He didn't make it. The charge nearly wrecked his daughter. All right.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What's this got to do with me?

[Narrator]

The arresting officer's name was Ed Koster. Russell was going to get back at him. He found a way to do it somehow. He found out Coster was transferred from narcotics to burglary. That was his chance.

[Detective Danny Clover]

That's my day, Danny. I don't like to keep a lady waiting.

[Narrator]

Tough.

[Detective Danny Clover]

See? She's impatient.

[Narrator]

Tough. I'm telling a story. Russell came to you. He said he wanted a fire set in his place. For whatever reason he gave you, for whatever amount he gave you. Look, Danny, you better forget it. So you arranged at sent Joe Gant. Joe Set the fire, all right, but he was followed by Officer Ed Coster. Because Ed got a phone call telling him where a burglar would be at what time?

[Detective Danny Clover]

All right, so they both burned. Why should that keep me from a date?

[Narrator]

The phone call, Ed, came from Russell. Russell rigged the place to blow up. When the fire started, it blew, all right? Gantt was killed, Ed died, and I

[Detective Danny Clover]

wipe a tear with the back of my hand.

[Narrator]

You couldn't let Russell get away with that. One of your boys was killed. Bad for your reputation. You evened it. The bomb in the car didn't work, but the bomb in the living room did. Danny, you can say goodbye to her on your way. Frankie.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I asked you, Danny.

[Ryan Seacrest]

You didn't agree.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Kill you.

[Narrator]

Put down that gun.

[Patrice Russell]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

You're not gonna get to say goodbye to her, Frankie. She went away. Broadway's wearing its harlequin clothes it winks an eye and beckons and in the press of crowd there a pale girl walks like a queen Because Broadway's a dream street and there that man with begging eyes Hungry for a new dream It's a laugh or a cry with nothing in between It's Broadway the gaudiest, the most violent the lonesomest mile in the world Broadway, My beat.

[Announcer]

Broadway's My Beat Stars Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover with Charles Calvert as Tartaglia 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, Anthony Barrett was heard as Frankie Crown. Featured in the cast were Michael Ann Barrett, Paula Winslow, Herb Butterfield and Ed Max. My friend Irma is everybody's friend Irma. There's something downright appealing in that gal's goofy mentality. And every Sunday evening, Marie Wilson stars as the world's most adorable dumbbell. My friend Irma. Kathy Lewis is her level headed roommate on most of these stations. Sunday nights, enjoy CBS Radio's My Friend Irma. Bill Anders speaking. And remember, the Frankie Lane show is your date for slick Syncopation every Sunday afternoon on the CBS Radio Network.

[Patrice Russell]

Sam.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It is stock up savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for store wide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tax to earn on eligible items from Smart Water, Healthy Choice, Continental, arrowhead, Red Bull, St James, Tillamook and Special K. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pickup or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. One thing I found fascinating about the End is just the subtleties of Tony Barrett's performance. As you know, he had, right up until the end, his character had been maintaining he was a legitimate businessman. And then just the way the voice changed as it became clear that he was full thug. And I like the subtle movement there. Now, this episode is not the first Broadway smart beat that dealt with the death of a law enforcement officer, but this is the first one where it's really kind of visited the meaning of that to characters, particularly outside of Danny. And it's kind of an interesting contrast between the way that Broadway's My Beat handles this sort of episode. As opposed to Dragnet, you actually saw people visibly by the death. You saw Mugavan kind of struggling with his emotions a bit, and then even Tartaglia got irritable. Now, this contrasts with the Dragnet approach where they don't really stray far from that professional mode. That's not to say that it's not there, but it's more between the lines, and it's more something that's verbally acknowledged than something that you're going to be able to tell just by listening to them that something is wrong. Well, listener comments and feedback. And we have a Couple comments from Mechanic66 regarding some recent episodes regarding the Anna Compton murder case. He writes, I went to summer camp in the Catskills, but not a charity camp. Good memories, I thought. Compton gave himself away the first time he spoke with Danny when he said, I'll take Anna away from that place where she is. The way he said it, it was as if he knew the place and how could he? Good point. And he also adds, released on one's own recognizance, not cognizance, as Danny said. Then Harrison comments regarding our first listener support and appreciation special. I love It's a Wonderful Life, so it's really cool to hear these actor promos for it before it's even released. Well, thanks so much, Harrison and I agree. I love to hear those sort of promos for It's a Wonderful Life and other films. You just kind of like, wow, the people who heard that are in for a treat. Although many people who saw It's a Wonderful Life at a time did not appreciate it, wouldn't really gain the appreciation it deserved until it lapsed into the public domain. But that's another story. Thanks so much. Appreciate the comments. Now it's time to thank our Patreon Supporter of the Day. Thank you to Tom Tanya, patreon supporter since August 2024, currently supporting the podcast at the shamus level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Tanya, and that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back next Wednesday with another episode of Broadway's My Beat, but join us back here tomorrow for Dragnet, where

[Detective Danny Clover]

4:15am Ben and I went out back to the garage where Mr. Sullivan's car was parked. We jammed ourselves into the trunk compartment and Brian closed the door on us. The latch was rigged so that we could push open the door from the inside. A few minutes later, Mr. Sullivan came out, got in the car, and we drove off. At three minutes to five, we pulled up at the designated meeting place up in Elysian Park. We waited. Nothing happened. Five minutes past 5am still nothing. Outside, it started to thunder. Rain's starting. Man, it's windy. Joe, will you hear it? Yeah, it's a car coming up the road toward us. Sounds like. Yeah, wait a minute. Coming over this way. Yeah, sounds that way, doesn't it? Are you ready?

[Patrice Russell]

Right.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Easy coming back here. Watch it now.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to Box13Great Detectives.net follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com GreatDetectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host Adam Graham signing off.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It is Stock up savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Goldfish, Keebler, Doritos, all M&M's, Drumstick, Outshine, and Kellogg's. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions. Forget whatever plans you have this weekend because you're staying at home and playing on Spin Quests. And there's never been a better time to sign up than right now. New users get $30 coin packs for just $10, all the table games you love with hundreds of slot games and real cash Prizes. That's at spinquest.com S P I N Q U-E-T.com Spinquest is a free to play social casino. Void where prohibited visits BenQuest.com for more details. Are you a fraud paying American? 1 in 4 tax paying Americans has been a victim of identity fraud with Lifelock.

[Detective Danny Clover]

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[Detective Danny Clover]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Detective Danny Clover]

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