Broadway's My Beat: The Francesca Brown Murder Case (EP4848)

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Broadway’s My Beat – The Francesca Brown Murder Case (EP4848)

Podcast: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
Host: Adam Graham
Episode: Broadway’s My Beat – The Francesca Brown Murder Case
Original Air Date of Drama: June 2, 1951
Podcast Release Date: November 19, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode features a dramatic installment of “Broadway’s My Beat”—a gritty, atmospheric crime procedural radio drama set on New York’s famed Broadway. Detective Danny Clover investigates the brutal murder of Francesca Brown, a waitress at Harper’s Grill, whose death ripples through her tight-knit circle and exposes the dark underbelly of city life and complicated human relationships. The story dives deeply into themes of entitlement, jealousy, vulnerability, and the tragic consequences of toxic masculinity. Host Adam Graham adds insightful post-show commentary, highlighting the chilling realism and emotional weight of the case.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. A Haunting Crime Scene and the Victim's Story

• Detective Danny Clover arrives at the crime scene and is immediately struck by the violence and pathos of Francesca’s murder.
  • “Emptiness, the silence after terror shriek. The shock. The girl with her beauty strangled out of her. The blood from her knife wounds finding the cracks in the wooden floor glinting in the sallow light of the 10 watt bulb.” (02:50)
• Francesca was a beloved, recently immigrated wife who remained faithful to her blind husband, Jimmy Brown.

2. Blind Husband's Sorrow and Testimony

• Jimmy, Francesca’s blind husband, provides a heart-wrenching account of hearing her last moments—and the killer’s taunt.
  • “All I got was the feel of a guy standing with Francesca dead in his hands. He threw her at me. Said, ‘she’s all yours, blind boy.’ He laughed when he said it. Was still laughing when he ran away.” (05:30)
• The interview highlights Jimmy’s vulnerability and the deep emotional wounds he suffers.

3. Suspect Trail: The Cane and Ale Club

• The investigation quickly turns to members of the Cane and Ale Club, a group of ‘old boys’ having a rowdy convention in town.
• Rose Keeler, a waitress colleague, points to Bert Finley as a persistent, sometimes aggressive admirer of Francesca. She reveals his unwanted advances and club affiliation (07:55–08:43).
  • “Guy who hung around her, asked for dates. Got nasty. … He waited for Francesca when she got off. He’s a caner, too.” (08:23)

4. Bert Finley and Harry Bruno: Alcohol, Alibis, and Misdirection

• Bert is defensive but admits to being drunk and in the company of Harry Bruno, another club member, the night of the murder.
  • “I’d had more ale than cane.” (12:00)
• The murder weapon, a distinctive gold pen knife, belonged to Finley—given to him as a club honor—but he claims it was stolen (12:11).
• Bruno claims to have left for Harlem after their night together, denying any involvement (13:49).

5. Voice Identification and Missed Justice

• At police headquarters, Danny has suspects repeat the killer’s words for Jimmy, but he does not identify anyone as the murderer. (15:12–16:20)
  • “Well, none of them. None of these men killed my wife. You’re positive? I’m positive.” (16:27)
• The investigation seems to stall.

6. Second Victim: Rose Keeler Attacked

• Rose is found stabbed and knifed, but survives and gives a shaky account of her attacker:
  • “I heard a cane tapping and a voice asked a question in a whisper. … For an answer, I try to scream. Funny. No scream came out.” (19:49–20:01)
• The use of a cane strongly connects the assault to the Cane and Ale crowd.

7. Climax: The True Killer Revealed

• Bert Finley is found dead in the alley behind Harper’s Grill.
• In the chaotic confrontation that follows, Jimmy identifies the real killer—not by sight, but by the sound of the cane and voice: Harry Bruno.
  • Bruno isn’t just another club member; he is driven by toxic entitlement and an obsessive desire for Francesca, further inflamed by her loyalty to her blind husband.
  • “You’re a killer, Bruno, huh? You’ve gone crazy too.” (26:42)
• The theme of ableism and toxic masculinity surfaces. Bruno mocks Jimmy’s blindness, suggesting he wasn’t “fit” to have Francesca because he “couldn’t see her beauty.” (27:44)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Broadway’s atmosphere:
  • “Broadway’s my beat. From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world.” (02:44)
• Jimmy’s anguish:
  • “You don’t get hurt. Not anymore.” (05:07)
• Tartaglia’s comic relief:
  • “Many people thought him the friendly type.” (17:36)
  • And his troubles at the bakery—a moment of levity against the episode’s darkness.
• Rose’s heartbreak after her attack:
  • “Watch your face. I want to see how a man looks when he gets a good look at what another man did to me. See?” (19:22)
• The final psychological confrontation, Danny to Bruno:
  • “You’re a cane and ailer. You had a cane. Jimmy followed your cane. Smart blind boy. Smart? Is that what made you big with your wife? Blind boy face? That fella, she felt sorry for you. You think she could love a guy like you without eyes?” (28:23)

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Episode Timeline (Timestamps)

• 02:44–07:16: The opening sequence, discovery of Francesca’s body, Jimmy’s heartbreaking testimony
• 07:24–08:49: Danny interviews Rose Keeler for leads
• 09:00–13:54: Questioning Bert Finley and Harry Bruno about Francesca
• 15:12–16:27: Jimmy attempts to identify the killer’s voice at headquarters
• 18:59–20:31: Rose Keeler attacked; trauma and crucial clue (“tapping cane”)
• 21:28–23:30: Questioning Mrs. Finley for Bert’s whereabouts; urgency increases
• 24:00–27:45: Bert found dead; revelation and final confrontation with Harry Bruno
• 32:14–34:10: Adam Graham’s post-episode analysis and listener feedback

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Post-Episode Commentary by Adam Graham

• On the psychology of the killer:
  • “He killed because he felt entitled to her and she refused to go along. And that refusal was made worse to him by the fact that she had a blind husband who she was loyal to. Since her husband couldn’t see her, he couldn’t appreciate her because in the killer’s mind…she was just a thing to be possessed and enjoyed for her beauty.” (32:14)
• Notes on show continuity:
  • Observes that “Broadway’s My Beat” features recurring character development mainly through Sgt. Tartaglia, often used for comic relief or subtle continuity.
• Listener feedback:
  • Positive remarks on the writing’s unique cadence and casting, plus recognition of the emotional dynamics between regular characters Tartaglia and Danny.

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Key Takeaways

• “Broadway’s My Beat” excels at combining noir atmosphere, social commentary, and rich, emotionally charged storytelling.
• The Francesca Brown case is a harrowing study of misplaced desire, jealousy, and the far-reaching damage of objectification and ableism.
• Adam Graham’s commentary provides insightful context and connects the enduring themes of the show to broader human experiences.

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This summary captures the compelling crime narrative, emotional depth, and social relevance at the heart of this classic radio drama episode.

Transcript

[Detective Danny Clover]

Que pasa cuando cambias tu calentador de agua electrico estandar poruno nuevo con bomba de calor tu sa orros crescen y mocho the echo energy star calcula que uno garde cuatro Personas puede horarchi niento cinquenta dolares facturas de luz il costo de tunuevo calentador de agua com bomba.

[Podcast Host Adam Graham]

De calor se recupera en solo tres.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Anos sube de nivel conunun calentador de agua con bomba de calor Visita Dali upgrade punto com for a mass informacion did you know you can opt out of winter with VRBO? Save up to $1,500 for booking a month long stay with thousands of sunny homes. Why subject yourself to the cold? Just filter your search by monthly stays and save up to $1,500. Book [e-mail] the world is buzzing with AI tools. But instead of making things easier, they've made things overwhelming. There's a better way. Meet Superhuman, the AI productivity suite that gives you superpowers so you can outsmart the work chaos with Grammarly, mail and coda. Working together, you get proactive help across your workflow. No matter how you work, experience AI that meets you right where you are. Unleash your superhuman potential today. Learn [e-mail] podcast that's superhuman.com podcast. Foreign.

[Podcast Host Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we are going to bring you the this week's episode of Broadway's My Beat. But first, I do want to encourage you. If you are enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. You can also support the program with the Zell app to box [e-mail] and become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month by going to patreon.greatdetives.net now from June 2, 1951, here is the Francesca Brown murder case.

[Detective 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. In the soft night of June, Broadway's heart beats fast. The girls clothed in summer wear the glow of neon in their hair on their lips and the glitter of the spectacular winds their throats with the quick jewels of night. Their perfumed walk mixes well with Broadway's Own exotic odors. The seared electricity. The air cooled, washed, scented by installment plan air conditioning system. The mist of steam rising from manhole covers. Broadway follows close on the heels of the soft night. Because somewhere the night turns a corner, vanishes. And in your hands are its gifts of emptiness and shock. To me they were given on the fourth floor landing of a tenement near the river. The emptiness, the silence after terror shriek. The shock. The girl with her beauty strangled out of her. The blood from her knife wounds finding the cracks in the wooden floor glinting in the sallow light of the 10 watt bulb. And the man lets you take it all in. Touches your arm and brings you back. Francesca Brown, Danny. Waitress at Harper's Grill. Strangled. Knife with this gold pen knife. Fancy a corkscrew? Bottle opener, Nail file. And no prints. Wipe clean. You'll trace it. I'm not gonna. I got the description here. You take it. Her husband's inside, Danny in their room. I think maybe you ought to talk to him. All right. You're a different one, aren't you? Huh? Mind if I turn on the light? Go ahead. Turn it off before. Because it's all the same. One good thing now. It saves on the electric bill. You're. That's right. Blind. Stare at blind, Jimmy all you want, mister. You don't get hurt. Not anymore. The girl out there, your wife? I have to tell you about her. I have to tell you about Francesca. Married me in Italy and Naples. Came to the army hospital with a priest. Said she wanted me, even like this. Francesca led me around sunny Naples, showing it to me, letting me touch it. Then I brought her home for this. You feel like telling me now? We could wait. Why would I need to wait? She worked late tonight. Overtime in Harper's Grill. I waited up for her and came to sleep. And she. I waited up for her. Heard her steps with a man. They stopped in front of our door and she was gonna scream. How did you know that? You kidding? I'm blind that way. I knew all there was to know about Francesca. She taught me. She. What did you do then? I went to help her. Me. All I got was the feel of a guy standing with Francesca dead in his hands. Nothing else? Yeah, something else. He threw her at me. Said, she's all yours, blind boy. He laughed when he said it. Was still laughing when he ran away. We'll do what we can. Jimmy will. Sure you will. You'll let me hear Francesca's steps on the stairs again. We'll do what we can. Magdalen. You talk to him, huh? Danny? Yeah. Take care of him. Do whatever's got to be done. And then I happened to look down the stairwell. Four flights down. And on each landing the people looking up for it had death. Death was on the fourth floor. That was a blessing for the first, second and third. And then one landing down, a kid in a paper hat released a paper airplane. For an instant it held in the air, then darted downward. A little later, when I got to the ground floor, it was crushed and stained with tobacco juice. I walked out into the street. Harper's Grill was within walking distance. A second rate addition to a second rate hotel. A place catering to loneliness and a not too finicky appetite 24 hours a day. I went in, sat down at a table. A girl in a blue uniform came over, put a water glass in front of me. Ford, you want to look at the menu? Thanks. Not now. I want to talk to you. Police.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

What? Ford, what did I do?

[Detective Danny Clover]

There's nothing to be frightened of. Sit down.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Why don't you tell me what's the matter?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Sit down.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

My name's Rose. Rose Keeler.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'm Danny Clover. How long have you been working here tonight?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Came on at 7 last night. I'm off at 7 this morning.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Pretty long hours, huh?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Yeah, on account of the convention at the hotel. Oh, Cane and Ale Club, something like that. Boys of the Canes been coming in here like flies. That's why I'm working overtime.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Did you know a waitress named Francesca Brown?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Lucky her. She got off a little over an hour ago. Refused to work overtime. I should have done that.

[Detective Danny Clover]

She's dead.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

What?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Dead. Strangled. Knifed.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Hey, now wait a minute. I. I got something.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Take it easy.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

You mean it? She's dead.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Burt. What do you mean?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Bert Finley.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What about him?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

You said she was strangled, didn't you? You said.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Who's Bert Finley?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Guy who hung around her, asked for dates. Got nasty. You know, winks with a blue plate. He wasn't kidding.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Was he here tonight?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Sure he was. He waited for Francesca when she got off. He's a caner, too.

[Detective Danny Clover]

A what?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Caner. I call him Caner. The voice from the Cane and Ale Club. This week they got a penalty if they don't carry a cane. This week they come from all over with canes. Grown men.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Where do I find Bert?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

I don't know. He lives close, that's all I know.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Thanks, Rose. Thanks a lot.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Wait a minute. She's really dead?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Stabbed, strangled. And leave the girl trying to wipe off the terror I had spilled on her table And Go home and try to sleep against the image of a sightless boy sitting in a darkened room, remembering counting the touch of the woman who lay in death on his threshold. And wait for the morning. So you can go back to headquarters and blot it out in routine. And not making it. Not even when the uniformed officer comes up with Burt Finley's address. Not even Bert Finley, who offers to clear out the kitchen table and make you a cup of instant coffee. My wife had known I was going to have a visitor, she'd have left a whole pot of coffee. It's all right, Mr. Finley. I don't want any ice. Maybe it's a good thing she's not here, though. I'd have a heck of a time explaining to her what I'm doing with a policeman in our flat. The missus is very choicey about the friends I keep. How about girls like Francesca Brown, for instance? Franny? A waitress in a grease pan. A hash slinger. What's the matter? She getting high and mighty? I passed a few typical remarks. Like you passed the hash slingers. She's dead. Murdered. Dead that way. What'd you come to me for? Doesn't it always happen to girls like her? The looks they give you, the way they bend over the table, close. The way they walk away from you. You ask me, I'll tell you. It doesn't always happen that way. Not to women like Francesca. What makes her so special? You thought she was. You just told me. That doesn't make me want to kill her. That makes it quite the opposite. That makes you saw Francesca last night, waited till she got off. You took her home, Bert. That's a lie. Who told you a dirty lie like that? You take her home, Bert. You listen to me. I'm a good guy, respected my wife, my classmates. Class of 36 last year. They even made me prexy of the Cane and Nail Society. You take Francesca home, Bert? I tried to. Or I tried. I was showing off to my friend. Cane and ale buddy. Tried to impress. How I was like that with Franny. When I didn't make it, he laughed. Helped me into a cab, sent me home. Helped you? I needed it. I'd had more ale than cane. You're a laughing friend. Who is he? Harry Bruno. Staying at the Acme Hotel. You go ask him. You tell you how I came right home. Ask him. I will. This your pen knife, Burt? Where'd you get it? It's the one that stabbed Francesca. And you think I. You're crazy. I lost it this morning. The missus asked me for it to open a can, and I looked for it and I lost. Well, that's the night the Canaan Ailers gave me in gratitude for my term of office. Prexy. I told you, I. Sure, sure, you're respected. You told me. Grab your cane, Bert. At headquarters, we, too, respect men with canes. Look, can you come back later, fella? Police. Danny Clover can't come back, huh? Come on in. In the middle of a shave? Here, fella, go right ahead. Oh, it's that important, huh? I think so. Go right ahead, Mr. Bruno. Shave. Mm. What's on your mind, pal? You know Bert Finley? Are you kidding? Bert? My classmate at the university. You're a university man, huh? Three years of it. Broke my shoulder one summer so they wouldn't renew my scholarship. Ah, waste of time. Anyhow, who needs college color? Worse. You belong to the Cane and Ale Club, don't you? Yeah. Yeah, I belong. What do you think I'm here for? What do you think I came all the way from Kansas City for? To carry a cane and drink ale? Oh, so great. Shaving cream, rice. Gotta get me some back in Kansas City. What? I didn't say anything. I'm waiting for you. Hold it a second. Let me have this face perfume. What about Burfin? He said he had you look at a waitress last night. Oh, well, acquaint me with the laws of New York City, fellow. No looking at waitresses, huh? Okay, I won't look. Hand me that talcum powder like a good phone. Waitress named Francesca. Francesca Brown.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Neat.

[Detective Danny Clover]

She can carry my tray anytime. She was stabbed last night with this pocket knife. Did you ever see it? What did Bert go and do that for? What about the knife? Burt's. We gave it to him a couple days ago. Outgoing prexy of the class of 36, cane and ale. Stabbed it. He says he didn't. I believe him. Did you see Francesca after she left work last night? Follow a waitress? I didn't say you followed her. Did you make a date with her? Not this fella. Oh, I admit it, fella. I reached down for her hand, got my fingers wet in the chicken noodle soup. She knew the defenses, that girl. Where did you go after you left Finley? Up to Harlem. You know, sightseeing? Yeah.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Now?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah. Let's go down to headquarters. Mr. Bruno, I want you to meet somebody. Sure. Whatever you say, fella. Hand me my shirt, Will. How long we gonna wait in this office, fella? Till I tell you you can go, fella. Look, Mr. Clover, Harry's got no family Here I have. The missus is going to worry. What's with those canes you boys are carrying? What's with them? Danny, explain it to Tartaglia. Mug of and I'll be right back. Okay. Danny, what's with the canes? At the Cannon Ale Society. Jim, we're ready for you, Jimmy. You don't have to take my arm, Mr. Clover. I'll be on. This is adorable. Here, you're all right now, Jim. Here, sit down. Thank you. Last night when your wife was killed, Jimmy, the man who did it said to you, she's all yours, blind. He said, she's all yours, blind boy. There are four men in this room besides us, Jimmy. They're each going to say that sentence. I want you to listen, consider and tell me if you recognize his voice. You. You. Say it. She's. She's all she. Say it. She's all yours, blind boy. Now you. She's all yours, blind boy. You. She's all yours, blind boy. You. She's all yours, blind boy. Well, Jimmy, the third one. Let me hear him again. You. She's all yours, blind boy. Again, Jimmy. Well, none of them. None of these men killed my wife. You're positive? I'm positive. Keep after it, Mr. Fuller. You're listening to broadway is my beat. Written by morton fine and david friedkin, with larry thor as detective danny clover. There's a stir on Broadway when summer starts coming in. The visitors arrive and Broadway is festooned with latest styles from Peoria, the bumper crop of girlies from Iowa. The kid who got tossed off the boxcart Scranton and hitchhiked the rest of the way. This is the time. This is the promise. This is the dream. And it's precisely the instant when the citizens of Broadway put in for their vacation to Scranton, Peoria and Iowa. And it takes the bus tickets and the two whole weeks holiday to find out you rode to an empty corner of a faraway world. With me. It was still routine. Murder is never seasonal. A girl had been knifed and thrown back at her husband. Find out why and who and what circumstances conspired to want her dead. My job. And at police headquarters at night, a man. His name was Sergeant Gino Tartaglia. Many people thought him the friendly type. What do you think of me, Danny? What's the matter? Gino? Go ahead, Danny.

[Podcast Host Adam Graham]

Let me have it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Both barrels. I stand arms and kimbo and wait for it between the eyes. Danny, what happened? What brings this on? This morning, Danny, on my way to work, I stopped into Zimmerman's the baker, as is my won't to purchase my daily Zimmerman bums. And Mr. Zimmerman walked over and said, stop pinching the Zimmerman bums, and proceeded to tell me what he thought. Then he heaved the Zimmerman bum at me. That's why my uniforms forced it all over Gino. I'm not a bad chap, am I not, Benny? Gino, you're kind, trustworthy, loyal, obedient. Would you give me a note to Zimmerman? Did that affect any soon after we attend to the business business at hand? Her business is bad, Danny. There's not much to hand. Only the fact that the members 500 strong of the Cane and Ale Club are raising hob among the populace with their antics with cane and ale. Such goings on that. Clover speaking. Get your hat, Danny. What's the trouble? Mugman. That waitress at Harper's Grill. Rose. Killer. What happened to her? Beaten, knifed. Emergency hospital. Danny. Squat cars downstairs. Rose. Rose.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Oh, I didn't ask nobody.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Get out. Leave me alone. I talked to you before, Rose. Danny Clover, remember?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

I'm a good patient. I don't ask for nobody when I don't need them. I don't need you. I need you. I'll push the night buzzer for you.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You want us to find the man who hurt you, don't you, Rose?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

I don't want to talk about it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I know how you feel, but you've got to try. You've got to help us. You don't have to get up.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

I know I don't. Watch your face. I want to see how a man looks when he gets a good look at what another man did to me. See?

[Detective Danny Clover]

See? He had a knife.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Wasn't his fingernails. You finished looking, you're finished.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Who was he, Rose?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

So you can compare notes.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Who was he?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Can't help you. Was in a dark alley. I heard a cane tapping and a voice asked a question in a whisper. For an answer, I try to scream. Funny. No scream came out.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What were you doing there?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

It's a shortcut on my way to work. I don't ever hardly take it except when I'm late.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You live near Harper's Grill?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Yeah.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Maybe too near.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Why do you say that?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Guys find out I live near, want to walk me home? Too cheap for cab fare.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Like who?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Bert Finley Used to before Francisca came to work. Kane and Ailers, they all been asking. Bert suggested they say.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You think it was Finley?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

I don't think, mister. I just heard.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Was it Finley?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

I don't know. It just hurt. Ring the night brother. Mr. Now I need somebody.

[Detective Danny Clover]

In a few moments a door opened noiselessly. The sister in a white nun's habit leaned over the girl in the bed, put a hand against the girl's forehead. Then the sister turned to me and smiled faintly. She told me Rose was sleeping. That was good. I left. And another scrap of information. Bert Finley had also made a play for Rose Keeler. Bert Finley? Ex prexy of the Cane and Ale boys was quite a boy. Go now to the home of the ex Prexi and ask him what else he was.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

The door was open. Oh, I thought it was my husband.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'm from the police.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Bert hasn't been up to any mischief, has he?

[Detective Danny Clover]

May I come in?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

What is it you wish?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Where's your husband?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Well, he'll be home soon. He'll be home at 12.

[Detective Danny Clover]

It's just about half past that now.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Oh, it certainly is not. Bert is always home by midnight or we.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Not tonight, Mrs. Finley. Where is he?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Well, he's former prexy. You know of the Cane and Ale club? They're in town. 33 Lodges. Why is he home? I said 12 o'.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Clock.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Nobody gets into mischief if they're in bed at midnight.

[Detective Danny Clover]

It's important that we find your husband, Mrs. Finley. Do you have any idea where he might be?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

I know exactly where he is. What do you think of that?

[Detective Danny Clover]

I think that's very nice.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

You think I have a gadabout for a husband? Burt's University. You know last year's president of his society.

[Detective Danny Clover]

He's with the boys now. Is that right, Ms. Finley?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

At a bank with his lodge to one of the class of 36.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Where's the banquet?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Well, I, I, I don't know. You know, Burt never told me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Hey, Danny. Margavan. Quick Danny, get in. What's the trouble? Back of Harper's Grill. Let's go. Mugaban. Get out of here. Cab. Get up. Really? There he is, mister. Same place he was at when I found him. The dead don't get around much, do they? How come you found him, Mr. Harper? I'll tell you about that. I was closing up the Grill. Understand? Lots of things to do when you close up. You gotta check the shortages on your waitresses. You'd be surprised how they try to cut you so sometime. I understand. All Lieutenant wants to know is how come you found him. I was coming to that, mister. You want to force me. Closing the Grill tonight was somewhat a chore. Them Canaan Alers had a banquet. Good old boy arranged it. My favorite customer. And the Caden alers. Kept walking in and out through my kitchen into the alley. I don't serve liquor, understand? Then back through again. Messed up every Bert Finley. One of those who came through. Must have. Cuz how come he bleeding here all over my alley? He didn't come back. So you went looking for him. You the type that keeps pressing, aren't you, sir? No, I didn't go looking for void. I happened to notice him here while I was emptying the day's garbage. First I thought it was one of my alley clients falling asleep waiting for charity. Then I saw it wasn't this good old boy dead in the donate. Take care of it, mugman. I'm going back into the grill. You come too, huh? Harper. I understand you. You want me along while you go clue hunting. Ain't no time a man's lonesomer than when he's out hunting alone. Come on in, mister. I'll be your friend. This is my kitchen. Want to nose around in a while. Make you a hot sandwich if you want. Meantime, banquet table. Which one was it? That'll be out in the mess hall, where all this is. Never mind. I'll show you. Ain't had a good chance to clean it all off yet. I do that myself. Don't like overtime on my hands if I can help it, you understand? You got your lo in the wind, boy. What? You smell that cane leaning against the wall? The table near the door? Don't surprise me, Mom. One of them cane and alias forgot his cane. They forgot their manners. They took King. That cane's why. That's a blind man's cane. Good old Ned back home had one just like you. Remember? A blind man in your grill, son? I was back in the kitchen going crazy. I didn't look for no blind. How come a blind man forgets his cane? That's life. Pay your respects. Hopper. They're taking old Bert away. Open up, bruno. Break it up. You trick it up, I kill him. I kill him. On your feet, Jimmy. Now. Stay there. Get him out of here. He's crazy. He's not only blind, it's. It's gone to his head. He killed my wife. He killed Francesca. I know, I know. Take it easy, Jimmy. I don't care about the man he killed in the alley. But he killed Francesca.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

See?

[Detective Danny Clover]

What did I tell you? Crazy. Get him off of me. Let him go. Let him be.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Give him to me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Jimmy. Your wife is dead. I'm sorry for that. You're blind. I'm sorry for that, too. But you cost a man his life. That man Finley, what's that to me? He said, take it easy, Jimmy. That's better. You're a killer, Bruno, huh? You've gone crazy too. I'm gonna get out of here. Yeah, do that. I want you to try. Go ahead. Try. He won't let me kill him. You kill him. Shoot him. Kill him. We had Bruno at headquarters earlier. We gave him to you, but you wouldn't identify his voice. Why? I wanted him for myself. So you let him go and he kills again. What do you got on me? The word of a blind. That's right. The word of a beaten girl. A girl who heard a cane tapping before she was mugged. I got 500 buddies with canes, but nobody like Bert Fenley. A man who knew you stole his knife while he was drunk. While you put him in a cab. I stood out in the alley and listened to him kill Burt Finley. Burt screamed. Francesca didn't. Burt showed you. Francesca. So you followed her home. Bruno tried to talk nice to her, then strangled her. Knifed her. Bert showed you, Rose. You did the same thing. Listen to me. He did it. I heard his voice again at police headquarters. Found out about the banquet at Harper's, and I went there. Spotted his voice again. I followed his voice. Followed him out in the alley. When he finished with Finley, I followed him here. Nobody followed him. Me. You're blind, Dad. I heard your cane. Jimmy didn't have a cane. I left it at Harper's. But you did. You're a cane and ailer. You had a cane. Jimmy followed your cane. Smart blind boy. Smart? Is that what made you big with your wife? Blind boy face? That fella, she felt sorry for you. You think she could love a guy like you without eyes? Listen to him. Listen to him. How long was it since you got a good look at your wife? Saw what she was, what she could be to a man? What was she to you? Somebody to lead you around so you wouldn't be hit by a cab? I'm the kind of a guy who could have let her. You can't see, fella. You can't see like us. They allow witnesses, Mr. Clover. I want to be there when he.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

D.

[Detective Danny Clover]

The people race against the nighttime on Broadway each in his own way. Make time stand still, that's the trick. The dawn comes and the gutters are choked with wasted minutes. The infinite man Hours of loneliness and the tears. It's Broadway. The gaudiest, the most violent. The lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway. My beat. 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, Lamont Johnston was hurt as Jimmy Brown, Lou Merrill as Harry Bruno, Kathy Lewis as Rose Keller, Herb Butterfield as Burt Finley and Bea Benedarrett as Mrs. Finley. Broadway Is My Beat has come to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Tonight on FPN Presents, you've been listening to some of the best in radio drama with Bibber McGee and Molly and Broadway Is My Beat. Join us again Monday evening at the same time 9:05 when EPN presents Dragnet and Escape. Sam.

[Podcast Host Adam Graham]

Welcome back. A very intense conclusion and one of the worst killers we've heard on this show. What the episode makes clear is that he killed because he felt entitled to her and she refused to go along. And that refusal was made worse to him by the fact that she had a blind husband who she was loyal to. Since her husband couldn't see her, he couldn't appreciate her because in the killer's mind she she was just a thing to be possessed and enjoyed for her beauty. And Jimmy, unable to do that, wasn't fit and was lesser than him. It is so ugly, but also, sadly, quite real. On a much lighter note, I hope Geno is able to get things squared with Mr. Zimmerman because it would be a shame if he can't enjoy his Zimmerman bunch. The one real curious thing that I realized about this series when I was listening to this episode is that there is continuity in Broadway's My Beat. However, all of it comes through Sergeant Tartaglia and is totally irrelevant to whatever happens in the story. Listener comments and feedback and we have a comment on Facebook regarding the Harry Foster murder case. Elizabeth writes, aside from the great stories, I love the unique cadence in the dialogue. I appreciate that as well. And then we have a couple comments from Spotify on the Charlie Crandall Murder. Mechanic 66 writes, Good one. Great cast. Yeah, if you get Peggy Weber and Jeannette Nolan on the same production, that's a really strong cast. Particularly taken with our regulars. Matt writes, poor Tartaglia just wanted Danny to spend time with him.

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Lol.

[Podcast Host Adam Graham]

I think that Tartaglia is reaching out to Danny in a similar way to the way that Friday's partners tried to reach out to him and get him socially involved and connected with them. Had as much to do with a desire to take care of Danny and to make sure that he's doing all right. It really is apparent that Danny feels the full weight of every case that he's on and is often quite emotionally affected as he is working on the case. And I think Tartaglia has this sense that Danny needs moments of lightness. He needs to get away from the office. He needs to do things that are enjoyable. He needs to sit down and have good food, and he wants to take care of Danny in that way because he's just one of those types of people. All right, well, now it is time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Charlie, patreon supporter since October 2019, currently supporting the podcast at the Psalmist level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Charlie. And that will 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, and mark the notification bell. We'll be back next Wednesday with another episode of Broadway's My Beat, but join us back here tomorrow for Dragnet.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Wear the bodies just as you found it. Mrs. Wilford, you didn't disturb anything?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

No, I just came back from a friend's and looked and I saw him and he was dead. Somebody killed Joseph.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You're pretty sure that your husband wasn't having any trouble with anybody? No enemies?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

No, he didn't have any enemies not to do this.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yes, ma'. Am. You lived upstairs in the back of the store with Mr. Wilford, is that right, ma'?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Am? For a long time, yes. We lived upstairs in the rooms. Was nice. Save money for rent.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Well, do you have any idea at all why your husband's dead? Why somebody'd want to kill him?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

There was money in the store. They'd kill for that. You're a policeman. People kill for money.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You know that. Well, do you know where Mr. Wilford kept his money, ma'? Am?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

There was a wooden drawer on the table in the back room. He would keep the money there. But I looked when I came in first. It was empty.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Was there any money in that drawer tonight, do you know that?

[Various Female Characters (e.g., Rose Keeler, Mrs. Finley)]

Oh, yes. Three, $400. Anyway, Joseph always kept it in there. Terrible place. Up above the music, all the time, the noise. You should make them be quiet. The dance halls have been up there for a year. Tonight anyway, they should be quiet.

[Podcast Host Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box Thirteenreatetectives.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.