Broadway's My Beat: The Joe Gruber Murder Case (EP4888)

Summary

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Podcast Summary

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: Broadway’s My Beat: The Joe Gruber Murder Case (EP4888)
Host: Adam Graham
Airdate: January 14, 2026
Original Broadcast: July 8, 1951

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Overview

This episode features an installment of Broadway’s My Beat, a classic detective radio drama following Detective Danny Clover as he investigates the “Joe Gruber Murder Case.” The podcast, hosted by Adam Graham, not only showcases the vintage radio play, but also provides insightful commentary on evolving social sensibilities and engaging listener feedback.

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Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

1. The Opening Crime and Stakeout

[04:31]

• Danny Clover and Detective Mugavan are on a sweltering summer stakeout, hoping to apprehend an armed robber and killer holed up in a West 80s apartment.
• They clear the building and deduce the suspect escaped via the fire escape, disappearing among mourners attending a neighboring funeral.

Notable Moment:

• Sergeant Tartaglia injects humor after the suspect's escape:
  “It is only that I am trying to tickle your funny bone with what otherwise could blossom into a severe headache.”
  — Sgt. Tartaglia, [07:23]

2. The Killer's Clever Disguise and Escape

[09:01]

• Funeral director Lucian Cobb arrives, complaining that the police disrupted a meticulously planned funeral.
• It’s discovered that the killer, Joe Gruber, literally took the place of the deceased in the coffin to evade capture, escaping in the hearse during the funeral procession.
• Police trace the hearse to a deserted road; the driver recounts how Gruber, armed, forced him to detour and fled after pistol-whipping him.

Notable Quote:
“The coffin was open and this guy was kneeling there with the gun. Then he busted through the glass, pointed the gun at my ear, says, take a right here. I took a right.”
— Hearse Driver, [10:33]

3. The Mrs. Conlon Connection

[12:46]

• Danny interviews Mrs. Conlon and her daughter Myra, whose apartment was targeted during Gruber’s flight.
• There’s antagonism between mother and daughter, with Myra mocking her mother’s distress.
• Danny probes Mrs. Conlon’s connection to the case and uncovers her husband’s sordid past: his mysterious death alongside an unidentified woman a year prior.

Memorable Exchange:
“What’s my husband dying a year ago with that nameless woman got to do with it?”
— Mrs. Conlon, [13:29]

4. The Boarding House and Gruber’s Death

[14:15]

• A tip leads Clover to a boarding house where Gruber is found dead—stabbed in his sleep. The rooming house operator reveals Gruber had a mysterious late-night visitor following a phone call.

5. Piecing Together Gruber's Past

[17:46–20:10]

• Back at headquarters, forensic evidence confirms Gruber as the original killer.
• His criminal record is detailed: multiple priors, a long stint in San Quentin, freshly out, now connected to the Conlon family by tragic coincidence.

Notable Tartaglia Moment:
“At the sound of the bong, it will be late. And even now the aroma of the cacciatore that awaits at Tartaglia’s house is being wafted from uptown down Centre Street…”
— Sgt. Tartaglia, [17:46]

6. The Sister That Wasn’t—The Barroom Revelation

[21:09–24:49]

• Danny retraces Gruber’s steps to the Pell Mell Rotisserie and Bar where Gruber caused a disturbance after trying to reconnect with his estranged sister.
• Witness Mal relates Gruber’s story: looking for his sister Mildred, he met a woman at the bar who wasn’t his real sister. That woman is linked to the Conlon family.
• It’s revealed via city records that Mrs. Conlon’s husband had previously married Mildred Gruber (never divorced), and the woman found dead with him was his first wife.

7. The Truth Unravels—The Climactic Confrontation

[27:01–30:21]

• Danny confronts Mrs. Conlon and Myra with the evidence:
  • Mrs. Conlon’s husband was a bigamist.
  • The “nameless woman” was his first wife, Mildred Gruber.
  • Mrs. Conlon killed both her husband and Mildred out of desperation to protect her daughter’s name and social standing.
  • When Joe Gruber arrived seeking his sister, Mrs. Conlon murdered him too, to keep the family secret.

Dramatic Quotes:
“You found them together. Your husband and Mildred. Killed them. Made it look like murder and suicide. Why?”
— Danny Clover, [28:37]

“All for you, darling… I couldn’t let that woman destroy what I built for you. Or that man. Or your father. The good name I wanted for you.”
— Mrs. Conlon, [29:24–29:41]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Gruber’s Hearse Escape:
  “The idea of an escape in a hearse—I kind of wish we'd been able to meet the criminal who did that because that was really clever.”
  — Adam Graham, [33:14]

• Sergeant Tartaglia and Mugavan Banter:
  “Again, you have to respect the roles that others play and not in some way suggest that they’re not necessary.”
  — Adam Graham, reflecting on the office dynamics, [33:14]

• Mother and Daughter Climax:
  “All for you, darling… I couldn’t let that woman destroy what I built for you. Or that man. Or your father.”
  — Mrs. Conlon, [29:24]

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Host Commentary

[33:14–36:00]

• Adam Graham reflects on how the motive—a mother committing murder to defend her daughter’s reputation—feels old-fashioned. He notes that modern listeners might be less concerned about family disgrace.
• Graham highlights the emotional realism in the office camaraderie and wounded pride between Sergeant Tartaglia and Detective Mugavan, showing respect for everyone’s contributions.
• Appreciates the creative criminal escape, regretting the character’s early removal for plot momentum.

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Listener Feedback Highlights

[36:00+]

• Listeners praise character depth, especially Tartaglia, wishing for a spinoff.
• Fans express nostalgia over the radio drama’s dialogue and storytelling.
• Comments celebrate Adam Graham for preserving old-time radio gems.

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Episode Structure and Key Timestamps

• [04:31] Episode Narrative Begins (Danny Clover’s Monologue)
• [09:01] The Killer’s Escape via the Hearse Revealed
• [12:46] Interview with Mrs. Conlon and Daughter Myra
• [14:15] Gruber Found Dead in Boarding House
• [17:46–20:10] Headquarters – Gruber’s Criminal Record & Office Humor
• [21:09–24:49] at the Pell Mell Rotisserie and Bar – The “Sister” Revelation
• [27:01–29:41] Confrontation and Full Confession from Mrs. Conlon
• [33:14+] Host Adam Graham’s Commentary and Listener Feedback

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Tone and Language

The episode embraces a poetic and somber noir tone throughout, with Danny Clover’s narration painting a vivid, atmospheric portrait of New York’s seedy, regret-filled Broadway. Dialogue brims with period slang and wry humor, especially between colleagues in the precinct. Emotional tension crescendos in the final confrontation and confession scene, reflecting classic 1950s radio drama stylings.

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In summary:
This episode is a classic, tightly-woven noir mystery featuring mistaken identities, past secrets, and a mother’s desperate acts to shield her daughter—all delivered with evocative writing and a heavy dash of vintage radio drama flair. Host Adam Graham enriches the experience with modern reflections and heartfelt audience engagement.

Transcript

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Foreign.

[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 Bait. But first I do want to encourage you if you're enjoying the podcast to please follow us using your favorite podcast software. 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 support.greatdetectives.net and that has links to all of our donations including our Zell and mail links. I want to thank Patricia for supporting the podcast that way. You can also support the show using the Zell app to box [e-mail] and I want to thank Michael for supporting the program that way you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. And I want to thank Renee supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month, as well as George and Jeff supporting the podcast at the psalmist level of $4 or more per month. And I also want to go ahead and thank Peter supporting the podcast at the rookie level of $2 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support. Now from July 8, 1951, here is the Joe Gruber Mur.

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[Detective Danny Clover]

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

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Broadway's My beat. The thrilling drama of murder and mystery and the people who walk the Great White Way. With Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. For refreshment while you work, for enjoyment anytime, chew a stick of Wrigley's Spearmint gum. The delicious, long lasting, real mint flavor of Wrigley's Spearmint cools your mouth and freshens your taste. The good smooth chewing helps keep you feeling fresh and alert. Adds enjoyment to whatever you're doing. So indoors, outdoors, at work, or play, enjoy chewing. Wrigley Spearmint gum. Wrigley's Spearmint. Refreshing. Delicious.

[Detective Danny Clover]

When it's July and the heat puffs up from the river, Broadway's a place of regret. The winter dreams made for the summer are blurred. The golden girls fan themselves with newspapers. It's the time of the salt tablet, the flypaper and the sullen sleep on the fire escape. The mornings are filled with a thousand hours, the bleary talk and dead cigarettes in the bottom of paper cups. It's summer, the poet's time, the lover's time. And if you can afford an ocean voyage, it's the most wonderful time of the year. Which is equally true for a policeman if he's retired, if he's come into a fat inheritance from Uncle Ned, ex wonder boy of the oil fields. Not me nor Detective Mugavan. We were still working to pay off the bills. Current job? Stakeout in front of an apartment house in the West 80s. Stakeout for an armed robber who had shot a bystander to death. Ran across roofs, down alleys. Finally trapped.

[Detective Mugavan]

He's holed up on the second floor, Danny. Empty apartment. Ready?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Let's go. All the other tenants cleared out?

[Detective Mugavan]

Uh huh. Had a little trouble with the people in 2B.

[Detective Danny Clover]

How come?

[Detective Mugavan]

People named Morgan? Her grandmother died. A funeral got all the mourners out. Apartment right next to one our killers in 2A.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You sure he's in there?

[Detective Mugavan]

Probably him, Danny. Description fits.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Let's find out. Open up. Open up. This is the police. Mugavan. Yeah.

[Detective Mugavan]

Those windows over there, Danny. Open screen's been kicked out.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Come on. The killer left this apartment in a hurry, huh?

[Detective Mugavan]

These windows lead to a fire escape. You could have gone out this window onto the fire escape into the next apartment, Danny.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Let's find out. Yeah. Must have done it this way. The screens on this apartment have been knocked out too. Let's go see, huh?

[Detective Mugavan]

This is the Morgan apartment, Danny. Where the Morgan grandmother Want me to.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Look around for appearances, Mugman? I'm guessing our man walked out with the mourners and got lost. Must have made him happy.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Greetings, Danny. Well, looks like we made a boo boo.

[Detective Danny Clover]

It amuses you, Sergeant?

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Oh, Danny, it is only that I am trying to tickle your funny bone with what otherwise could blossom into a severe headache.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You got out the all points on the killer.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Goes without saying. The bulletin is out, but the puzzle.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Lingers on that muggerman and I were on him and he got away from us. No puzzle, Gino. We lost it, that's all.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Be friendly with yourself, Danny. Such things happen. The puzzle to me is that a burglar in his chosen line of duty should so overstep himself as to enter the ranks of the killers. Over ambitious type, huh?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Tried to beat his way into Mrs. Conlon's apartment on West 76 with a gun. It bothered a neighbor. The neighbor tried to stop him, tried to beat him off. The neighbor got killed. You got any other troubles, Gino?

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Well, nobody's got troubles compared to the way Mrs. Conlon's got troubles.

[Detective Danny Clover]

A man with a gun tried to get to her. He didn't make it. If I were Mrs. Conlon, it. What'd you say about Ms. Conlon?

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Well, when your call came in, Danny, the name Conlon registered on my gray matter. So I nudged it up a notch by referring to a file and flash. It came to me that like a year ago, a Mr. Hugh Conlon was found shot dead at the side of an unidentified woman. Also shot dead. Verdict murder with suicide. This Conlon was the husband of the said. Hey, you. You to see Danny Clover. Permission must be obtained and granted.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Don't try to stop me. Don't anyone. Who are you? Don't try to bypass me, sir. You have spoiled the plans of Lucian Cobb, funeral director. After we'd rehearsed and rehearsed.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

This is a new type show business, Danny.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Sit down, Mr. Cobb. Tell me what I've done to you. I'll not sit, sir. While bearding a criminal, you this morning did destroy the careful staging of a month. We rehearsed the old woman, Grandmother Morgan. How the little old lady would lie in her coffin, her pose, her attitude. And when death took her, we were ready for it. And now you're saying out trying to take a killer ruined your carefully planned funeral. How? 20 minutes ago, the granddaughter of the deceased phoned me. Told me tearfully she'd opened a clothes hamper and there was her grandmother folded in with last week's wash. I'm sorry, Mr. Cob. Death has a dignity, Mr. Clover. I'm aware of it, Mr. Cobb. Gino.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Yeah, Danny.

[Detective Danny Clover]

That's how the killer got away. Climbed into the coffin himself. Get on the phone. Find out what happened to that funeral. Tartaglia did very well. He lifted a receiver and dialed and asked a question. He got an answer and replaced the receiver.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Hey, Danny. The hearse took off for parts unknown, deserted the rest of the funeral.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Make some more calls to traffic and to Highway Patrol and wait. And finally a call comes back. One hearse located on a side road off Queens. Highway driver recovering from pistol whipping. But still bewildered by the strangeness of it all. Go there and talk to him.

[Detective Mugavan]

Look, mister. The first thing I want you to understand is I'm not lying to you.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Just tell me what happened.

[Detective Mugavan]

We were cruising along through the streets uptown toward the cemetery. It happened at 180th Street.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What did?

[Detective Mugavan]

There's a glass panel between my driver's seat and the. You know, the coffin, the flowers. That's where the tapping came from.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Tapping?

[Detective Mugavan]

Yeah, with the butt end of a gun. The coffin was open and this guy was kneeling there with the gun. Then he busted through the glass, pointed the gun at my ear, says, take a right here. I took a right.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Wouldn't you go ahead?

[Detective Mugavan]

I took a right. I took off from the rest of the funeral. A long nose, a head full of red hair and a big gun. When we got to where we are now, he tells me to stop this hearse, to get out.

[Wrigley's Spearmint Gum Announcer]

I get out. He slugs me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Is that all?

[Detective Mugavan]

Is that all? You think this happens every day.

[Detective Danny Clover]

And phone it in and check out for the night and go home. Find the heat piled high in your room waiting for. For you. Take the blanket and the pillow to the roof. Step carefully past the sleepless child. His eyes wide with reflection of nighttime. And hear the whispered, tired scolding of the man at his side. And the rustle of the woman's cotton robe as she pulls it tight to her throat. And find an empty place. And consider there the pattern a killer has scarred across the summer's day. Consider it. Then make your way back downstairs to the hall phone. Ask Mrs. Conlon to meet you at your office in the morning. And go back for the sleep you left on a brownstone's roof. In the morning. She was already waiting for me with her. A young woman who took a cigarette from a plastic case. And waited for me to light it for her.

[Advertisement Voice]

Thank you. You're Sweet. My daughter. Mr. Clover. Myra. Hi. And hello. Myra insisted on coming with me. She said she didn't want me to be alone with you. Don't lie, Catherine. Myra. The reason I came, Mr. Clover, it was a chance to meet a new man. I told Katherine that the poor thing's trying to cover up. She doesn't mean that, Mr. Clover. Myra's a child. All the excitement, that man trying to break in. Your call last night. A child's mind. It can be too much for you through Catherine. Because if you aren't, Mr. Clover will never have the chance to tell us why we're here.

[Detective Danny Clover]

The man who tried to break in, Mrs. Conan, had you ever seen him before?

[Advertisement Voice]

Why, no, I never. I told you that yesterday. Why do you ask again? Maybe the attractive man doesn't believe you. Katherine. Myra. What are you trying to do to me? You come in here, make a show of yourself before this man.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Talk fresh, Mrs. Connon. Had you ever seen the man before?

[Advertisement Voice]

No. I told you, no. Yesterday was the first time he beat at my door. When I wouldn't let him in, he threatened me with a gun. And then that nice neighbor from across the hall. He's helped Myra and me so many times.

[Detective Danny Clover]

And now, Mrs. Conan, try to understand why I'm going to remind you of.

[Advertisement Voice]

Of what? Remind me of what?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Of your husband's death.

[Advertisement Voice]

What's he got to do with it? What's my husband dying a year ago with that nameless woman got to do with it? Patience, Catherine. Let the man tell you.

[Detective Danny Clover]

It's only that the killer we're after might have had something to do with this other thing that happened to you. It's the only way I can figure it. Why should he beat on your door openly with a gun?

[Advertisement Voice]

He's a thief. He wanted to rob me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

A thief who stands in a hall and knocks and asks permission to.

[Advertisement Voice]

What are you trying to do to me? Hasn't it been enough? Haven't I had enough? Oh, Myra, tell me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Danny Clover speaking.

[Advertisement Voice]

There's a man sleeping in my boarding house. Answers the killer's description. You got in the papers.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You want them?

[Advertisement Voice]

I give them to you.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Where?

[Advertisement Voice]

Boarding house. 1756 West 61. You come from right away, huh? So I can put my room to let sign back in the window. Quick turnover.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You can go home, Mrs. Collin. I'll ask the killer my questions.

[Advertisement Voice]

I'm telling you, mister, when I give this man a room, I thought there was something funny.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Why didn't you call the police then?

[Advertisement Voice]

Just because he was breathing hard, like he'd been running. Well, that Ain't no reason. The reason was this morning when you.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Saw his description in the paper.

[Adam Graham]

Yeah.

[Advertisement Voice]

Yeah. The bright red hair, you know, and the nose.

[Detective Danny Clover]

He registered last night and he hasn't gone out since. Is that right?

[Advertisement Voice]

He had a call late last night. Late.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Who?

[Advertisement Voice]

I don't know. Who? I don't peep. He made a phone call from the hall phone, went back to his room. And later I heard someone go into his room.

[Detective Danny Clover]

How long did the caller stay?

[Advertisement Voice]

I went to sleep. I don't know.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Where's this room?

[Advertisement Voice]

Down on the right. I'll take you.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Here it is.

[Advertisement Voice]

This one.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Give me the key and step back.

[Advertisement Voice]

Hey, he's that dangerous, you gotta use a gun.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Don't worry about it.

[Advertisement Voice]

Oh.

[Detective Danny Clover]

All right. You wake up on your feet, on deep sleep already.

[Advertisement Voice]

He really sleeps, huh? What's the matter with him? What's the matter?

[Detective Danny Clover]

He should have peeped at his caller. You would have seen what a murderer looks like.

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[Detective Danny Clover]

The July twilight bleeds the color out of Broadway's neon and the street is a summer's sigh done in pastel. The delicate cottons cling to the visitors shoulders. Their husbands shoo them away from Broadway's kindly folk and Broadway's forced to other summer delights. The boat ride to Coney. Try that, kid. The quick shipboard romance. And at the end of it, the guided tour through the hall of mirrors or the rendezvous at the coffee pump in the automat. Or just stand on the corner and sniff the cool air from the Catskill sent in the open envelope from the wife and kids and compare its message with the one in the headlines. Fugitive killer found murdered in boarding house. And decide. It's better here, kid. Happiness is where the heart is. It's better here. And at headquarters. Feel the twilight slip from your fingers as the door opens and the nighttime is brought to you in the capable hands of capable sergeant Gino Tartaglia.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

I Come to sound the hour, Danny. At the sound of the bong, it will be late. And even now the aroma of the cacciadore that awaits at Tartaglia's house is being wafted from uptown down center street to tickle the nostrils.

[Advertisement Voice]

Bong.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Give me what you got, Gino, and then you can go home.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Thank you, Danny. You are indeed a kindly, generous employer.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Did the ballistics check the gun that killed Joe Gruber?

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

It is the same with which this Joe Gruber murdered an innocent neighbor in the to do in front of Mrs. Conlon's apartment. Which proves to all concerned that this Joe Gruber was indeed the murderer of the innocent neighbor.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Anything else?

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

What is else is Dr. Take of mugavan has compiled for you the criminal record of the aforesaid Joe Gruber, which I will brief. It seems that in his past, Joe Gruber was.

[Detective Mugavan]

I got the record on Gruber.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Detective Mugavan, I'm surprised that you.

[Detective Mugavan]

What's the matter with you, Gino?

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

I was about to parlay the information you have gathered efficiently, I grant. But I was about to parlay this info into the ear of Lieutenant Clover with my own mouth when you were so rude.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Oh, you did good. Anyway, Gino, you can go home now. Mrs. Tartaglia will be waiting for you. She'll.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

She at least appreciates the endeavor I make to. Goodnight, Lieutenant Clover. Detective Mugavan. Good night to all.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Good night, Gino. Tell Mrs. Tartaglia you were fine today. Tell her I.

[Detective Mugavan]

What's eating him?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Call him up in a little while. Tell him you're sorry.

[Detective Mugavan]

What for? What'd I do to him?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Just do it, Muggle.

[Detective Mugavan]

Okay.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What have you got in Gruber?

[Detective Mugavan]

Oh, Technical's got the knife that killed him. Trying to trace the make. Manufacturer, distributor, retail outlets, etc.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You said you had a record on him?

[Detective Mugavan]

Yeah, 20 years long. Gave it to us when an officer booked him up for disturbing the Pall Mall rotisserie in bar on third. Got in a beef with some woman maulder. She yelled police. Happened five days ago.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Who was the woman?

[Detective Mugavan]

Well, we don't know. She didn't show up to make complaints, so we released Gruber. You want the rest to run down on it?

[Detective Danny Clover]

If it means anything, well, it's up to you.

[Detective Mugavan]

Gruber began 20 years ago in San Francisco. Car heists, filling station holdups. They finally got him good on a Negligent manslaughter charge. 15 years in San Quentin. Released six weeks ago. Next heard of it, the Pall Mall bar. Then released to murder. Mrs. Conlon's neighbor, then dead on arrival.

[Detective Danny Clover]

That all of it?

[Detective Mugavan]

Yeah. Anything, Danny? Not much, huh?

[Detective Danny Clover]

It wasn't much, but it was all I had. Joe Gruber had been mixed up in a disturbance at the Pell Mell Rotisserie and Bar, which was on 3rd Avenue, which took up 40 front feet of sidewalk. And whoever was thirsty enough to dare what was inside. The inside was all bar and three fellas deep. The rotisserie part of it being a cheap hot plate burner that melted things upon occasion. It took a few minutes to get close, but I finally made it.

[Detective Mugavan]

Now, what's yours?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Talk. I'm from the police here.

[Detective Mugavan]

Badge or something wrong?

[Detective Danny Clover]

No, I'll just talk. Oh, sure.

[Detective Mugavan]

Hey, Ed, come here. Take over, will you? I gotta talk to a guy. Scooch down to the end of the bar, mister, so we won't get our talk mixed up with people. Better, huh? Hey, can I give you something from the shelf? Some Johnny Walker.

[Detective Danny Clover]

About a week ago, there was a little trouble in here.

[Detective Mugavan]

At least I keep the trouble inside, off the sidewalks.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Take a look at this picture. You ever see this man before?

[Detective Mugavan]

Well, who is he?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Name's Joe Gruber.

[Detective Mugavan]

His eyes are closed. Because you took her while he was on the slab, huh?

[Detective Danny Clover]

That's right.

[Detective Mugavan]

Yeah, I seen him like you said, about a week ago. Trouble with a dame.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What dame?

[Detective Mugavan]

I don't know. I didn't see much. What happened?

[Wrigley's Spearmint Gum Announcer]

I got told.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Had you ever seen Joe before?

[Detective Mugavan]

First time he was in here. Picked up one of my customers, you know. Throw the arm around the shoulder. I'll buy you a drink. Pickup. Friendly. Buy drinks. I ask him to pay. He said, sure, sure. My sister'll be in a minute. And pay. He looks serious, so I fed him drinks. Late hours, back in the storeroom, I hear yelling. I get back in time to see a cop off the beat. Hauls this guy away, leaves Mal standing there, drinks unpaid.

[Wrigley's Spearmint Gum Announcer]

Mal.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Mal who?

[Detective Mugavan]

The armor on the shoulder.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Pickup.

[Detective Mugavan]

Mal.

[Adam Graham]

Hey, Mal.

[Detective Mugavan]

Mal, come here.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Yeah, what do you want?

[Detective Mugavan]

My friend here's a cop. A very nice cop.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Out of my way.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Hey, come back here. Let me through. Let me through. Let go.

[Adam Graham]

Me let go.

[Detective Danny Clover]

If I'm going to have to take you down on the floor to talk to you. Hey, that's where you're going.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

How'd you get here so fast? It ain't been five minutes. I opened up that pay phone, but it was only because the operator got snippy. A man's got a ride.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Let's go.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Look, I'm Booked, ain't I? So give me my shower in a cell like always. What am I different or something?

[Detective Danny Clover]

I want you to look at a picture, Mal. Here. You know that man?

[Detective Mugavan]

Must have been a lot of long distance calls from that pay booth. You tumbled Mal. That change could add up to grand larceny.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

It was that much, huh, Hank? You said, just born lucky.

[Detective Mugavan]

It's gonna be a hot summer in that jail yard.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Sit down, Mal. Cigarette?

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Your friend's got a cigar in his pocket.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Margaret?

[Advertisement Voice]

Yeah.

[Detective Mugavan]

You want a light? Here.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

My feet are killing me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Put them up on my desk. Comfortable?

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Well, what's your trouble, fellas?

[Detective Mugavan]

What about the picture guy?

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

His name is Joe. Bought me drinks. Nice fella. Very nice. Nice cigar.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Went on. Now, let's. Let's hear all about it.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

He buys me a lot of drinks. Tells me the story of his life. How he did a lot of time on the coast. You know a lot about his sister Mildred. He liked his sister Mildred a lot.

[Detective Mugavan]

Go on.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

You know, he says his sis Mildred run away to New York, got herself married. This was about 20 years ago, when she was a youngster. By the time sis Mildred got back to Frisco with her hubby, Joe was in stir. His sister Mildred come to visit once. Then he lost track. Ain't seen her since.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Well, how did he happen to find her in New York?

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Phone book. Looked up her married name on the off chance. There it was he called.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Did he tell you what her married name was?

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Might have slipped the old mind if he did. He called her, said he'd wear a red posy so she'd recognize him. The dame shows, guess what happened?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Danny, leave him alone.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

She walks over to Joe and asks, is he Joe? Who called? Joe says, I am he. Only you ain't my sister Mildred. My sister Mildred had red hair like me, he says. So they walk over in the corner, they start to talk. Then the lady raises a roof about something. Starts to hurry up. Joe runs after her right into the arms of the law.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What did this lady look like?

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Frankly, Joe fed me too many drinks to remember. Clear? That's about it, boys. Light my sipcar again, huh?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Mugaman picked the nickel thief up by the freight and carried him off to the showers. Which left me alone to sift the pleasant time we'd had together. Come up with a name. Mildred. Mildred Gruber. The sister who had run off to New York 20 years ago to marry and wonder why it wasn't Mildred who showed up when brother Joe phoned her. And wonder why it wasn't Possible to go and ask her herself. But for that you needed her married name. The name only Joe Gruber could tell you. The dead Joe Gruber. Remember that the city has a hall of records. And that girls names are entered there. For births and deaths and marriages go to the hall of records. We hand it over to a man named franey. Wait for Mr. Franey to come back from the long voyage into the files. Finally he does, waving his find under your nose.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

I found it, Lieutenant. Found it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Thanks. Let me.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

I'm afraid you couldn't read my scroll. I'll translate for you. On May 12, 1931, one Mildred Gruber applied for a marriage license. Age 19. Who'd she apply with? Got that too. Mr. Hughes. Conlon. Age 27. Height.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Conlon. Look up what you have on Conlon. Please, Mr. Franey. Do that. Wait again and know somehow Mr. Franey would look just like that when he came back.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

You got something this time, Lieutenant? Common was married again just three years after the first time. And I looked and looked. And there's no record of a divorce. The penalty for false statements is clearly stated on the bottom.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Sure it is. Thank you again, Mr. Brain. Oh, Hi.

[Advertisement Voice]

And hello, Mr. Clover. Come on in. In here? The living room. Say, I've been trying to make Alexander's for years. Can I try one on you?

[Detective Danny Clover]

How old are you, Myra?

[Advertisement Voice]

17. And I won't breathe a word of it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Is your mother home?

[Advertisement Voice]

Let's chip in and send her to the movies.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Get her.

[Advertisement Voice]

Are you kidding?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Get her.

[Advertisement Voice]

You're a fool. You could have had an Alexander. Did someone come in, Myra? Do you want me to lie to her, Mr. Clover?

[Detective Danny Clover]

I most always miss the police, Mrs. Collin. I want to talk to you. Hello.

[Advertisement Voice]

I was about to go to bed. Maybe you won't make it, Katherine. Will she, Mr. Clover? Myra, I'm sure there's nothing here to concern you. Will you please go? No. Myra. You heard me.

[Grainger Announcer]

No.

[Detective Danny Clover]

When you were in my office, Mrs. Conlon, there was a question we never got finished with. It concerned your husband and the woman with whom he was found dead a year ago. And a man named Joe Gruber.

[Advertisement Voice]

I don't at all understand what you're talking about. Mother.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Mama.

[Adam Graham]

Mom.

[Advertisement Voice]

Don't you have a date tonight, Myra? Every night. It'll keep. They always keep. All of them. All the time.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You still haven't told me what I Want to know, Mrs. Connell.

[Advertisement Voice]

My husband shot himself. Because of me. Because of my child. He was ashamed of what was going on with that woman. He killed her. And then Shot himself. That's Daddy. That's my pa. Shut up, Myra. Shut up. I've never laid a hand on you, but I. Mother. Mother dear, you're talking like a mom. Never talked to me like this before.

[Detective Danny Clover]

The woman found with your husband was his first wife. Did you know that, Mrs. Connell?

[Advertisement Voice]

My husband's first wife. That's not true.

[Detective Danny Clover]

When did you find out he wasn't divorced?

[Advertisement Voice]

Why, it's not true.

[Detective Danny Clover]

When Mildred Gruber showed up.

[Advertisement Voice]

Daddy had such bad taste in women. Myra. Myra.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

I'll hit.

[Advertisement Voice]

You'll hit me. Go ahead. You. I'll. Myra. Myra, please.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You found them together. Your husband and Mildred killed them. Made it look like murder and suicide. Why?

[Advertisement Voice]

Listen to me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Then Joe Gruber showed up. A long lost brother. Looking for his sister. Looking for Mildred. Found the name Mrs. Hugh Conlon in the phone book. Thought his sister was you.

[Advertisement Voice]

Please, please listen to me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

When you met Joe at the bar, he saw that you weren't Mildred. He began to figure and it started to build into money. That's what he wanted when he tried to break into your house.

[Advertisement Voice]

Myra, child, try to understand what I wanted for you.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Gruber got away from us, holed up in a room. Called you for money. You came to his own room, stabbed him to death.

[Advertisement Voice]

You did all that, Kathryn. For me. Just because Daddy was a bigamist. Just because all these years you haven't really been married to him. For you. For you, darling. For your name. Darling.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Wait.

[Advertisement Voice]

When you're married and have children of your own. Wait.

[Adam Graham]

Wait. Mother.

[Advertisement Voice]

All for you, darling. Don't you see? I couldn't let that woman destroy what I built for you. Or that man. Or your father.

[Detective Mugavan]

The years.

[Advertisement Voice]

The good name I wanted for you.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

Wait.

[Advertisement Voice]

Little Charles. Here's this. Myra Charles will die laughing. Wait til I tell him I'm just nobody. He'll float the evening in champagne. He'll be here any minute. Wait till I tell him I'll marry him, Mom. His last name is Tobin. Then I'll have a name, Mom. Myra Tobin.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Midnight's a happy time on Broadway. It's a place strung into the night like some phosphorescent alley and they're heaped there. The bright eyed kid. The voice that whispers from a doorway. The poet that dregs its crowd and its laughter. And a nickelodeon where you get pie in your face. It's Broadway, the gaudiest, the most violent the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway, my beat.

[Wrigley's Spearmint Gum Announcer]

Remember, friends, for refreshment while you work for enjoyment anytime Chew a stick of Wrigley's Spearmint Gum. There's lots of lively, real mint flavor in it to cool your mouth, freshen your taste and sweeten your breath. And chewing Wrigley Spearmint helps keep you fresh and alert. You feel better, work better, get more fun out of doing things so indoors, outdoors, at work or play. Always keep delicious wriggly Spearmint chewing Gum handy for refreshment while you work. For enjoyment anytime, chew a stick of Wrigley Spearmint Gum. The makers of Wrigley Spearmint Chewing Gum hope you've enjoyed tonight's story and that you're enjoying Wrigley Spearmint Gum every day. We invite you to join us next week at this same time when Detective Danny Clover returns again with Broadway's My Beat. Broadway's My Beat, Brought to you by Wrigley's Spearmint Gum is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with music composed by and conducted by Alexander Courage. The program is written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and stars Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover with Charles Calvert as Tartaglia and Jack Crucian as Mugavin. In tonight's cast, Barbara Whiting was heard as Myra and irene Tedro as Mrs. Conliff. Featured in the cast were Lou Krugman, Martha Wentworth, Norman Field and Jerry Hausner. Bob Stevenson speaking. This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System.

[Grainger Announcer]

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. Well, in terms of motive, I think that this story reflects kind of some evolving social media sensibilities. The sort of motive would have made sense in say, a 1930s story. And the daughter might have been appreciative or at least like, oh, mother, why did you do that? You ruined your life. But would totally understand. But I think that this kind of reflects the idea that the world's moving forward a bit and that in reality, for most people the sins of their parents are things, particularly if you live in New York City, that you would be able to live down. It's not going to encumber your life or your ability to find happiness really. Of course, to me, the really interesting scene in this episode is when Sergeant Mugavin came in and kind of stole Tartaglia's thunder. And this is such a delicate matter that Mugaven just kind of stormed into. Obviously not with any ill intent, but he stepped on the real role of Sergeant Tartaglia and led to a wound which Danny wisely told him, you've got to address. Again, you have to respect the roles that others play and not in some way suggest that they're not necessary. So that was a really interesting scene. I also have to say that I love the idea of an escape in a hearse and I kind of wish we'd been able to meet the criminal who did that because that was really clever. But as often happens, there killed off to add momentum heading in towards the next part of the story. All right, well, listener comments and feedback and we've got a lot of really cool comments on the Broadway's My Beat episode, Buddy Malpaw and the Jade Scimitar over on Spotify, Peter writes, geno's dream finally came true. Couldn't happen to a better guy. Too bad his character didn't get his own spin off show. I love the depth that his character brought to Broadway's My Beat. Over on Facebook, Mike writes, danny, there's a treasure in the Tartaglia home that Mrs. Tartaglia made special for you. And if you let me Geno Tartaglia show you to the living room, I will tell you the circumstances behind the theft of this treasure and joyrights. This was a really fun episode. And then we also have a comment over on Instagram the Mystery Cipherats. This was a great show on X. Maltese Falcon writes, I like Gino's fondest dream. And then we have some comments from our listener survey and we have Matt in Salt Lake City at writes, thanks for keeping these important gems in our lives. Been listening to you for years. Bob writes, takes me back to my boyhood in the 1950s and Kim says your podcasts are perfect for traveling. Well thank you so much. Now I do want to by way of a disclaimer to state that I've had to re record the commentary since it didn't save correctly and I've done my best to recreate everything that was due to be read today. But if I missed something, particularly on this episode, I do apologize. But it can be a challenge recreating later. Alright, well now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day thank you to MJ Patreon, supporter since February 2018, currently supporting the podcast at the rookie level of $2 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, 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]

I didn't want any guy who was gonna marry my sister getting into trouble like that, you know, maybe going to jail for burglary. Miller's been in jail before. I suppose you knew that. Yeah, I knew it, but that was before he was engaged to my sister. You met Miller and Henderson outside the church, did you? No, I was too late. They'd already broken into the place. So I went around the back of the church, and I saw one of the stained glass windows was broken where they'd gotten in. I climbed up on the cellar and I could see them working inside some kind of a small back room. They were working on the safe. Both of them? Miller and Henderson. That's all.

[Sergeant Gino Tartaglia]

What'd you do then?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Why, I tried to talk them out of it. They wouldn't listen. I suppose you can prove your story. I mean, that friend you met in the bar, the one who tipped you off about the burglary. I guess he'd be willing to back up your story. Well, I'm not sure, Sergeant. He might lie. He might not want to get involved. How about Miller and Henderson? They'll back it up, won't they? If you weren't involved in the deal, there wouldn't be any reason for them to implicate you, would. Well, sure there would, Tony. Miller thinks it's my fault he's in jail. He hates me. You can't take his word for anything. Probably the first thing he'd do is lie about it and Henderson, too. On who you got to corroborate your story. Well, maybe nobody, but it's the truth. I swear to you, it's the truth. I'll tell the same thing in court if I have to. They gotta believe me. You're asking a lot, mister. But that's the way it happens. So help me. Yeah. Now tell me the truth, Sergeant. You know I didn't have a hand in it. If it goes to court, they couldn't convict me, could they? Come on. What do you think? I think you're a liar.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime, send your comments to Box [e-mail] follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram instagram.com greatdetactive From Boise, Idaho, this is your host Adam Graham signing off.

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[Grainger Announcer]

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[Adam Graham]

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