Broadway's My Beat: The Kenneth Mitchell Murder Case (EP4808)

Summary

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Podcast Episode Summary

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: Broadway's My Beat – "The Kenneth Mitchell Murder Case" (EP4808)
Host: Adam Graham
Date: September 24, 2025

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Brief Overview

This episode of Broadway's My Beat features the detective drama "The Kenneth Mitchell Murder Case," first aired on December 1, 1950. Detective Danny Clover investigates the stabbing death of Kenneth Mitchell, a man recently released from a sanitarium, whose complicated relationships and impending death spiral the case into a study of love, loss, and human desperation. The episode weaves somber poetic narration with a tightly constructed mystery, ultimately hinging on a subtle clue involving a clock and a fabricated alibi. After the dramatized case, host Adam Graham provides insightful commentary and discusses listener feedback.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Crime Scene and Victim's Profile (02:31–06:38)

• Danny Clover arrives at a West 56th apartment to a grisly scene: Kenneth Mitchell, recently out of a sanitarium, lies dead from a knife wound.
• Ruth Corey, Mitchell’s companion, is found at the scene. She admits to loving Kenneth and wanting more time with him, which delayed her call to police.
• The victim was described as quiet, obsessively neat, and marked by a sense of looming mortality.

Notable Quote:

• “Because I loved him. Because I wanted him to myself. For as long as. Because we never had very much time.”
  — Ruth Corey (05:39)

2. Interviews with the Wife & Background Unraveling (06:38–08:20)

• Mitchell’s wife, Florence, is grief-stricken but not surprised by his death, referencing his terminal illness and recent departure from a sanitarium on the river.
• The nature of Kenneth’s illness and the secrecy surrounding his absconding draw further suspicion and emotional complexity.

3. Medical and Romantic Entanglements: The Sanitarium Connection (08:34–13:10)

• At the sanitarium, Dr. Neft reveals Kenneth and Ruth met as patients and fell in love — both were married to others and terminally ill.
• Their decision to spend remaining days together complicates motives and relationships with their respective spouses.

Notable Quote:

• “They were lucky. They had one thing in common that would never change. They were both dying. They fell in love.”
  — Dr. Neft (09:43)

4. Suspects' Alibis Unravel (13:10–20:39)

• Walter Corey, Ruth’s wealthy husband, displays chilling indifference to Kenneth’s death and takes pride in taking care of Ruth.
• Corey’s lawyer, Gordon Horner, claims Corey was with him at the supposed time of the murder — corroborated by a clock at Grand Central Station showing 8:20.
• Ted Lawson, Ruth’s brother, is protective and emotionally volatile but ultimately ruled out thanks to witnesses at Coney Island.

Notable Quote:

• “Mitchell did this to her. How she was on her way to getting well... and Mitchell tried to kill her all over again...”
  — Walter Corey (15:45)

5. Detective Under Fire (20:39–22:56)

• An attempt is made on Detective Clover’s life, possibly by someone desperate to keep the truth buried.
• Despite injury, Clover continues his investigation, with the support of affable Sergeant Tartaglia and diligent Mugavan, both bringing unique perspectives and assistance to Clover.

6. The Crucial Clue: The Clock Alibi Shattered (24:25–26:48)

• The turning point arrives when Mugavan points out that many jewelry stores set their clocks at 8:20, a time favored for cosmetic reasons in displays.
• The timing that appeared to support Corey’s alibi was, in fact, meaningless — the lawyer’s recollection of 8:20 was based on a staged clock, casting suspicion back on Corey.

Memorable Moment:

• “Jewellers always set their display clocks to 8:20… Your alibi was great, but you thought we couldn’t set the exact time.”
  — Detective Danny Clover (26:30)

7. Confrontation and Resolution (26:48–29:06)

• Clover confronts Corey, revealing the collapse of his alibi and placing him under arrest for both Mitchell’s murder and the attempt on Clover’s life.
• The emotional toll peaks as Ruth Corey dies shortly after, rendering the tragic consequences of the case even sharper.

8. Adam Graham’s Analysis and Listener Feedback (32:44–39:49)

• Adam Graham discusses the choice to target Danny, the plausibility of the clock clue, and fun historical trivia about display times on clock faces in advertising.
• He highlights the interplay between Sergeant Tartaglia’s human touch and Mugavan’s street-wise police work, praising the episode for letting their personalities influence Clover’s breakthrough.
• Listener comments shed light on recurring actors, the character of detective radio series, and side notes on the obscure “Charlie Wild” series.

Notable Quote:

• “The thing about the 8:20 time was not something I’d ever heard of, but… it gave the clock a symmetrical look and didn’t obscure the logo of the manufacturer.”
  — Adam Graham (33:17)

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Memorable Quotes with Timestamps

• Ruth Corey (on grief and love):
  “Because I loved him. Because I wanted him to myself. For as long as. Because we never had very much time.” (05:39)

• Dr. Neft (on Mitchell and Ruth):
  “They were lucky. They had one thing in common that would never change. They were both dying. They fell in love.” (09:43)

• Walter Corey (on Ruth's illness and Kenneth):
  “Mitchell did this to her. How she was on her way to getting well... and Mitchell tried to kill her all over again...” (15:45)

• Detective Danny Clover (crucial clue):
  “Jewellers always set their display clocks to 8:20… Your alibi was great, but you thought we couldn’t set the exact time.” (26:30)

• Adam Graham (host's historical insight):
  “The thing about the 8:20 time was not something I’d ever heard of, but… it gave the clock a symmetrical look and didn’t obscure the logo of the manufacturer.” (33:17)

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Timeline of Key Segments

• 01:29 — Adam Graham’s episode intro and context
• 02:31–06:38 — Opening investigation and meeting Ruth Corey
• 06:38–08:20 — Interview with Florence Mitchell (wife)
• 08:34–13:10 — The background at the sanitarium and Dr. Neft’s insights
• 13:10–20:39 — Suspect interviews: Walter Corey, lawyer Horner, and Ted Lawson
• 20:39–22:56 — Attempted shooting and Danny’s injury
• 24:25–26:48 — The alibi’s collapse through the 8:20 clock clue
• 26:48–29:06 — Final confrontation with Corey; Ruth’s death
• 32:44–39:49 — Adam Graham’s commentary and listener feedback

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Tone and Style

The drama intertwines somber, poetic narration with classic “hard-boiled” detective dialog. Emotional stakes are high, exploring themes of love, loss, illness, and the bleakness of urban life. Adam Graham’s commentary is warm, informative, and tinged with humor and nostalgia, enhancing both the mystery and its cultural context.

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Conclusion

“The Kenneth Mitchell Murder Case” is a poignant installment of Broadway’s My Beat, showcasing intricate detective work and even more intricate human relationships. The episode stands out for its clever use of subtle clues, its nuanced characters, and its rich emotional undercurrents. Adam Graham’s post-show analysis adds historical context and listener engagement, offering both mystery lovers and old-time radio fans much to savor.

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Transcript

[Detective Danny Clover]

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[Adam Graham (Podcast Host)]

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 be bringing you this week's episode of Broadway's My Beat. But first, I do want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Also, today's program is brought to you on a one time basis using the Zelle app to box [e-mail] in addition, you can become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.greatdetectives.net now from December 1, 1950, here is the Kenneth Mitchell 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. It glitters on Broadway. The glint of pavements, the brilliance of steel, the scarlet neon. It glitters, then shatters against the black of winter's wind. Then the shrapnel of color screams winds through the darkness and you run through it, gather the fragments close to be pierced by the splintered edge of beauty. But they ride the wind. You look at your hands that have reached into shadows and find they hold a sigh, the stain of a tear. Broadway observes you. Broadway laughs. You pretend it never happened. But then, warmed by the touch of the afternoon sun, Broadway relent offers you its token of regret. The man lying with a knife in his back in an apartment on West 56, lately furnished with death. And another man touching things, lifting things, replacing Them quietly. Even when he talks, he is quiet. So that the dead may hear. The call came while you were out to lunch, Danny. I couldn't find you. They told me to take it. And who is he? Mugavan. Kenneth Mitchell. Rented this place about three days ago. Super told me he was a very quiet man. Model tenant. Wished he had more like him. Find anything? The appointments of a quiet man. Some books, few magazines. Two suits of clothes. The one he's wearing. Another in the closet. Three shirts. When I came in, the radio was playing some classical music. I turned it off. Nothing else? Yeah, something else. Come on, I'll show you in the next room. Danny, this. Danny, this lady. Miss Ruth Corey.

[Ruth Corey]

Come in.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You were here when Detective Mugavan arrived, Ms. Corey?

[Ruth Corey]

Yes. I called the police. I waited. I didn't want Kenneth to be alone.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Miss Corey told me she found him like that last night when she came to visit him. What time last night, Ms. Corey?

[Ruth Corey]

I was to come by for Kenneth at 8. We were going for a walk. I was late.

[Detective Danny Clover]

How late?

[Ruth Corey]

15, 20 minutes. I know because I didn't want to be late.

[Detective Danny Clover]

That's right, Danny. Kid's watcher stopped at 8:20. Must have shattered when he fell. And you found him like that, the way he is? In the front room?

[Ruth Corey]

Yes. I knocked. Kenneth didn't answer. Sometimes Kenneth fell asleep. Just like that. Sleep would come over him. I never woke him. I'd wait. Just look at him and wait.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Did you have a key?

[Ruth Corey]

No. The door was open. I walked in. I've done it before.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Didn't call. Anyone ask for help?

[Ruth Corey]

No.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Why'd you wait so long, Ms. Corey? Ms. Corey, I asked you something. Why did you wait so long to call us?

[Ruth Corey]

Because I loved him. Because I wanted him to myself. For as long as. Because we never had very much time.

[Detective Danny Clover]

For an instant after that, we stared at each other. It was a moment touched with faraway sounds and a sudden recognition. The girl, her eyes feverish. Her cheeks too red. The languid movement of her hand. The quality of sickness that was forever part of Ruth Corey. Then the new sounds. The men from headquarters who were the statisticians of violent death. I walked into the next room and nodded to them. Told Mugman to get a doctor for Ms. Curry. Then I left. Inquire into the manner and cause of dying of a man named Kenneth Mitchell. Consult this record and that record. Come up with facts. Kenneth Mitchell lived on West 86th Street. Kenneth Mitchell had a wife. Go there.

[Ruth Corey]

Just tell me one thing, Mr. Clover. I want you to tell me the Truth? I don't want you to spare me. I have to know. We had a life together, Kenneth and I. Mrs. Mitchell. Much of wanna. I made myself suffer with Kenneth. I thought that way we could be closer now that he's dead. You got to tell me. Was there pain?

[Detective Danny Clover]

No, I don't think so.

[Ruth Corey]

No pain. I said there would be. I've read about it. You see, in most cases they say.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I understand what you're talking about.

[Ruth Corey]

Death of my husband.

[Detective Danny Clover]

That's right. He was stabbed to death.

[Ruth Corey]

You. You said.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I said I was from the police.

[Ruth Corey]

He told me Kenneth was dead. I didn't hear what else. Stabbed to death.

[Detective Danny Clover]

An apartment on West 56th.

[Ruth Corey]

Dead Kenneth no more. John. The end of it, finally.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You expected Kenneth to die?

[Ruth Corey]

I wanted to be there. I made him that promise that I would be near him. And the doctors told me he didn't have a chance. I told Kenneth when the time came, I'd be with him.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Your husband was that sick?

[Ruth Corey]

Dying. And the doctor called me and told me he'd left the sanitarium.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What sanitarium?

[Ruth Corey]

For the lungs. The sanitarium on the river. Kenneth used to watch the river when I'd go to visit him. We'd sit on the porch. I knew he used to love watching the river because he'd never talked to me. Tried saying things. After a while, I just sat there until a nurse came, told me to go.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You said your husband left the sanitarium?

[Ruth Corey]

Walked out. Can you imagine him doing a thing like that to me? But he was sick. He didn't know what he was doing. He or she did know your husband was murdered. I should have been there. He cheated me of that.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You know a girl named Ruth Corey?

[Ruth Corey]

No. No. No, I don't think so.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Was she there? Yes.

[Ruth Corey]

Kenneth needed me there. I would have helped. Told him it was all right not to be frightened.

[Detective Danny Clover]

He cheated me. I couldn't get through to her anymore. When I asked where she was at 8:20 last night, she said she didn't know. She really didn't know. Walking around the neighborhood, she supposed. She always did that at night. I thanked her, but she didn't hear me. I left her to her own particular brand of grief. More lake work then the sanitarium on the East River. Walk softly behind a red lipped nurse whose footsteps set up an echo down the long corridor. Get ushered into a small office and introduced to Dr. Neft, who lights a cigarette from the one he's just finished. And no cigarette company has asked me which brand I smoke. You careful One. Thanks. All right. Well, now that we've done the civilized things, what brings the police to see Dr. Nestor? We found a boy murdered several hours ago. Name of Kenneth Mitchell. You're talking literally. Of course. He was murdered. That's right. Stabbed. And you found out Kenneth was a patient here and that he walked out of here three days ago. Who stabbed him? Ruth. How do you know Ruth? She was a patient here. Walked out with Kenneth. What happened? Kenneth was married. And so was Ruth Corey. They met here at the sanitarium. They were lucky. They had one thing in common that would never change. They were both dying. They fell in love. The fact that they were already married is no concern of mine. They lived all but a small part of their lives on the outside. Whatever they left bare, they left. They made that decision. As their doctor, I respected it. I see. Try to understand it. Did. Did Ruth kill him? We don't know. I'm trying to find out. Who else would have motive? Have you seen Ruth's husband? No. They live on Park Avenue. I'll have the nurse get the address. I'd see Mr. Corey. He was the part of Ruth's life she left outside. Perhaps she was happy. She did. Look. You. Clover. Danny Clover. You guys have names. It's a revelation to me. Loud mouths, loud feet. That I know about. I told you. I want to talk to Mrs. Corey. You too. Sure you do. Come on. I'll take you to Ruth so you can talk to her. There she is. Talk to her. She's asleep. Asleep? Want me to wake her for you? You with the name. I'll do that. Or sleep. Thanks. You got a big heart. Go back to the other room. We stay here because there are things I've got to do for Ruth. Like this. Like cooling her brow with a damp cloth. But easy. So she'll think it's a dream. Like this. I'll come back. You said you wanted to talk to me too. I'm a busy man. Running after money takes all my time. You better grab me while you can. A man was murdered last night. I know. Ruth found him. She told me all about it. How she sat up through the night with him. Him dead. It didn't touch me at all. If I remember right, I laughed. Mm. I laughed. You can ask Ruth. You knew Kenneth Mitchell? Sure. But never close enough to touch him with my hands. He was sick. But you knew him. Mm. Do something for me. Ruth's comb. On the dresser. Give it to me. I want to comb her hair. Here. Thanks. Like silk. Like pure silk. You were Gonna tell me about Kenneth Mitchell? Sure. You see, Ruth, you see the way she is. Mitchell did this to her. How she was on her way to getting well. Because I bought that for her. Anything she wants, I'd buy for her. She was getting well. I tell you, when Miss Mitchell tried to kill her all over again, the doctor told me there was nothing that could be done for her, thanks to Mitchell. Mitchell thought he had something in Ruth. I don't know what. Maybe a sick man likes to rub a piece of life whenever he can. Even from Ruth. That's what made me laugh when she told me he was dead. Yeah, that's it. Because nothing that belongs to me dies. Mitchell was murdered last night. You'll tell me where you were? Yeah. Took you a long time, didn't it? I was with my lawyer. Go ask him. I pay him fat to handle things like this. What lawyer? Where? Gordon Horner, 1219 East 60th. He handles my money, he handles my alibis. Oh, shut the door. Soft when you go out, huh? Yes, what is it? My name is Danny Clover, from the police. What about it? The cop in the beat said it's all right if I park my car overnight in front of the house. I've been doing it for a year. Cops started. Talk to each other before. You ring doorbells. What's the matter with you? Are you through talking? You must be new. Your name Horner? Here it is. Walter Corey told me to look you up. Mr. Corey did? Then why don't you come in? In here? You told me Mr. Curry said so. Imagine all that talk outside where it's cold. There's a fireplace in here. Imagine. What is your job with Mr. Corey? His lawyer. How long you been working for him? Since the minute he made a million dollars. 1:21pm at the Curb Exchange in Wall Street. December 12, 1938. Wheat futures. I introduced myself and he said, you're hired. Does he pay you well? I can afford my whims. That's more than most men can say. Would you lie for him? I have and will. Even if it concerns murder? Let me think about that for a moment. There's a dartboard. You can throw darts. Let me think. Don't you like that? Or would you just rather stare at that interesting dotboard? Get off it, Horner. I asked you a question. I wouldn't lie if it concerned murder. All right. Did you see Mr. Corey last night? I did. He told me to meet him at Grand Central and I did. We had about two weeks. We spent about an hour together talking business. What time did you meet him? Now Listen to me, Mr. Clover. I don't know what you're trying to get out of me, but I know it was 8:20. There was a clock in the window of a store. I set my watch by it. 8 to 0. 8:20. I guess that's all. Well, you don't have to leave. There's a game I make up with a dartboard. You'd enjoy it. Oh, well, there's always solitaire. The lawyer ushered me to the door, tried to take my hand to shake it. He never made it. Then the walk in the quiet streets across 60th. The park. The dark wind sweeping the autumn leaves, gathering them in the gutters of night. Walk down park and pass Dorman putting lights on potted trees. And consider motive and alibi. Consider why someone needed a dying man dead. His wife, the girl, Ruth, her husband. It was going to buy life back for her. Toward Grand Central. Now, the intrusion of the sounds of night. Metallic creeping of the leaves. The deep cry of steel hurtling under the earth. Then another sound. A sound that tears through flesh. Drips, then explodes. Explodes. A woman's scream. Then nothing. You are listening to Broadway's My Beat, written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and starring Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. The wind comes up from the river and twist the headline around an ankle, lifts it up again, flattens it against a gutter. Look down at it and stare. Not at the big one, the smaller one there. Almost burned by the cigarette butt. Man murdered, it says. Lean closer. Kenneth Mitchell stabbed to death in apartment on West 56th Street. And the part of it that's almost charred. Officer in charge of case. Shots down, then shrug. Walk on. Tomorrow is another day. You'll spend it at the foot of the rainbow. Sure, as far as I was concerned. I had to consider the officer in charge of the case. The man who was shot down. Me and the two men near me trying to help him in that bottle. Bottle? No, no, not that one. The other one. The brown one. Brown bottle? Yeah. Thank you. Hold on to the edge of the table, Danny. Go ahead, Holder. Just take it easy, Dr. Sinski. Look, Danny, a bullet grazed your skull. Be thankful that you can still feel pain. Well, just don't hurt him, Doctor. Just hold on, Danny. Okay, now we'll bandage you up. Hand me the bandage. You know, bandage you. You hurt much, Danny? A headache. Don't worry about it. The scalp wound isn't very deep. You know, Danny, this is the self. Same thing that made Mike Schreck the miracle Detective from Philadelphia. Bald headed. Time after time he got his scalp blasted. Please. Do you know my head aches. I told you it does. What happened, Danny? I don't know. Someone shot at me. A half inch lower and you'd have been. Leave him alone. His headaches. Scissors. Scissors. Okay, doctor, okay. You are a man who has been a half inch from death in a couple of months. When the barber asks you what that scar is, tell him that. Try to laugh about that. Try to be. I'll get it. Sergeant Carpaglia on the phone. Danny Clover. He's in no condition to talk. Give me the phone. Gino. Phone. Danny Clover speaking. Think I can help you on the Kenneth Mitchell case? You interested? I'm interested. I'm Ted Lawson. I have a cabinet shop, corner of 3rd and 38th. I'll be right down. Be with you in a minute, mister. Want to give this cabinet leg another turn? I'll wait. Look at it, miss. Look how I brought out the grain. See Here and here. Run your hand over it. It's beautiful. Mahogany. Response to my touch. It. It. I mean. I mean, I like working with wood. Ever since they forced it on me in manual training. You're Ted Lawson? Yeah. Look, I wasn't trying to convince you how good I am. There's lots of cabinet makers. We all. I'm from the police, Ted. Oh, you got here fast. I told us you had something on Kenneth Mitchell's murder. How do you fit in, Ted? Ruth Corey's my sister. There she was until she married. Hey, you've been hurt, mister. I got a couch in the back room. It's covered with sawdust, but I could brush it. Haven't seen Ruth at the sanitarium. A couple of times. I bought her fruit magazines, things like that. It was maybe a year ago. You haven't seen her since? No. Corey wouldn't let me. Said I upset her. Left orders I couldn't see her. That's why I called you, mister. Why? You got to get her away from that man. He'll kill her. She hasn't much time, mister. He'll burn it up so fast. You've got to take her away from him. You people can do that. I got a little house at sea, Gird a block from the ocean. I live there alone. I can take care of Ruth, make.

[Ruth Corey]

It good for her.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You've got to. You've got to. You won't do it, huh? We can't. Then forget it. Forget I ever asked you for anything. Question. I've got to ask you to hurry. It up, mister. I'm busy. Where were you at 8:20 last night, the time Ruth found? I don't know. I was looking at the dead roller coasters on Coney. Maybe I watched the surf washing the dirt on the beach. Maybe. I don't know. You knew Kenneth Mitchell? No. But I'll tell you something. He kept my sister from getting well. Makes me feel good. He's dead. Take it. Do something with it, mister. Like I said, I'm busy. It hadn't helped, merely added another suspect. Ted Lawson, brother of Ruth Corey. A man who hated anyone who could hurt his sister. Murder has an affinity for love and hate. Back at headquarters, I checked reports. Item nothing on the whereabouts of Florence Mitchell at 8:20 last night. And sundry other items. Negative. Still in process of being checked. Then a phone call to the home of Ruth Corey. She wanted to see me. She wanted to talk to me. She wanted to explain things to me. Go there. Meet Ms. Fabry, a nurse assigned to Ruth. Not when she says it's a good time to talk. Because Mr. Corey, he just stepped out. Ms. Fabric takes you to her patients, rearranges the pillows and smiles then.

[Ruth Corey]

Don't we look rested and refreshed. Thank you.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You look a lot better, Ms. Corey.

[Ruth Corey]

You don't have to do that, Mr. Clover. I know how I look. If we don't feel like talking, Ruth, we don't have to. I told Mr.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I can see you later.

[Ruth Corey]

No, please stay. Do you think I killed Kenneth?

[Detective Danny Clover]

You could have. There were no prints on the knife.

[Ruth Corey]

Blade, but I could have wiped them off. I was with him for a long time after he was dead. We know there are questions you want to ask me. I know that. Please ask me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I want to tell you this. Kenneth died at 8:20. The only one who has an alibi for that time is your husband. Your brother.

[Ruth Corey]

Talk to my brother.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yes. He can't tell me where he was when Kenneth died.

[Ruth Corey]

Ted. Ted killed Kenneth. Do you think he could?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Everyone can kill.

[Ruth Corey]

Yes.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I know you.

[Ruth Corey]

I loved Kenneth. We ran away from the sanitarium to spend what time we had left together. We didn't make any dreams or plans. Just to be with each other. Spend the rest of our lives with a love that couldn't grow old.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Because then you didn't kill him, did you?

[Ruth Corey]

When I wept seeing him lying there, I wept for myself. For the first time in my life, I was sorry for myself. Because now I'd be without Kenneth.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Sorry, Ms. Carr. You didn't answer.

[Ruth Corey]

Oh, killed Kenneth, did you? No. Oh, I didn't do that. No. Perhaps we'd better go now, Mr. Clover. Shall we? No, no. Please stay here and talk to me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

This car you've stainless.

[Ruth Corey]

Talk to me. Say Kenneth's name. Say she's dozed off.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'm sorry if I tired her.

[Ruth Corey]

Yes, yes. We get tired so easily. We get worried about it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

It's late, Danny. Why don't you go home? Give in to that head wound of yours. I won't tell anybody. You checked on the girl's brother, Ted? Yeah. He was seen walking the beach at Coney Island. Several people saw him. You're good, McAvan. Ted couldn't give me an alibi. But you come up with one for him from several people. Where do you find people like that? Unconey? You can find anything you look for, Danny. The philosophy comes with it, huh? The bullet must have touched your angry nerve, Danny. There's several people with characters who won't give in to winter. They run hot dog stands, knish stands. They put out eagle Eyes for customers from 8 until 9. They threw out Faith for Lawson. He looked so hungry. Lawson didn't indulge in one knish, one hot dog. But he was walking the beach at Coney from 8 until maybe 9:30. The witnesses will be glad to testify. When he left, they gave up. That's how they remarked the time. It's still late. You still should go home. You through? Yeah. No way. I'm sorry. I opened my mouth. Ted Lawson has an alibi. Corey has one. Mitchell's wife. What about her? I got one for her too, Danny. At 8:20 she was buying cigarettes at the candy store. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That leaves Ruth Corey. You got a mental block, Danny. Give in to it. It was Ruth Corey, not that girl. All she ever had was Mitchell. All she. You saw her muggerman. You know what? Sure I know. I know a lot of things I don't care to know. Want me to go place her under arrest, Danny? I said do you want me to? Danny, I brought you some hot bullion. I cooked it myself on the bullion burner and Technico here then. Thanks, Tanglia. Ah, sip it slowly, Danny. It shouldn't make a ringing in the noggin. And while you are so sipping, I will go over to the window and give you a play by play description of New York at nighttime. Yeah. Gripped in the icy fingers of Jack Frost. New York. What time is it, Margovan? It's 8:20, Danny. What? It's 8:20. Says so right there on the clock. They're crazy. Later Than that. What clock? It's the one hanging over there, across the street, over a jewelry store. What about it? Jewellers always set their display clocks to 8:20. Tell them the rest. Mugaman.

[Ruth Corey]

Oh, hello, Mr. Clover. We came back, didn't we?

[Detective Danny Clover]

May I come in?

[Ruth Corey]

Please do.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I want to see Mr. Corey.

[Ruth Corey]

I see. This way. Mr. Corey is with.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I want to see him alone.

[Ruth Corey]

I don't think you missed clothes.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Wait there. I'll be right up. In other times when painters tried to paint a scene of awful desolation, they chose the desert or eat the barren rocks. And there would try to picture a man in his great lonely. Mr. Corey, I'm reading for her. I want to talk to you. But for a modern painter, the most desolate scene would be a street in almost any of our great cities on a Sunday afternoon. All right, but keep your voice down. Mrs. Shh. She's sleeping. I'll cover her so she'll be warm. You murdered Kenneth Mitchell. Mr. Corey. Hand me that brush. The hairbrush. Hand it to me Here. Ruth likes me to brush her hair. It's restful. Sleep, Ruth. Sleep. That alibi your lawyer gave you. It was pretty fortunate, wasn't it? Ruth Mitchell was killed at 8:20. You met your lawyer sometime after that to arrange an alibi because you thought we couldn't set the exact time of Kenneth's death. Sleep we did. His watch broke when he found. You're gonna get better, Ruth. When your lawyer met you, saw a jeweler's clock set at 8:20. Thought it was the right time. Your alibi was great, Ruth. We'll go all the places you wanted to go. We're under arrest, Mr. Corey, for murder. For attempting to murder me. Do the things you wanted to do, Ruth. Thought I would see that clock in the window near Grand Central. But I was only walking. I'll wait outside for you. You won't have to go back to that hospital, Ruth. I'll take care of you.

[Ruth Corey]

I've been waiting here, Mr. Clover. I thought you'd call me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

When did it happen?

[Ruth Corey]

I was with her. She died half hour ago.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Broadway Sleeping now? The furious avenues of the night are still. Only the sleepwalkers are there. Those who lust for dreams or realities that never come true. The seekers, the sodden, the huggers. Close of nothing. It's Broadway. The gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway Way. My beat. Broadway's My Beat. Stars Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. With Charles Calvert as Tartaglia. The program is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with musical score composed and conducted by Alexander Courage. Included in tonight's cast were Lou Marrow, Mary Lansing, Lillian Byeth, Paul McVeigh, Byron Kane and Jack Crucian. Tonight on Fen Presents, you've been listening to some of the best in radio drama with Bibber McGee on Molly and Broadway is My Beats. Join us again Monday evening at the same time, 9:05, when EPN presents Dragnet and Escape.

[Podcast Host Commentary]

This is the story of the 1. As a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility, he knows keeping the line up and running is a top priority. That's why he chooses Grainger, because when a drive belt gets damaged, Grainger makes it easy to find the exact specs for the replacement product he needs. And next day delivery helps ensure he'll have everything in place and running like clockwork. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click granger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Adam Graham (Podcast Host)]

Welcome back. The motive for the attempt on Danny's life may have been one of the better ones that we've heard, where they go after the detective. Now, it's not particularly plausible. I mean, Danny would have to just happen to look at the clock and have that sort of, aha, you know, Sherlock Holmes or that moment of recognition. But while it might not be a rational thing to do, I think that given the killer's state of mind, it made perfect sense. Now the deciding clue was really interesting as well. The thing about the 820 time was not something that I heard of, but it was something that was favored for advertisements and for many stores because it gave the clock a symmetrical look and it didn't obscure the logo of the manufacturer. But modern ads favor the 10:10 time because it's also symmetrical, but it has a more positive psychological impact and actually it's been found to lead to increased sales. While having 820 appears to have the clock face frowning, which doesn't actually do anything for sale. Now the Internet is confusing as to when this actually went out of favor because if you just did a Google search, you would be told that this was something that only happened in the 1920s and 30s. But actually dug further, found an article from 1987, an actual article where someone wrote in to ask about this and attested that he was seeing 8:20 and as all the time. And the response indicated that it was for the reason of symmetry and that the 1010 also served the same purpose and was used just as much. So while there were shifts to 1010 for clock faces in the 1950s, both managed to coexist for some time and certainly the writers knew what they were talking about here. I also enjoyed the scene with Tartaglia and Mugavan together. The two rarely interact and to be fair, they kind of more competed for Danny's attention than anything else. And you got a contrast between these two very important sergeants. Mugavin is the pavement beating cop who brings Danny important facts, while Tardaglia often reports what others have found, he also has this way of drawing Danny into more of these human interactions. Now it might seem, looking at it from that perspective, that Tartaglia is a bit of a distracting comic relief that's keeping Danny from thinking about the case. But the thing with Danny Clover is I think he can really get some tunnel vision where he has been looking at a problem so long that he can't see beyond what he's seen. He gets stuck. And Tartaglia just has this way of getting Danny to take a step back and be able to see something that he hadn't seen before. So I really appreciated how this episode portrayed that relationship working Listener comments and feedback now and we go to YouTube where Reinzer comments regarding the Johnny Hilmer case. I knew it was Finch as soon as I heard Howard McMear. Appreciate the comment. The thing with Howard McNear is he plays a lot of eccentric murderers, but he also plays a lot of eccentric and odd people who aren't murderers. So I would not make a bet based on McNear showing up, though he has already played a few murderers on this, but I don't think that he was at that Herb Butterfield level of always being the killer. And we have a couple of Comments now from Mechanic66 regarding the Falcon and we talked in the episode the Case of the Big Fix about the end of every car being a Nash mechanic 66 rights and then AMC gave us such classic cars like the Fishbowl on Wheels, AKA the Pacer, the Gremlin, the Hornet and the the Concord, the Matador X and of course the Javelin. Well, thanks so much. Appreciate the comment. And he also writes, I didn't realize George Petrie was DA Marcum from Philovance until I looked him up and then immediately recognized him. He also played Charlie Wild, private detective, which I haven't heard of. This was the first time I've ever heard Handle the adoption papers used as a euphemism. Well, that's one of those groundbreaking things on the Falcon. I will say early Wild is one of those series most people don't talk about because I don't Think anyone has heard it since it first aired 75 years ago? Unless it's some clandestine group of old time radio collectors who have all the really rare programs not in circulation. Charlie Wild is best remembered, if anything, as being what Wild Root Cream Oil decided to use as its replacement show for Sam Spade. It's like, okay, we've got the most iconic private detective on radio, but he's got some. The actors got some political controversy, the creators got some political controversy around the suspicion about communism. So I know what we'll replace it with. We will replace it with a private detective named after the product. I can't foresee that having a problem. Although Charlie Wilde did outlive the Wild Root sponsorship. It's not particularly remembered by anybody. But I would be curious to hear how George Petrie played the role. Certainly did a good job as the Falcon. Again, thanks so much. Always appreciate the comments. Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Mike, patreon supporter since March 2023, currently supporting the podcast at the shamus level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Mike. 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 Mob 8, but join us back here tomorrow for dragnet, where.

[Ms. Burton (Witness)]

The Mr. And Mrs. Was gone out. They were sitting with the television.

[Detective Danny Clover]

The three men broke in the side door. Is that right, Ms. Burton?

[Ms. Burton (Witness)]

Yeah, the side door. I think so. Ever sitting with the television. Boxing. I hear this sound. I turn around and the three men, they're right there in the room with me. I thought I could scream, but I couldn't.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Do you remember what the men looked like, Ms. Bergstrom? How they were dressed?

[Ms. Burton (Witness)]

I don't know. I was so much being frightened. One of them had a jacket on, I think. Dark jacket. The others, I don't know anything else.

[Detective Danny Clover]

About them that you noticed.

[Ms. Burton (Witness)]

They had masks all over their faces. I couldn't see. I jumped up. I tried to scream, but I was so much frightened.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What'd they do then, Miss?

[Ms. Burton (Witness)]

Yeah, they put a cloth all around my mouth so I could. Couldn't make noise. Then they tied my hands and my feet and they put me in the closet out there. You smelled the whole way I was kicking and hitting at them.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Had you ever seen any of the men before, Ms. Burton?

[Ms. Burton (Witness)]

No, never before.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Do you think you'd know any of the men if you saw them again?

[Ms. Burton (Witness)]

I shouldn't be sure. One of them maybe. I might know him well.

[Detective Danny Clover]

How do you mean? Did you get a look at his face?

[Ms. Burton (Witness)]

Well, it was very quick.

[Adam Graham (Podcast Host)]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box13atdetectives.net follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram, Instagram Instagram.com greatdetectives From Boise, Idaho, this is your host Adam Graham signing off.

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