Broadway's My Beat: The Tommy Stafford Murder Case (EP4643)

Summary

Episode Summary: Broadway's My Beat - "The Tommy Stafford Murder Case" (EP4643)

Introduction

In this gripping episode of Broadway's My Beat, titled "The Tommy Stafford Murder Case", Detective Danny Clover is thrust into a convoluted murder investigation set against the vibrant backdrop of Coney Island. Hosted by Adam Graham of The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio, this episode masterfully blends suspense, intricate plotting, and classic radio drama elements to deliver a compelling mystery that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats.

Plot Summary

The episode opens on a seemingly ordinary night as Detective Danny Clover is en route home from headquarters. However, his routine evening takes a dark turn when he's summoned to the scene of a murder on Coney Island's roller coaster. Upon arrival, Clover discovers the lifeless body of Tommy Stafford, a bonded runner employed by Gerald Pfaffman, a jeweler.

Stafford was reportedly on his way to deliver $100,000 worth of jewels, including a priceless pearl necklace, to Madame Sybil at 8 o'clock the previous night. Accompanied by his messenger, Ed Drasko, Stafford never made it to the rendezvous point, raising immediate suspicions.

Key Developments:

1. Interview with Frank Curcio ([03:30] - [06:19]):

   • Frank Curcio, the roller coaster operator, reveals that Stafford was seemingly calm and unstirred despite having multiple tickets in his hat band. His unperturbed demeanor becomes a focal point, hinting at underlying tensions or foreknowledge of impending danger.

2. Visit to Gerald Pfaffman's Establishment ([04:54] - [09:27]):

   • Detective Clover pays a visit to Pfaffman's jeweler shop, where he interacts with Sybil and Victor Amalfi, a prop boy assisting Sybil. Sybil's evasive behavior and the mysterious badge suggest deeper layers within the case, possibly involving forgery or deceit.

3. Investigation at Headquarters ([10:01] - [16:25]):

   • Back at the NYPD headquarters, Sergeant Gino Tartaglia briefs Clover on the case. Ed Drasko emerges as the primary suspect due to his disappearance and the fact that he hasn't been located despite being a key figure in the delivery of the stolen jewels.

4. Confrontation in the Hall of Mirrors ([12:00] - [26:46]):

   • Clover and Victor Amalfi meet at the Hall of Mirrors for a clandestine deal about the stolen jewels. The environment becomes a trap as Drasko, wielding a gun, attempts to eliminate suspects. In the ensuing chaos, Clover manages to shoot Drasko, only to uncover inconsistencies in the evidence, particularly the absence of fingerprints on the gun—a clue pointing towards Sybil's involvement.

5. Breakthrough with Paul Otis ([17:01] - [26:46]):

   • Clover interrogates Paul Otis, who inadvertently provides pivotal information linking the missing jewels to both himself and B. Morris, a hula performer. This revelation unravels the complex web of deceit orchestrated by Sybil, who had manipulated the situation to her advantage, ultimately leading to Delta's exoneration and Sybil's downfall.

Notable Quotes

• Detective Danny Clover ([04:54]):

  "And as we perform the rites that come after violent death, the great amusement park wound down and became still. And the distant song of the carousel was washed out to sea."

• Madame Sybil ([05:00]):

  "If you permit me, I could be of rather remarkable assistance. What you had in mind, was it for an amant, a girl, a mother, a wife, a souvenir of 20 years, splendid service in your splendid factory."

• Sergeant Gino Tartaglia ([10:11]):

  "Hey, Danny, how could this Drasco have his mitts on the gun then leave no fingerprints, huh?"

• Detective Danny Clover ([24:28]):

  "$100,000 worth of jewels for a measly down payment of 10 grand. Good profit. $90,000. And all it cost was the murder of two messenger boys."

• Madame Sybil ([25:44]):

  "I'm glad it wasn't you, Mr. Clover. When I pointed the gun. I never pointed a gun before, Lucky."

Host’s Commentary

Adam Graham delves into the intricacies of the episode, emphasizing the heightened paranoia exhibited by certain characters. He draws parallels between this case and previous episodes, highlighting how the combination of quick judgment and external pressures can lead to erroneous conclusions. Graham praises Detective Clover's keen instincts, noting his willingness to question initial evidence, which ultimately leads to unveiling the orchestrated deceit behind the murders.

"The summary should:

• Be rich and engaging, covering all important topics
• Include notable quotes with speaker attribution and timestamps (MM:SS format)
• Flow naturally and be useful for those who haven't listened
• Skip advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections"

Graham also reflects on listener feedback, addressing comments from mechanic6682 regarding the plausibility of alibis and procedural accuracies within the narrative. He appreciates the engagement and thoughtful analysis from listeners, encouraging more interaction and support through Patreon.

Listener Feedback

Listeners have actively participated in dissecting the episode's plot and procedural elements. For instance, mechanic6682 on YouTube commented on the realism of the alibi provided by the suspect, questioning whether such a scenario would hold up under real-world police procedures.

"The solution to the alibi was obvious early on. When he took the guy to the hospital... if anything, I would think it might be a case where the writers didn't take into account the existence of booking photos and the plan just wouldn't actually work in real life."

Graham addresses these points, acknowledging the balance between dramatic storytelling and realistic policing, and appreciates the listeners' keen observations which enhance the collective enjoyment and understanding of the series.

Conclusion

"The Tommy Stafford Murder Case" stands out as a quintessential episode of Broadway's My Beat, weaving a tale of betrayal, hidden motives, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Detective Danny Clover's journey through the neon-lit avenues of Coney Island not only uncovers the grim realities behind facade and glamour but also showcases the timeless allure of mystery-solving that defines old-time radio dramas. Hosted by Adam Graham, the episode not only entertains but also engages listeners in a thoughtful examination of justice and perception.

For those who relish classic detective stories infused with rich narratives and intricate character dynamics, this episode is a must-listen. Subscribe to The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio on your favorite podcast platform or visit greatdetectives.net to immerse yourself in a world where every clue counts and every secret has a revelation.

Transcript

[Danny Clover]

Check engine light on. Take the guesswork out of your Check engine light with O'Reilly Variscan. It's free. Ask for O'Reilly Veriscan today. Oh, oh, oh. O'Reilly Auto Parts.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Broadway's My Beat. But first, I do want to encourage you if you're enjoying the podcast, to follow us using your favorite podcast software. Our listener support and appreciation campaign continues. You can become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month at patreon.greatdetectives.net and you get to choose what our new summer series will be on the Amazing World of Radio. Among other benefits, do check that [e-mail] well, now, from April 14, 1950 is the Tommy Stafford murder case.

[Danny Clover]

Broadway's My Beat. From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway's my beat. With Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. In the sunlight of April, Broadway shimmers like an enchanted garden. It's the place where golden women glide past mirrors of chrome. You're happy because the reflection of all their smiles were for you. At nighttime comes and the sudden whirlpools of color are flung skyward from jeweled fountains and you're happy. It's the once upon a time land you've searched for. In the morning you wish it never happened. It's Broadway, my beat. It was 11:30 at night and I was on my way home from headquarters. I didn't make it. A squad car picked me up at 43rd street and a man told me my working day wasn't over. They were from the technical lab. They were on their way to the scene of the crime, which was on Coney island, which was where they were taking me, which is where I went to Coney island through a crowd gathered around a roller coaster to a man who was waiting for me.

[Mugavin]

Hi, Danny.

[Danny Clover]

Okay, Mugavan, what's up?

[Mugavin]

A guy there in the third seat of this car. Dead. Danny?

[Danny Clover]

Uh huh. Stand. Who stabbed him? Mugavin.

[Mugavin]

Out there in the faceless crowd.

[Danny Clover]

You don't know, huh?

[Mugavin]

Not an idea. Except that somebody sat behind him and pushed a knife into him.

[Danny Clover]

Witnesses? Nope.

[Mugavin]

Maybe this guy screamed. Who pays any attention to a scream on a roller coaster?

[Danny Clover]

Who found him?

[Mugavin]

Him?

[Frank Curcio]

Yeah, Me. I found him.

[Danny Clover]

And you're who?

[Frank Curcio]

Frank Curcio. I run this ride. Here's what, mister. This guy, this stead guy sitting there, he had a half a dozen tickets in his hat band. And if he tried. I just went over to him, took a ticket. Didn't disturb him.

[Danny Clover]

Didn't you notice something was wrong?

[Frank Curcio]

People react different to roller coasters. To him I figure it's restful. I didn't disturb him till he ran out of tickets. Then I disturbed him and I found out I couldn't disturb him. Can I yell police?

[Danny Clover]

That check Mugavan?

[Mugavin]

You told me just that, Danny.

[Danny Clover]

Identification on this man? Uh huh.

[Gerald Pfaffman]

Yeah.

[Mugavin]

His wallet. Name? Thomas Stafford. Address here, rooming house in Brooklyn. Employed as a bonded runner for one Gerald Puffman, jeweler.

[Danny Clover]

Gerald who?

[Mugavin]

Pfaffman. We turn it over to the technical boys now, huh?

[Danny Clover]

And as we perform the rites that come after violent death, the great amusement park wound down and became still. And the distant song of the carousel was washed out to sea. And the crowd shivered against the rising mist and against the memory that death had walked the carnival. That somewhere on the midway its wing had touched them. In the morning I had a call to make to the place of one Gerald Fuffman Esquire. Jewels, et cetera. That's what it said on the window inside. Gerald Fuffman Esq. Was very. Elegan. Very. Etc.

[Frank Curcio]

Welcome to my establishment. Make yourself comfortable. Browse, indulge. Etc. Etc.

[Danny Clover]

Thank you, I will.

[Frank Curcio]

If you permit me, I could be of rather remarkable assistance. What you had in mind, was it for an amant, A girl, a mother, a wife, a souvenir of 20 years, splendid service in your splendid factory.

[Danny Clover]

That would be nice. Could you make a replica of this? In diamonds?

[Frank Curcio]

Dear boy, I can make a replica of anything. In anything. Baby shoes, a lover's broken heart, a suit of armor, etc. Etc.

[Danny Clover]

Take another look.

[Frank Curcio]

I have. It's a badge. A police badge. My dear boy, I don't know quite how to put this, but I'm afraid my establishment is quite beyond a policeman's means.

[Danny Clover]

You put it very neat. That leaves us nothing to talk about. Except maybe Tommy Stafford.

[Frank Curcio]

Tommy? But how could you have known?

[Danny Clover]

Known what? Mr. Faucman?

[Frank Curcio]

I was just on the verge of reporting it to the police. Tommy has absconded with $100,000 worth of jewels. A pearl necklace, priceless baubles.

[Danny Clover]

Oh.

[Frank Curcio]

Oh yes. Last night at 8 o'clock he was to deliver them to Madame Sibyl in Coney Island. He and his CO messenger Ed Drasko. They never appeared At Madame Sybil's. They vanished.

[Danny Clover]

Tommy Stafford is dead.

[Frank Curcio]

Dead? Tommy.

[Danny Clover]

Tommy. Stabbed to death on a roller coaster.

[Frank Curcio]

Oh, that's horrible. So unnecessary. It makes everything so desolate. So. Etc, etc.

[Danny Clover]

You say Tommy and this Adrasca were to deliver the jewels to Madam Sybil?

[Frank Curcio]

Yes. She had already paid me a $10,000 deposit last night. She was to pay me the rest on delivery. She phoned me that the messengers hadn't come. I told her to be patient, that they would most assuredly make the delivery. I didn't know. I didn't know.

[Danny Clover]

Ed Drasko. Do you have his address?

[Frank Curcio]

He roomed with Tommy. You think Ed killed the boy? You think he killed him and stole the jewels?

[Danny Clover]

I don't know. What do you think, Mr. Fauckman? I called headquarters and told them to bring in a man named Ed Drasko. Then it was back to Coney island again at noon. Coney looked like a desert of unwound toys. I asked a man where I could find the establishment of Madame Civil. He tried to tout me to the establishment of Madame Bernice. Who was a girl who could really read bumps on the head. But I held out for Madame Sybil. He sighed, nodded his head that way and I went. It was a wood framed shack with a couple of windows decked out in silhouettes of a man's head. A man's head with bumps on them, each bump with a special name. The sign on the door said walk in. I did.

[Mugavin]

Madame Sybil offers herself to meditation. However, she will be with you within this moment in time.

[Danny Clover]

That's nice of Madam Sybil. Mind if I sit down? Please. Who are you?

[Mugavin]

Victor. Upon this level, this is the name by which I am known. Victor.

[Danny Clover]

Aha. Well, I'll tell you, Victor.

[Mugavin]

Reflect inwardly. Seek to attune yourself to the vibrations.

[Danny Clover]

I've already done that, Victor. You know what? I bet if you unwrap that towel on your head, it'll read Hotel New Yorker.

[Mugavin]

What's your business here, Mac?

[Danny Clover]

Police business.

[Madame Sybil]

You will forgive Madam Sybil. Madam Sybil was lost.

[Mugavin]

Police. Police. Can't you tell a cop yet, Sybil?

[Madame Sybil]

What's he want? What do you want here, mister?

[Danny Clover]

I understand you paid a deposit on some jewels. You paid the deposit and the jewels are stolen.

[Madame Sybil]

I like a customer like you. You don't ask questions. You make statements. And all I do is say yes. The easiest kind of customer to have.

[Danny Clover]

Now we'll take it off a customer and client basis.

[Madame Sybil]

You think this dodge is phony, huh? How right you Are. Look at him. Look at Victor. Put your towel on straight, Victor. Let me help you. Hold still.

[Danny Clover]

Don't.

[Mugavin]

Cut it out, will you?

[Madame Sybil]

And the grease paint. Every day he forgets to cover one ear. Ever see a man with two different colored ears? Turn around, Victor. Let him see.

[Danny Clover]

Okay, okay.

[Madame Sybil]

Look, mister, I always level with the law. I'm gonna show you what? Who I really am. Right here in this wall safe. Because I like to level. No secrets from the police, Sybil Spence. That's who I am. See?

[Danny Clover]

The jewel, Sybil. They in the safe, too.

[Madame Sybil]

Want to look?

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, yeah, I do.

[Madame Sybil]

Nothing, huh? See? On the level.

[Danny Clover]

How is it that you can afford $100,000 worth of jewelry, Sybil?

[Madame Sybil]

Because I got $100,000 more. More than that. Nine concessions right here in Coney. I got money. There's a law.

[Danny Clover]

And why this corny little pitch reading heads?

[Madame Sybil]

I like it. There's a law.

[Danny Clover]

The rest of the story civil, like in the papers.

[Madame Sybil]

I paid a down deposit. Fuffman sent the jewels. He says. Puffman says I didn't get them. Tell him, Victor. Tell the police she didn't get them.

[Danny Clover]

And neither Tommy Stafford or Ed Draska showed up.

[Madame Sybil]

Tell him, Victor.

[Mugavin]

Neither one showed up.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Welcome back to headquarters, Danny. Welcome back from the cotton candy and the two foot hot dogs of Coney Island. After these heavenly pleasures, it must be rough to get back into the swing of things with us mere mortals.

[Danny Clover]

Rough? Oh, here. I brought you some pinwheels.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Aw, gee, Danny, thanks. Gee, Danny, when you blow on them, don't they make a ring around the rows of your pretty colors?

[Danny Clover]

They're for the Tataglia children. Tataglia, huh?

[Gino Tartaglia]

Oh, of course. They're for the Tataglia children. Whose else? Children?

[Danny Clover]

For a minute you had me. Well, Tataglia.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Well, leave us lay aside our childish pleasures and get down to the affairs at the moment, huh, Danny?

[Danny Clover]

If you insist.

[Gino Tartaglia]

I. Yeah. This matter of bringing in this messenger, Ed Rascoe, it has not been accomplished.

[Danny Clover]

Why?

[Gino Tartaglia]

For the simple reason that this aforesaid Ed Drasco has taken unto himself a powder. He is not in his rooming house, nor in his appointed haunts, nor is.

[Danny Clover]

Send out an all points bulletin on him. I want Ed Drasko.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Well, naturally. Number one suspect, honey. Such an open and shock.

[Danny Clover]

Anything else, D'Artaglia case?

[Gino Tartaglia]

No, nothing to bother our pretty little brains about this Frank Curcio, owner and ticker taker of the roller coaster on which was found the body of the deceased.

[Danny Clover]

What about Curcio?

[Gino Tartaglia]

Well, airtight alibi. When he was not taking Tickets. He was in a rendezvous with a dancing girl whose blue jay corn plasters had come awry. All checked.

[Danny Clover]

Airtight for a mere mortal. Tataglia. You. Excuse me? Tataglia.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Naturally.

[Danny Clover]

Thank you. Danny Clover speaking.

[Mugavin]

You and me, Clover, we got a date. Victor Amalfi and you.

[Danny Clover]

Oh, have we, Victor. You'll wear a fresh towel.

[Mugavin]

I like that. Yeah, you and me in that. Dresco. He wants we should come to his dance.

[Danny Clover]

Ed Drasko?

[Mugavin]

Yeah, he wants to make a deal about the jewels. He said I should come alone, but being law abiding, like where?

[Danny Clover]

Where's the dance, Victor?

[Mugavin]

Hall of mirrors, back entrance, 12:30 tonight. I can count on you then? Detective Clover. Hello, Detective Victor.

[Danny Clover]

Vasco made contact with you yet?

[Mugavin]

He said he'd be here. I haven't seen him. I've been waiting here, but I haven't seen him.

[Danny Clover]

Tell her to me again. Why should Drasco contact you?

[Mugavin]

So simple. A guy steals $100,000 worth of jewels, double crosses his employer, kills his buddy, the jewels are hot, he can't get rid of him, so he makes a deal with the madam and me. 25 grand.

[Danny Clover]

Why did you call me?

[Mugavin]

Well, like I try to impress you on the phone. I'm honest. I'm double crossing a killer. I called in the cops. You'd like it some other way.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah. I thought this hall of mirrors was closed. There's someone in there.

[Mugavin]

Maybe Drasco. Come on.

[Danny Clover]

You first, Victor.

[Mugavin]

Yeah, yeah. I know where the lights are. You better follow me, Detective. A guy can get lost in here.

[Danny Clover]

Is that you, Victor? Or a mirror? Now there's six of you.

[Mugavin]

I'm the third one from the left. Come on.

[Danny Clover]

Victor.

[Mugavin]

I'm right beside you. Drasco must have brought a gun.

[Danny Clover]

We're standing here like ducks with an advantage. How does he know which of us is real and which one? A reflection.

[Mugavin]

What are you waiting for, detective? He's shooting. When are you gonna pull your gun?

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, I'll do that. But, Turpit, what do I shoot at? That way. That way?

[Mugavin]

The shot came from right there. Shoot.

[Danny Clover]

Sh.

[Mugavin]

Hey, you're good, Detective. I think you got it.

[Danny Clover]

Wait a minute. Okay, let's go over there. Through that broken mirror. Someone lying on the floor.

[Mugavin]

Yeah, Drasco. Yeah, that's Drasco all right.

[Danny Clover]

How do you know?

[Mugavin]

I saw him at the jewelry store. Hey, you're really good, detective. One shot and you kill a man. The case is over, huh?

[Danny Clover]

Wait a minute. I'll see.

[Mugavin]

What's to see?

[Danny Clover]

Oh. Oh.

[Mugavin]

Looking for the jewels. They on them? They're they're on them, huh?

[Gerald Pfaffman]

It's.

[Mugavin]

It's all over, huh?

[Danny Clover]

For Drasco. But he lied to you, Victor.

[Mugavin]

No jewels, huh?

[Danny Clover]

No jewels. How do you figure it, Victor? A man dies for a lot of jewelry he didn't have. There's this about Broadway. It measures emotion, computes sensation in terms of neon and Mazda. On Broadway, all that glitters is gold. When light screams, it goes well on Broadway. When darkness flares, not so good. But the death of Ed Rasco in a hall of mirrors, that was something else. That measured up almost as good as the violent death of Tommy Stafford on a roller coaster in Coney Island. And the gleam of $100,000 worth of missing jewels that was dazzling. Worth at least a sack of confetti. Carnival time. That's what it was. Carnival time. Or as Sergeant Gino Tartaglia put it.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Danny, you add this all together and it comes out a three ring circus with three rings.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah. Meet the clown Tartagger.

[Gino Tartaglia]

What are you talking, Danny? You're a hero. You kill a thief or murderer, thereby solving the previous murder. In the book that makes you a hero. Clown is for laughing at whom?

[Danny Clover]

Maybe Draska didn't mean to be killed.

[Gino Tartaglia]

What are you talking? You find him with his gun in his hand. Previous to that, bullets were flying amongst the mirrors in your general direction. At a time like that, you're going to stop to ask yourself, should I or shouldn't I?

[Danny Clover]

I was eager to, Taglia. If I hadn't been so eager, a man would still be alive. A man we could talk to so we could be sure.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Danny, before you go any further with this selfish torture, explain to me this business of Igor.

[Danny Clover]

If I played it smart, if I'd shown myself, maybe Draska wouldn't have been so quick with his gun. I could have waited to take him. By the way, where is his gun?

[Gino Tartaglia]

In technical for a routine check. Registry, fingerprints and all the so forth and so forth. The technical does with a gun.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, the list. And the missing jewels, is it out?

[Gino Tartaglia]

It is out, Danny. Which brings me to the tidbit of the day. A tidbit which will bring a smile to your gloom, a ray of sunshine to your.

[Danny Clover]

Just a tidbit to Daglia.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Of course. We are just in receipt of information, Danny, that a tall Otis is honoring the tank in the Coney island precinct with his presence.

[Danny Clover]

I can't tell you how happy that makes me.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Wait. Let me finish, Danny, before you make another bitter remark. It seems that on a routine perusal of the belongings of said Paul Otis was found on him a diamond brooch which answers to the description of a diamond brooch on the list of the missing jewels. See, Danny? See how wrong you are to doubt me when I am just what the doctor ordered?

[Gerald Pfaffman]

Stop banging the cell door.

[Danny Clover]

The hangover hurts, huh, Paul?

[Gerald Pfaffman]

You gotta give me time to get used to being in jail. You'll close the door gently next time.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, sure, sure. My name's Clover. Danny Clover.

[Gerald Pfaffman]

Clover? You're telling me that because you're gonna third degree me, huh? So when you rub a hose me, I can yell stop. Danny Clover. Yeah.

[Danny Clover]

All we're going to do is chat.

[Gerald Pfaffman]

Yeah, yeah, I know chat.

[Danny Clover]

You want a cigarette, ball?

[Gerald Pfaffman]

Yeah. You're kind with truth serum in it. Yeah, yeah. You cops.

[Danny Clover]

Okay, no cigarette. Where'd you get this diamond brooch?

[Gerald Pfaffman]

Hey, you hurt my head with questions like that.

[Danny Clover]

Where'd you get it, Paul?

[Gerald Pfaffman]

Nowhere. I'm suspicion of robbery and I'm stuck with it.

[Danny Clover]

Murder. Paul. Let me out. Let me out of here. I got a crazy man. Listen to me, Paul. Listen to me.

[Gerald Pfaffman]

Okay, okay, I'll. I'll listen. But did you.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Don't.

[Gerald Pfaffman]

Don't get close to me.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, don't touch me. Paul, a man was supposed to deliver this brooch and some more jewelry. A man named Tommy Stafford. He never showed up. He was murdered.

[Gerald Pfaffman]

I'm listening. I'm listening real good. Go ahead, go ahead. Tommy Stafford, you know him? No, no, no.

[Danny Clover]

How about a man named Ed Rasco?

[Gerald Pfaffman]

Ed Rasco?

[Danny Clover]

You know Ed Drasko, Paul?

[Gerald Pfaffman]

No, I don't know Ed Drasko, but I'm listening.

[Danny Clover]

Look, last night you were picked up in Coney, not too far from the scene of Tommy's murder. You had this brooch with you. A brooch that Tommy had a little while before he was killed. What's the story, Paul?

[Gerald Pfaffman]

After work I was in a bar with a girl and drinking. And I open my eyes and I come upon this dream. I'm all of a sudden in the tank with broach without girl.

[Danny Clover]

What girl? Who is she?

[Gerald Pfaffman]

Be Morris.

[Danny Clover]

Hula type.

[Gerald Pfaffman]

The type that Hulas on the midway show on Coney B. Morris, huh?

[Danny Clover]

Okay, Paul.

[Gerald Pfaffman]

No, no, no. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. You're getting too close.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Open the door.

[Danny Clover]

Get me out of here. I'm crazy, man.

[B. Morris]

Get out of here.

[Danny Clover]

I had to pull him away from the cel. When he was aware that my hands were on him, he screamed again, ran to a corner and with his finger drew a symbol on the air. I took it as a symbol to keep the evil beasties away. It worked. Someone opened the door and took me away from Paul Lotus. In the early afternoon light, the midway at Coney is a tattered circus poster peeling off an alley wall. The color is drained from it and the attractions don't care if you do or don't. Back at the fat man who wanted to guess my weight was another man who wanted me to go back with him into an Arabian night for only two bits, two dimes and a nickel quarter of a dollar. Back of him were six tired harem girls on a platform yawning through recorded type music from a Coney type loudspeaker. For the price of admission, he pointed out B. Morris, the one with the biggest yawn. I found a chair inside the tant and waited for him.

[B. Morris]

The shield tells me you were asking for me. Well, now that you see me up close, you can run along, huh, sport?

[Danny Clover]

Here, sit down, Dee. I want to talk to him.

[B. Morris]

It thrills you to talk to an artist. An artist like me, huh, sport? Come on, sniff my person.

[Danny Clover]

Just talk, Bea. Let's talk about Paul Otis.

[B. Morris]

Him. What's the matter, sport? You jealous of Paul? Tell Auntie B all about it.

[Danny Clover]

Go on, just talk, B. Let's talk about Paul Otis.

[Madame Sybil]

Him.

[B. Morris]

What's the matter, sport? You jealous of Paul? Tell Auntie B all about it.

[Danny Clover]

I'm a policeman. I want you to talk to me about Paul because we're holding him for murder.

[B. Morris]

Murder?

[Mugavin]

Paul?

[B. Morris]

You must be kidding. Paul hasn't got enough protein to raise his voice, let alone murder.

[Danny Clover]

Murder? The murder of Tommy Stafford, the messenger.

[B. Morris]

Boy on the roller coaster. Why would poor little Paul want to kill a poor little messenger boy?

[Danny Clover]

Or a diamond brooch? Maybe to impress you.

[B. Morris]

Maybe those would be good reasons. Except Paul hasn't got it in him to think him up.

[Danny Clover]

Maybe you ought to know, Bee. We found the brooch on him along with the bottle tops. In his pocket we found a diamond brooch. You know him so well, Bea. Where would Paul get a thing like that?

[B. Morris]

I'll tell you. I'll tell you for free. Maybe he got it the same place I got these diamond earrings.

[Danny Clover]

Look at him, Brad.

[B. Morris]

Bite him. To him.

[Danny Clover]

Come on.

[B. Morris]

Real, genuine, 14 karat diamond.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah. They're on a missing list, Bea. The earrings and the brooch. Missing from two murdered men. Where'd you get them?

[B. Morris]

This'll make you open your mouth real wide. They were left on my dressing table in a dirty little white box. Eerie the whole thing, ain't it, sport?

[Danny Clover]

You didn't wonder where they came from.

[B. Morris]

Who asks where diamonds come from?

[Danny Clover]

We do, baby. Policemen do that. Let's go where it's cool and quiet and official and talk. Like at headquarters, Danny, huh?

[Gino Tartaglia]

Here, Danny, I brought you a nice piece of chicken caccador. I built it from my lunchbox you should gnaw on instead of your fingernails.

[Danny Clover]

I'm not gnawing on my fingernails to take them literally.

[Gino Tartaglia]

No, but figuratively. I can see your brain. Devour him to the hub. Go ahead, take the chicken.

[Danny Clover]

You eat it, Gino.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Thanks a lot, Danny. Oh, hey, Danny.

[Danny Clover]

Now what?

[Gino Tartaglia]

With chicken on my mind, I forgot to tell you.

[Danny Clover]

Forgot to tell me what? To tell you.

[Gino Tartaglia]

I got the report back from Technical about the gun. Quick, huh?

[Danny Clover]

All right. What does Technical have to say?

[Gino Tartaglia]

Here. Here, you hold the chicken. I'll read it.

[Danny Clover]

Okay.

[Gino Tartaglia]

To Lieutenant Detective Danny Clover from New York Police Department, Ballistics Division. Subject, gun, type of.38 caliber. Police positive registry. None. Fingerprints? None. Signed, Marvin McFar. New York Police Department, Ballistics Division. Signed, Marvin McGar.

[Danny Clover]

No, no, the part about the prints.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Fingerprints, None. Hey, Danny, how could this Drasco have his mitts on the gun then leave no fingerprints, huh? Danny?

[Danny Clover]

You got a good question, Gino. Here, take your chicken back. It was the best question of Tartaglia's brilliant career. How could Drasko have shot at me and left no fingerprints on the gun he held in his bare hand? It was a good question because it could contain within itself a good answer. It could answer why Paul Otis and Bea Morris had stolen jewels on them. It could answer the murder of Tommy Stafford and maybe even the death of Ed Drasko. And for the answer to a question that already has an answer, you go to a clairvoyant. To someone who reads head bumps like Madam Sibyls in Coney Islands, to her prop boy, Victor Amalfi.

[Mugavin]

Madame Sybil offers herself to meditation. However, she will be with you within this moment. It's a Detective Salaam, Detective.

[Danny Clover]

Same to you, Victor. Where's Madam Sybil?

[Mugavin]

Like I told you, in the back room, meditating. If you're here as a client, you'll have to wait for the madam. If you're here to pass the time.

[Danny Clover]

Of day likewise, you're two times wrong. Victor, I want you and Sybil for murder.

[Mugavin]

You make a hobby of this. You point a finger, say you're a murderer. And this makes a murderer, huh? You got one yesterday, Clover. How many you need to make you happy?

[Danny Clover]

You and Sybil.

[Mugavin]

All right, I'll humor you. Whom is whom we have murdered Tommy Stafford.

[Danny Clover]

Maybe Ed Drasko.

[Mugavin]

Maybe Drasco. You need an aspirin, kid?

[Danny Clover]

$100,000 worth of jewels for a measly down payment of 10 grand. Good profit. $90,000. And all it cost was the murder of two messenger boys.

[Mugavin]

I could get you bicarbonate.

[Danny Clover]

Cheap at the price, huh, Victor? So easy. You take Stafford on the roller coaster, stick a knife in his back. Sybil takes Drasco somewhere else, puts a bullet in him. What'd you do with the jewels? Put him in the safe after I left. Let's take a look at the safe, hun. Victor, a little thing.

[Mugavin]

One little thing. I read in the papers you got two birds with stolen diamonds in their mouths. Diamonds the madam bought, never got.

[Danny Clover]

You must know about that, Victor. You planted them. You planted them on Paul Otis and B. Two people whose business it was to be near the scene of the crime. It almost worked. Now let's look at the safe, huh?

[Mugavin]

First you have to get by, Victor. Detective, that ain't going to be easy.

[Danny Clover]

Let's try, shall we, Victor?

[Madame Sybil]

Are you all right, Mr. Clover?

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, real fine. Welcome from the Beyond Civil tonight. The Zodiac said kill Victor.

[Paul Otis]

I'm glad it was Victor.

[Madame Sybil]

I'm glad it wasn't you, Mr. Clover. When I pointed the gun. I never pointed a gun before, Lucky.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah. Okay, Sybil, give me the gun.

[Madame Sybil]

What for?

[Danny Clover]

Ballistics will want to match it against the slugs in the body.

[Madame Sybil]

But you saw me shoot Victor.

[Danny Clover]

The gun.

[Madame Sybil]

All right, all right. Here. Just saw me.

[Danny Clover]

I killed him. What do you need the gun for at Drasco? I'm not real sure. Understand, Sybil, but I'm waving a finger at you. This is the gun that killed Ed Drasko.

[Madame Sybil]

Are you talking about you killed Drasco? The paper said you killed Ed Drasko.

[Danny Clover]

You did, Sybil. It figures that way. Drasko was dead even before I walked into the hall of mirrors. Because his fingerprints weren't on his gun. You can't make fingerprints by resting a gun in the open hand of a dead man.

[Madame Sybil]

Not trying to trick me.

[Danny Clover]

So it figures, Sybil. Like I said it did. It was you shooting up the hall of mirrors. Not trying to hit anyone, just shooting it up. So I take a shot in the dark and just happen to kill Ed Drasko. Mr. Clover, where are the jewels? In the safe. Weren't in there the last time we opened it. Let's see now. Open the safe. Go ahead, open it.

[Madame Sybil]

No. No, you can't have them.

[Danny Clover]

Take it easy. No, they're mine.

[Adam Graham]

I kill for them.

[Danny Clover]

They're mine. Stop fighting. It's no use.

[Madame Sybil]

They're not mine, are they?

[Danny Clover]

Let's go civil. Daytime never lingers on Broadway. They shut it off by lighting the spectaculars. Then Broadway's happy. It leans into the night and screams. You turn a corner and run toward it. It's right there waiting for you. Start screaming too, kid, because it'll explode right in your face. 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. The program was produced and directed by Elliot Lewis. The musical score was composed and conducted by Alexander Courage. Included in the cast tonight were Byron Kane, Betty Lou Gerson, Sylvia Sims, Jerry Hausner, Jack Crucian and Peter Lee.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. I think the guy who had the one piece of jewelry and the way he reacted to Danny is an example of a situation where someone, perhaps for good reason, is paranoid about the police, but ends up making it harder on themselves when someone's trying to find out the truth and do the right thing. Also, the whole situation in the House of Mirrors is very similar in a way to one of the early episodes of Broadway's My Beat, the Paul Thomas murder case, where Danny had a trigger happy companion along to push Danny into a false conclusion about the motive of the person being killed as well as how the shooting occurred. Now we turn to listener comments and feedback and we go to YouTube where mechanic6682 has a comment on the Francie Green murder case. The solution to the alibi was obvious early on. When he took the guy to the hospital. I thought he should have been taking him to the booking cop instead. Well, I think that if Francie had been in a condition to identify him, that that actually would have been better evidence in terms of it being obvious. I think it's one of those things where it's obvious to the mystery listener. To quote a recent Johnny Dollar episode, he was a crate and we had a sense that he was Abaddon and that he did it. But is it necessarily reasonable for the police to think in universe he must have had somebody stand in for him? I don't think so. Using the Dragnet test, there were episodes of Dragnet where they thought they had a suspect and it turned out that they had been in jail somewhere for drunk and disorderly or something like that, and they just started again and assumed that they were wrong. So in this case, the killer had someone who matched his description. Get arrested and the police don't have all day to check into the potential for oddball one off situations. Of course, as I did say on that episode, I wondered about whether the NYPD took booking photos at each arrest, which I believe is standard operating procedure and has been for a while. If they did, then the plan would be really impractical. So if anything, I would think it might be a case where the writers didn't take into account the existence of booking photos and the plan just wouldn't actually work in real life. But I don't think that there was anything wrong with Danny not assuming that there was a problem with the alibi when he was first given it, because I think most police officers at the time would assume that was pretty ironclad. Thanks once again for the comment. Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Scott. Scott's been one of our patreon supporters since June 2016, currently supporting the podcast at the Master detective level of $15 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Scott. And that will actually 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 Mr. And Mrs. North where.

[Paul Otis]

Doug. It was awful. When I wouldn't let him make love to me, he. Well, he got like crazy. He said all kinds of awful things about you and me.

[Danny Clover]

All right, Shirley, forget it. It's over.

[Paul Otis]

I can't, Doug. I'm afraid. He said he'd see you in jail.

[Danny Clover]

What?

[Paul Otis]

That's right. He said you're a crook and he can prove it.

[Danny Clover]

Bertie said that? Yes.

[Paul Otis]

He started talking about your tie up with gambling.

[Danny Clover]

What does he know about that?

[Paul Otis]

I don't know. But he said he's going to make sure you get what's coming to you. Unless. Unless I help Doug. I can not even to save you. I can.

[Danny Clover]

All right, sweetheart. You won't have to. I can handle Ferdy.

[Paul Otis]

Oh, he'll deny it. He'll make up some story.

[Danny Clover]

Don't worry.

[Paul Otis]

If you don't believe me, you can ask the North Face.

[Danny Clover]

I believe you, Shirley.

[Paul Otis]

I. I hate. Hate to have to tell you this about your own brother.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, my brother. My dear, sanctimonious brother. We'd just like him to keep his threat and run to the police. Now that he knows about me. I'VE got to figure some way to shut him up.

[Paul Otis]

But how?

[Danny Clover]

I'll think of something. One thing's for sure, he's going to keep away from you. Or I promise you. Surely.

[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.