Casebook of Gregory Hood: The Adventure of the Beeswax Candle (Encore) (EP4825e)

Summary

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Podcast Summary: “Casebook of Gregory Hood: The Adventure of the Beeswax Candle (Encore)”

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio | Hosted by Adam Graham
Episode aired October 19, 2025 (original radio broadcast June 24, 1946)

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Episode Overview

This special Sunday Encore episode revisits “The Adventure of the Beeswax Candle,” a classic tale from the “Casebook of Gregory Hood,” an old-time radio detective drama. The story follows Gregory Hood and his friend Sanderson “Sandy” Taylor as they investigate the mysterious disappearance of Sandy’s wife, Mary, on a foggy night in the Berkeley hills. The plot deepens into a case involving black magic, murder, and a very unusual confession, all set against a quintessentially atmospheric Old San Francisco backdrop.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Structure

1. Setting the Scene: Disappearance in the Fog

• Location: Berkeley hills, San Francisco, heavy fog impairs visibility.
• Trigger Event: Returning from a party, Sandy and Mary get lost; amid the mist, they hear a clarinet and then a woman’s scream.
• Mary suddenly vanishes when she insists Sandy stop the car to investigate (06:11).

Memorable Quote
Mary Taylor (06:21): “Like a dream world. The kind of night when anything could happen. A night for adventure.”

2. The Search Begins

• Sandy, frantic, enlists the help of police and Gregory Hood (09:05–10:30).
• Police find no trace; Sandy contacts Gregory, who suggests they track down the clarinet player heard that night.

Notable Interaction
Gregory Hood (10:30): “If he was really good, Harry [James] will know him. … Let’s head out and pay a visit to Bill Cooper, the sweet clarinet player.”

3. Neighborhood Investigations & Strange Happenings

• Bill Cooper: Institutes judo teacher and amateur clarinetist, claims to have heard something odd.
• Professor Meyer: Neighbor, suspicious of the supposedly empty house nearby, referencing “strange lights and noises” and even a past scream (14:51).

Memorable Quote
Professor Meyer (14:53): “A house of mystery. Strange things happen there.”

4. The Empty House & The Shocking Discovery

• Gregory and Sandy use a skeleton key to enter the empty house (15:32).
• Inside: Mary's unconscious body and a bearded man (George Renault) dead with a knife in his chest (16:29).

Notable Moment
Gregory Hood (16:29): “If you look closer, you'll see that he's wearing a knife in the breast pocket. A knife that's in up to the hilt. … We are now mixed up in murder.”

5. Hospital, Suspicions, and Black Magic

• Mary regains consciousness but doesn't recall events after entering the house; authorities suspect her based on fingerprints on the murder weapon and apparent lack of head injury (18:54–19:03).

Lieutenant to Hood (19:10): “I may have to book her on suspicion of murder.”

• Discovery of an ancient book: Mirror of Malevol, a notorious 16th-century grimoire found under Mary in the house.

Professor Meyer (19:51): “As a scholar, I would beg you to give this book to the university library. As a man I say, burn it.”

6. The Grimoire and the Beeswax Candle Plan

• Gregory reads in the grimoire about using a beeswax candle with the dead man’s nail clippings to torment a murderer into confessing (22:40).

Gregory Hood (22:40): “The spirit of the dead man will descend upon him and torment him until he do confess his murder.”

7. The Trap & Confession

• Gregory, with Sandy, sets up a psychological trap using the beeswax candle at Cooper’s home, convincing Cooper of Renault’s vengeful spirit (24:30–25:27).
• The pressure drives Cooper to confess to the murder and the attempt to frame Mary, admitting he used his judo skills.

Gregory Hood (25:05): “You and Renault played at black magic, didn’t you?... You killed him, Bill, and when Mrs. Taylor walked in, you slugged her with one of those paralyzing blows peculiar to judo…”

8. Resolution & Key Revelations

• Mary is cleared of suspicion. Gregory explains to Sandy and Lieutenant King that he never believed in black magic, but Cooper did—and that was enough (26:24–26:38).

Gregory Hood (26:29): “The only way magic ever appears to work is when the victim knows about it and believes it.”

• The critical clue: Cooper’s alibi about hearing the scream via the professor’s radio failed, as all lights were out due to a power failure (26:36).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On marital adventure
  Mary Taylor (06:30): “But tonight I think it’s rather gay and romantic to be lost with you…”
• On eerie surroundings
  Mary Taylor (06:21): “Like a dream world. The kind of night when anything could happen. A night for adventure.”
• On black magic
  Professor Meyer (19:51): “As a man I say, burn it.”
  Gregory Hood (22:40): “Let’s see where black magic and a candle of beeswax will take us.”
• On the trick confession
  Gregory Hood (26:29): “The only kind of magic I know is when the victim believes in it.”
• On the denouement
  Mary Taylor (27:32): “Whenever we have you to dinner from now on, I’ll set the table with beeswax candles—candles without fingernails.”

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Key Timestamps

• Lost in the fog, scream, and Mary vanishes: 06:00–07:10
• Initial search and police involvement: 09:28–10:30
• Convo with Bill Cooper and investigation leads: 10:30–14:51
• Discovery in the empty house (Mary found, murder revealed): 15:32–16:30
• Hospital/suspicions and fingerprints: 18:54–19:12
• Introduction of the grimoire/black magic angle: 19:51–22:40
• The beeswax candle confession scene: 24:30–25:27
• Summary and explanation by Gregory: 26:24–27:20
• Light comic wrapup and episode closeout: 27:22–end

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Adam Graham’s Brief Commentary (31:53–34:55)

• Adam provides context on the use of the beeswax candle, noting that Hood did not believe in the supernatural, using Sandy’s nails rather than Renault’s:
  “Gregory obviously didn't believe in it because he was using Sandy's nails in the candle, which obviously has no power in terms of that particular curse.”
• He responds to listener feedback about air dates for vintage episodes, promising more clarity on dates and how to check them online.

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Tone & Style

• Language: Witty, crisp, and engaging, with 1940s-flavored banter and a touch of melodrama.
• Atmosphere: Foggy, mysterious, with an undercurrent of whimsy and dry humor—even amid moments of peril and intrigue.
• Structure: Blend of suspense, deduction, and light camaraderie, punctuated by moments of genuine tension and comic relief.

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For New Listeners

This episode is a prime example of how “The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio” delivers classic mysteries with atmosphere and period charm, offering not just suspense but also snippets of American pop culture and subtle humor. Adam Graham’s afterword helps bridge the vintage material for modern listeners, clarifies plot nuances, and connects with audience feedback.

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For more details, visit: www.greatdetectives.net

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Transcript

[Gregory Hood]

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[Liberty Mutual / McDonald's Announcer]

No purchase necessary. See rules@play atmcd.com for full details and [e-mail] to play without purchase ends November 23rd, but bonus play ends November 2nd. Monopoly is a registered trademark of Hasbro. Copyright McDonald's.

[Limu Emu Narrator]

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[IPVanish VPN Announcer]

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[Limu Emu Narrator]

Cut the camera. They see us.

[Liberty Mutual / McDonald's Announcer]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings vary underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates excludes Massachusetts it.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Sunday Encore from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. And today, in addition to our Monday through Saturday lineup, we are sharing a special Sunday Encore program from our archives. This program was played many years ago and so any offers or information included in the episode that may not be valid unless it's reflected on our [e-mail] but now here is your Sunday Encore. Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it to [e-mail] Follow us on Twitter radiodetectives and become one of our friends on Facebook, facebook.com radiodetectives well, before we get started, I want to first of all encourage you. Let me know what series you would like to hear that we haven't played yet and aren't going to play anytime soon. During our listener support campaign, we'll play three of these programs and we need to hear from you. By February 8th, we start recording those shows. Also, I want to encourage you to take a look at my first detective story, An Ounce of Prevention. It's a novelette and it's available for 99 cents for the Kindle in most US territories. The title is An Ounce of Prevention. Well, now it's time for today's episode of the Casebook of Gregory Hood, the Adventure of the Beeswax Candle.

[Gregory Hood]

Petri Wine brings you the Tapebook of Gregory Hood. Tonight, the Petri Family, the family that took time to bring you good wine, invite you to listen to the adventure of the Beeswax Candle, another exciting story from the casebook of Gregory Hood. I hope you're sitting back in a comfortable chair after a good dinner. Did you try my suggestion to start that dinner with a glass of Petri California Sherry? Petri Sherry is the best beginning a good meal ever had. When you pour yourself a glass of that Petri sherry, just look at the color. A beautiful, deep amber. Then hold that glass of Petri sherry up to the light. Notice how clear Petri sherry is. Just as clear as crystal. That, you know, is one sure sign of a good cherry. But only when you put that glass to your lips do you really know how good Petri sherry is. It has a flavor that comes right from the heart of luscious sunripened grapes. Oh, and say, if you like your sherry dry, you know, not sweet. Petri makes a fine dry sherry. It's called Petri Pale Dry. If you don't know which you prefer, the regular or the dry, why not try both? Don't buy one, buy two. But just be sure you always buy Petric. Well, it's Monday night in San Francisco and we have a weekly date with Gregory Hood and his friend Sanderson Tate. Tonight's rendezvous is at one of this city's favorite and most colorful meeting places, the top of the Mark Hopkins Hotel. Let's join them there, shall we? Harry Bartell, how are you? Evening, Mr. Taylor. Hello, Gregory. Hello, Harry. Come and sit down. We were just discussing a story. It's really Sandy's story, so I'll let him set the stage for us. Go ahead, Sandy. Well, Harry, though it's an adventure that happened last January, it's as vivid in my memory as if it had taken place yesterday. It all began one evening when Mary and I were driving home from a party in the Berkeley hills. Mary, for your edification, Harry being what Earl Wilson would refer to as Sandy's BW BW Beautiful wife. I get it. Go on, Sandy. We were driving the Packard convertible, but even with fog lights, we could barely see the white line in the middle of the road. Everything was a grayish blanket. And though it was only a couple of miles from the party to our home, we managed, among the twistings of all those unaccountable streets in the hills to get completely and utterly lost. I didn't dare drive beyond the pace of a somewhat depressed and anemic snail. And as we crawled along, I prayed that the white line would lead us somewhere.

[Mary Taylor]

Sandy, this Fog's rather exciting, isn't it?

[Gregory Hood]

Doesn't make driving exciting, Mary. I can hardly see the white lines. I am afraid we're lost.

[Mary Taylor]

Like a dream world. The kind of night when anything could happen. A night for adventure.

[Gregory Hood]

You sound like Gregory. All I want is home and fed.

[Mary Taylor]

Oh, that's nice, too. But tonight I think it's rather gay and romantic to be lost with you.

[Gregory Hood]

In the hills after seven years of marriage. Darling, that's very flattering.

[Mary Taylor]

Listen to that man playing the clarinet. Isn't it good?

[Gregory Hood]

Excellent.

[Mary Taylor]

I wonder who lives around here that plays like that. Sounds like a professional.

[Adam Graham]

Darn it.

[Gregory Hood]

Even the street lights are off. Power failure, I guess.

[Mary Taylor]

My, but it's quiet. The sort of night that.

[Gregory Hood]

That's double that.

[Mary Taylor]

Guess somebody's in trouble. Stop the car.

[Gregory Hood]

Sandy, darling, it's the middle of the night. We can't see your hand in front of us.

[Mary Taylor]

Stop the car, Sandy. That sounded like a woman screaming. Come on, Sandy. It came from this direction.

[Gregory Hood]

Well, wait for me, Mary. Wait for me. Darling, where are you? Mary. Mary. Mary. Who is it?

[Mary Taylor]

What do you want?

[Gregory Hood]

I've lost my wife in this fog. I thought she might have come here.

[Mary Taylor]

Ye ain't come here. I'm not surprised you lost her. I have to keep eating dollars and let Christian both sleep.

[Gregory Hood]

Yep. I lost my wife in this fog. She didn't come here, did she? No, mister. How'd you lose her? I'd like to learn the trick. Look, I have no time to joke. Do you have a phone? Nope. Still hoping for one, though. Well, how about the house next door? Mrs. McIntosh lives there. She's got a phone. Thank you. You're welcome.

[Mary Taylor]

Well, you poor man. Of course you can use my telephone.

[Gregory Hood]

It's over there. Thank you so much, Mrs. McIntosh.

[Mary Taylor]

This is no night for a young girl to be running around by yourself.

[Gregory Hood]

You had a quarrel, of course. No, we didn't, Mrs. McIntosh.

[Mary Taylor]

Of course you did. I know how these things happen. When I was a young thing, I.

[Gregory Hood]

Used to be mighty headstrong myself, but I assure you. Police headquarters, please. Mrs. McIntosh. We heard a scream as we were calling along. I stopped the car. Oh, this is Sanderson Taylor. I'm up in the Berkeley hills and my wife just jumped out of my car and disappeared in this fog. What happened, Mr. Taylor? Did you have a spat? No, we didn't, Lieutenant. As we were driving along, we heard a scream. I stopped the car. My wife jumped out and. And just disappeared. Okay, I'll be over in a patrol car. Oh, well, where are you? Oh, Just a moment. What's the address here, please?

[Mary Taylor]

114 Ogden Drive.

[Gregory Hood]

114 Ogden Drive. I'll make it as fast as I can in this fog. I'll be waiting for you.

[Mary Taylor]

And now I'll make you a nice.

[Gregory Hood]

Strong cup of tea.

[Mary Taylor]

And then you can tell me what you cried about.

[Gregory Hood]

Mr. Taylor, we've been in every house on this street and there's no trace of your wife. But Lieutenant King, she. She can't just have disappeared. Looks as if she has. You're sure you didn't have a row with her and she hopped out on you? How many times do I have to tell you that we didn't have a row? Okay, okay. Look, Mr. Taylor, it's nearly 4 in the morning. I suggest you drive to your home. The fog's lifting a little now, but let's tell if your wife does get near a phone, she'll be bound to call you or. Now, just take it easy, Mr. Taylor. I'll bet she'll turn up before morning.

[Mary Taylor]

Good morning. Gregory Hood Importers.

[Gregory Hood]

This is Sanderson Taylor.

[Mary Taylor]

Hello, Mr. Taylor.

[IPVanish VPN Announcer]

Is Mr.

[Gregory Hood]

Hood there?

[Mary Taylor]

He just left.

[Gregory Hood]

Oh, Lord. I've been calling him all night. Do you know where he went?

[Mary Taylor]

Yes, Mr. Taylor. He's down at the dock supervising the unloading of a cargo.

[Gregory Hood]

Do you know the name of the boat or the pier number?

[Mary Taylor]

I don't know the name of the boat, but I think he said Pier number 16.

[Gregory Hood]

Pier 16. Okay. If he should call you, tell him I'm driving over there right away. And that's what happened, Gregory. And couldn't find any trace of it. Gosh, Sandy, I wish I'd been home. I flew my plane down to Del Monte last night. Came back early this morning. I must have called you 40 times during the night. I've been absolutely frantic. I have a hunch. It's all right, Sandy, but let's step ashore and get her a phone. I've got an idea. Oh, Lord. Yes, Mr. Wood, you take over the unloading. Okay, Mr. Woods. Be very careful with that Peruvian consignment. I've got a special client lined up for those Inca headdresses. Right you are, Mr. Woods. All right. Come on, Sandman. Now, let me get this quite straight. You checked at all the houses near where Mary got out of the car? Yes, as far as we know. As I told the police, though, it was hard to spot the exact area. We were completely lost in that darn fog. Then your only real clue as to your location was that guy who was playing the clarinet just before you heard the scream? Yes. You say he was a good player? Oh, top notch. I remember that. Mary said he sounded like a professional. Then that's our only leader. Oh, here's the phone booth. If you have a nickel, Sandy. Sure. Who are you calling? Harry James is at the St. Francis. He may be able to help us. Oh, you mean he might know who the clarinetist is? Sure. If he's really good, Harry will know him. Now, Mr. Harry James, please. It's a slim chance, Gregory. True, true, but it's worth trying. Oh, Harry, this is Greg Hood. I know, I know. I must sound like the crack of dawn. I'm sorry. I'm in a jam. Perhaps you can help me. Well, my best friend's wife disappeared in a fog in the Berkeley hills last night. The last time she was seen, somebody was playing a mighty sweet clarinet quite nearby. I thought you might know if there are any really good clarinet players living in Berkeley. You do? Yes, I will. Name of Bill Cooper, huh? Do you have his address, Harry? In Luxembourg. He knows the clarinet player in Berkeley? Yes, he's looking up his address. Oh, yes. Yes, Harry. His address is 109 Martin Way. Much obliged to you, Harry. Yes, I'll call you later. We might have dinner together. So long, and thanks a lot. You have your car here, Sandy? Sure. Good. Then let's head out across the bridge and pay a visit to Bill Cooper, the sweet clarinet player. This is his house, all right. Does it strike a responsive chord, Sandy? Well, it's hard to say in the daytime, but this street leads off Ogden Drive, and that's where I ended up last night in the fog. I hope that Bill Cooper can help us. So do I. Yeah, I. I heard your sweet clarinet, and I just couldn't resist dropping by. Ah, you a musician? I play around with the piano a little, in an amateur way. Well, come in, come in. Thank you. I'm Bill Cooper. My name's Gregory Hood, and this is my friend Sanderson. Taylor. Hi, Taylor. Oh, I see you have a piano in here. Maybe we could try a little jam session sometime. Yeah, maybe. Are you a professional, Mr. Cooper? Oh, no, no. It's just my hobby. I'm a teacher of judo. That's an interesting combination. You bet it is. Judo's great stuff, you know. Gives you a feeling of power. Look, Bill, I hope you can help me. Last night around 12:30, my wife and I were driving near here. We heard you playing the clarinet. Yeah, that's right. I was playing at that time, and suddenly we heard a weird scream. My wife Jumped out of the car to investigate and I haven't seen her since. I'm absolutely frantic. Yeah, that's tough. What can I do to help you? Well, did you hear that scream, Bill? You'd stop playing a few seconds before. About 12:30, you say? Yeah. Say, I do remember hearing a kind of squawk. I thought it must be the radio over the professors. It certainly came from that direction. The professor? Yeah, that's a Maya. He lives across the street at 112. Then let's pay him a visit, Sandy, I'm much obliged to Bill. Well, that's okay, Mr. Hood. And when you straighten out on your mix up there, why come back and hit that keyboard? We might knock out a couple of hot licks together. Mr. Gregory Hood, I am glad that at last you have come to investigate the house next door. And why should I investigate it, Professor Meyer? A house of mystery. Strange things happen there.

[Mary Taylor]

Things I. I do not understand.

[Gregory Hood]

Lights and noises. And last night when I am in bed, I think I hear a scream. You don't mean the house across the street, do you, professor, where Bill Cooper, the clarinet player, lives? No, no, I mean the house next to me. It's supposed to be empty. An empty house in this day and age? That's a phenomenon. I understand. In some ways it's tied up in a stately settlement, Mr. Hood. It cannot be sold until the ownership is decided. Professor Meyer, why do you say the house is supposed to be empty? No one lives there, Mr. Hood. But many times I've seen lights and movement there. I do not like it. And one night I think I hear. No, no, no. It is impossible. We'll check with you later, Professor. Come on, Sandy.

[IPVanish VPN Announcer]

Right.

[Gregory Hood]

Now we'll take a look at an empty house that screams. The house looks deserted, Gregory. Yes, it does.

[Adam Graham]

Sand.

[Gregory Hood]

There. Front door's locked, huh? Yes, yes, but the lock's old fashioned. Think the skeleton key will do the trick? I suppose I'm condoning a burglary. Gregory, I don't think they'll send us up the river on this one. Ah, open sesame. Come on, family. Gregory, I'm scared. Supposing. Take it easy, Sandy. Well, the house is unfurnished yet. Gregory, what is it? Footprints in the dust. A woman's footprint leading into the front room. Shut up. Look, lying by the fireplace. It's Mary. Mary.

[Mary Taylor]

Mary.

[Gregory Hood]

All right, Pandy, she's breathing. It must have been drugged. I'll run back to Professor Myers and call the police and get them to send an ambulance. Do that, Sandy, though, before you go. I suggest you take a look by the window there. A bearded man lying on the floor. He's unconscious, too. If you look closer, you'll see that he's wearing a knife in the breast pocket. A knife that's in up to the hilt. Sandy, I'm afraid we are now mixed up in murder. You'll hear the rest of tonight's story from the casebook of Gregory Hood and Good Dinner. Tell you how to make a good dinner really great. Just serve that good dinner with a good Petri dinner wine. If you're having hamburger, steaks, chops, stew, in fact, any meat or meat dish, by all means serve it with Petri California Burgundy. Petri Burgundy is a hearty red wine with a marvelous flavor. Now, if you're having fish or chicken, try serving it with Petri California. So turn. Petri Sautern is a delicately flavored, subtle white wine. It's just perfect. And whether you serve Petrified Burgundy or Petri Sauternes or both, remember you can serve them proudly because Petri is the proudest name in the long history of fine wine. Well, Gregory, again you left me Cliffhanger.

[Mary Taylor]

What happened next?

[Gregory Hood]

That's an easy one, Harry. Sandy sent to the police and an ambulance while I stayed in that deserted house. As soon as the ambulance arrived, we rushed off to the hospital with poor Mary and paced the corridor anxiously while the doctor was examined. Why the devil doesn't he let me see her? Greg? Easy, easy, Sandy. By the way, did the face of that bearded corpse strike a responsive chord in you? No, I've never seen the fella before. I think I know him. The beard threw me at first. It must be recent, but I'm certain he's a refugee named George Renault Taylor. Doctor, is she going to be all right? Yes, Ms. Taylor. She's going to be all right. Oh. Can I see her for a moment? Yes, but no longer. She's exhausted. Mary. Mary, darling.

[Mary Taylor]

Oh, hello, Sandy dear. Hello, Grace.

[Gregory Hood]

How do you feel, Mary?

[Mary Taylor]

Awful. Rather as if I've been trying to rumble with a hurricane.

[Gregory Hood]

Oh, you poor darling.

[Mary Taylor]

Don't worry, Sandy dear. I may be quite all right. The doctor says I'm suffering from shock, that's all.

[Gregory Hood]

What happened, Mary? Last night, I mean.

[Mary Taylor]

I don't really know, Greg. I. I ran down the street, turned the corner, saw a light in the house. The only one that did have a light. The door was open. I walked in and suddenly something hit me on the back of the head. And that's all I needed until just now.

[Gregory Hood]

Oh, Mary.

[Mary Taylor]

Except that squadrons and squadrons of twin loaded butterflies have been buzzing through my brain squadron.

[Gregory Hood]

She's asleep? Greatly. Thank the Lord she sake. Yes, we'll come back later, Mr. Taylor. Oh, hello, Lieutenant King. This is Gregory. Oh, how do you do? The doctor tells me your wife will have to stay in the hospital a couple of days. I guess so. I wish I could take her home right now. Well, I'm not at all sure you'll be able to do that when she's well, Mr. Taylor. What are you driving at, Lieutenant? I may have to book her on suspicion of murder, Mr. Hood. Oh, Lieutenant, are you crazy? No, no. But your wife may be. We found her fingerprints on the dagger that was sticking in the dead man's chest. What's the blow on her head, Lieutenant? She was knocked cold by a blow on the back of the head. That's her story, mister. But I just talked to the doctor. He tells me there's absolutely no evidence of her having had a blow on the head at all. You are back again, my friend. They're coming. Thank you. Professor May. What's this? What you did you find out at the house of mystery mayor? Quite a number of things, Professor. Including my wife and the corpse. Your wife and the corpse? I knew it. It is a house of evil. I also found this book. Professor Meyer was lying under Mrs. Taylor's unconscious body. I thought it would interest you. This is a 16th century book. The house of the Mirror of Maleva. This confirms my suspicion as to that house. Next. I did. This is a book. A book? A grimoire. What's a grimoire, professor meyer? I think Mr. Hood knows, don't you? I think so. It's a handbook of black magic. A collection of all the most evil and supposedly potent spells, isn't it? Correct, my friend. And this book, this Mirror of Malevol is one of the most celebrated and horrible of all. Grimoire. As a scholar, Mr. Hood, I would beg you to give this book to the university library. As a man I say burnt. I can do neither at the moment, Professor. I must study it. Within these worm eaten covers lies the answer to murder. Driving me crazy sitting around the house without Mary being. I know, I know. Did you call the hospital? Sandy? Yeah, she's fine. But Lt. King's still in residence there. We've got to do something, Gregor. I'm doing my best. While you were driving the children over to your aunts, I devoured the mirror of Malevolent from COVID to cover. Man, I'm confused, Stanley. This. This case isn't pleasant in Fact, it's very messy. They're mixed up in black magic. Black magic spells? A nasty, vicious, evil mind at work. And it means even worse than that. Gregory, for Pete's sake, stop calling on the piano. Okay, okay. I'm sorry. Sorry. I didn't mean to yell, Gregory. I know, sir. What did you mean just now when you said it was vicious and evil and worse than that? Well, I was thinking what the police might imagine if they realized this was a black magic case. If that scream you heard last night was not a death scream, but some part of the filthy ritual. Supposing Mary wandered in and something happened. Well, Sandy, wouldn't it be possible that she killed him herself? Gregory, you can't believe that. I couldn't, but Lieutenant King could. And I wouldn't blame him. What we have to get is a confession. From whom? Oh, I know from whom, all right. It's a question of how. If only this darn book would. Sandy, I deserve to be kicked from here to Sacramento. What are you burbling about? I've got the answer. It's right here in the book. Let me see. Yeah, here it is. Listen. I'm reading from page 96 of the Mirror of Malevolent. How you may make a murderer confess his crime in a candle of pure beeswax. Insert the cuttings of the nails of the dead man. Burn this in the presence of the murderer, and the spirit of the dead man will descend upon him and torment him until he do confess his murder. Gregory, I'm willing to ride along with you most times, but if you put any faith in that kind of stuff. Don't mind that, Sandy. I think this is going to work. Get your nail clippers. Then we'll go out and find a nice white beeswax candle. After that, I'm planning on playing a hot duet with Bill Cooper, amateur clarinet player I think may smoke out of murderer. Well, I'm flattered you came back, Mr. Hood. What do you want to play Let that Live, Bill? Might start from here to the little number I whipped up a few weeks ago. All right. You all set, Sandy? Yes, Gregory, I'm all set. Okay, Bill, let's see where you can go on from here. Right. Very much in the groove now, Gregory. Yes, Bandit, now. Hey, what's burning? A beeswax candle with George Renault's nail pairing stuck down it. Put it out. What's the matter, Bill? Put that candle out.

[Adam Graham]

Grab him, Sandy.

[Limu Emu Narrator]

I got him.

[Gregory Hood]

Put it out. Let go of me. Oh, no, Bill. We'll hold you so you can Watch the candle burn. It's pretty, isn't it? You feel him now, don't you? The spirit of the murdered man has descended to torment you. Let me go. He'll keep on tormenting you, Bill, as long as that candle burns. Until you confess.

[Mary Taylor]

Let me alone.

[Gregory Hood]

Put out that candle. You killed George Renaud, didn't you? No. No, I didn't. Put out that candle. It's going to burn, Bill. It's going to burn right down. Come on, Bill, why not admit it? You and Renault played at black magic, didn't you? Oh, yes, you did. You admitted before that you had a taste for power. You thought you could get it that way.

[Limu Emu Narrator]

Finally, you killed him.

[Gregory Hood]

Because nothing could give you more power than human sacrifice. I didn't kill him for that candle. Please. You did, bill. And when Mrs. Taylor walked in on the killing, you slugged her with one of those paralyzing blows that are peculiar to judo. It left no mark. And you plan to frame her for the killing. You put her fingerprints on the dagger. Oh, I said. You're in for it, Bill. You can't escape. George Renault's murdered spirit has returned. It'll never leave you.

[Mary Taylor]

Never.

[Gregory Hood]

Unless you confess. We'll burn candles until you forgot. What? Daylight. Look, Mary, darling, how you feeling?

[Mary Taylor]

Seems to a little woozy. Sandy here, but fine. And Gregory.

[Gregory Hood]

Yes?

[Mary Taylor]

You are wonderful. Lt. King tells me that you saved me from a possible murder charge.

[Gregory Hood]

I think you understand how it was. Why should she, Lieutenant? Personally, I think you have a horrid mind. I'm just a guy who works on facts, Mr. Taylor.

[Mary Taylor]

Mr.

[Gregory Hood]

Hood got a nice clear sensation out of Cooper. He keeps saying that bed and tormented him. How's he doing, Ms.

[Adam Graham]

Hood?

[Gregory Hood]

By using a 400 year old book. But Gregory, you didn't really believe in that stuff. Of course not. It's pagan and horrible. But Bill Cooper believed in it. The only way magic ever appears to work is when the victim knows about it and believes it.

[Mary Taylor]

What made you think it was Cooper.

[Gregory Hood]

In the first place, Mr. H. For one thing. The fact that he'd been an instructor in judo. That would account for his being able to stun Mary without leaving any physical trace. But the real Clinton was the screen last night. I don't get you, Gregory. Cooper said he thought it was the professor's radio. But there was a power failure in this area at the time. You told me, Sandy, that all the lights were off. That's right, they were? Sure if Cooper had been in his own house, he'd have been sitting in the dark. And he'd have known darn well that his neighbor's radio wasn't working. He lied flatly. And why should an innocent man do so? Because he was in the deserted house, lit only by candles and improvising on the clarinet. He didn't know about the power failure, but that didn't make a court case. And I have to scare him into a confession. Gregory B.

[Mary Taylor]

You're a very remarkable man.

[Gregory Hood]

Thank you, Mary. You're a very remarkable girl.

[Mary Taylor]

I thank you for saving me from a gas chamber.

[Gregory Hood]

Oh, think nothing of it, Mary. But I do.

[Mary Taylor]

And I make you a promise.

[Gregory Hood]

What is it, Mary?

[Mary Taylor]

Whenever we have you to dinner from now on, I'll set the table with beeswax.

[Gregory Hood]

Candles.

[Mary Taylor]

Candles without fingernails. And for the main course, regularly we'll have twin motor butterflies.

[Gregory Hood]

Well, Greg, that was some story. I didn't know you knew so much about black magic. I'll let you in on a little secret, Harry. I don't know a thing about it. The only kind of magic I know is what my old father taught me. He did the most wonderful act of throwing a woman in half. But it never worked for me. You mean you couldn't master the trick, right? No, it requires lots of practice. Oh, and you couldn't find the time? No, I couldn't find the woman. Oh, no. But, Harry, you must know a few pretty good tricks yourself. No, not one, Greg. Now, come on, Harry. How is it every time I come to your house you dish up such marvelous meals? And you're no cook, Greg. That's because of the Petri wine. Didn't your old father ever tell you what a good dinner wine does for any meal? It all comes back to me now. And you know, Petri wine is good wine. Why, it's got to be. Look at the long years of skill and experience that goes on into its making. The Petri family has been making wine for generations. Winemaking is their heritage. A heritage handed down from father to son. From father to son. So you can see why the Petri business has grown and grown so that today the Petri family are America's largest independent winemakers. Yes, the making of Petri wine is a family affair. And the Petrified Petri family has every intention of keeping it just that. So you know, the name Petri on a bottle of wine is more than a trademark. It's the personal assurance of the Petri family that Petri wine is, and always will be good wine. Well, Gregory, which particular page of the case book are you turning to for next week's story? Next week, Harry, I'm going to tell about an odd story that took place in Hollywood some months ago. It concerns a noted columnist, an extremely garrulous press agent. Pardon me, and a very dead actress. I call the adventure Murder in Celador. See you next Monday, Harry. You bet, Greg. And in the meantime, if you hear of any place for rent or sale, will you let me know? Don't tell me you're looking for a place to live. No, no, Harry, it's for a friend of mine, a veteran who just got back. Believe me, this housing shortage is really hitting the returning servicemen hard. And if anybody deserves the break, they do. I think it's up to us to do what we can to see that they get first chance at any vacancy. Remember, if you have a vacancy, lend it to a veteran. Good night. The Casebook of Gregory Hood is written by Dennis Green and Anthony Bowser. Original music composed and played by Dean Foster. Gail Gordon plays the part of Gregory Hood and Sanderson Taylor is played by Art Gilmore. The Petri Wine Company of Sand, Francisco, California, invite you to tune in again next week, same time, same station. The Casebook of Gregory Hood comes to you from our Hollywood studio. This is Harry Bartel saying good night for the Petri family.

[Limu Emu Narrator]

And Doug, Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds of with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[Gregory Hood]

Uh, limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

[Limu Emu Narrator]

Cut the camera. They see us.

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. Well, as usual, a very interesting case. I actually found it a little more scary or creepy the first time I listened to it. But listening to this time, the one thing that I noticed was that Gregory obviously didn't believe in it because he was using Sandy's nails in the candle, which obviously has no power in terms of that particular curse. Well, now we turn to listener comments and feedback and have this from Kevin. Hi again, Adam, a suggestion consider since there are so many different series running here, would you consider mentioning the air date or approximate date of each program before you play it? At least as far as they are available. I can't always remember the time period we're dealing with and it's interesting to me either way. I always love your programs and again, thank you very much for your hard work and good quality. Well, thanks so much for the question, Kevin. It's not an unreasonable request. I do it on the war because we're dealing with a variety of different programs, but I don't do it on every series, particularly this one, unless we've had a bit of a jump. If we had some lost episodes, then I'll usually mention the date of the program. But unless I say otherwise, we're kind of just, you know, one week to another. Though I do understand losing track, you can always go to greatdetectives.net where we have show notes and the show notes do have the date of the show in there. My one concern is if I make that commitment to our listeners that you know, and I say every time I do it at the start of the show, I'll include the date. If I forget, then I basically have to re record the whole intro and I don't like doing extra takes. But I'll go ahead and level set now as to where we're at with each particular series that we're playing right now. And if folks lose track in the future, well, you can go to great detectives.net on yours truly, Johnny Dollar, July 30th to August 3rd of 1956, casebook of Gregory Hood June 24th, 1946, Nick Carter, November 5th, 1944 and the lineup December 12th, 1952. And if you ever lose track, you can always check on the website because we do keep that information there and it may even be in the description if you have itunes. Alright, well that will do it for today. We'll be back tomorrow with the continuation of the Sea Lakes matter and then join us back here next Tuesday for the Casebook of Gregory Hood. In the meantime, send your comments to Box [e-mail] follow us on Twitter radiodetectives and become one of our friends on Facebook. Facebook.com Radiodetectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham signing off.

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[Limu Emu Narrator]

And Doug, here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug Limu.

[IPVanish VPN Announcer]

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[Adam Graham]

Us?

[Limu Emu Narrator]

Cut the camera. They see us.

[Liberty Mutual / McDonald's Announcer]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings Fairy Underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts.

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