Casebook of Gregory Hood: The Derringer Society (Encore)

Podcast: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
Host: Adam Graham
Original Broadcast: November 16, 2025 (Encore Presentation)
Episode: EP4845e

Episode Overview

This episode features the classic radio mystery "The Derringer Society" from the Casebook of Gregory Hood. Host Adam Graham introduces the show as part of a special Sunday Encore series that revisits standout cases from the archives. In tonight’s story, Gregory Hood, his lawyer friend Sanderson (“Sandy”) Taylor, and the eccentric members of the Derringer Society become entangled in a series of chilling, seemingly supernatural murder predictions. What begins as a club dinner built around nostalgia for science fiction soon turns deadly, raising questions about psychic powers, hypnosis, and murder.

Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. Setting the Stage at the Derringer Society

• Location: The Happy Valley Room at San Francisco's historic Palace Hotel.
• Society Purpose: A gathering of enthusiasts for literature of Dr. Derringer, celebrating early science fiction ("Sort of Jules Verne stories, weren't they?" - Harry Bartel, 06:04).
• Atmosphere: Good wine, hearty talk, and the introduction of a special guest who claims to predict the future.

2. The Mysterious Guest: Miss Julia Hayes

• Introduction: Miss Hayes, introduced by Dr. Barton (the Society’s psychiatrist), claims precognitive powers.
• Her Claims: Successfully predicted major historical events, including the Hindenburg disaster and Mussolini’s death (08:24).
• Her Method: She enters a trance-like state by blanking her mind and claims the visions come unbidden.

3. The Chilling Prediction

• Miss Hayes makes a public prophecy:
  "Tonight, Mr. Chester, at exactly 11:15 you will be murdered." — Julia Hayes, 10:06
• Chester is shaken. Society attendees are unsure whether it’s a threat, a joke, or something more.

4. Death Strikes as Foreseen

• Shortly thereafter, news comes that Chester has been murdered exactly as predicted (12:56).
• Police involvement begins:
  • Lieutenant Silvers investigates.
  • Dr. Barton provides an alibi for Julia Hayes, stating she was with him during the time of the first murder.

5. The Pattern Deepens

• Hayes makes a second prophecy — predicting the murder of another member, George Felton, at midnight (16:19).
• Felton refuses police protection and is murdered just as foretold.

6. Suspicion and Theories

• Who is the killer?

  • Julia Hayes is questioned. She insists her predictions are not threats.
  • Dr. Barton’s psychiatric tests show unusual results: Hayes was left-handed as a child but compelled to be right-handed.

• Sandy’s Hypothesis:

  • Barton may have hypnotized Hayes to commit murder.
  • Motive suspected: an affair with Felton's widow, who stood to gain from the death (21:07–22:37).

• Expert Consultation:

  • Gregory calls Dr. Howell, a renowned psychiatrist, who affirms:
    "Is it possible to hypnotize an individual to commit a criminal act against his will? ... The answer is an unqualified no." — Dr. Howell, summarized at 23:13

7. The Twist and Trap

• Gregory orchestrates a confrontation, trying to break Hayes’s story, pushing her until she attempts to attack Gregory herself—
  "I'm sorry I did not kill you, Mr. Hood." — Julia Hayes, 26:49
• Notably, she attacks with her left hand. The previous murders were committed by a right-handed person—this exposes the trick.

8. The Revelation and Solution

• Dr. Barton confesses he lied about Hayes’ alibi (24:38–25:20).
• Gregory deduces Barton hypnotized Hayes to make public predictions, then committed the murders himself to create an illusion of fate.
• The left-handed attack breaks the psychological pattern and gives Gregory the critical clue.
• Barton is confronted and arrested:
  "She attacked me tonight with her left hand. The murders were committed by a right-handed person." — Gregory Hood, 27:15

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On prophetic power and disbelief:
  "Time travel into the future is all very well in the Derringer stories. Otherwise, I don't care for it too much. Life's complicated enough in a straight line these days." — Gregory Hood, 10:39

• On detective methods:
  "As soon as Julia Hayes uttered her dire threat, Lieutenant Silvers and I went into action. We questioned everyone and checked alibis till we were as black in the face as a couple of n—men." — Gregory Hood, 21:07

• On manipulation and motive:
  "He [Dr. Barton] thought that when he scuttled Julia Hayes’ alibi, we’d think she’d try to make her own predictions come true. That’s it, Sandy. Fortunately for us, he’s outsmarted himself and walked into his own trap." — Gregory Hood, 25:52

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [05:51] – Derringer Society convenes; the night’s theme and guest introduced
• [08:24] – Julia Hayes recounts successful predictions; tension builds
• [10:06] – Hayes predicts Chester’s murder—publicly and specifically
• [12:56] – News breaks: Chester found murdered at the predicted time
• [16:19] – Hayes predicts second murder (George Felton)
• [21:07] – Sandy theorizes about hypnosis and the psychiatrist’s motives
• [23:13] – Call to Dr. Howell; hypnosis can’t force criminal acts
• [25:20] – Dr. Barton destroys Hayes’ alibi; plot unravels
• [26:49] – Julia Hayes attacks Gregory; vital clue revealed (left-handedness)
• [27:15] – Final confrontation with Barton; double role as killer and mastermind revealed
• [29:47] – Coda: dry humor about the high turnover in the Derringer Society

After-Show Commentary

• Adam Graham notes the complex, “confusing” (in a good way) shifts between suspects in the story’s closing moments, and provides context on the new actor for Sanderson Taylor (Carl Harburg). He also responds to listener feedback, discusses available thank-you gifts for donors, and previews upcoming episodes.
• Listener feedback highlighted by a note from Hugh:
  "I so enjoy your rich selection of thrilling radio adventure."
• Closing tease: Next week’s Gregory Hood adventure will take listeners to Mexico City—with promises of kidnapping and romance!

Tone, Style & Takeaway

Classic “Golden Age” radio mystery stylings: genteel, witty, and briskly plotted. The episode plays with the idea of rationality vs. the paranormal, but ultimately roots its solution in psychological trickery—fitting both for the Derringer Society’s focus and Old Time Radio’s embrace of both logic and suspense.

The classic banter between Hood, Taylor, and the supporting cast layers the mystery with light humor and urbane dialogue.

Summary for First-Time Listeners

If you've never heard Casebook of Gregory Hood, "The Derringer Society" delivers a quintessential example: suspenseful plot, clever twists, and a blend of supernatural suggestion with rational deduction. The episode is rich in atmosphere, features an intriguing “locked room” style puzzle centered on predictions and murder, and concludes with both a satisfying solution and tongue-in-cheek wit.