The Big Story: Deadline Murder (EP4897)

Summary

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The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: The Big Story: Deadline Murder (EP4897)

Host: Adam Graham

Original Air Date: January 27, 2026

Old Time Radio Airing: May 19, 1948

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Overview

This episode features a dramatization from The Big Story, a series that celebrated real-life journalists and their work on headline-grabbing crimes. "Deadline Murder" is centered on Minneapolis Morning Tribune reporter Ralph K. Mills, who finds himself in a race against time to solve the brutal murder of a woman—buried alive—before the newspaper’s final edition deadline. Through sharp narration, moody dramatics, and period-accurate investigative challenges, listeners are dropped into a tense, hour-by-hour reconstruction of a case where the stakes are both professional and chillingly personal.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Case Begins: A Gruesome Discovery

• [02:25] The episode opens with a grain inspector at the city dump finding "a pair of silk stockings sticking out"—attached to a woman's legs, indicating a suspected homicide.
• Reporter Ralph K. Mills, usually working out of the city room, is on substitute shift at police headquarters by chance, setting up the “right place, right time” theme.

"Yeah, I was just short cutting back from Cedar Lake across the city dump...I just saw a pair of silk stockings sticking up out of the dump. Yeah, yeah. The thing is, there was legs in them. A woman's legs."
— Grain Inspector (02:25)

2. Domestic Discord & Victim Profile

• Early scenes reconstruct the domestic strife between Mr. and Mrs. Cressley (a fictionalized surname for Ruth Cornow), painting a picture of a fraught marriage: "Do you have to pick fights with me all the time?" (06:08)
• Mrs. Cressley’s personality emerges: unhappy, argumentative, and isolated—a foundation for her vulnerability.

3. The Investigation: The Clock Ticks

• [07:47] Mills, doing legwork at police HQ with Detective Peterson, finds the police have little to identify the body—no labels or ID, and the cause of death is particularly grim.

"This woman has dirt in her mouth and in her throat...Proving she was alive when she was put here. Buried alive."
— Doctor (07:47)

• Mills’ frustration is palpable. His algorithm is built on paperwork, erasers, and phone calls, not crystal balls: “Remember, George, what I've got is a press card, not a crystal ball.” (09:10)

4. False Leads & Deductions

• The first big break—a neighbor identifies the victim, but it’s soon revealed as mistaken identity, requiring Mills to retrace missing persons reports from years prior.
• Mills settles on Ruth M. Cornow, missing since 1935, due to an abusive (now separated) marriage. He tracks down a former landlord (Mr. Lopez), whose deadpan humor and stubborn insistence on “three questions” adds both realism and levity.

"You say three questions? No. No. This is Detective Peterson. Lopez, will you come downtown to identify a body? Yes."
— Mr. Lopez & Detective Peterson (15:42)

5. The Ex-Husband: A Red Herring

• Ruth’s estranged husband is questioned in Florida. His calm reaction to news of the murder—and his airtight alibi—rule him out as a suspect.
• Notable for his chilling detachment: "Last night she was murdered." — "I see. I figured something. What's that, man? I said I knew somebody would someday." (18:09)

6. The True Killer: Motive & Man

• The plot narrows on Wally Carson, a petty hood Ruth picked up after her marital split, via witness testimony from a bar girl.
• Carson’s possessiveness and their violent argument are recounted; shortly after, Ruth is found dead.

"She was kind of hard, you know...everybody was just another sucker for her. Well, I mean, well, money, you know."
— Bar Girl (19:47)
"Wally Carson. Last man to see Ruth Corno alive."
— Ralph K. Mills (21:46)

7. The Deadline Closes In: Suicide Solution

• Mills and Peterson, working against the newspaper deadline, burst into Carson’s apartment to find a suicide note, evidence of a violent fight, and Carson dead from asphyxiation in the garage.
• The final clue—a note referencing money left for rent and remorse for the crime.

"Dear Mother. I'm sorry. We had a terrific fight. I loved her and I couldn't stand a loser. But I couldn't hold her. I guess nobody could...I'm going away. Hope we meet soon."
— Suicide Note (24:57)

8. Final Outcome

• Case is closed within nine hours—barely enough time for the last edition, a rare feat for both cops and the reporter.
• Mills wins the Pall Mall award for his reporting.

"On entering garage, we found that killer in tonight's Big Story had escaped beyond the law by committing suicide. Solution of case came at 3am 9 hours after start of investigation and in time for the final edition."
— Ralph K. Mills’ Telegram (27:08)

9. Adam Graham’s Commentary

• [29:08] Host Adam Graham highlights OTR star Art Carney’s performance, discusses the authenticity of rapid reporter-led case closure ("the rarity of the event portrayed"), and fact-checks that the drama follows a true 1943 case closely.
• Insightful note: The actual case was indeed wrapped with a suicide and involved a reporter picking up for an absent colleague.

"This episode really does lean into the rarity of the event portrayed...just because something is not really in touch with how things actually happen in movies doesn't mean that it couldn't happen in theory or that it might not happen every once in a while."
— Adam Graham (30:26)

• Adam finds humor in the exchange with Mr. Lopez and praises the gritty realism in reporter-police relations.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [06:08] Mrs. Cressley: “Just a little peace and quiet around the house.”
• [07:47] Doctor: “This woman has dirt in her mouth and in her throat... Proving she was alive when she was put here. Buried alive.”
• [13:26] Mrs. Cressley: “Why, I'm Mrs. Cressley, his wife.”
• [18:09] Peter Cornow: "Last night she was murdered." — "I see. I figured something. What's that, man? I said I knew somebody would someday."
• [21:46] Ralph K. Mills: "Wally Carson. Last man to see Ruth Corno alive."
• [24:57] Suicide Note: “I loved her and I couldn’t stand to lose her. But I couldn’t hold her. I guess nobody could.”
• [27:08] Mills' Telegram: "On entering garage, we found that killer in tonight's Big Story had escaped beyond the law by committing suicide...in time for the final edition."

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:25] Grain Inspector discovers body
• [06:08] Domestic squabbles foreshadow trouble
• [07:47] Crime scene and “buried alive” revelation
• [13:26] Mistaken identification subplot
• [15:42] Mr. Lopez’s stubborn, comedic witness scene
• [18:09] Ex-husband cleared in Florida
• [19:47] Bar girl’s testimony
• [21:46] Focus narrows to Wally Carson
• [24:57] Discovery of Carson's note and suicide
• [27:08] Telegram wraps up the case
• [29:08] Adam Graham's post-show commentary

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Additional Details

Cast

• Art Carney as Ralph K. Mills ("a fantastic acting career, including an Academy Award...")
• Joe Bolan, Joan Alexander, Joe Desantis, Ray Johnson, Grace Keddie, Grant Richards (as noted in the host’s credits)

Tone & Style

• The radio play weaves staccato newsroom urgency with gritty, unsentimental reporting.
• Adam Graham’s commentary is warm, conversational, and blends historical trivia with personal enthusiasm.

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Summary Takeaways

• "Deadline Murder" is a tense, true-to-life dramatization of the power and perils of crime journalism in the 1940s.
• The episode moves with frantic urgency—and surprising emotional depth—highlighting the lucky, exhausting, and sometimes tragic work reporters face when a mystery breaks just as the deadline looms.
• Adam Graham’s analysis respects the genre’s conventions while grounding them in real history, making this episode a standout for any fan of old-time radio detective drama or true crime stories.

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Transcript

[Ralph K. Mills]

I'm here on a job site with Tim who owns his own electrical contracting business. Three employees and two work trucks. Tim traded up to Geico Commercial Auto Insurance. We're positively here where he needs us most. They sure are. With step by step help on all his insurance needs. All for shockingly low rates. Shockingly low, huh? Just a little bit of electrician humor. Do you get it? I got it. You know, it feels like we have a real connection. Alright, I'll stop get a commercial auto insurance quote [e-mail] and see how much you could save.

[Grainger Announcer]

It feels good to Geico if you're the purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant. You know, having a trusted partner makes all the difference. That's why hands down, you count on Grainger for auto reordering with on time restocks, your team will have the cut resistant gloves they need at the start of their shift and you can end your day knowing they've got safety well in hand. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Sam.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great detectives of Old Time Radio from Orlando, Florida. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment we're going to bring you this week's episode of the Big Story. But first I want to encourage you to check out our other podcast. And today I am highlighting the great adventurers of Old Time Radio. This is a series you're gonna love. Currently we are playing some OSS movies adapted to radio and we are also featuring a fantastic Tarzan radio serial I think you'll enjoy. Check it [e-mail] or just search for the great adventurers of Old Time Radio wherever you get your podcast from. Now from May 19, 1948, here is the deadline Murder.

[Ralph K. Mills]

L Mal Famous Cigarettes presents the Big Story. Headquarters Police. Yeah, this is Walt Kramer, the grain inspector. Yeah, I was just short cutting back from Cedar Lake across the city dump. Yeah, so? Well, I just saw a pair of silk stockings sticking up out of the dump. Yeah, yeah. The thing is, there was legs in them. A woman's legs. The big story here is a It's sound and its fury, its joy and its sorrow as faithfully reported by the men and women of the great American newspapers, Minneapolis, Minnesota. From the pages of the Minneapolis Morning Tribune, the headline story of a murder victim who was buried alive. Tonight, to Ralph K. Mills of the Minneapolis Morning Tribune goes the Pell Mell award for the. And now the story as it actually happened. Ralph K. Mills story as he lived It Minneapolis, Minnesota. Your name? Ralph K. Mills. Your paper? The Minneapolis Morning Tribune. Your beat. Well, that's your particular squawk this particular night of April 29, because you're supposed to be working out of the city room, and instead you're on substitute duty down at police headquarters. You thought you'd graduated from there long ago, but no, here you are back in the cops and robbers department. As for your big story, well, you don't know it, but there's one cooking. It starts way back. Back before you even joined the paper. Like this.

[Mrs. Cressley]

How many times do I have to tell you not to slam that door when you come in?

[Ralph K. Mills]

I'm sorry.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Sorry? Sorry. That's all you ever say, and then you go right ahead and do it all over again.

[Ralph K. Mills]

I said I was sorry. It wasn't my fault. The springs busted.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Well, why don't you fix it? I will, I will, I will. Promises, promises.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Oh, lay off of me, will you, honey?

[Mrs. Cressley]

Don't you honey me. Oh, you make me sick. Come on, let's go out and get something to eat.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Go out? I just came in. Oh, golly, I thought.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Now what? Now what have I done?

[Ralph K. Mills]

We're always going out to eat. Can't we ever stay home once in a while?

[Mrs. Cressley]

Stay home? When do we ever go out? When do you ever take me out?

[Ralph K. Mills]

Oh, that's not fair. Last week.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Never mind. Never mind. Forget it. I'll go out in the kitchen and make your own supper.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Look, let's not keep science squabbling, huh? No. Golly. Everything used to be so nice. Everything used to.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Never mind, Never mind. Just go inside. Take your shoes off, dear. Read your paper, dear. Yeah. When everything's ready, you'll be fast asleep. I know.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Look, it isn't as if you had other things to do all day. Is it asking too much for a guy to want dinner when he comes home? Is that asking too much? Just a little peace and quiet around the place. Do you have to pick fights with me all the time?

[Mrs. Cressley]

Aw, honey, hand me the can opener.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Listen to me. Where do you.

[Mrs. Cressley]

What do you want? Beans with, pork or without?

[Ralph K. Mills]

Listen to me.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Pork or without? What do you want?

[Ralph K. Mills]

Just a little peace and quiet around the house.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Go ahead, get sore.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Who's sore? I'm just trying to make some sense here.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Oh, I know that tone of voice. I can tell. You get so noble, so high and mighty. You make me sick. You make me just plain sick.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Ghost aspirin tablet yourself.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Very clever.

[Ralph K. Mills]

You know, someday I'm really going to get sore.

[Mrs. Cressley]

That's Right. Threaten me.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Good and sore. Someday one of us is going to be very sorry.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Are you trying to scare me?

[Ralph K. Mills]

No, I'm just telling you. You keep this up, you keep nagging the daylights out of me. You keep yapping at me. Yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap. You keep it up and so help me out.

[Mrs. Cressley]

You what? You what? You have to slam that door all the time.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Honey, you home? Honey? Hey. Ah, that woman. Bartender. My wife's been in here tonight. Yeah, Here and gone, Frame. Here and gone. Ah, nuts. For the last time. You coming home with me.

[Mrs. Cressley]

For the last time. No, no, no.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Okay. Don't bother coming home. Ever. Nothing of that can you know. You, Ralph K. Mills, police reporter for the Minneapolis Morning Tribune, do not have a backward looking crystal ball. All you know is that it's a pretty average Friday night down at police headquarters. And average means dull. The desk sergeant's got a call. Probably the same old routine. Nothing. Headquarters. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So? Yeah. Nothing, huh? Not the way he rushed into the other room and out comes your friend Detective Peterson with this. You say you had a date tonight, Rolf? Yeah, and a deadline. Why? You got another date now? You and me? Where? Down to city dump. Very funny. With who? A corpse in silk stockings. You coming. All the shoveling. That does it. What a beating she took. Yeah. Any idea who she is, Peterson? No identifying marks, labels torn off the clothes safe. And calling it murder. Sure. Say, Doctor. Yes? Can you add anything? Can you give me anything more on the cause of death beyond the beating, that is? Yes. What's that, sir? This woman has dirt in her mouth and in her throat? Yes, Proving. Huh? Proving she was alive when she was put here. Buried alive. Where's the nearest phone? I've got to call the paper. That'll have to hold you for the fast mail edition, George. Yes. So, Ralph, you'll stick with it, huh? Oh, sure. But don't set your heart on identification by the next deadline or a solution for the final edition, complete with killer attached. Could be done. Sure. By Sherlock Holmes. The FBI to. Hey, the man is serious. Look, George, this one will go down in the books. Marked unsolved. Believe me, never can tell. Just you stay with it. After all, you've got a whole hour till the next deadline. An hour? Might as well be a week. Remember, George, what I've got is a press card, not a crystal ball. Well, Sarge, I've gone through all the files. What have I found? Nothing. You try the Rogues gallery, Mills. Back to the year one no soap. Petty crimes? No soap. How about missing person? Nothing there either. Oh, except this. Huh. You think this picture looks like the dead one? Nope. Neither did I. Much. Oh, what do they want from a guy? Miracles. They sit in an office downtown. Hey, what time is it? Quarter two. 15 minutes till the page closes. What have I got? Twice what I phoned in. Twice nothing. Who's the woman just came in with Peterson? I don't know. I think I'll see what goes on. Right this way, lady. Won't take long. What's the story, Peterson? Looks like. Identification, Rolf. She saw your story in the paper and told the cop on the beach you thought you knew the woman. Who is she? Neighbor. Mrs. Stiles. What was that woman's name again?

[Mrs. Cressley]

Mrs. Cressley. Mrs. Sadie Cressley.

[Ralph K. Mills]

What makes you think the murdered woman is your neighbor, ma'? Am?

[Mrs. Cressley]

I don't know. I just have a feeling. She hasn't been home for days. Neither was a husband. They had a fight. They were always fighting.

[Ralph K. Mills]

I see. Right here. Ms. Stiles. Ms. Do.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Oh.

[Ralph K. Mills]

A word from you is all we need. Are you all right?

[Mrs. Cressley]

Yes, yes.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Well, this way, please. Ready, ma'? Am?

[Mrs. Cressley]

Yes.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Is that your neighbor, Mrs. Presley? Take your time. Be sure. Yes.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Look on her face.

[Ralph K. Mills]

She sort of.

[Mrs. Cressley]

No, I. I mean, yes, Mr. Stiles.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Yes.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Yes, that's.

[Ralph K. Mills]

When the door opens. Ralph, let me do the talking. Sure. Peterson from Police headquarters. Does a Mr. Cressley live here?

[Mrs. Cressley]

Yes.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Is he home?

[Mrs. Cressley]

Not right now.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Expect him back?

[Mrs. Cressley]

Why, yes. Would you like to come in and wait?

[Ralph K. Mills]

Yes. Who are you?

[Mrs. Cressley]

Me?

[Ralph K. Mills]

Yes.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Why, I'm Mrs. Cressley, his wife.

[Ralph K. Mills]

We'll be back in just a moment with tonight's big story. Now we return you to our narrator, Bob Sloan, and the big story of Ralph K. Mills as he lived it and wrote it. A fine thing covering police headquarters for the Minneapolis Morning Tribune. You, Ralph K. Mills, have a blonde corpse turn up in time for the first edition. A person unknown, murdered by person or persons unknown. And the City desk hopes for the who and the Buy Home for the final edition. And you've just followed a false trail to the bitter end. Just another case of mistaken identity. So what do you do? Step one, you call the desk a mistake. George, the woman who identified the cops was wrong. I'm sorry. It wasn't your fault. Ralph, any ideas? Didn't you say before you thought you'd found a picture of a missing woman Who? Yeah, but the best cop and I agreed it wasn't the dead one. Well, just the same, the woman Was wrong just now. Couldn't you be? What was the date she disappeared? 1935. Her name was Ruth M. Corno. Well, she could have changed in all those years. So backtrack. Everybody makes mistakes. Yeah, I know. That's why they put erasers on lead pencils. And tonight my pencil is all eraser. Rex Stone Collins. Compton Copley Cornell. Ruth M. Corno. Reported missing by husband. Talking to yourself, Rolf? I. I don't know. Look, Sarge, this Cornot woman we tossed out of the running before. Anything else on her charges? Complaints. Corneau. Let's see. Yeah, yeah, here it is. Cournot. Oh, no. This is a man, Peter Cournot. Go on. Arrested on complaint of his wife, Ruth M. That's the one. For what? What for? You're gonna love this, Ralph. Assault. Hello? Joe lopez? Yes, sir, Mr. Lopez, this is Ralph Mills down at headquarters. What's with headquarters? I'm in trouble? No, sir. I'm from the Morning Tribune. I'm checking on somebody who used to live in your boarding house. Can I ask you three questions? I don't know. Just three simple yes or no questions. Okay? Okay, three. Okay. Do you remember a couple named Corno? Peter and Ruth? Yes. That's one. Good. Do you know where they are now? Him. No. Her. She ran away from him. Kicks around restaurants, clubs, you know. That's two. Three. Would you know her if you saw her? I guess so. They owe me back rent. Well, would you come down to headquarters? You say three questions? No. No. This is Detective Peterson. Lopez, will you come downtown to identify a body? Yes. All right, Ms. Lopez. Take your time, Mr. Lopez. Be sure. Well, don't look like I'm gonna get my back ramp, I guess. For the identification, you say goodbye to Detective Peterson until later, you make the 1138 edition by our replayed and a whisker. The murdered woman is Ruth M. Cornow. And it's definitely established that she is separated from her husband under conditions of mutual dislike, to put it mildly. And so you have the victim, the motive and the problem of finding suspect number one, the husband. Then on your own, you start checking all over town. But while you walk the jukebox in neon trail, the husband is being questioned down in Florida. Private First Class Peter Carnell reporting to Captain Carroll as directed. That is Carnot. You're a Minneapolis boy, private? Yes, sir. Ever in trouble with the police? Nothing serious, sir. I'm instructed by a Detective Peterson of the Minneapolis police to tell you that anything you tell me may be held against you. He just called me. I See, sir. You married, Carnot? Separated, sir. Sir, Later. Where were you last night? Unpass, sir. I reported duty at reveille today. Where'd you go? Fishing, sir. Can you prove it? The men I was with, Ken, Sir. You didn't leave the state of Florida on an overnight pass, sir. All right. You say you're separated from your wife? Yes, sir. Prepare yourself for a shot. Last night she was murdered. I see. I figured something. What's that, man? I said I knew somebody would someday. You want another pass? Excuse me, sir? I said, do you want me to write you a three day pass for her funeral? No. No, thanks, sir. Suspect eliminated. And there you are looking for him in the local bars. But at one you learn about this tasteful little incident from a bar girl.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Used to pal around Ruthie and me. But she was. Well, she was kind of hard, you know. Everybody was just another sucker for her. Well, I mean, well, money, you know. So one night we was here, her night. All of a sudden she leaves me flat and goes outside. Goes tearing through the door and I follow it. Just in time to see her crash. Hey, why don't you walk where you're looking?

[Ralph K. Mills]

I'm sorry, lady.

[Mrs. Cressley]

You're sorry? Look at my stockings. You ruined my stockings. Sorry. That's all I ever hear is sorry and knock the lips off my shoes.

[Ralph K. Mills]

I said I was sorry. It's for the shoes. I'll drive you home, okay?

[Mrs. Cressley]

And what a bus. Hit the road.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Okay, have it your way.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Hey, wait a minute. Is this your car? Did you just drive it for somebody?

[Ralph K. Mills]

It's my car. I drive it for myself.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Well, why didn't you say so? Home, James.

[Ralph K. Mills]

The name is Carson. Wally Carson. And talk nice, blondie. Hey, you're not bad looking at all. Where'd you say you wanted to go?

[Mrs. Cressley]

You're not bad looking either for a guy who picks girls up by knocking them down.

[Ralph K. Mills]

They said, talk nice, baby. Where to, sis? You still want to ride home?

[Mrs. Cressley]

No, I want a ride. Let's go someplace and have some fun, huh?

[Ralph K. Mills]

While the bar girl's telling this, you check your watch. A half hour to final deadline. You're coming closer, very close. All you need now is. What'd you say the name of that pickup guy was?

[Mrs. Cressley]

Wally Carson. She wearing them steady after that.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Thanks. Thanks a lot. I'm going to try another bar. But here. Buy yourself a drink with something in it to drink for a change. Well, like I said, everything's going nice and quiet. When it's blonde Cornel. Yeah. She comes in and takes over the end of the bar. Now, I'd seen her husband come and drag her out. And I seen him tell her not to come home. And I don't want that kind of trade. This is a home type bar. I know, I know. Well, she's feeling fine, no pain at all. Drinking up some guy's dough, I figure. And I'm wondering how I can get rid of her quiet. When all of a sudden, somebody does it for me. A door opens and in walks this guy. Carson.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Rudy, somebody call me? Oh, it's you.

[Ralph K. Mills]

It's me all right. Where you been the last two days?

[Mrs. Cressley]

Who wants to know?

[Ralph K. Mills]

I want to know.

[Mrs. Cressley]

You want to know. You own me or something? Stop pushing me around.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Who push who around? You make up to me. You take me for everything I got and you call out me pushing you around? Come on, you're getting out of here.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Ah, your meat is running. Come on, I like it here.

[Ralph K. Mills]

I said get out. Now.

[Mrs. Cressley]

Come on, you square, you make. Go on, hit the road. You get out of here. You let me go. Take your hands off me. Who do you think you're pushing around? Let go of me. How do you think you are put there?

[Ralph K. Mills]

Alex, that's it. Me, it's none of my business. I would have paid him to take away anybody and that's all. When did you say this was? Well, didn't I tell you? Only last night. It was just last night. That is it. Motive and man. Wally Carson. Last man to see Ruth Corno alive. A check on the city directory gives you his address. Call to Peterson and you have a good cop with you. One short ride and you have 10 minutes to go to the final deadline with your story on the other side of this door. Peterson unbuttons the flap on his holster. You shift a little behind him. You never can tell. Nobody home. You think I don't know? Here, take the gun. Cover me. Stand back. I'll force the door. Holies that shambles. Look at the blood on the walls. Carson, watch at the other room. Carson, come out with you. Pete, look, there's a note in the couch. Don't touch him. Okay to read it? Go ahead. Dear Mother. Dear Mother. I'm sorry. We had a terrific fight. I loved her and I couldn't stand a loser. But I couldn't hold her. I guess nobody could. Money in watch pocket for rent. I'm going away. Hope we meet soon. Phone to Coop. Can I use the phone? Yeah, sure. And you can read them the note too. Thanks. You know, there's something about this note. Money in watch pocket. Money in watch pocket. Hey. He expects to be found. What's that door lead to? Closet. What's this one? Leads to the garage. Come on. The front way. Blocked from the inside. Wait a minute. Listen. Engine's running. He gets down on his knees, so do you. You sniff at the bottom of the door. You both say one word. No. 2 curl up in my. In just a moment, we'll read you a telegram from Ralph K. Mills of the Minneapolis Morning Tribune with the final outcome of tonight's Big Story. Now we read you that telegram from Ralph K. Mills of the Minneapolis Morning Tribune. On entering garage, we found that killer in tonight's Big Story had escaped beyond the law by committing suicide. Solution of case came at 3am 9 hours after start of investigation and in time for the final edition. Many thanks for tonight's Palmel award. Thank you, Mr. Mills. The makers of Palmel Famous Cigarettes are proud to have named you the winner of The Pal Mel $500 Award for notable service in the field of journalism. Listen again next week, same time, same station, when Pall Mall Famous Cigarettes will present another big story. A big story from the front pages of the Mobile, Alabama Press Register byline, George Cox. A big story about a murder, an escape and a manhun. The Big Story is produced by Bernard J. Proctor with music by Vladimir Zielinski. Tonight's program was written by Alan Sloan. Your narrator was Bob Sloan. And Art Carney played the part of Ralph K. Mills. In order to protect the names of people actually involved in tonight's authentic big story, the names of all characters in the dramatization were changed. With the exception of the reporter, Mr. Mills. This is Ernest Chappell speaking for the makers of Pall Mall Famous Cigarettes. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.

[Grainger Announcer]

If you're the purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant, you know having a trusted partner makes all the difference. That's why, hands down, you count on Grainger for auto reordering. With On Time Restocks. Your team will have the cut resistant gloves they need at the start of their shift. And you can end your day knowing they've got safety well in hand. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. All right, well, in our cast, in addition to Art Carney, there was Joe Bolan, Joan Alexander, who I thought I recognized her voice. Joe Desantis, Ray Johnson, Grace Keddie and Grant Richards. And as always with the Big Story. And I'll probably stop talking about this, but it Seems like the biggest thing they looked for was somebody who could perform doubles. And it's just a case of you've got your budget and you need your actors to give as much as they can to give the story enough believable variety. Of course. Art Carney, probably one of the most famous people we've heard on this series. He's probably most remembered as Ed Norton on the Honeymooners. But of course, he had such a fantastic acting career, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and multiple Emmys. This episode is interesting and it kind of plays into this fact that this is such an odd situation for real life, but certainly was common enough for people who went to movies. A reporter comes on a baffling crime and wraps up the case in an hour or so. Most of the time, if the identity of the killer isn't apparent, it's going to take some time for the case to be solved and it's going to be solved by the police. So this episode really does lean into the rarity of the event portrayed. Now, this was based on a 1943 case where the victim was Mrs. Ruth Chablo, and essentially the main facts of the episode are pretty well represented. Mills was working this case because of a fluke. The body was found buried alive and the killer did take his own life. The one detail that the stories behind the Big Story website adds is that Mr. Chablo had actually filed for divorce from his wife for the reason of desertion a couple years before. But given the way that divorces were handled back then, it was going to be coming to court in a few weeks. And this would have of course, been complicated by the fact that he was serving in the military. So a pretty factual account that perhaps reminds us that just because something is not really in touch with how things actually happen in movies doesn't mean that it couldn't happen in theory or that it might not happen every once in a while. I also want to say that I love the questioning scene with Mr. Lopez and how much he was going to make Mills stick with the whole I'll only ask you three questions thing. And of course the police had to get on the line to get him to come in for questions. Although I guess it does beg the question why the police weren't asking the questions in the first place. But I gather that the police were cooperative in helping the reporter get his story and didn't mind the reporter doing some of the work. Alright, well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Zant patreon, supporter since February 2017. Currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Zant, 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 Tuesday with another episode of the Big Story, but join us back here tomorrow for Broadway's My.

[Ralph K. Mills]

Beat, where I'm taking my well earned rest. You Want to help, Mr. Clover? Sure. Mind if I sit down, Russ? Yeah, sit down. You were almost a hero today, Russ. You're kidding. That's how I make my daily summer bread. 50 bucks a week. Ogle a girl, save a life. How long you been a lifeguard, Russ? Oh, six, maybe seven summers. Time out for a frolic on Anzio beach then. You've had a lot of experience saving people from drowning. Am I allotted share? The medical examiner down at headquarters says that man you tried to save. Yeah, I remember. Our medical examiner says he was murdered. Huh. How come our man says it was murder? Because artificial respiration wasn't applied properly. Well, your man is a smart man, but a four bitter, weak lifeguard does the best he can. He studies in classes. He follows a first aid manual. You call him a murderer because he didn't make out with one poor slob. You tell me, Russ. You murder the man. Considering the percentage of lives that are saved and not saved by such as we, that's a question you may never be able.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to Box13greatdetives.net follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram G From Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

[Mrs. Cressley]

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[Ralph K. Mills]

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[Ralph K. Mills]

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[Mrs. Cressley]

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[Grainger Announcer]

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