The Big Story: The Bitterest Man on Earth (EP4927)

Summary

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The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: The Big Story: The Bitterest Man on Earth (EP4927)

Host: Adam Graham
Air Date: March 10, 2026 (original story June 8, 1949)
Featured Show: The Big Story – “The Bitterest Man on Earth”

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Overview

This episode of The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio features a dramatization from The Big Story, highlighting the tenacity and conscience of a real-life journalist, Julian C. Housman, of the Richmond, Virginia News Leader. The episode unravels a wrongful conviction case, where a man named Jamie Goodwin, mistaken for murderer Arthur Tenney, faces a 40-year prison sentence. Through persistent investigation and challenging of authority, Housman uncovers the truth, ultimately restoring justice and addressing profound themes about identity, human dignity, and the responsibility of the press.

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Key Discussion Points and Episode Breakdown

Setting the Scene: The Letter that Sparked It All

• [04:27] The story begins with a heartfelt letter from Mamie Goodwin, Jamie’s mother, pleading with Postmaster Dawson in Virginia to help her son, wrongly imprisoned for murder.

  “My son Jamie got himself in trouble… accused of murder and sentenced to 40 year hard labor. Now the man who did that crime is named Arthur Tenney. And some swears my Jamie is that Arthur Tenney, which he is not.”
  — Mamie Graham Goodwin ([04:27])

The Case Builds: Reporter Housman Gets Involved

• [05:43] Postmaster Dawson brings the letter to reporter Julian C. Housman, who is initially indifferent but is moved by the woman’s plea and decides to investigate after work.
  • Housman consults with Sheriff Jeff Wray, who is convinced of Jamie’s guilt, but admits never having taken Tenney's fingerprints ([07:03]).

Visiting the Accused: Doubt and Despair in Jail

• [07:57-08:36] Housman meets Jamie Goodwin, who, bitter and hopeless, insists on his innocence but sees no chance for justice since all evidence and witnesses are against him.

  “Who cares if a backwards boy like me live or die? Go on away and leave me be.”
  — Jamie Goodwin ([08:20])

Eyewitness Testimonies: Conviction Through Misidentification

• [09:00-10:03] Housman interviews Bertha Jarvis, the victim’s close friend, and Marie’s mother, both absolutely sure the accused is Arthur Tenney.

  “I swore in the courtroom and I’ll put my hand on this book. Now. God’s my witness. That boy in jail killed my daughter? God’s my witness.”
  — Marie’s Mother ([10:05])

The Turning Point: The Real Arthur Tenney’s Family

• [10:41-11:49] Housman tracks down Tenney’s father, who, upon seeing Jamie, asserts:

  “He look like him. Talk like him… but he ain’t my son. He’s somebody else.”
  — Arthur Tenney's Father ([11:49])

Confrontation with Authority: Legal Hurdles

• [12:38-14:06] Commonwealth’s Attorney Ballas remains adamant about Jamie’s guilt, citing the overwhelming witness testimony and the lack of solid identity proof.

  “Eight witnesses and the sheriff of this county identified this man as Tenney… Now, if he hadn’t raised that doubt that he was someone else, he’d have been sentenced to death, not 40 years. Instead of an innocent man being unjustly jailed. I tell you, a guilty man has gotten off easy.”
  — Attorney Ballas ([13:35])

• Housman stands his ground, expressing unwavering belief in Jamie’s innocence and his mission to find proof.

Search for the Truth: Community Comes Forward

• [17:33-20:59] After Housman publishes Jamie’s story, locals who know Jamie personally come forward. CB Sager, a Broadnax planter, proposes a common-sense test: six questions only the real Jamie Goodwin could answer. Jamie answers them all correctly, further proving his identity.

  “Man worked for me, name a Goodwin years back. Maybe that’s the boy you got in jail here. If it is, I’ll prove it. I’ll ask that boy six questions about Broadnax. He answers them, he’s Goodwin. He don’t, let him stay in jail.”
  — CB Sager ([19:06])

• Jamie responds to questions about Sager’s family, a doctor, and a specific incident, convincingly establishing his identity ([20:12-20:59]).

The Case Reopens: Justice Fights Back

• [21:40-22:27] New evidence leads to a reconsideration of the case by Ballas, who, despite his initial resistance, acknowledges the necessity of a new trial.

  “You think nevertheless that this information warrants a new trial?”
  — Ballas ([21:52])

• The retrial revisits all the evidence, including expert testimony.

The Verdict: Restoration of Justice

• [24:18-25:14] A handwriting expert testifies:

  “The possibility of Tenney writing like Goodwin or Goodwin writing like Tenney is so highly unlikely that it becomes almost a practical certainty that they are very different people. In short, that’s Goodwin, Your Honor, not Tenney. Jamie Goodwin.”
  — Handwriting Expert ([24:18])

• Jamie is declared free. The episode ends with an emotional exchange between Jamie and Housman, reflecting on the importance of belief, fighting for justice, and community care.

  “If you believe in something, you don’t put your head down and say, no, that can’t be. You put your face up and fight for what you believe. If you do that, people cares. Cause they see that you cares. And that's what this show now, ain't it, Mr. Hosman?”
  — Jamie Goodwin ([26:00])

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Notable Quotes and Moments

• On the power of journalism and the individual:

  “I think I’m right. I think I can prove that Jamie Goodwin is not the murderer.”
  — Julian C. Housman ([14:06])

• On despair and hope:

  “I ain't gonna let you come in here and stir up my hopes and maybe get me to think that that's what I'm gonna have. I ain't gonna let you do that. I’m gonna rot in here and ain’t nothing you nor nobody in the whole world can do to help me.”
  — Jamie Goodwin ([16:18])

• On community responsibility:

  “There must be some folks know him. Must be one man somewhere stop what he do and take a day out and come down here to prove I ain't no murderer.”
  — Jamie Goodwin ([17:33])

• On the meaning of the story:

  “If you believe in something, you don’t put your head down and say, no, that can’t be. You put your face up and fight for what you believe.”
  — Jamie Goodwin ([26:00])

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Key Timestamps

• [04:27] Mamie Goodwin’s letter launches the investigative chain.
• [07:03] Housman discovers early flaws in the original conviction.
• [08:20] Jamie’s plea highlights his hopelessness.
• [11:49] Tenney’s father disavows identification.
• [13:35] Ballas’s “no ifs, ands, or buts” adamancy.
• [20:12-20:59] Jamie passes Sager’s hometown questions.
• [24:18] Handwriting expert’s definitive evidence.
• [25:35] Jamie’s release and moral reflection.

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Host Adam Graham’s Commentary

• [29:20–31:00] Adam Graham provides background on the cast, notably Canada Lee (Jamie Goodwin), sharing Lee’s path from laborer to acclaimed actor and emphasizing the unique gravitas Lee brings to this episode.
• Adam notes the episode sticks closely to true events (the real case occurred between 1932 and the retrial in 1938), though perhaps the script is too generous in depicting prosecutors’ openness to new evidence.

  “Prosecutors in real life continued through a lot of evidence coming forward... until they were really finally, I think by the way of public relations and potential heat forced to go ahead and have a new trial... It's just kind of hard to see that this was the case here.”
  — Adam Graham ([31:00])

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Conclusion

The Bitterest Man on Earth dramatizes the importance of reporting, persistence, and belief in justice. The episode is powerful—built on strong performances, a nuanced script, and historical fidelity (if a slight softening for legal authorities’ role in reality), ending on a hopeful note: that truth can prevail if people care enough to fight for it.

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Transcript

[Jamie Goodwin]

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[Julian C. Housman]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Marie’s Mother]

Sam.

[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 the Big Story, but I want to encourage you to check out our other podcast. And today I'm highlighting the great adventures of Old Time Radio, where some of Old Time Radio's most daring adventure heroes. Currently, we are featuring Tarzan and Counterspot, and you can check that [e-mail] or wherever you get your podcast from. But now, from June 8, 1949, here is the bitterest man on earth,

[Narrator/Announcer]

Pell Mell present the.

[Jamie Goodwin]

Ain't that sweet, baby?

[Julian C. Housman]

Oh, man.

[Jamie Goodwin]

Ain't that hot.

[Marie’s Mother]

Yeah.

[Jamie Goodwin]

Hey, baby, you ain't got your mind on it? Come on. We dancing or what? Oh, listen to it. Don't that send you? Don't let just get you.

[Marie’s Mother]

That's him right there, sitting there. See him? He's getting up now. Stop that man. Stop him. He killed my best friend. That man wanted the murder. That's him. Get him. Stop him.

[Narrator/Announcer]

The big story here is America, its sound and its fury, its joy and its sorrow, as faithfully reported by the men and women of the great American newspapers. Richmond, Virginia, the story of a murder and of a man convicted for that murder, who became the bitterest man on earth for his contribution, not only in writing a great story, but in reaffirming a great truth that every person on earth is a human being and has a right to human dignity, to Reporter Julian C. Housman of the Richmond, Virginia newsleader. For his big story goes the Pell Mell Award. Now the story as it actually happened. Reporter Julian Housman's story as he lived it. Richmond, Virginia.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

It began with a letter from a woman in Harlem at 2581St. Nicholas Avenue, New York. To the postmaster at Broadnax in Mecklenburg County, Virginia.

[Marie’s Mother]

Dear Mr. Dawson, sir, I got to make myself known to you and maybe you remember me. Daniel Green's daughter Mamie, now name of Goodwin, since I married. I hope you'll not think me being forward to write, sir, Mr. Dawson. But my son Jamie got himself in trouble. He's in Richmond in the Henrico County Jail. Accused of murder and sentenced to 40 year hard labor. Now the man who did that crime is named Arthur Tenney. And some swears my Jamie is that Arthur Tenney, which he is not. He is my son and never murdered no one. Now Mr. Dawson, you know my family when I worked for your wife 20 years ago. And then move from Broad Axe to New York and Jamie come with me. He never killed no one, but I can't come and prove it. So would you please sir, get in touch with the sheriff, Mr. Ray. And tell them that Jamie ain't this Arthur Tenney. And help him get off. I'll be so grateful, Mr. Dawson, sir. And thank you in advance, your humble servants. Mamie Graham Goodwin.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

It began for you Julian Houseman, reporter for the Richmond News Leader. When Postmaster Dawson of Broadnax happened to have some business in Richmond, happened to have a spare half hour and happened by accident to walk into the newspaper office.

[Julian C. Housman]

Mr. Housman?

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Yeah, that's right.

[Julian C. Housman]

Her name's Dawson, Postmaster and Broadnax. I got something here might be of interest. The girl outside says that you handle this kind of thing.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

What is the crime story?

[Julian C. Housman]

Don't know if it's any kind of story. Just a letter I got. Old woman he used to know. 20 odd years ago up Mecklenburg county where Broadnax is. They used to do washing for my wife.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Well, I'm on a story right now, Mr. Dorsey.

[Julian C. Housman]

That's all right. I won't take your time. Just why don't I leave a letter and you think it's anything or go ahead and do what you like. If not, it gets the wastebaskets. Good a place as any place.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Three hours later, after you've finished work, you read the letter. It moves you strongly. The woman's plight, her dependence on Dawson, the helplessness in every line. Could it be as she had Written. You call sheriff Jeff Wray a good friend out at Henrico County Prison.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Then there's nothing in it, Jeff, about his being Goodwin and not Tenny?

[Julian C. Housman]

No, nothing. I had that boy in jail one day six years ago, right after he killed his wife. He escaped that first day, but I remember him.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Couldn't you compare his prince?

[Julian C. Housman]

Now I tell you a little secret, Julian. I never did get a chance to take his prince. I was going to that second morning, but darned if he didn't escape that night. But we got him now. Had a fair trial, got convicted, and that's that. Now, Julian, he. He ain't pulling the wool over your eyes now, is he? With that story being someone else. Hello, Julian, you hear me?

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Yeah, I. I hear you, Jeff. No, he isn't. Not so long.

[Jamie Goodwin]

That's right, Mr. Hosman. My name's Jamie Goodwin. But what's the difference? Ain't nobody gonna believe me. Ain't nobody care.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Well, what proof do you have?

[Marie’s Mother]

Proof?

[Jamie Goodwin]

What's that? Proof I say who I am. I got papers from the merchant marine. Jury say That's Arthur Tenney. 40 years hard labor. That's your proof.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

And you're not Arthur Tenney. You're Jamie Goodwin.

[Jamie Goodwin]

Oh, mister, please go on away. Who cares if a backwards boy like me live or die? Go on away and leave me be.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

For a moment you think, ah, what's the difference? And then you stop. He's a man, isn't he? A human being with the same hopes and desires and fears as you or anyone else.

[Julian C. Housman]

Do you think?

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Suppose I spend a little time on this? Find out. You start with Bertha Jarvis, the girl who identified him.

[Marie’s Mother]

I was up in New York visiting friends. We went dancing. That's where I saw him. Tenny?

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

You sure it was Tenny?

[Marie’s Mother]

Sure I'm sure.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

How'd you know?

[Marie’s Mother]

His wife was my girlfriend. I grew up with her. My best friend. He promised a love, honor and cherish her. Steady. Killed her. She was a good girl, Marie. And he's bad. How I know? Well, Marie's dead. That's how I know.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

You're Marie's mother.

[Marie’s Mother]

Who are you?

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

I'm a reporter. Tenny was your son in law, right?

[Marie’s Mother]

I got nothing to say about him. Except they should have electrocuted him, not to give him 40 years.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

You identified him at the trial?

[Marie’s Mother]

Sure. Saying his name is Goodwin. I ain't Tanny. I Goodwin. Liar. Know what a liar that boy was? Come here and look.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

What's that?

[Marie’s Mother]

Barber. Look a here wrote on the inside. To my darling sweetheart. Marie give it to her same day he killed her. That's how bad he was.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Sure there couldn't be any mistake.

[Marie’s Mother]

I swore in the courtroom and I'll put my hand on this book. Now. God's my witness. That boy in jail kill my daughter? God's my witness.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

You wonder about him now. Jamie Goodwin or Arthur Tenney. You wonder, but you go on. Other witnesses say the same. And then after searching a week, you find the Tenney family. A woman sick in bed who can't talk, and a bent old man who listens to your mission and shakes his head.

[Arthur Tenney's Father]

He's my son, but I don't want to talk about him.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

But you weren't at the trial, were you, Mr. Tenney? You didn't see him.

[Arthur Tenney's Father]

What I want to see. Boy disgrace his family. Mister, since he done that six years ago, his mama and me ain't been out of this house livin. Disgrace, that's all. Don't want to talk about him.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

But this man may not be your son.

[Arthur Tenney's Father]

Killed his wife. That's all I know.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Maybe he didn't do it. I don't say your son didn't kill his wife. I say maybe this man isn't your son.

[Arthur Tenney's Father]

What you want me to do?

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Come down to the jail, see him? You may be able to set an innocent man free. You wouldn't want an innocent man to pay for your son's crime, would you?

[Arthur Tenney's Father]

Well, enough trouble in the world without some poor boy paying for something my son done. I'll go.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

You know this man, Jamie?

[Jamie Goodwin]

No, sir. Never seen him before in my life.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Well, Mr. Tenney. Mr. Tenney, this is Arthur Tenney's father.

[Arthur Tenney's Father]

Well, it looked like him. Talk like him, even stand like Arthur. Look enough to be him else's twin. But he ain't my son. He's somebody else.

[Julian C. Housman]

They read all about it. Men sentencing Enrico County Jail for murderers.

[Marie’s Mother]

Arthur Tenney says that's not you.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Set down the facts as you've got them, the assertions and the denials, and the next morning you get a call. The Commonwealth's Attorney, George Ballas, the man who tried the case, tells you to come in, tells you you'd better come in.

[Julian C. Housman]

That's a great story you wrote. Great public service.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Now, what's the matter, Mr. Ballas?

[Julian C. Housman]

You think I try cases and send men to prison for 40 years for the fun of it? I don't.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

But I wrote that.

[Julian C. Housman]

Suppose you listen. Houseman and I talk. Eight witnesses and the sheriff of this county identified this man as Tenney. One witness. The man's father and of course, the man himself. Say he's not Tenney. Now ask yourself this. Does the Tenney family stand again by lying? Does Tenney stand again by sticking to his story that he's Goodwin? Of course.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

But I saw them together. Tenney's father.

[Julian C. Housman]

And I saw Bertha Jarvis and the murdered girl's mother and all the rest. Now, suppose you were accused of being someone you're not. Could you prove who you were? Would it be so difficult?

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Now, what about the papers from the merchant marine?

[Julian C. Housman]

Look, I walk into a shipping office in New York and say my name is Goodwin. Do they ask for proof?

[Narrator/Storyteller]

No.

[Julian C. Housman]

They issue papers in the name of Goodwin. Does that make me Goodwin?

[Narrator/Storyteller]

No.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

I see all that.

[Marie’s Mother]

But.

[Julian C. Housman]

There are no buts. No ifs or ands or buts. That boy raised the noise that he was Goodwin in court. We proved who he was. Now, if he hadn't raised that doubt that he was someone else, he'd have been sentenced to death, not 40 years. Instead of an innocent man being unjustly jailed. I tell you, a guilty man has gotten off easy.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

You think that?

[Julian C. Housman]

I know it. Now, why don't you go back to your paper and write the second part of that story? That Tenny is Tenny. No ifs, ands of buts.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

No, I can't do that, Mr. Ballard. I can't. Because after all you've said and all the other witnesses have said, I. I think I'm right. I think I can prove that Jamie Goodwin is not the murder.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

This is Cy Harris returning you to

[Julian C. Housman]

your narrator and the big story of Julian Houseman as he lived it and wrote it.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

The facts seem all against you. Julian Houseman, reporter for the Richmond News Leader. Witnesses swear that the man who says he's Jamie Goodwin is really Arthur Tenney, murderer. The sheriff's commonwealth's attorney Ballas insists so. And all you have to go on is the word of the man himself, the murderous father, and your own stubborn belief. You go back to Henrico County Jail to the innocent man or the murderer and talk.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Jamie, I need to know more. I've got to know more about you. Now you've got to talk to me.

[Jamie Goodwin]

What for, Mr. Hosman?

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Don't sit there like that so we can free you. Don't you want to get out of prison?

[Jamie Goodwin]

Don't I want to get out? Don't I want to breathe? Look, mister, you've been good, real good. Taken time, but nobody cares what happens to me. That old man say I wasn't his son? Anybody listen to him, the sheriff. Listen, Mr. Ballas, he listen. No. Oh, what's a good.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

I tell you, if we can get proof, you can be free.

[Jamie Goodwin]

No. They put me away. They treat me good in here, and I ain't complaining.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Food's good and all like that.

[Jamie Goodwin]

But they put me away and they ain't gonna bother taking me out.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

I tell you, you're wrong. Ballas is an honest man.

[Jamie Goodwin]

I ain't say he's not honest. I s. Oh, mister, look, I want to get out, get in the sun, get on a ship, maybe see a girl, get married, have kids.

[Julian C. Housman]

Sure.

[Jamie Goodwin]

Sure, I want that. But I ain't gonna let you come in here and stir up my hopes and maybe get me to think that that's what I'm gonna have. I ain't gonna let you do that. I'm gonna rot in here and ain't nothing you nor nobody in the whole world can do to help me. That's why I say leave me alone. Please, I'm begging you, leave me alone. Don't mess me up and then dash me down more harder than before.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

You're wrong, Jamie.

[Julian C. Housman]

You're wrong.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

How can I make you believe you're wrong? Jamie? I'm gonna write a story about what you just told me. Maybe somebody will read it and come forward and say who you really are. What else should I say in that story?

[Jamie Goodwin]

I told you all I'm gonna say.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

You asked.

[Jamie Goodwin]

Who cares?

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

I care, Jamie. And I think others will care when they hear your story.

[Arthur Tenney's Father]

Do you?

[Jamie Goodwin]

For true. Honest.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

For true, Jamie.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

All right.

[Jamie Goodwin]

Say this Jamie Goodwin's got a bad name. Jamie Goodwin robbed a car and stole money for food. But he didn't kill no woman. He didn't kill no wife. He never was married. Say that. Say if he got married, he'd treat his woman right. That ain't gonna help. Maybe, but that's the truth.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Anything else?

[Jamie Goodwin]

Yeah, yeah.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Yeah.

[Jamie Goodwin]

Mr. Hosman say that say Jamie Goodman worked lots of places. Broadnax, Detroit, Baltimore, Boston. There must be some folks know him. Must be one man somewhere stop what he do and take a day out and come down here to prove I ain't no murderer. Prove I'm just plain Jamie Goodwin.

[Julian C. Housman]

Read your story, mister. Thought maybe I knew that man you wrote about two years ago. Lent him $75. He paid me back to. Here's the note he signed. See Jamie Goodwin. Maybe you can use that.

[Arthur Tenney's Father]

I just come from the jail, Mr. Haslan. Well, I saw that man. The man they say is Arthur Tenney. Funny, I remember when I Talked to Tenny and knew him years ago. Used to have to look up to that man tall. This one I didn't have to look up to. Now he must have growed shorter cause I ain't growed no taller. Unless, of course, like I think, he ain't Arthur Tenney, but someone else.

[Julian C. Housman]

You a houseman?

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

That's right.

[Julian C. Housman]

My name's CB Sager. I'm a planter abroad next week. You had an article in the paper. I read it. I spoke to the postmaster in our town about this Goodwin Tenny fella says come see you. So here I am.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

What do you think about it?

[Julian C. Housman]

Thinking something. I don't go in for much fear is, I tell you what I believe in. I believe in facts. I lived in Broadnecks all my life, know everyone. Man worked for me. Name a good one years back. Maybe that's the boy you got in jail here. If it is, I'll prove it. I'll ask that boy six questions about Broadnecks. He answers them. He's Goodwin. He don't let him stay in jail. I ain't got all day. Let's go.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Stand still, you.

[Julian C. Housman]

Man, what's this? What you got all these men here for?

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Can you pick out one you ever saw before, Mr. Sager?

[Julian C. Housman]

Testing me, eh? Well, I'll be sure. There he is. You. You're Goodwin, right?

[Jamie Goodwin]

Yes.

[Julian C. Housman]

Testing me.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

All right, the rest of you men can go. Now, Jamie, this man is.

[Julian C. Housman]

Let me do the talking, son.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Okay.

[Julian C. Housman]

Now, look at me, Jamie. Who am I?

[Jamie Goodwin]

I remember you, sir, But I. You, Mr. Sager.

[Julian C. Housman]

That's right. Now, where am I from?

[Jamie Goodwin]

By Broadenax.

[Julian C. Housman]

When did you last see me?

[Jamie Goodwin]

Let me see. Seven years ago, sir. Last July.

[Julian C. Housman]

Why'd you say July?

[Jamie Goodwin]

Well, you fired me July 1st and then you hired me back July 4th. Says you was being patriotic about how.

[Julian C. Housman]

Never mind, never mind. What's my brother in law's name?

[Jamie Goodwin]

Well, that's the doctor, Dr. Payne.

[Julian C. Housman]

What did he tell you last time he saw you?

[Jamie Goodwin]

He said, I think it was the last time. He says, don't you go walking on no more roofs. Cause next time you fall off your knight might not be lucky and just break one leg.

[Julian C. Housman]

That's him. That's him. That's Jamie Goodwin. No serious facts. I swear. Heck, I don't need to swear. Now, Jamie, when they let you out, you come on back to Broad next. I got a good job waiting.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

But it's not so simple. There are eight witnesses and a sheriff to shake. There's a decision of a judge And a jury to reverse. And there's an attorney ballast, a commonwealth attorney. You bring the new information to him. He looks it over, listens, then says,

[Julian C. Housman]

I take back some of what I said. Houseman, your story was not irresponsible.

[Arthur Tenney's Father]

Thank you.

[Julian C. Housman]

I take back some of what I said. There's still the testimony of eight.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

I know, I know.

[Julian C. Housman]

But you think nevertheless that this information warrants a new trial?

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Yes, Mr. Ballas, I do. What do you think?

[Julian C. Housman]

Husband, I want you to know I'll fight you. I mean you and Tenny or Goodwin and his attorney. I'll fight you with all I've got. You know I'm a funny duck. I'm one of those throwbacks to another period when people had a sense of duty and a sense of honesty. If you win this case, you'll know you've been in a fight. You'll get new trial.

[Marie’s Mother]

As the Lord's my witness. Judge, that man sitting right over there was married to my girlfriend Marie. That man is Arthur Tenney. I swear he killed my daughter. That Tenny, I swear he don't deserve to live.

[Arthur Tenney's Father]

Yes, Mr. Lawyer up us respects what that foreman said about Marie. And I ain't forgetting Marie was my daughter in law. But that man sitting there ain't my son. He look like him all right, but he ain't my boy.

[Julian C. Housman]

My name's Sager. I say any man answer my six questions way that boy done. I know he's who I say he is. He's Jamie Goodwin.

[Marie’s Mother]

I'm the boy's mother, sir. Yes, sir. No matter what I say, I know few people ain't gonna think I ain't sticking up for my son. I is. But I said this. How come that poor woman on the stand whose daughter got killed don't know me? How come the man who say he's Arthur Tennis father never seen me before? If I is the mother of this man, then they is my kinfolks. And how come my kinfolks don't know me? The reason is he's Jamie Goodman. That's why.

[Julian C. Housman]

I am a handwriting expert. I have testified in many trials in professional capacity, including the Lindbergh case. I have also examined a sheet of paper torn from a Bible on which Arthur Tenney wrote a few words. I have also examined a note, admittedly signed by Jamie Goodwin. In my honest and positive opinion, the possibility of Tenney writing like Goodwin or Goodwin writing like Tenny is so highly unlikely that it becomes almost a practical certainty that they are very different people. In short, that's Goodwin Your Honor, not Tenny. Jamie Goodwin.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Yes, sir. Your Honor.

[Arthur Tenney's Father]

Case dismissed, sir.

[Julian C. Housman]

You're free, Jamie. You're free.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Please, Mr. Hausman, a little respect for

[Julian C. Housman]

the dignity of this court.

[Arthur Tenney's Father]

Jamie Goodwin, you are free.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Hey.

[Jamie Goodwin]

I don't know what to say, Mr. Halsey.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

You don't have to say anything, Jamie.

[Arthur Tenney's Father]

I gotta.

[Jamie Goodwin]

Somehow I gotta thank you. You see, I learned that people does care. People like you and the postmaster from Broadmax. And Mr. Sega. Here's Mr. Ballast, too. Them folks on the other side, they care, too. What's true counts with folks, don't it?

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

That's right.

[Jamie Goodwin]

And see, Mr. Houseman, something like something else, too. I mean, something I learned. If you believe in something, you don't put your head down and say, no, that can't be. You put your face up and fight for what you believe. If you do that, people cares. Cause they see that you cares. And that's what this show now, ain't it, Mr. Hosman?

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

That's what it shows, Jamie. That's just what it shows.

[Narrator/Announcer]

In just a moment, we'll read you a telegram from Julian C. Housman of the Richmond, Virginia News Leader with the final outcome of tonight's Big Story. Now we read you that telegram from Julian C. Housman of the Richmond, Virginia News Leader.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Day after trial, Goodwin visited the paper and said, I just wanted to come to the people who got me out of this jam. I needed assistance, and it's to the News Leader that I owe my freedom. Authorities are still searching for the actual murderer in tonight's Big Story. Thanks a lot for tonight's Pall Mall award.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Thank you, Mr. Hausman. The makers of Pell Mell Famous Cigarettes are proud to present you the Pell Mell $500 award for notable service in the field of journalism.

[Julian C. Housman]

Listen again next week, same time, same

[Narrator/Storyteller]

station, when Pell Mell Famous Cigarettes will

[Julian C. Housman]

present another big story.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

A big story from the front pages

[Julian C. Housman]

of the Columbus, Ohio Dispatch. Byline, Bill Foley.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

A big story about a phantom killer and a reporter who didn't believe in ghosts.

[Narrator/Announcer]

The Big Story is produced by Bernard J. Proctor with music by Vladimir Silinsky. Tonight's program was written by Arnold Pearl. Your narrator was Bob Sloan. John Sylvester played the part of Julian C. Housman. And Canada Lee played Jamie. 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. Housman. This is Ernest Chappell speaking for the makers of Pall Mall.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

This is npc, the National Broadcasting Company.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Cold weather can wreak havoc on your skin. You don't want to miss out on this month's great savings on all your favorite skincare essentials. Now through March 31, earn four times points when you purchase participating skincare items like Dove Soap, Dove Body Wash, Dove Beauty Bar, Soft Soap Body Wash and Irish Spring Body Wash. Points can be redeemed later for discounts on groceries or gas. Offer ends March 31st. Restrictions apply. Promotions may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. In addition to Mr. Sylvester and Mr. Lee, in tonight's cast were Pauline Myers, Georgia Burke, John Marriott, Jim Boles, Eric Dressler, Bill Smith, Scott Tennyson and as usual, a lot of doubles, including Canada Lee. Now on the BIG story. It is a bit unusual for any co stars to make it into the closing credits, but Canada Lee had a very significant promise profile that merited it. Lee kind of stumbled into acting, I mean, literally was looking for a job as a laborer and ended up in an audition for the Federal Theater, which was one of those sort of new deal projects that kept people in work by having them perform. According to Lee, the way he looked at acting was this is interesting and it's better than going hungry. Then he got into production of Macbeth, which we term an all black production. And Welles had them rehearsed for six months and this just became a runaway hit. And it really is a case where Welles passion for the theater and acting were caught by Lee, which I think is one of the more incredible things that I've ever read about Mr. Welles. Lee went on to do a lot of stage work and in Hollywood he was cast in Lifeboat and he'd also served as a narrator of the really interesting World War II era program new World A coming. So he brought some real star power that you don't really hear a whole lot in the big story. In terms of the episode itself, I think it was well set out and according to Dr. Joe Webb, it's pretty close to the truth. The murder in question happened in 1932, with the new trial occurring in 1938. I do think that as was the case with other episodes in this sort of mold, that there may be a little bit too much credit being given to the prosecutors who, and I think in real life continued through a lot of evidence coming forward. A lot of people saying this wasn't the same guy until they were really finally, I think by the way of public relations and potential heat forced to go ahead and have a new trial. Now, that is not to say in any way that prosecutors or most prosecutors aren't concerned enough with justice to try to do the right thing. It's just kind of hard to see that this was the case here. All right, listener comments and feedback now and over on Spotify, Mechanic66 writes regarding the episode 16 Year Old Misfit kills out of fear. Good one. Well, thanks so much. Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to go ahead and thank Diane, Patreon supporter Since July of 2023, currently supporting the podcast at the detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Diane. And that will do it for today. If you 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 Beat, where the shock was

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

a thing composed of crowd and a nighttime sky lit by flame. The elements later to be noted in police and fire department records.

[Julian C. Housman]

Fired at Russell's Chemical Company. Time 4:15am you're bringing somebody out now, Danny. That's strange. What? What'd you say? Said it's strange. Mug of him after 4 in the morning. Why should anybody be. Come on, let's see. Put the scratches down here. Somebody better. How are they, huh? Oh, hello, Danny. These two, I think that's always in there.

[Jamie Goodwin]

I just started to say somebody better get a priest.

[Julian C. Housman]

They're both dead. This one is the other one.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Danny.

[Julian C. Housman (Reporter)]

Look at him.

[Julian C. Housman]

Ed Coster. Do something for him.

[Jamie Goodwin]

Don't let.

[Julian C. Housman]

Doc. Doc, over here. Ed Coster. Hurry up. Doc. You know him, Danny? Yeah, he's a policeman. Policeman?

[Jamie Goodwin]

What was he doing in there?

[Julian C. Housman]

Doc, do something for him.

[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.com Great detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham signing off.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Cold weather can wreak havoc on your skin. You don't want to miss out on this month's great savings on all your favorite skincare essentials. Now through March 31, earn four times points when you purchase participating skincare items like Dove Soap, Dove Body Wash, Dove Beauty Bar Soft Soap Body Wash and Irish Spring Body Wash. Points can be redeemed later for discounts on groceries or gas. Offer ends March 31. Restrictions apply. Promotions may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details. Are you a fraud paying American? 1 in 4 tax paying Americans has been a victim of identity fraud. With Lifelock, if your identity is stolen, they fix it guaranteed or your money back. Last year, billions in refunds were stolen. Could be from your salary, overtime or second job gone. But this year you don't need to stay a victim because this tax season, fraud paying American is something no American should have to claim. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit lifelock.com iheart Terms apply when Kohler,

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