The Big Story: The Case of the Ambitious Hobo (EP4872)

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: The Big Story: The Case of the Ambitious Hobo (EP4872)
Host: Adam Graham
Original Air Date of Drama: December 17, 1947
Podcast Release Date: December 23, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features a dramatization from the classic radio anthology "The Big Story," titled "The Case of the Ambitious Hobo." Adapted from a true-life newspaper investigation, it follows reporter Russ Wilson of the Des Moines Tribune as he tracks down a youthful killer, “Baby Face” Freddy Bell, whose dream of becoming a “big shot” leads him down a dark road of crime, violence, and ultimately, tragedy. After the drama, host Adam Graham delivers insightful commentary on both the episode’s real historical basis and its portrayal of hobo subculture.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. Freddy Bell’s Restless Ambition and Departure

• The story opens with young Freddy Bell leaving home in search of a bigger, more glamorous life, though his mother pleads for him to stay.
• Key scene (05:20–06:00):
  • Freddy: “Everyone around here still calls me Baby Face... But I'm no kid anymore. ... I want to make sure you never have to work again. ... I want people to turn around and look at me... here goes Freddie Bell, the big shot.”
• He departs with his mother’s life savings, convinced that only by seeking fortune outside can he fulfill his dreams.

2. The Hobo Jungle and Skewed Morality

• Freddy, accompanied by an older hobo, Idaho, hitches boxcar rides, expressing scorn for the hobo life and aspirations for more.
• Notable explanation (08:57): Idaho distinguishes between a hobo and a bum—“Bum’s a tramp. Won’t work, he'll steal. Hobo’s different. He’ll work, and he’s got respect for the Lord.”
• Tension escalates when Freddy, increasingly hardened, threatens a brakeman with a knife, leading Idaho to throw him off the train:
  • Idaho: “You want to be a big shot like Dillinger... You're a killer, kid. I don’t want to be traveling with a killer.” (09:15–10:30)

3. Murder and Manhunt

• Hitchhiking, Freddy robs and stabs a mechanic, Carl Andrews, to steal a luxury car, setting off a murder investigation.
• Russ Wilson, the reporter, collaborates with law enforcement, gathering details and following up on the killer’s trail.
• Police discover Freddy's fingerprints at the crime scene (13:16), kicking off a multi-state manhunt.

4. Crucial Lead from the “Hobo Jungle”

• Days into the search, Wilson receives a clandestine midnight call (15:43–16:10) from Idaho, providing a vital lead on Freddy’s whereabouts.
  • Idaho describes the hobo community’s “law”: killers aren't tolerated on the rails, only on the highway (20:16–20:54), as they bring unwanted police attention.
• This code separates hobos (hard-luck workers) from criminals, and the jungle’s rejection of Freddy is a turning point.

5. Identification and Capture

• Idaho finger-picks Freddy from police mugshots, confirming to authorities that the boy spotted in the jungle was the fugitive.
• The police and Russ follow the trail toward Kansas City, piecing together Freddy’s journey via townspeople and railroad workers.
• Despite Freddy’s innocent appearance, witnesses express disbelief that such a “nice-looking kid” could be capable of murder (23:27–24:38).

6. Final Showdown and Grim Irony

• Freddy’s return home is met with his mother’s heartbreak and refusal to abet his escape.
  • Freddy bitterly: “You're the mother of a big shot now. A big shot like Blake’s Diamond, Dylan to the rest of them. Got my picture in the papers. A real public enemy. Okay, now, mom, get me that grub. I gotta beat it.” (24:38–25:41)
• Cornered at a railway employment shack, Freddy makes a desperate attempt to board a southbound freight but is intercepted by Russ and the police:
  • Detective: “Okay, Bell. Try these bracelets on for size.”
  • Freddy: “I could have made it. I could have made it.”
• As he’s led away by train car, Freddy notes with bitter irony:
  • Freddy: “I swore that some day I'd be a big shot. Ride the Pullman, first class. Here I am, a big shot, with my picture in all the papers, and riding a Pullman car, first class. Just as I said I would.” (26:53–27:20)

7. Case Epilogue and Fact vs. Drama

• The episode’s coda—a telegram—reveals that “Baby Face” Freddy Bell (inspired by real-life murderer Donald Lammy) was sentenced to life, escaped, but ultimately returned to prison (27:30).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Idaho’s explanation of hobo ethos:
  • “Bum's a tramp. Won’t work, he'll steal. Hobo’s different. He’ll work.” (08:57)
• Freddy’s self-righteous turn to violence:
  • “Where’d you get that knife... If that Breaky sticks his head through this car door, I’ll cut it off for him.” (09:16)
• Ultimate Irony:
  • Freddy: “I swore that someday I’d be a big shot. Ride the Pullman, first class. ... Just as I said I would.” (26:55–27:20)

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Host Adam Graham’s Post-Episode Commentary

• Cast Roll: (30:11)
  • Praises actors and calls out George Petrie as Russ Wilson, with support from Larry Robinson, Hester Sondergaard, Humphrey Davis, William Keane, Ralph Bell, and Bob Sloan.
• On Hobo vs. Bum:
  • Graham highlights Idaho’s explanation as a crucial point for understanding the episode’s context and the distinction often missed in popular media.
• Critique of the Episode’s Tone:
  • Notes that “this one just did seem a bit more over the top,” possibly due to the performance or a melodramatic script, typical of New York radio at the time.
• Historical Background:
  • The real “Freddy Bell” was Donald Lammy, who murdered mechanic John LeClaire in 1949. Lammy was caught after a tip from a hobo (who was a cornet player/barber with hopes for dental work and a new suit).
  • Lammy attempted escape multiple times; after a subsequent escape, he was killed by Arizona police in 1950.
• Reflection:
  • Graham closes with thoughts on the contrasting fates of the hobo informant (who got his suit, and hopefully, his dental work and steak dinner) and Lammy, whose criminal ambition led only to downfall and death.

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Important Timestamps

• Freddy leaves home: 05:20–06:00
• Hobo vs. bum distinction: 08:57
• Brakeman knife threat/Idaho ejects Freddy: 09:16–10:30
• Murder and investigation begins: 13:16
• Clandestine call from Idaho: 15:43–16:10
• Hobo code—killer must take to the highway: 20:16–20:54
• Mother’s heartbreak, confrontation: 24:38–25:41
• Freddy’s capture and Pullman irony: 26:53–27:20
• Host commentary and factual notes: 30:11–32:30

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Tone, Style, and Takeaways

The episode adopts a classic noir, hardboiled style—marked by fast-moving dialogue, clear moral lines, and the melodrama typical of mid-century American radio. Despite its dramatic flair, the story probes questions of ambition, fate, and subcultural morality, especially in the contrast between hobos’ “jungle law” and criminal “big shots.” Graham’s concluding commentary balances reverence for radio history with skeptical humor and thoughtful reflection on the true case.

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For New Listeners

If you love classic audio mysteries, complex moral tales, and the grit of true-crime storytelling filtered through Golden Age radio drama, this episode offers an engaging, thought-provoking listen—with historical notes and context to enhance the drama.

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Transcript

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[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 first I do want to encourage you. If you are enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. I also want to encourage you to check out our other podcasts and today I'm highlighting the amazing world of [e-mail] While this episode is mostly non holiday related, we do have a Christmas episode of the Amazing World Radio dropping today and then on New Year's Eve we have a special episode and we don't always do New Year's episodes, but I found a good one and I hope you'll enjoy it. Check that [e-mail] whole variety of different sorts of programs that are presented there with some really unique and interesting Old Time radio programs that you might have missed. All right, well now from December 17, 1947, here is the case of the ambitious Hobo.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Hail Mel Famous Cigarettes presents the Big Story.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

The Idaho yeah kid, my back feels broken riding on the floor of this empty boxcar. You'll get used to it, kid. You'll get used to it. Oh, no, not me. Maybe you're gonna go on being a hobo all your life, but not me. I got big ideas. What kind of big ideas? I'm gonna be a big shot someday, Idaho. Big shot? Yeah. When I do, I'm gonna ride the cushions in a Pullman car.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

The Big Story, another in a thrilling series based on true experiences of newspaper reporters. Tonight, to Russ Wilson of the Des Moines Tribune goes the Pell Mell Award for the Big Story. Now the exciting and authentic story of the case of the ambitious H.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

You.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Are Russ Wilson, and right now, you hang your hat in the city room of a California newspaper. But actually, you're from out where the tall corn grows in Iowa. For years, you worked for the Des Moines Tribune as a crime reporter. And it was with the Tribune that you finally nailed down your big story. It really began some 250 miles south of in a little home in Kansas City.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Freddy, you listen to me. Don't leave home again. Stay here. Sorry, mom, but I'm through hanging around the house being a burden to you. The last time you left home, you were gone two years. I never even knew where you were or what you did. I worry about your son. You're only a boy. That's the trouble. That's what everybody thinks. Everyone around here still calls me Baby Face. Baby Face Freddy Bell. But I'm no kid anymore. See, even if I look it, I'm 21. I can't just sit around here and watch you work to support me. Son, if you stay home, there are plenty of jobs. Not my kind of jobs. I want to be rich, famous. I want to own a big car, a big house, have 10 suits of clothes. I want to make sure you never have to work again. Mom, I want people to turn around and look at me when I walk down the street and hear them say, here goes Freddie Bell, the big shot. I wish your father was alive. I wish he was here to advise you. I don't know what to do. I can only say I think you're making a terrible mistake. Oh, no, I'm not. It's like in those stories you used to read me when I was a kid. I've got to go out and seek my fortune. You wouldn't stand in my way, would you, Mom? No, no, son. If that's what you want, I won't try to stop. Aw, now you're talking. Mom, I hate to ask you this, but I'm gonna need some money to get started on my trip. How about that $20 you got saved up for that washing machine you were gonna buy? Oh, I know it's all you have, and I feel like a heel asking you for it, honest. But you don't have to ask me for it, Freddie. It's your. It'll be daylight in an hour. Idaho, when does this here freight train get to Des Moines? This is a highball freight, kid. She's been hitting high iron ever since we jumped aboard at Kansas City. We're in the outskirts of Des Moines now. We've played in luck. Why, Idaho, brakeman hasn't been around to bother us the whole trip. Once we hit the yard, she'll slow down, drop off this boxcar. And after that? After that, I'll take you to the hobo jungle and introduce you to some of the other bulls riding this territory. Well, it can't come too soon for me. My back's broken riding on this boxcar floor. Someday when I get rich, Idaho, I'm gonna ride the cushions on the Pullman cars first class. You think you're gonna be a big shot, huh, kid? I got my mind set on it. Yeah. Stay away from the road. Don't go getting cinders in your blood, train whistles ringing in your ears like I did. It ain't the life for a kid like you. You expect to be a bum all your life, Idaho? Not a bum, kid, a hobo. What's the difference? Plenty. Bum's a tramp. Won't work, he'll steal. Hobo's different. You'll work.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

You're faster.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

And he's got respect for the Lord. Hey, kid. Yeah? Trouble coming up. Brakeman's coming. Where? He's on the catwalk, two cars ahead. Get away from the door, kid. Breakman will be on the roof in this box car in a minute. Oh, what of it? If he sees us, he'll throw us off this train. Oh, no, he won't, Idaho.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

He won't.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

You heard me. What do you mean, kid? I mean this, Idaho. Where'd you get that knife, Casey? A bowie knife, they call it. And if that Breaky sticks his head through this car door, I'll cut it off for him. Wait a minute. What's come over here? Put that knife away. Shut up, Idaho. I'll take care of this. You shut up. Breaky's on the roof of this car now. He looks in. I'll shove this knife right through him. Oh, he's gone. Yeah, he's gone. Kid, now you're gone. Hey, Idaho, what's the idea? What do you think you're doing with that iron bar? Get off this train, kid. Wait a minute, Idaho. You had me fooled with that baby face of yours. I know what kind of a big shot you want to be. You want to be a big shot like Dillinger. Her legs diamond. Yeah, what of it? You're a killer, kid. I don't want to be traveling around with a killer. We part company here and now. Get off this freight, kid. Why? I let you have this knife right through me. Try anything, kid, and you'll get this iron bar right across your face. Go on, jump. Okay, Idaho, I'll jump. But I'll be seen. Hey, mister, give me a lift? Maybe.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Let me get a good look at you first.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Don't like to pick up strangers when.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

It'S dark like this. Unless.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Why, you're only a kid.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Okay. Hop in.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Gee, thanks. What are you doing outside of Des.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Moines at 5 in the morning?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Oh, just get chiking around.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Got the itchy for a nasty show. I had it too, before I got married. My name's Carl Andrews.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

I'm Freddie Bell.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

I'm glad to know you, Freddie.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

This sure is a beautiful car.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Yep, Brand new. And it's got every gadget in the book. Custom made, too.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Is it your car? Mine? No.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

What would I be doing owning a car like this? I work for a garage.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Just delivering the car to the guy who owns it.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

He's bank president in Des Moines.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

So it belongs to a big shot, huh?

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

That's right.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

This is the kind of car I'm gonna drive. Well, I wish you luck, kid. I hope you do someday. I'm not talking about someday, pal. I mean now. Huh? I'm gonna start right in being a big shot now.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

What are you talking about?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

This.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Well, I'll put that knife away, kid.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Pull over to the side of the road, pal. I'm taking over.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Have you gone crazy?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Stop the car and pull over to the side. Do I have to carve you up? You wouldn't dare use that knife. Not a kid like you. Oh, wouldn't I, pal? Wouldn't I? I've been waiting for a chance like this. You're fluffing, kid. There's a state police barracks down the high wind. No, no, kid. No. You. You. Give me that wheel. Give me that.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

You Russ Wilson of the Des Moines Tribune, get the murder flash. Shortly after dawn, you high tailored to the scene. And when you get there, you find the usual crowd. Radio patrolman, detectives, deputy Coroner? Just plain citizens and Officer James Hodge of the Iowa State Bureau of Investigation. You take a long look at the body, then you manage to get Officer Hodge over to one side. Any identification on the dead man yet? Hodge?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Mm.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

He's a garage mechanic named Carl Andrews. Anything else? What do you mean? Any more information I can use for a story? Look, Wilson, according to everything I read, newspaper reporters and private detectives are real bright guys. They always capture the criminal single handed. Professional cops.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Just a dope.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Wouldn't know a clue if he saw one. So why don't you get your own information? Frankly, I wouldn't know how. I've never captured a criminal in my life. You probably think you. I know very well I couldn't. What's the matter, Hodge? Got a big hate on reporters? One of us spelled your name wrong or something? All right, all right. So I got out of bed on the wrong side this morning. What do you want to know? Just the regular stuff. The motive for this murder, for instance. Robbery, I suppose. You suppose wrong. Andrew's had 50 bucks on him. Killer didn't even touch it. That's funny. The killer wasn't interested in money. What did he want? You figure that out, reporter let me know. How about revenge? Maybe Andrews was riding with someone he knew. A personal enemy. Unlikely. Checked with the people in Andrew's garage. Said he didn't have an enemy in the world. Then you haven't got an awful lot to go on, have you? Enough to catch the killer. What? Fingerprints. Fingerprints. Yeah. Yeah, I know. Just like in detective stories. Only sometimes killers really do leave fingerprints. This one did. He was smart enough to wipe them off the steering wheel, but in his hurry to make a getaway, forgot to wipe them off the door handle. We'll probably know who he is within a few hours. City desk. Russ Wilson. I'm calling from headquarters. Those fingerprints belong to a kid named Freddie Bell. He served a term in jail out west for armed robbery. Police expect to pick him up any hour. But the police don't pick him up. A day passes, 2, 3. The manhunt hits high gear goes out of the state nationwide. You follow it close, write story after story. The Tribune is flooded with tips. You track them down, find them worthless. And then days later, when the authorities are just about ready to concede a clean getaway, you get a phone call.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Hello? Is this Russ Wilson?

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Yeah.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

I've been reading those stories he wrote out of Carl Andrews murder case. And I got a tip on the killer.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Who's this?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Never mind. You want that tip on the Killer or don't you?

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Yes. Yes, I do.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Okay. Meet me at the hobo's jungle near the freight yards, midnight tonight.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

The hobo jungle?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

That's right. And Wilson?

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Yeah?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Just a word of warning. Don't talk to the cops and come along.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

We'll be back in just a moment with tonight's big story. Now back to our narrator, Bob Sloan. And tonight's big story. You, Russ Wilson of the Des Moines Tribune, have a date with a mysterious voice on the telephone. Your rendezvous, a hobo jungle near the freight yards at midnight. Your mission? To find a killer. When you cross the tracks in the darkness and head for the clearing they call the hobo's jungle, you're scared plenty. Somewhere in the distance you hear a train. Right now you wish you were on that train. You wish you were anywhere but where you are. But you keep on walking. And finally you hit the jungle itself where the hobos camp. You see the ashes of the cooking fires, bits of cast off clothing and tin cans littered about.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

And you keep on walking. Wilson.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Oh, hello. Oh, it's so dark here.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

You're right on time.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Who are you?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Your name's Jones. Idaho Jones. I'm a hobo.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Why did you want me to meet you out here?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

I figured it was safer for me if I met you in town. It'd be too easy for you to turn me over to the cops if you didn't believe my story.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

I see. You said over the phone that you had a tip on the Carl Andrews murder. Yeah. What's the tip?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

I seen the killer about 7 o' clock this evening.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

You saw Freddy Bell?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Yep. Baby face and all.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Where?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Right here where you're standing.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

You mean he's right here in Des Moines?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

He was. I just spot him along about dark tonight. Me and another beau started to burn some kindling, cook up some coffee in slum. I remember it had started to rain. My friend was telling about other hobo jungle. You know, Idaho.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

The best one I ever seen was.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Off the DLW near Scranton. It was built against the clay bank to keep out the wind. And there. Whitey. Hold it. What's the matter, Idaho? Somebody's coming. Yeah. I wonder if you two guys could deal me in. Little Stu, I. Oh, it's you, Idaho. Yeah, it's me, Freddy. Who's this? Baby Face, Idaho. Freddie Bell knifed a guy to death near here a couple of weeks ago. Look, Idaho. I didn't do it. That ain't what the Des Moines papers say, kid. They're lying, I tell you. I didn't don't lie to me, kid. I know you did it. How do you know? What makes you think I did it? Carl Andrews was murdered at half past four, like this reporter Wilson in the Tribune says. And at four o'clock you jumped the freight we was traveling right about the place where Andrews was killed. You were carrying a knife and you were in a killing mood. Well, okay, okay, so I knifed him. So I'm on the lamb. Look, guys, I'm taking the next freight south for Kansas City. All I want's a little stew. Eat it, kid. But I'm a hobo like the two of you. Oh, no, you're not kidding me.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

You're a killer.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Now beat it. And if you're going to KC don't try to go by freight. What do you mean? He means not to ride the rods of boxcars. That's hobo law. Jungle law.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

If you're going to Kansas City, you'll.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Have to hit the highway. It's rides by car. Wait a minute, wise guys. You can't tell me how to travel. Can we, kid? If any hobo catches you on a freight, he'll throw you off the train. That's the law. We don't want any killers riding the rails. Brings the cops down too quick. The highway's about a mile east of here. Now beat it, kid. Get going. That's the story, Mr. Wilson. It's the last I saw Baby Face Belle. But it looked to me like he was still carrying a knife. And still figuring on using it.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Did you call me right after he left?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Yeah.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

That means he got about a five hour start. You think he's heading to Kansas City? Right. Why did you tip me off to this, Idaho?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

When the cops find out Freddie Bell's a hobo, that they'll raid this jungle, close it up. I figured if I tipped them off through you, they might let us hobos alone.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Maybe.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

You see what I mean, Wilson?

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Sure, Idaho. Sure, I see what you mean. Come on. I want you to tell this story to a friend of mine. All set with those pictures, Hodge? Yep. Got seven different photographs here on my desk. Every one of them out of the rogues gallery. The names blanked out. And Freddie Bell's picture is one of them. Right. This hobo picks it, we'll know he's not talking through his hat. We'll know that he's seen the right man. Much as I hate to admit it. This is a good idea of yours, reporter. Thanks. I'll let him in now. My night home.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

What's this all about Wilson.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Take it easy. Take it easy. We just want to see whether you can pick Freddie Bell from these pictures. Go ahead, Idaho. Figure down which one of these pictures is Freddie bell.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

This year. 1. This picture. The third from the left. That's Freddie Bell. I'd know him anywhere. Well, Jim, he's right.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Reporter. That does it. Good. What now? First, I'm going to send out a general alarm. Notify all road patrols and police between here and Kansas City. Fine. That'll give me a chance to phone in a lead. I can just make my addition after that. Where do we go from here? We're a ride along the highway to Kansas City.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Yeah. Excuse me, ma'. Am. I'm on my way to Kansas City. Hitchhiking. I'm hungry. I wonder if you could spare me a meal. Why, it's a shame. Nice looking boy like you going hungry. Come in. Come in. Gee, thanks, ma'. Am. You're swell. You remind me of my mother.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Did you notify the police immediately after you heard that Freddie Bell was in this area, Mrs. Henshaw?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Yes, Mr. Hodge. But I don't believe that this boy who had a meal right here in my house was the killer at all.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Why don't you believe it, Mrs. Henshaw?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Why, he seems like a nice boy. And he had such a kind face. How's chances on a ride in your truck, driver?

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

I don't know. We're not supposed to take any riders. Where you going?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Kansas City.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Well, you look like a nice kid. And you're a long way from home. Come ahead, hop in. Where did you pick up this kid and your truck driver? Right outside of St Joe, Mr. Hodge. But when the state troopers put up that roadblock and looked into my truck, the kid was gone. Well, that's that. Let's go, Hodge. If you ask me, Mr. Wilson, you two are barking up the room. Are we? Why. Why, that kid was clean cut, a regular fella. He didn't look anything like a killer to me.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Let me in, Mom. Let me in. Shut the door. Quick. Ready? The police were here. They. They told me about what you done. Look, I haven't got much time. I'll cook up something for me to eat, something to take along, sandwiches, anything. I gotta get some clothes and get out of here in a hurry. Freddy, why did you do it? Why did you do it? Will you stop at cabin and get busy? I'm on the lamb, see, Freddy? They're after me, breathing on my neck. Freddie, where are you going? Where can you go? They're gonna get Me a job somewhere, some place where they won't look for me. With the railroad maybe working on a section gang. Don't do it, son. Give yourself up if you've got. No, but you've got to give yourself up. You killed a man. You're a murderer. Yeah, ain't that something, Mom? You're the mother of a big shop now. A big shop like Blake's Diamond. Dylan to the rest of them. I got my picture in the papers. Reporters writing stories about me. A real public enemy. Okay, now, mom, get me that grub. I gotta beat it.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Still following the trail. You and Hodge check with the railroads and find that they're hiring section gangs at Liberty, Missouri, about 20 miles out of Kansas City. On a chance, you show up at the employment shack. And sure enough, the timekeeper tells you he's hired a new man. And just as you walk out in the freight yard, you see Baby Face Freddy Bell. There's a hotshot freight train coming through southbound. And Jim Hodge draws his gun and yells, hey, you, Bell.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Come in with your hands up. Oh, yeah. Try get me od.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

He's making a run for it. He's going to try and catch that freight. He's not going to make it. Okay, Bill. Try these bracelets on for size.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

I could have made it. I could have made it.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Why didn't you, Baby Face? Afraid he might have gotten you with a second shot. Not different when you're on the receiving end, isn't it, kid? All right, let's go, Wilson. Right. Let me get the Flyer back to Martweet. Hurry.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

The Flyer. Ain't that a. A Pullman?

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

That's right, Baby Face.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

Why, that's funny. That's real funny.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

What's so funny?

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

When I was riding the box cars, I swore that Sunday I'd be a. A big shot. Ride the Pullman, first class. Here I am, a big shot with my picture and all the papers and writing a Pullman car, first class. Just as I said I would.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

In just a moment, we'll read you a telegram from Russ Wilson. With the final outcome of tonight's big story. Now we read you that telegram from Russ Wilson of the Des Moines Tribune. Youthful killer in tonight's big story was brought to trial, convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Iowa State Penitentiary. Ten years later, he made a daring escape from prison. But after several weeks at liberty, he voluntarily returned to jail and is now serving out his sentence. Many thanks for tonight's Pell Mell award. Thank you, Mr. Wilson. The makers of Pell Mell Famous Cigarettes are proud to have named you the winner of the Pell Mell 500 Dollar 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 pages of the Nashville Banner by Lion Marshall Morgan. A big story about two penniless parents and a reporter who saw to it that two children got what they wanted for Christmas. The Big Story is produced by Bernard J. Proctor and directed by Harry Ingram with music by Vladimir Sinski. Tonight's program was written by Max Ehrlich. Your narrator was Bob Sloan, and George Petrie played the part of Russ Wilson. All names in tonight's story, except that of Mr. Wilson, were fictitious, but the dramatization was based on a true and authentic case. This is Ernest Chapel speaking for the makers of Pal Mel. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.

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[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

7.

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. All right, I did want to go ahead and briefly list out the full cast. In addition to George Petrae as Russ Wilson, we have Larry Robinson, Hester Sondergaard, Humphrey Davis, William Keane, Ralph Bell, who probably, probably everybody recognized, and Bob Sloan, Idaho's explanation of the difference between a hobo and a bomb is a really important one, and it's a key distinctive that's missed if you aren't familiar with how that subculture worked or if you seen a limited amount of media, you can get those mixed up, but they are very different. Even though A Hobo and a Bumble might superficially look similar. And this is probably one of those episodes that plays into the sort of melodrama that you associate with or a lot of people associate with New York radio producers of the era like the Hummers. I don't know if it was just a script or rather Larry Robinson's performance as the kid not coming off as believably menacing, but this one just did seem a bit more over the top. According to the website, the story behind the story, this was based on the Murder of mechanic John LeClaire in 1949 and Donald Lammie was the name of the murderer. Lammie was brought in as a result of a tip and later testimony of a hobo who was a cornet player who did part time barbering as well as working other odd job like a hard working hobo should. But he had the goal of getting dental work so that he could play the coronet as it was meant to be played. He also wanted a new suit and a steak dinner. I don't know if you could really enjoy the steak dinner without the dental work. The folks who write the story behind the Big Story website note that pictures show him in the new suit. I assume hopefully that he got the dental work and the steak dinner. Things were not quite so happy for Mr. Lammy, who, as the episode attested, was a problem prisoner. In fact, by the time of this episode, having made two escape attempts. Subsequent to this episode, Donald Lammy broke out of prison again and escaped to Arizona in 1948 and he was killed by Arizona police there in 1950. All right, well now we want to go ahead and thank our Patreon supporter of the Day. And I want to go ahead and thank Phil, patreon Supporter since March 2018, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Phil. And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back in three weeks with another episode of the Big Story. We will have encore presentations on Tuesday, the next couple of weeks, but join us back here tomorrow for our final Christmas special of Broadway's My Beat, where.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

Sergeant Gino Tartaglia speaking. Yes, yes, here. Right away, Danny. Hey, Danny. Yeah, what's the matter, Gino? I haven't gotten my coffee yet. Coffee at a time like this, buddy Malpa, the Ne' er do well millionaire. What? What about him? What about him? He has been slugged. Let's go, Gino. Did you say Rhett? Of course. On a case like this, I'll need you, Gino. Come on.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box Thirteenreatetectives.net follow us on Twitter Radio Detectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com greatdetectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

[International Rescue Committee Announcer]

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[Bowen Yang]

Is Julian Edelman from Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jewels. Sunday mornings I've got my game day ritual, coffee, lucky socks and now new Morning Uncrustable sandwiches.

[Adam Graham]

It's all about that 12 gram protein boost with the new Uncrustables Bright Eyed Berry or Up and Apple flavors.

[Bowen Yang]

Bright Eye Berries got a feisty receiver.

[Adam Graham]

Energy up and apple. Your classic do it all tight end.

[Bowen Yang]

Soft, pillowy, packed with protein and easy enough for Gronk to grab from the freezer.

[Adam Graham]

Whether you're on the couch, driving to the tailgate or heading to the locker room, new Morning Uncrustable Sandwiches are the MVP of snacks.

[Bowen Yang]

Your new Sunday kickoff ritual starts here with new morning Uncrustable sandwiches packed with 12 grams of protein, a new phone.

[Commercial Announcer]

For Billy, a necklace for Sam. All the while on the lookout for scams. A swipe here and tap there. Better make it go far. Turns out mom didn't know she needs.

[Narrator / Russ Wilson]

A new car this year.

[Freddie Bell / Character Actor]

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