← The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas
The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas
The Big Story: The Case of the Countrefeit Coins (EP4842)
00:31:48
Today's Mystery:Reporter Jack Adams goes undercover in a gang of counterfeiters to catch the man at the top. Original Radio Broadcast: October 19, 1947 Originating from New York Starring: Dwight Weist as Jack Adams; Mason Adams; Larry Haines;...
Loading summary
Transcript13 lines
- [00:01]
A
Hey, this is Sarah. Look, I'm standing out front of a.m. p.m. Right now and, well, you're sweet and all, but I found something more fulfilling, even kind of cheesy. But I like it. Sure, you met some of my dietary needs, but they've just got it all. So farewell. Oatmeal so long, you strange soggy. Break up with bland breakfast and taste AM PM's bacon, egg and cheese biscuit made with Ktree eggs, smoked bacon and melty cheese on a buttery biscuit. AMPM Too much Good stuff do you.
- [00:31]
B
Know what happens when you replace your regular old electric water heater with a new electric heat pump water heater? You boost your savings a lot. In fact, Energy Star estimates that a family of four will save an average of $550 a year on their electric energy bills. And your new heat pump water heater can pay for itself in as little as three years. Level up with a heat pump water heater. Go to levelupmywaterheater.com to learn.
- [01:00]
A
This is the story of the one as a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility, he knows keeping the line up and running is a top priority. That's why he chooses Grainger, because when a drive belt gets damaged, Grainger makes it easy to find the exact specs for the replacement product he needs, and next day delivery helps ensure he'll have everything in place and running like clockwork. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click granger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done. Sam.
- [01:59]
B
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're gonna bring you this week's episode of the Big Story. But first, I do want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And I do want to let you know about our other podcast. And I want you to check out the Old Time Radio Snack Wagon. It's over@snackwagon.net and at the Old Time Radio Snack Wagon, we post a wide variety of different rare Old time radio programs from a variety of genres including self contained entertaining 15 minute series that you might not have heard of as well as excerpts of longer programs. You can find all the episodes we've done there from comedy, drama, news, human interest, so many different types of shows. Check it out@snackwagon.net but now, from October 1, 1947, here is the case of the Counterfeit Coins.
- [03:18]
A
The Big Story. Hey bud. Yeah. Got a match? Sure. Here you are. Thanks. Hear your matches Back. Much obliged. Don't mention it. Hello, operator? Operator, get me the Secret Service. The Big Story. Another in a thrilling series based on true experiences of newspaper reporters. Tonight, to Jack Adams of the Los Angeles examiner goes the Palmell Award for the Big Story. Now the exciting and authentic story of the case of the counterfeit coins. You are Jack Adams of the Los Angeles Examiner. For weeks you've been running down leads on a big counterfeiting ring in town. And for weeks you've always come back to the same place. Nowhere. And at the moment, thousands of phony half dollar coins are floating around in la. And nobody knows where the phony money mill is or who's behind it. Then one afternoon, one of the copy boys opens your office door. Say, Mr. Adams. Yeah, kid, what is it? A guy outside wants to see you. What about? He claims he's got a big story on the counterfeiting ring. What? Another one? Yeah, another one. Only I've never seen a character like this in all my life. What do you mean, Eddie? I cased him for an ex CO and then I said to myself, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe he's just a refugee from a flop house. He looks like a scarecrow wearing a suit made out of burlap. Could be some tramp after a handout. Does he look hungry? Yeah, but not for vitamins or for a cork or a needle, if you ask me. Shall I send him in or throw him out? You're a pretty cynical kid, Eddie. And you'll probably turn out to be a great reporter. But just to prove that the milk of human kindness doesn't always turn sour. Send the gentleman in, okay? Okay. You go ahead in. Thanks. Thanks a lot, kid. Are you Jack Adams? Are you? Yeah, I'm Adams. Who are you? My name's Snuffy. It's Snuffy. I heard you the first time. Snuffy. What? Snuffy. Okay, Snuffy. Now what's on your mind? I seen by the papers you've been writing a lot of stories on a phony door racket you've been writing. And I says to myself, I says, maybe you think interested. Interested in what? A little info. Inside stuff, if you know what I mean. The McCoy on a.44 bit slugs that are floating around town. So I tells myself I'll make the approach and see what I can say. Say vaguely. So. So if I. If I lead you to the info, do I get a payoff? If your information is legitimate, yes. Okay. You look copacetic to me. You look. I'll Take a chance. I knew one of us was taking the chance. Well, what's your proposition, Snuffy? I can get you on the inside with a counterfeit mob. What do I mean, bub? I know every agent in a racket. How come? I got connections. You want the story or don't you? If you could really get me on the inside. I said I would tonight, bub, and I'm gonna prove it. Now, meet me here at the examiner tomorrow night at nine bells. Come dressed in the oldest stud you can find. And don't shave so long. Hey, wait a minute. I didn't say I was. Are you going, Mr. Adams? Eddie. What? I was listening outside the door. Are you going? Look, Eddie, it's only in the movies the reporters listen to keyholes. Are you gonna keep that day with Snuffy tomorrow night? I don't know. If you don't keep it. Can I? No. Why not? Because it's too dangerous. A good reporter isn't afraid of danger. Everybody's afraid of danger. Now, what are you gonna do about tomorrow night? I don't know. Before I decide anything, I think I'll run over and have a little chat with George Miller at the Secret Service office. Well, George, what do you think? Should I keep this date with this Snuffy character or shouldn't I? Jack, don't. Don't ask me to answer a question like that. What do you mean? Well, you'll be taking a chance if you go through with it. This counterfeiting ring is dangerous, Jack. Crooks who are running it wouldn't hesitate to kill if they thought their racket was threatened. I see. That's the way it is, huh? That's the way it is. Well, George, you know me. I'm no hero. Who is? But I feel a big story coming on. And in that case. In that case, you'll take the chance? Yes. All right, Jack. Go ahead and meet your unsanitary little friend. Don't say I didn't warn you. Hiya, pal. I'm here. Hello, Snubby. How do I look? Well, you look okay, pal. But can you talk? Can you? I don't get you. Old duds ain't enough. You gotta make with the lingo, see? Like I do. Get me? Otherwise, they'll take you for a phony. They'll take you. Thanks. Nothing. Not thanks like you say it, pal. Thanks. See? Lay off the English accent. Speak American. See what I mean? Okay, bub, let's scram. Is that better? Perfect. Yeah, perfect. Did you bring any dough with you? Did you? 100 bucks. 100 bucks? It ain't much, but it'll have to dough. What's the angle? Got a case? Perfect. I got a case. You're a buyer? Buyer? Sure. You got the real lettuce, the kind Uncle Sammy puts out. And with it you buy the phony. 4 bit pieces. 5 half dollars for a legit buck. See what I mean? Five halves for one. That's the deal. Copacetic. I see what you mean. Okay then let's beat it and contact some of my pals. Let's contact, sure. But before we go, one question, Snappy. What? You're going to double cross your pals, right? You've got the answer. I don't know him. Nothing? Not a thing. So what? So how do I know you won't double cross me? Double cross you? How can you say a thing like that, pal? What kind of a stool pigeon do you take me for? Come on, I got some pals waiting for me in a bar. Heya, baby. Don't baby me, you ratty squirt. Who's your pal? The name's Jack. The name is. He's the right guy. Pal is his baby. Pleased to meet you, baby. Same to you, handsome. But ain't sure Knuckles is gonna be so happy about this. Nuffy, we were supposed to meet you here alone. Take it easy, baby. This guy's a right j. Now he better be right, dream boy. Cause here comes Knuckles now. Hi, Knuckles. Hi, Knuckles. Who's the guy? The name's Jack. Jack? Yeah, that's right. He's a friend of Snuffy. Shut up, Snuffy, you lame brain. D how to beat your brains. Now listen, Knuckles, I didn't you bring him here, stupid. Come on, make us some talk. Now listen, Knuckles. Jack here's the right guy. He's an old pal of mine. See what I mean? Pal of yours, huh? Not a bad looking one, huh? Knuckles, baby. Shut your fat mouth, nuppie. Where'd you meet this mug? Knuckles, don't go off your rocker. He used to shelf for me when I was running that carnival game in San Diego. No kidding. Well, what's your racket now, honey? He's a buyer. That's right. I might be interested in a little merchandise. No kidding, Knuckles. Why don't you take ham? Why don't you shut up. Who said we had anything to sell, mister? You haven't say so. I got other contacts. You stay here, bub. I'll be back in a minute. Yo. Yeah, boss. This batch of half dollars is no good. Huh? Discard them. Yeah, but, boys. I said discard them. Okay. I don't make any merchandise unless it's perfect, Understand? Next time, watch your alloys and be careful of those molds. If there's anything I won't stand for, it's inefficiency. Yes? Boss, this is Knuckles. Well, Snuffy just brought in a guy from the outside. Snuffy did? Yeah, Knuckles. I don't like that. Snuffy claims he's a buyer. Knuckles, I don't regard Snuffy as the soul of honor. His friend could be a cop. Gee, boss, I don't think so. Snuffy claims he's a buyer. You said that. Do you think he's a buyer, Knuckles? I don't know. It could be big. No way of telling, boss. Well, I'm not interested in small fry. Check him and keep your eyes open, okay? Play along with him for a little while. See what you can find out. I'll have a look at him later. Hi, you Knuckles. Back so soon? Yeah, I'm back. Gee, that's too bad. I was just having a very interesting chat with handsome here. I'll do the chatting, baby, for Knuckles. I jumped. You heard me. What do you want to talk about, Knuckles? You. That's just what we were talking about, baby. I'm sorry. We like to find out a few things about our customers. Where are you from, Jack? Well, I was born in a small town just six years ago. Never mind the obituary. Where do you operate? All over. Like, where all over? Oh, Chicago, New York, Detroit. Detroit, eh? Sure, why not? You know a guy from Detroit called Joe Stavisky? Joe Stavisky? Yeah, I think so. What do you mean, you think so? Isn't he the guy they call Speckles? No. Oh, Detroit, eh? Yeah, Detroit. Funny. You never heard of Joe Stavisky? Everybody that ever worked Detroit knows Joe. Not me. So I see. I lay off the guy, Knuckles. He's a level ass. Daisy, I warned you. Keep out of this, blue eyes. You see, I always worked solo. That's why I never knew too many LA mobs. Safer that way. No one to squeal on me. Didn't have to worry about no stoolie, eh? That's right. That's a good idea. How about that, Snuffy? Don't you think that's a good idea? Huh? Oh, sure, sure. Good idea. Yeah. Yeah, that's a good idea, that is. Sure. Never have to worry if some little squirt's gonna turn stool pigeon on you. Stupid. How about another beer, Knuckles? Shut up. Yeah, you got a good idea there, Jack. Oh, he's a slick one, this Jack fella. Full of ideas, ain't you, honey? Baby, Will you dry up? Now wait a minute, Knuckles. You ain't the only one. Shut up, I said. Come on, we're getting out of here. Aw, Knuckles, I didn't. Come on. See you later, Jack. And Snuffy. Oh, yeah, yeah. I'll be keeping an eye on you. Oh, yeah? Yeah. Goodbye, Knuckles. Goodbye, Snuffy. Who is this Knuckles? What's he in this counterfeiting gang? Not so large, Jack. Not so large. You want to put us both in a couple of wooden boxes, you wanna. I'm sorry for your info, pal. And strictly from the horse's mouth, Knuckles is the boss. Is strong our man. And who's the boss? I don't know. What do you mean? I've never seen him. Boss is a big operator. Once you get by, Knuckles. Once you get by, maybe you'll meet him. But come on, Jack, it's getting late. I want to. Wait a minute. That guy over there sitting alone at that corner table. You know him? Oh, a guy with his hat pulled over his eyes. Yeah. Never seen him before. I have. He followed us here. Why? He was in a car that followed us here. From the examiner, pal. You're getting a jettison. Nobody's following us, buddy. That guy is. Let's get out of here. Why don't we go get some shut eye at my hotel? Your hotel? Yeah, that's right, pal. I got a suede at the Superb. Mike says to take carts 30 and 31. So this is the sweet you were talking about, huh, Snuffy? Yeah, sure, sure. Semi private like. Semi private. I like to see what you call public dirt. Vermin and a smell you could cut with a knife. The price recommends it. Look, snobby, do we have to stay here? Why don't we go back to my place and sneak a bath, get cleaned up and then go back to meet Knuckles in the morning, huh? But you wanted to commit suicide. You said there was a mug telling you, didn't you? Yes. Well, it'll tell you to your high class places too, you know. And then what? The whole game goes up. You gotta play a troll, John. Play a troll. Okay, Snuffy, but this ain't play. Here's the cuts. Well, good night, Jack. Good night, Snuffy. Pleasant dreams. Yeah, pleasant dreams. You lie there watching, listening. And finally you see the first streaks of dawn come trickling through the high narrow windows. Then you see a man get up from A far bed and walk towards you. You strain your eyes in the dim light. You see that this is the mug who's been trailing you. He comes closer. You wait. Your whole body prickling with goose flesh. Who are you? What do you want? Quiet. You want to wake up the whole joint? What do you want? You. Now look. Your name? Adam. Wait a minute. Take it easy. I'm Secret Service. George Miller assigned me to tail you. I've watched you follow me into the ever dive. I thought you were after me with a gun for sure. Sorry. You were never alone. I couldn't tip you off. Even now I wasn't sure it was you in this light. Learn anything yet, Adams? Well, I. Foreign. We'll be back in just a minute with tonight's big story. Now we return you to our narrator, Barry Kroger. And tonight's big story. You, Jack Adams of the Los Angeles Examiner. Have been talking in whispers with a Secret Service agent. When the early morning silence of the flop house is suddenly shattered by. What was that? Contact you later, Adam. Jack. Jack, where are you? Where are you? Right beside you. Something. What happened? I don't like it. I tell you, I don't like it no. How a guy by the name of Red Davis was just knifed. Knife? And how. I don't like this, Jack. Was he a friend of yours? Listen, no guy's a friend of mine that goes around getting himself knife. And pulling in the cops so they can ask him. Now, come on, we're getting out of here, but fast. Yeah, but where we going? We'll go up and see Knuckles. Come on, Knuckles, open up. Who's that? Me, Snuffy and Jack. Wait a minute. Listen, you little squirt. What you doing barging in here this time in the morning? Look, Knuckles, ain't just sweeter. Rooms at the flop house good enough. Look, Knuckles, it ain't funny. It ain't? A guy just got knifed over there. It ain't safe, I tell you. Afraid of getting yours, Snubby? I don't like being where they start asking questions. When they start asking. Well, you walked in the same set up here, Snuffy. Got a few questions more I want to ask your friend, Jack. Shoot. You said you were a buyer. That right, Jack? That's right. Like I told you. Wipe down your runt. I'll do all the talking. Okay, Knuckles, Okay. I didn't mean nothing. I didn't mean getting back to the point, Jack. How much merchandise you want to buy? That depends on the price. What's the market? Five Halves for a buck. Not so good. Take it or leave it. All right, I'm in. For how much? A hundred bucks now, chicken feet and a lot more later if. If what, pal? If your merchandise is good. You don't think it's good? I always like to be shown. Okay. Got a few samples with me. Take these four bit pieces we make and try them out yourself. What'll it be, mister? Give me an examiner. Yeah. Change a half? Sure. Always check these half dollar pieces. Now, there's a lot of phony stuff floating around. This one's the McCoy. All right. That's your change, mister. What'll it be, mister? Cup of coffee, One java coming up. Here you are. Where'd you get this half dollar, mister? Why, I. I don't know what's wrong with it? Nothing looks good to me. I ain't been stuck with a bad one yet. What do you have, bud? Up here. Draw one. Here you are, bartender. Another one of these things. You mean this half dollar is phony? Oh, no, no. It's okay. Anybody with a good eye can see that. Besides, this is dated 1937. What's that got to do with it? Well, I was tipped off that all the phony forbid pieces were dated 1934 and 1936. Who told you? That guy who claimed he was in a. No, guy named Snuffy. Well, Jack, you satisfied? I'm satisfied it's good merchandise. Let's talk business. How much business, pal? Big business. Okay, Jack, let's step in in this here restaurant. Why? I want to make me a telephone call. Let's see that new steel die, Joe. Yeah. Here it is, boss. Not bad. That's good artwork. Very good indeed. Yeah. You know, with a good power press, boss, we can turn out about 50. 50 grand in four bit pieces. Oh, I think. Never mind, Joe. I'll take it. Hello, Horse? This is Knuckles. Yes, this new buyer Snuffy found is talking big. You think he's legitimate, Knuckles? As far as I can make out, he's level. We could use a good customer. Hella bringing him up, boss. All right, I'll look him over. And incidentally, Knuckles. Yeah? When you bring him up, stick around. I may find that I don't like his face. You, Jack Adams, were listening when Knuckles dialed the number. Now, you get the number down fast on a clip of matches you're carrying. You're sure the boss himself is at that number. But you haven't got a chance to get it to Secret Service. And then you see a man walk in, the agent that George Miller assigned to tell you, and you get a fast and desperate idea. All right, Jack, let's go. Go where? I'll tip you off when we get there. Come on. Okay. Hold it, Knuckles, I need a light. Hey, bud. Yeah? Got a match? Sure. There you are. Thanks. Hear your matches back? Watch a boy, no mention. Come on, Jack. Quit stalling around and let's go. Who is it? Me, Knuckles. I got a friend with me. All right. Come in, won't you? So you're a friend of Snuffy's, are you? That's right. And you're a buyer? I'm a buyer. You don't look the part. Don't let my clothes fool you. Incidentally, this is a nice layout you got around here. It's adequate. I hope to expand soon. How much of my merchandise would you like to buy? 5,000 to begin with. More later. You have the money with you? No, not with me. But I'll bring the cash tomorrow. That would be all right if I were sure you were legitimate. But you know I'm a pal of snuffies. Snuffy is very unreliable. How else can I prove that I'm on the level? You might like to show me the press card you've got in your wallet. Knuckles, I'd like you to meet Jack Adams, a reporter of the Los Angeles Examiner. I, I think there must be some mistake. I, I. There is a mistake, Mr. Adams, and you made it. You should have known that I make it a point to recognize people who write unpleasant things about my my business venture. Now, let's not waste time with useless lies. You are Jack Adams, aren't you? Yes. Thank you for not shilly shallying. I'll try to make this as painless as possible. I dislike killing people. You're not going to kill anyone. Really? Why not? Because an agent of the Secret Service is going to be here any minute now. That's unlikely. That's positive. When Knuckles dialed your phone number a few minutes ago, I took it down on a book of matches and passed it to the Secret Serviceman who's been covering me since yesterday. Knuckles, you fool. You've been tricking. He's lying, boss. He's lying. Shut up. Honest, boss, I didn't see anyone. Open the door. Open the door. This is the Secret Service, boss. I ought to drill him for this. No. Open the door or we'll break it down. Boss, please let me drill him. He got us into this. Don't be a fool, Knuckles. It's a little late for that now. Open the door. In just a moment, we'll read you a telegram from Jack Adams of the Los Angeles examiner with the final outcome of tonight's Big Story. Now we read you that telegram from Jack Adams of the Los Angeles Examiner. Leaders in counterfeiting ring were brought to trial, found guilty and sentenced to a federal penitentiary. All their equipment was confiscated and the circulation of counterfeit coins has ended. Many thanks for tonight's Pell Mell award. Thank you, Mr. Adams. The makers of Pall Mall Famous Cigarettes are proud to have named you the winner of the Pall Mall $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 pages of the Nashville Tennessean byline Jack Setters. A big story that reached its climax when a newspaper published in Tennessee helped capture a murderer in Ohio. The big story is produced by Bernard J. Proctor. The the rest of directed by Harry Ingram with music by Vladimir Zielinsky. Tonight's program was written by Max Ehrlich. Your narrator was Barry Kroger, and Dwight Wiest played the part of Jack Adams. All names in tonight's story except that of Mr. Adams were fictitious, but the dramatization was based on a true and authentic case. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company. With stays under $250 a night, Vervo makes it easy to celebrate sweater weather book a cabin with leaf views or a home with a fire pit for nights with friends. With stays under $250 a night, find a home for your exact needs book now@vrbo.com.
- [29:42]
B
Welcome back. Well, an interesting episode from a time where I guess you could make money counterfeiting coins. Now, in this case, Dwight Wiest played the role of Jack Adams. And we have actually heard Mr. Wiese quite recently as he played the prince in the adaptation of the Suicide Club that we included in our top episodes of the past season. Quite a bit of doubling up in this episode according to the script. Worth noting is that Larry Haynes played the bartender who had gotten word about how the counterfeit coins worked from a reliable source in Snuffy. And he also played Snuffy. Now, if you're wondering about the actual story behind these events, unfortunately, this is one where the stories behind the Big Story site comes up with a blank. The note says the underlying news events for this episode remain a mystery. There were many counterfeiting operations in the news at the time that Adams worked at the examiner. And it's also important to note that as I believe I said when we introduced it, or if I didn't, it has been noted that they did change details about some of the series portrayed in order to avoid lawsuits. So you've got a counterfeiting operation, but with the details changed, you can't really pinpoint which story this was specifically about. All right, well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Eliza. Patreon supporter since July of 2021, currently supporting the podcast at the shamus level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Eliza.
- [31:55]
A
Thank you.
- [31:55]
B
And that will do it for today. If you are enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And if you're enjoying the podcast on YouTube, be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and mark the notification bell. All those great things that help YouTube channels to grow. We'll be back next Tuesday with another episode of the Big Story. But join us back here tomorrow for Broadway's My Bait. Where.
- [32:30]
A
Died not too long ago. Could be suicide, you think? No, No, I don't. This girl fell or was pushed, neck broken. See the attitude of her body? Yeah, I saw it. That's why I said maybe suicide. Women don't pick backyards of tenement houses, mugman. They register in high class hotels or find a bridge, you know? Yeah, most of them, Danny, not all. And take a look. Bruce is on the throat. Here. Look here, Bruce, another one here. This girl died instantly. These bruises were from a beating. Then she got thrown, huh? I'd say so. Who is she? I can't tell. No identification, Danny? I'd say she was about 22. Huh? 22 what?
- [33:12]
B
I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to Box13GreatDefectives.net follow us on Twitter Radio Detectives. Check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com Great detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham signing off. Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch.
- [33:39]
A
Dutch provides 24. 7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for.
- [33:52]
B
Many ailments and shipping is always free.
- [33:55]
A
With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.