The Big Story: The Thirteenth Key (EP4837)

Summary

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The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio: "The Big Story – The Thirteenth Key" (EP4837)

Podcast: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
Host: Adam Graham
Original Big Story Air Date: June 4, 1947
Podcast Release Date: November 4, 2025
Featured Drama: The Big Story – “The Thirteenth Key”

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Episode Overview

This episode marks the debut of "The Big Story" on the Great Detectives podcast—an influential and long-running anthology series dramatizing true crime investigations by American newspaper reporters. Host Adam Graham introduces listeners to the show’s Golden Age context, exploring themes of journalism, justice, and dogged investigation. The featured drama, “The Thirteenth Key,” is based on the real 1929 Snoke-Hicks murder case in Columbus, Ohio, and follows the determined reporting of James E. Fusco from the Columbus Citizen as he unravels a complex murder mystery.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to "The Big Story" Anthology (01:44)

• Adam Graham provides background on the "Big Story," explaining its focus on real-life reporters solving major cases.
• Notable for rotating leads each week, mirroring the diversity and dynamism of American journalism's Golden Age.

Quote:

"It was an anthology series focusing on the investigations of newspaper reporters...intriguing cases from reporters across the nation, most of whom have been forgotten."
—Adam Graham (03:31)

2. Plot Breakdown: “The Thirteenth Key” (05:23 – 29:56)

A. The Crime Scene

• Reporter Jim Fusco arrives at a rifle range to investigate the murder of a young woman, identified later as Ellen Marion Johnson.
• Discovery: 12 keys scattered, an empty key ring suggests a 13th key is missing—a critical clue.

Quote:

"I found the key ring. You found 12 keys. Put 12 and one together and the conclusion is somebody took those keys off the ring to get at another key."
—Jim Fusco (07:18)

B. Gathering Clues and Suspects

• The victim is identified as a second-year med student at Ohio State.
• Interview with the roommates (Lenore Graham and France Beaton) yields hostility and limited information, but implicates a boyfriend: Lewis Jack, a veterinary student.

C. Lewis Jack’s Interrogation (14:10)

• Lewis is evasive, confused, perhaps hiding something, but ultimately released due to lack of evidence.
• The real twist comes when a landlady emerges, revealing the victim was living under an alias as a married woman with "Mr. and Mrs. F. Smith."

D. The Double Life and Narrowing the Search

• Reporter and police deduce that “Ed Smith” is a middle-aged doctor with a blue coupe, closely linked to the victim and the crime scene.
• Investigation points towards Dr. Lance Crackett, a physician and former pistol champion.

E. The Confrontation and Breakdown (24:30 – 29:56)

• Physical evidence: Green stains on Dr. Crackett’s lawnmower match the crime scene; a red stain in his blue coupe is sent for analysis.
• During questioning, Dr. Crackett tries to account for his actions, but is tripped up by Fusco’s knowledge of newspaper deadlines and timings—proving Crackett knew about the murder before the press revealed the victim’s identity.

Quote:

"How did you know the body was that of your girlfriend when the paper carried no name? That story appeared on the street at 1:30... The extra identifying the body was not out until 5. How did you know...?"
—Jim Fusco (27:49)

• Laboratory analysis reveals the stain in Crackett’s car is blood, clinching the case.
• Dr. Crackett is arrested, confesses under pressure, and is found guilty of murder in the first degree.

3. Historical Context and Reflections (30:51)

• Adam Graham discusses the unique voice introduction by the real James Fusco and considers whether this was a rebroadcast or a personal archival recording.
• Explains that winning the Pall Mall Award (with $500 prize) was as prestigious and lucrative as winning a Pulitzer Prize at that time.
• Notes research on how these radio episodes matched up against real cases, mentioning the notoriety of the Snoke-Hicks case in Columbus.

Quote:

"The idea of there being an afternoon paper...is really a relic of this age...you watched old movies about big city newspapers and they're running multiple editions and can say at any time, 'we gotta put an extra out.' ... It's tough to imagine."
—Adam Graham (32:02)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Discovery of the Thirteenth Key:
  "Somebody took those keys off the ring to get at another key... I know who. The murderer."
  —Jim Fusco (07:31)

• Confronting the Landlady with Multiple Truths:
  "That's the girl who lived at your place as a married woman?... And that's the girl you went out with as a single girl. Well, one of you is lying. Or she was."
  —Jim Fusco (17:43)

• Crackett’s Mistake:
  "How did you know the body was that of your girlfriend when the paper carried no name?...You can't prove that."
  —Jim Fusco and Dr. Crackett (27:49–28:08)
  "I can tell you in one word. Blood. That does it. That's it. You've helped to apprehend a murderer and you've got your big story."
  —Jim Fusco (29:26)

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Important Timestamps

• [01:44] – Adam Graham introduces The Big Story series and gives historical background.
• [05:23] – Dramatic recreation: Opening of “The Thirteenth Key” and introduction of the murder.
• [11:09] – Fusco confronts the roommates for information.
• [14:10] – Interrogation of Lewis Jack.
• [16:25] – Plot twist: Landlady’s revelation of the victim’s double life.
• [19:55] – Clue confirmation: The 13th key and timing of Dr. Smith’s actions.
• [24:30] – Arrival at Dr. Crackett’s home; critical evidence found.
• [26:00] – Final interrogation and collapse of Doctor’s alibi.
• [29:26] – Laboratory results confirm the murderer; case closes.
• [30:51] – Adam Graham’s historical and production commentary.

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Host’s Commentary & Closing Thoughts

• Adam Graham highlights the authenticity of the reporting and the unique archival nature of the episode.
• He underscores the rarity and value of these dramatized accounts as historical sources.
• Graham shares how rewards for journalism like the Pall Mall Award reflected real professional recognition in that era.
• He plugs additional resources and invites listeners' contributions in identifying other episodes’ real-life cases.

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Final Impression

This episode delivers a tightly woven, suspenseful mystery rooted in real events, elevated by the period’s attention to journalistic process and the drama of the newspaper world. The narrative structure—rife with red herrings, tense confrontations, and methodical deduction—showcases the golden era’s approach to both reporting and radio drama. Adam Graham’s insightful post-show reflection provides valuable context and makes the episode especially rewarding for fans of both detective stories and media history.

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For fans of classic mysteries, investigative journalism, or midcentury Americana, this episode of The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio is a must-listen.

Transcript

[Jim Fusco]

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[Jim Fusco]

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[Adam Graham]

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[Jim Fusco]

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[Jim Fusco]

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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 are going to bring you the first podcast featuring the Big Story. The but first, I do want to encourage you if you're enjoying the podcast to please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And I want to encourage you to check out our other podcast and today I am highlighting the great adventurers of Old Time Radio. Of course we do bring you Cloak and Dagger on Saturdays. But over on the Great Adventurers feed we are now featuring Adventure Ahead on Tuesdays. It's a really interesting series featuring book and short story adaptations that we'll be playing for the rest of the year when of course we will bring you Tarzan again. We have so many great adventure series coming. Be sure and check it out at the Great Adventures of Old time radio at greatadventures.info. now let's go ahead and talk about the Big Story. The Big Story was actually a quite popular and successful anthology program. It had an eight year run on radio from 1947 to 1955 and also an eight year run on television from 1949 to 1957. It was an anthology series focusing on the investigations of newspaper reporters. So there is a different lead each week. Just as we've got going on with Cloak and Dagger but these are intriguing cases from reporters across the nation, most of whom have been forgotten. And really the era covered is kind of a golden age for American newspaper journalism. Most major cities had multiple competing newspapers with circulation in the high hundred thousands to to the millions. This meant big ad revenue and there was a huge demand for news and a need for reporters who would dig to find the truth. The series is also very well researched. It was sponsored by the American Tobacco Company for both the Pall Mall and later Lucky Strike cigarettes. As a result of the tobacco settlement and the records turned over, the old time radio researchers have a pretty complete archive of all of the episode's scripts. And this includes the cast list which given that the series originated in New York, is a bit of a trait. Now while there were more than380 broadcast of this series, we we only have about a tenth of them. Which is sadly far too common for many old time radio programs. But what we do have are going to be quite an interesting variety. So let's go ahead and get started with the big story. The original air date on this one is June 4, 1947. The 10th episode of the series and the title is the 13th key.

[Jim Fusco]

This is Jim Fusco. The following broadcast over the National Broadcasting Company in a coast to coast network is being made on June 4, 1947. The story is based on the Snoke Hicks murder case of 1929. These recordings will be made during the actual broadcast over WLW Cincinnati. Commander, Did I say there was nobody around? Yeah. I was wrong. Look there, lying in the grass. She's dead. The biggest story, another in a thrilling series based on true experiences of newspaper reporters. Tonight, the James E. Fusco of the Columbus citizens goes the Pell Mell award for the now the exciting and authentic story of the 13th key. By the time you, James Fusco, reporter for the Columbus Citizen, reached the rifle range at McKinley Avenue and Fisher Road, the quad of fleet cars have drawn a cluster of curious. You push through their morbid mutterings and your face familiar to the law, is your own trespass. The coroner. That is worth millions. Any identification? Coroner? Not yet, Jimmy. Take a look for yourself. Maybe you know her. Nobody I know. She's pretty. Was. You mean was. What caused the cut in her throat? Knife. Take a closer look. Do I have to look? Jimmy, I'm giving you a clue. Free for nothing, okay? What am I supposed to notice? That's not just any cut. It's careful surgical. Thanks for the tip. Okay, boys, take her away. All through, Carla. That's all for now, anyway. Good afternoon, Mr. Drayo. How's the protective business? Hi, Jimmy. Well, plenty of it today. What brings you here? Oh, I turn up at the best murders. Got any tips for me? Not now. We just. Hey, where are you going? Nowhere. I just noticed something in the grass here. The sun was hitting us. Find something? Yeah, it must have been lying under the girl's body. It wouldn't by any chance be a key? What made you ask that? It's a key ring. Well, it must go with these. I found them scattered all around. These, huh? Yep, an even dozen. I wonder where the 13th is. How do you know there were 13? Hey, don't start suspecting me, Steve. All I did was figure. Well, let me in on this. Figure. Elementary, my dear Watson. I found the key ring. You found 12 keys. Put 12 and one together and the conclusion is somebody took those keys off the ring to get at another key. Ah, that makes sense. Sure, 13 keys. But who took the key? I know who. The murderer. Your first stop is the nearest telephone. You give rewrite enough to make the first edition. It was 1pm deadline you're riding. Your next stop is the mortuary. There you find Bill Dawson on your own paper. Automatically you compare notes. You got the angle on the cut in her throat as if it had been done by a doctor. Yes. And the key scattered around. Yeah, that I got. Did you know the police had sent for the folks whose daughter's been missing the Bellinis? No, I didn't know that. Well, they're coming over this come in now. Boy, she's laid out okay. Andrew Pill. Yeah. Blood Something I didn't notice at the rifle range. What's that? Her hands. Huh. Look at those long fingernails. The perfect manicure. So? So she couldn't be the Bellini girl. The Bellini girl worked in her laundry. This girl never worked with her hands. You leave Bill Dorsen at the morgue to wait for a possible identification. He'll go back to the citizen office to write the round up story. You're about five paragraphs down when the phone starts jumping. Yeah? Joe, this is Dawson. I got a present for you. Let her rip. The dead girl was just identified. She's Ellen Marion with an O. Johnson. That Seth's t O. Nice going. Who is she? You're going to love this. She was a second year med student at Ohio State. She was 25. Folks identify her? Nope. They live down south. She was identified by two roommates who missed her for two days. Their names are Lenore Graham and France Beaton. And if you hot right over to apartment 2B above the millinery shop on Green street, you'll catch them coming home. But the question is, will they talk?

[Francis Beaton]

No, I will not answer any questions. Glasses, please. You have some nerve coming here, Mr. Fusco. Lying in wait for us at the door of our own apartment, invading our privacy. Why don't you behave like a gentleman, even if you're not one? And scuttle back your filthy paper? Please, Francis. She's awfully upset, Mr. Fosco, and so.

[Jim Fusco]

Am I. Ms. Graham, please realize I'm only doing my job.

[Francis Beaton]

I know your job.

[Jim Fusco]

Yes, Ms. Eaton. It's my job to ask questions, to find out everything I can about your roommate.

[Francis Beaton]

Filthy morbid curiosity. You don't have to install me, Fran. He's just doing his job.

[Jim Fusco]

His job?

[Francis Beaton]

His job. Why don't you just go away and leave us alone?

[Jim Fusco]

Because I'm a reporter. And believe me, I don't enjoy troubling you at a time like this any more than you like being troubled.

[Francis Beaton]

I don't think Mr. Scottskill would do anything wrong.

[Jim Fusco]

All I want, Ms. Graham, is a little information on your roommate. A picture if you have one. Anything you can tell me about her folks.

[Francis Beaton]

You won't get anything.

[Jim Fusco]

Ms. Eaton, you make me say something I don't like to say.

[Francis Beaton]

Mr. Fosco, she doesn't mean anything. She's just terribly upset.

[Jim Fusco]

We're both upset.

[Francis Beaton]

Please.

[Jim Fusco]

Maybe if you come back and there's no tomorrow in the newspaper business. Ms. Graham and Ms. Eaton, I have this to say. I can go back to my office.

[Francis Beaton]

Why don't you say what to?

[Jim Fusco]

I can go back and write that you were too upset to talk about your friend.

[Francis Beaton]

If you'd only come back later.

[Jim Fusco]

Or I can write. You refuse to reveal anything about her. They both mean the same, but they sound awfully different.

[Francis Beaton]

You wouldn't do a thing like that.

[Jim Fusco]

Believe me. I'm not digging for dirt in a girl's tragedy. I'm trying to find a line to a murder. If you'll only tell me one thing.

[Francis Beaton]

Nothing much. Just one thing.

[Jim Fusco]

I think this is a love murder. And if you'll just tell me the name.

[Francis Beaton]

The names of the men she went out with. It wasn't that kind of a girl.

[Jim Fusco]

Somebody maybe you didn't know about. Somebody she might have been seeing secretly. Somebody who wrote her love letters. Letters she might have left in her room. If you just let me take a look around. Okay, sister, have it your way.

[Francis Beaton]

You asked if Ellen Johnson had a boyfriend.

[Jim Fusco]

Well, she did.

[Francis Beaton]

You got to find Lewis Jack.

[Jim Fusco]

Why? Did they have a quarrel?

[Francis Beaton]

I can't tell you anything more. Just his name.

[Jim Fusco]

Lewis Jack. Wait, wait. What does he do? Is he a doctor?

[Francis Beaton]

Why not? But he is a veterinary.

[Jim Fusco]

We'll be back in just a moment with tonight's big story. Now we return you to your narrator, Barry Kroger. And the big story arrest you don't make with a press badge. So you turn the name of the murdered girl's boyfriend over to the law. They pick up Lois Jack fast. And you get to sit in on the quizzes. When was the last time you saw Ms. Johnston, Lewis? Well, I had to go upstate last week to a veterinarian's field demonstration. Anthrax injections and anti black plague serums. That was last week? Around Friday. The girl. When did you see the girl? I'm trying to tell you. The demonstration was Friday. And I was supposed to get back that night. Only. Well, you know how those things are. I always say, the best laid plans of mice and. Louis, I asked you a straight question. When did you see her last? As it day after I came back from the convention. Sunday. We went riding. I wanted to go to the movies because I'd had a very studious time. And I thought the movies would be fun. But she wanted to go live. So you quarrelled? Oh, no, no. Just a lover's pat. You know how it is. You fussed about little things. You. You were lovers? Well, you know, sort of. Kind of. We went out a lot together, you know. I don't know. I'm trying to find out why you asking me all these questions. After all, I only went out with a girl. God, you can't blame a fella for going out with a girl. Lewis, I'm going to start all over again right at the beginning. And Lewis, make the answers short. That's right. But could I ask a question first? No. He's asking the questions. What is it? Could I have a drink of water? Holy cat. Sit there, Jimmy. What? What do you think? Would anybody be that dumb or is he playing dopey? I don't know, but I've got an idea. Want to take a crack at the question? Think you can break him? No, no. But why don't you take him to the morgue and make him look at her? Now, Detective. And Lewis, you get to the morgue just in time to find a stern looking woman having an argument with the attendants.

[Francis Beaton]

Why can't I go in? Why can't I go in and see her?

[Jim Fusco]

Are you in Ginger, I told you no. Are you the law?

[Francis Beaton]

Are you crazy? I told you I was her landlady.

[Jim Fusco]

You can't join. You ought to be a. What are you trying to do? Collect back Redborn Home lady? Now what's the trouble here? Andrew. He wants to go look at the village here. She's her landlady. What do you want to see her for?

[Francis Beaton]

Because I knew her and her husband both.

[Jim Fusco]

Her husband? You mean she lived with those two girls and her husband?

[Francis Beaton]

Who are you to be asking me questions?

[Jim Fusco]

Never mind him. Answer me. What's this about her husband? And what about the two girls?

[Francis Beaton]

What two girls?

[Jim Fusco]

Lenore and Francis. The ones who lived with her upstairs over the millinery store.

[Francis Beaton]

Over the milliner? Mister, you're crazy. I run a boarding house over on South Wilson Street. She never lived with no two girls. She lived with her husband.

[Jim Fusco]

Would you know him?

[Francis Beaton]

I sure would.

[Jim Fusco]

Lewis. Clear. Yeah, what do you want? All right, lady. Did you ever see this man before?

[Francis Beaton]

Never in my life.

[Jim Fusco]

Lewis, did you ever see this woman before? No, never. Why? Did she kill Ms. Johnston? Shut up. Did either of you ever see her? She looks beautiful. You both know her.

[Francis Beaton]

Yeah, that's her.

[Jim Fusco]

That's the girl who lived at your place as a married woman?

[Francis Beaton]

Yeah, that's her.

[Jim Fusco]

And that's the girl you went out with as a single girl. Well, one of you is lying. Or she was. Ma', am. What name did she give when she boarded with you? That's right. What name did she give?

[Francis Beaton]

Why, their married name, of course. Mr. And Mrs. F. Smith.

[Jim Fusco]

Ed Smith. What did he do?

[Francis Beaton]

Why, he never did say. But their comings and goings were awful odd. I know he studied over to the hospital. And I kind of figured the way he always carried a bag. Yeah.

[Jim Fusco]

You know.

[Francis Beaton]

Well, I just naturally figured he was a doctor.

[Jim Fusco]

It fits so well. The police let the bumbling boyfriend free with a warning to stay in town. And they start looking for Dr. Ed Smith. The landlady gives one clue to the identity of this obviously phony named gentleman. He drove a blue coupe. And this you add to your list of cruise. You enumerate them, Evaluate them using Dorsey as your foil. Okay, Bill, here's how it shapes up. Now, we know he was reading a double life. That puts the finger on it as a love murder. Item one, he was a doctor. Good. Item two, he has the missing key. Item three, he drives a blue coupe. And item four, he must have been familiar with the rivalry. What? It's not an ordinary place to go with a girl. He Must have been attracted to it somehow. And item five? Yeah, item five. The landlady may be the key to the 13. Well, I tell you what. I'm going to call on that land lady. Why don't you wait here and start checking the sports department clips. What for? Rifle matches, pistol matches, shooting meats. Look for contestants who are doctors or even nickname Doc. This Dr. Smith, ma', am, when did you see him last?

[Francis Beaton]

Why, the day they found their body.

[Jim Fusco]

How'd that happen?

[Francis Beaton]

He come to turn in the key.

[Jim Fusco]

What key?

[Francis Beaton]

The key to their apartment.

[Jim Fusco]

The 13th key.

[Francis Beaton]

How's that?

[Jim Fusco]

Nothing. At about what time did he turn in the key?

[Francis Beaton]

Round about the middle of the afternoon.

[Jim Fusco]

He say anything? Yep.

[Francis Beaton]

He said, here you are, ma'.

[Jim Fusco]

Am.

[Francis Beaton]

We won't be needing it anymore.

[Jim Fusco]

Why did he say that?

[Francis Beaton]

Because he said it was leaving town. You said they were safe. Do you think he.

[Jim Fusco]

Janice, what do you think? Just for one thing, all we have to do is find a middle aged doctor who drives a blue coupe and who frequents or is familiar with the rifle range. Now what do you do? Only what I found on the clip. Anything? Just this. The former pistol champion of the United States States competed in a match at the range the day before the body was found. His name is Lance Crackett. He lives here in Columbus. Known in pistol and rifle circles as Doc. Why? Because he's a doctor. That must be him mowing the lawn. Yeah. Dr. Crockett? Yes. I'm Steve Dre of Columbus Police. This is Jim Fosco from the Citizen. Will you come with us, Doctor? What for? Questioning. About what? The murder of Miss Johnston. Did you know her? Yes. Better come along, Doctor. Well, let me shave and tell my wife, then I'll drive over. I think you'd better come with us, Doctor. But you can tell your wife I'll be right out. You certainly will, because I'm coming in with you. Wait here, Jimmy. It's funny how things get quiet moody when they're hottest. This is the point you've been aiming at ever since you looked at the body with the carefully cutthroat. And now all you can do is think how nice a day it is. Get you a little piece of grass and study the green stains on the inside wheel of the lawnmower. Green ST wheel. Gives you an idea. You walk over to the garage attached to the doctor's house. You peer inside. You find a switch. There's a car in there. It is a blue coupe. There is a stain on the seat. A red stain. Make a deal with the Detective, in return for the help you can give him, yours is an afternoon paper. And if Drayle doesn't bring in the doctor right away, if he holds the story a little longer, it will be too late for the morning opposition. He agreed to that. And you borrow the doctor's car key. You make one stop and then you make a phone call. Bill Dawson. Yeah, Jimmy Fusco. Bill, I think we've got the killer. I'll dictate the whole story to you, but first let me set something with you. Go ahead. The doctor's car was just left at a lab to have a stain analyzed. I have an idea he'll deny its blood. I want to confront him with the truth, if it is blood. So I'll dictate the story. Now, go ahead and run it. And I'll call you back with the rest of the dope when the report comes in. Now, if anybody wants me, I'll be looking up the landlady first, and then I'll be at police headquarters. All right. Ready? Here goes. Police today arrested Dr. Lance Cracker, physician and former pistol champion of the United States, for quest in connection with the murder. Jim, it's been three hours since we ran that story on practice arrest. The desk is going crazy. We've been queried by the press services and everybody. I know, I know. And what's more, some of the papers are carrying a denial of our expert. Jim, have you got the paper? In our box. You gone crazy? I don't think so. And where's the dick and the doctor? Frankly? Come on. Come on. I don't know. Finally, the detective escorts the doctor in the back way to the chief's office. He winks at you, the detective, that is, and vines time to whisper. Did I do okay, Jimmy? Did I keep him out long enough? Did you? You almost lost us both our jokes. They put the doctor down. They asked him quiet, careful questions. Did he know the girl? Did he kill her? No. Did he date her? Yes. Was he a lover? No. Back and forth. Very quiet questioning, very calm answering. This case is airtight until you ask to have it held up a moment. Then call in the landlady. Mrs. Hammett, is this the man who boarded with Ms. Johnston? Yes. Is he the one who returned the key?

[Francis Beaton]

Yes.

[Jim Fusco]

Thank you. All right, Doctor, you might as well tell us how it happened. I will. You killed her. No. But I did have a date with her that night. She threatened to blackmail my wife, me, if I didn't give her money. So you killed her?

[Adam Graham]

No.

[Jim Fusco]

I remonstrated with her and said I'd raise the money. But she said she had to have it now. So you killed her? No. I argued and pleaded and promised. Then I threw her out of the car and drove away. After killing her? No. Somebody else must have done that after I left. That your story? That is the truth, Doctor. Why did you return the key? Because I wanted to end the whole business. I didn't want to use that apartment anymore. There are only two things wrong with that explanation, Doctor. One is you couldn't have got that keyring from her without using force. Didn't get the keyring. And the other is the time you returned the key. What time did you turn it in? At two o'clock in the afternoon. The day after your quarrel. The day her body was found? That's right. How'd you know she was dead? I read it in the paper. Are you sure? Positive. I read it in the early edition. You're sure of that? Certainly. Doctor. Here's a clipping of my first story. The one from the early edition. Read it. All right. Police. McCall. Friday afternoon to the rifle range in Fisher Road near McKinley Avenue. Where. Where the unidentified body of a woman was found. Corona Murphy was crawled. I thought. You're right. That's all, Doctor. How did you know the body was that of your girlfriend when the paper carried no name? That story appeared on the street at 1:30 o'. Clock. You returned the key at 2 o'. Clock. The extra identifying the body was not out until 5. How did you know the body was Ms. Johnston? I. I don't know. You told the landlady you wouldn't be needing the key anymore. How did you know that, Doctor? How did you know? I'll tell you how. Because you were the only one who knew that early that she was dead. You can't prove that. Steve Greyle speaking. Yes, thank you very much. That was it, Jim. The news we've been waiting for. Good. What did you just say, Doctor? We can't prove you did it. No, you can't prove it. We can help. Get me Bill Dawson at the Citizens. Just listen in on my conversation with my paper. Dr. Cracker. Bill, about that laboratory test of the stain in the car. We just got the report. I can tell you in one word. Blood. That does it. That's it. You've helped to apprehend a murderer and you've got your big story. In just a moment we'll read you a telegram from James Fosco. Now here's that telegram sent by James Fosco of the Columbus Citizen, thank you for dramatizing my big story. Doctor was found guilty of murder in the first degree. Statements I took at killer's confession were introduced as evidence in trial. I received number one ticket to execution. Again, many thanks for Pell Mell Award. Thank you. Litovusco, the makers of Pall Mall Famous cigarettes are proud to have named you winner of the Pall Mall five hundred dollar award for notable service in the field of journalism. Listen again next week, same time, same station, when Pell Mell Famous Cigarettes will present another big story Limu game and Doug.

[Narrator (Liberty Mutual Ad)]

Here we have the Limu emu in its natural habitat helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds of with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[Jim Fusco]

Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

[Narrator (Liberty Mutual Ad)]

Cut the camera. They see us.

[Liberty Mutual Ad Voice]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty.

[Jim Fusco]

Liberty.

[Liberty Mutual Ad Voice]

Liberty Savings. Very unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. An interesting episode. The voice you heard at the beginning was none other than James Fusco himself. This may have been a special rebroadcast as someone suggested given the introduction. Someone else thought that this might have been a case where Fusco recorded the program at a radio station and he, in making this sort of personal recording goes ahead and provides a verbal record. Okay, this is what this particular disc is, but we don't know for sure. And we also don't know how this came into the hands of old time radio collectors, but that can be said of most transcriptions. And our hero was indeed none other than John Gibson, AKA the voice of Ethelbert, who gets a chance to play the reporter detective hero here. The narrator of course was Barry Kroger with James McCallion, Ward Wilson, Gilbert Mack, Horace Bram, Connie Lemke, Janet Fox rounding out the cast. And this does have a bit of a rep company feel to it. Some of the actors who are in supporting roles would actually star in other episodes. The idea of there being an afternoon paper that could, could essentially have itself set up with a story so that it was past the time that the morning papers could get it in is something that is really a relic of this age. And it can be tough to imagine because if you grew up like me in a world where newspapers put out one newspaper a day and you watched old movies about big news, big city newspapers and they're running multiple editions and can say at any time we gotta put an extra out. There might be some degree of realism if you're a big New York or Chicago paper. But this is Columbus. And while you might be able to support multiple newspapers, they probably all couldn't have multiple editions. Now, I know that on Dragnet, people ask what was the case behind a particular episode? And often there's not an answer. And that certainly can be true of the big story. But Dr. Joe Webb has actually identified several of the stories that are covered in Big Story episodes. And some of the sources he circumstances cited for being able to determine this is that sometimes the reporters would write memoirs, and you could gather that from the memoirs, and it would even be covered in some cases in their obituaries when they passed. And one thing that he points out, and it's important to keep in mind when thinking about the Pall Mall Award, while armin might think $500 is, well, that's okay, in the money of the time, he points out that was $6,000. And it was actually the money that the Big Story gave out was the same amount of money that you would get for winning a Pulitzer Prize. So oftentimes the newspapers would be quite. And they would, you know, promote the reporters. So from various sources, they've been able to determine some of these, some of them are not determined. Whenever it is there, I'll let you know. If it is not there, then we don't know the exact story. If any of you are curious and happen to be able to figure one of these out out that haven't been identified, I'll certainly read about it on the air. This one is actually a pretty easy one to identify. This was a very famous case. Now, even if Fusco hadn't mentioned it at the start of the episode, it's probably one of the most notorious murders in the history of Columbus, Ohio. And there are more details of the case which honestly are a bit lurid. It's quite understandable why they were not included in the Big story. Columbus Underground documented the case and there are full details, many of which understandably were left out of the radio program involving drugs. And the details of the affair, which I don't feel a need to repeat, but I will include a link to the show notes for those who want to read about that. All right, well, now it is time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to go ahead and thank Robert, patreon Supporter since August 2016, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thank you so much for your support, Robert.

[Jim Fusco]

Thank you.

[Adam Graham]

And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying The Podcast. Please follow us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back next Tuesday with another episode of the Big Story, but join us back here tomorrow for Broadway's My Beatware.

[Mugaman]

It's a nice day, wasn't it, Danny?

[Jim Fusco]

What did you find Mugaban?

[Mugaman]

Found him like that, all broken up about the bullet in his chest. Tried to tell me why it was there. The word never got out.

[Jim Fusco]

It was phoned in.

[Mugaman]

Yeah, from the back room of a bar down the alley. A friendly chap wandered out for a breath of fresh air. Saw this, ran back to the bar, made his phone call, bought drinks for the house. He's still celebrating if you want to talk to him.

[Jim Fusco]

You talked to him?

[Mugaman]

Yeah. Friendly lush invited me to a cold beer. I didn't take it. He knew this man never had the pleasure. He told me all the sisters, the citizens of the alley never had the pleasure. I checked.

[Jim Fusco]

Uh huh. What's that in your hand?

[Mugaman]

This? Oh, I almost forgot. It's a ticket for parking made out to a Charles Crandall over parked in the loading zone. He can snap his fingers at it now, huh?

[Jim Fusco]

This your witty day, Mugaman?

[Mugaman]

I try, Danny. Days like this, I guess I don't make it.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box13greatdetectives.net Follow us on Twitter radiodetectives. Check us out on Instagram instagram.com greatdetectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

[Jim Fusco]

Limu Emu.

[Narrator (Liberty Mutual Ad)]

And Doug, here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[Jim Fusco]

Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

[Narrator (Liberty Mutual Ad)]

Cut the camera. They see us.

[Liberty Mutual Ad Voice]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings Ferry Unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts.

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