The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: The Casebook of Gregory Hood – The Forgetful Murderer (Encore) (EP4865e)

Host: Adam Graham
Original Air Date Shared: December 14, 2025

Episode Overview

In this encore presentation, Adam Graham introduces a classic episode of The Casebook of Gregory Hood, titled "The Forgetful Murderer." The show dives into a suspenseful murder mystery featuring a string of night watchman killings in San Francisco. As Gregory Hood and his friend Sanderson "Sandy" Taylor become embroiled in the case, they untangle a puzzle of bizarre clues and psychological intrigue. The episode stands out for its psychological depth and dramatic twist, offering listeners both a nostalgic old-time radio experience and a truly perplexing mystery.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Opening Banter and Setup

• Location & Characters Introduced (04:00)
  • Gregory Hood and Sandy Taylor are having drinks at the Top of the Mark Hopkins Hotel, enjoying their playful debate over whether the plural of "mongoose" is "mongooses" or "monge."
  • Quickly, the mood shifts as they leave Hood’s new store and stumble upon a crime scene outside a jewelry shop.

2. The Crime Unfolds & Initial Investigation

• Discovery of a String of Murders (05:30)

  • Hood and Taylor learn a night watchman has been killed in a jewelry store heist.
  • The police have little to go on, but an odd piece of metal is discovered at the scene.

• Introduction of "Coffee" (Toffee) (08:59)

  • Hood finds a mysterious woman waiting in his car, calling herself Coffee (nicknamed Toffee). This cryptic encounter foreshadows her deeper involvement.

3. Pattern of the Killer & The Clues

• Police Frustration and Clues (10:30–15:30)

  • Lieutenant Silver presents the case details: the killer strikes stores, robs them, and murders night watchmen—always leaving a memento behind.
    • Clues left behind: a handkerchief with "C" initial, a stethoscope earpiece, and a peculiar metal skewer.
  • Hood receives the skewer-like object for analysis.

• Notable Quote:

  • Lieutenant Silver [13:20]: “Three of them now and we haven’t got a decent lead.”
  • Gregory Hood [14:12]: “Your average thief doesn’t kill unless he has to. Sounds like a twisted kind of mind at work.”

4. Hood’s Romantic & Investigative Entanglements

• Dining with Coffee/Toffee (16:00)

  • Hood and Toffee share an intimate evening. In a playful and suspenseful exchange, she suggests the metal clue is a pipe-cleaning tool—providing critical insight.

• Notable Moment (17:32):

  • Toffee: “It’s a thing for cleaning pipes.”
  • Gregory Hood: “You may have helped to solve a murder.”

5. Breakthrough Investigation & Personal Stakes

• Refinement of Suspect Profile (18:10)

  • The object is confirmed as a pipe tool, made from surgical materials with nicotine traces. The suspect is now described as a doctor with initials "C.P." or "P.C." who also smokes a pipe.

• Murder Strikes Home (20:00)

  • Gregory’s own store is hit and Gino Carducci, his night watchman, is murdered—raising the emotional stakes.

6. The Psychological Puzzle Deepens

• Literary Clue & Book Editor (21:10–22:40)

  • At the scene, pages from a book about a doctor are found. Gregory realizes they’re unbound review sheets, only sent to book critics. He contacts Joseph Henry Jackson, who reveals a reviewer with the initials "C.P."—Dr. Christopher Partington.

• The Confrontation (24:10)

  • Hood, Taylor, and Silver visit Dr. Partington’s residence. The door is open. They encounter Toffee there.

7. The Realization & Species of Madness

• The Twist Revealed (26:40–28:41)

  • Hood pieces together that Toffee’s real name is Christopher Partington—she is, in fact, Dr. C.P., a woman who smokes a pipe and has a split personality.
  • Toffee’s alternate identity, Cassie Peters, is the murderer. In a chilling confession, she reveals her attempts to betray her own other self by leaving clues.

• Notable Dramatic Exchange:

  • Toffee/Cassie Peters [28:10]: "Here in me—inside of me. We use the same body. I hate her. I did so want you to catch her, Gregory."
  • Gregory Hood [28:25]: "It’s all right, Coffee, dear. I’ve caught her."

8. Resolution & Aftermath

• Epilogue and Moral Quandary (29:20–30:06)

  • The case is closed with Toffee (Dr. Partington/Cassie Peters) committed to a state institution due to insanity—a modern Jekyll-and-Hyde tragedy.
  • Hood and Bartel reflect on the case’s sadness and complexity.

• Memorable Closing Quote:

  • Harry Bartel [29:54]: “Five innocent men… murdered in cold blood. And yet you can’t hold that girl morally responsible. She never went to prison court.”
  • Gregory Hood [30:01]: “She was obviously an insane schizophrenic. A 1946 Jekyll and Hyde.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:30 | Sergeant Barton | “Doesn’t take you long to smell out a murder, Mr. Hood.” | | 13:20 | Lieutenant Silver | “Three of them now and we haven’t got a decent lead.” | | 17:32 | Toffee (Coffee) | “It’s a thing for cleaning pipes.” | | 26:43 | Gregory Hood | “You are Dr. Christopher Partington. Aren’t coffee? Not a common name for a girl…” | | 28:10 | Toffee/Cassie Peters | “Here in me—inside of me. We use the same body. I hate her. I did so want you to catch her, Gregory.” | | 28:41 | Gregory Hood | “Don’t worry, Coffee. We won’t let Cassie Peters kill people. Not anymore. Ever.” | | 29:54 | Harry Bartel | “And yet you can’t hold that girl morally responsible. She never went to prison court.”| | 30:01 | Gregory Hood | “She was obviously an insane schizophrenic. A 1946 Jekyll and Hyde.” |

Adam Graham’s Host Commentary

• Bittersweet Ending (32:35):

  • Adam notes the "bittersweet" feel, expressing both admiration for the story’s complexity and discomfort with the abrupt shift to sponsor messages.
  • He observes that Toffee’s suspiciously convenient appearance points to her eventual unmasking.

• Listener Engagement:

  • Reads comments from listeners who express appreciation for the show.
  • Reminds newer listeners about the vast podcast archives and how to stay current with news or support campaigns via the Facebook community.

Important Timestamps

• Intro and Sponsor Ads: [00:00–02:05]
• Show Segment Begins: [04:00]
• Crime Scene & Initial Clues: [05:30–10:30]
• Toffee’s Pipe Cleaner Insight: [16:00–18:00]
• Gino Carducci’s Murder: [20:00]
• Critical Breakthrough (Book Reviewer): [21:10–22:40]
• Toffee/Cassie Reveal: [26:40–28:41]
• Wrap-Up Discussion: [29:20–30:06]
• Adam’s Host Commentary: [32:35]

Tone & Style

• Atmospheric: The episode leans into film noir with sharp dialogue, witty repartee, and evocative San Francisco settings.
• Psychological & Poignant: There’s a surprising psychological twist and compassion for the villain’s mental health—unusual for the period.
• Lightly Humorous: Regular banter offsets the story’s darkness, especially between Hood, Taylor, and police characters.

Summary

“The Forgetful Murderer” is an exemplary radioplay blending classic detective work with psychological intrigue. Gregory Hood, with the help of his friend Sandy and a series of accidental clues, uncovers not only the identity of a cunning murderer but also the tragedy behind her crimes—a woman with a fractured mind. The episode is both a whodunit and a human drama, memorable for its sophisticated plot, sharp script, and deep empathy for even those who commit unspeakable acts.

For listeners, it’s a nostalgic, suspenseful gem—well-worth revisiting for its historical flavor and enduring emotional impact.