Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
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set. Now it is time for this week's episode of Final Vans. The
original air date April the fourth of nineteen fifty and the title as The Mimic
Murder Case. Thank you, Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. And now
it's off to the alley. How's that, mister Paine. M anybody can
do that. Let's hear something else. Look, mister Payne, I can
imitate anybody, anybody at all. You just say who you want, I
can imitate him. I've been doing this kind of thing in night cups for
years. M how about that meek little fellow what's her name? Oh?
You mean the fellow talks something like this? Look, oh, I as
far as just a little patient quiet. It's not the big noises that bother
me. It's just a little trivial anne no, I just like the burgeon
of the beach. How's that, m Danny. I want you to listen
to something I have here on a record too, mister pain If you want
me to do some guy you know, made a speech on the radio to
night I recorded it. Okay, let's hear it. I want to play
part of it back to you. I listen only this. As a private
investigator, I have encountered many crimes and many criminals. My friend mister Markham,
the District Attorney has asked me to discuss several of both with you.
First of all, I am certain that the most difficult of all you heard
that voice, Danny? Sure? Sure? Can you talk like that guy
there? Look? Just give me the record in a couple of hours practice
and I'll be able to do him so good even his mother wouldn't know it
wasn't him talking. M How much do you make in that nightclub, Danny?
You don't see anyone else here, do you? Oh? I'm good
for two fifty right now? Three hundred sometimes anyone I'll do. That's that.
I'll give you a thousand dollars to talk like that guy on the record,
a grand Just open my mouth. No, not exactly. You'll have
to keep it closed about this for the rest of your life. Good morning,
Alan, Good morning Vans? Or should I call you Stephen Douglas or
a Daniel Webster or a Cicerow. Well that's a nice way to start off
a day. What am I in common with them? Don't tell me you
didn't hear that speech you made at the dinner last night. You were great,
my friend. Mister Markham, the District Attorney has asked me to discuss
crimes and criminals. The most difficult crime, in my opinion, is the
simple crime, because in its lack of incidentals. All right, all right,
Elan, I made a speech last night. Sounded to me like it
lasted three weeks. Oh oh please, Actually it wasn't that though. Well
that's nice to know. Anything in the mail, any calls, No,
nothing interesting except that mister Markham court and said he'd drop in here on his
way to court. He's got a big case going to trial today. Yes,
I know, the State versus Albert Payne. That's the one. It's
going to be quite a contest. Markham tells me he hasn't too much evidence.
So wonder to me is why you don't get him morning? Nice tie
vans? Oh like it. The only thing I'd like better around your net
would be me? Or am I too forward? Well I wouldn't say that
exactly. But you're an absolutely no danger of bumping into that desk behind you.
Thank you, John Calhoun. Well, hello, Markham, com just
dropped in so you could wish me luck in the case today. Man,
Well glad you did. I hope you don't have too much difficulty getting a
conviction against Pain. Oh you're a cinch. He too bad, you too
aren't on the jury. Well for fifty bucks, I could be kept however,
all right, all right, but I'll tell you now, I'd be
one of the best jurors money could buy if you cease. I know you
know, a good secretary always anticipates the wishes of our employer. No doubt.
I wish I could being caught today, Markham, But I'll show up
tomorrow. You want to be under a full head of steam by then,
I certainly hope. So as I understand it, Pain has created quite a
defense for himself while he's been out on bail. But we'll worry about that
when we come to it. And that's the good attitude. Say, I
don't think you know the sequel to the Ivory murder case to you or the
one we worked on last week. Yes, is there a sequel? Well,
not exactly a sequel, but that African native was deported this morning.
Oh, I certainly was going to make a beautiful mistake in that case.
If you had an into advance, you'd have found the real murderer eventually,
Mark, perhaps, perhaps, But when you told me I was on the
wrong track. I stopped my activities immediately only believed me. I didn't know
any reason other than your request. It all turned out well, didn't it.
It most certainly did well then, and I guess i'd better get going
to course. Thanks for everything. Vance, keep your fingers crossed, and
I'll get a conviction against Albert Pain before the week is over. I will
mark him. I'm sure you'll see to it that the pain is removed from
the public. Steve, look out who you pushing unnot your brains out who
you're pushing it, Steve, Holy manger, what you almost did? What
did I almost do? You almost walked under that their ladder? So what?
So what Steve, that's the worst thing you could do. Good thing.
Mister Pain didn't know it was a ladder on the way. He never
would have sent this. Never, the boss ain't superstitious, dope. He
sent us to grab a girl. He wouldn't if we had to walk under
a black cat. He wants that guy grabbed and with the guys that can
do it, except if he's wearing a black hat. You know you can't
never grab a guy wearing a black hat. It's unluck. And we take
any more time getting to that guy where after it will be unhealthy for us.
You've got your gun issue all right, now, keep it handy.
Might have to bang this guy on a beat with it in case he wants
to argue. Hey, yeah, you know what the finest character, don't
you sure? I got his address the Harris apartments and his name is written
right here. Fil Oh, Vance, stop riding here, driver, mister
Vans lives here. Well, I think it was very nice for me to
take you home, don't you, Vans? It was charming, romantic and
on the way to your apartment. But thanks Ellen, Alphonio. As soon
as I get cleaned up, I'll be waiting right. Okay, you ain't
going anywhere except with us. What your final Vans? Ain't you? Yes?
But I don't know. You don't have to know nothing except this is
a gun that's shoving you around. We got a cut, Vans, and
you're coming with us. Sorry, I have a previous incase. Stevie.
Stevie, let the guy alone. He's poison. I just saw a star
fall down. It's bad lucks. Do you think that's bad luck? What's
your opinion of this? We can take him, Jerry, He's only one
car. Yeah, but he fights like it was nine clipping with that gunny
you like. I told him, Oh, what a joker that character was.
What a battle he put up, right, Jerry, Yes, sure,
Stevie Loo, come on, let's drag him in the cart. Mister
Panish, you're gonna be proud of using right. Hey, you know I
just thought of something. That falling star you saw. Maybe it is a
sign of bad luck. Sure was unlucky for Vans. Order in this proceed
with your examination of the defendant, mister District attorney, Thank you, your
honor. Mister Payne, are you or were you the head of the ACME
Development Corporation? No, I am not, and I never was. The
State will prove that the ACME Development Corporation was a dummy organization set up to
swindle the public. M We will also prove that although your name did not
appear in the corporation papers, you were the actual head of the ACME company.
Objection, your honor sustained. I'll a phrase that statement. The state
will excuse me. Mister Markham, your honor please me. I have a
moment to talk to his court attendant granted, thank you. What is a
joke? I telephone call for you, mister Markham. Finow Fans says,
I tell you that it's oh, something to do with the trial now going
on. He says, it's urgent. Did you talk to him right away?
Thank you, Joe. You're on a please, mister district attorney,
you're on a please with the court right a five minute resists. It's quite
important order in the court. The god sees no objection. Step down from
the witness stand, mister Paine, please five minutes resist, which chalon,
Joe. I'll just follow me, mister markamside. Yes, Vance shure sounded
luck. You have something awfully important after the trial was going on. I
said yes. He said to get you to the phone room, so I
got your thanks again. I tried to reach Vance this morning at his office,
but he hadn't shown up. His secretary he told me he was supposed
to call her last night and he didn't. Rants must have been doing some
work on this case. I wouldn't know about that. There's the phone though.
First of all, Oh, thank you, hello, Markam. I'm
sorry I had to get you out of that courtroom, but it was imperative
that I did. Well, what's wrong, Vance, where have you been.
I'll explain that when I see you. All I can tell you is
that you have the wrong man on trial. Pain is innocent. What It's
definite, Markham, and I can prove it. What's more so can he.
I think we can get him on a more serious charge. Though,
Wait a minute. What I want you to do is ask for a dismissal
of the charge against him. But I can't do advance. If I do,
he can't be tried again for this crime anyhow, regardless of what evidence
you have. I know that, my friend, but please do as I
say. I've never let you down, have I know? But this is
to be your good. Pain has evidence that can disprove everything. You clean
withdraw the charge against him. I'll explain everything when I see you. You
always say that you always do, but I will suck you down, Markam.
Will you do as I say? Yes, yes, I'll do advance.
But if you don't do as you say, I can take my career
and send it right back to law school where it started. Thank you,
Thank you very much. And maybe you can recognize this movie character who says
I was standing on the car. I O nice party met the Pain.
It could be nice after all, this is a celebration because the DA was
nice to me. Drop the charger. Yeah yeah, you made sure he
You're smart? That kid doing the impersonations on on the floor, Hell he
do he mean? Skip it? The only thing that mister Jerry, where'd
you get that? Ye met the chin pain? That guy I had tied
up, that advanced guy? What about him? I was taking him out
in the car and knock him off. Like you said, his hands was
tied, but I let him smoke a cigarette and I guess he burned the
ropes or something. Next thing I knew, he jumped me and knocked me
cold and beaten. Stevie, I told you that falling star, Remember I
told you, man's got away. Yes, Jerry, I'll take care of
you later. Wait a minute, I and everybody thanks for coming, but
the party's over. I had a big day and I've got to get to
sleep. Well, mister Pain, thanks for everything. I guess I'll be
going on. Wait a minute, Danny, you did a good job on
those impersonations. I want to thank you. You did fine with the dome,
mister Pain. Everybody's gone now, force the joints cleaned, right,
Steve sure is all right to to grab this Danny guy say, I was
the idea how to do nothing? What do you want with me? I'm
sorry, Danny, but with Vans alive, I can't let you be bad.
Who's he? He's the one man who'll know you impersonated his voice.
Yeah, but he'll get you to talk. No, I can't let that
happen. Hey, don't wait a minute, Pain, Wait a minute.
The force is gonna use a knife on this guy. Just keep holding them,
hold Pain, you gotta favorite. I didn't let him drop. Boys.
You know something, Jerry what this guy? He's a great impersonator.
Even when he kicked off, he died just like Jimmy Keg. This is
just a Dettorney Markham, the case I started to work on is over over
because I withdrew charges against Albert Payne, a man I believe was guilty.
I did so at the request of Final Vance. Request made me on the
telephone while a trial was in progress. My concern is very great because I
haven't been able to reach Vance since he found me in the courtroom. For
this reason, I'm working late in my office hoping that I'll hear something it.
This attorney Markam was speaking. This is Ellen, mister Markham. Any
word from vain No, Ellen, not since he called me at the courtroom,
You've heard nothing, no, not a word, And I'm awfully worried.
He never showed up at the office today. At least we know he
was all right about two pm when he telephoned me. That's something. Are
you sure it was? Well, I'm reasonably sure. I was sure at
the time, but in view of what's been happening right now, I'm not
so certain, Sherry. Are you shoving show around the shovel? What do
you think I'm doing? I'm shoving. Oh, you ain't easy to push
this gelope up a hill. You. I'll just be happy you ain't in
it when it goes over that cliff. See how happy I am? All
right here? We are that hell out it? Do? It's Steve?
Yeah? Yeah, Oh. Anybody ever finds a record this Gelloppe down there,
they can know. So he'll get a good look at what was once
a pretty good mimic Danny Dunk. Now, Steve, look, I wonder
how he liked being pushed up this hill. Stop talking like that about a
dead guy, Steve. That's unlucky you and you're unlucky. Everything's unlucky,
all right, all right, come on, let's get this. Heapo with
a cliff now already, yes, sure, here we go. Push their
seat cold, let's rry like they say in the books. That's that.
Yes, yes, I have the details. A crash was heard, investigated
and you found a batter Jelope at the bottom of the cliff, and it
was a man who had been knife to death. Was Janny Duncan, a
nightclub entertainer. We'll call you back if there's anything else, I'll do that.
Thanks for calling. Hello, marcol Thanks am I glad to see you.
Where have you been? What's happened? I've been knocked out right now
and taken for a ride, Markham, I'm here now, sit down,
man, and very anxious to get to the bottom of all this. What
was that call you made me the quarter room this afternoon? Call I made?
Certainly you telephone me to ask for a dismissal of charges against Albert Pain
and I did, Markham? I never called you. What? No,
I don't tell me that I recognize your voice. A vants listen to me
you definitely, I definitely would. I know what's happened now? I just
got a report of the murder of a nightclub entertainer, Danny Duncan, a
very well known memic. Yes, that's it. Then it was Duncan who
called me and pretended to be you. You were kidnapped to prevent your coming
on the scene and spoiling Pain's planned to have me drop the case against you.
Well, certainly looks like we've been outsmarted, doesn't it. I could
have sworn that was you on the telephone, and you've done similar things before.
Vants called me and asked me to lay off something until you could give
me conclusive evidence. I know, and apparently Pain you that too. In
order for his plan to be fool proof, Markham, you had to kill
Danny Duncan. Well, the next time he goes to trial, I personally
guarantee it will be for murder. Hey, Steve, Yeah, look around
quick as anybody following him us? Are you kidding? Of course not?
Who would be following us? I don't know. I looked around a couple
of times only I didn't see nobody. But I kind of feel like there's
somebody following step being stupid. I'm not being stupid. Not Wait a minute,
wait, just stop him. I listen, hit it. Hear that
Steve? So it's somebody else on this shity. There ain't nobody on the
street, nobody but us. Maybe it's that Danny Duncan. Come back to
Stevens. What's the matter with you? Nobody's there? Are you getting yellow
something? But Steve? Come Steve. I'm afraid, I'm awful afraid,
my dear mister Vans. Everything you've said to me may be true, but
you should be the first to admit that it might also be pure conjecture.
I know pain. Perhaps you didn't hire the mimic Danny Duncan to imitate my
voice after having a couple of your men kidnaped me. Perhaps you didn't kill
Danny Duncans so we could never tell what he knew. And perhaps I would
have beaten the case that state had against me even without the phone call you
insist I had Duncan make Vans. Don't you see how hopeless this is and
how helpless you are to do anything about it. I don't often lose my
tempa pain, really, and I'm making an exception in this case. You
listen to me, take your hands off my coat. I'm finding it hard
to keep them off your throat. Why don't you listen? You had a
couple of mugs beat me up. I don't like that. I don't like
you, I said, foot I'm glad you did that. I'm going to
return it. I won't help this case, but it will give me some
set his faction fight. You don't think I have anything on you? Do
your pain? Come on, get up and talk. That's right. I
don't think you have a thing on me. I bet my life you don't.
Don't look now pain, But that's exactly what you're betting. Steve,
Steve, he's Steve. Hey, what's going on in here? Jerry Stevens.
Somebody in this house. I heard a window opening a minute ago.
I heard it. I tell you, Steve, it's Danny Duncan. Like
I said, he's come back. Will you shut up and go back to
sleep? I can't and I ord to go. You hurt footsteps. Danny
Duncan is dead. You know that. Sure? I know that's why he's
come back, Steve. Because he's dead, and we helped killed him.
We were holding him when mister Paine stabbed him, but looked stupid. Danny
Duncan is God, but Steve here, but I'm here. If you bother
me again, I'm gonna come in and work over you myself. Now Clod
to sleep, Steve, don't call stay here with me, Steve. Jerry,
Wake up, Jerry, Jerry, wake up? Who is it?
Who's in the room? Screamed Jerry. Don't turn on that light. Don't
do anything. Just listen to me. Who are you? Who you want?
You know who I am? Oh? No the rest, Jerry.
Never help me get revenge on the man who took me. Wake get out
of here. Your voice down, Jerry. You don't want Steve be You
know no about Steve. I know about everything. Please, Jerry, I'll
be with you the rest of your life unless you do his eyes. What
do you want? You know who killed the boys and tell them no I'm
Jerry, or you will never sleep another night. You asked me to keep
my fingers across Markham. Now it's your turn. It's hard driving the cart
way, but I'll do it. You haven't any further to drive, my
friend. This is Paine's house. Oh, come on in with me.
Okay, I'm right about everything up to here. This case should be over
soon. That's the best news I've had all day except for one thing.
Pain is an extortionist and steps into larceny very often, but I didn't have
too much evidence against him, although he of course didn't nobody anyhow. No,
I don't feel quite so badly good. I feel partially respected inside the
house fan So shots came from inside. Let's go dry the door, Markham,
it's open this way. They came from this door here right as I
live. It wasn't very long. I guess what's going on here, Paine.
Pretty obvious, isn't he. Markham's man broke in here with a gun
and he's still holding it, fired at me. I got my gun and
shot him. What brings you here? And watch with your friend Vans?
I think this is it for you? Pain? M What makes you say
that? Vance Jerry came here to tell you he was going to the police
because he believed it was the only way he could keep Danny Duncan's spirit away
from him. Danny Duncan, who's that? No? No, Danny,
I did what you said. I told mister Pain, I was going to
the police. I wanted to walk. Well, you really killed Jerry this
time, didn't you, Paint? Could I had him finish what he was
saying. Could you you know my story? Vents? He broke in here.
I shot him in self defense. It wasn't self defense. Just now,
Pain, you murdered him right in front of us. Your story won't
stand up now. You won't stand up very long either, Markham. Wait,
flick at the guns, get away from me. Yeah, that's better.
Now, both of you stay right where you are. Don't take a
step fence, don't why not. I'm coming to get you, Pain.
Don't take another step vance, don't do it? All right? I warned
you. It only holds six shots, you know, Pain. Now I'll
take good hit away. Markam is just here. That does it. You'll
find the third member of this trio hello, named Steve, at a house
on Central Street. Okay, you have a real case against Pain now,
Markham. He'll never beat this one. That is, if you don't telephone
me during his trial. I'll never do that again, Markham, No more
telephone calls. Any Time I ask you to do anything, it will be
in person. Thanks. Perhaps you'll tell me how this Jerry individual came to
be here at Pain's house, and what's more important, how you knew this
case would be broken here, I'd tell you, but I don't dare.
I promised Ellen she'd be the first to know. All right, you don't
mind, do you? No? Not really say you hit that pain pretty
hard. He's still out, yes, but he's breathing. And I'm sure
when you get him to trial, you'll take care of that little detail,
won't you, Markham. The only thing I don't understand, Dance, is
what made that Jerry character go after pain. I knew he would, Ellen,
I knew he was superstitious. I found it out when he and Steve
jumped me the night you dropped me off, oh and later while we were
in the car in which he was supposed to kill me. So you worked
on that superstition. Definitely, it's a powerful motivation, Ellen. A superstitious
individual will go to almost any lengths to remove what he considers a hex.
Yes, I know. I followed him along streets, making sure he could
hear me, but keeping out of sight, opened a window in his house,
even sneaked a public addressed system into his bedroom to plant the idea that
I was Danny Duncan's ghost. Pretty good planning, i'd say, and as
much as it sent him after pain That's what I did it for. He
got to Pains to warn him he was going to the police. Before Markham
and I had a chance to get there, Paine thought he had to kill
him. What I'd like to know is what made you such a brave man?
How come he walked right up to pain when he had a gun in
his hand, a gun he had just used to kill Jerry. I had
heard six shots, Ellen, the gun was a revolver that only whole six
shots. Well, you say you'd heard six shots, my friend, to
use your favorite expression. Didn't it ever occur to you that Jerry might have
fired one or even two of those? Certainly it did. Only Jerry carried
an automatic and the safety catch was still on. I noticed that when it
was in his hand as he was lying on the floor. So I really
wasn't so brave, was I? Oh? I can say? Is It's
a good thing you can count fans. Otherwise a bullet would have started right
toward you. Well, let's not be concerned with anything starting, Ellen,
Let's just remember that this is the end of the mimic murder case. Welcome
back. Well an interesting case. I do like the concept in that it
has a criminal playing on Barcom's unquestioning deference to Vance, and it was a
clever plot as far as it went. Of course, by killing the mimic,
our criminal essentially gave the game away. It would have been better just
to let Danny live and hope he didn't talk, or better yet, not
to have hired a local mimic who was famous as a nightclub performer. I
also had to chuckle about Vance's claim about not being someone to lose his temper,
given all of the fight scenes we've heard Vance being. Now in terms
of the imitations, the first voice that the mimic was doing was an impersonation
of Fred Allen, and then the meek guy was Victor Moore. Moore is
probably best remembered for the Home It Happened on Fifth Avenue, where he played
the iconic role of Aloysius te McKeever, a homeless guy who squatted in the
mansion of wealthy people who had left town for the Winner. Actually listened to
the Luxur Radio Theater version of that. It was really fun. I think
I want to see the movie. He also voiced Clarence in the radio version
of It's a Wonderful Life for Luxur Radio theater, and he had this really
unusual relationship with the Jimmy Duranty Show where he wasn't really announced as the co
star, but he spent like two years appearing in every episode. Yes,
after Duranty's previous partner was Victor Moore, they decided they needed some more to
play off of him, which of course brings us to the third voice,
which was Jimmy Duranti. The Great Snawzola listener comments and feedback now Angel writes
over on YouTube follow what a magnificent mannequin. Besides him, Ned Flanders is
a blush Hell's Angel, and besides daa Markham follow Vans looks like Einstein.
Both are actually suited to today's world. While I'm far from a Simpson's officionado,
I think I can count the number of episodes I've seen on one hand.
I sincerely doubt that Ned Flanders has the fighting prowess of Fillow Vans.
So I think that Fillow Vans is definitely cooler than Ned Flanders, and that
may be one of the greatest compliments I've ever paid. Vance. Now it
is time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day, and I want to
go ahead and thank Doug. Doug has in one of our Patreon supporters since
October twenty sixteen, currently supporting the program at the Detective Sergeant level a seven
dollars and fourteen cents or more per month. Thank you so much for your
support, Doug, and that will actually do it for today. I do
encourage you to follow this podcast using your favorite podcast software and also playse rate
and review us wherever you download your podcast from, as it really does help
the podcast out. We'll be back next Thursday with another episode of Final Vans,
but listen tomorrow for yours truly Johnny Dollar and the conclusion of the Amy
Bradshaw Matter where You'll here be seeing. I doted on my way over to
the Criterion Theater. I thought about Pomeroy, a rugged customer, and I
felt he was one more who wouldn't let anyone stand in the way of anything
he wanted to do. After the show, I picked up Amy backstage and
took her back to department. She looked very tired and didn't say much.
We said good night at the front entrance and I started walking along the sidewalk.
Then I spotted somebody in the shadows across the street. Again. Watching,
I could tell from ass hat and coat he was the same one who'd
been there the night before last. I kept on walking until I reached the
corner, then circled halfway around the block to an alley and edged up on
him from behind. He didn't see me until I dove at him. Well,
Bill York, what are you doing here? So you haven't been there
amy for a long time. I hope you'll be with us then. In
the meantime, do send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Defectives dot and
yet, follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us out on
Instagram, Instagram, dot com, slash Great Detectives From Boise, Ottaho.
This is your host, Adam Grahamson and Off