Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham. Got a comment, email me Box thirteen
at Great Detectives dot net, cast your vote for the show on podcast Alley,
Podcast Alley dot Great Detectives dot net, and become a fan of the
show on Facebook, Facebook dot Great Detectives dot net. I did miss spake
slightly on Friday show when I said that The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
I had finished twenty five on Podcast Alley last month. I was making that
statement before the month was over, but in the last hours we slept into
number twenty six. So I encourage everybody to vote. You don't have to
leave a comment. It's appreciated but not required. Up at podcast Alley.
Tommy from Kentucky emails in they love the podcast. But to the subject,
I was listening to Box thirteen one night and a thought hit me. The
show Castle uses pretty much the same format that Box thirteen did. The main
characters are both writers trying to come up with ideas for new stories while trying
to solve mysteries. I find it kind of funny that the concept of an
old show like Box thirteen would be so successful today. Any thoughts on the
similarities, Well, I think there are some differences between Box thirteen in Castle,
such as the lack of appeal Box, but it does show that perhaps
in some ways people's taste haven't changed all that much. And I think that
these old radio shows really are a good source of ideas for writers. I
would never advocate copying wholesale story from a radio show. That would be known
as plagiarism. But writers all the time get inspired by other stories and other
things and put kind of their own spend on a particular story, just because
there are only so many story plots that can actually be told. He also
asked why can't I find any collections of Bucks thirteen on any of the old
time radio sites. I'm not certain why. It actually is one of the
more common series out there. To be honest, you can get it.
I'll go to archive dot organ. I sent that link. If you're looking
for a higher quality CD version. Radio archives dot com has a Box thirteen
collection has twenty episodes in it if you really want high quality, so I
hope that helps. Archive dot org is generally one of the first places I
go when i'm looking for a show, and about eight times out of ten
they'll have it. So archive dot org you just put in the name of
the series and search for audio and you should usually find what you need.
All right, Well, before we get started, I want to have just
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now, without any further day, let's get into today's episode of Box thirteen.
Hunting pack Box thirteen with the style of Paramount Fixtures, Alan lad As,
Dan Holiday Box thirteen care of Star Times. We are allowed newspapers here
and by chance I saw your advertisement. I have exactly forty eight hours to
live, no more than that unless you can do something which no one else
has been able to do. Get me out of the death cell of the
State Penitentiary. I was tried and convicted from the murder of one of my
best friends. I was tried and convicted for the murder of one of my
best friends. I didn't do it. Will you try to help Martin Kirby.
When I received the letter from Martin Kirby, I wondered how a man
felt who had only a short time to live and knew it before the thing
was over and I had stopped wondering, I knew And now back to Botch
thirteen and Dan Holiday's newest ad Budge your compact gee as your holiday. What
can you do about it, Susie? I wish I had an answer for
you. You're gonna stan him, aren't you. Well? If I don't,
I'd kick myself all over the city for not doing what I could.
On the other hand, he was tried, convicted and sentenced, but it
could be wrong. I mean, I know what you mean, Susie's Sentencing
a man to death is a terrible thing. The evidence against Kirby must have
been pretty strong. Oh, I guess it was. You're on the horns
of an an Emma dilemma this time, Susie. I don't laugh. What
are you going to do? The only thing I can do? See Martin
Kirby and well, at least listen to him. I didn't think you'd come,
mister holiday. Why not? Well, there must have been a million
guys in this place, all innocent. Sure, maybe some of them were.
And are I am? I what time? I mean? I know
what you mean. It's one thirty now, I've got the rest of to
day and till tomorrow night at eleven thirty thirty four hours. I know I've
counted them too, all right, Kirbly, What can I do? I
don't know. Is there anything you can tell me something that didn't come out
of the trial. The only thing that didn't come out at my trial was
the fact that I didn't kill Leslie Roberts. Oh. I kept saying it,
but there was too much against me. At first, when I got
here, I didn't care anymore. If they wanted to see an innocent man
die for something he didn't do, then it was murder on their heads.
But now, mister Holiday, I want to live. Sure, sure,
but there's nothing you can tell me, anything that I can go to the
police with and get a reprieve, a stay of execution. My lawyers tried
that a hundred times. My case has been reviewed, nothing doing, And
what you're asking of me is to do what everyone else has failed at.
I guess that's it, you know, Kirby. It's at times like this
I wish I'd never put that box thirteen head in the paper, meaning there's
nothing you'll do. No, No, I didn't say that. I'll try,
but thirty four hours is a short time. Look, maybe you will
go at this with a fresh slant. Maybe something will hit you that everyone
else has missed. Yeah, maybe, all right, Kirby, it'll take
me two hours to get back to the city end. If I'm going to
do anything, I'll have to do it fast. Driving back to the city,
I felt like someone who has to tell a kid there's no Santa Claus.
Because I was almost sure that Kirby had no chance. What could I
do? The police were no fools. The district attorney must have had an
airtight case against Kirby when he went to trial. Well, I'd promised to
help, So my first stop in the city was the Star Times and down
to the Morgue to read up on the case. It was all there wherever
Kurby the case for the Star Times has done a great job of reporting.
I looked at my watch. It was three forty five. Martin Kirby had
two hours and fifteen minutes less than the original thirty four. And all I
had done so far was it was the stack of a pile of newspapers.
I started from the beginning, but the story of the murder of Leslie Roberts
itself told me nothing. Then I got into the transcript of the trial.
It took me three hours to read everything carefully, and when I finished,
I could I could have summed up the whole thing, just as the prosecutor
did. You've heard the testimony in this case. The state has proved the
following facts. One, Martin Kirby was desperately in need of money. Two,
the deceased Leslie Roberts was insured for one hundred thousand dollars, his beneficiaries
being the accused Martin Kirby and another partner, William Morgan. The double indemnity
clause in the insurance policy meant that both Kirby and Morgan would receive one hundred
thousand dollars each. Third point, we accused quarreled with a deceased over Missus
Roberts, wife of the murdered man. Four we have established the murder weapon.
This gun belonged to Martin Kirby through the serial numbers were filed off.
But scientific work revealed the numbers and this gun belonged to Martin Kirby. He's
admitted it, and, thinking to get rid of it, he threw it
into a sewer near Leslie Roberts's home. Now, perhaps mister Kirby believed the
police of this city to be fools. Far from it. Their work has
established beyond doubt. If Martin Kirby is a murderer. Oh sure it was
a good case. I stacked the papers in a pile and left the Star
Times and went down to police headquarters to see Lieutenant Kling. Sit down,
Dan, what's on your mind? Martin Kirby? Oh? Why it's see
him? He wrote to Box thirteen. He's innocent. There did you kind
of case? No? Inspect the Rowling's handle it? Why? But you
know about it? Sure? I sometimes managed to know what's going on.
Well, Cling, you're a good detective. You've got brains. I'll buy
him all at milk sometime. But you didn't come here to handmade posies.
Do you believe Kirby is guilty? Yes, from the evidence. That's what
we base our cases on. It's inherited the judicial and legal system. Now
what do you want from me? A new system? I told you I
saw Kirby cling. He doesn't act like a guilty man. Oh no,
no, wait a second. Who's this? That's a photograph of maryon Obling?
So what am I supposed to do? Look at it? Nice and
sweet, isn't she I've never met her, but I did, But I
wouldn't melt in my mouth A smile it would soften up the Rock of Gibraltar.
Talks like an angel, but she killed a kid to get thirty five
cents from him. He look, you've got a soft heart, Dan,
which you've got a tendency to let it run right into your head, maybe
a right cling. But I promised, Kirby, I'd plug away until time
was I. I like to keep promises, and that's your business, Dan.
But why did you come to me for any help you could give me?
Which adds up to a big zero playing I read the transcript of the
trial. Kirby was the only suspect. He had motive opportunity, So did
Missus Roberts and William Morgan. It was Kirby's gun that put Leslie Roberts in
the obituaries. Someone else could have used it, so, as defense lawyer
said, But Kirby couldn't explain how I'd get into that sewer. But Kirby
called the police when he went to Roberts house that night and saw Roberts dead.
Sure, Shure, we get dozens of cases where the killer tries to
police smile. He calls the police, figuring it'll make him look good.
But he had to kill Roberts run outside and throw the gun under the sewer,
then go back inside and call the police. So it's a big chance
to take in case someone heard the shot and came to investigate. Killers.
Take chances, Dan, Okay, Okay. Now, the paper said there
was a note from Roberts asking Kirby to come to his house that night.
Yeah, that's why Kirby said he happened to go to Robert's house that night,
the only night in the week that Missus Roberts is always out. The
police said Kirby could have typed that note, right. The Kirby's defense lawyer
said, Roberts could have typed it. Look, you type a note to
me asking me to meet you, then what do you do? What do
you mean? What do I do? You write your signature. Nine times
out of ten you don't type it, So that means anyone could have typed
it. I know, I know to get Kurby to Robert's house. That's
it. So that was all brought out at the trial. The jewelry saw
it the way the prosecution summed it up. The Kurby typed that note to
make it seem as though he was asked to Robert's place, but both missus
Roberts and Morgan also stood the game by Robert's death. Each gets one hundred
thousand. Look, the case is closed. Too many things added up against
Kirby. Sometimes things can be added up wrong figures and facts. You're knocking
your head against a stone wall, so I'll get a headache. That's about
all. Okay, I'll carry aspens with me, But say, could I
at that note before? This is a favor? Okay, I'll take care
of it for you, but i'll give you a six two and even that
Michael Kirby will be executed tomorrow night at eleven thirty. Well clean got me
in the note, So I had it and saw what all it said was
Muddy be at my house tonight at day thirty less. It was typed and
had been left in Kirby's typewriter at the office. Susie and I studied it.
What do you expect to get out of it, mister Holiday. I
don't know, Susie. Gee, Like you said, anybody could have typed
it. That's right, Kirby denies he did. Nobody can prove Roberts did
or didn't not know. Maybe maybe got mister Morgan or missus Roberts did Gee?
What if either one of them did it and they're letting an innocent man
be executed? Oh, it wouldn't be a comfortable feeling, Susie. What's
the matter? Did I say something? Yeah? Yeah, yeah? Maybe
you did, Susie, Maybe you did? What conscience? Who's Missus robertson
Morgan's You mean both of them? Kill mister Roberts. Give me that phone
book? Here it is, thanks Roberts Roberts, Leslie Roberts. What are
you going to do, mister Holliday by a little poker? You're gonna play
cards at a time like this? Not quite just a bluff. I'm holding
a pair of deuces. I don't get it. Hello, is this missus
Leslie Roberts? Yes, never mind, just listen. Tomorrow out at eleven
thirty, just twenty four hours from now, Martin Kirby will be executed for
the murder of your husband. Who are you? What do you want?
Does your conscience bother you? Missus Roberts? What do you mean by that?
Don't you know? Missus Roberts is some kind of a stupid hardly they're
not joking at the State penitentially, missus Roberts. Yes, I know something
that can make you uncomfortable, but I'm willing to talk about it. I
don't know what you mean. You're either insane or completely without feeling. If
you're interested, meet me at the corner of Carpenter and Pastel Place at midnight.
Why should I do that? That's for you to think about, But
I think you know already. I listen carefully. I'll be wearing a light
tan top coat, brown felt hat. I'll carry a leather briefcase. Goodbye,
mister Holiday. What was that for? I told you all I've got
is a pair of deuces. Now I'll make the same call the Morgan,
but first one to Cling. I'm certainly be wounded. Don't you ever change?
You're wonderful? As is? What did I do? Never at all,
Susie. After I make this call to Cling and one to Morgan,
I'll either have something to help Martin Kirby or a what or a wonderful notice
in the obituary column of the Star Times. And now back to hunting Pett
another Box thirteen adventure with Alan Ladd as Dan Holiday. I made the same
phone called the William Morgan that I made the missus Roberts, but I tipped
Cling to something before I did. At midnight, I was the corner of
Carpenter and Pastel Place, waiting, sure it's a bluff, and I figured
all was fair in this game. Ten minutes went by, no one showed
up. Then a light blub Yeah sure, hm, thanks, it's all
right. So wonder they wouldn't put street lights here? Guy could get lost
easy, Yeah I could. Yeah, okay, thanks for the light.
You're welcome, okay, jack the wild, good night. Maybe I played
the wrong cards, maybe no one would show up. It was twenty minutes
past midnight. I stepped out of the shadows where I've been standing. I
thought pretty silly, and I knew what Cling would say. I was twenty
feet away from the corner, walking slowly, looking up and down the street.
There's no one in sight. Lights in the windows of the houses went
out slowly, one by one. I was studying, feet away from the
corner when right here, quing you get it, yeah, yeah, on
the arm, say listen it does people back paper now houses talks to take
a couple of poison star in this neighborhood, crying the person will fire that
shot, whoever it was the one who should die in Martin Kirby's place.
You're an idiot. You set yourself up like a clay pigeon house bad hout,
that's the armor. It's not so deep as well or white as a
church star. But we'll do it. How do you like this guy?
He gets winged and quote Shakespeare. Okay, let's get you out of here.
Feel better? Yeah? Thanks, right, for we've fired the shot.
I don't know, no luck, whoever it was was in one of
the buildings, and running somebody to ground in that neighborhood takes a squad of
men. Yeah, it's afraid of that. Okay, so what have they
got now? The bullet three or Morgan is the real murder of Leslie Roberts.
Boy, this is Roberts reported my phone call to you, didn't she
That's right that Morgan didn't. I know that? So he was afraid it
was a blackmailer who knew he killed Roberts. He would have reported my call
to you if you had nothing to be afraid of. Sure, sure looks
good in your head, but what proof have you got that Morgan fired that
shot tonight? None? But on the strength that I can't you get a
stad of execution for Martin Kirby? How I called up and say you good
shot? You think it was Morgan? Morgan denies it. No, no,
no, no, soap Dan. To get a stay for Kirby,
you need positive evidence. And this whole of my arm doesn't come only as
a strike against you. And you're lucky at that. What do I have
to do? If you could prove Morgan fired that shot, you'd have something.
But what you'd have is that he fired at you, not that he
chilled Roberts say so, swear out of warrant. We'll bring him in.
No, no, no, no, don't do that. Let me ask
one more question. What do you think of the whole thing? Though?
Well, I come on, come, what do you think? I think
you've got something? But the police haven't. That's a fat of that,
all right, cling and he objections. If I keep going none for me,
I shall have to do it alone. As far as the department's concerned
that Robert's case is closed, I'd never get permission to work on it day,
not even on your own time. That's different. Okay, keep in
touch, yeah I will. Meanwhile, you'll keep alive well, there wasn't
anything more I could do. That night, I took my punctured arm and
myself home and got some sleep, not much, though, because I knew
I was right, clingt was right. Only two people knew I'd be at
Carpenter and Pastel at midnight, Morgan and Missus Roberts. Missus Roberts had called
the police to report my call. Morgan hadn't all Morgan had to do now,
I was to lay low until Kirby was executed. But he had been
worried enough to take a shot at me. Then I thought of something else.
The next morning in my office to Holiday, Oh, good morning,
Susie. Your arm it kind of sling becoming, isn't it? What happened?
It was shot? Oh? Who shot you? William Morgan? I'm
sure never mind that. Now I want you to help me. What's showing
it? To Holiday? But I won't get shot, will I? He
said? I'm the type rutter All right? Now, Look, I've typed
out a bunch of slips with Now is the time for all good men to
come to the aid of their party with one arm. Good enough, Now
you do the same, Go ahead. I don't understand. I'll explain why
you're typed. Go ahead, Hey, the note left for Martin Kirby was
typed. What I'm trying to do is to find out if the style of
typing can be definite enough to pin on one person. You mean I tied
differently from you? I use hunting. Can you use the touch system?
Oh? You say missus Roberts used to be a secretary. She'd use the
touch system of typing. Martin Kirby could type. So I'm so good will
you Morgan? Then what good will allas? Do you? I don't know.
I don't know. Okay, Susie, that's enough. Now mix up
the slips and pick one at random. Then you tell me who typed it?
All right, I type that one. How do you know it's smoother
than yours? That's the only way you can tell. And if I type
touch system, it'd be pretty tough to tell us slips upon Oh sure,
all touch system. It's smooth looking. The letters are well, they're all
about the same blackness. I don't care. It's another lead shot. Gee,
I'm sorry, mister Holliday. Look at that clock. Ten minutes past
twelve, less than twelve hours left for Kirby. Susie, I'm as sure
as I can be that Morgan's guilty. But he shot me last night.
Then what are the police arrestings? It's dangerous for a man I got to
be loosed. Yes, I think you're right, But Susie, remember what
you said about conscience. Well, look, if Morgan was sure of himself,
he wouldn't have tried that stunt last night. All right, because he
did, it means that a little more work on him might make him break.
Huh. You're not going to let him shoot at you again? Oh
not if I can help it. But I am going to see him.
You will be careful, won't you, mister Holiday, Susie, I have
only one life to give my work, But it so happens, I like
it took the rest of the day, but I learned all I could about
mister William Morgan, and I wasn't one thing that pointed at him as a
killer. But I was sure he'd killed Robertson frame Kirby. He knew Kirby
and Robertson quarreled. He could have taken Kirby's gun from Kirby's desk at the
office. He could have typed the note leading Kirby to Robert's house, and
among other things, he had been a demonstrator for a typefier concern. How
did that happen? Answer? Not at all, because missus Roberts and Kerry
both type touch system that I found out when I read the report of the
trial. Okay, I had one angle left. Work on Morgan, work
on him hard enough to crack him wide open if it could be done.
So that night, two hours before markin Kirby was to die, I buzzed
at Morgan's house. Yes, what is it, mister William Morgan? Yes?
Who are you? I'm a writer. I have nothing to say.
Excuse me, get your foot away just a minute. Did you receive a
phone call last night? Come in? Thank you? What about a phone
call? Did you have one last night? I don't know what you're talking
about, but you left me in when I mentioned it. Sit down,
okay you you hurt your arm? Yes, it got in the way.
You mentioned a phone call? Yes, I didn't cigarette. No, thanks,
That ashtray is awfully Foh you must have been smoking a lot, so
what nervous mister Morgan? Now look here, I've had enough for this.
What do you want? And who are you My name's Holiday. I called
you last night. It was a gruesome joke, Holiday, one I didn't
appreciate at all. I wasn't trying to amuse you, Morgan. Why did
you make that call? Before I answer that? Take a look at your
clock? Well, what about it? In one hour and fifteen minutes,
Martin Kirby will be executed for a murder he didn't commit. Why don't you
say what you've come to say? Because I'm waiting for you to say something.
You mean you'd like me to say something that would Oh? No,
Why didn't you tell a police about that call night? Yes, so the
police know that you made that call? Yes? I Oh that was very
bright of you, mister Holiday. No blackmailer would have told the police he
made that call. If you knew anything and we're planning to trap me,
you'd have kept it to yourself, right, Morgan grinned at me. You
knew I'd walked right into it. His nervousness seemed to just ooze away.
He lighted another cigarette and kept grinning at me through the smoke. Then don't
you think you'd better leave now? Holiday? Morgan? There was a note
typewritten you typed it did I. Yes, maybe you don't know this,
but that note can put you in Kirby's place. Yes, how well,
there's a way of telling who typed a note. Every typist is a different
touch, and when in large, the touch of one typist will show up
differently from another's. Kirby's defense lawyer missed that bed, But I didn't you
talk a great deal too much? Holiday? But it's interesting conversation. I
don't believe what you said. No, here's the note. The police led
it to me, and that's all holiday stay sitting. You really wanted that
note, didn't you? And I've got it. And that gun in your
hand it's the same one you shot me with last night. This time it
won't be in the arm. No, I suppose not. Look, Holiday,
it's almost ten. In about one hour and a half, Kirby will
be executed. Now you settle down and wait until eleven thirty. What do
you mean two birds with one stone, Kirby and you at eleven thirty even
twenty five Holiday, You and Kirby have five minutes. You won't get away
with the morning. Why not? If I kill you in my apartment,
it'll be legal. Look, that's set for can't you guess papers scattered around
drawers? Ranch, It's simple. I came in surprised to rifling my apartment
and shot you sing with that gun? Why not? You know? I
almost wish you would, Morgan, because ballistics has the bullet taken from my
arm, and if it matches the one that kills me tonight? You figured?
Are you mentling? Food'll be sorry, good work time with one arm?
Soon you better stay where you are, Morgan Clang, Hey, Hey,
Cling the phone the penitentiary. Oh, I took care of that an
hour ago. You did what? Sure? I heard the whole thing from
outside the window. But but you said the case was closed. You couldn't
work on it. I've got news for you, Danny boy, I'm off
duty. Heartach. You've said nobody could tell a difference between typer that he
did, Susie and a bluff about the bullet. Well, any bluff in
a poker game. Cling. Oh, by the way, let me ask
you one question. Yeah, what why did you hold off until the last
minute? Oh? Why had time? Morden Wooden dead kill laughter. Kurby
was executed at eleven thirty. So I looked at my watch and I figured
I had time to get the headquarters, pull strings to stop the execution and
get back to you. Get it clean. What's Susie? Look at your
watch? It stopped. Oh that's I think it does that every listen a
while, just shake it into oh holy catch, Oh no, good night,
Susie. Next week, same time. Through the courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Alan Ladd stars as Dan Holiday and Watch thirteen. Watch thirteen is directed
by Richard Sandville, with an original story by Robert M. White adapted radio
by Russell Hughes. Original music is composed and conducted by Rudy Schrager. Part
of Susie is played by Sylvia Pecker and that of Lieutenant Kling by Edmund McDonald.
Production is supervised by Verne Carstenson. Wat's thirteen is a Mainfair production from
Hollywood. Watch for Alan Ladd in his latest Paramount picture, Welcome Back.
This was one of the more interesting episodes, not so much for the mystery
or the action, but just for the character interactions. The show really portrays
a growth in the relationship between Dan and Lieutenant Kling that's pretty marked from when
the series began. I also thought that Susie came off better in this episode
than she has in any other show in the series in terms of really contributing
to the plot. So this was a nice change up here. All right,
Well, we have got a few comments here. First one comes from
the iTunes app review, who writes, thanks to ever created this. If
you like a good mystery, it doesn't get any better, and just really
nice support of comments from podcast Alley. I've been listening to the Great Detectives
of Old Time Radio for a few months. It's a great podcast. Love
the show, Adam and all you do. Been listening about six months and
I think that this is the best. Well, thanks so much, and
I appreciate your comments and encourage people to vote on podcast Alley, whether they
leave a comment or not at podcast Alley dot Great Detectives dot net. Well,
we're gonna wrap up the show. Any comments email them to box thirteen
at Great Detectives dot net and you can always call the show leave a voicemail.
Two O eight nine nine one four seven eight three. That's two O
eight nine nine one great d But from Boiseattao, this is your host,
Adam Graham's son and off