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Great Detectives dot net. Well, today we're going to present Top Secrets of
the FBI. This was a series hosted by Melvin Purvis. Purvis was a
very successful FBI agent, really key in the hunt for Pretty Boy Floyd,
and as the episode states, he was known as the man who got Dylan
jury. He left the FBI in nineteen thirty five, released an autobiography and
also returned to practicing law, and then entered World War Two as a colonel
and intelligence officer and helped compile evidence for the Nuremberg Trials. Now, as
for the series itself, it was an unauthorized series, which means the FBI
did not cooperate and I can't even find confirmation that it went to air.
I kind of assumed that it did because a couple of quite of different sources
referenced it as short lived, which I kind of implied that it saw the
lot Today. Well, let's go ahead and listen to today's episode. The
title is the Case of the Best Pocket Broadcasting System, the Mutual Broadcasting System
presented of the f B From the files of the f B. I the
dramatic highlights and the fight against crime by the most division, the most scientific
law empartment organization in the world, based on actual cases to night's case the
vest Pocket Broadcasting Station reported by Melvin Pervis, former a stagent of the FBI
and a man who got killinger. Melvin Prvis, the case of the vest
Pocket Broadcasting Station was one of the most interesting and unusual cases in modern scientific
crime busting. But it wasn't true because of the crime that was old stuff
or the cause of the criminals. They were smart, but old stuff too.
It was interesting and unusual because of the way the crime busting scientists of
the f ARE cracked this case. We start about eight months ago. It's
close to one o'clock in the morning and a long the deserted section of the
New Jersey coast. The barg is coming in so thick you can almost bit
it, and a given kemp of a selected point two men walk back and
forth along the rocky shore. They've been walking that way for some time and
they are not happy. What a night. What do you want me to
do about the float away? Okay, okay, Donny, don't have to
get the door. I can try to hear you BRep about the weather.
But us we've got to talk about like natural. I got a match no
smoking, now, I told you that before. That's got to say in
its body cluck. Why seas Mark, he sends me. I when I
guy, we punched small, That's what I get it. Sure you got
the matches a thorny yeah, and the guys will get it tonight. Steve
might have said they would there, and I all right, you want to
go back to New York. I would add the stuff and shut up the
problem. For the love of Mike Alston Tony, we kind of figured out
what had happened. If we walked back in the State Department with not we
learned to play the harp, he wouldn't be our forum. Need it?
Those guys could have got picked up by the coast guard. But you know
our mother put on the ocean on a night like this. Look, al
you want to tell me a favor? Shut up, Alason, Tony got
up. Suppose huh maybe it's them. Huh maybe come on behind that part
justin tatning our guys. Yeah, that's it, Tony. The segment quit
a minute. Okay, Yeah, let's come on the shore. We'll be
on our way back to New York in a couple of minutes. Yeah,
Tony, Yeah, let me talk to the boys. Just a minute,
are you Steve? Time? Wait, Tony, we just drop into New
York with the stuff. Boys. I'll take as along as the boat.
Didn't show until I have the one o'clock. That was Finn and w did
you get one hundred and fifty Steve? I told him, we just said
doing you're here right away? Well, Steve, how much? One hundred
and fifteen moments? Not bad? We're still in business. Those planks can
let me have what I ask for? What's another Steve? The things you
get excited about sick of being small time? You got a shipment, didn't
you be satisfied? One hundred and fifty times two hundreds, still thirty thousand
half fat Dough's mind, and pay for the stuff on the line. That
means fifteen profit. What about my expenses? Stop complaining. You've been clearing
one hundred grande year out of this racket. What more do you want?
There were guys lumping up the midia. Sure, it's sure, But what
happens to them? They get too big and then guys with handcuffs go after
them. They'll never get me. You're all. Let me rattle off the
names of all the big shots in prison. You're forgetting something. The cuffs
know all about me now, but they can't touch me. That's because you
can cover up. You're not too big. They'll never be able to touch
me. What are you gonna do? You're calling a pool in South America
for more stuff. Thanks for listening to me, darling. I'll see you
in the slaughterhouse. The slaughterhouse, Steve or all the juicy pigs wind up?
Are you calling me a pig for those ideas? Before long, I'll
be calling a pork chop me. You wouldn't flap the face you've kissed a
thousand times. No, you're so loyal. I don't get your money?
What have you got against making more? Do nothing? If it's only do
you want? What else? Power? What's wrong with us? The results?
How would you like to make more money without taking chances and with no
more investment than you've got? Now, what's this? A new angle?
Now an idea? Sit down, money, chob and listen. And when
I'm through talking you what a kiss to say? You were ready to declare
That was the beginning of an underworld business conference, a sort of meeting of
the board of directors. And when the board adjourned, the price of the
product was up from two hundred dollars announced to a point slightly above the clouds
inflation. But things were moving up somewhere else too. In the New York
field headquarters of the FBI, several weeks after the above mentioned board meeting,
the District Attorney of New York County came in to see the man in charge
of the field office. Let's call him Smith or reasons of security. After
the DA left, Smith was for we'll call the speller Jones, special agent
Jones, the same reasons of security. What's up another assignment, Johne.
But the District Attorney, yeah, I was ready to bet on it.
He looked worried when he came out of it. He's got plenty of reason
to be worried. There's a narcotic ring up writing right in the middle of
town. Caroline, Oh, anybody we know, not yet, but from
what the DA told me, they're a very smart bunch. They're usually art
smith until the wagon pulls that. It's not going to be that easy,
Johne. The police knew every member of this gang, from the top dog
down that they haven't been able to make an arrest. Every time I detects
be put on the trail, he's been spotted. How do you account for
that? I don't except for maybe an inside line to what the police department's
thinking. I'm sure it's nobody in the department itself. I hope not.
I got a hundred some crooked politician who knows how to get information without paying
for it. Yeah. What's the DA say about that? Is checking?
We're not waiting for a report. Yeah, they can look at these pictures.
Mhm. Robes gal in the DA brought them over the duplicate that when
you're looking at now a tony spar like a six arrest two convictions, one
suspended pretence, the other ones all ashes like a three arrest one conviction.
Where did you get that broken? Non? Used to be a prize fighter.
I think it's the boys running is shoe? No? These character isn't
about fourteen others work for Steve Martin. What do you look like? No
pictures? Oh you know how it death? Maybe we'll know for sure when
you met the gentleman Space to space any dining, says Smith. And the
lady oh picture, yeah too bad? She isn't isn't what a lady?
Missus? Smith? Yes? The names one a Manchester record, one a
red one conviction that and suspended. You've got a reputation for being very clever.
All right? What's the plan of attack? Tony Spiral al Nash's hang
out in the pool room on ninth Avenue evenings at the nine o'clock Established contact
with him, but take it easy. Tony's a tough customer, hard as
rock. What about al Nash? He's all muscles, but he's not too
bright and according to Da, he's got a well of tears for anybody in
trouble. That's good. How do I make him flow? I'll tell you
exactly how to do it, gym. Maybe if we're lucky, you'll go
swimming in La river. Right to Steven marking Door nine brought on the corn
at Tony. Okay by me act we admit it? Your yeah, and
I got that bealue up. I was a nice shot, miss says who
is your buddy? Um? Sorry, I want to say in your junny
kind of got play me a cap. I don't want know if critics in
my game. If you want to watch, let him? But what is
trap shot? What those promits? I prop? Hey, Tony, Yes,
okay, all the game out, I'll be right back. Hey what
I could? I don't mind him, Buddy's sure I'll lose it. I
wasn't a tendermans. It's got an argument out. Yeah, you three somebody
very good shott not to you want? How do you know my name?
I said, Tony? Oh oh sure, well if you stick around,
i'd be after I play the slug of me and you will play a chief
game. Huh And but I don't play out broke. Oh no, no,
I okay, buck your fifteen point no frontic point. I can't all
it's not the ten bucks? Yes you interview solf. Hey what at somewhat
four hundred bucks. I got lots more in the bank. My nervous shot.
I can't concentrate, Marriwick. I got banged up by a truck a
couple of years ago. I just got out of the hospital. Oh gee,
two years am I back with a butted head and butted legs and all
kinds of ripped, some tears inside. You had to feed me drugs to
keep the pain from drive me nuts. See what can happen to a guy?
Right? But I was not. I got the stuff every day,
every day until I got juice and they sent me home. It did be
a big favor and sent me home. You gotta take it easy enough.
Our trucking company did be a big favorite too. Set them in the fifty
thousand bucks. I was gonna stoo him for a hundred You mean you got
fifty grand for accents? Yeah? What used to going to court and using
up a lot of time? Shut? So I got the money. What's
the good of it? Thing? I need? Most of one? Thing?
I'm story? Yeah? What four? Oh? Be telling you about
my troubles me? I don't even know you when you were alone and you've
got no friends? What's your name. Don't where do you love? Park?
Hotels? A fancy place? Why shouldn't I live in a fancy place?
I got money here, Okay, don't get mad at me. That's
the way I've been to check jumping all the time. I can only get
some of it. How how does that guy go about it? How?
Why? I asked? I'm asking a lot of people. The battle happened
to the hotel. One of them told me about the pool room from the
pools in this neighborhood. Yeah, he said, peddler's hang out in him,
but he didn't know what he was talking about. I've been to all
of them. Yeah. Uh, pick a rum right. I want you
to give Toney the whole story, just like you told it the name.
Oh what could I do? What's the matter with you? But just them?
You don't even catch you out on my dish? Huh? Gee,
you're dumb, all right? What a guy? Allow? It's five out
to twelve. Tony was sure he'd call me by eleven thirty. I just
had to sweat it out him at the beginning of one there. Huh what
about by phoning him as a pool room? It got him away from Algae?
That bad connection business fooling. I think it did. He was ready
for murder when he came out of that boot. It was like that.
Well, he almost had a fight with the owner of the place. He
told him to take his lousy phone, and Al had to use all his
muscles to get Tony away from the man. And so he ever went to
a bar he would drink and Tony was listening. I hope you better get
him closets fun out hoood it was there? Maybe open up, Jim,
Yes, thank you, buy us a new shoe. Time, thank you.
Well, let's find out. Huh, that's maybe it. Yeah,
it is the midtown hot pool man phoned a eleven thirty five and has about
no name. Of course, naturally the floor nerth told him I was this
yard eight days ago. We're in Jones. I'll take it your case to
Steve Morton. He checked you at the hospital. Now that's real quick.
You're supposed to be sitting over flow, all right, Josh, yes,
yes, was it Tony? I thought you want going to call drive at
ten o'clock in the morning tomorrow. Why do I have to wait? Because
that's another boss for It's all right, ten o'clock. We're on rivers are
driving street pick up bench. Nobody said yes, yes, anything, you
take it. There ain't no such bench. Don your stand away from people,
you get it to courts? Will you bring this stuff? Maybe?
What about money? How much? Well? Hello, you hung up first,
don't take any chances. I'll tell you how much tomorrow after you've been
sized up by an expert. And don't think I won't be listening. And
don't think I won't He'll be partner. Truck about three blocks away taking it
all. Then the truck, yes, an ordinary long distance moving van,
completely enclosed, but inside testing sh you're ready to start a syrups right,
give me a level? Okay, that's it. That was it. Inside
the truck it completely equipped radio receiving station time tables for recording a rendezvous three
blocks away or a mile away if it had to be. And the broadcasting
station, well, that was in Jones's vest pocket a disc look no bigger
than a quarter but complete down to a fine point. And in the lining
of Jones's vest a wire that ran from the pocket to the top button of
his vest. Yes, that top button was the microphone, but nobody would
guess it in a million years. It looked just like the other five buttons.
Smith and Company were all set up in the truck. The equipment was
in motion and ready for action. Three blocks away had one hundred and tenth
Street and the drive Jones was sitting on a bench. It was a pretty
nasty morning, raw, and I'm street was practically is it it? Then?
At exactly twenty minutes past ten, mind down? Hey, why don't
you might want company? Oh no, I'm waiting for somebody. Go with
you think it's gonna ray, I don't know what. I don't care if
you're gonna sit on this fractures done minute. You don't have to run away
from me. I'm only trying to be dogeable. But my boy, are
you whim in the eyes? Are you looking around for? But nobody looks
like that but expecting someone he wants to see. You've got carroring your state
to supposed to be here at that client. No, he's not telling right,
he's got two year over. You know my name. I don't know
about you, Cookie, but I don't tell me all about your accident.
You broke stuff. Now for your first scream and ship very all start a
ride? Why can I have a hut. Come on, now, you
don't have to get excited. Mom, that's got such a nag. Please,
it's please. If you've got to give it to me, I don't
know how much. What do you want? If we've got to camp,
I'll take it out of my bank. You're really hungry. I okay.
The stuff cost five hundred ounce. You've got to buy five ounces? How
much? Start? Old kids? Twenty five hundred dollars twenty twenty five,
five hundred tuns fine whatever. Five hundred times five is twenty five smart of
money, you know? Always back do you want to do? Don't get
mad, don't be broken. No time. You're gonna worry about the future.
Now. I didn't read sources. I left them. Honey, it's
cold out here. Do you want that stuff doing your down ship? Yes?
Yeah, I want, And I wasn't. I'm a little corner bank
murray round here. We don't have any rules of etiquette here. He is
se man who is looking for paradise. Hw you mour Oh well go tony
ye John trembling and they're going to hit you right there on the table.
Tin Bucks can't put it down down Jones back on the table. But it's
mind. He thought he was a dumb guy. Pos you don't know,
okay, I want to hear. Why can't I it's mine? Or twenty
five hundred bucks Jones all the money? Of course? Yeah, you forgot
all about it, didn't I'm sorry? Twenty five one hundred dollars? Did
you count them? I thought you might like to do that, honey.
You go to the banquet him only as far as the front door. Didn't
you go inside? Its? Yeah? Check this though, good steel shut
ups all right, I don't mind, I say it good. I'll use
the microscope. Microscope, that's what she said. So you've got one in
the other room. It never lies. Yeah, but I wouldn't look fall
on the bank and asked him if I would through twenty five dollars to tell
her at the third window from the door. Relax, Joe does okay?
And why don't you let me take that stuff on the home. You want
to be sure that I learned a few lessons before I bought that microscope.
Some Wise, guys handing me phony bills, Yeah, but I'm rank throw
them right back at me. I was stuck. Give me a break,
pitch. That stuff just dis a condition have the whole boot, thanks thanks
to bath your dos and approved. Good lady, Yet start thinking of how
to get rid of that guy. He's been kidding as he's not a hop
What do you mean bills? He gave it by sir Mark? Wasn't he's
given us smart money, Steve. I checked a few of the bills.
There's something on each one. Were right in the picture in one of the
eyes. Well, Jones, I got the mona knows what she's talking about.
She's like a lot of one hundred dollar bills. Stuff to be fake?
Will your phone house? That means shut up, Jones say, Tony,
Yeah, don't choose that gun in here? Why not? It's a
thirty ride. Don't want the neighbors to complain. I put your hands up,
mister Jones. I's going to frisk you. He ain't a lot of
what man's good now, I'll take everything out of his pockets. Okay,
I'll hand it to morrow. She can check. I don't know why you're
doing this to be still kidding? Aren't you all right there? What's your
record? Mister Tony? Yeah, freak his nose without a gun. Wait
a minute, listen, Jones or whatever your name is there are two ways
of dying, peaceful and in agony. I take your choice. See I
checked everything in his jacket, nail file, cigarettes, and a wallet the
four hundred and cash. He can do his other pockets, pants and best.
I was just going to put or Jones. Have you made up your
mind? Okay, Tony right across? Then no, Tony, thank what
you if my pile, he'll be all right next time. He won't shoot
without cutting up the tenth Hello, Joe, I'm glad to see this man
the racketeers with a microscope. What's the next take a boy, boy?
Yes, a best fucking broadcasting specition did best. But if anybody thinks he
can find it just by folling at the top button of a vest, here
is something for the memorable. The gimmick can be anywhere, can the agent
of the FBI. And what's more, it can be anybody. Steve Muller
and all the runts of in their gang were set away for a long time.
No more directors meeting for them. And the crooked politician, well he's
not political anymore. He's learning to make shoes in one of the federal prisons.
The report he'll just received was based on an actual case from the files
of the FBI. However, the names of all characters used were fictitious,
and any resemblance of the names of people living or death was entirely coincident.
Topics of the FBI are dramatized by step and co produced and directed by Roger
Bauer. The music was composed and conducted by Selvin Events. Into cast you
heard former agent of the FBI, Melvin Purvis. Miss was portrayed by Sydney
Smith, John by Bill Quinn, Steve Martin by King Could, Tony Farr
by Larry Haynes, All Matches by Joseph Julian and Mona Manchester by Julie Stephens.
Next week, Melvin Purvis, former as agent of the FBI, A
man who got Dillinger, will give you another report based on inside bats the
case of the New York Rendezvous. Join us next week at the same time
with Melvin Purvis. When you hear top Secrets of the f B. I
from the files of the f B, I welcome back. Well. The
idea of wearing a wire is not normal today, but the idea of I
think back in nineteen forty seven was much more so. I can't actually recall
an episode of Dragging that there may have been over the course of that run
where they used a wireless microphone. Usually when they used a microphone in Drag
that which is again what I said, it was a later series, it
would be somewhere that they would have to be planted in the room where they
were trying to do their sting, But it was a little bit novel anyway.
I think that in some ways the name probably sets things up for a
bit of disappointment, because if they actually played stuff about things that were taught
secret at the FBI, somebody would end up going to jail or there would
be very strongly communicated issue with the radio network. A program that actually aired
top secrets of the FBI would not actually happen. But this does focus on
what was a newer technology at the time. I do think even if this
is a pilot, you do want to show a little bit more imagination and
doing their own version of the names have been changed in naming the people Smith
and Jane, I probably doesn't quite do that. There are a couple of
familiar voices in this. We got to hear Sydney Smith, who voiced Lary
Queen for a while, and Larry Haynes, who starred in Manhunt Easy Money
and as one of the two actors to play Mike Hammer, my opinion,
the better of the two performers we have, and also generally plays in anything
that comes out of a New York. Eventually, Larry Hayneswood end up being
cast. Now, I didn't want to go ahead and explain what we're planning
for Saturday. Of course, we're playing this this week, and then the
next two weeks we're going to bring you a Squadron, and then after that
we're going to be playing Tales of the Texas Ranger for the rest of this
season, season thirteen and into season fourteen. And actually we would have gotten
into Tales of the Texas Ranger sooner, but I essentially after we got into
playing The Silent Men, I discovered these two other series, so I decided
we'd pick these two up before we got into Tales of the Texas Ranger.
Now to listener comments and feedback, and we have a question from Alicia.
Alicia Rights, if I remember right, you said you're going to be doing
Tales of the Texas Ranger. I wonder if the same people who wrote The
Silent Men were the same as those that wrote the Tale the Texas Rangers.
The music is the same on both shows, and the setup is the same,
one person playing all the leader rules. Only difference is a ranger Jason
Pearce Pearson always takes the case well. Thanks so much for the question,
Alicia, and an answer to the question, I do think there there is,
you know, a difference. You know, The Silent Men, of
course, was an anthology series where each week we would have a different character,
and even if those differences were somewhat superficial, Tales of the Texas Ranger,
we do have the same lead every week. They don't have the same
writer. The music is the same on the site series. At least,
I like the incidental music because NBC at the time was doing this thing with
its mystery series where essentially the mystery series got to have its own opening theme
too, but then all of the little incidental music it would be the same.
You know, whether you're listening to Tales of the Texas Ranger, or
you're listening to The Silent Men, or you're listening to Rocky Fortune, you're
going to hear those same little bits of library music played over and over again.
Uh, you know, which I think goes back to the fact that
after the end of the nineteen forties a radio saw a lot of efforts to
cut costs. In one way that NBC did that is that they used library
music and the same library music repeatedly on multiple programs. But thanks so much
for the question, Alicia and I do want to go ahead now and thank
our Patreon supporter of the day. Thank you to James, Patreon supporter since
February twenty twenty, currently supporting the show at the rookie level of two dollars
or more per month. Again, thank you so much for your support,
And if you'd like to join James and more than two hundred and fifty other
Patreon supporters, you can go to Patreon, rate detectives dot net and support
the show for as little as two dollars per month. That will do it
for today. If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure to rate and
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a listener support special, and then next Tuesday we'll be bringing you the Adventures
of Bill Lance, and then next Saturday we'll be getting into Squadroom In the
meantime, send your comments to Box thirteen at great Detectives dot net, follow
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your host, Adam Grahamson and Off