Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it
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per month. Just go to Patreon dot Great Detectives dot net. Well,
today we're going to bring you the only circulating episode of Crime Fighters. Some
Fighters is one of those series that only has one episode in circulation but actually
had a really long and successful broadcast history. Prime Fighters went to the air
in November of nineteen forty nine and continued to air until nineteen fifty six.
Over the Mutual broadcasting system originating from New York. It was an anthology series,
with each week focusing on a different sort of crime fighter. I should
note that this episode was in the collection of the light old time radio collector
Joe Hann, who passed away in twenty twenty, and before that we had
no American episodes of that series. Now let's go ahead and take a lesson
to this episode. Original air date January ninth, nineteen fifty and the title
as New England Detective crime Fighters. Crime Fighters. They are all kinds master
man hunters who match master criminals through experts in a thousand brackets, or simple
men who study human nature. They're study dicks who work in teams, country
shirts covering lonely regions, federal men with a nation to police, Zietist who
sweatman collaboratory. Each week this program pollutes a different type of prime fighter and
his method. This week a New England Detective. But first, a short
message from the Ford Dealers of America. Tonight, more than one hundred and
twenty thousand enthusiastic motorists own you nineteen fifty Ford. Here's what missus C.
W. Hass a secretary says, I've never been so thrilled about anything in
my life as I am about my new Ford. Why it's as quiet as
a dream, and you can't beat the fifty Ford for comfort. It's relaxing
as a living room sofa, and there's just about as much room. And
it's safe to drive, handles just like a kitten, and the brakes work
so smoothly and easily well even in shorthand. It would take me hours to
tell how wonderful my new Ford is. We four dealers here comments like that.
Every day. Test drive the fifty Ford yourself. Your nearest Ford dealer
will gladly arrange it. He is in the classified phone directory, or perhaps
you know him. Test drive the fifty Ford for comfort, for power,
for safety, and for quietness. Test drive it for the new Ford field.
Before you buy any car at any price, Test drive the fifty Ford
at your Ford dealers tomorrow now. Two Prime Fighters and a New England Detective.
My town, I'll call it rock Ford is a small, peaceable New
England city and right smack on the ocean, and maybe a hundred years ago
it was a busy place for sailing ships. We build our share fast sailing
boats too, but today our waterfronts just for great banks fishing boats. The
residential sections mostly big white housers with green shutters, and on top of each
one's a little railed in space called the wither His Walk, where worried wives
could walk to their husband's ships. And then as to crime piding, I
read where authorities called this case big one and that one a little one.
And in one way, I don't know what the mean bigness of the case
is measured by dollars, but by what happens to the people maxed up in
it. So that's me Asa Barrows, the only detective, and rock fort
forty four years old and singles. The day was born, and one afternoon,
about five thirty, I took a mind to go down to the depot
to see who came in on the Bangor Express. I kept out a sharp
eye, but I didn't see the fellow I was looking for, And after
a bit the train pulled out. I got a left dan but express Or
give the last whistle taking abandon I wait to hear him. I was turning
go back to my car when I saw just one other person left on the
empty platform, stand alone and stand. I thought it was you as all.
Well. Good evening, mister Dallas. I take it you expected your
husband on this train too. Is he in trouble again? I'm also for
all after Rockport. He's got to report to me, report to you.
He did eighteen months in prison. Can't you lead him alone. I'm not
going to hound him. It's all well. If any idea why he wasn't
on there his last letter, I got it yesterday that he would be honest.
I wanted to meet him somewhere else danger lady, and then we'd go
to the Middle West, someplace where nobody knows. Larry wouldn't have it.
He said he had to come back here. Honey calls. Why, I
don't know. I feel awesome songs with sometime. Na na, I'm uh,
can I drive you home? There's a local doing happening all. I'd
wait with you, but I've got to stop back the office before I go
to the banquet. Thank you. Maybe that's why Larry didn't come in What
banquet for his brother Gerald? If you're going to wait here or why not
go in the waiting room by the stove, Yes, thank you, good
night, happenings over hey, hey, Larry over here in the car Rice
to see me. Harry. Hello, okay, hap, No, I'm
expected Mike, look like to see me. We spent a whole year in
the same cund What are you doing in Rockport? I come to see you,
have a talk with you for what. I got a room over by
old pier hop In. Look, okay, I don't know. You and
me could work together pretty good, Larry, especially in Rockport. Work together.
Yea, your brother owns that farm chemical plant. I pulled one robbery
and I got caught. I'm through with that stuff. Ah, going straight,
and I've got a nice wife. I owe er something You'll never pay
it. Going straight, I will now. Nobody lets an ex con go
straight. I tell you, yes, they want to help you, and
they give you a job. There's a dominant factory sweepers crummy jobs my rooms
at fourteen Old Peer Street. You'll change your mind. Larry, come and
see me. Hello, Well, Larry, I missed you the brain I
hopped off on the other side. Your wife missed you too, Yes,
I look, I came into report. Oh sure, sure, I am
got papers on you a couple of days ago. All you gotta do is
check in with me every two weeks for six months. It's signed here.
Yeah, and stay out of trouble and away from the wrong time frame.
Don't worry, it's still one more thing, Larry. I am ready to
help you, help me do what good job? For instance, my brother's
gonna give me a job, mister Barrows. It's fine at leastarted thinking.
Well, I'm going off this house now and see him. We're probably not
there now, Larry Tonight's banquet banquet Brotherhood Service Club giving him a banquet tonight
once a year we honor and outstanding citizens. I thought you knew, No,
I didn't. Well, I'm just on my way there now. Can
I give you a lift home? You ought to tell your wife you're back.
I'll see Gerald home later. Thanks mister Barrows. But don't tell him
I'm back, will you. And in combing up these few brief remarks of
thanks to my good friends of the rock Port Brotherhood Club for giving me this
banquet, I have just one more thought to leave with you. There's not
enough in this world to be a success. A man must also think he'll
look like a success. I thank you our thanks to brother Gerald orwell for
his speech. And before I close up my duties is toastmaster tonight, he
and reminder about getting your quarterly dues paid up. Can't run love without du
I declare the meeting that an end, Gerald, that was a fine part
of yours. Ah, thank Barrows, good night Gerald. How about my
taping you right now for your impotly dures right? I see, I I
find I have only a one hundred dollar bill barrels where I got some twenties
in my cash box here one, three, four twenty. Thank you,
and I said enough. Going to sit around some of the boys. You
blasted a beer. I never do that, Barrows. Familiarity of that kind
makes a bad impression. You can't make a bad impression. And fellows who've
known you all your life, appearances are more important than most people think.
Good night barl Hello Gerald, Ah, I sprayed i'd find you here all
right. I wanted to see it'll be better here in your house than at
the banquet the housekeeper let you in at fall. I wanted to promise you
that with a mistake I made, it's all in the past. I don't
want any promises from you. That's just why I know it was rough on
any when I got sent to prison. It. It was rough on Nancy
too, so I came back to rock Point. I made up my mind
to make good here where it's toughest. And just what is your idea of
making good? As you call it? Working, living quiet with Nancy,
maybe a baby? Will you give me a job on a plant? What
makes you think you're entitled to a job? Not entitled? I just needed
And you don't think that because you were a convict, people will cry over
your I we have no such idea. I just want a job. I
can't help you. I have no opening. You're still stored me. I'm
sorry. Well did you expect me to shout Hosanna's over you? I'm rubber
rubber jailbird coming back to Rockport, especially to the black bail me and given
him a job blackmail. You think I'll give you a job because I'll be
ashamed not to. Don't you admit it? I told you I want to
lead a decent life. That's why I came back here. Don't mean more
than me and the Nancy. One thing I will do, I'll give you
money to leave Rockports. You and your wife go to the Middle West,
or the South, or wherever it is. Your founder don't get high for
looting about Nancy. She's all right. She worked and laid him store the
whole time I was away, and I'll bet you never even saw her.
I'll give you a thousand dollars Larry. Now, No, you got some
trouble once being hot headed. Don't be hot headed again. I did a
lot of thinking. And it's cool. They're inside the walls. I'm staying
in Rockpoints. I won't live for any reasons. Hey, I'm sorry,
Larry. Maybe I spoke to I want to get to the plant in the
morning. Now i'll see if there's some kind of a job open. Oh,
you need any money? Now? I use most of the ten dollars
I got leave in the prisoner. Get here, here's some cash all I
happened to have on me, eighty dollars. Give it to Nancy. I
don't want to see her until that. Well, thanks very much. How
funny tomorrow at the plant or not. You'll never be sorry for doing this,
Jerald, good night, h a fretter. Connect me with the police
station, will you? And now a brief message from your Ford dealers.
More than one hundred and twenty thousand happy owners of the new nineteen fifty Ford
will tell you that it's just common sense to test drive the fifty Ford before
you buy any cards. Ten minutes will convince you that the fifty Ford tops
them all. That's why you're for. Dealer wants you to test drive the
quiet new V eight engines. It's the type used in America's most expensive cars.
He wants you to test drive the King's Size breaks, which are thirty
five percent easier to apply. He wants you to test drive the fifty Ford
for the feeling of security of its lifeguard body and the comfort and spaciousness of
its midship rise. He wants you to test drive it for the Ford field.
If you don't know your Ford dealer personally, you'll find his name in
your classified phone book. Even a ten minute test drive of the fifty Ford
will open your eye. You'll discover there is one fine car in the low
flight field, and only one, the nineteen fifty four. Now back to
crime fighter. Hey, Larry, what you're telling me around fourth case?
Just keeping tabs? How'd you do with your brother? He gives you a
job. He's going to pop in Larry, Oh, walk thanks, I
don't be a creed it's after eleven and the pluses don't run this lake hopping.
Well, I'll drop you in town. Well, okay, you know
place. Time I got out of the can, my old boss said,
he take me back. Now what he done? He phoned every guy in
the neighborhood and warm them again and then kick me out. He wasn't your
brother, he was my own man. Then what do you do? Then
what'll I do? Yeah, after you find out he's playing your double,
shut up, you'll see and I'll be wait. And mister Pilkington, bless
your soul always used to say, Hepsiba, you'll certainly know how to make
an uncomfortable and content on this mortal thing happy, no matter how you hit
around. I'm not going to ask you to marry me, bless me so
as I had no such idea, nor have I ever entertained such an idea
in eight years of doing for you. For a lonely bachelor man you are.
I left the cheese and crackers on the kitchen table for you, and
I'll be going, thank you happy. Oh. I ought to warn you,
mister Pilkington, blesses soul, exis every night and die happy year.
Seventy four. Good night, see you tomorrow. Somebody to the door.
Your mind to you? Not at not at all, young man, let's
meek come in. Thanks, it's young Larry. Oh, mister Barrows.
I'd like to ask you a big favor name. Have you got a spare
bed? I could use overnight fair Bear. I know you think it's funny.
Might not going to my wife, but my brother may give me a
job when I see you. The first time I want to have something heap
is the bed Nance Bear room next Parla Maid. No bed in this house
is ever made up? That door there, Gerald, don't give your job?
Will You're gonna try, mister Barrows. I want to pay for my
lodge and DA forget it. Larry Gerald gave me some money. Let me
pay. I'll feel better about it. You could go to the hotel.
I'd see people I know and Nancy might find out too soon as he's talking.
How much bound payl Aaron two dollars and give me a change your twenty
cheryld lent me four twenties. Well, if you insist, I guess I
got the change in the brotherhood cash by eighteen dollars. Thanks. Do you
mind if I hit the second right in there, and let's just Polkington.
You. You won't tell anybody you saw me, will you? I knew
the worst about mister Pilkington, less you so for over twenty years. Another
breathe the word thanks, good night. Asha. You're going to leave the
cash box there all night on the table? Oh no, I'll take it
up from the room. I noticed how I looked at it. How much
is in there? All I collected and dues at the banquet tonight about seven
hundred dollars that boil rise up to the night and steal it. That boy
needs encouragements. He needs people to show a little faith in him. Show
your faith, Lock up your money and your faith won't be destroyed. Ever.
Read a book called Lemmons Arabbed, a French book. In it,
a priest show's faith in a convict, not by hiding in silver candlesticks,
but by showing the convict where they were kept. You ain't got yourny silver
candles. No, but I'm leaving the cash box here on the table.
Oh night, all right. Hello, mister, I'm terribly sorry to call
you so late at night. Oh this is Nancy, Larry's wife. The
biggest view want. I'm so worried about Larry. He was supposed to come
in on the bank or Express this afternoon, and I thought maybe you'd heard
from Oh did you really come on and happy breakfast? Ready? What's the
matter? I'm gread you're left to be clearer than that. The cash box
A lot of face you had in the Barrows after all that speech. You
took it upstairs like I told you you after all? No, I left
it here on the table, as I told you I would. Then I
dare say the boy's gone from that room again seven hundred dollars and you will
have to make it up from your savings. And that's why I always say
a man needs a woman to take care of Larry, one of miss of
a sleeper. What's the matter, Larry? Last night? I left my
cash box on that table? Yeah, I remember you? Where is it?
Do you know? I didn't take it? Mister Barrows? Polish god?
You're leave it right out here where anybody where? Anybody? What?
Larry? I just got an idea who did take it? Maybe? Oh,
will you let me get it back for you? What does that mean?
You? And let's just poke and can think I took it. I
want to get it back old pear Street. I better go with you.
You want to go right now, but let me go in alone. Please.
II a case? Ah Hi, Larry, I had a plate?
Yeah kind of how much in the cash box? You're all right, Larry,
getting that capital? Leave it out all night? How did you work
it? You got the box here? Yeah, under the bed, let's
see it. I didn't count the dough yet, but it looked pretty full.
There was a sense getting it into that house again. Do here's the
box. I want to count the dog. Did you take any I told
you habit? Hey, what's the idea? I didn't leave the box.
Barrows did because he wanted to trust me. I'm taking it back, and
that pikes what you are? Now? Come and get it? You bet?
I got you now, Case get up, No, no, let
me alone, Larry, take all the dough. Look at habits make out
all right. There's your box, mister barrossh there's the guy who stole it.
Case, Barrett, you're rotten double across your bank. Clary, handcuff
for you, young. It's nice work, Clary on what we see.
I am. Let's come and do this alone. For the war between us
kind of. But now I am well. I just got word of a
charge that you stole eighty dollars last night from your brother stole it. I'm
sorry, Larry, I got to arrest him. Larry, Ry, why
didn't you come to me right away last night? Why did you let me
find out this way? Who's old? Jealous? Here and jail, Nancy,
mister Barrows and see human all right? Lonely. You didn't have to
stick I wanted to. Maybe you'll have to stick again. It's worse for
a parole guy than if it's the first time. She didn't do it.
People believe me or Gerald. Next time we will go somewhere else. I
certainly did great by you. You can divorce me. Nancy. No on
you too. I know I overstayed my time as to Bart. I'm just
going no, both of you come with me. Let's go. Nancy.
Don't you know where the court I shot? We charged to something. Your
brother Gerald's in his house. We're going up there to see him. A
gel. I'm gonna do something pretty straight talking. If I'm wrong, I'll
apologize afterwards and resign from the Brotherhood club. Anything else comes to mind,
but here goes have a scar. No thanks. They're two doors to this
parlor, yours, and I've closed the boats. Behind that one a police
officer waiting to take your brother back to jail till he's tried. Behind the
other door is your brother and his wife waiting to see what you do.
I know what I'm going to do, Barrel. I'm going to give you
a chance to open one of those two doors. Say what you do to
your brother's life and his wife yours? I told you I know what I'm
gonna do. I ask you to reconsider your charge of burglary against your brother.
You're making a pull of yourself, Barrows. I insisted making a charge.
Came home last evening to find Larry waiting for me. After he left,
I discovered he'd stolen eighty dollars from my desk. Well having to recall
and what denomination? Yes? It were four twenty No, no, I
don't remember. Last night asked a banquet. You paid your dues with a
hundred dollars due? Yes, and I gave you four twenties in change?
Oh was it or twenties? And one of those bills I happened to notice
had a corner torn off. Maybe half an inch of fraud. You happen
to notice that I told you no, I didn't. Well. Later last
night Larry came to my house and wanted to bed and insisted on paying for
it, and I gave him eighteen dollars chain for a twenty dollar bill.
That scene twenty dollar bill with a corner gone off. Well, then you
see that proves his stall of money. It looks like a donor. But
you said he took the money before you got back home. Wow, gesh
him. He must have a gerald. You didn't have this bill before the
banquet to leave and you are dead, and you didn't claim he burgled it
afterward later in the night, I figure you gave him those four twenties like
heat told me, why do you want your brothers back? Well, how
do you think it looks for me? Have a jailbird brother? As the
two doors, Geryl, you can open that one where the police off to
is Larry. You'll go to trial and even if he's cleared, you know
it'll break his heart. Let alone his wife, or open Larry's joor and
tell him you made a mistake on which Jory's going over? Officer, Officer,
you don't have to wait, you can go. I figure that was
as neat a job of crime fighting as ever did. Gerald dropped the charge
for Larry never did take any job Gerald offered him. He got another at
a garage, and Nancy's still working and laying store. And it all hung
on eighty dollars a small key. Mm hmm, I called the big one
because Gerald orwell had the with himself the rest his life, and even he
mightn't have found that comfortable. And he put his brother back in prison.
Then there was Larry and his wife. Their future hung on that eighty dollars.
To in my crime Fighter's book, realize hanging on what happened makes it
a big game. Here's another of the more than one hundred and twenty thousand
happy new Ford owners. Here's what Betsy Cohn, former fashion editor of Mademoiselle
and one of the most outstanding designers of junior clothes in New York, said
about her Ford convertible. I consider fashion an index to the way people live.
Cars, like clothes, must meet the demands of the active and busy
life of a young person. They must be smart and comfortable. Need a
budget. After looking at all the new cars, yes, and having driven
them too, there wasn't any question that the nineteen fifty Ford was the outstanding
value. It's perfect in appearance and the answer to my every requirement in a
car. It's the finest car I've ever driven. Until you get behind the
wheel of the fifty Ford, you won't be able to believe how good it
is. That's the reason we want you to test drive the fifty board.
The classified phone directory has the name of the nearest board dealers, or perhaps
you know him personally. Why not phone him tomorrow before you buy any car
at any price. You owe it to yourself to test drive the fifty board.
Rhyme Fighters have presented each week at this time. Produced and directed by
Winwright, the script was by Paul Our Milton Asa Barrows was played by Raymond
Edward Johnson, Larry by Alan Stephenson, Gerald by Ian Martin, Nancy by
Abbey Lois, and Kate by Rock Rushers. Music is by Milton Kay Crime
Fighters. They are all kind master man hunters to match master criminals, rude
experts in a thousand rackets, or simple men who study human nature their city
dicks who work in team country shrance covering lonely reaches federal men with a nation
to police scientist whose weapon is laboratory. Each week this program plutes a different
type of crime fighter and his methods. Next week a detective and im foreign
language distance. This is the mutual broadcasting system Welcome back. While an interesting
story, a bit different than your typical Great Detectives program, but I thought
it was engaging and entertaining, and it also seemed pretty typical to but a
small town New England detective would deal with and handle capably on their own.
I would love to hear more of the series and the different types of cases
they did. I should note that while this is the only American episode out
there, like mini series, this was re recorded in Australia and Grace Gibson
does sell the Australian episodes. I've not had a chance to listen to them,
but that would be one other way to experience this series further. Of
course, Raymond Edward Johnson is best known as the host of The Inner Sanctum,
and we've heard him as the host of the Crime Club quite a few
years back, and he was also in a couple of episodes of Fill Evans
a few months back er, using a different voice than his typical radio voice,
so this is a bit of a trait just to be able to hear
Johnson in something a bit different. I do wonder whether Abby Lewis did doubles
here. She's credited in the role of the convict's wife, but she's the
only female cast member, so did she also double as the housekeeper? At
any rate? This was just a really fun listen and I hope you enjoyed
this rare program. Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day.
Thank you to Robert, Patreon supporter since December of twenty eighteen, currently
supporting the program at the Seamus level of four dollars or more per month.
Thank you so much for your support, Robert, and that will do it
for today. If you are enjoying this podcast, please follow it using your
favorite podcast software. Be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download
it. From next Saturday, we will have some previously uncirculated episodes of Indictment.
Tomorrow listen for a sneak preview of our latest podcast project, The Old
Time Radio snack Wagon, and also be sure to join us back here on
Monday for the adventures of Sam Spade where of course you're Sam Spade. I
am mister mclownan. You came at an opportune time. No one around it
will be here our conversation. I suppose you wonder why I hired a detective
for a place like this, Well, not especially, I go where the
people go and the money. You'll be paid well for your time and trouble.
I must be quick. In essence, this is my situation. Yea
earlier this week I received an anonymous letter saying that if I invited the guest
list I'd planned for this weekend, I might be serious trouble. Here's the
letter. Keep it to yourself. It's a Los Angeles postmark. I see,
Well, we might start by tracing down this typewriter through an LA detective
agency. Every one of my charming guests is from Los Angeles. One of
them wrote it, if you ask me, very likely. I want to
know who wrote it if I can. But more than that, I wonder
what serious trouble the writer is referring to the girl you send to pick me
up, said you had a very volatile group of people assembled. Yeah,
perhaps they're high strung individuals, but they're civilized. I'm sure their conflict would
never get beyond a cutting phraser two or perhaps a punch thrown. Here are
there? Well, then you really don't believe you will have any trouble.
Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. I thought it would be
advisable to have a man like yourself or on one who deals in trouble professionally.
Perhaps if things do get out of line, you can help repair the
damages or even prevent things from occurring. Well, I'll do my best,
mister mclough, but it's not easy to look for something when you don't know
what you're looking for. I hope you'll be with us then. In the
meantime, just send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net,
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 all