1 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:35,759 Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This 2 00:00:36,079 --> 00:00:40,320 is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it 3 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:46,759 to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net. Follow us on Twitter at 4 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:54,399 Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram Instagram dot com slash Great Detectives. 5 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:59,640 If you're enjoying this podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcasts. 6 00:00:59,679 --> 00:01:04,239 Off I do want to encourage you to check out my wife's business, Shira 7 00:01:04,359 --> 00:01:11,439 Clips at Lila Rose dot biz. That's l I l l A Rose dot 8 00:01:11,599 --> 00:01:19,560 biz slash Ashira s h Ira. There you will find a wide variety of 9 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:25,280 different hairpins, hair clips, and hair ties to fit a wide variety of 10 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:33,879 different taste and styles. Remember that's Lyla Rose dot biz slash a Shira l 11 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:38,799 I l l A Rose dot biz slash Ashira. Well, now it is 12 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:44,920 time for this week's episode of Mister Chameleon. The original air date is March 13 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:51,400 sixteenth, nineteen forty nine, and the title is The Firebug Murder Case. 14 00:01:53,599 --> 00:02:25,719 Next Mister comeleion Man The Firebug Murder Case. Tonight, we again present the 15 00:02:25,759 --> 00:02:31,840 famous Mister Chameleon of Central Headquarters in his most famous cases of crime and murder, 16 00:02:32,319 --> 00:02:38,360 brought to you by the makers of genuine Bayer Aspirin. Mister Cameleon, 17 00:02:38,599 --> 00:02:42,919 as you all know, is the famous and dreaded detective of Central Police Headquarters, 18 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,479 who frequently uses a disguise or impersonation to confuse the criminals he is tracking 19 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:53,479 down. In tonight's case, he appears in a clever disguise which the audience 20 00:02:53,479 --> 00:02:57,680 will at all times recognize. Tonight, we give you, mister Chameleon. 21 00:02:57,759 --> 00:03:10,560 In the Firebug murder case. There can be nothing more blood curdling than the 22 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:15,360 shriek of a fire engine as it races headlong through the New York streets. 23 00:03:16,599 --> 00:03:21,120 Even to mister Cameleon, the great detectives. It is an exciting sound, 24 00:03:21,199 --> 00:03:24,439 the call to action. And we find him now with Detective Sergeant Dave Arnold, 25 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:30,400 as they hurriedly pull their police car over to one side. Wonder where 26 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:34,560 that fire can be, mister Chameleon, I must be that the next block 27 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,919 down. Engines are flying down. Yes, they're stopping in front of that 28 00:03:38,159 --> 00:03:45,759 three story house. Come on, Dave, let's come hey. Looks like 29 00:03:45,879 --> 00:03:49,879 quite a fire on that first floor. Anyway, Smoke a shore pouring out. 30 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:54,719 It's a small grocery store, apparently with living quarters above it. Let's 31 00:03:54,759 --> 00:04:03,919 take a look. Let us throw please from central police headquarters. Let us 32 00:04:03,919 --> 00:04:08,680 throw please. Hello mister comeleon, and you're glad you're with the police department 33 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,159 and not the fire department. Hello, Mike, I don't know. I've 34 00:04:11,159 --> 00:04:14,439 always had a hankering to be a fireman like you know. What started this 35 00:04:14,439 --> 00:04:16,879 one? I don't know, but it's a nasty one. Lots of smoke. 36 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,319 There's an epidemic of them. This is the third time we've been out 37 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:25,720 tonight. Is that? So? Who is that hysterical woman over there? 38 00:04:25,759 --> 00:04:28,560 Who's the wife of the man that owns that grocery store. I think your 39 00:04:28,639 --> 00:04:31,439 name's Kendall Flames. Her husband's still in there. The fireman are in there 40 00:04:31,439 --> 00:04:34,319 now trying to get him out. Dave, let's go over there. It 41 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:38,759 looks like our son Weather, mister chameleon Shelford, Are you still in there? 42 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,399 Your father's in there. Oh, they'll never get him out. Take 43 00:04:41,399 --> 00:04:43,720 it easy, mother, there's nothing weak at all about it. Well maybe 44 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,560 that is. Maybe the fireman will get him out of line. What or 45 00:04:46,639 --> 00:04:49,360 you? How do you get through the fire lines? My name is comedian 46 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:54,720 I'm a detective from Central Headquarters. What the devil's a detective doing here? 47 00:04:54,759 --> 00:04:58,040 And stop giving my mother false hope. I know my husband's dead. He's 48 00:04:58,079 --> 00:05:01,800 been suffocated by smoke. Tried to get through to him, but we couldn't. 49 00:05:01,199 --> 00:05:04,360 Well, maybe I can. What do you mean? I think I 50 00:05:04,439 --> 00:05:20,160 will give the boys a hand? Okay, mister Chameleon. Yes, Mike, 51 00:05:23,079 --> 00:05:26,959 my hand's a little scotch, but otherwise I'm okay. That's name done 52 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,399 on the sidewalk. Are you all right? Yes? I am dad. 53 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,560 He managed to get Kendall's body out before the flames reached. Is he dead? 54 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:36,879 He didn't have a chance in that smoke. He was suffocated to death 55 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:42,199 long before we got to him. M Only he wasn't suffocated to death. 56 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,040 He was shot in the back. Washed the chameleon. Where is missus Kendall? 57 00:05:46,079 --> 00:05:48,600 In a sunny Dave? But I don't see him. Why a neighbors, 58 00:05:48,639 --> 00:05:50,959 some man named Watson, took them into his place. He has had 59 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,920 hardware store right over there. I see, Dave. You take over. 60 00:05:54,959 --> 00:05:58,240 Please report this to headquarters. I think I'll have a little talk with the 61 00:05:59,079 --> 00:06:10,360 murdered man's face. Mister Watson. I'm sorry but I've got to talk to 62 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,000 missus Kendall. I just told you that her husband was murdered. He was 63 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,040 shot, and I know, mister Cameleon, and I just can't believe it. 64 00:06:15,079 --> 00:06:18,079 Now, Who would do a thing like that to poor Kendall. He 65 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:23,480 was such a kind man, always giving credit in his grocery store. Are 66 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,639 such terrible things happened? No one's safe anymore, mister Watson, tell me 67 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,560 before I questioned the Kendalls, do you know of any enemies that he might 68 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:33,920 have had. I just told you he was the kindest man the neighborhood, 69 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,879 of all people. He didn't have enemies? Well, he must have, 70 00:06:38,959 --> 00:06:43,240 he was murdered. What about his family? His family, mister Camellion, 71 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,639 he was crazy about his son Alfred anything he always babied him too much? 72 00:06:46,959 --> 00:06:51,199 Or what about his wife? Was he devoted to her? Well, I 73 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:56,560 wouldn't know about that. I'm only a neighbor. Most neighbors know everything. 74 00:06:57,279 --> 00:06:59,800 Well, I'm going into the next room and talk to missus Kendall and her 75 00:07:00,199 --> 00:07:02,240 Alfred. But mister Comedian, she's in such a state right now. You 76 00:07:02,519 --> 00:07:06,959 are very kind yourself, mister Watson, and you mean well. But Alfred 77 00:07:08,079 --> 00:07:15,879 Kendall Senior happened to be murdered, Missus Kendall. Yes, it's that cop 78 00:07:15,879 --> 00:07:19,720 again. What do you want, Alfred? I just wanted to tell you 79 00:07:19,759 --> 00:07:26,680 and your mother that your father's body was recovered from the burning building. I 80 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:30,560 would like to ask what made you so sure that he was suffocated? But 81 00:07:30,639 --> 00:07:32,759 he was, mister comedian. I could see my husband lying there and I 82 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:38,519 couldn't get through to him. I couldn't get He was lying on his face 83 00:07:38,519 --> 00:07:41,800 in the back room of the store. Yes, Alfred, with a bullet 84 00:07:41,839 --> 00:07:46,560 in his back. I don't believe it. My father murdered. Yes, 85 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,800 Alfred, your father murdered. And I presume you want to find your father's 86 00:07:50,879 --> 00:07:55,240 murderer. Alfred. Oh, Helfred, take it easy, mother, I'm 87 00:07:55,279 --> 00:08:01,160 still here. You've still got me. I've got you, darling. Mister 88 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:05,000 cameleon. Who could have done this awful thing? Who could have hated my 89 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,079 husband so much that they'd kill him? Well, don't you know, missus 90 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,879 Kendall. Don't you have any idea? No, no, of course I 91 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:15,519 don't, But you must have some inkling. Did your husband quarrel with anyone 92 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:18,279 reason? The No, Alfred, I believe that your mother is lying. 93 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,160 Do you know of anyone who quarreled with your father? I'm sure I do 94 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,399 it, but I don't mean who was it, Alfred? Who was it? 95 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:28,079 Answer me? Okay, it was my uncle Jerry, Jerry Carter, 96 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:33,320 your brother, Missus Kendall. Yes, mister Comedion, But that quarrel didn't 97 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,840 mean anything. Your husband quarreled with your brother. What was it about? 98 00:08:35,919 --> 00:08:39,559 Oh? Just something personal? What was it about, Missus Kendall. It 99 00:08:39,639 --> 00:08:43,919 doesn't matter, does it? It matters very very much. What did they 100 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:48,360 quarrel about? Oh? Because my husband and me had had differences, and 101 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,159 my brother Jerry, he took him too serious. But my husband wasn't a 102 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:54,440 bad man, mister Camelion, and he was a good father to Alfred. 103 00:08:56,879 --> 00:08:58,879 I'm in here day with Missus Kendall and her son, Mimi, and I've 104 00:08:58,879 --> 00:09:05,240 got news for you. That fire was set set You mean you mean Simon 105 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:07,639 started it on purpose? And how they did? We found a pile of 106 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:13,159 shavings and a long fuels and gasoline had been sprinkled all around that grocery store. 107 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:18,919 Oh no, no, mother, Oh my poor yes, Missus Kendall, 108 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,799 your poor husband. Where does your brother Jerry Condall live Jerry couldn't have 109 00:09:22,879 --> 00:09:24,840 done it. Well, maybe not, but I still want to know where 110 00:09:24,879 --> 00:09:26,960 it lives to twenty one Clark Street. Thank you, Alfred, and you 111 00:09:28,039 --> 00:09:31,840 take care of your mother, Dave. I'll see you down at Central Headquarters 112 00:09:31,879 --> 00:09:35,879 after I see Carter. But first, another word with the Kendall's neighbor, 113 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:41,279 mister Watson. Mister Watson, mister CAMELIONI is what I just heard true? 114 00:09:41,639 --> 00:09:45,559 That fire was set on purpose? Yes? It is true. Know what 115 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,799 sort of thing is that? I tell you? No one's safe anymore. 116 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:52,240 Mister Watson, you should have told me that mister Kendall beat his wife. 117 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:56,039 This is no time to hold back the truth. And so she admitted it? 118 00:09:56,120 --> 00:10:00,240 Did she? I didn't think she would, she was so sh aimed 119 00:10:00,279 --> 00:10:03,840 and his knocking her down. I heard it from someone who heard him fighting. 120 00:10:03,919 --> 00:10:07,080 Her brother, Jerry Carter was with him. I didn't think she only 121 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:11,879 won. She didn't. All Missus Kendall said was that she and her husband 122 00:10:11,919 --> 00:10:15,759 had differences. But mister COMI, I was pretty sure there must have been 123 00:10:15,799 --> 00:10:18,360 more than that to it. Thank you, mister Watson. Where are you 124 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:22,120 going to see Jerry Carter, Missus Kendall's brother, who must have found it 125 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:41,279 unbearable to watch her sister being abused by her husband. Yes, who is 126 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:48,600 it, chameleon from Central Headquarters? Yes, open up? What do you 127 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:56,840 want? You're Jerry Carter Ron joh Yes, the brother of missus Alfred Kendall. 128 00:10:56,399 --> 00:11:03,159 Yes. Why are you packing suitcase? Mister Carter? Are you leaving 129 00:11:03,279 --> 00:11:05,840 town? I? No, no, no, I'm not. I'm just 130 00:11:05,039 --> 00:11:09,240 moving out of this room. That's all my time is up. I can't 131 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:11,200 afford to go on paying this kind of rent. But that's quite strange, 132 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:15,080 mister Carton. I just talked to your landlady and she told me that your 133 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:18,279 rent was paid a month in advance. He listen, what is this? 134 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:24,279 What are you doing here anyway? You say your name is me, We're 135 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:26,600 a famous detective. What do you want with me? What have I done? 136 00:11:26,639 --> 00:11:28,720 If you don't know? Mister Carter, why are you leaving town? 137 00:11:30,399 --> 00:11:35,279 Because I had to get after there's an unhappy family situation here and I just 138 00:11:35,399 --> 00:11:37,080 have to get away from it because your brother in law, Alfred Kendall, 139 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:41,000 abused your sister. Beta. Mister Carr, your brother in law has been 140 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:45,960 murdered and his star was set on fire to conceal that murder? Is that 141 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:50,159 the truth? You think? I'm lying? Carr? Your sister and your 142 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:54,000 nephew, Alfred insisted he being suffocated in the fire. I happen to drag 143 00:11:54,039 --> 00:11:56,919 out the body in time. I discovered that he had been shot. She 144 00:11:56,159 --> 00:12:00,120 insisted he had been suffocating. What do you know about it? Nothing to 145 00:12:00,159 --> 00:12:05,679 commed. I only know that my sister was unhappy. Why she was just 146 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:11,039 she was just unhappy. What about by her marriage? I suppose lots of 147 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:15,120 marriages are unhappy. Your brother in law was shot and the fire started about 148 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:20,039 nine o'clock this evening. Where were you at that time? I can't remember. 149 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:22,320 I would try to remember if I were home. I was. I 150 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:26,399 was just walking around. I had supper at seven o'clock and then I well, 151 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:30,240 I just walked around. After which you came back here and started to 152 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:35,200 pack your suitcase. Mister Carter, I what's that? And it sounds like 153 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:39,720 another fire? Another one. There'd been a lot of them around this neighborhood, 154 00:12:39,799 --> 00:12:43,720 all of them in Sendurary started by a firebog No, you don't come 155 00:12:43,799 --> 00:12:50,360 back, sorry, mister Connor. I thought a tamp on the chin was 156 00:12:50,399 --> 00:12:54,320 better than having to use my gun. All right, come along quietly and 157 00:12:54,480 --> 00:13:09,799 taking you to central headquarters and holding you there for further questioning. Mister chameleon, 158 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:16,240 and the firebug murder case continues. In just a moment, your own 159 00:13:16,279 --> 00:13:18,399 doctor will tell you that there is no reason in the world why you should 160 00:13:18,399 --> 00:13:22,919 suffer from the painful symptoms of a cold, especially when it's so easy to 161 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:26,080 quickly relieve such symptoms as that headache, feeling and muscular aches and pains. 162 00:13:28,519 --> 00:13:31,279 Just take two Bayre aspirin tablets with a full glass of water and you get 163 00:13:31,399 --> 00:13:35,519 fast relief because Bayer aspirin is ready to go to work in two seconds. 164 00:13:37,159 --> 00:13:41,120 And if your cold is accompanied by a sore throat, gargle with three Bayar 165 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:45,879 aspirin tablets dissolved in one third of a glass of water, this highly potent 166 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:52,320 medicinal gargle almost instantly soothes the tender throat membranes relieves pained irritation. So when 167 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:56,240 you're suffering from painful cold symptoms, take two Bayer aspirin tablets with a full 168 00:13:56,279 --> 00:14:01,039 glass of water and then relieve accompanying sore throat is all three Bayer tablets in 169 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:05,080 one third of a glass of water and gargo. When you buy ask for 170 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:09,639 Bayer aspirin, not just for aspirin alone yet the one hundred tablet bottle, 171 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:18,960 and you get Bayer aspirin tablets for less than a penny apiece. And now 172 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:26,080 back to mister Camellion and the Firebug murder case. A man named Kendall has 173 00:14:26,159 --> 00:14:30,600 been murdered, shot in the back, and a fire started in his store 174 00:14:30,679 --> 00:14:33,759 to cover that murder. That much is clear to mister Camellion, but a 175 00:14:33,799 --> 00:14:39,080 great many other things about the strange case are shrouded in mystery. Now mister 176 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:43,000 Camellion is at police headquarters questioning the suspect, Jerry Carter, with whose story 177 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:48,159 he's far from satisfied. Got em, let's get this straight. You claim 178 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:50,360 you don't know anything about your brother in law's murder. I tell you I 179 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:54,720 don't know anything, Camelion, It's all I've got to say. What do 180 00:14:54,879 --> 00:14:56,279 you know about the fires that have broken out in your neighbor I don't know 181 00:14:56,279 --> 00:14:58,720 anything about them either, And why did you try to break out of your 182 00:14:58,759 --> 00:15:03,039 room? And I mentioned Firebug to you? Answer me that I don't know? 183 00:15:03,159 --> 00:15:05,279 Comedian? Who you happen to know? Then? Exactly what an inceentiurary 184 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:09,200 fire is sure? Sure, it's a fire that somebody started. One reason 185 00:15:09,279 --> 00:15:13,600 in century fires I started is for vengeance, another is for money. Well, 186 00:15:13,639 --> 00:15:16,200 I didn't start any fires. And where did you get the thousand dollars 187 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:20,480 that we found in the lining of your coat? Thousand dollars? Please search 188 00:15:20,559 --> 00:15:22,279 us a very clever connor. You didn't even know they took it off you. 189 00:15:24,159 --> 00:15:26,279 Now where did you get that money? And tell me? And tell 190 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:30,600 me quickly. Oh, I was keeping it from my sister. She didn't 191 00:15:30,919 --> 00:15:33,720 want her husband to know she had it. And her husband, your brother 192 00:15:33,799 --> 00:15:37,519 in law, was murdered. Which one of you killed him? You were 193 00:15:37,559 --> 00:15:39,080 your sister? Either of us killed him? Why did she tell me her 194 00:15:39,159 --> 00:15:43,000 husband of being suffocated in the fire when actually he was murdered. If you're 195 00:15:43,039 --> 00:15:45,320 trying to put me on a spot, comedian, you can't get away. 196 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,799 We'll find out if I can now tell me who is running an extortion racket 197 00:15:50,279 --> 00:15:54,200 in your neighborhood. Extortion racket? What's that? You know? As well 198 00:15:54,279 --> 00:15:56,600 as I do, protection money from business people to keep their stores from being 199 00:15:56,679 --> 00:16:00,200 damaged, wrecked or set on fire. Listen, to keep from being murdered 200 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,840 as your brother in law. We can't plant this on me. Then it 201 00:16:03,039 --> 00:16:07,399 was your sister who did it? Is that what you made? So now 202 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:10,720 you're trying to plant it on her? Right, Both of you have been 203 00:16:10,799 --> 00:16:12,120 lying to me all the way through, and you are not very good liar. 204 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:15,720 I've told you the truth. Leave me cut it. I'll soon find 205 00:16:15,759 --> 00:16:19,000 out whether you have or not. And if you dream tonight, dream of 206 00:16:19,159 --> 00:16:23,639 fires, murder and extortion, it may give you an idea of what I 207 00:16:23,759 --> 00:16:37,759 expect to find out from you tomorrow. And a few hours later we find 208 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:41,159 Chameleon pacing the floor in the office of the Commissioner of Police, who is 209 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,279 saying, so you still think, Cambeleion, that there's more to this than 210 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:47,559 the murder of that man kendled I think that behind Kendall's murder there is a 211 00:16:47,639 --> 00:16:52,840 sinister background of a maniacal firebug, of terrorism, violence and extortion. Well, 212 00:16:52,919 --> 00:16:56,440 we've got fifty detectives scurring the district for members of that extortion ring. 213 00:16:56,080 --> 00:17:00,600 So far nothing. It's up to me, Nick, how are you going 214 00:17:00,679 --> 00:17:06,839 about it? I'm going to pose as Tony Lawson, who owns a small 215 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:11,359 stationary star. I've already made arrangements to presumably take over the small Star located 216 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:17,160 in the Kendall's General neighborhood. But Chameleon means Commissioner, Oh, mister Comellion, 217 00:17:17,559 --> 00:17:21,599 I have another fire to report. Well, in your own apartment, 218 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:25,119 mister Comeleion, my apartment, Yes, sir, someone tried to burn you 219 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,240 out an hour ago. There was very little damage, though they caught it 220 00:17:27,319 --> 00:17:33,039 in time. I seem so these criminals are trying to scare me off, 221 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:37,039 and eh, well they've picked the wrong man. Chameleon. You understand, 222 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:40,079 don't you, that you may be dealing with the most deadly gang of extortionists 223 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:42,559 the city has ever known. If you assume that disgise, you may be 224 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:48,240 placing yourself in the hands of the killers. Commissioner, you know my motto, 225 00:17:48,319 --> 00:17:52,640 The innocent must be protected, the guilty punished. Sometimes it pleases me 226 00:17:52,799 --> 00:17:56,640 most to see the innocent protected, but in this case, with criminals as 227 00:17:56,759 --> 00:18:11,279 vicious as this I particular, we want to see the guilty punished. And 228 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:15,759 so mister Cameleon assumes the disguise of Tony Larson, who has recently bought out 229 00:18:15,799 --> 00:18:21,440 a small stationary store, and we find him now in the store with Detective 230 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:25,680 Sergeant Dave Arnold patting the walrus mustache, which is part of his disguise. 231 00:18:26,039 --> 00:18:30,319 Wonderful how mustache can change the shape of a man's face. Dad, Yeah, 232 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:32,720 but I don't like it, mister comellion, you're doing this. I 233 00:18:32,839 --> 00:18:37,400 mean, suppose the real owner of the store talks and goes around bragging that 234 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:40,119 the police rented this place from him in a manner of speaking, that's a 235 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:45,000 chance I have to take. What about Jerry Carter, the brother in law 236 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,279 of the murdered man. He's been released like you ordered. One of our 237 00:18:48,319 --> 00:18:52,200 detectives is tailing him. David getting back from customers coming in, looks like 238 00:18:52,240 --> 00:19:02,400 an ugly customer, and Dave Arnold ducks into a broom while mister cameleon watches 239 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:07,200 the approaching customer, a heavily built, evil looking man, definitely a man 240 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:11,359 who would stop at nothing. Then mister comedian speaks in the voice of Tony 241 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:15,440 Larson his disguise. Good morning, sir, What can I do for y'all? 242 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:19,519 You're the new owner of this stationary store? That's right, says my 243 00:19:19,759 --> 00:19:23,960 first day on the job. You're my first customer. It ain't that dandy. 244 00:19:25,039 --> 00:19:30,359 I'm thrilled. My name is Bucky Walters. Mister Larson, Tony last 245 00:19:30,559 --> 00:19:33,279 right, the name is the Larson. Have you seen the papers today? 246 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:40,279 No, I haven't had time to read them. Look at this Jerry Carter 247 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:44,880 released on bail. Jerry Cotter. That's the guy that murdered his brother in 248 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:48,559 law. They think the paper said he might be a firebug too. Imagine 249 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:53,200 someone like that running around loose, setting places on fire. A danger to 250 00:19:53,319 --> 00:19:57,680 the neighborhood, a danger to you to me? Sure, that's why I'm 251 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:03,000 here. I represent the Neighborhood Protective Association and for a monthly fee, we 252 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:08,039 keep an eye on your store. Here you mean like a watch mony. 253 00:20:08,079 --> 00:20:12,400 Yeah, that's right. You couldn't get along without us, mister Lison, 254 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:18,319 well love, why what would happen to me? Ooh? Lotch things might 255 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:22,319 happen if you don't have our protection. Your your windows might get broken by 256 00:20:22,319 --> 00:20:29,119 the neighborhood kids. Oh, by the Neighborhood Protective Association. Mister Wallace, 257 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:32,799 I know your racket, and I refuse to pay money to a gang of 258 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:37,480 hoodlum's posing as a protective association. Oh you listen, Amaza, I am 259 00:20:37,559 --> 00:20:41,240 not the least bit afraid of you and your kind. You can try to 260 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:45,559 damage my star. You can set it on fire. Money, you should 261 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:48,440 mention fire. There's been a lot of them lately. Yeah, so I 262 00:20:48,759 --> 00:20:53,000 hear. And if you are threatening me could be mister stationary star like this 263 00:20:53,079 --> 00:20:56,240 could run up off of fast. All right, you can do what you 264 00:20:56,400 --> 00:21:00,000 please, but get out of my store and don't back here. I can 265 00:21:00,279 --> 00:21:06,119 pretty fresh answer and pretty independent time wise, when every storekeeper around here belonged 266 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,920 to the Neighborhood Protective Association and those times are coming back. Yeah, well 267 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,359 maybe they ain't. Oh yes, mister Larson, they've come back. If 268 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:18,079 we have to make examples of you independent adults. Oh so you're threatening to 269 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:22,559 kill me? Huh. I wouldn't say that, but if I was you, 270 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:27,759 I'd join our outfit within twenty four hours, Dave. Yes, mister 271 00:21:27,799 --> 00:21:32,000 Commingian. So you're guessed right. That was one of the outfits. That 272 00:21:32,279 --> 00:21:34,680 was the salesman of the extortion ring. And what a salesman, Dave. 273 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,400 You follow him and then have someone else put on his trail and pick him 274 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:41,079 up. Where are you going, mister Cammingan, I'm going off the bigger 275 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:44,680 game. I think I'll pay another call on the murdered grocery man's widow, 276 00:21:45,279 --> 00:22:02,960 missus Kendall. So you object to being questioned by the police. Miss Kendall, 277 00:22:03,039 --> 00:22:07,920 Well, I must remind you that your husband was murdered. Mister commeleion. 278 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:10,920 I know it, and I know he was shocked when my son Alfred 279 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:14,480 and I said he was suffocated in that fire. But I swear I don't 280 00:22:14,519 --> 00:22:17,880 know who did it. I give you my word. Mister Watson here knows 281 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:19,640 my word is good. Oh that's as much as she can do, isn't 282 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:22,559 it. Mister Camelliony. It seems to me you're being mighty hard on this 283 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:26,519 poor woman. She didn't shoot her husband? Oh then you know who dead? 284 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:32,160 No course I don't. I uh probably shouldn't have asked you that question, 285 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:34,400 mister Watson. I'm sure if you did, you would have told the 286 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:40,200 police long before this. I certainly would have one point you might help me 287 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:41,839 all know as this. Did you have a head of a thing called the 288 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:52,039 Neighborhood Protective Association Neighborhood Protective Association? No, never heard him? Well come, 289 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:56,440 mister Watson, didn't be afraid to talk. You own a prosperous hardware 290 00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:00,680 store here. This gang must have approached you one time or another will in 291 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:03,359 strict confidence, mister cameleon. They did. But what did you do? 292 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:07,319 Did you pay them off? For I tried a bluff, picked up the 293 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:11,319 telephone and threatened to call the police. But to be perfectly honest with you, 294 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:15,640 mister Camelion, I've been scared to death ever since. Mister Watson, 295 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,839 it is a pleasure for a police officer to run across a man with your 296 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:22,799 sense of duty as a citizen. But I fear this doesn't help missus Kendall's 297 00:23:22,839 --> 00:23:26,640 position very much. Help me, Missus Kendall, you are in a very 298 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:30,440 bad position, and I believe you know you are. I tell you again, 299 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:33,640 mister Camellion, I don't know anything. I'm sure that you have a 300 00:23:33,839 --> 00:23:37,039 very good idea of who the firebug is in this medcase. No, no, 301 00:23:37,319 --> 00:23:40,519 no, I don't. You are lying, and you know you are, 302 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:45,480 But that won't make any difference. Within two days we will have the 303 00:23:45,559 --> 00:23:51,079 firebug safely behind bars. Two days, yes, So wouldn't it be better 304 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:56,000 to talk now? I I can't, mister Camellion, honest I can't because 305 00:23:56,000 --> 00:24:10,319 I got nothing to tell you. Ah, But mister Chameleon is pretty sure 306 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:14,799 that the trap will close on the Firebug and the murderer not in two days, 307 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:18,920 but that very night. And we find him around midnight, crouching in 308 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:22,920 the darkness of the little stationery store which he rented in his disguise as Tony 309 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:27,039 Larson, and with him is Detective Sergeant Dave Arnold, to whom he is 310 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:33,079 saying, maybe I've timed it wrong, Dave, I don't think so. 311 00:24:33,519 --> 00:24:37,400 I'm pretty sure the Firebug will be at work tonight. As Tony last night 312 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:42,160 was much too independent. The Neighborhood Protective Association will have to discipline Larson by 313 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:47,759 burning out his store. Look, muster, Comedian. Someone's opening that back 314 00:24:47,839 --> 00:24:53,279 window. Yes, yes, that's the window I deliberately left unmatched. Dave 315 00:24:53,359 --> 00:25:00,200 cot behind the counter so dark he can't see us. He's carrying so thing, 316 00:25:00,279 --> 00:25:07,880 mister Comedian. Yes, probably a can of gasoline, Dave. Does 317 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:12,359 someone else behind him? A woman? I thought she'd follow him. Listen, 318 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:19,799 Alfred Halfred mother Hollell for Darling. I can't let you do this. 319 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,440 I can't. It's too awful. Get away from here, you fool. 320 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:26,799 No people might be killed in this building burned a day. Are you crazy? 321 00:25:27,279 --> 00:25:30,359 Get out? Of here. Mother, Get out before I do something 322 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:32,799 I'm sorry for. All right, let's take over. Switch on the lights. 323 00:25:33,039 --> 00:25:36,319 Say where you are, Alfred Kendall. This is one fire that is 324 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:38,920 never going to get started. I thought you'd try here next, Alfred, 325 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:41,319 Dave keep in covered? But how did you know? I had a hunch 326 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:45,359 about you a long time ago, Alfred, And then I checked on your 327 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:51,200 school record For a long time, Alfred, mysterious fires were started and no 328 00:25:51,319 --> 00:25:53,319 one was able to find out who started them. Mister cameleon, he's a 329 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:57,519 sick boy. He's always been a sick boy. Unfortunately, missus Kendall, 330 00:25:57,559 --> 00:26:03,440 your son is also a criminal who has been responsible for many hideous debts. 331 00:26:03,599 --> 00:26:07,359 Your husband, who pampered him, began to fear the truth, and that 332 00:26:07,519 --> 00:26:10,119 is why you and your husband quarreled so bit of it. Why didn't you 333 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:12,119 heart me in before this? If you think I'm a firebug, ridn't you 334 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:15,680 arrest because there's an even greater criminal who has been using you, Alfred, 335 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:21,960 using your insane tendencies for his own purposes, the head of the neighborhood Protective 336 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:26,599 Association. Wait a minute, even the mention of him terrifies you, doesn't 337 00:26:26,599 --> 00:26:30,279 it. I arrest you, Alfred on the charge of murder by setting in 338 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:34,680 cendurary fire. Elfred, Alfred, my boy, don't take your mister Camillions. 339 00:26:36,079 --> 00:26:38,160 I am put your hands up. Alfred, Hey, get that man 340 00:26:40,799 --> 00:26:47,240 one more than I'll kill you. I'll get in here. Ah, there 341 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:51,200 you are, mister Watson's Yrus Watson, what's his detective doing? Hair comedian? 342 00:26:51,279 --> 00:26:52,640 He tried to kill me. He brought you in here for me to 343 00:26:52,759 --> 00:26:56,720 charge you with murder. Watson. Well, this boy, Alfred Kindles, 344 00:26:56,759 --> 00:27:03,079 the murderer working under your direction. Watson, the kindly good Watson, head 345 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:07,240 of a vicious gang of killers, the neighborhood Protective Association. Me the head 346 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:11,079 of a gang. That's it, the gang. You were so perfectly honest 347 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:15,599 and straightforward and lying to me about this boy here, did it? You 348 00:27:15,839 --> 00:27:19,279 killed missus Kendall's husband, this mentally sick boy's father because he knew that you 349 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:23,039 were using his son's mania for setting fires for your own vicious purposes. That's 350 00:27:23,039 --> 00:27:26,279 a lie. If a shopkeeper wouldn't pay for protection, you sent this boy 351 00:27:26,319 --> 00:27:30,119 around to set his place on fire. That's what he did, Mister Camillion, 352 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:37,920 made a killer of my son. Turned out woman to da. All 353 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:41,240 right, Watson, I'll tell you how I got you. Yes, tell 354 00:27:41,319 --> 00:27:45,119 me a lion pop. The thug that you sent to threaten the storekeeper Larson 355 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:48,920 for the Neighborhood Protective Association didn't know. It was not Larsen he was threatening, 356 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:53,960 but a detective named Chameleon in disguise. And when we arrested him, 357 00:27:55,680 --> 00:28:00,200 he talked and talked and talked. He's a liar too. This afternoon, 358 00:28:00,279 --> 00:28:03,200 I told you deliberately that we expected to catch the firebug. I knew that 359 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:07,079 was the one thing that would gold you into action and bring you here. 360 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:10,000 And it did, and we have got you right where we want you. 361 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:14,279 Now you go up for murder and Alfred Kendall, so that let's Halfred help, 362 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:19,440 mister Comedian. No, no, missus Kendall. Alfred will go into 363 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:26,279 a mental institution where he will be protected from himself, better for him and 364 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:40,480 better for you. And with these words, mister Cameleon concludes tonight's murder case. 365 00:28:49,319 --> 00:28:53,200 Here's how to relieve a common early morning headache quickly instantly. You get 366 00:28:53,279 --> 00:28:56,599 up, take two bay or aspirin tablets with water, and chances are by 367 00:28:56,640 --> 00:29:02,599 the time you finished dressing your headache is gone. Bayer Aspirin works quickly because 368 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:06,839 it starts to disintegrate within two seconds after you take it. You can see 369 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:11,160 this two second dissenter iningaction with your own eyes By dropping a Bayer Aspirin tablet 370 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:14,240 in a glass of water. What it does in the water it does in 371 00:29:14,319 --> 00:29:18,079 your stomach, and because it's ready to go to work almost at once, 372 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:22,839 you get really fast relief. In addition, you get dependable relief. Of 373 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:26,240 all pain relievers, none can match Bayer Aspirin's record of use by millions of 374 00:29:26,319 --> 00:29:32,640 normal people without ill effect. So be sure to buy Bayer Aspirin. Get 375 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:36,000 the one hundred tablet bottle, and you get Bayer Aspirin tablets for less than 376 00:29:36,039 --> 00:30:03,000 a penny apiece. Listen next Wednesday night at the same time for Mister Cameleon, 377 00:30:03,279 --> 00:30:08,720 the Man of Many Faces in the Dinner of Death murder case. The 378 00:30:08,799 --> 00:30:14,680 part of mister Camellion is played by Carl Swinson, with dialogue by Marie Baumer 379 00:30:14,839 --> 00:30:19,119 from the original story by Frank and Anne Hummerton, music directed by Victor Arden. 380 00:30:19,599 --> 00:30:33,279 Your announcer is Howard Kline. After years of work, a revolutionary new 381 00:30:33,319 --> 00:30:37,599 toothpaste has been developed called Lion's Toothpaste. By actual laboratory test on scores of 382 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:41,039 individual teeth, it gets teeth two and a half to five and a half 383 00:30:41,119 --> 00:30:45,599 times brighter than any of the five leading brands, brighter by far than any 384 00:30:45,759 --> 00:30:52,200 other toothpaste. New Lions Toothpaste does this because its a new kind of toothpaste 385 00:30:52,599 --> 00:30:56,000 with a formula that's completely new and radically different. A remarkable toothpaste. It 386 00:30:56,079 --> 00:31:03,440 cleans without soap and polish is without talk. Try it. Ask for Lions 387 00:31:03,559 --> 00:31:17,440 Toothpaste. Listen for mister Chameleon in the Dinner of Death murder case next Wednesday 388 00:31:17,519 --> 00:31:21,640 night. At this time. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. 389 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:45,319 Welcome back one of the stronger mister Chameleon episodes in recent months. And clearly 390 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:49,480 the rackets gave him a fitting object for some righteous anger, and I like 391 00:31:49,599 --> 00:31:53,839 to see that in him, and I thought the story was pretty strong throughout 392 00:31:55,039 --> 00:31:59,880 well after the beginning. I did think sending mister Chameleon into the fire was 393 00:32:00,039 --> 00:32:04,400 a bit silly. Any fires out there, we're cringing at the idea of 394 00:32:04,519 --> 00:32:09,200 sending an untrained police detective into the fire. It wasn't necessary, but one 395 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:15,079 of the show's odd conceits is the super competence of mister Chameleon at everything and 396 00:32:15,279 --> 00:32:21,799 how anything right that happens has to be done by him. The series also 397 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:25,839 did return to an idea of the most seemingly altruistic person being the villain, 398 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:30,799 but I didn't mind it. They haven't been doing it every episode, so 399 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:34,720 I honestly didn't see it coming. Well, now it's time to thank our 400 00:32:34,839 --> 00:32:37,440 Patreon supporter of the day, and I want to go ahead and thank Haskell. 401 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:44,599 Haskell has been one of our Patreon supporters since August of two thousand and 402 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:50,319 fifteen, currently supporting the podcast at the shameless level of four dollars or more 403 00:32:50,359 --> 00:32:53,480 per month. Thank you so much for your support, Haskell, and that 404 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:58,960 will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us 405 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:04,039 using your faith podcast software. Be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever 406 00:33:04,119 --> 00:33:07,960 you download it from. We will be back next Thursday with another episode of 407 00:33:08,039 --> 00:33:14,119 Mister Chameleon. But join us back here tomorrow for the conclusion of the Cranesburg 408 00:33:14,319 --> 00:33:19,720 matter. Where come in, Betty, Thank you. I've got to have 409 00:33:19,799 --> 00:33:22,240 it back, mister Dollar, have what back the gun you were trying to 410 00:33:22,319 --> 00:33:25,920 hide? In the incinerator of this evening. Yes, of course you mean 411 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:30,200 this one. Oh yes, please, mister dollar. Somebody's trying to get 412 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:32,759 me into trouble. I don't know. I found that gun, that's the 413 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:36,839 truth, getting in a drawer in my room, out of the crane. 414 00:33:37,519 --> 00:33:38,880 I don't know. I don't know when I saw it. I got scared. 415 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:42,079 I was trying to get rid of it when you stop me. And 416 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:45,359 now tonight on the radio it says a man's been shot. Did you know 417 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:47,000 him? No? You know who's gun this is? I don't know anything 418 00:33:47,039 --> 00:33:51,480 about it. Don't give it to me, please. I liked you, 419 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:54,839 Betty, but I'm afraid things aren't that simple. What do you mean? 420 00:33:57,319 --> 00:34:01,680 All right, Chief, it's all yours. I hope you'll be with us 421 00:34:01,799 --> 00:34:07,440 then. In the meantime, do send your comments to Books thirteen at Great 422 00:34:07,519 --> 00:34:12,880 Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us 423 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:19,559 out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectives From Boise, Idaho. 424 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:22,880 This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.