Hello from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. When
I was growing up in the nineteen nineties, I remember some of the big
basic cable TV channels would do big movie marathons after Christmas, playing a lot
of well liked films, Christmas films, just general films that people tended to
like. And so for the next five days, we're going to bring you
fat your length programs from our archive. Feature length, I mean about an
hour, hour, ten minutes. We have some great programs to play for
you that I'm sure you'll enjoy. As a reminder, these programs do come
from throughout the podcast history, which not only means varying degree of host competence,
but also that any offers or websites mentioned during the podcast may not be
valid unless they're currently mentioned on our website. And don't worry, the opening's
not going to be near as long on future days. Let's get into today's
episode. Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment,
send it to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net. Follow us on
Twitter at Radio Detectives and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook,
dot com, Slash Radio Detectives. Before we do get started, I do
want to thank Rochelle for supporting the show during our listener support campaign. You
can still support the show on a one time basis at support dot great detectives
dot net or by on a monthly basis at Patreon dot great detectives dot net.
Well, we have something extra special for you. The very first Ellery
Queen over Radio was Hugh Marlowe, a famous stage and screen actor. Marlowe
starred as Ellery Queen in a series of one hour stories that aired from nineteen
thirty nine to nineteen forty. Here, he's brought back by the Ford Theater
to once again take on the role and with Santos Ortega and Ted de Cortia,
who played Inspector Queen and Sergeant Veeley in the original radio series. This
program originally aired January fourth of nineteen forty eight, and the title is the
Advance Cicature of a Bad Boy. This is the Ford Theater. An hour
of radio drama presented by the Ford Motor Company, makers of Ford Mercury and
Lincoln cars and Ford Trucks, Tractors and motor coaches. Today's play Ellery Queen's
The Adventure of the Bad Boy. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Howard
Lindsey speaking, Welcome to the Ford Guins today at second calendar year during nineteen
forty eight. If you care to join us here each Sunday afternoon, you
will encounter at this hour just about every sort of dramatic entertainment possible to radio.
In the Ford Theater, the plays the thing, and in choosing plays,
the management aims at quality, contrast, and variety. Last week an
original radio comedy, next week a great motion picture adapted for radio, and
this week mystery. This week the Forward Theater presents The Adventure of the Bad
Boy by Ellery Queen. Now there's a man I've always envied, Ellery Queen.
He gets around so much, meets so many different kinds of interesting people,
alive and dead. In the last few years on paper and on the
air, Ellery must have averaged one mysterious murder case per week, each neatly
solved in the end with the culprit delivered over to justice. And not only
does young mister Queen solve the mis he writes the story too. Between calls
for help from the homicide Squad. Also, of late, he's found time
to edit an excellent magazine for detective story fans, to pen learned dissertations on
the gentle art of mystery fiction, and to publish, just last month,
an anthology of choice crime tales. He's a versatile man, allery and a
busy one. He's also, by this time a legendary hero, an American
Sherlock Holmes with thousands of worshipful followers. We know that he's the son of
Gruffs Steely eydes not using Inspector Richard Queen, who can always be reached at
police headquarters on Center Street, Manhattan. And we know that he employs as
his secretary the beautiful, worshipful, long suffering Nicki, who even now is
typing up a forthcoming chapter in the multitudinous works of Ellery Queen. Meanwhile,
Ellery relaxes in an armchair deep in fault, because mister figures and nature is
maddeningly logical, said Ellery Queen. A bird flies, the sun rises,
a river flows, and the womb sleeps underline and the womb sleep end of
chapter Ellari Ellerie, where are you in the armchair? Nikki? I'm finished?
Lucky girl, Are you kidding? Huh? All you have to do
is dictate these foul mystery masterpieces of yours. I have to type them.
Remember I said, remember what NIGGI? Oh? Skip it. You haven't
actually seen me for years now. You don't even hear me, nik Think
nothing of it. After all? Who am I? Birth of the typing
machine? Girl? Even in the sweatshop the boss made a pass once in
a while. I'm sorry, Nikki, but I've been deep in thought.
Really about a little boy, Nikki? About a what a little boy?
Why? Ellery? Yes, it's time I did something about that situation.
You're the screwious character. Ellery. You would find a different way to do
it. What Oh, I would be in coy again. Most men would
start the other way round with the little boy's mother, a very nice woman,
I'm told, why thank you? Coming from you? Ellery, that's
a lavish compliment. I don't know. I'll have to think about it.
Oh, you don't have to think about it, Nikki. It's really my
problem, h you egotist. Well, I don't think you'd be interested,
Ellerie. Why do you think I've held on to this thankless, frustrating job
all these years? Is interested? The first thing we'll have to do is
tell your father dead. Oh no, NICKI not quite yet, not yet.
Why keep it a secret from the inspector because I'm not familiar with all
the facts, Nikki. Fact. Yes, it might not even be a
matter for the police at all. Police. Yes, I'll know more about
as soon as doctor Melton gets here, which concidentally ought to be any minute
now. But would you clear away all this truck? Of course if you
want to sit on and on it, I'll be very glad to have you
make notes, ellery queen, exactly what little boy were you talking about?
Bobby Hayes. Bobby Hayes and the nice woman Bobby's mother, of course,
Fancas Hayes. I see you've seen. Why NICKI, what's the matter?
Oh? Nothing, nothing at all. No, don't you dare come near
me. I don't seem to follow this at all. Oh oh, of
course you don't know a thing about this case, do you? And here
I've been talking is if you knew all about it? Yes, you just
said right down here by the fire, and I'll tell you the whole story,
that is, if you'd like to hear it, Nicky. Oh,
I'm simply fascinating well, well, to begin with, I first got to
know about it when doctor Melton phoned me. He got the story from the
principles his landlady Sarah Brinker, spinster who owns a small apartment house in Greenwich
Village, and Sarah Brink's unfortunate sister, Francis Francis Hayes, Missus Hayes,
and her little boy Bobby, who's eight, lived with Sarah Brink. I
think it was four nights ago at a begair Bobby Sobby, Yeah, yeah,
can't you say? Yes? Auntie? What is it? Bobby?
Bobby b My name is not Bobby Brings, it is not Ancella. It's
Bobby hay Bobby House. Dare you take that tone with me? It is
so Hayes. That's my father's name. That's mommy's name. So it's my
name too, No, my own name. I guess your father's a bad
man, Bobby. He ran away, left you and your mother alone.
He did not. Mommy says he's did. Well, it'll be a mercy
if he were. At least you and your mother have his insurance insurance.
What's that answer? Never you? Mr Bobby? Bobby put the funnies down
for a minute, do I have to Bobby Dear, don't you feel just
a little bit grateful to Aunt Sarah? And Auntie takes her sister into her
home and her sister's little boy gives them nice soft beds to sleep in and
good things to eat, even money to bed. Don't you think the little
boy ought to sort of weell love his auntie? Why I don't get so
much money to spay? You're a wicked, ungrateful boy. What have you
been up to in here while I've been making supper in the kitchen? Anthwery
Bobby some mischief, Barber, I'm not doing another and I'm just reading no
funny chasing the cats? Most likely I was not. I've been reading a
radio page. You miss all those nice programs since your mother's radio got broken
accidentally, don't you? Bobby dear? And so Connor, we have a
fix. I got answer Fellers all the time. What's happening to super?
Makes it now? Bobby listened to me? How would you like Aunt Sarah
to buy you a nice new radio, maybe a television set just for you?
She han? So would you? Why? Maybe if you gave me
a real big kiss once in a while, Bobby, who's there? Fencis?
Is that you? Yes, sir, my mom, superman, that's
so mug darling. What did you do today? Huh? Oh? Something
wrong there? Yes, he was a bad boy, Francis as usual,
I declare, I don't see why today you're always snitching Bobby, Mom,
I've played with the fellas in the park and a cop Chase's just because we
were climbing an old tree. You might have fallen there and that's not all
y. Yes, it's some more, Aunt Sarah, Bobby got just a
little honk of rock. Wouldn't I hurt nobody? And it just happened to
break a window there? Fancy are you set aside? Now? That was
wrong? Bobby? And I've told you so many times you mustn't talked to
your aunt Sarah this group. If you'd stay home and take care of your
child fences instead of prancing round all day. I wasn't prancing, Sarah.
I was walking my legs off looking for a joke. Oh, you and
your jobs. Your first duty is to your child. You know you don't
have to have a job. Fan, it's as long as you live with
me, sir, coming home at all hours stopper's ruined. It is it
is my stew. I don't want you all stew. I don't like stow
Bobby. Why Bobby, you're not having what would you think to a nice
Wesbry jelly only jelly on as Just as soon as I set see two places
to see down, I make sure of the Bobby Francis, hurry, will
you for pity take Bobby? Now you stop playing with that canary cage.
Bobby still, Sarah said, not stop it? Okay, mom? And
can I approne you to aunt tell my certainty you may, Bobby. Dear
Bobby, bring now see what you've gone and done leaving the canaries cage open?
There, go to canary, Sarah, catch all of old spoils,
misdheaving breath. If we can only aring in front, it's catching catch it
on him, No, dear, now it's grown up on the chandelier.
Oh, Bobby, coming down here there a supper dining room door. You
fly, yes, Sarah, bad catcher, Sarah, see I got him.
Well, it's about time your naughty canary back your goal? There are
you? Are you quite finished? Factors? Well? Now, Bobby,
ban suppose you tell me why you opened that canary's cage, and why you've
been sitting at the supper table and haven't so much has lifted a finger to
help catch him? I don't care. I was just playing with the old
birds. If you'll pass me the dirty old bird Robby has? What's come
over you? Bobby? Come here? Why? Son? You've always been
so kind and Sarah's pets, but now you chase Columbus, torment the canary,
go fishing and the goldfish bowl? Do you like tormenting animals and birds
and fish? Well? I suppose that lets him off kindness, reasonableness.
Trouble is fanci you don't discipline him if he were mine, Sarah, I'm
gonna talk about this after supper. Well, he jogs you Fancy, Yes,
sir, I suppose I might as released mine too, even if it
is I say cold by Now, well, well, what's the matter?
Fancy? Isn't my stew good enough for you? Bobby's omelet Sarah it forgotten?
Oh, Heather, Bobby, I'll make it for you. Down,
Sarah. Please, I have told you a thousand times, Fancies. I
won't have you or anybody else missing in my kitchen. Bobby will wait for
his supper since he spoiled hours. Well, Sarah, the stew can be
reheated. This my gas field don't high enough as it is. He'll wait,
Bobby, I won't eat. Go ahead more Martin way. I'm not
hungry anyway, Thank you, sir. Every time we sit down to eat
that awful siling thought, I declare that foreigner does it on purpose, just
to annoy me. That's only mister Webber. Don serday, sir. He
likes to play that song bottle Life. I must have been insane when I
wanted that a popping to him. I'll have him visy, That's what I'll
do. I'll have him thrown right out into the streets. Kim and his
nasty signal, well don't stop there happened then then Nicky. They finished their
supper. Sarah Brink made Bobby a jelly omelet, which he debarred with great
relish, while his mother began to clear the table. Boy, that was
gone. You liked bob let and had old stow Bobby. The steel is
delicious, Sarah. Bobby, you may leave the table for mommy. Why
can't I have a piece of apple pie? I'm especially hungry from piece of
apple pie. I've already told you, Bobby, if your mother won't punish
you, I do you get me me? Hi, Bobby, Please?
I told you to leave the table. Mom. May I go downstairs and
mister Gordinia You certainly mean Sarah, aren't you forgetting that I'm Bobby's mother.
I've told you and told you Francis letting a young child spend all of his
time with that, that worthless, greasy actor. He's as nice as anyone
you know, Sarah. Bobby, you may visit mister Gordiney for a half
an hour, then come upstairs to be Bobby. Wait, Bobby, I
forbid you. I forbid you. Do you understand you're not to go downstairs
and fantas? Just as long as you live in my home on my money,
you'll do as I say? Is that clear? I can't stand this
anymore. Oh, it's throwing up to me how the pended I am on
your charity trying to run my life my child because we have not the place
to live. I'm gonna leave. I'd rather s stop that killy crying.
If you listen to me, you wouldn't have been visited. But that's no
good husband of yours and that tennis to support a child. I was good
enough to take you in, and I'm good enough to dictate what's best for
you. That's Bobby is gonna well if you want to live in the street.
I suppose you're a aide, but you're supposed to love this child.
What are you going to feed him? A mom? I don't want to,
mister Gordini. It's okay, I'm all right in then, Mommy,
you may go down to please Bobby. Go on now, dear, No,
he's staying here, Bobby Brink, if you set foot outside this apartment,
Oh, Sarah, I fancy I feel so funny, Sarah. What's
the matter? Mommy? Yes, yeah, well Sarah look nice. Frogs
come on good Bobby run downstairs with doctor Melton quick attempted pidoning. I'm afraid
so ni curious case. Not that I condone it, but it seems understandable.
What an old bath she owns the Yes, it's one of those old
three story brownstones facing Washington Square Park. She's converted it into her four family
apartment house. The Brink's apartments on the top floor. Doctor Melton lives on
the ground floor, and the intermediate floor is occupied by two tenants, Webber,
a refugee who teaches the violin, and Gordini, who seems to be
an actor. But ellery they can't possibly have anything to do with it.
Ah, that's doctor Melton. I go, I'm Doctor Melton, and this
is Miss Sarah Brink. Come in, doctor, doctor Melton and miss Sarah
Brink ellery. Well, how you do evening? Miss Brink's the patient I
fall to you about, mister Queen. Easy now, Miss Brink please chair,
thank you, Sit down, Doctor Melton. Oh, this is my
secretary, Miss Porter. How are you doing this sport? I must say
I'm a little surprised doctor to see Miss Brink with you. She's still pretty
shaky, but I thought we'd risk it, mister Queen, even though it's
only four days since the accident. The accident, I don't excite yourself.
I told you, doctor Milton, it was some sort of accident. Oh.
I don't know why I've let you bring me here a detective, Miss
Brink. It couldn't have been enact. Oh cheer, What do you suspect,
doctor, I don't suspect. I know Miss Brink was poisoned by accidents.
Please, Miss Brink, I suppose you're asserting that not as a theory,
doctor, but in the fact. Judge for yourself. I know you've
had some experience with these things, mister Queen. Yes, Miss Brink ate
on an empty stomach. About ten minutes later she fell writhing to the floor.
Symptoms burning pain and throat and stomach, intense thirst, collapse, cyanosed
skin, difficult respiration, cramps in the calves of the legs, arsenical poisoning.
Yes, how awful. I suppose you had the remains of Miss Brink's
portion of STU analyzed, Doctor Melton. Of course it was heavily dosed with
arsenic, Miss Brink. Who are your heirs? My heirs? Yes,
with my sister. She's my only living Visit your sister and her little boy.
You mean he's your nephew, isn't he, Miss Brink? Yes,
comfortably fixed? Are you well? I own my own house, have a
few thousand dollars. Any domestic help? I do my old house work in
cooking, can't aford s m I see er, Doctor Melton, Yes,
mister Queen, I believe you said, missus Hayes. Miss Brink's sister ate
stew that evening and showed no ill effects, none at all. Obviously,
then only the stew on your plate, Miss Brink, was poisoned. Was
your sister in the kitchen at any time during the preparation of cooking of the
stew? Francis was away all day. She didn't get back till a few
minutes before I fetched the two plates of stew from the kitchen and set them
on the dining room table. Was your nephew in the kitchen while you were
cooking, Bobby? Oh? No, no, not at any time.
And after you set the plates down on the dining room table, Miss Brink,
did your sister have an opportunity to drop arsenic into your plate? I
tell you it was an accident. Did you know, just as I set
the fates down, Bobby let the canary escape and fantas and I began to
chase it. I know that, Miss Brink. I just wanted to be
sure. Uh. By the way, what was your nephew doing while you
and missus Hayes were chasing the canary? Bobby? Why why Bobby was seated
at the table alone, alone and unobserved? No? I mean, yes,
yes, he won't. He's very hard facts very often on Nikki or
Milton, take me home, Miss Brink. You can't let this drop.
I won't have another birds sat uppy in calm letter under ten. You may
have no choice, miss Brink. This is attempted murder. It's not.
It's not anyway if you want to deal, mister Queen, I I'll deny
everything, yes, and you didn't try to take me up here. I
won't pay it boot the Queen. I I didn't realize who was involved.
I mean, I think you ought to know though, that she's concealing her
real financial status. She owns half a dozen buildings in Greenwich Village and she's
one of the wealthiest women in the neighborhood. I'm sure of that. Doctor
Melton, Well, i'd better get her back home. She's still pretty weak,
you know, and at her age it was a narrow escape. I'm
sorry, it's all right, doctor, Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye. Ellery.
Isn't there something you can do if she denies the story and refuses to
press charges, Nicky, I'm afraid not. But I just can't believe it.
It's frightening an eight year old boy Ellery. Yes, Apparently the boy
released the canary deliberately to lure his mother and aunt away from the table so
that he could poison his aunt. Stew unobserved, I don't care how much
of an old witch Sarah Brink is to do a thing like that, a
boy of eight, He must be a thene dellery psychopatha keys Well, something
ought to be done about it. The woman's in danger, that's quite true,
Nikki. Unsuccessful poisoners usually repeat, Nikki, what what kind of stew
did Sarah Brink say she cooked that night? Kind of stew? Yes?
I don't know, Ellerie. I don't think she said, oh careless of
me? I should have asked her. Well about all we can do,
Nikki is to try to enter some social service agency and hope for the best.
Hand me the phone, will you? But it wasn't to be.
Everything was closed for the New Year's weekend, and then it was just yesterday
afternoon, Elleri, queen's residence. Not truly inspect the queen, right,
Ellie? Yeah? Your father? Oh yes, Dad, TONI you never
forgive me, but I didn't let you in on this. You know what
dead that guy? This case? I ever s are? Can you get
down here in fifteen minutes, I'll try and hold him, hold him,
hold home. Witnesses to the crime. About three dozen, three dozen?
What acts? You don't either'll probably be three hundred of them dead. I
don't see what he's washing in square? No, make it snappy, Ay,
thirty six B Washington Square North. Are you mumbling about ellery? What
are the inspector on? Nicky? Nicky? That's the address of doctor Melton's
poison case. I'll bring yes and death. There's been another crime. Come
on, three dozen witnesses, an inspector. Queen, usually the coolest cop
between the battery and the Bronx, is in a state of considerable excitement.
We'll meet the witnesses and Queen the Elder inact too, along with Sergeant Veeley
and the quartum of suspects. In the meantime and in the intermission, we'll
meet with Kenneth Sanghart, who speaks for the Ford Motor Company. And Among
the hardest working and most respected people in our nation are the country doctors,
the men and women who bring healing knowledge and skill to even the most remote
farms and homes day after day, in all kinds of weather. They make
their rounds through forests and mountains and deserts, going wherever they needed, and
because their work is so important and their travel is frequently difficult. The Ford
Motor Company is proud that so many doctors prefer to drive Forward cars. One
of these is doctor H. Flatson of Crossville, Tennessee. The people who
live and work in the hills around Crossville know doctor Lawson very well. Summer
or winter, dust or snow or mud, over the roughest roads and steepest
hills, doctor Lawson gets there when he's needed. Recently, doctor Lawson wrote
to the Ford Motor Company to say why he preferred to drive a Ford.
He said that he can always start his Ford in any kind of weather,
that it rides comfortably, that his Ford always takes him where he wants to
go, no matter how bad the driving conditions, My Ford has never failed
to come through, he wrote. As a rural doctor, I am qualified
to say that no other car can beat a Ford for all round performance under
all conditions. That's the kind of service and dependability that millions of Americans have
learned to expect from Ford products. That's the kind of performance you can expect
from any product made by Ford. Act too of the Adventure of the Bad
Boy will be presented after a brief pause for station identifications, the Ford Theater
The Adventure of the Bad Boy Act too. Our intermission turned out to be
just long enough for Ellery, Queen and Nikki to hail a cab hop in
the same and head for thirty six B Washington Square North, the scene of
the crime. We picked them up as they swing around the lower fifth Avenue
corner of Washington Square Robed Nikki, come on, Wonderman, waitful, lady,
excuse me, please by letting it through or you might carry me.
Want me, officer, mister Green here, what tide you up? Stand
back there, stand back, you're still with me? Nikki, you'll qualify
him. Kelly, you don't think there's been another. I'm trying up to
come in my shirt. Come home. Really, it's about time. Well
y'all sat for a little surprise. What's happened to your target? People?
Right this way, folks, inspectors, wait for Deeli. What's told the
mystery about? I got my orders show? You'll say the surprise, Targeant,
I'll say it to surprise one more flat, huh the brink apartment?
That is correct? Hey, you know the all day myself? Yes,
sir, dead on again, checker. Let you see this, then you
won't believe it. Try me. It's wait please, this is the upper
hall. Ettery goes off here or lead the various rooms of the apartment that
occupies the whole floor. Yeah, him in ready, yeah, ready,
Betty take it. Okay we do he repay eh. Oh, but inspect
the queen. We don't have to go through all fatties. I think once
would be enough. I'm not mad. They are all of them. Dad,
Will you please sit joke, isn't it? Inspector? I'm joe.
All right, boys, take a position just outside the door. All right,
this is exactly what we found when we got here and open this door.
Yeah, open it. I remember, fellas. This is all for
Gerald n Yu two fourteen eighty nine. Half lets one get away that rabbit.
Rabbit, yeah, rabbit heard them when half an hour chasing through the
house trying to recapture that Dad blanted, funniest come out of this bedroom.
Matter whose room is a dead woman named Sarah Brink, owner of this house.
Sarah, No, Nikki, stay in the hall, Epsun. That's
just what we found when the rabbit schooled fast? What there a Brink?
Mickey dido. Uh huh yeah. Now let's see the offense of these bedrows.
Not looks like there was a struggle. Sure there was a struggle,
inspector with old man death. Uh huh yeah, you struggle too if you
die of what she did. Now let's see, Well, what was it
you to dab a mechanic kana dick your blood pressure? Fin time for a
pal. Who's that bomb pedal teacher that lives downstairs name Webber pay The family
lunched on rabbit stew today, Yes, and right after lunch the old girl
came in here to lie down for a nap, had some vittles in her
stomach. I'll bet before she ate that stewld buys you to passed out at
table. Well, gentlemen, it's our cenical poison. Ah wow, I
begin to think we weren't speaking all right. Yes, sir, our cenical
poison. Your positive doctor proty sunken features, cyanose skin irritation, eyelids,
and skin eruptions that can't possibly be a mistake. Doubt, my boy is
the deity of science. But in this case I'd stake my professional reputation.
It was our senior oxide white au snake better, no outs right away,
Praddy, make sure truly runches test to do the trick. She'd have been
luckier if she'd been born a rabbit. Marshnik won't kill them their immune.
Okay, call the wagon on the way, Doc, and uh, here's
your removal order. What's this? I ten this top hat on Sarah Brink's
night table dead. Ah you spotted it? Ay? Why was she a
male in person? Here? Uh? Interesting? On myself? Well,
I'll be observed. I have nothing of my sleeve. I insert my right
hand in the hat. Hocus pocus open sesame to erln Spiegel. Presto a
rabbit? Very interesting? So what? Uh? Merely one bunny too scared
to run away when you boys opened the door. Sergeant took refuge in this
soak tougher h top hat and rabbits. The murder must have been committed by
a magician. Huh, I my story. You throw me your throw walk
over that butt? Here? Inspect that? Tell you say that really?
I bet your frame over death. I wasn't serious, and I am.
He was buzzed by a magician. All right, I've got him in the
living room right now under arrest. You mean there's actually a magician mixed up
in this. Of course, the actor uh huh live downstairs across the harden
web. The violin teacher Bardo magician Manestra calls himself Guardini, the great m
I want to see him, Planspector, didn't even acting up jealous or rabbit.
I don't mean to tell you how to run your business, Inspector,
but believe me, I didn't poison Sarah Brink. I know, Gordeini,
You're just a victim of a plant. Is my son Aiari. He wants
to tell you because the Gordini. I'm very much interested in Sarah Brink's death.
I'm told you home today in your apartment of around noon when she was
poisoned. That's right, mister Queen. I'm temporarily at liberty. You gotta
use your time to better advantage. Just a moment, sergeant. I'm told
too, mister Gordini, that the fire escape makes it possible for you to
have been just outside Sarah Brink's kitchen window while the two plates of rabbit stew,
which Miss Brink and her sister, missus Hayes ate for lunch today,
stood on the serving cabinet near the kitchen window. Yes, mister queen,
that the kitchen window has an iron grill which can only be opened from inside.
All the windows at the back of his house have How am I supposed
to have got past those bars? Well, there's thing that jake god denny'd
you get my lazy tones? It's not a lazy time? And what are
they inspectors? Nach Para says, This baby opens and shoots out and criss
crossing slats like this time you missed my schnozz by half an inch. I
missed, didn't I you got the idea entry, Yes, it's part of
Gordeny's magic equipment, comes from his stuff downstairs. The Danny used to on
the fire escape outside the brink kitchen window and dropped arsenic and the Sarah's prayed
of stew from the end of these tongues through the grild. What can I
do but deny? And it's not true. In the top hat that's packetson
side guardeeny a regular magician's hat. You admit it, youre of course it's
mine if you're innocent. How did it get into the brink woman's bedroom.
I don't know, dead, No, I didn't I've had you check this
afternoon. He real handles Gordon, Algan and Gardon, and you were a
chemist before he became a stage magician, and you'd know all about arseny.
Wouldn't you miss that garden GUARDEENI, I see, I'm to be convicted on
coincidence, now, coincidence that you've been quarreling with the murdered woman Gardeiny.
The whole neighborhood knows about it, calling about what all saying as the young
lady told him to keep away from her sister Francis and the kid bombing.
Oh that's pretty circumstantial, Dad, and bat this around, Ellie. I've
got a witness who lives in the McDougall Alley house opposite the back windows here.
My witness say she saw Gordeeny's standing on the fire escape outside Sarah Brings
kitchen window at just about the time that rabbit still must have been poisoned?
Is that true, Gordeini, Yes, mister Queen, I was there,
but I was well snoopy. Why I'd rather not say very name that Anny.
That's se best you can know that. There's one fact you've overlooked.
The punch is a pretty big hole in your grdeeny theory. A that's done.
Francis Hayes had stew for lunch today too, didn't she? Yes,
she wasn't poisoned, was she? Now? But both plates of stew,
you say, the one which Sarah ate and the one which Francis ate,
were on a serving cabinet near the kitchen window accessible to Gordeeny on the fire
escape through the lazy tongs. How could GORDEENI have known which plate was Sarah?
Yes? How could I have known? Maestro's got something there? Inspector?
As for Gordeeni's top hat being in Sarah's bedroom, Bobby Hayes told me
he brought it there this morning. Yes, yes, I'd forgotten that.
That's quite possible. Bobby often plays with my paraphernata. Furthermore, the rabbits
are on Gordeini's They were Sarah bras. She sometimes't sped them in her room.
I think that pretty well explodes the circumstantial case against Gardeeny. Thank you,
mister queen. But I'm not through with you. Gardeeny. You're obviously
concealing something. What is it? I don't know what you mean, Gardeeny.
I think you know poisoned Sarah Brink do you you do? Don't you?
Now? Talkie, see if you can make Gardeeny change his mind.
Dad, where are you going? Oh? The snoop around. I knew
something horrible would happen in this house. I knew it. You honey,
Honey, missus Hayes, You've got to control yourself. Yes, Bobby,
So it's all right out beside, baby, And Sarah's just gone away,
Bobby, Why she's dead long? Bobby? Who is that? Probably an
officer? Come in? Oh, Nicky ellery well led you with missus Hayes.
Nikki, Hi, Bobby, Hi, Miss Porter's been a great help,
mister queen, you are real detective. Well sometimes I wonder, Bobby,
missus Hayes. All the pets in this house, canary cat, goldfish,
they were your sister Sarah's, weren't they? And the rabbits too,
mister queen. Oh, yes, the rabbit. I assume she didn't quarter
them in her bedroom permanently. Why did she usually keep them, Missus Hayes
in the backyard a real rabbit hatch, that's so, Bobby. Yeah,
Sarah, missus Hayes, who fed them? Sarah wouldn't let anyone else take
care of you. Remembered something, missus Hayes. Yes, Sarah had an
argument last week mister Webber. She got him feeding her rabbits in the yard.
Why did she tell him off? Webber? Must be Webber playing the
violin? Now excuse me, Sargeant. Have Webber brought up? Will you?
Now? That's constructive? Anything to stop that? Siddle or missus Hayes.
You had rabbit stew rather often, didn't you? At least once a
week. Sarah is was very fond of it. She killed her own rabbits.
They were multiplying so rapidly. I don't like rabbit stew. Yeah,
Mom doesn't either. She only ate it because ain't Sallah made of Bobby?
Just after your sister brought the plates of stew into the dining room for lunch
today, Missus Hayes, did did anything unusual happen unusual? Well? I
don't think I well, like uh, like the escape of the canary last
week? Well you mustn't think Bobby's a bad boy, mister Queen. He's
just mischievous like most boys of his age. And he didn't he did happen
at lunch today? You can telling Mom I pushed over a fishbowl. Oh,
Emory, Sorry, Nikky. And while your mother and aunt were rescuing
the goldfish, Bobby, what were you doing sitting at the table? Aunt?
Sarah was yelling at me. She said, get it that E couldn't
have chocolate cream pie. I'm glad she did all he yelled at me,
Bobby, you mustn't talk that way about well, Inspector, Sergeant, doctor
Multin and hair Webber. What is now anyway? Oh? We've just been
chewing the fathom here dad, mister Webber, you're the violinist we've been hearing
all afternoon. Yeah, missus Hayes, I'm terribly sorry about your schveesta.
Miss Brink, I hear what happens? If you're sorry? Why have you
been playing your violin? And my sister? I'm dead up here about the
sister? How do you say sad music, missus Hayes, I have sad
feelings. I play sad music. What I am from where I come and
it's all sad everything everyone, even here. I cannot forget. Mister Webber.
I understand you fed Sarah Brinks rabbit last week. Yeah, yeah,
mid letters hmm. She was very angry with you and tell. I sit
in the backyard thinking of kne Stutta, sweet cow. I play my violin.
I lay it on the bench, I feed the bunny. Miss Brink
she comes out. She takes my violin. She breaks it in little pieces.
She is like a crazy woman. That is my good violin. The
other, the one I play now on, that is not so good.
There I had a vile temper. I'm sorry, mister Webbert. I didn't
know about that. Cheerly. I want you shall pay for my instrument.
I am poor, but she says no, I should move. I do
I move tomorrow? Had doctor Melton? He's moving also? Oh really and
try, doctor Melton. Yes, as soon as I can find new quarters
in this neighborhood. Why are you moving, doctor, Well, my patients
are all pretty poor, mister Queens. They don't play very well. I've
been behind in my rent. The other day. Miss Springs said you wouldn't
wait any longer. That well, I'd have to get out, Doctor Melton.
I didn't know that either. I know, missus Hayes. I suppose
I own this house now, or you don't have to move. You've been
here so long, doctor, that's very decent of you missus Halees, and
you too, mister Webber. You stay on and as soon as I can,
I'll pay for your broken violin. Donk your shirt, donk you shouldn't
take your call. I have have stick for them. Ah. This right
is one part ninety nine parts waiting reports, reports, Where are they?
Inspector? You ought to be ashamed of yourself kicking that cat here past,
But the nasty old man hurt your feeling. That's goldfish, canaries, rabbits,
regular zoos. Don't look at me, that winnife. I didn't kick
the confounded beast. I didn't know he was there. There he's apologized for
He's a nice, nasty old man. And what's the answer to this blanted
ridder? If Gordini didn't point in the stew and I've got a notion,
Dad, just the vegus notion. Oh, the great man has a notion.
Imagine that puss who did ever grow up to be a great, big
idea? Won't swipe my gun, my gun, inspector, my rod.
Somebody lefts him right out of my horser. Was that one? I come
on, was it dodgeant? I'm ashamed of you. You better find it
daily before it turns up on the scene of a crime. No, I
don't never hear the end of this. It's the funniest Who is my hacker?
Funny? Sure it was in my bag? Your handkerchief missing, mickey?
No, well, in my comeback, it isn't here. What is
now? You better take a look at yourself. Son, My father him,
it's gone. Hey, why it's not fun what inspector flint? What
is it? Dot? Probably just holds from the morgue. He said something
about some mucous hemorrhages showing up in the PM or something. Anyway, the
old dames dying of arsenic poisoning. He says, well, that's brownri flant.
When you know that, well, there's a report from the city taxacologist
too. You know that white stuff looked like flower we scraped up from the
floor of the rabbit hutch. Dead. You found a white powder in the
backyard. Rabbit hutch cheers hand before you got here? So what well,
the toxicgologists says, that's artiny too, Arsenick and the rabbit hutch. Why
didn't someone tell me I am a chill again? I found my gun.
Yeah, on the downstairs hall table. My gun and your it's not fox,
by the way. Uh give me there. Thanks. You didn't find
a compact by any chance, Sergeant, I'm sure dad, that's yours.
Miss porter, thank you don't tell me, Am. I sure this fountain
pen of yours? Yes, yes, sergeant. Thanks. They were all
in the downstairs whole table. Huh uh uh. Awful funny around here.
Someone swiped something for me, each one of us. He was a plain
sight to be found thief who returns his loot, but he didn't want to
stop playing, saying that he steal it in the first place. That's it.
What is the key to the whole case? Ellery? You mean the
one who's stelling the key the key to the whole case, the key to
the whole case. Somewhere around this point, I believe it used to be
novelist queen's practice to challenge the reader to name the culprit, with all the
pertinent facts at his disposal. My guess always goes wrong, and in this
case, I suspect so as yours at three will shall we say let the
cat out of the bag or the rabbit out of the hat, And so
you might just as well give up, stop guessing and relax and listen to
Kenneth Banghart for the Ford Motor Company. During the past forty four years,
the experience of millions of people has proven countless times that Ford products are outstanding
for their reliability, economy, and service. Three generations have recognized the name
Ford as an American symbol of quality and dependability. And now there is another
definite scientific proof of Ford quality on a large scale. A recent study conducted
by independent life insurance experts determine the life expectancy of the five largest selling makes
of trucks. The experts tabulated and studied the histories of almost five million trucks
and established the average life expectancy of each make. That study proved that Ford
trucks last ten percent longer than the average truck. It proved that Ford trucks
last up to nineteen and six tens percent longer than their four principal competitors.
This scientific study is conclusive proof of what Ford truck owners have known for a
long time, that Ford trucks last longer. It's an unusually important tribute to
the quality of Forward products. But even this outstanding record is not good enough.
True to the Ford tradition, Ford trucks are constantly being improved. Soon
there will be new model forward trucks with new power, versatility and beauty.
They will be built on a basic principle of engineering, which assures even longer
life for Ford trucks. And you will be served better because the organization that
is built more trucks than any other. Ford Bill's trucks stronger to last longer.
You can depend on Ford. As the previous actended, you will recall
Ellerie Queen had just discovered the keys for the whole case, to which as
are curtain rises once more, Nicky makes replies, you know, Ellerie,
you are the most exasperating man alive. You mislead people me, for instance,
what NICKI oh, I know you're not listening. You never do make
people think things. Then it turns out to be something entirely different. The
inspector can't help himself, after all, he's your father. But someday I'm
bo what this, Nikky? Oh? Why do I always fall for it?
An old closet key to the whole case? What key? No answer?
The great man wraps himself a mystery, hush hush, top secret.
Ellerie, will you come out of that closet and listen. You come into
this closet and listen. Huh here it Nikki, sound hollow. Something funny
about that wall. This is Bobby's bedroom. Look sliding panel? Who of
medieval? Isn't it? Llery? No niggi? Simply eight year old boy
Bobby saw him through the back wall of his closet. Let's see what's behind
this panel? Secret passages? Yet here give me that flash Niggi slight of
wooden stairs going wow, Hollo, are you rich? You've got the flesh
here? Nikki, watch your step ELLOI doesn't that violin of Webber sound louder
uh apparently acts as an amplifier on the word leads in the door? Just
an old attic, probably couldn't have the stairs hardly an old house, Nikki,
out of the original. The stairs were probably boarded up during some red
elevation and Bobby's rediscovered them. What's that? If you leave me, you're
and the dog got the commune? Nikki. Look at this sign sign Robert
Hayes magician Bobby's handiwork, Ah, what's this box? You're also messing there?
Yes, cards, ten cups, trick coins on handkerchiefs, roofs,
collapsible knife, the usual magician's truck. Ah, don't try to impress me.
What's in that packet magic? I'm afraid Nikki is the more deadly magic
than that more deadly a white powder Nikki, white powder arsenic. I can't
believe it. I just can't do. I wonder why Gordein he didn't tell
the truth he knew all the time as a boy, a boy of aid.
Well, let's go downstairs, Nikki and get it over with. Well,
the spot, the discouragement of our host against trying to solve this baffling
puzzle. We're gonna make a stab at it. And joining me to as
our armchair detective is Christy from Spokane Valley, Washington. She's a writer and
a jewelry designer. And Christy, listen to the case and what is Who
do you think didn't? I listened to it two and a half times,
and about the only thing I've come up with is I don't think the boy
did it. I have a suspicion that the aunt actually potentially poisoned herself the
first time as a means of teaching the boy a lesson and getting him in
trouble because It just seems like something based off of what we were hearing,
she would have done. I don't think the mother or the boy actually did
the poisoning for the action for the killer, but I could not figure out
who would have had enough motive to do the actual killing for that final poisoning.
Well, we've got a negative guess that it's not the the boy or
his mother, right. I just don't think that, you know, if
anything, if he did it the first time, it would have been I
don't think it was on purpose, but I think that she actually poisoned herself
the first time just to further corral the boys, you know, her sister
into submission as a see, see this is how bad your boy is?
And see aren't I doing a nice thing by taking care of him despite the
fact that he tried to kill me. Just sounds like something she would have
done. Okay, well, we will see if you're right in just a
second. And thanks so much for joining us today. Thank you. All
right, Well, let's get now back to ellery queen and the solution to
our mystery. Can you know I've seen everything you have, I've got all
the facts. They don't add up to a thing bad mathematics. Dad,
unless this kid, mister Bobby, had a chat. I'm not simon the
wrong racket. Never, please do it quickly. His poor mother is so
upset. All right, all right, let's go, but I'll be balling
in a minute. Fuye, Please please Bobby, Bobby dear, hey,
mom? What are they going to do? Now? Why everybody so quiet?
Bobby? I want you to do something for mother. I want you
to go to my bedroom and stay there. Oh Mom, I want to
see I never saw a real detective. Get his name. I want to
stay. Bobby. Please go, Missus Hayes, Missus Hayes, I prefer
Bobby to remain here here Green. Why don't you lets the boy go?
This is no place for a child eight years old. And suppose you tell
us mister god who poisoned Sarah Brink? Tell us and I'll send Bobby away.
No, I don't want to go away. Why won't you tell us,
mister Gordeeny. Of course I've got no proof. You wouldn't believe me.
I see Gardeini. When you were on the fire escape, you were
looking for proof, weren't you, Yes, Bobby, you and mister Gordeeny
are great pedals. I take it, Bobby, because oh, Mom,
sure and mister Queen were just like that. And Bobby's at the age,
Gordeini when he's most susceptible to the fascinations of secret passages, sliding panels and
magic. Right, Gordeini, you've been teaching Bobby magic. Haven't you want
to see all the tricks mister Gardini showed me, Bobby, don't say anything.
And when mister Gordeni showed you all these marvelous magic tricks, Bobby,
just what he tell you when I had a practice all the time. Practicing
is the way you get to be a great magician. And h Sergeant Peeley's
revolver, Bobby my fountain, pen Inspector Queen's frockbox, and oh, miss
Porter's come pact. When you took them from us under our noses, Bobby,
you were simply practicing, weren't you. Bobby stole things. Oh mister
Greedy couldn't beave. He told me a boy, he didn't know what he
was doing. I get to Mom, Obbie, I wasn't stealing him.
I left him right in the downstairs hall table, didn't I. That's how
I knew it was you Bobby, I just wanted to see about cord mister
Queen. That's not stealing, Bobby, Bobby, I didn't steal. I
didn't steal. And get it over with, will you? And Bobby,
you took that packet of white powder too, didn't you? White powder and
hid it in your attic hideout? M I Bobby, don't answer. Let
the boy answer, Missus Hayes, please, Bobby. Mister Gordean, he
told me to look for packages of white powder. That's sorry. He said
to take him and give him him some of the coastals clear, but that
one he had it. I didn't get the chance, mister Gordeeny, I
was going to give it to you. Bobby, don't say anymore, not
Gordeeny. What is this nry Bobby? What else did mister Gardeeny tell you
to do? Well? Then he didn't tell me nothing, Bob, Bobby,
you can tell me because I know you do. Yeah, yeah,
you're sure. You're a detective. Detectors know everything. But I have promised
not to tell well, and suppose I tell you, Bobby, and then
it won't be breaking a promise, will it. Mister Gordeeny told you there
was something you had to do to save your mother's life, isn't that right?
She held you know that to save my life, mister queen, and
Bobby my life. You had to do that thing every time there was rabbit
stew for lunch or supper, didn't you, Yes, sir, it was
something fierce. I had to watch all the time. I had to save
my mother's wife. I don't know why, but that's what mister Gordeoni told
me. Oh, Bobby, And when you couldn't do this certain thing that
mister Gordeeny had told you to do, Bobby, when you couldn't do it
without your mother not seeing you, you were a very smart boy. You
decided to distract their attention the way magicians do when you don't want them to
see their trip. That's right, Bobby, that's right. So last week
you purposely let the canary escape. This afternoon, you purposely upset the fish
bowls. Rise son, But the love of peat, why had diversion?
Dad can only have one purpose to mask an act. When his mother and
I were chasing that canary last week, while they were saving the goldfish today,
Bobby took the two plates of rabbit stew his mother's and his aunts and
switched them all. That's what you told Bobby to do every time they had
rabbit stew, Gordini to switch the two women's plates because you knew Gaudini.
You knew the secret of those rabbits. What secretary, what are you talking
about? My star Bobby? Will you leave the room now, please?
Yes, sir, I don't understand either or Doctor Proudy said today that rabbits
are immune to arsenic, So if he fed rabbits lettuce or carrots which had
been dosed with a poison, it wouldn't hurt them a bit, but their
flesh would become permeated with it. Then if you made a rabbit stew,
you'd be arsenically poisoned. Dead. You found arsenic and the rabbit hutch that
proved the animals were being fed the poisoned while they were still alive. Then
they were slaughtered and cooked into a stew. And yet only one portion of
the stew was poisoned. How is that possible? Who could have controlled the
preparation of the stew so rigidly that one portion was cooked with poisoned rabbits and
the other with unpoisoned rabbits. Only one person, the person who wouldn't let
anyone else feed the rabbits, the person wouldn't let anyone else prepare food in
her kitchen, the cook herself. There my sister, sayah, yes,
Missus Hayes, your sister, Sarah, She obviously wasn't trying to poison herself
or Bobby's who always refused rabbit stews. She could only have been trying to
poison you. Oh God, any used to be a chemist. You saw
Sarah Prince sprinkle a white powder on the rabbit's food in the hutch. One
day, you scraped some of it up, analyzed it, saw the whole
thing in a flash. And to save missus Hayes, Lfe, you got
Bobby to switch plate every time the sisters had rabbit stew, and Bobby did
so, never realizing significant of his act. And so you got Sarah Brink
to poison herself. But why, mister queen, why didn't my sister want
to kill me? I have nothing? Oh you you underestimate your wealth,
missus, as you have a boy, a son, and all your sister's
possessions couldn't buy her that she wanted Bobby, Yes, Nikki, she wanted
Bobby. Well, I'm sure that all of you are as happy as I
am to learn that Bobby was not a culprit. The first time I heard
the play in rehearsal, my money went down on the doctor. But as
I said, I'm always wrong about these things. Our performance engaged the talents
of three members of the original cast of the Ellery Queen series, Hugh Marl,
prominent star of the Broadway stage in motion pictures who created the role of
Ellery Queen, Santas Artaga as Inspector Richard Queen, and Ted Decarcia once more
in the part of Sergeant Vley Nicky, was played by Charlotte Keene. Next
Week, Storm in a Teacup as a motion picture, Storm in a Teacup
was one of those all two rare events, a comedy of solid warmth and
character, a photoplay about real people. If you join us next week,
you will find, I think that the story has lost none of its warm
humor. In translation to radio for the first time. Next Sunday, then
you have an appointment to meet missus Honoria Hegety, her dog Patsy, and
the people they stirred into a Storm in a Teacup. The adventure of the
Bad Boy was written by Ellery Queen. The continuity was by George Faulkner.
The original music was composed and conducted by Lynn Murray. Our editor is Howard
Tepeman, and the entire production was under the direction of George Zachary. The
other players turned in today's broadcast were Brad Barker, Harold durren Forth, Sarah
Fustells, John Gibson, Abril Harris, Jane Houston and Seymour, Walter Vaughan,
and Guy Wallace. The Board Theater is presented by the Ford Motor Company,
makers of Ford Mercury and Lincoln cars and Ford Trucks, tractors and motor
coaches. This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company. This is Andrew from
Otrwesterns dot com. I wanted to invite you to come take a look at
our site. We stream live OTR Westerns twenty fours a day, seven days
a week, along with putting out podcasts of old time radio Westerns. Check
us out at Otrwesterns dot com. You're listening to the great detectives of old
time radio with Adam Graham. Now let's get back into the show. Welcome
back, Well a very fascinating and involved mystery and uh and and that's not
entirely surprising, but still I found it pretty interesting. Uh. This episode
actually was a remake of a play from the Ellery Queens series that aired between
nineteen thirty nine and forty. Adventure of the Bad Boy was actually the seventh
story that was aired back in nineteen thirty nine, and that may also explain
why it seemed a little perhaps a little bit more melodramatic than your typical Ellery
Queen story or most nineteen forties detective story scripts. And so the Ford Theater
really did radio listeners then and particularly radio listeners of the future, such a
great service because none of these original hour long Ellery Queen mysteries are in circulation,
but this episode of the Ford Theater, which recreated one of those episodes
is, and that was definitely a trait. There are a couple other notes
I should add. They didn't actually do the armchair detective thing for the Ellery
Queens series back in these early episodes. That was something that was a later
innovation. But I thought that despite the urging of the host, that our
armchair detectives would take a stab at it. And the one thing I do
kind of wonder about is when I look at the date of this program January
fourth of nineteen forty eight, there actually was an ongoing Ellery Queen's series airing
on ABC that we've been listening to with Lawrence Dopkin and then Howard Culver.
I'm curious how they managed it from a rights perspective, but I honestly don't
know how they would do that. But at any rate, however they did
it, it was a very enjoyable hour. But we're not quite done with
Ellery Queen yet, even though we've listened to all the American Elleri Queen episodes,
because next week next week we're heading down Under for an Australian episode of
Ellery Queen. As we wrap up the series on the Great Detectives of Old
Time Radio. In the meantime, sendor comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives
dot net. Be sure and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook
dot com, slash Radio Detectives and follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives.
But from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Grahamson and off