Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio and our second special of this
listener support campaign. And it is actually an interesting title for a special.
But before we do get started, it's as a support campaign. We're focused
on one time donations today. We still do encourage you to become one of
our Patreon supporters Patreon dot Great Detectives dot net if you'd like, But if
you want to give a one time donation, we certainly welcome that during this
Kim Hang throughout the year, any donation of seven dollars or more we send
access to our premium side. But during the Listener support kim Hang, with
a donation of twenty dollars or more, we will not only send you access
to our premium side, we'll send you a free ebook plus one additional thank
you gift of your choice among the items that we do have as thank you
gifts. At the fifty dollars level, we will send you either volume one
or Volume two of David Gallaher's Living Boy graphic novel series, the only Living
Boy graphic novel series. Fantastic series for those of you who live in the
United States or Canada, and with a donation of fifty dollars or more,
will send you send it to you if you've got a child, grandchild,
nephew, niece who's in need of some exciting and fun reading material. I
think you'll enjoy The Only Living Boy. It's got a great kind of flash
Gordon feel. Also, at the fifty dollars level, we'll send you Radio
Archives Audiobook Box thirteen, which features six new adventures with Dan Holiday performed as
an audiobook. So if you want more of Dan Holiday, of course,
whose adventures were circumscribed to fifty two episodes over radio, this is a great
way for the adventure to continue, and we'll send that to you with a
donation of fifty dollars or more. And at the seventy five dollar level,
we'll send you the Hillary Kane Mysteries Collection. It's a fascinating and fun series
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of the era. And we will send you that with a donation of seventy
five dollars or more. A full list of available thank you gifts are at
support dot Great Detectives dot net. As I mentioned, the title of today's
program is sort of appropriate for our listener support special. It's The Laws Special.
Now, I will admit right off, this is rarely listed among the
greatest episodes of suspense ever, but it's a personal favorite of mine because of
the absolutely great performance that Orson Wells puts on in this one. And it's
such an imaginative rendering and slightly a shift of point of views from the traditional
telling of the Law Special as it was written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,
particularly being told from the criminals perspective. For our somewhat more traditional rendering of
the story, we actually did that about a thousand episodes before a little less
than a thousand episodes episode zero nine nine zero, an episode of Escape starring
Ben Right. You can go ahead and listen to that, but this one
always has a very special place in my heart for just the very interesting perspective
it takes. So let's go ahead and take a listen to the suspense version
of The Law Special. The original air date September thirtieth of nineteen forty three,
And let's go ahead and take a listen to mister Orson, Well,
fans, are you men and women in the Armed Force of the United Nations,
We present one of America's top spine tinglers, a radio rebroadcast of a
program dedicated to the mysterious, the unusual, and sometimes the supernatural, a
program of suspense. The user of suspense asks you to almost believe that the
following is true. Very well, standing beside me, surrounded by two guards,
as a man who in a few short hours is to be put to
death in the electric chair. His last request to the warden was that he'd
be allowed to speak on this program and reveal what he calls some startling information.
Warden naturally turned to us, and we at once complied, anxious at
all times to do anything, however strange, that will hold our listeners in
suspense. All right, ladies and gentlemen, I'm speaking, Yes, ladies
and gentlemen, this broadcast will never be completed. I am going to tell
you a story. The story involves a number of famous and influential people here
as well as abroad. These people have received warning from me, and I
am sure all of them are making it a point to listen to me.
Now. I shall not name these great, these rich, these influential gentlemen.
Until my story is over, they will recognize this story, They will
remember me, they will take the necessary steps for my reprieve. I shall
expect a full pardon and safe conduct to a neutral country. These are my
terms. I shall expect word of this to be brought to this studio during
this broadcast. But as I have warned you, this broadcast will never be
finished. You will never hear those names. It certain my price will be
paid. I am presently under sentence of death for my activities in the matter
of refueling German submarines in the Caribbean. My full confession has been reproduced in
the popular press. You have read it, and you know the details.
It is the least ingenious of my exploits and my first failure. So much
for it. The story I shall tell you tonight occurred many years ago,
but concerns, as I have said, many now living. It will interest
you. I hope I know it will interest them very well. Then,
on the third of June nineteen twenty five, in Liverpool, a man who
gave his name as Monsieur Louis Carratel as to see mister James Blandly, superintendent
of the London and West Coast Railway. He was a small manly character,
middle aged, darkened, with a stoop so pronounced that it suggested some deformity
of the spine. He was accompanied by a friend, a man of imposing
his ecu from his worthy complexion. Was probably either re Spaniard or a South
American. Turned out later that his name was gomez On peculiarity was observed,
and whom he carried in his left hand, fastened to his wrist by a
strap small leather dispatch case. No importance was attached to this fact at the
time, but later events endowed with much significance. Cartel was shown to mister
Blant's office while his companion remained us. How do you do Missieu? My
name Miss Luis carreted? Yes, sir, what can I do? Boy?
I have just arrived from Central America this afternoon. It is extremely urgent
that I reached Parrish without a moment's delay. It is h too bad.
Just mister Landon Express, I am not interested in the London Express. Could
you provide me with a special train? Yes? I think I could be
a reas it's quite an expensive properlation. Money is of a small importance,
monsieur, time is everything. If you can arrange a special for me in
a hry, you may make your own terms. Mister Hood, do you
stay o work moment please? Yes, mister plankt mena journest Charaton Hold,
I want you to arrange a special for him. He's going to Paris.
How's the blame? Can you pick him out in a hurry? Yes,
I believe sai, mister brand. The line is clear through Manchester an engine
two forty seven. The rochday was on the track. Now it could be
ready, saying fifteen minutes good who's available to trip? Engineer? Smith's am
liking for James McPherson not as conduct Well, there you are, mister Chater,
simple as that tender everything right away with your hood. Yes, these
men missus Smith and mcperson mc ferson are they pressedworthy? Who? Yes,
gods person has been company for years. I'm sure Smith who mused an expert
engineering. Thank you, missie. I am deeply indebted you have been most
considerate. At four thirty one, exactly by the station clucked a special train
with Kater and Gomez steamed up the Liverpool station the line at that time was
clear and there should have been no stoppage between Manchester. At a quarter of
the sixth, considerable surprise and some consternation was caused him on the officials at
Liverpool by the receipt of a wire from Manchester to say the day Special had
not yet arrived. An inquiry directed at once to Saint Helen's, which is
a third of the way between the two cities, elicited the following reply to
James Blam, Superintendent never Pole Special past here pour fifty two well up to
time, thous of Saint Helens. The wire was received at six fourteen.
At six fifty a second message was received from Manchester. No sign of special
was advised by you, and then ten minutes later a third more bewildering presume
some mistake is proposed running of special local train from Saint Helen's. Time to
follow it has just arrived, as has seen nothing of it. Kindly wire
advising Manchester. The matter was assuming a most amazing aspect, although in some
respects the last telegrams are relieved to the authorities at Liverpool. If an accident
had occurred to the special, seems hardly possible that the local train would have
passed down the same line without observing it, And yet what was the alternative?
Where could the train be? The telegram would be stashed to each of
these stations between Saint Helen's and Manchester, and the Superintendent at his traffic manager
waited in the upmore sustensity instrument for the series of replies. The answers came
back in the order of questions, which was the order of these station's beginning
at Saint Helen's Special Past here five o'clock, Collins Green Special Past year six
past five, Special Past here five ten, Newton Special Past here five twenty
Kenyon Juncten Now special time has passed here, Barton mon Hood. This is
unique thirty years of experience. I can't understand it, mister Bland. The
special has gone wrong between Kenyon Junction and Barton Moss and yet there's no saving
between the two stations. Special must have run off the rails, jump the
track. But how could the four fifty Parliamentary pass over the same line without
seeing it? Is no alternative. Food absolutely must be so, possibly the
local Naval service, which may throw sunlight on the matter. You are Manchester
for more information Kenyon Junction with instructions that line the examine intenties I was about
Moss. The answer from Manchester came within a few minutes. No news of
missing special driver and guard of local crane positive. No accidents between Kenyon Junction
and parton Moss lying quite clear, and no side of anything unusual Manchester.
This is lunacyhood does the train vanish into thin air in England in broad daylight
the things propostious engine and a high human beings and all lost on a straight
line of railway. It's impossible. A monthly lapse during which both the police
and the company prosecuted their inquiries without this lighted success. Mister Plant. At
the end of this period of its resignation, it was excipted the fairyment unsolved.
The reward was offered and department promised in case of crime, but they
were both uncreated. Every day they public opened their papers with a conviction that
so grotesque in history would at last reserved. But week after week back bye,
the solution of remanager as far off as ever. Then a new and
most unexpected incident occurred. This was nothing less than the receipt by missus mcperson
of a letter from her husband, James mcperson, who had been conductor in
his terrain. The letter, which was dainted July with nineteen thirty five,
was posted from Mozambique, Portuguese st Africa, and came to hand upon the
July for kids a year. Wife, I've been thinking a great deal and
I find it very hard to give you of I tried to fight against it,
but it will always come back to me. I send you some money
which will change in the twenty English poems. This should be enough to bring
you here. Things are very difficult with me at present, and I'm not
very happy finding it so hard to give you up. So no more at
present, from your loving husband, James mcperson. For a time it was
confidently anticipated that a letter would lead to the clearing up of the whole incident
has directed missus Nick Hurson save to what easiest Africa. She stayed in Mozambi
for some time, but heard nothing from the missing man. Finally she returned
to Liverpool and solign at a story and has continued to stand right up to
the present moment. Incredible as it may see, nothing has transpired during those
eighteen years which has shed the least light upon the extraordinary disappearance in the special
frame which contains your coat, containion, mister Gomes and Conductor Smith, the
engineered the fireman in sleeping. Now, after all this time, I shall
clear up the entire affair, and unless I hear from those so highly respectable
gentlemen who are my employers and who are completely implicated in the crime. Unless
I hear from them before I'm finished, their names will be revealed on this
broadcast. Take final warning, gentlemen. You know I mean what they say.
If you are smart, you are at this moment arranging my reprieve.
As a reminder of time is short. Sixty minutes. Now, for the
interest of my other listeners, I shall resume the story of the lost Special
In a word, there was a famous trial in Paris in your nineteen twenty
five pers would recall it in connection with the months to scandal scandal in politics
and finance. How monstrous that scandal was can never be known except by such
confidential agents as myself at stake or the honor and careers of many of the
chief men of Europe and the United States. The Secret Committee was formed to
manage the business. Some subscribe to the committee who hardly understood what were its
objects, but others understood very well. They can rely upon it that I
have not forgotten their names. You think I could forget John Hem's gentlemen,
you killers of the community, great, rich, respected, honorable. You
Remember that day in May nineteen twenty five, the Fashionable country Club. Remember
the golf game that was played there that spring morning, ladies and gentlemen.
That was rained game. Lady, I think the whole morning started. Senator.
Perhaps you're a little nervous. Yeah, I join your game. Well,
I'm not sure, not sure of what of me? Promise you,
gentlemen, you can be very sure of me. I'm the man you're supposed
to me. The distinguished congressman here can Abaut for me? Yeah, he's
the one, all right? This is a Learnac, misters, a learnac.
My name is not really the learniac gentleman. But I am sure that
fathers you know, lessening with me decides there is no need for introductions.
I know everyone's present by syc, by your reputation, my drive, I
believe, thank you? Not so good? What about the yards? I
hope I'm not going to continue in this way? You're sure we could talk
safe with you, Frank that your mind it is? Which an't we overheard
in the middle of a golf cause there's no convenient hiding crazier or PTI points
even in the rough where notice you're playing a great part of your game.
You must be nervous. Mon. No, but I don't like it.
I don't like it at all. It's not the superlative, of course you
are accustomed to on your own enormous California estate, sir. But it's going
to have to serve out particular rather well. Let me compliment you on the
way you've had your syndicate of newspapers handle the recent strike situation and the editorial
which appeared on your own signature this morning. Yes, we are calculated to
start up. Please please, let's get on with our business. Yes,
I mister, your service, sir, and may I suggest we continue our
game. I know the absence of is an inconveniences. In June, a
month from now, in Paris, there will be a most important trial during
its progress. Pardon me, are you referring to the Servinsky driver. Yes,
you know about it. That certain interesting details. It's not something about
my business at the role to people myself. It is not for nothing that
I'm known as literally continue this trial. I'm speaking in the utmost continent.
You understand, this trial could, if certain evidence we introduced, could have
a very serious effect upon the prestige and standing of the most important man.
In fact, it could. Even you're shivering, Senator, you find it
cold out. No, no, no, get on with the train and
get to the point. For heaven say, the evidence which one man could
bring to the trial could ruin these men. Without it, the trial who
collapsed for want effects. But if this one man arrives in Paris, quite
evidently you do not wish him to arrive in Paris the gentleman you have come
to the man This sounds indeed like this sort of thing which no one in
the work can manage with such skill and successes. Myself, I must admit,
however, that my services came rather high. Well, it's only natural,
since there is only money, makes no difference. We have formed a
group, a committee, and we have the command of an unlimited amount of
money, absolutely unlimited. You here will name people in places. Now,
who is the gentleman whose appearance in Paris would cause such a regrettable embarrassment.
His name is Carratalloy Carata. He knows everything, documents. Where is this
really? He's seeming from somewhere in Central America within the next few days.
That much we know, Good Gord Tenter, and may I have an excellent
man done every sense of America. This can I tell you will know anything
about him? Person is personal, very little. He's a small man,
dark he ever bodyguard a great big brutal named the Lopez, Central America.
That would be the American Tropic. Those are my ships, you grips.
All commenced at Liverpool. I believe that's where the ship's duck, and our
famous trial is to begin in three weeks. That would mean that Monsieur Carretel
would go directly to London, and I imagine that once there he will be
heavily guarded, since it can be no surprise to him that you gentlemen are
not without connections in the British capital. That's good cleaning. This is not
so simple as some of my other exploits a simple assassination. There's your balls.
You're playing a Dunlap thirty eight, aren't you. Oh? Yes,
yes, to be sure, yes, quite as I said a simple assassination.
The usual clumsy job will not do here. The documents might, after
all be found, the bodyguard might survive somehow, and we have accomplished nothing.
That's all. Are you going to play? Yes? Yes, of
course, of course capt it again. I'm afraid, and shall we proceed?
I already have three plans in my head, gentleman. I have a
plan for nailing him at the Central American port from which he embarks. I
have a plan for his disposal of Bondish ship. But in each of these
cases Idelnyak would be unable to be present, So there is the chance of
area. I will think of a third planchetmen, I shall sail immediately to
Liverpool on my way. They're sitting on a deck in they may sunshine.
I shall conceive my third plan must be something special, something very special.
Huh there I am? Is this your famous water hazard? I think a
number seven hours agoing, and thus I undertook to bring about the complete destruction
or must your Kara tell his bodyguard companion Gomez and his documents. Clan one
was already out the window, as I found that the next day the Lerniak
quite sol for springs Virginia. Baby lou unable to sleep last few have sent
him to visit Aunt Henriette. We'll rejoin him on twenty fourth, Love Jenny.
This telegram from Matagalper conveyed to me the information at Cartill, possibly sensing
danger, had moved from his hotel and gone to stay with friends until the
ship sailed, so it was impossible to carry out the idea of the fire
in the hotel. Ship even on the twenty first was the endett my fourth
day at sea. I heard for a moment Tlanak barren carrier ship to ship
communication from Henryette paper canda line presented, Grace your boxer chocolate Louis has given
up, can they for length? Grace still wants us all together for twenty
ninth birthday party, will be rarely special raph This meant that poison had been
given to go Messy bodyguard in an effort to buet him. At the LEAs
start of the way, he had been unable to succumb to it. It
from out the effects and evidence by the report that we would all be together
on the twenty ninth. Now, carotl had refused to eat the food containing
a poison, so much for a plan too, which was not worthy of
me anyway, since there was always the possibility of the bodies being found in
the ocean. The man Gomez was carrying the documents in a despatch case trapped
to his wrist, and I must tell you something now, I was glad,
glad, mind you, that we had failed so far or the plan
I had conceived on the night I arrived in Liverpool was so manacy, so
absolutely unprecedented in the handles of crime, that I owed it to myself,
to my employers, and to history to carry through. The inspiration came from
the words in the code telegram which indicated the cartel would arrive in London and
hire a special trainer to convey him from the pool. My British agent,
mister Moore, and I contrived to buy over several officials of the railway.
Now here begins this story. Course, the division head who helped us employ
James McPherson, whom we can drive to be the conductor of any special train
we designated. Then, further, at a some that would make them independent
for life, we bought over an engine driver named as wald Smith and the
fire on chance. Later these men we arranged with the division head would be
assigned to whatever special train was hired by On the afternoon of June third,
as I was sitting in my room at the end at Barton Moss because I
had been a waiting m though it was yak, we should believe in a
few minutes, he's hired a special for the engine driver and slater fireman,
and of course are in charge. What about Moore? Will you be a
board a freight nancwer? He even find a story about having a reached his
sick wife at all, But can I tell would have none of it,
he said, those sir a dozen matter. What time will you pass canyon
junction but receives or if we leave the next few minutes, we should be
there at five runs and forty minutes. I I can make it, but
delay, or you can before you start. Yes, I guess it's all
up to you from now on. Best of luckson here the council, goodbye,
and now I went to work. Everything had been prepared for days before,
and only the finishing touches were needed. The sidetrack just before Bought and
Moss, leading to the abandoned heartsiase mine had once joined the main line,
but it had been disconnected when the mine had been worked thousand years before.
We had only to replace a few rares to connect it once more. With
my small but competent band of workers, we had everything ready where before the
special arrival. When it did arrive, it ran off upon a small sideline
so easily that the jolting at the switch points appeared through being entirely unnoticed by
the two travelers. So now I have our special train upon a small line
which leads, or rather used to lead to the abandoned mine. You will
ask how it is that no one saw the train upon this unused line.
I answered that along its entire length it runs through a deep cutting, and
that unless someone had been on the edge of that cutting, he could not
estiate there was someone on the edge of that cutting. I was there,
and now I will tell you what I saw. A moment the train was
fairly on the sideline, Smith slowed down the engine, and then, having
turned it on full speed ahead, he and Mick Pherson were slate at the
firement, sprang off before it could do light. It may be that was
this slowing down which first attracted the attention of the travelers but the train was
running at top speed before their heads appeared at the open window. Makes me
smile to think how bewildered they must have. What a catch must have come
to their breath as he splashed upon them that it was not Manchester that was
awaiting them but death. The train was now running at frantic speed, rolling
and rocking over the rough and rusty line, while the wheels made a frightful
screaming sound on the corroded surface. I was close to them and could see
their faces. Karaitel was surpraying. I think there was something like a rosary
dangling out of his hand. The other comes roared like a bull, but
was drawn out by the incredible noise of the train. He saw me standing
on the bank. When he realized he couldn't be heard, he beckoned to
me like a madman, carrying at his wrist and hurling the dispatch box out
of the window in my direction. Of course, his meaning was obvious.
Here was the evidence that they would promise to be silent if their lives were
spared. Would have been very agreeable if it could have been done so.
But business's businesses besides, the train was now so much beyonder control. He
ceased his howling and gesturing. When the train rattled around the curve and they
saw the black mouth of the mine yawning before them. They were struck silent
by what they saw, and yet they could not withdraw their heads. The
sight seemed to have paralyzed them. I had wondered how the train, running
at the great speed would take the pit, and I was much interested in
watching it. One of my colleagues, who had joined me there, thought
it actually would jump it, and indeed it was not very far from doing
so. It leaped into the air and seemed to hang suspended for a moment.
The funnel flew up into the air, and then the van, the
car and the engine were all smashed up into one jump, which choked them
out. At the Great Britain. Something gave way in the middle, and
all mass of iron, coal, fittings, wheels, woodwork and cushions crumbled
together and crashed into the mine. It was perfect. The deep muddy water
standing in the bottom of the pit two hundred feet below responded to the intense
heat of the engine boilers. It hissed loudly and blue great bubbles of black
mire into the air. At the same time, the walls of the pit,
loosened by the impact of the trains, had struck the opposite side gave
way, and a mighty avalanche of rock and dirt hundered down upon the report
of the train as it settled to a low pissing side and was covered forever
by the mud and mire. The vapor hanging in the air ready door into
small whists, and door was quiet again in the hearts. He is mine,
and now, having carried out our plans so successfully, had to remained,
only to leave no trace behind us. Our little band of workers at
the other end had already ripped up the rails and disconnected the sideline, replacing
everything as it had been before. We were equally busy at the mine.
The lines which led to it were torn up and taken away. Then,
without flurry, but without delay, we all made our way out of the
country, most of us to Paris, my English agent to Manchester, and
Mcperson, who stopped a word in passing about Mcperson who is foolish enough to
write to his wife and tell her to meeting him Zambique. Naturally, we
took steps to ensure that this meeting would never come about I have sometimes thought
it would be a kindness to write to missus McPherson, and to assure her
that there is no the impediment to her marrying again, But of the laws
special. Let the English papers of that date tell how thoroughly we had done
our work, and how completely we had thrown the cleverest to their detectives of
a track. You will remember that Gomez threw his bag of papers out of
the window, and I need not say that I secured that bag and brought
them to my employers. It may interest my employers now, however, to
learn that out of that bag I took one or two little papers as a
souvenir of that occasion. I had no wish to read the information obtained the
newspapers. But if you know, less than a minute before my broadcast is
over and I have received no word the final hour, I see at the
other end of the studio the engineer waving his hands at me that my time
is almost done. Well, I gave you warning, you had your chance.
Gentlemen, very well, I'll reveal your names. And the first name
I reveal is that of Childis and gentlemen, daies and gentlemen they're trying murder.
I want you to hear these names quickly. I know you will have
mench me the names. Are you hear me? Are you all right?
I built like I think quick? Will you think? Curtain music? Anything?
And so closes the last special by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle starring Austin well
The Knight's Tale of Suspense. This rebroadcast of Suspense was produced in the United
States of America. H This is Andrew J. Graham, author of the
web surface series Oh and a Man of His Wife. You're listening to the
Great Detectives of all time Radio Welcome back. Orson Wells is an interesting and
controversial figure. Throughout his career, he had many great performances, but there
were also elements of various performances that didn't work quite as well, moments that
were himmy periods where he was fighting his own inner struggles and it got reflected
in his work. But I think at the height of his talents, at
the height of his abilities, and when he was really on, there wasn't
a better actor than Orson Wells, And this play, I think is a
great example of that. This character is so perfectly crafted and well written.
But Wells's performance here is great and at the ending does leave you in a
bit of suspenses to what names we're going to bed, but a fantastic twist
inning very well performed by mister Wells, and like I said, this one
is a bit of a personal favorite, so I hope you enjoyed it all
right. Well, a reminder, our listener support campaign does continue, and
we do have several thank you gifts. Among those available at the twenty dollar
level, we will gladly send you Colonial Radio Theaters outstanding adaptation of King Solomon's
Minds. It's a fantastic adventure tale, a true classic, and Colonial makes
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fiction, at the twenty five dollars level, we'll send you their performance of
Ray Bradberry's The Martian Chronicles, and this is a very in depth adaptation of
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Also, you can back up autograph copies of my books in paperback form
with a donation of fifty dollars or more if you're in the US or Canada,
or audiobook versions of All I Needed to know I learned from Colombo tales
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net. Well, join us back here tomorrow for Michael Shane, and join
us back here next Sunday for one final listeners support special Well calculated to keep
you in suspense, but from Boise, Idaho. This is your host,
Adam Graham signing off.