Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
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email to Detectives at radio archives dot com. That's Detectives at radio archives dot
com. Now it's time for this week's episode of Final Vans. The original
air date is April the eighteenth of nineteen fifty and the title is The Golden
Key Murder Case. I expect Vans any minute. Mister Markham. His train
got in about a half an hour ago. Thank you, Ellen. It
isn't anything important, just Advance has been away for several days and I wanted
to say hello. Well, I'll ask him to call you. Thank you
Ellen. Bye bye. Oh dear, let's see now notes on me Nilan
murder case. It was merely a matter Vance. Well, fine reception.
A man's been away for three days and all his favorite secretary can say to
him is Vans. We give a gal time. And remember I didn't just
say Vans, I said Vance. If you're such a good Pride investigator,
you should know what it means when I put my voice in capital letters.
I accept your apology. Apology, all right, Ellen, let's forget the
whole thing. What's been happening while I was awake? Mister Markham just called.
I want to call him back in a moment or so. Anything interesting
in the mail? No, just the usual stuff. Oh except this.
It came in the mail yesterday. What is it? It's a key,
Van, It's a golden key. Nothing came with it, no letter,
nothing at all. Just a golden key in an envelope addressed to you.
Unusual but not particularly interesting. Will you get mister Markham for me. I'll
be in my private office, I certainly will. Your office might be a
little gusty. I haven't been in come here. What is it? What's
the matter? Oh, nothing very much, except there's a dead man sitting
at my desk. What and in his hand is another of those golden keys
through the tunnel. Yeah, up the little grade through the signal. Have
you liked my trains, Billy, she Bus, I don't know what to
say. Good that suits me. Fine, find a set of trains on
the market. Bet you thought only children played with toy trains? She Bus,
I don't know what I thought. It doesn't matter. What have you
done about the assignment? I gave you, Billy, assignment that private club
I want held up. He was supposed to take care of that, remember,
she Bus. I didn't know I was supposed to remember. No,
no, I told you nobody can get into that place without a key.
And they keep changing the lot, They keep changing the lot. I know
I heard you, Billy. I think we can manage to get you and
a friend in. In fact, I don't know how you can hold up
the place if we don't, she Bus. I don't either. I'll think
of something whatever you say. There's one thing I do want you to remember,
though, What's I Can I put this extra car on track there?
I, Billy? If anybody gets in your way while you're carrying out the
assignment. Yeah, see what's going to happen to this train? Yeah?
I see, well, see that that happens to anybody that gets in your
way. I mean, come in this frame, Hi, dame, don't
mind if I do. My secretary told me we're outside, wanted to see
me. What about I'll tell you, mister Markham, Oh it's nice for
you. Ha ha da with a sense of humor? What do they think
of the next Marcolm? What would you say if I told you somebody was
going to kill me, I'd tell you to go to the district attorney.
Don't overdo that sense of humor thing. I'm not kidding. Sorry, miss
naked Gracie. Everybody calls me Gracie makes me feel more at home. M
Who is it that's going to try to kill you? Miss Frain? Oh
so that's the way I wanted. Oh yes, okay, Marcolm, I'm
saying the four or five six club. According to a phone call I got
this morning, I'm supposed to quit and go over to a joint called the
Golden Key Club to work or else. That's what the man said on the
phone. Oh look, maybe I sound like I think this is a gag,
But if I do, it's because my voice is a good actress.
What do you mean? I'm scared? Good and scared. Guy on the
phone sounded like he meant business. You're supposed to quit and go to work
at the Golden Key Club. Golden Key, you can my friend final Vans,
he got a golden key in the mail and he found a dead man
clutching a golden key in his office this morning. This may all tie up
rather closely off the file of Vans CrIV to investigator is daring seeking who Marcom
Ellen Vans? There not connect you? Hello, I love Vans. This
is Markham. Hello, Markham Vans. I think I've got to lead on
that Golden Key murderer. Good, what is it? There's a club called
the Golden Key, and there's a girl in my office who's been threatened,
and all of this may tie up. Well, thanks for letting me know.
Have you found out who the man in my office was? Yes,
I was meaning to call you. His name was Prescott, Joseph Prescott,
very rich, semi retired and no enemies as far as we've uncovered to date.
Vans, what are you going to do about the Golden Key Club.
I'm going to take Elean and go there. Of course, the club called
the Golden Key is probably the real key to this case. Very who said
you could come in my dressing room? Who said I couldn't, Gracie run
along home and play with your toy trains? Well, I got a show
to do in a couple of minutes, and I haven't opened up yet.
Me, me, me, what happened this afternoon, Gracie? I did
what you told me. I went to the district attorney put on a big
act about what would happen to me if I didn't quit singing here and go
over to the Golden Key Club. That's what I was supposed to do,
isn't it? How good did you make your story? I'm a performer a
and I I did great. Not too scared at first? That is going
calling a little about it so it would sound like the McCoy and I stuck
out. You were a good girl, Gracie. You've helped me a lot.
What was the idea of choking me? What's the big idea? Said?
You were a good girl, Gracie. You did what you were told.
Yeah, that is just to teach you what would happen if you ever
changed? Hey, ware driver, keep the change just a second. I'll
help you out. Thank you vants. There we are. Well. So
this is the Golden Key Club. According to what a certain singer told Markham
and what he told me, this is the address. Who doesn't look like
much from the outside, does it? What is it they say about a
book and its cover? I don't know. I don't listen to gossip.
There's the dormant, fine place for him. Isn't he supposed to help people
out of cats? All depends on what kind of a doorman he is.
He happens to be a doorway doorman, not a cab doorman. Well,
let's just help him. Well, get in. We have our golden key,
remember the one that was sent me through the mails. That guy in
your office had a key too, and look what happened He in? Hello,
my friend, is this the Golden Key Club? Could be informative,
isn't he? I have a golden key that was sent me. I presume
that entitled me to admission. Let's say the key. You are never been
here before, have you? If we had, do you think we'd come
again? Oh, my friend, we haven't. This key was mailed me.
We're mail keys to a couple of prospects every week. People we think
might like the club. Yeah, I've changed it for one that'll open the
both doors. Thanks. Just open the street door, walk in. There's
another door inside. The same key opens it. Thank you, just a
minute, Vans, I don't like the looks of the character coming this way.
Ellis looks like a real nice place. I think I'll go in here.
Hold the door open, buddy, He means Van, I know I
amount here. This is a private club. You can't go in here.
You've got the wrong uniform to be ordering people around you. Ain't no cup
you know on your way. Christ said I was going in with these people.
Nobody's gonna stop me. Nobody but you here that takes care of the
dormant. Okay, buddy, let's go in. You got a key.
I saw you get it. What makes you think I'm going to give it
to you. Look, you've seen what happened to that dormant. You don't
give me the key. I clip you and the doll and me go stepping
inside. He means you, Ellen, Well, at least I'm a doll.
If I were you, friend, I think I'd keep waking. Okay,
you don't take me in? Would you. I take the key away
from you. O nice work, bad than good things? Places on a
side street? Do you have a crowd cheering for you? The only applause
I want is yours erin. Well, there's nothing to stop us now,
let's go. Oh that's not Let's make it some other time after what happened
out here? How can what goes on inside be anything but twenty four black?
Twenty four black? Make your bets, please, make your bets.
How's it gone? All right? Oh good good, mister Merley golden keys.
You're doing business tonight. I know, but how are we doing about
even? Some of the suckers are getting lucky? To stop? Everybody got
their bets down. Let's go please all right, Tommy and watch them and
keep watching it. Leave it's me. The number is three three and flack
again, number three black. Make your bets please. I'll be in my
office, Tommy, call me if anything happen. Yes, and mister Mary,
all right, folks, make your bets. Pick your number and make
your bets. Please make your bet. Everybody's standing right where you are.
Nobody moves'll stick up. Everybody stay where you aren't shut up my front of
me and Carny's guns because we need exercise. That's betters. Well, I
gotta turn around a face the wall. That means you're being smart, very
smart. You you who was working to run at whale. You you mean
me? Yeah? You go through everybody's pocket and throw everything you find on
that dice table. Don't watch this jewel or everything and make it quick.
Well, well, enemy ain't got all day, not me, but you
got the right I guess he didn't have the wrong guy if after all,
all right, shut up, shut up the hair and stay away all get
what this guy got. Everybody emptier pockets that goes for your dames too.
Throw your handbags on that table. I'll step on it. That shows I
ain't kitten. Hurry up, get up that doll yes, Markham, I
understand. Shortly after I was at the Golden Key Club there was a hold
up and the man was killed, an employee of the club dance. There
must have been thousands of dollars lost in the robbery too. It seems to
me this little ties in with the murdered man I found in my office and
the girls singer who came to see you, Markham. Other than the that
a golden Key is concerned. I don't see the connection neither why at the
moment, but I guarantee there is one. Perhaps the individual who owns the
club with that Gracie Fayne was singing. He heard about the threat she got
if she wouldn't go over to the Golden Key. He decided to put the
Golden Key out of business. That's possible, of course, but hardly likely.
It doesn't explain the murdered man I found or the golden key that was
sent me. No, I admit it doesn't tell me. How do you
explain the Vance? I'm Markham. I haven't the slightest idea of the tie
up, but I'll tell you this I will have just as soon as I
see the owner of the Golden Key. This is just your deturning, Markham.
The Golden Key murder case opened in Finlo Vance's office with the finding of
the body of a man a golden key clutched in his hand. Girls singer
told me about a club called the Golden Key and the threats she had received.
Only a few hours ago, two unknown men held up the club and
robbed everyone present, after shooting an employee. Vance has gone to see the
owner of the Golden Key Club, a man known to us as al Mary
And is this an official interrogation Vance? That remains to be seen? Mayleie.
What I want from you is some information, my kind of information.
The district attorney seems to think that your efforts to get a singer named Gracie
Frame to work at the Golden Key might be the reason your club was held
up. My efforts to get home a singer named Gracie Frame. Didn't you
threaten her if she wouldn't come to work for you? I never even heard
of her. That makes a difference in Markham's theory. If you're telling the
truth, of course I am. You do have somebody who dislikes you,
don't you doesn't everybody. I'm not talking to everybody. I love it,
love Vance. I run a gambling joint that isn't exactly legal. I made
a couple of enemies. One of my character named David Wagner. No him,
no, but I will. He's an operator, but he's been a
little too quiet lately, stays home and plays with his toy trains all the
time. I hear, Oh, tell me two more things, Mallie.
Did you sent me a Golden Key? The other day. Do I look
silly enough to have done that? No? No, you don't. Thank
you. One other question, did you know Joseph Prescott, the man I
read about who has found dead in your office? Yeah? I knew him?
Anything else? No, my friend? That is? Or now?
M pretty answer? So pretty? That's a minute. I'd I turn these
off. I'm coming. Yes, hello, I'm Vital Vans. You and
I have some talking to do halfway. Yes, inside your house. You're
David Wagner, of course, yes I am. I don't know what you
could possibly want with me, Vans. I've done nothing. I'm here alone,
playing with my toy trains. It's my hobby. I'm a very dull
conversational home alone. Are you That scream came from the UK. It's stupid,
Dane, Well, looks like I've interrupted something. Take your hands off
that girl, take come off before? Hey, what's been happening in here?
I was just Hey, this is the guy that clipped me down in
front of the Golden Key Club the other night when I was trying to get
in. He's the same fellow who as all he can do to stuff from
doing that again. We're just trying to kill like oh, now, come,
Van, what makes you say that? What makes me say it?
I heard her scream, didn't I? I came in here and found her
being choked? Didn't I being choked? Just a minute, Gracie, Gracie?
Yes, were you being choked? Just now? You really weren't being
choked? Were you? Gracie died? Were you Gracie? Oh? Oh,
I guess not. I'll tell me. She wasn't screaming? Oh?
Yeah, yes she was. But I wonder why why were you screaming?
Gracie? Hi? Did you see a mouse? That's it? You saw
a mouse in here? Didn't you die? Yes, that's what it was.
I saw a mouse. You see vans? I see all right.
I see that you convinced her that she saw a mouse, and you've convinced
me that I smell one. All this a pile of vans, probably mine
whole routine, Hi, Da, And thanks for interrupting. No, he
isn't. He called a little while ago and told me that he had just
left a pretty smooth article named David Wagner. Wagner? Who is he?
All Van said was that he was smooth, he played with electric trains,
and that he is the vital man in this Golden Key murder case. Well
that's something. Now he went back to the Golden Key Club. But he
wants you to stay away, and that includes me too. He said he'd
phone here and a half an hour with some very special instructions. Let me
know what they are, will you? That is, if they concern me.
It's your thing, and they'll concern you, all right. Van sounded
as if he knew something. He knew something, Ellen, that's all I
want to know. Well, I've opened up again. As you can see,
Vans hold up hasn't kept many of your customers away, mister Maylie.
That's right. I was, but the past half hour walking around and watching
them play very interesting. Did you try any of the game? What a
chance to show out of fire? And how'd you make out? I won
four dollars? Remind me to file the dealer. He's probably so remorseful you'll
quit, mister Mallie. Where's your dorman in my office? Why? I
want to see him? Do you mind not at all come this way of
Vans, Mister Mallie. I have an idea that if I can get proof
that your friend David Wagner had this place held up, I'll also be able
to convict him of the murder of the man at my office. Really,
yes, in here Vans? All right, Joe, all right, this
is final Vans. Joe the dorman you asked about Vans? Oh, yes,
I remember him. How are you? Joe? I live? If
you can call it bad again, mister Mallie, I want from you a
list of people who have received golden keys from you. All right, we
keep files and records good from you, Joe. I want to know what
happened to night those hold up any hat and I WoT Please missus West,
I won't I tell you this lace is crooked. I've lost a thousand dollars
now, no one, one moment, please, missus. I'm sure everything
can be straightened out, satisfactory. Would you wait just a moment. I
want my money that, mister Marlie, I wanted that, or I'm doing.
You will have to excuse this. I'm sorry it happened. You know,
of course, that we have no crooked games. On the contrary,
mister Marlie, I don't know that at all. A woman is perfectly right.
Your games are crooked. I noticed that myself. Well, I can't
worry about it right now. I'm much more concerned with a murder case,
which is just begging to be closed. You're sure you've got the right David
Wagner, Yes, certainly. Mister vance game is the number himself. He
gave you my number and told you to call me. That's right, I'm
a secretary. Remember I told you that has something he wants you to do
for him. And what makes him think I'm going to do something for him?
He figured you'd say that. Oh he did, Yes, he did.
He said to me, Ellen, if Nitte Wagner wants to know why,
I think he'll do as I ask, Just ask him one other thing?
And what's that? That's it to ask? Don't you think you've better?
This is it? Markham? At least I think it is the answer
to the Golden Key mystery. That's right. When we get where we're going,
I'll give you the answer and the proof. Where are we going to
a parking space near that bridge. We're going to watch a meeting between whom
David Wagner and al Melee, one of whom is guilty. That's right,
But it's proof that I want. Oh, by the way, did I
ever explain what happened with that blonde singer in Wagner's apartment. How you interrupted
her being choke? Yes, not completely. I'll tell you now why she
was being choked. Billy David, Wagner's little helper, took that jaw upon
himself when Miss Vrain decided she wanted to tell you that her little speech in
your office wasn't exactly actual. You mean when she's as you've been threatened.
Yes, then Wagner did send him. Then he's adjustamentt of Now Markham look
over there in that other car that stopped him. So he goes two men,
Wagner and Maley. Yes, let's go Markham. In the robbery at
the Golden Key Club, a lot of jewels were taken. You were good
enough to show me the list that was published in the newspapers, though it
was. I know that whoever plotted that robbery is behind the other murder.
And I know that whoever plotted that robbery realized the benefits, the money and
the jewels. One of those men in that car has part of the loot.
Did you say so? I also say this case is about over.
Hello Wagner, fancy meeting you here. You brought the district attorney for company.
Yes, Hello, Maley have vants? Markham? Hello, I understand
one of you two gentlemen has some jewelry that doesn't belong to you. Is
that right, older Markham? All right? Wagner handed over coman okay,
if you say so so, it's Wagnery one. Eh, you are vast
thank you for this lovely necklace. Mister Wagner, You're welcome recognizing Markham from
a description. It's part of the loot taken in the Golden Key Club hold
of and David Wagner here had it. That means only one thing to me,
that he is responsible for the hold up and the two murders. It
shouldn't mean that at all, Markham. What it should mean is that the
gentleman next to him, al Malie, is the man responsible. He's the
man for you to arrest for robbery and murder. Well, Markham, it's
time for me to tell you this complete story. Do I sound expansive enough?
Yes, I imagine so. Do I sound attentive enough? Definitely?
Here goes. First of all, we had the murder in my office,
the murder of Joseph Press Scott. I'll clear that up now. Procrastination will
get you nowhere of Hans. Yes, I know Prescott had two golden keys
Markham. Al Maylie's records show he issued two to him. Well, Prescott
mailed me one key, then came to my office with his other one in
his hand to prove to me that he had sent me the first one.
Reasonable enough, al Mallie killed him in your office. Yes, while my
secretary was in the hall somewhere, Prescott waited in my office. Mallie had
followed him there and killed him. Why. Because Mallie's Golden Key Club was
a crooked gambling place. Prescott had been cheated and he wanted me to do
something about it. Well, that ends the Prescott incident. Now let's get
to al Melee's second murder. First, let's get to David Wagner. Wagner
wanted Mallie's Golden Key Club put out of business. He thought you'd investigate if
he sent that Grace Frame girl to you with a manufactured story about being threatened.
When I investigated and saw it was a gambling place, I close it
at the idea. Yes, in the event that that plan veiled, Wagner
intended to hold up the place, but Maylie held up his own club.
We know that now, But how did you know it? I had Ellen
called David Wagner and enlist his help. He called Mellie and arranged the meeting
which you and I interrupted. You see, Wagner told Mallie that he knew
Mallie had held up his own club, and Wagner said he wanted the diamond
necklace as his reward for keeping quiet. Exactly. That's how Wagner happened to
have had the necklace when we came along. But don't you see, Markham,
The mere fact that Mallie had the necklace part of the loot taken in
the hold up of his club proved he was responsible for the hold up of
cause what put you on the track of Melee Vance a lot of things.
One, he was running a crooked gambling club. Two, it would have
been almost impossible for any stick up men to get into that club without keys.
Three I wasn't sure at all, or I wouldn't have had to have
Wagner arranged the meeting with Mellie well and honestly spoken. Vance. It was
an inside job, all right, with ol Mally right in the middle of
that inside. Yes, Markham, he's in the middle. But where at
the end of the Golden Key murder case another welcome back. Well a really
good case. I thought the hook was great and there was some really funny
dialogue. I really cracked up when the dorman asked if they'd been there before,
and Ellen shot back, do you think we would be back again?
And I mean, that was just funny, great delivery, and of course
I enjoyed the tough guy moments from Vance. So overall a fun episode.
I hope you'd enjoyed it as much as I did. Now let's go ahead
and thank our Patreon supporter of the day. Thank you to John, Patreon
supporter since October of twenty seventeen, currently support the program at the rookie level
of two dollars or more per month. Again, thank you so much for
your support, and that will do it for today. If you're not subscribed
to the podcast already, please do so. You can subscribe on your favorite
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another episode of Filo Vans. But join us back here tomorrow for yours truly
Johnny Dollar and the next part of the Kronan matter, when live here?
All my life never been autom It's miss Atherton, not missus. Oh she's
the missus up in the bed, even if she is a widow, Little
Dolly, missus Cronin till death do us part? Did you know Barnaby Cronin,
Miss Etheton, Yes, I knew him, of course I knew him.
I worked here. Oh, yes, you were here? Then?
What kind of a man was he? Like any other man? And according
to Dolly Missus Cronin, she apparently worshiped him, still does. In fact,
Dolly's always worshiping something. Everybody was always worshiping her. She had us
all dancing into her tune, and without even trying. You know her back
then she was born and raised here in the village. I thought everybody knew
that. No, that's what I missed who He used to work together waiting
tables at the summer hotels around here. That's where Jason Prell saw her,
told her she ought to be on Broadway. She left the town the next
week, didn't come back again till after she and Barnaby was married, and
she got him to spend a fortune to build this place for her. Well,
I guess he had the fortune to spend. Oh, yes, she
married well, count on Dolly for that. Always got whatever she wanted and
never even had to ask. Things were just given to her always. Yeah,
probably so. But she's been pretty generous herself, like keeping you on
here, for instance, when the house has been closed up for years with
nobody using it. Oh she's the dancing darling all right, right to the
end. I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, do
send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on
Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot
com slash Great Detectives from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam
Graham signing off.