1 00:00:28,559 --> 00:00:35,039 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. 2 00:00:35,359 --> 00:00:39,000 This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're 3 00:00:39,039 --> 00:00:42,399 going to bring you this week's episode of The Big Story. 4 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,359 But first I do want to encourage you. If you're 5 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:50,560 enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software, 6 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,560 and our listener support and appreciation campaign continues. You can 7 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,200 become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little 8 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,520 last two dollars per month. Just go to Patreon Do 9 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:08,599 Great Detectives dot now. From July twentieth, nineteen four and nine, 10 00:01:08,879 --> 00:01:13,959 Here is the poison Pin murders. 11 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:13,400 Speaker 2: A Big Story. 12 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:22,879 Speaker 1: You're still here? 13 00:01:23,439 --> 00:01:24,239 Speaker 3: I finished it. 14 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 2: I just finished it. 15 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 4: Sit down heavy. This gets armistice, Dave. What are you 16 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:32,239 doing in this store? You aren't working a massive Listen. 17 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 5: Listen, mister Adam Demopolis, doctor Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. 18 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 2: No Herman, not another letter. 19 00:01:39,879 --> 00:01:43,079 Speaker 5: In your so called orchestra is a so called violin player, 20 00:01:43,159 --> 00:01:46,719 same taba. If there is a verse violin player in 21 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:49,840 the world, I do not know him, not enough that 22 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,719 he is our musician, the human being. 23 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:56,439 Speaker 2: Yes, God, Herman. Some day you write one too many. 24 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:56,879 Speaker 6: Of these letters. 25 00:01:56,959 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 2: Some day you'll be sitting here like now alone after 26 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:01,640 and the door. 27 00:02:01,359 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 4: Open and sermon, the door is opening with the customer 28 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,199 snell herman, it's not a customer. 29 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:23,199 Speaker 7: It's Cincinnati, Ohio. The story of a man who was 30 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,680 hated and of a reporter who proved that death and 31 00:02:26,759 --> 00:02:42,000 hate are often partners. Now the story has it actually 32 00:02:42,039 --> 00:02:48,199 happened Tom Mercer's story as he lived it, Cincinnati, Ohio. 33 00:02:53,159 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 4: You're a big man, Tom Mercer, two hundred pounds bake 34 00:02:57,439 --> 00:03:00,840 sixt f one inch big. And because you're big and 35 00:03:01,039 --> 00:03:05,240 easy going, you're a target an easy mind. A couple 36 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,960 of years ago, as a young reporter, you made a mistake. 37 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 2: You took an ordinary. 38 00:03:10,439 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 6: Death and called it murder. 39 00:03:13,439 --> 00:03:15,599 Speaker 2: You went and solved that murder. 40 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 4: In print, and then it came out it wasn't murder 41 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,080 at all, and the laugh was heard all over Cincinnati. 42 00:03:21,759 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 6: It's still hurt. 43 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,719 Speaker 4: Wherever you go, they say of you, Ah, that goes. 44 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,319 Mercer is a great flute. Not to make another name 45 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:33,879 for himself. And so when this story broke a killing 46 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:37,439 in the standard laundry at sixty two sixteen Central Parkway, 47 00:03:38,039 --> 00:03:39,759 all the boys in the press room at the Lice 48 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,080 headquarters said, wow, we don't have to cover it, not 49 00:03:43,199 --> 00:03:46,960 with Mercer on the job. If it's murder, Mercer will 50 00:03:47,039 --> 00:03:54,599 solve it. You took the laugh and went down to 51 00:03:54,639 --> 00:03:57,719 the scene of the crime, the standard laundry, but. 52 00:03:57,719 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 6: The laugh followed him. 53 00:03:59,599 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 4: When you are from the door of the laundry, Detective 54 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,960 Lieutenant Teddy Vinson greeted you were. 55 00:04:06,439 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 2: All right, man? 56 00:04:07,479 --> 00:04:11,439 Speaker 4: All you cot sergeant? Can all go home to Mercer's 57 00:04:11,439 --> 00:04:14,719 there we got nothing to worry I have, Lieutenant Vincent. 58 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:17,160 Man you want to see your real Sherlock go to 59 00:04:17,199 --> 00:04:22,519 works taking the scene a laundry the day I'm not 60 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,399 a working day. The man there on the floor herming 61 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:29,720 with the owner is dead. Bullets here them as you 62 00:04:29,759 --> 00:04:33,759 see a friend, Henry long aulco shot but not dead, 63 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:38,040 conscious but not dead. The gun see the gun Mercer 64 00:04:38,759 --> 00:04:41,959 done on the floor between Also want the four sixty 65 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,800 one dollar bill on the table, a half consumed bottle 66 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:51,680 of wine. Give us your verdict, Charlot cut it out 67 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:56,240 for you, Lieutenant Vincent. Haven't you salved dead Mercer slipping? 68 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,319 What happened? I just told you what? The owner is dead, 69 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,600 Long so called friend badly wounded. The money, the bottle 70 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,279 of line has all this do it? Can you figure 71 00:05:05,319 --> 00:05:05,600 it out? 72 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:05,759 Speaker 5: No? 73 00:05:05,959 --> 00:05:10,639 Speaker 4: I can't. What's your idea? Well, great merceress stumped? What 74 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:12,680 do you know? I say? 75 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 3: Lets you on a secret. That man with. 76 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:24,399 Speaker 4: Kill? How how? 77 00:05:24,399 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 2: He says? 78 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 8: How? 79 00:05:26,399 --> 00:05:28,439 Speaker 4: Why are your gun? That's out? 80 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:30,439 Speaker 1: All? Please? 81 00:05:31,399 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 4: Okay? Where there's no joke it? Well there it is 82 00:05:35,959 --> 00:05:41,839 opening chut. The two of them were friends, I called friends. 83 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:44,519 They got in, look right, there's too much to drink, 84 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:48,839 got around of money, and so which got long? Long? Hut? 85 00:05:50,079 --> 00:05:54,399 We did as we say on the forest? Sup. Can 86 00:05:54,439 --> 00:05:59,040 I look around? Look around with of course, mister mercer, 87 00:05:59,079 --> 00:06:02,240 look around my army, mean no doubt we overlook some 88 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:04,399 special clue which proves the murder. With a left handed 89 00:06:04,439 --> 00:06:10,480 Irish say, I think you're wrong, lieutenant. Ah wow, where's 90 00:06:10,519 --> 00:06:14,600 the other gun? What other gun? He said? Long shot with? 91 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:18,480 And which shot? Long? What did they do use? One 92 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:22,120 gun between them? Where's the other gun? Maybe maybe he 93 00:06:22,199 --> 00:06:22,959 tossed it somewhere? 94 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 6: Ah? 95 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:28,319 Speaker 4: You said they were drunk at the fighting. Look at 96 00:06:28,319 --> 00:06:32,480 that bottle. So that's sweet wine, more than two thirds 97 00:06:32,519 --> 00:06:35,160 of the bottle. Still what they didn't have enough to 98 00:06:35,199 --> 00:06:37,759 even warm them up. They weren't drunk, you don't know 99 00:06:37,759 --> 00:06:40,439 what you're talking about. Have you taken the bullet out 100 00:06:40,439 --> 00:06:42,800 of Long yet, you say he's still unconscious? Of course not. 101 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:45,639 When you do, I'm pretty sure you'll find it didn't 102 00:06:45,639 --> 00:06:49,360 come from which gun, which didn't shoot long? And I 103 00:06:49,399 --> 00:06:50,720 don't think long shot. 104 00:06:50,399 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 3: With what a bet? 105 00:06:52,759 --> 00:06:57,439 Speaker 4: I don't bet, Lieutenant, I'm on murder. Okay, okay, hey, 106 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,240 sage and get ballistic. Get ballistics here, fast up that 107 00:07:00,319 --> 00:07:10,639 ambulance for Long mercy, great fruit. Okay, just what. The 108 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,240 lieutenant is a good guy, you know that, Just a 109 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,759 guy who with everybody else like for kids you Tom Merson, allright, 110 00:07:18,879 --> 00:07:21,120 you can take it, and you don't gloat. 111 00:07:21,639 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 6: You don't gloat when later the. 112 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:26,759 Speaker 4: Listic gets through examining the bullets removed from wis body 113 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,360 and from the chest of Henry Long, still unconscious at 114 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:34,439 the general hospital. You don't gloat when the lieutenant says, 115 00:07:34,639 --> 00:07:36,360 both bullets and one, and with the one and long, 116 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:38,560 we're five for forty five and the gun on the 117 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:40,639 floor of the laundry was at thirty eight. That's right. 118 00:07:42,279 --> 00:07:45,160 Then maybe it was the left handed irishman. Lieutenant all right, 119 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:49,720 mesays some other time I got work to do, so 120 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,759 have you, tom Merson, you are work to do too. 121 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,279 A murder has been permitted and a Long dies, maybe 122 00:07:56,319 --> 00:07:57,319 a double murder. 123 00:07:57,959 --> 00:07:59,079 Speaker 6: You want to am the laughter. 124 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,199 Speaker 4: Just being right on the bullet doesn't do that. You 125 00:08:02,279 --> 00:08:03,800 want to solve this murder. 126 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:05,079 Speaker 6: Oh you wait. 127 00:08:05,759 --> 00:08:08,319 Speaker 4: You wait at General Hospital. And the only man who 128 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,199 can possibly tell what happened in the laundry that Armistice day, 129 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:16,120 Henry Long, is still unconscious. You wait in the cart 130 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,839 outside his room for ten hours for the moment when 131 00:08:19,879 --> 00:08:23,680 he'll regain consciousness, if he ever does. And when the 132 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:25,120 nurse says. 133 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:26,959 Speaker 9: He's conscious, he's talking. 134 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 4: You quietly entered the room along. Can you tell me 135 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:31,519 what happened? 136 00:08:32,759 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 3: I told him write a poison all the time. He 137 00:08:38,519 --> 00:08:44,279 wrote from He hated him, Faber, He wrote it. He 138 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:47,399 wrote it. I said, some day the door will open 139 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,240 and someone will walk in. And it opened. The door 140 00:08:50,639 --> 00:08:51,600 open when wants this? 141 00:08:51,879 --> 00:08:55,799 Speaker 4: Maybe the man was a customer, he said, where's my laundry? 142 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,759 Speaker 2: Said I'm close today. He said, where's my laundry? 143 00:09:00,279 --> 00:09:01,279 Speaker 4: And did you see him? 144 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:02,559 Speaker 8: And it happened. 145 00:09:03,039 --> 00:09:06,759 Speaker 2: Hermann came back. He opened the desk, money fell out. 146 00:09:06,879 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 4: He took out his gun. He tried to fire a shot, 147 00:09:09,639 --> 00:09:12,279 but the man fired first. Herman's gun went off and 148 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:13,600 he fell and I screamed. 149 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:18,519 Speaker 10: His man shot me up the moon. I dragged myself 150 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:24,120 to the phone. I called the police. Everybody hated him, 151 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:25,879 everybody along. 152 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 4: Can't you hear me? Did you see it? 153 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 2: When the man said, where's my laundry? Hermann said what's 154 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:32,720 the name? 155 00:09:32,759 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 3: And his dress? 156 00:09:34,279 --> 00:09:35,159 Speaker 8: I couldn't hear. 157 00:09:35,039 --> 00:09:39,080 Speaker 3: The and only herman said, huh, write it down? 158 00:09:39,279 --> 00:09:40,159 Speaker 4: Did he write it down? 159 00:09:40,759 --> 00:09:44,279 Speaker 2: All then with black hair of connasman in the pel 160 00:09:44,639 --> 00:09:47,919 I saw it, and he hated herman. He hated him 161 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:48,879 in his eyes. 162 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 5: She could see it. 163 00:09:50,399 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 4: I told him, don't write five and ten letters enough 164 00:09:54,399 --> 00:09:56,480 people thank you already? 165 00:09:57,399 --> 00:10:04,559 Speaker 3: Don't Well he did now he then. 166 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:17,159 Speaker 4: Along Mercer, he's unconscious again. That tried. 167 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,559 Speaker 11: I was mister Whit's secretary. Payne's my name, Gloria Tyane. 168 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 4: He wasn't very well liked, was he. 169 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 11: How many friends does the skunk have? 170 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:27,039 Speaker 4: What do you mean? 171 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:31,759 Speaker 11: I'm not saying anybody kill him, but mister long who 172 00:10:31,879 --> 00:10:34,720 was a friend. That is, he cheated a long out 173 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:37,799 of two thousand dollars a year ago. Anybody in the 174 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:39,840 shop will tell you worked out like slaves. He never 175 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:41,279 had a good word for anybody ever. 176 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 4: Hear of a man named taber uh No, Sure, I 177 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:46,840 don't lie. 178 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 2: He lied. 179 00:10:48,519 --> 00:10:50,559 Speaker 11: He lied all the time. He lied to everybody and 180 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:52,720 about everybody. I'm not sorry. 181 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 4: He's dead, and there are a lot more who feel 182 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:55,519 the same way. 183 00:10:56,279 --> 00:10:57,279 Speaker 6: Everybody who knew. 184 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:05,679 Speaker 4: Him hate with the clue who hated him enough to 185 00:11:05,759 --> 00:11:09,960 killer He began digging two weeks ago, you'd find he 186 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:12,440 fired a man who'd been with him twelve years, a 187 00:11:12,519 --> 00:11:17,360 man named Emmon, a bookkeeper. Sure I hated him twelve years. 188 00:11:17,399 --> 00:11:20,559 I gave him, worked late, sweated for him. What did 189 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,399 he give me my walking papers? But mister Emmons, you 190 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:26,360 didn't hate him enough to shoot him. I wouldn't waste 191 00:11:26,399 --> 00:11:30,519 a bullet on him. You know something, mister. Fifteen years 192 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:33,399 ago he played the fiddle, played with some orchestra, the 193 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:35,840 Cincinnati Symphony. I think they got tired. 194 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:37,320 Speaker 12: He never forgot it. 195 00:11:37,879 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 4: He kept writing letters, poison pen letters, every week saying 196 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:43,480 this fiddle was no good, that one was no good. 197 00:11:44,159 --> 00:11:46,159 That's the kind of a man he was. Take what 198 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:49,159 he did to Tapa Faber, that's right, first file in 199 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,879 and the symphony. You always said, Tapa stole his job, 200 00:11:52,279 --> 00:11:53,559 used to call him up the middle of the night 201 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:55,879 two o'clock and scared Taper's wife. She had to go 202 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:58,759 into a sanitarium. He was nuts, mister, that's what he 203 00:11:58,919 --> 00:12:01,879 was five years ago, which I never met him. What 204 00:12:01,919 --> 00:12:04,679 happened to day his wife? His wife, I don't know. 205 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 6: I think she died in the sanitarium. 206 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:11,639 Speaker 4: They were still with the symphony. Sure, why, oh, nothing, 207 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:25,080 nothing at all, just an idea, tables and I'll be frank. 208 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 2: No news of the past ten years pleased me as 209 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:30,480 much as the death of Ferman Waters about what's the thinking. 210 00:12:31,279 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 4: I'm paul and thin and have dark hair and occasionally 211 00:12:33,879 --> 00:12:37,000 wear a condissan. At the time of the murder, four 212 00:12:37,039 --> 00:12:40,240 forty five PM, an armister's day, you see. I read 213 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:42,039 all the details. I enjoyed the story. 214 00:12:42,519 --> 00:12:44,679 Speaker 2: I was playing a concert in Indianapolis. 215 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 4: I was playing the solo part at that precise moment 216 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,200 of the Beethos and Violin concerto. 217 00:12:49,919 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 6: A dead end, Hate comes to a dead end. 218 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:04,399 Speaker 3: What now? 219 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 4: Back at the laundry, still proving, still asking questions of 220 00:13:08,279 --> 00:13:09,840 w Secretary sudon me. 221 00:13:10,039 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 11: She says, that's just funny. What slip this laundry slip. 222 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:18,279 I make out all the laundry ships, but in my handwriting. 223 00:13:17,919 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 4: Let me see it. Twenty two thirty one by in 224 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:24,000 the street, you have a customer there, No, I checked it. 225 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 11: That's what's funny. 226 00:13:24,799 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 4: Is this his writing? 227 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:28,799 Speaker 2: Oh, mister Witz, Hey, that's. 228 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 6: Right it is. 229 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 4: Where do you find it? 230 00:13:30,919 --> 00:13:31,399 Speaker 11: Crumpled up? 231 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:45,399 Speaker 4: Give it me quick? Yeah? Can I help you, ma'am? 232 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:48,679 I'm looking for a man, tall, thin, dark haired. Sometimes 233 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:50,759 where's a carnation in his button? Man? 234 00:13:51,039 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 2: Oh? 235 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:54,440 Speaker 9: Dear, no is this is a boarding house for business women. 236 00:13:55,279 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 2: No gentleman out here, none whatsoever. 237 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:00,519 Speaker 4: Oh you are sure. 238 00:14:00,879 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 9: I'm quite sure, young man. Quite only the most respectable women. 239 00:14:04,919 --> 00:14:07,840 And I require two references. And you can belease me 240 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:11,200 that I know my tennis. I never cry, but I 241 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:12,200 know my lady. 242 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 4: Murder and twenty two thirty one, fine street, don't nix 243 00:14:17,639 --> 00:14:20,720 you walk down the steps of dejection written on your face, 244 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,559 and on the sidewalk you meet you would with your lock, 245 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:28,960 Detective Lieutenant Vinton. Well, I'm sure you got it all 246 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,799 wrapped up. Yeah. See, secretary told me twenty two thirty 247 00:14:32,799 --> 00:14:35,720 one five that one would ask him. The murderer gave 248 00:14:35,759 --> 00:14:40,840 his right address. O. K. Lieutenant, I was wrong, wrong him, 249 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:41,840 boss of Uh. 250 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 8: Listen, I'll give you a tip. 251 00:14:44,879 --> 00:14:47,639 Speaker 6: That carnation in the button I will remember well. 252 00:14:47,679 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 4: I checked, and guess what, there's only several hundred bars 253 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,559 in towns selling carnations. Why don't you check? The mercer? 254 00:14:56,120 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 8: Why not go ahead? 255 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 4: For years now you've been the butt of bad jokes, 256 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:18,320 Tom Mercer. They call you a walkshaw and Sherlock Mercer 257 00:15:18,399 --> 00:15:21,399 the sloth. And in the present case, it looks like 258 00:15:21,399 --> 00:15:24,399 you're going to make a fool of yourself again. For you, 259 00:15:24,639 --> 00:15:28,960 Tom Mercer, reporter for the Cincinnati Enquirer, has cracked down 260 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,919 every lead in the slaying of Herman Wit Laundryona, and 261 00:15:33,039 --> 00:15:35,639 every lead has led to the same place. 262 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 6: No way. 263 00:15:37,639 --> 00:15:40,759 Speaker 4: First you went after people who hated with an employee, 264 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,759 the first violinist in the symphony orchestra. Each time you 265 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:49,080 drew nothing, and the address and the laundry slip nothing. 266 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 7: Less than nothing. 267 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 4: An absurd since the running a boarding house a business 268 00:15:53,799 --> 00:15:57,799 leader right as well as an invincent of homicide. 269 00:15:57,879 --> 00:15:59,159 Speaker 6: Put it back down. 270 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 4: All the story the South carnation, why not crazy as 271 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:04,919 a town? 272 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:06,759 Speaker 6: It might be something? 273 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:10,639 Speaker 4: Say that again, I said, can you recall selling carnations regularly, 274 00:16:10,679 --> 00:16:13,000 mind you to a man, tall, thin, with dark hair, 275 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,279 well dressed. I imagine fellow bought carnations all the time 276 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:17,240 and be well dressed. 277 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 2: And that's what I thought. 278 00:16:18,399 --> 00:16:21,159 Speaker 4: You said, What are you a detective? Well, not exactly, 279 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,799 I'm that wood killing Huh, yeah, that's right. Well I've 280 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,039 heard of some pretty stupid things in my time. But 281 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:28,279 if that's the way you Fellas work, it's no wonder. 282 00:16:28,279 --> 00:16:30,720 There's so many unsolved crimes in this city. Why do 283 00:16:30,759 --> 00:16:34,159 you say that? Why I sell maybe one hundred carnations 284 00:16:34,159 --> 00:16:35,320 a day to one hundred. 285 00:16:35,039 --> 00:16:37,759 Speaker 6: Different people, me and a couple of hundred other flowersts. 286 00:16:38,039 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 2: Do you honestly expect me to give you a clue? 287 00:16:41,799 --> 00:16:42,279 Speaker 6: Why? 288 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:50,919 Speaker 4: The man asks, is right? Of course, he's right. We're 289 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,519 grasping a straw and hoping you come up with the answer. 290 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:59,080 Carnation ideas crazy, They give it up, And then on 291 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,159 your desk at the paper a day later is a 292 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:08,799 message call Missulily Rinker sety seven one one three. The 293 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:16,759 address is twenty two thirty one fine, twenty two thirty 294 00:17:16,799 --> 00:17:20,839 one fine. Eulaly Rinker, the lady who runs the boarding 295 00:17:20,839 --> 00:17:25,000 house of business woman. You don't call you race over now. 296 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 9: Mind you. I don't pry into the affairs and my kenna. 297 00:17:27,839 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 4: I understand Miss Rings. 298 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:32,039 Speaker 9: And I'm very strict in my requirements. Two references are 299 00:17:32,039 --> 00:17:34,720 is sent you told me well, happy you're here? 300 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:35,599 Speaker 6: Mind you. 301 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:39,160 Speaker 9: I don't pry, but I did do a little less inquiring. 302 00:17:39,319 --> 00:17:42,720 And after all, it wasn't murder, now, wasn't it murder? 303 00:17:43,319 --> 00:17:46,119 The lady on the third flower, Rea Misstands a very 304 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:50,079 sweet old lady. She's really secretly married and estranged from 305 00:17:50,079 --> 00:17:50,599 her husband. 306 00:17:50,799 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 2: Can you imagine that all you found? 307 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:55,359 Speaker 9: Fight the contrary, that was only the beginning. And missus 308 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:59,640 Kirch on second flower front she dread. I found can 309 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:01,920 you six bottles in her. 310 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,599 Speaker 4: Zero drawer, the bottom drawer, Look, miss Rinker. 311 00:18:04,759 --> 00:18:05,640 Speaker 8: I haven't told you all. 312 00:18:06,079 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 9: Then there's miss bascom a prest straw here, very quiet, 313 00:18:09,519 --> 00:18:11,640 a sweet person. Really, I've got to get see's the 314 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:12,839 confidential secretary. 315 00:18:13,559 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 4: I never hired her. Do you know what she keeps? 316 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:18,400 Live mice? Not at all? 317 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:21,319 Speaker 9: But she has a forty five automatic in her desk drawer. 318 00:18:21,799 --> 00:18:23,880 I had my handyman in and he told me it 319 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:25,640 was a forty five caliber? 320 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:27,519 Speaker 4: Is that the word? Caliber? 321 00:18:28,039 --> 00:18:31,640 Speaker 9: A forty five caliber automatic revolver in her desk. 322 00:18:31,559 --> 00:18:40,759 Speaker 4: Drawer, Miss Bascombe, that's correct. You mind coming down with 323 00:18:40,839 --> 00:18:42,079 me to police headquarters? 324 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:43,759 Speaker 11: Did I wouldn't mind a great deal. 325 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 4: All I want to do is have them examine your gun, 326 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:46,240 Miss Bascom. 327 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:47,319 Speaker 11: I have no gun. 328 00:18:47,759 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 4: Now you haven't. I have it, that is Miss Rinker, 329 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:50,720 and I have it. 330 00:18:50,799 --> 00:18:51,839 Speaker 11: I have a permit for the gun. 331 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:53,839 Speaker 4: But you know the gun was fired. I guess within 332 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:55,279 the past week. Did you know that that it was 333 00:18:55,319 --> 00:18:55,960 fired twice? 334 00:18:56,039 --> 00:18:58,279 Speaker 11: It could have been you tell me, Miss Pasch, I 335 00:18:58,319 --> 00:18:59,680 don't want to go to the police, please, I don't. 336 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:01,559 If I you will be enough, It depends on what 337 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:03,519 you tell me. Well, I lend it to a man, 338 00:19:03,559 --> 00:19:05,920 a casual acquaintance. He said he wanted to buy a gun. 339 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:07,759 I wanted to sell it, so I lent it to 340 00:19:07,839 --> 00:19:10,039 him to try it out. So, sitting later, we brought 341 00:19:10,039 --> 00:19:10,480 it back. 342 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:15,039 Speaker 4: And said, when was this about a week ago? Mister Day? 343 00:19:15,079 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 11: I think it was, yeah, I miss this day. Yeah, 344 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:18,319 I wasn't working that day. 345 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:21,079 Speaker 4: What time did you lend it to him to a cross? 346 00:19:21,079 --> 00:19:23,319 When did he bring it back thirty? 347 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 11: I think yeah, he just said he wanted to try 348 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:26,359 it out. 349 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:27,039 Speaker 2: Why what happened? 350 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 4: He tried it out in Miss Bascom about four or 351 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:31,000 forty five. He tried it out on too many. He 352 00:19:31,079 --> 00:19:34,200 killed one of them. No, yes, what was his name? 353 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:35,640 This casual friend of yours? 354 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:35,880 Speaker 5: John. 355 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 4: I'm sorry about your not wanting to go to the police, 356 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:42,480 Miss Bascom, because I'm afraid my friend, Lieutenant Vincent would 357 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:44,680 never forgive me if I didn't take you down with me. 358 00:19:45,079 --> 00:19:56,319 Shall we go? That's a Spectrums Bascom lietenant. There's no 359 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:58,480 question this is the man. If you don't mind, Marcella 360 00:19:58,519 --> 00:20:03,200 left me? Do he ask you? Uh, there's no question 361 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:06,079 this is the Mansen no question. It was just a 362 00:20:06,079 --> 00:20:07,039 friend of yours as Turner. 363 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,039 Speaker 11: Oh no, not a friend. I just met him once. 364 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 4: Okay, okay, you can go, but be on tap of anager. 365 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:14,599 And I hope you have a primate for that gun. 366 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:15,920 Oh yes I do if you want to see it 367 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:20,000 all right, All right, never mind, use that door. Well, 368 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,920 why the record? Our friend Turner has barsony breaking and entering, 369 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:27,359 narcotics charge, wanted in Kansas auto theft and figure it. 370 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:32,079 Figure why the whole thing's crazy. A guy writes poisoned 371 00:20:32,079 --> 00:20:35,319 pan letters his employees hate him, everybody hates him, and 372 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:40,200 this turns out nuts. Can I say something? I said? 373 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:43,119 Can I say something? But the long arm of coincidence 374 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:45,720 is a funny thing. Don't give me police theories, hawk 375 00:20:46,279 --> 00:20:48,319 hawk show. I've heard it before, and I don't worry. 376 00:20:48,319 --> 00:20:50,720 I'm not sensitive. Will you let me talk for just 377 00:20:50,759 --> 00:20:54,640 a minute? Oh ahead? What stopped this? All of us? 378 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 2: You me? 379 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 4: Everybody was a hated man. When a hated man gets killed, hate, 380 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:02,240 we figure must be the motive. So we suspected Taber 381 00:21:02,319 --> 00:21:04,799 or Eminent. I even thought for a while it was long, 382 00:21:05,319 --> 00:21:07,799 But it wasn't any of these people. It was an accident, 383 00:21:07,839 --> 00:21:10,480 a pure and simple accident. The motive was robbery, pure 384 00:21:10,519 --> 00:21:13,640 and simple robbery. Turn is a pro, his record shows it, 385 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:16,640 a professional gunman. He figures he'll knock over this laundry. 386 00:21:16,839 --> 00:21:18,519 He takes armist to stay because no one will be 387 00:21:18,559 --> 00:21:20,759 around if the banks have closed, so they'll be cash there. 388 00:21:21,079 --> 00:21:22,799 He goes in. He puts on the front by asking 389 00:21:22,799 --> 00:21:25,319 for his laundry. When Wick gets suspicious and pulls out 390 00:21:25,319 --> 00:21:27,960 a gun, he kills him. He shoots Long escapes. Since 391 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:29,960 when does a pro give his right address? It wasn't 392 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:32,640 his right address. The first address that came to his mind. 393 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:34,880 He hadn't planned it all the way. When he asked 394 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:36,960 Whitch for his laundry, wit asked for his address. That's 395 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:39,119 surprised him, so he said, just like that, twenty two 396 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:44,400 thirty one. Fine, even pros make mistakes. You know something, 397 00:21:44,559 --> 00:21:51,519 what I think you're right? No, yep, Arkshaw, I think 398 00:21:51,519 --> 00:21:54,440 this time you're right. Well, thanks, ad. It never minds 399 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,680 a thanks. Now we've got to find Turner. That won't 400 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:00,799 be easy. Well, Lieutenant, I thought i'd leave something for 401 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:09,400 the police to do this. The laughter connected with your name, 402 00:22:09,519 --> 00:22:13,319 Tom Murder goes out of people's voices. When you write 403 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:15,839 your story on who the killer is I it was 404 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:19,400 found out, the cracks begin to fade away. The wise 405 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:23,640 guy looks, and then the dragnet goes down. John Turner, 406 00:22:24,279 --> 00:22:28,240 all thin, dark haired, in carnation in the button hole, 407 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:32,799 wanted in Kansas, wanted for breaking and entering, wanted for murder. 408 00:22:33,559 --> 00:22:35,759 Speaker 6: You keep the story alive during the months. 409 00:22:35,559 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 4: Of the search forum. You keep the people aware that 410 00:22:38,519 --> 00:22:41,400 he's around what he looks like, so that one evening, 411 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,799 the laughter around your name goes away for all time. 412 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:48,759 Because this happened in a fruit store on the outskirts 413 00:22:48,799 --> 00:22:51,920 of town. That was enough, mister, that's the right. But 414 00:22:52,079 --> 00:22:54,000 if you want a dose and orange, if you maybe 415 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:55,519 some approus, I get them for you. 416 00:22:55,759 --> 00:23:00,240 Speaker 2: No hitt of the oranges, mister, or the apple in 417 00:23:00,319 --> 00:23:01,200 the cash register? 418 00:23:01,319 --> 00:23:02,440 Speaker 3: What you do? 419 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:03,880 Speaker 4: No get my money up? 420 00:23:06,319 --> 00:23:09,279 Speaker 2: Stay there, I call the police. 421 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:10,759 Speaker 5: M M. 422 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:14,519 Speaker 4: Somebody. I know you're the man. 423 00:23:15,279 --> 00:23:18,519 Speaker 2: That's right, You the man I read about them the paper. 424 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 4: The man killed the man who owned the laundry. That's right, 425 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:29,240 all right, give me the police. That's right. 426 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 8: Now. 427 00:23:42,319 --> 00:23:44,440 Speaker 7: We read you that telegram from Tom Mercer of the 428 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:45,519 Cincinnati Inquirer. 429 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 4: Killer and Tonight's Big Story. Was arrested and brought to 430 00:23:48,079 --> 00:23:51,039 trial for the murder of the laundry owner. During the trial, 431 00:23:51,039 --> 00:23:52,920 I visited him in jail and asked why he had 432 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:54,960 been foolish enough to give a traceable address at the 433 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,720 time of the hold up. He replied, I was a 434 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:00,519 little rattled then. What the chief trouble of my life 435 00:24:00,519 --> 00:24:03,720 has been that I can't help telling the truth? Inherently, 436 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:07,519 I am an honest man. He was convicted and subsequently 437 00:24:07,559 --> 00:24:18,400 died in the electric chair. In order to protect the 438 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:21,799 names of persons actually involved in Tonight's authentic Big Story. 439 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:25,160 The names of all characters and the dramatization were changed, 440 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,920 with the exception of the newspaper reporters. The Big Story 441 00:24:29,039 --> 00:24:32,680 was previously released by NBC, the National Broadcasting Company for 442 00:24:32,759 --> 00:24:36,000 listeners in the United States and rebroadcast for our servicemen 443 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:41,759 and women overseas. This is the United States Armed Forces 444 00:24:41,839 --> 00:24:44,799 Radio Service, the Voice of Information and Education. 445 00:25:56,319 --> 00:26:03,680 Speaker 1: Shhh, welcome back. Well, he didn't have a cast less. However, 446 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:06,880 if you've listened to a lot of New York radio, 447 00:26:08,039 --> 00:26:10,640 you know who the star of the show was. Jackson Beck, 448 00:26:11,759 --> 00:26:18,839 supporting mister Beck or Barbara Townsend, Alice Reinhart, Ted Osborne, 449 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:23,200 Santos Ortega, Gil Mack, and Milton Herman. Now, the somewhat 450 00:26:23,279 --> 00:26:27,759 amusing thing about this episode in Jackson Beck's role is 451 00:26:27,759 --> 00:26:32,240 that at the time, one of Jackson's big radio gigs, 452 00:26:32,599 --> 00:26:36,440 along with still being the announcer on the Adventures of Superman, 453 00:26:37,079 --> 00:26:42,319 was that he was playing Filo Vance for ZIV in 454 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:47,720 that radio series, and in that series, the District Attorney 455 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:53,359 Markham practically worships the ground that Vance walks upon. So 456 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:59,000 it's interesting to hear Back playing a character who is 457 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:04,839 the Buttom the and whose every opinion is doubted, and 458 00:27:05,039 --> 00:27:08,359 it's kind of like you're wrong until you're proven right. 459 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:12,359 But he in the end was proven right. And it's 460 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:18,400 through a process of being willing to think and rethink 461 00:27:18,799 --> 00:27:22,079 a case, to do trial and error, and then just 462 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:26,039 coming up with this idea that they were looking at 463 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:31,720 the wrong motive and it's a satisfying result overall. Now, 464 00:27:32,319 --> 00:27:36,880 in terms of the true story, again, it's pretty it's 465 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:44,960 pretty close to accurate. The events actually occurred in November 466 00:27:45,279 --> 00:27:52,319 nineteen thirty three, and there was a reward placed out 467 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:58,599 in March thirty four for the robber slash killer. In 468 00:27:58,599 --> 00:28:02,880 this case, the killer, who was an ex convict named 469 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:07,680 Richard Keller, really did pick the wrong victim. It was 470 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:13,000 an Italian immigrant. The additional backstory was that that immigrant 471 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:17,440 was a World War One veteran who knew jiu jitsu, 472 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:22,119 and doctor Joseph Webb quotes the story in the Minneapolis Star. 473 00:28:22,799 --> 00:28:29,160 Keller asked for a dozen oranges, and as Nordi Lodovico 474 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:34,279 Nardi is the name of the grosser turned to get them, 475 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:37,960 he felt a revolver thrust against his back. Without turning 476 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,519 the war veterans seized the gun in one hand and 477 00:28:40,559 --> 00:28:44,519 caught the intruder around the neck with the other. Now, 478 00:28:44,559 --> 00:28:49,920 doctor Webb does note that there's no information regarding mister 479 00:28:50,079 --> 00:28:54,400 Mercer's career that could be located, so we don't know 480 00:28:54,559 --> 00:29:00,359 about that false alarm story and the elements behind that. 481 00:29:00,799 --> 00:29:04,400 Well say that I do find it amusing when the 482 00:29:04,519 --> 00:29:10,799 narrator goes for something that the characters contradict, such as 483 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:17,599 Mercer's assertion that he was not sensitive about the joking 484 00:29:17,759 --> 00:29:24,000 he got because of his inaccurate deductions. Either he was 485 00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:28,079 lying or the narrator was all right, listener comments and 486 00:29:28,079 --> 00:29:33,000 feedback Now, and we have some comments regarding the Respected 487 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:38,640 Chemist Dead episode. Jeff Wrights, thanks for the nineteen twenty 488 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:43,640 nine depression context to this episode, because murder suicide seemed 489 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:46,119 very improbable to me at first. Do you know if 490 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:49,440 the Tolstoy play was actually part of the true story 491 00:29:49,559 --> 00:29:55,880 or something included for radio purposes. Well, Jeff, that's a 492 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:59,200 good question. I can't say one hundred percent for certain, 493 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:03,640 but I and of the mind that if you actually 494 00:30:03,759 --> 00:30:08,559 had read that play, you wouldn't get one person, let 495 00:30:08,599 --> 00:30:12,279 alone two people committing to it or they You know what, 496 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:15,720 I read this and this is a good idea, because 497 00:30:15,759 --> 00:30:19,000 that was clearly not the point of the play. Now 498 00:30:19,119 --> 00:30:26,240 do people occasionally miss the point and go off and 499 00:30:26,319 --> 00:30:28,480 do something weird? 500 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:29,119 Speaker 2: Yeah? 501 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: Sure, I mean one episode we did on the Great 502 00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:39,680 Adventures Old Time Radio was Toby Tyler or ten Weeks 503 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:44,200 with the Circus, and it was an unromantic look of 504 00:30:44,279 --> 00:30:48,400 what happened, and the protagonist went through all sorts of trouble. 505 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:54,559 It in no way romanticized circus life. Nevertheless, it has 506 00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:58,920 served as the inspiration for many a young boy who 507 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:02,519 read it to go off enjoined the circus. Now, admittedly, 508 00:31:03,519 --> 00:31:08,200 in that case, though that book was written in kind 509 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:13,160 of the bad boy genre, and people who read it 510 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:17,200 and go off and join the circus are kids Tolstoy 511 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:20,880 nor that story are particularly subtle. So I don't know 512 00:31:21,039 --> 00:31:24,200 for sure there's no real information, but I do think 513 00:31:24,319 --> 00:31:28,920 it makes more sense as a radio writer's inspiration and 514 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:33,400 connection rather than something that where someone read it in 515 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:37,440 real life and decided, yeah, let's do that. Mechanics sixty 516 00:31:37,599 --> 00:31:41,359 six wrote, I and this one we're going to spotify. 517 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:44,480 I don't get the usage of the word fled. Couldn't 518 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:48,640 they just leave under their own names, and the real 519 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:51,920 story be interesting if the insurance paid the widow and 520 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:57,079 then the widower for the girlfriend sued the estate for 521 00:31:57,160 --> 00:32:01,599 alienation of affection. Well, he could have said, but I 522 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:04,680 don't think there's a jury in the world that would 523 00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:08,799 rule in his favor in that case and be socially 524 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:12,519 looked down upon. In terms of why they use the 525 00:32:12,519 --> 00:32:17,480 word flat, well, they were not wanting to be found. 526 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:21,680 And certainly the chemist, at least at the time he began, 527 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:26,640 and perhaps I don't know through the whole journey, may 528 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:31,079 have believed that he was thought to be dead and 529 00:32:31,359 --> 00:32:37,000 wanted to ensure that his family would collect the life insurance. 530 00:32:37,039 --> 00:32:39,920 He goes around under his own name. That's not going 531 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:42,759 to work. So yeah, they would not flee under their 532 00:32:42,839 --> 00:32:46,200 own name. They are wanting to disappear, They're not wanting 533 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:50,160 to be found by their spouses. Down was a bit 534 00:32:50,279 --> 00:32:54,640 incredulous writing this is a big story. I respected guy 535 00:32:54,839 --> 00:32:59,039 turns out to be a scumball in a midlife crisis. 536 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:03,640 I understand the point on but one thing that does 537 00:33:03,839 --> 00:33:08,960 make news news is the sort of unusual angle of it. 538 00:33:09,319 --> 00:33:12,559 And that's the case with so many crimes and stories 539 00:33:12,599 --> 00:33:18,799 that become scandals, either the person involved is somehow different, 540 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:23,119 or there are details about it that make it really 541 00:33:23,519 --> 00:33:29,680 fascinating and draw readers. In. One somewhat innocuous example is 542 00:33:30,079 --> 00:33:33,079 where I live, it is not going to make the 543 00:33:33,079 --> 00:33:36,880 news if a convenience store gets robbed, or it's just 544 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:40,359 going to be like a little footnote in the paper. However, 545 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:46,799 there is one particular story I remember reading in the newspaper, 546 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:51,880 and it was about someone robbing a convenience store in 547 00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:56,839 a ninja outfit. Now, robbing the convenience store not really interesting. 548 00:33:57,279 --> 00:34:00,359 Doing it dressed as a ninja. That's worth a little 549 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:03,799 bit more print. And it's the same thing here. If 550 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:07,279 our man had just had a midlife crisis and ran 551 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:12,039 off with his secretary, that's not really news. It's a scandal, 552 00:34:12,079 --> 00:34:16,119 would be a personal scandal for the family in that era, 553 00:34:16,679 --> 00:34:19,039 but that's not going to go in the newspaper. What 554 00:34:19,239 --> 00:34:25,000 makes this news is that he did an elaborate attempt 555 00:34:25,119 --> 00:34:29,320 to fake his own death. In addition to that, you 556 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:32,559 had the whole issue with the insurance company whether they 557 00:34:32,599 --> 00:34:36,559 would pay off or not, and the financial fate of 558 00:34:36,599 --> 00:34:41,480 his family tied up in that. So there's emotional stakes 559 00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:46,920 and there are little details that make this far more 560 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:51,679 interesting to the reading public than your typical story. Then, 561 00:34:51,880 --> 00:34:56,280 staying on Spotify of a comment from Harrison regarding our 562 00:34:56,519 --> 00:35:01,440 twice Hold tale, Harrison wrote, overall, the not beat story 563 00:35:02,119 --> 00:35:06,760 felt more fleshed out, despite some of the inconsistencies with 564 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:10,960 the not built not beat style of storytelling. However, this 565 00:35:11,039 --> 00:35:13,440 did make me want to hear more of the Silent Men. 566 00:35:14,119 --> 00:35:17,320 I enjoyed the recycled music from Cloak and Dagger and 567 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:21,960 Dangerous Assignment to be honest, and the idea of very 568 00:35:22,039 --> 00:35:26,440 protagonists from various agencies. Thanks for playing them great selection. Well, 569 00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:29,480 thanks so much, And that is one of those things 570 00:35:29,519 --> 00:35:34,960 that I do hope whenever we feature an older series, 571 00:35:35,519 --> 00:35:38,400 either for like a twice lit tale or when we're 572 00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:41,159 doing our encores, it don't make people curious to go 573 00:35:41,199 --> 00:35:44,000 and check out the back catalog, and of course we 574 00:35:44,079 --> 00:35:48,599 do have those all wherever you get your podcasts from. Well, 575 00:35:48,639 --> 00:35:53,480 now we turn to YouTube and Jeffrey comments regarding the 576 00:35:53,599 --> 00:35:57,320 Jigsaw crime. Oh, were the police allowed to detain someone 577 00:35:57,360 --> 00:36:00,239 a few hours back then with no accusation and to 578 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:06,400 hold them? That is something that police will do even 579 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:10,920 in more modern times of course you have to release 580 00:36:11,159 --> 00:36:17,360 the subspect on if a rent is filed, which I 581 00:36:17,360 --> 00:36:21,000 think would have been the situation back at the time 582 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:24,559 of the episode. Then we have a question from Mark 583 00:36:24,639 --> 00:36:29,639 who writes, why are pall Mall cigarettes called pell Mell? 584 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:34,119 Parliament Mall London has nothing to do with pell mell 585 00:36:35,159 --> 00:36:42,320 frantic activity. Well, in this case, the brand pronunciation is 586 00:36:42,679 --> 00:36:48,360 a bit of a story. The cigarette was named was 587 00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:53,639 named after a city street in the city of Westminster 588 00:36:53,960 --> 00:37:00,440 in London. That street, in turn was named after a game, 589 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:05,239 a long game that actually because it developed in the 590 00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:12,199 sixteenth and seventeenth century and various locations actually had a 591 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:19,440 variety of spellings and pronunciations to describe the same lawn game. 592 00:37:19,920 --> 00:37:25,039 And that includes both the pronunciations they seem to be 593 00:37:25,159 --> 00:37:29,599 thinking of. So much appreciate the question. Now it's time 594 00:37:29,639 --> 00:37:32,000 to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. I want 595 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:35,920 to thank Jacqueline, Patreon supporter since August twenty eighteen, currently 596 00:37:35,920 --> 00:37:39,760 supporting the podcasts at the shawmus level of four dollars 597 00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:42,760 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Jacqueline, 598 00:37:43,159 --> 00:37:45,679 and that will do it for today. If you're enjoying 599 00:37:45,719 --> 00:37:50,280 the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software, 600 00:37:50,880 --> 00:37:53,559 and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever 601 00:37:53,559 --> 00:37:57,239 you download it from. We'll be back next Tuesday with 602 00:37:57,320 --> 00:37:59,800 another episode of the Big Story, But join us back 603 00:37:59,840 --> 00:38:02,440 here tomorrow for Broadways my beat, where. 604 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:07,000 Speaker 12: Once of such beauty, such beauty that would put all 605 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:10,760 these my Grecian delicacies to shame. That torso, for instance, 606 00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:13,840 it would blush to its tippy toes at the beauty 607 00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:17,800 that once was Nola's. But no more, and she's going 608 00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:20,320 to die because there will be violence of one or 609 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:23,320 another death. It is almost too much to hope for, 610 00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:27,199 is it not? Though Nola deserves it, how that old 611 00:38:27,239 --> 00:38:29,519 girl deserves it. She's done something. 612 00:38:29,880 --> 00:38:32,800 Speaker 3: Mm hmmm, yes, mmmmm. 613 00:38:33,719 --> 00:38:35,360 Speaker 12: She convinced the boy to come here all the way 614 00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:39,360 from Europe, not Dannas of a boy Kurt could turn 615 00:38:39,400 --> 00:38:42,280 on the old girl. Young gods turn on old beauty, 616 00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:46,000 sometimes destroy it because it offends their sense of the esthetic. 617 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:50,840 Kurt Kurt Bama a young thing with a pair of skis. 618 00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:54,039 I fear Nola is playing with her own demise in 619 00:38:54,119 --> 00:38:57,239 that boy, and she's not aware of it, no more 620 00:38:57,440 --> 00:39:03,000 than she's aware that at that my daughter Connie by 621 00:39:03,039 --> 00:39:06,480 a former less colorful marriage also has no love for Nola. 622 00:39:07,239 --> 00:39:09,320 You must talk to Connie at her place on something, 623 00:39:09,840 --> 00:39:13,800 ask her why she loves Nola so helplessly. It'll amuse 624 00:39:13,840 --> 00:39:18,199 you and you, mister Hanson, what about you? Why I too, 625 00:39:18,440 --> 00:39:23,000 am a creature of violence? Delicious, isn't it. I don't 626 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:25,400 know one day to the next how I'll react when 627 00:39:25,440 --> 00:39:29,519 something's taken away from me. I fear for Nola, mister Globb, 628 00:39:30,159 --> 00:39:31,480 such an exquisite here. 629 00:39:31,800 --> 00:39:32,960 Speaker 4: That's why you called us. 630 00:39:33,119 --> 00:39:36,559 Speaker 12: But exactly, Nola's a lovely old girl. I'd fret if 631 00:39:36,559 --> 00:39:38,599 there was so much as a scratch on her. You'll 632 00:39:38,639 --> 00:39:43,639 prevent that, you people, won't you if you can. If 633 00:39:43,679 --> 00:39:45,199 you can, I. 634 00:39:45,119 --> 00:39:48,079 Speaker 1: Hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send 635 00:39:48,159 --> 00:39:52,760 your comments to Box thirteen at Great Attractives dot net. 636 00:39:53,360 --> 00:39:58,519 Follow us on Twitter Radio Detectives. Check us out on Instagram, Instagram, 637 00:39:58,599 --> 00:40:03,639 dot com slash Great Detectives from Boise, Idaho. This is 638 00:40:03,679 --> 00:40:06,039 your host, Adam Graham signing off.