Speaker 1: Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we
are going to bring you this week's Charley Chan serial.
But if you are enjoying this podcast, please follow us
using your favorite podcast software, and I want to encourage
you to check out our other podcasts and I'm highlighting
the amazing world of radio at Amazing Great Detectives dot net,
where we are currently playing our summer of Robert Lewis Stevenson,
which is quickly nearing its conclusion. We've had a great
season and you can go and catch up on all
of the great Robert Lewis Stevenson action in stories like Kidnapped,
Treasure Island, and the strange case of Doctor g Coole
and mister Hyde, as well as lesser known or lesser
remembered stories these days, such as Treasurer of the franch
Ard and the Bottling Check again, check that out at
Amazing Great Detectives dot net or wherever you get your
podcast from now. One quick note on Charlie Chan. I
did actually find a document which kind of corrects some
of the things I thought about the series. Now, the
announcer from the series I said was Don Wilson, known
for the Jack Binny Show, but it was actually Jay
Donald Wilson. He started going by the Ja Donald as
Don Wilson became famous, not to be confused with him,
and that makes sense because the voices were different. I
thought he just may have been speaking somewhat differently for
a mystery program, but as an entirely different person. Ja
Donald Wilson and I also found out that this was
a seventy eight episode series and each station was required
to sign up for at least thirty nine episodes. Now
I'm not certain whether the Landini Murder Mystery was a
required serial or if stations could choose. Okay, I want
the bunch of serialized stories, but I don't want the
thirty nine episode series. That's just one story, and I
think both types of serials would serve different audiences, so
it makes sense to have that choice. Anyway, we are
heading back to nineteen thirty six. Killer has paulse Beard
and meeting Gerald Willoughby's playing.
Speaker 2: The most delightfully fascinating character in the realms of mystery,
Earl der Bigger's Charlie Chan, Colonel Willoughby, visiting mister Blake's
home in San Francisco, is murdered in the darkened hallway
of the house. Charlie Chan and Inspector Duff, also guests
at the house, are convinced that none of the other
guests could have committed the murder, and so suspicion falls
upon Simmons, the butler, who is evasive as to his
action the night of the murder. Inspector Chan, however, is
building a case upon the supposition that the colonel's death
has some connection with his search for his son, and
the finding of a newspaper clipping showing that Simmons had
served in the murdered man's regiment lends color to the theory.
Simmons is about to disclose facts which will lead them
to the murderer. When the doorbell rings. He answers the door,
but does not return, and when Inspector Chan and the
others go to the front door, they find the butler
breathing his last The Honolulu detective bends over the body
as the others crowd about him in the open doorway.
Speaker 3: You're sure he's dead, mister chand no question. Shot right
under half gun was held close to body. But we
didn't hear a sound. Murderer. Probably you gun fitted with
silencing divine pardon, You are only one in official capacity here.
Shall we leave him here or move him inside? Let's
move him inside, or better still, you move him inside.
I ain't going down the street, no, sergeant, you are not.
Nidra is either far away by now or else or
else he is hiding in some car wan awaiting some
such move as that which you contentlate. Whether I'm not
afraid of him, no, sergeant, But police fork canilla ford
to lose men in such manner. Your services will be
more valuable in tracking down criminal than in falling a
third victim to his last to kill, well, just the same.
If this cats me mad, quite so, sergeant. But getting mad,
as you call it, only dull the ability to think,
what is it done?
Speaker 4: I saw somebody move across the street. Oh no, sorry,
it's only a dog.
Speaker 3: PETI saying that is what murderer is a mad dog gone?
That's left Simmons in the house. I think you handle
his head down this way, Sergeant, Where is the Reginald.
Speaker 5: Carlin for a doctor trying to get the district attorney
on the fall and.
Speaker 3: I'll get the door. Let's take him to the library.
Speaker 4: All right, just a second till I get a better grip. Hello,
poor devil, we can him now get the District Attorney's original.
Speaker 6: Yes, he's coming over at once, but please.
Speaker 4: Search what happened?
Speaker 7: I heard voices? Oh Simmons? Is he badly hurt?
Speaker 3: So sorry, miss Evelyn.
Speaker 7: He is dead, poor Simmons, killed because he knew too much,
because he could lead us to the murderer.
Speaker 3: Ah, we put him down here on cut. Yeah, that
is it. Yes, you will excuse me. I know that.
I suggest that you return to your own room.
Speaker 7: I shan't break down. There's anything I can do.
Speaker 3: Nothing now, thank you.
Speaker 6: Come along, miss Mitchell. You run along your own room
like a good girl. This is a job for men
who are used to it.
Speaker 3: Sergeant, where is that magnifying glass you were using?
Speaker 5: Hey, got it right here in me pocket? Here it
is what's on your mind, inspector.
Speaker 3: I will show you. Have you also tweeze it? Yes,
here you are? What is it? Jolly there? If you
please position of right hand hold it steady, sergeant, Yes, yes,
it is the man who kills Simmons is man with beard.
You note short black hairs caught in Simmons's fingernail. Jove,
you're right, Charling, it's a martial certainty, But cheer, Inspector.
Speaker 4: The killer, whoever he is, Sidney, is a cold, calculating group.
Speaker 3: How could he.
Speaker 4: Dare to take a chance like this with us in
the house.
Speaker 3: Killer must have been hiding outside house. He saw a
messenger arrive with telegram, saw Simmons answer the door. Then
he rang doorbell. Simmons answered the second time, saw no
one there, stepped outside, and murderer quickly placed gun against
his heart and pressed trigger.
Speaker 8: When Simmons, more or less involuntariist, struck out and caught
the man's beard with his fingernail.
Speaker 3: Probably so well.
Speaker 5: We know the murderer's approximate wit. We have a pretty
good idea of his height. We know he wears a beard, perhap. Sergeant,
what are your main, inspector?
Speaker 8: Oh yes, Hober, come right in holb butt end of
the library door. He's dead, blake, no question about it anyway, doctor,
This is doctor Guthrie, chan police.
Speaker 3: How do you do?
Speaker 4: I'd let the dove scott on your O'Brien, you know,
And of course, mister Blake.
Speaker 3: Are you doing it to blade? Mmmm, that's to die
within a few minutes. Can you speak yes, but not
enough to give us any help. He mattered something about record.
I've been wondering about that myself. What on earth could
he mean by that? Possibly record didn't connection with the
trial of young Willem. But there weren't any eye thought
of that too.
Speaker 4: Why pass?
Speaker 9: There's no connection between the dying words and your case
at all? And in the last few moments we'll say
things that have no meaning. They us talk of what
they say means nothing. At least we know that the
killer wears a beard, or does he? Inspector Chanld was
going to say something when mister Holbrook entered.
Speaker 3: Look here, doctor, examine dead man's fingernails with this magnifying glass.
Tell us what do you find? Yes, from a beard,
but on the under side of the males themselves. Yeah,
here are treasons right.
Speaker 4: Place of spurred gums, spired gums.
Speaker 3: Oh, that was what you were our to try and
to shay mister Chanld, he wore a palchfield. That is
reasonable supposition in view of findings, is it not?
Speaker 9: Doctor?
Speaker 3: I believe that is just a time as Chen you
have cast a footprint made in soft earth, Knight of
Colonel's murder. Sergeant sure thing, mister Chanld, I've got a
cast of a shoe exactly like the one the murderer
war right here in the hardway, blendid. We shall compare
it with Prince outside, although I am certain they will agree,
but we shall check sure same time as we look
for further clues, which to this point we have neglected
to do. Yes, the reginald. We continue search for clues, right,
I suppose we should have done that before. Miss Evelyn
is resting. Yes, I try to talk.
Speaker 6: I'm going to settle down.
Speaker 3: She's hardly accustomed to this sort of thing. Cost Now,
we who are connected with police are prone to forget
that murder is almost severe shock to persons not accustomed
to dealing with it every day. Here is the cast, inspector,
A splendid sergeant, thank you so much.
Speaker 5: There is where we stood, all right, half a dozen footprints,
the cast which snug like into the footprint.
Speaker 3: Now such so carefully. Cigarette stuff, perhaps injected cartridge, maybe
the American manufacture.
Speaker 4: Is you're thinking of the other You're on the wrong
crack there, Charlie.
Speaker 3: What is that by your feet, Sergeant dos pasicke sicky, sergeant,
let me have it hot, smell it, Sir Reginald. But
keep opinion for self while we make tests. Hill you,
mister Blake, Oh, I'm not very keen on sense of
smell you, sergeant. What do you say? Yes, sir, mister
chan I get you. You're right. It smells of oil
and howling. How we agreed, that's mygers and murderer pulled
this ticket receept out of his pocket when he drew
guns to commit murder. Look at date same day, is
it not when you do left Chicago. Yes, you see
how case now fits together. I said in the beginning
that murderer knew when Colonel sent for you and Sir Reginald,
that Colonel had made discovery regarding whereabouts of sun. The
murderer doth traveled on the same train as you from Chicago,
stayed at the same hotel as you did. That is
how he was able to steal note which you wrote
to Sir Reginald, note which he afterwards lure used to
lower Colonel to his death.
Speaker 4: I said, Ben Jolly, that you built a strong case.
Speaker 3: Now I'm certain of it. He may still be staying
at the hotel I have, but I do not think so.
He is too smart, our murderer, to remain long in
one place.
Speaker 4: However, if he has stayed on at the hotel, he'll
move when he discovers that he's lost this ticket.
Speaker 3: In which case our search will be over come. We
have Priens tolay a campaign to map and it's the
whole brook. Can we have all possible resources of your
department to assist. Certainly, listen carefully, sergeant, I'm all ears
and that I am. You must check all taxicabs to
find out which carried man wearing beer to hotel at
which inspected that? And Sir Reginald. Last topic, what if
the man wears a false bureau right? Sergeant? So you
must in addition check all passengers off train to set hotel.
You must then check all who have moved to different
hotels in meantime, I'm on, I look after that part
of the job. Mission You must then check manufacturers of
shoes to find the make of lasts which corresponds to
plaster cast. You have made a footprint. Sure what all?
I am not to have thought of it? Mission not
at all, Sergeant. I only thought of it this moment,
Yet it was obvious thing to do. Truly, is it
said that he who runs cannot at the same time
read signpos.
Speaker 10: Better check all the places sell wigs, false beards, theatrical makeup.
Speaker 4: Yes, better check them all. Though the man may have
bodies false beard in Chicago, you have them checked anywhere?
Speaker 3: Is mister Duff? Now, gentlemen, who will accompany me to airport?
Speaker 4: Accompany you to the airport?
Speaker 3: I wish to satisfy myself that it is mister Gerald
Willoughby and no one else who gets off plane from Chicago.
Speaker 2: Charlie Chan and O'Brien arrive at the landing field where
they await the arrival of Inspector.
Speaker 5: Dub What do you really expect to find by meeting
the plane Inspector Chan? I haven't had time to be
in and all of your planning. Arrival of planes will
determine one thing. That one thing is whether or not
mister Gerald Willoughby is a boss. Before I have remarked
that the journey of one thousand miles is made a
step at a time, and more difficult. The journey is
shorter the step me and and I shappause that the harder.
The case is the steps taken to Charlovetch should be slow.
Speaker 3: Oh but certain, correct, Sergeant. You see both Reginalds and
that think that I am foolish to even for one
brief moment suspect Gerald that they are wrong.
Speaker 5: Sergeant.
Speaker 3: If the quote example, I do not satisfy myself that
it is Gerald who arrives upon planes from Chicago, then
at some future date, when this unsolved case comes to memory,
I should always feel that in the one avenue of
search which we have not explored, we had lost the solution.
Speaker 5: Well know, mister Chan just supports him that the old
man's nephew is about the plane. What theory are you
going to start our next? The answer to that, Sargeant,
is very simple. If this theory fails at crucial test,
I do not know.
Speaker 3: Ah here is that I see.
Speaker 10: I did arrive in time Lake Grovis down to the jail.
They have a few words with our prisoner. I let
miss Mitchell Blake and there and came on to the
airport by Tack said you Willoughby say anything, Yes, Argent,
he did.
Speaker 3: He told his way.
Speaker 4: He never revealed that he was kind of Willoughby's son.
Speaker 10: He admitted that he had been angry at his father
for believing he was guilty to begin with, and that
he was just not going.
Speaker 4: To let anyone know that he was even alive.
Speaker 3: You pointed out to him that that with the murder
of Simmons, it would be impossible to keep his identity
and the story of his disappearance during the war a
secret any longer.
Speaker 4: Yes, yes, he realizes that how's the plane.
Speaker 5: We better stand where we can.
Speaker 3: Get a full view of every bubble. But he get
off quite a few passengers the lighting.
Speaker 11: Yes.
Speaker 3: Oh, and there's Gerald, heavily built gentlemen in the tweed overcoats.
Speaker 4: Come on, we'll go over. Jerry, over there, Gerald, Why
Joe shut up.
Speaker 9: I didn't expect to see you at the airport.
Speaker 10: I know you didn't, Jeral. This is inspected chair of
the hone No no police. And this is oginal' blain,
one of San Francisco's finders. Here, very glad to meet
you both, I'm sure. Tell me has any progress been
made in assaulting of my uncle's murder?
Speaker 3: Nothing, I'm sorry to say. With Willoughby, we are facing
blank wall which stretches in every direction. As far as
I complete here's a taxi.
Speaker 4: Got any luggage, Gerald, Yes, one suitcase?
Speaker 3: Are you take care of them?
Speaker 4: Jump in? And mister Blake's Russian heel driver you know
the place has her.
Speaker 3: Jold.
Speaker 4: The only thing we've found out is that your cousin
is still alive.
Speaker 3: My cousin.
Speaker 4: What you're talking about, Douglas is alive? Why impossible?
Speaker 3: Pray? Not impossible? With Willoughby, it is fact which cannot
be denied. Can you be certain that it isn't something
impost What do you mean, mister willough Well?
Speaker 9: Several people in all aren't cons of the world, knew
that my uncle with always searching for his son. My
uncle always believed that his son was still alive. Don't
you think it possible that one of them might be
trying to get some money for himself by impersonating Douglass.
Speaker 3: It's a perfectly good theory, Gerald.
Speaker 10: But not only did chance amise that the man we
found was young Douglas, but well the Simmons, your uncle's
old sergeant major was the one who invited him to
Blake's house.
Speaker 9: Simmons Simmons, Oh, yes, I remember old Tubby's Simmons and
Tubby Simmons identified as follow as my cousin.
Speaker 3: Sure only did.
Speaker 5: But Simmons is dead now too. What happened to Simmons?
Murdered just the same as your uncle, and by the
same man. At least, that's Inspector Charm's theory. I can't
think of a better one.
Speaker 9: But what reason could anyone have for murdering my uncle
to begin with? And why Simons? I? Why, yes, I'd
actually forgotten simmons existence. We were hoping to get an
answer from you on that point.
Speaker 3: To Willoughby, have you no possible suggestion to give us
as to who might wish to kill your uncle? Not
a glimmer of an idea.
Speaker 9: But I received word of the old gentleman you murdered.
I couldn't grasp it. It didn't seem possible. He hadn't
an enemy in the world, but.
Speaker 3: He might have made one in his insistent search for
his son. Who uncle search for Douglas was harmless enough.
We well, naturally we've felt sorry for uncle, his only son,
charged with cowardice, then his suicide. There was nothing in
that to make anyone want to.
Speaker 4: Kill my uncle.
Speaker 3: We shall not attempt to pursue that. Cast Furner, you
must be tired from your trip. We will leave questioning
until we reached mister Blake's home. It will be so
kind think of anything which has occurred in part years
which might lead us to one small vestitive clue.
Speaker 5: You will, I'll pay the TAXI. This goes on the
expense sheet. Oh, come now, sir, that's all right, sir.
Ah our hot mister Blake Reginald. Then Miss Evelyn returned.
Yet Yes, both in the library, going over the notes
on the case. Oh hello Jerald, Hello, ready, glad to
see you.
Speaker 3: Old man. Yes to sorry about this.
Speaker 9: I hadn't heard any particular just what deaf inspector Chan
told me on the way over.
Speaker 3: Where did it happen? Right here, sir, at the bottom
of the stairs. The murderer must have slipped.
Speaker 5: Into the hallway and killed your uncle slipped out of
the house, all within three minutes.
Speaker 9: After all the traveling. My uncle did all his adventurous
life to come here to deliver a lecture. Ah that
you must not dwell upon that stuff. But it seems
so sensely. I can't help but to think of it.
The old gentleman, full of life, still fired with the
search for Douglas, coming face to face with his murderer
in this hallway. Please, mister Gerald better, I think we
all retired to library.
Speaker 3: I have some sherry for you. It's a bit cold outside.
Speaker 6: Can't think of anything better. Ah, Miss Evelyn, this is Gerald,
the Colonel's magic.
Speaker 3: Oh.
Speaker 9: How do you do, Miss Mitchell with your Michael secret faith? Yes, yes,
of course I've corresponded with her, although we haven't met.
Speaker 7: I'm very glad indeed to meet you that, mister Chan.
I have all those notes transcribed for you.
Speaker 3: Yes, we shall get to work on them. Now you
will pardon us. I know that Miss Evelyn and Sarjan
O'Brien have some work to do with me.
Speaker 4: Certainly, Donna will be in about forty five minutes.
Speaker 3: Thank you, Nate.
Speaker 5: Anything I can do to help Chan, just call me certainly. Well,
inspector find in your tone of voice echo in my
own mind side. We seem, after considerable.
Speaker 3: Thought and effort, to have arrived nowhere.
Speaker 5: He was watching you. It was a bit of a
shock to see mister Gerald getting off that plane. It
put the case on the White Open list again.
Speaker 7: Do you feel that all your efforts has been in vain?
All your deductions were wrong.
Speaker 3: All our deductions wrong, No, sargant, I have been flying stupid.
I deserve metaphorical dumpscap based on the head and pressed
well down over ears. What are you talking about is clothed? Yes,
there is no use appealing to that or Sir Reginald
for help in this. They will find it hard to
believe when we prove it. Miss Evelyn's remark all our
deductions wrong gave me courage. Were our deductions about young
man found robbing colonel's room wrong? No, we said he
was Colonel's sun.
Speaker 7: We were right, and you maintained that Simmons had seen
service with the colonel. That was also right, precisely, Miss Evalent.
We also believe that without proper protection, Simon's life was
in danger. Despite our beliefs and our care, the murderer
stuck the second time, and Simmons's life was far They
begin to.
Speaker 5: See what you're getting at All the deductions to date
have been right, and there's no reason now to be
thinking anything different.
Speaker 7: But mister Jerrol, you suspect him, and he's been on
the plane from Chicago.
Speaker 3: We think so. We think logical cause of thinking and
drawing conclusions brings us to mister Gerald Willoughby as killer.
Very well, we must prove it. Can I rely upon
your assistance?
Speaker 7: Certainly?
Speaker 3: Well, I hate to make any blunders. Do not fear, Sergeant,
We shall not thunder. Gerald is guilty party out of
his own mouth, he condemned himself.
Speaker 2: We have only to prove what exactly does the inspector mean?
What did Gerald say that condemned him? After you've heard
from your sponsor, Inspector Cham will be with us again. Well,
mister Chan, what have you forished this evening?
Speaker 3: I have been thinking of statement made by a murderer which,
while not proof of guilt and court, is proof to me. Yes,
mister Jones. It is more easy for a man to
build in one day a temple than to expiate in
one life alive.
Speaker 1: Welcome back. I love how the secretary catastrophizing was able
to help Charlie Chan get centered and focused and look
at the whole case and the chain of deductions. And
I love the setup that they are going to prove
Gerald Willoughby guilty, and it sets up a great sense
of anticipation for how are they going to do this
and what comes next? And I think even Charlie Chan's
Chinese proverb at the end of the second episode helped
with that I didn't catch Gerald Willoughby supposedly fatal lie.
So be fascinating to see how Inspector Chan is able
to solve this thing. I should note that for years
and years, the second half of this episode, where Chan
goes down to the airport to meet the plane, was
actually the first episode of the story that was available.
This and the next three chapters have been around and
circulating for as long as I've been involved in old
time radio. Now these chapters were known of. In fact,
there were several sets online that claimed that they had
the three episodes that we heard prior to the episode
at the airport, But if you actually download them, you
would find out that they just duplicated episodes from the
four so you would get you would listen to an episode,
and then you'd listen to another one, and then as
you went through you'd realize that they put some of
these episodes in there multiple times to claim the hat
all seven. So not my best experience. So it's nice
to listen to this one all the way through and have,
even though we don't have all the episodes, to at
least have the episodes that are there there, and I
hope you find this complete enough to be meaningful, even
though we don't have the full story, because I'm enjoying
it so far. Now it's time to thank our Patreon
supporter of the day, and I want to go ahead
and thank Donna, Patreon supporter since March twenty twenty three,
currently supporting the podcast at the shawmus level of four
dollars or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Donna,
And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying
the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software.
And if you're enjoying the podcast on YouTube, be sure
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channels to grow. We will be back next Tuesday with
another episode of Charlie Chan, but join us back here
tomorrow for Broadways My Meat.
Speaker 3: Where Missus Clark.
Speaker 2: It's the police, Miss Clark, I've got.
Speaker 11: Please come in. Excuse the way I look?
Speaker 3: Of course, Missus Clark.
Speaker 11: Do you want me to say to you? Excuse the
way I look? Excuse the way the apartment looks, the
way my husband looks lying out there in the hall
and his undershirt. What else can I say to you?
I'm sorry about it.
Speaker 3: I've got to ask you some questions.
Speaker 11: I know all about that. The see right here, detective.
Did you ever own a gun? Suspect? No, sir, I
did not. Detective, did you shoot this man? Suspect, No, sir,
I did not. Just like in these true type detective
story magazines, I read them all the time, I know
all about what you've got to do.
Speaker 3: All right. Then it'll make it a lot easier.
Speaker 11: If you're going to ask me did I shoot my husband,
I'm going to say, no, sir, I did not.
Speaker 3: We know you didn't.
Speaker 11: Don't be too sure. I was in Lloyd Rami's apartment
when it happened.
Speaker 3: Oh tell me about it.
Speaker 11: I went across the hall to borrow some tea bags
from mister Rami because my husband likes tea. I must
have stayed more than ten seconds, because my husband got
panicky and came after me. He knocked on the door.
Mister Ramy didn't even answer.
Speaker 7: He pulled out a.
Speaker 11: Gun and shot. Oh, well, did you know Ramy for
tea bags with my husband? Tea bags means I'm not
being true, Glue.
Speaker 3: Your husband was wrong wasn't he?
Speaker 11: My husband is dead.
Speaker 1: I guess I hope you'll be with us then. In
the meantime, send your comments to Box thirteen at Greatdetectives
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.