Speaker 1: Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're
going to bring you this week's episode of Charlie Chan
But first I do want to let you know about
our other podcast, and I want to encourage you to
check out the Great Adventurers of Old Time Radio. Every
week we are bringing you to old time radio adventure
series going from start to finish. Right now, we're working
through the Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon, which drops today,
and of course Cloak and Dagger. Check it out at
Great Adventures dot info or wherever you get your podcasts from. Now,
we are going to bring you three episodes today as
we wrap up the Willoughby murder mystery. I do want
to caution you that the last one is a bit
lower quality than the other two. It's not a bad
listening quality, certainly, certainly not as bad as some of
the Falcon episodes we've had in recent weeks. But the
first two episodes, like all the other episodes we played
in the Willoughby murder case, have been from a group
of programs that were greatly improved versus what have been circulating,
as well as adding some missing episodes. The last episode
is just a bit more steam indered quality, so just
be aware of that. But it's perfectly lessenable. So here
are today's episodes discussing Gerald's alibi, Willoughby won't tell the
name of officers, and solution to the murders is at hand.
Speaker 2: The most delightfully fascinating character in the realms of mystery
Earl der Bigger's Charlie Chan. In the case of the
murder of Colonel Willoughby, Charlie Chan is convinced that he
knows who the murderer is. Gerald Willoughby, the murdered man's nephew,
apparently has an ironclad alibi. He was in Chicago when
the colonel was killed, and it was en route to
San Francisco when Simmons, the butler was killed. What Inspector Chan,
after duly pondering the case, sees in the nephew, the
only man with a vestige of motive, sees in his
own theoretical case, the only reasonable assumption possible. The Island
detective believes that, for reasons unknown, Gerald had desired both
the colonel and his son out of the way. The
bulky Honolulu detective sits in a chair with a library fire,
talking to Sergeant O'Brien and Miss Evelyn Mitchell, the murdered
man's secretary.
Speaker 3: You re see, Sergeant, in this case, we are dealing
with a very prominent man, and we must prove sufficient
motive if we are to even false and arrest.
Speaker 4: But how in the world are you going to do that, Inspector.
You can't prove a motive when you haven't got a
single piece of rifle, not a solitary witness. No, if
it was money, her, that's easy, or a woman, that's easy.
Speaker 5: A woman, oh, Reggie. Sir Reginald did say something about
both cousins being in love with the same woman, Jerald's wife. Oh,
but that hardly fits the case. As far as the
murder of the colonel is concerned.
Speaker 3: That it may who can tell there? If you please,
peculiar situation. I am convinced that Gerald killed his uncle,
then kill Simmons. Yet, if you should ask me for
a motive, I can only give a suggestion if you
say Gerald has alibi. He was in Chicago when first
murder was committed, and on playing flying to San Francisco
when second murder was committed. I can only say it
is for purpose of proving that said Gerald has motive
that we are here. It is to break said alibi,
that we must bend all our efforts.
Speaker 4: And you're after feeling quite sure that mister Duff won't
help push.
Speaker 3: That is not strictly correct, Sergeant. But inspect that Duff
has known Gerald Willoughby for year. He cannot conceive of
his being guilty. He does not wish to find him guilty.
Speaker 5: Not do, Sir Reginald. Not that he has said anything,
but well, I just know that's.
Speaker 3: Quite so, Miss Evelyn.
Speaker 6: Those staff and Sir Reginald will assist us to.
Speaker 3: Do everything necessary when we present them with some symbols
of proof. But to present moment, all I can place
before them is theoretical case which I have built because
there is no practical evidence of contrary nature.
Speaker 4: I can understand, off Schielend. I'm the same way when
it comes to making a move that will bring a
case before the district attorney or the grand jury. Well
more than once I've known who a murderer was, but
I couldn't do anything about it. I didn't have the proof.
Speaker 6: Right, true, Sergeant, And that is a situation here.
Speaker 3: It is not murder. We have to find it is
method whereby he committed murder.
Speaker 5: But we can't get away from the fact that Gerald
said that telegram from Chicago before Simmons was killed, which
proved that he was in Chicago the day after his
uncle's murder.
Speaker 7: An impossibility.
Speaker 3: Do you recall the true particular of the murder in
the room Mogue, not the.
Speaker 6: Story by the great author Edgar Allan.
Speaker 3: Poe, but the actual case from which he built his
story of the Eighth.
Speaker 4: It strained her hazy in my mind.
Speaker 6: I always thought it was a piece of fiction by
no means.
Speaker 3: The murder took place at number sixteen l ue Mall
two apart. In the morning, Rose Delacource goes into her apartment.
There a woman was seen to enter her room. Stout
oak door was bolted on the inside. The window, likewise
was vaulted on the inside, the chimney so small that
not even a cat could get in or else. Yet
here is a woman stabbed with such force that the blade,
which must have been like the blade of a sowd,
goes through the body to the mattress. Not a cry,
not a sound.
Speaker 6: Yet the woman is dead. It is an unsolved crime.
Speaker 3: But while no one can prove who committed it, it
was committed. While we have not so far proved that
Joel committed this murder, he is the only one with motive.
Speaker 6: The fact that we cannot.
Speaker 3: Prove how he did it does not permit us to
shrug shoulders, so to speak, and.
Speaker 6: Retire from case.
Speaker 4: I'm with your inspector. Somehow, some pleish we've missed the
pint somewhere the murderer slipped somewhere, We've slipped some little
thing we haven't given the right tart to correct. Sergeant,
let us retrace steps for a moment.
Speaker 3: Knight of Murder. Colonel Willoughby is standing in gymnasium, note
which he believes is written by Duff he slipped into
his hand.
Speaker 5: He walks about twelve steps to the hallway, and in
less than two minutes, you, mister Chen, find him lying
there dead.
Speaker 4: The very next day, Simmons answers the door. We go
out to see what's happened to him? Within two minutes
and he only says, records. I saw it was records.
Speaker 3: Records thinks God, is it not strange at the man
in his last moment should use the word records in
preference to papers records, military records or police records. Be
so kind as to ask dut thats the REGINALD and
Gel to step in the room.
Speaker 6: Please, also, mister Blake, I wish.
Speaker 3: To ask favor of him, Sure, Inspector, thank you so much,
Miss Evelyn.
Speaker 6: We have not.
Speaker 3: Searched Colonel's business paper as thoroughly as we have searched
private correspondent. Perhaps in that we have been somewhat negligent.
We shall correct it. You have favored here.
Speaker 5: In this I'll spread it out on the windows.
Speaker 3: I do not wish to appear harrid, but I am
anxious to leave day after tomorrow.
Speaker 5: By Steamer, you think you actually believe you can solve this?
Speaker 6: By then, I am confident of it.
Speaker 3: I am certain that with mister Blake's cooperation, we shall
trap murderer into showing visible evidence of his guilt, and
then confession will follow suit. Yes, I am certain of it.
Speaker 6: Yes.
Speaker 3: We have been discussing last words of Simon word which
he repeated record. We thought that record was strange word
for dying man to you. Somehow persistent thought comes to
us that in that word there is definite clue.
Speaker 2: I've done quite a bit of thinking about that too, jolly,
but I can't think of any military records in connection
with the case at all.
Speaker 8: Perhaps Jerald knows so well, Really I don't. It's all
very distressing. My cousin Douglas was ordered tried by Port
Marshall for cologists. Davis carried the story. We were all
very much.
Speaker 3: Upset, naturally. It is distressing affair, as you say, the
family of military reputation. You were in France at the time, yes,
so of course I didn't know much about it.
Speaker 8: I was klonel of a territorial unit. Well, as I say,
just a few days before the pouts was convened Douglas
committed suicide.
Speaker 6: We now know, of course that he did not, but
that is what.
Speaker 3: You thought at the time.
Speaker 8: Yeah. Well we managed to have the thing hushed up then,
but it almost Brococle's hall.
Speaker 6: How long afterwards.
Speaker 3: Was it before Colonel Williward began to doubt that he's
had his son had committed suicide.
Speaker 9: I can answer that, Inspector. The colonel came to me
with the story that an old soldier whom we now
know to his Simmons told the colonel that Douglas wasn't dead.
He said that he never was guilty of carders, and
the old man immediately started on a trip around the
world to see if he could pre Katy his son.
He's been traveling ever since eleven years now.
Speaker 6: And you, mister Willoughby, knew nothing of this.
Speaker 9: I knew it at a love it.
Speaker 8: Yes, I was like my uncle. I didn't like the
idea the stigma of cawdor is being attached to the family.
But I know the army charges of cowarders aren't brought lightly.
They're generally well substantiated.
Speaker 6: Right So, But to return to.
Speaker 3: The word record, no one can give leading thought on
that point. Pray not, Inspector, come in, please, ah drake down, please,
I have favored to ask of you. In one moment.
Speaker 6: I'll be delighted.
Speaker 8: And the only ople records I could think of, Charlie
were police records.
Speaker 4: He's thought of them too, Inspector. That don't seem to
help us much. I can't see it either.
Speaker 3: Before I forget, you have convinced, mister Jerrold that prisoner
we have at present in jail is Colonel Sam Douglas.
Speaker 8: Yes, I'm convinced. I don't see what on earth he
was doing searching my uncle's papers.
Speaker 3: Quite clear, I think young man was fearful that he
was to be disclosed, and for a reason best known
to himself, he desires that the past he did.
Speaker 8: Naturally no one at his age was to be reminded
of an experience of twenty years ago.
Speaker 6: Ah, but it is more than that, I think. Please,
is there.
Speaker 3: Any other reason he might have for wishing truth not
to become known?
Speaker 8: Why?
Speaker 7: Why?
Speaker 6: No? No, of course you are tired from trip.
Speaker 3: I understand that would be all just now, Thank you
so much.
Speaker 6: Oh back to duck. You stay behind for one moment, please,
mister Blake.
Speaker 9: Of course I'm going out of the jail. Want to
become violent?
Speaker 4: Miss Mitchell?
Speaker 3: Do you mind, mister jen indeed no, I think little
fresh air will do you good, especially taken in company
as a reginald.
Speaker 9: Why don't you notice things?
Speaker 6: Don't you?
Speaker 3: Charlie?
Speaker 9: Come along evelin right?
Speaker 6: Blake?
Speaker 3: Would you be kind enough to invite all guests who
were present night Colonel was killed to attend another gathering
at your home?
Speaker 6: Certainly? Well, if you have a reason.
Speaker 3: I have very definite reasons. I intend to clear mystery. Well,
I mean today or tomorrow tomorrow evening at seven, just
as you Gargeant, you are to stay with me tonight
we will complete our little.
Speaker 4: PLI it will be Johnny on the spot, Inspector.
Speaker 6: My old friend.
Speaker 3: I am going to play a role of Chinese Santa
Claus tomorrow and you have British consul here as one
of guests.
Speaker 2: Certainly, but what's the big idea.
Speaker 3: I am going to vindicate honor of young young man
at present in jail. I wish official witness of confession
of murderer that Lieutenant Douglas Willoughby was not cowed as
charged by Superior Officer Charlie Chan.
Speaker 2: Inspector Duff and Sir Reginald Bottledy are guests at the
Blake Home in San Francisco, where Colonel Willoughby, the world
famous traveler, was giving a lecture on China. During the
showing of the picture, the film started to slip. Inspector Chan,
surprised that the colonel did not notice the blurred film
or does the light switched on? The colonel is found
murdered the following day. The one man who could provide
an explanation of the affair Simmons, the butler is found
at the front door shut through the heart. Inspector Chan,
going on the assumption that the whole case hinges on
the colonel's search for his lost son, builds a theoretical
case against Gerald Willoughby, the murdered man's nephew, And we
find Sergent O'Brien of the San Francisco Police discussing the
case with the Honolulu detective in mister library, Ah.
Speaker 4: Here are mister Chan. I just bet have to try
and to get our prisoner down there in the jail
to tell us something, But he won't say a word.
Speaker 3: That he won't You advised him of case that his
identity must now be made known, that he can no
longer hide the fact that he is Lieutenant Dougworth Willoughby,
who was supposed to have committed suicide during the war.
Speaker 4: Or sure, but it don't seem to make any difference.
He says that he won't tell the name of the
officer who brought charges of cowardice against him, and that
since there isn't anyone alive today who knows anything about it,
we can't find out. You told him the matter of him,
and then sure and I did. I thought the shock
might force him to say in something you see, mister chan,
I figured this way. Unless we can learn the truth
about the charge being brought against the young fellow, we
can't prove motive against our suspect.
Speaker 3: You are quite correct, Sageant. Confident as I am that
I know who the murderer is.
Speaker 6: I can do.
Speaker 3: Nothing toward effecting a conviction unless I can prove that
our suspect had much to gain by murdering the colonel.
Murder of Simmons cause was merely to silence the one
remaining with him.
Speaker 4: You've got more than that to prove, mister Charan, what, Sergeant,
how Gerald was able to kill the colonel in San
Francisco when Gerald was obviously in Chicago. Also how he
was able to kill Simmons when he was on a
plane between here and Chicago.
Speaker 3: Come here, sergeant, and there, if you will be so kind,
papers on this death.
Speaker 4: Yes, I see them, airline scheduled.
Speaker 6: Sergeant.
Speaker 3: Do you ever place yourself in position of person wishful
love committing murder?
Speaker 4: Well, I try to do that when I'm figuring what
the criminal might be likely to do.
Speaker 3: Assume with me for a moment. Please that we are
with desire to kill Colonel. He must do so without
arousing any suspicion of himself.
Speaker 6: Naturally, go ahead.
Speaker 3: Framlishton, potential murderer is not known in the United States,
so he engages the room for himself a hotel in Chicago.
He then engages some person to live in said hotel.
This person to make himself seen frequently, thereby providing alibi
for himself while he takes train to San Francisco under
assumed name and in disguise get you.
Speaker 4: He gets some feller to hang around the hotel, so
he's an allaby while he gets on the same train
as Doorphin comes out here to San Francisco.
Speaker 3: Correct sident, having left behind him his alibi. He comes
to this house where he knows Colonel will be slips
in the hallway. Heals colonel and leaves no trace but
few silk threads of scarf on the hill nicely used.
Speaker 4: Yeah, yes, sergeant, that don't account for mister Gerald Willoughby
being able to get off the plane arraven from Chicago.
He's got an early boy there. We can't break.
Speaker 3: I think, yes, I am satain, I know how that
was accomplished. You do, yes, Sergeant mister Gerald Willoughby sent wire,
possibly in code, telling his accomplice to take plane for
San Francisco via Los Angeles.
Speaker 4: Common by lush angels.
Speaker 3: But why because sergeant he killed Simmons, caught plains for
Los Angeles and changed places with his accomplice, who had
booked passage and name of Gerald Willoughby. Therefore, when we
went to plane to meet him, he had all appearance
of having made fruit trip from Chicago. I have checked
time schedule with time Simmons was killed, and in manner
I have described.
Speaker 6: Both murders were possible.
Speaker 4: Well, I'm with you. Watch the next move.
Speaker 3: After interview with Inspector Duff and Sir Reginald, you must
go to the hotel at which murderer is stopping and possess
yourself a pair of his shoes, also set for colored
scarf threads of which we found on the hilt of knife.
Come in, please, ah, Miss Evelyn, inspected Duck the Reginald
we were talking of you.
Speaker 9: Have you made any progress?
Speaker 3: I think so, yes, I am confidently had, Although one
should not forget that it is unwise to sell.
Speaker 6: The blooms before the seeds are in the ground.
Speaker 2: A Chinese manner of saying, don't count your chickens before
their heady.
Speaker 3: You have finished little task, I said to you, Miss Evelyn.
Speaker 6: Well.
Speaker 5: I don't know whether or not you'll call it finished,
mister Chance, but I got quite a list made out
by Joe.
Speaker 9: We've been sitting in the study trying to think of
all the different kinds of records. Been quite like a
crossword puzzle game. I didn't know there were so many
different kinds of records.
Speaker 3: I gather them that your list is, shall we say formidable?
Speaker 7: It is?
Speaker 10: Shall I read it?
Speaker 6: Thank you so much?
Speaker 10: Sports records, aviation records, straightest for your records, sailing records,
medical records, police records, court records, weightlifting records, sales records.
Speaker 6: One moment, please may I have the next.
Speaker 5: Decision here you are.
Speaker 3: Thank you so much. That's my friend. Where is mister Gerald.
Speaker 11: At his hotel dressing for the party tonight? I suppose,
which reminds me we'd better be doing the same.
Speaker 6: That you have time to do something for me.
Speaker 11: Certainly, what is it?
Speaker 3: Will you go to jail and bring to party our
prisoner Douglas? Yes? Please do not for one second, let
him out of your sight. You do so may mean
his life you, Sir Reginald, will you assist naturally, I'll
do anything without arousing suspicion. There you go to mister
Gerald hotel and es caught him here moment he is
ready to leave upon some pretext or other phone either
myself or sergeant that you are leaving?
Speaker 9: Well, yes, I just as soon helped to prove that
you're on the wrong track by suspecting Gerald.
Speaker 4: I'll do you ask.
Speaker 6: Again, thank you so much.
Speaker 3: As you leave, please be so kind as to ask
mister Blake to step into library.
Speaker 4: Right I shall.
Speaker 3: When we receive telephone call from Sir Reginald to effect
that mister Jerrol is on his way here, a new
sergeant can proceed with safety to search for colored scar
which will I am certain show where fine threads have
been dragged from fabric by engraved handle of knife murderer.
Speaker 4: Youse, sure I will, And at the same time I'll
get a pair of his shoes.
Speaker 6: Correct sergeant wanted me, Inspector.
Speaker 3: Ah, yes, mister Blake, is it possible do you think
that tonight, when guests are served glasses of liquid freshmen
that Sergeant O'Brien could play a role of butler, What me.
Speaker 4: Play a bottler? Are you joking? Mister chan, I couldn't
pass for a bottler.
Speaker 3: You are a good detective, Sergeant, you must play butler. Go.
Speaker 12: I don't understand why you want him to do that,
but I do all I can help.
Speaker 3: You are out voted, Sergeant. You play leading role of battle.
But one moment, Sergeant, while I explained in serving glasses
to guests, you will be in position of possessing yourself
of glass used by mister Gerald. Said, glass will ungobtedly
be marked by fingerprints.
Speaker 6: Said.
Speaker 3: Fingerprints maybe necessary in obtaining eventual conviction.
Speaker 4: All right, mister Chang, I'll play bottle. But if the
bies and the force ever hear of this, I'll never
hear the.
Speaker 3: End of do not, very sergeant. When this case is ended,
you will be inspector. I can assure you a.
Speaker 4: Bit, and I'm after telling you, Inspector that I appreciate.
Speaker 12: There isn't anything else Inspector town. I'll hurry along.
Speaker 3: Of course, you have preparations forget all over here might
have murder.
Speaker 6: Are to be here tonight for every.
Speaker 12: One of them?
Speaker 3: One more thing before you leave little statuette of soldier
which murdered colonel grasped in his hand as he was
struck down. You will place that in living room, in
some high place where it can be noticed, but where
it cannot be touched.
Speaker 12: Certainly, yes, I'll attend to that.
Speaker 6: Use cloth in holding statuette.
Speaker 3: We do not wish to disturb fingerprints that I do
wish to see whether or not mister Gerald's eyes are irresistibly.
Speaker 6: Drawn toward it.
Speaker 3: I'll be careful, and Miss Evelyn, you desire to leave
to get properly attired.
Speaker 6: For party, If you don't require me.
Speaker 3: By no means cases almost ended, run along and get
into your pretty close for your pleasure as well as
that of Sir Reginald.
Speaker 5: Why, mister Chen, how did you know?
Speaker 6: Am I not supposedly detective?
Speaker 4: Oh? I forgot.
Speaker 12: I found this piece of film in the library. It
belongs to the colonel's travel film.
Speaker 9: Ah.
Speaker 6: Yes, he's broken off by the way.
Speaker 3: In looking at film before, I noticed something I did
not understand. Perhaps you, miss Evelyn, can explain what is
blackline running down extreme edge of film?
Speaker 6: Oh?
Speaker 5: Well, that's the soundtrack. These are sound pictures, you know.
But the colonel didn't have the reproducing equipment. William on
his Chinese trip he recorded the sound both on the
film and on the.
Speaker 3: Records record records. So stupid of us, quickly, Sergeant, we
go to Simmons room, makes that as search. I think, yes,
I am certain. When we have found record to which
Simmons referred, case is finished, the solution of the.
Speaker 11: Murder of Colonel Willoughby and Simmons is at hand. Charlie Chan,
having built a theoretical case.
Speaker 2: Against the murdered man's nephew, Gerald Willoughby, only waits the
gathering together of the guests who were present the night
the murder was committed to obtain convincing proof that his
theory is correct. Sergeant O'Brien, disguised as the Butler, stands
in the study with Sir Reginald Mister Blake, and Miss
Evelyn Mitchell while Charlie Chan completes his plans for trapping
the murderer.
Speaker 3: Everything is in readiness, mister Blake inspect as I know
you received a little bronze statuette soldier from police and
placed it in room in which Jeff our assembling that
you did, mister charl I brought it from headquarters, Mitchell,
and you, miss Evelyn, attended to yar little duties this afternoon.
Speaker 5: Why, mister Chanhard, I mean, what do you mean.
Speaker 3: You less to hide things from detective? Is that not soar, Inspector.
Speaker 9: I suppos that you'll be casting no bomb shas with
your direction. When I tell you that Eblin and.
Speaker 3: I are to be married, I am truly delighted. I
wish you very very much happiness.
Speaker 9: Thanks o jaf.
Speaker 3: You have fingerprint man here, Sergeant.
Speaker 4: Sure may have Michter Chan He's in the kitchen. He's
a good one and he works fast.
Speaker 3: As soon as you have served the first round of drinks,
you will be careful to.
Speaker 6: See the glass.
Speaker 3: Mister Jerrold uses integregated so that fingerprint identifications is made
quickly and easily. I don't wish you'd got the.
Speaker 9: Whole thing, Charlie. I hate to see you make a mistake.
Speaker 5: Mister Jim Jeres makes a mistake. No one but ourselves
will know if a fingerprints on the wine glass don't
correspond with the prince on the statue eb No one needs.
Speaker 11: To know anything.
Speaker 3: Miss Evelyn is correct, mister Blake, Hosts will not be embarrassed.
Mister Gerald will never know he was suspected. You left
mister Gerald in the living room, Sir Reginald.
Speaker 9: Yes, he's talking to some of the guests. Stuff is
there to see that nothing goes wrong along these lines.
Speaker 3: Mister Gerrol has not recognized his cousin, Douglas.
Speaker 9: No Duff introduced him. Douglas, I mean as mister Jim Watson,
and Gerald took the introduction as a.
Speaker 4: Matter of course.
Speaker 3: Why Joe, Why, Sir Reginald.
Speaker 9: I was thinking of Isabelle Gerald's wife. If you're right, Charlie,
this is going to be pretty bad for her.
Speaker 3: And fortunately, Criminal in his activities brings unhappiness and ruined
to more than himself. But criminal always thinks he is
more clever than other people.
Speaker 9: By the way, Inspector, one thing, I want to know
what speech did Gerald make when you first spoke with
him convinced you of his guilt.
Speaker 3: You will remember mister Gerroll spoke of his uncle meeting
the murderer face to face. Now you know that no
one except ourselves and the murderer knew that Willoughby had
been stabbed in the heart while facing his assailant by
Joe mister Chan, I do recall now, mister Blake, you
and Sir Reginald will go to living room and you, sergeant,
will reserved breaks. All right, michter Churn. After you have
had glass tested pop fingerprints, you will return the living room.
Knock on the door this way. We shall then know
that fingerprint tests has been successful.
Speaker 4: I will do everything the way you want.
Speaker 3: It, mister Charles good lack pargant in roll of butler.
Speaker 6: I will need it after you.
Speaker 3: Now, Miss Evelyn, you have notebook and pencil. You will
enter room with me and as unobserved as a beautiful
lady can be be, who take secluded seats where you
can make notes of everything that transpires.
Speaker 5: Yes, mister chutit by the heavy curtains in the window,
and then.
Speaker 3: We shall join others in living rooms. My arm, Miss Evelyn,
we must enter as naturally as possible. Nothing must be
done to arouse suspicion of murderer, although if my theories
are correct, he already is in shadow.
Speaker 6: Of loose.
Speaker 3: Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 6: And may I present those of you not already met him.
Speaker 3: Inspector Chan of the Honolul the Police.
Speaker 12: How do you do?
Speaker 3: Yes, I shall be as deaf as possible. You must, all,
of course, know why you are here tonight. I promised
mister Blake inspect the death of Scotland Yard the Reginald,
that here in this room I should give into their
hands the murderer of Colonel Douglas Willoughby. It is a theory,
but a practical one, that the murderer invariably revisits the
seal of his prime. We decided not to risk success
by theory, so we brought murderer here. May I humbly
submit this part to you. It is one thing to
know who is murderer. It is entirely different things to
prevent proof that will result in conviction of said murderer.
This much we know. Murderer was person who was acquainted
with daily activities of murdered colonel. He had followed him
to his house from hotel. We are likewise certain of
one other fact. Murdered colonel saw and recognized murderer, and
in one last desperate effort to leave us with a
central clue, murdered man grasps a little statuette soldier which
stood on stair rail, that wild essential clue which within
three minutes shall place Hangman's rope about cruel and vicious criminals.
You have rung bells for Butler's the reginald yes inspector.
Speaker 9: You order to be here.
Speaker 4: Now come there, you ancient.
Speaker 3: There is no longer any necessity to disguise ourselves. Pageant.
You may bring the evidence in play. Stay mount table.
Here you are, Sergeant, I'll help your photograph.
Speaker 12: What on earth kind of evidence? Can that be?
Speaker 3: Correct? Those of us who were present when Simmons was
murdered remember his last words. Records, he said, Yet records
through process of elimination inspected us to ready, and I
determined upon phonograph records. But enough record speaks for itself.
You have round the motor Pageant. It's all a realge pecher,
very good. Quite please everyone.
Speaker 13: Who would make concerns. This is the voice of one
James Walker, returning at law and noted Republic. I swear
that in my presence the two gentlemen who speak have
satisfied me that they are whom they represent themselves to be,
Colonel Douglas Willoughby and Sergeant Major Simmons.
Speaker 3: Quiet, please, I am going to explain why I made
this recording. I did so because I know that in
the event of my death by accident, should I leave
only papers devoluting the nature of the sexpose that these
papers would fall into hands I did not trust. The
world knows that during the war my son was charged
with cardiff and that he was supposed to admit his suicide.
This was not the case. My son and my nephew, Gerrol,
grew up together. Jerrold was older, the more aggressive of
the two. They both fell in love with the same woman,
and to my satisfaction, but I loved her.
Speaker 4: Like a daughter.
Speaker 3: She seemed to care for my son. The Feton court
martial and supposed death of my son changed all that,
and Isabel married Gerald. After the war, Sargeant Major Simmons
came to me and told me that his conscience was
leading him. He speaks for himself, you see, sir, it
was this way.
Speaker 14: Master Jerroll was in command of the sector. He ordered
Master Douglas to retreat. Master Douglas did so, and Master
Gedroll brought charges of cowardice against the upset and Master Douglas,
realizing that the fight back meant dragging the family name
through the mud, so to speak, made me.
Speaker 3: Swear never to reveal the truth.
Speaker 9: You see, sir Master Douglas did not wish to Lady Isabel.
Speaker 3: Now, Master Gers, I believe we have had by you
on the grounds, and if you will be to have
kind that.
Speaker 8: Simmons past the blackmail.
Speaker 6: Nay, that wasn't my uncle's voice.
Speaker 3: This whole thing is a plot. I didn't you have
the wine bars, yes, Inspector. Likewise silk handkerchiefs, colored handkerchiefers,
and the shoes themish book ah, yes, observe please how
nicely shoe fits into plaster calf were made of murderous footprint.
His shoe, mister Gerald, was taken from your room? Will
you deny it?
Speaker 4: What about it?
Speaker 3: The knife? Then, this colored silks car it is yours.
I don't know it was found likewise by sergeant in
your trunk. Observe if you please tread the pull from center.
Same threads, according to temis our threads found on the
health of knife used to kill Colonel Willoughby.
Speaker 9: A good lawyer will soon take care of these players.
Speaker 3: I thought, Oh, I thought, mister Gerrol, but here is
some seeing. No lawyer, no matter how good, can defend
the glass. Sergeant, yours is Inspector Tonight sergeants playing part
of Butler served cocktails. He took glasses to fingerprint experts
waiting in kitchen. Fingerprints on your glass, mister Gerald, our
famous fingerprints found on little statuetta Soldier which now stands
on top shelf of book pay Have you touched that
since you came into this house elsewhere that he hasn't
He couldn't help.
Speaker 9: He hasn't touched it tonight. I've been with infractically every.
Speaker 3: Minute exactly, and he could not have touched it before,
since it has been in possession of police. When did
your fingerprints find their way to that piece of bronze?
Speaker 8: I I'm not talking.
Speaker 3: There is no need norf fingerprints were left from that
statuette when murdered man held it before him in one
last effort of defense. Half satisfied?
Speaker 2: Does white chen well satisfied?
Speaker 9: Inspector? There's no doubt in my mind?
Speaker 3: Very good? You may arrest mister General Willoughby or the
murder of his uncle, Colonel Willoughby.
Speaker 6: Do you come quietly?
Speaker 8: Or do I have to put the prishlets on your
welcome wardness?
Speaker 3: That's Lias Fox, though he raised the farm a dozen times,
find for his costs that his very boldness is his undoing.
Now it is with man the murderer, though he plans
carefully leaves the mark of Cain upon his work as
surely as he carries said mark in his heart.
Speaker 2: After you've heard from your sponsor, Inspector Chan, will be
with us again.
Speaker 11: And well, Inspector Chance, what do you have for us?
This evening case we.
Speaker 3: Have completed reminds me of ancient sayings. Do not despise
a tender rice youth. Today it's lost means nothing, but
carefully tended it may tomorrow prevent a famine, meaning in.
Speaker 2: Our accidental tongue that unconsidered trifles may be very important.
Speaker 6: Correct, Thank you, and good.
Speaker 1: Night, Welcome back, And that's a wrap for this serial.
I wonder if a couple got married every time Charlie
Chan investigated and solved a murder case in the thirties,
at least on the radio. I will say that I
was thinking of a record the first times that Simmons
referenced that, But that might be a case of chronological bias, because,
of course I was born in the eighties, and when
you said record, you'd think of a vinyl record, And
of course home recording was a very normal thing, practically
not completely universal, but most people could have a little
tape recorder in the nineteen thirties. While phonograph records were
very common, home recording wasn't. Generally. Self recorded records were
a novelty that you'd record at a store in a
big city. Now there were home recording setups, but they
weren't widely owned. So generally, if you were a nineteen
thirties person, you thought of a record, you thought of
a commercial recording, and it's hard to see what that
could have had to do with Colonel Willoughby's death. So
you can understand why it wasn't top of mind for
Charlie Chann, and I can't blame him for jumping to
the same thought I had. Now, of course, what the
record did was clarified the motive, but the big thing
that clinched it was the evidence that was found through
pretty typical police work rather than any miraculous detective magic.
Now we can hope all the right warrants were obtained,
but nineteen thirties audiences didn't care much one way or
another as long as Charlie chan got his man. Now
we turned to listener comments and feedback, and we go
to YouTube where Amy rights regarding my comments on the
last part of the Landini murder Case, I like mean
him Brown, he was the comic relief. Well, thanks for
the comment, Amy. I guess the only criticism that I
would have offered, if you want to call it that,
is that sometimes the extraneous elements took up so much
of the film that you really didn't have a chance
to really get to appreciate Charlie Chan as a character.
And so what I've enjoyed about these serials is just
a chance to really spend time with Charlie Chan, see
him investigate, and to enjoy him working and appreciate what
makes him such a great detective. But I understand some
folks may just enjoy getting as much hodgings as possible,
and if that's what you enjoy, I have no quarrel
with you. But thanks so much. Appreciate the comment, Amy.
Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day,
and I want to go ahead and thank Neil. Neil's
been one of our Patreon support since September twenty sixteen,
currently supporting the podcast at the Shawmas level of four
dollars or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Neil,
and that.
Speaker 6: Will do it for today.
Speaker 1: We will be back on Tuesday with Charlie Chan episodes
that are self contained, So self contained half hour episodes,
no more serials, and a new lead actor. But join
us back here tomorrow for Broadways My beat where some.
Speaker 15: Other time maybe right now?
Speaker 7: You're a policeman, aren't you?
Speaker 4: What?
Speaker 7: Policeman?
Speaker 15: Clover Danny Clover homicide.
Speaker 7: I'm Muriel Carls And what can I do for you?
Speaker 15: I asked to see Robert Burton, Laura Burton's husband.
Speaker 7: And you're from homicide. That's right one. What did Robert murder?
Speaker 15: We just want to talk to him. I'm not sure
he committed murder.
Speaker 7: Mis cause it's possibil Did you Laura?
Speaker 16: Laura is dead, shot, strangle, beaten, poyson, strangled, fally asked,
because well, I'm laura assistant.
Speaker 7: If any of my friends asked me how Lara died?
Speaker 15: I saw your sister's dying, doesn't you.
Speaker 7: It's much more than that, mister Clover. It's release years.
Speaker 16: I've been wondering how Laura would die. It's been bothering me.
Now I can think of something else.
Speaker 7: Where'd you die?
Speaker 15: The Waterfront Hotel, the Robert Kilder.
Speaker 7: Of course, I say of course, because there's no doubt
about it.
Speaker 16: Lara was alway running off the places like waterfront hotels
with him so she could get to know him better.
Maybe her own canopid furniture border. You know, I thought
Laura's second husband kill not doting, doubt her fourth husband.
Speaker 1: I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime,
do you 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,
Sign and all.