Speaker 1: The CBS Radio Mystery Theater presents, come in.
Speaker 2: Welcome. I'm e. G.
Speaker 1: Marsham. No matter how many times I hear that sound,
it still sends a chill down my spine. You know,
it's a police car or ambulance on the way to
or from an emergency in which someone is badly hurt
at Mercy Hospital. Not everyone arrives with the shriek of
a siren. Most arrived quietly, with the help of a
relative or friend. Some come alone, hoping against hope that
the grasping pain around the heart is only indigestion. A
few come under their own power, sheer will, power that
keeps them conscious against all.
Speaker 2: Of the body's desire to give up.
Speaker 1: But hoping, as we always hope, that the bell has
not yet told for us.
Speaker 3: Hear that cheese double biron, How I hope it isn't
one of our ambulances.
Speaker 1: Tender, one of the one of those night emergency.
Speaker 2: Want to help, Yeah, all right, so they give me
a give me a hand, get that dwelling god.
Speaker 1: Oh, it's heavy, unconscious, worry sorry to take him from
doctor Grandam. Let's get him on the cot easy now
on his back, gentle O, what did.
Speaker 3: The doctor Peterson's appendige.
Speaker 1: You won't ask me that now I've opened the jackets.
Speaker 2: Look at that blood on a s church?
Speaker 3: What is it?
Speaker 2: Then?
Speaker 1: Give me some swabs. This management shot our mystery drama,
The Witness Is Death, was written especially for the Mystery
Theater by Ian Martin and stars Joan Shay and Ken Harvey.
It is sponsored in part by Contact, the twelve Hour
Cold Capsule and Anheuser Busch Incorporated brewers of Buttwise. I'll
be back shortly with that one.
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the King of Beers and you'll agree when you say Budweiser,
You've said it all.
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Speaker 2: Days time three hours a week. A man has been shot, how, why?
Who is he? By whom was he shot?
Speaker 1: A jealous husband, a jealous wife in anger or cold bloodedly?
Sheer accident or with malice a forethought? All these questions
must wait as doctor Brian Peterson works quickly and deftly,
knowing this man is on the borderline between life and death,
and trying to find out who he is. And you, uh,
and you give us your names or he her? You
don't know your name? No o, who shall report to the
rest of his shirt and get your tecoscope on his heart?
Speaker 2: Yeah?
Speaker 1: You see how he's doing, sir? Ugh can you hear me?
Speaker 2: Oh? Damn me?
Speaker 1: He mustn't shot all that recently. He must have hemorrhaged
him eternally like mad aldly. You're a nurse taken a
slight to emergency, Doctor Ryello, We're going to need anesthesia.
Speaker 3: He doesn't look like the kind of man to get
mixed up in is shooting books.
Speaker 1: Can be this eating, as you'll find out ms in turn, is.
Speaker 2: He going to die?
Speaker 1: Not as long as he's breathing. Nurse, get me some gloves.
I want a good look about bullet. Want uh swab
up the area again?
Speaker 2: Dot and.
Speaker 1: See the one. Yes, it's small, definitely point of entry.
Just one shot, that's all I see.
Speaker 2: Thank youness.
Speaker 1: Oh, get me a probe and some retractors.
Speaker 2: Thank you.
Speaker 1: Now, let's had a better look. There's no door. Bullets
heavy thirty eight will be a police special. The bullet's
still inside, all right, get us an emergency. Oh, doctor,
we're gonna have to go in.
Speaker 3: Doctor, shoot you risked operating without a release.
Speaker 2: I mean, who's who this man is? Oh, we have information.
Speaker 1: We know he's white male and from his hand and
let's say some kind of workman. The police will have
to take it from their murder.
Speaker 2: So tried murder? All right, So we are ducks.
Speaker 1: You're in a hospital and you're safe. Now what's your name?
Speaker 5: Name?
Speaker 2: Name?
Speaker 1: No, I don't, I don't remember another excerpt. Tried murder. Okay, Toby,
I'll call the police, then come up to war. You
can scome and assist me on this one. Oh, let
me change now he's holding on.
Speaker 2: You got the police, Yes, on their way.
Speaker 3: They have an idea who our mispretatient might.
Speaker 1: Be happy and as soon as we get that bullet
out of the insides of happier, I'll be it's behind
his spleen resting on the spine. You say the police
think they know.
Speaker 6: Who he is?
Speaker 2: Yes, a man named Roy Richardson. Naming anything to.
Speaker 1: You, of course, don't you. Dame's ever read the papers?
Speaker 2: Of course, not doctor.
Speaker 3: We're always too busy curting our hair, recoloring our nail.
Speaker 2: Don't get your back up.
Speaker 3: Oh, then stop looking down your nose. I happened to
have been on duty sixty hours out of the last
seventy two. No, I haven't read the papers.
Speaker 2: Who is Roy Richardson?
Speaker 1: You know who aregy larchers?
Speaker 2: But he'd hear a little hard to me.
Speaker 3: Our big time racketeer who got nailed on income tax
evasion is about to go on trial.
Speaker 2: Yep.
Speaker 3: You know why Well, because someone in his organization was
willing to turn state's evidence in.
Speaker 2: Order to rich what the guide name? Yeah, he's the witness.
Speaker 1: If we can bring him through. Yeah, okay, how's Johnny
Johnny Ochow? Where I speddalingo that you dropped me after
we follow?
Speaker 2: Kay?
Speaker 5: Okay, just be sure your phone shafe.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a public phone right here?
Speaker 2: Oh the big yeah, just give me the number.
Speaker 5: I'll call you back on a safe phone.
Speaker 1: Such an.
Speaker 2: Cut off, I pleader, tell me, doctor.
Speaker 3: Plan tied off, Doctor Peterson.
Speaker 1: That's a little better. Now we can see what. Oh oh,
there's a trouble. It's a big slug with lots of velocity,
has to bounce around plenty bullet cors. That's nus as
a baby, yeah thirty eight alright, stop nos, Just hope
we don't have too many intestamental perforations. Hold onto that nurse,
please go on it.
Speaker 3: I don't see any damage to the vital organs.
Speaker 1: Mister Richardson is still going to be lucky to pull
out of this one, and even if he does, to
stay alive one way or another.
Speaker 2: Mercy Hospital.
Speaker 1: Okay, okay, what's the scooper to operate here?
Speaker 2: Did he talk?
Speaker 5: I don't think so. At the door, I sort of
luck but couldn't get tom and done.
Speaker 2: Is he gonna make it? I got your norm. You
better make sure he don't.
Speaker 5: What can I do here?
Speaker 7: You better figure that luck never comes to He can
nail me and I don't intend to be nailed, but
if I should be, you better know you're a deep six.
Speaker 1: Don't talk move.
Speaker 7: I'm gonna give you a safe number you can contact
me through, and if you need guests, I'll send them
to you. If that fink's mouth has gotta be shut,
that guests handle it. That dummy is expandable. Only you
buck him up and make sure.
Speaker 2: And doctor Peterson, I ask.
Speaker 1: Dective Search and Sam Marshall, Oh how are you, Dector.
I'm sorry I have kept your wedding that I just
got down from the operating room. Agitation, good constitution. He
came through a very tough operation.
Speaker 2: Very well, he's gonna live.
Speaker 1: Then, well, I can tell you that the next twenty
four hours will tell I understand he was in no
condition to talk when.
Speaker 2: He got him. That's right, or give his name.
Speaker 1: I'm try know something about murder, but I had a
notion from doctor Grant, who reported the bullet one, that
you had.
Speaker 2: A pretty fair idea who he was.
Speaker 1: Well, we know that a witness and a trial do
to start next week against Augie Larch disappeared last night,
or at least somewhere between midnight and eight this morning.
Speaker 2: Ryan Richardson, Yeah, we've.
Speaker 1: Been keeping his picture out of the papers to protect him.
Look sure, as if you didn't do a very good
job of that, Sergeant Richardson was the one who ducked us.
As it's the man you operated on, Doctor Peterson. Oh no, no,
I've never seen this man before in my life. That's
the way cops life goes, Doc, though, I've got to
open a new file.
Speaker 2: Who the devil is your John Doe?
Speaker 1: And we found no identification on him? Looks like that's
your problem, unless unless what, well, unless, I guess everyone
can resist trying to play cop, sergeant. But when this
man got to the hospital, he'd been carrying that slug
in him for some time. I don't see how he
could have made it on his feat for so long
unless oh what is it? Look down her the parking.
Speaker 2: Lot for the hospital.
Speaker 1: Uh, she had caught on her next to my red convertible?
Speaker 2: Is that yours?
Speaker 1: No?
Speaker 2: I hope I could do a better job of parking
than that. Anyway. Isn't that space reserved for doctors? Yes?
Speaker 1: But it's also right near the emergency entrance. Come on, sergeant,
maybe we can find out the easy way whom mister
roy which is and isn't, and just how he's mixed
up in us and the blood all over the seat.
Don't touch the wheel, doctor, you hind anything. Registration for
the car Joseph C. Wilson fourteen forty four of all
Avenue eight five eleven one half weight one seven zer
eyes blue gray Hill like Ronald's thirty six Selthami. Yes,
that could be the man I operated on. Descriptions eight
pis insurance in case of accident.
Speaker 2: Notify missus Joseph Wilson. Let's go do that little thing. Doctor.
Speaker 1: You you know that's wilsn't I mean? Was he another witness?
Never heard of him, but I give a lot for
a few words with him. Richardson is still missing in
my hunches. Any deal he thought he could make with
Augie Large was one way. The yard that Richardon is
already at the bottom of some convenient lake. The big
question is did they intend to dump mister Wilson there too,
or was he one of them?
Speaker 2: Something went long?
Speaker 1: Either way, You've gotta help me get something out of
the guy. We had Augie Larch just where we wanted him,
and I don't want to see him get off the hook.
All they that take the sword shall perish by the sword.
Is Joe Wilson's fate just retribution or is he an
innocent victim? Is he another unfortunate possessor of information about
the illegal operations of a ruthless criminal, or is he
something else entirely, someone with no contact at all with
Augie Larch and yet who is infinitely more dangerous to him.
I'll return shortly with that too.
Speaker 3: Your hand, you you're heart to your love, But dear
your cold, your contact.
Speaker 2: Six or three or what?
Speaker 3: Please don't give me problems. I'm catching a common cold
and sneezing grip congestion.
Speaker 1: Me for those symptoms, you'd need six cold tablings, two
every four hours, or three ounces of cold liquid one
every four hours, or just one contact.
Speaker 3: I know the tiny time pills right.
Speaker 1: Both the others have things for aches, fever and the
liquid something of.
Speaker 2: Course not found in contact.
Speaker 1: Your cold, your choice, sneezing drip congesture.
Speaker 3: I'll take the contact, your cold, you contact.
Speaker 2: Six or three or what?
Speaker 4: Take contact only as directed. We call is the are
looking for a few good men to help chip the people.
We're looking for men who understand that nobody likes to fight,
but somebody has to know how.
Speaker 2: We want men who want to see their.
Speaker 1: Children grow up in an age of.
Speaker 2: Men who will do more than wish for it, men
who will work for it. Men who don't need the
draft to know that's the job to be done.
Speaker 4: Men who ask themselves what they can do for their
country and do it well. We're looking for a few
good men to stand with the Marine Corps Reserve. No shortcutting,
no compromising, no promises except one.
Speaker 2: You will be a Marine and you will be ready
back the job. You're a peace.
Speaker 1: Here at the hospital, in the intensive care unit lies
the man for whom we seem to have found the name.
But while the doctors monitor and fight to save the
patient's life, Detective Sergeant Sam Marshall doggedly follows his job
of finding out if he really is Joseph C. Wilson,
and if he is, who is, what he is, and
what led him to being the target of a perhaps
lethal bullet. As soon as the necessary police machinery has
been set in motion, he goes personally to interview Joe's wife, Helen.
Speaker 3: And I was franky.
Speaker 2: I was just going to call you the police.
Speaker 3: I mean, then, now you tell me this, How could
anyone ever stoop my Joe?
Speaker 2: The point is he did, missus Wilson.
Speaker 1: Now I've seen a picture of him, there's no doubt
it's your husband.
Speaker 3: But why Joe didn't have any enemies? Not that kind anyway.
Speaker 2: What does your husband do for a living.
Speaker 3: He's a plumber.
Speaker 2: Does he have a partner, work for a pearl? No,
he's just in business for himself. Does he stay out
much nice?
Speaker 1: Oh?
Speaker 2: Not Joe. Outside of his work. The kids near his
whole life. How many children you have?
Speaker 3: Two, Ronnie, he's eate and the Babysoo County T's three.
Speaker 2: How come he went out last night? Well it was
an emergency call.
Speaker 3: Oh yes, the Benisons up on Long Ridge Road there. Well,
they're old customers and kind of friends. That's why he
went out too late.
Speaker 1: Would there be any reason for him to come back
by the old high road?
Speaker 3: Yes, yes, he's scovered about something. It's a short cut,
but what I asked him not to use it?
Speaker 2: There is so many.
Speaker 3: Blind curves, and it twists, and it's now and it's
awful of poptholes. But nobody uses it much since it's
so deserted, and since you if if you do me
someone coming.
Speaker 2: The other way.
Speaker 3: It's so easy to have an action of that. I
was only afraid that.
Speaker 2: Always has one. But I I I wanna go to
my husband.
Speaker 3: I wanna talk to him.
Speaker 1: Oh morningness. Hm, I'm doctor Peterson. I'm a doing doc
thanks to a good strong constitution. Fine, you got any pain?
Speaker 2: Some Helen.
Speaker 1: Helen over me?
Speaker 2: Yes?
Speaker 1: Well that or just the jewish shop. That's all any
of us knows. Yeah, they're there's a detective police down
in my office who look like, uh oh, I want
to see my wife first. Yes, she's right outside. Nurse
you can get missus Wilson and bring her in, Doc.
Speaker 2: Yes, could I.
Speaker 1: Uh see her along for a minute? Well, if you,
if you promise not to over excite yourself. I don't
want to scare you, but you're a long way from
being out of the woods yet, I promise you.
Speaker 2: Darling hell baby doll like honey, old me, I can
eat anything even though.
Speaker 1: Let's well, I'll give you two a moment along.
Speaker 3: Come on, Joe, what happens?
Speaker 1: They gone?
Speaker 2: I just get outside the door.
Speaker 4: Why did you?
Speaker 1: I'm not mixed up in anything.
Speaker 2: Why you're so scared? God?
Speaker 4: Shot?
Speaker 2: Didn't you?
Speaker 3: I want to know why?
Speaker 1: I can tell you, but I'm not so sure. I'm oh,
why did I take that shortgun after all the time
you asked me not to, Helen, I think I saw it.
Speaker 2: I'm murdered.
Speaker 1: And I don't want to start throwing any waiter on doctor.
Speaker 2: But if there's any.
Speaker 1: Possibility your patient in there may die, I need a
statement and some information from him. I uh, I don't
know if I can permit that sort. And his wife
was allowed to see him this morning, only for a
little while, and only if she didn't allow him to
get over excited.
Speaker 2: I'd promise to take it easy. It's just.
Speaker 1: Well, Roy Richardson is still missing. Without him, we have
no case against Augie Larch. Very well, then, for a
few minutes, I'm going to be in there to make
sure you don't upset him.
Speaker 2: Be my guest. Why should I upset him if he's
got nothing to hide?
Speaker 1: Now, this is Detective Sergeant Marshall Joe. He wants to
ask you a few questions. I'll do Sergeant. Feeling better, well,
kind of weak, like.
Speaker 2: Go ahead.
Speaker 1: You're a plumber, mister wilson Y, and last night you
were called on an emergency job late after dinner. That's
right to Benson's good customers, good friend's mine, and they
sprung the leak in the main water valve coming under
the house, and quite a time of it before I
could get a new.
Speaker 2: Washer in there.
Speaker 1: And afterwards you came home by the old high road.
That's right, saves about three miles over going around a
new road. At what time was this, mister Wilson, Oh,
eleven quarter twelve?
Speaker 2: And what time did you leave to go to the.
Speaker 1: Benches Around seven point thirty? Got there maybe about eight
mm hm three hours to put in a washing. Oh well,
like I say, I had a tough time of it,
and the benches are old friends. I stuck around talking,
had a beer or so, and it was coming back
on the old high road.
Speaker 2: You were shot, that's right. How well?
Speaker 1: See, I was coming around a sharp bend where the
road kind of dips down in a hollow, and I
hear what sounds.
Speaker 2: Like a blowout.
Speaker 1: So I hit the brakes, slowed down as I come
around the bend, and I see in my headlights this
car parked off the road by the lake facing me
with the headlights off. The car was off the road
well half on the shoulder, and right decided there was
two other guys lived in someone like he was hurt.
I stopped and I got out and I yelled, could
I help? And before I knew it, one of them
pulled a gun and took a shot at me and
hit you.
Speaker 2: And so why I'm here? What did you do? Then?
What would you do?
Speaker 1: I dived from my car, and god I left the
engine running, and I took off right past them like
a how I'm dog gonna be up the stairs.
Speaker 2: They shoot at you again, Sergeant. I don't know.
Speaker 1: All I knew was I was hurt and heading for
the hospital. Another thing that, thank God for, they hadn't
pulled off the road. I'd never got past them. Hey,
you know, uh, Roy Richardson, mister Wilson, names familiar. But
you ever hear of Augie Latch?
Speaker 2: Oh?
Speaker 1: I mean the gangster, the mob guy. Now you tell me.
Was he one of the men you saw murder? Roy Richardson? Oh?
I don't know for sure who was murdered, or even
if it was. Oh, you must have seen these men
in your headlights? Could you identify any of them for us?
Speaker 2: Oh? I don't.
Speaker 1: I don't know if if you'd be willing to try,
and well, I guess for sure, sure, I I mean,
I I'm sorry, but I'll have to stop you. That's
quite enough front of Oh, okay, you're the doctor, but
I'm gonna have to talk to him again, just so
long does it won't endanger his life? Oh, don't worry
about that. His life is just as important to me
as it is to you, doctor. From here on in,
I'm gonna do everything I can to protect it.
Speaker 3: I haven't told the kid about about you yet, Joe,
because they I I've been doing a lot of thinking.
Speaker 2: What kind of thinking, Helen, You.
Speaker 3: Got yourself mixed up with some real bad, no good trash.
Speaker 1: Don't you think I know that? I'll They left me
with a big enough message to remind me.
Speaker 3: Their messages from the other side too. You know there's
a policeman on guard outside your door. Why, Joe Darning?
Those men are the one who shot you and the
other one. Could you recognize them if you saw them again?
Speaker 1: I'm still mixed up, Like sometimes I tell myself, I'm
not a hundred percent sure I could, and then I
shut my eyes.
Speaker 2: And I know I could think.
Speaker 1: Them out in that Jampag ballpark. But if I really
had to tell the truth, I think maybe the reason is.
Speaker 3: I'm just playing scared Joe Darning, don't you see that's
just the.
Speaker 2: Way I feel.
Speaker 3: I don't want you to identify those men. Even if
you could, they go enough you already. I don't want
you to take any chances they'll do anymore.
Speaker 1: So Helen, I gotta do what's right.
Speaker 3: Why you didn't ask to get tangled up and felt
and crime. You want all of us to creep around
scared to death from here on in if you identify
these men, Ronnie, Sue, Carol me.
Speaker 2: What happened to you already?
Speaker 1: But Helen, it's like I'm I'm a citizen. If I've
got right say, I got duties too.
Speaker 3: Joe, promise me you'll stay out of it. But the
only way all of us can be sure we'll be safe,
specially you.
Speaker 1: You're sure, Sargeant Marshall positive identification doctor, you haven't been
in the water that long. After talking to mister Wilson,
relocated the spot where the shooting took place. We had
a crew with this and they brought up Richardson the
third time down bullet threw his head.
Speaker 3: So there goes your witness on the Evasion of Taxes trial.
Speaker 2: Uh small potatoes.
Speaker 1: Now we can get him on a bigger rap murder
if you're patient, mister Wilson comes through.
Speaker 2: Can I see him now?
Speaker 1: I'm sorry to have to break in on your visit,
Missus Wilson, but Sergeant Grant has to talk to your husband.
More questions and not so much this time. I had
a copy of the transcript you've made to me this morning,
typed up.
Speaker 2: I'd like to get it signed.
Speaker 1: I'm not gonna look at your pictures. Why not for
the same reas there is now old Signon's statement, I
can't identify the.
Speaker 2: Men be indicated.
Speaker 1: You might well, I'm not sure anymore.
Speaker 3: He'd be in terrible danger if he could.
Speaker 2: Missus Wilson.
Speaker 1: Every precaution is being taken for your husband's safety. You
saw the police guard outside the door. What about my
wife and children?
Speaker 2: I'm trying to cover your house too.
Speaker 3: With killers like these, that's no protection.
Speaker 2: What else can I do?
Speaker 1: Could I come up with an idea and welcome Well,
it's the neat old adage which solves all problems. Dead
man tell no tales.
Speaker 2: I don't understand.
Speaker 1: Well, look, suppose everyone thought your husband had died from
the bullet. How could those gunsels have to worry about them.
Speaker 2: You released that story to the press. I'll substantiated a
big little white lie. Doctor.
Speaker 1: Would you be willing to look at the pictures then,
mister Wilson and make an identification if you find one
or two?
Speaker 2: Hellen, No, I don't know what to say.
Speaker 1: If everyone is willing to put themselves out like that,
how can we let them down?
Speaker 3: Good morning, Joe, Well, how's it going today? Well?
Speaker 1: I ain't ready to take on Muhammadali, but I'm getting there.
Speaker 3: Well, this may give you a lift. The Morning Paper,
page one shooting victim succumbs Joseph Wilson, aged thirty seven,
died at Mercy Hospital last night as the result of
a mysterious bullet wound inflicted while he was driving along
the Old high Road. Wilson, a plumber by trade, leaves
a wife, Helen, and two children, ages eight and three.
Speaker 2: Let me see that, well, you have the right.
Speaker 3: Not many men get to see their own obituary.
Speaker 1: Should gets a man of funny feeling?
Speaker 2: How bad.
Speaker 1: The victim's will said he will be buried in Clandon Cemetery.
That policeman sure did it up thoroughly. Didn't he like
its gus.
Speaker 3: He released a story that you died without being nice
enough to bury you. At least now the.
Speaker 2: Killers are off your trail.
Speaker 1: Oh wogie, johnny A.
Speaker 5: You seen the papers this morning, good news, nothing forget it.
I'm telling you the guy ain't dead.
Speaker 1: About a half hour ago I seen his wife sneaking
at the hospital.
Speaker 7: Just to make sure, I took a chance and went
by his room at the hospital just a minute the gold.
Speaker 5: There's still a cop outside the door. You don't need
fuss to guard a dead man.
Speaker 1: So it appears that our innocent bystander is still in
jeopardy as a brilliantly performed operation saved his life, only
to have it threatened once again. I returned shortly with
the answer to that and act three.
Speaker 2: Inside your.
Speaker 6: Inside jokey after all.
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Speaker 4: All of a sudden, living free becomes sex nature skyhawk.
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Speaker 2: This is w BBM Chicago News Radio seventy eight. Time
is eleven oh six. It's Steneba the mcgway.
Speaker 1: It was Robert Burns, the Scottish poet who penned the
lines the best laid schemes of Mice and Men gangaf
de Glay. Certainly, all the plans to protect Joe Wilson
by announcing his apparent death have been negated by his
wife's thoughtless and untimely visit and the Fifth Columnist in
the hospital. Unfortunately, the doctors and the police are unaware
of this. Still, what can men, even as desperate as
Augie Lars do to stop Joe from identifying them? Now?
It ain't good enough? Johnny?
Speaker 5: What Orcky? What else can I do?
Speaker 1: I do you know.
Speaker 7: What foll I was to be with you when we
were doct richardson the way it was, we didn't have
time to handle it any other way. All I know
is this isn't just beating a little income tax evasion.
Speaker 2: My neck is on the line for the big.
Speaker 5: M So fine hockey.
Speaker 7: Well that's what I'm coming on. I'm sending your guests
between years. You better figure out some way to make
that over it come true.
Speaker 5: Okay, boss, what don't you give cuss a gun? I'll
handle that end if we need it.
Speaker 1: Don't worry, it's muscle I'm sending you. I wouldn't trust
him with a gun either.
Speaker 2: But don't forget.
Speaker 7: I don't care how you do it, but I want
that it's dead.
Speaker 5: I guess, sir, that's my neck on the line to
walkie one way or about it.
Speaker 2: That's just what he'll mean before the.
Speaker 1: Days and missus Wilson is up with him nowse too, I.
Speaker 2: Guess so. I've been on rounds after all our arrangements.
Why did you let her go up there?
Speaker 3: She was already in the hospital and on his floor
before I bumped into her by accident.
Speaker 2: I tried to.
Speaker 3: Argue her out of the doctor, but she insisted on
seeing him.
Speaker 1: Yes, and that those mobsters are having the hospital watched
the whole cover skeep maybe out the window by now.
Speaker 3: Well, even if he was dead, she had a right
to come and make arrangement for his qu.
Speaker 2: Yes, I suppose.
Speaker 1: But when Sergeant Marshall turns up, he'll probably blow a
gasket the damage if Andy's done already, so there's no
use of getting excited about it. One thing we can
do but smuggle her out of here the best way possible,
without a chance of her being seen.
Speaker 2: I have fourthflowness. Is this well? This is doctor petersn't
he is? Oh?
Speaker 1: Well, would you tell him? I'll be right down. That's
a sergeant. He's downstairs, and look, Tilly, I'll go down
and delay him a little. We can't wait for doc.
You go onto the room and get missus Wilson out
of that, alright.
Speaker 2: I don't care how.
Speaker 1: You do it, but if possible without being recognized, Holly,
I don't care how much, how long you argue with me,
and I can change my mind.
Speaker 3: So why should you read You're not alone?
Speaker 1: I know you love me, but you should have gone
on out to dat and with the kids like we plan.
He took an awful chance coming here today when I'm supposed.
Speaker 3: To be I I know, I know, but I told
you I sent the kids off last night and your
mom and father were gonna meet him.
Speaker 2: I couldn't go, Joe.
Speaker 3: I made awake all night worrying about the chance you're taking,
and I had to come to ask you not to
take it.
Speaker 1: Maybe I'm a citizen, it's my duty.
Speaker 3: I'm sorry to break in on you, But Sergeant Marshall
is downstairs and on the way up missus Wilson, I
think you'd better get out of here.
Speaker 1: Helen, listen to the doctor and me.
Speaker 2: You go.
Speaker 1: Let me do what I have to, Joe. If I'm
gonna live, I have to live with myself, and there's
only one way I guess.
Speaker 2: I can do that.
Speaker 1: I'm not gonna try to pretend I'm not sorry the
wife came here, but there's no sense in worrying over
spiked milk, Doctor Peterson, So do we get a positive
identification on who murdered Roy Richardson? The sooner Joe Wilson
will be out of danger.
Speaker 2: From outside threats. Perhaps the man is.
Speaker 1: Still fighting for his life from the damage that bullet
did to him inside. So take it as easy on
him as you can. Copser human doc. And that's all right, officer,
Just relax, but keep your wits about you.
Speaker 2: Can we go in? Doctor?
Speaker 1: I sure? Wow, afternoon, mister Wilson. This shouldn't hurt too much.
I've uh brought some pictures so it wouldn't be too heavy.
I had the computer select them so you didn't have
to wade through the whole mug file. For example, Uh,
this is your first one. Do you recognize him as
one of the men you saw caring Roy Richardson's body
the night of the murder.
Speaker 2: Why that's uh.
Speaker 1: I've seen his picture in the newspapers.
Speaker 2: He's a prominent man. Was he one of them?
Speaker 1: I like to get something straight first, Ask why I
identify the guys? What happenson? Oh, we pick them up
and arrest them, and I'm out of it.
Speaker 2: Well not exactly.
Speaker 1: Why not because your statement would not be admissible in
court unless you're there to be questioned not only by
the state but counsel for the defense new process of law.
Speaker 2: I see, why do you ask? I'm all right, I'll
get them because I'm afraid.
Speaker 1: Yes, my wife will feel I sold her and the
children down the river.
Speaker 2: It's the other way.
Speaker 1: You're buying her, your children, and yourself freedom from fear.
I'm sorry. There's some flowers for Joe's special receipt requestioned
flowers for a dead manner as a god. Here you
read it, Sergeant Joseph C.
Speaker 2: Wilson.
Speaker 1: Room for twelve best wishes Joe from your watchful friends,
both here and in.
Speaker 2: Dayton.
Speaker 1: That's right, Dayton, where I sent my kids to be safe.
Speaker 2: I'll forget about this.
Speaker 1: Your wife shouldn't have come to see you this morning.
Speaker 2: But you'll be protected here.
Speaker 1: We're gonna be protected, Sergeant Marshall, you can get your
little pen and pencil out. I'm gonna give you my
final statement. Now wait a minute, not even a second,
you start writing. It was too dark on the old
high Road for me to see a thing. I don't
know what happened. I couldn't identify anyone in a million years.
Just count me out as a witness. Now tell me
you look bushed.
Speaker 3: Tired enough to step out of channels and say to
the chief of staff, so do you well?
Speaker 1: It's an occupational hand at games.
Speaker 2: You take a break, mon't you.
Speaker 3: I have emergency clinic from eight to twelve. How about you?
Speaker 1: Oh, twenty four hours a day for me.
Speaker 2: Cheer up.
Speaker 1: The further you go, the worst it gets.
Speaker 2: Well, happy clinic.
Speaker 3: Oh, it shouldn't be too bad.
Speaker 6: Hit the Tuesday.
Speaker 3: Tuesdays always seemed to be slow for some reason.
Speaker 1: I'll land that's hope it runs through a farm. Okay,
Gust's try to forget your billy and concentrate on what
you need. Clinic service for it?
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, yeah, sure, I got a bummy.
Speaker 6: Pair concentrate on your ank.
Speaker 1: Peer, it's spain at heights like hell, maybe it's even broken.
Speaker 8: Okay, yeah, it's dark enough.
Speaker 6: Let's go, Hi, Doc, not so busy tonight, which.
Speaker 3: Makes doctors thankful for small mercies. I guess you are right.
Speaker 2: What's the matter with you?
Speaker 6: Well, we was visiting a fine here in the hospital.
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, and a way out.
Speaker 1: I cut my aggle on a stiff going down on
the front door.
Speaker 3: Oh, steps down leading the hospital.
Speaker 2: Well I have a look.
Speaker 1: I can't.
Speaker 2: The right doctor. Yeah, yeah, and.
Speaker 3: I don't see any evidence of Well.
Speaker 6: Now we're all along.
Speaker 1: Did you see this doctor? A gun's right? Well, you
must be parannoying.
Speaker 3: One shot in this whole hospital.
Speaker 8: Here thing new silences? See close the door. Guess what
is it?
Speaker 2: You want?
Speaker 1: Get us in to see Joe Wilson and get us
out with him.
Speaker 8: You ought to be able to figure away. But real quick,
do you really.
Speaker 3: Think you can parade me through the hospital at the
point of a gun, even a silenced one.
Speaker 1: No parade, Doc, nobody's gonna pay us any attention. You're
already dressed upot gus on a rolling cart like this.
Speaker 2: Here, you get me a set of whites.
Speaker 1: Like an orderly we're taking poor Gus and he's badly
sprained ankle to X ray or whatever. Now let's stop
stalling and get moving.
Speaker 6: Okay, I guess you just slide down?
Speaker 1: Yeah, Doc, you want to run end of the cart
and me pushing on the back. Only stay outside real close,
feel the gun. What are you going to do with
mister Wilson when.
Speaker 8: You get there?
Speaker 6: Get rid of them?
Speaker 3: But I promise you he hasn't identified anyone to the police.
Speaker 1: He ain't gonna have the chance.
Speaker 2: And what about me? You're not so hot at gets?
And how are you? Doc? Allright?
Speaker 1: I mean doctor grant what you got there?
Speaker 2: Uh?
Speaker 6: Madly sprained ankle?
Speaker 3: Doctor, it may be a break going to X ray?
Speaker 2: Why don't you do the order they take him? I
shall have a cup of coffee.
Speaker 3: I I'm afraid I can.
Speaker 1: Doctor.
Speaker 3: This is a little more serious than that. It looks
like he has a tourist pylorum and I'm afraid the
constrictor farringus may be involved, the constrictive food, and you
know how dangerous that can be. Doctor, there may even
be a break involved. I want to stop that if
it's possible.
Speaker 1: Okay, doctor, that's sure problem. You'll be able to handle it.
Speaker 2: I'll just go hit the hay for the night.
Speaker 3: You do that, doctor, I've got to get this man
up to fourth floor X ray for special pictures.
Speaker 1: Oh, by the way, you better take the back elevator.
Speaker 2: The front ones out of whack again.
Speaker 3: Oh I didn't know.
Speaker 2: Oh didn't they order?
Speaker 3: They tell you a man, doctor will We'll handle it.
Speaker 1: Okay, it's your problem. I'm going home and forget the
hospital exists. He's going with, Doc. You had a lot
real sensible. Now how far to the other elevator?
Speaker 6: Oh?
Speaker 3: Not far, just a few zigs and zags.
Speaker 2: It's in the old building.
Speaker 3: But what do you expect to do when you get there?
Speaker 1: Just substitute a stretch of passenger for a jungle suit.
Gus has an orderly suit.
Speaker 6: It can change to.
Speaker 1: Then we just wheel our patients back down and out
of your life, out of mind. It's like any professional job.
You can't believe any loose ends.
Speaker 2: Does the elevator?
Speaker 3: Yes, I I guess this is it.
Speaker 2: Now.
Speaker 1: Look this is the last lap. So far everything has
gone pretty smooth. Let's keep it that way. Okay, I
guess you're bless.
Speaker 2: Yeah, these white. Things feel nice.
Speaker 1: Fine, fine, fine, just let's concentrate. I'm trumbling. This got
past that cop with the doctor's help, and pick up
our boy. Now when we get that cop, you already
got to him, Johnny Angel, that's a police positive in
your back. Just don't move, or you guts. I got
three guys coping. You step aside, Doctor grand do at.
Speaker 2: All you should? I want you?
Speaker 1: Oh, I guess you got me all the way?
Speaker 8: But oh did I can't get off Scott Prey.
Speaker 1: Don't worry, Joe Wilson will be able to identify him.
Speaker 8: Now, how come ye didn't help me?
Speaker 2: Oh?
Speaker 1: You shouldn't fool around with doctors, Joe a male or female.
Speaker 2: You're just not smart enough. What do you what do
you mean? Well?
Speaker 3: You tell him doctor, Well, gus, we're supposed to have
a sprained ankle. When doctor Peterson asked me what was
the matter with him? Remember what I told him? So
double I said he had an erectus pylon. Well, certainly
it's a very small muscle at the base of the
hair follicles.
Speaker 1: He gave me the old Yeah, nothing, ankle. A muscle
the base of each hair in your head. It's enough
to make your hair stand on end, isn't it? Johnny Angel,
With the help of Joe Wilson's identification, Augie Larch and
Johnny Angel were charged with criminal homicide and held without bail.
Later both were convicted and sentenced to maximum terms. Joe
recovered successfully, and he and Helen subsequently had two more children.
It's really another story with a happy ending, and more
or less except for one thing. In the state where
our story took place, murder in the first degree is
once again the death penalty.
Speaker 4: I'll be back shortly. Some people think we played king
pong all day. They're wrong. The USO isn't all fun
and games today.
Speaker 2: The USO has.
Speaker 4: Millions of problems like this one in Germany.
Speaker 1: My family's going crazy living in a tiny apartment.
Speaker 2: Where can we live?
Speaker 4: Today's USO has millions of problems like this one in Asia.
Speaker 2: I'm hooked on drugs. Where can I get help?
Speaker 4: Or this problem in Athens?
Speaker 3: Our marriage is breaking up?
Speaker 4: Can you help us? Today's USO has little time for
ping pong. We've got serious work to do. We've got
lots of new problems here and overseas. The problems are big.
How big?
Speaker 2: Well?
Speaker 4: If someone asks you who needs the USO. Tell them
why over five million American military personnel and their families
need to day's USO. And because we get no government funds,
we need all your support. Please give to USO through
the United Way or local USO campaign.
Speaker 1: The one thing that remained strongest in Joe Wilson's mind
after the horror and pain of his experience had faded,
was the decision he had come to finally to make
the identification. For whatever satisfaction that criminals attempt to stop
him may have given them on the way to the grave,
for the rest of his life.
Speaker 2: Joe had a far better one.
Speaker 1: He could face himself every morning in the mirror and
be sure more than most of us that he was
a man and a good one. Our cast included Joan shay,
Ken Harvey, Sam Gray, and Ian Martin. The entire production
was under the direction.
Speaker 2: Of Hyman Brown.
Speaker 8: And now a preview of our next tale.
Speaker 3: All the I mean to your word, Well, he he
was chopping wood, He's put slipped and the axe caught
him right at the ankle. It didn't seem like such
a deep cut.
Speaker 4: He's had worse.
Speaker 3: So we were we bounded up and he went about
his business for a couple of days, and then the
swelling started, and then the fever set in. Feel his part,
he's burning up.
Speaker 9: Where the ice, the axe, the axe, the thing that
caused the whole mess words, well.
Speaker 1: Right there by the dog. Who what are you going
to do? Mister matter here?
Speaker 9: You won't cut my leg off with you?
Speaker 2: Of course, I'm not going to cut off your leg.
Speaker 9: I'm gonna publish the sects. I'm gonna make it suffer.
I'm gonna torture it. I'm going to make it endure
such thing. But how how are you going to do that,
mister Matther. I'm going to crucify it.
Speaker 1: Radio Mystery Theater was sponsored in part by Buick Motor Division.
Speaker 2: This is E. G.
Speaker 1: Marshall inviting you to return to our Mystery Theater for
another adventure in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant dreams.
This is w BBM Chicago News Radio, seventy eight.