Old Time Radio Mysteries and More

Old Time Radio Mysteries and More

by F. Ziffel

Performing Arts

Tales of the Texas Rangers - Hanging by a Thread

At 9:15 on the morning of May 5th, 1947, the telephone rang in the sheriff's office in the little town of Finney, Texas. Sheriff Hansen answered it "Sheriff's office, Hansen speaking" Voice on the line says "Sheriff, this is George Hawks". Hansen says "How are you, George? What can I do for you?" George says "Nothing now. Nobody can". Hansen says "How's that?" George says "I just called to tell you I'm going to kill myself". Hansen says "What did you say?" George says "You heard me. It'll take you twenty minutes to get out to my place. By that time, I'll be dead". Hansen says "Now, now wait a minute, George. What?" The line goes dead. Hansen calls the operator and says "This is the sheriff. That call that just came in here. Where was it from?" Operator says "One moment, sheriff". a few seconds later, the operator says "Sheriff, that call was placed from 317 out on Gum Creek Road, the residence of Mr. George Hawk". The sheriff races out to the Hawks Ranch and finds George Hawks dead, hanging in the barn. After looking over the scene, Hansen makes another discovery that prompts him to put in a call to the Texas Rangers. Ranger Jace Pearson is assigned to the case and drives out to the Hawks Ranch. Hansen says "I hope I didn't call you down here for nothing, Jace. But this looks mighty fishy to me. Let's go take a look at the body". They go into the barn, and Hansen says "Notice that's a wire he's hanging from, not a rope" Pearson says "Yeah, cut off the clothes line probably". Hansen says "Here's what I found. This oil drum is the only thing around that he could have used to stand on while putting the wire around his neck, only he didn't stand on it. There are no footprints on either side of this dusty oil drum".

The Line Up - The Anita Cameron Case

Lieutenant Ben Guthrie is escorting Mr. Holmes into the lineup viewing area. Holmes asks "Can I sit here?" Ben says "Sure, any chair in the room, Mr. Holmes. He says "And you'll sit beside me? Ben says "Sure". Holmes says "I hope I didn't do wrong about that boy, Lieutenant, but I'm pretty sure there was a bullet hole in that coat". Ben says "You did just right. Like the other people here, you've all come to try to identify someone in the lineup, for one reason or another". Just then, an officer says "May I have your attention, please?" Ben says "That's Sergeant Grebb in charge of the lineup. He'll explain it to you". Grebb says "You people out there on the other side of the wire in the audience room, may I have your attention, please? Thank you. My name is Sergeant Matt Grebb. Each of the suspects you see will be numbered. I call off their number, name, and charge. If you have any questions or identifications, please remember the number assigned to the prisoner. If you are sure or not too sure of the suspect have him held for questioning. The officers who took your name will assist you, as they are seated among you. Please be prompt with your questions or identifications. When the prisoners leave here, they are sent to get dressed back into their jail clothes making it difficult to bring them back. The questions I ask the suspects are merely to get a natural tone of voice. Do not pay too much attention to their answers as they often lie. Bring on the line". Once the line is formed, Sergeant Grebb starts the questioning procedure. Holmes indicates to Ben that he identifies the number two suspect, Jimmy Hodge. Ben says "Sergeant Grebb, hold number two for interrogation".

Night Beat - Number 13

It's night again in Chicago, and that's when Randy Stone, reporter for the Chicago Star, starts out looking for a story. Tonight, he finds himself walking in a quiet section of the residential district. He wonders about the people he sees out on the streets. Who were they and what were their problems? He kept walking. Soon, a kindly looking older man comes up to him and says "I beg your pardon". Randy says "Oh, yes?" The man says "I hesitate to bother you, sir, but do you have a match?" Randy says "I have a lighter. Will that do?". The man says "Thank you". Randy says "There you are". The man says "Oh. Uh, just a moment. I'm afraid I didn't get a light after all". Randy says "What's the matter, Pop? Afraid to ask me for the touch, here". The man says "Please put your hands up". Randy says "What?" The man says "I'm not joking. I have a gun". Randy says "Oh, I see it". Randy raises his hands. The man says "I warn you. I'll shoot if you try anything". Randy says "Well, rule number one, when facing a stickup man who's obviously pulling his first job, be very careful". The man says "It's not my first". Randy says "Oh, a hardened old offender, huh?" The man says "Hand me your wallet". Randy says "What? With my hands in the air?" The man says "Well, put them down. But remember what I said now". Randy says "Sure. Why is a nice looking old man like you doing this?" The man says "Stop talking and hand me your wallet". Randy says "All right". The man says "Good. Now, turn around, face the wall, and don't try to follow me". Randy says "Pop, hand me the gun and tell me all about it". The man says "Don't come toward me". Randy says "The gun, Pop, now hand it over. We'll have a talk. Maybe over a cup of coffee". The man says "Stay away, I said". There is a small scuffle, and suddenly, a shot rings out!

Casey, Crime Photographer - Pick-Up

At nine o'clock in the evening, in the Blue Note Cafe, Ethelbert, the head bartender, is chatting with a customer when he hears a familiar voice. Casey walks in and says "Hi Ethelbert". He says "Oh, good evening, Casey. Excuse me, will you, Mr. Hutchins? I ain't seen you all day, Casey. Where've you been?" Casey says "Oh, I've been busy, pal". Ethelbert says "You told me you're on the lobster ship this week which means you don't start to work until midnight". Casey laughs and says "Listen, shut-in, this is Spring. Miss Williams and I have spent the day in the park. We were taking pictures the birds the bees". Ethelbert asks "Where is Miss Williams?" Casey says "I left her at the office. Hey, look, give me four packs of cigarettes will you? Two of Miss Williams kind and two of mine. Listen, pal, wait a minute. Who was the guy you were talking to when I came in? His face is familiar". Ethelbert says "Oh, he's Britt Hutchins, the horse trainer". Casey says "Sure, yeah. What's he doing in town? His stable is racing out west right now". Ethelbert says "I got an idea he's here looking for the murderer of Cass Marlin. You know, Cass Marlin, the jockey who got bumped off down in Florida just before he was to ride". Casey says "Yeah, of course, I know. Did Hutchins say that he was looking for the murderer?" Ethelbert says "No, I just got the idea because he and Cass were such good friends. All he really said about the killing was what the papers had been saying, that it's still a complete mystery who done it". Casey says "It's pretty obvious why it was done. With Cass Marlin in the saddle, That racehorse, Fireball, would've won the Alder Stone trophy race".

Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator - Ghost of a Chance

Barrie was called to the New York office of the Trans-Southern Insurance Company of Omaha by a claims agent named Roy Brenahan. At that meeting, Roy says "I'll explain the assignment we have for you, Craig". Barrie says "Before you do, answer me this. What's with your regular investigators? Why pull an outsider in?" Roy says "Well, we want this investigated unofficially. We don't want to stir up anything that will expose us to a libel suit". Barrie says "I see. What's the story?" Roy says "Our file number 15466. A double indemnity case now officially closed. We paid out 50,000 dollars to the widow of a subway accident victim named Remo Torch. This was 90 days ago". Barrie says "So?" Roy says "Now, I'll play you a recording I secretly made of an anonymous telephone call I was a party to yesterday". The tape essentially says that the claim was a fraud, and that someone else fell off the subway platform. After listening to it, Barrie says "Oh, it could be a crank call or an envious relative. You must get a thousand crackpot telephone calls." Roy says "Yes we do. We can't ignore them. Even if there's the smallest possibility of recovering a paid out claim". Barrie says "So, you're hoping I turn up a scheming widow and proof that a third party was pushed off that subway platform". Roy says "Handle this delicately, as if we have nothing to do with it, like it's a case of your own". Barrie says "I can't be too delicate about exhuming a body. I need to get a court order for that. So, do you want to get yourself another boy?" Roy says "No, I'll stick with you, Craig". Barrie says "Or be stuck with me. Ten percent, Brenahan. Any monies I recover for good old Trans-Southern will be earmarked ten percent for Barrie Craig".

Richard Diamond, Private Detective - The Thomas Jason Case

Richard Diamond is sitting in his office as a man walks in. The man asks "Is uh, this the Diamond Detective Agency?" Rick says "Well, what does the sign on the door say?" The man says the Diamond Detective Agency". Rick says "Then, take a guess". The man asks "Are you Mr. Richard Diamond?" Rick says "It depends. How much does he owe you?" The man says" Uh, nothing". Rick says "You just want to speak to him?" The man says "I do". Rick asks "Do you come as a client?" The man says "Yes, I do". Rick asks "Do you have a hundred a day in expenses?" The man says "Yeah, I do". Rick says "Then, I now pronounce us as man and client. Your name, please?" The man says "Uh, my name is Thomas Jason". Rick says "The stock broker? You better pay cash". Thomas says "Oh, I'm retired now, Mr. Diamond, and to end this nonsense, here's your hundred dollars". Rick says "Oh, thank you. Now, what's your trouble?" Thomas says "It's Carole, my adopted daughter. We adopted her when she was twelve years old, but my wife died shortly after. Frankly, Carole has been in trouble ever since". Rick asks "And, now?" Thomas says "I'm afraid it is no longer a matter of delinquency. There have been several incidents that make me suspect that she's trying to do away with me". Rick says "Oh, sweet girl. What's her reason?" Thomas says "My money. In my will, she is my only heir". Rick asks "Why not change the will?" Thomas says "Ah, I said I suspected her, but I'm not certain, Mr. Diamond. You understand, it would be terrible to disinherit her, if I am wrong about my suspicions. I simply must be sure before I change my will".

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar - The Parley Barron Matter

Johnny receives a call from his friend, Earl Pourmand of Tri-State Life and Casualty Company, in Sarasota, Florida. Johnny says "Well, hi Earl. How are things in the land of infernal sunshine?" Earl says "What do you mean infernal?" Johnny says "Well, it's got pretty hot down there these days, isn't it?" Earl says "It makes good fishing weather". Johnny says "Yeah, but without a case to work on, what possible excuse would I have?" Earl says "Maybe I have one for you". Johnny says "Oh, yeah?" Earl says "And maybe it's murder". Johnny says "Earl, I'll be down on the next plane". Later, when his plane arrived, Johnny took a cab to Earl's office in the Conroy Building. Tall, lanky, easygoing, Earl welcomed Johnny like a long-lost brother. He says "Johnny, you're looking great. And I'm glad you're here because you can clear up this case in a hurry and then you and I can get out in the Gulf and do some real serious fishing". Johnny says "Oh, well, that's okay by me". Earl says "I see you've got your bags with you. That's good, because you're going to stay with us out the house. I told that old battle axe wife of mine to hang out an extra towel for you". Johnny asks "How is Mike (real name, Gertrude)?" Earl says "Oh, she's great. Just great. I never did understand how I was lucky enough to grab that dame, Johnny. Hey, maybe she'll go fishing with us". Johnny says "Anything over ten pounds will pull her right out of the boat". Earl says "Well, she's been getting pretty good with a rod and reel". Johnny says "Look, this fishing talk is just making my mouth water. First, we'd better discuss the case". Earl says "All right. Do you know where Lido Key is? It's a mile or so offshore. Just beyond St. Armand's Key, where we live. Well, a retired client of mine named Parley Barron, a man I've known for years, built a nice little home on it. Friday morning, the day before yesterday, he went to run some errands, and hadn't been seen since".

The Adventures of Rocky Jordan - The Desert Betrayal

On a particularly hot evening in Cairo, Rocky Jordan left his place of business, the Cafe Tambourine, in hopes of finding a cool breeze near the banks of the River Nile. As he walks along the streets, he stops to look at a poster advertising a rally for a politician named El Marmot Bey. Suddenly, Rocky hears the voice of the Muezzin in the minaret above him calling the Muslims to prayer. As a foreigner wishing to pay his respects, Rocky ducks into a narrow passage off the street that happened to lead to the winding stairs of the minaret. He waited there until sounds from the street told him prayers were over. Rocky was about to be on his way when a loud scream come from the minaret. As he looked up, he saw the bearded Muezzin in his flowing robe stagger out of the tower and tumble down the stairway. Rocky rushed over to him, noticing the red splotches of stab wounds on his white robe. Rocky says "Try not to move. Who did this?" As he was trying to stop the bleeding, another man wearing a Muezzin's robe with black field boots appeared. Rocky says "Hurry up. Help me with this man". The man with the boots pulls out a pistol says "Shut up and get back. Don't touch him. You've stepped in where it doesn't concern you". Rocky says "Since when does a Muezzin carry a luger?"

The Adventures of Philip Marlowe - The Heat Wave

Spring was only three weeks old, but the sun bore down on Los Angeles with a middle of a summer vengeance. At noon, it was 102 degrees in the shade, and by 3:30, with doors, window, and shirt collars all open as far as they would go. Marlowe tried to make sense from the words of a telegram he just received. It was from one Karen Driscoll Jr., no less, of Knob Hill, San Francisco. It told him to go to the Palace Theater of Burlesque House on Main Street, watch the performance of the featured dancer, get backstage and take a close look at her face, then meet the 7:00 PM plane from San Francisco, and report what I'd seen to Miss Driscoll, uh, Junior. It was a strange request coming from Knob Hill, but the enclosed 50 dollar money order wasn't kidding. So, Marlowe perspired my way down to the Palace Theater. There, he saw a 50 foot gold banner that screamed "The Heatwave, Who is She?" The showcase card was a circle of question marks that centered around a woman wearing a gold mask and little else. Marlowe bought a ticket and went inside. Marlowe sat down in time to see the end of the matinee, which was a baggy pants, south of the border comedian doing his routine. The comedian says "Ah, but there was Manuel, my brother, Manuel Labor". He was the laziest man in all Mexico. Yeah, until he got a job, shooting bulls for the government. He shot 800 bulls a day. You heard? That made him the biggest bull shooter in Mexico City". Then, an announcer came out and says "Ladies and gentlemen, you're now privileged to witness one of the most unusual and breathtaking spectacles ever presented on any stage. In a moment, you will see her, the woman of mystery, performing for you the exotic dance to the sun god of the Incas, exactly as they were performed 3,000 years ago. The Palace Theater presents the masked marvelous, the beautiful, the dazzling, the mysterious, Heathway".

I Was a Communist for the FBI - No Second Chance

At a local Communist cell meeting, Matt Cvetic was asked to remain afterward by comrade Harden. When the meeting was over, Harden comes up to Matt and says "It was quite a meeting, comrade Cvetic". Matt says "You didn't ask me to wait until the others had left just to tell me that, comrade Harden". He laughs and says "No. You have no time for anything except party business, do your comrade Cvetic?" Matt says "When I joined the party, I put everything else behind me, just as you advised the new members of tonight's cell meeting". Harden says "Of course. Unfortunately, some members forget that advice". Matt says "The party knows how to handle those termites". Harden says "Yes, and now we've reached the reason for asking you to wait. it's a matter of termite exterminating". Matt asks "What do you mean, comrade?" Harden says "I don't know the details. I know only that you have been ordered to Los Angeles to cooperate with the MVD in a matter of termite exterminating. You'll go by train, tomorrow". On his way home that night, Matt stops at a phone booth to call his FBI contact. He dials the number and a man answers by saying "Hello, Juan speaking". Matt says "This is your phone booth man again, get me?" The contact says "Got you, go ahead". Matt says "I'm taking the train to Los Angeles tomorrow". Contact says "Alone?" Matt says "Yeah". Contact asks "What's the deal?" Matt says "Termite exterminating, they called it". Contact asks "Who's the termite?" Matt says "No one here knows. I'll find that out in Los Angeles". Contact says "Okay. We'll pick you up in LA. If it turns out that you're the termite, call that Hempstead number we gave you". Matt says "Right". Contact says "Good luck". As Matt walked away from the phone booth, it hadn't occurred to him that he might be the termite of their extermination.

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