February 24, 2026 • 41 mins
CBS Radio Mystery Theater was a noteworthy attempt to revive in American radio dramas like Inner Sanctum (1941-1952) and Suspense (1942-1962). Radio dramas were widely considered "dead" 12 years prior to this series. CBS Radio Mystery Theater, or simply Mystery Theater, was created by Inner Sanctum creator Himan Brown and ran on CBS from 1974-1982. The show, much like older radio dramas, was introduced by a host (E.G. Marshall in this program), who steers us through the creaking door to start the episode. Many voices from the golden age of radio were featured, including Richard Widmark, Bret Morrison, Agnes Moorehead and many more. Find more classic, old-time radio series at Theater of the Mind - OTR | Spreaker | Apple | YouTube
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Enjoy all six of our commercial-free internet radio stations at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Do you want to discover more of these classic, old-time radio series? Search "Theater of the Mind - OTR" on your favorite platform or visit Theater of the Mind - OTR | Apple | Spreaker | YouTube | Spotify | Amazon | iHeart
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:16):
Come in, Welcome. I'm a g. Marshall Today. A story
from the files of the world renowned Pinkerton National Detective Agency,
the first law enforcement agency doing detective in police work
in the United States. It was founded by Allan Pinkerton
in eighteen fifty and carried on by his sons, William
(00:37):
and Robert. Such was their reputation that it has been said,
had they been guarding President Lincoln that night at Ford's Theater,
Lincoln would never have been assassinated. But today we pull
the files marked train robberies. Tell me again, mister Newton,
what you remember of the robbery of the rock Allen train. Oh,
(00:57):
I'm glad to mister Pinkerton. They see the Pinkertons always
get their man. Oh, we try to. I'll be frank
with you, mister Newton. We have been keeping track of you,
keeping track of me. You mean you mean you've been
having me followed. I'm afraid I do well. I'll am
I under suspicion. In a case like this, everyone is suspect.
(01:29):
Our mystery drama, the Pinkerton method was dramatized from the
files of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, especially for mystery theater
by James Aggott Junior and stars Ian Martin and Lloyd Batista.
(01:51):
Crime was an everyday national threat in every American city
from the Civil War to World War One. In New York, Baltimore, Chicago,
and Boston, people were afraid to walk the city streets
after dusk. Citizens would be robbed or they'd completely disappear.
Gunmen fought daily battles right in the open streets. One
(02:12):
of the most lucrative forms of crime was a train robbery,
and the only law enforcement agency able to stem the
tide of lawlessness were the Pinkertons. But who can tell
this story better than someone who is there. Harold Black
is the name that makes sense for me to give
(02:32):
you the facts about the Rock Island train robbery, because
I'm pretty much the only person who knows what happened.
I was a brakeman on the Night Express running out
of Chicago that wintery March night, with snow everywhere. I
walked into the express car right behind the locomotives. Hell, hell,
(02:53):
we are scheduled. As far as I know, ally is
nice and warm in here. What are you doing? Oh,
you're usual making sure the twenty two thousand dollars are
all account is bo You got that much in the safe,
A dollar on and a dollar less. You're a lucky stiff, Nick.
Being an express messenger is such an easy job. Sitting
here doing paperwork at a desk in the express car
(03:17):
a freely envy you four hours a matter of fact,
wear a collar, a shirt and the tie in this job.
Look at me, dirty overalls, my hands all banged up,
greasy from oil, can hang nails dirty. Fifteen years nowhere
to go. It's too long, Nick. Nobody on the line
appreciates how hard a breakman has to work.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
I can't told you.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Before, Harold. I'll put it a good word for you
with a chief up us Express. If you like he's
an old pair of man, maybe you can use an
extra messenger. Eh. Besides, we messengers don't do too bad
when it comes to salary. Oh, rub it in and
you could learn to work, Harold, it's easy. I think
this time I'll take you up on that. Could use
(04:00):
the money with a new wife and everything. Will you
ask him? Okay, it's the promise. When we get back
from New York, I'll talk to the chief. Of course,
your job's a little more dangerous than mine. Huh, oh
you mean train robbers. I guess I've been lucky so far.
I mean, say one of the gangs knew you had
twenty two thousand, and that's safe. They could get a
(04:23):
board anywhere after Juliet. Hey, what do we do to
arrive here half an hour? Pick up the mail, and
then our next stop is Marris? H Morris and as
I've been there with a dead town and I don't
have me the poker, will he fires get more? I
want to give the store a stirt he are, thank you? Well,
I better be heading back. Nick, do my train rounds
(04:44):
and say, oh the George Newton for me? Will you?
He's on this run in the baggage guy, isn't he
If he isn't asleep, he's supposed to sort all the
baggage before we hit Marris. I'll bet anything all he's
doing is snory. Well wake him and tell him I
said to get visited. I don't want to be hanging
around Pennsylvania station. Room you get in? Oh gee, I
forgot to ask you, Harold, what what's your wife's name? Elizabeth? Yeah, yeah, Elizabeth.
(05:06):
That's a sweet name. I'll bet she's just as sweet
ash she sounds oh o kidding. I'll try to see
if I can get you that job with us Express.
I won't be surprised, but you'd make double the money.
I'm all for that. I made the rounds ten cars,
(05:26):
baggage car included the length of the train and back.
We pulled into Marris and took on water for the engine.
George Newton the baggage master, and I opened the express
car door. I'll go first. What's the hurry, George, Well,
I've got to be sure it. Oh lord, no, huh
(05:47):
here hell look yeah, this is terrible. Look better. I'd
better get the Pinkerton man. He's in the third car.
Safety blown open. Don't touch anything. If there was twenty
two I was in there once. It's sure ain't in
there now. Looked at all that blood. I was afraid
of this herald. I'm scared. What do you mean? I
(06:10):
can't take time to explain. I'm going back for the
Pinkerton man, and don't touch anything. My name is William Pinkerton.
I told the baggage man was his nameton George Newton? Yes,
I asked him to wait in his car for me.
I thought i'd speak to you first. You were the
Harold Black, I'm the brakeman. And the name of the
(06:33):
deceased the express messenger, Nicholas Kelsey, Nicholas Kelsey. And what
was the last time he was, honest? Kelsey alive? Not
an hour ago? We were half an hour out of Joliet.
I see he was alive when you left him, mister Pinkin.
In the course he was, I swear it, good lord.
He was even going to put in a good word
(06:54):
for me with his chief, so I could perhaps get
a job with us Express. Oh why would he do that? Well,
I just got married. And it's no secret, but a
brakeman on the Chicago and Rock Island didn't make much money.
I see. Gang of train robbers must have come aboard
after we left Joliet and killed him. And you heard nothing,
no shots, nothing. I was probably as far back as
(07:17):
the last car. How much was in that safe, mister Black,
don't you know? Well? Sure I know? Nick told me
twenty two thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I see, all right?
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Will you ask mister Newton to john us Georgie George,
mister Pinkerton wants to talk to you. I'm George Newton,
mister Pinkerton, I think I told you, Oh lord, this
car is a miss and looks like Nick put up
an awful fight. And what can you tell us, mister Newton. Well,
(07:50):
the way I figured it, it must have happened between
the time the train left Juliet and when we stopped
here in Morris. There was this noise of broken glass,
and I, well, I looked up and I saw the
ventilator on the side of the baggage car was smashed. Well, now,
at that moment, a man with a black mask over
the lower part of his face came into the car.
(08:12):
Why didn't you call for help, Georgie, I couldn't have
been far away. Well, the mask man said that if
you dare move an inch, that man up there will
blow your brains out where. Well, well, there wasn't a
man exactly, mister Pinkerton. It was a hand, a man's
hand pushed through the broken ventilator, and the muscle of
a pistol pointed right at me. Then what did you do? Nothing? Really,
(08:36):
I just tried to keep breathing. I was rooted to
the spot. Well, the man in the mask left my
baggage car and went through to the express car. How
you must have felt I was in agony, believe me,
mister Pinkerton, but I daren't give the alarm. You know
that that gun was aimed right at my head. Well
then finally, I guess when we pulled into Morse, I
(08:58):
looked up in the ventilator and the hand was gone,
And just then Harold came in and we went right
into the express car and the rest. You know, mister Pinkerton,
do you have any idea how Nick was killed? Looks
like a pistol one on the right shoulder than every
others I had ones. I can't say what made those
(09:21):
pistol whipping? Maybe, Oh terrible mis A Newton. Are you
sure you didn't hear any gunshots? Well, I couldn't swear
I didn't. You know, the train makes pretty much of
a racket going fifty. I was, well, I don't know
what I was with that gun pointed at me. I
don't know how many there were, but I knew they
were after the money. You didn't hear them blow out
(09:42):
the safe, and I wish I hadn't. I mean, I
wish I could say I did. How much was in it?
Twenty two thousand? You know you're guessing? Oh no, no,
I'm just kissing. No one's touched anything in this car
so far as you know. When George was getting you,
mister Pinkett and I stood right there. No one came
in here, And I think I've found what they beat
(10:04):
him with. What back here in the corner, the stove poker? Yeah,
it appears to be blood on it. All right, you
gentlemen can return to your duties for a moment. Tell
the engineer I'm impounding his express car. Have him uncouple
and move it to a siding right here at the station,
and then he can take the rest of the train
(10:25):
onto New York. You mean George and I can go
along with the train. No, I don't mean that. I'm
going to need both of you to help me. I
believe there's a hotel in town. Oh, yes, I can
see one from here. I'll make that my headquarters. If
the telegrapher is still up, have him wire Chicago to
have the Rock Island put you both up at that
(10:45):
hotel until I give the word. George and I got
rooms at the Delaney right on Thompson Street. I had
to telegraph operator wire Chicago what had happened, and somebody
had better notify Nick's wife, missus Kelsey. I had him
(11:07):
also get a message to Elizabeth it had been a
delay on the run, not to worry about me, that
I was all right. Here, She goes, it seems funny
to be standing here in the window of this hotel
watching our train pull out, and we've got to stay here. Listen,
so long as the Rock Island pays me my wages.
(11:27):
I don't care where I am. I wish Elizabeth was here.
She loves hotels. You know, when we left Chicago and
I was talking to Nick, you know, he said, this
town of Marris is a dump. But dead time, he said,
let's not talk about Nick, okay, And I wonder it.
What were you going to say, Harold, you wonder what? Oh? Nothing,
(11:50):
I guess, just wondering why mister Pinketon was so insistent
on our staying here. And I don't know, I don't
like seeing that express are in the sighting right from
this window and knowing what's in it. Well, we've told
mister Pinkert and all we knew. Well, you know, it
could have been any of half a dozen gangs that
the Youngers, Jameson's, Dalton's and McCoy's Georgie, you really know
(12:14):
your train robbers. I read the newspaper a lot, but
it could have been Oh sure, could have been any
of them. What time is it, Harold, eight o'clock. We've
been up all night. Yeah, I'm beginning to feel all this.
I'd say we're entitled to the best breakfast that the
lady can come up with. Let's go on downstairs and
(12:36):
have us one agreed. After what we've been through, the
best breakfast is none too good for us. From the
eighteen seventies on, there was hardly an American train going
anywhere that was not rocked bands of outlaws with pile
(12:58):
on the rails. He railed means shoot at the passengers
while the express car was being dynamited. Traveling by train
in those days was hell on wheels. Only the Pinkertons,
with their network of operatives, were equipped to fight off
the bandit, buccaneers and murderers. I'll be back shortly with
that too. Even before the Iron Horse started rolling the
(13:27):
rails across country, the Pinkertons chased and captured desperadoes and
stagecoach bandits.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Before there was even.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
A thought of a federal Bureau of Investigation. The Pinkertons
were the only law enforcement agency of any size who
could get any results. Allan Pinkerton, who founded the agency
in eighteen fifty, set a pace and a practice never
forgotten by his two sons, William and Robert. In the
early days, the Pinkertons pursued lawbreakers on horseback. Now they
(13:54):
were tracking and trailing by telephone. Hello, Hello, Robert, Bob?
Are you there is that you?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Billy?
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah? Allows everything in Denver?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Busy?
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Hey?
Speaker 2 (14:08):
We got five inches of snow here?
Speaker 1 (14:10):
You got twelve? Where I am?
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Where's that you?
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Lucky bumb Morris, Illinois. The Rock Island was robbed at
twenty two thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
With you on the train, Billy? Oh, what kind of
bigger than? Are you?
Speaker 1 (14:23):
All right? Bob? Not cut that out. You know very well.
We try to apprehend robbers, not anticipate them. Any clues
pan on too many. There were two robbers, according to
a witness the baggage master on the train. One held
them at bay, and the other of us have killed
the messenger and diamite of the safe could have been
more than two.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
What did they use?
Speaker 1 (14:44):
It looks like number four Dino of coarse green dynamite,
I'd say the messenger was shot. I'm having the bullet
removed from the body. Now, see if I can identify it.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Sounds like the wild Bunch they've been hitting all night.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
Butch Cassidy, I'm not so sure. In addition to being shot,
the messenger's collar was smashed in with a polker. That's
not Cassidy style.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
So what have you got to go on, Billy?
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Well, he I witnessed the count and the clues don't
match up. Right here, outside the Morris depot, I found
a black mask a few feet from the express car,
but not one footprint, and I walked the track in
twelve inches of snow. The baggage man claims he was
threatened from the top of the car, but there are
no footprints there either.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Oh that's not a gang. Then say what's your next move? Billy?
Speaker 1 (15:36):
I'm not sure. I need to do a little more talking,
a little more listening. Why do you need me bomb?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Oh, we just got word the mobile in Ohio has
been held up.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
They took the Southern Express Company for twenty thousand dollars,
shut the Express messenger.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
In the chest.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Was it fatal? Hell, I don't know how close to
dead he is, but I'm leaving for Union City to
try and get him to talk before he dies. Will
you enjoin me down there? Where's down there?
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Union City, Tennessee?
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Okay, I will as soon as I can.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Can you be there by Friday?
Speaker 1 (16:07):
I don't know, Barb, I'll try. I'll get there when
I get there. You asked me to come up to
your room, mister Pinkerton. Yeah I did, mister Black. You
don't mind if I call you Harold? Of course? Sure.
Well it's been a couple of days. Any ideas how
it happened? Oh, here, lots of ideas. That's good. Does
(16:30):
that mean I can leave this dump and get myself
back to Chicago and my wife? It certainly does. But
then you're onto something, mister Pinkerton, Well not exactly. Look, Carol,
I don't mind confessing to you that there are quite
a few aspects of this case which do not add up.
You know, I'd even go so far as saying it's
(16:51):
downright mysterious, and well, I'd like you to give me
as much help as you can, whatever assistance I can be.
I want to Nick Kelsey was a good friend, and
I really want to do anything I can to track
down his killer. You know, George Newton, the baggage master,
of course, Georgie very well, indeed, good Harold. I want
(17:13):
you to do a little detective work for me. There
is some suspicion pointing in his direction. I'm releasing you
both so you can get back to Chicago, but I'm
asking Rock Adam to assign you to the home office
in case I need you both, so you won't be
going out on any more runs for a few weeks.
That suits me just fine. My wife will love that,
my working in the roundhouse coming home nights. I just
(17:36):
got married, you know. Yeah. Now, when you're back in Chicago,
I want you to associate as much as you can
with George Newton and get him to talk about the case.
You know, the masked man and the broken ventilator and
the gun pointing out of what time it was and
so on, and each night I want you to call
the Pinke at an office in Chicago and make a
(17:57):
full report of what you've learned that day. I will,
mister Pinkerton, as I said, anything I can do to
bring the assassin to justice. But so far as Georgie goes,
I think there you're barking up the wrong tree.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
And I may bee errold.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Would we have to bark up all the trees? You
do that and we'll see what develops. I won't be
in Chicago, but they'll know you by a code number.
Where are you going to be?
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Right now?
Speaker 1 (18:21):
I've gone about as far as I can go on
this case, So I'm going down to Tennessee on another train. Robbery.
Don't forget now? You call him each night? Oh here,
I mean write down the telephone number for you and
the code you identify yourself with. Keep rowing, Billy, You're
(18:45):
doing great, but to death of these dark sigers, Bob,
how much further is it? Last is landing? I think
we're almost there? They told me it, Hickman. The landing
was just ten miles into this swamp. Rowing after doctor
Tennessee swamp isn't my idea of fun. Believe me, Since
(19:06):
when was the Pinkerton Detective Agency in the amusement business?
To think a week ago, I was looking for footprints
in twelve inches of snow at ten below must be
one hundred and ten degrees. Right now, you're pretty sure
it's the Farrington brothers were looking for absolutely I asked
the Express messenger twice just to make sure I heard right.
(19:30):
Hillary and Levi Farrington. Those were his last words before
he died.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Oh he recognized them all right.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
He'd seen all our flyers and posters on their last
job when they hit the mobile in o Highland, Kentucky.
It's too bad we couldn't go overland to track him.
Could have had a posse with us. Well, we'll have
the element of surprise. That'll help us get the drop
on him. Hey whoop, wait a minute, look a skiff
for the man. And that's so it is sell fishing.
(20:01):
Uh hey there, huh?
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Who that Uh?
Speaker 1 (20:06):
We're looking for Leicester's landing. We can talk more quiet
cat seeking and fishing. What you want to do? Scam
a dinner way? Sorry, we're we're looking for Lester's landing.
Who are you? What do you Yankees doing here? We're
looking at Bob or do you let me out of
the fishing caliber. He'd better if some folks didn't make
(20:29):
so much noise. If I have his Bill Pankton's and
my brother Bob. We're looking for two friends of ours.
We can never find friends. When you want him, I
always see Levi and Hillary Harrington. Maybe you know them Pakington?
Never hear them? Can you see where a Leicester's landing? Hey?
Has that far? Just around? I been there, see Billy?
(20:53):
What I tell you? I don't mix much without the folk,
keep to myself mostly, or.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Just around the men.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
You say, fine, well we'll be moving along, yad, Thank you,
we're good luck boys. Keep powder dry? Hey, I think
you got me by be what I believe this is it?
Let me tie this under the robot to the dock,
which I'll climb out and.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Give you a hand.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Okay, fine, he hard to see. I'm just as glad
there isn't a moon tonight. I don't want to be
spotted before we're ready. Oh that must be the shock
that are And oh small, isn't it? I can see
some shadows around that table with the ladder on. Come on,
let's start crawling up the dock. Keep low, apro what look,
(21:46):
we're after two variants. Who's to say they haven't got
a lot of friends with them.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
I wanna get a little close to me. But we
can hear something over here down by that window.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
It's open, don you stupid? Now, I've been doing this
for years and the way I tell you to make
the night pro soup is the only way. Sure, Sureley,
I always know everything better than anybody else. You shut
up and hear me. Now, Now you take seventy five
sticks of dining on you thaw it out near the store,
and then you crumble it up like saltdust. See for
(22:19):
watch me, now, pour hot water on it and stir slowly. Stupid,
now stir it up? Oh shore, Sure, but that's not
that's nothing. What we make it isn't horrible. Now when
it's smooth, lightly, would you watch me? Now, I squeeze
it through a rag. Now paw the water off the
top and look in there, look in the bottom of
(22:42):
the can. Now that is good, strong suit.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Now why don't you try it my way?
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Come on, when I need to buys on how to
blow us safe, I ll ask for it. Huh. Now, Henry,
I want you to mosey on down to Heckman to
see if you can locate some more dino. Now they've
been blasting the road down. Then now you just help
yourself to as many as sticks as you can. Care now,
do you hear me?
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Boy?
Speaker 1 (23:07):
There he goes, that's Hillary Leevi's brother I'll follow him.
Can you handle Levi and whoever else is in there? Yeah,
I'll just walk in that screen door and played by year.
I can always shout out, pretend we surrounded the place
with a posse. If it looks bad, I'll shoot out
the lands. I better go, believe before I lose brother Hilary,
(23:31):
good luck? Hi? Anyone home? Who's that? Why? I think
I'm lost? I'm looking for Tiptonville Road. Oh oh are
you no? It's around here somewhere.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
How did you get here?
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Stranger? Matter of fact? Road? Oh? You just little old road?
Huhh yeah, And I got the mosquito ice to prove it.
And now what do you say your name was? Well,
I didn't say, Kim, that you fell out telling you
about Levi? Where the old man? I didn't expect to
see you, I Kim, alright, lev said he was friend
of you, and ooh as a friend of mine. Huh.
(24:12):
Now let me hold up this lantern, A little hired
to see him better? Mmm, well, I always like to
wet them, old friend, he know your name, Levi? And
here we said his name was Bill pink Bill pink,
that's Bill Pinkerton. He shut out black I warned you, Farrington,
this is the end of the line. Put on your
guns and put up your hand. Maybe I can't see
(24:34):
you Pankerton, but I can hear you. All right, man Forwarding,
you got a fifty man puzzy outside. I shot Levi.
I'm here. I can't see a cursor a the apartment.
Pinker may want to stay alive. He's ready to give up,
not so long as I have any ammunition. Leverybody help
(24:54):
me have me. I'm hey, you kill the old man,
Levi Farrington, I said, put your brother out of commission.
Will you come quietly from your direly Really? Where are
you here? Anybody was trying to get away? I tackled,
Oh all right, let me like this lantern. Oh, Billy,
you did. Levi's not cold and makes it easier to
(25:18):
snap the handcuffs on him. There's a body over here
on the floor. Hey, isn't that the old man we
ran into fishing? How is he?
Speaker 2 (25:28):
Looks like his fishing days are over?
Speaker 1 (25:31):
He kept the wrong company. You think of his age?
He'd no better. Well that's Hillary Farrington. Oh he's out there,
handcuffed to a tree. My lord, Billy, your shoulders bleeding allows.
Slugs fly around everywhere in the dark. And you got
your corn knife, handy bomb. Sure I do here, give
me the lantern oullholders. Okay, take your knife, Bob and
(25:53):
dig out the slug. Oh this is gonna hurt a
little hell. Don't you worry, Bob. That little old bullet
has done me a big favorite.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Still, what favor sure.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
Helps me to forget those mosquito bites, snow swamps, mountains, forests, trails,
whatever the terrain or the weather, Robert and William Pinkerton
did more to put an end to train robberies than
(26:26):
any other security outfit in the world. The Farrington case closed,
Robert returned to Denver warters. William went back to Chicago.
The case of the Rock Island theft and murder was
yet to be solved. I'll be back shortly with that. Three.
(26:51):
The accomplishments of the Pinkertons ascept the example for all
the law enforcement agencies that have come after. What was
their system? How did they either capture or kill or
gather evidence that put an end to every train or
bank robber? Their secret? Keep moving, never rest, pursue the
criminal on horseback across oceans, never letting up until he
(27:14):
is either dead or behind bars. That with the Pinkerton method, Robert, Bob,
isn't you?
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Of course it is, Billy.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
I can't get used to this telephone invention.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
That's not that new.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Oh. Here I am in Chicago and talking to you,
Bob and Denver like it's in the next room.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
What's the problem, Billy. Well, by the way, how's the shoulder?
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Oh, that's doing fine. Good thing is my left arm.
I don't mind having that bandaged up in a sling.
But Bob, I tell you what I called you about it.
You remember the Rock Allen case and our best witness,
Harold Black, the brakeman.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Yes, I do. What about him?
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Well, I took him into my confidence and had him
do a little detective work, following the baggage master George
Newton and reporting to the office every day while I
was in Kinna see with you. I also had our
operators follow the both of them. Now, I've been going
over what our man says about Newton's movements and comparing
them with Harold Black's reports, and they just don't jibe.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Say that again, Billy, I don't think I caught that well.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
I said the reports phoned in by the brakeman are
all made up. They're all lies. The places Newton is
supposed to have gone to and so on.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
You know, i'd say, from here, looks like they're in
this thing together.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Sure, it looks like it anyway, Bob. The reason I
put through this call to you is that Harold Black
has asked for leave of absence from the Rock Island.
I told the General Superintendent to grant it, and Black
is starting west with his new wife. Keep him under surveillance,
will you, Bob. Mister and missus Harold Black is how
(28:56):
we mark the tags on our luggage. It was really
like a honey moon, and Elizabeth and I were sure
looking forward to it. Elizabeth wanted us first to go
to Niagara Falls, but I said, let's head west first
on the way home and make a side trip to
the falls. Went into Romantic that way, So off we
(29:17):
went westward. Everything we saw everywhere we went, we had
ourselves a great old time, and be course, we had
money to spend. Command, Command, mister Newton, mister Pinker, I'm
glad to see you again. You've been away from Chicago.
In another case, yes I have. I asked him to
(29:41):
stop buy, mister Newton. No, by the way, you don't
mind if I call you George? Sure, not at all, George.
I thought i'd like you to tell me again just
what you remember. Hey, well, I'm glad to mister Pinkerton.
It's freight in my mind, like that awful morning when
I last saw you. But I guess things like that
happened every day in your life. It's not for me.
(30:02):
I like quiet life. I've been keeping track of your
quiet life, George, keeping track of me. Do you mean
I'm afraid I do? I had you followed, yes, George, Well,
i'll be.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Am.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
I under suspicion. In a case like this, everyone is suspect.
It's a little warm on here. I don't know why
to keep these offices so hot. I've asked them not to,
do you know, I don't mind. Why don't you take
your overcoat off? Huh no, no, no, I won't bother it.
Don't expect to be with you that long as yours
not too hot or oh no, no no oh, And
now you want me to remember it all over again.
(30:40):
Huh well, all right, here goes. As I told you
two weeks ago, I was moving boxes in the baggage car.
And well, I say it happened between the time we
left Juliet and stopped at Morris. Now there was this noise,
that broken glass. Well I looked up and I saw
the ventilator that had been smashed. And at that moment,
(31:00):
a man with a black mask over the lower part
of his face came into the car and said, if
you dare move an inch, that man up there will
blow your brains out. Well I looked up and the
muzzle of a pistol was pointed right at me through
the broken ventilator. The man with the mask left. When
we pulled in the mars. I looked up again, and
(31:22):
the hand holding the pistol was gone. And well, it's say,
you know, that's what I remember, mister Pinker. Mm hm
word for word, What do you mean? That's just the
way you told it to me last time? Word for word?
He is that suspicious? Well, let's say it isn't usual, George.
Are you sure you'd always take your coat off? As
(31:44):
I say, this office has always been overheated, all right,
So sure, And it'd be easier if you'd first take
off your gloves, wouldn't it. Well, my goodness, whatever happened
to your hands. They're pretty scratched up, weren't they. But
that's the nature of my job. What is here, I'll
(32:05):
hang your coat up, and handling baggage is rough on him.
You know, I thought the rock aland gave you a
desk job. Sin should get back here to Chicago. Yeah
they did. Uh de scratches, Well, i'd see they happened
a month ago. Takes a long time to heal, doesn't it.
He Uh may, I asked mister Pinkerton when your man
(32:27):
followed me? I mean Blactually you were followed by two men.
One was our pinket and operative, and the other was
a friend of yours. Oh do you like to see
his reports? A friend of mine?
Speaker 2 (32:40):
Be your kidding?
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Well, he said he was here. Have a look at
his reports. Reporter and George Newton by Harold Black. Harold,
you don't actually certainly do me? And your hand is
one week of reports, including Sunday where you went? What
you did? What you do talk about? I don't believe it?
(33:02):
Why is that thirty two timing? Big? A mistake of
miss Harold blythe Oh yeah, you didn't know about your spy,
did you? So? He too timedy, just like he's too
timed his own wife. Oh yeah, he's got a wife
in Philadelphia and two children deserved him last year. So
Elizabeth is not Harold's wife. Oh no, No, she thinks
she is, but did not know. She's a nice girl.
She's too nice for him. That's what makes me so durned. Man.
(33:25):
Oh well, well, the things that finally come to line.
So frankly, if I were you, mister Pickerton, I take
Harold's reports about me with a green assault. Well, I'll
most assuredly bear that in mind. All right, George, I
won't keep you any longer today. You mean I can
go now? Yes? Oh and George, you should have those
(33:48):
hands looked at. You wouldn't want to get an infection.
It was just bad luck. I should have waited a
little longer before flashing those fifties and hundreds, But the
feel of having big money was just too much for me,
I guess. And sweet Elizabeth, Oh, she was having the
(34:11):
time of her life. Oh, Maha, Tulsa, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Las Vegas,
and then California, seeing all the sights, theaters, shows, restaurants
we had ourselves at time. There was sheer luck that
day in San Francisco, that she was upstairs in the
hotel room resting. I was alone downstairs in the bar
(34:36):
when I felt a hand on my shoulder, Harold Black. Yes,
who are you? Robert Piketon? I believe you've made the
acquaintance of my brother William. Oh, I certainly have wonderful
fella enjoying yourself. You bet, My wife and I have
never been to San Francisco before. Oh, I thought your
(34:57):
wife was in Philadelphia. What don't make a fuss. Have
you paid for your drink?
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Yes, then finish it quietly, take your head and coat
and come with me.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
But I haven't done anything. This is my vacation.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
It's as far from Philadelphi as you're going to get.
Mister Black, come along.
Speaker 1 (35:18):
But what's the charge?
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Pigure me?
Speaker 1 (35:25):
Who told you?
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Your friend? George Newton told us George, and we checked
it out and found your real wife.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
And those are two fine children you left behind you,
mister Pinckerton. Did George say anything else about me? Well, yes,
a few things. Finish up your drink, mister Black, let's go.
Pinkerton turned me over to the police, who escorted me
back to Chicago. I told Elizabeth to stay in San
(35:53):
Francisco and not to worry. I'd be back, I said,
I got me a good lawyer and with two thousand
dollars cash bail. I was a freeman again for just
about one hour. Then I was rearrested, charged with murder.
That was bad, very bad, Billy.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
I'm still in San Francisco with it. Well, I guess
you'd call her the second missus Black Elizabeth.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
Oh any prodcasts bardon.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
I had a little talk with her, and I think
she trusts me. I told her I would try to
help her. She's really too nice a girl to be
involved with this herald character. Anyway. She has an explanation
where Harold got the money he's been throwing around.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
I'd like to hear it.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
She says he found it under a seat in one
of the passenger cars.
Speaker 1 (36:44):
Founded.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
Well, that's what he told her.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
Billy. I'm mailing you all the money she had in
their luggage, so you can check the serial numbers against
the US Express records. I thank you, Bob. I'll take
it from there.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Good luck. Say any news on your end.
Speaker 1 (36:58):
Well, we got a medic report that says they discovered
human skin underneath the fingernails of the deceased. Looks like
to save his life, he scratched someone pretty bad. The
trouble was, I didn't know how much the Pinkertons knew.
(37:19):
I didn't know how much Elizabeth knew or had told them.
Worst of all, I couldn't be sure of Georgie. Was
he and cahoots with the Pinkertons? I didn't know, But
I didn't think so, because if he started to sing,
he must be aware I know the same tomb. If
he read it on me, I sure wasn't going to
take the rap alone. Harold, you've got a visitor, George Newton, Hi, Harold,
(37:46):
and I'll leave you too. I've got some business with
the chief of police. Well locking me in here? Uh?
He don't trust this? Should they, Georgie? Should anyone? What
do you mean? Hell? All I'm asking is are you
to be trusted?
Speaker 2 (38:02):
What a question?
Speaker 1 (38:03):
Of course? I am? I am your friend? Are you
a Georgie? Who was it who told the Pinkertons I
had a wife in Philadelphia? Would a friend say that?
Speaker 2 (38:13):
Now?
Speaker 1 (38:14):
Hold up, now, if you're talking about friendship, would a
friend peach on me? Huh? Give reports to the Pinkertons
about where I went and what we talked about. Your
stupid fool. I didn't tell him a thing, made it
all up. They wanted information on you, so I pretended
to go along with them to take the heat off.
Not so loud, I listen. I asked to see you,
(38:34):
saying I wanted to straighten things out with your wife
in Philadelphia. Now Pinkerton's onto something. He saw these hands see.
I don't know if he believed that I got it
handling baggage or not. But why he didn't believe me,
That's what I want to know. Why is he suspicious?
That's your problem, Georgie. I don't want to talk to you.
(38:57):
I'm the one charge with murder. You're out there free.
I am not going to say anything. You'd better not.
You better not threaten me. The whole thing was your idea.
It was wasn't Is that what you're going to tell
a Pinkerson's. I don't play footsie with them or send
them reports like some people I know. Fool yourself, Georgie
with this. It was all my idea of business. If
(39:19):
I go, you go. You're the one who shot Nick.
He was already dead when I hit him with that poker,
kept crazy. I got Hiven the shoulder. The gun went
off because he was fighting like a tiger, clawing at me.
I wasn't going to kill him. Now, you're the one
who panicked when you when your mask fellows and your thoughts,
you recognized you, so you smashed your scold that poker. Hell,
we'll let me out here. The man prians crazy along
(39:41):
the trouble. You get me out of here. Mister pinker
You're a liar, that's what you are, DoD liar, all right.
Not take it easy, Harold. Okay, George, let's move on.
Am I glad you were handy. That man's wild beat Rs.
Newton is just as guilty as anyone. Don't let him
get away because it's too bad. Harold's gone off his head.
(40:01):
Let me see George, both of them. Hey, mister pinkard,
what you put in handcuffs on me for? Only for
a few minutes, George, until we can book you and
find an empty cell for you. You were listening voices
Garry and the chief of police and I were right
there in the next cell. George Newton, you're under arrest.
(40:26):
George's murder. Every dollar from the train robbery, except what
Harold and Elizabeth had spent on their wild vacation was recovered.
Their marriage, of course, was invalid. Both Harold Black and
George Newton stood trial for the Rock Island robbery and
(40:46):
the murder of the express messenger Nicholas Kelsey. I shall
return shortly to report to you. The trial of the
two Rock Island Railroad robbers was a quick one One juryman, however,
(41:07):
did not believe in capital punishment, so they were sent
to the penitentiary for life. Over the years, the Pinkertons
never boasted of their achievements. When asked, all they would
say was it's all in the day's work. Diligence, doggedness,
studying character, knowing your man. That was their day's work.
(41:28):
That was the Pinkerton method. Our cast included Ian Martin,
Lloyd Batista, Nat Poland and Earl Hammond. The entire production
was under the direction of Hymon Brown.
Come in, Welcome. I'm a g. Marshall Today. A story
from the files of the world renowned Pinkerton National Detective Agency,
the first law enforcement agency doing detective in police work
in the United States. It was founded by Allan Pinkerton
in eighteen fifty and carried on by his sons, William
(00:37):
and Robert. Such was their reputation that it has been said,
had they been guarding President Lincoln that night at Ford's Theater,
Lincoln would never have been assassinated. But today we pull
the files marked train robberies. Tell me again, mister Newton,
what you remember of the robbery of the rock Allen train. Oh,
(00:57):
I'm glad to mister Pinkerton. They see the Pinkertons always
get their man. Oh, we try to. I'll be frank
with you, mister Newton. We have been keeping track of you,
keeping track of me. You mean you mean you've been
having me followed. I'm afraid I do well. I'll am
I under suspicion. In a case like this, everyone is suspect.
(01:29):
Our mystery drama, the Pinkerton method was dramatized from the
files of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, especially for mystery theater
by James Aggott Junior and stars Ian Martin and Lloyd Batista.
(01:51):
Crime was an everyday national threat in every American city
from the Civil War to World War One. In New York, Baltimore, Chicago,
and Boston, people were afraid to walk the city streets
after dusk. Citizens would be robbed or they'd completely disappear.
Gunmen fought daily battles right in the open streets. One
(02:12):
of the most lucrative forms of crime was a train robbery,
and the only law enforcement agency able to stem the
tide of lawlessness were the Pinkertons. But who can tell
this story better than someone who is there. Harold Black
is the name that makes sense for me to give
(02:32):
you the facts about the Rock Island train robbery, because
I'm pretty much the only person who knows what happened.
I was a brakeman on the Night Express running out
of Chicago that wintery March night, with snow everywhere. I
walked into the express car right behind the locomotives. Hell, hell,
(02:53):
we are scheduled. As far as I know, ally is
nice and warm in here. What are you doing? Oh,
you're usual making sure the twenty two thousand dollars are
all account is bo You got that much in the safe,
A dollar on and a dollar less. You're a lucky stiff, Nick.
Being an express messenger is such an easy job. Sitting
here doing paperwork at a desk in the express car
(03:17):
a freely envy you four hours a matter of fact,
wear a collar, a shirt and the tie in this job.
Look at me, dirty overalls, my hands all banged up,
greasy from oil, can hang nails dirty. Fifteen years nowhere
to go. It's too long, Nick. Nobody on the line
appreciates how hard a breakman has to work.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
I can't told you.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Before, Harold. I'll put it a good word for you
with a chief up us Express. If you like he's
an old pair of man, maybe you can use an
extra messenger. Eh. Besides, we messengers don't do too bad
when it comes to salary. Oh, rub it in and
you could learn to work, Harold, it's easy. I think
this time I'll take you up on that. Could use
(04:00):
the money with a new wife and everything. Will you
ask him? Okay, it's the promise. When we get back
from New York, I'll talk to the chief. Of course,
your job's a little more dangerous than mine. Huh, oh
you mean train robbers. I guess I've been lucky so far.
I mean, say one of the gangs knew you had
twenty two thousand, and that's safe. They could get a
(04:23):
board anywhere after Juliet. Hey, what do we do to
arrive here half an hour? Pick up the mail, and
then our next stop is Marris? H Morris and as
I've been there with a dead town and I don't
have me the poker, will he fires get more? I
want to give the store a stirt he are, thank you? Well,
I better be heading back. Nick, do my train rounds
(04:44):
and say, oh the George Newton for me? Will you?
He's on this run in the baggage guy, isn't he
If he isn't asleep, he's supposed to sort all the
baggage before we hit Marris. I'll bet anything all he's
doing is snory. Well wake him and tell him I
said to get visited. I don't want to be hanging
around Pennsylvania station. Room you get in? Oh gee, I
forgot to ask you, Harold, what what's your wife's name? Elizabeth? Yeah, yeah, Elizabeth.
(05:06):
That's a sweet name. I'll bet she's just as sweet
ash she sounds oh o kidding. I'll try to see
if I can get you that job with us Express.
I won't be surprised, but you'd make double the money.
I'm all for that. I made the rounds ten cars,
(05:26):
baggage car included the length of the train and back.
We pulled into Marris and took on water for the engine.
George Newton the baggage master, and I opened the express
car door. I'll go first. What's the hurry, George, Well,
I've got to be sure it. Oh lord, no, huh
(05:47):
here hell look yeah, this is terrible. Look better. I'd
better get the Pinkerton man. He's in the third car.
Safety blown open. Don't touch anything. If there was twenty
two I was in there once. It's sure ain't in
there now. Looked at all that blood. I was afraid
of this herald. I'm scared. What do you mean? I
(06:10):
can't take time to explain. I'm going back for the
Pinkerton man, and don't touch anything. My name is William Pinkerton.
I told the baggage man was his nameton George Newton? Yes,
I asked him to wait in his car for me.
I thought i'd speak to you first. You were the
Harold Black, I'm the brakeman. And the name of the
(06:33):
deceased the express messenger, Nicholas Kelsey, Nicholas Kelsey. And what
was the last time he was, honest? Kelsey alive? Not
an hour ago? We were half an hour out of Joliet.
I see he was alive when you left him, mister Pinkin.
In the course he was, I swear it, good lord.
He was even going to put in a good word
(06:54):
for me with his chief, so I could perhaps get
a job with us Express. Oh why would he do that? Well,
I just got married. And it's no secret, but a
brakeman on the Chicago and Rock Island didn't make much money.
I see. Gang of train robbers must have come aboard
after we left Joliet and killed him. And you heard nothing,
no shots, nothing. I was probably as far back as
(07:17):
the last car. How much was in that safe, mister Black,
don't you know? Well? Sure I know? Nick told me
twenty two thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I see, all right?
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Will you ask mister Newton to john us Georgie George,
mister Pinkerton wants to talk to you. I'm George Newton,
mister Pinkerton, I think I told you, Oh lord, this
car is a miss and looks like Nick put up
an awful fight. And what can you tell us, mister Newton. Well,
(07:50):
the way I figured it, it must have happened between
the time the train left Juliet and when we stopped
here in Morris. There was this noise of broken glass,
and I, well, I looked up and I saw the
ventilator on the side of the baggage car was smashed. Well, now,
at that moment, a man with a black mask over
the lower part of his face came into the car.
(08:12):
Why didn't you call for help, Georgie, I couldn't have
been far away. Well, the mask man said that if
you dare move an inch, that man up there will
blow your brains out where. Well, well, there wasn't a
man exactly, mister Pinkerton. It was a hand, a man's
hand pushed through the broken ventilator, and the muscle of
a pistol pointed right at me. Then what did you do? Nothing? Really,
(08:36):
I just tried to keep breathing. I was rooted to
the spot. Well, the man in the mask left my
baggage car and went through to the express car. How
you must have felt I was in agony, believe me,
mister Pinkerton, but I daren't give the alarm. You know
that that gun was aimed right at my head. Well
then finally, I guess when we pulled into Morse, I
(08:58):
looked up in the ventilator and the hand was gone,
And just then Harold came in and we went right
into the express car and the rest. You know, mister Pinkerton,
do you have any idea how Nick was killed? Looks
like a pistol one on the right shoulder than every
others I had ones. I can't say what made those
(09:21):
pistol whipping? Maybe, Oh terrible mis A Newton. Are you
sure you didn't hear any gunshots? Well, I couldn't swear
I didn't. You know, the train makes pretty much of
a racket going fifty. I was, well, I don't know
what I was with that gun pointed at me. I
don't know how many there were, but I knew they
were after the money. You didn't hear them blow out
(09:42):
the safe, and I wish I hadn't. I mean, I
wish I could say I did. How much was in it?
Twenty two thousand? You know you're guessing? Oh no, no,
I'm just kissing. No one's touched anything in this car
so far as you know. When George was getting you,
mister Pinkett and I stood right there. No one came
in here, And I think I've found what they beat
(10:04):
him with. What back here in the corner, the stove poker? Yeah,
it appears to be blood on it. All right, you
gentlemen can return to your duties for a moment. Tell
the engineer I'm impounding his express car. Have him uncouple
and move it to a siding right here at the station,
and then he can take the rest of the train
(10:25):
onto New York. You mean George and I can go
along with the train. No, I don't mean that. I'm
going to need both of you to help me. I
believe there's a hotel in town. Oh, yes, I can
see one from here. I'll make that my headquarters. If
the telegrapher is still up, have him wire Chicago to
have the Rock Island put you both up at that
(10:45):
hotel until I give the word. George and I got
rooms at the Delaney right on Thompson Street. I had
to telegraph operator wire Chicago what had happened, and somebody
had better notify Nick's wife, missus Kelsey. I had him
(11:07):
also get a message to Elizabeth it had been a
delay on the run, not to worry about me, that
I was all right. Here, She goes, it seems funny
to be standing here in the window of this hotel
watching our train pull out, and we've got to stay here. Listen,
so long as the Rock Island pays me my wages.
(11:27):
I don't care where I am. I wish Elizabeth was here.
She loves hotels. You know, when we left Chicago and
I was talking to Nick, you know, he said, this
town of Marris is a dump. But dead time, he said,
let's not talk about Nick, okay, And I wonder it.
What were you going to say, Harold, you wonder what? Oh? Nothing,
(11:50):
I guess, just wondering why mister Pinketon was so insistent
on our staying here. And I don't know, I don't
like seeing that express are in the sighting right from
this window and knowing what's in it. Well, we've told
mister Pinkert and all we knew. Well, you know, it
could have been any of half a dozen gangs that
the Youngers, Jameson's, Dalton's and McCoy's Georgie, you really know
(12:14):
your train robbers. I read the newspaper a lot, but
it could have been Oh sure, could have been any
of them. What time is it, Harold, eight o'clock. We've
been up all night. Yeah, I'm beginning to feel all this.
I'd say we're entitled to the best breakfast that the
lady can come up with. Let's go on downstairs and
(12:36):
have us one agreed. After what we've been through, the
best breakfast is none too good for us. From the
eighteen seventies on, there was hardly an American train going
anywhere that was not rocked bands of outlaws with pile
(12:58):
on the rails. He railed means shoot at the passengers
while the express car was being dynamited. Traveling by train
in those days was hell on wheels. Only the Pinkertons,
with their network of operatives, were equipped to fight off
the bandit, buccaneers and murderers. I'll be back shortly with
that too. Even before the Iron Horse started rolling the
(13:27):
rails across country, the Pinkertons chased and captured desperadoes and
stagecoach bandits.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Before there was even.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
A thought of a federal Bureau of Investigation. The Pinkertons
were the only law enforcement agency of any size who
could get any results. Allan Pinkerton, who founded the agency
in eighteen fifty, set a pace and a practice never
forgotten by his two sons, William and Robert. In the
early days, the Pinkertons pursued lawbreakers on horseback. Now they
(13:54):
were tracking and trailing by telephone. Hello, Hello, Robert, Bob?
Are you there is that you?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Billy?
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah? Allows everything in Denver?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Busy?
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Hey?
Speaker 2 (14:08):
We got five inches of snow here?
Speaker 1 (14:10):
You got twelve? Where I am?
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Where's that you?
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Lucky bumb Morris, Illinois. The Rock Island was robbed at
twenty two thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
With you on the train, Billy? Oh, what kind of
bigger than? Are you?
Speaker 1 (14:23):
All right? Bob? Not cut that out. You know very well.
We try to apprehend robbers, not anticipate them. Any clues
pan on too many. There were two robbers, according to
a witness the baggage master on the train. One held
them at bay, and the other of us have killed
the messenger and diamite of the safe could have been
more than two.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
What did they use?
Speaker 1 (14:44):
It looks like number four Dino of coarse green dynamite,
I'd say the messenger was shot. I'm having the bullet
removed from the body. Now, see if I can identify it.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Sounds like the wild Bunch they've been hitting all night.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
Butch Cassidy, I'm not so sure. In addition to being shot,
the messenger's collar was smashed in with a polker. That's
not Cassidy style.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
So what have you got to go on, Billy?
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Well, he I witnessed the count and the clues don't
match up. Right here, outside the Morris depot, I found
a black mask a few feet from the express car,
but not one footprint, and I walked the track in
twelve inches of snow. The baggage man claims he was
threatened from the top of the car, but there are
no footprints there either.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Oh that's not a gang. Then say what's your next move? Billy?
Speaker 1 (15:36):
I'm not sure. I need to do a little more talking,
a little more listening. Why do you need me bomb?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Oh, we just got word the mobile in Ohio has
been held up.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
They took the Southern Express Company for twenty thousand dollars,
shut the Express messenger.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
In the chest.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Was it fatal? Hell, I don't know how close to
dead he is, but I'm leaving for Union City to
try and get him to talk before he dies. Will
you enjoin me down there? Where's down there?
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Union City, Tennessee?
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Okay, I will as soon as I can.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Can you be there by Friday?
Speaker 1 (16:07):
I don't know, Barb, I'll try. I'll get there when
I get there. You asked me to come up to
your room, mister Pinkerton. Yeah I did, mister Black. You
don't mind if I call you Harold? Of course? Sure.
Well it's been a couple of days. Any ideas how
it happened? Oh, here, lots of ideas. That's good. Does
(16:30):
that mean I can leave this dump and get myself
back to Chicago and my wife? It certainly does. But
then you're onto something, mister Pinkerton, Well not exactly. Look, Carol,
I don't mind confessing to you that there are quite
a few aspects of this case which do not add up.
You know, I'd even go so far as saying it's
(16:51):
downright mysterious, and well, I'd like you to give me
as much help as you can, whatever assistance I can be.
I want to Nick Kelsey was a good friend, and
I really want to do anything I can to track
down his killer. You know, George Newton, the baggage master,
of course, Georgie very well, indeed, good Harold. I want
(17:13):
you to do a little detective work for me. There
is some suspicion pointing in his direction. I'm releasing you
both so you can get back to Chicago, but I'm
asking Rock Adam to assign you to the home office
in case I need you both, so you won't be
going out on any more runs for a few weeks.
That suits me just fine. My wife will love that,
my working in the roundhouse coming home nights. I just
(17:36):
got married, you know. Yeah. Now, when you're back in Chicago,
I want you to associate as much as you can
with George Newton and get him to talk about the case.
You know, the masked man and the broken ventilator and
the gun pointing out of what time it was and
so on, and each night I want you to call
the Pinke at an office in Chicago and make a
(17:57):
full report of what you've learned that day. I will,
mister Pinkerton, as I said, anything I can do to
bring the assassin to justice. But so far as Georgie goes,
I think there you're barking up the wrong tree.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
And I may bee errold.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Would we have to bark up all the trees? You
do that and we'll see what develops. I won't be
in Chicago, but they'll know you by a code number.
Where are you going to be?
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Right now?
Speaker 1 (18:21):
I've gone about as far as I can go on
this case, So I'm going down to Tennessee on another train. Robbery.
Don't forget now? You call him each night? Oh here,
I mean write down the telephone number for you and
the code you identify yourself with. Keep rowing, Billy, You're
(18:45):
doing great, but to death of these dark sigers, Bob,
how much further is it? Last is landing? I think
we're almost there? They told me it, Hickman. The landing
was just ten miles into this swamp. Rowing after doctor
Tennessee swamp isn't my idea of fun. Believe me, Since
(19:06):
when was the Pinkerton Detective Agency in the amusement business?
To think a week ago, I was looking for footprints
in twelve inches of snow at ten below must be
one hundred and ten degrees. Right now, you're pretty sure
it's the Farrington brothers were looking for absolutely I asked
the Express messenger twice just to make sure I heard right.
(19:30):
Hillary and Levi Farrington. Those were his last words before
he died.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Oh he recognized them all right.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
He'd seen all our flyers and posters on their last
job when they hit the mobile in o Highland, Kentucky.
It's too bad we couldn't go overland to track him.
Could have had a posse with us. Well, we'll have
the element of surprise. That'll help us get the drop
on him. Hey whoop, wait a minute, look a skiff
for the man. And that's so it is sell fishing.
(20:01):
Uh hey there, huh?
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Who that Uh?
Speaker 1 (20:06):
We're looking for Leicester's landing. We can talk more quiet
cat seeking and fishing. What you want to do? Scam
a dinner way? Sorry, we're we're looking for Lester's landing.
Who are you? What do you Yankees doing here? We're
looking at Bob or do you let me out of
the fishing caliber. He'd better if some folks didn't make
(20:29):
so much noise. If I have his Bill Pankton's and
my brother Bob. We're looking for two friends of ours.
We can never find friends. When you want him, I
always see Levi and Hillary Harrington. Maybe you know them Pakington?
Never hear them? Can you see where a Leicester's landing? Hey?
Has that far? Just around? I been there, see Billy?
(20:53):
What I tell you? I don't mix much without the folk,
keep to myself mostly, or.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Just around the men.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
You say, fine, well we'll be moving along, yad, Thank you,
we're good luck boys. Keep powder dry? Hey, I think
you got me by be what I believe this is it?
Let me tie this under the robot to the dock,
which I'll climb out and.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Give you a hand.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Okay, fine, he hard to see. I'm just as glad
there isn't a moon tonight. I don't want to be
spotted before we're ready. Oh that must be the shock
that are And oh small, isn't it? I can see
some shadows around that table with the ladder on. Come on,
let's start crawling up the dock. Keep low, apro what look,
(21:46):
we're after two variants. Who's to say they haven't got
a lot of friends with them.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
I wanna get a little close to me. But we
can hear something over here down by that window.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
It's open, don you stupid? Now, I've been doing this
for years and the way I tell you to make
the night pro soup is the only way. Sure, Sureley,
I always know everything better than anybody else. You shut
up and hear me. Now, Now you take seventy five
sticks of dining on you thaw it out near the store,
and then you crumble it up like saltdust. See for
(22:19):
watch me, now, pour hot water on it and stir slowly. Stupid,
now stir it up? Oh shore, Sure, but that's not
that's nothing. What we make it isn't horrible. Now when
it's smooth, lightly, would you watch me? Now, I squeeze
it through a rag. Now paw the water off the
top and look in there, look in the bottom of
(22:42):
the can. Now that is good, strong suit.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Now why don't you try it my way?
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Come on, when I need to buys on how to
blow us safe, I ll ask for it. Huh. Now, Henry,
I want you to mosey on down to Heckman to
see if you can locate some more dino. Now they've
been blasting the road down. Then now you just help
yourself to as many as sticks as you can. Care now,
do you hear me?
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Boy?
Speaker 1 (23:07):
There he goes, that's Hillary Leevi's brother I'll follow him.
Can you handle Levi and whoever else is in there? Yeah,
I'll just walk in that screen door and played by year.
I can always shout out, pretend we surrounded the place
with a posse. If it looks bad, I'll shoot out
the lands. I better go, believe before I lose brother Hilary,
(23:31):
good luck? Hi? Anyone home? Who's that? Why? I think
I'm lost? I'm looking for Tiptonville Road. Oh oh are
you no? It's around here somewhere.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
How did you get here?
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Stranger? Matter of fact? Road? Oh? You just little old road?
Huhh yeah, And I got the mosquito ice to prove it.
And now what do you say your name was? Well,
I didn't say, Kim, that you fell out telling you
about Levi? Where the old man? I didn't expect to
see you, I Kim, alright, lev said he was friend
of you, and ooh as a friend of mine. Huh.
(24:12):
Now let me hold up this lantern, A little hired
to see him better? Mmm, well, I always like to
wet them, old friend, he know your name, Levi? And
here we said his name was Bill pink Bill pink,
that's Bill Pinkerton. He shut out black I warned you, Farrington,
this is the end of the line. Put on your
guns and put up your hand. Maybe I can't see
(24:34):
you Pankerton, but I can hear you. All right, man Forwarding,
you got a fifty man puzzy outside. I shot Levi.
I'm here. I can't see a cursor a the apartment.
Pinker may want to stay alive. He's ready to give up,
not so long as I have any ammunition. Leverybody help
(24:54):
me have me. I'm hey, you kill the old man,
Levi Farrington, I said, put your brother out of commission.
Will you come quietly from your direly Really? Where are
you here? Anybody was trying to get away? I tackled,
Oh all right, let me like this lantern. Oh, Billy,
you did. Levi's not cold and makes it easier to
(25:18):
snap the handcuffs on him. There's a body over here
on the floor. Hey, isn't that the old man we
ran into fishing? How is he?
Speaker 2 (25:28):
Looks like his fishing days are over?
Speaker 1 (25:31):
He kept the wrong company. You think of his age?
He'd no better. Well that's Hillary Farrington. Oh he's out there,
handcuffed to a tree. My lord, Billy, your shoulders bleeding allows.
Slugs fly around everywhere in the dark. And you got
your corn knife, handy bomb. Sure I do here, give
me the lantern oullholders. Okay, take your knife, Bob and
(25:53):
dig out the slug. Oh this is gonna hurt a
little hell. Don't you worry, Bob. That little old bullet
has done me a big favorite.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Still, what favor sure.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
Helps me to forget those mosquito bites, snow swamps, mountains, forests, trails,
whatever the terrain or the weather, Robert and William Pinkerton
did more to put an end to train robberies than
(26:26):
any other security outfit in the world. The Farrington case closed,
Robert returned to Denver warters. William went back to Chicago.
The case of the Rock Island theft and murder was
yet to be solved. I'll be back shortly with that. Three.
(26:51):
The accomplishments of the Pinkertons ascept the example for all
the law enforcement agencies that have come after. What was
their system? How did they either capture or kill or
gather evidence that put an end to every train or
bank robber? Their secret? Keep moving, never rest, pursue the
criminal on horseback across oceans, never letting up until he
(27:14):
is either dead or behind bars. That with the Pinkerton method, Robert, Bob,
isn't you?
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Of course it is, Billy.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
I can't get used to this telephone invention.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
That's not that new.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Oh. Here I am in Chicago and talking to you,
Bob and Denver like it's in the next room.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
What's the problem, Billy. Well, by the way, how's the shoulder?
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Oh, that's doing fine. Good thing is my left arm.
I don't mind having that bandaged up in a sling.
But Bob, I tell you what I called you about it.
You remember the Rock Allen case and our best witness,
Harold Black, the brakeman.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Yes, I do. What about him?
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Well, I took him into my confidence and had him
do a little detective work, following the baggage master George
Newton and reporting to the office every day while I
was in Kinna see with you. I also had our
operators follow the both of them. Now, I've been going
over what our man says about Newton's movements and comparing
them with Harold Black's reports, and they just don't jibe.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Say that again, Billy, I don't think I caught that well.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
I said the reports phoned in by the brakeman are
all made up. They're all lies. The places Newton is
supposed to have gone to and so on.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
You know, i'd say, from here, looks like they're in
this thing together.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Sure, it looks like it anyway, Bob. The reason I
put through this call to you is that Harold Black
has asked for leave of absence from the Rock Island.
I told the General Superintendent to grant it, and Black
is starting west with his new wife. Keep him under surveillance,
will you, Bob. Mister and missus Harold Black is how
(28:56):
we mark the tags on our luggage. It was really
like a honey moon, and Elizabeth and I were sure
looking forward to it. Elizabeth wanted us first to go
to Niagara Falls, but I said, let's head west first
on the way home and make a side trip to
the falls. Went into Romantic that way, So off we
(29:17):
went westward. Everything we saw everywhere we went, we had
ourselves a great old time, and be course, we had
money to spend. Command, Command, mister Newton, mister Pinker, I'm
glad to see you again. You've been away from Chicago.
In another case, yes I have. I asked him to
(29:41):
stop buy, mister Newton. No, by the way, you don't
mind if I call you George? Sure, not at all, George.
I thought i'd like you to tell me again just
what you remember. Hey, well, I'm glad to mister Pinkerton.
It's freight in my mind, like that awful morning when
I last saw you. But I guess things like that
happened every day in your life. It's not for me.
(30:02):
I like quiet life. I've been keeping track of your
quiet life, George, keeping track of me. Do you mean
I'm afraid I do? I had you followed, yes, George, Well,
i'll be.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Am.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
I under suspicion. In a case like this, everyone is suspect.
It's a little warm on here. I don't know why
to keep these offices so hot. I've asked them not to,
do you know, I don't mind. Why don't you take
your overcoat off? Huh no, no, no, I won't bother it.
Don't expect to be with you that long as yours
not too hot or oh no, no no oh, And
now you want me to remember it all over again.
(30:40):
Huh well, all right, here goes. As I told you
two weeks ago, I was moving boxes in the baggage car.
And well, I say it happened between the time we
left Juliet and stopped at Morris. Now there was this noise,
that broken glass. Well I looked up and I saw
the ventilator that had been smashed. And at that moment,
(31:00):
a man with a black mask over the lower part
of his face came into the car and said, if
you dare move an inch, that man up there will
blow your brains out. Well I looked up and the
muzzle of a pistol was pointed right at me through
the broken ventilator. The man with the mask left. When
we pulled in the mars. I looked up again, and
(31:22):
the hand holding the pistol was gone. And well, it's say,
you know, that's what I remember, mister Pinker. Mm hm
word for word, What do you mean? That's just the
way you told it to me last time? Word for word?
He is that suspicious? Well, let's say it isn't usual, George.
Are you sure you'd always take your coat off? As
(31:44):
I say, this office has always been overheated, all right,
So sure, And it'd be easier if you'd first take
off your gloves, wouldn't it. Well, my goodness, whatever happened
to your hands. They're pretty scratched up, weren't they. But
that's the nature of my job. What is here, I'll
(32:05):
hang your coat up, and handling baggage is rough on him.
You know, I thought the rock aland gave you a
desk job. Sin should get back here to Chicago. Yeah
they did. Uh de scratches, Well, i'd see they happened
a month ago. Takes a long time to heal, doesn't it.
He Uh may, I asked mister Pinkerton when your man
(32:27):
followed me? I mean Blactually you were followed by two men.
One was our pinket and operative, and the other was
a friend of yours. Oh do you like to see
his reports? A friend of mine?
Speaker 2 (32:40):
Be your kidding?
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Well, he said he was here. Have a look at
his reports. Reporter and George Newton by Harold Black. Harold,
you don't actually certainly do me? And your hand is
one week of reports, including Sunday where you went? What
you did? What you do talk about? I don't believe it?
(33:02):
Why is that thirty two timing? Big? A mistake of
miss Harold blythe Oh yeah, you didn't know about your spy,
did you? So? He too timedy, just like he's too
timed his own wife. Oh yeah, he's got a wife
in Philadelphia and two children deserved him last year. So
Elizabeth is not Harold's wife. Oh no, No, she thinks
she is, but did not know. She's a nice girl.
She's too nice for him. That's what makes me so durned. Man.
(33:25):
Oh well, well, the things that finally come to line.
So frankly, if I were you, mister Pickerton, I take
Harold's reports about me with a green assault. Well, I'll
most assuredly bear that in mind. All right, George, I
won't keep you any longer today. You mean I can
go now? Yes? Oh and George, you should have those
(33:48):
hands looked at. You wouldn't want to get an infection.
It was just bad luck. I should have waited a
little longer before flashing those fifties and hundreds, But the
feel of having big money was just too much for me,
I guess. And sweet Elizabeth, Oh, she was having the
(34:11):
time of her life. Oh, Maha, Tulsa, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Las Vegas,
and then California, seeing all the sights, theaters, shows, restaurants
we had ourselves at time. There was sheer luck that
day in San Francisco, that she was upstairs in the
hotel room resting. I was alone downstairs in the bar
(34:36):
when I felt a hand on my shoulder, Harold Black. Yes,
who are you? Robert Piketon? I believe you've made the
acquaintance of my brother William. Oh, I certainly have wonderful
fella enjoying yourself. You bet, My wife and I have
never been to San Francisco before. Oh, I thought your
(34:57):
wife was in Philadelphia. What don't make a fuss. Have
you paid for your drink?
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Yes, then finish it quietly, take your head and coat
and come with me.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
But I haven't done anything. This is my vacation.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
It's as far from Philadelphi as you're going to get.
Mister Black, come along.
Speaker 1 (35:18):
But what's the charge?
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Pigure me?
Speaker 1 (35:25):
Who told you?
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Your friend? George Newton told us George, and we checked
it out and found your real wife.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
And those are two fine children you left behind you,
mister Pinckerton. Did George say anything else about me? Well, yes,
a few things. Finish up your drink, mister Black, let's go.
Pinkerton turned me over to the police, who escorted me
back to Chicago. I told Elizabeth to stay in San
(35:53):
Francisco and not to worry. I'd be back, I said,
I got me a good lawyer and with two thousand
dollars cash bail. I was a freeman again for just
about one hour. Then I was rearrested, charged with murder.
That was bad, very bad, Billy.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
I'm still in San Francisco with it. Well, I guess
you'd call her the second missus Black Elizabeth.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
Oh any prodcasts bardon.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
I had a little talk with her, and I think
she trusts me. I told her I would try to
help her. She's really too nice a girl to be
involved with this herald character. Anyway. She has an explanation
where Harold got the money he's been throwing around.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
I'd like to hear it.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
She says he found it under a seat in one
of the passenger cars.
Speaker 1 (36:44):
Founded.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
Well, that's what he told her.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
Billy. I'm mailing you all the money she had in
their luggage, so you can check the serial numbers against
the US Express records. I thank you, Bob. I'll take
it from there.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Good luck. Say any news on your end.
Speaker 1 (36:58):
Well, we got a medic report that says they discovered
human skin underneath the fingernails of the deceased. Looks like
to save his life, he scratched someone pretty bad. The
trouble was, I didn't know how much the Pinkertons knew.
(37:19):
I didn't know how much Elizabeth knew or had told them.
Worst of all, I couldn't be sure of Georgie. Was
he and cahoots with the Pinkertons? I didn't know, But
I didn't think so, because if he started to sing,
he must be aware I know the same tomb. If
he read it on me, I sure wasn't going to
take the rap alone. Harold, you've got a visitor, George Newton, Hi, Harold,
(37:46):
and I'll leave you too. I've got some business with
the chief of police. Well locking me in here? Uh?
He don't trust this? Should they, Georgie? Should anyone? What
do you mean? Hell? All I'm asking is are you
to be trusted?
Speaker 2 (38:02):
What a question?
Speaker 1 (38:03):
Of course? I am? I am your friend? Are you
a Georgie? Who was it who told the Pinkertons I
had a wife in Philadelphia? Would a friend say that?
Speaker 2 (38:13):
Now?
Speaker 1 (38:14):
Hold up, now, if you're talking about friendship, would a
friend peach on me? Huh? Give reports to the Pinkertons
about where I went and what we talked about. Your
stupid fool. I didn't tell him a thing, made it
all up. They wanted information on you, so I pretended
to go along with them to take the heat off.
Not so loud, I listen. I asked to see you,
(38:34):
saying I wanted to straighten things out with your wife
in Philadelphia. Now Pinkerton's onto something. He saw these hands see.
I don't know if he believed that I got it
handling baggage or not. But why he didn't believe me,
That's what I want to know. Why is he suspicious?
That's your problem, Georgie. I don't want to talk to you.
(38:57):
I'm the one charge with murder. You're out there free.
I am not going to say anything. You'd better not.
You better not threaten me. The whole thing was your idea.
It was wasn't Is that what you're going to tell
a Pinkerson's. I don't play footsie with them or send
them reports like some people I know. Fool yourself, Georgie
with this. It was all my idea of business. If
(39:19):
I go, you go. You're the one who shot Nick.
He was already dead when I hit him with that poker,
kept crazy. I got Hiven the shoulder. The gun went
off because he was fighting like a tiger, clawing at me.
I wasn't going to kill him. Now, you're the one
who panicked when you when your mask fellows and your thoughts,
you recognized you, so you smashed your scold that poker. Hell,
we'll let me out here. The man prians crazy along
(39:41):
the trouble. You get me out of here. Mister pinker
You're a liar, that's what you are, DoD liar, all right.
Not take it easy, Harold. Okay, George, let's move on.
Am I glad you were handy. That man's wild beat Rs.
Newton is just as guilty as anyone. Don't let him
get away because it's too bad. Harold's gone off his head.
(40:01):
Let me see George, both of them. Hey, mister pinkard,
what you put in handcuffs on me for? Only for
a few minutes, George, until we can book you and
find an empty cell for you. You were listening voices
Garry and the chief of police and I were right
there in the next cell. George Newton, you're under arrest.
(40:26):
George's murder. Every dollar from the train robbery, except what
Harold and Elizabeth had spent on their wild vacation was recovered.
Their marriage, of course, was invalid. Both Harold Black and
George Newton stood trial for the Rock Island robbery and
(40:46):
the murder of the express messenger Nicholas Kelsey. I shall
return shortly to report to you. The trial of the
two Rock Island Railroad robbers was a quick one One juryman, however,
(41:07):
did not believe in capital punishment, so they were sent
to the penitentiary for life. Over the years, the Pinkertons
never boasted of their achievements. When asked, all they would
say was it's all in the day's work. Diligence, doggedness,
studying character, knowing your man. That was their day's work.
(41:28):
That was the Pinkerton method. Our cast included Ian Martin,
Lloyd Batista, Nat Poland and Earl Hammond. The entire production
was under the direction of Hymon Brown.
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