November 25, 2025 • 33 mins
Today's Mystery: Howard Beaufait of The Cleveleand News reinvestigates the case of a violin-playing convicted killer who claims innocence and whose wife also believes him.
Original Radio Broadcast: November 26, 1947
Originating from New York
Starring: Craig McDonnell; John Sylvester; Francis De Sales; Eileen Heckart; Luise Barkley
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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Eliza, Patreon supporter since July 2024
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Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
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Give us a call at 208-991-4783
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Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Original Radio Broadcast: November 26, 1947
Originating from New York
Starring: Craig McDonnell; John Sylvester; Francis De Sales; Eileen Heckart; Luise Barkley
Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Eliza, Patreon supporter since July 2024
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're
going to bring you the big story. But first, I
do want to encourage you, if you're enjoying the podcast,
to please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And
(00:51):
I also want to encourage you to check out our
other podcast, and today I'm highlighting the Amazing World of Radio.
The Amazing World of is a series where we play
all kinds of things with a variety of different specials
and mini series. Most recently we had that great Summer
(01:12):
of Robert Lewis Stevenson series we did, and we are
returning for two weeks. Coming up tomorrow on the Amazing
World of Radio, we'll have our annual Thanksgiving Shoe and
then something that's not announced in that episode is we
will have a special featuring the late June Lockhart. I
(01:36):
do tend to record the Thanksgiving episode pretty far in advance,
so Miss Lockhart was still with us at the time,
but I did go ahead and record a special and
it's a great story that's familiar to many of us,
and it will be featuring next Wednesday. So the next
two Wednesdays. Listen to the Amazing World of Radio at
(01:57):
Amazing Great Detectives Net. And then we'll be back with
our annual Christmas episodes later on in December. Now Here
from November twenty sixth, nineteen forty seven is the Case
of the Unfinished Love Song.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Pall Mel Famous Cigarettes present The Big Story.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
What do you think of going?
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Get out of my way? Oh no, you don't. I
saw you hold up that store.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Give me that gun, Get out of my way?
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Give it?
Speaker 1 (02:26):
I mean, okay, you asked for here?
Speaker 5 (02:31):
Hey, why don't you look where you're going?
Speaker 6 (02:33):
Get out of my way, sister, and get out of
a fash You remember something for your health?
Speaker 7 (02:37):
You didn't see nothing.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Get it.
Speaker 5 (02:44):
And the Big Story.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Another in a thrilling series based on true experiences of
newspaper reporters. Tonight to Howard Buffet of the Cleveland News
goes the pall Mel Award for the Big Story. John,
Now the exciting and authentic story of the Case of
(03:10):
the Unfinished Love Song.
Speaker 8 (03:29):
You are Howard Beaufain, columnist and roving editor for the
Cleveland News. As such, you have the rare privilege of
covering any story that strikes your fancy and on this
warm spring evening you.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Are going to jail.
Speaker 8 (03:45):
You're going to pay a visit to a murderer. So
you pass through the prison gate and walk slowly down
the long prison card, hearing the light echo of your
footsteps on the stone floor.
Speaker 9 (03:59):
And then you'll hear.
Speaker 8 (04:01):
Something else, a violin playing a sad, haunting melody. The
music swells and you'll follow it until you find yourself
standing in front of a prison cell, watching a dark
haired man coax music from a battered violin. Nick veris murderer,
(04:27):
Hello Verse, I'll go on playing.
Speaker 6 (04:31):
No, I just do it to pass the time away.
The air here snaps the strings. Mind if I talk
to you that all the time in the world life.
My name's Beaufay. I'm a reporter from the Cleveland News.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
What brings you here to see me? Mister Beaufay?
Speaker 4 (04:46):
How is at your trial? Nick? I think it's possible
that you're not guilty.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Thank you?
Speaker 4 (04:52):
There Isn't it interest you to know that some one
thinks you didn't do it.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
A lot of people think I didn't do it, mister
beaufat But I've been in.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Jail two years and I like to work on the case.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Nick, it's all yours.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Any leads want me to follow up?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Well, you might go and see Jonnie Johnnie my wife.
Oh maybe she can help you. Well, maybe you can
help her, Not that she needs anything. She got herself
a job as chief hostess at the best restaurant in town,
the Bell Parry.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
All right, I'll look her up.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
I'm mister Beaufe. Sail over it for me.
Speaker 7 (05:30):
Leah Joan Perris a hostess here.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Oh no, monsieur, we don't employ any hostesses at the
Bell Parie restaurant.
Speaker 8 (05:51):
Monsieur, that you howard both faced head to yourself. A
funny state of affairs. So you're go into conference with
the phone and the city classified, and after an hour
or so he end up in a dingy restaurant on
the shabby side of town. An uninspired string trio is
(06:15):
sawing away in a corner, So you slump down at
the table and wait until a pretty waitress heads your way.
Speaker 10 (06:21):
And asks, may I have your order?
Speaker 4 (06:24):
There is your name, Joan Arrius. Yes, but I'd like
to talk to you. Your husband told me to see you.
Speaker 10 (06:30):
I'm a reporter from the news, but NICKI doesn't know
I work here I told him I had a job.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
I know he sent me there to find you.
Speaker 10 (06:38):
He'd be upset if he knew I was working a
place like this.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
I won't tell him.
Speaker 10 (06:42):
Joan, Thanks, It's not that i'm mind, It's just that Nicky.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Would tell me about him.
Speaker 10 (06:49):
I wouldn't know what to tell you.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Cry Well.
Speaker 10 (06:53):
The whole thing really started when nick was in the
hospital recuperating from a pretty serious operation. I went to
visit him as soon as he was out of danger.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Nick. Hi, Johnny, how are you wonderful now that you're here?
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Oh darling?
Speaker 10 (07:12):
I've been so worried about you.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Don't you know only the good die young? You're so
thin well, I need care and love. I think you'd
better make it a full time job. What about the
hours and the pain incomparable? When will you start right now?
Speaker 5 (07:27):
Oh Nikki.
Speaker 10 (07:28):
I never realized how much I loved you until I
nearly didn't have you.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Oh darling, Nicky.
Speaker 10 (07:36):
I brought you your violin here it is.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I think I still remember how to use it.
Speaker 10 (07:41):
Why not try? We'll I play Johnny, Yes, uh c
our songs? Oh Nikki, Nikki, I'm so happy now that
(08:05):
you're well again. Nothing can hurt me. Ever, I'm glad
that I beg your pardon.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Oh what is it nice?
Speaker 5 (08:11):
But there's a man here who insists on Well, I
mean he just walked up and.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Plain a situation myself, Nicholas Verse, you want it in
Cleveland for murder?
Speaker 10 (08:29):
It happened so quickly, mister beaufaith. One minute we were alone,
Nick was playing our song to me, and the next
thing I knew he he was sendence to life imprisonment
for the fourteen year old murder of a man named
Frank Dandom.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
He was supposed to have stopped him as he ran
out of a grocery store. He was supposed to have
robbed right.
Speaker 10 (08:48):
Yes, and Nick wasn't even in Cleveland?
Speaker 9 (08:51):
Then?
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Were you married to him at that time?
Speaker 10 (08:53):
No?
Speaker 4 (08:54):
But how do you know he wasn't in Cleveland?
Speaker 10 (08:55):
He told me he wasn't.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Can you just take his word for it? Of course,
you love him that much, I know him that Well,
there's only one thing to do. All the evidence is
old stuff buried for fourteen years. We've got to dig
it up.
Speaker 11 (09:10):
Now.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
I'm willing to try.
Speaker 7 (09:12):
Are you you mean you will help me?
Speaker 4 (09:15):
I don't know if you call it help exactly I'm
not completely convinced of your husband's innocence, but the only
way to find out is to look into the facts.
Speaker 10 (09:23):
Thank you for being honest, mister beaufet. What do we
do first?
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Our first step is the police records. Suppose I meet
you tomorrow morning. We'll start looking, all.
Speaker 5 (09:33):
Right, I'll meet you at.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
What's the matter.
Speaker 10 (09:43):
Nothing, It's just that that's our soome, that's tune the
orchestra's playing. That's Nikki's in mine every time I hear it,
mister befa, could we start looking tonight night?
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Look, it's almost eleven o'clock.
Speaker 8 (10:01):
I know, but.
Speaker 10 (10:03):
Don't you understand?
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Yeah, yeah, I understand. Come on, get your coat.
Speaker 10 (10:31):
You found anything else?
Speaker 4 (10:32):
Mister bothays, no, not yet, same stuff. Two witnesses said
it was Nick verse three said it wasn't, but they
couldn't point a finger at anyone else.
Speaker 10 (10:41):
That's all I can find. I'll go on checking these
papers here.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Yeah, what is it?
Speaker 10 (10:50):
The police report of Frank Dandel killing nineteen twenty four
testimony of Louise Relick.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
I don't remember that name from the trial.
Speaker 10 (10:58):
She wasn't called at the trial, but the testimony of
this girl is that she was waiting for a street
car when a man with a gun ran out of
the grocery store that was just robbed, and she saw
his face.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
Clearly, give me that paper. The gunman was identified as
James Corbett, notorious gangster from the Flats area of Cleveland.
Speaker 10 (11:17):
It wasn't nicky, she said, it wasn't nicky.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
You go on home, Joan, I'll call you in the morning.
What are you going to do a little investigating on
my own? I'd like to check this report and find
out why that girl was never called to testify. Well,
(11:45):
here it is, John. The girl, Louise Relic, was taken
before the grand jury in nineteen twenty four, but she
refused to talk any further. Why she lived in the
Flats area where Harve Dward's boss. She's evidently afraid of
him and his gang. The deposition was no.
Speaker 5 (11:59):
Bill, What does that mean?
Speaker 4 (12:01):
Oh? Drop buried dead? Finished?
Speaker 7 (12:03):
Well?
Speaker 10 (12:03):
What about Halvd? Where is he now?
Speaker 4 (12:05):
He happens to be locked up from murder in the
Ohio Penitentiary, Ohio prison, and in the same cell block
with Nicholas Verus. You know, jo And I think I
ought to pay another visit to that cell block.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Ah, we return you to your narrator, Bob Sloan and
Tonight's big story.
Speaker 8 (12:30):
You, Howard Beaufet of the Cleveland News, are once again
walking down a carda of the Ohio State Prison.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
You've just learned that it's the same prison that.
Speaker 8 (12:39):
Houses James Horvad, accused of the murder for which Nick
Veris is serving time. And as you walk, you hear
faintly the same melody you heard as you walk down
the prison karda once before.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Only this time the music hurts you.
Speaker 8 (12:57):
It hurts you because you know the story behind that
unfa this love song, the story of two unhappy people.
Speaker 9 (13:05):
You reached the cell.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Hello, Nick, did you see John? Yeah, when just left
her a few hours ago. Probably see her again this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
They only let me see her twice a month.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
How is she ah fine?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
When she comes to see me. It's hard to tell
if she really looks all right through that screen they
have of She's fine, Nick. What dress was she wearing
when you saw dress?
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Oh? Well, sort of green thing I think.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
With kind of white stuff up at the top. Yeah,
I bought that for her just before.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
How's a new job?
Speaker 3 (13:40):
The hostess thing?
Speaker 4 (13:41):
What's fine?
Speaker 3 (13:43):
I'm glad she has a nice job like that.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Ah.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Sure, she's helpless about little things, you know, like always
forgetting to carry a handkerchief. She always gets all dressed
up to go out and then has to borrow my
handkerchief when she cries at the movies because she forgets her.
Do you have any trouble form.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Try to talk to the wrong gallant person? And I
heard explaining myself.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
I'll bet you did. Well, how'd you find Johnny?
Speaker 4 (14:10):
Oh she is over with this flysback joint, slinging hash.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
But she was slinging hash.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
Well, that is.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Jonny slinging hash.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
Look, Nick, I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
She told me she got a job as hostess. I
thought it was an easy job and it would make
things nicer for her. I didn't know she'd have to
sling food in a one arm joint. So that's the
way to do it. Stick a guy away in a
cell with a number pen on his back, and forget
him and then his wife. Something that just keeps sliving,
(14:42):
something that doesn't matter. Well, it matters to me. It
matters to me well than anything in the world. And
they can't do it. If I could break out of
this place, I'd murtter every one of them with bare hands.
I'd really murder this time.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Joy surely pretty easy, Nick.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
I'm sorry, But my wife I.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Know, I know, Nick. She helped me dig up some
news for you. We found the testimony of a girl
who was standing on a street corner when the killer
ran by in nineteen twenty four. She identified him as
James Horvad.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Why didn't the girl testify in court?
Speaker 4 (15:27):
She refused to appear. The record was just forgotten.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
All that must have been the one? Then? Can anybody
get him to admit it?
Speaker 4 (15:33):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Do you think he's the killer?
Speaker 4 (15:36):
I don't know, Dank.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Maybe they had a hunch about that girl when they
offered me that deal?
Speaker 4 (15:42):
What deal?
Speaker 3 (15:43):
They told me that except the plea of gilly to
a man slaughter charge?
Speaker 7 (15:46):
What sure?
Speaker 4 (15:47):
That way?
Speaker 3 (15:48):
They said I could serve eight months and get parole.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Why didn't you tell me this in the first place?
Speaker 3 (15:52):
I figured it was old water over the dam.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
I look, Nick, I'll be frank with you. I've been
following up this case because it's good human interest stuff.
Up to now, I wasn't convinced that you were innocent,
although I had a hunch you might be of passing
up a chance to get off with an eight month sentence.
That rings a bell with me. I'm going to talk
to Horbet.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Thanks, mister Baffy onh Look eh oh, when you see Johnny,
don't don't tell her. I know about her being away
to s nut place and know how it is. I
I wouldn't want to upset.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Horbad. Who are you our boufay Cleveland News. I got
no news for you, pencil Happy, I just want to talk.
Speaker 7 (16:50):
I got no talk for you either.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
I've just been visiting a prison man of yours, Horbet, What.
Speaker 7 (16:55):
You're trying to do sell magazines?
Speaker 4 (16:58):
We talked, so we talked about a murder, the murder
of Frank Dando back in nineteen twenty four. I ain't
interested in ancient history, Horved. You know and I know
that you committed that crime, not Nick Bears. Why don't
you do a decent thing for once in your life?
In clarem When I want to hire a halo, I'll
let you know. Horbet, Look, don't Horbell look me rep
(17:19):
for her? Get out.
Speaker 10 (17:29):
Any luck, mister Beaufet.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
I see, look, john Maybe Horbad isn't the only cogonist machine.
Maybe we could try and pin down that girl witness.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
Maybe that shouldn't be too hard.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Oh no, no, After all, we know their name is
Louise Rally or used to be, and that she lives
in Cleveland or used to live here, and that she
was waiting for a trolley car on a street corner
in nineteen twenty four. So all we have to do
is find her in any of a million a quarter
of people, if she's still in Cleveland. I'm looking for
(18:12):
a girl called Louise Relick. Can you tell me where
I can find her?
Speaker 10 (18:18):
I'm trying to locate a woman named Louise Relick who
probably lived in this neighborhood. Have you any idea where
she might be living now?
Speaker 4 (18:29):
I heard she might be living in this section of town.
Speaker 10 (18:38):
I thought maybe the superintendent might have a list of
tenants back as far as nineteen twenty four.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
The name's Louise Relig here. She used to live in
this neighborhood.
Speaker 10 (19:01):
She moved two years ago. I see, thank you.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
No forwarding address? Huh? Thanks anyhow?
Speaker 12 (19:22):
Never mind, then thank you.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
If they don't e turn off that jukebox, make your coffee, John,
make you feel better.
Speaker 10 (19:44):
I'm sorry to be such a baby.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
It's just that I'm so tired.
Speaker 10 (19:50):
You have a handkerchief.
Speaker 5 (19:51):
I guess I left mine home?
Speaker 4 (19:52):
YEA, sure, thank you. Ah, that's better.
Speaker 10 (20:00):
You didn't find out anything about the relic woman, did you,
mister beaufet.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
No, don't I keep on plugging.
Speaker 10 (20:09):
I don't know. I hate to give up, but it
seems like such a hopeless thing to keep on tramp
in the street, knocking on doors, asking questions, not getting answers.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
I don't see.
Speaker 11 (20:20):
How, mister.
Speaker 10 (20:29):
Is this the only way we can clear Nick?
Speaker 4 (20:32):
I'm afraid?
Speaker 10 (20:33):
So all right, then let's go knock on some more doors.
According to the address that woman gave me, it should
be this house here.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
It's late.
Speaker 10 (20:55):
Let's try this house. It's the first definite address we've
been able to find.
Speaker 13 (21:00):
All right, well, hello, hello, are you Louise Relick?
Speaker 5 (21:12):
Have been for some time? Honey?
Speaker 10 (21:14):
We've been looking all over for you.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
Very flattering?
Speaker 13 (21:17):
What for?
Speaker 4 (21:18):
May we come in?
Speaker 11 (21:19):
Sure?
Speaker 4 (21:22):
Miss Relick? Call me weezy honey, Miss Relick, This is
missus Nick Veris.
Speaker 5 (21:29):
I think you got the wrong apartments.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
I don't think we.
Speaker 5 (21:32):
Do the doors behind you.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
Look, sister Nick Verus is in jail for a murder
he didn't commit. I know he didn't commit it. And
what's more important, you can prove he didn't.
Speaker 5 (21:43):
Never heard of him?
Speaker 4 (21:44):
Perhaps you've heard of a man named James Horbaden.
Speaker 10 (21:46):
No, please, miss Relick, you're the only chance I've got
to free my husband Luck.
Speaker 5 (21:51):
You two get out of here and get out back.
Speaker 10 (21:53):
Why why can't you see We've got to get the
truth from you, that you're the only one who can
help us.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
She's afraid to tell us what you nose doom afraid?
Speaker 5 (22:01):
Sure, I'm afraid, but.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
You do know something. If you wanted to talk, get
out of here. Are you afraid of James horbad I
don't know what you mean. Are you afraid of James
horbev because he's the man you saw shoot Frank Dandel
back in nineteen twenty four.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
I don't know what you mean.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
Are you afraid he and his gang will get you
if you talk?
Speaker 5 (22:15):
I don't know you're afraid of you?
Speaker 4 (22:16):
At generally thick bears Horvad and his boys'll be laying
for you. Is that what you're afraid of, Miss Relic?
Is it?
Speaker 10 (22:20):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (22:20):
Yes, yes, James Horbadge and jail for another murder he
can't hurt.
Speaker 5 (22:25):
You, but he's not the only one who's gang get me.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
If I talk, no one will ever know you talked except.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
The parole Don't see my name in the newspapers, won't.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
Your name won't be printed.
Speaker 5 (22:36):
Okay, I'll meet you at the Parole board office in
the morning.
Speaker 8 (22:47):
He's spend the long hours of the night drinking black
coffee and wondering if that frightened promise will hold. It does.
The next morning, Louise Relic tells the parole bod that
the man she saw running from the scene of the
robbery and murder was James Horror Bad. And one day,
a little later, you put your car up to a
(23:09):
stop in front of the State penitent.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
Train Nichola, come out of that door over there, Joanes,
at eleven o'clock. At eleven What time is it now?
Over the tenth time in the last five minutes. It's
now three minutes.
Speaker 10 (23:26):
Of eleven, three minutes, In just three minutes, Nick will
walk out of that door.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
Do I look all right?
Speaker 4 (23:33):
You're wonderful?
Speaker 10 (23:34):
Do we have to wait in the car?
Speaker 7 (23:36):
I mean, couldn't?
Speaker 4 (23:36):
Oh, come on, you wear me out? We walk over
that way.
Speaker 10 (23:43):
Oh, isn't it a perfectly wonderful day. I don't think
the sky has ever been so blue, of the sun
so bright, or anything so wonderful in all the world.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Why I wonder, why what time is it now? Forty
five seconds to eleven, precisely.
Speaker 10 (23:57):
Twenty five seconds? Why that's no time at all?
Speaker 5 (24:00):
Oh, my stocky seems straight.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
Absolutely, And I've got.
Speaker 10 (24:03):
To clean handkerchief too. Nikki gets so mad at me
when I forget my hanky. This time I put one in, Nikky.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
Oh, Nikki, come on, honey, I'll take you home.
Speaker 8 (24:47):
To Howard Beaufet had the rare privilege among newspaper men
of being able to pick your own assignments. And this
time you really take one. You help two good people
find each other again, and you got your big story.
And you've been around the pencil game long enough to
know which was the thing that really covered.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
In just a moment, we'll read you a telegram from
Howard Buffay with the exciting details of tonight's big story.
Now we read you that telegram from Howard Buffet of
the Cleveland News.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
Following his release from Ohio State Penitentiary. Innocent musician in
Tonight's Big story, accepted engagement with well known orchestra, and
with his wife, left Cleveland. No one else ever came
to trial for fourteen year old murder. Many thanks for
Tonight's pell Mell Award.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Thank you, mister Buffay. The maker's of hell mal Famous
Cigarettes are proud to have named you the winner of
the Pall Mall five hundred dollars Award for notable service
in the field of journalism. Listen again next week, same time,
same station, when pell Mell Famous Cigarettes will present another
big story, A big story from the pages of the
Washington Evening Star Byeline jack Allen. A big story about
(26:22):
a newspaper reporter and the prize fighter who didn't like
newspaper reporters.
Speaker 11 (26:33):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
The Big Story is produced by Bernard J. Proctor and
directed by Harry Ingram, with music by Vladimiss Lensky. Tonight's
program was written by Gail Ingram. Your narrator was Bob
Sloan and Craig McDonald lay the part of Howard Buffet.
All names in Tonight's story, except that of mister Vaufet,
were fictitious, but the dramatization was based on a true
(27:08):
and authentic case. This is Ernest Chapel speaking for the
makers of Pallmel Famous cigarettes during the United Church Canvas
November sixteenth, December seventh. Reaffirm your allegiance to the faith
(27:29):
that is the foundation.
Speaker 5 (27:30):
Of true happiness.
Speaker 7 (27:31):
Worship.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Regularly give to your church our synagogue liberally.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.
Speaker 1 (27:48):
Welcome back. Our cast this week. In addition to Craig McDonnell,
included John Sylvester, Louise Barklay of the Himalaya him Alia
Debate as Joan Francis de sal and Isileen Heckhart, with
everyone but Louise Barkley doubling up in this one. I
(28:10):
love having the script because it gives some really good
insight into how New York radio production worked. I was
a bit surprised by the degree to which the doubling
is happening, and in most cases I've called out a
couple of the last couple of weeks I would not
have noticed if not for the script. I'm also greatly
(28:31):
pleased to learn Craig McDonald's name. I've heard him on
so many programs that never credited the actor. He was
the Laugher and the Adventures of Superman and before I
heard him as that super villain. I heard him as
the apostle Peter in the Greatest Story Ever Told radio series.
(28:51):
I think this series will help me a lot with
my New York radio actor recognition skills. As for the
story itself, it's pretty well told and it stays close
to the facts of the case, according to these stories
behind the Big Story website. In nineteen twenty four, a
bank guard was shot in a robbery, and a man
(29:12):
named John Kazinski was convicted of the crime. Fourteen years later,
Kazinsky had moved to New York, changed his name to
Fred Guss, and gotten a job as a band leader.
The state made a big deal of the fact that
he'd moved and changed his name, despite the fact that
(29:33):
people in the entertainment industry moved to New York, Chicago,
and Los Angeles all the time, and changing your name
for showbiz purposes was particularly common, especially if you had
a more ethnic last name. But our reporter learned of
the case, found the woman who saw the crime and
(29:54):
had been intimidated, and got her to tell her story.
The governor gave Kazinsky a parole, and Kazinski was released.
He was never pardoned for whatever reason and ended up
moving to the West Coast. Obviously, the story leans into
an emotional, you might even say melodramatic feel, and there
(30:15):
are probably some flourishes along those lines. But in many ways,
that's how newspapers could be back then. The emotional and
human elements helped them to connect with readers, and it
works for me. I was really moved at the end,
though I knew that there are some people who would
find this bear. It's easy, all right, well, listener comments
(30:37):
and feedback now and we go to Spotify where mechanics
sixty six comments regarding the case of the counterfeit coins.
That was definitely Jackson back as the boss agreed. I
didn't even need the cast list for that one. Thanks
so much. Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter
(30:57):
of the day, and I want to thank Eliza, Patreon
supporter since July twenty twenty four, currently supporting the podcast
at the shawmus level of four dollars or more per month.
Thanks so much for your support and that will do
it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow
us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to
(31:21):
rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from
We'll be back next Tuesday with another episode of the
Big Story. But join us back here tomorrow for broadways
my beatware?
Speaker 14 (31:34):
Is this why you came, mister Blover, to run your
hands over my brother's library? Broben to me?
Speaker 9 (31:41):
Or is it? No?
Speaker 4 (31:43):
No?
Speaker 14 (31:45):
Don't say to me, oh has somehow run a foul
of the law. Don't say it because I wouldn't believe it.
Speaker 9 (31:50):
So he's dead, he's murdered.
Speaker 14 (31:54):
Your manner of saying it, you leave me nothing but
to believe you.
Speaker 9 (32:00):
He was stabbed, left lying on the street in Times Square.
Speaker 14 (32:03):
He must have shuddered that it found him in a
place like that. I'd swear he shuddered.
Speaker 9 (32:11):
Your brother dies, and that's how it hits you.
Speaker 14 (32:14):
To each his own way, mister Clover, you're implying that
it was I who killed him.
Speaker 9 (32:20):
Let's play it that way for a while.
Speaker 14 (32:23):
I've dreamed the wish sometimes, but I couldn't have killed her.
I slept the morning through Earl's butler will testify to
that he was serving me brunch when you came in
expensive brunch with wine.
Speaker 9 (32:38):
Who else would want your brother dead besides me?
Speaker 14 (32:42):
That would be your thesis, wouldn't mister Clover, I suggest
the Sculler's approach.
Speaker 9 (32:46):
Now, thanks, I'll try.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
You'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your
comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow
us on Twitter at radiot attactive, and check us out
on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectives from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're
going to bring you the big story. But first, I
do want to encourage you, if you're enjoying the podcast,
to please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And
(00:51):
I also want to encourage you to check out our
other podcast, and today I'm highlighting the Amazing World of Radio.
The Amazing World of is a series where we play
all kinds of things with a variety of different specials
and mini series. Most recently we had that great Summer
(01:12):
of Robert Lewis Stevenson series we did, and we are
returning for two weeks. Coming up tomorrow on the Amazing
World of Radio, we'll have our annual Thanksgiving Shoe and
then something that's not announced in that episode is we
will have a special featuring the late June Lockhart. I
(01:36):
do tend to record the Thanksgiving episode pretty far in advance,
so Miss Lockhart was still with us at the time,
but I did go ahead and record a special and
it's a great story that's familiar to many of us,
and it will be featuring next Wednesday. So the next
two Wednesdays. Listen to the Amazing World of Radio at
(01:57):
Amazing Great Detectives Net. And then we'll be back with
our annual Christmas episodes later on in December. Now Here
from November twenty sixth, nineteen forty seven is the Case
of the Unfinished Love Song.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Pall Mel Famous Cigarettes present The Big Story.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
What do you think of going?
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Get out of my way? Oh no, you don't. I
saw you hold up that store.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Give me that gun, Get out of my way?
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Give it?
Speaker 1 (02:26):
I mean, okay, you asked for here?
Speaker 5 (02:31):
Hey, why don't you look where you're going?
Speaker 6 (02:33):
Get out of my way, sister, and get out of
a fash You remember something for your health?
Speaker 7 (02:37):
You didn't see nothing.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Get it.
Speaker 5 (02:44):
And the Big Story.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Another in a thrilling series based on true experiences of
newspaper reporters. Tonight to Howard Buffet of the Cleveland News
goes the pall Mel Award for the Big Story. John,
Now the exciting and authentic story of the Case of
(03:10):
the Unfinished Love Song.
Speaker 8 (03:29):
You are Howard Beaufain, columnist and roving editor for the
Cleveland News. As such, you have the rare privilege of
covering any story that strikes your fancy and on this
warm spring evening you.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Are going to jail.
Speaker 8 (03:45):
You're going to pay a visit to a murderer. So
you pass through the prison gate and walk slowly down
the long prison card, hearing the light echo of your
footsteps on the stone floor.
Speaker 9 (03:59):
And then you'll hear.
Speaker 8 (04:01):
Something else, a violin playing a sad, haunting melody. The
music swells and you'll follow it until you find yourself
standing in front of a prison cell, watching a dark
haired man coax music from a battered violin. Nick veris murderer,
(04:27):
Hello Verse, I'll go on playing.
Speaker 6 (04:31):
No, I just do it to pass the time away.
The air here snaps the strings. Mind if I talk
to you that all the time in the world life.
My name's Beaufay. I'm a reporter from the Cleveland News.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
What brings you here to see me? Mister Beaufay?
Speaker 4 (04:46):
How is at your trial? Nick? I think it's possible
that you're not guilty.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Thank you?
Speaker 4 (04:52):
There Isn't it interest you to know that some one
thinks you didn't do it.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
A lot of people think I didn't do it, mister
beaufat But I've been in.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Jail two years and I like to work on the case.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Nick, it's all yours.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Any leads want me to follow up?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Well, you might go and see Jonnie Johnnie my wife.
Oh maybe she can help you. Well, maybe you can
help her, Not that she needs anything. She got herself
a job as chief hostess at the best restaurant in town,
the Bell Parry.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
All right, I'll look her up.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
I'm mister Beaufe. Sail over it for me.
Speaker 7 (05:30):
Leah Joan Perris a hostess here.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Oh no, monsieur, we don't employ any hostesses at the
Bell Parie restaurant.
Speaker 8 (05:51):
Monsieur, that you howard both faced head to yourself. A
funny state of affairs. So you're go into conference with
the phone and the city classified, and after an hour
or so he end up in a dingy restaurant on
the shabby side of town. An uninspired string trio is
(06:15):
sawing away in a corner, So you slump down at
the table and wait until a pretty waitress heads your way.
Speaker 10 (06:21):
And asks, may I have your order?
Speaker 4 (06:24):
There is your name, Joan Arrius. Yes, but I'd like
to talk to you. Your husband told me to see you.
Speaker 10 (06:30):
I'm a reporter from the news, but NICKI doesn't know
I work here I told him I had a job.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
I know he sent me there to find you.
Speaker 10 (06:38):
He'd be upset if he knew I was working a
place like this.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
I won't tell him.
Speaker 10 (06:42):
Joan, Thanks, It's not that i'm mind, It's just that Nicky.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Would tell me about him.
Speaker 10 (06:49):
I wouldn't know what to tell you.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Cry Well.
Speaker 10 (06:53):
The whole thing really started when nick was in the
hospital recuperating from a pretty serious operation. I went to
visit him as soon as he was out of danger.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Nick. Hi, Johnny, how are you wonderful now that you're here?
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Oh darling?
Speaker 10 (07:12):
I've been so worried about you.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Don't you know only the good die young? You're so
thin well, I need care and love. I think you'd
better make it a full time job. What about the
hours and the pain incomparable? When will you start right now?
Speaker 5 (07:27):
Oh Nikki.
Speaker 10 (07:28):
I never realized how much I loved you until I
nearly didn't have you.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Oh darling, Nicky.
Speaker 10 (07:36):
I brought you your violin here it is.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I think I still remember how to use it.
Speaker 10 (07:41):
Why not try? We'll I play Johnny, Yes, uh c
our songs? Oh Nikki, Nikki, I'm so happy now that
(08:05):
you're well again. Nothing can hurt me. Ever, I'm glad
that I beg your pardon.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Oh what is it nice?
Speaker 5 (08:11):
But there's a man here who insists on Well, I
mean he just walked up and.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Plain a situation myself, Nicholas Verse, you want it in
Cleveland for murder?
Speaker 10 (08:29):
It happened so quickly, mister beaufaith. One minute we were alone,
Nick was playing our song to me, and the next
thing I knew he he was sendence to life imprisonment
for the fourteen year old murder of a man named
Frank Dandom.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
He was supposed to have stopped him as he ran
out of a grocery store. He was supposed to have
robbed right.
Speaker 10 (08:48):
Yes, and Nick wasn't even in Cleveland?
Speaker 9 (08:51):
Then?
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Were you married to him at that time?
Speaker 10 (08:53):
No?
Speaker 4 (08:54):
But how do you know he wasn't in Cleveland?
Speaker 10 (08:55):
He told me he wasn't.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Can you just take his word for it? Of course,
you love him that much, I know him that Well,
there's only one thing to do. All the evidence is
old stuff buried for fourteen years. We've got to dig
it up.
Speaker 11 (09:10):
Now.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
I'm willing to try.
Speaker 7 (09:12):
Are you you mean you will help me?
Speaker 4 (09:15):
I don't know if you call it help exactly I'm
not completely convinced of your husband's innocence, but the only
way to find out is to look into the facts.
Speaker 10 (09:23):
Thank you for being honest, mister beaufet. What do we
do first?
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Our first step is the police records. Suppose I meet
you tomorrow morning. We'll start looking, all.
Speaker 5 (09:33):
Right, I'll meet you at.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
What's the matter.
Speaker 10 (09:43):
Nothing, It's just that that's our soome, that's tune the
orchestra's playing. That's Nikki's in mine every time I hear it,
mister befa, could we start looking tonight night?
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Look, it's almost eleven o'clock.
Speaker 8 (10:01):
I know, but.
Speaker 10 (10:03):
Don't you understand?
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Yeah, yeah, I understand. Come on, get your coat.
Speaker 10 (10:31):
You found anything else?
Speaker 4 (10:32):
Mister bothays, no, not yet, same stuff. Two witnesses said
it was Nick verse three said it wasn't, but they
couldn't point a finger at anyone else.
Speaker 10 (10:41):
That's all I can find. I'll go on checking these
papers here.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Yeah, what is it?
Speaker 10 (10:50):
The police report of Frank Dandel killing nineteen twenty four
testimony of Louise Relick.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
I don't remember that name from the trial.
Speaker 10 (10:58):
She wasn't called at the trial, but the testimony of
this girl is that she was waiting for a street
car when a man with a gun ran out of
the grocery store that was just robbed, and she saw
his face.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
Clearly, give me that paper. The gunman was identified as
James Corbett, notorious gangster from the Flats area of Cleveland.
Speaker 10 (11:17):
It wasn't nicky, she said, it wasn't nicky.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
You go on home, Joan, I'll call you in the morning.
What are you going to do a little investigating on
my own? I'd like to check this report and find
out why that girl was never called to testify. Well,
(11:45):
here it is, John. The girl, Louise Relic, was taken
before the grand jury in nineteen twenty four, but she
refused to talk any further. Why she lived in the
Flats area where Harve Dward's boss. She's evidently afraid of
him and his gang. The deposition was no.
Speaker 5 (11:59):
Bill, What does that mean?
Speaker 4 (12:01):
Oh? Drop buried dead? Finished?
Speaker 7 (12:03):
Well?
Speaker 10 (12:03):
What about Halvd? Where is he now?
Speaker 4 (12:05):
He happens to be locked up from murder in the
Ohio Penitentiary, Ohio prison, and in the same cell block
with Nicholas Verus. You know, jo And I think I
ought to pay another visit to that cell block.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Ah, we return you to your narrator, Bob Sloan and
Tonight's big story.
Speaker 8 (12:30):
You, Howard Beaufet of the Cleveland News, are once again
walking down a carda of the Ohio State Prison.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
You've just learned that it's the same prison that.
Speaker 8 (12:39):
Houses James Horvad, accused of the murder for which Nick
Veris is serving time. And as you walk, you hear
faintly the same melody you heard as you walk down
the prison karda once before.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Only this time the music hurts you.
Speaker 8 (12:57):
It hurts you because you know the story behind that
unfa this love song, the story of two unhappy people.
Speaker 9 (13:05):
You reached the cell.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Hello, Nick, did you see John? Yeah, when just left
her a few hours ago. Probably see her again this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
They only let me see her twice a month.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
How is she ah fine?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
When she comes to see me. It's hard to tell
if she really looks all right through that screen they
have of She's fine, Nick. What dress was she wearing
when you saw dress?
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Oh? Well, sort of green thing I think.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
With kind of white stuff up at the top. Yeah,
I bought that for her just before.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
How's a new job?
Speaker 3 (13:40):
The hostess thing?
Speaker 4 (13:41):
What's fine?
Speaker 3 (13:43):
I'm glad she has a nice job like that.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Ah.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Sure, she's helpless about little things, you know, like always
forgetting to carry a handkerchief. She always gets all dressed
up to go out and then has to borrow my
handkerchief when she cries at the movies because she forgets her.
Do you have any trouble form.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Try to talk to the wrong gallant person? And I
heard explaining myself.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
I'll bet you did. Well, how'd you find Johnny?
Speaker 4 (14:10):
Oh she is over with this flysback joint, slinging hash.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
But she was slinging hash.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
Well, that is.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Jonny slinging hash.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
Look, Nick, I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
She told me she got a job as hostess. I
thought it was an easy job and it would make
things nicer for her. I didn't know she'd have to
sling food in a one arm joint. So that's the
way to do it. Stick a guy away in a
cell with a number pen on his back, and forget
him and then his wife. Something that just keeps sliving,
(14:42):
something that doesn't matter. Well, it matters to me. It
matters to me well than anything in the world. And
they can't do it. If I could break out of
this place, I'd murtter every one of them with bare hands.
I'd really murder this time.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Joy surely pretty easy, Nick.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
I'm sorry, But my wife I.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Know, I know, Nick. She helped me dig up some
news for you. We found the testimony of a girl
who was standing on a street corner when the killer
ran by in nineteen twenty four. She identified him as
James Horvad.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Why didn't the girl testify in court?
Speaker 4 (15:27):
She refused to appear. The record was just forgotten.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
All that must have been the one? Then? Can anybody
get him to admit it?
Speaker 4 (15:33):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Do you think he's the killer?
Speaker 4 (15:36):
I don't know, Dank.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Maybe they had a hunch about that girl when they
offered me that deal?
Speaker 4 (15:42):
What deal?
Speaker 3 (15:43):
They told me that except the plea of gilly to
a man slaughter charge?
Speaker 7 (15:46):
What sure?
Speaker 4 (15:47):
That way?
Speaker 3 (15:48):
They said I could serve eight months and get parole.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Why didn't you tell me this in the first place?
Speaker 3 (15:52):
I figured it was old water over the dam.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
I look, Nick, I'll be frank with you. I've been
following up this case because it's good human interest stuff.
Up to now, I wasn't convinced that you were innocent,
although I had a hunch you might be of passing
up a chance to get off with an eight month sentence.
That rings a bell with me. I'm going to talk
to Horbet.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Thanks, mister Baffy onh Look eh oh, when you see Johnny,
don't don't tell her. I know about her being away
to s nut place and know how it is. I
I wouldn't want to upset.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Horbad. Who are you our boufay Cleveland News. I got
no news for you, pencil Happy, I just want to talk.
Speaker 7 (16:50):
I got no talk for you either.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
I've just been visiting a prison man of yours, Horbet, What.
Speaker 7 (16:55):
You're trying to do sell magazines?
Speaker 4 (16:58):
We talked, so we talked about a murder, the murder
of Frank Dando back in nineteen twenty four. I ain't
interested in ancient history, Horved. You know and I know
that you committed that crime, not Nick Bears. Why don't
you do a decent thing for once in your life?
In clarem When I want to hire a halo, I'll
let you know. Horbet, Look, don't Horbell look me rep
(17:19):
for her? Get out.
Speaker 10 (17:29):
Any luck, mister Beaufet.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
I see, look, john Maybe Horbad isn't the only cogonist machine.
Maybe we could try and pin down that girl witness.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
Maybe that shouldn't be too hard.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Oh no, no, After all, we know their name is
Louise Rally or used to be, and that she lives
in Cleveland or used to live here, and that she
was waiting for a trolley car on a street corner
in nineteen twenty four. So all we have to do
is find her in any of a million a quarter
of people, if she's still in Cleveland. I'm looking for
(18:12):
a girl called Louise Relick. Can you tell me where
I can find her?
Speaker 10 (18:18):
I'm trying to locate a woman named Louise Relick who
probably lived in this neighborhood. Have you any idea where
she might be living now?
Speaker 4 (18:29):
I heard she might be living in this section of town.
Speaker 10 (18:38):
I thought maybe the superintendent might have a list of
tenants back as far as nineteen twenty four.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
The name's Louise Relig here. She used to live in
this neighborhood.
Speaker 10 (19:01):
She moved two years ago. I see, thank you.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
No forwarding address? Huh? Thanks anyhow?
Speaker 12 (19:22):
Never mind, then thank you.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
If they don't e turn off that jukebox, make your coffee, John,
make you feel better.
Speaker 10 (19:44):
I'm sorry to be such a baby.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
It's just that I'm so tired.
Speaker 10 (19:50):
You have a handkerchief.
Speaker 5 (19:51):
I guess I left mine home?
Speaker 4 (19:52):
YEA, sure, thank you. Ah, that's better.
Speaker 10 (20:00):
You didn't find out anything about the relic woman, did you,
mister beaufet.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
No, don't I keep on plugging.
Speaker 10 (20:09):
I don't know. I hate to give up, but it
seems like such a hopeless thing to keep on tramp
in the street, knocking on doors, asking questions, not getting answers.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
I don't see.
Speaker 11 (20:20):
How, mister.
Speaker 10 (20:29):
Is this the only way we can clear Nick?
Speaker 4 (20:32):
I'm afraid?
Speaker 10 (20:33):
So all right, then let's go knock on some more doors.
According to the address that woman gave me, it should
be this house here.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
It's late.
Speaker 10 (20:55):
Let's try this house. It's the first definite address we've
been able to find.
Speaker 13 (21:00):
All right, well, hello, hello, are you Louise Relick?
Speaker 5 (21:12):
Have been for some time? Honey?
Speaker 10 (21:14):
We've been looking all over for you.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
Very flattering?
Speaker 13 (21:17):
What for?
Speaker 4 (21:18):
May we come in?
Speaker 11 (21:19):
Sure?
Speaker 4 (21:22):
Miss Relick? Call me weezy honey, Miss Relick, This is
missus Nick Veris.
Speaker 5 (21:29):
I think you got the wrong apartments.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
I don't think we.
Speaker 5 (21:32):
Do the doors behind you.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
Look, sister Nick Verus is in jail for a murder
he didn't commit. I know he didn't commit it. And
what's more important, you can prove he didn't.
Speaker 5 (21:43):
Never heard of him?
Speaker 4 (21:44):
Perhaps you've heard of a man named James Horbaden.
Speaker 10 (21:46):
No, please, miss Relick, you're the only chance I've got
to free my husband Luck.
Speaker 5 (21:51):
You two get out of here and get out back.
Speaker 10 (21:53):
Why why can't you see We've got to get the
truth from you, that you're the only one who can
help us.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
She's afraid to tell us what you nose doom afraid?
Speaker 5 (22:01):
Sure, I'm afraid, but.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
You do know something. If you wanted to talk, get
out of here. Are you afraid of James horbad I
don't know what you mean. Are you afraid of James
horbev because he's the man you saw shoot Frank Dandel
back in nineteen twenty four.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
I don't know what you mean.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
Are you afraid he and his gang will get you
if you talk?
Speaker 5 (22:15):
I don't know you're afraid of you?
Speaker 4 (22:16):
At generally thick bears Horvad and his boys'll be laying
for you. Is that what you're afraid of, Miss Relic?
Is it?
Speaker 10 (22:20):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (22:20):
Yes, yes, James Horbadge and jail for another murder he
can't hurt.
Speaker 5 (22:25):
You, but he's not the only one who's gang get me.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
If I talk, no one will ever know you talked except.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
The parole Don't see my name in the newspapers, won't.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
Your name won't be printed.
Speaker 5 (22:36):
Okay, I'll meet you at the Parole board office in
the morning.
Speaker 8 (22:47):
He's spend the long hours of the night drinking black
coffee and wondering if that frightened promise will hold. It does.
The next morning, Louise Relic tells the parole bod that
the man she saw running from the scene of the
robbery and murder was James Horror Bad. And one day,
a little later, you put your car up to a
(23:09):
stop in front of the State penitent.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
Train Nichola, come out of that door over there, Joanes,
at eleven o'clock. At eleven What time is it now?
Over the tenth time in the last five minutes. It's
now three minutes.
Speaker 10 (23:26):
Of eleven, three minutes, In just three minutes, Nick will
walk out of that door.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
Do I look all right?
Speaker 4 (23:33):
You're wonderful?
Speaker 10 (23:34):
Do we have to wait in the car?
Speaker 7 (23:36):
I mean, couldn't?
Speaker 4 (23:36):
Oh, come on, you wear me out? We walk over
that way.
Speaker 10 (23:43):
Oh, isn't it a perfectly wonderful day. I don't think
the sky has ever been so blue, of the sun
so bright, or anything so wonderful in all the world.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Why I wonder, why what time is it now? Forty
five seconds to eleven, precisely.
Speaker 10 (23:57):
Twenty five seconds? Why that's no time at all?
Speaker 5 (24:00):
Oh, my stocky seems straight.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
Absolutely, And I've got.
Speaker 10 (24:03):
To clean handkerchief too. Nikki gets so mad at me
when I forget my hanky. This time I put one in, Nikky.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
Oh, Nikki, come on, honey, I'll take you home.
Speaker 8 (24:47):
To Howard Beaufet had the rare privilege among newspaper men
of being able to pick your own assignments. And this
time you really take one. You help two good people
find each other again, and you got your big story.
And you've been around the pencil game long enough to
know which was the thing that really covered.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
In just a moment, we'll read you a telegram from
Howard Buffay with the exciting details of tonight's big story.
Now we read you that telegram from Howard Buffet of
the Cleveland News.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
Following his release from Ohio State Penitentiary. Innocent musician in
Tonight's Big story, accepted engagement with well known orchestra, and
with his wife, left Cleveland. No one else ever came
to trial for fourteen year old murder. Many thanks for
Tonight's pell Mell Award.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Thank you, mister Buffay. The maker's of hell mal Famous
Cigarettes are proud to have named you the winner of
the Pall Mall five hundred dollars Award for notable service
in the field of journalism. Listen again next week, same time,
same station, when pell Mell Famous Cigarettes will present another
big story, A big story from the pages of the
Washington Evening Star Byeline jack Allen. A big story about
(26:22):
a newspaper reporter and the prize fighter who didn't like
newspaper reporters.
Speaker 11 (26:33):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
The Big Story is produced by Bernard J. Proctor and
directed by Harry Ingram, with music by Vladimiss Lensky. Tonight's
program was written by Gail Ingram. Your narrator was Bob
Sloan and Craig McDonald lay the part of Howard Buffet.
All names in Tonight's story, except that of mister Vaufet,
were fictitious, but the dramatization was based on a true
(27:08):
and authentic case. This is Ernest Chapel speaking for the
makers of Pallmel Famous cigarettes during the United Church Canvas
November sixteenth, December seventh. Reaffirm your allegiance to the faith
(27:29):
that is the foundation.
Speaker 5 (27:30):
Of true happiness.
Speaker 7 (27:31):
Worship.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Regularly give to your church our synagogue liberally.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.
Speaker 1 (27:48):
Welcome back. Our cast this week. In addition to Craig McDonnell,
included John Sylvester, Louise Barklay of the Himalaya him Alia
Debate as Joan Francis de sal and Isileen Heckhart, with
everyone but Louise Barkley doubling up in this one. I
(28:10):
love having the script because it gives some really good
insight into how New York radio production worked. I was
a bit surprised by the degree to which the doubling
is happening, and in most cases I've called out a
couple of the last couple of weeks I would not
have noticed if not for the script. I'm also greatly
(28:31):
pleased to learn Craig McDonald's name. I've heard him on
so many programs that never credited the actor. He was
the Laugher and the Adventures of Superman and before I
heard him as that super villain. I heard him as
the apostle Peter in the Greatest Story Ever Told radio series.
(28:51):
I think this series will help me a lot with
my New York radio actor recognition skills. As for the
story itself, it's pretty well told and it stays close
to the facts of the case, according to these stories
behind the Big Story website. In nineteen twenty four, a
bank guard was shot in a robbery, and a man
(29:12):
named John Kazinski was convicted of the crime. Fourteen years later,
Kazinsky had moved to New York, changed his name to
Fred Guss, and gotten a job as a band leader.
The state made a big deal of the fact that
he'd moved and changed his name, despite the fact that
(29:33):
people in the entertainment industry moved to New York, Chicago,
and Los Angeles all the time, and changing your name
for showbiz purposes was particularly common, especially if you had
a more ethnic last name. But our reporter learned of
the case, found the woman who saw the crime and
(29:54):
had been intimidated, and got her to tell her story.
The governor gave Kazinsky a parole, and Kazinski was released.
He was never pardoned for whatever reason and ended up
moving to the West Coast. Obviously, the story leans into
an emotional, you might even say melodramatic feel, and there
(30:15):
are probably some flourishes along those lines. But in many ways,
that's how newspapers could be back then. The emotional and
human elements helped them to connect with readers, and it
works for me. I was really moved at the end,
though I knew that there are some people who would
find this bear. It's easy, all right, well, listener comments
(30:37):
and feedback now and we go to Spotify where mechanics
sixty six comments regarding the case of the counterfeit coins.
That was definitely Jackson back as the boss agreed. I
didn't even need the cast list for that one. Thanks
so much. Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter
(30:57):
of the day, and I want to thank Eliza, Patreon
supporter since July twenty twenty four, currently supporting the podcast
at the shawmus level of four dollars or more per month.
Thanks so much for your support and that will do
it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow
us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to
(31:21):
rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from
We'll be back next Tuesday with another episode of the
Big Story. But join us back here tomorrow for broadways
my beatware?
Speaker 14 (31:34):
Is this why you came, mister Blover, to run your
hands over my brother's library? Broben to me?
Speaker 9 (31:41):
Or is it? No?
Speaker 4 (31:43):
No?
Speaker 14 (31:45):
Don't say to me, oh has somehow run a foul
of the law. Don't say it because I wouldn't believe it.
Speaker 9 (31:50):
So he's dead, he's murdered.
Speaker 14 (31:54):
Your manner of saying it, you leave me nothing but
to believe you.
Speaker 9 (32:00):
He was stabbed, left lying on the street in Times Square.
Speaker 14 (32:03):
He must have shuddered that it found him in a
place like that. I'd swear he shuddered.
Speaker 9 (32:11):
Your brother dies, and that's how it hits you.
Speaker 14 (32:14):
To each his own way, mister Clover, you're implying that
it was I who killed him.
Speaker 9 (32:20):
Let's play it that way for a while.
Speaker 14 (32:23):
I've dreamed the wish sometimes, but I couldn't have killed her.
I slept the morning through Earl's butler will testify to
that he was serving me brunch when you came in
expensive brunch with wine.
Speaker 9 (32:38):
Who else would want your brother dead besides me?
Speaker 14 (32:42):
That would be your thesis, wouldn't mister Clover, I suggest
the Sculler's approach.
Speaker 9 (32:46):
Now, thanks, I'll try.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
You'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your
comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow
us on Twitter at radiot attactive, and check us out
on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectives from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.
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