August 1, 2025 • 36 mins
Release Date: February 27, 2012
Barrie is hired by a wife who fears her husband is being blackmailed.
Original Air Date: July 13, 1954
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Barrie is hired by a wife who fears her husband is being blackmailed.
Original Air Date: July 13, 1954
Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Support the show on a one-time basis at https://support.greatdetectives.net
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Take the listener survey at https://survey.greatdetectives.net
Check out our social media at https://www.greatdetectives.net
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.
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(00:50):
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(01:15):
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(01:40):
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(02:23):
including Let George Do It, Philip Marlowe, and many more.
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(02:45):
email to me Box thirteen at Great Detectors dot net
and I can provide you a mailing address for that purpose.
All right, Well, now it is time for today's episode
of Barry Craig Confidential Investigator, and this one's call Murder
by Error.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
William Gargan stars as Barry Craig Confidential Investigator.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Distemper is a human failing. But don't ever try blowing
the lid of your coffin. You'll only frustrate yourself.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
A National Broadcasting Company presents William Gargan in another transcribed
drama of mystery and adventure with America's number one detective
Barry Craig Confidential Investigator.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Barry Craig speaking, a long legged blonde follows you to
the end of the earth. Don't always feel flatted, friend,
she might only be tailing you. Such was my case
on the public streets one sultry summer's evening, A doll
panting up to me, but keeping a discreete fifty or
(04:17):
so yard between us. I got a look at her
face without turning around. How a gimmick standing with cops
a pocket mirror held in front of me. My Priscilla
was good looking, with twin dimples in her cheeks and
an aristocratic hook to her eyebrows. I let her follow
me into a cocktail lounge. Inside I watched a fidget
(04:39):
at the far end of the mahogany bar for a
couple of minutes. When the sweat began to spoil her makeup,
I've joined the Hello, you're wrong if you if I
confuse you with a pickup. I don't well, m cry
wolf if I'm wrong. But I get the impression we've
been inseparable for hours. Ins I left my office at
(05:02):
three forty five. I've been east, north, south, and west,
and now it's five point fifteen. In all that time,
the shadow WI through was you? Well, yeah, you're right.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
I couldn't help it follow you.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
I'm your dream man, meant nothing personal. Oh that deflates me,
if I can explain?
Speaker 5 (05:22):
Do at three forty five outside your office building, I
didn't dare come up?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Why not?
Speaker 5 (05:27):
I discovered that.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
I myself was being followed. Oh, you were strongly recommended
to me as a confidential investigator I could.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Trust to epliciitly to whom do I owe that bouquet?
Speaker 5 (05:39):
Never mind, I've followed you hoping we could eventually talk
somewhere without being observed.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
What makes you think we're alone with each other? Now?
Speaker 4 (05:49):
What might.
Speaker 5 (05:52):
You mean?
Speaker 4 (05:52):
A prisoner follow me?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
I do me. I haven't seen the last hour. Shadows
don't generally quit any more than you did. Now look around,
he's not in here. Describe it.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Unusually small man with an enormous head.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Totally bald.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
He wore an odd candy striped suit.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
You're describing a freak It did look freakish. Yes, tell me, lady,
how do you feel generally?
Speaker 4 (06:25):
I'm quite saying believe me, which.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Brings us to your problem.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
Yes, more precisely my husband's problem.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Well, introduce yourself, VERA Baxter. My husband is J. C. Baxter.
You say that like J. C. Baxter is a muck.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
A muck my husband is someone substantial.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Rich, upper class, a figure in the business world, all
of those things.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
Yes, he hasn't been himself for months.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
He's morose, secreted, you can't eat, you can't sleep.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
I believe my husband and submitting to blackmail.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Does JC know you're aware of the situation.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
No, he doesn't know.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
He's always been violent on the subject of his own privacy,
his own private affairs.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
He's a quite.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
Unfrightened for him and for myself.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Then you want me to pinpoint what it is that
has your husband and the toils.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
Watch him, follow him if need be, see who the
persons are who telephone him, molest.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Him, and.
Speaker 5 (07:27):
If humanly possible, help my husband out of his predicament.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Don't you maybe mean if morally possible a fellow yielding
to blackmail. He's generally a little dirty himself. I played
tail on the monkey to J. C. Baxter for thirty
six hours on foot, then by automotive, JC leading the
(07:53):
parade and an expensive custom job, hot job me rattling
behind him and the gelope. No self respect junkie would
even buy for salvage. I knew the trip wasn't just
a waste of gas by the route. JAC was taking
all back roads in the fringe areas where the city
began to look like the Sahara Desert. I watched him
(08:13):
slow up crossing a small bridge. I could guess what
JC was up to on the bridge even before I
saw the parcel go sailing over the bridge rail. I
let him speed off before I stopped. A familiar payoff pattern,
money thrown into a specified area. A blackmailer wanted doe
(08:34):
but didn't want to be identified taking it off. I
went to see how much was in the parcel. From
the weight to the parcel, there was plenty. Plenty was
an understatement. I only needed to look to estimate the
payoff at ten thousand dollars, no bill bigger than a
(08:56):
twenty I restored the parcel. Anonymous caller would find it
in the bushes below the bridge. He'd find the dough,
and he'd also find me. The moon was out and
(09:17):
the cricket serenade was going full key when somebody came
looking for the money. Little guy not too much taller
than the reeds, the big round head to m the
size of a circus balloon. When he finally found the parcel,
I found him flush on the jaws. He came to
(09:45):
with his balloon head noticeably deflated. He had a complaint
from the ear, and I'm bleeding from the heart, and
I get uncontrollable fits of violence. Who are you a cop?
Your name? Lo?
Speaker 6 (10:04):
What two hard to pronounce?
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Make a tryadder zyme a plenty zyma putt well, it'll
settle for a low.
Speaker 7 (10:13):
Yeah. I figured you.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Would now tell me why J. C. Baxter thinks your
silence it's worth ten thousand dollars to him? Why? JC?
Who is what the ten grand you had your fat
little hands on and this parcel? Why do you rate it?
Speaker 6 (10:28):
Let me take this slow. Huh. You're telling me there's
ten thousand dollars real money in that bundle? I am,
And then it's coming to me.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
You had possession, I would want to count you.
Speaker 6 (10:39):
Sure, sure I had it? All right, there's no doubt
as to that.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Only I thought it was just some old paper work
up a neck. You'll only promote yourself into bleeding all over, mister.
Speaker 6 (10:49):
Let me tell you, I only came down here looking.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
For all newspaper.
Speaker 8 (10:53):
What for for the frogs, so I could make a
bundle when I catch him, catch frogs. It's see over there,
every boy, the pond so frogs when the moon is full,
like now, there's millions of frogs here. See this flashlight
I got on me?
Speaker 3 (11:11):
What about it?
Speaker 8 (11:11):
Well, I sneak over to the bank there and I
shine the flashlight right in her eye.
Speaker 6 (11:16):
It hypnotizes the frogs. All I have to do is
pick them up and rot them.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Now, what do you want with frogs?
Speaker 8 (11:23):
The valential laboratory over on Mercer Boulevard, you know the
medical students.
Speaker 6 (11:27):
I get a quarter for every frog.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
That's your story.
Speaker 6 (11:31):
Yeah, so you see you you got a case of
mistaken intemnity.
Speaker 8 (11:35):
You don't want lose Ziparticus thanks my own name had me.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Yeah, we can fix that.
Speaker 6 (11:44):
How's that?
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Shorten it? Shorten it to a number let's go, irregardless,
I'm pinched, huh, irregardless. Come on, the frogs won't miss you.
(12:05):
Riding back to turn with my frogman and custoday Montelope
began to shake, as if age and abuse had finally gotten.
Speaker 6 (12:12):
Hey, he's shimming him from side to side.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Yeah. The wheels are wobbling front and rear like old age.
All the boats work loose.
Speaker 6 (12:21):
Hey, come on, stop before we turn over. You said
arrest me. He didn't say kill me.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
The boats had come loose a right minute. You lost
four wheels, yeah, but not from natural causes, buster, not
human hands. Did this while I was down on the
reeds pollywogging with you. Hey, why would somebody answer? That's
in the car now approaching? You want to bet? The
(12:55):
guy behind the wheel with a big beat, pushing through
a handkerchief he wore as a mask. The play was his?
Who wanted to argue with a gun?
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Now?
Speaker 6 (13:03):
You they're shorty me?
Speaker 9 (13:05):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (13:06):
You climbing on my boat? Me switch cons you're rescued
by the boss.
Speaker 6 (13:11):
Is it you talking? One air comes out the oer
right now. I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Sure, you only know from frogs liar song now you
big stuff that presumably is me, Give me a lip.
I'll plug you. I'm speechless. All right, hand over the
parcel parcel. Oh yeah, the parcel head toss at the
back window. Okay, we've got it. The contents are intact.
(13:39):
Check with your stew I'm asking you. I held out
a dime. You want it?
Speaker 6 (13:44):
N you keep it as a tip. I didn't climb
over there, see it?
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Yeah, I see it. Well, start climbing it. What for exercise?
Be glad.
Speaker 6 (13:53):
I'm leaving you in shape to climb.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Watch me go. He watched me go, and then I
watched him go. No rare license plate I could read
he had black tape over it. I was up against
pretty resourceful competition. That much was very plain. And when
(14:20):
I finally escaped from my country exile, I organized a
progress chat with my client, missus Spira Baxter in an
apple orchard. They lived like that, the Lucky Baxter's the
big house in an apple orchid where the goldfish pond
left off.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
Then it's true.
Speaker 5 (14:37):
My husband is being black nailed.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
He's dancing to a handsome tune ten thousand so far
I can vouch for him.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
It's my nightmare.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Realized the leg man in the situation is a midget
with a watermelon for a dome. Man I saw following
me the same. Undoubtedly the gent ordering him around is
self conscious about his kissing, covers it up with the hankerchiefs.
But I caught one facial detail. Is No, it's a
pelican beak. Does that mean anything? No?
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Nothing, I've never seen anyone.
Speaker 5 (15:09):
My husband's in negotiation with just what I told.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
You, just letters, whispering, telephone calls and mysterious conferences in
the garage. Yes, that's right, missus Baxteron. Yes, mister Cray,
I'm study. I've only got one next approach. What your
husband JC himself grabbed the dog by the tail. I've
got to talk directly at him, Oh no, please, or
(15:33):
without involving you. He won't know you brought me into it.
What would you say? One artful dodge or another. I've
got a lot of experience at being noncommittal.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Well, all right, if you think you must, I have
to get.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
Back to the house now, I wait ten minutes and
then ring the doorbell. JAC looked as morose as a
guy could get and still want to live, face tight,
every muscle in place very close to the screaming Mimi.
I'll find your visit a little fantastic, mister Craik, In
(16:11):
my business, the fantastic is everyday's stuff.
Speaker 9 (16:13):
Do single me out why?
Speaker 3 (16:16):
How is what you really want to ask? How I
found my way to you. I'll only tell you what
I have so far. Let your imagination fill in the rest.
You're paying hush money. You threw ten thousand over the
rail at Ramapo Bridge. Now confide in me.
Speaker 9 (16:32):
I'll mind my own business and I'll thank you to
mind yours for your own site.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Backstare, any wrap is worth facing up to when the
alternative is getting into blackmail. Blackmailers keep coming back again
and again. You won't have a dime left or a
shred of self respect. My advice is open up and
get done with it. I did what you suggest, I
wouldn't have a shred of reputation. You lick your wounds,
(16:58):
take your lumps, and startle over again. Life's a long time.
You can fall down and get up. Now, who's blackmailing you?
And why nothing you say to you? Okay, then I'll go.
I'm in a puzzle to stay backster. I can be delayed,
(17:19):
but I can't be stopped. I'll be back with the
answers one day. Bet on it back to now. You're smart,
to get it off your chest. This is in strict confidence. Sorry,
I can't make blind promises.
Speaker 9 (17:38):
I was abroad three months ago. I became involved with
a young lady, A young lady tourist will platonically mind you,
nothing compromising.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
We were only companions. There were talks. I was lonely.
Speaker 9 (17:53):
There were dinners and walks on the promenade, visits to museums,
the tulip fields in Amsterdam, just a harmless devotion. But
the young lady tourist made more of it. She distorted
our situation. I've been receiving letters here at home, demands
for heart balm, redress her broken heart. I'd misrepresented my status,
(18:17):
had not told her I was already married. No foundation
in any of her claim, all eyes of blatant fakery.
I was only an escort, a friend. Why are you
paying blackmail to prevent scandal, to poor stall, any needless
hurt to vera my wife.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
You feel that vulnerable to pay tribute to a lie?
Speaker 9 (18:34):
My social and business situation is sensitive. My colleagues, all
of them blue nose is very provincial for the merest
breath of notoriety. And also my wife is a woman
of certain delicacy of spirit, the perverse sense of pride
and propriety. I could never make her understand vera would
turn against me. You see my trap?
Speaker 3 (18:56):
I see it all right, Only I'm not so sure
I believe it. You don't believe me. A man your
size in the world backs to top dog, a high
social level, howling business success. You don't figure to be
stupid enough to yield to a blackmail built on a
tissue of lies. No, I don't think I believe you.
That's very arbitrary of you. Whatever has got you playing
(19:19):
obliging sucker is motivated by something a lot more potent
than an old fashioned badger game. Now, this girl, what's
her name, I'll not disclose that to you, and you
will need to disclose what she's really got on you.
She and company that is already told you all there
is to tell. You've fed me a line of bunk.
Speaker 9 (19:37):
I'm sure you can find your way out.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Yeah, out and right back in. Watch for me. I'll
be back to tell you some of the things you've
left unsaid. Goodbye, Now, in due time I got to
identify backs to his young lady tourist. It wasn't too tough.
(20:00):
I accomplished same at the customs desk at the international airport.
The passenger list of the plane Baxter had returned from
abroad in three months before. Only one of the passengers
qualified for the description of young lady tourists. PAULA Wiley,
aged twenty three, residence Manhattan, New York, two sixteen Marlborough Heights.
(20:21):
I found Paul at home, at home and about to DeCamp,
dressed to go out, and two suitcases at the door.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Who did you say you were?
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Barry Craig my credentials police private investigator. I bring you
greetings from J. C. Baxter. Oh you're not going to
deny knowing.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
Jac How is mister Baxter?
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Oh he's got an ulcer growing in all directions? Where
were you going? Away?
Speaker 4 (20:51):
The the Aderondicks. I have a summer job.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Nice sad live.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
I suppose I should resent your talking.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
But you can't. Guilt's all over you like prickly saws.
I'll give you a choice. Choice, talk to me here
or let's do it at the tombs. The chairs are
more comfortable here. What am I being accused of blackmailing
JC Backster.
Speaker 4 (21:18):
He complained to you.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Uh, how else would I be?
Speaker 5 (21:22):
Why the dirty?
Speaker 4 (21:23):
Underhanded?
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Uh huh, I'll try to live up to your lady
like looks. What did Baxter tell you all kinds of things.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
It's still inconceivable to me that it dare.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Dare send me after you.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
Yes, you did say he engaged you.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Well call him up and ask him confirm it. Be
smart baby, hang Baxter with his own noose. What's Baxter
trying to scare you out of?
Speaker 4 (21:51):
I'm not sure you're not handing me a line.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Come on, or take the gamble you're gambling anyhow, blackmail
has its risks.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
I take you on good faith you won't get rich.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
I'm resigned to being poor. Baxter.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
I was with him in Amsterdam, Holland the Diamond Center.
We were picnicking and taking color pictures of the tulip fields.
But Baxter was there for another purpose, buying up diamonds,
industrial diamonds. He didn't know that I knew what he
was doing.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
You looked beautiful and dumb. You can guess the rest.
Baxter never declared the diamonds accustomed. He smuggled limited the
United States. Yes, and that's the real blackmail gimmick.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Now, the two gentlemen sharing your goal mine? Who were they?
I must you know that? Well? I like to know
all the company I keep.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
Ben Stacy, he's a sort of boyfriend. He handled all
the contacts with Baxter. I never personally appeared in the situation.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Well, h where does Stacy hang up.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Down the block the Baker apartments?
Speaker 3 (23:03):
And who is the little fellow with the pumpkinhead? Lou?
Speaker 4 (23:07):
Stacy uses Loo for odd jobs and other times Lou
works in the Imperial Bowling Alley. He's a pin boy.
Oh wait a minute, here for you money, five hundred dollars.
There'll be more for you another time.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Oh the things I could do with five hundred bucks.
Speaker 4 (23:30):
You're not going to refuse it?
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Take it. I'd lose my license, let alone my self respect.
Oh then you're a cop after all, you're a disillusion No.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
I half expected an outcome like this, but I took
for gamble. It's a funny thing. Yeah, my heart's never
been in the thing with Baxter. You see, it's my
maiden debut in crime.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
You're lucky, lucky, lucky to be caught first time out.
It could prevent your becoming a habitual criminal. Let's go
huh ah with Paula in custody. I looked up Ben
Stacy at the Baker apartments. No answer to the door buzzer.
(24:20):
A formal entrance doesn't pan out, you try an informal one,
which I did. I found Ben Stacy receiving at home.
He was in He'd just been playing Possum, Dead possum.
That is on the floor, flat on his back, face up,
(24:43):
and his eyes blind. The manner of death required no
guess work. Yet a hole on the side of his
skull the size of a quarter a bullet hole. There
was an ornamental touch to the course, a square of
gold glittering close by his shoe up gold cuffing, not Stacy's.
Stacy wasn't wearing French cuffs. The murderous cuplink apparently it
(25:07):
lay there like it had been lost in the struggle
between killer and victim. It took less than sixty seconds
to find the ten thousand dollars Stacy had relieved me
up on the highway. It lay on a bureau top
exposed to the casual eye. I had two brief calls
to make out of respect to the dead, the mog
and homicide in the tombs. Paula wept for the day.
Speaker 8 (25:35):
I got Stacy into this.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
It's my faulties dead.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
You cry like he meant something to you. I was
in a way in love with him. Did you maybe,
in a way kill him? Kill what possible reason eliminated
a partner? It happens, doll among the best of thieves.
You were going away when I caught you.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
Get out of here, Get out of here.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
In the Imperial Bowling Alley, the balloon headed stewge Lou
looked like he only wished you'd lift the queen.
Speaker 6 (26:13):
I can't leave handil six pm, mister the shorter pin.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Boys very said, so come around and see me then, huh,
sow a morning bet on your sleeve, louse, Hey, somebody died.
You're once in the wild boars Stacy, Stacy, what do
you want.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
To go and tell me?
Speaker 3 (26:31):
For you'd rather I hadn't.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
No, I won't be able to keep my mind on
the fence.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Better that way now you can concentrate on your troubles.
Speaker 6 (26:39):
Troubles you're fingering me for the Stacy killing.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
You're a suspect, chum. Please join me.
Speaker 6 (26:46):
Uh, while I set up the alley and lend a hand.
There are number four Huh, Like I told you the
shorthanded today.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
In the more fragrant setting, by the shade of ye
old apple tree, this is their backs to clutch her heart. Murder, murder,
it is. You really got a domestic nightmare now? Oh no,
you can't let your suspicion. I can't exclose your husband
as a suspect. He had a pretty impressive motive against Stacy.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
But he's incapable.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
He's a gentleman, an ungentle crook, a crook smuggler. I
should have said, but the characterization of your mister doesn't
really surprise you.
Speaker 5 (27:25):
No, no, it doesn't surprise now. Last night in my
husband's study, I pried open a drawer.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
What did you find?
Speaker 5 (27:35):
Diamonds?
Speaker 4 (27:37):
A bag full of diamonds.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
Diamonds he bought an Amsterdam and smuggled across. Your husband
had a little racket going for himself.
Speaker 5 (27:44):
It's incredible to think that he'd stoop.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
To profit the truth out in the open. That's what
you hired me for, Yes, the truth.
Speaker 5 (27:56):
I don't know how to live in fear.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
I sure you are go couffling this one. Can you
identify it? Well, I'm not sure. Your eyes tell me
you are sure no good trying to evade missus Baxter.
Speaker 5 (28:14):
It's a link to a set I gave my husband.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
I had them specially designed at our jewelers. Yeah, who
wouldn't fail.
Speaker 5 (28:25):
What does the cufflin mean, mister Craig.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
I can't say positively, but it could mean the chair
for J. C. Baxley. While the DA's office figured out
which it was, three was eligible for electrocution. Baxter Paul
or lou Missus Vera Baxter decided to be the best
(28:49):
wife a husband ever had. She was in my office
in the bright and early am.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
My husband couldn't have murdered this man, Stacy, Why not?
I believe the word is alibi.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
You can alibia his time.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
I can.
Speaker 5 (29:02):
Jay was at home with me all that day and evening.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
Well, that's a sudden thought.
Speaker 5 (29:08):
I was too upset to even think yesterday.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
You wouldn't be telling a big lie. I'll swear to
what I say.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
Jay couldn't have done this murder.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Funny thing. I'm inclined to agree with you. I've been
doing some clear thinking myself. You don't need to alibi
him to say them a nice try and a nice lie,
but unnecessary as it happens. Nor your husband couldn't have
done the murder. Neither could the other pair. Not the
other pair, Paula, oh Lou, you see wildly corps lay
(29:39):
on the floor. The ten thousand lay on the bureau
where I found it.
Speaker 5 (29:43):
I don't follow your reasoning.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
Neither Paula or Lou would eliminate Stacy and overlook the loot.
Only the loot could be their motive to kill. Cut
Stacy out, grab everything. And if your husband killed Stacy
to stop blackmail, he would cought the ten thousand dollars away,
not only to recover his money, but to provide a
red herring, make it look like a job done by
(30:05):
Paula or Lou.
Speaker 5 (30:06):
I'm glad you're exonerating my husband. If you also eliminate
the others, and who I boil it.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
Down to one last suspect? You me, uh huh? You
murdering Stacy to implicate your husband? Your revenge?
Speaker 5 (30:24):
What revenge would I want?
Speaker 3 (30:25):
Revenge for infidelity? You all along thought your husband was
paying blackmail to conceal in the discretion. You didn't know
in the last night that his actual crime was smuggling.
Not philandering with Paula, but smuggling. I'm afraid you played
some kind of a crazy joke on yourself, Lady.
Speaker 9 (30:46):
I don't know what to say, or.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
Don't say anything. Think for a long time, and when
you're through thinking, make a simple confession. Huh.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
You have a listening to William Gargan and another exciting
transcribed mystery drama from the Adventures of Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator.
Tonight's story, Murder by Error, was written by John Robert.
(31:36):
Next Week it's the strange story of Death's Little Helper,
about which Barry Craig has this to say.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
We call next week's story Death's Little Helper. It deals
with a beautiful girl and a couple of highly un
beautiful corpses and winds up when a killer realizes that
death doesn't need any help. Good night, folks, see you
next week.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
A National Broadcasting company has just brought you an NBC
Radio Network production William Gargan starring as Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator, directed.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
By Arthur Jacobson.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Also heard were Gene Bates, Julie Bennett, Herb Bigrant, hal
Gerard and Herb Ellas Eddie King speaking here Tonight's exciting
drag Net Adventurer on the NBC Radio Network.
Speaker 6 (32:47):
Welcome back.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
Well, this was a throwback to the era where criminals
were expected, or I guess this was kind of an
expectation on Barry Craig. The criminal would confess with out
proof that would be very convincing to the police or
to a jury, but more out of guilt and remorse
(33:09):
about the horrible mistake that's been made. All right, Well,
now we turn to listener comments and feedback, and we
have a voicemail. Let's go ahead and we'll take a
listen to it here.
Speaker 7 (33:23):
Adam, this is a Hutch from Chicago. I have a
question for you regarding have you ever heard of it?
You probably heard him of them all Becker House detectives.
Do you know any history on it? How many they were?
I don't think it's all that old, but you know,
doesn't seem to be very much of many of them.
And if you have been, where do you do? Thanks
for earlier work this great stuff.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
By well, thanks so much for the question. Hotch In
answer the voicemail or to the voicemail. One of my
favorite science for finding out about detective series just kind
of getting raw sketches is a thrilling detective dot com
(34:04):
And the series becker House Detective was a CBC radio
series and it was set in nineteen twenty three and
it only lasted for thirteen episodes, so according to their
(34:24):
log from April sixth nineteen ninety six to June twenty
ninth of nineteen ninety six, so a fairly recent show.
Thirteen and episodes. Are quite a few CBC series that
only lasted that long, and you'll find old time Radio
(34:46):
and a wide variety of different radio programs had this
and some television series have their little number of episodes
divisible by thirteen, thirteen, twenty six and thirty nine.
Speaker 3 (35:08):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
This is particularly popular with the syndicated shows. That way,
they could easily be sold in chunks to networks. So
there were thirteen episodes from Best I Can Tell and
released in nineteen ninety six. Well, thanks so much for
the question. All right, Well that will do it for
(35:31):
us today. We will be back tomorrow with the last
episode of Christopher London and we'll be taking a listen
to Poirot over old Time Over. Old Time Radio started
next week, so be sure to be listening next Tuesday
for that and the meanwhile, send your comments Box thirteen
(35:52):
at great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at
Radio Detectives, and give us a call to eight nine
nine one four seven eight three. But from boys Iadaho,
this is your host, Adam graham Son and off
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment,
email it to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net.
Give me a call two eight nine nine one four
seven eight three, and become one of our friends on Facebook,
Facebook dot com Slash Radio Detectives. While our listeners support
(00:50):
campaign continues, I want to thank everyone who's sent in
UH donations, and I want to recognize Harold from up
in Alberta, Canada who sends in donation, and we will
be sending along access to the premium sign as we
do for all donations of seven dollars more, and will
also be providing access to a Herald's choice of several
(01:15):
great extras. Throughout the year, we provide access to our
premium site, but during our listener support campaign for those
who give twenty dollars or more, we give several choices.
At the twenty dollars level, we have access to your
choice of several colonial radio theater dramas, including Perry Mason Gettysburg.
(01:40):
I listen to that Gettysburg program, very very moving and
well done. Zoro and the Pirate Raiders or any two
Twilight Zone episodes, and at the fifty dollars level, those
living in the US can receive an autograph copy of
Tales of the Damn Night. Also, we can provide Amazon
(02:03):
dot com gift card good for the purchase of one
of several Pua rot movies through instant Video. And at
the one hundred dollars level, we have available a Great
Radio Archives dot Com gift certificate that will allow you
to get instant download of any of their great Radio sets,
(02:23):
including Let George Do It, Philip Marlowe, and many more.
More information is available on all the available thank you
gifts at support dot Great Detectors dot net. The campaign
runs just through the end of next week so or
through the end of this week so March third. Have
your donations in. If you'd like to mail in a donation,
(02:45):
email to me Box thirteen at Great Detectors dot net
and I can provide you a mailing address for that purpose.
All right, Well, now it is time for today's episode
of Barry Craig Confidential Investigator, and this one's call Murder
by Error.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
William Gargan stars as Barry Craig Confidential Investigator.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Distemper is a human failing. But don't ever try blowing
the lid of your coffin. You'll only frustrate yourself.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
A National Broadcasting Company presents William Gargan in another transcribed
drama of mystery and adventure with America's number one detective
Barry Craig Confidential Investigator.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Barry Craig speaking, a long legged blonde follows you to
the end of the earth. Don't always feel flatted, friend,
she might only be tailing you. Such was my case
on the public streets one sultry summer's evening, A doll
panting up to me, but keeping a discreete fifty or
(04:17):
so yard between us. I got a look at her
face without turning around. How a gimmick standing with cops
a pocket mirror held in front of me. My Priscilla
was good looking, with twin dimples in her cheeks and
an aristocratic hook to her eyebrows. I let her follow
me into a cocktail lounge. Inside I watched a fidget
(04:39):
at the far end of the mahogany bar for a
couple of minutes. When the sweat began to spoil her makeup,
I've joined the Hello, you're wrong if you if I
confuse you with a pickup. I don't well, m cry
wolf if I'm wrong. But I get the impression we've
been inseparable for hours. Ins I left my office at
(05:02):
three forty five. I've been east, north, south, and west,
and now it's five point fifteen. In all that time,
the shadow WI through was you? Well, yeah, you're right.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
I couldn't help it follow you.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
I'm your dream man, meant nothing personal. Oh that deflates me,
if I can explain?
Speaker 5 (05:22):
Do at three forty five outside your office building, I
didn't dare come up?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Why not?
Speaker 5 (05:27):
I discovered that.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
I myself was being followed. Oh, you were strongly recommended
to me as a confidential investigator I could.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Trust to epliciitly to whom do I owe that bouquet?
Speaker 5 (05:39):
Never mind, I've followed you hoping we could eventually talk
somewhere without being observed.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
What makes you think we're alone with each other? Now?
Speaker 4 (05:49):
What might.
Speaker 5 (05:52):
You mean?
Speaker 4 (05:52):
A prisoner follow me?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
I do me. I haven't seen the last hour. Shadows
don't generally quit any more than you did. Now look around,
he's not in here. Describe it.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Unusually small man with an enormous head.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Totally bald.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
He wore an odd candy striped suit.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
You're describing a freak It did look freakish. Yes, tell me, lady,
how do you feel generally?
Speaker 4 (06:25):
I'm quite saying believe me, which.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Brings us to your problem.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
Yes, more precisely my husband's problem.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Well, introduce yourself, VERA Baxter. My husband is J. C. Baxter.
You say that like J. C. Baxter is a muck.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
A muck my husband is someone substantial.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Rich, upper class, a figure in the business world, all
of those things.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
Yes, he hasn't been himself for months.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
He's morose, secreted, you can't eat, you can't sleep.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
I believe my husband and submitting to blackmail.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Does JC know you're aware of the situation.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
No, he doesn't know.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
He's always been violent on the subject of his own privacy,
his own private affairs.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
He's a quite.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
Unfrightened for him and for myself.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Then you want me to pinpoint what it is that
has your husband and the toils.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
Watch him, follow him if need be, see who the
persons are who telephone him, molest.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Him, and.
Speaker 5 (07:27):
If humanly possible, help my husband out of his predicament.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Don't you maybe mean if morally possible a fellow yielding
to blackmail. He's generally a little dirty himself. I played
tail on the monkey to J. C. Baxter for thirty
six hours on foot, then by automotive, JC leading the
(07:53):
parade and an expensive custom job, hot job me rattling
behind him and the gelope. No self respect junkie would
even buy for salvage. I knew the trip wasn't just
a waste of gas by the route. JAC was taking
all back roads in the fringe areas where the city
began to look like the Sahara Desert. I watched him
(08:13):
slow up crossing a small bridge. I could guess what
JC was up to on the bridge even before I
saw the parcel go sailing over the bridge rail. I
let him speed off before I stopped. A familiar payoff pattern,
money thrown into a specified area. A blackmailer wanted doe
(08:34):
but didn't want to be identified taking it off. I
went to see how much was in the parcel. From
the weight to the parcel, there was plenty. Plenty was
an understatement. I only needed to look to estimate the
payoff at ten thousand dollars, no bill bigger than a
(08:56):
twenty I restored the parcel. Anonymous caller would find it
in the bushes below the bridge. He'd find the dough,
and he'd also find me. The moon was out and
(09:17):
the cricket serenade was going full key when somebody came
looking for the money. Little guy not too much taller
than the reeds, the big round head to m the
size of a circus balloon. When he finally found the parcel,
I found him flush on the jaws. He came to
(09:45):
with his balloon head noticeably deflated. He had a complaint
from the ear, and I'm bleeding from the heart, and
I get uncontrollable fits of violence. Who are you a cop?
Your name? Lo?
Speaker 6 (10:04):
What two hard to pronounce?
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Make a tryadder zyme a plenty zyma putt well, it'll
settle for a low.
Speaker 7 (10:13):
Yeah. I figured you.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Would now tell me why J. C. Baxter thinks your
silence it's worth ten thousand dollars to him? Why? JC?
Who is what the ten grand you had your fat
little hands on and this parcel? Why do you rate it?
Speaker 6 (10:28):
Let me take this slow. Huh. You're telling me there's
ten thousand dollars real money in that bundle? I am,
And then it's coming to me.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
You had possession, I would want to count you.
Speaker 6 (10:39):
Sure, sure I had it? All right, there's no doubt
as to that.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Only I thought it was just some old paper work
up a neck. You'll only promote yourself into bleeding all over, mister.
Speaker 6 (10:49):
Let me tell you, I only came down here looking.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
For all newspaper.
Speaker 8 (10:53):
What for for the frogs, so I could make a
bundle when I catch him, catch frogs. It's see over there,
every boy, the pond so frogs when the moon is full,
like now, there's millions of frogs here. See this flashlight
I got on me?
Speaker 3 (11:11):
What about it?
Speaker 8 (11:11):
Well, I sneak over to the bank there and I
shine the flashlight right in her eye.
Speaker 6 (11:16):
It hypnotizes the frogs. All I have to do is
pick them up and rot them.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Now, what do you want with frogs?
Speaker 8 (11:23):
The valential laboratory over on Mercer Boulevard, you know the
medical students.
Speaker 6 (11:27):
I get a quarter for every frog.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
That's your story.
Speaker 6 (11:31):
Yeah, so you see you you got a case of
mistaken intemnity.
Speaker 8 (11:35):
You don't want lose Ziparticus thanks my own name had me.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Yeah, we can fix that.
Speaker 6 (11:44):
How's that?
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Shorten it? Shorten it to a number let's go, irregardless,
I'm pinched, huh, irregardless. Come on, the frogs won't miss you.
(12:05):
Riding back to turn with my frogman and custoday Montelope
began to shake, as if age and abuse had finally gotten.
Speaker 6 (12:12):
Hey, he's shimming him from side to side.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Yeah. The wheels are wobbling front and rear like old age.
All the boats work loose.
Speaker 6 (12:21):
Hey, come on, stop before we turn over. You said
arrest me. He didn't say kill me.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
The boats had come loose a right minute. You lost
four wheels, yeah, but not from natural causes, buster, not
human hands. Did this while I was down on the
reeds pollywogging with you. Hey, why would somebody answer? That's
in the car now approaching? You want to bet? The
(12:55):
guy behind the wheel with a big beat, pushing through
a handkerchief he wore as a mask. The play was his?
Who wanted to argue with a gun?
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Now?
Speaker 6 (13:03):
You they're shorty me?
Speaker 9 (13:05):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (13:06):
You climbing on my boat? Me switch cons you're rescued
by the boss.
Speaker 6 (13:11):
Is it you talking? One air comes out the oer
right now. I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Sure, you only know from frogs liar song now you
big stuff that presumably is me, Give me a lip.
I'll plug you. I'm speechless. All right, hand over the
parcel parcel. Oh yeah, the parcel head toss at the
back window. Okay, we've got it. The contents are intact.
(13:39):
Check with your stew I'm asking you. I held out
a dime. You want it?
Speaker 6 (13:44):
N you keep it as a tip. I didn't climb
over there, see it?
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Yeah, I see it. Well, start climbing it. What for exercise?
Be glad.
Speaker 6 (13:53):
I'm leaving you in shape to climb.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Watch me go. He watched me go, and then I
watched him go. No rare license plate I could read
he had black tape over it. I was up against
pretty resourceful competition. That much was very plain. And when
(14:20):
I finally escaped from my country exile, I organized a
progress chat with my client, missus Spira Baxter in an
apple orchard. They lived like that, the Lucky Baxter's the
big house in an apple orchid where the goldfish pond
left off.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
Then it's true.
Speaker 5 (14:37):
My husband is being black nailed.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
He's dancing to a handsome tune ten thousand so far
I can vouch for him.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
It's my nightmare.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Realized the leg man in the situation is a midget
with a watermelon for a dome. Man I saw following
me the same. Undoubtedly the gent ordering him around is
self conscious about his kissing, covers it up with the hankerchiefs.
But I caught one facial detail. Is No, it's a
pelican beak. Does that mean anything? No?
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Nothing, I've never seen anyone.
Speaker 5 (15:09):
My husband's in negotiation with just what I told.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
You, just letters, whispering, telephone calls and mysterious conferences in
the garage. Yes, that's right, missus Baxteron. Yes, mister Cray,
I'm study. I've only got one next approach. What your
husband JC himself grabbed the dog by the tail. I've
got to talk directly at him, Oh no, please, or
(15:33):
without involving you. He won't know you brought me into it.
What would you say? One artful dodge or another. I've
got a lot of experience at being noncommittal.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Well, all right, if you think you must, I have
to get.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
Back to the house now, I wait ten minutes and
then ring the doorbell. JAC looked as morose as a
guy could get and still want to live, face tight,
every muscle in place very close to the screaming Mimi.
I'll find your visit a little fantastic, mister Craik, In
(16:11):
my business, the fantastic is everyday's stuff.
Speaker 9 (16:13):
Do single me out why?
Speaker 3 (16:16):
How is what you really want to ask? How I
found my way to you. I'll only tell you what
I have so far. Let your imagination fill in the rest.
You're paying hush money. You threw ten thousand over the
rail at Ramapo Bridge. Now confide in me.
Speaker 9 (16:32):
I'll mind my own business and I'll thank you to
mind yours for your own site.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Backstare, any wrap is worth facing up to when the
alternative is getting into blackmail. Blackmailers keep coming back again
and again. You won't have a dime left or a
shred of self respect. My advice is open up and
get done with it. I did what you suggest, I
wouldn't have a shred of reputation. You lick your wounds,
(16:58):
take your lumps, and startle over again. Life's a long time.
You can fall down and get up. Now, who's blackmailing you?
And why nothing you say to you? Okay, then I'll go.
I'm in a puzzle to stay backster. I can be delayed,
(17:19):
but I can't be stopped. I'll be back with the
answers one day. Bet on it back to now. You're smart,
to get it off your chest. This is in strict confidence. Sorry,
I can't make blind promises.
Speaker 9 (17:38):
I was abroad three months ago. I became involved with
a young lady, A young lady tourist will platonically mind you,
nothing compromising.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
We were only companions. There were talks. I was lonely.
Speaker 9 (17:53):
There were dinners and walks on the promenade, visits to museums,
the tulip fields in Amsterdam, just a harmless devotion. But
the young lady tourist made more of it. She distorted
our situation. I've been receiving letters here at home, demands
for heart balm, redress her broken heart. I'd misrepresented my status,
(18:17):
had not told her I was already married. No foundation
in any of her claim, all eyes of blatant fakery.
I was only an escort, a friend. Why are you
paying blackmail to prevent scandal, to poor stall, any needless
hurt to vera my wife.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
You feel that vulnerable to pay tribute to a lie?
Speaker 9 (18:34):
My social and business situation is sensitive. My colleagues, all
of them blue nose is very provincial for the merest
breath of notoriety. And also my wife is a woman
of certain delicacy of spirit, the perverse sense of pride
and propriety. I could never make her understand vera would
turn against me. You see my trap?
Speaker 3 (18:56):
I see it all right, Only I'm not so sure
I believe it. You don't believe me. A man your
size in the world backs to top dog, a high
social level, howling business success. You don't figure to be
stupid enough to yield to a blackmail built on a
tissue of lies. No, I don't think I believe you.
That's very arbitrary of you. Whatever has got you playing
(19:19):
obliging sucker is motivated by something a lot more potent
than an old fashioned badger game. Now, this girl, what's
her name, I'll not disclose that to you, and you
will need to disclose what she's really got on you.
She and company that is already told you all there
is to tell. You've fed me a line of bunk.
Speaker 9 (19:37):
I'm sure you can find your way out.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Yeah, out and right back in. Watch for me. I'll
be back to tell you some of the things you've
left unsaid. Goodbye, Now, in due time I got to
identify backs to his young lady tourist. It wasn't too tough.
(20:00):
I accomplished same at the customs desk at the international airport.
The passenger list of the plane Baxter had returned from
abroad in three months before. Only one of the passengers
qualified for the description of young lady tourists. PAULA Wiley,
aged twenty three, residence Manhattan, New York, two sixteen Marlborough Heights.
(20:21):
I found Paul at home, at home and about to DeCamp,
dressed to go out, and two suitcases at the door.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Who did you say you were?
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Barry Craig my credentials police private investigator. I bring you
greetings from J. C. Baxter. Oh you're not going to
deny knowing.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
Jac How is mister Baxter?
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Oh he's got an ulcer growing in all directions? Where
were you going? Away?
Speaker 4 (20:51):
The the Aderondicks. I have a summer job.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Nice sad live.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
I suppose I should resent your talking.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
But you can't. Guilt's all over you like prickly saws.
I'll give you a choice. Choice, talk to me here
or let's do it at the tombs. The chairs are
more comfortable here. What am I being accused of blackmailing
JC Backster.
Speaker 4 (21:18):
He complained to you.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Uh, how else would I be?
Speaker 5 (21:22):
Why the dirty?
Speaker 4 (21:23):
Underhanded?
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Uh huh, I'll try to live up to your lady
like looks. What did Baxter tell you all kinds of things.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
It's still inconceivable to me that it dare.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Dare send me after you.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
Yes, you did say he engaged you.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Well call him up and ask him confirm it. Be
smart baby, hang Baxter with his own noose. What's Baxter
trying to scare you out of?
Speaker 4 (21:51):
I'm not sure you're not handing me a line.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Come on, or take the gamble you're gambling anyhow, blackmail
has its risks.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
I take you on good faith you won't get rich.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
I'm resigned to being poor. Baxter.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
I was with him in Amsterdam, Holland the Diamond Center.
We were picnicking and taking color pictures of the tulip fields.
But Baxter was there for another purpose, buying up diamonds,
industrial diamonds. He didn't know that I knew what he
was doing.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
You looked beautiful and dumb. You can guess the rest.
Baxter never declared the diamonds accustomed. He smuggled limited the
United States. Yes, and that's the real blackmail gimmick.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Now, the two gentlemen sharing your goal mine? Who were they?
I must you know that? Well? I like to know
all the company I keep.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
Ben Stacy, he's a sort of boyfriend. He handled all
the contacts with Baxter. I never personally appeared in the situation.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Well, h where does Stacy hang up.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Down the block the Baker apartments?
Speaker 3 (23:03):
And who is the little fellow with the pumpkinhead? Lou?
Speaker 4 (23:07):
Stacy uses Loo for odd jobs and other times Lou
works in the Imperial Bowling Alley. He's a pin boy.
Oh wait a minute, here for you money, five hundred dollars.
There'll be more for you another time.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Oh the things I could do with five hundred bucks.
Speaker 4 (23:30):
You're not going to refuse it?
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Take it. I'd lose my license, let alone my self respect.
Oh then you're a cop after all, you're a disillusion No.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
I half expected an outcome like this, but I took
for gamble. It's a funny thing. Yeah, my heart's never
been in the thing with Baxter. You see, it's my
maiden debut in crime.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
You're lucky, lucky, lucky to be caught first time out.
It could prevent your becoming a habitual criminal. Let's go
huh ah with Paula in custody. I looked up Ben
Stacy at the Baker apartments. No answer to the door buzzer.
(24:20):
A formal entrance doesn't pan out, you try an informal one,
which I did. I found Ben Stacy receiving at home.
He was in He'd just been playing Possum, Dead possum.
That is on the floor, flat on his back, face up,
(24:43):
and his eyes blind. The manner of death required no
guess work. Yet a hole on the side of his
skull the size of a quarter a bullet hole. There
was an ornamental touch to the course, a square of
gold glittering close by his shoe up gold cuffing, not Stacy's.
Stacy wasn't wearing French cuffs. The murderous cuplink apparently it
(25:07):
lay there like it had been lost in the struggle
between killer and victim. It took less than sixty seconds
to find the ten thousand dollars Stacy had relieved me
up on the highway. It lay on a bureau top
exposed to the casual eye. I had two brief calls
to make out of respect to the dead, the mog
and homicide in the tombs. Paula wept for the day.
Speaker 8 (25:35):
I got Stacy into this.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
It's my faulties dead.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
You cry like he meant something to you. I was
in a way in love with him. Did you maybe,
in a way kill him? Kill what possible reason eliminated
a partner? It happens, doll among the best of thieves.
You were going away when I caught you.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
Get out of here, Get out of here.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
In the Imperial Bowling Alley, the balloon headed stewge Lou
looked like he only wished you'd lift the queen.
Speaker 6 (26:13):
I can't leave handil six pm, mister the shorter pin.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Boys very said, so come around and see me then, huh,
sow a morning bet on your sleeve, louse, Hey, somebody died.
You're once in the wild boars Stacy, Stacy, what do
you want.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
To go and tell me?
Speaker 3 (26:31):
For you'd rather I hadn't.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
No, I won't be able to keep my mind on
the fence.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Better that way now you can concentrate on your troubles.
Speaker 6 (26:39):
Troubles you're fingering me for the Stacy killing.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
You're a suspect, chum. Please join me.
Speaker 6 (26:46):
Uh, while I set up the alley and lend a hand.
There are number four Huh, Like I told you the
shorthanded today.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
In the more fragrant setting, by the shade of ye
old apple tree, this is their backs to clutch her heart. Murder, murder,
it is. You really got a domestic nightmare now? Oh no,
you can't let your suspicion. I can't exclose your husband
as a suspect. He had a pretty impressive motive against Stacy.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
But he's incapable.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
He's a gentleman, an ungentle crook, a crook smuggler. I
should have said, but the characterization of your mister doesn't
really surprise you.
Speaker 5 (27:25):
No, no, it doesn't surprise now. Last night in my
husband's study, I pried open a drawer.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
What did you find?
Speaker 5 (27:35):
Diamonds?
Speaker 4 (27:37):
A bag full of diamonds.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
Diamonds he bought an Amsterdam and smuggled across. Your husband
had a little racket going for himself.
Speaker 5 (27:44):
It's incredible to think that he'd stoop.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
To profit the truth out in the open. That's what
you hired me for, Yes, the truth.
Speaker 5 (27:56):
I don't know how to live in fear.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
I sure you are go couffling this one. Can you
identify it? Well, I'm not sure. Your eyes tell me
you are sure no good trying to evade missus Baxter.
Speaker 5 (28:14):
It's a link to a set I gave my husband.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
I had them specially designed at our jewelers. Yeah, who
wouldn't fail.
Speaker 5 (28:25):
What does the cufflin mean, mister Craig.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
I can't say positively, but it could mean the chair
for J. C. Baxley. While the DA's office figured out
which it was, three was eligible for electrocution. Baxter Paul
or lou Missus Vera Baxter decided to be the best
(28:49):
wife a husband ever had. She was in my office
in the bright and early am.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
My husband couldn't have murdered this man, Stacy, Why not?
I believe the word is alibi.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
You can alibia his time.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
I can.
Speaker 5 (29:02):
Jay was at home with me all that day and evening.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
Well, that's a sudden thought.
Speaker 5 (29:08):
I was too upset to even think yesterday.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
You wouldn't be telling a big lie. I'll swear to
what I say.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
Jay couldn't have done this murder.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Funny thing. I'm inclined to agree with you. I've been
doing some clear thinking myself. You don't need to alibi
him to say them a nice try and a nice lie,
but unnecessary as it happens. Nor your husband couldn't have
done the murder. Neither could the other pair. Not the
other pair, Paula, oh Lou, you see wildly corps lay
(29:39):
on the floor. The ten thousand lay on the bureau
where I found it.
Speaker 5 (29:43):
I don't follow your reasoning.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
Neither Paula or Lou would eliminate Stacy and overlook the loot.
Only the loot could be their motive to kill. Cut
Stacy out, grab everything. And if your husband killed Stacy
to stop blackmail, he would cought the ten thousand dollars away,
not only to recover his money, but to provide a
red herring, make it look like a job done by
(30:05):
Paula or Lou.
Speaker 5 (30:06):
I'm glad you're exonerating my husband. If you also eliminate
the others, and who I boil it.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
Down to one last suspect? You me, uh huh? You
murdering Stacy to implicate your husband? Your revenge?
Speaker 5 (30:24):
What revenge would I want?
Speaker 3 (30:25):
Revenge for infidelity? You all along thought your husband was
paying blackmail to conceal in the discretion. You didn't know
in the last night that his actual crime was smuggling.
Not philandering with Paula, but smuggling. I'm afraid you played
some kind of a crazy joke on yourself, Lady.
Speaker 9 (30:46):
I don't know what to say, or.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
Don't say anything. Think for a long time, and when
you're through thinking, make a simple confession. Huh.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
You have a listening to William Gargan and another exciting
transcribed mystery drama from the Adventures of Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator.
Tonight's story, Murder by Error, was written by John Robert.
(31:36):
Next Week it's the strange story of Death's Little Helper,
about which Barry Craig has this to say.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
We call next week's story Death's Little Helper. It deals
with a beautiful girl and a couple of highly un
beautiful corpses and winds up when a killer realizes that
death doesn't need any help. Good night, folks, see you
next week.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
A National Broadcasting company has just brought you an NBC
Radio Network production William Gargan starring as Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator, directed.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
By Arthur Jacobson.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Also heard were Gene Bates, Julie Bennett, Herb Bigrant, hal
Gerard and Herb Ellas Eddie King speaking here Tonight's exciting
drag Net Adventurer on the NBC Radio Network.
Speaker 6 (32:47):
Welcome back.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
Well, this was a throwback to the era where criminals
were expected, or I guess this was kind of an
expectation on Barry Craig. The criminal would confess with out
proof that would be very convincing to the police or
to a jury, but more out of guilt and remorse
(33:09):
about the horrible mistake that's been made. All right, Well,
now we turn to listener comments and feedback, and we
have a voicemail. Let's go ahead and we'll take a
listen to it here.
Speaker 7 (33:23):
Adam, this is a Hutch from Chicago. I have a
question for you regarding have you ever heard of it?
You probably heard him of them all Becker House detectives.
Do you know any history on it? How many they were?
I don't think it's all that old, but you know,
doesn't seem to be very much of many of them.
And if you have been, where do you do? Thanks
for earlier work this great stuff.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
By well, thanks so much for the question. Hotch In
answer the voicemail or to the voicemail. One of my
favorite science for finding out about detective series just kind
of getting raw sketches is a thrilling detective dot com
(34:04):
And the series becker House Detective was a CBC radio
series and it was set in nineteen twenty three and
it only lasted for thirteen episodes, so according to their
(34:24):
log from April sixth nineteen ninety six to June twenty
ninth of nineteen ninety six, so a fairly recent show.
Thirteen and episodes. Are quite a few CBC series that
only lasted that long, and you'll find old time Radio
(34:46):
and a wide variety of different radio programs had this
and some television series have their little number of episodes
divisible by thirteen, thirteen, twenty six and thirty nine.
Speaker 3 (35:08):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
This is particularly popular with the syndicated shows. That way,
they could easily be sold in chunks to networks. So
there were thirteen episodes from Best I Can Tell and
released in nineteen ninety six. Well, thanks so much for
the question. All right, Well that will do it for
(35:31):
us today. We will be back tomorrow with the last
episode of Christopher London and we'll be taking a listen
to Poirot over old Time Over. Old Time Radio started
next week, so be sure to be listening next Tuesday
for that and the meanwhile, send your comments Box thirteen
(35:52):
at great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at
Radio Detectives, and give us a call to eight nine
nine one four seven eight three. But from boys Iadaho,
this is your host, Adam graham Son and off
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