July 16, 2024 • 39 mins
Today's Mystery:Captain Drummond leaves town on a train. A man dies while asking him to be paged at the train station. Denny hires his own valet and sets out to solve the case himself.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: August 13, 1945
Originating in New York
Starring: Luis Van Rooten as Denny
Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Cathy, Patreon Supporter since February 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
Original Radio Broadcast Date: August 13, 1945
Originating in New York
Starring: Luis Van Rooten as Denny
Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Cathy, Patreon Supporter since February 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
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:28):
Welcome to the Great Detectives of OldTime Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham.If you have a comment, email it
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectivesdot net. Follow us on Twitter at
Radio Detectives, and check us outon Instagram, Instagram, dot com,
(00:54):
slash Great Detectives. If you're enjoyingthe podcast, please follow us using your
our favorite podcast software. I dowant to encourage you to check out our
other podcasts. Today, I'm focusingon public domain video Theater, where for
the foreseeable future we will be featuringepisodes of Racket Squad as well as the
(01:15):
Bulldog Drumming movies from the late nineteenthirties. You can check those out Video
Theater dot Great Detectives dot net,or it's one of the featured playlists on
our YouTube page. Well, nowit is time for this week's episode of
Bulldog Drumming. The original air dateAugust thirteenth, nineteen forty five, and
(01:38):
the title is help Want It Outof the Fox, Out of the Knights
(02:19):
comes another Bulldog Drumming story. Friendsof billion dollars is a lot of money
(03:23):
yet right now, the payment ofabove sealing prices is adding one billion dollars
a year to America's food bill.Remember, those dollars are made up of
pennies. Now, a few penniesover the sealing price may not seem very
important at the time, but itis. Every penny is one more linked
in the dangerous chain which leads toinflation and then to depression. So help
(03:49):
to break that change. One ofthe most important helps is for you to
check the sealing prices, which arelisted in every grocery store. Check the
list and don't pay one more.Watched every penny for every penny counts.
(04:18):
And now to tell us about ournewest adventure. Here he is on MESA
if you don't mind, yes,Penny, I'm going to release this story.
You see, I have Captain Drummond'spermission, or he'll be here next
week as usual to tell about anotheradventure. But this story is more or
less my own. All right,Penny, go right ahead, thank you,
(04:38):
sir. I call this story helpWanted. Began one morning when Captain
Drummond and I were separating for thefirst time in our long association. He
was going on a highly secret governmentmission alone Police Inspector Hogan and I saw
him off on the train. Well, Denny, he's on his way,
(05:02):
yes, Inspector, and I supposeI might as well go home. Captain
Drummer calling Captain Drummond. My word, what's that? Captain Drummond. Please
come to the station master's office immediately. It is urgent, oh dear,
and Captain Drummond's on the train.Come on, Denny, we'll see what
the call is about. The stationmaster's office is right over here. You
(05:25):
are walking in the station master's office. What in the world you suppose it's
about, Inspector Hogan. Well,it's only a guess, but maybe Drummond
left some excitement behind to keep youbusy. Here's the place after you inspect
that. Okay, Well there wasa call for Captain Drummond. That's right.
Well he just left on a train. I'm his man, Denny,
(05:46):
and I'm Inspector Holgan Police Department.What's wrong? Come come into the inner
office please sure, go ahead,Denny, Yeah, thank you, Oh,
inspected Look that man on the couch, he's dead, Oh dear.
He collapsed in the waiting room.Just before he died. He asked for
Captain Drummond. I knew Drummond wasleading down today, so I paged him
(06:08):
over the train, announcing sisters aminute. Here here's his wallet, Frederick
Trent, Frederick Tramp. Oh,yes, I knew i'd seen him before,
the Trent Trio. It's a Voordevillenightclub act. They're sharpshooters, he
explained at the Orphan this week,Inspector, Look at the man's arms.
Here's hypodermic punctures. What about them? Why it's obvious, isn't it Frederick
(06:32):
Trent was murdered. Non, I'llhold everything, Denny. Don't go jumping
to conclusions, and don't go findingany clues. I'll have the body taken
to the LORG and the medical examinerwill decide the cause of death. That's
his business. You'll find out thatI'm correct, Inspector. I intend to
follow through on this case, justas Captain Drummond would. Just a moment,
(07:06):
please, I'm coming. Yes,The Employment Bureau sent me over.
Oh I've been expecting you come in, nice joint. What kind of guy
is the force? Why some peoplefind me rather charming? Or the social
error is on me? Force?The agency said they were sending over a
(07:29):
qualified ballot. That's me you'll overHubert, the perfect Gentleman's gentleman, Hubert,
Yeah, Hubert and no cracks.Well, perhaps I should explain.
For years I've been Captain Hugh Rummond'sman. He's out of town on important
cases, come up to see andI'm acting in his place. I get
it. You're you're you're in themain bout. So you want me to
(07:53):
take your place in the preliminary Yes, now about your qualifications. In years
on my last job, that's along time. Yeah, and I'd still
have that job only to stay invitedLemon's White to spend ten years in the
penitentiary. Lemon's White, the oneand only king of the slot machine racket.
Oh what a guy he was.I was sort of a bodyguard too.
(08:18):
You're just a man I'm looking for. Then it's a deal with time
and a half for overtime. Whatdo I do foist? Hubert? You
and I are going to pay avisit to them all. We're in a
bed the Morgue. Yes, it'sthe first stop on the road that will
lead us to the capture of avicious killer. I'll answer that, boss.
(08:41):
Hello, Inspector Hogan, He Iain't done nothing anywhere. Oh oh
yeah, sure he's right here.It's for you, boss, and my
glad. Thank you, Hello,inspect her. Oh, Denny, he
just got the medical examinar's report.Listen to what it says because of death
(09:05):
diabetic shock. Yes, I see, but what about the hypodemic puncture?
Moms? Well then he red Trenthad diabetes, but he is. He's
been treating himself like a lot ofdiabetics too. He injected into an into
his arm on regular schedule. No, dear, so there goes your murder
case right off the well known window. Hey, yes, Inspector, I'm
(09:28):
afraid you're right. Oh well,did you hear that, Huban? Yeah
I did. Boss. Look,I'd like to fix your drink to cheer
you up. No, Hubert,thank you, that's the same. Well
I suppose by this time, CaptainDrummond keep my telegram. He knows what
a blunderer I am. What cheerup? Pass Drummon is going to be
(09:50):
away for a week. Maybe somethingelse, excitement will toin up, Maybe
opportunity will knock on adore a kayor ring our doorbell. I got it
telegram for you. I'm here.Oh sure, we don't tip here bud.
But thanks opportunity. What's that skipit telegram for you? Boss?
(10:13):
Yes? I know, probably fromCaptain Drumming. Don't you want to see
what it says? Not particularly wellon account of I am naturally suspicious by
nature? Do you mind if Itake a gander? Ready? No,
not at all human oo che oryou're right it's from Drumming. Hey boss,
(10:35):
we're back in the running. Whatlisten? It is a diabetic could
be killed by depriving him of insulin. Moider angle still possible. Suggest you
follow through, investigate all likely suspects. Drummer? I, well, it
could still be murdered. You know, I felt that that's male intuition.
(10:58):
There's nothing it's eight thirty. Wemust hurry, come along. You went
show a burst? But where theOrphium Theater? There's still time to make
the last show. Our story continuesand just a moment, and now back
(13:03):
to Denny and the story he calledhelp Watten with bull dog Drummond out of
town. Denny has interested himself andthat's of Frederick Trent. Denny has hired
an assistant named Hubert. They've setout to prove that Trent's death was murder,
and they have arrived at the theaterwhere the Trent Priole Sharpshooting act is
(13:24):
playing. It's a different time,Guban. The Trent actors on the stage
now shooting. This makes me knowhe is boss. I'm sensitive to thank
you. Miss. You don't mind. We will stand here in the fact.
Yes, that Gool on the stage. She must be readA Cooper of
(13:48):
the Trench brother's assistant. She's youmight say, yeah and double in speech
quite a day, but she mustbe creating. Let the guys she play
pipes out of her hands. Yo. Bet just occurred to me that I
neglected to think of a motive ina connection with Frederick French's death. Yeah,
I guess we ought to have amotive. Sure, just like when
(14:09):
Louis did dip knocked off Charlie toshape because Charlie was muscling in order.
You know, I wonder where readerCooper fits into this case. They ought
(14:37):
to use king size. It's safer. Come on here, but we'll go
backstage and have a talk with Offthe trenton read the Cooper. That's okay
with me, Boss, the actoris too. NOI bracken for my final
instincts towards such a fair sex.Now then, gentlemen, what can we
(15:05):
do for you? Just a fewquestions, mister Trent if you don't mind
not at all last human's in connectionwith my brother's dead. I still can't
believe Freddie is dead. I justcare believe it. You see, my
brother and Rita never engaged to bemarried. Here, Miss Cooper, let
me offer you cheap so thank you. I'm quite all right, Rita.
(15:28):
I think it might be a goodidea if you rested uphile in your dressing
room, then we'll go to dinner. Mister Trent, I regret having to
bother you at a time like this. I realize what a shock your brother's
death has been to you, andmiss Cooper me too, mister Trent.
But has it occurred to you thatyour brother might have been murdered? Or
(15:50):
you're crazy, both of you.I don't know what you tore up to,
but I won't stand for it.My brother died of a disease from
which he'd suffered for many years.The medical examiner's report proves that, yes,
we realize that, but weller perperhaps I am mistaken. Yes,
I must be there anyway, Thankyou, mister Trenton and good evening,
(16:14):
Monhubert, you voiced Force say,are you too really crazy? With you?
Mister? Were a couple of goons. Any day now we might ask
you for your autograph. I gotyour forss. That Trent guy is now
a suspect. Right, quite correct, Hubert. Did you notice the way
he looked at Weaker? Yeah,like he was nuts about it. So
(16:36):
this Arthur Trent guy knocks off hisown flesh and blood on account of the
ship, right, yeah, fundamentallyyes. Now to prove our theory is
correct and solve the murder? Yeah, but how do we do that?
Let's stop here a moment. Thenwe can observe the stage door. I've
seen stage doors before. Of course, howl about some clues. The murder
case ain't much good without clues.Diabetic could be killed by depriving. That's
(17:02):
what Bulldog Grumman said in the telegrams. Why, of course I should have
thought of it before, should havetotal work where the modus opera and die
the most was the modus operandi,the manner of operation. That's Latin,
it's still Greek. To me getback here, sure, Boss know it?
(17:25):
There they go, Boss out todinner, Arter and Reader I think
I know the motive for the murder. Now about the method check injection,
Yes, I have it. Comeon here, well okay, sure got
into the dressing room where we werein before. Both the brothers used to
chair. I guess they did.It was too big for any theater to
give the just one guy, ArthurTrent will return for half an hour.
(17:48):
Anyway, here we are. Look, boss, I don't need to criticize,
but the ain't is a little bitillegal. Worry human, We're on
the side of the laws. Iguess I forgot about that. Now we'll
work fast. We can find whatwe're looking for quickly if if it's here,
this must be the makeup shelf thatFrederick Trunk use. Yeah, that
(18:12):
guy ar there is the type thatwould have taken the other one with the
big mirror. No. I neverrealized that actors use so many lotions and
tinctures and whatnot, so many bottles. What are you looking for? Airports?
Wait, I have it. Thisbottle. It's labeled Insolin. You
(18:33):
mean you've got a clue. Possibly, it all depends upon what the bottle
contains, you know, cors.It's nice to be home again. This
(19:03):
is a well gent a good placeto relax, if you got the type.
Well, Hubert, that's about allwe do have now until we hear
from the doctor. Yeah. He'sa nice guy, that doctor. He's
an old friend of Captain Drummonds.But why did you telephone read a Cooper
to stop in here on away home? Oh? Now you rest? Their
(19:23):
boss, just rest? I God, Captain Drummond's residence. You but speaking
coming up? It's the doc boss. No, thank you? Yes,
doctor gluec glucose. That's that's sugar, isn't it doctor? If that solution
(19:48):
we're given to a diabetic instead ofinsulin, what would happen? Murder?
Murder? Thank you a great deal, doctor, goodbye? Oh boy,
we got it again. You stayhere, Hulbert all answer? Okay,
Boss, it might be the Cooperbaby. Oh, come right in,
(20:11):
miss Cooper. Ah got your message? What's wrong? Oh? Come into
the living room please. I'm sorryto have bothered you so late at night.
Oh you know, Hubert, ofcourse. Well I am charmed again.
I really don't understand what does allthis mean? Sit down, miss
Cooper? Well all right, butI can't stay long. I'm very tired.
(20:32):
Well you know what I've been through, Miss Cooper, I had to
speak to you. I had mysuspicions, and I'm sure they would be
confirmed. They have been. Willyou please get to the point. Yes,
your fiance Frederick Trent was murdered,murdered. What are you saying,
(20:52):
murdered? I believe by his brotherArtha. Why do you say that?
It's obvious that author Trend in lovewith you, Miss Cooper. You must
be honest with me. Arthur Trentkilled his brother because of jealousy. He
was jealous, wasn't he. Yes, tonight, Arthur and I are,
Hubert and I rather found a bottleon Frederick's makeup shelf contained a solution of
(21:17):
sugar solution that was given to Frederickin place of insulin. That was the
cause of his death. It wasmurder. That's a fact, miss Cooper.
That's what the dogs said. Yes, I wanted to tell you first.
Hubert and I are going out whenwhen you are ready to leave,
we're going to get that bottle andtomorrow morning we'll turn it over to the
police. So the police. Yes, you see, that little bottle is
(21:41):
evidence that will send Arthur Trent tothe electric chair. All set bush.
Yes, Hubert quite ready, here'syour hat a borse on account of it's
so valuable. Maybe you'd better carrythis bottle, yes, if you wish,
(22:08):
Boss, Boss, are you okay? Oh yes, I'm all right.
The shot must have come from oneof those open windows over there.
Well, don't bother going over here. But the man is probably well away
by this time. It's lucky hewas a bad shot, Boss, so
he wasn't The shot wasn't meant tohit me. Look at the remains of
the bottle on the floor. Ohthat's right. There ain't nothing left to
(22:30):
exhibit a in our case against Arthur. Trend has been destroyed, Hubert.
That shot was fired by an expertmarksman. I get it bors a shop
shoot shooter named Arthur Trent. That'swe're glad to see you, Inspector Havin.
(23:00):
You better be right to you.I've got four y men surrounding the
stavor, and we haven't got timeto play games. Trent is the murder
inspector, sure he is. Theforce is right hip part of us you
we'll find out soon enough. Ifyou're right, then we'll grab off of
Trent as soon as the act isover. It's almost over now than he
(23:41):
of course, Inspector. Look Trent, he's been shocked, and Rita has
a gun in the hand. Hey, she must have bumped him off.
(24:04):
Close that door, of Pete.Don't let anybody in this dressing room.
All right, then, miss Cooper, why did you kill off A Trent?
It was self defense, Inspector.He planned to kill me, to
kill you. Yes, he wasmad. He must have followed me to
your house last night and then followedyou and Hubert when you got the bottle.
Just before the act went on tonight, I was arranging at guns on
(24:26):
the prop table, and I foundone of the guns loaded with live cartridges.
Whats that you see, inspect OfThe clay pipes and cigarettes that offor
shot out of my hands and mothare charged with a mild explosive. When
pressed at the end, they explode. You mean you used blank cartridges and
the guns. Yes, I timedthe act to make it appear that the
(24:47):
pipes and cigarettes were really shot awaya phony. Yet quiet you, Oh,
I understand this, Cooper. Whenyou find found live cartridges in one
of the guns, you knew thatauthor Trent intended to kill you. That's
right. So I loaded another gunand kept it handy. When we came
to the finalia, I saw himchoose the gun that was loaded with live
ammunition. He aimed it at meand then I, oh, inspector,
(25:14):
look at this gun, the onewe found in Trent's hand. It was
loaded with live forty fives. Well, Hubert, that clears up the Trent
mettercase. Yeah, I guess so. Boss. Well, you know,
(25:36):
it's been nice knowing you, andthis place of Drummonds is sure as well.
Jurne. How about a short snortbefore I say goodbye? Very well,
Hubert, I think we've earned it, and while you're fixing it,
you might make it a long snort. Oh, I'll get it a telegram
(25:59):
for you. Thank you? Hereyou as well, thank you, Hubert,
Hubert. What's the matter for us? So we've got to hurry the
fas too late. We've made aterrible mistake in the drunk case. Thanks
(26:32):
to the climax of our story.In just a moment and now back to
(28:15):
our story, an unexpected turn hasdeveloped and the murders of Frederick and Arthur
Trent, a case that was apparentlyclosed. The arrival of a telegram has
prompted Denny and Hubert to pay amysterious nocturnal visit to a hotel. This
should be the room, Boss,six forty two is the past key.
(28:37):
I got some house detective coming fast, Hubert. When I opened the door,
you're going right into Miss Cooper's roomlike that and like this, what
do you mean birth handto my room? Close the door, Hubert. Sure,
Boss, I'll call the police.That's not a bad idea, Miss
Cooper, go right ahead. Yes, sister, drop the act. We
know all about you now. Inoticed that you have your luggage packed,
(29:00):
apparently for a hasty departure. Yes, I'm leaving town tomorrow. I've had
enough tragedy here. I don't thinkyou leave you See, we know now
that it was you who meurtried FrederickTrent by replacing the insulin with a sugar
solution, and you did away withAuthor Trent deliberately. It was you who
put the live cartridges in that gun, the one you knew he'd use for
the finale of you AQ. Youshot him. You almost got away with
(29:22):
it. You're mad, No,Miss Cooper, it's you who are mad
money mad. The Trent Trio wasone of the most heavily insured acts in
the show. Business. Where areyou wear this, sister? The insurance
policy provided that if any two membersof the Act died, the surviving member
would receive two hundred thousand dollars.And you happened to be the surviving member.
(29:44):
Very interesting and true, Doc Pors, she's got a courtill late say,
right where you are? Both ofyou? I can shoot Remember that
bottle I shot out of your hand? Any Oh dear, Now, we'll
really finish this up as it's andthere are only three of us who know
the facts. In a minute,there'll be one me and I won't tell
(30:07):
the gun lady. No, InspectorHogan, I inspector nice, Nice said
crop the gun I had said,all right, thee take her away,
Inspector. I don't understand now howdid you get here up the fire escape?
I mean, how did you happento come here? Well? How
about you? Well, we camehere because of this telegram from Captain Drummond.
(30:27):
Yeah read it? Oh though't Icheck up on the trents for you.
Act insured for two hundred thousand dollarsmoney to go to last surviving member
of act. Murder for insurance mightpossibly be motive, Drumm. You see
I deduced the rest of it myself, inspected it. You're too obvious that
(30:48):
Rita was the murderers. Yeah,of course it was obvious to you,
for with Captain Drummond's help, ofcourse, Inspector. I still don't understand
how you have to arrive here justin the leak of time. Oh here
you read this telegram mm hmmm,suggests that you keep an eye on Denny.
(31:11):
You might need you German. Andit was obvious to me, Denny
that you would come here with CaptainDrummond's help, of course. Welcome back.
(32:39):
Well, I may be back fromvacation, but bulldog draminescent. Uh.
The idea of detectives being away forvacation or trip or something like that
is pretty unheard of in modern productions, which are recorded on schedule months in
advance, But during the golden ageof radio, this was much more common.
(33:04):
When either a network or sponsor scheduleda program to be on for thirty
nine weeks or fifty two weeks,a program needed to be put out every
single week. Now, if astar was sick or needed a vacation,
there were two ways to go.Sometimes you have someone else play the lead
as we heard a few weeks agoon Mister Chameleon, and this is the
(33:29):
other route, having another character takecharge of the action. This could be
tricky, and you can understand whyit wasn't done for mister Chameleon. In
that universe, the police can't seemto tie their shoes without Chameleon's help,
and the problem is that many showsrelied on the detective being the most brilliant
(33:52):
person around in a world full ofvery dimn bulls. Here doesn't seem like
a likely choice to take charge ofa case, but I like how they
handled it. He does step uphis game a bit, as is called
for with Captain Drummond's absence, buthe's still Denny and quite believably limited.
(34:15):
The use of the telegrams to kindof spark his action highlight our regular hero's
perception and quick thinking even without himbeing on stage, without making ar slews
of the week look totally useless.So I think the show strives for a
delicate balance. Louis van Rutin,who plays Denny, makes a good temporary
(34:38):
lead. He had played Lee rolesbefore, including on a Neural Wolf radio
series during the war, so hewas an experienced hand and definitely up to
the task. Also, Hubert iskind of a classic archtype of the era,
a mug with a criminal background whobecomes a detective's assistant. You would
(35:00):
see that in many things, includingin the Saint movies. I think here
it makes for a really nice contrastwith Denny's proper English gentleman's gentlemen. Well,
now we turn to listener comments andfeedback, and we start out on
(35:20):
Instagram with a comment from Julie regardingthe Dinner of Death a really good episode,
but get Denny's some good walking shoes. Thanks for the comment, Julie.
I have toyed with the idea ofdoing a parody ad for April Fools.
(35:42):
I didn't get around to it thisyear. I was kind of thinking
like a Brian Don Lovey Sings Collpsosort of collection, but you know,
a fun to raise money to buyshoes for beliaguered assistant detective's feet. That
might be a cause that people couldget behind for parody at anyway. And
(36:07):
then we have a review on goodPOD's commenting on the case of the Double
Death, which came first Mister Chameleonor Bulldog Drumming Bulldog Drumming. Mister Chameleon
was created for radio. Bulldog Drumming, of course, had a presence in
(36:28):
film and started on a radio innineteen forty one. Mister Chameleon actually premiered
towards the end of Bulldog Drumming's runon the radio. They were on the
schedule at the same time for aboutsix months. Then we have a couple
of comments from YouTube and listener ritsthere this is great British detectives and their
(36:54):
butlers are very cool. Thank you. And another listener rights just found you.
So glad that I did well.Thank you so much, appreciate your
con comments and so glad that youfound us over there on YouTube. Well,
now it is time for us tothank our Patreon supporter of the day,
(37:15):
and I want to go ahead andthank Kathy. Kathy has been one
of our Patreon supporters since February,currently supporting the podcast at the shamous level
of four dollars or more per month. Thank you so much for your support,
Kathy, and that will actually doit for today. If you're enjoying
the podcast, please follow us usingyour favorite podcast software, and if you're
(37:37):
enjoying the podcast on YouTube, besure to lock the video, subscribe to
the channel, and mark the notificationbell. We'll be back next Tuesday with
another episode of Bulldog Drumming. Butjoin us back here tomorrow for broadways my
beat. Where telegram for you Bush? Yes, I know, probably from
Captain Drumming. Don't you want tosee what it should? Particularly well on
(38:00):
a code of im naturally suspicious bynature? Do you mind if I take
again? Ready? No, notat aargument, butchy for this. You're
right, it's from Drumming a borswe're back into running. What listen?
It is a diabetic could be killedby depriving him of insulin. Moiter angle
(38:24):
still possible. Suggest you follow trueinvestigate all likely suspects Drumming, I will.
It could still be murdered, youknow, I felt it's that's male
intuition. There's nothing like it.I hope you'll be with us then in
the meantime, send your comments toBox thirteen at Great Detectives dot net,
(38:47):
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram,
Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectivesfrom boise Alohol. This as your host,
Adam Grahamson and all
Welcome to the Great Detectives of OldTime Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham.If you have a comment, email it
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectivesdot net. Follow us on Twitter at
Radio Detectives, and check us outon Instagram, Instagram, dot com,
(00:54):
slash Great Detectives. If you're enjoyingthe podcast, please follow us using your
our favorite podcast software. I dowant to encourage you to check out our
other podcasts. Today, I'm focusingon public domain video Theater, where for
the foreseeable future we will be featuringepisodes of Racket Squad as well as the
(01:15):
Bulldog Drumming movies from the late nineteenthirties. You can check those out Video
Theater dot Great Detectives dot net,or it's one of the featured playlists on
our YouTube page. Well, nowit is time for this week's episode of
Bulldog Drumming. The original air dateAugust thirteenth, nineteen forty five, and
(01:38):
the title is help Want It Outof the Fox, Out of the Knights
(02:19):
comes another Bulldog Drumming story. Friendsof billion dollars is a lot of money
(03:23):
yet right now, the payment ofabove sealing prices is adding one billion dollars
a year to America's food bill.Remember, those dollars are made up of
pennies. Now, a few penniesover the sealing price may not seem very
important at the time, but itis. Every penny is one more linked
in the dangerous chain which leads toinflation and then to depression. So help
(03:49):
to break that change. One ofthe most important helps is for you to
check the sealing prices, which arelisted in every grocery store. Check the
list and don't pay one more.Watched every penny for every penny counts.
(04:18):
And now to tell us about ournewest adventure. Here he is on MESA
if you don't mind, yes,Penny, I'm going to release this story.
You see, I have Captain Drummond'spermission, or he'll be here next
week as usual to tell about anotheradventure. But this story is more or
less my own. All right,Penny, go right ahead, thank you,
(04:38):
sir. I call this story helpWanted. Began one morning when Captain
Drummond and I were separating for thefirst time in our long association. He
was going on a highly secret governmentmission alone Police Inspector Hogan and I saw
him off on the train. Well, Denny, he's on his way,
(05:02):
yes, Inspector, and I supposeI might as well go home. Captain
Drummer calling Captain Drummond. My word, what's that? Captain Drummond. Please
come to the station master's office immediately. It is urgent, oh dear,
and Captain Drummond's on the train.Come on, Denny, we'll see what
the call is about. The stationmaster's office is right over here. You
(05:25):
are walking in the station master's office. What in the world you suppose it's
about, Inspector Hogan. Well,it's only a guess, but maybe Drummond
left some excitement behind to keep youbusy. Here's the place after you inspect
that. Okay, Well there wasa call for Captain Drummond. That's right.
Well he just left on a train. I'm his man, Denny,
(05:46):
and I'm Inspector Holgan Police Department.What's wrong? Come come into the inner
office please sure, go ahead,Denny, Yeah, thank you, Oh,
inspected Look that man on the couch, he's dead, Oh dear.
He collapsed in the waiting room.Just before he died. He asked for
Captain Drummond. I knew Drummond wasleading down today, so I paged him
(06:08):
over the train, announcing sisters aminute. Here here's his wallet, Frederick
Trent, Frederick Tramp. Oh,yes, I knew i'd seen him before,
the Trent Trio. It's a Voordevillenightclub act. They're sharpshooters, he
explained at the Orphan this week,Inspector, Look at the man's arms.
Here's hypodermic punctures. What about them? Why it's obvious, isn't it Frederick
(06:32):
Trent was murdered. Non, I'llhold everything, Denny. Don't go jumping
to conclusions, and don't go findingany clues. I'll have the body taken
to the LORG and the medical examinerwill decide the cause of death. That's
his business. You'll find out thatI'm correct, Inspector. I intend to
follow through on this case, justas Captain Drummond would. Just a moment,
(07:06):
please, I'm coming. Yes,The Employment Bureau sent me over.
Oh I've been expecting you come in, nice joint. What kind of guy
is the force? Why some peoplefind me rather charming? Or the social
error is on me? Force?The agency said they were sending over a
(07:29):
qualified ballot. That's me you'll overHubert, the perfect Gentleman's gentleman, Hubert,
Yeah, Hubert and no cracks.Well, perhaps I should explain.
For years I've been Captain Hugh Rummond'sman. He's out of town on important
cases, come up to see andI'm acting in his place. I get
it. You're you're you're in themain bout. So you want me to
(07:53):
take your place in the preliminary Yes, now about your qualifications. In years
on my last job, that's along time. Yeah, and I'd still
have that job only to stay invitedLemon's White to spend ten years in the
penitentiary. Lemon's White, the oneand only king of the slot machine racket.
Oh what a guy he was.I was sort of a bodyguard too.
(08:18):
You're just a man I'm looking for. Then it's a deal with time
and a half for overtime. Whatdo I do foist? Hubert? You
and I are going to pay avisit to them all. We're in a
bed the Morgue. Yes, it'sthe first stop on the road that will
lead us to the capture of avicious killer. I'll answer that, boss.
(08:41):
Hello, Inspector Hogan, He Iain't done nothing anywhere. Oh oh
yeah, sure he's right here.It's for you, boss, and my
glad. Thank you, Hello,inspect her. Oh, Denny, he
just got the medical examinar's report.Listen to what it says because of death
(09:05):
diabetic shock. Yes, I see, but what about the hypodemic puncture?
Moms? Well then he red Trenthad diabetes, but he is. He's
been treating himself like a lot ofdiabetics too. He injected into an into
his arm on regular schedule. No, dear, so there goes your murder
case right off the well known window. Hey, yes, Inspector, I'm
(09:28):
afraid you're right. Oh well,did you hear that, Huban? Yeah
I did. Boss. Look,I'd like to fix your drink to cheer
you up. No, Hubert,thank you, that's the same. Well
I suppose by this time, CaptainDrummond keep my telegram. He knows what
a blunderer I am. What cheerup? Pass Drummon is going to be
(09:50):
away for a week. Maybe somethingelse, excitement will toin up, Maybe
opportunity will knock on adore a kayor ring our doorbell. I got it
telegram for you. I'm here.Oh sure, we don't tip here bud.
But thanks opportunity. What's that skipit telegram for you? Boss?
(10:13):
Yes? I know, probably fromCaptain Drumming. Don't you want to see
what it says? Not particularly wellon account of I am naturally suspicious by
nature? Do you mind if Itake a gander? Ready? No,
not at all human oo che oryou're right it's from Drumming. Hey boss,
(10:35):
we're back in the running. Whatlisten? It is a diabetic could
be killed by depriving him of insulin. Moider angle still possible. Suggest you
follow through, investigate all likely suspects. Drummer? I, well, it
could still be murdered. You know, I felt that that's male intuition.
(10:58):
There's nothing it's eight thirty. Wemust hurry, come along. You went
show a burst? But where theOrphium Theater? There's still time to make
the last show. Our story continuesand just a moment, and now back
(13:03):
to Denny and the story he calledhelp Watten with bull dog Drummond out of
town. Denny has interested himself andthat's of Frederick Trent. Denny has hired
an assistant named Hubert. They've setout to prove that Trent's death was murder,
and they have arrived at the theaterwhere the Trent Priole Sharpshooting act is
(13:24):
playing. It's a different time,Guban. The Trent actors on the stage
now shooting. This makes me knowhe is boss. I'm sensitive to thank
you. Miss. You don't mind. We will stand here in the fact.
Yes, that Gool on the stage. She must be readA Cooper of
(13:48):
the Trench brother's assistant. She's youmight say, yeah and double in speech
quite a day, but she mustbe creating. Let the guys she play
pipes out of her hands. Yo. Bet just occurred to me that I
neglected to think of a motive ina connection with Frederick French's death. Yeah,
I guess we ought to have amotive. Sure, just like when
(14:09):
Louis did dip knocked off Charlie toshape because Charlie was muscling in order.
You know, I wonder where readerCooper fits into this case. They ought
(14:37):
to use king size. It's safer. Come on here, but we'll go
backstage and have a talk with Offthe trenton read the Cooper. That's okay
with me, Boss, the actoris too. NOI bracken for my final
instincts towards such a fair sex.Now then, gentlemen, what can we
(15:05):
do for you? Just a fewquestions, mister Trent if you don't mind
not at all last human's in connectionwith my brother's dead. I still can't
believe Freddie is dead. I justcare believe it. You see, my
brother and Rita never engaged to bemarried. Here, Miss Cooper, let
me offer you cheap so thank you. I'm quite all right, Rita.
(15:28):
I think it might be a goodidea if you rested uphile in your dressing
room, then we'll go to dinner. Mister Trent, I regret having to
bother you at a time like this. I realize what a shock your brother's
death has been to you, andmiss Cooper me too, mister Trent.
But has it occurred to you thatyour brother might have been murdered? Or
(15:50):
you're crazy, both of you.I don't know what you tore up to,
but I won't stand for it.My brother died of a disease from
which he'd suffered for many years.The medical examiner's report proves that, yes,
we realize that, but weller perperhaps I am mistaken. Yes,
I must be there anyway, Thankyou, mister Trenton and good evening,
(16:14):
Monhubert, you voiced Force say,are you too really crazy? With you?
Mister? Were a couple of goons. Any day now we might ask
you for your autograph. I gotyour forss. That Trent guy is now
a suspect. Right, quite correct, Hubert. Did you notice the way
he looked at Weaker? Yeah,like he was nuts about it. So
(16:36):
this Arthur Trent guy knocks off hisown flesh and blood on account of the
ship, right, yeah, fundamentallyyes. Now to prove our theory is
correct and solve the murder? Yeah, but how do we do that?
Let's stop here a moment. Thenwe can observe the stage door. I've
seen stage doors before. Of course, howl about some clues. The murder
case ain't much good without clues.Diabetic could be killed by depriving. That's
(17:02):
what Bulldog Grumman said in the telegrams. Why, of course I should have
thought of it before, should havetotal work where the modus opera and die
the most was the modus operandi,the manner of operation. That's Latin,
it's still Greek. To me getback here, sure, Boss know it?
(17:25):
There they go, Boss out todinner, Arter and Reader I think
I know the motive for the murder. Now about the method check injection,
Yes, I have it. Comeon here, well okay, sure got
into the dressing room where we werein before. Both the brothers used to
chair. I guess they did.It was too big for any theater to
give the just one guy, ArthurTrent will return for half an hour.
(17:48):
Anyway, here we are. Look, boss, I don't need to criticize,
but the ain't is a little bitillegal. Worry human, We're on
the side of the laws. Iguess I forgot about that. Now we'll
work fast. We can find whatwe're looking for quickly if if it's here,
this must be the makeup shelf thatFrederick Trunk use. Yeah, that
(18:12):
guy ar there is the type thatwould have taken the other one with the
big mirror. No. I neverrealized that actors use so many lotions and
tinctures and whatnot, so many bottles. What are you looking for? Airports?
Wait, I have it. Thisbottle. It's labeled Insolin. You
(18:33):
mean you've got a clue. Possibly, it all depends upon what the bottle
contains, you know, cors.It's nice to be home again. This
(19:03):
is a well gent a good placeto relax, if you got the type.
Well, Hubert, that's about allwe do have now until we hear
from the doctor. Yeah. He'sa nice guy, that doctor. He's
an old friend of Captain Drummonds.But why did you telephone read a Cooper
to stop in here on away home? Oh? Now you rest? Their
(19:23):
boss, just rest? I God, Captain Drummond's residence. You but speaking
coming up? It's the doc boss. No, thank you? Yes,
doctor gluec glucose. That's that's sugar, isn't it doctor? If that solution
(19:48):
we're given to a diabetic instead ofinsulin, what would happen? Murder?
Murder? Thank you a great deal, doctor, goodbye? Oh boy,
we got it again. You stayhere, Hulbert all answer? Okay,
Boss, it might be the Cooperbaby. Oh, come right in,
(20:11):
miss Cooper. Ah got your message? What's wrong? Oh? Come into
the living room please. I'm sorryto have bothered you so late at night.
Oh you know, Hubert, ofcourse. Well I am charmed again.
I really don't understand what does allthis mean? Sit down, miss
Cooper? Well all right, butI can't stay long. I'm very tired.
(20:32):
Well you know what I've been through, Miss Cooper, I had to
speak to you. I had mysuspicions, and I'm sure they would be
confirmed. They have been. Willyou please get to the point. Yes,
your fiance Frederick Trent was murdered,murdered. What are you saying,
(20:52):
murdered? I believe by his brotherArtha. Why do you say that?
It's obvious that author Trend in lovewith you, Miss Cooper. You must
be honest with me. Arthur Trentkilled his brother because of jealousy. He
was jealous, wasn't he. Yes, tonight, Arthur and I are,
Hubert and I rather found a bottleon Frederick's makeup shelf contained a solution of
(21:17):
sugar solution that was given to Frederickin place of insulin. That was the
cause of his death. It wasmurder. That's a fact, miss Cooper.
That's what the dogs said. Yes, I wanted to tell you first.
Hubert and I are going out whenwhen you are ready to leave,
we're going to get that bottle andtomorrow morning we'll turn it over to the
police. So the police. Yes, you see, that little bottle is
(21:41):
evidence that will send Arthur Trent tothe electric chair. All set bush.
Yes, Hubert quite ready, here'syour hat a borse on account of it's
so valuable. Maybe you'd better carrythis bottle, yes, if you wish,
(22:08):
Boss, Boss, are you okay? Oh yes, I'm all right.
The shot must have come from oneof those open windows over there.
Well, don't bother going over here. But the man is probably well away
by this time. It's lucky hewas a bad shot, Boss, so
he wasn't The shot wasn't meant tohit me. Look at the remains of
the bottle on the floor. Ohthat's right. There ain't nothing left to
(22:30):
exhibit a in our case against Arthur. Trend has been destroyed, Hubert.
That shot was fired by an expertmarksman. I get it bors a shop
shoot shooter named Arthur Trent. That'swe're glad to see you, Inspector Havin.
(23:00):
You better be right to you.I've got four y men surrounding the
stavor, and we haven't got timeto play games. Trent is the murder
inspector, sure he is. Theforce is right hip part of us you
we'll find out soon enough. Ifyou're right, then we'll grab off of
Trent as soon as the act isover. It's almost over now than he
(23:41):
of course, Inspector. Look Trent, he's been shocked, and Rita has
a gun in the hand. Hey, she must have bumped him off.
(24:04):
Close that door, of Pete.Don't let anybody in this dressing room.
All right, then, miss Cooper, why did you kill off A Trent?
It was self defense, Inspector.He planned to kill me, to
kill you. Yes, he wasmad. He must have followed me to
your house last night and then followedyou and Hubert when you got the bottle.
Just before the act went on tonight, I was arranging at guns on
(24:26):
the prop table, and I foundone of the guns loaded with live cartridges.
Whats that you see, inspect OfThe clay pipes and cigarettes that offor
shot out of my hands and mothare charged with a mild explosive. When
pressed at the end, they explode. You mean you used blank cartridges and
the guns. Yes, I timedthe act to make it appear that the
(24:47):
pipes and cigarettes were really shot awaya phony. Yet quiet you, Oh,
I understand this, Cooper. Whenyou find found live cartridges in one
of the guns, you knew thatauthor Trent intended to kill you. That's
right. So I loaded another gunand kept it handy. When we came
to the finalia, I saw himchoose the gun that was loaded with live
ammunition. He aimed it at meand then I, oh, inspector,
(25:14):
look at this gun, the onewe found in Trent's hand. It was
loaded with live forty fives. Well, Hubert, that clears up the Trent
mettercase. Yeah, I guess so. Boss. Well, you know,
(25:36):
it's been nice knowing you, andthis place of Drummonds is sure as well.
Jurne. How about a short snortbefore I say goodbye? Very well,
Hubert, I think we've earned it, and while you're fixing it,
you might make it a long snort. Oh, I'll get it a telegram
(25:59):
for you. Thank you? Hereyou as well, thank you, Hubert,
Hubert. What's the matter for us? So we've got to hurry the
fas too late. We've made aterrible mistake in the drunk case. Thanks
(26:32):
to the climax of our story.In just a moment and now back to
(28:15):
our story, an unexpected turn hasdeveloped and the murders of Frederick and Arthur
Trent, a case that was apparentlyclosed. The arrival of a telegram has
prompted Denny and Hubert to pay amysterious nocturnal visit to a hotel. This
should be the room, Boss,six forty two is the past key.
(28:37):
I got some house detective coming fast, Hubert. When I opened the door,
you're going right into Miss Cooper's roomlike that and like this, what
do you mean birth handto my room? Close the door, Hubert. Sure,
Boss, I'll call the police.That's not a bad idea, Miss
Cooper, go right ahead. Yes, sister, drop the act. We
know all about you now. Inoticed that you have your luggage packed,
(29:00):
apparently for a hasty departure. Yes, I'm leaving town tomorrow. I've had
enough tragedy here. I don't thinkyou leave you See, we know now
that it was you who meurtried FrederickTrent by replacing the insulin with a sugar
solution, and you did away withAuthor Trent deliberately. It was you who
put the live cartridges in that gun, the one you knew he'd use for
the finale of you AQ. Youshot him. You almost got away with
(29:22):
it. You're mad, No,Miss Cooper, it's you who are mad
money mad. The Trent Trio wasone of the most heavily insured acts in
the show. Business. Where areyou wear this, sister? The insurance
policy provided that if any two membersof the Act died, the surviving member
would receive two hundred thousand dollars.And you happened to be the surviving member.
(29:44):
Very interesting and true, Doc Pors, she's got a courtill late say,
right where you are? Both ofyou? I can shoot Remember that
bottle I shot out of your hand? Any Oh dear, Now, we'll
really finish this up as it's andthere are only three of us who know
the facts. In a minute,there'll be one me and I won't tell
(30:07):
the gun lady. No, InspectorHogan, I inspector nice, Nice said
crop the gun I had said,all right, thee take her away,
Inspector. I don't understand now howdid you get here up the fire escape?
I mean, how did you happento come here? Well? How
about you? Well, we camehere because of this telegram from Captain Drummond.
(30:27):
Yeah read it? Oh though't Icheck up on the trents for you.
Act insured for two hundred thousand dollarsmoney to go to last surviving member
of act. Murder for insurance mightpossibly be motive, Drumm. You see
I deduced the rest of it myself, inspected it. You're too obvious that
(30:48):
Rita was the murderers. Yeah,of course it was obvious to you,
for with Captain Drummond's help, ofcourse, Inspector. I still don't understand
how you have to arrive here justin the leak of time. Oh here
you read this telegram mm hmmm,suggests that you keep an eye on Denny.
(31:11):
You might need you German. Andit was obvious to me, Denny
that you would come here with CaptainDrummond's help, of course. Welcome back.
(32:39):
Well, I may be back fromvacation, but bulldog draminescent. Uh.
The idea of detectives being away forvacation or trip or something like that
is pretty unheard of in modern productions, which are recorded on schedule months in
advance, But during the golden ageof radio, this was much more common.
(33:04):
When either a network or sponsor scheduleda program to be on for thirty
nine weeks or fifty two weeks,a program needed to be put out every
single week. Now, if astar was sick or needed a vacation,
there were two ways to go.Sometimes you have someone else play the lead
as we heard a few weeks agoon Mister Chameleon, and this is the
(33:29):
other route, having another character takecharge of the action. This could be
tricky, and you can understand whyit wasn't done for mister Chameleon. In
that universe, the police can't seemto tie their shoes without Chameleon's help,
and the problem is that many showsrelied on the detective being the most brilliant
(33:52):
person around in a world full ofvery dimn bulls. Here doesn't seem like
a likely choice to take charge ofa case, but I like how they
handled it. He does step uphis game a bit, as is called
for with Captain Drummond's absence, buthe's still Denny and quite believably limited.
(34:15):
The use of the telegrams to kindof spark his action highlight our regular hero's
perception and quick thinking even without himbeing on stage, without making ar slews
of the week look totally useless.So I think the show strives for a
delicate balance. Louis van Rutin,who plays Denny, makes a good temporary
(34:38):
lead. He had played Lee rolesbefore, including on a Neural Wolf radio
series during the war, so hewas an experienced hand and definitely up to
the task. Also, Hubert iskind of a classic archtype of the era,
a mug with a criminal background whobecomes a detective's assistant. You would
(35:00):
see that in many things, includingin the Saint movies. I think here
it makes for a really nice contrastwith Denny's proper English gentleman's gentlemen. Well,
now we turn to listener comments andfeedback, and we start out on
(35:20):
Instagram with a comment from Julie regardingthe Dinner of Death a really good episode,
but get Denny's some good walking shoes. Thanks for the comment, Julie.
I have toyed with the idea ofdoing a parody ad for April Fools.
(35:42):
I didn't get around to it thisyear. I was kind of thinking
like a Brian Don Lovey Sings Collpsosort of collection, but you know,
a fun to raise money to buyshoes for beliaguered assistant detective's feet. That
might be a cause that people couldget behind for parody at anyway. And
(36:07):
then we have a review on goodPOD's commenting on the case of the Double
Death, which came first Mister Chameleonor Bulldog Drumming Bulldog Drumming. Mister Chameleon
was created for radio. Bulldog Drumming, of course, had a presence in
(36:28):
film and started on a radio innineteen forty one. Mister Chameleon actually premiered
towards the end of Bulldog Drumming's runon the radio. They were on the
schedule at the same time for aboutsix months. Then we have a couple
of comments from YouTube and listener ritsthere this is great British detectives and their
(36:54):
butlers are very cool. Thank you. And another listener rights just found you.
So glad that I did well.Thank you so much, appreciate your
con comments and so glad that youfound us over there on YouTube. Well,
now it is time for us tothank our Patreon supporter of the day,
(37:15):
and I want to go ahead andthank Kathy. Kathy has been one
of our Patreon supporters since February,currently supporting the podcast at the shamous level
of four dollars or more per month. Thank you so much for your support,
Kathy, and that will actually doit for today. If you're enjoying
the podcast, please follow us usingyour favorite podcast software, and if you're
(37:37):
enjoying the podcast on YouTube, besure to lock the video, subscribe to
the channel, and mark the notificationbell. We'll be back next Tuesday with
another episode of Bulldog Drumming. Butjoin us back here tomorrow for broadways my
beat. Where telegram for you Bush? Yes, I know, probably from
Captain Drumming. Don't you want tosee what it should? Particularly well on
(38:00):
a code of im naturally suspicious bynature? Do you mind if I take
again? Ready? No, notat aargument, butchy for this. You're
right, it's from Drumming a borswe're back into running. What listen?
It is a diabetic could be killedby depriving him of insulin. Moiter angle
(38:24):
still possible. Suggest you follow trueinvestigate all likely suspects Drumming, I will.
It could still be murdered, youknow, I felt it's that's male
intuition. There's nothing like it.I hope you'll be with us then in
the meantime, send your comments toBox thirteen at Great Detectives dot net,
(38:47):
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram,
Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectivesfrom boise Alohol. This as your host,
Adam Grahamson and all
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.