August 17, 2025 • 24 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Adventures of Sam Spade, Detective Why so Doctor Ludwig
Zoya twelve forty one eleven Worth, San Francisco.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
From Samuel Spade.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
License number went through seventy five ninety six. Subject either
Hamilton Caper no Caper.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Dear doctor, if I.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Owe you an apology for not keeping you informed on
the progress of the assignment and for letting a dragon
as long as it has, and I'll have to go
on owing you, which makes us even because you don't
owe me anything. The start of it was a month ago,
thirty two days, eight hours, three minutes and forty five seconds.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
To be exact.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Oh, sage, doctor n good to see you. Let me think,
how long is it three.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Years since I visited Generals?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
That was when you were my leading suspect in the
Donoff case. Yes, for you know, as was he who
pointed out that the psychoanalysts are not unlike you, Detective.
We probe, we question, we follow up, cruise in order
to find out what is the dark secret which has
nervously disturbed a human mind.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
But we are limited.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
We have only our patient's words and our interpretations. Sometimes
that is not enough, and that is why I need
your help. In this particular case, what cases dibratricide? And
please do not interrupt the free from over my thoughts.
Pardon me, naturally, my ego feels a certain resentment against
my ID for asking you for your help? What makes
me think I need a detective? Wow? Am, I was
(01:36):
just asking my the various same question. Are you too
for your resentment? We must analyze that later, out down
out to the key. This woman was referred to me
by her physician. She has suffered a complete nervous collapse
because she thought she recognized a certain person crossing a street,
a person she had not seen for years. My patient's
(01:58):
son died and studio circumstances three years ago, and the
woman she thought she saw was her daughter in law.
It was widely reported in the newspapers at the time.
Perhaps you remember it caught her Hamilton Vanda Helen oh
Ron Out, Virginia, nineteen forty six. The mother accures the
son's wife of murdering him. Daughter in law was haller
before the grand jury, but not un tire. It dropped
(02:19):
right out of sight afterwards. Good you know that case? Well, Actually,
my patient is suffering from an agonizing sense of guilt unconsciously.
She thinks that she herself murdered her son?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Did she?
Speaker 1 (02:31):
But there may be something tangible at the bottle of
so profound, a feeling of guilt. You mean you want
me to help you convince her that she really is
gil No, no, no, no, that is for me. But
first we must find out. What we must find out
is somebody else, whether they are guilty, what go all
away to Virginia Sava crime that's been after books for
three years. No, no, no, The daughter in law is
(02:53):
actually here in San Francisco, if I remember right, she
wasn't the only suspect. But whether she is innocent or
guilty is of no importance. It is only important that
we know why. Excuse me, Yes, this case, goodness, case
send her in. This is my case. Ender me by
my patient. I want you to meet her. Oh, good afternoon, missus.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Hamilton, Good afternoon doctor.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
The woman had stood frying them a door while there
was a tall, commanding figure impeccably dressed in black, with
an easy one hundred grand worth of black pearls round
around her neck and a black veil covering her face.
She walked in ahead of you, displaying not a sign
of nervousness and stopped directly in front of me. Very deliberately,
she lifted the veil, revealing a youthfully old face, deeply
tanned and set off by snow white hair.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Only her enormous.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Violet eyes showed any expression. She stared at me for
what seemed like a full minute. Yes, you do you
look like the other one. Perhaps you had better explain,
Missus Hamilton.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
My daughter in law, Edith very much love was another man.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Before she married my son Carter. He joted her Carter
was second choice. It was I who talked her into
marrying him. That's why I'll never rest until my son's
death is of anged. We must analyze this desire for angels. Yes,
yet I had a dream last night. I dreamed that
Edith was dead, sad with the same bone handled hunting
(04:24):
knight she used to kill my son. Yes, you would
just lie down on the couch and relaxed, Missus Hamilton,
i'd I'll be with you in the moment it comes
to speaking. This is the most disturbing new development her dream.
He must get to that girl as soon as possible.
Her life may be in danger.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
I mean, the old lady has missed up another take
a shot at her.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Here it is the address, and take this week case
by the briefcase and there are Negro papers in it
regarding the Hamilton the state they required her signature. I
had Missus Hamilton arrange for you to take them to
her instead of the attorney. I suppose to pose as
a lawyer. While I'm there, I'm supposed to shake a
confession out of her. And while i'm tiving it up,
I'm a body guy. You're getting a lot for your money.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Doct desire.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
I spent the next hour or so in a newspaper
mark breathing myself. In the Old Hamilton case, the victim,
Catterr Hamilton, was the twenty eight year old tail end
of an old Virginia family.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Whose blood was as rich as it was blue.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
The accounts of the killing was sketchy. At the old plantation,
Catterr Hamilton had been found one morning by his mother,
dead and dead of a stab wound. The knife was
never turned up. Somebody had wiped everything in the room
clean of fingerprints, which sounded like robbery until it was established,
but nothing was missing. The state was counting heavily on
Missus Hamilton senior's testimony in their case against the daughter
(05:40):
in law at a nod angle. I had forgotten the
old lady had clammed up in front of the Grand Jullian.
The case was dropped for lack of evidence. Then there
was a picture. She was a kind of a girl
who looks her best in a riding outfit, with her
freckled showing, and then surprises you by looking even better
than full makeup with her shoulders showing. Canaid is the
(06:02):
word that best describes their features, large widely spaced eyes,
a generous mouth, and.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
An expression of unaffected sincerity.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
It was with a certain reluctant eagerness that I kicked
myself up, stocked and straight the pine, across pine, the bush,
and up three flights of stairs.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Yes this is here, Missus Edith Hammill.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Yes you must be from the attorneys the ride and
you are coming. Come in.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Not that I'm in hiding, but I'm curious as to
how they got my address. Would you like a drink?
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Well, I'm not right now.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Can I fix you one in about twenty minutes? Maybe
I'm still one horley lock editor, I uh, frank the
elder Missus Hamilton saw on the streets. Oh, is she
here in San Francisco?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Is that so surprising?
Speaker 1 (07:12):
No, it's a large city. What is surprising is her
staying on after learning that I was in town. She's
not very well, and in fact, I think she's had
some kind of a nervous breakdown. I'm sorry to hear that.
I'm very fond of her, you know, in spite of everything.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
No, I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Maybe I should explain. I'm a private attact, a local.
I was hired here in San Francisco to bring these
papers to me.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
Oh, you phoned me.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
He seemed to be a little slow introducing myself. I'm sorry,
Sam Spade. Well, if it had to be a detective,
I'm glad of you. But I can't help wondering why
they didn't send a lawyer. And the lawyers cost fifty
dollars an hour. I only cost ten. Oh, in the
private eye stories, it's always twenty five bucks a day
and extensive.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Wish those riders would get a breast of the times.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
I'm sure they'll catch up. But if you're being paid
by the hour, perhaps I can.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Keep you here a little longer.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
I'm glad you said that.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
You'll remind me of someone pleasantly, I hope yes, oh yes,
and sadly two your ask me if you don't know
about that, I hope you'll never find out.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
I'll leave that up to you.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
His hair was like yours, he was thinner, and his
eyes were blue. Maybe we shouldn't brake will five o'clock
for that drink. It was a funny kind of a drink.
I'd never been hit by one before, Black Velvet. After
two of them, I even began to hate myself a
(08:46):
little less, And after the third I decided there was
some mystical connection between the drink and the color of
her eyes. Black Velvet much about music, but the way
she went at the piano, you knew she wasn't a.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Plate of it, and probably wasn't a plate of anything.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
The pieces she played were like her, bowled and at
the same time deligate. It's simple, but with a web
of complexity in the background, brilliant but always colored with sadness.
What's the matter? I want you to take me someplace where,
any place, dinner. I don't care. I just want to
(09:28):
go someplace with you, with you. Hey, what is it, Santa?
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I thought we were going out?
Speaker 1 (09:45):
I never paid much attention to San Francisco before I
met here. It's quite a place.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
There's a little park.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Up on Russian Hill where you can stand and look
out over the houses of the Marina of the Golden Gate.
There's an island in San France. There's going even worse
than Alcheprize over the lake at Flashaka Zoo, and instead
of gorillas, the population there is nothing but monkeys. There
are only two laundries in Chinatown, and out of Gomngate
Park they have a band concert every Sunday afternoon. Maybe
it was just the bright weather, but everything looked clean
(10:14):
and shiny, as if somebody had taken her as scrubbing brush,
so all the buildings well, even fed seagulls. At first,
she never went any further into her pass in the
day before yesterday, I couldn't very well charge you for
the progress I was not making on the case. So
when I learned that you had sent old missus Hs
to a nursing home for a two week rest and
Edith did not meet bodyguiding for the time being, I
(10:36):
took a job that took me down to Los Angeles
for a few days. I was awful glad to get back,
and not because I don't like lad oh dag he
(11:01):
was gone so long. I like that this was the
last time I make a fool out of myself. Buy
on fly later, friendly. What happened when I was gone?
What happened to me? Happened before you went away? You
know that them While you were going, I had a
lot of time, and I did a lot of thinking,
and I came to a very important decision. There was
(11:23):
something I knew I had to tell you, and I
wasn't so sure I could get through it.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Oh, Angel, it sounds serious. I don't think this is.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
The time, but it is. Yes, it is here. Take
it before I change my mind.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
What is it?
Speaker 1 (11:36):
I wrote it all down. Sit here, facing away from
the piano.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
And don't say anything until you're credit through.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Okay. The opening sentence set me straight between the eyes.
That said, I ate of Hamilton, of my own free
Well make the following confession. It was addressed to a
District Attorney of Roanoke, Virginia, and that doctor Sawyer was
(12:21):
when I headed back to your office, not to have
my head examined, it was too late for that, but
to tell you that I was resigning this caper on
the way. I placed two ads in the classified sections
of three papers, one undern office space for rent and
one under situations wanted. Ex Private detective desires position as
night watchman, prison guard, asylum attendant, or any more pleasant
line of work. And I really meant it. The United
(12:46):
States Armedforces Radio Service is presenting the Weekly Adventure of
Dasho Hammet's famous private Detective Sam Spade. Mister stage, what
is it you disturbed?
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Disturbed is not the word, mister sire? Is it?
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Because you've been with her a week and a half
and there's yet no progress there? Just analyzed the situation.
All set up has been a rotten from the beginning.
You send me to that girl and the false potensis.
You're telling me to warm my way and to work
on one moment, did I said you? How else? Did
ex me? They got a confession out of it, so
they got the play. When that old lady said, I
looked like a man here was once in love with
your thought you'd fall for me, didn't you? I probably
take advantage of it. Then you're where you can hire
(13:28):
somebody else to make a love to. I'm a detective,
not a jeggalo. So she did make a confession to you?
Why do you say that? When a patient comes to
a psychoanalyst for a hell, a situation develops which we
call transference. Now, this means that the doctor represents to
the patient someone in whom he can confine, to whom
(13:49):
he can unburden himself, such as a parent or a
loved one. Well, I must you well, at the moment,
at the moment, that is what you feel toward me
at the moment is what we call negative transference. You
wish to continue to make love to her, but you
feel guilty about it, so you blame me. Well, what then,
what are you driving in in this love affair of yours?
(14:12):
We have a similar situation, but what she feels for
you only resembles love. It is transference. You resemble a
former lover. And that is why it only took a
week and a half or to reveal everything. Sometimes I
think I am too ethical or too old. Come now,
why don't you tell me you feel better? There's nothing
to tell. She had it written down. I didn't read
(14:34):
past the word confession. Well what did you do with it?
Speaker 2 (14:36):
I destroyed it?
Speaker 4 (14:38):
And see, well, this case, this case, key, what is it?
Speaker 1 (14:51):
It? Was missus Hamilon, all right, but she doesn't look
much like the dignified already I had met in your
office ten days before. Her high piled white hair was
hanging until rady pigtails. She was wearing a nurse's cape
over a flannel hospital nightgown, and in her hand was
a thirty two caliber gun, which is Hamilton, Why did
you leave the nursing boor you me doctor tyre that
place there's nothing but an asylum for you know that
(15:14):
is true. Come give me the gun. You're tired.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
You must rest now, I can wrist, I kill what case.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Get some water, Let me see that gun. I'm going
to eat this place. Get an ambulance over there, and
don't stop to analyze anything. Edith was slumped forward over
the piano keyboard. She was barely breathing. The old lady
wasn't much of a hand with a gun. Four of
the slice had punched at the big studio window. One
(15:45):
had thrown a flesh wound on her shoulder. The other
penetrated the right side just below the rib cage, and
there was not much bleeding at the wound of exits.
Her face was pale and the skin cold of a touch.
I gambled on a hunch she was suffering mainly from shot,
moved her over to a couch, threw a blanket over
and fought hot coffee into it. After a bit, her
color started coming back and she opened her eyes. Oh,
(16:07):
I thought you went away.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
I must have dreamed.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
I still angel.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Don't try to talk. Huh, Please, please, She'll let them
know what happened.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
To take it easy.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
It's only the ambulance.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
You've got to save mother Hamilton.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
You see her, because he get rid of that knife.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Can't let him say, I wrote on the ambulance with her.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
She was still unconscious when.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
They carried her into surgery. They told me she was
out of danger, and they threw me out. That night,
I went back to her apartment. What she'd said about
saving all missus Hamilton and getting rid of the knife
gave me a new slant on that confession. I hadn't read.
The pieces were still on the floor where I'd thrown them.
It took me nearly an hour to put the jigsaw together,
and when I did, it was still a puzzle.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
And her story.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
That morning, three years ago, she confessed to planning the
body before the official discovery for hiding the knife and
wiping the drawnobs and services in the death room to
get rid of fingerprints. She couldn't remember anything that had
happened in the eight hours between one am, when she
had left her husband drinking in the library and gone
upstairs to bed, and approximately nine in the am when
she found herself standing over his body with a knife
(17:21):
in her hand. I stretched out on the sofa to
think it over, and then I drew a blank spade.
Wake up? How did you get any well? I've been
reading that so called confession really interesting. We was dentalize it.
(17:45):
You went, I said, I'm going to call the hospital.
I've just come from a How is she physically? Nothing?
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Serious?
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Mintity? She's not so good and she keeps asking for you. Yeah,
she thinks you can help her. It's definitely there, the
delusion that she's love with you. What makes you so
sure it's a delusion. I don't answer that. When can
I say? It's best that you wait until she comes home.
It will be next Tuesday. What you're supposed to be
a first class head doctor? Can't you cure this? That
(18:12):
means you of Edith? I thought I explained to you
last night when we were discussing transfer. Raise doctor Zaia, please,
I know you meanwhile, but don't I beg of you.
It's not important. When she gets to know you better,
she will realize that her love for you is irrational,
and then she will remember everything. I kept myself busy
(18:35):
like crazy until Ita checked out of the hospital. There
wasn't much talk between us at first. Even her music
was reticent, little rambling improvisations that sounded like children's songs
or lullabies, with something just a little acid mixed with
their simplicity. Then as the days went by and her
strength and confidence started to return, her music became serene
(18:56):
and graceful. It became like her. And she sat there
piano in front of a big window with this afternoon
sun screaming down on the San Francisco hilltops, while at
the same time, the April five banks out of its
nightly fowl.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
It was with a golden gate and that was like
her too, like her music, brilliant with a touch of melanchot.
And then one day it was all warmth and brilliant
since she was smiling.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Sam, Yeah, Angel, I remember no, So that's it. I
woke up this morning feeling so happy, And then I
knew I was on the verge.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Because I knew that, however bad the truth might.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Be, it was worse not remembering it.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Even if I was a murderer.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
You'd rather know, wouldn't.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
No, No, I wouldn't.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Why I thought I knew you so well?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Are you angry?
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Yeah? At me?
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (20:04):
You the first time I came here, I tried to
give you a fair warning. You should have figured the
score when I told you I was a private detective.
It had even read the stories were. In the end,
the detective doesn't have any choice but to turn in
the beautiful dame, no matter what his personal feelings are.
Maybe you didn't think they were true to life, or
maybe you thought I was an exception to the rule,
because you are, well, I'm not. The truth is I
was hired to get a confession out of you anyway
I could, and I think in the back of your
(20:25):
mind you'd known it all along. You want to have
your confession either too. You've probably learned as a child
that it's smarter to tell all and be patted on
the back, and to be found out and get spanked.
How can you be so smuggling, so self satisfied and soul.
Whatever made me think I was in love with you
(20:45):
just because you.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Looked a little like someone was.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Zoya was right, only he thought you were kidding yourself too.
Zoya called it transference. I call it baloney. Goodbye, Just
leave that doctor desires why I never heard a confession
and turn into.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
A lover's quarrel.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
And I understand she paid twenty five dollars an hour
to rattle it off to you. I have the flow
me your telephonic message. I haven't had time to analyze it,
but at first glance I take it the name that
Edith was innocent, that everything except destroying evidence motive to
spare her mother in law the anguish of knowing that.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Her son was a suicide.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
I'm sorry now that I know what a story was,
that I didn't stay to her or tell it. But that,
as you would say, is not important. At least I
cured her that love delusion he was so worried about.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Even though it took a month to do it, period
and a report, Oh.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
Sam sacrificing herself so self sacrificingly rather than shut her.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
A mother's delude some other time, I'm sorry, I'll go type.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
Where did you go?
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Sam said, you take your agency? So where did you go?
I'm downstairs in the far noise on the line.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
You don't need to shout.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Oh hold along a minute? Yes, may I help you?
Oh no, I'm sorry. I was hoping I might sign
missus Spade.
Speaker 4 (22:22):
Would you like to leave a message?
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Tell him? Edith Hamilton gold. Oh you're still on the pharm.
Oh pardon, yes, dear. What happened?
Speaker 3 (22:33):
You're taking it fan?
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Nothing? Nothing at all, one moment, please, miss Hamilton. I
have him on the line. He's downstairs in the bar,
and if you'll hurry, you can just catch him. I'm sure.
Oh downstairs, Well I will hurry. Thank you. You're welcome. Sam.
Are you still on the line. What's the matter with you?
Speaker 4 (22:53):
Nothing?
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Nothing? Just go ahead and drawn your sould, but don't
get loaning.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
You.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Well, good night, sweet, I'm want to take piano lessons.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
The Adventures of Sam Spaith, the actual Hammond's famous private detective,
are produced and directed by William Spear. Sam Spade is
light by Howard dove Mareene Tuttle is that this is
the United States Armed Forces Radio Service, The Voice of
Information and Education
Speaker 2 (23:44):
H
The Adventures of Sam Spade, Detective Why so Doctor Ludwig
Zoya twelve forty one eleven Worth, San Francisco.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
From Samuel Spade.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
License number went through seventy five ninety six. Subject either
Hamilton Caper no Caper.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Dear doctor, if I.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Owe you an apology for not keeping you informed on
the progress of the assignment and for letting a dragon
as long as it has, and I'll have to go
on owing you, which makes us even because you don't
owe me anything. The start of it was a month ago,
thirty two days, eight hours, three minutes and forty five seconds.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
To be exact.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Oh, sage, doctor n good to see you. Let me think,
how long is it three.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Years since I visited Generals?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
That was when you were my leading suspect in the
Donoff case. Yes, for you know, as was he who
pointed out that the psychoanalysts are not unlike you, Detective.
We probe, we question, we follow up, cruise in order
to find out what is the dark secret which has
nervously disturbed a human mind.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
But we are limited.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
We have only our patient's words and our interpretations. Sometimes
that is not enough, and that is why I need
your help. In this particular case, what cases dibratricide? And
please do not interrupt the free from over my thoughts.
Pardon me, naturally, my ego feels a certain resentment against
my ID for asking you for your help? What makes
me think I need a detective? Wow? Am, I was
(01:36):
just asking my the various same question. Are you too
for your resentment? We must analyze that later, out down
out to the key. This woman was referred to me
by her physician. She has suffered a complete nervous collapse
because she thought she recognized a certain person crossing a street,
a person she had not seen for years. My patient's
(01:58):
son died and studio circumstances three years ago, and the
woman she thought she saw was her daughter in law.
It was widely reported in the newspapers at the time.
Perhaps you remember it caught her Hamilton Vanda Helen oh
Ron Out, Virginia, nineteen forty six. The mother accures the
son's wife of murdering him. Daughter in law was haller
before the grand jury, but not un tire. It dropped
(02:19):
right out of sight afterwards. Good you know that case? Well, Actually,
my patient is suffering from an agonizing sense of guilt unconsciously.
She thinks that she herself murdered her son?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Did she?
Speaker 1 (02:31):
But there may be something tangible at the bottle of
so profound, a feeling of guilt. You mean you want
me to help you convince her that she really is
gil No, no, no, no, that is for me. But
first we must find out. What we must find out
is somebody else, whether they are guilty, what go all
away to Virginia Sava crime that's been after books for
three years. No, no, no, The daughter in law is
(02:53):
actually here in San Francisco, if I remember right, she
wasn't the only suspect. But whether she is innocent or
guilty is of no importance. It is only important that
we know why. Excuse me, Yes, this case, goodness, case
send her in. This is my case. Ender me by
my patient. I want you to meet her. Oh, good afternoon, missus.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Hamilton, Good afternoon doctor.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
The woman had stood frying them a door while there
was a tall, commanding figure impeccably dressed in black, with
an easy one hundred grand worth of black pearls round
around her neck and a black veil covering her face.
She walked in ahead of you, displaying not a sign
of nervousness and stopped directly in front of me. Very deliberately,
she lifted the veil, revealing a youthfully old face, deeply
tanned and set off by snow white hair.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Only her enormous.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Violet eyes showed any expression. She stared at me for
what seemed like a full minute. Yes, you do you
look like the other one. Perhaps you had better explain,
Missus Hamilton.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
My daughter in law, Edith very much love was another man.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Before she married my son Carter. He joted her Carter
was second choice. It was I who talked her into
marrying him. That's why I'll never rest until my son's
death is of anged. We must analyze this desire for angels. Yes,
yet I had a dream last night. I dreamed that
Edith was dead, sad with the same bone handled hunting
(04:24):
knight she used to kill my son. Yes, you would
just lie down on the couch and relaxed, Missus Hamilton,
i'd I'll be with you in the moment it comes
to speaking. This is the most disturbing new development her dream.
He must get to that girl as soon as possible.
Her life may be in danger.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
I mean, the old lady has missed up another take
a shot at her.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Here it is the address, and take this week case
by the briefcase and there are Negro papers in it
regarding the Hamilton the state they required her signature. I
had Missus Hamilton arrange for you to take them to
her instead of the attorney. I suppose to pose as
a lawyer. While I'm there, I'm supposed to shake a
confession out of her. And while i'm tiving it up,
I'm a body guy. You're getting a lot for your money.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Doct desire.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
I spent the next hour or so in a newspaper
mark breathing myself. In the Old Hamilton case, the victim,
Catterr Hamilton, was the twenty eight year old tail end
of an old Virginia family.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Whose blood was as rich as it was blue.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
The accounts of the killing was sketchy. At the old plantation,
Catterr Hamilton had been found one morning by his mother,
dead and dead of a stab wound. The knife was
never turned up. Somebody had wiped everything in the room
clean of fingerprints, which sounded like robbery until it was established,
but nothing was missing. The state was counting heavily on
Missus Hamilton senior's testimony in their case against the daughter
(05:40):
in law at a nod angle. I had forgotten the
old lady had clammed up in front of the Grand Jullian.
The case was dropped for lack of evidence. Then there
was a picture. She was a kind of a girl
who looks her best in a riding outfit, with her
freckled showing, and then surprises you by looking even better
than full makeup with her shoulders showing. Canaid is the
(06:02):
word that best describes their features, large widely spaced eyes,
a generous mouth, and.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
An expression of unaffected sincerity.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
It was with a certain reluctant eagerness that I kicked
myself up, stocked and straight the pine, across pine, the bush,
and up three flights of stairs.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Yes this is here, Missus Edith Hammill.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Yes you must be from the attorneys the ride and
you are coming. Come in.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Not that I'm in hiding, but I'm curious as to
how they got my address. Would you like a drink?
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Well, I'm not right now.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Can I fix you one in about twenty minutes? Maybe
I'm still one horley lock editor, I uh, frank the
elder Missus Hamilton saw on the streets. Oh, is she
here in San Francisco?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Is that so surprising?
Speaker 1 (07:12):
No, it's a large city. What is surprising is her
staying on after learning that I was in town. She's
not very well, and in fact, I think she's had
some kind of a nervous breakdown. I'm sorry to hear that.
I'm very fond of her, you know, in spite of everything.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
No, I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Maybe I should explain. I'm a private attact, a local.
I was hired here in San Francisco to bring these
papers to me.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
Oh, you phoned me.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
He seemed to be a little slow introducing myself. I'm sorry,
Sam Spade. Well, if it had to be a detective,
I'm glad of you. But I can't help wondering why
they didn't send a lawyer. And the lawyers cost fifty
dollars an hour. I only cost ten. Oh, in the
private eye stories, it's always twenty five bucks a day
and extensive.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Wish those riders would get a breast of the times.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
I'm sure they'll catch up. But if you're being paid
by the hour, perhaps I can.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Keep you here a little longer.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
I'm glad you said that.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
You'll remind me of someone pleasantly, I hope yes, oh yes,
and sadly two your ask me if you don't know
about that, I hope you'll never find out.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
I'll leave that up to you.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
His hair was like yours, he was thinner, and his
eyes were blue. Maybe we shouldn't brake will five o'clock
for that drink. It was a funny kind of a drink.
I'd never been hit by one before, Black Velvet. After
two of them, I even began to hate myself a
(08:46):
little less, And after the third I decided there was
some mystical connection between the drink and the color of
her eyes. Black Velvet much about music, but the way
she went at the piano, you knew she wasn't a.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Plate of it, and probably wasn't a plate of anything.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
The pieces she played were like her, bowled and at
the same time deligate. It's simple, but with a web
of complexity in the background, brilliant but always colored with sadness.
What's the matter? I want you to take me someplace where,
any place, dinner. I don't care. I just want to
(09:28):
go someplace with you, with you. Hey, what is it, Santa?
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I thought we were going out?
Speaker 1 (09:45):
I never paid much attention to San Francisco before I
met here. It's quite a place.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
There's a little park.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Up on Russian Hill where you can stand and look
out over the houses of the Marina of the Golden Gate.
There's an island in San France. There's going even worse
than Alcheprize over the lake at Flashaka Zoo, and instead
of gorillas, the population there is nothing but monkeys. There
are only two laundries in Chinatown, and out of Gomngate
Park they have a band concert every Sunday afternoon. Maybe
it was just the bright weather, but everything looked clean
(10:14):
and shiny, as if somebody had taken her as scrubbing brush,
so all the buildings well, even fed seagulls. At first,
she never went any further into her pass in the
day before yesterday, I couldn't very well charge you for
the progress I was not making on the case. So
when I learned that you had sent old missus Hs
to a nursing home for a two week rest and
Edith did not meet bodyguiding for the time being, I
(10:36):
took a job that took me down to Los Angeles
for a few days. I was awful glad to get back,
and not because I don't like lad oh dag he
(11:01):
was gone so long. I like that this was the
last time I make a fool out of myself. Buy
on fly later, friendly. What happened when I was gone?
What happened to me? Happened before you went away? You
know that them While you were going, I had a
lot of time, and I did a lot of thinking,
and I came to a very important decision. There was
(11:23):
something I knew I had to tell you, and I
wasn't so sure I could get through it.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Oh, Angel, it sounds serious. I don't think this is.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
The time, but it is. Yes, it is here. Take
it before I change my mind.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
What is it?
Speaker 1 (11:36):
I wrote it all down. Sit here, facing away from
the piano.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
And don't say anything until you're credit through.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Okay. The opening sentence set me straight between the eyes.
That said, I ate of Hamilton, of my own free
Well make the following confession. It was addressed to a
District Attorney of Roanoke, Virginia, and that doctor Sawyer was
(12:21):
when I headed back to your office, not to have
my head examined, it was too late for that, but
to tell you that I was resigning this caper on
the way. I placed two ads in the classified sections
of three papers, one undern office space for rent and
one under situations wanted. Ex Private detective desires position as
night watchman, prison guard, asylum attendant, or any more pleasant
line of work. And I really meant it. The United
(12:46):
States Armedforces Radio Service is presenting the Weekly Adventure of
Dasho Hammet's famous private Detective Sam Spade. Mister stage, what
is it you disturbed?
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Disturbed is not the word, mister sire? Is it?
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Because you've been with her a week and a half
and there's yet no progress there? Just analyzed the situation.
All set up has been a rotten from the beginning.
You send me to that girl and the false potensis.
You're telling me to warm my way and to work
on one moment, did I said you? How else? Did
ex me? They got a confession out of it, so
they got the play. When that old lady said, I
looked like a man here was once in love with
your thought you'd fall for me, didn't you? I probably
take advantage of it. Then you're where you can hire
(13:28):
somebody else to make a love to. I'm a detective,
not a jeggalo. So she did make a confession to you?
Why do you say that? When a patient comes to
a psychoanalyst for a hell, a situation develops which we
call transference. Now, this means that the doctor represents to
the patient someone in whom he can confine, to whom
(13:49):
he can unburden himself, such as a parent or a
loved one. Well, I must you well, at the moment,
at the moment, that is what you feel toward me
at the moment is what we call negative transference. You
wish to continue to make love to her, but you
feel guilty about it, so you blame me. Well, what then,
what are you driving in in this love affair of yours?
(14:12):
We have a similar situation, but what she feels for
you only resembles love. It is transference. You resemble a
former lover. And that is why it only took a
week and a half or to reveal everything. Sometimes I
think I am too ethical or too old. Come now,
why don't you tell me you feel better? There's nothing
to tell. She had it written down. I didn't read
(14:34):
past the word confession. Well what did you do with it?
Speaker 2 (14:36):
I destroyed it?
Speaker 4 (14:38):
And see, well, this case, this case, key, what is it?
Speaker 1 (14:51):
It? Was missus Hamilon, all right, but she doesn't look
much like the dignified already I had met in your
office ten days before. Her high piled white hair was
hanging until rady pigtails. She was wearing a nurse's cape
over a flannel hospital nightgown, and in her hand was
a thirty two caliber gun, which is Hamilton, Why did
you leave the nursing boor you me doctor tyre that
place there's nothing but an asylum for you know that
(15:14):
is true. Come give me the gun. You're tired.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
You must rest now, I can wrist, I kill what case.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Get some water, Let me see that gun. I'm going
to eat this place. Get an ambulance over there, and
don't stop to analyze anything. Edith was slumped forward over
the piano keyboard. She was barely breathing. The old lady
wasn't much of a hand with a gun. Four of
the slice had punched at the big studio window. One
(15:45):
had thrown a flesh wound on her shoulder. The other
penetrated the right side just below the rib cage, and
there was not much bleeding at the wound of exits.
Her face was pale and the skin cold of a touch.
I gambled on a hunch she was suffering mainly from shot,
moved her over to a couch, threw a blanket over
and fought hot coffee into it. After a bit, her
color started coming back and she opened her eyes. Oh,
(16:07):
I thought you went away.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
I must have dreamed.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
I still angel.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Don't try to talk. Huh, Please, please, She'll let them
know what happened.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
To take it easy.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
It's only the ambulance.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
You've got to save mother Hamilton.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
You see her, because he get rid of that knife.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Can't let him say, I wrote on the ambulance with her.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
She was still unconscious when.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
They carried her into surgery. They told me she was
out of danger, and they threw me out. That night,
I went back to her apartment. What she'd said about
saving all missus Hamilton and getting rid of the knife
gave me a new slant on that confession. I hadn't read.
The pieces were still on the floor where I'd thrown them.
It took me nearly an hour to put the jigsaw together,
and when I did, it was still a puzzle.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
And her story.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
That morning, three years ago, she confessed to planning the
body before the official discovery for hiding the knife and
wiping the drawnobs and services in the death room to
get rid of fingerprints. She couldn't remember anything that had
happened in the eight hours between one am, when she
had left her husband drinking in the library and gone
upstairs to bed, and approximately nine in the am when
she found herself standing over his body with a knife
(17:21):
in her hand. I stretched out on the sofa to
think it over, and then I drew a blank spade.
Wake up? How did you get any well? I've been
reading that so called confession really interesting. We was dentalize it.
(17:45):
You went, I said, I'm going to call the hospital.
I've just come from a How is she physically? Nothing?
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Serious?
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Mintity? She's not so good and she keeps asking for you. Yeah,
she thinks you can help her. It's definitely there, the
delusion that she's love with you. What makes you so
sure it's a delusion. I don't answer that. When can
I say? It's best that you wait until she comes home.
It will be next Tuesday. What you're supposed to be
a first class head doctor? Can't you cure this? That
(18:12):
means you of Edith? I thought I explained to you
last night when we were discussing transfer. Raise doctor Zaia, please,
I know you meanwhile, but don't I beg of you.
It's not important. When she gets to know you better,
she will realize that her love for you is irrational,
and then she will remember everything. I kept myself busy
(18:35):
like crazy until Ita checked out of the hospital. There
wasn't much talk between us at first. Even her music
was reticent, little rambling improvisations that sounded like children's songs
or lullabies, with something just a little acid mixed with
their simplicity. Then as the days went by and her
strength and confidence started to return, her music became serene
(18:56):
and graceful. It became like her. And she sat there
piano in front of a big window with this afternoon
sun screaming down on the San Francisco hilltops, while at
the same time, the April five banks out of its
nightly fowl.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
It was with a golden gate and that was like
her too, like her music, brilliant with a touch of melanchot.
And then one day it was all warmth and brilliant
since she was smiling.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Sam, Yeah, Angel, I remember no, So that's it. I
woke up this morning feeling so happy, And then I
knew I was on the verge.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Because I knew that, however bad the truth might.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Be, it was worse not remembering it.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Even if I was a murderer.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
You'd rather know, wouldn't.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
No, No, I wouldn't.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Why I thought I knew you so well?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Are you angry?
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Yeah? At me?
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (20:04):
You the first time I came here, I tried to
give you a fair warning. You should have figured the
score when I told you I was a private detective.
It had even read the stories were. In the end,
the detective doesn't have any choice but to turn in
the beautiful dame, no matter what his personal feelings are.
Maybe you didn't think they were true to life, or
maybe you thought I was an exception to the rule,
because you are, well, I'm not. The truth is I
was hired to get a confession out of you anyway
I could, and I think in the back of your
(20:25):
mind you'd known it all along. You want to have
your confession either too. You've probably learned as a child
that it's smarter to tell all and be patted on
the back, and to be found out and get spanked.
How can you be so smuggling, so self satisfied and soul.
Whatever made me think I was in love with you
(20:45):
just because you.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Looked a little like someone was.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Zoya was right, only he thought you were kidding yourself too.
Zoya called it transference. I call it baloney. Goodbye, Just
leave that doctor desires why I never heard a confession
and turn into.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
A lover's quarrel.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
And I understand she paid twenty five dollars an hour
to rattle it off to you. I have the flow
me your telephonic message. I haven't had time to analyze it,
but at first glance I take it the name that
Edith was innocent, that everything except destroying evidence motive to
spare her mother in law the anguish of knowing that.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Her son was a suicide.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
I'm sorry now that I know what a story was,
that I didn't stay to her or tell it. But that,
as you would say, is not important. At least I
cured her that love delusion he was so worried about.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Even though it took a month to do it, period
and a report, Oh.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
Sam sacrificing herself so self sacrificingly rather than shut her.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
A mother's delude some other time, I'm sorry, I'll go type.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
Where did you go?
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Sam said, you take your agency? So where did you go?
I'm downstairs in the far noise on the line.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
You don't need to shout.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Oh hold along a minute? Yes, may I help you?
Oh no, I'm sorry. I was hoping I might sign
missus Spade.
Speaker 4 (22:22):
Would you like to leave a message?
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Tell him? Edith Hamilton gold. Oh you're still on the pharm.
Oh pardon, yes, dear. What happened?
Speaker 3 (22:33):
You're taking it fan?
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Nothing? Nothing at all, one moment, please, miss Hamilton. I
have him on the line. He's downstairs in the bar,
and if you'll hurry, you can just catch him. I'm sure.
Oh downstairs, Well I will hurry. Thank you. You're welcome. Sam.
Are you still on the line. What's the matter with you?
Speaker 4 (22:53):
Nothing?
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Nothing? Just go ahead and drawn your sould, but don't
get loaning.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
You.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Well, good night, sweet, I'm want to take piano lessons.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
The Adventures of Sam Spaith, the actual Hammond's famous private detective,
are produced and directed by William Spear. Sam Spade is
light by Howard dove Mareene Tuttle is that this is
the United States Armed Forces Radio Service, The Voice of
Information and Education
Speaker 2 (23:44):
H
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