Episode Transcript
Mind Welcome to.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
A half hour of mind Waves short stories from the
world expecting to fiction. This is Michael Anson the mind
(01:18):
Web story. This half hour comes from analog of September
nineteen sixty five. This is a story by Gordon Dixon
titled Computers Don't Argue Treasure Book Club. Please do not
(01:46):
full spindle or mutilate this card. Mister Walter a child
balance four dollars ninety eight cents, Dear customer. Enclosed is
your latest book selection. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stephenson four
thirty seven, wood Lawn Drive, Pandic, Michigan, November sixteenth, Treasure
Book Club, eighteen twenty three, ninety Street, Chicago. Dear Sirs,
(02:10):
I wrote you recently about the computer punch card you
sent billing me for Kim by Rudyard Kipling. I did
not open the package containing it until I had already
mailed you my check for the amount on the card.
On opening the package, I found the book missing half
its pages. I sent it back to you, requesting either
another copy or my money back. Instead, you have sent
(02:31):
me a copy of Kidnapped by Robert Lewis Stevenson. When
you please straighten this out. I hereby returned the copy
of Kidnapped. Sincerely, Yours, Walter A Child, Treasure Book Club.
Second notice. Please do that full spindle or mutilate this card.
Mister Walter A Child balance four dollars ninety eight cents
(02:51):
four Kidnapped by Robert Lewis Stevenson. If remittance has been
made for the above, please disregard this notice. Deer sirs,
may I direct your attention to my letter of November sixteenth.
You are still continuing to done me with computer punch
cards for a book I did not order, whereas actually
(03:13):
it is your company that owes me money. Sincerely, Yours
Walter a Child. Dear mister Child, we have sent you
a number of reminders concerning an amount owing to us
as a result of book purchases you have made from us.
This amount, which is four dollars ninety eight cents, is
(03:33):
now long overdue. The situation is disappointing to us, particularly
since there was no hesitation on our part in extending
you credit at the time original arrangements for these purchases
were made by you. If we do not receive payment
in full by return mail, we will be forced to
turn the matter over to a collection agency. Very truly yours,
Samuel P. Grimes, Collection Manager. Dear mister Grimes, will you
(03:57):
stop sending me punch cards and form and make me
some kind of direct answer from a human being. I
don't owe you money.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
You owe me money.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Maybe I should turn your company over to a collection agency.
Walter A. Child, Federal Collection Outfit, eighty eight Prince Street, Chicago,
February twenty eighth. Dear mister Child, your account with a
Treasure Book Club of four dollars ninety eight cents plus
interest in charges has been turned over to our agency
for collection. The amount due is now six dollars eighty
(04:31):
three cents. Please send your check for this amount or
we shall be forced to take immediate action. Jacob N. Harsh,
Vice President, Federal Collection Outfit, Chicago, April eighth, Dear mister Child,
you have seen fit to ignore our courteous requests to
settle your long overdue account with Treasure Book Club, which
(04:54):
is now with accumulated interesting charges in the amount of
seven dollars fifty one cents. If payment and is not
forthcoming by April eleventh, we will be forced to turn
the matter over to our attorneys for immediate court action, Ezek,
you will be harsh. President Maloney, Mahoney, Macnamara and Pruitt Attorneys,
(05:22):
eighty nine Prints, Toreet, Chicago, April twenty nine. Dear mister Childs,
your indebtedness to the Treasure Book Club has been referred
to us for legal action to collect. This indebtedness is
now in the amount of ten dollars in one cent.
If you will send us this amount so that we
may receive it before May fifth, the matter may be satisfied. However,
(05:45):
if we do not receive satisfaction in full by that date,
we will take steps to collect through the courts. I'm
sure you will see the advantage of avoiding the judgment
against you, which is a matter of record, would do
lasting harm to your credit rating. Very truly, yours, Hagthor
M po A, Junior Attorney at law. Dear mister Pruett,
you don't know what a pleasure it is to me
(06:06):
in this manner to get a letter from a live
human being to whom I can explain the situation. The
whole matter is silly. I explained it fully in my
letters to the Treasure Book Company, but I might as
well have been trying to explain to the computer that
puts out their punch cards were all the good it
seemed to do. Briefly, what happened was I ordered a
copy of Kim by Rudyard Kipling for four dollars ninety
eight cents, and when I opened the package they sent me,
(06:28):
I found the book had only half its pages. But
I'd previously mailed a check to pay them for the book.
I sent the book back to them, asking either for
a whole copy or my money back. Instead, they sent
me a copy of Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson, which
I had not ordered and for which they have been
trying to collect from me. Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for
(06:48):
the money back that they owe me for the copy
of Kim that I didn't get. That's the whole story.
Maybe you can help straighten them out. Relievedly, yours, Walter
ah Child pss SO sent them back their copy of
Kidnapped as soon as I got it, but it hasn't
seemed to help. They have never even acknowledged getting it back. Maloney,
(07:09):
Mahoney Maclamarin Pruit Attorneys, Dear mister Child, I am in
possession of no information indicating that any item purchased by
you from the Treasure book Club has been returned. I
would hardly think that if the case has been as
you stated, the Treasure book Club would have retained us
to collect the amount owing from you. If I do
(07:29):
not receive your payment and full within three days by
May twelfth, we will be forced to take legal action.
Very truly, yours, Hagthorpe M. Prewitt, Junior Court of Minor Claims, Chicago,
Mister Walter, a child be informed that a judgment was
(07:51):
taken and entered against you in this Court this day
of May twenty sixth, in the amount of fifteen dollars
sixty six cents, including court costs, limit, and satisfaction of
this judgment may be made to this Court or to
the adjudged creditor. In the case of payment being made
to the creditor, a release should be obtained from the
creditor and filed with this Court in order to free
you of legal obligation in connection with this judgment. Under
(08:14):
the recent Reciprocal Claims Act, if you are a citizen
of a different state, a duplicate claim may be automatically
entered and judged against you. In your own states, so
that collection may be made there as well as in
the State of Illinois. Court of Minor Claim Chicago. Please
do not fold, spindle, or mutilate this card. Judgment was
(08:35):
passed this day of May twenty seventh under Statute fifteen
dollars sixty six cents against Child Walter ray A four
thirty seven woodlawn Drive, Pandic Michigan Pray to winder a
duplicate claim for judgment in Picayune Court Pandic, Michigan for
a mount Statute nine four one, Samuel P. Grimes, Vice
(08:55):
President Treasure Book Club Grimes, this business has gone far enough.
I've got to come down to Chicago on business of
my own tomorrow. I'll see you then and we'll get
this stringed out once and for all about who owes
what to whom and how much yours Malter ay Child,
(09:17):
From the desk of the Clerk, Picky un Court, June first, Harry.
The attached computer card from Chicago's Minor Claims Court against A.
Walter has a fifteen hundred series statute number on it
that puts it over in criminal with you rather than
civil with me. So I here with some minute for
your computer instead of mine. How's business Joe Criminal Records PANDIC, Michigan.
(09:40):
Pleas to not full spindle or mutilate this card. Convicted
child A. Walter on May twenty sixth, address four to
thirty seven Woodlawn Drive, PANDIC, Michigan. Criminal Statute fifteen sixty
six corrected fifteen sixty seven crime kidnap date November sixteenth.
Notes at large to be picked up once Police Department, PANDIC,
(10:02):
Michigan to Police Department, Chicago, Illinois. Convicted subject a complete
first name unknown Walter sought here in connection reference your
notification of judgment for kidnap of child named Robert Louis
Stevenson on November sixteenth. Information here indicates subject fled his
residents at four thirty seven Wood Lawn Drive, PANDIC and
maybe again in your area. Possible contact in your area
(10:25):
The Treasure Book Club, eighteen twenty three, Mandy Street, Chicago.
Subject not known to be dangerous. Pick up and hold,
advisingness of capture to a police department, PANDIC, Michigan. Reference
your request to pick up and hold a complete first
name unknown Walter wanted in PANDIC on statute fifteen sixty
seven crime of kidnapping. Subject arrested at offices of Treasure
(10:46):
Book Club, operating there under alias Walter Anthony Child and
attempting to collect four dollars ninety eight cents from one
Samuel P. Grimes, employee of that company. Disposal holding for
your advice, Police Department PANDIC, Michigan to Police Department, Chicago.
Reference A. Walter alias Walter Anthony childs. Subject wanted for
(11:07):
crime of kidnap your area. Reference your computer punch guard
Notification of judgment dated May twenty seventh. Copy our criminal
records punch guard here with forwarded to your computer Section
(11:29):
Criminal Record, Chicago. Please do not full spindle or mutilate
this card. Subject correction omitted record supplied applicable Statute number
fifteen sixty seven, Judgment number four five sixty seven eight
nine Trial record apparently misfiled and unavailable. Direction to appear
for sentencing before Judge John Alexander McDivitt Courtroom A, June ninth,
(11:53):
From the desk of Judge Alexander J. Mcdivid June second.
Dear Tony, I've got in the judged criminal before me
for sentencing Thursday morning, but the trial transcript is apparently misfiled.
I need some kind of information reference a Walter Judgment
number four five six seven eight nine criminal. For example,
what about the victim of the kidnapping? Was victim harmed?
(12:15):
Jack McDivitt, June third, Records Search Unit regard reference Judgment
number four five sixty seven eight nine, was victim harmed?
Tonio Ma Legacy Records Division, June third two, United States
Statistics Office A Consent Information Section, subject Robert Lewis Stevenson,
(12:39):
Query information concerning Records Search Unit, Criminal Records Division, Police Department, Chicago,
June fifth. To Records Search Unit, Criminal Records Division, Police Department, Chicago.
Subject your query regarding Robert Lewis Stevenson file number one
eight nine sixty two three. Action subject decease a age
(13:00):
at that forty four years. Further information requested, AK Information
Section the US Statistics Office. June sixth two, United States
Statistics Office, Attention Information Division, subject regarding file number one
eight nine sixty two three. No further information required. Thank you.
Records Search Unit, Criminal Records Division, Police Department, Chicago, June
(13:25):
seventh to Tonio Malegacy Records Division Regard Reference Judgment number
four five six seven eight nine vick and is dead.
Records Search Unit, June seventh, to Judge Alexander J. McDivitt's Chambers,
(13:52):
Dear Jack reference Judgment number four five sixty seven eight nine.
The victim in this kidnap case was apparently slain from
the strange lack of background information on the killer and
his victim, as well as the victim's age, This mails
to me like a gangland killing. This is for your information,
don't quote me. It seems to me though, that Stevenson,
(14:13):
the victim, has a name that rings a faint bell
with me, possibly one of the East Coast mobs, since
the association comes back to me as something about pirates,
possibly New York dockage hijackers, and something about buried loot.
As I say above, is only speculation for your private guidance.
Anytime I can help best Tony Malegacy Rackets Division, Michael
(14:36):
ir Reynold's attorney at Law, forty nine Waters Street, Chicago,
June eighth, Yeer ten regrets I can't make the fishing trip.
I've been court appointed here to represent a man about
to be sentenced tomorrow on a kidnapping charge. Ordinarily I
might have tried to beg off, and mcdivid, who was
doing the sentencing, would probably have turned me loose. But
(14:56):
this is the damnest thing you ever heard of. The
man being sentence has apparently been not only charged but
adjudged guilty as a result of a comedy of errors
too long to go into here. He not only isn't guilty,
he's got the best case I ever heard of for
damages against one of the larger book clubs headquartered here
in Chicago. And that's the case I wouldn't mind taking on.
(15:18):
It's inconceivable, but damnably possible once you stop to think
of it, in this day and age of machine made records,
that a completely innocent man could be put in this position.
There shouldn't be much to it. I've asked to see
McDivitt tomorrow before the time for sentencing, and it will just
be a matter of explaining to him. Then I can
discuss the damage suit with my freed client at his
(15:40):
leisure fishing next weekend Yours, Mike Michael R. Reynolds attorniate
law deer tim in haste. No fishing this coming week either.
Sorry you won't believe it. My innocent is a lamb,
and I'm not kidding. Client has just been sentenced to
death for first degree murdering connection with the death of
(16:00):
his kidnapped victim. Yes, I explained the whole thing to mcdivot.
When he explained his situation to me, I nearly fell
out of my chair. It wasn't a matter of my
not convincing him. It took less than three minutes to
show him that my client should never have been within
the walls of county jail for a second. But get this,
(16:21):
mcdivot couldn't do a thing about it. The point is,
my man had already been judged guilty according to the
computerized records in the absence of a trial record. Of course,
there never was one. But that's something I'm not free
to explain to you now. The judge has to go
by what records are available, and in the case of
an adjudge prisoner, mcdivot's only legal choice was whether to
(16:43):
sentence to life imprisonment or execution. The death of the
kidnap victim, according to the statute, made the death penalty mandatory.
Under the new laws governing length of time for appeal,
which has been shortened because of the new system of
computerizing records to force an elimination of unfair delay and
mental anguish to those condemned. I have five days in
(17:04):
which to file an appeal intend to have it acted on.
Needless to say, I am not going to monkey with
an appeal. I'm going directly to the Governor for pardon,
after which we'll get this farce reversed. Mcdivot has already
written the Governor, also explaining that his sentence was ridiculous,
but that he had no choice between the two of us.
We ought to have a pardon in short order. Then
(17:26):
I'll make the fur fly and we'll get in some
fishing best money. Office of the Governor of Illinois, June seventeenth,
Mister Michael R. Reynolds, Dear mister Reynolds, in reply to
your query about the request for pardon for Walter a
child A Walter May, I inform you that the Governor
(17:48):
is still on his trip with the Midwest Governor's Committee
examining the wall in Berlin. He should be back next Friday.
I'll bring your request in letters to his attention the
minute he returns, where he truly yours. Clara beat Yoke's
secretary to the Governor, June twenty seventh, Michael ir Reynolds,
Dear Mike, where is that pardon? My execution date is
(18:11):
only five days from now. Walt June twenty nine, Walter
(18:45):
a child a Walter Cell Blockee, Illinois State Penitentiary, Joliet, Illinois.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Dear Walt.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
The Governor returned, but was called away immediately to the
White House in Washington to give his views on interstate sewage.
I'm camping on his door step and will be on
him the moment he arrives here. Meanwhile, I agree with
you about the seriousness of the situation. The warden at
the prison there, mister Allan Magruder, will bring this letter
to you and have a private talk with you. I
(19:13):
urge you to listen to what he has to say,
and I'm closed letters from your family also urging you
to listen to Warden Macgooter. Yours, Mike, June thirty Dear Mike,
this letter is being smuggled out by Warden Macgooter. As
I was talking to Warden Macgruder and my cell here,
news was brought to him that the governor has at
(19:35):
last returned for a wild Illinois and will be in
his office early tomorrow morning, Fridday, so you will have
time to get the pardon signed by him and deliver
to the prison in time to stop my execution on Saturday. Accordingly,
I have turned down the warden's kind offer of a
chance to escape, since he told me he could by
no means guarantee to have all the guards out of
my way when I tried it, and there was a
(19:56):
chance of my being killed escaping. Oh, everything will straighten
itself out, actually, and experience as fantastic as this had
to break down sometime under its own weight. Best Walt
for the sovereign State of Illinois, I Hubert Daniel Wilkins,
(20:17):
Governor of the State of Illinois, and invested with the
authority and powers appertaining there too, including the power to
pardon those in my judgment wrongfully convicted or otherwise deserving
of executive mercy, do this day of July first announce
and proclaim that Walter, a child, a Walter now in custody,
is a consequence of the erroneous conviction upon a crime
of which he is entirely innocent, is fully and freely
(20:40):
pardoned of said crime. And I do direct the necessary authorities,
having custody of the said Walter a child. A Walter
in whatever place or places he may be held to
immediately free release and allow unhindered departure to him enter
Departmental Rooting Service. Pleased to not fold mutilator spindle this card.
(21:02):
Failure to root document properly to Governor Hubert Daniel Willikins
regarding pardon issue to Walter a Child July first, Deer
State Employee, you have failed to attach your rooting number.
Please resubmit document with this card and form EATE seven
six explaining your authority for placing the top rush category
(21:25):
on this document. Formates seven six must be signed by
your departmental superior. Resubmit on earliest possible date Routing Service
offices open, in this case Tuesday, July fifth. Warning. Failure
to submit Formate seven six with the signature of your
superior may make you liable to prosecution for misusing the
(21:47):
service of the state government. A warrant may be issued
for your arrest. There are no exceptions. You have been warned.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
H h.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
H m oh.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
You've heard Gordon Dixon's story Computers Don't Argue, I Tell,
which appeared in analog of September nineteen sixty. This is
Michael Hansen, Technical operation for this broadcast by Steve Gordon.
Mindwebs is a production of WHA Radio and Madison, a
service of University of Wisconsin Extension
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
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 Burden
The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.