Suspicion hour an episode of Suspense - Old Time Radio show OTR

Please enjoy Suspicion hour a great episode of the legendary Suspense - Old Time Radio show OTR - a Old Time Radio OTR classic.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ower, a full sixty minutes of suspense. Good Night.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
The noted stage Actess Hem Gaffey is our star in
Puspasion by Dorothy's Hairs, a suspense play produce then directed
by Anton M.

Speaker 3 (00:14):
Rider.

Speaker 4 (00:20):
It is very quiet in Hammersmith, the western metropolitan borough
of London. Orderly homes line orderly residential streets, and inside
these homes, quiet people live quiet lives. An outsider might
notice the changeless security of Hammersmith, while the natives regarded
without comment as part of their peaceful pattern of living.

(00:42):
It is a point of pride at Saint Paul's School,
located within the borough's limits, dates back to the twelfth century,
the Godolphin School of the sixteenth century and the Edward
Latimer Foundation of the seventeenth. And it's a matter of
record that the last disruptive influence exerted itself over the
town and its people in the year eight seventy nine,

(01:04):
when the Danish invaders occupied it as their winter camp.
It isn't Hammersmith. Our story is laid and now with
the performance of Sam Jaffey as Edward Mummery, Loreen Tottle
as his wife, Ethel Alan Reed as Brooks and with
suspicion by Dorothy Sayers, we again hope to keep you

(01:24):
in God Penn.

Speaker 1 (01:41):
My name is Edward Mummery of hammah Smith. I'm forty
eight years of age, fair of complexion, agreeable, I believe
as to disposition. I have my business grievously in the
city which an together with my partner, mister Harold Brooks.
I have my own home after buying my lesure hours
with gardening, and I've just been married, that is practically

(02:05):
just six years. To be exact, My wife, Lethel, is
the most brilliant thing that ever happened to me. These
are the out of facts. I recognize that I am
a very ordinary person. And yet can a person be
considered ordinary when into his life there suddenly explodes the extraordinary.

(02:26):
For this is what happened to me. On one single day,
like any other day, in a quiet, carefully plaid life,
I smelled the odor of the grave, and I saw
with my own eyes a supreme horror of all existence.
It began of the railway carriage going to London to

(02:47):
my office. Perhaps it was the thick fall of tobacco
smoke in the carriage that first made me aware of
my mausia. I slipped to the desk of Tablento my mouth. Lately,
I've taken up the habit of carrying them about with me.
I leaned back my head or closed my eyes. The
breeze who traveled with me every morning was giving me
the benefit of this morning.

Speaker 5 (03:08):
Addition morning, Yeah, here's somethings making the front page.

Speaker 6 (03:12):
The question has been asked in the House about government typewriters.

Speaker 1 (03:16):
Now, how there's the press for you?

Speaker 6 (03:18):
The world going to the devil so fast it makes
my head spin, and all they can put in their
precious newspapers. I say, oh, Checkie, you look each other
the prayer this morning?

Speaker 1 (03:28):
Could you just open the window? I don't feel very well.

Speaker 6 (03:34):
I certainly, Yeah, just lean your head into it. It
doesn't prepare Yeah better, Yes, thank you? Nice to mean
something you had for breakfast.

Speaker 1 (03:45):
I suppose so sorry to be such a pool at all.
Go ahead, lead me some more of this earth shaking news.

Speaker 5 (03:59):
Further split has it occurred in the Labor Party, who
had skip over politics for the day. Two girls kept
in burning factor then, and I can do that the
morbid too. The police are still looking for the woman
who poisoned the family in Lincoln.

Speaker 1 (04:19):
I took the tram to my office, gritting my teeth
against the snowser that had me dizzy and trembling. How
I got up the stairs, I'll never remember. The world
swam black before my eyes. Then I was seated at
my desk, breathing a bit hard, but once more in
control of myself. My heart no longer found me boarding

(04:42):
Mamley call it off oil. Yes, Brooks quite and probably
are in fact this thray this or two of bones
all in not quite all. It is a matter of fact.
I haven't been too lately, oh early, oh luckier or
living in the Don't you want to take advantage of it?
How's miss thank you? She's very much better.

Speaker 7 (05:05):
Glad to hear they're very glad. I hope we shall
have it about again. It's winter as usual. Can't do
it out in the drama society.

Speaker 1 (05:11):
I'm sure you're very kind.

Speaker 7 (05:13):
I mean it by jove, I sharp to get her
acting last year romance. She has well beg positively brought
down the house.

Speaker 1 (05:20):
Yeah she was good, wasn't he. Yeah they'll be for
asking after yesterday. She'd be up and a found again soon,
says she mustn't over do it. No worry, he says.
That's the important thing. She used to go easy and
not rush about or undertake too much. Quite right, Well
is the devil at all? I couldnot worry years ago.
Look at me? It is a fiddle overall, I sancing

(05:41):
fifty again. You're not looking altogether the thing. By the way,
I'll touched the steps. Nothing much cann't delivers rot His
life worth living depends on the liver. Yes, well, we'd
better be getting to that lease of helebes, I have
a pleasure. Oh. By the way, I suppose your wife

(06:02):
doesn't know of a good cook, does she? I doubt it.
I'm so easy to find nowadays. In fact, we've only
just got shoot at ourselves, you know, I promise the Phillips's.
I look around. Their girl's getting married.

Speaker 7 (06:14):
That's the worst of bringing young girls in the work
for her, I said to Phillips, knew, mind what you're doing,
I said, get somebody who knows something about you may
find yourself landed with this poisoning woman. What's the name
of Edreds. I'm what to be sending means to your
funeral everywhile, I said, He laughed. But it's no laughing
matter what we pay the police for, I simply don't know.

(06:36):
Ely a month now they can't seem the lay hands
for a woman. All they say is, I think she's
hanging about the neighborhood that may seek a situation as Cook.

Speaker 1 (06:46):
As cook. Now I ask you there was a theory
of the papers that she'd committed suicide.

Speaker 7 (06:51):
Oh you believe it, my boy? That coat out of
the river was all I watch. They don't commit suicide,
that's all that's she's poisoning, ex hutting.

Speaker 1 (07:00):
These weasels, that's what they are. And I hope they
catch it before she ties her hand on anybody else.
As I told Phillipson, then you think this missus Andrews
did it, Cause she did it.

Speaker 7 (07:11):
You've been following the case, Evan show looked after her
old father and he died suddenly, left a bit of
money too, and she keeps house with an enderly gentleman
and he dies suddenly. Now there's this husband and wives
man dies. We'll be taking ready you I've asked Nick,
poisoning Cook runs away till you asked did she do it?

Speaker 1 (07:31):
I only thought it might be, as I don't.

Speaker 7 (07:34):
Mind betting when they dig up the father and the
other old bird, they'll find them bun full of poison too.
Ones that saw gets started, they don't stop. What is
the matter, memory, Let me call you a doctor.

Speaker 1 (07:46):
No, just some water away? Hey, well, hold enough, that's
hold your ahead, Thank you, thank you Brooks. I'll show
you all right, yes, all right, de fella oh man

(08:08):
telling you you came a start. I thought I was
losing you here and now it's only mystery, nothing serious.
Hold on a moment. What did you have breakfast? I
don't know. Tell me we'll get to the bottom of this. Well,
then down bed bacon, eggs, just a nicely set kind

(08:28):
coffee made its only missus Sutton Kens, you'll find I'm
terribly thankful for I.

Speaker 7 (08:36):
Can imagine my wife down with a nervous breakdown. Must
be a blessing to have someone capable running the house.

Speaker 1 (08:41):
That's right, if it hasn't been at all fit poor child.
I can want for to mention to her books. She
gets upset so easily. I don't want to worry about me.
Of course, isn't it odd Brooks? What's this photograph that
missus andrews oh in the newspaper? She looks like such

(09:05):
such a sweet, motherly looking mom.

Speaker 7 (09:09):
Take care of But the way you're stomach taking up,
I'd say, this poison and your precious missus Sutton on
the same.

Speaker 1 (09:16):
Godly your joke looks. As a matter of fact, if
they were the slightest resemblance, I'd be terrified. But this
missus Andrews looks so awesome and silic.

Speaker 7 (09:27):
She's got a bad mouth. Look to the mouth, memory,
before you trust your fellow man.

Speaker 1 (09:32):
That's when the true stories. Death by poisons, fiends and murderers,
the dodess, the pits, the unholy face of evil. These
are things we read about. These are horrors we get

(09:54):
at second hand through fiction and films, but they do
not really happen to people like me, the suburban gardener,
or read the state broker. And that was a comfort.
If I were to go through life without any great
distinction at please, I should avoid any great terror, so

(10:16):
I told myself. As I left the office for lunch,
I was said a little nervous to begin with, So
I had some boiled fish and a custard pudding. The
wrenching pain seemed gone entirely, and I became positively lightheaded.
As the bogie of illness and Doctorsville ceased to heart me.
I bought a bunch of bronze chrysanthemums for eto just

(10:37):
my way up to the region, and I got home
at the usual time seventeen. I was a little awe
dashed by not finding Ethel in the sitting room, still
holding the flowers. I went down the passage toward the
kitchen door and opened, Sir, I seemed to have start

(10:59):
of you, missus Sam.

Speaker 3 (11:00):
Yes, yes she did. I didn't hear the front door.

Speaker 8 (11:03):
Go where's missus Mommery not feeling bad? Against Well, she's
got a bit of a midday, poor lamb.

Speaker 3 (11:10):
I made her laid down and took her up a
nice cup of tea at half past four. I think
she's thosing nicely now. It was very considerate, Missus Sutton. Ah,
we're just turning out the dining room and done it.

Speaker 1 (11:22):
I think I asked her not to overdo. But you
know how she is, sir.

Speaker 3 (11:27):
She gets so restless, can't sing to bear.

Speaker 1 (11:30):
To be doing nothing. Yes, I know, she's such an
accur little person. This illness is very hard on her. Well,
I'll just run up and have a peep I'm disturb
her if she sleeps. I want me to put the
flowers in a bar take them up to her first.
By the way, dinner well, I had.

Speaker 3 (11:48):
Made a nice taken kidney pie.

Speaker 1 (11:51):
Oh, peastry, I don't know you see.

Speaker 8 (11:56):
Oh, you'll find it beautiful and light made it. But
A say, you haven't said you've found blood in the gestable.
I'm sure it'll be most excellent. It's just well, you've
seems to Sutton, I haven't been too wellately. Something of
a stomach, I've said, Is that?

Speaker 1 (12:14):
So? Yes, do you have any idea what it might be?

Speaker 3 (12:20):
Oh, I'm sure it's nothing up to my chichens, to
my mind.

Speaker 1 (12:23):
No, no, I'm sure it isn't well. I believe I'll
live through it. Steak in kidney is just fine. Now
I run up and look at my wife. I tiptoed
up and opened the door carefully. At first I thought
Ethel was asleep. She lay snuggled under the eye of
dung and looked very small and fragile in the big

(12:46):
and double bed. And she didn't look at all well.
It wrenched my heart to see her face so pale
and wasted, and the doctors couldn't seem to find her
aims at all. What could be the insidious disease that
had done this to her nervous breakdown? They called it,
but I wasn't satisfied with that. It must be something more.

(13:09):
I came closer and she stirred on the bed and
smiled at me. Hello, darling, the sweet how are you?

Speaker 9 (13:18):
I got tired and headache and if a sudden packed
me off to bed.

Speaker 1 (13:23):
You've been doing too much. You know what the doctor
said about resting.

Speaker 9 (13:27):
Yes, I know, but foolishot me. Oh, Edward's such lovely flower.

Speaker 1 (13:33):
I thought it would tear you up that this was
pot of color. Darling.

Speaker 9 (13:38):
You are good to me, and I can't have been
much fun for you lately. Really I could cry nolt
tired of me, I could. I'll get well, I promise.

Speaker 1 (13:48):
You, of course you will.

Speaker 9 (13:51):
Oh that's funny me tired of you, and hand in
my robe and now come down with.

Speaker 1 (13:57):
Much better saying Dadia, and let missus Sutton send you're you.
I've got to be firl with you, Ethel. If you
don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to
go to the DAMA Society meetings. No idea. How anxious
everyone wants to have you back. The worldlkes have been
asking after you and saying that they really couldn't go
on without you.

Speaker 3 (14:18):
Yet not at all.

Speaker 1 (14:21):
You are the best of the lot. They need you.

Speaker 9 (14:26):
Bad after all.

Speaker 1 (14:27):
Good.

Speaker 9 (14:29):
Now have you been, old dady?

Speaker 1 (14:30):
It's too bad, not too bad.

Speaker 9 (14:32):
No more bothers than to me.

Speaker 1 (14:33):
Well, perhaps just a little one. But it's quite gone now,
Absolutely nothing to worry about, darling, Do sure? Quite sure? Sweet?
All gone and forgotten. I experienced no more distressing symptoms

(14:57):
that night or the next day. Follow the advice of
the newspaper expert on the subject, I took to drinking
a great deal of orange juice. The results were wonderful,
because as though I had never known pain in my life.
The next night, we were tired early. I fell asleep
almost at once and set the deep and dreamless sleep

(15:19):
of a child instead about three in the morning. Then
I was awake for it to come back as afore,
wake up? Where is wake up?

Speaker 3 (15:34):
Help me?

Speaker 1 (15:41):
I think I am dying. I suppose it is different
for every man when his time comes. For myself, I
can only say that it was like sinking. There's all
my body or an insuportably heavy weight, prompting down into

(16:05):
a soft, icy brown sinking deep deep, deepens up the
black creasions of the earth. Yes, not, order to go
with it. I'll just follow this pill. Come along now.
I know it's hard, you can't swallow. Just once here
you are goes to work in a jiffy. I daresay

(16:26):
you're feeling better already than you doctor. Now then, missus Mumray,
that's a few questions. Please, what do you have for dinner?

Speaker 9 (16:33):
But that's what's so baffling. It couldn't have been a dinner.
I had the same things to eat, it, said Missus Sutton.

Speaker 1 (16:40):
Nonetheless, we have to be thorough about this.

Speaker 9 (16:42):
If you will well, then U big slatters and a
milk pudding.

Speaker 1 (16:48):
Oh, yes, rounder, you're sure about that.

Speaker 9 (16:51):
And before we went to bed, Edward had a large
glass of orange juice. According to his newishlock Ha seems to.

Speaker 1 (16:56):
Have been helping him so much, there's your trouble. Orange
juice is an excellent thing, and so are trotters, but
not in combination. Things and oranges together are extrongly bad
for the liver. I don't know why they should be,
but there's no doubt that they are. I see feeling better, mummery, Yes,
it's much here.

Speaker 10 (17:13):
I'll send you round a prescription. You stick the stops
for a day or two and keep off pork. Don't
you worry about hi, missus. Mummy's the son as a crowd.
You're the one we've got to look after him.

Speaker 9 (17:24):
And I was so frightened. I believe my own trouble
has been shot right out.

Speaker 1 (17:27):
Oh no, not yet, it hasn't.

Speaker 10 (17:29):
Don't want to see those black rings under your eyes. Corston,
Mike was disturbed, but you make up for it now.
Get plenty of sleep, taking your tip regularly.

Speaker 1 (17:38):
Oh oh yes, that's right.

Speaker 10 (17:41):
Well, hope be alarmed about this hulking brooch here, will
soon have him out and about again.

Speaker 1 (17:46):
A good night to you, doctor, Yes, Memory, I'm sorry
I had to put you out in the middle of
the night. That's why we're about. Oh man, it's nothing.
It means a great deal to me. You see. If
you hadn't been able to come, I'm sure that tonight
I should have died. My diet was bread, milk and

(18:18):
beef tea for the next three days. On Saturday afternoon,
though I still felt CD, I managed to stagger downstairs.
Brooks had sent a few papers down from the office
for my signature, and afterwards Ethel sat down with me
and we ran over the household accounts together.

Speaker 9 (18:37):
Then we have a butcher settle.

Speaker 1 (18:38):
That's right, right, right, old merchant and the cold merchant.
It's all finished. And as missus salton, oh, i'd almost
forgotten the month. So it is. Well, you're quite satisfied
with her, aren't you, darling?

Speaker 9 (18:57):
Yes, father, aren't you? She's a cook and a warm,
motherly old thing. True Down't you think it was a
real brain wave of mine engaging her like that?

Speaker 1 (19:06):
Honestly I do.

Speaker 9 (19:08):
Indeed, this was a perfect providence of turning up like that,
just after that wretched Jane had gone off without even
giving notice. I was in absolute despair. Was a little
bit of a gamble, of course, taking her without.

Speaker 1 (19:21):
A new reference. I supposed to us, how has she been.

Speaker 9 (19:23):
Looking after a widowed mother? You couldn't expect her to
give references?

Speaker 11 (19:28):
No?

Speaker 1 (19:30):
What is it?

Speaker 9 (19:31):
John? Why you say no like that?

Speaker 1 (19:35):
What truth is? I felt a bit uneasy about this
at the time. I didn't like to say anything, because
we simply had to have somebody.

Speaker 9 (19:42):
I didn't much like it either. But after all it
half worked out so well. We're perfectly happy with her, now,
aren't we.

Speaker 1 (19:48):
Yes, dear, it's just for the record. It's a cash
to me that we might write to the clergyman back
in the palace. You should be able to give her
a reference.

Speaker 9 (19:57):
I'm sure he's an excellent clerguyman, but he couldn't tell
us anything about her cooking and cooking after all?

Speaker 1 (20:03):
Is the She fine all right? And we are satisfied
with her cooking. And here's a month's wagers from missus Sutton.

Speaker 9 (20:10):
I'll tell us she's passed the flying colors.

Speaker 1 (20:13):
And by the way, dear, you might just lent you
to missus Sutton that if she must slead the morning
paper before I come down, I should be obliged if
she would folded neatly afterward. I don't know, I'll fuss,
but she does fussed up pretty fairly. And by the
way the pages that she folds back, and by the

(20:36):
way she folds her back, I can tell that Missus
Sutton is following this poison case as avidly as I am.
On Sunday, I felt very much better quite my old self.
In fact, I had roast sylon for lunch, with the

(21:01):
potatoes under the knat Loksha, putting it in licious lightness,
and an apple tart to follow. After the three days
of Mahinbury died, it was a real pleasure to save
about crisp fact and the underdone mean I ate carefully modernity,
but with an almost sensuous enjoyment, and then over coffee,

(21:25):
while Ethel was still toying with the food, I took
up the newspaper and turned to the account of a
woman poisoner.

Speaker 9 (21:33):
Are you still following those horrible murders? Yes, my dear,
whatever makes you still marbled it?

Speaker 1 (21:39):
I find it very interesting, etho, to see what human
beings are capable of doing.

Speaker 9 (21:43):
I suppose it is interesting thrilling tool, because it's so
far into the kind of lives we lead here in Hamersmith.

Speaker 1 (21:50):
Yes, it's just like a fascinating fairy tale. I say,
what is it? Why? Rock was right? They've gone and
dug up missus Andrews's father in her former import, and
sure enough they were both found for it. Though full

(22:13):
of poison. My head was full of conjecture about this sweet,
motherly murvous, this middle aged cook who mixed arsenic into
her delicious luncheons and dinners. This Missus Andrews, for whom

(22:33):
the police were looking so desperately. At three o'clock, with
a roast beef settling properly, I went out into the
garden to put the tulipblves in. I got my bag
of tulips and a towel, and then, remembering I still
had on my good trousers, I decided it would be
wise to take a mat to nylon. The mat had
been left last in the corner under the potting shelf.

(22:56):
I stooped down and felt about in the dark on
thee all thoughts. Yes, it was there, but there was
something else, something in the way. It looked like a tin.
I lifted it out carefully. Yes, of course it was

(23:17):
a tin, the remains of the weed car I had
used the summer of flour. I looked the pink label
printed in staring letters with the legend arsenical weed killer poison.
The blood suddenly began to pound in my temples. I've
been thinking of Missus andrew so long that it came

(23:38):
to me with a lasty shack that I was holding
in my hands, the very same brand of stuff she
used to destroy so many poor souls. It gave me
a distinctly unpleasant impression that by owning some poison myself,
I was directly in touch with important and costly ills.

(24:00):
I smiled a little at myself for being so foolish,
And then I noticed that the stopper had been putting
very loosely. Now, how did I ever come to do
a thing like that? What a stupid fool It would
just serve me right if all the goodness had gone

(24:22):
off it. Besides, it was so very dangerous to leave
it loose like that. I took out the stopper and
squinted into the can. It seemed to me about half thought,
and I ran the thing home again and gave it
a sharp thumb with thump of the handle of the
towel for better security. After that, I washed my hands

(24:44):
carefully at the scary I am a man who does
not believe in taking risks.

Speaker 12 (24:58):
Look who just dropped in and I were just in
the neighborhood, mister Mummery, and we thought we've had a
cup of tea.

Speaker 1 (25:03):
If you happy to see you again, Miss Well Hello John, Now,
mister memory, we were talking.

Speaker 3 (25:08):
About the Lincoln poisoning case. Mister Mumray that is I
think I've been doing all the talking. And ready mum,
thank you. Missus Sutton, just put it by me alto
very good one.

Speaker 1 (25:19):
Will that be all?

Speaker 3 (25:21):
Thank you, not at all?

Speaker 9 (25:23):
Man, welcome sugar, Missus weldek.

Speaker 3 (25:26):
Always some lemon, please, you will have milk and sugar.

Speaker 1 (25:29):
John, Oh, thank you, I see you remembered. Thank you,
my dear.

Speaker 3 (25:36):
I can't help personly on about it, but there's been
nothing else.

Speaker 1 (25:39):
In my head ever since the first of these murders.
I mean, no, just take me you, missus Welldeke, it's.

Speaker 12 (25:45):
Time about her age this Missus andrews Oh, I see,
and yes, when I look into my own heart.

Speaker 1 (25:50):
And ask myself whether I could take.

Speaker 12 (25:52):
A human knife in cold blood, but it is a
matter of fact, I suppose I could. When it comes
down to that, I suppose we all could. Why if
you live long enough, you're bound to run across the
few people you'd love to see dead and underground. And
if you're pushed far enough, I suppose you simply up
and do it. Except that I shouldn't use poison. I'd

(26:16):
yet to find some more forthright way of.

Speaker 1 (26:18):
Doing this mother letting your tea get cold.

Speaker 3 (26:22):
Oh I am darling, okay, So.

Speaker 12 (26:26):
You know, I tell myself that I'm a stronger person.
In fact, my husband tells me the same thing all
the time. And still the thought of this poisoner is
running around looks in our neighborhood gives me a chill.
I confess it's a rather delicious chill. But nonetheless I'm
uneasy too.

Speaker 1 (26:44):
Oh we've seen a.

Speaker 13 (26:45):
Picture, of course, because it's not much of the help.
It could be almost anywhere.

Speaker 1 (26:50):
When you stop full size cutting, Missus Welbeck, I beg
your pardon. I remember you offered some cuttings. If you
care to come down to the garden. I'll get them
for you. By oh my good God, to have them,
and they'll kill out my garden. So beautifully do let's go.
Ethel has been getting more and white and tremulous as
this horrible woman ran on with her cheerful horrors. As

(27:13):
you rose to go, I noticed a relieve glance past
between Ethel and young well Beg. Evidently the boy understood
the situation and was chasing at his mother's tactlessness. Missus
Welbeck and I went outside together, and I selected and
trimmed the cuttings for her.

Speaker 13 (27:29):
Oh if I only had your skiden pass. But you've
made for yourself a too garden.

Speaker 1 (27:35):
Of Eden here. So nice of you to say so.

Speaker 3 (27:38):
And your gravel.

Speaker 9 (27:39):
Paths, they're so fairly immaculate.

Speaker 3 (27:42):
I simply cannot.

Speaker 1 (27:43):
Keep my reeds down. You'll need a good red killer,
that's all. There's an arsenic preparation on the market that
doesn't wanders that stuff.

Speaker 3 (27:51):
No, thank you, mister Mury. I wouldn't have it in
my place for a thousand souls.

Speaker 1 (27:55):
I'm afraid there's no other way to read yourself a waves.

Speaker 3 (27:58):
It's a foolhardy thanser just to have poisoned down.

Speaker 12 (28:02):
It seems to me you're simply opening your doors and
inviting Trevor.

Speaker 1 (28:07):
It's not as bad as all that we keep it
well away from the house.

Speaker 3 (28:11):
Such the slightest carelessness.

Speaker 1 (28:13):
We are not careless people, except accept it what I
just remembered. I have been a bit careless. I found
the stoppers of the can loose just this afternoon. It
was unforgivable of me.

Speaker 12 (28:28):
There, you see, that's the accidents begin. Then, something as
simple as that. You're fortunate you don't have any little
children talking around?

Speaker 1 (28:37):
I suppose we are as well, then I suppose we are.
When we got back to the house, young Welbeck was
already on the scene and holding Ethel's hand in the
act of saying good bye. He was a good boy,

(28:59):
anxious to get mumbled out of the house with tactful promptness.
I went into the kitchen to clear up the newspapers.
I fished out in order for act Missus Welbeck's cuttings,
and as I picked them out, something odds struck me
about them, something I had to verify. I turned the

(29:21):
papers over carefully, sheet by sheet. Yes, I've been writing
every portory of Missus Angels. Every paragraph, every line about
the Lincoln poisoning case had been carefully cut out. Someone
in my own house had gone to all this trouble. Why.

Speaker 14 (30:01):
In Tonight's Full Hour of Suspense, Sam Gaffy stars as.

Speaker 6 (30:05):
Edward Mummery in Suspicion by Dolofy's airs Tonight's Study in Suspense,
It's just the moment we will return with Act two
of Suspense.

Speaker 4 (30:22):
This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.

Speaker 14 (30:28):
In Tonight's Full Hour of Suspense, Sam Gaffy stars as
Edward Mummery in Suspicion by Dolofy's airs.

Speaker 6 (30:36):
Tonight's study in Suspense, It's just the moment. We will
return with Act two of Suspense. This is CBS the
Columbia Broadcasting Systems.

Speaker 2 (30:55):
And now act to our Hollywood soundstake an Act two
of Suspicion starring Sam Jaffy with Lorient Tuddle and Alan
Reed in a narrative well calculated to keep you in Darstin.

Speaker 4 (31:22):
It hasn't been too long ago in Edward Mummery's consciousness
that Arsenic was only a weed killer, and missus Andrews,
the motherly murder suspect, was simply a name in the newspapers,
A fear far removed from him with his quiet woman amsmen.
But a sudden terror drifts him now, a terror that
certainly includes deadly poison and seems also to include the

(31:45):
motherly woman who cooks his meals.

Speaker 1 (31:52):
How the thing that is only a vague and uncomfortable
noise at the back of my brain came boiling us,
engulfing me. Bud haven't in my head and made me giddy.
There was a curious, cold lump in my stomach someone
in my own household. That night, I couldn't close my eyes.

(32:14):
I had to tell someone about this awful suspicion. But
there was I want to tell not I thought certainly
in her condition, and so I checked it within myself
until I reached town next day and could talk to books.

Speaker 7 (32:28):
Now, take hold of yourself memory. Let's not jump to
any conclusion. I'm not Books.

Speaker 1 (32:34):
I'm only asking questions that must be asked. Very well.
Let's examine the facts once again.

Speaker 15 (32:40):
If only I had a picture of Missus Henders publishing
will last week.

Speaker 1 (32:45):
I know I tried to recall those pictures. I've tried
so hard, and I don't seem to have a very
good visual memory. I suppose we could get hold one
of the library it keeps files with her. Remember you
showed me a picture here at the office on the
last week. And how was it, I described motherly? Yes, yes, yes,

(33:09):
probably it seemed to be about all you could say.
I have been counting up the time since that poison
Missus Andrews disappeared. It comes to just a little more
than a month. Yes, that would be my cow very well.
A month, and I just paid our Missus Sutton a

(33:31):
month's waited sudden How can I spent it for any
shocking anxiety? That's the thing that keeps speaking away with me,
you know, how Ego he is. You simply must do
it on your own memory. You must cope with this
monster suspicion by yourself, and I must be sure of
my ground. Simply to dismiss the only decent cook we've

(33:52):
ever had of a sheer blind panic, why it would
be a wanton cruelty to both of it.

Speaker 7 (33:58):
If it's to be done at all, it must be
quickly and arborternity without suggesting any of these horrors to Ethel.

Speaker 1 (34:04):
And then, don't you see there's something else? If there's
anything at all to these temple suspicions, it means Ethel
is being exposed every minute that the woman is in
the house. Cool, I'll think of that family, Lincoln. I
think it's my husband dead and the old father's dead.
It was faster while she's been in for so long
for her, Darling, I've seen her waisting away before my eyes. Why, Brooks,

(34:30):
Why a nervous breakdown? Why should Ethel be having a
nervous breakdown? O? Is it's something else? Is this drink
to ether. Surely day by day he's their tall. It

(34:51):
means perhaps you should see the police. It's nothing but
the wireless of suspicions. And besides, I I feel so
very lonely and so tired. It's almost as if I
didn't care what happened anymore. Your illness has taken it

(35:12):
out of you. Yes, too bad. You can't discuss it
with I don't want her to be afraid. Perhaps I will.
Perhaps she should know, I say, Mammy, what these illnesses
of yours? When did they be give? I don't know.
I think I've always been subject to the use of
texts as always like no, no, I mean the other ones,

(35:35):
the severe texts. Well, they began about three weeks ago.
Three weeks ago, Mama, that's right, about three weeks ago.

(35:58):
Train scene forever. Getting home that night, I came softly
into the house, this sneak of the sound of my
own footsteps. It was dusk, and yet none of the
lights in the house were on. I moved through heavy
and lving shadows into the sitting room. Ethel was stucked
up in a corner of Chesterfield, leaning back wearily against

(36:18):
the cushions. Good evening, Darling, You look tired, my dear.

Speaker 9 (36:25):
I'm tired. I think a bit trained and empty.

Speaker 1 (36:29):
I noticed you didn't sleep well last night. It was
probably that woman yesterday with her talking readiness as well.
They talked all together, two mans, all.

Speaker 3 (36:37):
About that horrible case.

Speaker 9 (36:39):
I don't like hearing about.

Speaker 1 (36:41):
That thing, of course, not dear. Yet whatever, When a
thing like this happens in the neighborhood, people will gossip
and talk. It would be a relief of the caught.

Speaker 2 (36:53):
The woman one.

Speaker 1 (36:55):
Doesn't like to think.

Speaker 13 (36:56):
I don't want to think about it at all, so
hateful she might be a How about the vertit creature?

Speaker 1 (37:03):
Yes, yes, quite so. You know. I was talking to
books about it only to day, and he said I don't.

Speaker 9 (37:09):
Want to hear what he said.

Speaker 1 (37:11):
I you would hear about it all, of course, not darling.
I'm sorry.

Speaker 3 (37:17):
Oh, everyd's got to because.

Speaker 1 (37:21):
You don't want to, because and so you shall have
little It's all my fault. The doctor warned me not
to disturb you like this idea. Everything is all right,
no need for tears. It doesn't concern us anyway. I

(37:55):
helped her upstairs and into bed, and then when she
had stopped sobbing, it was a glass to sleep. I
came down again very quietly. I was aware of a
reluctance to face Missus Sutton, but I had to a
front face to her men, her eyes secured by thick

(38:18):
corner and spectacles. And what was that about her mouse?
The tight lips, the hard chin? What was it Brooks
had said about looking first to the mouth?

Speaker 9 (38:32):
Would you be a card in any sir before I
go up? No?

Speaker 1 (38:36):
Thank you, Missus Sutton.

Speaker 3 (38:38):
I hope you're feeling better, sir.

Speaker 1 (38:40):
No more, quite better, Thank you, Missus Sutton.

Speaker 3 (38:44):
Missus Mummery is not indisposed.

Speaker 1 (38:47):
I know she's a sleeve.

Speaker 9 (38:49):
Do you think I ought to write to bring her
up glass?

Speaker 14 (38:52):
No?

Speaker 1 (38:52):
No, thank you, Missus Sutton. I believe west let her be?
And you, sir, did you chay for anything? Not a thing,
Missus Sutton.

Speaker 9 (39:03):
It wouldn't be no bother.

Speaker 1 (39:04):
Only take a minute not to night? All right then,
Missus Sutton, is sir? Were you are aware that my
can of arsenic out in the shed had a loose stopper?

Speaker 3 (39:19):
The garden is my department?

Speaker 1 (39:21):
Is it? Say?

Speaker 7 (39:22):
No?

Speaker 1 (39:23):
No, it isn't.

Speaker 3 (39:25):
I didn't know about the art.

Speaker 1 (39:28):
Very well.

Speaker 3 (39:30):
Are you saying good night? Then?

Speaker 1 (39:32):
Oh, missus Sutton, Yes, it's one last thing suddenly, sir, nothing,
Missus Sutton. Nothing. The next few days were the most
agonizing of my life. I began the habit of coming

(39:54):
down early in the morning and prowling about the kitchen.
This only served to make her feel more nervous. But
Missus Sutton offered no remark. She watched me silently and
with good humor, almost with amusement. And after all, it
was ridiculous. What was the use of superlizing the breakfast

(40:15):
when I had to be out of the house every
day between half past nine of the morning and seven
in the evening. On Thursday night, Brooks persuaded me to
go to a little bachelor dinner for a friend who
was being married. It was in my district and we
weren't out of air until after midnight. Our ends was
too late for Brooks to catch a train back to town,

(40:37):
so I invited him to come over and spend the
night at my place. The household had long seems gone
to bed careful books. I don't want to disturb the ether. Sorry,
old man, your room is just off here. I think
you need a fresh dillo sip. It'll be fine no's

(41:01):
this somebody writing your notes here, mister Munney. There's some
fresh coco in the kitchen. It only needs some hutting up.
Missus Sutton Quill should just hit the spot. Yes, indeed,
come along, let me just get the switch. There we are.

(41:22):
I'd better get the cocoa ready. It will only be
a minute. I just shows with a young fathers that
set them off marriage the style. Glad to see him
getting settled. People ought to marry young, all the more
years to enjoy the only real dressing life gives you.
How many years it been for you? With just six

(41:43):
good years? Eh? And they get better all the time.
That's the wonder of it. Tony Brooks, how did you
happen to this getting married? You didn't miss it at all,
Champ getting along very well about it. Cut off. Coco's ready, man,
here's mccaf mm hmm. It's just hard enough books. That's

(42:08):
a man. Is it just my fancy or is there
something queer about the taste? The taste it seemed to
me take another Sickbrooks, go on all the crowd on

(42:30):
your tongue. You tasted a faint tang that metal output memory.
I don't know I don't know what's he going to do.

(42:55):
I've never been in this situation like this before. Yeah,
you ought to take a specimens of the chemist. Yes, yes,
I will, first thing in the morning, the first foks.
I beg you to come with me. Where too? Just
outside in the garden. I want to see something in

(43:19):
the potting shed. Memory. I can't say a thing. Just
hold down to me. We're almost there, all right, this
is the shd now just about four steps inside here

(43:49):
we are, memory? Where are you? Just at your feet?
Old man, I'm still be down.

Speaker 3 (43:57):
Wouldn't it be good enough.

Speaker 1 (43:58):
To take a match? Will the orrors? Moment? Well, that's fine,
Hold it closer. It should be behind these thoughts here. Yes,
it's here. Oh, I don't burn on? Can you like another?

(44:19):
What is it? It's a tin of weed killer? I
mean a snake, yes, a smick? Just look by? Stop
is loose? I know rocks? I know? What about the match? No,

(44:46):
it isn't necessary. Well why should it be loose?

Speaker 14 (44:51):
Mom?

Speaker 1 (44:53):
That's the question. It is, especially since I took the
trouble to a ramed in as tight as it would go.
I mean last week, come, old man, I don't like
to flatten you to see what this means. Simply means
there's some murder back in my house. It was there

(45:21):
and that shead that smelled the birth in my dress
into an overcoat, holding the tin in my hand and
facing Brooks in the darkness, that the beast had seized
me in its cause and held me so tight that
I could hardly breathe. I put the sad hyphos to
run out into the dark streets of Hamerslet and scream
out of the sleeping village the terrible thing that I
had discovered. Instead, I replaced the sactly relatively, and Brooks

(45:51):
and I went back into the garden for the house.
Brook Brooks up. See that light? Whose window is it? Missus? Suttons?
It's terrifying? Is she watching us? Can't go from her?

(46:12):
Where does Nickols? Our bedroom is right up there? Oh
it's dark, frank heaven, if she'd drunk anything dead least
he'd be lights everywhere. She'd call out, just as I
did the night I was attacked hers, as of course.
Oh what's the plan? Plan? Yes, yes, plan. I'll get

(46:35):
you off to bed. Then I'll go into the kitchen,
watch off the sauceman and make another groove, Coco. I
let it stand in the saucepan overnight, just to RaSE suspicions,
to see this excellence. Then in the morning, off to
the coasts. That's right. Remember you told me last week

(46:57):
to move past. Well, my time's run out. I'm not
a man of action books, But when my life is threatened,
when the life of the person I'd love most is
in danger, then I can do it, Brooks. And then
I can. When I'd finished in the kitchen, I turned

(47:24):
out all the lights and started softly up the stairs.
I hadn't meant to wake in Ethel. I meant to
keep with all this from her until it was over
and finished. But she must have heard me as I
came into the room. Yes, my dear, how late you
are you?

Speaker 9 (47:43):
Naughty boy? Have a good time at your party?

Speaker 1 (47:46):
Not bad, not had at all.

Speaker 9 (47:49):
But tonight with young fans, with last that his.

Speaker 1 (47:52):
Last, he seemed like a lamb, all ready for the sacrifice.
You're right, Why God's good?

Speaker 9 (48:02):
Is this is suddenly something hot for you?

Speaker 1 (48:04):
She said she would, yes, but I wasn't thirsty.

Speaker 9 (48:10):
It was that sort of party.

Speaker 1 (48:15):
I sat down on the bed beside her. She was asleep, again.
In a moment, I took her hand and I clutched
the kite, no defying death and hell to take her
from me. Next morning I would act. I thanked God
it was not too late. At eight o'clock in the morning,

(48:47):
I stood outside the Little Untidy Shop on Spring Bank,
where a weather beaten sign informed the world that this
place of business belonged to the Ain thought chemists. Dunthorpe
himself was an aged little fellow, as untidy himself as

(49:08):
a shop in which he potted about day and night.
I paused a moment before entering. How many times have
we sat together in the room at the back, our
chairs tinted against the wall, exchanging views on green Flying
Club route. How many latey evenings we had passed together

(49:31):
discussing the fashion of our lives, the art of garden.
This morning I had to see him on another matter,
on the new fashion in my life. This morning we
should be concerned with the art of murder.

Speaker 11 (49:53):
Good morning, my bass, Mamma, rays, Good morning offerings yourself
Earli to die?

Speaker 1 (50:00):
You know a prescription for heaven? No, no, Ethe's much
better these days. It's quite another matter.

Speaker 11 (50:07):
Would be like for work, won't you, this is hardly
the time to continue the battle of lilas versus poppies,
didn't thought, Yes, I wonder if you could do a little.

Speaker 1 (50:20):
Job for me, Happy to it is within my power. Well,
this is very much in your line of work. I
have a here, a bottle that it contains a cup
of organaric coco Coco. Yes, I was wondering if you'd
be good enough to analyze it for me. And just
what is it you want me to look for? I shouldn't.

(50:41):
I should like you to look for traces of arseny,
if you would, very well, memory hearstic. This coco was
left in a saucement for me at home last night.
I found that it tasted very hard and pleasant and metallic.
I know, but that's oddly enough, dim thought. I have

(51:02):
reason to believe that we have living with us at present,
the Lincoln poisoner. I dare say, you know the case
a link karate. Oh but mammary, how dreadful. I have
reason to believe that this woman is attempting to murder
both my wife and myself. I think I have proof
your analysis will be the final one. I shall put

(51:22):
everything else outside memory. You might rely on me, I
do dim thoft I do man. May I congratulate you
on your prudence and on your intelligence in bringing me
the specimen. Thank you. I'm ever ready for you by
the season, and if it's what you think it is,
then we shall have a clear cause of which to
take action. Thank you. Dimpalk this evening? Then, why do

(51:44):
I see? I'm the fast A very long day. I
put it late and get into the office. Brooks was
already there waiting for me, with a white face and
the hushed voice of a con Good morning, Good mine.
You were already out of the house when I woke
this morning. Yes, I had my call to make Steve

(52:07):
well last night like a log sonny considering is funny. No,
you've taken care of the matter. Yes, whence we know? Yes,
whence we know? Make this afternoon?

Speaker 7 (52:22):
Everything seemed all right when I left the house, had
breakfast with Ethos, seemed very well, completely unsuspecting.

Speaker 15 (52:26):
Did you notice I did? Indeed, our dearness is bad mouse,
There's no doubt of us anything. Yes, otherwise perfectly normal.
That's a reason the way. Don't you see more normal
than normal?

Speaker 1 (52:38):
Folk? Do you feel like working today? Thanks? Neither do
I shall we put out the sign We put out
the signs saying that we were closed for the day
because of illness. And we sat together in the office,
and who now passed? And neither of us mood. Four

(52:58):
or five times we heard foot stepped outside in the corridor,
pausing before our door, and then turning and proceeding. Neither
of us spoke, neither of us mood. I examined an
expanse of wall just over Brooks his head, and he
examined the blank space over mine, and the hours passed.

(53:18):
Back on Spring Bank, Jim Thorpe would be bending over
his vials and buns and burners, moving its methotopic way
as only he could move, extracting the truth from the
bottle of cocoa. As I had told him, this was
the longest day of my life. Hecom and many yes.

(53:45):
It was four o'clock. I couldn't wait any longer. Good
luck on man. Brooks shook hands with me, and I
went outside into the afternoon sunlight. I was at Spring
Bank in twenty minutes. Raise that is dim thought. I'm
ready for you. Just come into the Burton cause were disturbed,

(54:07):
all right, memory right over here? What does it mean.
It means that there's no data about it. I see
I used Marsha's test was an heavy ghose. No wonder
your tasted it. There must have been four or five
drains of pure lastick in that model. Dear, take this mirror.
I want you to see for yourself. All right now,

(54:28):
just look closely at this little glass tube. It's the stain,
the purple black stain. That's the mark left by the hearstick.
Will you ring up the police for me here? No,
my wife, I've got it at all. I leave it
to me. I ring the police up for you. Oh
go quickly, Bummory. No concain went so slowly and stuff

(54:59):
so often. Ethel poisoned, dying dead, Ethel poisoned, dying dead.
The wheels slummed, hush in my ears. I jumped from
the train before it had stopped, and ran out of
the station. Along the road. A strange car was standing
at my door. I saw it from the end of
the steat and broke into a mad gallop. It had happened.

(55:20):
The doctor was there. I was a fool. I was
a murderer who had rested so long. Then the wire
was still one hundred and fifty yards away, I saw
the front all open. A man came out, followed by
Ethel herself. The visitor got into his car and drove away,
and Ethel went back into the house. She was safe,
she was safe. I could hardly control myself to hang

(55:44):
up my hat and coat and going looking reasonably calm.
She had returned to the armchair by the fire, and
she looked up at me in surprise. There were tea
things on the table, and she who was alive?

Speaker 9 (55:59):
You're that girl?

Speaker 1 (56:00):
Yes? The business asack. Somebody beat the tea.

Speaker 9 (56:05):
And Welbert came by.

Speaker 1 (56:06):
Oh, young girl.

Speaker 9 (56:07):
Yes, we've been talking over arrangements for the drama.

Speaker 1 (56:10):
Darling. I'm so glad by having a guest here. You
were proticted, you were saved.

Speaker 9 (56:16):
Everybody are you talking about?

Speaker 1 (56:18):
Seems say there's something I got to take you with her.
I should have done it long ago, Darling. It's going
to be unpleasant, but you must hear it.

Speaker 3 (56:29):
I beg your pardon, sir, I didn't know you were seeing.
Will you be taking tea or collot clear away? If
the mummy will be wanting so you better leave it.
And oh, ma'am, there was a young man at the
Fishmonger's and he's just come from Grimsby. Yes, and of
course a dreadful woman, that missus Andrews. Oh, isn't it
a good thing?

Speaker 1 (56:49):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (56:49):
It's wanted myself to think she was going about like that.
But they've caught her.

Speaker 8 (56:54):
Took a jobber's house keeper, she had the two elderly ladies,
and they found a wicked.

Speaker 3 (56:59):
Poison on her. Girl a startty girl, and get her reward.
I've been keeping my eyes open for her myself. But
it's a crimsonly she was all the time. Thank you
for the news it happened.

Speaker 1 (57:13):
That will be all? Oh not at all, man, that's
that's wonderful. Then it's all be a mistake.

Speaker 9 (57:23):
I'm glad.

Speaker 1 (57:24):
Mistake, darling. I don't know whether to shouted a cry.
I certainly must apologize to mister Sudden. We are safe,
don't you see? We are safe? But what about the
coul mister Timsoth and Mars's test in five days of askny,

(57:47):
what do they all need?

Speaker 9 (57:50):
Who?

Speaker 1 (57:51):
Who could have what? Ethel?

Speaker 3 (57:54):
Ethel ethel, yeah, ethel.

Speaker 1 (58:01):
To do it to me? You fool, you fool those
two THO.

Speaker 9 (58:07):
That has been well deck, It has always been well, Deck, Yes, it's.

Speaker 1 (58:13):
Saving your lives. Something I've never seen before.

Speaker 9 (58:19):
It's always been there, just that you've never.

Speaker 1 (58:28):
That would be the police. They've come here for you.

Speaker 4 (58:54):
Our thanks to Sam Jaffi for a magnificent performances, Edward Bummery,
and to Lorenzo Alan Reed into the entire cast who
aroused our suspicion with such effective suspense. Next week Crossfire, Yes, Crossfire,
Robert Young, Robert Mitcham, Robert Ryan, Gloria Graham, and Sam
Levine playing the roles they created for the RKO radio picture,

(59:17):
A drama of present day intolerance in an atmosphere of suspense,
and with the performances of Robert Young, Robert Mitcham, Robert Ryan,
Gloria Graham and Sam Levine.

Speaker 1 (59:29):
And with Crossfire, we'll again hope to keep you in uspence.

Speaker 4 (59:37):
Suspicion by Dorothy Sayers was adapted for suspense by Irving
Raditch and was produced and directed by Antonam.

Speaker 1 (59:44):
Leader Blud Gluskin is our musical.

Speaker 6 (59:46):
Director and conductor, and Lucian Morrowek composes the original scores.
Next week here Crossfire starring Robert Young, with Robert Mitcham,
Robert Ryan, Gloria Graham and Sam Levine on radio's outstanding Theater.

Speaker 1 (01:00:02):
Of Prills, one hour of sus Pains.

Speaker 2 (01:00:08):
This is CBS, where ninety nine.

Speaker 1 (01:00:09):
Million people gather every week. The Columbia Broadcasting System