Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Auto Light and it's ninety eight thousand dealers bring you,
mister Charles Lawton. In tonight's presentation of.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Suspence, Tonight Auto Light presents a story about a man
whose name was synonymous with death, a true story which
we call Jack Ketch, our star, mister Charles Lawton, Hey, Sheriff,
(00:38):
are you shooting at me?
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Your am, will Cox? You know someone who fires faster
than me? Fine, the faster not some one, Sheriff. Something
a spark plug A spark sure, A spark plug must
fire at the rate of a thousand times a minute
at normal driving speeds to give you the smooth performance
and economy you expect from your car. And that's why
you should have your spark plugs in your car checked
(01:00):
regularly by your autolite spark plug dealer.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Well, suppose he finds the art in perfect shape, will Cox.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Noll, they're worn out or wrong for your style of driving,
he will replace them with ignition engineered autolite spark plugs,
the spark plugs that are world famous for quality and performance,
and will locate.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
My nearest atolite spark plug dealer.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Just look for the dealer displaying the autolite spark Plug
sign or call Western Union by number and ask for
operator twenty five. She will gladly tell you the name
of your nearest auto lighte spark plug dealer. And remember,
from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Autolite.
And now Autolite presents transcribed jack Ketch starring mister Charles
(01:43):
Lawton and hoping once again to keep you in suspence.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Evening, mister Bross Old, enough are they for you, mister Price?
Speaker 5 (02:04):
I mustsell. I'm fair war out.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
What you need is a bit of the old woman
for the cockles.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
How too, it's cruel work for a man in this winner.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Will you walk down to the blue boar, mister Price,
have yourself a dollar?
Speaker 5 (02:17):
I thought of it, but I'm to be a little
sort of funds tonight, William. I wonder if.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Yeah, hey one for me, mister Price.
Speaker 5 (02:26):
It's very nice of you, I must say, with very
nice good night, nasty little rat net William Hartley got
to keep an eye on him, partly?
Speaker 6 (02:42):
What rights you got to look at me like that?
I know what he's thinking. Get my job, fetch out that.
I'll see him turned off first cool.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
I got a thirst.
Speaker 6 (02:53):
I should go home I suppose Betty, he'll be grassing
out of all nick leather grass I got my rights blue.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
Ball for me.
Speaker 7 (03:04):
Evening one and all evening.
Speaker 5 (03:13):
Evening. Mister White, this is white, So why granny surprise ever?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (03:27):
Yeah, what's all this? Somebody did h So that's the
way it is, is it?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Keeper?
Speaker 6 (03:38):
Ale? I said, Ale Ale, Perhaps you didn't name me
the first time?
Speaker 5 (03:48):
Can you pay for it? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (03:49):
I can pay for it and more, don't worry about me.
I can pay for anything.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
You hear that.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
I don't need a bloody one of you. You'll all
come to me one of these days.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Are looking for somebody he don't pay his debts and he's.
Speaker 7 (04:09):
Going to Marshall Sea.
Speaker 5 (04:10):
Prison for it. Who said that? Who said it?
Speaker 7 (04:15):
I wonder who is.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Going to get his job when he's at out?
Speaker 5 (04:19):
Who called me that? My name is Price?
Speaker 6 (04:23):
John Price, John Price, John Price. When I say John Price,
such a.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
Horrible thing in mister ketch, do you ever.
Speaker 6 (04:35):
Cure going on the old clothes for saying the name
mister kitchen? Shut your faces, a lot of you stop.
Ale to you a mischief, that's what we have you
you you stomach y?
Speaker 7 (04:51):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's can happen.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Let me none of that in the earth.
Speaker 8 (04:54):
You want to come over to the table and drink
it otherwise?
Speaker 6 (04:58):
Oh sorry, I lost my tip.
Speaker 5 (05:03):
I'm sorry. That's very tired tonight. Except my apologies. Keeper.
Speaker 8 (05:11):
I don't accept nothing from you except your money. I
have to do that because I have to serve you.
My charta says, So there any trouble from you and
out that's a fact.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
And don't forget it.
Speaker 6 (05:27):
Why do they do that? Why it's always like this?
Either they won't say a blinking word or behave in
an awful way. Can't they understand I'm just like anyone else.
I do need job, same as anyone. It gets lonely,
a man sitting by himself, swilling ale, all by himself.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
I wish I had some money, I mean some of
the actual coppers. I have friends, then lots of them.
What was it they were saying about the watchman looking
for me.
Speaker 6 (06:01):
I can't do that. I'll pay the debts what I owe.
I'm to get a good job or two.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Won't you let him in alone?
Speaker 7 (06:10):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (06:11):
Fair?
Speaker 4 (06:17):
Not fair, fair, mister price?
Speaker 5 (06:22):
Who's that? Oh? William William Hartley always at all late tonight?
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Isn't that's right, mister Price, having a bit of a guzzle.
Speaker 6 (06:34):
I will not stand familiarity, William Hartley, and kindly remember
your place in station.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Our offense intended, none take an io granted. Mind if
I sit down with me.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
Mug, don't mind.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Our long hours, short pay. That's the way of it.
Speaker 5 (06:56):
William Hartley. Why do you talk to me?
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Why not, mister Price? You're my superior, ancient in a way.
I have to talk to you.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
I want you to have to.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
I want you to want to. I want a friend.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
I want people to smile at me on the streets
and talk like me.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Oh you've got a burden, mister Price, and no mistake, William.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
How would you like to lend me five sovereigns? I
could pay you back with interest. I've got one or
two odd debts to pay.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
I heard about that mister Price. Mry White was saying,
any White.
Speaker 7 (07:44):
What do you know?
Speaker 5 (07:44):
He's out of me job like you, William Hartley. You
don't pull the wool over my eyes high now I know?
Speaker 4 (07:51):
How could you think such a thing, mister.
Speaker 5 (07:54):
Remember I'm not out of office yet. Remember you stay
nice to me, William, because I have a position. How
about a couple of sovereigns. I know you've got it,
so there's no.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
I'd not to oblige, mister Price, or what me I would,
but my wife's expecting to gain, and you now it
is with another mouth to feed.
Speaker 5 (08:18):
How about a copper seweather ail?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Then you know I was going to buy one for you,
mister Price. But when I reached into my pocket, I
found I just enough of my own mug.
Speaker 5 (08:28):
William Hartley, you're a.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Dirty, sneaking little liar, mister Price.
Speaker 6 (08:35):
Don't you never find yourself in trouble, because if you do,
it's John Price is going to be there.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
I take in loving care of you where.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
You are a one.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
Now you'll stop it.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Anyone would say we.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
Mister Wright, this is right, what evening?
Speaker 9 (08:58):
I'm Elizabeth part of it?
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Are in out all right?
Speaker 5 (09:02):
Erry?
Speaker 9 (09:04):
I said hello, that's all.
Speaker 5 (09:07):
I didn't do no harm, just allowed hello. That's all.
William Markley, he come to the blue board to laugh
at me. That's how he gets his pleasure. They all do.
(09:29):
When I go down, it's going to be the same.
I wish I was.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Dead, John Price.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Let you.
Speaker 8 (09:43):
Where you've been.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
I had a piece of matting on the table at
six o'clock.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Hell, where you've been?
Speaker 4 (09:52):
You've been boozing at the Blue Bower, spend every blessed penny?
Speaker 5 (09:56):
Was tired? Help suck? You got a few shillings put by?
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Oh no you don't.
Speaker 5 (10:06):
It's desperate girl. Me and Debt is prison.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
I had to talk to do your good.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
Don't say that love only need it for a week
or two at the most.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
I've got to raise every penny our kill.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
That man is for me and the kid. You don't
catch a party, I lose me job. Don't make me
last your job? Call that a job. I'm ashamed. I'm
ashamed to have people know me.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
Name now better.
Speaker 6 (10:33):
I'm your husband. It's your duty to a pay me.
You'll give me what money you've gone in the.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
House or or what what will you do? Jack Candy?
What do you do to missus? Jack Ketch? You murderer? Murderer?
My husband? What's he do for an honest living? Why
he's a murderer?
Speaker 5 (10:50):
Mother?
Speaker 4 (10:50):
What does dad he do? He's got a lovely job, Sonny,
didn't you know?
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Yes, dear old debt turns people off for our bread, Yes,
Jack Ketch, the groom of the letter, the public hangman.
Speaker 9 (11:03):
Hashap auto Light.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
It's bringing you mister Charles Lawton in Jack Ketch Tonight's
production in radio's outstanding theater of thrills suspense.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
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Speaker 3 (11:53):
Yes, will inform me? Why will come?
Speaker 9 (11:55):
Will you see, Sheriff?
Speaker 1 (11:56):
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Speaker 3 (12:09):
But what's that mean to me? Will Cogs.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
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(12:34):
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Speaker 2 (12:45):
Now Autolite brings back to our Hollywood sound stage, mister
Charles Lawton in Elliot Lewis's production of Jack Ketch a
tail well calculated to keep you in so spend.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
I suppose it was wrong to beat her like that,
but what's a man to do? So what with me
debts and what I've done to bet here? I am
in Marshall c Prison, not the first time I've been here.
Speaker 6 (13:24):
What a stinking all of us together? The machaaland and
men women are dogs. There's one leader that aids a
bed coming yesterday. He's got learning.
Speaker 5 (13:36):
A gentleman. You can see that. Thomas Lovelace his name.
He's in debt to his eyes two thousand pounds? Have
you here until I wrought the price? I wouldn't say that.
So there's always hope. Three times. So this is my
fourth and always for dead. Of course, there was the
matter of my wife Betty. This time, what did.
Speaker 7 (13:56):
You do for a living price?
Speaker 5 (13:58):
What's the matter? Had you notice the others? They never
talked to me, sir? And you notice particular. I'll tell
you why, because I was in the employer of his
majesty in service to the crown. That's why.
Speaker 7 (14:11):
That's why they don't talk to you.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
I suppose you won't either, so when I tell you,
But you'll find out in a day or so. Anyhow,
what's the use.
Speaker 7 (14:20):
I'm the hangman, hangman, hangman. But I thought that Jack.
Speaker 5 (14:27):
That's what they call me. Oh, I thought, so go on, sir,
I won't trouble you. You're a gentleman. You don't want
to like to meet.
Speaker 7 (14:37):
You haven't got a any savor reputation, you know, Chris.
Speaker 5 (14:41):
It was me job. Somebody had to do it.
Speaker 7 (14:44):
I've heard that you rather enjoyed it.
Speaker 5 (14:46):
That is a lie.
Speaker 10 (14:47):
I'm not about the poor devil to paid you to
put them out of their misery quickly.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Oh. I was happy to oblige poor souls. Sometimes they
give me a few pence to help them through the
awful passage to heaven. But Lord bless her. I did
my best.
Speaker 7 (15:08):
And if they didn't have any money, well, I.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
Wouldn't hold it against him. You know. Of course, I'm
not denying that her nice neat rack or press job
was worth a few shillings extra. But wouldn't you have
taken the money? I asked him.
Speaker 10 (15:22):
I wouldn't she I wouldn't have had your job not
for a million pounds.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
Oh well, that's the way of it. Each man to
what he knows, right, mister Lovelace. My profession is angmin
yours is to be a gentleman?
Speaker 5 (15:37):
Am I right? Sir?
Speaker 6 (15:39):
And we're both in debtors prison. That gave him something
to think about. It wasn't so I an mighty After that.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
He never had visitors and I didn't neither.
Speaker 6 (15:56):
That is not till one day, three months after I
first come here, and it was William Hartley.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
I didn't like the nasty weasels smile on him.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Well, Price, I heard ab your misfortune, and I came
to sympathize, thoughtful William. How do they treat you in here.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
Like a plumbing earl? Can't you see.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Nasty smell down here?
Speaker 5 (16:20):
They haven't brought in the fresh roses yet?
Speaker 4 (16:24):
Yes, it would about your debts, price any lack.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
It's only a matter of five pounds, William. William Hartley,
you didn't you You came here to help me. You're
going to lend me the money if I misjudged you, William,
my good friend.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
You haven't misjudged me. Price. I didn't come here to
lend you anything. I came here to see you at
your elth and spirits, and I brought you our prayer
book for your poor soul to feed on or change
always Price train always before it.
Speaker 6 (17:01):
All change, I'll change the shame your you'll get away
with stuffing.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
Have you gone mad? You know what they'll do do
with this?
Speaker 5 (17:21):
I know I've given it to others.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
You shouldn't have done that, Pross.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
I won't forget you.
Speaker 9 (17:28):
Pay for night.
Speaker 6 (17:35):
I paid thirty lashes and slam gullion for a month.
I wasn't going to forget William Harshley never in mid life.
It was mister Lovelace who saved me a crust to
a bread when I was brought up from the black hole.
Speaker 5 (17:49):
It was the best meal I ever had. Then things
was the same again. The weeks went by. I wrote
a song ball Mister Lovelace did the words in writing
for me. I called it The men are destinies hard fortune,
whereby is hopeful harvest is like to be blasted.
Speaker 6 (18:12):
Nobody bought it, and I still didn't have the money
to pay me debts. When I had about Betty and
the kid, they had and off and left me.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
That's when I made up in mind to get out
of Marshall c That and William Hartley. I'd pay a
little call on in. I told my idea of mister
Lovelace one night, mister Lovelace is closer. Listen, I'm getting
out to sea. Now you've treated me right. I'm willing
to take you with me.
Speaker 7 (18:40):
But how can you We've got these chains.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
It's impossible. No, we don't. They take them off in
the afternoon when we exercise, don't they all right, that's
the time. But leave it to me. You want to
go with me, I'd rather die try and stay all right?
So here's what we do. There's a wood shed to
the gate in the yard. Doors always open. When we
(19:04):
have our constitutional tomorrow. We up in there and wait
till it's dark. One of the keepers will see it.
There's a new one on. I've been watching him. He's
been drunk for a week. Easiest pie you wait. The
next day we did it.
Speaker 6 (19:23):
Stayed hiding behind the wood until night felt funny without
the chain's gone. After so long and about ten o'clock.
We started out of the ship. I took a thick
stick from the wood pile. Sh come on, the gate
will be locked.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
Have to do a bit of timing. Then I all clear,
Look keeper, he's asleep. We have to pass him. Suppose
a new weeks out. He won't.
Speaker 9 (20:04):
Look.
Speaker 5 (20:07):
You can be an hand up first and I'll pull
you over right, all right? Come here and you come
and there's London ain't at the loveliest sight. William Hartley
is out there in it. Come on. We stayed together
(20:36):
until we were well out of sight of the prison.
Then mister Lovelace said goodbye.
Speaker 10 (20:41):
I'll leave you here first. I can't thank you enough
for helping me. We shan't meet again. I suppose I'll
always remember you. Goodness, and he went his way.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
A couple of minutes later, I found a broommaker going
home from selling his wares and I, after a short argument.
I had two silver shillings in my pocket. I tossed
for it. William Artrey now all later my first one,
(21:15):
and that took me to the nearest hailhouse in bannil Fields.
Artley would have to wait, but not for long. I
was going to do him a mischief, pay the little
scut back before the night was out. It was two
hours later that I left the ale house with a
(21:35):
loveless wishing in me belly and happiness and mead.
Speaker 5 (21:40):
Being drunk. I couldn't one my life remember what it
was I had to do. I knew there was sapping,
how his groans was dreadful for to her as the.
Speaker 6 (21:55):
Stones they pressed upon him, and Check stood solemn, not
shedding a tear.
Speaker 5 (22:06):
When the all hellosa, it's me, Elizabeth? Why let you
John Price?
Speaker 4 (22:14):
I thought you were and Marshall c.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
Elizabeth right, well, I never what you doing in bannil
Fields this time of night.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
I hadn't ordered a gingerbread to deliver.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
You frightened me?
Speaker 7 (22:31):
Oh me.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
Why I'm all right? You know I've had one or two.
But nobody can say John Price can't behave like a gentleman.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
Ha ha oh you are wicked.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Ah.
Speaker 5 (22:45):
I wish I was married to a sweet woman like you.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
O high envy your hospital now now, mister Price.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
I apologize humbly. Do you hate me?
Speaker 6 (23:01):
Of course not.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
I never aided you.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
It was Ari didn't want me.
Speaker 5 (23:05):
To talk to you. I mean, you know, because I'm
engman well you're not anymore anyway. I'm really very gentle
at that, you know, just misunderstood by one and all.
I suppose, Elizabeth, I've always had a liking feel mister Price.
Have you got a little money put away? We could
(23:27):
make it a business arrangement, just you and me. I'd
pay you next month.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
I haven't got anything, mister Price.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
Hold on, maybe you're shilling it to Tutt. Well you
must have copped something for the ginger break.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
Please, mister Price my area, you'll be all.
Speaker 6 (23:44):
Ain't honorable for a man in my position to be
in debt and there's no one to turn to.
Speaker 5 (23:48):
Come on, I'll pay you back. I swear it's.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Desperate, No, mister Price, where.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
Do you keep playing? Stop it? Another watchman down and
I stop? Itch?
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Where is it?
Speaker 5 (23:59):
Give me? That? Are you Erry? You don't I need?
I need sound? Well? Here we are again, newkid. This
(24:26):
time the watchman got me. But it was too late
for Elizabeth White fred A Dana in poor soul. I'm
to ang for it, so you are. I can hear
them coming for me now. It's like a last swig
or something to see me on my way? Kay?
Speaker 6 (24:57):
Good?
Speaker 5 (24:59):
Where you Hartley are?
Speaker 4 (25:01):
You ready, John Price, You.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
Nasty little winkle. You mean you're the hangman. I am blonde.
Speaker 6 (25:07):
I was coming back to turn you off, your megative worm,
and I forgot it.
Speaker 5 (25:10):
You wouldn't be here now.
Speaker 4 (25:11):
I bear you no malice, John Prime.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
You won't make no angmer, not for long.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
You won't you wait, you wait.
Speaker 6 (25:18):
They'll start calling you jackets.
Speaker 5 (25:21):
You wait.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
It's me duty. I always knew that someday i'd find
mccollin to protect the people from such poor wretches as you.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
I have found Bob Blahlmuda known it bar me too well.
I've got a brass farthing for you and me. Clothes
won't fetch tappens, so blush.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
I don't want neither. It's me job, John Price. Turning
you off is me job, and that's what I'm about
to do. You have come to a wickeed ends.
Speaker 5 (25:49):
I know you would. Well. If I am going to
nab the stifles and it's William Hartley is going to
do it, I'm better off dead. Yeah, William, you write
something for me on the wall. I got some charcoal.
Speaker 4 (26:08):
What do you want me to ride?
Speaker 6 (26:12):
Deer died John Price Public angment of London. He was
turned off upon that gallows.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
Which he had served so well in his day. God
save the King in the year sixteen hundred and eighty six.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Souspence, a true story presented by Autolite to night Star
Mister Charles Lawton will return in just a moment. This
is Harlow Wilcox speaking for Autolite, world's largest independent manufacturer
of automotive electrical equipment. Auto Light is proud to serve
the greatest names in the industry. They are members of
(27:18):
the Autolite family, as are the ninety eight thousand auto
Light distributors and dealers in the United States and thousands
more in Canada and throughout the world. Our family also
includes the nearly thirty thousand men and women in twenty
eight great Autolite plants from coast to coast, and in
Autolite plants in many foreign countries, as well as the
(27:38):
eighteen thousand people who have invested a portion of their
savings in Autolite. Every Autolite product is backed by constant
research and precision, built to the highest standards of quality
and performance.
Speaker 7 (27:51):
So remember, from bumper to.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Tail light, you're always right with Autolite.
Speaker 5 (28:05):
This is Charles Lawton. Next week, the third member of
our First Drama Quartet will be your guest. Mister Charles
Boyer will appear as a man who successfully played both
sides of the law. V Doc's last case is the
story and it will be heard next week on South Spence.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Jack Ketch was written for suspense by Anthony Ellis. Suspense
is transcribed and directed by Elliott Lewis. Music was composed
by Lucian Morrowick and conducted by lud Gluskin. In Tonight's story,
Joe Kearns was heard as Hartley. Patured in the cast
were Joan Banked, Doris Lloyd, ben Wright, Raymond Lawrence, and
Ramsay Hill.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Charles Lawton may be seen in the fall tour of
the First Drama Quartet's presentation of Don Juan in Hell
by George Bernard Shaw.
Speaker 11 (29:04):
But the location of your nearest autolized spark club or
auto light battery dealer, or your nearest authorized autolized service
station for in Western Union by number and ask for
operator twenty five. Switch to autolight goodnight.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
This is the CBS Radio Network