775 - Guest Of Death

The Shadow

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
A journey into the round of thestrain and sadi by. I hope you
will enjoy the table, that itwill trill you a little and kill you
a little. So settle back,get a good grip on your nerve.
Where are we going? You willfind out when we get there. Well,

(00:29):
greetings everybody, welcome back to theshow. Today we continue our journey
through the Shadow with the play titledGuest of Death and this one air December
eighteenth of nineteen thirty eight. Enjoyyour local blue coal Dealer presents a Shadow.

(00:51):
These half hour dramatizations are designed topossibly demonstrate to old and young alike
that crime does not pay. Atthe clause of our shadow adventure, we
have a distinguished guest whom we arevery anxious to present to our audience.
Our guests, a very charming younglady who spends her time preventing crime.
I know you will all be interestedto hear what she has to say.

(01:12):
He'll be sure to listen. TheShadow, who, mysterious character who aids
those in distress and helps the forcesof law and order, is in reality
the Monk Cranston, wealthy young manabout town. Cranston's frendon companion, the

(01:36):
lovely Margot Lane is the only personwho knows to whom the unseen voice belongs,
the only one who knows the trueidentity of that master of other people's
minds, the Shadow. Today's storyGuests of Death Guard, this is certainly

(02:00):
a tremendous prisoners. I had noidea what was so big? And this
is your first visit here? Yes, mister Kesey, I'm in town on
a convention. There. One ofthe boys gave me the paths to the
prisoner. I was a faith.He might be playing a joke on it
might be a faith. Oh,the past is quite good, quite good.
Titled you do a complete tour ofthe prison? Oh, I will
this be something to tell the folksback home. Oh excuse me, Guard,

(02:23):
do you mind if I ask youa question? Not at all?
What is it that little gray buildingdown there across the court? Joine?
What is that? That's the diphouse? Oh? I don't suppose you
take visitors in there, too,do you? Oh? Yes, yes,
certainly you want to see the course. Well, mister KESI, well,

(02:44):
I guess it would be a thrilltrill, Yes, yes, it
would be the greatest thrill. Youever experienced. Now here's the last sight
on your tour. Step right him, please, thank you? What place

(03:06):
is there's, mister Kesey, thebuilding you saw across the courtyard, the
bit house. Oh oh, Isay, I don't be afraid. Step
right him. Think there you seeit's not an unpleasant room at all,
is it? Well? Not inthe parents. No, But mister Kesey,
when you start to think of theline that have died here, well,

(03:29):
non sense. Death is nothing tofear. There's a majesty and nobility
about it that makes people's rebudging stupid. Those unctions there are the observacy,
the pre execution sales are just beyondthat door. And this, as you
see, is the electric chair.And say it's quite warm in here,
and you might suppose a bit.This panety is where the executioner stands.

(03:53):
He holds his hand on mis switchingwith the signal from the water, and
he flows it in like this.Don't be alarmed, shouldn't shouldn't we leave?
Now? First of course you willwant to sit in a chair,
But no, no, I Ihadn't gone anything like that at all.
Done a two minutes sold? Whythis is an experience you will never have
again here, let me have youjust sit right down. Well, it's

(04:18):
the customary thing, right, ofcourse? There you are. You see
nothing to it at all? Isthere? Imagine men have died just like
this, Yes, men have died, Yes like that. Yeah, I'll
show you how it used to bestepped in. Well, I can imagine

(04:38):
how I the chest rap across him. You've grown at a big time,
mister keathy. I took the windowhim. That's the way it goes.
Now the right arms trapping I cut, and the left all this thing certainly
hus a man close doesn't. Yes, it's powerful him. Now we had

(05:00):
stuff the left late and the rightplate like this. Nah. There you
are ready for the most noble andmajestic experience of on gone. What do
you mean? Yes? No,no, keep away from that. Do

(05:30):
that straight ex stray, Visitor diesand dampn miles. Read all about it.
Visitor dies and damp holes, extraet straight besitor dies and their like.
While your taxis yes, please wheremadame? How did you like the

(05:50):
opera? Oh? It was simplygrand them. But I'm tired. I'll
be glad to get home. Eatall about it about which visitor doesn't death
house? Oh now, Lamart,please let not spoil a lovely night with
scare headlines. People are liable toamost any place your cat, sir,
about it boys, just a moment, Margo, I have reason for wanting

(06:15):
to know the story back of thatheadline. Yes, son, there you
are, Thank you, sir.Read all about it all right, Margo.
Trying to keep you waiting. Iknow you're just dying to get to
your story. So go right ahead, Lamart, go ahead read this here.

(06:38):
I'll switch on the night. Thankyou, Marga, well us much
to it. Newspaper is strangely brief, Nearly the headlines in a seven line
box on the first Paine, whatdid it say? Simply that the visitor
died in the death house on atur of inspection. It doesn't much in
that to excite the imagination of theshadow. I'm not so sure about that,

(07:00):
Margot. No, you don't seeanything, silister in such a bare
announcement of the phone. That's justthe point, Margo. The account is
too bear. What do you mean, Well, the newspapers don't seem to
know anything, and it says herethat the prison officials are saying nothing.
Oh, perhaps there's nothing more tosay. There's an old puppet Mugo to
the effect that virtue rarely lies behinda tight lip. Well, I noticed

(07:23):
that ferret gleam in your eyes,so I might as well accustom myself to
the idea that you're off on anotheradventument crime. Yes, Mugo, often
an adventure that promises to be oneof the most exciting I've ever had.
Quiet wise, Hello, Risen Westernspeaking what you can't get the warden on

(07:48):
the phone? I can't. Thisis a police department. He can't ignore
us. Well, you trying again, and keep trying until you get him
voice ROPHI. Yeah, what happenedwhen you went out to prison? Oh,
the same thing that happened to yourphone? Called chief? Nothing?
Couldn't you get any information? AllI could find out was that the guy
was in town and apprenticure con bench. You gotta pass to see the prison,

(08:09):
and some god by the name ofKezi took him through. Did you
question this Keizi? He couldn't geta hold of it. Why not,
I'll chee if we found out thathe lives way up on the cape.
So Jim here and me went outthere, and then what happened? Nothing?
If somebody says nothing to me again. I just a minute, Yes,
all mister Western's thinking. Good evening, commission and whisper, oh you

(08:33):
again, yes, Commider, theshadow, just a minute, hold the
line you men went outside. I'llcall it. I need okay, I
think it will be that. Allright, Shadow, go ahead. What's
on your mind? I could tofind out what you know about the death
of that visitor of the prison.I don't know a thing, and I

(08:54):
can't find out anything. A prisonofficials don't incline to cooperate at all.
Did you know, Commision, knowthat a short time ago another visitor died
in the dead house but another visitor. Yes, first visitor's death passed almost
unoticed. But now Commissioner another say, this puts a new light on the
hall matter, cause for a mediaaction. No, Commissioner, hold everything

(09:16):
until you hear from me, allMargot, I mean, And don't take
a head of leaving right away.I just get to your house and then
we have to leave. What allthe hate about. We're driving up to
the prison. Ohlma, don't tellme you're still thinking of that visitor's death.
Thinking of it, Margot. I'vediscovered some things that make me feel

(09:39):
I've got a big job on myhands. But one thing I've discovered that
another visitor died in that same deathhouse. I've come to the conclusion that
there's only one way I can findout what's back of it all, And
how is death? Yeah, seethis, it's a visitor's pass. I'm
going up there and go through thatprison, just as those other men went
through as a visitor. Oh no, no, la Martin, Martin.

(10:01):
I've got to Margo. It's theonly way. I'm not usually giving a
superstition, the mart but there's somethingsupernatural, something unearthly about those death I
don't want you to expose yourself tothe same faith that overtook those poor men.
I won't let you do it.Come now, Margot, don't let
this get the best of you.I'm afraid. I'm afraid this is all

(10:31):
right. Margo parked the car righthere. That's the entrance to the prison
down there at the bottom of thehill, the mort I wish you wouldn't
go through with this. You maybe walking to your death. Don't worry,
Margol. You stay here in thecar and remember this. Don't lose
your courage no matter what you mayhear or what you may see. Hello,

(11:00):
Kezi, you're here again. Yes, mister Hopper, I'm taking this
gentle fast to our institution. Havewe searched, sir? Hey John,
please? You are they're gonna stophanding out these visitors past this, Kezie
stop? Why should they do thatnow? I think they'd be a little
more careful because of what's already happenedaround here. Cone nonsense, mister Hopper.
Accidents will happen. You know thereason why prison new team should be

(11:22):
out, said down ness Addie.All right, thought your person, You're
okay, thank them? Open uptime? All right? Okay, Kezi,
the place is yours. Thank you. I'm right along, Sir.
Don't forget KESI hang him back alive. We'll return you to the second half

(11:50):
of the Shadow's exciting adventure injustible.So this is the death house, think,

(12:11):
Kisi. Yes, with the grant, the end of your prison tour
here is sort of places and andthat depends on the viewpoint. You've worked
in this prison a long time,haven't you, Kisie. I've been here
thirty five years with the grant,really, thirty five years in the service.
Yeah, is this your regular jobtaking visitors through the prison. Yes,

(12:33):
I've been doing this for several years, the poor substitute for the place
that rightfully belongs to me, theplace that rightfully belongs to you. What
do you mean by that? Nothing? Nothing at all. I shouldn't even
have mentioned it. Come now,this has nothing to do with your tour
the prison. I'm sorry. Ididn't mean to pry into your I've pay
no attention to what I've said.I'm a bit out of soft day never
that I get. Yes, Iunderstand. I suppose i'd be nervous too

(12:58):
if I did the things you've done, things I've done, mister Granton,
What do you mean by that?Nothing, Kezzy, I'm just thinking of
how i'd be affected by thirty fiveyears spent on a place like this,
that's all. That's the play otherbody's nerves. But a single visit can
affect the nerves even more than thirtyfive years. I'm afraid I don't understand.
Oh, not now perhaps, Butyou will, all right, you

(13:22):
will. Well, it's a veryinteresting tour, and I'm much obliged to
you. I must be running alongnow, but I haven't explained this will
be dead house to you. Well, that's hardly necessary. Surely you wouldn't
leave without sitting in the electric chairat the grand school. My curiosity doesn't
go to such extreme. But everyvisitor sits in the chair. Well,
Keezy, you've been very thorough showingme through the prison. So if you

(13:46):
feel I'm spoiling your final touch,why of course I'll sit in your chair.
Ah, good, sit right down? All right, Well now i'll
start you in. Oh it won'ttake a minute. There, chest straps
on already. You see where youcertainly did that with amazing speeds, like
an expert. I am an expectmister Crackton. Years ago, I was

(14:09):
a member of the execution squad.Really, then you participated in the actual
executions. I was one of themen whose job it was to be strapply
condemned in the chair. The manreached speed is important quickly remembered at the
condemned suffers. I was on thechest trapper. It happens to be the
most important one the right. Ican testify to your efficiency. I can

(14:31):
hardly move a muscle. I don'tsuppose you can. There we are now
get the bug about, but notso comfortable, by the way, that
Crackton. You remember the famous Calstoncase, don't you? Oh very well,
Corsdin was brought to justice as aresult of the efforts of a character
known as the Shadow. And thensurely you must remember me. My picture

(14:52):
was in all the newspapers at thetime. Really, I suppose you helped
to strap cousin in the chair.No, no, I executed in you
what? Or it was a veryunusual case. And you see we had
a new executioner. At the lastmoment, the poor Feller's nerve gave away.
Oh that was quite the to do. Carsden was already stepped in the

(15:13):
chair. The ward was bestide himself. Somebody had to bring others to a
conclusion. So I volunteered my servicesas executioner. Yes, oh it was
quite an experience. First and onlytime I ever attracted the least bit of
attention. But it was because ofthe most bitter disappointment in my whole life.

(15:33):
Disappointment. You see, I hopethat my service would be rewarded with
a permanent appointment as executioner. Whohad an ambition to make a career of
it? And why not? Itwas the other's applied for the job.
Oh, supposition of distinction. Yousay you were promised the job. Yes,
but the authorities didn't live up tothe promise. They cheated me,

(15:54):
robbed me of what was my Iwouldn't let it disturb me, so home,
I will you disturb me. It'srankled in my heart about the years
and left me with one consuming desireto hate. Hatred like that can hurt
no one but yourself. You thinknothing. I know better. I'll make
them pay for what they've done tome. I'll make them pain. I
think you have an entirely wrong attitude. Kusy, Well, this has all

(16:15):
been very exciting, and now ifyou'll unstrap me and let me out of
this electric chair, But let youout of a chair, mister kranstand never,
I'm going to give you what Igave the others. What do you
mean accusing a moment, I'm goingto pull the switch and fling you into
eat Let me out of the chair, Yes, I let you. You
can't do anything like that. Youcan't get away with it. I told
you, I'll make them pay forwhat they've done to me. Get yourself

(16:37):
together, men, why do youwant to wreck your vengeance on people like
me? Because you are people andthe people cheated me and they pay for
it. Chezy, you're a fiend. I might take up. Man.
That's only your excuse and excuse youoffer your conscience and justify the things you
do. There's only one reason foryour doing anything like this, Kisy,
the desire to satisfy a vicious urgeand your diabolic nature. You can't go

(16:59):
through with this without your excuse.Well, I'm going to take that away
from you. I'm going to turnyour inside out and show you the thing
you really are. Let you shutyou up, and he's the copy your
face. That don't your barrel.You can say what you want now.
I don't have to hear you andeat you wanted to a chair, very

(17:32):
well, I'll take you out now, mister Kranston, I've killed him.
Eas did he ready? He'd parkhere all day. You'll have to move
along. I'm waiting for a friendof Don't you know you're not allowed to

(17:52):
park within five hundred feet of aprison. But my friend should be along
any minute. Now. Where ishe even? The prison visitor? Visitor?
Did you say he's a visitor?Yeah? What's another office? What
are you doing there like that?Tell it? What's another hold on on,

(18:26):
figure out why people had their waterpumps outside the house. So it's
they'll freeze. Oh Harry ms takeisi. I don't expect this water pump or
give you any more trouble. Thistwice, not tonight. You's done a
good job more. Sorry I hadto get you up on a night like
this. There ain't no pleasure ploddingup that. They're saying, road any

(18:48):
night. See what's the matter thathound dog? You are a powerful lot
of horror on tonight anything, heis quite a lot. He's say,
you hounds hole like that when somebodydies dies. Yes, yes, I've
had that, said Jimmy Crickets.It's not to make about his skin creep.
Yeah, you don't suppose he seessomething? Do you a spirit of

(19:11):
me? No, it's nothing,forget it. Don't reckon even spirits had
come up here, does he does? He offer an hole like that?
I've only had him do that twicebefore tonight makes the third time. Well,
now there's your water pump fit andfine with keizy. I'll be getting
on down the home now. Goodnight to you. Good night, mord

(19:33):
Thanks yeah, yeah, and Isaid you going lie down und it's like
a human. You They are deathtoo, fool, mister Conston, I
said to a chality today he wasafraid of death. But I didn't save
him. He's no more. He'sdead, and I have send many of

(19:56):
us aft to him. Who's that? Who's not there? Is that?
You? Mob? No? Kizzymore as well down the hill? Now
there's nobody out there. I amright here in your house, right here
in the room with you. Iknow where you are. You're injured,

(20:22):
you see I'm not in the closet. I'm right here behind you. Who
are you? What do you want? You, kizy, I've come for
you. Don't you touch me?Don't you come me? Surely you're not
afraid of death. Death, Rememberonly fools there death, Kesy enough Rainiel

(20:45):
here you have a poor aim gezsee it's useless, Zy. You can't
destroy what you can't see. Whyhave you come here to end your criminal
career. I have committed No,I'm going to make a confess to the
murder those innocent visitors at the prison. I don't know what you're talking.
You cannot lie to me. Iknow you kill those men in cold bra

(21:07):
that's a lie. I let meclever you did your job with finglish genius.
But you're at the end of yourRopezy. The only whole leap for
you is the confess and clear yoursoul. Now I sleep alone. I
would by if you will. I'mnot true with you yet. Easy in
this corner of the room, righthere, that's it. I'll watch carefully,

(21:30):
and you'll see someone you met notmany hours ago. Look easy,
look cranched. Now you see standingbefore you the man you stopped in the
chair a few hours ago. Alwaysgot unest I won't I walk away and
contest, but I'd never be takenalive. Never. Now stop playing with

(22:06):
just a minute, Very well,Margo, No, I can't understand how
keys he could have hidden his cardsfor so long. It's quite understandable,
Margot. Each of Kesey's victims seemedto have died from natural causes. Let
me explain, Margot. You see, Kezie was somewhat of a student of
the psychology of fear, and thisknowledge in the victim's natural fear of a
factual instrument of death, the electricchair, and able Kezi to produce a

(22:30):
fear paralysis that stopped the hearts ofhis victims. They died of heart failure.
Then he didn't actually electrocuse him.He couldn't, Margot. The electric
chair is never hooked at the powerhouse, except during a legal execution. But
I thought you were dead, well, Margot, I produced a death condition
by a little trick in self hypnosisthat I learned from an old Hindu.

(22:52):
I let Kesie think he had actuallykilled me. It's an amazing case,
Lamont, I'm glad it's over Yes, Margo is over easy. Was a
fiend consumed by the heat of hisown hatred. Is now the many destroyed,
and who knows, perhaps theirs isthe final and most complete vengeance.

(23:26):
Ladies and gentlemen, the sponsors ofthe Shadow are extremely happy to introduce to
you a young lady who devotes hertime to the problems of New York's it
is malogested families from which so oftenspring undesirable citizens and lawbreakers. It is
with great pleasure that I introduce toyou miss Ann Helfering, Probation Officer of
the Family Division of the Domestic RelationsCourt of the City of New York.

(23:48):
Well, that sounds like a bigjob for such a little lady. Trying
to help other people adjust their difficultyis always a big job, mister Roberts,
but knowing that we are helping parentsand children make the most of their
lives makes it intensely satisfying work.And the mnded fine piece of work you're
doing, too, Miss Helpern.Thank you, mister Roberts. I certainly

(24:10):
hope so I feel that I cannotstress too strongly. The parts that are
unhappy or broken home can play inthe formation of criminal habits. The Domestic
Relations Court attempts to check the problemat one of its groups, just as
you attempt to meet it in anotherway by showing your listeners so dramatically and

(24:30):
convincingly the folly and complete futility ofcrime. Thank you, miss Helpern.
It makes all of us feel we'redoing something really worthwhile, especially so knowing
that you and your associates in thebusiness of crime prevention believe our efforts are
not in vain. It's been areal privilege to have you as our guest
this afternoon, and we thank youvery much, Miss Helpern. Today's program

(24:56):
is based on a story copyrighted byThe Shadow magazine. All the characters and
all the places named are fictitious.Any similarity to persons living or dead is
purely coincidental. Shadow Magazine is nowon sale at your local youth then the

(25:17):
weed of crime, there's bitter fruit. Crime does not pay the shadow load.
Next week, same time, samestation, Blue Coal America's Finest Dance
Recite will again present another thrilling adventureof the shadow. Be sure to listen,

(25:37):
and be sure to burn Blue Coal.