Latest / Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas / Mr. Chameleon: Murder and the Million Dollar Smile (EP1150)

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Mr. Chameleon: Murder and the Million Dollar Smile (EP1150) · Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas

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Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
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is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it
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to me Box thirteen at Greatdetectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at Radio
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Detectives, and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com slash
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Radio Detectives. Before we get started, I want to encourage you to pick
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up your copy of my first detective story. It's a novelette in titled and
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Ounce of Prevention, and it's still got a touch of science fiction in it,
1:07
but I think you'll enjoy it. It's available for the kindle for only
1:10
nine to nine cents in the United States and most other territories, and the
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title again is an Ounce of Prevention. Well, folks, we're going to
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get into today's episode of Mister Chameleon. I'll warn you in advance though the
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sound quality is really poor. It's perhaps the poorest sound quality we've played on
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the show, and so I was kind of borderline about playing it, but
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hopefully we can get the general nature of the plot and story. The episode
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aired on April the twenty fourth of nineteen fifty three, and the title is
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Murder and the Million Dollar Smile. So let's take a lesson, mister Comedian.
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In the case of Murder and the Million Dollar Smile. Tonight we again
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present the famous mister Chameleon of Super Police Headquarters in another of the celebrated cases
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of crime and murder. Mister Chameleon, as you know, is the bitter
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detective who frequently uses a disguise to track down a killer, a disguise which
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at all times is recognized by the audience. Tonight Case of Murder and the
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Million Dollar Smile. The opening scene of Tonight's Verda case is the drawing room
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of a richly appointed mansion, overlooking Gramercy Parks. The master of the house,
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the elder Licklanthrope Julian Ford, has sentible shared his home, and now
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is the end of the drawing room. The old man smiles at them.
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Little and horrible consequences come in, children, come in. You wanted to
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see, Asacle Junion nothing, it's RAWA helps her. In fact, I
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have news for you and Ethel, which I'm sure will please you very much.
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Ethel, you and your husband have shared my home for some time now.
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Oh, you've been very generous to Asacle Julian, nonsense. It's good
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for a moment, and now in a few hours we shall have an additional
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member to our little household, an additional member. Yes, Alan, I'm
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bringing a guest here, a young woman named Jennifer Gray. What do you
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say, nucle Julie, Who is this Jennifer Gray. She's a girl I
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met some weeks ago when I was taking my walk in Gramercy Park. I've
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seen her every day since then. She's a waitress at a little restaurant down
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here to this house to live, yes, ethel did. She has no
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family or friends, and not much education, I'm afraid, but her smile.
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Quite a moment. I saw that warm, ingratiating smile of hers.
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I felt drawn to her. I felt toward her as if she was a
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dog. And we understand how you must feel and how kind you always are.
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But this girl, you know nothing about her. She's probably a conniving
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little fortune hutter, taking advantage of and a less sure you allan, She's
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a sweet, innocent child whom I should bring here and perhaps someday even adopted
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my daughter. Uncle Julian, we realize how generous you are, too generous,
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perhaps for your own good Uncle, this young woman could be dangerous.
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She's a total stranger, and to bring her into the dulo master of it.
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Now, I'm picking up Jennifer Gray at her rooming house at seven this
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evening and bringing her home with me and I as you wish, of course,
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Uncle Julia. Naturally, sir, I'm going to be study and I'll
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see you both lately. I think this is outrageous. I always knew your
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uncle was eccentric cattle, but now he's going to stark, raving mad Allen.
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If he adopts this dreadful girl. He needed money to her, every
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penny of it. Probably she will be get money. It belongs to us.
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Money I've waited for all these years, and I won't be cheated out
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of it. I won't, I tell you, I won't. Your uncle
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Julian is a fool. What are we going to do? Ellan, He's
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bringing her here at seven o'clock. Don't worry, my dear, she won't
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be coming here at seven. Worried that hold, Jennifer Gray will never set
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foot inside this house. Now promptly at seven o'clock that evening. Jennifer Gray
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has a rented room, and he is greeted by the land lady Missus hester
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Kreb, who says to him, Jenny, come on, not going dong
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with you. I want to say goodbye to her. Thank you, Missus
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Craig. Oh, you know, mister Ford, ain't many girls alone in
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New York who as lucky as she is. I'm the one who's lucky,
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Missus, to have met a girl like Jennifer Gray. What a sweet,
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lovely child. She has the nicest smile I've ever seen. So it looks
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like it's turned out to be well. She deserves a break. She's real
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excited about going to live in that big, elegant house of yours. Here
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we are, this is her room. Jifer, my dear, it's mister
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Ford. I've come for you. That's queer, Jennifer. Are you in
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there, Jennifer? Why didn't you? Oh? Oh, mister Ford.
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Look there the beds, Jennifer Gray, you're heaven. There's a knife and
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her broath and missus crab oh please, the poor girl's been murdered. Now.
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Half an hour later, we find mister Chameleon with bamed and dreaded Detective
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and his assistant Detective Dave Arnold, in the murdered girl's room Julia to Chameleon
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says say. Jennifer Gray was stabbed to death sometimes shortly before seven o'clock tonight.
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What's the overten bureau draws? People scattered over the fly? Whoever was
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here? I must have been looking for something. It's horrible, mister Comedion,
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horrible. You're a Junian fought don't judy millionaire of the reputation for helping
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people. I made my money through pure good luck, mister Comeleion, when
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they found copper on some property I owned, I always felt I wanted to
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take Jennifer Gray for instance. Yes, I have a house on Gramercy Park
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where my niece Ethel and her husband live with me, and I'd invited Jennifer
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to stay with me too. How well did you know the murdered girl?
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Mitter Fawner was attracted by her simplicity and charm, and we became great friends.
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And now she's been murdered. And it's my fault, Your fault,
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mister Ball, because I because if I arrived half an hour earlier, she
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might never have been murdered. I found this on a fault. Oh,
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let's have it, David. Obviously expensive, missus Crebb. You're the landlady
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here, that's right, mister comedian, and I run the palm shop next
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door. Only one I knew of Nicky Collins, and they had a terrible
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fight last night, a quarrel. How should I know, mister comedian.
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I heard him hard enough. Hear in her room. He's founded at number
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seven twelve. Dave have Mickey Collins picked up and brought the police that quart
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to Jennifer Gray, And if it led to her, Murden was dead.
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I loved her, Gunna, Mickey Collins, put yourself together. You want
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to fight with Jennifer Grave the night before her death, Maybe you wound up
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that fight by killing her. That's a lie. Yes, I went to
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see Jennifer last night, sure, but I didn't quarrel with her. I
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wanted her to go back to Cedar Springs with me, mister Commadion. Jennifer
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and I grew up there together. And when she wouldn't go back, you
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threatened tell you I. Last month she left town and came here to New
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York without any explanation. I followed her and traced her here to the roaming
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off last night. I she was living in terror of her life. Intended
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of her late Collins, what did she mean? She told me she found
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out something and wanted to go to the police, but she was afraid to
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completed but she wouldn't explain. It sounds like a phony yn to me.
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Collins. It's much more likely you got angry and jealous because she was going
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to live in that millionaire's house, so jealous had grove here to murder.
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That's not true, Detective Idolt. Sure I wanted to marry Jennifer, possibly
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Collins, or, as the Tectivano suggest, you may have wanted to stop
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her from walking out of your life and invented the story of her being terrified,
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but that remains to be seen. You may go for the president.
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Pretty emotional guy that Mickey Collins. Yes, but he could be telling the
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truth. David, yep, but afraid of whom? And why? Dave,
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Let's drive over to Julian FAUD's house. I'd like to have another talk
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with him. And meanwhile, in the drawing room of the home of the
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villionaire philanthropist Julian Ford, his niece Ethel Helen Heaven's name, You keep your
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voice down, will you? Ethel? Where's your uncle? How good?
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Junians in the study for Ellie that is yes, what about her? He
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was found murdered step together at her rooming house. Uncle Julian came home a
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few minutes ago and told me that Detectivenesster Comedian is on the cake. Comedian.
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He's first. Don't have to worry about Jennifer Gray threatening our security any
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longer. We can alan. What's the matter? Ethel, listen comes here.
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I want you to tell him I didn't leave this house all day.
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But that isn't true. Oh way, you've been since five o'clock. I
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mind that if you are to tell this detective comedian, I was in this
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house all day. Can you get that through your head? Ethel? My
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very life may depend on what you say to him, mister comedian in the
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case of murder and the million dollar smile will return in just a moment.
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A refreshing note about the muse. Baritone Donald Richards's host, There's Music in
11:52
the Air Tonight, offers a wonderful lineup of Viennese favorites without Fredo Antonini's officer
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playing strictly from Danube melodies. Another's new musical tan Can Tenner Clark Dennis soprano
12:05
Francis Greer vocal, Eddie Johnson and the Serenaders join in the festa presented by
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CBS Radio later tonight. And now back to mister Familion in the case of
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murder and the million Dollar Smiles death in her rented room just before moving to
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the home of the rich philanthropist Julianns, who was in love with her,
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that Jennifer feared for her life. Now that Julia is at her husband,
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who was saying to her tensely, Evan, when mister Comedian gets here,
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you are to tell him I didn't leave his house all day. But Alan,
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that's not true. He went out of the house at five o'clock right
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at rucle Julian talked about his bringing Jennifer Gray your neplithus, Where did you
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go? Where had you been ever? Monbath? You are to say that
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depend on it. That is a very interesting statement. Mister Allan Drake,
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what Troy you man with you? I'm Detective Arnold and this is mister Comedian
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of the police. Mister Andy, you, I take it are Julian Ford's
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niece Ethel and this is your husband. How did you get in here?
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Yes, we didn't heal obviously not, mister Drake, however, to take
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Donald And I heard you very clearly asking Pardlin and the man doesn't need an
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alibi, and as he's hudging something like murder for instance, So no,
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Allen didn't kill Jennifer Gray. Quiet, listen me. And what you're suggesting
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is writ a total stranger, perhaps for a very logical motive, Alan Drake,
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self protection, self protection, perhaps even planning to legally adopt her as
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his daughter. And as us now stand, your wife inherits Julian Ford's entire
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fortune. However, if Jennifer Gray had come here, had been adopted by
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him, you are a right to say that we didn't tat that girl coming
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here when Uncle Julian told us, we were delighted about it. Of course
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we were, mister Drake. Detective Arnold and I overheard you warning your wife
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to tell us that you hadn't left them. Where were you between five o'clock
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and seven this evening? I I was cut out because I didn't want to
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become a suspect in that girl's murder. You've already made yourself a very strong
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suspect, mister Drake. You had plenty of time to go to Jennifer Grey's
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room and stab up. No, no, he didn't tell him. And
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as for you, missus Drake, you also had the motives, the threat
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of losing your inheritance and with it, possibly your husband's love as well.
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Stop it. I didn't go near Jennifer Gray's room, and neither did I.
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It's no use, my boy, tell him the truth. Come in,
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please, mister Paul Allen, if you will be honest with mister comedian,
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we can help you. What are you trying to do? Involve me
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and murder or you're already involved, Alan, mister comedian already knows you were
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in Jenier for Gray's room. This is your lighter, isn't it, mister
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Drake. It has the initials A D engraved on it. All right,
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Yes, it's mine, to believe me, Al, I went to see
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her to persuade her to change her mind about coming to live here. When
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I opened the door to her room, she was lying across the bed with
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a knife in her town. It was hot, and I didn't call the
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police because I didn't want her murder pinned on me. Al. Oh,
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well, and you said that she would never set foot in this house,
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But I never dreamt you met, you, little fool. I told you
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I didn't kill her. What are you trying to do? Send me to
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the electric chair, for all I wanted was to help that girl. If
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mister comedian, look, I found something up here. Take it. What
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is it, mister comedian? A bracelet, dame, A diamond bracelet.
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What what would the girl Jennifer Gray be doing with I am embraced it pertly
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not. I don't if your uncle gave her this one. At any rate,
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this bracelet looks like some jewelrey that was reported stolen some weeks ago.
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Oh no, no, I don't believe it. The fact this bracelet was
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discovered in her room doesn't mean that she's still with mister pod. As for
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you, allan, I have not arrested you yet, but don't leave the
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house until you hear from me. I swear I am innocent, mister commedian,
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I swear it. Bracelet I don't get I think I'm beginning to get
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it now. David, when we get the headquarters, I want you to
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check on something case, the one she was in the middle of packing when
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she was medded. I have a feeling an important clue will be in that
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suitcase. I'm later at Central Police Headquarters. Mister chameleon is in the office
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of the police Commissioner the murdered girl's relief. The suitcase was brought in exactly
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as it was, Comedian. You must have been packing it to move to
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Julian Ford's house when she was murdered. Yes, so I get I,
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Commissioner. Yes the mission, I've already found it, but nothing in her
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clothes. Excuse me, Police commission speaking. Lieutenant Dale called Lieutenant Dale,
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you'll call me time today. Yes, it's con Dale, Thank you very
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much. Did you check on what I asked you too, Yes, mister
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comedian, and you were right. The landlady, Missus Crabb, who runs
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pawnshop next door to Jennifer Gray's rooming house, has a police record. Sure
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enough, I thought I recognized that. Five years ago she was arrested for
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using her pawnshop as a fence. She was charged with being a receiver of
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stolen goods. See still the girl's room looks like the stolen bracelets. It's
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Scott. Then Mickey Collins, who was in love with Jennifer Gray, said
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she had discovered something and was terrified. Mister comedian, Jennifer would go to
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the police and maybe she was stolen bracelet in the murder room to make it
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look like Jennifer Gray was a thief. Dave, you should to get the
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proved what Jennata discutish comedian. I'm going to become temporarily Caleb Watson. Just
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arrived in town, and this will be the voice of my disguise. I
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think O, your field is mighty good to be down here in New York.
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They're always talking about them smart city slickers. Get you up partially,
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Yes, that's great. Million you want me to get all the suspects down
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here, mister committed. Now that will be necessary, Dave, I want
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you to make I'm going to pay a visit to that pawn shop, but
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missus Hester Creds disguised as Caleb Watson. And and some time later we see
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mister Chameleon disguised ascalib Bosson entering the dingy little pawn shop. Voice of this
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disguise says you, missus crab lady, who's this point no more? My
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name is Caleb Watson. I'm Jennifer Gray's uncle. Heard about her being murdered,
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Jennifer Graves, But your niece me. It's crab. I come to
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claim something that belong to Jennifer and the key to a saft pudget box.
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He key, I don't know what you're talking about. Well, now maybe
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you're changing in a little racket. You're running here, he recalled me yesterday,
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saying she's found what you must be crazy. Well, no, I
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could go to the key you stole from Jennifer's room, and I won't.
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I haven't got any key on him. I'll be back. Oh sorry,
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mister standing in the doorway. Why don't you watch where you're going? Well
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said I was sorry, There goes? What about that key, missus crab?
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Mister Ford, I don't know what that old fool was talking about.
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You're jumping done with that key? I cant free. Now take your hands
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off a throw Jullian part comedian. It's you. You came here in the
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skies, mister Chamelion. Mister Camelion saved my life. We're trying to commit
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a second murder. Pond killing Jennifer Gray wasn't enough. It What what the
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devil are you're talking about? I suspected you of Jennifer Gray into the trap
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I set for you and Detective Arnold telephoned you and asked you to come here.
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You're insane, comeleon. Jennifer Gray was my friend. She was also
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the daughter of Tom Gray, a man you defrauded twenty years ago when you
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jumped his claim to the Queen Anne copper mine after the mysterious accident. Quation
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from an old newspaper in the bottom of the murdered girl's suitcase, also from
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some papers in the safety pass on. The newspaper told of Tom Gray's death
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at the mind, and the paper in the safe proved that he, and
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not you, was a legal owner that fabulous copper mine kind. No man,
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Julian Ford killed Jennifer Gray. What gren did you suspect him? My
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doubts were aroused at his home when he told his nephew Allan, that I
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had discovered on cigarette life in the dead girl's room, so that you couldn't
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have known that it was your nephew's and few yourself had planted it there the
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way Allan planted the diamond bracelet there afterwards to take suspicion. Alright, Comedian,
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It's true I killed Jennifer Gray. I had to to protect myself.
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A few days ago Jennifer came to me with certain papers, but she not
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I was the rightful owner of the copper mine. I'd have lost everything everything
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to her, and she might eventually have even proved that you killed her father.
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No, No, I didn't kill Tom Gray. That was an accident.
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But I took over his claim to the copper mine and my own name
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and made a fortune on it. Constitution. But I needed time time to
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think, so I invited her to stay in my home, and she accepted.
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Never dream that your motive was murdered. I wish were room instead.
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At seven, I returned with missus Kreb, pretending to discover her body.
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I thought, knowing would ever suspect that I went buire reputation for philanthropy,
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good be and brutal murders of Everd and Canaan mon end Dave for the handcuffs
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on this man. This is one time when I shall take brick pleasure in
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watching the wheels of justice take their car. And with these words, mister
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Comedian concludes to Night Murder Case. The part of mister Comedian is played by
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Stall. The original story by Franklin Ann Hummerk, directed by Henry Howard,
22:48
with music selected by Victor Arden. Listen next Friday evening at the same time
23:06
for mister Comeleon, the Man of Many Faces in the Tomorrow daytime listening on
23:12
CBS Radio features John ree King's lively Give and Take quick Show and very competition
23:18
of Lean Francis, Bill Cullen and their opposing teams on Fun for All every
23:23
BS Radio with Give and Take and Fun for All over most of these same
23:27
stations. Don't miss a minute of these two delightful daytime of day Listen for
23:47
mister Comedion, the Man of Many Pieces in the Custody of the Child Murder
23:52
case at the same time next week. Tangbusters go into action Saturday nights on
23:59
the cv YES Radio network. Welcome back, well this episode from five years
24:56
into this series, Ron and it's somewhat remarkable what the pro him made it
25:02
that long. One seemingly better shows got canceled, and of course we get
25:08
the exact or a very similar plot here. It's the opportunity to live in
25:15
the house and to enjoy the benefits, and not actually a marriage proposal as
25:23
in the previous case. But this one plays on the same thing of surprise
25:30
the rich old god in it, though this one wasn't as funny and they
25:33
it may just have been due to the annoyance skips from the audio on this
25:37
one, but I hope you enjoyed, mister chameleon. We will be back
25:42
next week with the case Book of Gregory Hood, which I'm sure you'll enjoy.
25:48
If you have a common Senate to me, Box thirteen a great detectors
25:52
dot Now, follow us on Twitter, Radio Attackers, and become one of
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our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com Slash Radio Detectives. But from Boise,
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Idaho, this is your host, Adam graham Son and Off