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Roger Kilgore, Public Defender - The Case of Don Winthrope · Lawrence University: Theatre of the Air

0:00
Welcome to Lawrence University Theatre of the Air. Recorded before a live audience in the F. Theodore Cloak Studio Theatre on the campus of Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, we celebrate the best of old-time radio. This year's Radio Drama Festival celebrates the Great Detectives.
0:21
This is your host, Timothy Troy. On behalf of the staff and students of the Department of Theatre Arts, we welcome you to Roger Kilgore, Public Defender. This series was Prst broadcast in 1948. The role of Kilgore wasmade famous by mutual broadcasting regular Santos Ortega. This episode, The Case of Don Winthrop, was written by Stedman Coles and based upon an actual case history.00:51 --> 01:07 Roger Kilgore, Public Defender.
1:11
We hold these truths to be self-evident. That all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
1:38
I'm Ronnie Kilgore, Public Defender. A paid servant of the public. It's my duty to defend all people accused of crimes who are unable to pay for their own defense. The case of Don Winthrop began late one Monday morning in May, in the oWce of Dr. Ames, the Chancellor of the State University. Dr. Ames was deeply concerned as she looked at the hulking figure of the detective who stood beside her desk.
2:00
You're sure there can be no mistake, Ms. Maxwell?
2:03
Positive, Dr. Ames.
2:04
Well, I don't know what to say. We have students of every sort and description here, and sometimes they do get into scrapes, but...
2:11
Now look, doctor. How soon before Winthrop gets here?
2:14
I sent for him. I don't know exactly where he is. It is near the end of the year. He might be taking his final examination.
2:21
If he hasn't skipped town.
2:22
Oh, I don't think he has. You found his car.
2:25
Yeah, it was parked in front of his dormitory building. That don't mean a thing.
2:28
Well, I'm certain he wouldn't have gone away without it.
2:30
Ha! An old jalopy like that?
2:33
We shall see. In the meantime, we'll have to discuss...
2:35
Oh, that's probably young Winthrop now. Come in.
2:39
Excuse me, Dr. Ames, but the proctor at the library told me to...
2:42
Oh, yes, yes. Come in, please, and close the door.
2:45
Yes, ma'am.
2:46
Mr. Winthrop, this is Ms. Maxwell.
2:48
How do you do, ma'am?
2:50
Hi. Ms. Maxwell is with the city police. She's a detective.
2:53
A detective?
2:54
Yeah, I guess you're surprised, aren't you?
2:57
Well, I... I don't understand, Dr. Ames. What's a detective got to do with me?
3:01
I got a warrant for your arrest, young fella.
3:03
For my arrest? But I haven't done anything.
3:05
Oh, you just killed a guy, that's all.
3:07
Last night, while you were out driving on the boulevard, you hit a guy on a bicycle.
3:10
Hey, now wait a minute.
3:11
Didn't even stop to see if he was...
3:13
No, no, no, wait a minute. I didn't drive my car last night.
3:16
That's no good, Winthrop. We got your license number from a motorist who was right behind you.
3:20
Saw you hit the boy and run.
3:21
He couldn't have.
3:23
And he did stop to look at your victim.
3:24
But I'm telling you, I didn't use my car last night.
3:27
Come on, let's get down to headquarters.
3:29
Hey, now wait a minute. I've got a Pnal exam coming up in a couple of hours.
3:32
If you let me explain right here and now...
3:33
You'll have to go to headquarters, young fella.
3:36
There's a charge of manslaughter against you.
3:38
Manslaughter?
3:39
And you can't explain that to anybody except the captain.
3:42
At ease, Miss Kilgore. That's the kid himself, Don Winthrop.
3:56
Thanks, Phil.
3:57
Not at all, ma'am. Not at all.
3:58
I'll call you when I'm ready to leave.
4:00
Anytime, ma'am.
4:04
Hello, Don.
4:06
Why, gee, Miss Kilgore. You don't know how glad I am to see you. I was afraid I'd have to go through this business without a lawyer.
4:12
You asked for the public defender, didn't you?
4:14
Well, yes. But the police and the magistrate seem to think that because I'm a student and I own my own car...
4:19
I know, Don, but they can't take chances. Some people try to get out of paying legal fees.
4:24
They know that a student at a state university doesn't pay for his tuition. And as for the car...
4:28
You needed to take you to and from your job.
4:30
Huh?
4:31
You work at a gasoline station out of town from six in the evening until midnight.
4:35
The police checked on me so soon?
4:37
That's right. They don't waste time. And that's why I'm here. Probation department's convinced you can't afford to hire a lawyer.
4:43
Oh, gee, that makes me feel a whole lot better, Miss Kilgore.
4:46
Good. Now tell me what happened last night.
4:49
You know what I'm being charged with, don't you?
4:51
Yes. Manslaughter.
4:53
I'm accused of knocking somebody down with the car on the boulevard, but I wasn't using my car. Jeff Kimball had it.
4:59
Jeff Kimball?
5:00
One of the fellows at the university. I loaned it to him to keep a date.
5:03
Do you live on campus, Don?
5:05
Yeah. I've got a room at Preston Hall.
5:07
Who's your roommate?
5:08
I live alone.
5:09
Oh. Go ahead now.
5:11
I was in my room studying somewhere around 8 o'clock. I heard somebody knocking at my door. I went to see who it was.
5:18
Oh, hello, Jeff. Come on in.
5:19
Are you busy?
5:20
Yeah, I sure am. I'm grinding for the exam tomorrow.
5:23
Oh, yeah. I saw your car parked out in front.
5:26
Hey, what's the matter? You give up your job at the gas station?
5:30
Oh, no, no. I'm just taking a week off. I've got to make sure I pass my exams.
5:33
If you're going to grind all night, how about letting me use your car? I've got a date.
5:38
Oh, sure. Oh, but you've got to be careful, Jeff.
5:41
What do you mean?
5:42
The brakes need tightening. I've been meaning to Px them.
5:44
Oh, I'll watch it. I won't go over 30.
5:47
Okay. Here are the keys. Oh, and look, Jeff, if you get back late and I'm asleep, just leave the keys on the goor in the back of the car, will you? They'll be safe there.
5:57
Yeah, sure. Well, so long, Don, and thanks. I'll see you tomorrow.
6:02
Okay. Well, Miss Kilgore, I studied until about midnight. Then I got so tired I couldn't see straight. So I decided to go to bed. I had just gotten to sleep when I thought I heard someone in my room. I turned the light on. It was Jeff.
6:17
Hey, uh, what's the idea with the light?
6:20
What do you want, Jeff?
6:21
I brought back your key.
6:23
I told you to leave it in the back of the car.
6:25
I know, but you give them to me in person. I Pgure it was only right for me to bring...
6:28
Hey, Jeff, are you drunk?
6:30
Drunk? No.
6:32
Well, you look kind of seedy, pal.
6:33
Okay, so I had a few, but... Hey, look, Don, I gotta tell you something.
6:39
Yeah?
6:40
Now, don't hold it against me. It wasn't my fault.
6:43
What happened, Jeff?
6:44
Well, one of your front fenders. There's a pretty big dent in it.
6:49
Ah, darn it. Didn't I warn you about the brakes? I told you to go easy.
6:52
It wasn't my fault. I was parking, and the guy in front of me backed up and went right over the bumper and smacked into the fender.
6:58
Yeah. Did you get his number?
7:01
No.
7:01
Why not?
7:02
Well, he was such a nice old guy, Don, so apologetic.
7:05
Yeah, but he busted my fender.
7:07
Okay, so you drive the car the way it is. It's just an old jalopy anyway.
7:12
Thanks, Jeff. Thanks.
7:13
Well, I better get some sleep. Hope nobody spots me crossing the campus.
7:19
Anything else, Don?
7:21
That's all, Miss Kilgore. Till I was called to the oWce this morning, and that detective told me I didn't know what he was talking about, Mrs. Kilgore.
7:28
Oh, Don, it's obvious you haven't got an alibi.
7:31
What do you mean?
7:32
If anyone but Jeff Kimball had seen you in your room after 8 o'clock last night, you would have told the police. They would have checked.
7:38
No one was in the room except for Jeff, Mrs. Kilgore.
7:41
Which doesn't help at all.
7:43
Well, Don, there are some items in this story I can check on before the case gets to court.
7:48
Yeah?
7:49
First, I'm going over to see Sam Howard, the district attorney.
8:00
You want some facts, Ronnie? All right. I'll give you an earful.
8:05
Tom Stewart, age 19, was riding his bicycle on the boulevard last night when a car knocked him down and killed him.
8:12
And the driver of that car didn't even stop to see if the kid was hurt.
8:15
Yes, I got that from the police Ple.
8:17
Well, then you know the whole story.
8:19
Except the details.
8:20
It was Winthrop's car.
8:22
Yes?
8:22
If it hadn't been for a motorist with brains enough to take down the license number, Winthrop would have gotten away with it.
8:28
Another hit-and-run killer going free.
8:31
I don't want to see hit-and-run drivers get away either.
8:34
But if there's a chance that Don Winthrop is innocent...
8:36
You'll get your chance to prove it.
8:38
So far, he hasn't been able to convince anybody, except perhaps you.
8:43
He hasn't convinced me yet.
8:45
But it seems to me that Don wouldn't have told the story he did, unless there was some truth in it.
8:50
Well, let's examine that story.
8:52
He told me he loaned the car to Jeff Kimball.
8:56
And Kimball denies it.
8:58
And he told me he didn't leave his room in Preston Hall last night.
9:01
But nobody saw him there.
9:04
Not even Kimball?
9:05
Nobody, Ronnie.
9:06
Did you try to Pnd out if anyone ever saw Jeff Kimball in Preston Hall last evening?
9:10
Look, Ronnie. State University's a big place.
9:13
There's seven or eight thousand students there.
9:16
But a lot of them live in Preston Hall, where Don Winthrop has his room.
9:20
The police have gone all through that dormitory.
9:22
They found some kids who know Jeff Kimball, all right.
9:25
But they couldn't Pnd anybody who remembered seeing him there last night.
9:29
Well, that doesn't prove he wasn't there.
9:31
No, it doesn't prove anything.
9:33
Did Jeff Kimball tell you he had a date last night?
9:36
He did. We checked.
9:38
He had a date with Ruth Lansing, a daughter of one of the professors at State University.
9:43
Did you get her story?
9:44
Naturally.
9:45
According to the girl, she and Kimball were nowhere near the boulevard or near the scene of the hit- and-runkilling.
10:02
Perhaps I should introduce myself, Mr. Kimball.
10:05
I'm the public defender, Roger Kilgore.
10:07
Okay. So you're the public defender, Miss Kilgore.
10:10
But this is a school library, and that sign says no talking, please.
10:14
I doubt if we'll disturb anyone in here.
10:16
There's no one in this room at the moment.
10:17
I've got too much studying to do anyhow.
10:20
Now look here, Jeff.
10:21
Let's keep it formal, huh?
10:22
All right, Mr. Kimball. Let's talk here until we're requested to stop.
10:26
I'll be back in my room in an hour or so.
10:28
Will you answer my questions then?
10:30
No. I'll tell you what I think of Don Winthrop, and I won't have to keep my temper.
10:35
I see.
10:36
I've answered enough questions today. I've done practically nothing else.
10:39
And if you want to know what I said...
10:40
I already know what you said, Mr. Kimball.
10:42
Huh?
10:43
I've been to see the district attorney.
10:45
Oh. Then why bother me?
10:47
Because I wanted to meet you.
10:49
Okay. So you met me.
10:51
Thank you.
10:52
You're welcome.
10:53
How do you feel?
10:54
What? You wouldn't have a headache, would you?
10:57
What?
10:58
A little hangover from too much drinking last night?
11:01
Oh, I get it. The fairy tale Don told the police and the DA.
11:05
Was it a fairy tale, Mr. Kimball?
11:07
Yes, but they didn't fall for it.
11:09
Police are still checking, you know.
11:10
Let them check.
11:11
Suppose they Pnd someone who saw you drunk last night.
11:14
They won't.
11:15
Are you sure?
11:16
No. I'm not sure.
11:18
Are you planning to Px up a phony witness against me?
11:21
I don't work that way, Mr. Kimball.
11:23
Okay. I was out with Ruth Lansing last night.
11:26
I brought her home about 12.30, and then I walked across the campus to the rooming houses I live in.
11:31
I didn't meet anyone.
11:33
You didn't use Don Winthrop's car?
11:34
That pile of junk? I should say not.
11:36
Then why should Don try to implicate you?
11:39
Well, he's been working too hard. Maybe it's affecting his brain.
11:43
Or maybe he saw me walking across the campus and he got the idea he could frame me.
11:47
Oh. Then you were near his dormitory after midnight.
11:51
Yeah. I passed right by it.
11:53
Now look, Miss Kilgore, I know I sound pretty antagonistic, but you're out to help Don.
11:57
And after what he did to me and is still trying to do, I...
11:59
I like to get the facts, Mr. Kimball.
12:01
And I'm going to keep after them until I Pnd out who's telling the truth.
12:04
You or Don Winthrop.
12:19
Come in. Good afternoon.
12:22
Good afternoon. I'm the public defender, Ronnie Kilgore.
12:25
Oh, yes. Won't you come in, please? I'm Mrs. Lansing.
12:28
Thank you.
12:29
I've been rather expecting you.
12:31
That so?
12:32
It's about the Winthrop matter, isn't it?
12:34
Yes.
12:35
A dreadful tragedy. That poor boy on the bicycle killed a young Winthrop in jail as a criminal.
12:41
Do you know him, Mrs. Lansing?
12:43
Of course. He's in Mr. Lansing's class and he's been here many times.
12:46
My husband's discussion group, you know.
12:48
I see.
12:49
A fine young man. And so conscientious.
12:52
I can't understand him doing a thing like that.
12:55
He pleaded not guilty, Mrs. Lansing.
12:57
Oh, to be sure. And he's completely...
12:58
Mother?
12:59
Oh, Ruth. Ruth, dear. I'm glad you came down. I was just going to call you. This is Ronnie Kilgore.
13:04
I... I know, Mother. Miss Kilgore, I don't want to be rude, but I'm very tired.
13:09
I'll try not to keep you long. Just a few questions.
13:12
But I told the police and the man from the district attorney.
13:15
I'd like you to tell me too, Ruth.
13:17
But I'm tired.
13:18
I don't see what harm I can do, dear. Just a few questions.
13:22
What do you want to know, Miss Kilgore?
13:25
You were out last night?
13:26
Yes.
13:26
With whom?
13:27
Jeff Kimball.
13:28
Where did you go?
13:29
To the roadside inn on Highway 4.
13:32
You had to drive to get there, didn't you?
13:34
We used my father's car.
13:35
Oh?
13:36
Jeff doesn't have a car of his own.
13:39
He got here about 8.30.
13:41
Mother and Dad had gone down the street to keep a bridge date with the Spencers.
13:44
Dad's car was in the garage.
13:46
That's true, Miss Kilgore.
13:48
Dr. Spencer and Amy have a house on Shack-a-P-Row.
13:51
I see.
13:52
What time did you get back, Mrs. Lansing?
13:54
It was quite late. After 1 o'clock, I do believe.
13:56
Then you don't know whether your car had been used, do you?
13:59
Ruth has said so.
14:01
I'm sure she wouldn't lie to me.
14:03
I have no reason to lie to anyone, Miss Kilgore.
14:05
And if you're going to presume that...
14:06
I'm only asking you and your mother the same questions I'd ask you in court, Ruth.
14:11
In court?
14:12
Yes.
14:13
There will be a trial, you know.
14:15
Don Winthrop claims he's innocent.
14:17
I know.
14:18
Now, Ruth, was Jeff Kimball drunk last night?
14:21
No.
14:22
He didn't drink at all?
14:23
No, Miss Kilgore.
14:25
I've heard what Don has said about Jeff, and it isn't true.
14:28
Jeff didn't borrow Don's car.
14:30
Don made up that horrible story just to save his own skin.
14:32
Perhaps he didn't make it up, Ruth.
14:34
He did.
14:35
And if he's guilty, if he ran down that boy on the boulevard and killed him, you see,
14:42
I won't be asked any more questions.
14:45
I want to be left alone.
14:46
Ruth, dear.
14:48
You see, Miss Kilgore, the poor child's all broken up.
14:51
Yes, I can see that.
14:52
Couldn't you wait?
14:53
Come back later, perhaps?
14:55
Mrs. Lansing, Don Winthrop's in jail.
14:57
And if he's not guilty, Ruth, what broke you up just now?
15:01
Nothing.
15:02
Was it a mental picture of something terrible?
15:05
Something you had witnessed?
15:07
I'm just tired, that's all.
15:10
You're sure it was nothing else?
15:12
I just told you, Miss Kilgore.
15:14
All right.
15:15
Now you say you and Jeff Kimball drove to the roadside inn on Highway 4.
15:19
Yes.
15:19
We got there about 9 and we left a few minutes before 12.
15:23
And we used my father's car.
15:25
How did you get there, Ruth?
15:26
Why, straight up Highway 4, of course.
15:29
From here?
15:30
From the entrance to the highway a few blocks from here.
15:32
And you went straight to the roadside inn?
15:34
Yes, yes.
15:36
Ruth, did you tell that to the police?
15:38
We told them we were at the inn and I suppose...
15:41
We?
15:42
How do you know what Jeff told the police?
15:44
Well, he...
15:45
Well, I assume that...
15:47
Why don't you stop trying to mix me up?
15:49
Miss Kilgore, if you're not going to be fair...
15:51
I'm being very fair, Mrs. Lansing.
15:53
I'm giving your daughter every opportunity to tell the truth.
15:57
Are you suggesting, Miss Kilgore, that my daughter...
16:00
I'm suggesting that Ruth and Jeff couldn't have driven to the roadside inn using Highway 4.
16:05
Why not?
16:06
Highway 4, about a half a mile from the inn, has been closed for three days.
16:10
But that's...
16:11
But that's...
16:12
The highway's under repair.
16:14
You have a detour by the way of the boulevard to get to the inn.
16:17
Oh, I don't believe it.
16:19
You're trying to trick me.
16:20
Why don't we go for a ride?
16:22
My car's right outside.
16:23
Then you can see for yourself.
16:25
Well, I won't go anywhere with you.
16:27
Ruth!
16:27
I can't take any more of this, Mother.
16:29
I'm going upstairs to my room.
16:36
I've never seen her act like that before.
16:38
Miss Kilgore,
16:39
Is the highway really closed for repairs?
16:42
Yes, Mrs. Lansing.
16:44
But they must have gone to the roadside inn.
16:46
The police would have.
16:46
Have you and the professor ever been there?
16:48
Yes.
16:49
Once or twice.
16:50
Then you know how crowded that place is, and how noisy.
16:53
Yes, it is.
16:54
If I wanted an alibi for something, Mrs. Lansing,
16:57
I'd say I'd been to the roadside inn.
16:59
And if I could reasonably be sure that no one would ever remember seeing me there.
17:03
I suppose you're right, Miss Kilgore, but why should Ruth need an alibi?
17:07
Either Ruth or Jeff Kimball does, Mrs. Lansing.
17:10
Yes, but why Ruth?
17:12
I don't know yet.
17:13
Oh, dear.
17:14
Is there a payphone nearby?
17:16
There are payphones in all the school buildings, Miss Kilgore, but I wish you would tell me.
17:20
I've got to call my oWce immediately.
17:22
I'm sorry, Mrs. Lansing, but I haven't got a minute to spare.
17:40
Public Defender's OWce, good afternoon.
17:42
Miss Carpenter, this is Miss Kilgore.
17:44
Oh, yes, Miss Kilgore.
17:46
Is Dora O'Malley there?
17:47
Oh, yes, I'll connect you.
17:50
Go ahead, Miss Kilgore.
17:52
Hello?
17:53
Dora?
17:54
Yes, ma'am.
17:55
I want you to meet me right away.
17:57
Right away, ma'am.
17:58
I'm at the State University Faculty Row.
18:00
Yes, ma'am, I've got it.
18:01
I'll be in my car about 50 feet from Professor Lansing's house.
18:05
Lansing?
18:06
Yes, ma'am.
18:07
You shouldn't have any trouble Pnding it, Dora.
18:09
Oh, I know your car, Miss Kilgore.
18:11
All right, I've got a job for you, and I'll tell you what it is when you get here.
18:15
But get here fast.
18:22
Oh, Jeff, there you are.
18:29
You certainly took your time, Ruth.
18:32
I'm sorry.
18:33
I had trouble getting away from my mother.
18:34
And you called me to say it's an emergency.
18:37
You asked me to meet you in the cafeteria, and then you show up.
18:40
Oh, stop being so fussy.
18:42
We're in serious trouble.
18:44
What's the matter?
18:45
Public defender came to my house.
18:47
So?
18:48
Doesn't that mean anything to you?
18:50
She's defending Don Winthrop.
18:52
Okay, that's nothing to get excited about.
18:54
But she knew we didn't go to the roadside inn last night.
18:57
What?
18:58
She asked me how we went, and I told her straight up Highway 4.
19:02
That's right.
19:03
But Highway 4 is torn up half a mile below the inn.
19:06
There's been no traWc there for three days.
19:08
For three days?
19:09
Why didn't you tell me there was a detour?
19:11
We'd have been prepared.
19:12
I didn't know about it, Ruth.
19:13
I haven't been up there in weeks.
19:15
What are we going to do?
19:16
You can keep your voice down, for one thing.
19:18
But Miss Kilgore will Pnd out we were driving on the boulevard.
19:21
How can she?
19:23
She knows I lied to her about the inn.
19:25
What does that prove?
19:26
Well, you're telling me...
19:26
Now listen, Ruth.
19:28
She's got this down pat.
19:29
We've told the police and the D.A. our story, and we've got to stick to it.
19:33
But the detour, Jeff...
19:34
We took it.
19:35
We'll tell that to a jury, and let Kilgore prove that we're lying.
19:39
That's no good.
19:40
Why not?
19:41
My mother heard what I said.
19:43
I can shut her up easy enough.
19:45
How?
19:46
If she asks any questions, I'll tell her that you were driving the car when we hit that kid.
19:52
But Jeff, I wasn't.
19:53
So what?
19:53
I can swear that you were.
19:55
Well, why did I let you talk me into this last night?
19:58
But you did, honey.
19:59
I was so frightened, I couldn't even think.
20:02
And I've been sick about it ever since.
20:03
It's too late now.
20:05
You're an accomplice.
20:06
I begged you to stop the car.
20:08
Okay, so you did.
20:10
But can you prove it?
20:11
Oh, I wish I...
20:14
Excuse me, but can I trouble you for a match?
20:17
I haven't got any.
20:19
Oh.
20:20
How about you, darling?
20:22
No.
20:23
What's the matter, darling?
20:24
Is this guy giving you trouble?
20:25
Why don't you mind your own business?
20:27
I was only asking the young lady.
20:29
Go away.
20:30
Please.
20:31
We're together.
20:33
Oh, all right.
20:34
I thought maybe.
20:35
Excuse me, I didn't mean to butt in.
20:38
Lunkhead.
20:39
Everybody wants to be a hero these days.
20:50
And that's what you heard them say, Dora.
20:53
Exactly, Miss Kilgore.
20:54
I was sitting at the table next to them in the cafeteria, and then I did exactly what you told me to do.
20:58
You went over to their table.
21:00
That's right.
21:00
And I made sure they both got a good look at me so that they'll remember me the next time.
21:04
Thanks, Dora.
21:05
Well, Mrs. Lansing?
21:06
I don't understand, Miss Kilgore.
21:07
I can't understand.
21:09
Well, it's obvious now that Don Winthrop is innocent.
21:11
Yes, but my daughter, she...
21:13
Ruth should have told the police and reported what Jeff had done.
21:16
But she had...
21:18
Miss Kilgore, she can be punished for not doing that, can't she?
21:21
Yes.
21:22
She's compounded a felony.
21:24
Oh, good heavens.
21:25
But if she goes to the DA and tells the truth now...
21:28
But she lied to the police.
21:29
I'm pretty sure Sam Howard would be willing to overlook that, Mrs. Lansing,
21:33
if Ruth makes a statement voluntarily and without delay.
21:36
Oh, I wish I knew what to do.
21:38
Would you like me to speak to her?
21:39
No, no.
21:40
It would be much better coming from me.
21:42
When Ruth comes in, I'll...
21:44
Oh, that must be Ruth now.
21:46
Ruth!
21:48
Yes, Mother?
21:49
Come in here, please.
21:51
I can't, Mother.
21:52
I'm going...
21:53
I want to speak to you.
21:54
All right.
21:55
But please don't ask me any...
21:56
See, Miss Kilgore?
21:58
She recognizes me.
21:59
You came over to our table in the cafeteria.
22:01
What are you doing here?
22:03
Ruth, this is Dora O'Malley.
22:05
She's one of my investigators.
22:07
You had her follow me, didn't you?
22:09
I suspected that you would rush over to see Jeff.
22:11
And I had to know the truth about what really happened last night.
22:14
So you sent a spy?
22:16
And she saw Jeff and me talking?
22:18
But she didn't hear what we said.
22:20
But she did, Ruth.
22:21
Tell her what you heard, Dora.
22:23
Sure.
22:24
When you got to the cafeteria, Miss Lansing, the boy, Jeff Kimball, was already there.
22:28
And he said to you that...
22:29
Stop it!
22:30
I don't care what you heard, O'Malley.
22:32
You'll never prove it.
22:34
And neither will you, Miss Kilgore.
22:35
I'll deny everything, and so will Jeff.
22:37
Why, Ruth!
22:38
I've got to, Mother.
22:39
And that's all I'm going to say.
22:41
Now, Ruth, you listen to me.
22:43
I can't.
22:44
I know I can never make you understand.
22:46
I understand now, dear.
22:48
You're terribly confused.
22:50
But you've nothing to be afraid of, Ruth.
22:52
Nothing.
23:04
Mrs. Lansing and Miss Ruth Lansing, this is the district attorney, Sam Howard.
23:09
How do you do?
23:10
Sam, Ruth Lansing wants to make a statement on the Winthrop case.
23:14
A statement?
23:14
She wants to change the story she told the police and your assistant.
23:18
Oh, I see.
23:19
But, Miss Howard, my daughter and I must be sure that she won't be punished for not telling the truth before.
23:24
All I can promise is...
23:25
I didn't do anything, Miss Howard.
23:27
I was just very frightened and very foolish.
23:31
Now, suppose you tell me what you want to change in your story.
23:35
All right.
23:36
Jeff and I had a date last night.
23:39
And without my knowing it, he borrowed Don Winthrop's car.
23:43
And we went for a ride on the boulevard.
23:46
Go ahead, Miss Lansing.
23:48
Well, we drove for about an hour.
23:50
And then Jeff suggested that we stop off for a drink.
23:53
Where was this?
23:54
Oh, a little place just off the main road.
23:57
I don't know the name of it, but I can Pnd it if you want me to.
24:00
No, we'll take care of that later.
24:02
Well, Jeff and I were there for a couple of hours.
24:06
I'm sure someone will remember.
24:07
Ah, a couple of hours for one drink, Miss Lansing?
24:11
Oh, no.
24:13
Jeff had several.
24:15
More than he should have.
24:16
Miss Howard, I was afraid to let him drive home.
24:19
But he insisted that he was all right and he wouldn't let me drive.
24:23
So, Miss Howard, I've already told this to Miss Kilgore.
24:26
Why can't she tell you the rest?
24:28
I've got to hear it from you, Miss Lansing.
24:30
It's your statement.
24:33
Jeff was driving the car.
24:35
And a few miles down the boulevard, I saw this boy on a bicycle.
24:38
And I called Jeff's attention to him, just to make sure Jeff saw him, too.
24:43
Jeff, watch out for that boy on a bicycle.
24:46
I see it, Ruth.
24:47
I'm not blind.
24:49
No, but you're not quite sober, either.
24:51
I told you I was all right, didn't I?
24:53
Well, that doesn't mean that you'll look.
24:55
Just let me worry about what's on the road, honey.
24:58
I'll get you home in the best time.
25:00
But then you'd better watch the road, Jeff.
25:01
Why, is the road prettier than you?
25:03
Jeff, please look where you're driving.
25:05
You're crowding that boy.
25:06
Hey, get away, you lunghead.
25:07
He's trying to, but you're not giving him a chance.
25:10
Pull over, Jeff!
25:12
Ruth!
25:12
I couldn't stop.
25:14
The brakes wouldn't hold.
25:15
Jeff, you're not going off and leave him.
25:17
I'm not stopping the car now, Ruth.
25:19
You've got to.
25:20
I'm not getting myself locked up for driving with liquor in me.
25:23
But that boy might be badly hurt.
25:25
He might even be...
25:26
Shut up, Ruth.
25:27
Now listen to me.
25:29
You're not going to say a word of this to anyone.
25:31
What?
25:32
You'll keep your mouth closed,
25:33
or I'll see you get implicated right up to your pretty little neck.
25:36
Jeff!
25:37
I'll swear to anything to involve you.
25:39
And you didn't say anything, Miss Lansing.
25:42
I was afraid, Miss Howard.
25:44
I don't know what Jeff meant, but I knew he would.
25:47
Yes.
25:48
Whose idea was it to let Winthrop take the blame?
25:52
Jeff thought of it.
25:53
He phoned me after he returned Don's car,
25:55
and he told me what to say,
25:57
if there was any trouble.
25:58
I was so bewildered.
26:02
Well, Sam, what do you think of it?
26:04
I don't know, Ronnie.
26:06
I'd like to check on the place they stopped off for drinks.
26:09
We can do that tonight.
26:10
Yeah.
26:11
I'd like to hear what Jeff Kimball has to say about all this.
26:13
That should be easy.
26:15
Yes, I'll have him brought here tomorrow morning.
26:18
But I want the girl to be here, too.
26:29
She's lying, Miss Howard.
26:31
Ruth, why don't you tell them the truth?
26:34
You were driving the car when we hit that kid.
26:37
Oh, Jeff, you know that isn't the truth.
26:39
Oh, yes, it is.
26:40
Now, I know I've lied to everybody,
26:41
the police, the district attorney's oWce,
26:43
even to you, Miss Kilgore.
26:45
But it was just to protect her.
26:47
Why, Jeff?
26:48
She begged me to, Miss Kilgore,
26:50
and I wasn't going to be a heel.
26:51
But letting an innocent man face a long prison term
26:54
was quite all right with you, was it?
26:56
Well, I thought he might get a break.
26:58
Jeff, you already admitted that you borrowed Don's car.
27:01
Yes.
27:01
And that you were drunk.
27:03
I said I'd been drinking, Miss Kilgore.
27:04
There's a big difference.
27:06
But I'm not going to admit that I was driving that car
27:08
just to save her neck.
27:09
You've already done that, Jeff.
27:11
Huh?
27:12
Excuse me, please.
27:13
There's someone in the ante room I'd like you to meet.
27:17
Will you come in now?
27:18
Sure, Miss Kilgore.
27:20
Jeff, this is Dora O'Malley.
27:22
Where'd you pick her up?
27:23
Nice of you to remember her.
27:24
She tried to start a Pght with me
27:26
in the school cafeteria yesterday.
27:28
I heard what you said to that young lady,
27:29
Mr. Kimball.
27:31
You heard?
27:32
From beginning to end.
27:33
Say, who is this gal?
27:35
She works for the public defender, Jeff.
27:37
And she's going to testify at Don Winthrop's trial.
27:40
If there is a trial.
27:41
But I...
27:43
Now look here, Mr. Kimball.
27:45
I've got more evidence against you
27:46
than I ever had against Winthrop.
27:48
But, Miss Howard, I...
27:49
You tried, but it didn't work.
27:51
Why don't you just sit down now and tell us the whole story?
27:55
Or, better yet, here's a pencil and some paper.
27:59
Write it down,
28:00
and then sign it.
28:14
Boy, Miss Kilgore,
28:15
I never knew the outside could smell so sweet.
28:18
Well, you can go back to school now, Don,
28:20
and take your exams.
28:21
Thanks to you.
28:23
But I...
28:24
The university has agreed to give you another exam
28:26
in place of the one you've missed by being arrested.
28:29
Oh, gosh, thanks, Miss Kilgore.
28:30
That's great.
28:31
Take it easy, Don.
28:32
You're liable to shake my arm loose.
28:34
Oh, gosh, well, I...
28:36
I just want...
28:37
I guess all I can say is thanks, Miss Kilgore.
28:39
Thanks a million.
28:51
We hold these truths to be self-evident.
28:55
That all men are created equal.
28:57
That they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights.
29:02
That among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
29:12
You've been listening to The Case of Don Winthrop from the Mutual Broadcasting Series,
29:17
Roger Kilgore, Public Defender.
29:19
Brought to you by Lawrence University Theatre of the Air. Lawrence Theatre of the Air
29:23
is brought to you by the Department of Theatre Arts.
29:26
Timothy Troy is our producer and our artistic director.
29:29
Roger Kilgore starred Charlie King as Ronnie Kilgore and Peter Welsh as Don Winthrop.
29:35
Also featured in this program, Tammy Forward,
29:38
Kristen Hammergren, Layla Schwartz, Jem Herron, Aaron Monosoff, Karen Wantlin, Gwen Kelly Masterton, and Nora Taylor.
29:46
Sound effects by Brianna Stapleton and Ashley Korleski.
29:50
Our technical director and sound engineer is David Owens.
29:53
Script preparation by Tammy Forward. Music for this episode by Alex Bustrom.
29:58
Lawrence Theatre of the Air theme music composed and conducted by Ken Hemba and performed by the Lawrence Radio Orchestra.
30:06
For Lawrence University Theatre of the Air, this is Jem Herron, reminding you that three out of four Lawrence students and faculty said they prefer their radio drama live, just like their grandparents did.
30:17
Music for this episode by Alex Bustrom.