Latest / Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas / Nick Carter: The Case of the Absent Clue (EP1596)

Transcript

Nick Carter: The Case of the Absent Clue (EP1596) · Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas

0:28
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
0:34
is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it
0:39
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at
0:45
Radio Detectives, and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook, dot
0:50
com slash Radio Detectives. Well, before we do get started, I wanted
0:55
to encourage you, if you've not already, to pick up your copy of
0:59
All I Needed to Know I Learn from Dragnet. It's my sequel to All
1:03
I Needed to Know I Learned from Colombo, in which we examine the careers
1:07
of seven more great detectives of radio, literature and television, including Poiro,
1:17
Johnny Doller, and of course Joe Friday, and then we examine life lessons
1:22
that can be learned from their careers and history, including what Joe Friday can
1:26
teach us about being a good man or woman for that matter, and what
1:30
Poiro teaches us about preventing evil. The book is available in all major ebook
1:36
stores or just by going to store dot Great Detectives dot net. Well,
1:41
now it's time for today's episode of Nick Carter. The original air date March
1:46
the seventh of nineteen forty eight, and the title is the Case of the
1:52
Absent Clue, whose great things are going as you brings you one of the
1:57
most resourcelling characters in all detective victims, Nick Potter, Master Detectives. If
2:10
you aren't going to let them get away, I don't have any choice,
2:14
Petty that you haven't. It's got your name of that confession, sister,
2:17
Yes, here it is, give it to me. I have to sign
2:23
it too, oh, brother. Away of this story gets around town.
2:28
Nick Carter let the killer get away? And even for it is the car
2:32
the killer's case, then ha ha, it'll be the biggest leave of the
2:37
year. And now the Case of the Absent pool Today's adventure starting long part
2:47
as Nick Carter, as a good businessman, just really never overlooks the chance
2:53
to put his merchandise in a new and promising locations. The merchandise in this
2:58
case is little slip of paper with numbers on them. They sell for whatever
3:02
you want to pay from a nickel on up. And the new location Jeff
3:07
has been mined is a small suburban candy store owned by Paul Elliott and his
3:12
wife Ruth. Right now, Jeff is giving the Elliot, a fatal p
3:16
you'll cut out and double the profits on this joint. Listen, Elliott,
3:21
you'll get a big play from the kids at that school down the street.
3:24
Listen. The numbers game is a racket. When I think solo that I
3:28
have to keep school kids out of nickels and dimes and start them gambling with
3:31
their lunch money. Elliott, you've got the only place in this neighborhood that
3:36
fits in with my plan. Then you'll have to change your plan. There
3:40
was another guy that didn't want to cooperate. Somebody busted all his plate glass
3:46
windows one night. You can't scare me. The other guy wasn't scared either.
3:52
It wasn't until after a couple of guys slugs and that he decided to
3:54
play ball with Paul Hong for the place. Now, father Elliott, I'm
3:59
going I'll call around again in a couple of days. Maybe you'll change your
4:05
mind. That's the place, Funny low down to I heap this brick easy
4:21
now, how old guy now? Anything interesting in the mailmates? Oh not
4:43
too far, Patsy, Okay, what are you back there? New Fountain
4:46
thin? Oh no, it's one of those pure guess guns that looks like
4:49
a fountain ben dog in Madison Dagerson. Oh you did it? Was nice,
4:55
wasn't it? Yes, sort of handy to have in your purse.
4:57
Don't things sort of dangerous that you're a me? Hear guys, there's nothing
5:00
to fool. Oh wow, what are you now? What is it?
5:06
It's letters from a fellow I haven't heard of since we were kids, Paul
5:11
Elliott. Oh, I thought it was a case and might be. You
5:15
know who Jeff really is? Small time racket here, isn't Yeah running a
5:19
numbers game in the suburbs. Now, Oh the crooked one of that m
5:26
run a strong arm Paul and the peddling the numbers slips for him strong How
5:30
Paul and his wife have a small confectionery store. I'll compete with Yeah.
5:34
Front Winders been smashed twice, and Greeley's warned him that next time it'll be
5:38
a lot more serious than as Paul gives in. Oh, can't the police
5:42
do anything? Not without proof? And really too smart that I don't get
5:45
anything on him. You know things. I'll drive out there this evening and
5:48
talk it over with Paul. Oh you can't go to night man? Oh?
5:51
Why not? Because nights the annual Bank Credit the Downtown board shops,
5:56
and you're the guest of honor. That's right. I want to go afterwards
5:59
that I want to put this off that I'm telling when Greeley will pay Paul
6:02
another visit. A let, sir, are there on the right, the
6:15
one or two men are coming out of them when you can park right behind
6:19
that green sedance. The men are getting into Oh yeah, by George.
6:24
Huh the one of the yellow gloves. That was jeff Breeley. Jeffrey,
6:28
what do you think we ought to follow us? No? Not now?
6:30
I want to see what's happened inside the shop. Okay, well at least
6:38
they haven't thrown any bombs or mask another window. That's right. I'm worried,
6:44
oh said Greeley. Promised him the next time it'd be more serious.
6:51
Is it? Do something? I'll go, Paty, you stay here.
7:01
I heard yeah from missus Elliott. What happens? You know? Worried everything?
7:10
You all? How are you? Mate? I call an ambul No,
7:15
won't be humans? You all right? I'm afraid not missus Elliott all
7:20
dead? A broken a new works too abruptly. If I could take care
7:28
of her I'll call him mad ian trying to put out a general alarmed for
7:30
Jeff really and a chary top murder. All right, at least you'll be
7:43
here in a few minutes. Fact, how is it still unconsciousness? I
7:46
adjusted my hands in cold water to shout of batain. I'll wipe your closely.
7:50
No, I won't see him wearing them as peach isn't creamy face is
7:55
natural? Of course it is. Some women are lune kep steming out.
8:01
How do you see them at the area? Who are you? My name
8:07
is Carter. I'm a private investigator. I used to know Paul years ago.
8:11
He was just forward. Please try to tell us what happened. Paul
8:20
and I stayed late to one than some you sucks. He was opening the
8:24
crane from the bathroom and I was in the storeroom. And get cruise again
8:28
that the bat How long ago was it? Two minutes ago? I had
8:33
crawling with him. The episode of a kind is there? I can't go
8:39
to the store room. Don't just grew in the one I was wearing yellow.
8:43
Got think that the crow not palling? But you think local clans and
8:50
see you whom still right out of the parkway. Yes, him as we
9:00
drove up. I tell you, Millia flee. I'm just imagine it.
9:09
He didn't make for any There was only for this. I loved him and
9:13
wanted to be proud of it. Of course it was. You know it
9:18
is, elliot, if you can identify Paul's killers wreaking, I saw them
9:24
kill him, and I'll never rest, and he'll ow's men of him.
9:26
He like to care. Come, hell, did you find anything nixt down?
9:39
No matter? Let your of greely is the only thing in the whole
9:43
of park here. There's plenty of evidence in it to convict really of running
9:46
a numbers racket, but that ain't important. No. Hey, wait,
9:50
here's an interesting item. October seventeen, farm eighteen thousand, three hundred and
9:56
seventy five dollars. Can you imagine a bright light character like just really buying
10:01
a fire? What would he do with a farm? You just have to
10:05
hideout and I'll bet that's where he is right now. Hey, you're probably
10:09
right, Nick, but we don't know where this farm is located. If
10:11
people want to throw a hideout, the chances are it ain't even in his
10:15
name. Some of his friends might know, if we should get them to
10:18
talk. Well, maybe you're run up a few of them and try anyway.
10:24
Oh, how about the medical examiner report metics Bruis's confusions cut on the
10:28
left eye. Oh, they must have beaten him pretty badly and then finished
10:31
being off with a crow bar. Oh, it's gonna be a pleasure to
10:35
get my hands on those things. I don't suppose there are any fingerprints on
10:39
the crowbars, No passing, not a single one. What why should there
10:43
be mixed? Greeley was wearing gloves, Rightly was wearing glove. Well,
10:48
now, look, we don't need a fingerprints. This is Eliot's testimony.
10:52
Will be enough to convict those two raps. Yeah, but if anything happened
10:56
to her, you wouldn't have any taste at all against Freely. Nothing is
10:58
gonna for the peptie. He got her in a downtown hotel under the sole
11:03
name player. He's resident of the Kemball Arms on East forty ninth Street,
11:09
under the name of Missus Hammer Davis. Yes, no, no, my
11:24
name's Anna Duds. I know Missus Elliott. It's all right. I'm William
11:28
Jeffords from the district as Opice. Oh well, I didn't know there's been
11:33
a couple of new developments in the case, Missus Elliot, and the DA
11:35
wants to see you in his office right away. All right, this a
11:39
minute, I'll get myself. This is the car, Missus Elliott. Here,
11:52
I'll open the door. Us. Nice work, you gave a quiet
12:05
I got the driving swiftly. Jeff really heads the car toward his upstate high
12:18
out while on the back seat, struggling helplessly, is the woman whose story
12:22
could send him to the electric chair if he lives the Teleson. We'll see
12:26
what happens next in just a moment. Now back to the case of the
12:35
Absent Clue Today's adventure with Nick Carter. Jeff Greeley, racketeer and gangster,
12:41
has kidnapped Ruth Elliott, the murdered man's wife and the only person who can
12:46
testify that he killed Paul Elliott. At headquarters, Nick and Mattie have just
12:50
learned that Missus Elliott has just appeared from the downtown hotel where they had her
12:56
registered under an A few name. Freely did this miskeet to be Greely?
13:01
The doorman at the hotel s taught two men four surns will call. But
13:03
I got away before he could call it Cornord. No, he was getting
13:07
excited. Medical How long do you think really is gonna letter live? Knowing
13:11
her story was sending to the chair. How did they find out where she
13:15
was? I checked that he's the old registered letters. Yes, this man
13:18
went to missus Elliott's apartment of the letters she had to sign for a personal
13:22
lay in. The superintendent told him what he was superintendent? But how did
13:26
he know? I told her not to let anybody know? He said that
13:28
after he found out hotel every putter and he called him and gave him the
13:31
address in case of an emergency. Well, we've sure got the emergency.
13:35
I say that again. We've got to work fast. Oh sure, sure,
13:39
But what do we work horse? The location of that hideout really has
13:43
in the country, Nick, we've been working on that. We got exactly
13:46
nowhere, Maddy. Really his brother would know where it is, if anybody
13:50
would. Nick. We questioned him for over an hour this morning. All
13:52
right, then we're going to question him to more. Okay, Okay,
13:56
I'll have him brought up. Would I tell you if you use it's really
14:01
some but he's pretty tough. Okay, it's after that to be just a
14:05
little bit tougher. Will you, guys, way off of me. I
14:16
tell you I don't know nothing. Don't give me that peace. Your brother
14:20
yet bought a farm less October. You know I'm your lame flings. Humble.
14:24
Come, I'm gonna make you tell me where that farm is. If
14:28
it takes me from now until Christians, I'll tell you I never heard it
14:33
all far. Wait wait, wait, many just had an idea. Yeah,
14:37
we can find where that farm is by consulting the state Registrar of d
14:41
Well, how will that help us? He bought it under a different name.
14:43
Oh, we know the farm was brought on October seventeen, and that
14:46
he paid eighteen thousand, three hundred seventy five dollars for it. So watch,
14:52
So we checked the records. Not likely that more than one farm changed
14:56
hands for that exact price on that particular day. Hey, Nick, you've
15:01
got something new, am Eddie. We'll have the exact location of that farm
15:05
instead of four hours. Yeah, but what about Pete here? You can't
15:11
hold me. I ain't done nothing to wait, Maddy. You may as
15:15
well let him go. Okay, okay, but I hope you come back
15:20
to see us piece when you can stay for a long long time. Hey,
15:37
I want to send a telegram. Well we're in business Park as you
15:41
haven't written out? Yeah, yeah, yeah right here and it's gotgo fair
15:46
thing naturally. Our telegram's always uh what is this first word? Jane,
15:52
Jay am Matt. It's a guy's man. Oh yes, of course,
15:58
game Uh craze is it? That's Graham? What's the matter, stupid techery?
16:03
Well yeah here you know, read it to you. I don't want
16:07
no mistake. Yeah, that would be best. James Graham, Rural Roots
16:14
six box one and twenty four Rural Roots Old. There'll be Elextra todde for
16:18
listener service unless they have a phote. Okay, stupid pustunder messenger, they've
16:23
got no phone. Gee, Horton's Grove, New York. Dear James,
16:30
your friends from downtown are coming up to see you. Never mind that Peter
16:33
cut up. Thank you. I've been trailing you wherever since your left headquarters.
16:37
Why do you think we're elected? Go just a moment. I'll have
16:40
to have that paper foret it. I'm going to deliver this message personally.
16:53
Is this the place? This? Is it the word? Really? Do
17:00
you supposed you didn't come here? After all, somebody's been here. Look
17:03
at those tart attracts. We're too light, No harmon looking around. I
17:08
gotta stand at one side. When a knock on the door, I might
17:11
get bullets for an answer be here from me? Do you hear anything?
17:22
How doesn't sound? Is it? B Yeah? I'm gonna break it in
17:30
how I attract to prove they had some reason for coming here and they have
17:33
been to dispose of a body? Oh, I hope not here goes.
17:42
Now let's see what we can find in here. But do you hear that
17:52
seemed to be from this room? Over here? Jelliot found in Gregg?
18:02
Oh, thank heaven? You want to type a gagay while I get these
18:04
ropes? Offer him right? Nick, say yere missus Jliot? Are you
18:11
hurt you? No? I'm all right up. I heard your voices.
18:14
Now I started pounding my heels on the floor. That's for tapping. We
18:17
heard all right? Now you're Lewis. Tell me did Jeff really bring you
18:22
here? Me and two of them and said they were going to kill me?
18:26
Where are they now? Say something about going into town? Cigarette?
18:30
Then we better hurry. We've got to get ready before they come back.
18:33
What's your Oh really, you can already lax now because you're not going nowhere.
18:41
Life say so, Jeff Greeley had from the doorway. I'll revolver avery
18:53
hand. And it appears that instead of rescuing Ruse elliotts make him patsy off
18:57
themselves call him the same. We'll see what happens in just a minute now
19:07
for the conclusion of the case of the Absent Pool, today's attecture with Nick
19:11
Carter, Nick and Tasty found Rufe Elliott found and gagged in the deserted farmhouse
19:17
where he had been taken by Jack Breeley. But Justice they were about to
19:21
leave, really appeared in the doorway or evolve in his hands. You can
19:26
all relax now because you're not going nowhere. You got back from town with
19:30
her cigarette in a hurry, didn't you agree? I never went Fannie and
19:34
Edie as the can I stayed. Heead give an eye on Sie. That's
19:37
what's smart. Tug with bombing mart and put away that gun. I'll put
19:42
it away, as do. I make sure that you three ain't gonna talk
19:45
now. However, nobody's gonna get away with framing me. Yeah, if
19:52
I try it won't be to something I didn't do. Well, that's that's
19:56
all it's worrying, is really, you can put that gun back in your
19:59
pocket. I know you didn't kill Paul Elliott. What sad? Did he
20:03
did? I see him? Oh, missus Elliot, you killed your husband?
20:07
You did kill not That's why you kidnapped her, isn't it really sure?
20:11
I've been trying to make her tell the truth so that i'd be clear.
20:14
I can understand that what chance would I have in a court when it's
20:17
my would against hers? He wouldn't have any chance unless you had a confession
20:21
from her, signed and witnessed. Yeah, and that's what I've been trying
20:23
to get, And I'll get it two or else I won't do it.
20:26
I won't. You can't kill me first. I see your point, missus
20:30
Elliott. You'd rather be shot and go through a trial and die in the
20:33
electric stay any of you? Look, Missus Elliott? How about this?
20:40
If you did sign such a confession and Patsy and I witnessed, it really
20:45
might be willing to let you take my car and get away. Why not?
20:48
I'll hold cart on the girl here long enough for you to get clear
20:51
out of the car. No, I didn't do it. If you're only
20:52
chance, Missus Elliott, you ain't kids. You really seek you here long
20:59
enough for me to get up out of the country. Yeah, and I'll
21:00
give you enough go to do it with all I want to clear myself.
21:06
All right, I'll do it good. Yeah. I got a pencil and
21:08
she can use the paper and Patsy's notebook to write the confession. Now.
21:11
Oh, but you're not gonna let it go. Not really, you see
21:15
any other choice? No, thank you? The notebook? Oh mit,
21:18
you must county. Oh he is all right, as I dictate, Missus
21:22
Elliott, go ahead, I here by confess that I killed my husband,
21:30
Paul Elliott, and that death really is completely innocent. Now sign it there,
21:45
sign your name is wob Oh you are gonna keep me here, Archie,
21:52
you bet, I am, But not for your sake, sister.
21:56
I just want everyone to know that somebody finally got the best and they caught
22:00
her. What do I do with this nick now that I've shined, I
22:04
have to witness a tool. Wait'll it get around town that this card.
22:07
I'll let her killer get away. And even for I who want a car
22:11
to get away in it'll be the biggest land the year, better than stopping
22:15
a bullet bill. Oh, I broke the point on this episode, Patsy,
22:22
let me have your fountain pens, my fell Yes, you have it
22:25
in your purse. Oh oh yes, yes, of course that's matter.
22:30
Yes, that's over here, baby, I'll get that fountain pens for all.
22:37
Right, here's a girl may if one may kill you. Didn't pull
22:42
any twicks. It's the pen cutter. You know. I wouldn't try any
22:48
tricks as a smart for it like you did. There's no inking the ten
22:52
huh, afraid they'll have to use that. Come really good, let's go,
23:02
don't love, missus Elliott. You put your heads up to really to
23:07
the doorg really? We wait for the rest of you're getting up with us
23:11
some pressure yate for that confession. Missus Elliott's seine have held good in court?
23:25
Oh not for a minute. Test he was obtained under durred at the
23:29
once he time when we got her to headquarter. We're all good anywhere,
23:32
especially with a proof we have to present to a jury. And I suppose
23:36
that clears yes, really completely. There's another murder tag, but he still
23:40
faces a sentence or extortion as salt and battery, carrying a gun, operating
23:44
their numbers, rackets, and kidnapping Golan. It's gonna be a good many
23:48
years till he'll be a free man again. How did he know if he
23:51
didn't kill Elliott? I didn't know, but I began to wonder when missus
23:55
Elliott overdid the heartbroken wife act by pulling out pony paints. Phoney, it
24:00
looks perfectly real to me, Ah, but it wasn't. Though. When
24:03
you faint, Patsy, the blood rushes from the head and you become very,
24:06
very pale. Oh, so that's why you were surprised that her makeup
24:10
didn't come off When I based have said, mm hmm, she still had
24:12
that pieces of cream expressions. But that wasn't any reason to accuse her of
24:17
murder. You must have had another clue. I did a clue that wasn't
24:22
there a clue that wasn't What do you mean? Remember there weren't any fingerprints
24:27
on the crow bar that Paul Elliott was killed with the din Greey was wearing
24:33
gloves. True enough, what Elliot had been working with a crow bar and
24:36
he wasn't wearing gloves. If prints would have been all over it. Since
24:40
they weren't, I knew somebody must have wiped them off, and it wouldn't
24:42
have been greed because he was wearing gloves. Anyway, God had to be
24:47
missus Elliott. Nobody else was there? You mean it? After Greeley and
24:51
the other man came in the store and beat up her husband, he saw
24:55
her chance and murder him and put the blame on them. According to her
24:57
confession, they left Paul lying on the floor unconscious. But he gave her
25:02
a perfect opportunity. But why what noted that he has money? Killed him
25:07
for money? Yeah, Paul had a lot of insurance. Oh, I
25:11
hadn't been getting along for a couple of years, so she thought, you
25:14
thought a chance to commit the perfect merchant? Well, Nick, that volt
25:17
here, yes, kind of mine certainly came in handy, didn't it.
25:19
I certainly did, lucky for us, But Jeff didn't take a closer look
25:23
and see that it really wasn't the thought of then. I guess you're glad
25:26
now that I had it in my first Huh. I still say it's a
25:30
dangerous thing to carry, but it isn't look smoke unless you pushed a little
25:36
button here oh, Nick, open a window something. This is Andrew Ryan's
25:56
with OTR Westerns dot com, where we streamed live old time Radio Westerns twenty
26:00
four hours a day, seven days a week with a special twist. You
26:04
select the tracks that get to be played. We've got a thousand different episodes
26:08
from shows like Gunsmoke, Tales of the Texas Rangers, Escape, Genautry,
26:12
and many more. Come check us out at Otrwesterns dot com slash live.
26:18
Again. That's OTR Westerns dot com slash Live. You're listening to the great
26:22
detectives of Old time Radio with Adam Graham. And now let's get back into
26:26
the show. Welcome back. Overall a very cleverly done mystery, and I
26:36
appreciated Nick acknowledging that the confession that she wrote under duress wouldn't stand up in
26:44
court. And that was something that Nick Carter episodes did pull in earlier episodes,
26:52
obtaining, i think, particularly during the war years, obtaining confessions that
26:56
would be totally admissible and therefore irrelevant. I also found myself identifying with that
27:03
thug who was trying to send a message to James Graham and not being understood.
27:10
Now, I probably don't have quite as bad a penmanship as him,
27:14
But I've lost count of the number of stores and locations at which I have
27:18
to constantly repronounce. My name is usually interpreted as Ram because there are a
27:25
lot of people running around with the name Ram. In fact, it's a
27:30
very famous last name, like my own. Surely you've heard of the great
27:34
evangelist Billy Ram and recently the senior Senator from South Carolina, Lindsey Ram,
27:42
announced his candidacy for president. But regardless, I do have to continue to
27:48
repronounce it. So I found myself in a strange bit of sympathy, but
27:52
I did like the way the whole plot played out. Overall, this is
27:56
just a very solid Nick Star Carter story, and I hope you and well
28:00
that will actually do it for today. We'll be back tomorrow with yours truly,
28:03
Johnny Doller. In the meantime, if you do have a comment,
28:07
send it to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on
28:12
Twitter at Radio Detectives, and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook,
28:18
dot com, slash Radiodetectives. In the meantime from Boise, Idaho,
28:22
this is your host, Adam ram oh I mean Graham sign it off