Latest / Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas / Sherlock Holmes: The Guest in the Coffin (EP0789)

Transcript

Sherlock Holmes: The Guest in the Coffin (EP0789) · Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas

0:28
Come to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
0:34
is your host, Adam Braham. If you have a comment, email it
0:38
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot yet, follow us on Twitter at
0:43
Radio Detectives, and call us to a eight nine nine one four seven eight
0:50
three, and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com Slash
0:56
Radio Detectives. If you've I do encourage you check out our books on Amazon
1:03
in paperback. We have my duper hero parody novel, Tales of the Damnat,
1:08
also available for the kindle free for those of you who have Amazon Prime.
1:12
I think you'll enjoy that. We've also got a new novella sequel out,
1:17
Powerhouse Flies Again. And then there's a book I've been missioning for quite
1:21
a while. All I needed to know I learned from Colombo, and that
1:25
is available in various book forms, from the kindle, for the iPad,
1:32
for the nook, in all other readers at smashwords dot com. And that
1:34
one we take a look at twelve great detective or seven Great Detectives and twelve
1:41
life lessons from their careers and history. It's fun read and is available as
1:47
an e book Well, now we're going to get into today's episode of Sherlock
1:49
Holmes. The Guest in the Coffin from New York City, the makers of
2:00
clipper Craft Clothes for men, and more than twelve hundred leading retail stores from
2:06
coast to coast present Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's a mortal character, the world's most
2:09
famous detective Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley. This sweet story The Guest in
2:30
the Coffin. Where's the funeral coach homes downstairs? You see it, yes,
2:36
Spotson, come quickly when it's run down the stairs to meet them.
2:38
I have my revolver ready. Host put it away, Watson, we sha'n't
2:42
have need of it just yet. That's what they said. When the funeral
2:44
Cortez comes, they'd kill you. I can't protect you if I put it
2:47
away. You know, my dear Watson, effort to kill me will not
2:50
be as obvious as you think. No, it will be completely unexpected and
2:54
a shocking a spectacle as you've ever witnessed. Men. This is the time
3:05
of year when our wives are planning the new spring wardrobe. So I don't
3:08
think I'm out of order when I ask you isn't it time you bought a
3:10
new spring suit too. You don't have to spend a fortune. A genuine
3:15
Clippercraft worsted suit costs only forty five dollars. Don't let that low price fool
3:21
you. Clippercraft suits look like they cost many, many dollars more. Clippercraft
3:27
suits have style you'd never expect to buy for forty five dollars. In a
3:30
Clippercraft suit, you look your best. Your shoulders appear broader, your hips
3:35
seem to taper down. You look and feel like you're somebody, somebody important,
3:39
and you are. You're the best dressed man in any group. So
3:44
go pick out a Clippercraft suit for yourself, and while you're about it,
3:47
get a Clippercraft top. Call two for only forty to forty seven fifty Clippercraft
3:53
clothes do things for you. Visit your local clippercraft merchant. Tomorrow, Doctor
4:05
Watson, what do you mean by a guest in the coffin? And to
4:10
what sort of grewsome business would such a guest be invited? It was in
4:14
the late eighties, mister Herts. It began a charing Cross station. They're
4:18
on the platforms to the short, red faced, chubby gentleman in a black
4:23
bowler hat. He looked about rather helplessly. Then he beckoned to a police
4:28
officer, constable. Constable, may I be a resistance. I've just arrived
4:35
here in London and I'm rather confused. Could you direct me to Earth's core?
4:42
Certainly, sir. Just a few stops on the inner circle underground,
4:45
the interest to the underground. Just your lecture and that will take me there.
4:48
Righters. Oh, thank you very much. I'm very great, door
4:54
Tolsa. You must allow me to show my appreciation. Sorry, sir,
4:57
we do not accept a gratuity. Robert officer. This is a spacial award,
5:01
you see, I've selected you selected me. Yes, you should be
5:05
the first of the London police to die. The poor constable was pushed before
5:28
the passing trade and his body was crushed. The chubby little gentleman on the
5:31
black bowler had vanished instantly into the panicked, stricken cry. This was the
5:36
first step in a monster steep. The second step was executed in sir her.
5:42
It was very late in the evening. A bobby on a tour of
5:45
duty was strolling past a dark alley when he heard a pitiful voice. Well,
5:51
hell man allowing that somewhere in this alley. Yeah, hell, what's
5:58
wrong? Said Hi? Hi? Very like collapsed. Yeah, I can't
6:02
breathe. Yes, I'll help you a bit of artificial respiration and i'll fetch
6:08
an you're not hearing it off, I'll take you in my arm. So
6:15
one moment I must put my nightstick aside. Thank you. All I wanted
6:19
was your club. M We thought it would be amusing for a police officer
6:36
to be clubbed to death with his own club be seated. Was strand pacing
6:54
the floor of my flat in that nervous manner is not conducive to clear thinking.
6:57
You may choose to regard this crisis homes the bagatelle, a trinket to
7:02
be toyed within your mind. But I find it most upsetting the speculus drug.
7:08
How many police have done? Seven? Doctor Watson? The officer club
7:13
to death? And so all was followed by five more various parts of London.
7:17
You read the newspapers on you're conscious of the terrible fear gripping London.
7:23
The morale of the forces of an absolute love that is to be expectedless trime.
7:27
The force is human homes. The men leave a duty in a state
7:30
of eye attention. This series of police murders may lead to an unprecedented crime
7:35
wave. It's the signal to the scum of the London underworld, a storm
7:39
the very fortress of blow itself. Lestrade, could you abandon the auditory long
7:44
enough to tell me for any cluss to the identity of this Bobby killer?
7:46
None, none whatsoever. Not that we at Scotland yard or utterly helpless,
7:50
mind you, but we are obliged to marshal every resource at our command.
7:55
That's why we are requesting that you lend us the benefits of your comparable skill
8:01
as a detective. Let's charge your ineptitude as a criminologist is equaled only by
8:03
your consiness as a diplomat. However, I shall look into these reports you're
8:07
given to men. They are official copies home reports on the death of each
8:13
policeman. After reading them, if you have a suggestion, I shall communicate
8:16
with you. Yes, it's a horrible business. Horrible. Oh. On
8:20
the contrary, considering some police officers I know rather tempting the night you are
8:30
going to help your homes. It's after reading and analyzing these reports Watson,
8:33
I shall take what steps I deem proper. I should say that the most
8:37
vital point so far is the scope of these crimes. This is not the
8:41
single discordant note struck by a petty crook. This is a broad, elaborately
8:46
orchestrated scheme worthy of a certain, very daring type of mind. I'll answered
8:52
Holmes, good evening, doctor Watson. Mister Holmes. Although you apparently rehognize
9:00
us, sir, I do not believe we may return the favor. My
9:03
name is Jay, Hubert Jay. Is the purpose of your visit connected with
9:07
the fact that you're a mortician? How did you surmise that, although you
9:13
are quite short and are wearing a black bowler hat, you stooped as you
9:16
entered. The doorway is easily high enough. You are therefore in the habit
9:20
of wearing an extremely high hat, the long black hat typical of your profession.
9:24
Besides, your hands are stained by an acid arsenic probably arsenical compounds being
9:30
used in the preparation of embalming fluid. As amazing, Holmes, the purpose
9:33
of my visit is definitely connected with my profession, and I do very the
9:39
dead. What may we do for you? Mister Jagan, I have a
9:43
message for you, mister Holmes, from my employer, who is your employer,
9:48
the gentleman with admirable humility, wishes to remain anonymous. He wishes to
9:52
present you, mister Holmes, with a gift as an unknown admirer of yours.
9:56
Really the finest way to present and a gift. And what is the
10:01
gift? A coffin, Sir? A coffin or a coffin, And to
10:07
be sure that the offer is accepted in the right spirit. And then I'm
10:09
not forced to go beyond this simple information. I was obliged to bring a
10:13
gun back. I appreciate your master's footfulness, but I don't believe I can
10:18
be his guest in the coffin. Oh, we shall attend to that little
10:22
detail. Are you threatening to kill Holmes? Not threatening, doctor Watson,
10:26
simply announcing a fact. By Friday midnight, mister Holmes, there will be
10:33
need of a coffin for you. Who said you where are you from?
10:37
By Joe j will answer now now, doctor Watson. That is why I
10:41
brought the gun. I do not want to answer any more questions, mister
10:46
Holmes. My master is most anxious for you to be pleased. Do you
10:50
have a preference as to the type of coffin you wish? Of all the
10:54
grotesque in furious almost any sort of coffin should do drinking. I shall select
11:00
one of our very attractive models, mister Olmes. You may depend on it.
11:03
He will be in superbly discriminating taste. Now, if you'll excuse me,
11:09
I'd wind up my affairs if I were you, mister Holmes, you've
11:13
so short a time. I believe I can spend the remaining days quite profitably.
11:18
Jenkins, no doubt, no doubt. Delightful visit, gentlemen, Good
11:24
evening, Holmes. What shall we do? Who was here? Who said
11:28
it? Why should they want to kill you? Homes? We shall do
11:31
very little, Watson. We shall inform inspect to Lestrada this extraordinary visitors.
11:35
And I'd say we search London for us Jenkins the mortician, and that would
11:37
be futile. Jenkins is definitely not his correct name. It might take weeks
11:41
to find him, and we have just a few days. No, she'll
11:45
merely chat with the strad and then wait for Friday midnight. You just wait
11:50
till they come to kill you, Holmes. That's ridiculous. I'd turn London
11:54
upside down to find that rascal. Then I'd beamn till he told us the
11:58
name and her abouts of his empire. Possible to accomplish by Friday, Watson.
12:01
Besides, why bother Jenkins promised to return here to Baker's feet. He
12:05
must deliver the exquisite coffin he's selecting. We'll tell me, host. Did
12:09
you learn anything from Jenkames's visit? Is there a close to who on earth
12:13
is behind all this? Definitely, my imminent death and the death for the
12:18
long line of London police are obviously connected. Both crimes are engineered by the
12:22
same mind, Watson. No pedestrian mind could conceive of staging miss macabre business.
12:28
Your ordinary criminal would go after me with a knife when that would be
12:31
that. No, this is a mind with a more fiendish approach. They
12:35
want me to suffer mentally before I do physically, And you propose sitting I've
12:39
lived by and waiting until Friday night. Quite oh, I shall make some
12:43
preparation for the combat, some polishing of a harpoon. Then what remains to
12:48
be seen is whether, as in the pursuit of Moby Dick, we capture
12:52
the awful monster, or it's five minutes before twelve. Yes, indeed,
13:09
Watson, I do hope my would be killer. As a gentleman of his
13:13
word, I can excuse the attempt to murder maid, but being late for
13:16
the game is unforgivable. Really, I don't see how you can be so
13:18
utterly carefree homes when you know that a diabolical mind is planning to kill you
13:22
within the next five minutes. Good lord, what have you been over confident
13:26
homes? And by the devil? When't you permit Lestrade to place a cordon
13:30
of police about this house? Because Watson, anyone shrewd enough to have killed
13:33
all those bobbies and who have flung the gauntlet in my face this way has
13:37
certainly anticipated a cordon. Besides, with policemen striding about, they might be
13:41
in the way. We might bungle the capture of the killer. No,
13:43
I prefer meeting my antagonist single handed. Four minutes to twelve now, uh
13:50
huh, excellent, The killers are on time the window, Watson, see
13:54
there's on the street at the funeral coach pulling up here our door. We
14:01
must go down to greet them. Watson, down to greet them. Homes,
14:03
have you lost your mind. If you want to place yourself as a
14:05
perfect target on the street with a gaslight, I'm forebolding the door and standing
14:09
them up. Oh nonsense, Watson, I want to meet them face to
14:11
face. It's Jenkins, the autrician. He's driving the funeral coach. He
14:18
has a helper riding beside it. Come Watson, quickly down the stairs into
14:20
the street. They shoot you as you appear the very minute you're on the
14:24
street, or not at all, Watson. The effort to kill me will
14:26
not be as blunt and obvious as that. No, it will be unexpected
14:30
and as shocking a spectacle as you've ever witnessed. And you know what they'll
14:33
try to do if I'm incorrect. We may only hope the coffin they've brought
14:37
for me is the correct size and in good taste, since I shall have
14:41
need a bit. There we are on the street. Well, here's the
14:46
funeral coach. There's good evening, mister Holmes, Doctor Watson, good evening,
14:52
Jenkins, steady, fine horses, don't you think splendid? We like
14:58
everything about our funer rules to be most impressive. There's your coffin, mister
15:03
Holmes. One of our very best consider it of you. My masters said,
15:09
my helper and I should carry the coffin to your plan. Don't you
15:13
move, Jacobs, you're a helper either. Holmes will be very much alive
15:16
at twelve o'clock if I have anything to say about it. Oh, we
15:20
aren't going to touch mister Holmes until he's dead. That is a special way
15:26
has been arranged for him to die. We've nothing to do with that part
15:28
of it. It's a plan that begins at twelve. Yes, now you
15:39
will see, gentlemen, Now you will see. Unless you're already familiar with
15:58
clipper Craft clothes, you might find it hard to believe that Clippercraft worsted suits
16:02
cost only forty five dollars and Clippercraft top codes cost only forty to forty seven
16:07
fifty because they look like they cost much more. There's a good, solid
16:11
reason for this. Clippercraft clothes are sold by over twelve hundred independent local merchants
16:18
who have pooled the tremendous buying power to make these amazing Clippercraft values possible.
16:23
In Clippercraft clothes, you get workmanship in the finest New England tradition, quality
16:29
workmanship and quality materials worthy of the famous Yankee clipperships from which Clippercraft clothes take
16:36
their name. The local independent merchants who sell Clippercraft clothes are substantial, established
16:41
business men, anxious to win and keep your friendship by giving you honest values.
16:47
Now they really mean it when they say compare clippercraft clothes with clothes costing
16:52
many dollars more. That's why men who know insist on Clippercraft clothes bearing the
16:57
Clippercraft label. So sure to visit the clipper Craft store in your city.
17:03
These leading stores in the metropolitan area are proud to add their names to clipper
17:07
Craft and newer suits and top coats. In Manhattan Sacks thirty fourth Broadway at
17:11
thirty fourth John Wannamaker Men's Stores Broadway at eighth and sixty seven Liberty Street.
17:17
In Brooklyn, Abraham and Strauss in Newark, New Jersey, Boulevard Menshop Kresky,
17:22
Newark. And in Jamaica, the B and B Clothes Shop, one
17:26
sixty four oh eight Jamaica Avenue. Doctor Watson, Doctor Watson, we left
17:36
you and mister Holmes at a very crucial point. He was about to become
17:40
someone's guest in a coffin, So he was mister Hers Holmes. And I
17:45
stood there on Baker's Street for the gas light in front of the funeral coach.
17:48
The coffin was a horrible silhouette. On the coach. Perched in the
17:52
driver's seat was Jenkins, the mortician, in his help. The plan to
17:56
kill Holmes was to go into operation at midnight, and the clock just struck
18:02
twelve. Jenkins. The clock is struck. Holmes is alive, true,
18:08
Watson, but the plan is in operation. However, a drinking it's certainly
18:14
Holmes. How can you stand there without seizing this, Jackets, I'll catter
18:18
that doctor Watson will inspector of struck. Well you heard him standing by.
18:22
Of course, Watson, if you learned the virtue of patience, h step
18:25
down off that driver's seat. Jenkin, help, but I know you don't
18:29
speA I've a done stop for us who don't be killed when that coach turns
18:37
over. I think too much of my neck, Inspector. I didn't think
18:42
you disregard regulations and carry a gun. But I'm not rescuing my life to
18:47
see this through. I'll come down. I did not rather spend a while
18:49
at dawn, more than split my head on the road. Come on,
18:53
come on, you're under arrest for fronting homicide. Oh thank heaven, Holmes,
18:57
something's been done about this, is it? Walk ahead of me,
19:00
Jenkins. My men are at the corner. I'll tell you over to them.
19:04
All right, all right, it seems to all work successfully. On
19:10
We've got the man. Good night, good night the strand. Well,
19:15
I shall be most interested to learn what was back of all this should come
19:18
out of Jenkins's trial, don't you think? Well? Shall we go upstairs,
19:22
Hose, return to the flat? No, Watson, why not,
19:26
because we've scotched the snake, not killed it. As what Jenkins and his
19:30
man have been taken away? And what remains before us, Watson? What
19:36
remains well, the coach I spose, and the coffin, the coffin holes.
19:42
Look at it. So it is opening, Watson, And in a
19:48
moment, stepping out of that coffin, you shall see the gentleman responsible for
19:52
this entire affair, the sole opponent who can mobilize the powers of darkness so
19:56
well that he commands even my respect the first brains of Europe, Professor Moriot.
20:03
The evening Holmes, Watson, moriote, I've been expecting the pleasure of
20:10
another meeting with you ever since Jenkins first arrived at my flat radios. Then
20:15
you recognized my hand in this. You tell me about it. Oh,
20:19
don't be disconcerted by my revolver Marioti. Only a brain such as yours would
20:25
presume to obliterate the police of London stage of mass murder A magnificent idea.
20:32
I think the picture was irresistible to me, Holmes, imagine the canvass if
20:37
you will. Once I have killed a sufficient number of police, you will
20:41
have a London without law and order, a great city demoralized, chaotic,
20:48
stripped of its civilized airs. People of London reduced to their animal level.
20:56
Yes, just as Gustave Dory did in his etchings of Dante's Inferno, I
21:03
shall be an artist who creates a panorama degradation. I am willing my way.
21:14
Yes. Of course, Jenkins can no longer do the murdering for you.
21:18
He's been captured. I have so many on my staff. Besides,
21:23
Jenkins will be released. You certainly will not. I shall release him,
21:29
doctor Watson. I promised him that removing a man from Dartmoor should not be
21:33
difficult for me. You promised you that when you anticipated the Strug's arresting,
21:40
certainly and you Holmes would have police skulking about somewhere, and you I must
21:45
distract them. So I sacrificed Jenkins, leaving me alone with you and Holmes.
21:53
You see, Holmes, if I am to banish law from London,
21:59
you must die too. I should therefore kill you now and place you,
22:07
as I swore I would, in this covein. It would be a supreme
22:12
delight for your Mari Auntie, wouldn't it to have gone so far as to
22:15
inform me in advance that I was to die. You have selected my coffin
22:19
and succeeded in placing me of it. That is just what will happen.
22:23
Now. I shall prove the trigger, which is just a foot from your
22:30
celly bridged brain, and I shall blow that brain of yours to bits.
22:36
I have placed just two bullets in here home, one for you, one
22:41
for doctor Watson. A conceit, I admit. Now you will become my
22:48
guest in that covein. I pulled the trigger. Did I get it home?
22:56
I can't see, yes, No, he did. My lady's bad.
23:02
But there it goes for coats should again will start That is too far
23:11
off. We never catch that funeral coach. Now, Holmes, why didn't
23:15
we think of blocking up all the surrounding streets in cases happening? Yes,
23:18
you have Jenkins homes for the murder of the Bobbies. But now Moriarty will
23:22
go on to devise some new deviltry and challenge you again. Why didn't you
23:26
think of that? Hose didn't i? Watson Brandon so to her. No,
23:40
Watson, thank you, No, babe, Joe. This affair happens
23:41
so quickly. I don't quite understand how you defeated Moriarty. The fact that
23:47
it once Professor Mariarty who is behind this carnival of crime. Watson was ompvious.
23:51
The nature of it, as I pointed out, indicated just one man.
23:55
It was also clear the attempt to kill me would involve Jenkins, who
23:59
was a puppet slipulated by Mariati. That I knew that Moriati himself would attempt
24:03
the actual homicide, trusting only himself with a major task of a murder.
24:07
I see Mariati hoped we would concentrate our attack on Jenkins and his helper the
24:11
only assassins visible, and that we would relax our guard after their capture.
24:15
Yes, quite, he believed that would leave the field clear for him.
24:19
That he did not think one step further. He should have realized, I
24:23
guess he was behind this, that I'd know he was eventually a peer,
24:27
either in disguise or in hiding. And what place more convenient and less likely
24:32
to be examined than the coffee itself. I realized all this in advance.
24:37
Then you told Estradrestaggans go through the motions of leaving, but to return almost
24:41
instantly to deal with Moriat, who would still be due to appear, probably
24:47
from the coffee precisely. And there was a rather neat balance to the tableau,
24:52
I believe, or do you mean? MORIATI vanishing into the night on
24:56
the funeral coach, whipping his horses, the coffin bobbing up and down behind
25:03
him, Money Arty with his first and only love, death, and I
25:11
with mine, my easy chair and my pipe. Well, doctor Watson,
25:26
the guest in the coffin was a spine tingling adventure. I'm sure you've another
25:30
tale for us next week that's just as intense and throwing. I must certainly
25:33
have such a story for you, mister Harris. Next week I shall relate
25:37
to you the adventure the Hangman and the Book. It concerns the park and
25:44
Paris, famous for its lovely trees and flowers, a dead body dangling by
25:49
a rope, and a bookstore that concealed an awful secret. The Maker's a
25:57
pepper Craft clothes as a mother. Twelve hundred stories from Coast to Coast have
26:02
brought you another in the new series of broadcasts featuring the world's most famous detective,
26:06
Sherlock Holmes. Our stories are based upon the character Sherlock Holmes, created
26:10
by Arthur Conan Doyle. The program is produced and directed by Basil Lackman.
26:12
Sherlock Holmes is played by John Stanley, Doctor Watson by George Belton. This
26:17
week's story was written by Howard Merrill, with special music by Albert Berman.
26:21
Be sure to listen next week to Sherlock Colmes and The Adventure of the Hangman
26:25
in the Book. Sy Harris speaking to Clippercraft code, this is a mutual
26:27
broadcasting system. Welcome back. Wow. I don't know if that was a
26:41
rough episodes in terms of quality. I don't know if I would go as
26:47
far as to say that the best part of the program was to Clippercraft commercials,
26:52
but it's kind of close. Un The one thing that I will say,
26:59
I don't want to go on some longish deconstruction. But the big thing
27:04
I think I didn't like about this episode was the way that the relationship between
27:12
Holmes and Moriarty was portrayed. First of all, it was telegraphed throughout the
27:19
whole episode. You know, you know, I'm sitting there at the end,
27:23
shock, No, it's Moriarty. But beyond the telegraphing is kind of
27:30
the nature relationship. And I think when you get back to the book and
27:34
the story of the Final Problem and part of the reason why that you know,
27:41
it did not satisfy readers. I think with the Final Problem, we
27:45
had a real ultimate battle between good and evil in um Holmes and Moriarty.
27:59
And you know, clearly there was a sense of achievement in getting Moriarty,
28:06
but there was also a sense that justice need to be done and no matter
28:11
what the cost, this was going to be what Sherlock Holmes was going to
28:17
pursue. And you know, I think that Titanic struggle, you know,
28:22
two people fairly well matched, great criminal, great detective facing off as ultimately
28:34
you know, enemies and rivals as defining them. I think so much of
28:38
literature, you know. I think, of course you've had good versus evil
28:44
in um in stories, in books for you know, ages um. But
28:52
I think you know, once you get past the Greek mythology, what Doyle
28:56
did here in setting up the final problem is this sort of feeling of your
29:03
almost in a battle between ultimate good, ultimate evil. In this case it's
29:07
a battle of wits. But I think this is carried over into other genres,
29:11
whether you're watching the latest superhero Fleck or what have you. The idea
29:17
of building this kind of ultimate showdown between equally talented and skilled people on opposite
29:25
sides of that question has just been such a hallmark affection. In this case,
29:32
what we have in this particular episode of Sherlock Holmes is evil represented in
29:37
more Moriarty and sort of passe indifference Tolmes's great passion mean for his nice comfortable
29:45
chair. Hew, come on, I can't help but think that there just
29:49
has to be a better way to do these non canut nonical Moriarty appearances than
30:00
radio program that did, and this one I think may have been just the
30:04
most rough form of thing. All right, well, I'd love to hear
30:07
what you think. You can email me Box thirteen at great Detectives dot net,
30:11
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and become one of our friends
30:15
on Facebook, Facebook dot com. Slash Radio Detectives from Boise, Idaho.
30:19
This is your host, Adam Grahamson and off