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Suspense - "Three Times Murder" (Old Time Radio, 1946) · Suspense | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Laura Williams has put an earlier trial behind her, taken
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: a new name, and remarried, but her new husband's half-brother
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: is Elmer Garner, the prosecutor who once sought to convict her.
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: On October 3rd, 1946, CBS brought that situation to suspense
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: in Three Times Murder, Episode 3. Rita Hayworth appears as
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: Laura in her only known appearance on the series, with
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: Hans Conreid as Garner, Bill Johnstone as Charles Morton, and
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: Wally Maher as Robert Williams. John DeWitt and Robert L.
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: Richards wrote the broadcast, produced and directed by William Speer
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: for Roma Wines. Now, back to the golden age of radio.
• 0:47
  Speaker 2: And now, Roma Wines, R-O-M-A, made in California for enjoyment
• 0:52
  Speaker 2: throughout the world, Roma Wines presents.
• 0:56
  Speaker 3: Suspense.
• 1:01
  Speaker 4: Tonight, Roma Wines bring you Miss Rita Hayworth as star
• 1:05
  Speaker 4: of Three Times Murder, a suspense play produced, edited, and
• 1:09
  Speaker 4: directed for Roma Wines by William Spear.
• 1:16
  Speaker 3: Suspense.
• 1:17
  Speaker 2: Radio's outstanding theater of thrills is presented for your enjoyment
• 1:21
  Speaker 2: by Roma Wines. That's R-O-M-A.
• 1:24
  Speaker 3: Roma Wines.
• 1:26
  Speaker 2: Those excellent California wines that can add so much pleasantness
• 1:29
  Speaker 2: to the way you live. To your happiness in entertaining guests.
• 1:33
  Speaker 2: To your enjoyment of everyday meals. Yes, right now a
• 1:38
  Speaker 2: glass full would be very pleasant as Roma Wines bring
• 1:41
  Speaker 2: you Rita Hayworth as Laura with Hans Conrad as Elmer
• 1:45
  Speaker 2: in a remarkable tale of.
• 1:47
  Speaker 5: Suspense!
• 1:51
  Speaker 6: One of the most thrilling World Series in recent baseball history.
• 1:55
  Speaker 6: And now, the exclusive that I promised you earlier in
• 1:58
  Speaker 6: the program. A report so sensational that I'm going to
• 2:02
  Speaker 6: devote all of my remaining time to it. I have
• 2:05
  Speaker 6: before me a copy of a document. delivered in person
• 2:08
  Speaker 6: today to the district attorney's office by one Redonia Bell.
• 2:12
  Speaker 6: Redonia Bell was the trusted personal maid of Laura Starling Morton,
• 2:15
  Speaker 6: whom you will remember from the widely publicized murder trial
• 2:18
  Speaker 6: of just four months ago. This document is a statement
• 2:23
  Speaker 6: written by Laura Starling Morton in her own hand, and
• 2:27
  Speaker 6: it begins as follows.
• 2:29
  Speaker 7: Quote.
• 2:30
  Speaker 6: I only regret that it will be impossible for me
• 2:33
  Speaker 6: to be present when this is read aloud.
• 2:35
  Speaker 3: What I shall.
• 2:36
  Speaker 7: What I shall relate here concerns three men. Of these
• 2:39
  Speaker 7: three men, it is not on behalf of my husband, Robert,
• 2:42
  Speaker 7: that I write, nor on behalf of my husband, Charles.
• 2:46
  Speaker 7: This is for Elmer. But I don't think that Elmer
• 2:49
  Speaker 7: will ever see it. For Elmer, too, is going to die.
• 2:52
  Speaker 8: Laura.
• 2:59
  Speaker 7: Laura! Yes, Robert?
• 3:01
  Speaker 3: Laura, where's my electric razor?
• 3:02
  Speaker 7: In the medicine cabinet, where it always is.
• 3:05
  Speaker 3: Oh, for the love of.
• 3:06
  Speaker 7: No, Robert, I wish you wouldn't shave while you're in
• 3:09
  Speaker 7: the bathtub that way.
• 3:10
  Speaker 3: What's the difference, darling, where I shave? I like to
• 3:12
  Speaker 3: shave in the bathtub.
• 3:13
  Speaker 7: Well, I just don't like to see you meddling with
• 3:15
  Speaker 7: electricity while you're in there. You might get a shock
• 3:18
  Speaker 7: or something.
• 3:18
  Speaker 3: Yeah, sure, sure, Mrs. Thomas Edison.
• 3:21
  Speaker 7: All right, so go ahead. I don't care.
• 3:23
  Speaker 10: Listen, darling, listen. I like to shave in the bathtub.
• 3:26
  Speaker 10: I'm relaxed in the bathtub. I read in the bathtub.
• 3:30
  Speaker 10: I think in the bathtub. And I'm not going to
• 3:32
  Speaker 10: change my habits even for you.
• 3:35
  Speaker 3: I know, dear.
• 3:36
  Speaker 7: I suppose that is a lot to expect.
• 3:41
  Speaker 3: Oh, boy.
• 3:42
  Speaker 11: Ah.
• 3:46
  Speaker 3: Robert!
• 3:51
  Speaker 5: Robert!
• 4:01
  Speaker 7: It was a good, loud scream. Then I stood in
• 4:05
  Speaker 7: the door of the bathroom and looked. A good, long look.
• 4:10
  Speaker 7: Then I called the doctor. The doctor called the police.
• 4:12
  Speaker 7: The police called the district attorney. And I found myself
• 4:16
  Speaker 7: confronted by a young man with red hair and glasses
• 4:18
  Speaker 7: who gave the immediate impression of being clever, unscrupulous, and objectionable.
• 4:25
  Speaker 7: That was Elmer.
• 4:30
  Speaker 3: Mrs. Williams, I'm Elmer Garner of the district attorney's office.
• 4:34
  Speaker 7: How do you do, Mr.
• 4:35
  Speaker 3: Garner? I thought that you and I'd better have a
• 4:37
  Speaker 3: little private chat.
• 4:38
  Speaker 7: What about, Mr. Garner?
• 4:40
  Speaker 3: About your husband.
• 4:42
  Speaker 7: What about my husband?
• 4:43
  Speaker 11: Miss Williams, I'm going to be very frank with you
• 4:45
  Speaker 11: on a number of counts. I'm what's known as an
• 4:47
  Speaker 11: assistant district attorney.
• 4:48
  Speaker 3: Mr.
• 4:49
  Speaker 7: Garner, I have just lost my husband. I hardly think.
• 4:52
  Speaker 3: I'm coming to that, Mrs.
• 4:53
  Speaker 2: Williams.
• 4:53
  Speaker 11: The district attorney has put me on this case because
• 4:56
  Speaker 11: he thinks he doesn't have a case.
• 4:58
  Speaker 3: Routine investigation.
• 5:00
  Speaker 11: Now, maybe that's because a DA is essentially a nice
• 5:03
  Speaker 11: man with nice instincts.
• 5:05
  Speaker 3: I'm not, but I don't agree with it.
• 5:07
  Speaker 7: About what?
• 5:08
  Speaker 3: About not having a case. Because I can smell them, Mrs.
• 5:12
  Speaker 7: Williams.
• 5:13
  Speaker 3: I can smell them a mile away.
• 5:16
  Speaker 7: What can you smell, Mr. Garnett?
• 5:19
  Speaker 1: Murder.
• 5:21
  Speaker 7: Oh, I see. Good.
• 5:25
  Speaker 11: Your attitude's very good. No phony hysteria, no fake indignation.
• 5:29
  Speaker 3: Realistic. I like that. I'm that way myself.
• 5:31
  Speaker 7: Mr. Garnett. I'm trying my best to maintain my composure
• 5:34
  Speaker 7: under trying circumstances. And I must say, your extraordinary insinuation
• 5:38
  Speaker 7: does not make it any easier.
• 5:39
  Speaker 11: Now, look, I know you killed him. You know that
• 5:41
  Speaker 11: I know you killed him.
• 5:42
  Speaker 7: Mr.
• 5:43
  Speaker 3: Garner! I said I was going to be very frank
• 5:44
  Speaker 3: with you, Miss Williams. I am.
• 5:45
  Speaker 11: On your side of the story is the fact that
• 5:48
  Speaker 11: although I know you killed him, it may be a
• 5:50
  Speaker 11: little difficult to prove that you killed him.
• 5:52
  Speaker 3: Not too difficult, but a little.
• 5:53
  Speaker 7: I should think it might, since it's utterly untrue.
• 5:56
  Speaker 3: Yes.
• 5:58
  Speaker 11: Now, let's see what cards I hold. You're a laboratory technician.
• 6:01
  Speaker 11: You were before you married, anyway, right?
• 6:03
  Speaker 12: Right.
• 6:03
  Speaker 11: And your technical knowledge would have told you that a
• 6:05
  Speaker 11: man using a faulty electrical appliance while sitting in a
• 6:08
  Speaker 11: tub full of water stood an excellent chance of electrocuting himself.
• 6:12
  Speaker 7: I also know that a man firing a bullet into
• 6:14
  Speaker 7: his head would stand an excellent chance of killing himself.
• 6:17
  Speaker 11: Well, the insulation on the cable of that electric razor
• 6:21
  Speaker 11: was frayed. Now, that might have happened through normal wear.
• 6:24
  Speaker 11: It also might have happened because it was tampered with
• 6:26
  Speaker 11: by you.
• 6:27
  Speaker 7: And then again, as you say, it might not.
• 6:30
  Speaker 11: Would it surprise you to know that we've got your
• 6:32
  Speaker 11: fingerprints all over that razor?
• 6:34
  Speaker 7: It would surprise me more if you hadn't. Or on
• 6:36
  Speaker 7: everything else in the house, for that matter, Mr.
• 6:38
  Speaker 9: Conner.
• 6:39
  Speaker 3: Uh-huh. You're a very intelligent woman, Mrs.
• 6:43
  Speaker 4: Williams.
• 6:43
  Speaker 3: You're right. It would have looked funny. You were smart
• 6:46
  Speaker 3: not to wipe off those prints. Very smart.
• 6:48
  Speaker 7: Thank you.
• 6:49
  Speaker 3: However, so much for the means. Now for the motive.
• 6:53
  Speaker 3: We can establish, of course, that you and your husband
• 6:55
  Speaker 3: didn't get along.
• 6:56
  Speaker 7: Unfortunately. You could establish that about many husbands and wives.
• 7:00
  Speaker 11: And that your husband was insured for $ 50, 000 in your favor.
• 7:04
  Speaker 11: And that there's about $ 50, 000.
• 7:05
  Speaker 3: More in community property. And that you inherit, right?
• 7:08
  Speaker 7: Naturally.
• 7:09
  Speaker 3: Well, $ 100, 000 is quite a nice little motive, Miss Williams.
• 7:13
  Speaker 7: But it doesn't prove anything, does it, Mr.
• 7:15
  Speaker 3: Garner? Well, that depends on how it's used by the
• 7:17
  Speaker 3: prosecuting attorney. That's me, you know.
• 7:20
  Speaker 7: I know.
• 7:22
  Speaker 3: Do you have a lawyer, Mrs. Williams?
• 7:24
  Speaker 7: Not yet.
• 7:25
  Speaker 3: Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Oh, you're a very intelligent woman, Mrs. Williams.
• 7:30
  Speaker 11: That would have looked bad, too, if you'd had a
• 7:31
  Speaker 11: lawyer right on tap. But you're going to need a lawyer,
• 7:35
  Speaker 11: you know.
• 7:36
  Speaker 7: So it would appear.
• 7:37
  Speaker 3: All right. What about me? You. Sure, I'm a lawyer.
• 7:43
  Speaker 7: You just finished telling me that you would be the
• 7:45
  Speaker 7: prosecuting attorney.
• 7:47
  Speaker 3: Well, that's just the point.
• 7:49
  Speaker 11: Well, I spend a lot of money on a lawyer
• 7:51
  Speaker 11: who probably can't get you off anyway. When you can
• 7:53
  Speaker 11: spend it on me, you'll have a sure thing.
• 7:56
  Speaker 3: See? Yes.
• 7:59
  Speaker 7: I see.
• 8:00
  Speaker 11: All I want is half.
• 8:03
  Speaker 3: $ 50, 000.
• 8:04
  Speaker 5: No.
• 8:06
  Speaker 3: What's the matter? Too much?
• 8:07
  Speaker 7: No.
• 8:07
  Speaker 3: Oh, look here, sister. You don't seem to realize that
• 8:10
  Speaker 3: I'm in a position, depending on how I handle this case,
• 8:12
  Speaker 3: either to set you free or to hang you.
• 8:14
  Speaker 7: That, Mr. Garner, is where we disagreed.
• 8:16
  Speaker 3: You mean you're willing to gamble and I can't do it, huh?
• 8:19
  Speaker 7: If you wish to put it that way.
• 8:20
  Speaker 3: All right. But $ 50, 000 is going to look cheap. Cheap
• 8:24
  Speaker 3: when they slip that noose around your neck. And there
• 8:33
  Speaker 3: she sits.
• 8:33
  Speaker 12: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury.
• 8:36
  Speaker 3: Cold, calm, emotionless.
• 8:38
  Speaker 12: The same Laura Williams who carefully calculated, carefully planned and
• 8:43
  Speaker 12: premeditated the murder.
• 8:44
  Speaker 3: Of her husband. I ask the death penalty.
• 8:49
  Speaker 7: I must ask it.
• 8:49
  Speaker 12: For Ponderwell, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, if you
• 8:52
  Speaker 12: set her free, if you set her free, believe me,
• 8:55
  Speaker 12: this will not be the last accident to mark the
• 8:58
  Speaker 12: bloody trail through.
• 8:59
  Speaker 3: Life of Laura Williams. And when that accident.
• 9:02
  Speaker 12: Occurs, when the next victim is struck down, his innocent
• 9:06
  Speaker 12: blood will be on your hands.
• 9:15
  Speaker 3: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?
• 9:18
  Speaker 3: We have, Your Honor. What is your verdict?
• 9:22
  Speaker 8: On the grounds of insufficient evidence, we find the defendant
• 9:26
  Speaker 8: not guilty.
• 9:35
  Speaker 3: Mrs.
• 9:35
  Speaker 11: Williams, I guess the sporting thing is to say congratulations.
• 9:39
  Speaker 3: Congratulations.
• 9:40
  Speaker 7: Thank you, Mr.
• 9:41
  Speaker 6: Garner.
• 9:42
  Speaker 11: I'll say one thing. You got what it takes. You know,
• 9:45
  Speaker 11: the jury was evenly divided the whole first day.
• 9:47
  Speaker 3: Do you know that? Yes, I knew it.
• 9:50
  Speaker 11: So I wasn't too far wrong at that, was I?
• 9:52
  Speaker 7: Just far enough, Mr. Garner.
• 9:55
  Speaker 3: Say, listen. Again, just a sporting proposition. Tell me. Did you?
• 10:01
  Speaker 7: Did I what?
• 10:01
  Speaker 3: Oh, come on. We're alone here anyway. It doesn't matter
• 10:05
  Speaker 3: because you can't be tried twice for the same thing.
• 10:07
  Speaker 3: You know that, don't you?
• 10:08
  Speaker 7: Yes, I know it.
• 10:10
  Speaker 3: Well, did you?
• 10:14
  Speaker 7: Yes! You cheap, contemptible blackmailer. Yes, I killed him. How
• 10:19
  Speaker 7: do you like that? I killed him.
• 10:32
  Speaker 4: For suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you Rita Hayworth with
• 10:35
  Speaker 4: Hans Conrad in Three Times Murder, a radio play by
• 10:39
  Speaker 4: John DeWitt and Robert L.
• 10:40
  Speaker 3: Richards.
• 10:41
  Speaker 4: Roma Wines' presentation tonight in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
• 10:46
  Speaker 9: Suspense.
• 10:53
  Speaker 2: Between the acts of suspense, this is Ken Niles reminding
• 10:56
  Speaker 2: you that football season's here again, and along with it,
• 10:59
  Speaker 2: those pleasant Saturday evening get-togethers after the big game. So
• 11:04
  Speaker 2: here's a tip when you play host. A sure way
• 11:07
  Speaker 2: to delight your guests. Serve grand estate wine. For grand
• 11:11
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• 11:16
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• 11:20
  Speaker 2: and mellow taste of Grand Estate wines please the most
• 11:24
  Speaker 2: discriminating guests. To assure the outstanding quality of these limited
• 11:29
  Speaker 2: bottlings of Grand Estate wines, Roma selects only the choicest grapes.
• 11:34
  Speaker 2: Then at Roma's famed wineries, necessary time, and the patient,
• 11:38
  Speaker 2: priceless skill of Roma master vintners guide each precious bottle
• 11:43
  Speaker 2: of Grand Estate wine to rich, mellow taste luxuries. Yes,
• 11:49
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• 11:53
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• 11:57
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• 12:02
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• 12:08
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• 12:14
  Speaker 2: Presented by Roma, the greatest.
• 12:17
  Speaker 3: Name in wines.
• 12:19
  Speaker 4: And now, Roma Wines brings back to our Hollywood soundstage
• 12:22
  Speaker 4: Rita Hayworth, who, as Laura Starling Morton, continues the reading
• 12:26
  Speaker 4: of a document in Three Times Murder, a tale well
• 12:30
  Speaker 4: calculated to keep you in suspense.
• 12:45
  Speaker 7: Perhaps I gambled too recklessly with Elmer. I have since
• 12:49
  Speaker 7: had caused wonder. But there were things that I could
• 12:52
  Speaker 7: not foresee as well as Elmer. Suffice it to say
• 12:55
  Speaker 7: that after my acquittal with $ 100, 000 from Robert's estate, I
• 12:59
  Speaker 7: moved into another city and took up my life again
• 13:02
  Speaker 7: under another name. That there is Laura Starling. I met
• 13:05
  Speaker 7: and married Charles Morton, a charming and eccentric man of
• 13:09
  Speaker 7: twice my age whose genius as a research chemist accounted
• 13:12
  Speaker 7: not only for those qualities which endeared him to me,
• 13:15
  Speaker 7: but for a very considerable personal fortune as well. that
• 13:19
  Speaker 7: my conscience bothered me not in the least, and I
• 13:22
  Speaker 7: was quite happy, and that as the years went by,
• 13:24
  Speaker 7: I had seen, I thought, the last of Elmer. Charles! Oh, Charles!
• 13:37
  Speaker 5: Yes, yes, my dear?
• 13:39
  Speaker 7: I have your coffee.
• 13:40
  Speaker 3: Coffee?
• 13:41
  Speaker 7: Well, you said you wanted coffee. It's ready now.
• 13:43
  Speaker 4: But I have some coffee.
• 13:45
  Speaker 7: Well, you took that out there three hours ago. Now
• 13:47
  Speaker 7: come in and get your coffee.
• 13:49
  Speaker 2: Yes, in a moment, my dear, as soon as I
• 13:50
  Speaker 2: finish it.
• 13:51
  Speaker 7: Charles, you come out of that smelly laboratory and have
• 13:54
  Speaker 7: your coffee. Besides, I have a surprise for you.
• 13:57
  Speaker 5: Oh, you have?
• 13:58
  Speaker 3: Well, I'll be right in.
• 13:59
  Speaker 7: And bring that other coffee cup with you. Yes, yes, yes.
• 14:04
  Speaker 3: There. Now, what's all this about surprise?
• 14:07
  Speaker 9: No.
• 14:07
  Speaker 3: All right.
• 14:09
  Speaker 7: Oh, yes.
• 14:09
  Speaker 3: All right. I seem to have left my glasses in
• 14:12
  Speaker 3: the laboratory.
• 14:13
  Speaker 7: Charles, you're simply priceless.
• 14:14
  Speaker 3: Why, it's a cake.
• 14:15
  Speaker 13: It's a cake, yes.
• 14:16
  Speaker 7: This is our anniversary, darling. Our fourth anniversary.
• 14:19
  Speaker 3: It is? Why, so it is. Laura, this is so
• 14:23
  Speaker 3: thoughtful of you.
• 14:24
  Speaker 13: I'm afraid I'm hopeless, my dear.
• 14:27
  Speaker 3: I know it's the husband who should be thoughtful, but I.
• 14:30
  Speaker 7: You're just you, darling. Now sit down and relax for
• 14:33
  Speaker 7: a while.
• 14:33
  Speaker 3: Oh, yes. Oh, here's your cup.
• 14:35
  Speaker 7: Thank you. Charles, what's in that cup?
• 14:39
  Speaker 3: Coffee. Coffee?
• 14:41
  Speaker 7: Charles, I'm sure that even in the atomic age, coffee
• 14:44
  Speaker 7: does not come in the form of white crystals.
• 14:46
  Speaker 3: Hmm? Oh, yes, yes, yes. I'd finished my coffee, and
• 14:50
  Speaker 3: I was doing some other things there.
• 14:51
  Speaker 7: Charles, what is it?
• 14:53
  Speaker 3: Thioclorate. You see, at the moment, I'm testing... Charles! What?
• 14:57
  Speaker 7: Why, that's deadly poison.
• 14:59
  Speaker 3: So it is. You see, the thiocene radical follows its
• 15:01
  Speaker 3: tendency to.
• 15:02
  Speaker 7: Oh, Charles, I wish you wouldn't mix things up in
• 15:04
  Speaker 7: the cups and dishes that way. It's dangerous.
• 15:07
  Speaker 3: Dangerous?
• 15:09
  Speaker 7: Well, suppose you got the cups mixed up. Suppose you
• 15:11
  Speaker 7: drank it?
• 15:11
  Speaker 3: Good heavens, Laura.
• 15:13
  Speaker 13: Half the stuff we use in chemistry is dangerous if
• 15:15
  Speaker 13: you go to drink it, but who's going to do that?
• 15:17
  Speaker 13: It's like, well, like eating soap. You wash your hands
• 15:21
  Speaker 13: with it every day, but who'd think of eating it?
• 15:27
  Speaker 7: Well, now, you take that cup right back out to
• 15:29
  Speaker 7: the laboratory and empty it and wash it out.
• 15:31
  Speaker 3: Well, all right.
• 15:33
  Speaker 7: Charles?
• 15:34
  Speaker 9: Yes?
• 15:36
  Speaker 7: I was wondering, since it's our anniversary... Yes? Let's go
• 15:39
  Speaker 7: out to dinner and celebrate.
• 15:41
  Speaker 5: Why, yes.
• 15:43
  Speaker 3: Yes, I think that's a splendid idea. Oh, my goodness.
• 15:47
  Speaker 7: What?
• 15:47
  Speaker 3: I completely forgot. My brother's coming to see us today.
• 15:51
  Speaker 3: Your brother? Well, my half-brother.
• 15:53
  Speaker 7: Charles, I didn't know you had a brother.
• 15:55
  Speaker 3: Oh, didn't you?
• 15:56
  Speaker 13: Well, you see, he's been in the army for almost
• 15:57
  Speaker 13: five years. He just got back a short time ago.
• 16:00
  Speaker 13: Got wire yesterday saying he's passing through town and he'd like.
• 16:03
  Speaker 3: To see me. So I thought.
• 16:04
  Speaker 7: I already know you're married.
• 16:06
  Speaker 13: Why, I suppose... Well, I suppose he doesn't. As a
• 16:09
  Speaker 13: matter of fact, we've never been very close. Neither of
• 16:11
  Speaker 13: us much letter writing, you know, so on. But he's
• 16:14
  Speaker 13: the only relative I've got.
• 16:15
  Speaker 7: Add all the sympathy I've wasted on you because I
• 16:17
  Speaker 7: thought you were an orphan or something.
• 16:19
  Speaker 3: Oh, I was, practically.
• 16:20
  Speaker 7: When's he coming?
• 16:22
  Speaker 3: Why, this afternoon sometime, I think. Well, I guess there's
• 16:26
  Speaker 3: your answer. I am sorry, my dear.
• 16:28
  Speaker 7: Why, Charles, that's all right. Maybe your brother would like
• 16:31
  Speaker 7: to go out and celebrate with us.
• 16:32
  Speaker 3: Well, I.
• 16:33
  Speaker 7: Not in here, sir.
• 16:34
  Speaker 3: Hello there. Hello, Charlie. Come in, come in. I want
• 16:37
  Speaker 3: you to meet my wife, Laura. This is my brother, Elmer.
• 16:46
  Speaker 7: There was no doubt that it was Elmer. There was
• 16:48
  Speaker 7: no doubt but what he recognized me. And there was
• 16:51
  Speaker 7: no doubt in my mind as to how he intended
• 16:53
  Speaker 7: to play his hand this time either. For he gave
• 16:55
  Speaker 7: no public sign of recognition, but simply looked straight at
• 16:59
  Speaker 7: me and smiled.
• 17:01
  Speaker 3: And smiled.
• 17:03
  Speaker 7: And smiled.
• 17:04
  Speaker 3: So, you've gone into private practice, eh, Elmer? Criminal law,
• 17:07
  Speaker 3: I suppose? Mm-hmm.
• 17:08
  Speaker 11: Well, there's no appreciation in this country of men who
• 17:10
  Speaker 11: hold public office. Financially, at least.
• 17:14
  Speaker 3: You always did have your eye on the dollar, didn't you?
• 17:17
  Speaker 3: What about your racket, Charlie? What have you been up to? Oh,
• 17:20
  Speaker 3: just puttering around here in my laboratory. You mean right
• 17:22
  Speaker 3: here at home? Of course. Oh, I guess that's new
• 17:25
  Speaker 3: since you were here last. Well, there's a lot that's
• 17:27
  Speaker 3: new since I was here last. Yes, it's right in there.
• 17:31
  Speaker 3: Right through those doors.
• 17:32
  Speaker 9: Oh.
• 17:32
  Speaker 3: Isn't that sort of a nuisance for a wife, or
• 17:35
  Speaker 3: isn't it?
• 17:36
  Speaker 7: Not in the least. Why should it be?
• 17:38
  Speaker 3: Oh, now, Laura, don't try to cover up my feelings.
• 17:41
  Speaker 13: Just before you came, she was scolding me for carrying
• 17:43
  Speaker 13: thiochlorate around in the family coffee cups.
• 17:46
  Speaker 3: Well, now, isn't that interesting? Isn't that a coincidence? Why?
• 17:51
  Speaker 11: I was just thinking what a fine set-up for a murder.
• 17:54
  Speaker 11: Somebody poisons a chemist in his own laboratory.
• 17:56
  Speaker 3: It looks just like an accident. It's neat, huh? You'll
• 18:00
  Speaker 3: find that Elmer has a morbid mind, my dear. He
• 18:02
  Speaker 3: used to try people for murder back in Illinois. Oh,
• 18:04
  Speaker 3: I tried some beauties, too. Well, I've got to get along.
• 18:08
  Speaker 3: Sorry I can't accept your invitation for tonight. But you
• 18:11
  Speaker 3: are staying over for a few days, aren't you? Oh, yes, yes, yes.
• 18:13
  Speaker 3: I'll see you again. Soon. Well, good, good. Oh, don't
• 18:17
  Speaker 3: bother to.
• 18:17
  Speaker 11: Come to the door with me, Charlie. I know you
• 18:19
  Speaker 11: want to get back to work. Well, as a matter
• 18:21
  Speaker 11: of fact... Perhaps Laura will, huh? Give us a little
• 18:24
  Speaker 11: chance to get acquainted.
• 18:26
  Speaker 7: Why, yes, of course.
• 18:27
  Speaker 3: Well, call us, Elmer. Don't forget. Oh, you can depend
• 18:29
  Speaker 3: on it, Charlie. Well, well, well. Little Laura Williams.
• 18:38
  Speaker 7: What do you want?
• 18:39
  Speaker 3: What do you think old Charlie would say, if he knew?
• 18:43
  Speaker 7: I asked you a question.
• 18:44
  Speaker 14: I suppose he'd go on loving you in his own
• 18:46
  Speaker 14: peculiar fashion. Never be quite the same, though, would it?
• 18:50
  Speaker 14: There'd always be that little gnawing down, huh? I'm afraid
• 18:54
  Speaker 14: things would be kind of under strain around here, Laura.
• 18:58
  Speaker 14: You do have a price, I suppose.
• 18:59
  Speaker 3: I might. By the way, why are you so eager
• 19:03
  Speaker 3: to pay at this time?
• 19:05
  Speaker 7: I'm happy here. I'm at peace with myself and the world.
• 19:08
  Speaker 7: I don't want anything to.
• 19:10
  Speaker 3: to change. No other reason?
• 19:14
  Speaker 7: What other reason would there be?
• 19:16
  Speaker 3: I suppose all this property would go to you in
• 19:18
  Speaker 3: the event of another little accident.
• 19:21
  Speaker 7: You don't really believe that.
• 19:24
  Speaker 3: The motive and the means. Money and poison.
• 19:30
  Speaker 7: How much, Elmer?
• 19:31
  Speaker 3: Oh, no. No, no, no. You've got me wrong, Laura.
• 19:34
  Speaker 3: I don't want money.
• 19:35
  Speaker 7: When did that happen?
• 19:37
  Speaker 11: Did it ever occur to you that I might simply
• 19:39
  Speaker 11: be interested in my brother's welfare?
• 19:42
  Speaker 3: No.
• 19:43
  Speaker 7: All that has occurred to me so far is to
• 19:44
  Speaker 7: wonder why I had to pick the one man in
• 19:46
  Speaker 7: the world who is related to you.
• 19:48
  Speaker 3: You want to hear my propositions?
• 19:50
  Speaker 7: I'm waiting.
• 19:51
  Speaker 11: The motive and the means. Well, there's always the means
• 19:54
  Speaker 11: for an intelligent person such as you, Laura, but if
• 19:58
  Speaker 11: we took away the motive... The motive?
• 19:59
  Speaker 3: The money. The will. No motive, no temptation, you see?
• 20:03
  Speaker 9: I see.
• 20:04
  Speaker 7: I see.
• 20:05
  Speaker 3: And in a way, of course, that's for your own protection, too.
• 20:07
  Speaker 3: Because if Charlie ever so much as slipped on a.
• 20:10
  Speaker 11: Banana peel and you inherited that money, there isn't a
• 20:13
  Speaker 11: jury in the world that wouldn't convict you, Laura, simply
• 20:15
  Speaker 11: on your past record.
• 20:16
  Speaker 3: You realize that, don't you? Yes. So, you see, no
• 20:20
  Speaker 3: motive and no case either, you see?
• 20:23
  Speaker 7: What do you want me to do?
• 20:25
  Speaker 3: Get him to change his will.
• 20:26
  Speaker 7: In favor of his only living relative, I presume?
• 20:29
  Speaker 3: Uh-huh. That's me.
• 20:31
  Speaker 7: And then?
• 20:31
  Speaker 3: Well, that's all.
• 20:33
  Speaker 11: And you're in the clear, because after that, Charlie couldn't
• 20:35
  Speaker 11: suspect you, even if I told him. He probably wouldn't
• 20:38
  Speaker 11: believe it. Throw me out of the house for persecuting
• 20:40
  Speaker 11: his little bride. Maybe even change his will right back again,
• 20:43
  Speaker 11: you see.
• 20:45
  Speaker 7: All right.
• 20:46
  Speaker 3: You can do it, can't you?
• 20:48
  Speaker 7: I suppose so.
• 20:49
  Speaker 3: Oh, I know you can. I know you'd better. It
• 21:03
  Speaker 3: seems such a strange request.
• 21:04
  Speaker 7: Oh, darling, I don't want your money. I only want you.
• 21:07
  Speaker 3: I know, but after all, I'm considerably older than you are,
• 21:10
  Speaker 3: my dear, and chances are that someday... No.
• 21:13
  Speaker 7: The whole idea of losing you and then profiting by it,
• 21:16
  Speaker 7: it's just hateful.
• 21:17
  Speaker 3: But who else would I leave it to?
• 21:19
  Speaker 7: Leave it to your brother.
• 21:20
  Speaker 3: Alma?
• 21:21
  Speaker 7: Why not? It doesn't matter, but if.
• 21:22
  Speaker 3: Well, I.
• 21:24
  Speaker 7: Oh, please, darling, for me.
• 21:26
  Speaker 3: All right, my dear. If it really makes a difference
• 21:29
  Speaker 3: to you, now don't you worry about it anymore. I'll
• 21:31
  Speaker 3: take care of it sometime.
• 21:32
  Speaker 7: No, I want you to do it now, right away, today.
• 21:35
  Speaker 3: Well, I'd have to get in touch with my lawyer.
• 21:37
  Speaker 7: I'll call him for you. I'll get him on the
• 21:38
  Speaker 7: phone right now.
• 21:40
  Speaker 3: My goodness, Laura. You act as though it were a
• 21:42
  Speaker 3: matter of life or death.
• 21:44
  Speaker 9: Ambassador Hotel.
• 21:55
  Speaker 7: Mr. Elmer Garner, please.
• 21:57
  Speaker 5: Thank you.
• 22:00
  Speaker 7: Yep. This is Laura.
• 22:03
  Speaker 1: Uh-huh.
• 22:04
  Speaker 7: It's all right. It's all arranged.
• 22:06
  Speaker 3: Is it?
• 22:07
  Speaker 7: Yes, the lawyer is coming tomorrow.
• 22:09
  Speaker 3: You sure?
• 22:09
  Speaker 7: Well, I was standing by the phone while he talked
• 22:11
  Speaker 7: to him.
• 22:11
  Speaker 3: Did he tell the lawyer what changes he wanted made? Yes,
• 22:14
  Speaker 3: he did.
• 22:14
  Speaker 6: Not that I think you'd ever tell a lie, Laura,
• 22:18
  Speaker 6: but how do I know this is all true?
• 22:20
  Speaker 7: Hasn't he told you?
• 22:22
  Speaker 3: No.
• 22:24
  Speaker 7: Well, then perhaps you'd better drop by this evening.
• 22:26
  Speaker 5: Well, that's more like it.
• 22:27
  Speaker 7: I'll expect you after dinner.
• 22:31
  Speaker 6: I'll be there.
• 22:38
  Speaker 7: Elmer arrived this evening, less than an hour ago. We
• 22:42
  Speaker 7: were having coffee in the living room. Earlier, Charles had
• 22:45
  Speaker 7: been showing him through the laboratory. It was not until
• 22:48
  Speaker 7: after that that I had a moment to speak to
• 22:49
  Speaker 7: him alone.
• 22:50
  Speaker 3: Oh, wonderful fellow, old Charlie. So trusting.
• 22:54
  Speaker 7: Did he tell you?
• 22:55
  Speaker 3: A what?
• 22:56
  Speaker 7: The will.
• 22:57
  Speaker 3: Oh, that, yes.
• 22:58
  Speaker 11: It seems that I am to be old Charlie's beloved heir.
• 23:02
  Speaker 11: He still can't understand it.
• 23:04
  Speaker 7: Are you satisfied, then?
• 23:06
  Speaker 11: My dear Laura, I was never more satisfied in all
• 23:08
  Speaker 11: my life. Almost evens things up.
• 23:11
  Speaker 3: Doesn't it? Almost.
• 23:14
  Speaker 7: You never forgot that, did you? That you lost.
• 23:17
  Speaker 3: Lost? Who says I lost? The game isn't over till
• 23:19
  Speaker 3: the whistle blows, sister.
• 23:21
  Speaker 7: It is for you. Now get out of here.
• 23:24
  Speaker 3: Okay. Okay. Okay, all in good time. Sorry I had
• 23:28
  Speaker 3: to leave you, but those reactions have to be checked
• 23:30
  Speaker 3: every hour, you know.
• 23:31
  Speaker 11: That's all right, Charlie. Laura and I were just going
• 23:34
  Speaker 11: over old times in Illinois. You didn't know we both
• 23:38
  Speaker 11: came from Illinois, did you?
• 23:39
  Speaker 3: No. No, I hadn't realized.
• 23:40
  Speaker 7: Oh, I'm sure. I told you, Charles. You must have forgotten.
• 23:43
  Speaker 2: Oh, yes, yes.
• 23:43
  Speaker 3: Well, all right. Coffee ready? Yes.
• 23:46
  Speaker 7: Will you have coffee with us, Elmer?
• 23:47
  Speaker 3: Oh, you bet I will. Anything in it? No, nothing
• 23:50
  Speaker 3: in mine.
• 23:51
  Speaker 7: Charles always takes his black clue.
• 23:54
  Speaker 3: Laura does make them. Best coffee.
• 23:57
  Speaker 11: Well, here's to Laura's coffee.
• 24:01
  Speaker 7: There was something about his smile when he said it.
• 24:04
  Speaker 3: That smile.
• 24:06
  Speaker 7: And then all of a sudden I thought. I saw
• 24:09
  Speaker 7: the whole terrible thing.
• 24:10
  Speaker 3: Don't.
• 24:12
  Speaker 7: Don't drink it.
• 24:14
  Speaker 11: Don't.
• 24:14
  Speaker 7: Don't.
• 24:24
  Speaker 3: Well, well, well. Old Charlie seems to have keeled over.
• 24:28
  Speaker 7: Charles!
• 24:29
  Speaker 3: Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if that was thiochlorate poisoning.
• 24:33
  Speaker 7: What a fool. What a fool.
• 24:35
  Speaker 3: What a fool.
• 24:37
  Speaker 5: Uh-huh.
• 24:38
  Speaker 3: The motive and the mean.
• 24:40
  Speaker 12: And the motive is a real beaut this time, Laura,
• 24:42
  Speaker 12: because you had to kill him before he changed his will.
• 24:45
  Speaker 3: Neat, huh?
• 24:46
  Speaker 7: You killed him!
• 24:46
  Speaker 3: Sure, but that's not what the jury's gonna think. And,
• 24:50
  Speaker 3: of course, I'll get the money anyway. You couldn't very
• 24:53
  Speaker 3: well collect it.
• 24:56
  Speaker 12: Because they're going to hang you, Laura.
• 25:05
  Speaker 6: They're going to hang you.
• 25:08
  Speaker 7: Elmer's downstairs in the living room. I am in my study.
• 25:13
  Speaker 7: And once more, I'm waiting for the police. There is
• 25:17
  Speaker 7: no escape for me.
• 25:18
  Speaker 3: Of course.
• 25:19
  Speaker 7: Elmer knows that. But there's one little thing that he
• 25:23
  Speaker 7: has forgotten. The last play of the game. For I've
• 25:26
  Speaker 7: just drawn up a will of my own, leaving my
• 25:29
  Speaker 7: property and everything that I inherit from Charles to Elmer.
• 25:33
  Speaker 7: It's dated three days ago. This statement I shall give
• 25:37
  Speaker 7: into the safekeeping of my personal maid, Fredonia Bell, who,
• 25:41
  Speaker 7: after all is said and done, has been the one
• 25:43
  Speaker 7: true friend I've ever had. I shall give it to
• 25:46
  Speaker 7: her with certain instructions for its eventual disposal, which I
• 25:51
  Speaker 7: know she will follow to the letter. When that is done,
• 25:57
  Speaker 7: I have beside me a glass of water. It contains thioclorate,
• 26:04
  Speaker 7: the motive and the means. Because, you see, when the
• 26:08
  Speaker 7: police come, it is Elmer who will have to do
• 26:11
  Speaker 7: the explaining, not I. And he will have to explain
• 26:16
  Speaker 7: two bodies. Charles and mine.
• 26:21
  Speaker 5: But the irony of the document, ladies and gentlemen, the
• 26:32
  Speaker 5: terrible irony is that it was delivered to the district
• 26:36
  Speaker 5: attorney's office by Fredonia Bell this evening at 8 o'clock.
• 26:42
  Speaker 6: And why did the good Fredonia wait until now? Because
• 26:45
  Speaker 6: she was thus following explicitly the instructions of her mistress,
• 26:49
  Speaker 6: Laura Starling Morton, whom she adored, and who specified that
• 26:54
  Speaker 6: the envelope be handed to the police exactly 24 hours
• 27:00
  Speaker 6: after the execution of Elmer Garner.
• 27:20
  Speaker 3: Suspense.
• 27:22
  Speaker 2: Presented by Roma Wines.
• 27:24
  Speaker 3: R-O-M-A.
• 27:25
  Speaker 2: Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. This is
• 27:30
  Speaker 2: Ken Niles, and it's my exceedingly pleasant duty, Miss Hayworth, A,
• 27:35
  Speaker 2: to compliment you in the name of some 20 million
• 27:37
  Speaker 2: listeners who must have loved your performance just now, and B,
• 27:41
  Speaker 2: to present to you this gift basket of grand estate
• 27:44
  Speaker 2: wines with the compliments of Roma.
• 27:46
  Speaker 7: Oh, thank you, Mr. Niles.
• 27:47
  Speaker 3: Thank you.
• 27:48
  Speaker 7: Excuse me, I'm a little out of breath. I don't
• 27:50
  Speaker 7: usually kill so many people, at least not in one day.
• 27:53
  Speaker 3: Well, how does it feel to play a murderer?
• 27:55
  Speaker 7: I love it. I've been looking forward to appearing on
• 27:57
  Speaker 7: suspense for a very, very long time. And, of course,
• 28:00
  Speaker 7: Bill Spear, your world champion producer-director, is one of my
• 28:03
  Speaker 7: oldest and dearest friends.
• 28:04
  Speaker 2: Well, from the way Bill is waving congratulations and blowing
• 28:07
  Speaker 2: kisses from the control room, I'd say he still loves you. Rita,
• 28:11
  Speaker 2: I suppose you'll welcome a restful evening at home after
• 28:14
  Speaker 2: such an exciting broadcast.
• 28:15
  Speaker 7: As a matter of fact, we're having a few friends
• 28:17
  Speaker 7: over tonight, Ken.
• 28:18
  Speaker 2: Well, from your basket here, let me recommend for your
• 28:21
  Speaker 2: guests Grand Estate's Ruby Port or Golden Muscatel. You'll find
• 28:25
  Speaker 2: either of these Grand Estate California wines a delightful expression
• 28:29
  Speaker 2: of hospitality when friends drop in. a delicious treat later
• 28:33
  Speaker 2: in the evening with cake, nuts, or cheese.
• 28:35
  Speaker 7: You've sold me, Ken.
• 28:36
  Speaker 3: Good.
• 28:37
  Speaker 2: And Rita, Grand Estate Ruby Port and Golden Muscatel, like
• 28:41
  Speaker 2: all Grand Estate wines, are born of choicest grapes, then
• 28:45
  Speaker 2: skillfully guided to taste perfection by Roma's master vintners. Necessary
• 28:50
  Speaker 2: time and patient care endow each precious drop of Grand
• 28:54
  Speaker 2: Estate wines with a brilliant clarity, full fragrance, and mellow
• 28:58
  Speaker 2: taste that bespeak a truly magnificent wine. So, to enjoy
• 29:03
  Speaker 2: the ultimate in wine excellence, the wine to serve is
• 29:07
  Speaker 2: Grand Estate wine, presented by Roma, America's greatest vintner.
• 29:12
  Speaker 7: I'll remember that.
• 29:13
  Speaker 3: Fine.
• 29:14
  Speaker 2: Say, Rita, we're looking forward to seeing you in Columbia's
• 29:17
  Speaker 2: Down to Earth. Isn't that the one with Larry Park?
• 29:20
  Speaker 7: Yes, I enjoyed making it. But the picture I'm really
• 29:23
  Speaker 7: looking forward to is the new one I'm about to start.
• 29:25
  Speaker 7: Also a Columbia picture.
• 29:26
  Speaker 5: Oh?
• 29:27
  Speaker 2: Well, why are you so particularly excited about it?
• 29:29
  Speaker 7: Well, Ken, because in it will be my favorite actor,
• 29:33
  Speaker 7: and it'll be directed by my favorite director, both the
• 29:36
  Speaker 7: same man who also happens to be my husband. His
• 29:39
  Speaker 7: name is Orson Welles.
• 29:40
  Speaker 3: Good night, Rita. Next Thursday, same time, you will hear Mr.
• 29:44
  Speaker 4: John Lund as star of Suspense.
• 29:49
  Speaker 2: Produced and directed by William Spear for the Roma Wine
• 29:53
  Speaker 2: Company of Fresno, California. Suspense is broadcast from coast to
• 30:02
  Speaker 2: coast and to our men and women overseas by shortwave
• 30:05
  Speaker 2: and through the worldwide facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service.
• 30:08
  Speaker 3: This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.
• 30:23
  Speaker 1: You've been hearing Suspense, Three Times Murder from 1946. Follow
• 30:29
  Speaker 1: Suspense for more classic broadcasts.