Old Time Radio Detective - Sam Spade
The Death Bed Caper - Sam Spade | 06/20/1948 (Ep104)
Hope you enjoy this episode of Sam Spade! Look for an ad-free option soon. We offer a Crime, Detective OTR radio station and many other podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. Licensed under - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
- Duration:
- 30m
- Broadcast on:
- 14 Sep 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
The adventure of Sam's Fade Detective, brought to you by Wild route cream oil hair tonic. The non-alcoholic hair tonic that contains antelope. Wild route cream oil, again and again, the choice of men who put good grooming first. There's Fade Detective Agency. It's my sweetheart, resin from not one but two deathfits. Oh, so Sam, I bet not, you wouldn't take that lying down. Oh, if you made it to him. Well, you get birth hair. I did not. Oh, you actually wouldn't? Don't send me down. Anyway, I was present at two dying declarations. Would you believe that means that a man could say something that wasn't true to die like that? Oh, no. You mean that'll be lying? I mean, that's it? Oh, if you made it to him. Oh, Sam, no, no, but I don't know. This is all right, Fade. I forgive it. You're going to talk by telling me how wonderful you think I am. I think you. That you may do when I arrive at a place to dictate my report on the deathbed jay birth. I shall have it, America's leading detective fiction writer and creator of Sam's Fade, the high-boiled private eye, and William Speer, radio's outstanding producer, director of Mystery and Crime Thomas, join their talents to make your hair stand on end with the adventures of Sam's Fade. It's headed by the makers of Wildroot Cream Oil for the hair. Tell me, mister. How many times a day do you have to comb your hair? Not finding out that if you groom it right, first thing every morning with Wildroot Cream Oil. For this famous hair tonic grooms your hair neatly and naturally, and helps it to stay that way throughout the day. Wildroot Cream Oil also relieves dryness and removes loose dandruff. With Wildroot Cream Oil, you don't have to keep combing your hair every two minutes. That is, unless your gal can't resist running your hands through it. That Wildroot Cream Oil hair tonic, again and again, the choice of men who put good grooming first. And now, with Howard Dolph starring as Fade, Wildroot brings to the air the greatest private detective of them all, in the adventures of Sam's Fade. How many brave hearts are asleep in the deep? Captain Sam is the brig for you. You got your logbook handy gal? Oh, yeah, Captain. So beware. That's awful deep. Date June 20, 1948, where I have no shame. Two Marin County Sheriff's Office, Dan Rafael, California, Attention Deputy Woodington from Samuel Spade Life Assembly 7596, subject the deathbed caper, dear Bill, the dawn came up like thunder out of Chinatown across the bay. In San Francisco, all we could see was fog. But on your side, it must have lifted briefly because somebody named Dan Starbuck managed to find his way to a phone booth, call me, and ask me to meet him at the third street pier in Sos Alito. I didn't say him when I first sat there, I never needed to see the pier. It was too foggy. And in the glow of the neon lights in front of a Viking Stallone, I saw a man who seemed to be waiting for someone. He was a big guy with a good face with plenty of worry on him. That's the same? Yeah, it was a Starbuck, Dan Starbuck. Come on down to the end of the pier, I'll explain if you go where we're going to hurt. You act hot. You wanted to send him? What? I'm not yet. Let's be chaggered. Well, my brother's out there on his yacht to Marguerite, he's dying. When he said that they may call it murder. I want to be there with a witness so few, in case he has anything to say about who did it. Who did? They think I did. Did you? Well, honestly, I don't know what happened, Mike, before I last, I went out there to see him. We've hated each other for years. We're both been drinking him, we drank some more than there was a fight. I drew a blank somewhere. Next thing I knew was around midnight, I pulled myself together, went into his cabin. He was lying in his head or a kick, I realized I was covered with blood and I was only something in my hand to glass paperweight had dropped it. I got out of there fast to slam a shore. I plan to tell you a different story, but that's it. You want the job in that? Do you think you'll make a deathbed state a little clearer and you want me for a witness? Yeah, I see. You've got a lot of guts. I'm hired. You're good. Alvesant? You down there? Alvesant. Alvesant. He's Alvesant. He's a both-and-over. Alvesant? Hey, will. Johnny? Yeah. That's your casino? Good. Can I tell you something clearer? I want to go out to the margarita. I can't find Alvesant anyway. All right, guess I can thank you. Are you sure? I'm sure. Sam Spade, Del Castino. He's the boss of the margarita. Glad to know you're here. Thank you. You're sure? You're sure? Sam Spade, Del Castino. He's the boss of the margarita. Glad to meet you. Any fun as that is? Hey, listen, then. You sure you want to go out there? The reason why I shouldn't? Well, except for him and his place, I would be on a flutter from China where the other world is more thicker. No, it's all right. You know, I know what I'm doing. Well, your friend, your name, your name? Spade. You've put me a better athlete. Police don't want you for nothing? Not yet, but don't make poor, China. Uh, push us clear, Danny. All right. This fog is closing in. But I can still see the lights from the margarita. I wish we don't find her. But we did. She was wearing plandigres, an off-the-shelled a t-shirt, and was leaning against the rail as the bringing pole-class the police was and nestled in under the ladder of the yacht. Del? Deli Beck, you? Yes, Mr. Beck. Who is that with you? He's quiet. Del. Oh, what are they saying? Oh, I've got you. You're Mrs. Starbeck? Yes. I'm Sam Spade. I'm from San Francisco. I'm with the trekking. Your brother lost in the boat. You captured him? He wants to come aboard. He wants to go. He's hoping your husband will say something to clear him before he dies. Is there any reason why he shouldn't come aboard? Oh, there's every reason in the world why you shouldn't. The police are in there with my husband right now. Yeah. The doctor says there's a possibility that he may regain consciousness long enough to make it. Dying decorations. If he stays the face of Dan, there's no telling what he'll say. I wish Dan wouldn't. My husband is dying. Dan? No. What'd you say? I don't know, but I think you'd better come aboard. He seemed almost delighted that he swung his way up out of the dinghy and climbed the ladder. Tell the scene of the person following and pressing this place in the time that appears in the end of the cabin. The yellow glare from the lamp swinging all the heads is almost blinding to walk into a lot of the foggy night. The first thing I focused on was the punt to help a dying man. His head was heavily planted, his skin was chalked white, and his lips were beginning to sound blue. The room was tense with waiting. My insulin on a semi-circle was supporting players. Two doctors, one family, five of the nurse, one police medic without. One sheriff with cigar, one police sonographer, female, the pencil and notebook boys. Nine tenths of a widow and us. At eighteen minutes past seven, somebody moved. Dying man. The two doctors rushed forward, took his pulse and blood pressure. Scott. Adrenaline free CC, call me one. Oh my goodness. All right sheriff, he's conscious now, but you'd better hurry. All right, Mr. Starbucks. You can help me all right? Mm-hmm. Take that now. And you hear me, your premise you've answered. All right, Mr. Starbucks, we have to ask these questions. One, what is your name? Please try to answer them. What is your name? Gordon Nemes. You got that? What is your name? Gordon M. Starr. That's close enough. I'll fill it in later. Okay. Now what's your startup? Where do you live? Uh, where do you live? Uh, I'm in two. You got that? Well, seventy-seven very long Pasadena crew. Now what's your startup? Let's try a little harder. This is a long one. Have you been injured? What was the cause of your injury? Uh. Yes. Hurts. I got that. I promise it. Now the second part, what was the cause of your injury? Head. Head. Head on. Head. Do you believe that you're about to die as a result of your injury? It's having a hope of recovery. I know. No. Uh, now let's get to the point. Who inflicted said injuries? My. Mr. Starbucks. Mr. Starbucks, I need you to have much time, you know. Go away. Doc, is there anything you do? I'm afraid not. Oh. This is gasping fire. Can't you leave him alone? Can't you let him die and pee? Well, you're afraid of Maggie. Oh. What are you afraid he'll say? All right. All right, tell him, Gordon. It was Dan, this truck you wasn't. He was jealous. He always hated you for marrying me. It was Dan. Oh, no, no, Mr. Starbucks, I know how you feel, but we can't allow this sort of thing. I'll make a step aside, so we can finish up here. All right. Mr. Starbucks. Okay. All right. Very low pulse, I'm not sure. All right. Dan. Is Dan here? Here I am, Gordon. Tell him. Tell him the truth. Do you identify this man, Mr. Starbucks? Yes, sir. It's not my name. Dan. Yeah. You've got that covered Dan. He's lying. He's lying. Gordon, you know, who did it? Why did you tell him the truth? Why you got to lose now? Nothing. Nothing. I finished it. You finished me. Gordon! Gordon, my shed. Fuck him back. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. He's dead. Oh, my God. Okay, Doc. In a Starbucks, it is my duty to share with this county, to take you into custody on suspicion of murder. I must tell you, that everything you say may be held against you. You better come along too, Spade. We'll take questions. Okay, sir. I don't think we'll need a hand cuffs, will we, son? No, I'll go with you. Yes, indeed, son. It's always smart to come along quietly. Yeah. This is the moment I think of it. Hey, stay. Come back here. Move your hand. Out there. They only had one friend. It was the best friend of the world from out on the land. It's this life in the police launched one planet. Here's the class field around on a half circle to head him off. Instead of cutting the fog, the beams from the fog of the lights bounced back from it and flying to the men behind it. After 10 minutes of that, they gave up. The sheriff had a fear. Don't worry. If we have five in the current, I doubt it will make it. We'll probably recover the body in the morning. And they did. But it wasn't Dan Starberg's body. It was the post-and-delta scene. They was found in Richardson Bay, adrift in the dinghy from the margarita. Somebody had creased the skull with the same type of blunt incident that had been used on Gordon Starberg. The bell hadn't lived long enough to make a dying declaration. The makers of wild-roof pre-loyal are presenting the weekly Sunday adventure of the actual Hammond's famous private detective, Sam Sade. [Music] Now, here's important news on good grooming. If you want the well-droomed look that helps you get ahead socially and on the job, listen. Recently, thousands of people from coast to coast who bought wild-root cream oil for the first time were asked, "How does wild-root cream oil compare with the hair tonic you previously used?" The results were amazing. Better than four out of five who replied said they preferred wild-root cream oil. And no wonder, it gives you the advantages that men consider most important. Wild-root cream oil grooms your hair neatly and naturally. Relieves annoying dryness and removes loose dandruff. What's more, non-alcoholic wild-root cream oil is the only leading hair product that contains soothing lanolin that's like the oil of your skin. So ask for wild-root cream oil hair tonic. Again and again, the choice of men who put good grooming first. By the way, smart girls use wild-root cream oil, too, and mothers say it's grand for training children's hair. [music] And now, back to Kaper with two deathbeds, the vice-adventure with Dan Spade. [music] The police theory of the deltricino killing went something like this. You see, no, it shoved off to my dinghy to join the search of Dan Spade, but it rescued him and then maced for his dinghy. Also found in the dinghy, but not as yet worked into the police theory, was still items. One, a waterproof wall containing the seamen's papers of one Nils Halveson. Two, a tattoo mark on the right bicep of the deceased. A small, hot woman named Maggie. The brand-new widow of the same name was waiting in my office when I got there the following afternoon. [music] Hello. Hello to you, Mrs. Starbuck. What can I do for you? Mrs. Spade, I know very little about the ethics of your procession. Well, are you still working for Danny? If you mean, do I know where he is, the answer is no. Oh, I hope you'd say that. Why? Because I want you to work for me. Need a new bosom? You're needing to put it quite so crudely? No, I didn't. Since your work is confidential, I'll admit I've done a few things. But it's all too true. My first mistake was marrying Gordon Starbuck and I didn't love him. And I should never have let myself fall in love with Dan. I certainly should have known better than to let Del fall in love with me. What about Nils Halveson? Tell me? No. Nils Halveson was employed by my husband for various odd jobs whenever we put in a tough lido. Mostly he'd row the guests off his ship. He rode Danny out the night my husband was killed. At least I think he did. I didn't actually see him. Where's Halveson now? I don't know. He goes off on drunks for days at a time, but I have a feeling that someone has paid him to disappear. He might have overheard something. Hold on a minute. You're going too fast. Are you working up to a confession? Oh no. It's just that I'm afraid of great injustice may have been done to Danny. After all, Mr. Sederman was dying. I don't see how he could be altogether in his life, mind. Do you? The law says he is. If he knows his name and address, a deathbed accusation is as strong as evidence. A lawyer can shove at a jury. You can't cross-examine a dead man and most people have the quaint idea that a man on his deathbed is a lot more truthful than he was when he was hailing hotty. Then you think Gordon may have been lying? Could they? Or war gathering or picking out some of the lines you were feeding him? I was just afraid he might die before he... You see, I thought I might shock him into saying yes or no. He could have said no or couldn't he? Well, we got your mind. All I know is it's on my conscience now. But we could find old Halbertsman and force him to tell what he knows. He's a very strange man devoted to me. If the police find him before I do, he might refuse to talk out of a mistaken loyalty. To you? Well, I meant if he thought I had anything to do with the... Well, he's very strange. I told you that. But makes us assure he's alive. Why wouldn't he be? If I'd been the killer and he'd rode me to and from the scene of my crime, I'd see him secured and Danny Jones wacker. Fish seed lobster bait asleep in the deep. Where do you work for me? I'll let you know. I didn't have time to get tattooed, but the rest of me was marinated enough. On my head, I was wearing a dirtyed-up yachting cap. And the rest of me, I was wearing a peach jacket, dungarees and seaboos. I was also wearing clamshell number five as I rolled up to the Viking saloon. Well, what would it be, mate? Uh, Archibede and Watte. Uh, how have you seen my cousin? Your cousin. Where is your cousin? Pinch value? I know, but my cousin, Niels. How old was she? The Niels? How old was she? Oh, no. Your Niels? How old was she? Well, it's coming from the old country. Yeah, maybe so. By you, Niels? Well, no. He'll be right back to see you there. Well, fair, is he? I don't want to see this too low. Yeah. I know what that means. Yeah? He's in trouble, you know. Oh, yes. I got some cold up down below. Oh, yeah. Come on. Come on. Well, by golly, I should've been glad to be going to see my cousin Niels. Niels, how old was he? Drop the accent. Get Jones in! Hey! Okay, go on. Hey, go on. Easy. Okay, Danny, boy. I got this gun. But watch him. Now watch him. He's full of smoggin' balls. Well, Stade, you're the one person I didn't expect to see. But I'm very glad to. Yeah. I wish I haven't found you. I'm one of the finds somebody else. First, how was it? Yeah. He's here. What's him? That's what I came for. And under here. Watch your head. There you go. And here we are. Where? The boathouse under the pier. How was he? He used to hold in here to sleep off his schnapps. Where's he now? Over here? Oh, come on. Yeah, he's gonna be a long time sleeping this one up. He's been missing since that night. Nobody knew he was here till last night. I heard it for the saloon when I swam a short Joe hitting me out here. He could still talk down. What'd he say? I wrote it down here. There's no help. I said. That's just a jumbled word. Margarit. Margarit. Margarit. Merry Christmas drink. My beautiful hell gas. Roll, roll your boat. Now throw me back. Roll me back. Twenty dollars good and drunk. And it's fog rolling and it's good and drunk. It's gonna be five days no business. Oh, my head. Paint the ball crazy stuff. Twenty dollars. You're giving twenty bucks to roll you out? I don't even see him. I swam out my loving brother. Wouldn't have let me on board if he'd heard me arriving like a gentleman. Twenty bucks. Do you push him? No. I'll have a look. Oh, I don't. Anyway. I'm calm. Real siding, but a twenty. I'm okay. I'm sticking to my story. I swam out there. I didn't give him that twenty. Maybe you didn't. Maybe you didn't. You gotta believe me. I didn't even ask twenty bucks. That's why I got up. This is better with you. What are you gonna do? Come over here, Dan. Boy. I don't believe a wordy in story to you by then. It wouldn't make any difference. What are you doing? Shut up. We're gonna stop talking and listen for a while. (dramatic music) I stuffed a gag into his mouth and muscled him over to a piling and handcuff him to him. He didn't even look surprised. He stood there staring at me as if he'd lost his last friend in the world. But I wasn't looking at him as much as I was listening to those footsteps on the boards overhead. I waited for him to come back. They did. I walked across the soggy branch of her, and he knows Halveson lay in the shadows. Nils. I want you to answer these questions again. Now this time I'm gonna take 'em down. You get lots of twenty dollars and lots of drinks. Now then. I know you don't feel so good. You don't have to talk if you don't feel like it. Just nod your head for yes and shake it for no. Okay, Nils? That counts on the court of law, as long as it's a witness. Okay. Now, your name is Nils Halveson. Your address is 213 Bayview Sausoleta. That's correct, is it? Not your head. Good. Good. That proves you're in your right mind. You know you were injured. Yeah. You know the cause of your injury. Hit on the hat and thrown over the side of your boat. What? Huh? Not the... Oh, dinghy! Well, it's the same thing. All right. Now you know you're dying. You have no hope for recovery. That's obvious and nod your head. That's the boy. Now, Nils, on the night of the 18th, around 10 o'clock after your usual working hours, you rode somebody after the yacht margarita in return for which this person gave you a $20 bill. This person is also the person who killed who inflicted your fatal injury. It is. Now, the name of that person, if you can possibly speak even in a whisper. So there can be no mistake. Do you hear me? Just say it close to my ear. Yeah? Yes. Yes, I got it. That's all. Now, I know you don't like Nils, but make your mark here. Come on, I'll guide your hand. There. Now we're going to take Nils. Nils. Nils. Well, anyway. All right, Maggie. Come on in and join the party. Don't try anything. The lights on you. You have a better shot than you, and if there's a ruckus or a whole saloon, we'll be down on it. They're all tons of dannies, too. Stop there. Lost the gun. Okay. Smell her, Angel. You look kind of scared. No. That's a party, Victor. Don't give up so easily, huh? I always wanted to take a trip around the world. We might go on the Margarit together. Yeah. Yeah, sailing into the sunset, sleeping with our deathbed statements under each other's pillows. Yeah, I see what you mean. I guess it wouldn't work. How much for yours, and what do we do about him? Dan? I'll take care of it. I'll throw it in with a deal. Okay. I wanted in writing. A little statement to the effect that I can keep under my pillow. Fair enough. All I want from you is a little statement from you to this effect. That you, Margarit, Starbuck, employed mills, Halverson, will roll you out to the yacht on the night of the 18th. That you're there, overheard a quarrel between your husband and brother-in-law, and that taking advantage of said brother-in-law's inebriated condition, you sneak up behind your husband, head him with a paperweight and decamp, leaving the murder weapon in Dan's hand. I then started back to shore in the dinghy, and realizing that the only witness will confess if I were aboard that night. All right, all right. All right, I'll sign it. Okay. Well, that's plenty of time to put in all the legal decorations later. I'm afraid we won't, baby. You're going to be spending on your available prime at the house at the end, points west. What are you talking about? You just made a full confession in front of a witness. You heard it, and you're Dan? Every word. Oh, it's fake. Honest. An honest man. Well, I could sell a fit. Now, this is really going to hurt. I'm afraid, Maggie. You see, we didn't actually have any deathbed statement to match yours. No? No. You know, Robinson was a good deal too dead to have made a deathbed statement just now. He's been stiff for 12 hours. Ah, carry it into a report. Well, Sam, I'll type this right up because then I'm leaving. Wait a minute, Effie. I had to do it that way. Don't you understand? Of course, Sam. I quite understand. But you object, huh? A cruel, ruthless, murdering, old, beautiful woman. Filed by a clever rose. A great acting performance by the greatest private detective of them all. Is it all? You still in? Yes, Sam. I've dragged a pack. Well, pardon me for having feet. There's a reason, man. In fact, there are five big reasons why more men every day are turning to wild root cream oil for well-droomed hair. Wild root cream oil grooms your hair neatly and naturally. Wild root cream oil relieves dryness and removes loose dandruff. Wild root cream oil is non-alcoholic and contains soothing lanolins. Five big reasons why you too should join the millions with handsome well-droomed hair. Why you should step up to your drug or toilet goods counter and ask for wild root cream oil. Get the big economy bottle and the handy new tube that's easy to pack when you travel and just ride for the office or plant. Also, ask your barber for a professional application of wild root cream oil hair tonic. Again and again, the choice of men who put good grooming first. Well, here it is, then. Come on. Wait a minute, after you can't leave like this, not without-- Oh, all right. I'll talk to you while I'm putting the hat on. Well, can't you at least look at me? After all, you should give me a chance to justify-- Well, apparently you're laboring under an apprehension. Of course I am. Oh, boy, am I glad I picked the last in June and the first in July. What are you talking about? Vacation. Vacation? You just had a vacation a few months back. Well, Sam, that's a year. Well, if you want to take advantage of illegal technicality-- I'll say I don't take it by now. Well, it's customary, I suppose. It's lucky that some of us keep our nose to the grindstone, our ear to the ground and eye to the future. Huh? Television's just around the corner, you know? Oh, Sam. Come here, sweetheart. You look lovely in it. Come here. Have a wonderful time. Oh, Sam. Oh, Sam. Yeah. Oh. Now go on, you miss your train. Where are you going? I'm a little scared. Well, just so you don't go to gonna have Utah. All right, Sam. You know, because-- Good night. Good night, Sierra, too. Now, who can we get to that part next week? [MUSIC] The Adventures of Sam Spade. The Adventures of Sam Spade. The Adventures of Sam Spade. The Adventures of Sam is private detective. Our produce and directed by William Spear. Sam Spade is played by Howard Duff. Laurene Tuttle is epic. The Adventures of Sam Spade. Are written for radio by Bob Tolman. And gills out with musical direction by Lud Druskin. Join us again next Sunday when author Dr. Hamlet and producer William Spear joined forces for another adventure with Sam Spade, brought to you by Wildroot Creme Oil. Again and again, the choice of men who put good grooming first. This is Dick Joy, reminding you to... Get Wildroot Creme Oil Tolly. It keeps her hair in trim. You see, it's not a baholic tolly. It's made with silver laddling. You better get Wildroot Creme Oil Tolly. It's not a baholic tolly. It's not a baholic tolly. It's a baholic tolly. It's a baholic tolly. It's a baholic tolly. It's a baholic tolly. It's a baholic tolly. It's a baholic tolly. It's a baholic tolly. It's a baholic tolly. It's a baholic tolly. It's a baholic tolly. It's a baholic tolly. It's a baholic tolly. It's a baholic tolly. 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