Detective and Mystery – Retro Radio Podcast

A 68 year old widow left on an errand, and was never seen again. This is the story of the trail the police took to bring justice. Claims were made that she was investing money, but the Scotland Yard inspectors aren’t going for it. Were there other valuables as a motive for a crime? Who may have had the opportunity? Witnesses turn up a suspect, and a criminal record is found.

A female detective sergeant is instrumental in moving the investigation along. Will Hughes prove just to be a petty thief and liar? Or is there enough on him to pursue for murder?

Though he is smug enough in a string of lies, evidence begins to show up to tie the woman’s personal belongings to him. Forensic findings from the crime lab only dig the hole deeper for Hughes. Will his confession to not just one, but to four murders put him in position for a trip to the looney bin? Hughes may think so, but the inspector has a different outcome of justice.

Intro by Peggy Webber, explaining emotional attitudes of Sherlock Holmes, especially his skeptical nature, and his distrust for emotional displays. Irenie Adler, or the person who Holmes only refers to as, the Woman, is the feature of today’s mystery.

Watson learns of a letter that has Holmes excited to go on his latest case. Powers of deduction abound in the simple matter of the letter to reveal much more than meets the eye. We learn that Irenie is an American opera star, and the center of more than one deadly serious crime.

Posing as carriage driver and groom, Holmes and Watson learn more about Irenie. A race is on as a series of hired carriages all take after one another. Satisfied he knows the mystery thus far, Holmes and Watson return to Baker Street.

Disguises are still in order, as Holmes puts the final part of his plan into affect. Though her house has been burglarized twice, Holmes has a plan to get her to reveal the location of the picture that was stolen. All that is left to do is call on the authorities. Has Holmes turned up the missing picture? Has Irenie outsmarted the great detective?

Returning to his office, Dick Diamond encounters a man with a case. He’s looking for a man named Louis Carnes, and he needs him in 5 hours. Why does Carnes need to be found? Why the time limit? Who cares, it’s worth $500 up front, and twice that once the job is done. The voice of reason ought to warn Dick Diamond off the case, but it doesn’t.

Police detective, Walter, is brought in to learn about the unusual man who came calling. Roger Vegas is a huge man with a nasty gray complexion. It isn’t hard to figure out that some sort of poisoning is involved, and the gray man is out for revenge at the attempt on his life.

His investigation leads Richard to the college campus to learn what kind of debt is to be paid back. What does Prof Carnes sister know of his disappearance?

Being the good detective, Diamond finds his man, now all that remains is to contact Vegas. What kind of fireworks might arise? Walter has some news on the gray complected Vegas, and how he got that way. The case becomes a race against time to prevent a murder, but who is going to die? A tale of blackmail and jealousy emerges as a motive, but no reason is worth killing some one.

Note: Arthur Q Brian is Walter. Dick Powell is Richard Diamond.

A letter arrives for Scotland Yard inspectors to read. Ramsey enters, coincidentally with information on that same crime. The 2 hour interview turns up plenty of things about a bride who was killed, and an insurance salesman. Another recent drowning links the earlier crime to Stanley Brown.

Similarities between cases are noted, though doctors have deemed them accidental. Brides who complain of headaches, and are given medicines before taking a bath. Meanwhile, Stanley has departed, moved on without leaving a forwarding address.

Closer examination of the dead women are given by the coroner. Before findings come in, a phone call from the latest Mrs Stanley Brown claims she thinks her husband is trying to kill her. How will a young lady in a bathing suit help demonstrate a murder? In voiceover,, the rest of the tale is told of another killer coming to justice.

The place of winding streets, and colorful cafe’s is the setting for a murder mystery. Douglas Milton had run away to escape blame for a crime. His fiancé hires Holmes to find him to let him know the real criminals. Has been caught, and its OK to come home. All Sherlock has is a painting by Douglas to find him.

The trail leads to the Foreign Legion, and tracking down a deserter. Watson thinks the charm of the Casbah is over rated. An informant who threatens to turn scoundrel amuses Holmes, but he gets the information he needs about an Englishman in hiding. Holmes spots evidence that they aren’t the only ones searching for Douglas , but the parties may have harmful motives.

Disguises go into play to go further in the lawless Casbah. The race is on to find Douglas before bodies begin showing up. A confrontation turns Douglas out, but will he be keen on returning to England, even knowing his name is clear? Just when the case is solved, Holmes reveals the truth behind loose ends, and what really happened to the missing man.

A shop owner complains to Richard that his entire stock of blue serge suits has been stolen. Even further, all his stock of blue serge cloth is gone while flannel and other materials are left untouched. Is this all just a practical joke? Richard thinks there’s more to it than that, and decides to lay a trap for the burglar. There’s only one suit left, and he uses it as bait. What better way to learn who the thugs are than by wearing the suit and waiting until they come to get you? Trouble is that it’s hard to be tough in your underwear when the suit is taken at gun point.

Evading the bad guys, Richard is just glad his undies aren’t made of blue serge. He has managed to get enough clues to take the case to the cops, and connections to something bigger than the local gangland scene emerges. Smugglers are operating, and using the suits to ship something out of the country. Gun battles await as Richard takes his police chief friend with him.

Will they learn what is being smuggled? How does the operation work?

PS: Dick Powel is Richard Diamond. Arthur Q Brian is Walt, the police chief. Also, I don’t do it often enough, but listeners should know that commercials are left in for entertainment purposes only. The Retro Radio Podcast does not endorse smoking, or get any sponsorship support from any of the ads you may hear, unless specifically mentioned by Keith or the Retrobots in person. … er, in our usual almost live comments on the Retro Original channel.

A case from 35 years earlier is reviewed. The remains of a lady, missing head and hands, is found, and an investigation begins. Blood stained sheets, a laundry mark, and an address is turned up. The heavily French accented landlady manages to send the Scotland Yard inspectors to a boyfriend who is a butcher. Pierre seems to have several girlfriends,, and runs his shop out of his house. Holy cow, that can’t be sanitary.

A stakeout on his place alerts the inspectors that Pierre is home. Samples of blood are taken, but presumed to be animal blood. Without a warrant, the cops have to return later for more questioning. The only thing clean in the blood soaked living area, and butcher shop is the knives. What else will the cops find among the buckets of rotted animal parts? A woman’s earring may turn the case around

When the cellar is to be investigated, Pierre begins to confess his part in the murder. He claims he didn’t kill her. Despite the heavy French accents, it becomes clear, that arrests will be made. In voiceover, the inspectors describe the bloody events of the murder, as well as the end for our killers.

Riley helps investigate a mystery at a museum exhibit of an Egyptian crypt. Not only is there a problem, but a body is soon uncovered that is a lot more fresh than a mummy. Is there a curse on the artifacts? Nick smells a rat, and sets up a trap to lure a killer out.

Was there any treasure in the crypt? Will the spooky warnings surround the crypt never end? Do the perpetrators think they can pull a fast one with Nick, Patsy, and Riley? Nick is playing his cards close to the vest, and letting the crooks run with their schemes.

Nick has all he needs, and a final trap is set. Riley and Patsy won’t be in danger will they? Where did Nick go? Stand by for gun play, and a full explanation of the strange events.

With the school term at Yale over, Frank and Bart make summer plans. In New York, they are to make a cash payment at an art studio, and have the painting delivered later. I feel a mix up coming on. A newspaper reporter from the art section wants to see the painting before it gets shipped. It’s pronounced a fake, but who switched it? The studio, or another patron who was there?

Confronting the art dealer, the mystery behind the switch is investigated. The painting is verified as not only a fake, but not even a good one. Is the dealer’s reputation on the line? The frame is the same, but is it possible for the frame to have been switched? The custom frame, and its maker are easy enough to trace.

The framer sets Frank on the trail of the thief, but he needs to hurry before the ship sails from the harbor. Or is there some other clue to put Frank onto the real thief? Its time for a showdown, and Frank rounds up all the suspects for a dramatic conclusion.

Taking a well deserved rest, Holmes and Watson attended a Shakespearean festival. The beauty of the place is enough to make Holmes almost wish he was a man of wealth. The luxuriant peacefulness ends when a gunshot echoes near our detectives. Though hit in the shoulder, Holmes seems unhurt as he listens to the rabbit hunters.

His collapse startles Watson, but Holmes later reveals he had a reason for feigning his collapse. Mrs Markham has crossed paths with Holmes in the past. Were there other accidental mishaps with firearms then too? Believing Sherlock to be laid up, Watson is invited to join the Markhams and actor friends, and admires hunting trophies. Concern that Mrs Markham might be planning to kill her husband is uncovered. Holmes reveals evidence about his shooting that escalates the possibility of danger.

Back at the Markham home, Mr Markham accuses his wife of pushing him into the lake. A large life insurance policy, on top of a suspected affair with an actor seems to be more than enough motive. Holmes returns , and hasn’t been idle in investigating. What cards does he have up his sleeve? Not only does Sherlock have the matter figured out, he is able to prevent a murder, he resolves a few other loose ends.