Midnight Mystery Marathon - Out of the Night - video Dailymotion

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Out Of The Night comes the whispering voice of the wind to tell the story of man's battle with life. These dramas were filled with action and suspense. Out Of The Night was similar to the 1960s television series, One Step Beyond. It would recreate strange stories that were reportedly true, yet they often included supernatural elements. It might be a ghostly woman who swims naked to lure soldiers to their death ("The Red Headed Woman"), or a phantom defender of a village, the so called Lone Defender of Brest ("One Man War"), or the soul of a dead child who replaces the mind of a living girl with her own thoughts and memories ("The Girl with Two Personalities"). Names and dates were provided to support the authentic claims made by the producers. The way the announcer always hit you over the head by emphasizing how unbelievable the stories are may seem corny by today's standards, yet the possibility that the plot might be true succeeds in adding a creepy air to the proceedings.

Transcript

00:00:00Out of the night comes the whispering voice of the night wind to tell another story of man's

00:00:22battle with fate. This time the true story of how a man accused of murder was proved innocent

00:00:2820 years after he had paid the penalty of death for a crime he had not committed. Unbelievable, but true.

00:00:43What have you done to my brother? They're saying in the village that you killed him.

00:00:58This is the voice of the night wind, and this is the tale I tell. In the village of Beelby,

00:01:19Jutland, there lived a Lutheran pastor, Soren Quist, and his daughter Nora. Nora was the beauty of the

00:01:28village, and never lacked pursuiters, but Pastor Quist was ambitious for her, and one by one he

00:01:35sent her village wooers packing with stern words and often a well-directed boot. So it was that when

00:01:43young Morton Bruns, a local farm neighbour, plucked up courage to ask Nora's hand, he precipitated yet

00:01:50another storm. You marry my Nora. The idea, the very idea. Be off with you at once before I lose my temper.

00:01:57But Pastor Quist... Silence! Another word you hear. What have you to offer a girl of Nora's gentle

00:02:03upbringing? What are your prospects? Do you own a farm or a home or a prosperous business? Have you any

00:02:10assets at all? I've my too strong hands. Precious good they are to any man lacking a brain to go

00:02:16with them. Out of my house is instant. You good for nothing, young rascal. And don't ever dare step

00:02:22foot into it again, or it'll be the worst for you. And if ever I see you hanging around my Nora again,

00:02:27it's not word you'll get. But the point of my boot, and the weight of my stick over your thick,

00:02:32dumb skull. You can't frighten me with your threats, you old fool. This is a free country,

00:02:38and I'll do as I do. You excellent dog. You impotent, young scoundrel. Get out, I say. Get out! Get out! Get out!

00:02:55But Morten Bruns was not one to take his humiliation meekly. For days he brooded over it.

00:03:03And then slowly, a plan of revenge began to take shape in his mind. At last it crystallized.

00:03:13And he called in the aid of his drunken, good-for-nothing elder brother, Niels.

00:03:18You've got to help me get back on the old devil, Niels. You've got to.

00:03:22Well, what do you want me to do? Stop him in the street and trash him?

00:03:27And be sent to Joe for your pains? No, no.

00:03:29Now, I have a more subtle plan than that. I want you to go to him and say you've reformed.

00:03:38That you've given up drinking and your evil ways and decided to work.

00:03:41Hmm?

00:03:42And then you're to ask him for a job as a handyman.

00:03:45Ah, just a minute. It's Pastor Quist who's to be punished, remember? Not me.

00:03:51No, wait, wait. I haven't finished yet.

00:03:54You don't have to actually turn over a new leaf. All you've got to do is to say that you want to.

00:03:59Oh, I suppose he gives me a job. What then?

00:04:03Why, you accept it. And then, just carry on as usual. Loaf and get drunk and so on.

00:04:11Oh, the pastor won't like that very much.

00:04:15Well, that's exactly what I'm counting on.

00:04:18You put up with you for a few days, and then there'll be a big row.

00:04:22Well, you ought to do everything you possibly can to provoke it.

00:04:26And the bigger it is, and the more people who hear it, the better.

00:04:29He might beat me with his stick.

00:04:32So much the better.

00:04:33If he does, you're not to try to strike him back, see?

00:04:37You're enough of a man to take a bit of a beating, aren't you?

00:04:39Oh, so long as I know what it's all about.

00:04:43But where's all this leading?

00:04:46How's it going to help you revenge yourself on the past?

00:04:49I'm coming to that now.

00:04:52Immediately after the row, you'll disappear.

00:04:55Quietly, without anyone knowing it.

00:04:58And you're not to come back to Vielby.

00:05:00Never, do you understand?

00:05:02You're to give yourself a new name, and as far as the people of this district are concerned,

00:05:06you're to vanish from the face of the earth.

00:05:08Not so fast, brother.

00:05:11I like it here.

00:05:13I've lots of good friends.

00:05:14You'll be well compensated.

00:05:16I'll send you a regular remittance of a hundred kroner a year.

00:05:19Where are you going to dig up a hundred kroner a year?

00:05:22Never mind, I'll get it somewhere.

00:05:25The main thing is, you're to get out of Vielby and stay out.

00:05:28I still don't understand how all this is going to help you.

00:05:33Oh, liquor has dulled your brain, Niels.

00:05:36But surely it's simple enough.

00:05:40When you've disappeared, I shall go to Pastor Quist and demand to know where you are.

00:05:46And I shall go to the police and say I fear that some harm has come to you.

00:05:50Next, I shall bribe old Hans Larson, who's so nearly an idiot that it doesn't matter,

00:05:57to say he saw Pastor Quist digging in his garden late on the night of the row with you.

00:06:03Well, the police will put two and two together, do some digging on their own account,

00:06:07and they'll find your battered corpse.

00:06:11Oh, my corpse?

00:06:13Now, now, just a minute, brother.

00:06:15Oh, it won't be really yours, of course.

00:06:16I'll steal one from the graveyard and smash in the head so it won't be recognisable,

00:06:20and bury it there to be found.

00:06:22Now do you see?

00:06:23So Pastor Quist will be charged with my murder, eh?

00:06:27Exactly.

00:06:28But they'll hang him!

00:06:29That's what I'm hoping.

00:06:31I told you I was determined to be revenged on him.

00:06:34Oh, you're a clever devil, aren't you, Mort?

00:06:37A lot more clever than Pastor Quist believes.

00:06:40And what makes you think I'll fall in with your plan?

00:06:44Brotherly love, by any chance?

00:06:46No, Neil, it's a little matter of a hundred kroner a year.

00:06:51It's a nice sum to get without having to work for it.

00:06:54Think of all the schnapps it'll buy you.

00:06:58Well, what do you say?

00:07:00Make it a hundred and fifty and I'm your man.

00:07:04All right, it's a bargain.

00:07:12Morton Boone's diabolical plan went through without a hitch.

00:07:17Neil's confessed his reformation,

00:07:19was taken on by the pastor as a farm labourer,

00:07:22and so provoked his employer that within a week,

00:07:25there were angry scenes culminating in a fierce brawl and dismissal.

00:07:30The same evening, Neil's disappeared.

00:07:35For a fortnight, nothing untoward happened.

00:07:40And then one day, Morton Boone's called at Pastor Quist's house.

00:07:44I thought I told you to keep away from my hair.

00:07:48Oh, calm yourself, Pastor.

00:07:49It's not Nora I've come to see you about today.

00:07:52My brother, Neil's.

00:07:54That's good for nothing, drunken rascal.

00:07:57What have you done with him?

00:07:59Where is he?

00:08:00How should I know where he is?

00:08:02I gave him a thrash and a fortnight ago and sent him on his way.

00:08:06They're saying in the village that you killed him.

00:08:09Killed him?

00:08:10Have you taken leave of your sentence?

00:08:12You'll not block your way out of it so easily as that, Pastor Quist.

00:08:17Neil's disappeared the same day you thrashed him.

00:08:20And he hasn't been seen since.

00:08:22Then he must have taken himself off somewhere else.

00:08:24Wouldn't he have told me, his own brother?

00:08:28Are you daring to suggest?

00:08:31Look here, Morton Boone's.

00:08:32I don't know what's happened to Neil's and I don't care.

00:08:35He can go to the devil as far as I'm concerned and you with him.

00:08:38Now get out of here before I break my stick over your shoulders again.

00:08:40All right, I'll go.

00:08:43But you'll hear more of this from the police.

00:08:45Morton Boone's reported his brother's disappearance to the police.

00:08:57A reward was offered, but no one came forward to claim it.

00:09:00Then came the bribed half-wit, Hans Larson, with his damning story and a visit by the local police inspector to Pastor Quist.

00:09:11This fellow Larson says he saw you late on the night Neil's Bruns disappeared, digging in your garden.

00:09:17It's a lie.

00:09:18He says you were wearing a green dressing gown.

00:09:22Do you possess such a thing?

00:09:23Yes.

00:09:25Yes, I do, but...

00:09:26He says you were digging underneath a crabapple tree.

00:09:30As I came in, I noted that the soil had recently been disturbed there.

00:09:35I know nothing of it.

00:09:36I give you my word.

00:09:38Then if you're innocent, you'll have no objection to us digging in the same place.

00:09:42Of course not.

00:09:43I'm with me and I lend you spades.

00:09:49The police had not dug long before they found the body Morton Bruns had planted there.

00:09:53It was clad in Neil's clothes.

00:09:57And though the face had been battered beyond recognition, there seemed no doubt it was Neil's body.

00:10:04What have you to say for yourself now, Pastor Quist?

00:10:07I know nothing about it, I tell you.

00:10:09Who killed Neil's Bruns?

00:10:11How did his body come to be buried in your garden?

00:10:13I don't know.

00:10:15I'm as mystified as you are.

00:10:16I'm not mystified, Pastor Quist.

00:10:19Not in the least.

00:10:20You mean, you think I...

00:10:24I mean, you're under arrest for murder.

00:10:31Despite his protestations, Pastor Quist was tried, found guilty, and in due course, hanged.

00:10:39For twenty years, Morton Bruns lived on in the village of Veilby.

00:10:45And if a hundred and fifty kroner of his earnings every year was sent off to an unknown recipient,

00:10:51whose business was it but his own?

00:10:54Then, Bruns died.

00:10:57And a few weeks later, an elderly tramp arrived at the village asking for him.

00:11:02Morton Bruns?

00:11:03He died more than a month ago.

00:11:06Oh, I see.

00:11:09That explains it.

00:11:11Well, thank you.

00:11:12Thank you very much.

00:11:14And good day.

00:11:15Just a minute.

00:11:17Come back here.

00:11:23What do you want?

00:11:24Haven't I seen you somewhere before?

00:11:26No, no, no.

00:11:27I'm a stranger here.

00:11:29I think not.

00:11:30You're...

00:11:32By heaven, I've got it.

00:11:34You're Niels Bruns.

00:11:35Oh, no, you're mistaken.

00:11:37Don't attempt to deny it.

00:11:39Come with me, Mr. Bruns.

00:11:41You and I have a lot of talking to do.

00:11:51Under cross-examination, the whole story came up.

00:11:54And the villagers of Vealby learned that they had executed their pastor for a crime of which he was innocent.

00:12:03They made what little amends they could.

00:12:06And today, over the victim's grave, can be read the headstone.

00:12:10Under this stone reposes Soren Quist, who suffered unjustly for a crime he never committed.

00:12:18Victim of a foul plot, a happy sport of blind justice.

00:12:25Yes, my friends, that is the story of Pastor Quist.

00:12:31Unbelievable, but true.

00:12:34Out of the night.

00:13:04Out of the night comes the whispering voice of the night wind to tell another story of man's battle with life.

00:13:13A true story tonight of a happening 70-odd years ago,

00:13:18for which science has never yet found a satisfactory explanation.

00:13:23Unbelievable, but true.

00:13:25Something's happening.

00:13:36Something's strange.

00:13:39It's Lorenzi.

00:13:42Lorenzi's coming back.

00:13:43It is the morning of February the 2nd, 1878.

00:14:12In the modest home of the Venom family in the small town of Watsika, Illinois.

00:14:19Mrs. Venom is already asterned.

00:14:21As the clock strikes seven,

00:14:23Mrs. Venom goes to waken her 14-year-old daughter.

00:14:28Lorenzi.

00:14:30Lorenzi's here.

00:14:31It's seven o'clock.

00:14:32Time to get up.

00:14:35Lorenzi.

00:14:36Don't you hear Mother calling?

00:14:39Oh, for goodness sake.

00:14:41Stand asleep still.

00:14:44Lorenzi.

00:14:45Come on, wake up.

00:14:47Let's come over the girl.

00:14:50Lorenzi.

00:14:55Lorenzi.

00:14:55Pa.

00:14:59Pa.

00:15:00Come quick.

00:15:01Hey.

00:15:01What's the matter, Mara?

00:15:02What's going wrong?

00:15:03Oh, it's Lorenzi.

00:15:06She's...

00:15:07She's dead.

00:15:08Eh?

00:15:09Let me see.

00:15:13Nonsense, Margaret.

00:15:15She's as alive as you or me.

00:15:18Why, look at her breeding.

00:15:19As deep and steady as anything.

00:15:21Well, something's wrong with her.

00:15:24She won't wake up.

00:15:25I've shaken her and I've shouted in her ear.

00:15:28She just lies there.

00:15:30You let me have a go.

00:15:33Lorenzi.

00:15:35Lorenzi.

00:15:36Come on, come on.

00:15:38Wake up, you lazy girl.

00:15:39You see?

00:15:41Not a move.

00:15:42Give me that pitcher of water.

00:15:46Well, this ought to do the trick.

00:15:51Well, I'll be darned.

00:15:53Mara, she didn't budge.

00:15:57Looks like something might be wrong with her.

00:15:59Now, now, now, Mara.

00:16:00Now, Mara, stop that wheating.

00:16:02There might be nothing to worry about at all.

00:16:05I'll go hit your bestie and drive right over and pitch Dr. Stevens.

00:16:07Oh, that's strange.

00:16:17Very strange indeed.

00:16:20I pinched her and pricked her arm with a pin and tickled her feet and still she doesn't stir.

00:16:26What, what do you think can be wrong with her, Doctor?

00:16:31Frankly, Mrs. Vinn, I haven't had the faintest idea.

00:16:35This is quite outside my experience.

00:16:38It sure is odd.

00:16:40She don't seem to be distressed at all, does she, Doctor?

00:16:43Not in the slightest.

00:16:44If it weren't so fantastic, I'd, well, I'd be almost inclined to say she was in a deep trance.

00:16:53But how could that be?

00:16:55I don't know.

00:16:56What are we going to do, Doc?

00:16:58I don't know that either.

00:16:59All I can suggest is to wait in the hope that she'll come out of it to her own accord.

00:17:05Look, look, she's staring now.

00:17:10She's opening her eyes.

00:17:13Lorenzi, Lorenzi, speak to me, darling.

00:17:17Tell me you're all right.

00:17:19Where am I?

00:17:21You're at home, dear.

00:17:23Safe and sound in your own little bed.

00:17:27Who are you?

00:17:29Who are we?

00:17:30Right where you're more and poor, dear.

00:17:33Look at us.

00:17:35Don't you recognize?

00:17:37Oh, yes, of course I do.

00:17:40But you're Mr. and Mrs. Benham, aren't you?

00:17:43Mr. and Mrs.

00:17:45Oh, Lorenzi.

00:17:47What's come over you?

00:17:49We're your own parents.

00:17:51No, you're not.

00:17:52You're neighbors.

00:17:54And why do you keep calling me Lorenzi?

00:17:58That's your own little baby's name, isn't it?

00:18:01Paul.

00:18:02Dr. Stevens.

00:18:04Something dreadful has happened.

00:18:06Now, now, now.

00:18:07Take it easy, Mara.

00:18:08Take it easy.

00:18:09Let me handle this.

00:18:12Tell me, child.

00:18:14Isn't Lorenzi Venom your name?

00:18:16Why, of course not.

00:18:18Then what is it?

00:18:20Mary Raff.

00:18:22Why, I thought everyone knew that.

00:18:24Lorenzi.

00:18:24Please, Mrs. Venom.

00:18:27Do you know this Mary Raff?

00:18:29Sure, Doc.

00:18:30The Raffs live a mile or so down the road.

00:18:33Mary was their daughter.

00:18:35Nice kid.

00:18:36About 18.

00:18:3612 years ago, she, she died.

00:18:42Would your daughter be likely to remember her?

00:18:44I don't see how she could, Doc.

00:18:46She was only a toddler, about two years old at the time.

00:18:49What am I doing in this night dress?

00:18:52Oh, please give me my clothes.

00:18:54I want to go home.

00:18:55Uh, where's home?

00:18:57Just on the road a little way.

00:18:59What are we going to do, Doc?

00:19:00There's only one thing to do.

00:19:02We've got to humor her.

00:19:04Give her some clothes, Mrs. Venom.

00:19:06And while she's dressing, I'll go on ahead and have a talk for the Raffs.

00:19:19Well, there it is, Mrs. Raff.

00:19:21For some inexplicable reason, the girl thinks she's your dead daughter.

00:19:26Oh, oh, poor child.

00:19:28The point is that for the time being, I think she should be allowed to go on thinking it.

00:19:34You mean we should take her in?

00:19:36Pretend she is our daughter?

00:19:38Yes.

00:19:39Would you do that?

00:19:40It's asking a lot, I know, but...

00:19:42Of course we will, Doctor.

00:19:45You tell the Venoms to send her right over.

00:19:48And tell them we'll look after her just as if she was our own.

00:19:51There you are, dear.

00:20:00Now you sit right down and I'll get you a nice cup of coffee.

00:20:03I'll get it, Mother.

00:20:04I'm not tired.

00:20:05Oh, but you don't know where anything is.

00:20:09But of course I do.

00:20:10The coffee's in the blue canister on the second shelf of the pantry.

00:20:14The milk's in the water cooler and the sugar's in the top shelf of the dresser.

00:20:18You and Daddy and Dr. Stephen stay right where you are, and I'll have it ready in just one minute.

00:20:27Wow.

00:20:29That's...

00:20:29That's very odd.

00:20:32How would she know where I kept everything?

00:20:35Hasn't she been in your kitchen before?

00:20:37No, Doctor.

00:20:38Never as far as I'm aware.

00:20:40Hmm.

00:20:42Strange.

00:20:43Most remarkable.

00:20:44Oh, you've got new curtains up to the kitchen windows, Mother.

00:20:48I like them much better than the blue and white check.

00:20:51What?

00:20:52Oh, yes.

00:20:54Yes, they are nice, aren't they, dear?

00:20:59Oh, this is unbelievable.

00:21:04Those blue check curtains were changed ten years ago.

00:21:09But that's only a start.

00:21:15Lorenzi settles down into the Roth household quite as though it were her own.

00:21:19Looks upon the Roths quite naturally and without embarrassment as her parents.

00:21:23Describes intimate details of the home that she could never have possibly known as Lorenzi Venom.

00:21:29Recognizes all friends of Mary Roths and remembers incidents that only Mary herself could possibly recall.

00:21:36Oh, I don't get it.

00:21:38There must be some explanation, Doc, but what is it?

00:21:41I don't know, Mr. Venom.

00:21:44I've been thinking about it for weeks, but I just don't know.

00:21:48Seems to me the explanation is simple enough.

00:21:51Indeed, Mr. Roth?

00:21:52Surely there's no question about it.

00:21:55The soul, the spirit or personality or whatever you like to call it,

00:22:00of our dead daughter has come back to life in the body of little Lorenzi.

00:22:04That explanation may satisfy some people, Mr. Roth.

00:22:09But I'm a man of science.

00:22:11It doesn't satisfy me.

00:22:13Have you any other to offer in its place?

00:22:15No.

00:22:16No, I haven't.

00:22:25Three months pass.

00:22:27Then one evening in the parlor of the Roth home...

00:22:29Look, Mother, look what I found.

00:22:32What is it, dear?

00:22:33This old velvet dress.

00:22:35It was tucked away in a box in the attic.

00:22:38Do you remember it?

00:22:40I...

00:22:40Do you?

00:22:42Oh, yes, of course.

00:22:44It was the dress I wore on my twelfth birthday.

00:22:47And I remember something else about it, too.

00:22:50I remember I tripped and fell into a puddle and got muddled over it.

00:22:55And you scolded me and sent me to bed without my tea.

00:22:58Do you remember that, Mother?

00:22:59Yes, dear.

00:23:02Yes, I...

00:23:04I remember it well.

00:23:06And do you remember the night of my first dance?

00:23:08I...

00:23:09Oh...

00:23:10Oh...

00:23:11What...

00:23:12What is it, dear?

00:23:15Something's happening.

00:23:17Something strange.

00:23:21Lorenzi...

00:23:22Lorenzi is coming back.

00:23:25Darling, are you all right?

00:23:27Yes.

00:23:29Yes, I'm all right.

00:23:31Just that I'm tired.

00:23:34I'm terribly tired.

00:23:36I think I'll go to my room and lie down.

00:23:40For almost 24 hours, Lorenzi Venom lies in a heavy sleep.

00:23:51The Roths advise her parents and Dr. Stevens.

00:23:53And all five wait anxiously for some sign of returning consciousness.

00:23:57Oh.

00:23:59Oh.

00:24:00Oh.

00:24:02Oh.

00:24:04Oh, I...

00:24:04Oh, I don't...

00:24:05She's waking up now.

00:24:06Oh.

00:24:07Oh.

00:24:09Hello.

00:24:12Oh.

00:24:13Oh, it's you, Mrs. Roth.

00:24:15Hello.

00:24:17Lorenzi.

00:24:18I...

00:24:19I am in your home, aren't I?

00:24:21How did I get here?

00:24:23Oh, I'm Mar.

00:24:25Par.

00:24:26Oh.

00:24:27What are you doing here?

00:24:29What's all this about?

00:24:31Lorenzi.

00:24:32Oh, poor little girl.

00:24:34Par.

00:24:36What's the matter?

00:24:37Why does everyone look so strange?

00:24:40You're feeling sick, Lorenzi.

00:24:43Very sick indeed.

00:24:45But I don't feel sick.

00:24:46I feel all right.

00:24:48What's been the matter with me?

00:24:50Nothing, my dear.

00:24:51Nothing at all.

00:24:53Now, just you put on your clothes,

00:24:56and then you go home with your mother and father.

00:24:58And this is only the start of the strange dual personality.

00:25:09For throughout the rest of her life at occasional intervals,

00:25:12Lorenzi Venom becomes Mary Rock,

00:25:15with memories of people and events that Lorenzi herself could have no means of knowing.

00:25:22Many scientists have studied the strange case.

00:25:29Not one has yet advanced a logical explanation.

00:25:33Out of the night.

00:26:01Out of the night comes the whispering voice of the night wind

00:26:09to tell another story of man's battle with fate.

00:26:13A true story tonight of a ghastly crime

00:26:17and its amazing sequel.

00:26:19Unbelievable, but true.

00:26:26It's my fault leaving the bear.

00:26:28If ever I lay hands on him...

00:26:30THE END

00:26:41Bruce Rock is a small, prosperous town in the West Australian Wheatville.

00:27:07There, in 1930, lived Mr. and Mrs. Jack Smith, a young couple with a year-old baby.

00:27:16They ran a small farm with one hired hand, a big, rather silent fellow in his early twenties,

00:27:22named Bill Halbert.

00:27:25Halbert was a stranger to the district and didn't get around much.

00:27:29People used to wonder a lot about him, and whenever Jack Smith went to town, friends

00:27:34used to ask questions about his employees.

00:27:38He was down at the local pub one day, having come into town to pick up the mail, when he

00:27:42ran into one of his friends.

00:27:43What's it to be?

00:27:44I'll have a pot, thanks.

00:27:45Thanks, Charlie.

00:27:46Two pots, Flora.

00:27:47How's that young hand of yours getting on, Jack?

00:27:52Halbert, or whatever his name is.

00:27:54Oh.

00:27:55All right.

00:27:56Still as good a worker as when he started with you?

00:27:58Oh, well.

00:27:59Yeah, I suppose he is.

00:28:01The only thing is he's getting a bit hard to handle.

00:28:04You can't say two words to him, but what he does is block.

00:28:07I thought you said he was a quiet sort of bloke.

00:28:09Well, so he was at first, but just lately he's been getting a bit too big for his boots.

00:28:15He gives the liquor a bit of a lash on the quiet now and then, you know.

00:28:18Next day you've got to humour him like a kid or he flies into the most fearful rages.

00:28:22How's the wife like that?

00:28:24Well, she's been getting the breeze up a bit lately.

00:28:27Can't say I blame her.

00:28:28I get a bit nervous myself sometimes.

00:28:31He's such a hulking big bloke.

00:28:33I wouldn't be in the race if he took a crack at me.

00:28:35It's truth.

00:28:36That's no good.

00:28:37Why don't you get rid of him?

00:28:38It's not as bad as all that.

00:28:40He calms down pretty quick and then he's as right as a bank.

00:28:44Besides, with labour scarce like it is and the harvest coming on, this is no time to be sacking anyone.

00:28:49Well, I wouldn't have a bloke like that hanging around my place for five minutes.

00:28:53Well, I suppose you know your own business best.

00:28:56Another drink.

00:28:57Oh, no, no, Charlie.

00:28:58This one's on me.

00:28:59Fill them up again, Flora, will you?

00:29:09But when Jack Smith paid his next visit to town a fortnight or so later, it seems that things have gone from bad to worse.

00:29:18Well, Jack Smith.

00:29:20Well, I made you looking pleased with yourself.

00:29:22Yeah.

00:29:23I done it.

00:29:24I took your advice.

00:29:25You done what?

00:29:26Sacked Bill Halbert.

00:29:27Oh.

00:29:28Been playing up again, eh?

00:29:29Yeah.

00:29:30Yeah.

00:29:31We had a row this morning and he called me for everything.

00:29:33Took a swing at me, too.

00:29:35And I got out of the way, all right.

00:29:37So I gave him his notice.

00:29:39Ah.

00:29:40How'd he take it?

00:29:41Not so good.

00:29:42Flew off into the worst rage I've ever seen.

00:29:44Fair dinkum, Charlie.

00:29:45He was like a maniac for a while.

00:29:47Did he go for you?

00:29:48Oh, well, no.

00:29:49Not exactly.

00:29:50But he was swearing blue murder and kept saying he'd get square with me.

00:29:54I don't mind telling you I'll be glad to see the last of him.

00:29:57Oh, hasn't he gone yet?

00:29:58No, no.

00:29:59His notice doesn't cut out till Saturday.

00:30:01What?

00:30:02Couldn't you have paid him his money?

00:30:03Well, I offered to, but he wouldn't take it.

00:30:05So he's still there, eh?

00:30:07What have you done with your wife and kid?

00:30:09Oh, they're still at home, sir.

00:30:10You mean to say you've left him with a crazy galoot like that?

00:30:13Oh, he won't try any funny business.

00:30:15I wouldn't be so sure.

00:30:17I've seen him go like that before.

00:30:19It's the loneliness, you know.

00:30:21Drive some of them clean off their rocker.

00:30:23And then just about anything's likely to happen.

00:30:25Well, maybe I was silly to leave him, but I never thought of anything like that.

00:30:31I say, Charlie, do you think I could spare an hour or so and drive out with me and just make sure everything's okay?

00:30:37Too right I can.

00:30:38Come on, let's go.

00:30:48During the drive out, neither man was talkative.

00:30:52And as they approached Smith's farm, each seemed to be filled with a sense of grim foreboding.

00:31:01They reached the homestead at last.

00:31:08Say, that's odd.

00:31:10What is?

00:31:11Why, the wife always comes out on the veranda when she hears the car coming.

00:31:15Never misses.

00:31:16There's something wrong, Charlie.

00:31:18I can feel it.

00:31:19I'm all that scared to go inside.

00:31:22Hey, you stick around here.

00:31:23I'll go in and take a look around.

00:31:24Well, would you mind, Charlie?

00:31:26Of course not.

00:31:28Won't be long.

00:31:29Mrs. Smith?

00:31:30Are you there, Mrs. Smith?

00:31:31Charlie Stanner?

00:31:32Mrs. Smith?

00:31:33Are you...

00:31:34Oh, no.

00:31:35Oh, no.

00:31:36Charlie!

00:31:37Hey!

00:31:38What is it, Charlie?

00:31:39What is it, Charlie?

00:31:40What's the matter?

00:31:41Listen, I...

00:31:42I don't think you'd better go inside, Jack.

00:31:43What's happening?

00:31:44It's something terrible.

00:31:45I can see by the look in your face.

00:31:46You've got to tell me.

00:31:47I must know.

00:31:48Is it...

00:31:49Is it the wife?

00:31:50Yeah.

00:31:51Not...

00:31:52Not...

00:31:53Not dead.

00:31:54Yeah.

00:31:55How?

00:31:56How?

00:31:57Answer me.

00:31:58She was murdered.

00:31:59With an axe, I think.

00:32:00The kid?

00:32:01What about the kid?

00:32:02Where is she?

00:32:03The kid?

00:32:04What about the kid?

00:32:05Where is she?

00:32:06The kid, too.

00:32:07The kid, too.

00:32:08Oh!

00:32:09Oh!

00:32:10Oh!

00:32:11Oh!

00:32:12Oh!

00:32:13Answer me!

00:32:14She was murdered.

00:32:15With an axe, I think.

00:32:16The kid!

00:32:17What about the kid?

00:32:18Where is she?

00:32:19The kid, too.

00:32:21Oh!

00:32:22Oh!

00:32:23Listen.

00:32:24Listen.

00:32:25Take it easy, Jack.

00:32:26Take it easy, will you, mate?

00:32:28It was hell, but I...

00:32:30I should have known.

00:32:32It's my fault leaving him there.

00:32:34If ever I lay my hands on him, I...

00:32:37Wait a minute.

00:32:39There's nothing you can do to Bill Halbert.

00:32:43You mean?

00:32:44He's inside, too.

00:32:47Dead?

00:32:48Yeah.

00:32:49Strung himself up from a rafter.

00:32:51Jack.

00:32:52Hey, Jack.

00:32:53Where are you going?

00:32:54Inside!

00:32:55I gotta go inside!

00:32:56Don't be a fool, will you?

00:32:57Let go of me!

00:32:58Listen.

00:32:59You're not going in there, I tell you.

00:33:01You're coming straight back to town with me.

00:33:03Now, be quiet.

00:33:04We've got a report of the police.

00:33:06It's the best way, Jack.

00:33:08It's...

00:33:09Well, it's not very pretty in there.

00:33:10The sight of it would stick in your mind for a long time, mate.

00:33:13Yeah.

00:33:14Yeah.

00:33:15I suppose you're right.

00:33:17Oh, come on.

00:33:18All right.

00:33:19All right.

00:33:20Let's get started.

00:33:22In due course, the report of the ghastly tragedy reached police headquarters in Perth.

00:33:35The commissioner sent for one of his most experienced men, Detective Charles Muller.

00:33:41Come in, Muller.

00:33:42Come in, Muller.

00:33:45There you are.

00:33:46Yes, sir.

00:33:47What is it, sir?

00:33:48I want you to take a trip up to a little place called Bruce Rock, Muller.

00:33:52Right-o, sir.

00:33:53What's it doing?

00:33:54Oh, just a straightforward case.

00:33:56Murder and suicide on a farm.

00:33:58You know the kind of thing.

00:33:59Hired hand goes berserk, kills father's wife and kid with an axe, then hangs himself.

00:34:03What was the murder?

00:34:04Well, it seems that the hired hand had been sacked that morning and threatened to get eaten.

00:34:09He certainly chose a drastic way of doing it.

00:34:12Has there been an inquest yet?

00:34:14No.

00:34:15It's scheduled for next Monday.

00:34:16All I want you to do is put in an appearance and formally tie up any legal loose ends that

00:34:20the local police might have overlooked.

00:34:22Okay, sir.

00:34:23I'll catch this evening's train.

00:34:31But the tragedy hadn't yet run its full course.

00:34:35When Detective Muller reached Bruce Rock, it was to learn that Halbert had had his

00:34:40full measure of revenge.

00:34:43Just a couple of hours ago it happened, sir.

00:34:45Nasty kind of thing altogether.

00:34:47You say Smith had been in a bad way ever since the tragedy out of the farm?

00:34:52Yes, sir.

00:34:53Kind of, uh, demented as you might say.

00:34:55Couldn't sleep at night or settle down to work.

00:34:57Had to get neighbors in to do the harvesting for him.

00:35:00Used to break down every now and then and cry for hours.

00:35:03Mm-hmm.

00:35:04A cute moncolia, huh?

00:35:06Well, you see, sir, he kind of blamed himself for the whole business.

00:35:10Reckoned if he hadn't been silly enough to leave his wife and kids alone with Halbert,

00:35:14it would never have happened.

00:35:16Poor devil.

00:35:17I can imagine how he must have felt.

00:35:19As a matter of fact, that's the one thing that puzzles me, too.

00:35:22What is, sir?

00:35:23Why he left them alone with Halbert.

00:35:26Anyhow, then let's talk about that now.

00:35:29Tell me what happened today.

00:35:30Well, sir, Smith had been mooping around the town all morning.

00:35:34He came to the station about lunchtime.

00:35:36Looking pretty miserable.

00:35:39Good day.

00:35:40Hello, Jack.

00:35:41How are things?

00:35:42Oh, not so good.

00:35:45What's doing?

00:35:46Any news?

00:35:47A detective's only way up here from Perth.

00:35:49A bloke named Mother.

00:35:50He's a pretty good man, they say.

00:35:52What's he coming for?

00:35:53Oh, he's just to fix up about the inquest.

00:35:55Why can't they let everything be?

00:35:58It's over and done with now, isn't it?

00:36:00Why do they have to drag it all up again?

00:36:02It's the law, Jack.

00:36:03There's always got to be an inquest.

00:36:05That means I'll have to give evidence, I suppose.

00:36:08Of course.

00:36:09Answer more questions.

00:36:10Go through the whole business again.

00:36:13It's not fair.

00:36:14I shouldn't have to do it.

00:36:15Haven't I had to endure enough as it is?

00:36:17Now, now, Jack.

00:36:18There's no need to upset yourself.

00:36:19Questions, questions, questions.

00:36:21Questions.

00:36:22I can't stand any more of it, I tell you.

00:36:24It's driving me mad.

00:36:25We're only doing our duty.

00:36:26Duty.

00:36:27Well, I won't tell you.

00:36:28I won't see this fellow.

00:36:30He can talk till he's black in the face and I won't ask for a single thing.

00:36:33Now, there's no need to be like that.

00:36:35We all know how you feel and we're sorry for you.

00:36:37I won't stand any more of it, I tell you.

00:36:39I won't stand it.

00:36:40You can go to the devil, the whole lot of you.

00:36:43What's the crazy devil up to?

00:36:47Where in the place is he going?

00:36:49He's driving, he hit something.

00:36:52Hey, Smitty!

00:36:53Come back, you fool!

00:36:54Come back!

00:36:56No!

00:36:57You see sir, he dashed out and into his car, drove like a madman down the main street,

00:37:15crashed through the lock gate of a paddock and the next thing we knew there was an explosion.

00:37:19He had blown himself to pieces with a plug of dynamite.

00:37:21Poor fellow.

00:37:22The whole case might have ended then and there and certainly would have had it not been for Detective Muller.

00:37:37A fortnight later he was back in Perth reporting to his chief.

00:37:40Well, you certainly took a long time to round off a clear-cut case, Muller.

00:37:44No, it's not quite as clear-cut as all that, sir.

00:37:47There are just one or two points I think you should know.

00:37:49Oh?

00:37:50What are they?

00:37:51Well, first I checked in Halbert's hometown.

00:37:53Everyone agreed he was a shy, sober young man, completely placid-tempered.

00:37:58But that doesn't prove anything.

00:38:00Oh.

00:38:01Secondly, I've learned that three months ago Smith came to Perth on a visit and insured his wife for £2,000,

00:38:07with himself as beneficiary.

00:38:09Go on.

00:38:11And finally, sir, according to the pathologist's report,

00:38:15Halbert was killed by strangulation at least six hours before Smith's wife and child were murdered.

00:38:22Good heavens.

00:38:24You mean to say...

00:38:25I mean to say, sir, that Smith deliberately spread a false report of Halbert's vicious temper

00:38:32and then killed all three of them.

00:38:41Out of the night!

00:39:02Out of the night comes a whispering voice of the night wind

00:39:09to tell another story of man's battle with fate.

00:39:14The true story tonight of a brazen murder plot that went astray.

00:39:28Why should I kill my wife?

00:39:30We were happy together.

00:39:31She was generous with her money.

00:39:33I never wanted for a thing.

00:39:35Why should I kill her?

00:39:39I never wanted to.

00:39:52Time was immarkan black city.

00:39:53This is what we are seeing.

00:39:59It happened one blustery evening in late February 1919

00:40:09in the quiet little village of Long Beach

00:40:13on the south shore of Long Island, New York.

00:40:17The 9.30 p.m. train from New York has just pulled in.

00:40:21Only two passengers have alighted.

00:40:24Elderly Dr. Walter Wilkins, a retired physician,

00:40:27and his wife, Julia.

00:40:30They set off for their home in Olive Street

00:40:32and on the way past Police Sergeant Schneider.

00:40:35Good night, Sergeant.

00:40:36Good night, Doc.

00:40:37Good night, Mrs. Wilkins.

00:40:38Good night.

00:40:39Keeping you busy, Sergeant?

00:40:40Busy.

00:40:41Nothing's ever happened in Long Beach in 50 years.

00:40:44Well, you should be the last to complain about that.

00:40:47Oh, I'm not complaining, ma'am,

00:40:49but a guy does like a bit of excitement now and again.

00:40:52Such as what?

00:40:53Oh, a nice juicy murder, for instance.

00:40:56Well, good night, Doc.

00:40:58Good night, ma'am.

00:41:05Little does Officer Schneider realize how soon his wish is to be granted.

00:41:09Exactly 23 minutes later, he hears the sound of running footsteps approaching.

00:41:15Sergeant!

00:41:16Sergeant!

00:41:17Oh, come quickly.

00:41:19Sergeant.

00:41:20For Pete's sake, Doc, what's the matter?

00:41:22Why, you're all messed up.

00:41:24Never mind about me.

00:41:25It's my wife.

00:41:26Where is she?

00:41:27Just outside the house.

00:41:29There were three of them.

00:41:31They attacked me first, and then one of them hit my wife.

00:41:34I think she's dying.

00:41:36Come on, let's run for it.

00:41:39How did it happen, Doc?

00:41:40Oh, just as we got home.

00:41:42We went in the back way, and I opened the door and went in first.

00:41:47I knew at once there were thieves in the house where I could see a shadowy figure.

00:41:52I called out to my wife.

00:41:54You hear there's someone inside.

00:41:56You'd better go for help.

00:41:57And then?

00:41:58Then something hit me on the head, and I fell to the floor.

00:42:02I heard my wife scream, and then I heard someone say, you'd better fix her up.

00:42:08And then the back door slammed, and I heard my wife scream again, and then there was silence.

00:42:13What happened next?

00:42:14I don't know.

00:42:15I was dazed.

00:42:17Finally, I managed to make my way out to the backyard.

00:42:21Robert's gone, and my wife was lying there unconscious and moaning.

00:42:26Yeah, pretty bad way, I guess.

00:42:29I do hope we get there before she dies.

00:42:32You seem pretty sure she will die.

00:42:35Oh, I'm a doctor, aren't I?

00:42:40Dr. Wilkins' analysis is accurate enough, for his wife dies in hospital at 11.45 that night.

00:42:48It's not to be wondered at, for she has been struck on the head 17 times.

00:42:54The case is quickly reported to the New York police authorities,

00:42:58and District Attorney Frederick Weeks comes down personally

00:43:00to take the investigation in hand.

00:43:02Hmm, empty brandy bottle, three glasses, two soil teacups, three chairs drawn up the table,

00:43:11cigarette butts, matches, and a cigar step on the floor.

00:43:15Well, it looks like your burglars had quite a party before you got home, Dr. Wilkins.

00:43:19It certainly looks that way, Mr. District Attorney.

00:43:22Have you checked up to see if anything was stolen?

00:43:25Well, as far as I can see, nothing from the house, but when they knocked me down,

00:43:30I must have taken my watch and a stick pin set with diamonds and my wallet.

00:43:35How much was in the wallet?

00:43:36Well, I couldn't be sure. About fifty dollars, I think.

00:43:39Hmm. Can you describe your assailants?

00:43:42Only very vaguely. I didn't get much of a look at them.

00:43:46One was a tall man, and the other was a little fat man.

00:43:50And the third?

00:43:52I don't believe I saw him at all.

00:43:54And why is her certain you saw three men?

00:43:56Well, well, well, three chairs and three glasses, for instance.

00:44:03But you didn't see those until you returned with Officer Snyder.

00:44:06Well, I don't know.

00:44:07Well, I guess I just knew instinctively that there were three.

00:44:13I've got the weapons, Chief.

00:44:14Yeah. Let's see them.

00:44:16Here's the first one.

00:44:17It's a bit of half-inch lead pipe wrapped in sacking.

00:44:20Looks like that's what you were sucked with, Doc.

00:44:23Good heavens!

00:44:24No wonder I'm alive.

00:44:26This is what they did Mrs. Wilkins' in with.

00:44:29A machinist's hammer?

00:44:31Yeah.

00:44:32Wrapped up in newspaper and tied with cord.

00:44:34Any more clues?

00:44:35None that I can see, sir.

00:44:37Well, it gives us something to work on, anyhow.

00:44:41By the way, Dr. Wilkins, I understand your wife was wealthy.

00:44:46Well, yes, yes, quite well off.

00:44:49Her father made a fortune and left most of it to her.

00:44:51Does she have much property?

00:44:53Yes, quite a bit.

00:44:56This house is hers, of course, and she owned, or rather, I should say, owned,

00:45:01several apartments in New York City.

00:45:04New York City, yeah.

00:45:05I, uh, I presume she's left a will.

00:45:08Well, I suppose she has.

00:45:10I'm her second husband, you know.

00:45:13Her first husband was a man named Otto Krauss.

00:45:16He was agent for a whiskey company.

00:45:18In 1903, when she married to Krauss, she made a will leaving most of her property to charity.

00:45:26And since then?

00:45:28Well, I don't rightly know.

00:45:31When we were married in 1906, she said she was going to make a new will in my favor, but I've never seen it, and I don't know if she ever did.

00:45:42Despite the arduous efforts of District Attorney Weeks and a whole crew of detectives, the investigation makes little headway.

00:45:52After several fruitless weeks, residents of Long Beach hold an indignation meeting, and newspaper reporters begin to pester the District Attorney and his assistants for statements.

00:46:03One of them even approaches Dr. Wilkins and suggests that maybe it was he who killed his wife.

00:46:11Wilkins replies to the point.

00:46:13I ought to feel indignant, but any such suggestion is so nonsensical it makes me laugh.

00:46:21My wife's death was the worst possible thing that could have happened to me.

00:46:27She was a good wife, a good nurse, a pleasant companion, and the person from whom I got my money.

00:46:34Unless the missing will is found, and there is no guarantee that it even exists, I am left practically penniless.

00:46:43At the age of 67, I'll have to go back into active practice.

00:46:51Two days later, in his New York office, District Attorney Weeks hears news of the missing will.

00:46:58Come in.

00:46:59Sir, I've just had a telephone call from lawyer Price.

00:47:02Price? Who's he?

00:47:04The late Julia Wilkins' attorney.

00:47:06Oh.

00:47:08Yeah, what's he want?

00:47:09Well, he says Doc Wilkins came in this morning and handed in a second will signed by his wife.

00:47:15Reckons he found it in the attic.

00:47:17It's dated 1915, and it hasn't been witnessed.

00:47:20I see.

00:47:21I gather left everything to Wilkins.

00:47:24Yes, sir.

00:47:25All except a few small items of jewelry.

00:47:27This is what we've been waiting for.

00:47:29Now, at last, we've got a motive.

00:47:31Have a warrant issued and send someone down to Long Beach and put Doc Wilkins under arrest.

00:47:37On what charge, sir?

00:47:38Eh?

00:47:39What charge do you think?

00:47:42Murder, of course.

00:47:43But how do you figure that out?

00:47:45Simple as ABC.

00:47:47Wait a minute.

00:47:48I'll read you my notes on this.

00:47:50Point one.

00:47:50The newspaper in which the hammer was wrapped was one Wilkins subscribed to.

00:47:58He was seen reading a copy of it on the train.

00:48:01Point two.

00:48:02The string around the hammer has been traced to a butcher's shop where Wilkins traded.

00:48:07Wait a minute.

00:48:08Wait a minute.

00:48:08Point three.

00:48:10A handyman who doesn't work in Wilkins' home says that he saw the hammer in Wilkins' stool chest.

00:48:17Clames he remembers it by a streak of rain paint on the handle.

00:48:19And point four.

00:48:21The stick pin and the watch Wilkins claims were stolen from him.

00:48:26They were found stuffed in the back of a couch in his house.

00:48:30And point five.

00:48:32The glasses that the attackers were supposed to have used have no fingerprints on them.

00:48:38None.

00:48:39But Wilkins.

00:48:41And if this isn't enough to arrest a man, then I don't know how to handle a murder case.

00:48:49So, the warrant is issued.

00:48:53But Wilkins must have had a premonition of disaster, for he is gone when the police reaches home.

00:49:00Two days later, he is picked up in Baltimore.

00:49:03At the trial, Wilkins defends himself with vigor.

00:49:06Order!

00:49:09Order!

00:49:10Order, please!

00:49:13The prisoner will proceed.

00:49:16The evidence against me is all circumstantial.

00:49:22I submit that it is not the sort of evidence on which any jury would dare to convict.

00:49:27Why should I kill my wife?

00:49:30We were happy together.

00:49:32She was generous with her money.

00:49:34I never wanted for a thing.

00:49:36Why should I kill her?

00:49:38For weeks before my arrest, the authorities were badgered by the press and the public to produce results.

00:49:46I suggest, in fact, I assert quite positively, gentlemen, that to still this clamor, they were determined to produce a murderer.

00:49:57And therefore, they deliberately framed me.

00:50:02Order!

00:50:03Order!

00:50:04Order in the court!

00:50:05It takes the jury exactly 22 hours and 23 minutes to make up its mind.

00:50:16Then the members file back into court.

00:50:19And the foreman says,

00:50:22We find the accused, Walter Wilkins, guilty of murder in the first degree.

00:50:28I will test!

00:50:30Order! Order!

00:50:33Walter Wilkins.

00:50:34It is now my duty to pass upon you sentence of death.

00:50:41You can't send me to the jail!

00:50:43I won't let you!

00:50:45I won't let you, sir!

00:50:46I won't let you!

00:50:47I won't let you!

00:50:55And little Dr. Wilkins is as good as his word.

00:51:00On the day after his conviction,

00:51:02Now, come on, Wilkins.

00:51:17The warden wants to have a yarn to you.

00:51:20The sim...

00:51:21Wilkins!

00:51:23Now, come on, come on.

00:51:26Say.

00:51:27Say, what goes on here?

00:51:28Hey, hey, hey, hey, someone get the doctor!

00:51:32There's a guy in here strung himself up!

00:51:38But in the long run, it didn't matter much.

00:51:42It just saved an executioner's fee.

00:51:46Out of the night!

00:52:05Out of the night!

00:52:07Out of the night comes the whispering voice of the night wind

00:52:13To tell another story of man's battle with fate.

00:52:17The true story today of a clever and impudent fraud

00:52:22That almost succeeded, but not quite.

00:52:32My husband is dead.

00:52:34You hold the proof, so that's all there is to it.

00:52:36I insist upon immediate settlement of my claim.

00:52:38Generally speaking,

00:53:00large-scale insurance frauds are a product of the present century.

00:53:04But this is the story of one that happened more than 80 years ago.

00:53:10And which remains today one of the most daring of them all.

00:53:15It began one day in 1875,

00:53:18When an attractive woman, dressed in black,

00:53:20Presented herself to the manager of a leading Paris insurance company.

00:53:24Madame Dua, I believe.

00:53:26Yes.

00:53:27Won't you be seated, please?

00:53:28Oh, thank you.

00:53:30Now, what can I have the privilege of doing for you?

00:53:32Madame, my husband, Viter Dua,

00:53:35Recently took out a life insurance policy with your company

00:53:38For a hundred thousand francs.

00:53:41I have it here.

00:53:43Oh, yes, yes.

00:53:44I remember the gentleman well.

00:53:46A big man, very genial.

00:53:48A wine merchant of Bordeaux, if my memory is not at fault.

00:53:51That is so.

00:53:52I have come all the way from there to see you.

00:53:55Indeed?

00:53:55Why?

00:53:57To report to you his death.

00:53:59But surely, Madame, cannot be serious.

00:54:03Why not?

00:54:04Well, Monsieur Dua seemed such a robust, healthy man.

00:54:08Our doctor who examined him passed him as a first-class risk.

00:54:12Ways of providence are inscrutable, Monsieur.

00:54:15True, true.

00:54:17When and where did this unfortunate event occur?

00:54:19A fortnight ago.

00:54:21My husband went to London on business.

00:54:24Little did I know as I said goodbye

00:54:26That it would be the last time I...

00:54:29I would see him.

00:54:32Oh, no, no, no.

00:54:33Madame must be brave.

00:54:34Oh, forgive me.

00:54:36Yes, I keep telling myself that.

00:54:39He took lodgings in Anne Street, Plastow.

00:54:42There on November 29th, he died suddenly.

00:54:46Apparently with no warning whatever of aneurysm of the heart.

00:54:50Oh, here is a certificate from the physician who attended him.

00:54:54It is signed, as you see, in the name of Dr. Critty.

00:54:57Yes.

00:54:58Very unfortunate.

00:55:00Very unfortunate indeed.

00:55:02And here is another certificate from the Registrar of Deaths in London.

00:55:06And here is a receipt for the purchase of a plot.

00:55:10And for burial fees at St. Patrick's Cemetery.

00:55:14Oh, your thoroughness will no doubt save us a great deal of time.

00:55:19May I take charge of these papers?

00:55:20Oh, yes, of course.

00:55:23Will I have to wait long for my money?

00:55:26Oh, no more than a few days.

00:55:28There are just one or two little matters of formalities, you understand.

00:55:32I'd suggest you return a week from today.

00:55:36And allow me to say, madame,

00:55:37how deeply grieved I am to learn of your sad loss.

00:55:40But when madame Douart returned a week later,

00:55:49it wasn't quite as easy as she had thought.

00:55:52Madame Douart,

00:55:53since our last interview,

00:55:55I have taken the liberty of making certain inquiries regarding your husband.

00:55:58Indeed?

00:55:59Why?

00:56:00A reasonable proportion, surely,

00:56:02since his death may possibly involve my company

00:56:05in the paying out of a hundred thousand francs.

00:56:08May involve?

00:56:09But surely it's all quite simple.

00:56:11My husband is dead.

00:56:12You have the papers.

00:56:13What other question arises?

00:56:15Madame,

00:56:15two months ago,

00:56:16your husband filed a petition of bankruptcy.

00:56:19That is so,

00:56:19but I don't think...

00:56:20Among his creditors in Bordeaux,

00:56:22there is a general feeling

00:56:23that it was a bankruptcy of convenience

00:56:25rather than necessity.

00:56:27Are you insinuating...

00:56:28I insinuate nothing, madame.

00:56:30I merely state that these suspicions became so strong

00:56:33that the police were induced to issue a warrant

00:56:36for your husband's arrest.

00:56:38That is the real reason why he went to London.

00:56:40Even if it was,

00:56:41I do not see that it has anything to do with you.

00:56:44Perhaps not.

00:56:45Nevertheless...

00:56:45My husband is dead.

00:56:46You hold the proofs.

00:56:47That's all there is to it.

00:56:48I insist upon immediate settlement of my claim.

00:56:51It shall be settled

00:56:52when we have completed our inquiries, madame.

00:56:55Not the day before.

00:56:56I am entitled to the money,

00:56:58and if I don't get it,

00:56:59I warn you,

00:56:59I shall seek legal assistance.

00:57:01That is your privilege, of course.

00:57:03Good day, madame.

00:57:10But however suspicious the circumstances,

00:57:13the insurance company knew

00:57:14that unless they could rebut the evidence of Duar's death,

00:57:17they would sooner or later have to pay.

00:57:20So it was that a few days later,

00:57:21Scotland Yard found themselves in possession of all the facts

00:57:24with an inquiry to look into them.

00:57:26The commissioner sent at once

00:57:28for one of his most trusted detectives,

00:57:31Nathaniel Droscovich.

00:57:32Well, there you are, Droscovich.

00:57:34There's the data,

00:57:35and there are the papers.

00:57:36Very funny business.

00:57:38See what you can make of it.

00:57:38If these certificates are authentic,

00:57:41Duar must be dead and buried.

00:57:42The insurance company thinks that his death

00:57:44occurred just a trifle too conveniently.

00:57:48They believe that a man who has committed a bankruptcy fraud

00:57:50is also capable of committing an insurance fraud.

00:57:53Well, I'm leaving it to you

00:57:54to ascertain beyond all possible doubt

00:57:56whether this man, Duar, is dead or not.

00:57:58Droscovich's inquiries took him first to the house

00:58:06in Ann Street, Plasto,

00:58:07where Duar was supposed to have died.

00:58:10There he had an interview with the landlord.

00:58:12Oh, yes, sir.

00:58:13There was a foreign gentleman

00:58:14who took the place a few weeks ago.

00:58:16He called himself Bernardi.

00:58:17Was he a big, jovial, prosperous-looking man

00:58:19aged about 45?

00:58:20Why, yes, sir.

00:58:21That description fits him perfectly, sir.

00:58:23Did he have any references?

00:58:24No, sir.

00:58:25He gave me no references.

00:58:27He did better than that.

00:58:28He paid me a month's rent, Dan,

00:58:29and that was good enough for me.

00:58:31He said he wanted a place

00:58:32where he could look after a sick friend.

00:58:33Did you see anything of this friend?

00:58:34No.

00:58:35You see, Mr. Bernardi had only been here

00:58:37a couple of days when his friend died.

00:58:39Something wrong with his heart, I believe.

00:58:41Most unfortunate.

00:58:42But he's suddenly dead.

00:58:43There was a funeral, I suppose?

00:58:44Oh, yes, quite a grand one.

00:58:46He buried his friend in St. Patrick's Cemetery.

00:58:48And then?

00:58:48Well, that's all I can tell you, sir.

00:58:50You see, Mr. Bernardi packed his things the same night

00:58:52and he went off, and I haven't seen him since.

00:58:58The detective's next call was on the caretaker

00:59:04of St. Patrick's Cemetery.

00:59:06Vito Duar?

00:59:07Oh, yes, sir.

00:59:08I remember the burial quite well.

00:59:10Such an unusual name, you see.

00:59:12The arrangements were made by a foreigner,

00:59:14a Mr. Bernardi, I believe.

00:59:16That's so.

00:59:16A very pleasant gentleman, indeed.

00:59:19He presented the death certificate,

00:59:21paid the fees,

00:59:22and generally took charge of the whole affair.

00:59:24Were there many mourners at the burial?

00:59:25Only one, sir.

00:59:26Mr. Bernardi himself.

00:59:28Do you happen to remember who the undertaker was?

00:59:30Yes, sir.

00:59:31It was old St. Brown, a plaster.

00:59:34Been in the business now and 40 years, he has.

00:59:36Good.

00:59:37I'll call on him at once.

00:59:44Yes, sir.

00:59:45I recall the gentleman quite well.

00:59:48He ordered a full-sized, ready-made coffin.

00:59:51I remember particularly because he insisted

00:59:53that the handle should be altered from the sides

00:59:56to the ends of the coffin,

00:59:58as is the custom in front.

01:00:00And can you give me a description of the person

01:00:02who was buried in this coffin?

01:00:03To tell you the truth, I can't, sir.

01:00:05But surely you must have seen the body?

01:00:07No, I didn't.

01:00:09On Mr. Bernardi's instructions,

01:00:11I delivered the coffin to Ann Street.

01:00:14He said it wasn't necessary for me to do anything more,

01:00:17as he would put the body in the coffin and screw it up.

01:00:20That's a very unusual procedure, isn't it?

01:00:22Are you trying to tell me my business?

01:00:25Maybe it was unusual,

01:00:26but let me tell you I know my legal rights

01:00:29and I acted within them.

01:00:30There was no obligation whatever on me

01:00:32to put the body in the coffin.

01:00:34Mr. Bernardi presented a certificate of death

01:00:37properly signed by the registrar.

01:00:39And that was good enough for me.

01:00:40Well, it's not good enough for me.

01:00:42Well, what do you mean, sir?

01:00:43I mean that I'm going to get an authority

01:00:44for an order for exhumation.

01:00:46Two nights later,

01:00:54the newly turned earth was disturbed once more

01:00:56and the coffin was brought to the surface.

01:00:59All right.

01:01:04Unscrew the lid.

01:01:05Yes, sir.

01:01:07All the same,

01:01:08I don't think it's right

01:01:10that we should disturb the rest of the dead like this.

01:01:15It's desecration.

01:01:16That's what it is.

01:01:17Stop scrumbling and get on with your job.

01:01:19No good will come of it.

01:01:22Mock my words.

01:01:23No good at all.

01:01:24Well, there you are, sir.

01:01:28And I hope you're satisfied.

01:01:30Well, well, bless me so.

01:01:33Desecrating the dead, eh?

01:01:34Well, there's nothing there

01:01:36but a few odd bits of metal

01:01:37to make up the weight.

01:01:39There, what a surprise.

01:01:40Not to me it isn't.

01:01:45There remained now

01:01:47only two or three formal calls.

01:01:50Andruskovich's case was completed.

01:01:51Well, there's the whole story, sir.

01:01:53Using the name of Bernardi,

01:01:55Duart took lodgings at Plastow.

01:01:56He pretended he had a sick friend

01:01:58whom nobody saw, of course.

01:02:00And a couple of days later

01:02:01gave out that his friend had died.

01:02:03He forged a medical certificate of death.

01:02:05Hmm, have you established that?

01:02:06Yes.

01:02:07I interviewed the only doctor in London

01:02:09by the name of Critty.

01:02:10He said that the writing was a clumsy forgery

01:02:12and that he had never attended

01:02:13an attendant at Plastow.

01:02:16Well, that seems conclusive enough.

01:02:19Go on, Drescovich.

01:02:20He presented the forged certificate

01:02:21to the Registrar of Deaths

01:02:23and received an official certificate of death.

01:02:25He showed that to the undertaker

01:02:26and to the cemetery authorities.

01:02:29When the coffin was delivered at the house,

01:02:30he filled it with scrap metal

01:02:32and screwed down the lid.

01:02:34He attended the funeral and the burial,

01:02:36paid the fees and obtained receipts.

01:02:38Hmm.

01:02:38A very clever fraud.

01:02:40Very clever indeed.

01:02:41Now all we have to do is to find Monsieur Duart.

01:02:44That's not going to be so easy.

01:02:46I've taken to Liverpool

01:02:47and I've reason to believe

01:02:48that he's on his way to America

01:02:50under the name of Roubini.

01:02:51I see.

01:02:53That makes it rather difficult, doesn't it?

01:02:54I would suggest that the Paris Surete

01:02:56pick up his wife.

01:02:58The best chance of finding Duart

01:03:00is through her.

01:03:01I quite agree.

01:03:02But you see,

01:03:03my last advice from Paris

01:03:05is that Madame Duart

01:03:06has disappeared also.

01:03:10Since the insurance company

01:03:11had not paid out its 100,000 francs,

01:03:14the French authorities

01:03:15did not think it worthwhile

01:03:16searching for and extraditing

01:03:18Duart from the United States.

01:03:19And there the matter

01:03:22may have rested for all time

01:03:23if Duart had been wise enough

01:03:25to stay where he was.

01:03:27But five years later

01:03:29he made the fatal error

01:03:30of returning to England.

01:03:32So it happened

01:03:33that one day

01:03:34Nathaniel Druskovich

01:03:35was called again

01:03:36before his chief.

01:03:38You'd better look into this, Druskovich.

01:03:39What's it all about, sir?

01:03:41A suspected insurance fraud.

01:03:43Some fellow insured

01:03:44a quantity of goods

01:03:45that he was shipping by boat

01:03:46for 5,000 pounds.

01:03:48With a fire in the hole,

01:03:49his goods were destroyed

01:03:50and he's likely to claim.

01:03:52Hmm.

01:03:53Well, that makes the company

01:03:54think there's been a fraud.

01:03:56One of their officers

01:03:57found the remains

01:03:58of a barrel of tar

01:03:59among the fire debris.

01:04:00Hmm.

01:04:00Very clumsily, I must say.

01:04:03What's the name

01:04:04of the man in the case?

01:04:05Yeah, he's a foreigner.

01:04:07Calls himself Roberti.

01:04:10Roberti?

01:04:13Bernardi?

01:04:15Rubini?

01:04:16Roberti?

01:04:17I wonder.

01:04:23This time,

01:04:24Druskovich made no mistake.

01:04:27Douart was arrested

01:04:27and handed over

01:04:28to the French authorities.

01:04:30He was tried

01:04:31and some years later

01:04:32died in prison.

01:04:34Out of the night!

01:05:02Out of the night

01:05:06comes the whispering

01:05:07voice of the night wind

01:05:08to tell another story

01:05:09of man's battle with fate.

01:05:11The amazing but true story

01:05:12tonight

01:05:13of an error in identity

01:05:14that sent an innocent man

01:05:15to jail

01:05:16for seven years.

01:05:18Unbelievable,

01:05:19but true.

01:05:20I don't know anything

01:05:28about it.

01:05:30I said it!

01:05:31You've got to believe me!

01:05:32This is the voice of a night wind

01:05:52and this is the tale I tell.

01:05:53It began one wintry

01:05:56December afternoon

01:05:57in 1895

01:05:58in a fashionable

01:05:59London street.

01:06:01Adolf Beck,

01:06:02a well-to-do Norwegian,

01:06:04was taking a quiet stroll

01:06:05before dinner

01:06:06when he was suddenly

01:06:07accosted by an angry

01:06:08young woman.

01:06:09Oh, I found you

01:06:09at last, you scoundrel!

01:06:11I am sorry, madame.

01:06:13There must be some mistake.

01:06:14There's no mistake.

01:06:15I'd know your face anywhere.

01:06:16Give me that,

01:06:17my watch,

01:06:17and we'll see you.

01:06:18Please, I assure you.

01:06:20My name is Adolf Beck.

01:06:22I am a Norwegian

01:06:22and a visitor to London.

01:06:23Don't think you can

01:06:24get out of it like that.

01:06:25I assure, madame,

01:06:26she is in error.

01:06:28Now, if you will

01:06:28please excuse me...

01:06:29Oh, no, you don't!

01:06:30Police!

01:06:31Help!

01:06:31Police!

01:06:32Please, madame!

01:06:34I employ you!

01:06:35Hey, hey,

01:06:36what's going on here?

01:06:37Is this man

01:06:38annoying you, lady?

01:06:38He's a thief.

01:06:39I've been searching

01:06:40for him for days.

01:06:41He obtained variables

01:06:41of mine by trickery.

01:06:42Ah, one of them, eh?

01:06:44This is preposterous, constable.

01:06:46I tried to explain

01:06:47to the young lady

01:06:48that she is mistaking

01:06:49me for someone else.

01:06:50My name is...

01:06:51Never mind about that now.

01:06:52You'd better come along

01:06:53with me.

01:06:54You can tell your story

01:06:55to the sergeant.

01:07:02Mystified and angry,

01:07:03Adolf Beck spent

01:07:04several hours on the cells

01:07:05before his insistent demand

01:07:06to talk to the sergeant

01:07:07in charge was granted.

01:07:09Well, what do you want?

01:07:10I demand to know

01:07:11why I'm being detained here.

01:07:13Oh, you do, do you?

01:07:14Well, if it's any news to you,

01:07:16you're being detained

01:07:17on the charge

01:07:17of obtaining goods

01:07:18by false pretenses.

01:07:19From that, young woman?

01:07:21You have hit it in one, matey.

01:07:22But that's absurd.

01:07:24I've never seen her

01:07:25before in my life.

01:07:26Ah, still sticking

01:07:27to that yarn, eh?

01:07:28It's the truth.

01:07:30At least you might tell me

01:07:31what I'm supposed

01:07:32to have done.

01:07:33You wouldn't have heard

01:07:34of the St. John's Wood joke

01:07:35by any chance,

01:07:36would you?

01:07:37No.

01:07:37You haven't?

01:07:40I don't know

01:07:40what you're talking about.

01:07:42The St. John's Wood joke,

01:07:43matey, is this.

01:07:45A prosperous-looking gent

01:07:46like yourself

01:07:47scrapes up an acquaintance

01:07:48with a woman

01:07:49and drops hints

01:07:50about his wealth

01:07:51and aristocracy

01:07:52and so on.

01:07:53Later on,

01:07:54he writes to her,

01:07:55asking if he can call.

01:07:57He uses expensive

01:07:58crested paper

01:07:59with a St. John's Wood

01:08:00address

01:08:00and he signs it

01:08:01with a title.

01:08:02But this is fantastic.

01:08:03Hold on,

01:08:04I've not finished yet.

01:08:05In new course,

01:08:06the gentleman calls.

01:08:08He's wanting

01:08:08a housekeeper,

01:08:09he says,

01:08:10and invites the lady

01:08:11to take the job.

01:08:12The pay is good

01:08:13and she accepts.

01:08:14He insists on

01:08:15buying her a new wardrobe

01:08:16and gives her

01:08:17a whopping check.

01:08:19Then the talk

01:08:19gets round to jewellery.

01:08:21She shows him

01:08:22what she has.

01:08:23He says it needs

01:08:24resetting and improving.

01:08:25So he takes

01:08:26the whole lot of it

01:08:27away to have it fixed.

01:08:30And that's the last

01:08:30she sees of him

01:08:31for her stuff.

01:08:33And even the check

01:08:34comes back marked

01:08:34no account.

01:08:35But of course,

01:08:36you wouldn't know

01:08:37about such things,

01:08:37would you?

01:08:38No, I wouldn't.

01:08:40And let me tell you,

01:08:40Sergeant...

01:08:41If you don't mind,

01:08:42I'll do all the telling

01:08:43around here.

01:08:44We've had a lot of

01:08:45complaints these last

01:08:46few months

01:08:46about swindlers

01:08:47like you.

01:08:48I've sent messages

01:08:49out to all the women

01:08:50who've been taken in.

01:08:51In half an hour

01:08:52or so, matey,

01:08:53you're going to take

01:08:53your chance in the lineup.

01:08:55If you're as innocent

01:08:56as you say,

01:08:57you have nothing to fear.

01:08:58Otherwise,

01:08:59you can look forward

01:09:00to a nice,

01:09:01long stretch.

01:09:08To Beck's horror,

01:09:10no less than

01:09:11ten or twenty women

01:09:12who attended the lineup

01:09:13identified him

01:09:15as the man

01:09:15who had duped them.

01:09:17Then,

01:09:18someone looked up

01:09:18the records

01:09:19and discovered

01:09:20that a man known

01:09:21as John Smith

01:09:22had gone to jail

01:09:23for five years

01:09:24way back in 1877

01:09:25for similar offenses.

01:09:26The policeman

01:09:28who had arrested

01:09:29this Smith

01:09:29was brought out

01:09:30of retirement,

01:09:31confronted with Beck,

01:09:32and declared at once

01:09:33that he and Smith

01:09:35were the same man.

01:09:37Things looked black

01:09:38for Beck

01:09:38and blacker still

01:09:39as the trial progressed.

01:09:42Only his counsel,

01:09:43Charles Gill,

01:09:44remained confident

01:09:45of an acquittal.

01:09:45But if all these women

01:09:47all say positively

01:09:48that I am the man,

01:09:50how can I possibly

01:09:51hope for an acquittal?

01:09:52Don't you worry,

01:09:52Mr. Beck.

01:09:53I have a trump

01:09:54of my steviot.

01:09:54You have?

01:09:56That's comforting to know.

01:09:58What is it?

01:09:59As soon as the Crown

01:10:00tries to prove

01:10:00that you and this

01:10:01John Smith are identical,

01:10:02I'm going to blow

01:10:03their whole case sky high.

01:10:04Good.

01:10:05First,

01:10:05I'm going to submit

01:10:06Smith's official description

01:10:07and let the jury

01:10:08compare it with yours.

01:10:10Perhaps they will be similar.

01:10:11Not at all.

01:10:13Smith was dark.

01:10:14You're fair.

01:10:15His eyes were brown.

01:10:16You're the blue.

01:10:17He was five feet eight inches.

01:10:18You're six feet.

01:10:19He weighed 11 stone.

01:10:20You weigh 14.

01:10:21But that doddering old constable

01:10:23they brought out

01:10:24of her time

01:10:25had positively identified

01:10:26me as Smith.

01:10:27So much the better.

01:10:28If he can be mistaken,

01:10:29so can the women.

01:10:30Furthermore,

01:10:30I had a word today

01:10:31from the British Embassy

01:10:32in Peru

01:10:32which proved definitely

01:10:33that you were in South America

01:10:34at the time Smith

01:10:35was sent to jail.

01:10:36I tell you,

01:10:37Mr. Beck,

01:10:37you've got not a thing

01:10:38to worry about.

01:10:39Once I prove

01:10:40you can't possibly be John Smith,

01:10:41the jury just can't do

01:10:42anything else but to quit you.

01:10:48Counsel's reasoning

01:10:49was sound enough.

01:10:50The only catch was

01:10:51that the Crown Prosecutor

01:10:53happened to see

01:10:53the same trap

01:10:54and carefully avoided

01:10:55walking into it.

01:10:57And as to the suggestion,

01:10:58Your Honour,

01:10:59that my client

01:11:00has had a previous conviction

01:11:01for an offense of this nature

01:11:02and that he is in fact

01:11:04identical with one John Smith

01:11:06I object, Your Honour.

01:11:07What are your grounds,

01:11:08Miss Ravery?

01:11:09I submit, Your Honour,

01:11:10that the prisoner

01:11:11is charged with misdemeanour

01:11:12on ten specific counts

01:11:14during 1895.

01:11:16The question of whether

01:11:17he is or is not

01:11:18John Smith

01:11:18has nothing whatever

01:11:19to do with the present charges

01:11:20nor can its introduction

01:11:22serve any possible purpose

01:11:24but to confuse

01:11:25and prejudice

01:11:25the proceedings

01:11:26before this court.

01:11:27With all due respect

01:11:28to my learned colleague,

01:11:29Your Honour,

01:11:29I...

01:11:30Objection sustained.

01:11:32Did Your Honour say

01:11:33sustained?

01:11:34I did, Mr. Gill.

01:11:36Pray proceed with your case

01:11:37and omit all reference

01:11:39to the name of John Smith

01:11:40and of any incident

01:11:41or person

01:11:42not directly concerned

01:11:43with the charges

01:11:44before the court.

01:11:51With his main line

01:11:52of defense denied him,

01:11:54Beck never had a chance.

01:11:56He was found guilty

01:11:57and still fervently

01:11:59protesting his innocence.

01:12:00Sentenced to

01:12:01seven years jail.

01:12:04Good conduct commission

01:12:05zoned his release

01:12:05after five years

01:12:06in 1901.

01:12:08But scarcely

01:12:09had he settled back

01:12:09to civilian life

01:12:10than the old nightmare

01:12:11began all over again.

01:12:14Well,

01:12:15if it isn't

01:12:15me old friend

01:12:16that'll pick.

01:12:17Oh,

01:12:18it's you, sergeant.

01:12:20What do you want?

01:12:21Oh,

01:12:21just called him

01:12:22for a quiet chat

01:12:23as you might say.

01:12:24Haven't you people

01:12:25finished with me yet?

01:12:26Don't you think

01:12:27you've hounded me

01:12:28enough as you did?

01:12:29No, no, no, no.

01:12:30Hard feelings.

01:12:31Gotta do me job,

01:12:32you know.

01:12:34Sir,

01:12:34you've been up

01:12:35your old games again, eh?

01:12:36It's a pity

01:12:37you fellas never learn.

01:12:39What do you mean?

01:12:40What are you trying

01:12:41to pin on me now?

01:12:42You've been out of court

01:12:43about a month now,

01:12:44haven't you?

01:12:45Yes.

01:12:46For which today?

01:12:47Don't waste much time,

01:12:48do you?

01:12:49I don't know.

01:12:50I always thought

01:12:51you were an intelligent

01:12:52sort of cove.

01:12:54Didn't really expect

01:12:55you'd mend your ways,

01:12:55you know,

01:12:56but I did think

01:12:57you'd change your methods.

01:12:58I'm disappointed

01:12:59in you, matey.

01:13:00Really, I am.

01:13:01Will you please

01:13:02tell me what all

01:13:02this is leading to?

01:13:04Never heard of a woman

01:13:04named Mary Watson?

01:13:06Never.

01:13:07Will it surprise you

01:13:07to know she complained

01:13:08to the police today

01:13:09that she'd been a victim

01:13:10of the St. John's Wood joke?

01:13:12I tell you,

01:13:13I never heard of her.

01:13:14And from the way

01:13:15she describes

01:13:15the man who took her in,

01:13:17it sounds exactly like you.

01:13:19I don't know

01:13:20anything about it.

01:13:21I swear it.

01:13:22You've got to believe me.

01:13:23Still plainly innocent, eh?

01:13:25Well,

01:13:26you'd better come along

01:13:27with me, Beck.

01:13:27You mean

01:13:28I'm to be charged again?

01:13:31Well,

01:13:31that all depends

01:13:32on whether she identifies

01:13:34you in the line-up.

01:13:35So once again,

01:13:42the whole incredible business

01:13:44was repeated.

01:13:46To Adolf Beck,

01:13:47it must have seemed

01:13:48like some hideous nightmare.

01:13:51In the line-up,

01:13:52the woman had no hesitation

01:13:53in selecting him

01:13:53as her defrauder.

01:13:55He was charged,

01:13:56stood his trial,

01:13:57found guilty,

01:13:58and remanded for sentence.

01:13:59Then,

01:14:01as he waited miserably

01:14:02in his cell

01:14:03to learn his fate,

01:14:04the whole case

01:14:05suddenly and dramatically

01:14:07cracked open.

01:14:09Congratulations,

01:14:10Mr. Beck.

01:14:10You're pleased.

01:14:11I...

01:14:12I'm pleased?

01:14:13Well,

01:14:14I'll accept

01:14:14for a few legal details.

01:14:16You mean

01:14:16they reviewed my case?

01:14:18I mean

01:14:18they caught

01:14:18the real criminal,

01:14:19John Swift.

01:14:20It...

01:14:20it can't be true.

01:14:22It is true.

01:14:23They arrested him

01:14:24in a pawn shop

01:14:24four hours ago,

01:14:25trying to dispose

01:14:26of some of

01:14:26Mary Watson's jails.

01:14:28He's broken down

01:14:28under cross-questioning

01:14:29and has confessed everything.

01:14:30Everything?

01:14:31Yes,

01:14:32including the crimes

01:14:33that you were sent

01:14:33to jail for

01:14:34five years ago.

01:14:35You're not only free,

01:14:36Mr. Beck,

01:14:37but your name

01:14:37has been cleared.

01:14:38And if I can't get you

01:14:39offering compensation

01:14:40for your wrongful imprisonment,

01:14:42my name is not

01:14:43Charlie Gill.

01:14:48A special committee

01:14:49of inquiry

01:14:49was set up

01:14:50to investigate

01:14:51the whole matter.

01:14:52And Adolf Beck

01:14:53had the belated pleasure

01:14:54of seeing his name

01:14:55expunged from

01:14:56the criminal records

01:14:57and receiving a check

01:14:58for 5,000 pounds

01:14:59for the wrong

01:15:00he had suffered.

01:15:02Today,

01:15:03his story is history.

01:15:06But neither criminologists

01:15:07nor psychologists

01:15:08have ever been able

01:15:09to explain

01:15:10how 11 women

01:15:11could have positively

01:15:13identified him

01:15:14as John Smith

01:15:14when the two men

01:15:15were so utterly

01:15:16dissimilar

01:15:17in every respect.

01:15:19And that is the story

01:15:20of

01:15:21When Justice Was Blind.

01:15:24Unbelievable,

01:15:24but true.

01:15:50Out of the night!

01:15:52Out of the night

01:15:55comes the whispering

01:15:55voice of the night wind

01:15:56to tell another story

01:15:57of man's battle

01:15:58with life.

01:15:59Tonight,

01:16:00the story of

01:16:00William James Cedars,

01:16:02the man who destroyed

01:16:03his own mind.

01:16:05Unbelievable,

01:16:06but true.

01:16:14They hate me.

01:16:15Nobody likes me.

01:16:16They say I'm a freak.

01:16:17They hate me.

01:16:18They hate me.

01:16:19They hate me.

01:16:20Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

01:16:33This is the voice of the night wind,

01:16:35and this is the tale I tell.

01:16:37It is the month of July

01:16:39in the year 1944,

01:16:41and in the copy room

01:16:42of a country newspaper

01:16:43in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA,

01:16:45is being written

01:16:46the final chapter

01:16:47to one of the most

01:16:48amazing stories ever told.

01:16:51The life history

01:16:51of one

01:16:52William James Cedars,

01:16:54who, like the Browns,

01:16:55the Smiths,

01:16:56and the Jones

01:16:56of this world,

01:16:57had his part to play

01:16:58in the queer

01:17:00jigsaw pattern

01:17:01of life.

01:17:02Hey, Henry.

01:17:03What is it, Sam?

01:17:04This copy.

01:17:05Take a look at it, will you?

01:17:06Huh?

01:17:06What's the matter with it?

01:17:07Read it for yourself.

01:17:08Let's see.

01:17:10Huh.

01:17:11A death is reported

01:17:12of William James Cedars,

01:17:13age 46,

01:17:14from natural causes

01:17:14at Evans Boarding House

01:17:16on Main Street.

01:17:17Cedars was stricken

01:17:17with a cold,

01:17:18which resulted in complications

01:17:19from which he never...

01:17:20What imponderance!

01:17:23You beat it!

01:17:23Who the devil wrote this?

01:17:24Young Taylor,

01:17:25that new cub reporter.

01:17:26What are you trying to do?

01:17:26Ruin our circulation?

01:17:27We want news!

01:17:28Not some story

01:17:29about a poor tramp

01:17:29who passes out

01:17:30in a second-rate boarding house?

01:17:31Anyway, what do I do

01:17:32with this copy?

01:17:32Throw it in a waste paper basket.

01:17:34That's the best place for it.

01:17:35Carelessly,

01:17:42Sam throws

01:17:42the discarded news item

01:17:43into the already crammed

01:17:44waste paper bin.

01:17:46If only he possessed

01:17:48the power of being able

01:17:49to read between the lines

01:17:50of that scrap of paper,

01:17:51he would have discovered

01:17:52a story to thrill his heart.

01:17:54A weird story

01:17:55set in the realms

01:17:56of abnormal psychology.

01:17:58It opens in the laboratory

01:17:59of a brilliant Russian professor

01:18:01of abnormal psychology,

01:18:03Dr. Boris Cedars

01:18:04of Harvard University.

01:18:06It is a happy day

01:18:07for the austere professor,

01:18:08for he has just become

01:18:10the father

01:18:10of a baby son.

01:18:13Congratulations,

01:18:13Dr. Cedars.

01:18:14Thank you, Henry.

01:18:14How are Mrs. Cedars

01:18:15and the babies?

01:18:16Fine, just fine.

01:18:17Now, tell me, doctor,

01:18:18what you're going to call

01:18:19the little fellow?

01:18:19William James.

01:18:21A good democratic American,

01:18:23man.

01:18:23I suppose you'll want

01:18:24your son to follow

01:18:25in your footsteps.

01:18:26He has a great reputation

01:18:27to live up to.

01:18:28And he'll be equal to it.

01:18:29You know, Henry,

01:18:30you hear a lot of idle talk

01:18:31about genius being born,

01:18:33not made.

01:18:34But it's not true.

01:18:35Just as a plant is nurtured,

01:18:37so is the mind.

01:18:38I'm going to educate my child,

01:18:40deliberately making

01:18:41what we loosely term

01:18:43a genius.

01:18:44What?

01:18:44Dr. Cedars!

01:18:46My theory frightens you, Henry?

01:18:48Sir, surely we can't

01:18:49tamper with man's destiny.

01:18:51Man does not matter

01:18:52like a plant.

01:18:53It's mind, soul.

01:18:55We're putting on dangerous ground.

01:18:57Superstitious metaphysical nonsense,

01:18:58that's all it is.

01:19:00You'll see, Henry.

01:19:01William James Cedars

01:19:02will have the greatest brain

01:19:03man has ever known.

01:19:09So, William James Cedars

01:19:10becomes a human guinea pig

01:19:12to test his father's theory.

01:19:14Six months later,

01:19:15a group of professors

01:19:16call it the home

01:19:17of Dr. Boris Cedars.

01:19:18Impossible!

01:19:19Utterly fantastic!

01:19:20You can't believe it, Boris.

01:19:21A six-month-old baby

01:19:22able to understand the alphabet?

01:19:23Nevertheless,

01:19:24watch.

01:19:25Notice these alphabet blocks

01:19:26with the large letters

01:19:27who have fended

01:19:28over the baby's crib.

01:19:29Now, I call out

01:19:31one of the letters

01:19:31of the alphabet

01:19:32and young William

01:19:33will touch

01:19:33the corresponding block.

01:19:35Watch.

01:19:36D.

01:19:39There, gentlemen.

01:19:39Inextricably amazing.

01:19:41And to prove

01:19:42it was no mere chance.

01:19:43We'll try again.

01:19:44This time,

01:19:46H.

01:19:48He touched

01:19:48the correct block again.

01:19:49Astonishing.

01:19:50He completely revises

01:19:51all existing thoughts

01:19:52on child development.

01:19:53Sir William

01:19:58becomes living proof

01:19:59of his father's theories.

01:20:01Bond Peter Boris

01:20:02explains it

01:20:03as a kind of

01:20:03mental forced feeding.

01:20:06With the systematic

01:20:06training of my son's mind,

01:20:08I predict

01:20:09he will be qualified

01:20:09for Harvard University

01:20:11at the age of nine.

01:20:16Fantastic as it seems,

01:20:17William James Cedars

01:20:18is ready for Harvard

01:20:19at the age of nine.

01:20:21The authorities

01:20:22concede his qualifications

01:20:23but make him wait

01:20:24until he is eleven

01:20:25before admitting him.

01:20:27William's education

01:20:27goes relentlessly on.

01:20:29Outwardly a smashing success.

01:20:31But inwardly,

01:20:33a psychological storm

01:20:34is brewing.

01:20:35At school.

01:20:36Look at Charles Cedars

01:20:37over there.

01:20:38Oh, kid,

01:20:38I can't help feeling

01:20:39sorry for him.

01:20:40Why don't they send him

01:20:40back to kindergarten?

01:20:41Are you kidding?

01:20:42He graduated

01:20:43top of his year.

01:20:44The kid's a genius.

01:20:44Maybe he is.

01:20:46Sure he knows about

01:20:47things that are in books.

01:20:48So what do you know

01:20:49about living?

01:20:50Playing baseball

01:20:51or having a good time?

01:20:52Hey, you better look out.

01:20:52We'll be making you

01:20:53his nursemaid.

01:20:54It shouldn't be

01:20:55such a bad idea at that.

01:20:56Nobody ever bothers

01:20:57about the kid.

01:20:58He's lonely.

01:21:00Let's go over

01:21:00and talk to him.

01:21:01Ah, you can.

01:21:02I'm up to the Alpha Beta

01:21:03Piper fraternity meeting.

01:21:04See you later.

01:21:05Maybe I'm the world's

01:21:06biggest sap

01:21:07and here goes.

01:21:09Say, kid.

01:21:13How'd you like that?

01:21:14He just walked off

01:21:14without a word.

01:21:15William's college days

01:21:23resemble a nightmare.

01:21:25He learns to hate

01:21:26staring eyes

01:21:26to shun all society.

01:21:29Mentally, he crunches up

01:21:30distorted visions

01:21:30of his life.

01:21:31They hate me.

01:21:32Nobody likes me.

01:21:34I don't understand

01:21:34what they talk about.

01:21:36I don't know anything

01:21:36about games.

01:21:37They say I'm a freak.

01:21:38They hate me.

01:21:39They hate me.

01:21:39Yes, the boy does

01:21:48have his say of glory.

01:21:49One day, he appears

01:21:50on the lecture

01:21:50of Trim at Harvard

01:21:51to discourse on...

01:21:53The fourth dimension

01:21:54is the subject

01:21:55of today's lecture

01:21:56by William Seager.

01:22:05Brushing aside

01:22:06a lock of blonde hair

01:22:07that falls across his eyes,

01:22:08the shy boy begins

01:22:09his creatives

01:22:10in a shrill voice

01:22:11that becomes shriller

01:22:12as he warms

01:22:12to his subjects.

01:22:14Occasionally,

01:22:15the attentive listener

01:22:15can detect

01:22:16an ominous giggle.

01:22:17But at the end

01:22:18of the lecture...

01:22:19Remarkable.

01:22:19The most clear-sighted

01:22:20disposition ever given

01:22:21on the subject.

01:22:22Genius.

01:22:23Fair genius.

01:22:28But the cost of genius

01:22:30is soon apparent.

01:22:31The great brain

01:22:32of William Seager

01:22:33breaks down.

01:22:35He's removed from Harvard

01:22:36to his father's sanitarium

01:22:37at Portsmouth

01:22:37in New Hampshire.

01:22:38Throughout America,

01:22:40critics assail

01:22:40the man who has

01:22:41endeavored to create

01:22:42in his son

01:22:43a genius.

01:22:44a monster.

01:22:45Dr. Boris Cedis

01:22:46has deliberately

01:22:46destroyed his son's mind.

01:22:48Congress should pass

01:22:49a bill that will

01:22:49prevent any further

01:22:50exploitation of children

01:22:51by the ferns.

01:22:52The Associated Press

01:22:53of America

01:22:53condemns the practices

01:22:55of Dr. Boris Cedis

01:22:56who has come close

01:22:57to destroying

01:22:58his son's sanity.

01:23:02The fools.

01:23:03When they realize

01:23:04I'm trying to prove

01:23:05that man can be

01:23:05unshackled

01:23:06from the tyranny

01:23:06of heredity

01:23:07so that with a free mind

01:23:09he can go forward

01:23:09to greater triumphs,

01:23:11greater discoveries,

01:23:11and I will prove it.

01:23:15In the sanitarium

01:23:16the anguished man

01:23:17renews his battle

01:23:18to continue his boy

01:23:19on the road to genius.

01:23:21William returns

01:23:21to his studies

01:23:22and graduates

01:23:22with honors

01:23:23before he is 16.

01:23:25But then comes the day

01:23:27and historic day

01:23:28that shatters

01:23:29the wild ambitions

01:23:30of Dr. Boris Cedis.

01:23:32And now that you

01:23:33have completed

01:23:33your course,

01:23:34William,

01:23:34I have mapped out

01:23:35the next three years

01:23:36of your life.

01:23:37One moment, Father.

01:23:38Yes, William?

01:23:40Father, I...

01:23:41I don't know

01:23:42how to tell you this.

01:23:44I'm leaving home.

01:23:45Leaving home?

01:23:46I don't understand.

01:23:47All these years, Father,

01:23:48you're forced learning

01:23:48upon me.

01:23:49But I don't want it.

01:23:50I want to be

01:23:51an ordinary man.

01:23:52To live and love

01:23:53like an ordinary man.

01:23:54I don't want any part

01:23:54of this fantastic life

01:23:56you've mapped out for me.

01:23:57William,

01:23:57you're upset.

01:23:59You'll see things

01:23:59differently in the morning.

01:24:01Surely you'll

01:24:01not destroy

01:24:02my life's work.

01:24:03That's exactly

01:24:05what I intend to do.

01:24:06No.

01:24:07I won't permit it.

01:24:07Oh, it's too late.

01:24:08I'm leaving you, Father.

01:24:09I must before

01:24:10I completely lose

01:24:11everything worth living.

01:24:12And so,

01:24:12William Cedis

01:24:13turns his back

01:24:14on his father's ambition

01:24:15determined to destroy

01:24:17the genius

01:24:17he had created

01:24:18within him.

01:24:19He avoids any job

01:24:20that calls for

01:24:20intellectual ability.

01:24:22Gradually,

01:24:22he slips down the scale.

01:24:26Yeah,

01:24:26we can take on the clerk.

01:24:28Twenty-three dollars a week.

01:24:29And you're made.

01:24:29Miss Tope

01:24:33looked like

01:24:33this is used

01:24:34to shifting heavy loads.

01:24:35Well,

01:24:35just give me a break

01:24:36and I'll make good.

01:24:39Base construction gang

01:24:40goes to the sherry.

01:24:41You sign on

01:24:42for a minimum

01:24:42of twenty-three weeks?

01:24:44Well,

01:24:44where do I sign?

01:24:44Hey,

01:24:58guy,

01:24:58did I get you

01:24:59at the back?

01:25:00Hmm?

01:25:00Oh,

01:25:01thanks.

01:25:02How long

01:25:02have you been

01:25:02on the track?

01:25:04Oh,

01:25:04a couple of weeks.

01:25:05And there ain't

01:25:06nothing like it.

01:25:07Life on the track.

01:25:08No worries,

01:25:09no responsibilities.

01:25:11Who wouldn't

01:25:12be in your train?

01:25:13Yeah.

01:25:13Who wouldn't?

01:25:15Not very pally,

01:25:16are you?

01:25:17Well,

01:25:18we can't always be bright.

01:25:20Education,

01:25:20that's what does it.

01:25:22Now take me.

01:25:23I went to sixth grade.

01:25:25That's what made me

01:25:25different to the rest

01:25:26of that trance.

01:25:27Education.

01:25:33And so into society's

01:25:35no man's land

01:25:36ambles William Cedas.

01:25:38Genius.

01:25:39Shabby down at the heels

01:25:40and badly in need of money.

01:25:41He drips his way

01:25:42to life until...

01:25:44Well,

01:25:44doctor,

01:25:45he's gone.

01:25:46Why the brain

01:25:47has he picked

01:25:47this boarding house

01:25:48to die in?

01:25:48I don't know.

01:25:49Think of all the trouble

01:25:50it's going to cause me.

01:25:51Who was he anyway?

01:25:52Hmm,

01:25:53just some tramp

01:25:54off the tracks.

01:25:55A guy called

01:25:56Cedas.

01:26:04Yes,

01:26:04if our friend Henry

01:26:05could have read

01:26:06between the lines

01:26:07of the story

01:26:07sent in by his

01:26:09cub reporter.

01:26:10But that,

01:26:11my friends,

01:26:11is always the way.

01:26:13There is an infinity

01:26:14of drama

01:26:15hidden in a musky attic.

01:26:17A paper long

01:26:18since forgotten.

01:26:18A clock that relentlessly

01:26:20ticks away

01:26:20the lifespan.

01:26:23Yes,

01:26:24into all these fragments

01:26:25is woven

01:26:26the story of man.

01:26:28A story both strange

01:26:30and beautiful.

01:26:32And told to you

01:26:33by the whispering voice

01:26:34of the night wind.

01:26:37Unbelievable,

01:26:38but true.

01:26:39The story of the

01:26:41the story of the

01:27:01The story of the

01:27:03The story of the

Midnight Mystery Marathon - Out of the Night

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