Broadway Is My Beat: The John Elgin Murder Case 04/05/1952

You say you'll never join the Navy. That living on a submarine would be too hard. You'd never power a whole ship with nuclear energy. Never bring a patient back to life. Or play the national anthem for a sold-out crowd. Joining the Navy sounds crazy, saying never actually is. Start your journey at Navy.com. America's Navy. Forged by the sea. Welcome to Choice Classic Radio, where we bring to you the greatest old-time radio shows. Like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, and thank you for donating at choiceclassicradio.com. The World's Greatest Broadway's My Beat, from Times Square to Columbus Circle. The gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesome-est mile in the world. Broadway's My Beat, with Blairy Thor as Detective Danny Clover. The time comes to Broadway when the April day summons its warmth, its winds, its plume sprays of sunlight, departs the avenue littered with its promises, and the defeated and the unfulfilled swarm back into the subway entrances and wait. On the stifling platforms, in the dim, shallow light reflected from walls of stained tile, wait for the going home, wait for the death of a day to happen in some other place, the hall bedroom, the front stoop, some other place where shock will be gentler. And suddenly, through the steel corridor, a hot, dry wind races in the depths of Earth, and on at the fury of hurtling steel, and they surge forward to meet it. Soon there will be home. In your office at headquarters, the April twilight drifts in. Somehow its touch startles the man you've been talking to. It's evening, it's evening already. What do you know? How long have I been spilling my heart out to you, Mr. Clover? An hour, maybe more. Time flies. A guy tries to clean up his conscience, ease the soul, and it takes long and anything. I ain't keeping you from anything, Mr. Clover. No, you've got all the time you need, Mr. Greenhouse. Go on. Not much more to tell, except what I told. I see it might have take place. I report it. The common decency, I figured. Once you call a murder took place over a week ago, how come it took you so long to give in to the call of decency? You've got a point there, Mr. Clover. Tell me. I'll see if I can explain it to you. Try hard. With all my might. I was a bookie once like I told you. You told me. Look, let me recap it, huh? So maybe it'll make sense to you it takes me a week plus to confess I saw a man push another man off a roof. You were a bookie. Take it from there. Yeah, a bookie. Until you boys came up with a thing, a throttle initiative, dull a pioneer impulse of it. So I pitted my brain against society. Tried to come up with a respectable dodge, to earn my nutwaffles and juice. But my mind has been in such a tight rut with twelve years of making book, or I can come up with his buglery. That's when you saw it happen, when you were robbing an apartment in the East Thirties. You got a whim that says I robbed? I didn't. I tell you this murder made such an impact on my conscience. I didn't rob and I never will. According to our books, what you saw was a suicide. The suicide of a man named John Elgin. How books can be mistaken? Ask me, I know. You could identify the man if we found him, the man you say pushed Elgin off the roof, the man you say is a murderer. Identify him? I would draw my eyes into slits. Pretend I was in the emotional turmoil of over a week ago. Witnessing an event from a fire escape across the airway. And I would try to identify him. You find him and I sure would try. But I make no promises. Yeah. I ask your pardon, Mr. Greenhouse. Oh, it's okay. But for what? I didn't let you finish telling me why I took you this long to come to us with what you saw. Yeah, forget it, kid. It was like this. I had some washing to do. My conscience, my past, the foolish notion I could be a successful burglar, which I am obviously not equipped to emotional. This washing took me such a time. I now give it to you to hang out to dry. All right, you can go for now. Forever I can go, Mr. Clover. I can forget I saw a murder with my own eyes. Well, thanks for everything. You've been a dream. Watch him as he moves to the door. Stops. I'm glad I came here. What a load off the old shit. And leaves the complete man, the happy citizen. Then turn your swivel chair around the window. Briefly watch the city leap into the night. And hear the sounds of it as quick and new and fleeting as spring wind on the strings of a harp. Walk away from it, because the quality of this night is laced through with deaf talk. And so for a policeman, this night is work time. So the intercom, the order, the requisition, and the squad car is waiting downstairs. The drive to the East 30s and the address trapped in the cone of the car spotlight. And four flights up and walk back in the ballast to the right of the reef. Yes? Good evening. My name's Danny Clover. I'm from the police. Another one? I thought whatever business I had with you people about my husband was over. It's done with. There's a few more questions, Miss Alden. May I come in? Yes. In here, please. Oh, what are your questions? Are you convinced your husband killed himself? Yes. I see. Well... Has it occurred to you that someone might have pushed your husband off the roof? No. Suppose I told you someone had seen your husband murdered. Well... I'm telling you, someone saw it happen. Who? Did your husband make a habit of spending much time up on the roof? Who saw my husband murdering? That doesn't matter right now. What matters is that it's going to start all over again, Mrs. Alden, a whole new investigation. I see. All right. My husband and I didn't get along. There was some talk of divorce. Never materialized. My husband was a moody man. He used to take walks. He used to walk down the hall, up the steps, onto the roof, and stare, and smoke, and pace. One night he jumped. Now. Now what? Now take each one of the statements I just made and investigate them. Who saw my husband murdered? I told you. Yes, you did. Very well. Lie to me. If this is a method, do it. No one saw my husband murdered. Of course not. My husband's dead. My husband killed himself. I hope he rests in peace. Now get out of here. Music Don't move, Danny. I make this request of you. Just don't move. I'm not a man. I'm a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I'm not a man. I've represented this post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post on post And let me adjust the spikes to see name of Gladys Haywood the 1217 West 73 Street The only memento the deceased John Elgin left to us Danny give me that name and address you know Thanks now get Detective Margaret have him meet me with a squad car and Gino Be too late to call your Amelia. So you give her my kiss. Good night, Gina Leave headquarters again the ride with Detective Muggerman now up Riverside Drive and this time of night is one with the river Black the lights flung downward from places far away shimmer briefly and they're gone and the swift ebbing figures walking hand in hand by the water and the lonely ones who stare at the moon's curved reflection and The huddled ones who look for nothing at all the river at 10 o'clock on the spring night Take a turn on the 70s park the car and the house to find again the hall to walk and a door found Hello Gladys Haywood, I'm glad my name's Danny Clover. I'm please. That's right My look come in. Oh, I don't Come in You're gonna stay long enough to sit sit You don't like it. I'll turn it off. That's all right. We can talk. No Now what I'm trying to find out some background about John Elgin your name came up on account of that rage That's right. Was that the only night you were with mr. Elgin? I had about a year with him, mister You want to try to believe something? I'll tell you something. I almost married him. He had a wife. I know I met her I Had a chat with her and tea with her handshake Looks into each other's eyes woman to woman very civilized enough to the minute afternoon. I Rang her bell and told her I was in love with her husband and wanted to marry him. What was her reaction? Smiles, she was all for it She didn't like mr. Elgin She told me that when bent from the waist to pour the tea and looked up at me and smiled About a month ago this tremendous thing happened. Mrs. Elgin was going to divorce her husband and you were going to marry him, isn't that right? The plans I have what's happened Pick up that book beside you mister War and peace it's called. I can't understand what it's about The music I was listening to I don't know what it's about either Mr. Elgin gave me those things and other things First he said he loved me and then he was gonna educate me From something simple everything got complicated his divorce I Don't know so you're broken up. Yeah Yeah, I did I couldn't be a wife to mr. Elgin See there I go again calling him mr. Elgin. I never could get around the calling by his first name I Send him back to his wife and told him to stay there and he thought that was the best idea You see a girl like me want What do I want can you tell me why anybody would want to murder John Elgin I don't know I Don't know anything Maybe I should have married him now what have I got a date with a guy at 1130 I Guess you better go now that's all you want. Good night, miss seven I Danny let's go Margaret. Yeah, let's go let's just over the radio Danny is shooting two blocks from here liquor store. Come on I He's back and what's your name mr. Brave forward this my liquor store. All right. Tell me what happened mr. Ford Yeah, a couple of minutes ago that guy on the floor there walked in there's for a bottle of booze So I gave it to him and he broke the bottle in the counter shoved it at me and said give him money Hey, I'm gonna get to a hospital or something the hand's bleeding like a stuck pig. How'd your hand get cut like that? Little tussle weekend. I grabbed the bottle from him. He kept coming So I took my gun from under the counter let him have it. You know who the man is you shot? Yeah, I do I know I know His name is Greenhouse that is wallet Danny. I didn't have to He was in my office a few hours ago to report a murder. He also told me how fast time fled He told me wanted to have a clean conscience. Is he dead? Yeah dead You Are listening to Broadway is my beat written by Morton fine and David Friedkin and starring Larry Thor as detective Danny Clover Now a few words from Bert Lancaster star of the motion picture the Crimson pirate This is Bert Lancaster I've been doing quite a bit of traveling around the world lately either on location or making personal appearances But I always keep in touch with Hollywood by listening to the Lux Radio Theater every Monday night over the CBS radio network To radio actors the Lux Radio Theater is Hollywood Because you can always be sure of hearing the latest and best motion pictures with the original stars Why don't you tune in with me to the CBS radio network next Monday night and hear some fine entertainment on the Lux Radio Theater? This Monday on most of these same CBS radio stations Lux Radio Theater stars William Holden Nancy Olson and Lyle Betger in Union Station When April comes to New York Broadway slows down its pace to let spring come in the walk is a kind of dream walk Languished rhythm to a pulse of cadence neon to sun-worn blues You're on down a loudspeaker when night time comes the street is filled with the sudden traceries of color that dart and ebb and dart again And the swift laughter that spills out of doorways perfume warm and intimate fleeting So follow the crowd on Broadway Lend your heart to it. Maybe this night will never get away from you But it does it always does And In the corner of night where I was there was no quality to the color Where white walls touched one another the pyramids of shadow in between the emergency Hospital and dr. Sinski and a man whose hand have been cut think it'll leave a scar there over a period of time It'll go away and perhaps a slight itching now and then You are a lucky man, mr. Ford no ligaments were injured and now hold still for just another minute Where do you live, mr. Ford 12 12 worst end of the watch that bandage doc use a little tight watch watch it My prerogative is a physician mr. Ford to calculate of a bandage whether or not it gives you some pain Please don't jerk your hand away again. You have a license for this gun. You killed green howler. Are you kidding? No, I'm not kidding. I bend your arm Adele bow mr. Ford Sure, I got a license for it My store was held up five times Clover after number five. I got me a license I got tired of donating to the hoodlum society of NYC. Let's slip this around here. Please mr. Ford little cooperation This is just a sling Thank you never hear of a man named John Elgin mr. Ford Elgin, that's right John Elgin. Can't say the end finish now doc. Yeah, all right In a few days go to your family physician. Let him look at that hand Progress it and take out the stitches when it's healing Get off the table now Look at this will you arms dolled up like I was in an accident or something like killing mr. Ford Oh, what would you do if your store was knocked over five times? Kiss the high sir and hand him your register. Yeah, I killed him Would you give me a license for a gun for if you didn't think I might have to use it? Sure. Okay, mr. Ford You can go now. I get in touch with one. I need you. That's right that way out mr. Ford And the spring night is in full possession now its oldest drift the corridors Seep into the room blend with the accurate scent of pain present pain past The night wind of spring ripples a discarded ribbon of gauze stained with scarlet floats it traps it against your ankle So leave this edge of night Walk a street that leads into the blind alley of sleep walk think remember The man who came to you told you it's seen a murder committed and in a few hours the man was dead And another man Ray Ford liquor dealer who was weary of robbery so got a license to kill The licensed violence to kill a man who said a murder was committed had seen the cascade of death from a rooftop The death of John Elgin that we had called suicide Then the end of walking this spring night and open the windows of a room sleep The Next morning at headquarters pick it up again consider again why a bookie named Larry Greenhow had brought you a week late The eyewitness account of John Elgin's death consider again the manner of the bookies dying The interruption motion detective Muggerman in watching kicker chair to the man you brought with him Make yourself at home. Oh, thank you. Thank you detective Muggerman. I am tired It's nice to meet up with a considerate man. What do you got muggerman? Why'd you be polite fellow there Danny? I want him to make your acquaintance. That's Al Tedrow lieutenant clover Al indeed a pleasure and a privilege lieutenant. Why did detective Muggerman bring you to me mr. Tedrow? I honestly don't know I've been minding my own affairs leading the good life Al here was leading the good life in the show up this morning Danny the boys picked him up around three last night How many times have you been picked up like that? Oh? Oh, I don't like to brag but I should say I've been rousted in round numbers lieutenant There are no complaints Fakers doesn't and the boys are usually proper with me. I was a beggar Danny real pro educated polite tells his private brand of heartbreak Dimes and small change looks like how to do with me mother when the boys picked Al up last night He had the best part of two grand on him tell the lieutenant where you got it. Oh with pleasure Let's see. Yeah yesterday. Yes. Yes today I was summoned by Larry Greenhow to his favorite phone booth that he calls home there to receive the payoff on a debt He owed me a gambling debt. I thought he had Welsh time 2000 lovely number Larry Greenhow the man who was shot down same bookie same man I told you couldn't find a respectable job to keep me coffee and cake same man pays off two grand Now dead gotta be something Danny Clover speaking Dr. Sinske Danny got something down here. I want you to look at where are you? The more right away then right away Here I am Danny over here The reason why I called you and asked you to come down here to the mortgage. You said you had something interesting to show me Dr. Sinske I said interesting Danny because to you a policeman that is a proper way As far as I'm concerned to me. It is merely a function. Come on. Come on doctor. What jazz making down here for sure Larry Greenhow you're doing out of Seattle already a mere superficial examination I hear look a welter in front of his thigh. What about it? post mortem What a very simple thing a person who after he is dead lies in one position for an hour or two develop such a A wealth as you call it the seepage of blood to the lowest part of the body physics You mean Greenhow was lying on his face after he was killed probably with one leg drawn up under it I took the liberty Danny to call down for the photographs taken at the liquor store green house Now I use the right boy lying on his back. Yeah, you did doctor. It's interesting. All right. Thank you First the nearest phone down here doctor. Yeah, to that door. Thanks doctor Sinske. Thanks a lot I Miss Algen this is why I called you this is why I picked you up. This is where we're going You can sit right there in the car Mrs. Elgin and I'll get back in and we'll drive downtown and I'll book you for murder Thanks, what are we going here for this is how I asked you a question. What are we going here for you'll see come on Want you to do something for me what go in that vested deal and knock on the door I'll wait here on the stoop. No All right, let's go back downtown. What do you want him I told you I didn't kill anybody. I want you didn't kill anybody go in there and knock on the door Knock again again I Didn't wanna do what he made me he made me I didn't want to do it Inside ray inside both of you Thanks, Mrs. Elgin all I needed was that the two of you knew each other I didn't want to he said he was gonna charge me with murder Well, baby, he said he was gonna charge me with murder How's your hand ray I get twitches it get over it Tell me again how you cut your hand ray like I said with a bottle. This is all about life. I Don't know honey. I guess all we can do is listen to mr. Close. Oh what for what I have to listen to him for He thinks John was murdered ray. I don't know how he got that idea It's where I don't know how he got that idea ray How'd you get a clue you killed a man named green how in your store last night? He told me Margaret's husband was murdered. Yeah, he told you Margaret's husband was murdered so Who else is he gonna tell no one you took care of that? What would you do if your store was knocked over five times kiss the high-statement your register? Yeah? Green how wasn't killed in your store ray. Where'd you kill him here? You're going nuts. He Surely killed him in the store blood all over him wasn't there where I shot him your blood you cut your hand on purpose after you shot him Look ray. There are a couple of things I can do have tests run on your blood type in greenhouse or have technicians tear this house apart Looking for signs of blood. I figure this is where you killed him You're in a lot of trouble shut up. I didn't say very much I just shut up you killed green how because he saw you pushed mr. Elgin out the roof because he was blackmailing You told him that Margaret you told me to shut up and I'm good you told him that Margaret He didn't need to I learned that green how paid off an old dad. I've big death So I'd ask myself a question where to get the money and why did he get the money? Why because he saw one man kill another what did I kill John Elgin for what motive did I have you got to have a reason? You got to have a motive you had a motive Margaret Still look good to you ray. You almost had Margaret when her husband fell in love with another woman But he went over it went back to Margaret. It was very touching Gave me a speech about there wasn't gonna be a divorce ever. He said let's start all over again You remember ray. I tried to explain that to you. You're so hot Margaret for the hot It's over now ray a little ex book you knew you were a murderer and blackmailed you then you got tired of paying So he came to me labeled it murder and went away And green how wasn't live He didn't tell you I'd kill the ocean. That's right green how didn't identify you He just came to the police to fright. He just reported a murder when he came back here to tell you what he'd done you killed Margaret help me and I talk now Never said your name. Why didn't you pay him? He would have said it not if you'd have paid him He would have said it Look how hot tempered knows everything him burns our life away There's a special moon over Broadway tonight it dips low and mixes with the laughter the clack of heels and the light Flung downward in the spectacular's People look at it point at it wink at it Run into whatever shadow they've planned for the night It's Broadway the goddess the most violent The lonesome must mile in the world Broadway My beat Broadway's my beat stars Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover with Charles Calvert as Trotaglia and Jack Krushen as Muggevin The program was produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with musical score composed and conducted by Alexander courage in Tonight's story Louise Lewis was heard as Margaret Elgin and Bill Boucher as Ray Ford Featured in the cast were shot at Lawrence Billy Hallop and Steve Roberts Don't forget Monday nights at Sardegard Priest Helen scouts for fun and variety entertainment galore most of these same CBS radio stations Bill Anders speaking and remember Robert trout reports the news of the world every Sunday on the CBS radio network Oh Oh