CBS Radio Mystery Theater - "It's Murder Mr Lincoln" (Old Time Radio, 1975)

E.G. Marshall (0:00)

In 1837, Springfield, Illinois, Franklin Jones faces a murder charge after publicly threatening a local businessman, and young Abraham Lincoln agrees to defend him when no other lawyer will take the case. From CBS Radio Mystery Theater, this is It's Murder Mr Lincoln, episode 241, first heard on March 18th, 1975

Keir Dullea portrays Lincoln in a cast that includes Jennifer Harmon, Paul Hecht, Joe Silver, and Robert Dryden. Sam Dann wrote the drama, and Himan Brown produced and directed. As the case unfolds, Lincoln must look beyond the circumstances that seem to point to Jones. Here is the original broadcast.

SPEAKER_2 (0:48)

And now, Mystery Theater.

E.G. Marshall (1:08)

Come in.

Welcome. I'm EG. Marshall, and we're doing business as usual, featuring our full assortment of the mysterious and the bizarre.

Quis custodiat ipso custodes, who shall guard the guards? Or, to take it a step higher, who shall judge the judges? This was a problem that plagued the ancient Romans, and obviously, it remains with us to this very day. And actually, the act of judging is a highly hazardous affair, because the book warns us, Judge not, lest ye be judged. And so, between the necessity to judge, and the admonition not to do it, we human beings are in a constant state of doubt, which is not the worst thing in the world.

SPEAKER_3 (2:00)

Old, hold on there.

SPEAKER_4 (2:02)

What do you want?

SPEAKER_3 (2:04)

What are you doing with that pistol?

SPEAKER_4 (2:06)

That's part of your affair, Mr Lincoln.

SPEAKER_3 (2:09)

A man prowling about at night holding a loaded pistol is certainly an object of curiosity.

SPEAKER_4 (2:15)

Only to those that don't mind their own affairs.

SPEAKER_3 (2:18)

I consider the safety of the community to be very much my affair, Mr Barnes. You'll oblige me by handing over that pistol.

SPEAKER_4 (2:27)

And you'll oblige me by going about your own business, Mr Lincoln.

SPEAKER_3 (2:32)

I'm afraid I'll have to take that pistol.

SPEAKER_4 (2:35)

I'd advise you not to try it.

SPEAKER_3 (2:37)

Hand it over, sir.

SPEAKER_4 (2:39)

I warn you, not another step.

E.G. Marshall (2:53)

Our mystery drama It's Murder Mr Lincoln was written especially for the Mystery Theater by Sam Dann and stars Keir Dullea.

When conditions are bad, we Americans always spend a great deal of energy, not in finding a solution to the problem, but rather in deciding what to call it. Is it a depression? Is it a recession? Back in 1837, they called it a panic. So you see, we have made progress. 1837 was certainly a year to tighten one's belt. Definitely, it was not a favorable year to embark upon a new career. And a young man named Abraham Lincoln is discovering this the hard way. He has just settled in Springfield, Illinois, where he has opened a law office.

Abe Lincoln sits in his law office and waits for clients. This afternoon, as usual, he is sitting and waiting. And although he is completely unaware of it, a case is being created for him just down the street in Feldman's Tavern.

SPEAKER_2 (4:12)

Now, what I want to know is, what's the point in having Martin Van Buren sitting in the White House? Why, we might just as well have Andy Jackson.

SPEAKER_4 (4:20)

Oh, well, Tom, Andy is old and sick. Why, he's half dead.

SPEAKER_2 (4:25)

Well, better than Andy Jackson who is half dead than a Martin Van Buren who is all alive. Yes, that's a good one.

SPEAKER_5 (4:34)

Yeah, it sure is.

SPEAKER_2 (4:36)

You have to remember that one.

SPEAKER_4 (4:38)

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

SPEAKER_2 (4:39)

Good afternoon. Anyone here a good one?

I was just saying to this gentleman here, Mr. Stephen Barnes, I was saying, better a half dead Jackson than an all alive Van Buren. Isn't that what I said he from?

SPEAKER_4 (4:52)

Something like that. Are you Tom Felmer?

SPEAKER_2 (4:55)

Yeah, in the flesh.

SPEAKER_3 (4:56)

I'd like a room.

SPEAKER_2 (4:57)

Well, it's your dollar.

SPEAKER_3 (4:58)

All right.

SPEAKER_2 (4:59)

In advance.

Oh, no man anything it just says in Corinthians. Where is it?

SPEAKER_3 (5:05)

Here's your dollar.

SPEAKER_2 (5:06)

Thank you. Drink?

SPEAKER_3 (5:08)

No, not for me.

SPEAKER_2 (5:09)

Come to the price of the room. I never drink while there's work to be done.

Well, what's your name stranger? You know mine. I'm Tom Feldman. And this gentleman here is you from Barnes. He runs a bank.

SPEAKER_4 (5:21)

Oh, glad to meet you, Mr. Jones, Franklin Jones. What's the business, Mr. Jones? Sure, first national farmers and merchants bank of Springfield is very much at your service.

SPEAKER_3 (5:35)

Oh, thank you, Mr. Barnes. I'll keep that in mind.