Matthew Slade and Johnny Dollar

SPEAKER_1 (0:10)

This is Case Closed! Crime Stories from the Golden Age of Radio.

With another hour of mystery from the Golden Age of Radio, this is Case Closed! New episodes every Wednesday at relicradio.com. If you'd like to help support this show, visit donate.relicradio.com or click on that support link in the show notes. Thank you to those who have. Thanks for joining me today. We're going to start off with Matthew Slade, private investigator, and hear A Case Of Murder from August 16th, 1964 That's followed by yours truly, Johnny Dollar and The Fishing Boat Affair. That story aired October 1st, 1949

SPEAKER_2 (1:02)

From Hollywood, welcome to Starlight Mystery Theatre. Matthew Slade, private investigator. We invite you to take your seat as Slade unfolds A Case Of Murder.

And my job, the hours are odd. So are the circumstances and the people I meet. You could even call some of them dangerous. My calling card reads Matthew Slade, private investigator.

Have you notified the police? I see. All right, suppose we talk about it. I'll be right over. She had a problem. I was the guy she selected to solve it. I picked up my hat and coat, turned the knob on the door of my private office.

I walked through the door of my private office, walked through the reception room and out into the hall. I just a single flight of stairs down into the landing of two's, strode through the doorway and out into the street with a rain. I pulled the collar of my coat off as the rain started to drip off my hat. I headed for the parking lot.

SPEAKER_3 (2:21)

Good evening, Mr. Slade.

SPEAKER_2 (2:23)

You ready to go home? Not yet, Jose. I got a job to do. Must be a very important case for just to be out on a night like these. Yes, very important. It involves a dead man.

I drove off the lot and headed to 43 Meadowbrook Crepping, a 12-minute drive from my office. Meadowbrook is on the east side of town, a fashionable area for the society. The clock on my dash panel read 845 as I drove through the impressive gateway and up the gravel drive to a white mansion. I'd known the victim. His name was Miles Riggins. He hired me several months ago to trace a rare coin. He had an easy job. He had only met twice, both times in my office. Now, I was to meet him again. Only this time, there wouldn't be much of a greeting, nothing else can do for me.

Suddenly, I felt uneasy, and I thought of turning back. I couldn't stop now. My super curious mind had to find out why Riggins' wife was calling me instead of the police.

As a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, I could see the outline of the house. Places in darkness. I stepped on the brake. Before I had time to turn the motor off, the front door opened, and Marion Riggins stepped out into the court.

SPEAKER_4 (3:33)

What took you so long?

SPEAKER_2 (3:34)

The bad night, Mrs. Riggins. Would you mind shining that flashlight off my face? I'm sorry. Come in.

Where is he? In the living room.

SPEAKER_4 (3:43)

Two women, this way.

SPEAKER_2 (3:47)

What happened to the lights?

SPEAKER_4 (3:49)

They went out just after it colded.

SPEAKER_2 (3:50)

The power lines left it down. It's pretty black in here. Doesn't it frighten you?

SPEAKER_4 (3:54)

Nothing frightens me now. Not after when I've been free.

SPEAKER_2 (3:57)

He's over there by the fireplace. Let me have the flashlight.

Yeah, shoppers are hot. Is this your husband's gun?

SPEAKER_4 (4:08)

Yes. It was an accident, Mr. Slade.

SPEAKER_2 (4:09)

Well, suppose you tell me all about it.

SPEAKER_4 (4:12)

Yes, only let's get out of this room.

SPEAKER_2 (4:14)

We can talk in the library.

SPEAKER_4 (4:17)

There's a couch over by the window. We can sit there.

SPEAKER_2 (4:21)

Mind the table, Mr. Slade. Oh, thanks.

All right, now, let's have it from the beginning.

SPEAKER_4 (4:29)

Yes, from the beginning. It all started around 2 o'clock this afternoon. We were in the other room. Miles was sitting at the desk writing.

I was on the couch listening to the radio.

SPEAKER_2 (4:40)

That concludes our program of Symphonic Rhapsodies. For the next 15 minutes, the piano melodies of William Bryan.

Well, my dear, that's that.

SPEAKER_4 (5:02)

You're still determined to go through with this? How do you know it will work?

SPEAKER_2 (5:05)

It will work.

I'll mail this letter on our way to Mountain Springs, and then... Well, why must you run away from me? Marion, do you realize my predicament? When the board learns I've transferred shares over to David Corby without their approval, I'll be through anyway. But why? Why do that? Must we go through it all again? There is no other way.