The Shadow 045 - Ghosts Can Kill

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. The Shadow knows. Your local Blue coal dealer presents the shadow. These half hour dramatizations are designed to forcibly demonstrate to old and young alike that crime does not pay. Before the Shadow's adventure begins, a reminder to all homeowners, there's one sure way to get extra quality, extra value, and complete heating comfort, and that's by ordering blue coal by name. Blue Coal's harmless blue coloring is the trademark of the world's largest hard coal producer. But even more, it assures you that each ton of blue col role has been laboratory tested for quality and sized and prepared to give you better heat with less furnace attention. So don't gamble with ordinary duel. Ensure you are family perfect heating comfort and satisfaction by ordering blue Coal by name. Call your nearest Blue Coal dealer Tomorrow. At the close of the afternoon's program, we have a most distinguished guest, one of the Special Assistants to the Attorney. General of the United States, the Honorable Francis H. Horran. I'm sure you will all be anxious to hear what he has to say, so be sure to listen. The shadow mysterious character who aids those in distress and helps the forces of law and order is, in reality Lamont Cranston, wealthy young man about town. Cranston's friend and companion, the lovely Margot Lane, is the only person who knows to whom the unseen voice belongs, the only one who knows the true identity of that master of other people's minds. The shop. Today's story Ghosts can kill. Court will come to water. Proceed, mister district Attorneys, your honor and gentlemen of the jury, you have heard the evidence against this man, Ralph Corman. Three eyewitnesses of unimpeachable character saw him commit the murder. He was caught at the scene of the murder with a gun in his hand. It is the duty of the jury to convict him. Ralph Corman has been brought to court seven times for serious crime. I care, oh, I admit my client has been brought to court the past. He's always furnished an unbreakable alibi. And has been acquitted. Therefore, I claim that this record is irrelevant. Objection such thing very well, that doesn't all to the state's case. In this instance. The accused has no alibi. He is guilty of murder. Answered, therefore, we sent to the chair. Order in the court. I think the question before the jury. It's a clean cut issue. The defendant, Ralph Gorman, committed a peculiarly cold blooded murder. There are no halfway, Majors. It is either guilty or not guilty. I therefore instruct the jury to return a verdict of acquittal or. First degree murder. The jury will retire to consider the verdict. The prisoner will cease this disturbance the blood. That's the matter. Don't you like my music? This is a court of law. Gorman, while you were awaiting. The verdict of the jury, you will please conduct yourself, and I'm more safely. Well, Margo. I've seen many murder trials in my time, but I have never seen one where the accused man played on a mouth organ while waiting for the jury to send into the chair. Isn't Gorman one of the toughest gangsters alive? Yes, my estimation, Ralph Gorman is public enemy number one, Margo. Jerry's never been caught and said to prison Lamark. You heard that in the testimony. He's been caught often enough they've never been able to convict him because he's always been able to furnish an absolutely air tight alibi. It's time, for some unexplainable reason, he has no alibi. So if there's any justice, he should be put away for good. Here comes the jury back in again. Certain he didn't take long to come to a decision after the evidence they had. The court will come to water. Gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict? We have your honor. We find the accused, Ralph Gorman, guilty of murder and the first degree. The court will come to water. The prisoner will stand. Ralph Gorman, you have been proved a menace to society, and society has passed judgment upon you, who have been found guilty of wilful deliberate murder in the first degree. Have you at anything to say before sentences pronounced? Yeah, I got something to say, very well, be brief. Society passed judgment on me. Huh Okay. Then if you're gonna kill me, I'm gonna come back from the. Grave and get even with society. Empty threats will avail you nothing. Gorman. Ah, you don't believe I can do it? Huh? All right, I'll even tell you who I'm gonna get that will do. I am not going I'm gonna get that big preenance Sayer. Rask your bardon that's always giving away money. I guess Bardon's what you'd call a pillar of society. Edith. Then just for fun, I'll kill that young guy Frank Collins that just got engaged to that social registered name. I'll come back after death and get both of them, Collins and Bardon. You don't think I can do it. But I can. Why Borolf Gorman, I hereby sentence you to be taken to the state's prison, and do there be executed in a manner provided by law. And may God have mercy on your soul. And Kenned when. They're going on not being in prison without as that they are for whut? What's going on here? Hey? Yes? God, make that guy going and stop playing a mud He's driving us whole nuts in here. What does he think this is Cornegie Hall? No, I don't think this is Cornegie Hall. That's the death house. And you guys are runner. Just like me. Oh coment, you guys. Are you all get solitary coming? You wanna be allowed to keep your mouth hogging into special paper. You're gonna make trouble. I'll have to take it away from you. How about hot well you that's all the fun I get. He's driving us, not why you can't, buddy, can't fight on me to night? Come be quiet along here, quires the Great. It isn't common. You better keep quiet. The warden up be here in a minute. The warden. Although I care for the Gordon, he can't do anymore. And give me the hot seat. He's throwing that anyhow, come to warden. The students in there, Corman warden here, Hey from the governor Warden. Yes, I'm afraid I've got bad news for you, Gorman. Governor Roberts says, we choose to do anything about your case, and they're. Gonna bind me tonight. Huh. I'm afraid. So looks like society put the finger on me, just like the judge said. Well, okay, I want him like I said, and caught. Well, then awake the millionaire Oscar Bardon and Frank Collins are gonna be dead. Don't talk like that, com yo see. And I think I'll get Governor Rabbits too while I'm about it. That makes a nice trio, don't you think Oscar Bardon, Frank Collins and Governor Rabbits. I'm gonna come back from the graven kill them all three of them. Yeah, society passed judgment on me. Huh, okay, I hate chicken. We'll see who laughs lasts. Making stupid threats won't do you any good going on stupid. Huh. Listen, hell await, those guys are all gonna be lots better than me. You're on them. Tell him that time is. Up on a heavy plane in my mouth, organ like this. Extra extra, Hey read all about it, raalth, calm and elextituded wealth, Carman Preton's life, mom Ungle Barton drinking columns and Governor Roberts before he dies, Carman executed. Hey read? Is there anything else you want me to do tonight. Mister Borden, before you go to all the curtains and turn off your the headlights, tailor, Yes, when you stay hearing my study for a while, it's quiet. There's some things I want to look over. Yes, mister Borton, you won't be disturbed, sir. I think everyone else has gone to bed. There's a newspaper here. I haven't a chance to look at one all day right on your desk, sir. Uh oh, yes, well good night, Taylor. Good night is important. Oh I glanced the headlines before getting down to work. Let's see when moves pushing the province margining relief agencies gangster executed a mid great interest the medic scene in the death House last night, Ralph Gorman, Freen's to come back after death and murder the philanthropist Tosca Ball and Frank Collins, villionaire sportsman and governor Roberts And let's see on the way to the chair, Gorman warned his intended victims that they would know of his presence by hearing him play a mouth organ. These were his last words, after which he was electrocuted from his picture here. I'd say was a rather low mentality. The mouth organ. Well, that's a bizarre note. Oh I wonder O you know I can hear a mouth organ now? Now it must be my imagination. That's how I I could square to hear it again. Seems to come fany other room. Who opened that door? Why yo, Ralph Gorman? See me, mister Parton, this is impossible. I've come back from the dead to kick my promise to society. Come mad, go saintan never mad, mister Parton. Goost preposterous. We'll say about it. What's that bell? Because it ain't gonna tell you now, God, that's one of them two mad Ago, Well. Lama, as long as you just seem to be walking me around the streets aimlessly, you might at least answer my questions. What do you think of those threats? Trench mother? The threats made by Ralph Gorman last night before. He was executed. I wouldn't give them the second thought. Six year old child knows it's impossible to come back from the dead. And other people asked the Porton murdered famous philanthropers found in his study shot. Today the man, Yes, I hear it too, boy, give me a paper they keep the change. Oh thank you, sir. Where are you going? I think this will bear a little investigating. I see you later, Mogo. I'm gonna drop in on the scene of the crime. Our friend, Commissioner Western should be. There, Cardona, see who that is. Whoever it is, don't let him in this study, mister Porton's until I get through questioning these people. Okay, committ funny was fun mister Lamon Crston, He says, you know him. Oh, yes, I know him. Tell him. Oh wait a minute, he tries to be an amateur criminologist. Let him come in. I'll show him how the police department really works. Yes, all right, you can come in, mister. Thank you, Commissioner Western. How do you do I just happened to be passing by the Bordon House and I thought you might be here. Well, Cranston, you want to test all of your amateur theories on crime? I suppose always willing to try, Commissioner Rivle, to beat. Your brains out over this one. About three hours ago, Ascar Porton was found at his desk here with a nice round bullet hole in his. Head and not a clue. I'm distressing, not a single clue, Commissioner. Well, we have two clues, but they don't make sense. Perhaps they don't make sense to the professional detective, but an amateur on the intellectual side of crime might be able to help you out. Commissioner, what would the clues? Well, first I asked the cop on the feet if he'd seen any known crooks hanging around the building tonight, and the dumb guy told me he hadn't seen any except at one time during the afternoon he thought he got a glimpse of Ralph Gorman. And Ralph Gorman is known to Pretton, Oscar. Borton, I see, and the other clue, Commissioner, the. Other clothes, even swimmer. One of the maids says she heard a mouth organ being played in mister Borden's study about the time the murder must have been committed. Why it all hinges together perfectly, Commissioner, don't you see Ralph Gorman has threatened Oscar Borton, he pleased the mouth organ, and he'd. Been seen hanging around the house. Well he's your murderer. Very pretty, fairy Cranston the only hitches at. Ralph Gorman was put to death last night at eleven o'clock in the electric chair at state prison. He was, Yeah, you should read the papers. You see he's an amateur criminatagist. You're not so hot after all, grandson. Well have you solved Oscar Bordon's murder? Oh? Not yet. Well you're no better than I am, then, Commissioner Western. If I were you, I'd put a god of large, solid policemen around anyone Ralph Gorman might have had a motive to kill? Oh yeah, and then what then I'd look for the. Ghost of Ralph Gorman gets slucky. You're not place commissioner. Now you better get out of here, Chrisson, I've got important. What to do. We continue with the second act of Ghosts can kill in just a moment. Homeowners, would you like to stop those tiresome trips to the cellar and keep furnace attention down to a minimum. Well, then here's what you do. Get in touch with your nearest Blue Coal dealer and ask him about Blue Cole's automatic heat regulator. It's a thermostat which is attached to the wall of your living or dining room that controls your furnace dappers automatically. Just set the thermostat control at the exact temperature you wish, and your Blue Coal heat regulator will maintain that temperature day or night. You know yourselves how costly and dangerous to health overheating the house can be, but a heat regulator will insure you steady, even warmth, which. Is most beneficial to the health of all. What's more, by stopping this overheating of the house, a heat regulator will save you fuel and saving fuel means saving money. You can own one of these blue coal heat regulators for only eighteen dollars and ninety five cents plus a small installation charge, and believe me, it will pay for itself in the time and trouble of constant draft adjustment. It saves you. So call your nearest blue coal dealer tomorrow. His name is listed in the where to Buy Its section of your classified telephone directory under the word blue cold. Hello. Hello, Oh, I thought we were cut off, Darling, but now I tell you I'm all right. But Frank, I'm so worried. If if only I were in town till I could be wicked. But what is there a worry about, Darling. Why those threats that awful man Gorman made. Against old Dad that was just nonsense. I never even knew him, and decides he's dead. Yes, but Oscar Borden was threatened too, and he's dead. Oh no, Ruth, Darling, please stop worrying for my sake. Nothing's gonna happen to me. I'm in my own apartment and I have no intention of going out, so nothing can happen. Now, you go to sleep and get your beauty rests. You know you've got to look your prettiest for our waiting Tuesday. All right, dearest, At least i'll be with you by tomorrow. I'll be down on eleven o'clock train in the morning. Oh that's wonderful, and I'll meet you at the station. Good night, darling, Good night, poor Ruth. I don't know why women gets the nervous about. I wonder who that could be. Hello? Is this Frank Collins? Yes? Who's this? This is the shadow on the shadow as I've heard of you. What do you want? I want to warn you, Collins, warn you against a death. Who's death yours? And why should you be warning me? Because if you're not very careful, you'll meet the same fate as Oscar Borton, and for the same reason. Oh nonsense fell them. I would suggest that if you value your life, you will apply without delay for police protection. Look. I don't know who you are, shadow, or what your game is, but I'm not afraid of you or anybody else. Have it your own way, mister Collins, have it your own way. Wait a minute, wait listen, hm yahung on. I wonder what that was all about. It certainly wasn't a very cheerful person. To talk to. Maybe, yeah, maybe i'd. Better get see you know, what's Commissioner Weston's home number? See? Hey, I think I've got it in here someplace. Oh yeah, yeah here it is mean nine. Nine nine h h oh A phone can be calling at this hour? Now? Is that Faller? Hello, Commissioner Western speaking Commissioner. This is Frank Collins. I just received a threat. Frank, Oh you did. Yes, I was informed I'm about to meet Oscar Bordon's faith. How are you one? Over the telephone just about five minutes ago by a man who calls himself. The Shadows Shadow? Is he mixed up on this? How should I know? Wait a minute, what's the matter? Hi? I thought for a minute I heard a mouth organ playing. Math orgon Hello, that's just your nerves, Collins? Is it all locked? No? Go? Lock it quick? All right? Just a minute? Good lord? I can hear the mouthworking myself over the phone. Collins. You're too late, Collins, Collins, you shadow locked that door before you made the call. It's Ralph Coleman's voice. How are you? Have you heard of me? Collens? I'm Ralph Gorman? What God? Shoot? I only one more to go? Operator? Operator, Operator there's this praise Commissioner Western, get me headquarters. Hurry, operator, hurry, Lamon, come. In, Margot. I del heard that Frank Collins was murdered. In his home last night. Lamont, Yes, I have been reading the papers. Read How could. Ralph Gorman have come back from the day to commit these murders? Margot? Yesterday I would have said it was totally impossible. Today, frankly, I don't know this moment. I can't think of any other hypothesis that would have come for the known facts. That means. Jimminy a, what did you say? I really said, Jimmy, Why did you say that? Jimminy I don't know. I was just thinking, why does it mean anything? Gerlyn, No, in this instance it may mean everything, Lise. It gives me a clue. Margo. Is your car outside, yes, lam Well come on, we're going places. Hey, be careful, Margot, what how are you driving? Told me to step on it. I thought you wanted to get to the Regal. Hotel in a hurry. I do, but I'd like to get there all in one piece. This is a fine time to tell me that. Incidentally, why the Regal Hotel Governor Roberts is staying there. He's addressing the Manufacturer's dinner at the Colossus Club tonight. I'd like to be sure he lives to make it. Oh, Lamar, Now you're being mysterious again. Why shouldn't Governor Robins live to. Make his speech? Because I have reason to believe he's next on the list marked for murder. I have an idea that if any attempt is made on the Governor's life tonight, he'll probably be tonight. Ah, he's a hotel. You'll just pull up the curb, all right, I said, up to the curb there. Not over it. Oh, I think you're If I'm not. Mistaken, sold somebody here just before the night's over. Goo, goodbye. I'll go, and thanks for the ride. This is the service entrance, Governor. Right through that door there you will be on Marine Street. Good thank you. That's what I told my car to wait with Governor Roberts. Do you think this is wise? Wise? Latham? Of course it's wise. What danger can they be? I'm going straight to the dinner at the Colossal's Club alone in my own car, with my own chauffeur, just as you say, sir, through this door to the street, you said, porter, Yes, sir, thank you. Now where's my car? I told Henry to wait? Oh, there is to the Colossus Club. Hemy, Henry, this is the. Most preposterous thing I ever heard of in my life. Once our police force turning into the plunge of old women. Ralph Gorman. Of course I couldn't pardon. The man was guilty. They certainly can't come back from the dead, Kenny, Henry, all this cock and bull story about playing a mouth organ. You don't fleep, Henry. What's making that noise? Henry? You hear me, Henry, what's the matter with you? This isn't the way to the Colossus Club. You're heading for the river. Stop the car, Henry, Ah, why you're not, Henry, that's. Right, I ain't Henry. Governor. Don't you remember me, Ralph Gorman half Gorman, Oh no, it's not possible, say. Me, don't you? And you remember how I used to play the mouth organ in the death house like this, Stop the car, Let me out, I'll let you out, all right, and ten feet of water when we get to the rubber No, no, let me out you and then let. Me out of the chair, did you, Governor? I burned. Remember when you're. Crown Stop the car, stop it, I say, you kill us. Oh, they can't kill a. Dead man, can you, Governor? Oh? Oh, the old fool. Went and croup by himself, scared of death and saves me the truth. I wouldn't be too sure of that, Goarman, Hey, what what's that? Governor? Roberts is unharmed. He's only fainted. He has a weak heart. Who is that? Where are you? You didn't know you had the shadow as a passenger? Uh? The shadow? Well, you can't hurt me. Even a shadow can't harm a ghost. But you're not a ghost, Gorman. And that's what you think. Don't you know that Ralph Gorman is dead? Certainly, but you're not Ralph Gorman. You're his twin brother, Arthur. That's a lie. Oh it is nothing. I went down to the city records office and checked up on the birth certificate. A very pretty little story. Your mother had twin boys and concealed the fact from everyone. He brought you two up deliberately for a life of crime. Very convenient, wasn't it, Arthur? No matter what crime one of you committed, the other was always seen somewhere else at the same time to furnish a complete alibi. Yeah, I'm Arthur Gorman, Ralph Gorman's twin brother. If we hadn't got the awl mixed up, they'd never convicted Ralph that last time. Too bad, wasn't it? After all the trouble your mother had taken for years to conceal the fact you were twins. How did you get on to it? Why? A friend of mine used the expression jimminy, and I naturally connected that with geminy. I don't get it, you wouldn't. Geminy is the sign of the zodiac, which means the twins. Well, Arthur, this is a very interesting discussion. But I think now you've got to stop the car. Oh yeah, what do you think? I am crazy? The never gonna point me. That's a matter of opinion. All right, you got me, But I got you, shadow got you where I want you. As the river right ahead of us, I'm gonna drive over the impactment. I'll drown, but so are you. I'll drive right over the edge. Oue of this emergency break works you want. Look those drunken drivers, they would be putting Jack. He ran hang on into the warehouse wall. Attacked. I see he stand back? Please? Well how far attack? Well, I'll be a man in back. Is Governor Roberts? Is he No, he's all right. I think just painted shocked. Probably, Hey, Doc, how about the other guy? The chauffeur here is dead dead. That's too bad. See his face looks familiar. What is it? You know him? A dead guy in the chauffeur outfit? Is it the living image of a gunman called Ralph Gorman? Ralph Corman? It can't be Ralph Corman went to the chair last week. Well, if it ain't him, it's his twin brother. If only you'd been able to tell us that a week ago, justice would have been served a great deal more quickly. In a moment, we shall introduce our distinguished Gifts, one of the Special assistants to the Attorney General of the United States, the Honorable Francis H. Horrn. But first, here's John Barclay, Blue Coal's heating expert, with some money saving hints on furnace care and attention. Thank you, Ken Roberts, and good afternoon friends. Last week I discussed the three factors which cause heat to be lost up the chimney and how they can be corrected. This afternoon. I want to tell you about another common cause of wasted coal and heating inefficiency, namely ash pit loss. Ashpit loss means the unburned or partially burned coal which falls through the grates into the ash pit. This loss is due simply to shaking the grates too often and too vigorously. Don't shake the fire every time you throw on fresh coal. Let that depend on the weather outside. And when you shake the grates, stop immediately when you see the first red glow in the ash pit. If you think you are not getting full value for your eating dollars, here's what you do. Call your neighborhood blue coal dealer. He'll be glad to have a train. John Barkley heating expert inspect your furnish Remember there's no charge or obligation on your part, so feel free to call on your blue coal dealer. I thank you. Now on behalf of our sponsors, the blue coal Dealers the nation over. It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you one of the special assistants to the Attorney General of the United States, Ladies and gentlemen, the Honorable Francis H. Horn. Thank you, mister. Roberts I'm very happy to be here with you this afternoon and to have the opportunity of speaking to the audience of the Shadow Program. I am sure all law enforcement bodies in the United States agree with me when I say that constructive radio programs are a very great help in the prevention of crime. I can't emphasize strongly enough how important it is to prove, particularly to growing boys, the truth that crime in any form does not pay. Your program helps to bring this message to millions of people. So keep up the good work. We certainly shall, mister Horan, and thank you, sir for stopping in. It's been a great honor to have had you with us. Today's program is based on a story copyrighted by The Shadow magazine. All the characters and all the places named are fictitious. Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. The Shadow magazine is now on sale at your local news stat. The weed of crime, there's bitter fruit. Crime does not pay. The Shadow knows