Philo Vance: The Chicken Murder Case

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1:04with F words. When you're hiring, we at Zippercrooter know you can feel frustrated for Lauren even. Like your efforts are futile and you can spend a fortune trying to find fabulous people only to get flooded with candidates who are just fine. Fortunately, Zippercrooter figured out how to fix all that. And right now, you can try Zippercrooter for free at zippercrooter.com slash zip. With Zippercrooter, you can forget your frustrations because we find the right people for your roles fast, which is our absolute favorite F word. In fact, four out of five employers who post on Zippercrooter get a quality candidate within the first day. Fantastic. So whether you need to hire four, 40 or 400 people, get ready to meet first rate talent. Just go to zippercrooter.com slash zip to try Zippercrooter for free. Don't forget that zippercrooter.com slash zip. Finally, that zippercrooter.com slash zip.

2:13Welcome to the great detectives of old time radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it to me, box 13 at greatdetectives.net. Follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives and check us out on Instagram, Instagram.com slash great detectives. To be sure that you never miss an episode of this podcast, I encourage you to follow the podcast using your favorite podcast software and I also encourage you to check out my wife's business at Lilerose.biz that's L-I-L-L-A-Rose.biz slash ashira s-h-i-r-a. There she sells a wide variety of different hairpins, hair clips and headbands to suit a wide

3:19variety of different taste and hair sizes. You can check them all out at Lilerose.biz, L-I-L-L-L-A-Rose.biz slash ashira. Well now it is time for this week's episode of Follow Ants. The original air date, February the 7th, 1950 and the title is The Chicken Murder Case. Finding great candidates to hire can be like, well, trying to find a needle in a haystack. Sure, you can post your job to some job board. But then all you can do is hope the right person comes along, which is why you should try Zippercrooter for free at zippercrooter.com slash zip. Zippercrooter doesn't depend on candidates finding you. It finds them for you. It's powerful technology identifies people with the right experience and actively invites them to apply to your job. You get qualified candidates fast. So while other companies might deliver a lot of hey, Zippercrooter finds you what you're looking for. The needle in the haystack.

4:21ZY4 out of five employers who post a job on Zippercrooter get a quality candidate within the first day. Zippercrooter, the smartest way to hire and right now you can try Zippercrooter for free. That's right. Free at zippercrooter.com slash zip. That zippercrooter.com slash zip zippercrooter.com slash zip. Zippercrooter.com slash zip zippercrooter.com slash zip zippercrooter.com That's what I heard, Tommy. That's what I heard. Frank ain't going to stop until he stops you. Right, Zick. Oh, what do you know? So Frank Stacey's bringing a few out into the open. That's what I heard.

5:21What are you going to do about it, Tommy? Stop fluttering around. Maybe I'll be able to think. Oh, wonder they call you sick. Yeah, more like a chicken than anybody I was, uh, a 40-year-old chicken. And that's really something. Well, they don't call me chick because I act like a chicken because I got a high voice. Because you're yellow. You're chicken. Oh, geez. You're not my problem at the moment. What I told you about Frank Stacey brought you down, huh? Not exactly. But it is making me think. I kind of got an idea. He'd lay off if we'd keep away from his territory, boss. That's what's getting him so sore at you. What do you want? It doesn't interest me. Maybe if you two guys could get together, you could work something out. Fuck you. You better do it fast on a kind of Franky figures unknocking you off. Anyway, that's what I heard. I know. I know you heard. Check, I think I got something. Yeah, what? Frank Stacey wants to kill me, but I'm going to see to it that he killed somebody else. I don't think that would exactly satisfy him.

6:22He isn't going to have any choice on the matter. Check, I got it. Stacey's going to murder somebody in front of witnesses. Witnesses will talk whenever I say the word. Oh, I see what you mean. You'll get Stacey to knock somebody off and then hold that over his head like. Exactly. And he'll do anything I say. Hey, I got a hand at you, Tommy. That's swell. You got somebody picked out for Franky to knock off? Yeah, I think so. Ooh, I... You, of course. Good shot, Franky. It was solid, it was solid. And I'm getting the hepto all the angles on his billiard table of mine.

7:23I'm sharp, huh? Sure, Frankie, sure. You glad you bought the table now? That's... Only I think I'm going to change the color. I don't like that green business. All pool tables got green, whatever that is on him, Franky. That's the reason I'm going to change the color on mine. I'm going to be different. Jean, that's me. I'll back up and watch me make a message shot. Court of says you can't. Put up a shut up. I can't do it for both of us. My money's good. Now shut up while I try to shut. Easy money. Easy money. We're always making easy money, aren't we? Sure, but generally I'm on the collecting end, not the donate end. That reminds me. And how me Maro is still moving in on some of our stores. And it won't be much longer. I'm going to take care of him and that stooge chick today, maybe. And I'll take care of him, solid. I got a plan. Want me to get it, Franky? Never mind. Yeah, Stacey talking. Franky, this is Joey. So? So about Tommy Maro.

8:24You better work fast, Franky. I just heard that he sent a chick louis out gunning for you. Straight tip, Franky. Yeah, thanks, Joey. I'll remember this. But was it, Franky, anything important? Could be. Tommy Maro is sending that stooge that acts like a chicken, you know, that chick louis out to knock me off. He's sending chick. What's he going to do? Peck you at that? That ain't funny, Eddie. I'm sorry, boss. What are you going to do? Me. I'm going to call Tommy and make a deal with him later. Right now, I'm going to try and make a three-cushion shot with this billiard cue. You see why I asked you to come to my office, joint your vans? Well, no, Markham, to be perfectly honest, I don't. But as someone's from the district attorney, is a command appearance for me, so here I am. I want you to realize what'll happen if the reports I have are true.

9:25That there's a feud between Tommy Maro and Franky, Stacey, and that it's liable to flame into the open at any minute. That's right. And when that does come out into the open, there's going to be shooting. Only I don't know any way to stop it, or perhaps you might. If I were sure that either Maro or Stacey would wind up being killed, I wouldn't bother about it. We'd be much better off without them. There is a chance, though, that some innocent people might get in the way when their gang guns... Yes, I believe that, too. There must be something you can do to prevent a murder of ants. My talent lies mainly in solving killings, Markham. As I well know, we have one possibility of averting bloodshed in this situation. I understand that Maro and Stacey hate each other, but that they respect each other too. But they've arranged some sort of a conference. Find out where the conference is being held, arrest them both, and you have your solution. We have no case against either of them, not right at the moment, that is. But I'm convinced the conference won't work out, and I'd like to prevent the bloodshed I'm sure will follow. I understand your feelings.

10:27Now let me see. There's Tommy Maro and his chief stooge, Chick Lewis, on one side. That's right, isn't it? Yes, Lewis is a thin red-headed fellow, looks more like a chicken than he does a man. On the other side is Frank Stacey and his head hoodlum, a character named Eddie the lug. Of the Boston, the lug, no doubt? No doubt. Markham, I realize your predicament, and I thank you for giving me the overall picture of the situation. So far I haven't given you any complete picture, it's more like a negative. What do we do about advance? Nothing I'm afraid, my friend. We'll just have to wait till we see what the negative develops. Well Tommy, here we are. You see any sign of Frank Stacey? I don't see none. Oh, Chick, I don't see any sign of me there, but I'll be here this meeting was his idea.

11:28You think he was on the level when he asked you to meet him? Then again, maybe this is a gag. You keep me covered all the time I woke up to meet him, and if anything happens, I'll... Is that car pulled up over there? Yeah, I see it. Two guys in there. That should be Frank Stacey and Eddie the lug. That's you Tommy? Yeah, Franky. I see a broad company. You ain't exactly alone either. I didn't bring Eddie to make trouble, to make sure you didn't. How about me, me, halfway? Good enough. I'll take your eyes off in a minute, Chick, and he... Don't worry, Tommy. I'll keep Franky between his gunmen and me, so he won't go any shooting. He'll just make sure Franky doesn't make a move if he does. Don't ask questions, let him have it. Sure. You're coming enough, Tommy. All right, with you. Keep your hands away from your pockets, Franky. I'll do the same. Thomas, Tommy.

12:32Okay, Franky. This is as far as I go, you'll come the rest of the way. Check. Glad you decided to meet me, Tommy. I listen to that propositions all the time, what's yours? Here you got your stooge, Chick gunning for me. What I hear is that you're a little sore at me for cutting in on you. You're supposed to be out after me. Maybe the whole thing is a misunderstanding. I wouldn't bet on that. That... I looked, Tommy. This is a deal. Stay away from my territory, and there'll be no trouble. Keep cutting in, and both of us will be sorry. You'll be sorry, you did it, and I'll be sorry about what I have to do to you. Glad, John? That's no proposition. No? How? Well, this is... We start working together. Put your territory and mine together, run things together, and split the take right down the middle.

13:34Well, part of that sounds alright. It's okay with me to do just what you say, except one thing. We split sixty-fourty, and I get this sixty. That ain't exactly fair. So so many. People say it tough. I guess people are right. You don't like a fifty-fifty deal. Somebody must have told you. Okay, Tommy. You had your chance. As far as I'm concerned, we dig each other. The meeting's over. Good enough, only. Let me tell you something. Tomorrow, at this time, you're gonna be begging for the chance that a forty percent cut spent a little time thinking about that, Frankie. It ain't got much more than a little time left. Hey, what's the matter, Frankie? That shot was a push over and you blew it. You're nervous or something? Maybe, Eddie, maybe I am. Give me my gun. Sure, Frankie, sure.

14:34Only you're in your own house. Nobody will try to get at you here. You're worried about Tommy Marrow? I don't want him to make his move before I'm ready to make mine. Let me have that gun. Sure, Frankie. Here it is. I feel better with my pocket. Yeah. Now, maybe I can shoot little billions. I'm gonna try this one off the rail. Stupid's I make it. No, butch. That gives me all the confidence I need. I'm solid. Now, any plenty solid. All I needed was... What you needed was what, Frankie? Hey, boss. That's chick-loos. Tommy Marrow's stooge. That's right. And don't either of you do nothing stupid, like reach him. Frankie, I got a message from Tommy for you. He says, if I want to prove I'm not yellow, I'm gonna take my gun down to see you and let it do the talk. And I can't... Good work, Frankie. You've done it. You've caught him right in the chest. So that was the gunman, Tommy, sent down to get me, wasn't it? Get rid of me. He's starting to bleed all over my new billion table.

15:34I don't like the green cloth, but... I don't think I like it red either. In detailing my notes on the sterling murder case, it struck me that the first incoherency was... Glad to see you, busy. Oh, please come in, Markham. I was just dictating some notes to the machine so Ellen could type them up the first thing in the morning. But it can wait. Just a second, now, till I turn this off. Glad to see you here, Markham. Thanks. Sit down. Your face tells me somebody's been killed. I must remember to make it a little less revealing, because that's exactly right, Vince. One of those two gangsters you were concerned about? No. No. Oh, it's one of the henchmen I told you about. Remember a fellow named Chick Lewis? Yes, he worked for Tommy Morrow. And he acted a little like a chicken, I believe you said. That's the one. We found his body dumped in a lot about an hour ago. He'd been shot. One bullet did it. What's the obvious implication?

16:35That he was sent to kill Morrow's rival, Frank Stacey, and... Stacey shot first. But that's not what you're thinking. It never is. You're refused to accept the obvious ever. That's one of the reasons I came down to you right away, even before we picked up Stacey. Now, wait a minute, Markham. I never refused to accept the obvious at any time. The point I think you were trying to make is that some things are obvious to me that aren't two other people. Nothing you told me makes me believe that Chick Lewis was killed by anybody other than Frank Stacey. Good. That's all I wanted to know. Oh, that might be for me, Vince. I left word where I was going. There's only one way I know to find out. Hello. Hello. This is Marcy Homicide. Is District Attorney Markham there? Just a moment, please. You are, Markham. Take the phone on the other side of the desk. I'll continue with my dictating. Good enough, Vince. Sorry, I'm such a bother. Hello. To continue with my notes on the sterling murder case. What's that? Two sisters were very clever in their idea. What are you talking about? But their mistake was in trying to be cleverer in their execution of the crime.

17:39Then they were... Yes, I do plan. Thank you. Vince? Yes. Vince, that call came from Sergeant Marcy in the homicide department. Yes, I know. I imagine it was something about the murder of the man who was called Chick. Correct? Yes, he just got the police laboratory report on the blood stains on Chick Lewis's clothes. And? Vince? It wasn't human blood at all. It was chicken blood. Lewis had chicken blood in his veins. Really? Well, that changes things considerably. It does? How? I said before that I didn't know any reason that it wasn't Frank Stacey who killed Chick Lewis. I've changed my mind. This is just you to turn him mark him. The chicken murder case concerns the killing of Chick Lewis, henchman of gang lord Tommy Morrell.

18:43Morrell has been feuding with a rival Frank Stacey. And it's natural to believe that Lewis was shot down by Stacey. However, when Philo Vance was informed that blood stains found on Lewis's clothes proved to be chicken blood, he immediately formed a theory as to his murderer. I'm still in Vance's office trying to find out what it is. I'm not trying to be mysterious, Markham. Honestly, I'm not. In that case, you're being mysterious without trying. That's all I can say. My theory as to who killed Lewis might be entirely impractical. Yours might be right. I'd rather not go into detail at the moment. It's too possible I might be off on a tangent. You very rarely are. It's a luxury I can't afford too often. Markham, I'll make you a promise about this case. What's that? Leave my theory at me for a few hours. I'll see to it that you're in on the finale, if I'm right. What about Stacey? Do you think I ought to pick him up? I don't know why not. That is, if you can find him. I imagine he'll go into hiding. And Markham, if I'm not right about my idea of who killed Lewis,

19:46I'm going into hiding too. Well, this thing worked out just the way I planned it. Thanks for your help, kid. It's okay, Mr. Morrow. I remember what you did. It helped me get Stacey over a barrel, and that's where I'm going to keep until, oh, and you can cut out that Mr. Morrow stuff. Kid, just call me Tommy. That's okay. Now I have to. Just a minute. Yeah, who is it? It's a Stacey, Morrow. Hi, Franky. You got my message to call me? That's right. What happened? You decided to get together with me, and split the take two ways? Well, I wouldn't exactly say that. In fact, I was pretty sure you were ready to listen to that 60-40 deal of mine. Now. What do you mean now? Just that. Now. You knocked off a pretty good boy of mine. Chick Lewis, Franky. Oh, I did, did I? Well, that's news to me. Of course, I heard he was dead. Cut it. He killed him.

20:46He killed him at your apartment. With my little hatchet. That cute, if you want. But I can send you up anytime I like for not going to have chick. You saw me do it, of course. I didn't. I got little news for you. If I killed a guy, and I'm not admitting anything, you understand? I wouldn't be stupid enough to do it with anybody around. You said I made sure of that, but you didn't. Besides, you trusted the guy who saw you killed Chick. Ready? That's right. He's working for me now. That's your story. Wait a minute. Eddie, talk to your ex-boyz. Sure. Hello. Got you, Franky? That's enough. Put Tommy Morrow back on. Sure. I want you to talk to you again. I thought he would. Okay, Franky. What goes on now? Sixty-forty-squit for me and you? Or does Eddie go to the cops? Tommy, it looks like you and I are partners. Well, practically partners, anyhow. Do you like telling me where we're bound for, Vince?

21:48Yes, Mark, am I do. I feel very much like telling you. Well, then. But I'm not going to. All I can say is that we're on route to find the murderer of Chick Lewis. You told me that Frank Stacy can be found in his apartment generally. That's correct. And that Tommy Morrow, who employed the dead man, operated from a store. I want very much to talk to one of those two men. I think I know where we're going in that case. You don't concede that Stacy killed Lewis. Therefore, you want to talk to Tommy Morrow. Is that correct? Exactly. But if I'm not mistaken, this is the store from which he operates. And the shades are drawn over the store window, but I think I see some light from the inside. I'm sure you do. There's a rather strange-looking individual standing in front of the store. Yeah. A bodyguard, probably.

22:49Morrow's? He could be. No, Vance, it isn't. I recognize that man. That's Eddie the luck. He works for Stacy. Yes. But he's down in front of Tommy Morrow's office. This is really making sense now. It isn't to me, unless Stacy happens to be down visiting Morrow. I doubt that. Wait here a moment, will you? Do I have any choice in the matter? That's what I thought. I'll wait for you. I won't be long, Mark. Going somewhere, but? Yes, I think so. I'm going in to see Tommy Morrow. What makes you think so? Look, I don't have any time to delve into my reasoning with you. Step away from that door. Apparently, you didn't hear me. Let me try your other ear. My name is Philo Vance. As soon as you step away from that door, I'm going in to see Tommy Morrow because I think he killed Chick Lewis.

23:49I'm on move, you. Make me. All right. I don't think so. I imagine you're right, Vance. You didn't need any help, did you? Not with that character. Well, as long as you're here, Mark, let's go into this store and we'll see Tommy Morrow together. What about him? Oh, leave him lying there. He's a good advertisement for me. Yeah, I know what you mean. Well, let's go. Vance is nobody here. There's certainly no place for anybody to be hiding. There's a door leading out the back of this store, and I imagine that Mr. Morrow went out that way when he heard the commotion in the front. Vance, let's wait right here until you tell me something. You believe, apparently, that Morrow killed his own employee, Chick Lewis. You've offered me no reason for your believing that or any motive for Morrow to kill Chick. You're absolutely correct. Oh, it's about time I was. A few moments ago, you told me that seeing Frank Stacey Stew jeddie the log outside the store confirmed your theory.

24:49That I did. You don't tell me how or why or when this case will be over. Don't you think it's about time you parted with some information? Yes, I do. I believe in all honesty that this case will be over tonight. I believe that I can turn Chick Lewis's killer over to you. And what's most important, I believe I can prove everything I say. Sharey said his name was Philovance. Sure, I'm sure, and he was looking for you, Tommy. He knew something. I'm sure he knew something. Advanced is an awful, hip-character, Tommy. How about he ask you, Frankie? Well, I can tell you what I think, can I? We're partners now, aren't we? Sixty-fourty, maybe, but partner's just the same. I think getting rid of Vance is a good idea. That's why we're here in front of his apartment, ain't it? That's why Eddie has his Tommy gun pointed at the window, ain't it? And our morphal angst is to get even put out knocking around. He gave me two. Believe me, I am.

25:50A couple of shots from this gun, all square things. It always does. You know Tommy? What? You and I start by fighting, team up together, and the first thing we do to make the partnership start is have a jam session with the Tommy gun and a guy named Final Vance. By the way, you were pretty smart. What do you mean I was smart? Buying off Eddie here, so he'd be on your side after I killed Chick. That wasn't dumb. No, it was sharp. Keen, solid. I like having a smart partner. I've only Vance would show his face out of that apartment house door. We could go celebrate someplace. Let him show his face. Just let him show his face. Get Eddie, get him sore. He's got to work himself up to shoot him a guy. Well, he couldn't make an exception in your case if you keep kneeling him. Not ain't wrong neither. All right, all right, I'm sorry. Part of Maggie. That apartment house door is opening. That's Vance in the doorway. That's Vance, all right? Pose nice and pretty. Just waiting for this. He's fallen. You got him, Eddie. Let's get this car moving. That's all fast. Don't move you three.

26:51I might have this car so rough. But come on, Mark, I'm the district attorney. Well, Mark, come, maybe you got us. We did a lot of characters. I'm famous. I can have Final Vance just now. He's smart, yeah. But he could not think I'm a scene gun bullet. If you knew how I felt about Vance, you wouldn't talk that way, Mar-o. I have a good mind to take care of you three personally. Forget about the law. That's not necessary, Mark. That's the highway killed. You don't think I'd let myself be killed just to prove my theory was correct, do you, Mark? After you take these three individuals down to headquarters, I'll tell you why I wasn't killed. And how that chicken blood proved no red herring in this case. You better start from the beginning, Vance. I have a hunch that this is going to be complicated.

27:54It isn't at all, Mark. And I think I'd better start at the end. You know now why I called you to be in front of my apartment with some policeman. Yes. You saw something that led you to believe that being attacked on your life because you knew too much about the chick-luis killing. And there was. And we heard enough while the police and I were hiding in the hedges near the gangster's car to send them all away for a long time. If not forever. Very well then, we have that much out of the way. I'll take it from there. When I saw the men parked in front of my door, I suspected who they were, so I called you. And then fixed up a dummy to resemble me as much as possible. Then you came down, opened the street door, set the dummy up, and ducked out the back way. I gathered that. That much is true. Now you want to know how the fact that there was chicken blood on chick-luis' clothes proved to me that Frank Stacey didn't kill him. Before you go into that, I think I'd better tell you that Frank Stacey is already confessed to killing Lewis. I have no doubt that he thought he killed the man. What? This is what happened. Tommy Marrow wanted to get something on Stacey, so he framed the murder. He had chick-luis show up at Stacey's apartment, a bladder containing chicken blood underneath his coat.

28:59He had already bribed Stacey's stooge Eddie the lug to put a blank cartridge in Marrow's gun. I see, no. I think. Stacey fired the blank. Chick-luis fell, and as he was falling, broke the bladder containing the chicken blood. In other words, the whole thing was staged to make Stacey think he killed Lewis. That's right. So that Marrow could, in the future, dominate Stacey. But if what you say is so, Vance, that Stacey fired a blank, Lewis would still be alive. Yes, and the chances are he still would be alive if he hadn't quarreled with his boss Marrow after the supposed murder. This is pure supposition, of course, but I imagine Marrow's confession will show you I'm right. In other words, the supposedly dead Lewis was carted out of Stacey's apartment by Eddie. Lewis then went to report to his boss, but they quarreled, and Marrow killed him. I'm sure that's what happened. It was the only reasonable explanation of why there was chicken blood on Chick-luis' clothes, Markham. You remember that's what interested me in the beginning? Yes, I do. And I'd be glad to remember that this is the end of the chicken murder case.

31:03The following Zippercruder radio spot you are about to hear is going to be filled with F words. When you're hiring, we at Zippercruder know you can feel frustrated, for Lauren even. Like your efforts are futile, and you can spend a fortune trying to find fabulous people, only to get flooded with candidates who are just fine. Fortunately, Zippercruder figured out how to fix all that. And right now, you can try Zippercruder for free at zippercruder.com slash zip. With Zippercruder, you can forget your frustrations, because we find the right people for your roles fast, which is our absolute favorite F word. In fact, four out of five employers who post on Zippercruder get a quality candidate within the first day. Fantastic! So, whether you need to hire four, forty, or four hundred people, get ready to meet first rate talent.

32:05Just go to zippercruder.com slash zip to try Zippercruder for free. Don't forget that zippercruder.com slash zip. Finally, that zippercruder.com slash zip. Warning, the following Zippercruder radio spot you are about to hear is going to be filled with F words. When you're hiring, we at Zippercruder know you can feel frustrated, for Lauren even. Like your efforts are futile, and you can spend a fortune trying to find fabulous people. Only to get flooded with candidates who are just fine. Fortunately, Zippercruder figured out how to fix all that. And right now, you can try Zippercruder for free at zippercruder.com slash zip. With Zippercruder, you can forget your frustrations, because we find the right people for your roles fast, which is our absolute favorite F word. In fact, four out of five employers who post on Zippercruder get a quality candidate within the first day. Fantastic! So, whether you need to hire four, forty, or four hundred people, get ready to meet first rate talent.

33:05Just go to zippercruder.com slash zip to try Zippercruder for free. Don't forget that zippercruder.com slash zip. Finally, that zippercruder.com slash zip. Welcome back! Does anyone come up with more ridiculous hot takes on crime than Markham? You don't wonder if police officers kind of make bets to figure out what they can get Markham to believe by providing oscillated pieces of evidence. I bet I can get Markham to believe that this guy had chicken blood flowing through his veins. And you might think that the odds would be against success, but here we are. When dealing with unexplained situations, Markham seems to reach for the most implausible, impossible answer to the problem.

34:05And go with that as his default until Vance proves otherwise. And what's so funny about Markham is unlike, say, a sergeant odys from Richard Diamond, whose voice clearly indicates that he is a comedic character. Markham speaks with the voice of assured authority. Also, it was funny when he went all vigilante justice on those who he thought had killed Vance. I don't think anyone was buying it. Actually, the way that he described chicken with chicken blood flowing through his veins, and more of a chicken than a man, called the 1990s sketch on the TV series Animaniacs called Chickenbo. And each segment dealt with chickenbo having assumed a human identity and being widely respected,

35:11except for one person who insisted that he was indeed a giant chicken because he looked like a chicken in human disguise and never spoke any words, but clocked. Thankfully, the solution in this case was not as ridiculous as that or what Markham said. Well, listen our comments and feedback now. And we turned to Ken who has some thoughts on the music box murder case. Adam, as always, thank you for the wonderful program. I really enjoyed the recent episodes of Follow Vance, including the incompetence and extremely corny puns. Even though I recently sent you another comment today's episode is just too far out to not say something. In the music box murder case, Vance and Markham are dealing with crooks who killed the victims when their burglaries interrupted. Vance and Markham are aware that each robbery had a valuable music box that was also stolen. They decide the crooks lack valuable music boxes.

36:14Yet in the very next scene, we hear a crook trying to break in and steal yet another music box. The robbery was interrupted and the crook killed the owner before fleeing without the music box. The head villain was upset. At not getting the music box, Eddie tells the other crooks that he really wanted the music box after seeing a picture of the very valuable 200 year old music box in the Sunday paper. Later than the incompetent crook who didn't get the music box was killed by his gang. That begs a lot of questions. Why didn't Vance and Markham read the Sunday paper? See the article about the 200 year old very valuable box and try to protect it in the owner. After all, they already knew the crook stole music boxes and killed the owners. If they would have tried to protect the music box and its owner, they could have saved the lives of the owner and the murdered crook. Almost too quencent dental to believe. Later the newspaper talks of yet another very valuable and rare music box that is going to go on sale in a local store.

37:16In fact, it's the most valuable music box that has ever arrived in the USA. Vance comes up with the idea to buy the box and put it in his home to lure the thieves. We don't know how valuable it was but the head crook promised one of the other crooks that his share of the robbery would be $15,000. I imagine the music box was worth at least double that. Are we supposed to believe that Vance had an extra $30,000 in his bank account in those days? Why would he really buy the music box instead of working with the own store owner to protect it? What can we say about Markham? He goes to the store to see who bought the music box. Markham determines that the purchaser used an alias so Markham doesn't even ask or check up on the address figuring it was a fake. Actually the address was Vance's and was part of Vance's plot to catch the crooks. I could go on and on about this episode after Vance sent a physical trap in his home to catch the crook.

38:17Somebody came to the door, Vance stated that the person of the door is probably unknown to him or he would have just walked in. Vance with the trap set walks over and opened the door to a stranger as though nothing was unusual. The crook had been at the door, it would have ruined Vance's plot, but it wasn't. The crook didn't come until later. As I said, I could go on and on but I won't. Again, thank you for the wonderful episodes. I think part of the incompetence of Vance and especially Markham helped make this series so fun. Well, thanks so much for the email, Ken. And I would agree with that last part. For the first decade plus that I had this podcast, I was determined not to do this series because the plots were ridiculous. I think perhaps I was taking myself a little too seriously and the whole concept. But as I got more into listening to the programs, I could appreciate their charm even though I often have to give such lengthy explanations.

39:19I will go ahead and say a couple of things in Vance's defense. First of all, is it plausible that Vance would have $30,000 or whatever it costs? Because I doubt that our crazy mastermind was talking retail prices. We're probably talking into high five figures if not six figures. But I think there's a case that Vance could afford it. Going back to the original follow Vance books, Vance was a gentleman detective who essentially started solving crimes as something to amuse himself. He was a wealthy man, a dabler in things like arts and raising expensive dogs. While the radio version of Vance is a private eye, there's no real indication that making money is particularly important.

40:19If he's had an episode that ended with him earning a fee, I don't recall it. In fact, most cases, he ends up investigating as an unpaid consultant to the police. And his friendship with Markham indicates that he moves in society at the highest levels. So I generally assume that Vance is independently wealthy. He's probably not a millionaire. See our discussion about millionaires last year. But he could probably get a few hundred thousand dollars together if he had to. Now, it's possible that Vance might like the piece and want to keep it as a trophy. But given the high price tag, that's probably not going to happen. But with Vance's connections, he should be able to sell the music box for about what he paid for it and maybe even turn a profit if doing so makes sense for tax purposes.

41:24So I don't have a trouble with that part. And I actually think that his deduction that the criminals weren't at the door was kind of sound just because he wouldn't expect them there. So I thought that was reasonable. But your other points, I think, totally fair. And yeah, you could go at most episodes of follow Vance for quite a long time. And I appreciate the points you brought out, Ken. Thank you so much. Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. Thank you to Keith Patreon supporter since February of 2017. Currently supporting the show at the shameless level of $4 or more per month. Again, thank you so much for your support, Keith. And that will do it for today. If you are enjoying this podcast, I encourage you to follow it wherever you download your podcast from. Also, please rate and review it. We'll be back next Thursday with another episode of follow Vance.

42:25But join us back here tomorrow for your truly Johnny Dollar. And the final three parts of the Mollie K-Matter, where... Mr. Dollar, it's him, eh? Captain Broly over there, he just come in. Yeah, he's seen us too. He's coming over this way. I gotta get out of here. Sit down, Mr. Hawkins. He won't start any of this. You don't know him. You don't know how he is when he gets mad. No, but it looks like I'm gonna find out. Well, Hawkins, seems like you're not very particular about the company you keep. Neither am I, Captain. Pull up a chair. What are you up to, Dollar? Offering him a bribe to testify against me? Don't need to. There's enough against you already. Yeah, there will be more unlikely when you and I'm smart company lawyers get through. You insurance people are all alike. You're right there to collect when it's due here, but you squirm when it comes to paying off. Well, now that depends on the circumstances, Captain, and in this case, well, I wouldn't go spending that money yet if I were you. That's what you've been telling him, eh?

43:26When I've got anything to tell, I'll tell it to the court. Yeah, along with anybody else, you can turn against me. Like my own daughter, for instance, she even sneaked around trying to turn her against me. Not that that took much doing. And Dean Sutton, owner of the cargo, but there's a limit to what a man will take, Dollar. And I took enough already. Now, you better quit pushing me. I'm warning you. All right. Well, take your warning and stick it where it'll do the most good. You've been trying to block every attempt I've made to get to the bottom of this thing. You've dragged your feet every step of the way deliberately. Dollar, nobody talks to me like that. And it's time somebody did. I hope you'll join us then in the meantime. Do send your comments to box 13 at greatetactives.net. Follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com slash greatetactives. From Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off. Finding great candidates to hire can be like, well, trying to find a needle in a haystack.

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