Sherlock Holmes Radio The Cradle That Rocked Itself Basil Rathbone, Nigel B

0:00Another return to Cornwall. What were you and Sherlock Holmes doing down there, Dr. Watson? Recuperating. Holmes had spent a particularly active autumn solving three dangerous and exhausting cases in rapid succession. And the vacation was indicated. I had visions of busking in the south of France or sunny Italy. But not Holmes. He elected to return to the small cottage near Poldue Bay, which we had occupied once before. And the adventure of the devil's fort if I'm not mistaken, Dr. Right. Now, the bays and inlets of the Cornish Peninsula are bean and sheltering in the sunny summer weather. But in December, the blustering gales with the surge swept reefs and black and sinister cliffs. Well, one particularly violent morning, Holmes and I were in scum's tonight aside at the fireplace. Holmes was engrossed in a consignment of books on Pilolite, which had just arrived from London. Watson, has it ever occurred to you that the ancient Cornish language is akin to the Caldion?

1:04Well, in as much as I understand neither Cornish nor Caldion are considered hares. It's quite logical, you know. These shores were undoubtedly visited by early Phoenician traders in Tim. In fact, many historians believe that the pirates, who later operated from this coast, had more than their share of the old Phoenician heritage. A friend is reputable background for any district. Profitable as the word Watson. Hello, who's this fighting his way up the path in the teeth of the gale? It's like your old tongue-friend and fellow archaeologist, Mr. Rowne, the vicar. I wonder what's occurred to bring the good domini out in this weather. I'd sooner expect to see a cat go swimming in a mill race. Well, don't let it stand in the wet. Well, I'm going. I'm going. But you couldn't answer the door now, then. Why, Mr. Browne, you lied to the sea, well, man, can't mean can mean, well, you look out, Browne. Not hardly entirely. Totally and entirely soaked to the skin. Morning, round him, how about a spot of hot ground with the tea kettle spoiling on the half? Watson, fix the dick of a drink. Thank you, I'm afraid I need it as much for my

2:04nerves as I do for the cheer you know. Oh? Yes, Mr. Holmes. I have a problem, man. A rather serious problem and I really don't know whether to come to go to Watson for help or to you. Well, why not consult both of us? It's not the first time we've collaborated on a case, hey, Holmes? Why Watson, don't interrupt. Just what is your problem, Mr. Rowne? Well, it seems that the cradle of the surviving author has been rocking again. That's so unusual. You don't understand, Mr. Holmes. That cradle has been in the family for over five centuries. All the young belongings have placed in it at birth. It hasn't been used however since we're free to providing the present Mrs. Gregory was a child. In fact, the nursery has been kept locked ever since old Matty, the providing nurse, was sent up to the home for religion, females at redroof three months ago. She'd been in the family for nearly 60 years, you see. Well, it seems rather hard to just to get rid of her, the Holmes. My thought exactly. But Mortimer Gregory, he's the one who is married to we're free to provide. He was quite determined about the matter. He said that old Matty was making his wife quite ill with her talk about the rocking cradle. What sort of talk? Well, you see that there's a sort of legend in the

3:07driving family that when one of them is about to die, the cradle starts to rock all by itself. Nice, eerie little superstition, hey, Holmes? As a matter of fact, the cradle had been heard rocking once or twice, but in as much as old Matty was still sleeping in the nursery, the family took it as a rather grim, practical joke. All except Will Frida. She became quite ill and upset at which point her husband, who has a violent temper, said the old nurse had to go. Dr. Dennis, who is Will Frida's cousin and physician as well, was inclined to agree with him. So they sent for a nurse for visit Ives Hospital to take over. On the day that she arrived, I was summoned to drive Matty to the old lady's home in Redroof. I can't say I look forward to the event. Where your fears justified? Completely justified, Mr. Holmes. When I arrived at the surviving water, the old woman was sitting on her boxes just inside the front door. Mr. Gregory and Dr. Travini were endeavouring to quiet her catwalk. Calls herself a nurse, does she? What does she know about bringing babies into the world?

4:12I've given three generations of the survivings the wax that drove the breath of life into their bodies. After all, Matty, I am a doctor. One Will Frida's baby arrived and I expect to be on hand, too, you know. You a doctor? I wouldn't trust you to treat my Timothy here. Hey, Timmy. Timmy agrees with me. He may be a cat, but he knows as much about what's going on around here as I do. That will do. Matty, that will do. You've made enough trouble already. I've set my wife so that she's had to take to her bed. Me upset, Miss Will Frida. My Miss Willie, that I taught the walker, Play patty cake and eat a porridge like a good girl. It's not me that made her sick. And what's more, if any harm comes to her, I'll put a curse on this house. Ten miles of mulling between here and redloof, I'll come back and rock the cradle somehow, and you know what that means.

5:17Well, Mr. Holmes, I feel sorry for Matty, of course, but I must say I saw Mr. Gregory and Dr. Devining's point. Screaming old chrome like that isn't the most soothing influence around a house in which there is an expectant mother. Quite. Tell me, Victor. Is this Mrs. Gregory, the former Will Frida, Providing easily upset by these families superstitions about rocking cradles and the like? I really couldn't say, Mr. Holmes. Will Frida was always a delicate girl. She was an only child you see in the one air to that branch of the family. Significant day, Holmes. I suppose she inherited quite a tady estate. She did indeed, Dr. Watson. Her father would have disinherited her if he could when she ran off of that Gregory chap. But the estate isn't tailed and that I must say the marriage turned out better than most of us expected. Then you don't think more than a Gregory married her for her money. And not necessarily, Mr. Holmes. Gregory was an artist who came to these parts one summer to do a bit of sketching. And naturally the job he thought was one of those near-do will bohemians. But it seems he's rather famous and sells his pictures for quite handsome prices.

6:20I see. I think the girl and her father reconciled. Yes, Mr. Holmes. When he heard that she was to have a child, he sent for her. Although the child will bear the name Gregory, he will inherit the job of providing a estate. The job is always born and the job is worth it, Mr. Say. Any other arrangement would be unthinkable. Quite. Well, Freda Gregory and her new husband came back as soon as possible after receiving her father's letter asking for reconciliation. One week after the return, all Mr. Dervining was dead. And will Freda had inherited the estate. I take it. Her father's death was sudden and unexpected. Oh, quite unexpected, Mr. Holmes. He'd been as fit as a fiddle up to Wednesday night. Thursday, shortly after his mid-afternoon whiskey and soda, he complained that his mouth and throat felt sore. Half an hour later, vomiting, sit in, followed by violent cramps and general collapse. Did no one send for a doctor? Mr. Dervining's nephew, Dr. Dennis Dervining, was in the house at the time. There was, of course, an autopsy in an inquest. Good heavens, no, Mr. Holmes, whatever for. Mr. Dervining had been subject for some years to violent gastro-digestive abscessive,

7:20it was all perfectly unaboidable and natural. And autopsy is always indicated in any case of sudden death, Mr. Ruppey. But what good would he do? It might just possibly prevent another fatality. Just when did Mrs. Dregor his health begin to fail? Her father's death for the shock to her, she took to her bed for about a week after a few more. His grand understandable, her home's only to Ruppey. After that, she was up and about for a month or two, but her colour was bad and she seemed to be decidedly nervous, like a good many women in the early stages of her condition. She experienced a certain amount of burnosia. Has that nausea persisted? It has, Mr. Holmes, and when O'Matti began to rant on about the rocking cradle, Mrs. Dregor became thoroughly alarmed and were had to be put to bed. Did her condition improve, Mr. Ruppey, after they got rid of the old woman? For a time, she seemed greatly improved. She was up and about for nearly a month and week before last, she suffered a rather frightening relapse and has been in bed ever since. I see. How soon is her baby due to be born? Oh, and about her fortnight, I believe. Has Dr. Trevining called in any outside medical opinion? No, Mr. Holmes, but that's not too incredible when you realise how remove we are from civilisation?

8:22Possibly if they knew that Dr. Watson was here and that vicinity... The new nurse made that suggestion to Dr. Trevining. But both he and Mr. Dregor were decidedly hostile to the idea. The nurses, I may say, rather badly frightened. Today was her day off and she dropped in at the bakery shortly after breakfast. She admitted she had never been so terrified in her entire life, living there in the old, revining house, part-key, part castle. But she said she wasn't the only one. No. Pormis' Gregory lies there stiff with terror, with her eyes fixed on the ceiling waiting for it to begin. The sound of the cradle rocking. The sound of the cradle rocking. This is getting dark, but the lamp very well, Mrs. Gregory. That's bitter. And I was a child, I was afraid of the dark, and now it's all come back to me.

9:23I'd dread the coming of night when one is sick. That's only natural, but the nights are so long, I always think. It's not that nice, when night comes, it begins rocking of the cradle. I love you, watching for it. Yes, listen, I don't hear anything with Mrs. Gregory. If only I could be sure my baby's born before I die. It's a terribly important mist, but you're not going to die, Mrs. Gregory. Yes, I am. That's why the cradle's rocking. Listen, there it goes. Rock. Rock. Rock. It's for me, miss. It's for me.

10:26Sounds like Delirium, eh, Holmes? A cradle that is heard only by a desperately sick woman. But you don't understand, Dr. Watson. Mrs. Gregory isn't the only one who hears the cradle rocking. The nurse can hear it too. The nursery of the surviving water is directly over the master bedroom, and that rocking cradle can be heard several times a night. But only intermittent days. That's right, Mr. Holmes. And never in the daytime. No, always after dark. It mrs. Henderson, the nurse, as it's having a dreadful effect on Mrs. Gregory. The nurse is also in the last few days. The nurse has also noticed a local postular eruption. That could be induced by the nervous strain, I suppose. Not, Mr. Serelem. Yes, I think Dr. Watson and I had better pay a visit to providing water shortly after dark today. I trust we can persuade her family to allow Dr. Watson to have a look at Mrs. Gregory. And I think I can suggest what he's to look for. As for myself, I'm more interested in what causes that cradle to rock. Did you have to drag us out in this beastly weather homes?

11:33Besides, it's also a destiny regular, contrary to medical ethics and all that, you know. After all, I haven't been called in by either the doctor on the case nor the family. You doctors in your confounded medical ethics. I suppose you'd let the poor woman die just because you haven't been properly introduced. So this is where we turn in Mr. Holmes. Is this the providing coat of arms over the gate? Aha, very significant, Mr. Rond. What's so significant about it, I could obviously have blasted thing in this fading light. For one thing, the truckers have the far sinister. For another, that was the jolly roger up in the upper right hand quarter. That's right, Mr. Holmes. The truckers have more than their share of pirate answers. They boast of the fact you know. Well, here we are. This is the truckers' providing water. Rightly looking old pile of homes. Wait for us here, darling. Right, we may be leaving it rather hurry. Give the bill a full one. No wait, I sent word to Ms. Henderson to be on the lookout for us. Oh, Ms. Henderson, I thought you'd be watching for us. Mrs. Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson. How do you do?

12:33Come in, please. I'm so glad you both come. Mrs. Gregory was having a particularly bad spell when I returned this afternoon. Have you told Mrs. Gregory's husband and her doctor that you expected us? No, Mr. Holmes. Fortunately, there was no opportunity. The doctor was called out on a confinement case an hour ago. And Mr. Gregory has had to go to the stifes for the assises. He shouldn't be back until after supper. Excellent. You will take Dr. Watson to see Mrs. Gregory immediately. Mr. Rounday knows the house well enough to direct me to the nursery, I gather. Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. Top floor, second right. I'm afraid the door is kept locked, Mr. Holmes. My dear young lady, it takes more than a locked door to stop Sherlock Holmes. Come along, Dekal. Oh, no. Here we are. It's the next door. It's locked right now. Then there's nothing we can do. On the contrary, I have a very neat little gem here that I acquired when I was instrumental in apprehending a certain famous cat burglar.

13:35Hmm. What a breeze coming through the keynote. You will mean you're going to pick the lock. May I take a moment or so? Well, I do hope no one comes and catches us, Eddie. I don't know what my fuck would say. Mr. Holmes, did you hear that? There it is again. It's inside the nursery. Yes. Yes, it's the cradle right enough. But it's rocking. It's rocking in there all by itself. It's not just a superstition. Come, find it. There's one must be rusty. No, here it comes. Last but didn't have to make that noise. Easy now. We'll open the door. It's so dark in there. Keep it the candle I'm going in. Full is empty. Completely empty. But look here, the cradle is still rocking and feel a mattress. It's still warm. But look, what was that? Branch of a tree scraping against the window.

14:35Yes, it's broken one of the small five inch square panes of glass and that explains where the draft came from. It also explains something else. Yes, interesting. Very interesting. Who led you in this row? Ah, Mr. Gregory, no doubt. I am Sherlock Holmes. What in places do you think are doing here? Trying to solve the mystery of the rocking cradle. Right in the rubbish. Old wives' tales. I'll not have my wife upset by any more of that nonsense. You misjudges Mr. Gregory. We only want to save your wife and possibly your child. I don't need your help. Get out, both of you. Get out! With pleasure. I imagine Watson's had time to give the nurse full instructions and we've seen all the rest of the see up here. Come on, Ron Hay. We're now right over to Redroof. The final piece to this puzzle is not just to be found of the old lady's home. You mean you're...you're going to question Matty? I trust you have no objections, Mr. Gregory. Objections! No! Go ahead! You'll get nothing from her! Nothing at all! So kind of you to see us, Matty?

15:39Particularly this late in the evening. It is well after our visiting hours, Mr. Ron Hay. But when they told me it was the vigorous, tridanic walless and Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I didn't make my curiosity got the best of me. That's what you're talking about. Gentlemen must speak in cheer. Now, I owe a few cup of tea. Thank you, Matty. No time for social amenities. Our night's work is only just begun. So, if you'll allow us to have a few words with one of your inmates. And, this Matty, what's her other name beckon? Less mice, all I don't know. But she was nursing the surviving household for many years. She came here to the home three months ago. You mean Matty, Finley? Of course, of course. I'm afraid you can't see Matty, too. Why not? Is anything wrong with her? Is she ill? No, Mr. Holmes. Matty, Finley, die! Six weeks ago. Die? Yes, Mr. Holmes. But why wasn't I told? Why wasn't her body brought back to us for proper burial? Well, I understand her family. And what Mrs. Gregory didn't know. They were afraid the shock of Matty's death would upset her. Quite, Metron. How do the old woman die? Had she been sick long? No, Mr. Holmes. She did a very good day. Mrs. Gregory had driven over from Pradena to have tea with her.

16:41She brought a pancake, the Matty. Pancake was her favorite, it seems. How soon? After Mrs. Gregory left, was Matty taken ill? Not to the middle of the night. Seems she sneaked the rest of the pancake off the bed with her and had eaten it after the lights were put out. Well, people and children frequently make fixer themselves. We sent for Dr. Dennis Trevininger once. He lives halfway between Redbeth and Trudanic Wallace. He was here inside of a knob. She seemed to get better when she saw him. Shortly thereafter, she had another attack which ended in a complete collapse. Oh, this is an exasperating case at Holmes. One blind alley, often another old Matty telling him dead, slams the final door in our face on the contrary. We may very well find out more from Matty's death than we would if she would alive. But where will you go to question Holmes to Holmes? To the graveyard, of course. Where is she buried, Matty? In the church, I had seen Stevens. It's on the cliffs of the other side of the tower. I don't suppose you could supply us with a couple of shovels, Matty. Oh, Holmes, you're not thinking of exusing the Dobby or Disar of the night. Why not? Just one more question, Matty. What happened to Matty's cat after her death?

17:43Timothy? Yes. Oh, he disappeared shortly after the funeral. No one knows what happened to him, Mr. Holmes. I think I can make a guess, Matty. Yes, I think I can make a guess. ... Ask the millions of men who wear clipper craft clothes. Ask the fine stores that make them available to you everywhere, from coast to coast. The reason there's so much talk about clipper craft is that they're so extremely fine at the price of just ordinary clothes. It's a pleasure to discuss clipper craft on this program, because I know I do a good turn turn to every man listening in. Regardless of price you've never seen finer tailoring, longer-wearing woolens, or more perfect fit. Suits are only $40 and $45. Top coats and overcoats are only $40. The famous Clipper Craft Plan makes all this possible. It concentrates the buying power of 924 leading independent stores across the nation. You get the savings that

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19:57to letting yourself get out of condition. Well, as I like that. Oh, thank heaven the gate has gone down. That's the sea is still boiling. The moon's trying to break through the clouds. It makes the freakers down there look like a devil's cordless. Jobs done. Now what's in it, if you and Mr. Rowne Hay will help me lift out the coffin. Certainly Mr. Holmes, who the authorities were probably raised in need, and now all together, one, two, I see, Holmes, the coffin was remarkably light. Oh, Matty was a very little woman. Holmes, look, the someone's going to be over the moors if they're going up to him. He's coming here. Good lord, it's a start to be a little bit more than a little bit. Oh, there he is. Now, just what's going on here?

20:58Dr. Devani, we're just taking a look at Old Matty, and Mr. Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. Watson. Oh, he did. Busy-binding. Metter. I heard you came to divining this afternoon and saw my patient without consulting me. And now this, I suppose you've got a permit. Oh, I can't say we have. We couldn't afford to take the time. Why not? We didn't want to give you the opportunity to finish off Mrs. Gregory, the way you did her father, a known Matty. I finished off my uncle and Matty, why should I do that? Because he would determine when headed the estate of providing water. If you had to kill off half the parish to do it, you're mad. There's no proof. The body's about to decompose. I wonder, would you like to help us pry off the lid of this coffin? What's in Hamidat Chisel? I protest. This is monstrous. Not as monstrous as murder Dr. Dr. Vining. Nothing. Slide the lid off the other side, Watson. All right. Now Mr. Round-Hay, if you'll bring the lantern over here, I'll be here. Yes. Thank you. Good Lord. The body. She looks exactly the way she did when she died,

22:03when she died in agony. Remember? No, no, but back to lid it. It's too unnatural. All right, she's telling it to me in that awful grin. There was no autopsy on all Mr. Travining. In this case, however, would you like to put your hand on the body, Dr. Travining? No, there's a local superstition that when a murderer touches the body of his victim, blood will flow. No, no, let me go. Let me go, let me go. He's right. He's right in the wrong division. He said it to the clerks. Good Lord. He wrote a horse, twitterly edge. He'll be smashed to death on the reefs. Devils cauldron, as Watson called it, has claimed its own. Yes, the rocks on which his pirate ancestors wrecked so many helpish ships. I'm not surprised the sight of all men his body unnerved him. Who would suspect it after six weeks there would be almost no signs of decomposition? I not only suspected it, Mr. Round-Hay. I knew. How so? Dr. Devils, I'm not sure if you'll find out. I'm not sure if you'll find out. I'm not sure if you'll find out. I'm not sure if you'll find out. I'm not sure if you'll find out. I'm not sure if you'll find out. I'm not sure if you'll find out. I knew. How so? Dr. Dennis Trevining chose one of the few poisons

23:03that also tends to act as a preservative. I allude, of course, to Totorametic, commonly called Antimony. By that story was a cork or Dr. Watson, and Dennis Trevining was certainly a throwback to his pirate ancestors. Yes, Mr. Harris. What look? Why didn't he finish off his uncle in this cousin years before? Because as long as Wilfrid had no child, he was due to inherit anyway. You mean the estate wouldn't have gone to her husband? No, Mr. Harris. In England, the laws of inherit is a rather rigid. If a married woman who owns a state dies off to giving birth to a living child, husband will hold the lands for life as tenant by the courtesy of England. And that's what Dennis Trevining was determined to prevent at any cost. But why didn't Wilfrid die as quickly as her father, Dr? Because more than one sudden death in the family would have been suspicious.

24:03Therefore, Wilfrid was given repeated small doses of the poison, which produced rather different symptoms. And what about Mary? Not a undoubtedly suspected what was going on, but was afraid to say anything. Hence the cradle rocking. She was trying to warn her mistress. Eventually, when she was taken ill from over-eating the temptation to get her out of the way, it was too great, and Dr. Trevining killed her too. But the cradle, Dr. It continued to rock after her death. Who rocked the cradle? The cat. Matties, bet-cat-timothy. He found his way back to his old home, climbed up the tree outside the nursery window and entered through the broken window pane, and made himself at home in the most comfortable piece of furniture, the old cradle. Holmes knew at once what had happened, for how, Dr? By observing some short black cat hair on the mattress. Of course it's also obvious. Yes, one shell of Holmes points out the explanation. Got me that time. Well, Dr. Watson, what's our story to be about next week?

25:03Next week I think I'll tell you how Professor Moriarty ran a muck during Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee stealing famous jewels, robbing banks, blackmailing millionaires, and finally how he came very close to blowing up a ball that buffing him palace.