Sam Spade - The Missing Newshawk Caper

0:00The adventures of Sam Spade detected brought to you by Wildroot Cream Oil Heratonic, the non-alcoholic heratonic that contains ladle and wildroot cream oil again and again the choice of men who put good grooming first. Sam Spade detected agency. Paradiene, anything wrong you sound almost human. It's not burn-a-ding sound. It's me, Effie. Yes. But I'll tell burn-a-ding about the compliment. Car things. Well, I've made out as best I could. I don't want to don't want you to think that I have begrudged you with vacation. After all, you have worked hard. You did deserve it. Sam Spade, is that all you have to say to me? I am not putting the blame on you after all that is a state law. So I can hardly accuse you of letting me down at a time when I needed you most. You might at least ask me if I had a good time.

1:00I'm sorry if you're conscious, Father Drew. Oh, well, it didn't. I had a divine time and I met all sorts of interesting people. Mostly men. You don't say. What else? Well, it was just desert ranch, you know, with a lot of buttocks. You mentioned those. No, Sam. No, no, no. They're the result of erosion. Those outdoor types, they go to pieces. Sam, are you pulling on a leg? Not over the phone, Abby, but stay where you are. I'll be right down the look at your snapshots. And when you have the time, I'll dictate my report on the missing news, Hawk Kaker. Dr. O'Hammett, America's leading detective fiction writer and creator of Sam Spade, the Hardboiled Private Eye and William Spear, radios outstanding producer director of mystery and crime drama, join their talents to make your hair stand on end with the adventures of Sam Spade. Presented by the makers of Wild Root Cremoyle for the hair. Wild Root Cremoyle. That's the famous name to remember men next time you buy hair tonic.

2:03And look what Wild Root Cremoyle does for you. It grooms your hair neatly and naturally. Wild Root Cremoyle also relieves dryness and removes loose ugly dandruff. Yes, men, Wild Root Cremoyle is your shortcut to really handsome hair. So be smart. First chance you get? Get Wild Root Cremoyle hair tonic. Again and again? The choice of men who put good grooming first. And now with Howard Duff starring as Spade, Wild Root brings to the air the greatest private detective of the mall in the adventures of Sam Spade. Just outside of Canabee, I'm Virgin River. Can I have the Pro of the West? Uh-huh. And did I mention the views? Oh, well they're interesting. The result of erosion. Yes. And it's all sent it to. Say Hamlin's ranch. You mean a working ranch? Yes, you see that where you get into the spirit. My job was to feed the chickens. And that's how I met him. One of the beauties?

3:03Oh, Sam, he's a very cultured gentleman. Culture smoker. What's he though for a living? He's your family. You don't say. What's his name? Charlie Shank. Charlie Shank? He's the founder of the Shank Institute of Articulative Correction, which I should learn. Articulative Correction. Where is this institute? Oh, I have the address here. Um, I'm going to ask you a question. What is this institute? Oh, I have the address here. Um, General Delivery, buteman can. You're sure you didn't have any break parole, Abby? Oh, no, no, no. We just went on long walks together. Where to? Oh, in different places, isn't it? Like, uh, like Wolf Canyon. Check it. Uh-huh. He invited me on this camping ship, a trip, honorable of course. But I couldn't go on account of my son's room. Oh. And then, awful, awful. I'm so glad to see you. And then, then he went back to Buteman. He had a lead in such a hurry. He couldn't even say goodbye. It was a pity, too, because an old friend he hadn't seen in years came looking for him.

4:04Just a few minutes later. With a warrant? No. Well, he was an attendant in a nearby hospital. Mental? Oh, yes. Very intelligent. He read me some of his poetry. Maybe you've heard it. Um, a loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and a... Oh, wait a minute. Isn't that the ruby out of Omer Coyan that was written by a guy named Fitzgerald? Of course, that's his pen name. Quite a pen name. Yes, but he said his debt to society. And the other time it was a bad beef. Oh, no. You told me all about it. He cried on my shoulder afterwards. Sweetheart, when you make a mistake, it's a beauty. Damn. Nothing happened. Well, I'm glad he cured you of Sam Ring anyhow. Ready? Oh, yes. I got a brand new... Where do you know? Life goes on. I got a brand new notebook, Sam. I'll just turn over a new leaf. Not a bad idea, dear. Uh, date July 18th to Mr. Alex M. Youngla... A-hmm. Try that again. Mr. Alex M. Youngblood PO Box 317 San Francisco from Samuel Spayl, I said, number 17596,

5:05Dear Missy Younglaught, I need a vacation myself. You need Charlie Payne. I'm tired. Fortunately, until I met you, my only experience with any of the men and women who make your newspaper run, and then with one of your corner news boys who shorechains me two times within as many days. I have not read your rag since. But your name looked imposing, and sold to the $300 check upon which you had written it. Per your instructions, properly at 4 p.m. on the 50th inst. I must through the letter of your city room, called a doormark A.M. Youngblood publisher, Managing Editor, and City Editor. I wanted it if you were ambitious, frugal, or free men. I did not know that you had good faith until I saw the prim-twentieth and toothless in the secretary in your other office. Hello. You're new here, aren't you? Well, I'm not exactly here. I'm just here to see Mr. Youngblood.

6:05My name is Spayl. Samuel Spayl? Sam, except for my most enemy friend. Well, my advice to you, Sam, is to be the hastier you treat. He's in a foul mood. Oh, why is he blind or older than he fails? I refer, of course, to your spectacular charmness, if I may call you, Miss. Please, this is neither the time of the play. My name is Philip Watson, and my phone number is in the directory, if you're really interested. I could be. Thank you. And if a man answers, tell him you're my French teacher. We... You better go in now. If you're late to an appointment with him, you're through. You have any more words of wisdom? No, but I hope you can do something to improve his state of mind. He's been awful lately. Good luck, Sam. Thank you, Philip Watson. Come in, come in. I'm gonna pass four. You must be Mr. Spayl. That's right. You're almost late. Sit down, Spayl. Sit down. No, thanks.

7:05Well, don't expect me to offer a drink. You aren't a drinker, I hope. You don't listen to the radio, do you? Well, you'll not drink in this office. Nothing here but a cooler filled with water from a clean, gurgling, laughing mountain stream. You sound like a reformed drunk, Mr. Youngblood. What's that? Well, it was good many years ago. If you don't mind, I'll just taste up the weather report for my morning edition before we talk. Oh, you do that, though, huh? Yes, obviously. And with good reasons. I remind myself that I was once a copyboy, and I find a splendid way to at least once each day to lower myself to the level of the working man. There we are. A hot and Phoenix, I say. Mm-hmm. Just what do you want to detect before, Mr. Youngblood? I was coming to that, Mr. Spayl, sorry. Now, first let me warn you that your assignment is a highly confidential one. They all are. In this case, the man's life may be at stake. The situation? My newspaper at my order, under my guidance, has launched a campaign against crime,

8:06not aimed at the petty criminal, but at the easy living leeches at the controls of the records, the hoods and bankers clothing, the mansion house parasites who direct the pickpockets, the second storey men, the housebreakers, who gamble away, yeah, for me, you don't have to be here. And pay in contact. Yeah, you don't have to pay in contact with that number. Yes, I understand. I understand. You're after the boys on the safer side of the fences. Oh, no. Nice to put Spayl. Thank you. Well, along in short, what is this? The offer of the Exposed A series, Ray McCulley, my top crime reporter, has been missing for two days. I want you to find it. What makes you think he's still alive? Good heavens, Spayl. I've just suggested he isn't. Because if I were a mansion house parasite, in danger of being unhoused by a news hawk, I'd see said news hawk standing in a cement block in the bottom of the bay. I will accept that only when no stone has been left unturned. Every straw and every haystack has been searched. Every... And no concranting? Yes. Sounds as though you need at least one police force, Mr. Youngblood.

9:09Now why don't we go there? Oh, no, no, no. Impossible. We've already had a brush with the police over the Exposed A. I'll not be dictated to it this stage of the game. I started this investigation, I'll finish it alone. Well, it's a pretty big order, Mr. Youngblood. But, uh, times that tough, I'll see what I can do. Good. I hear by turn over to you all the resources and power of this Spayl. My newspaper. When one of my reporters is in trouble or danger, sir, I will spend every penny of my fortune of necessary to deliver aid and sucker to his side. You then gave me Ray McCulley's Exposed Stories to date. I saw why you, as family and friends of his creditors, could have been worried about. They were hot. One followed a stolen car from the time of the high spooly alteration of the body color, fire brands, license number, motor serial number, but the time it was shoved on to a used car line. They named names all the way through.

10:10And the mother did the same to the firm of potter, badger, and mold, furians, and the alleged manufacturers of coats from ploughed pelts. Ray McCulley had dropped out a site right after that story had been published. So I left your office hoping that I'd reach the address of otter badger and mold before closing time. I did. The plushy showroom was occupied by a dozen attractive fur bearing models, female, but waxed. The live models, male, were wearing padded shoulders, pointed shoes, and coats tailored for underarm artillery. They would have looked more natural at Madame Fasaud's wax works, but from the burglar section. Hey, oh, hey, what a big something to do, boo-boo-boo. Where do I find Mr. Otter? You to lore? Leo something. You see in his office? Come on. Oh wait, I'm not going to wait. I'm not going to cry, babe. You say you want to see a boss? On business. Stop nudging me with a rod. In there, hey, move. Okay, okay. Hey, your boss. Yes, Woody? Here's a Joe here to see you, Leo.

11:10Well, not you, men, Woody. No, not you, Woody. Well, well, well. So Leo's sending a man to see me. I wonder why? If your calmness character here out of my hair, I'll try and tell you. Sit down, Woody. Thanks. You're new in town. Uh, yeah, that's why Leo sent me a local muckregor named Ray McCulley interviewed you. He also interviewed Leo, but it didn't get printed yet. Leo wants to find him. So do I. How can I help? Well, uh, he walked out of here, went to his hotel, wrote the story, and mailed it in. That's the last anybody's seen him. Uh, Leo was just sort of hoping that you'd already taken care of him. Not yet. That's all I wanted to know. Thanks. Just a moment. Yeah? Leo's sending you out alone? Why not? That's a tough boy that McCulley's got plenty of protection. That's what you need. What kind of protection? Go along with him, Woody. Who me? Your Woody, aren't you? Oh, look, uh, look, Mr. Rodder. I don't want to look at gift horse in the mouth, but the way I see it, this is a long wolf-type cable.

12:10Hey, what's the matter? How do you think I'm too good for you? Well, Woody, I wouldn't say that. Good. It's sad of him. Take care of him, Woody. And don't mix it up with any of Leo's boys. If he's out to get that rat McCulley, he's our friend. I was beginning to wonder who Leo was. I grabbed the name off a calendar on the wall. Leo's a vannon story. I didn't know whether he was the Leo Mr. Auditor didn't like, and I hope I wouldn't find out. The best way I could think to keep him finding out was to shake Woody. On the way up town, I walked and passed four police stations crossing Market Street. I pushed him straight into the arms of a traffic cop who begged his pardon and let me offer the warning. At the blue bottle bar and grill I gave Joe the bartender the Mickey Finn sign, but what he liked it, he ordered another. And he said he knew a place on Columbus where the drinks were even better. It was called Leo's place. I wondered if that meant anything. Hey, Leigh. Oh, me, huh? What you doing? Would you like this joint? Ah, sure.

13:10It's fine, when I get anywhere though. You really take your way serious. Maybe when I go gun for somebody I go where I'm least likely to succeed. You live on it. Yeah. Uh, Woody, what do you know about this guy, McCully? You hear the purses, he says he's all right. Yeah, but he said he's got plenty of protection. I was punishing him. Why did you see that? Bullshit, Leo's bullie. Look at what he's just working. I look. What I saw was not disappointing. She was wearing a sin-fight black satin with a plunging neckline, and the new look only in places where it didn't matter. But she still looked enough like your secretary who put us to the other place and Leo's place. She didn't stay there long, she made a b-line through the kitchen to the rear exit. I made a b-line right after her. Woody was breathing down my neck as I started up the rig at the outside stairway at the back of the building. I stopped the landing and signed around the face.

14:11See you later, Woody. I didn't wait to see if he made it all the way to the bottom of the stairs. I was more interested in what was going on at the top. Adored, open and fell a step inside. The man who let her in looked like Ray McCully. Who are you? I'm the name of Spade. I don't know that name. Your boss hired me to find you. Private Dick. Yeah, and I taught you for a minute? Sure. Put your hands behind your neck and walk up slow. Okay. All right. God's side. What's the matter? You're not acting glad to see me. This is a guy, fellas. Yes. Alex hired in this afternoon. There you see now. What do you want me to tell Youngblad? You're not going to tell anybody, and they say, oh! It caught me right behind the ear. The last thing I saw was that plunging neckline is full of rushed forward.

15:13I didn't know whether she was rushing to my rescuer to get in a few licks of her own. Five seconds later, I didn't care. The design of a linoleum slammed up at me. I had just time to wonder why of all the people who were looking for Ray McCully. I had to find them. Then I was out. Boy, miss for my pains. The makers of Wildroot Cream Oil are presenting the weekly Sunday adventure of the National Hammond Famous Private Detective, Sam Spade. If you want the well-groomed look that helps you get ahead socially and on the job, listen. Recently thousands of people from coast to coast to bought Wildroot Cream Oil for the first time were asked to join us and remove loose dandruff. What's more, non-alcoholic Wildroot Cream Oil is the only leading heritonic that contains soothing lannolin.

16:16So ask for Wildroot Cream Oil Hair tonic. Again and again, the choice of men who put good grooming first. By the way, smart girls use Wildroot Cream Oil too, and mothers say it's grand for training children's hair. And now back to the missing NewsVog, Caper, tonight's adventure with Sam Spade. I was lying on the floor in a room of nothing in it, but a sink and army caught the square of dirty lannolin and a body. I staggered on my feet, ran some cold water over my head and took a closer look. It was Ray McCulley. It was a very dead, crusading reporter. He'd been stabbed clean through with a long, bladed kitchen knife, set on the handle, property of Leo's place. I went through his pockets and he's walled, a press card, a police card, union card, and ten genuine, crisp, new thousand dollar bills.

17:19I gave me a line on the killer. It was crazy. So was I. I left it on him too. Folded up in his best pocket, I found two newspaper clippings, one from the Chronicle and one from your paper. Both weather reports for the same date. It was very hot and thin, according to both papers. But according to your weather report, the temperature in Needles, California, was 135 degrees. That Needled made. So did this slip of paper I found on his shoe. The number nine and a date had been stamped on it with a rubber stamp. The date was the same as that of the weather reports. I turned it over. It said Ruthie's booth, Manson Bowling Alley. Downtown, you're the cigar tie. Caramel is a panatelic. Thanks, I'm just shot. I got a nice line of notion. So about. No, I mean the dials, the Alley with dials. You know for the bed, only a dollar plus tech.

18:23Very reasonable. Say what's on your mind? Leo sent me. Oh, are you going to collect the slits here after? Well, not tonight to see I'm sort of a troubleshoot. Leo's checking up on some of the numbers that didn't come out right. Listen, I'll tell him to his safe. I don't want any part of those wrong numbers. They're scary. And that's who bought this one. Let me see. I'll ask Thursday. Oh, number nine. How can I forget? He put $500. And honest, if he's been around once, he's been around 100 times to see if it paid off. Did it? What's his learn? Let's just finale. He buys a slip every day. And if you ask me, he's learned a system. Because he's been winning, you know, dime some then a dollar and then $5. And then when he come in with $500, our number nine only dropped it. Did it win? What does he learn? It did. Wait, I'll look on the sheet. Hey, somebody else was in just this afternoon. Get me about a dress. Sorry, I'm working. That's right around the corner on Manson, 810. Say maybe that's his system, 8 and 1.

19:23Don't get it up to nine. Hey, what's the matter? Why are you going in such a hurry? Please come back later. Small, next week. Are you Mrs. Spanelli? Yes, please. I had so much trouble. Did your husband harm? Oh, my poor man. They take him away. He's dead. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry. How did it happen? Who are you? I'm a detective. Maybe I can help you. There I come in. How do I come? Come on. It took quite a while to gain a confidence. And after that it took still quite a while to piece together. The grease-second grumble of words that poured out of it. When I got it down in the form of a statement,

20:23I asked it a read it over. Item. Stable bonuses are toros-pano. Oh, the tiny plate those numbers. I told him they're just a bunch of gangsters. They don't let you win. Many met this man McCulley, a right for the newspaper. My husband says this man shows him how to win. He wins and wins. Then he goes to bank and takes up all our savings. Had begged for him not to do it. But no. No, he was greedy. And this McCulley poisoned his mind. Sure he won. He brought the money home in his hand. 10,000 dollars. I thought what? I'm scared. I took it while he was sleeping with wine and gave it to the men. I'd tell him all I want is if I've haunted.

21:23It's right to tell me we're so good. We'll help catch the big gangsters. I say we don't want to do so good. We get murdered in our van. So he says okay. But if I change mine here is at end. I don't change my mind. Because already my husband cares then. At home. Stam. No. I don't change my mind. She signed it. And I left her alone with her great. I wasn't working for you anymore Mr. Young. You hired me to find your reporter and I had. And I wished I hadn't. The rest of it I did for myself. You weren't in your office when I got there, but Phyllis was. I found him behind the city desk and the act of dropping the moral morning's weather report into the slot. I grabbed it out of a hand.

22:24Oh, you. Where's your boss? Oh my goodness. Well talk in his office. Come on. Stam. I can explain how I have to be. You're going to explain plenty before I'm finished with you. Sit on. Oh, what's up? I have to be so rough. What's the matter with you? Plenty. I'm stupid. I was stupid to take this job and I was stupid to play a cagey with you. I should have beaten the story out of you before the trouble started. It's a little late in the day now, but not too late to send you up to Maccully's murder. You're insane. Ray Maccully was the only one who ever tried to help. And I'm the only one who can place you in that room, not ten minutes before the murder. I told you I can explain why. I'm trying to save your own skin. Spinelli was only one of a half million poor dumb yucks that lose their nickels and dimes and dollars every day in the policy racket. Only he had the bad luck to win. There won't be any more lucky dead people like him if I have to make a patsy out of you to stop it. It won't stop at nothing, Will. He talked big and brave like you. Now he's dead. Yeah, with ten thousand bucks dirty money in his wallet. I won't let you say things like that.

23:24Ray was an honest reporter, true honest. He thought young blood meant what he said about that clean up campaign. Yeah, he did. He wanted to run this town by himself, clean up his competition. When Ray started collecting material on the numbers racket, he still thought young blood was on the level. But that was before he stumbled onto the thing about the weather report. Yeah, yeah. That was unknown. The old Dutch shulksmob used to add up the stock market quotations. They knew their customers weren't good enough for the rip and take the profit. But who knows how hard it is and fanny's unless they live there. I don't know what you're talking about. Listen, that's how the number game works sweetheart. The suckers pick a number for one to ten, see? The operators tally up the sleds in the least popular for that day has to win. The weather report doesn't have to pass through the copy desk and with young blood, tasting it up with a few strategic corrections, it was easy to make their winners look as if they were on the level. But of course, you have no way of knowing that. You only watched them do it day after day. You know, I couldn't understand why he did those things. It's been silly falsifying a weather report, but it didn't seem as if it could do any harm. What does your meat McCulley for? It gets your cut of the ten grants Benelli was killed for?

24:25How dare you. I went there to warn him about you. Who killed him? I don't know. Your line. All right, I'm lying. But I can prove that Ray was on the level. I've got the proof right here. The whole story he wrote on the numbers, racquet, even naming young blood as the head of it, his own publisher. I went there to get it. I was going to take it to another newspaper. Why didn't you? I can't tell you that. You don't have to. Mrs. Spanelli was confused, grief crazed. She had to put the blame on somebody and when she did she got her revenge the only way she thought she could. She may have been right about that, but she killed the wrong man. Why didn't you tell me you knew who killed Ray? I wanted to give you a chance to tell me yourself. I'm glad you didn't. And that was the young blood as the crop. I'm sure you appreciate the fact that I gave the double scoop to your paper. Like Mrs. Spanelli, I have my own ideas and thank you. Besides it may up your circulation a little and you can certainly use a little extra money for your defense.

25:28By the way, who's Leo? Period and the report. Look Sam. Yes, Debbie. I thought Mrs. Spanelli killed Ray McCulley. The vacation helped. You're absolutely correct. Mrs. Spanelli killed Mr. McCulley if you'll pardon the expression. Why did you kill her husband? I was wrong. The vacation didn't help. You mean she didn't? She killed McCulley to avenge the murder of her husband. You mean Mr. McCulley killed Mr. Spanelli? Effie's stop, I'll go mad. Oh, you need a vacation save. What? Tight that up. The clatter of the keys may stimulate you to further cerebral activity. Are they your pardon, Sam? Brain work. Now shoot. Well, a brain work. Oh, you know best. Tonight, men, or first thing tomorrow, get wildroot cream oil and see what good food is. And see what wonders it does for your hair. Notice how easy it is to apply. Notice what an eat natural job it does of grooming your hair. Notice too how effectively wildroot cream oil relieves annoying dryness and removes loose ugly dandruff. No getting around it. Once you try it, you'll never be without it. So tonight, or first thing tomorrow, call at your drug or toilet goods counter for wildroot cream oil.

26:31Get the big economy bottle and a handy new tube that's easy to pack when you travel. Also, ask your barber for a professional application of wildroot cream oil hair tonic. Again and again, the choice of men who put good grooming first. Well, here it is, Sam. And you were absolutely right. The typing cleared my mind. It's all clear now except for one thing. Well, let's clear that up right away. Why did Mrs. Benelli kill her husband? She did not kill her husband. I'm sorry. I mean, why did Mr. McCulley kill Mr. Spanelli? Kelly did not kill Spanelli. Who's Kelly? Well, Kelly's real name was Kelly. Oh, let's start all over again. Just regard everything we set up until now. Make your mind a complete blank. All right, Sam. In the first place, McCulley did not kill Spanelli. What I said! It was his wife, wasn't it? Now, wasn't it, Sam? Oh, stop teasing me. Hey, why do you look at me like that? Effie, Mr. Spanelli was killed by one of the policy rackets hoods to get back to 10 grand a one on the numbers game. And how did the money get into Kelly's pocket?

27:32Well, Kelly's. Why do you insist on using his alias, Sam? Effie, that was a tip of a slinger. I mean, what? Mrs. Spanelli took up to him because she was afraid her husband might be killed for it. Why didn't they kick the money when they killed him? Because Mrs. Spanelli had already taken it. Then she did kill him. The whole hall, Mephy! All right, Sam. I'm sorry I'm so irritable to you, but I thought it was just a long since I've been here. You're not saying that. I'm just saying that you're just tired. Vacations have a habit of doing that. You have to wait until my office. You'll be arrested up again. You're acting so you thought my mind were affected. Sam, now don't, my son, Burr. Oh, what hurts that? It's nice to have you back. You look good too. All tanned and healthy. It's great. My nose is feeling... Well, don't trick at it. Good night, Sam. Good night, sweetheart.

28:39The Adventures of Sam Spade, the actual Hammett's famous private detective, operated by William Spear. Sam Spade is played by Howard Dove. Lorraine Tuttle is Effie. The Adventures of Sam Spade are written for radio by Bob Tauman and Gildoud directed by Ludgluskin. Gildoud directed tonight's broadcast of William Spear's absence. Join us again next Sunday for another adventure with Sam Spade. Brought to you by Wildroot Cream Oil. Again and again, the choice of men who put good grooming first. This is Dick Joy reminding you to... Get Wildroot Cream Oil. Charlie, get your hair in trim. You see it's not alcoholic. Charlie, it's made with supermanoline. You better get Wildroot Cream Oil. Charlie, so I use an M2 today. You'll find that you will have a tough time. Charlie, keep an eye on all the gals away. Hi, you're Folly. Get Wildroot right away.

29:41This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.