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In this chilling episode of the Mystery Theater, host E.G. Marshall invites listeners to delve into the dark and eerie tale of Edward Somerset, as recounted in his private journal from 1874. The story unfolds at Moorland Manor, where Somerset, a young London lawyer, encounters a series of ghastly events following the death of Sir Simon. The narrative takes a sinister turn when Somerset and his beloved Margaret discover that Sir Simon's body has been replaced with another, and his head is later substituted with that of a maid, Katie Johnson. As the mystery deepens, suspicions arise, and the true horror of body snatching and murder is revealed.
As the plot thickens, Somerset finds himself entangled in a web of deceit involving Doctor Westmore, who is engaged to Margaret in a financial arrangement. The story reaches its climax when the true culprit, Hobbs, is exposed as the mastermind behind the gruesome body snatching scheme. With the help of Lord Burley, Somerset uncovers the truth, leading to a resolution that restores peace to Moorland Manor. This episode, "The Headstrong Corpse," is a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and the macabre, leaving listeners on the edge of their seats.
(00:08) Introduction to the Mystery
(01:21) Edward Somerset's Journal
(02:16) The Unwanted Marriage
(03:03) The Family Dispute
(04:00) The Crypt Visit
(06:04) The Wrong Body
(09:19) Doctor Westmore's Intentions
(14:27) The Head Swap Mystery
(19:21) Suspicions Arise
(26:08) Lord Burley's Offer
(30:09) A New Horror Unveiled
(34:06) The Madman's Confession
(38:01) The Body Snatching Scheme
(41:18) Resolution and Future
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[00:00:08]
Unknown:
Come in. Welcome. I'm E. G. Marshall. Welcome to the wonders of your own imagination. For although I am about to tell you a horror story, it is really your imagination that will bring bring it to life for you. I shouldn't even say I will tell it, for it's really the story of Edward Somerset as recounted in his private journal dated London Eighteen Seventy Four, a truly harrowing account of what took place at Moorland Manor. Our mystery drama, The Headstrong Corpse, was written especially for the mystery theater by George Loper and stars Suzanne Grossman and Gordon Gould.
As you may know, it's a custom of mine, a hobby, if you will, to read old diaries and journals, the accounts of lives written down by people long since dead and in their graves. Recently, I had Recently, I had the good fortune to come across the journal of a certain Edward Somerset, a young London Lawyer, Barrister, the English would say, who tells a grizzly tale of what took place at Moorland Manor in the year 1874. According to Edward Somerset but, no. Let him tell the story in his own words, just as he recorded it in his journal.
[00:01:55] Unknown:
And so, this being the appointed day, I took the coach to the village of Burley, Twenty miles south of London in Kent. And in spite of the storminess of the weather, made the trip in less than four hours. I found Margaret Brazillian, the girl I love devotedly, but who, alas, shall never be mine, in a terrible state of nerves. Edward. Edward. How glad I am to see you. Am I you, my darling? Though I feared you'd not welcome the sight of me.
[00:02:24] Unknown:
Darling. If only I'd never consented to marry Richard Westmore,
[00:02:29] Unknown:
never give him my promise. You have no choice. There's no escape, no way out. Only if doctor Westmore releases you from your promise. The same is the marriage contract you and your father signed. He'll never release me. In fact, he's coming for the weekend.
[00:02:43] Unknown:
He'll be here this evening to set the date for our marriage. Perhaps if I were to have a talk Now what's all that? Hobbs and missus Murchison having another meltdown. Mister Hobbs is that. Oh, no. It isn't missus Murchison by no means. Oh, we'll see, mister Hobbs. We'll see. Miss, what is it now, missus Murchison? Since we buried my father a week ago, you and Hobbs have quarreled without let up. What is it this time? It's him and his lofty ears. That's what it is. Sir Simon was hardly cold in his coffin before Hobbs began loading it over me and the other servants. Now your father is dead. He seems to feel he's in charge. I am.
[00:03:24] Unknown:
That's the way sir Simon would have wanted it. Oh, begging your pardon, miss. But as you know, I was butler and personal servant to your father before you were born.
[00:03:33] Unknown:
I've been with this family many years, most of my life, in fact. Whatever this disagreement between you and missus Murchison may be, we'll discuss it another time. At the moment, we must go to the crypt. Set your lantern so you can light the way. Well, why do you stand there?
[00:03:54] Unknown:
Well, there'll be no need for me to enter the crypt, I trust.
[00:03:59] Unknown:
I don't believe so. Edward?
[00:04:02] Unknown:
No. The will merely states that the coffin was to be left open for a week and food and water left nearby. The master was always afraid of being buried alive,
[00:04:13] Unknown:
deathly afraid. As many are. It's an all too common occurrence.
[00:04:17] Unknown:
But, no, you needn't enter the crypt hobs. Miss Drizilian must do that. And I, as a representative of the law firm of Costin and Lawing, must accompany her. Yes, sir. But when it comes to putting the lid on the coffin and screwing it down I'll do that since it seems to trouble you. Oh, thank you, sir. And I'll fetch the lantern.
[00:04:38] Unknown:
You may go, missus Mertris, We'll discuss this matter later. Very well, miss. But Hoggs is becoming he has become impossible. Oh, now who could that be on such a day as this? Whoever it may be, let him in out of the storm, missus Murchison. Yes. Oh,
[00:05:02] Unknown:
thank you, Murchison. Thank you for the frightful day. So to the skin of it. Paul Curley, What brings you out on such a day? Well, all days are good days for business, my dear. Business?
[00:05:13] Unknown:
Oh, I apologize. I haven't introduced you. This is mister Edward Somerset of Cawston And Loring, my father's solicitors. Yeah. I do. Edward, Lord Burley. How do you do, sir? Your year on business, you say? To be exact, we'll make another offer for Moorland Manor, my dear. You've chosen a bad time, my lord.
[00:05:31] Unknown:
Although, really, any time would be bad. As my father told you more than once, I think, Moorland is not for sale. Wrong tense, my dear. It wasn't for sale, but it is now. All I happen to know soon will be. What gives you that idea, Lord Burnley? Excuse me. The lodge has brought the lantern, Edward. Lord Burnley will have to excuse him. I had forgot. This is the day, and no doubt the time, for paying a visit to the family crib. Your father had a fear of being buried alive.
[00:06:01] Unknown:
Well, I'm sure you'll find him dead enough. May I ask how you happen to be so well acquainted with the private affairs of Nolan Manor? How do you know this is the day we were to visit the crypt? There's little goes on in Burley, in the county and of the village, sir, that I don't know.
[00:06:18] Unknown:
Would they do, sir? And you'll be hitting for me again, mister Jern. Terrible man.
[00:06:26] Unknown:
Certainly is. Well, Margaret, it's time. Yes. Hobbs, lead the way. Here we are. I'll open the door. Give me the lantern, Hobbes, and wait here. Oh, yes.
[00:06:54] Unknown:
So Margaret.
[00:06:56] Unknown:
Edward, I
[00:06:58] Unknown:
I can't enter that awful place again. I'm afraid you must. It was your father's wish.
[00:07:06] Unknown:
So cold.
[00:07:08] Unknown:
Damn. So There. There is the open coffin.
[00:07:15] Unknown:
Let me just shine the lantern inside it to be sure your father's body is still there.
[00:07:21] Unknown:
Yes. It is. Look, Margaret.
[00:07:28] Unknown:
Yes. The body is there. Go outside now.
[00:07:32] Unknown:
I'll put the lid on the coffin and screw it down. Alright. I'll wait for you with Hobbes until you Edward. What is it? There's something strange here. Something
[00:07:47] Unknown:
curious. The clothes on the body. The clothes? That is not the suit we buried my father in. In fact, Edward, Now, now, now. Edward, I tell you it isn't. Shouldn't you, my father? He was much taller, and
[00:08:22] Unknown:
he was thin. By heaven, you're right. But this makes no sense at all. It's his head. Yes. It is. I'm going to faint. Outside. Quickly. I'll join you.
[00:08:41] Unknown:
Miss, what is it, miss? Something horrible.
[00:08:45] Unknown:
Horrible. What, miss Ward? I don't dare see it, Hobbs.
[00:08:50] Unknown:
I don't dare think it. Mister Somerson, sir, what is it? What is it in there?
[00:08:56] Unknown:
The thing in the coffin, it's Sir Simon's head, but not his body. Not his body. Someone cut his head off, stole his body, and put another in its place.
[00:09:20] Unknown:
Incredible.
[00:09:21] Unknown:
Utterly incredible, Somerset. Doctor Westmore, what I've just told you, I saw with my own eyes. So did Margaret. In fact, she was the one who first noticed it was the wrong body. Where is she? Westing. Or perhaps I should say recuperating. It was an awful shock for her. No doubt. Have you notified the police? No. Well, why not, man? There's only a constable in the village, and I I've heard he is anything but competent. I intend to send a message to the London police by coach tomorrow morning. Better still, I'll take it for you. I'd rather not wait till you leave on Monday. Oh, I'll not be staying the weekend now.
[00:09:58] Unknown:
Margaret will be in no mood or condition to discuss our wedding plans. And as a surgeon at London Hospital, I have much to do. No point wasting my time here. You don't exactly sound like a man in love, doctor Westmore. In love? With Margaret, of course. But I'm not, nor is she with me. It's all purely a financial arrangement, you understand? Well, no. I didn't quite Oh, but of course. An arrangement I made with sir Simon. He was a very ill man for nearly a decade. He sought my rather special services, if I may say so. But as you know, Morland is mortgaged to the hilt, and he was unable to pay. In return, he offered you his daughter's hand in marriage. And Morland Manor, Even though the estate is heavily mortgaged, it'll give me a tidy sum. A fortune, in fact, once I sell it. I look here. Let's go down to the crypt. I want to see for myself. I'll ring the hobs first.
[00:10:58] Unknown:
You say you're not in love with Margaret? Not in the least. I am. Really? Are you indeed? And she's in love with me? Yes. Yes. I don't know quite how to ask this except to ask it. Will you release Margaret? Why, of course not. Even with oh, Hobbs. You rang her? Yes. Doctor Westmore and I want to go on into the crypt. Bring a lantern. Will you? Yes, sir. Oh, and tell missus Murchison she can serve tea in half an hour. Yes, sir. As I was saying, doctor,
[00:11:36] Unknown:
even if Margaret signed over, all right to mauling to you. Then why should I bargain for what will be mine once we marry? And if she refuses to marry you? She won't. Margaret is a woman of honor. What do you know of honor, doctor Westmore? Now, if you need to insult me, Somerset I mean to give you the truth.
[00:11:56] Unknown:
I've had to investigate it, doctor, quietly but thoroughly. I happen to know that you have priced in doctor for the Royal College of Surgeons on charges of conduct unbecoming a physician, charges which could not be proved for lack of evidence. I was not guilty that you are presently under investigation by the same college of surgeons who this time do have the evidence to revoke your license and will, doctor Westmore, because you are considered unworthy of the main doctor and will be barred from medical practice.
[00:12:28] Unknown:
You have been thorough, Somerset. Perhaps under the circumstances, you'd prefer I went down the crypt without your company.
[00:12:37] Unknown:
I'd better go with you since one of the charges against you is that of body snatching. I'll take the lantern, Hobbs.
[00:12:54] Unknown:
You wait here. Oh, well, thank you, sir. Oh, and you told missus Murchison about tea? Well, I'm sorry, sir, but I couldn't find her about. What do you mean? She must be somewhere in the house. No, sir. At least I was unable to find her, and you did want the lantern right away, sir. No, ma'am. Yeah. This way. Let's know. Those coffins stacked well on top of another. And their occupants have certainly been dead for years. Some of them for nearly a century.
[00:13:24] Unknown:
Curious. Is that Sir Simon's coffin there? The one with the lid off? Yes. And as you can see, the body isn't that of Sir Simon, but
[00:13:34] Unknown:
Good Lord. What in the name of Here, raise the lantern. Let's have some more light. You did say the head was Sir Simon's? It was. This is it's the head of a woman.
[00:13:51] Unknown:
Katie. Katie? Katie Johnson. The maid.
[00:13:57] Unknown:
What's this? Well, it's incredible. First, if I'm to believe you, Sir Simon's body was exchanged for another. And now his head? Is this some sort of a joke?
[00:14:11] Unknown:
I don't think so, Westmore. But if it is, it's the joke of someone going mad. Stark mad.
[00:14:27] Unknown:
A baffling mystery, wouldn't you say? You might even call it, head Sorry. I couldn't resist that. Edward Summers at the Daily Journal, recording what took place later on, is even more baffling and, I'm afraid, more ghastly. Most of this strange story, the body of it there I go again. All I meant to say was, there's more to come. The world is filled with all sorts of shocking things. But I must confess that even I, somewhat of a connoisseur of the shocking, was totally stunned by Edward Somerset's account of what happened following the gruesome discovery that sir Simon's head had now been replaced by Katie Johnson's.
If I was appalled merely in reading about what had taken place, the feelings of those who actually lived through these ghastly events can be imagined.
[00:15:46] Unknown:
But where is my father's body, head and body? Whose body is it in the coffin? Who killed Katie Johnson, severed her head from her body, and put it in my father's coffin? Margaret, I beg you enough. I can't answer even one of your questions, let alone a dozen. I didn't ask a dozen, Edward. You need to snap my head off. No. No. No. No. We're all somewhat nerved up. Talk. Talk. Talk. We sit here talking, then we should be doing something. Perhaps you have a suggestion, my dear Margaret. At least one murder has been committed in this house, possibly two. Katie Johnson and whoever's body that is in my father's coffin,
[00:16:25] Unknown:
shouldn't we notify the police? The village constable is worse than useless. Doctor Westmore has offered to take a message to the London police when he leaves in the morning. He will not be staying the weekend.
[00:16:35] Unknown:
I may soon cease to be a doctor, Margaret, certainly if the college of surgeons rescinds my license. But I still retain some remnants of the gentleman. You are certainly in no mood to discuss our wedding plans.
[00:16:50] Unknown:
Neither now nor at any other time. Ah, well,
[00:16:53] Unknown:
you have no choice there. Perhaps she does or could have. If, as you say, you do retain some gentlemanly qualities. You refer to the suggestion you made earlier just before we went down into the crypt. Yes. Not suggestion. That West release you from your pledge to marry him in return for Morland Manor, which after all is really what he wants. Not quite, my dear fellow. Not altogether quite. What do you mean? If you don't love, Margaret Love has nothing to do with it. It's a matter of convenience and what is best for me. I don't understand. Well, you would if you'd allow me to finish.
[00:17:29] Unknown:
Once my license to practice medicine is revoked, and it will be this time, I'm sure, I shall go into business. Contacts, important contacts, are vital to business success, and the making of contacts requires a good deal of entertaining. So you see, I shall need a wife to fill the role of hostess. Does that answer you? Yes.
[00:17:53] Unknown:
I guess it does.
[00:17:55] Unknown:
I beg your pardon, miss Margaret? No, Hobbs. Yes. You asked me to find out where missus Murchison had got to, and I I have, miss. Where did you find her? In the kitchen, sir, where she claims she'd been all the time.
[00:18:09] Unknown:
Only she hasn't. Did you tell her I want to see her? Yes, miss. He did. And I came straight along. Where have you been the past hour in the kitchen,
[00:18:20] Unknown:
ma'am, preparing for my dinner? Mrs. Murchison, more than an hour ago, I asked Hobbs to let you know we wanted tea, and he couldn't find you.
[00:18:28] Unknown:
Well, I don't know why not, mister Somerset. I've been in the kitchen all that time. And as for tea, there was no need to give me an order. Tea is always served in this house at five. Then why didn't you serve it? Too busy getting dinner, miss. I gave plenty instructions to fill it today.
[00:18:50] Unknown:
She never got to kill it. God bless her soul. Hobbs said he couldn't find you. Not anywhere.
[00:18:56] Unknown:
Oh, that is a lie. I have been in that kitchen the last two hours, never left at once. He's lying he is. Trying to get me into trouble. Oh, come now, Murchison. Why would Hobbs want to get you into trouble? Because I know too much about him. That's why. And he's afraid I might tell what I know. He wants to see me disappear. Oh, and this match. Stock match. Am I? Am I? We have been paid no salary in this house for six months. Now not that I'm complaining, if I'm not, but ask him how he can afford to buy the finest of vintage wines to swirl down his gullet. Ask him who plays for the costly cigars he smokes.
And ask him where he gets the money for the expensive suits, shoes, whatever he wears when he goes to London on his days off. Ask him.
[00:19:52] Unknown:
Is it true, Holmes? Why, yes, miss. I'll not deny that I enjoy a good wine and a fine cigar. How do I pay for them? Why, miss, your father paid me well in in the many years I served him. I was able to save considerable. And that misses all there is to it, though missus Murchison would like you to think otherwise. Think what?
[00:20:20] Unknown:
Well, missus Murchison? Nothing. Yes. I've said too much already. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll have a roast cooking. One minute.
[00:20:31] Unknown:
Sir? The inside of your right arm. I just noticed when you turned. It's smeared with with what looks like blood. What? Well, look at it. Oh.
[00:20:45] Unknown:
Oh, yes. Is it blood, Mrs. Watterson? Metrcerson? Well, I I I guess it is. Yes. I I, preparing the roast, cutting it, I I must have got a smear of blood on me. Is that how you got it, missus Metrcerson?
[00:21:04] Unknown:
What do you mean, doctor Westmore? Nothing.
[00:21:09] Unknown:
Nothing, missus Murchison.
[00:21:12] Unknown:
Right on, miss. Yes. And you too, Hobbs. Oh, yes, ma'am.
[00:21:18] Unknown:
Well, she could have got that blood on her from cutting a burst of boof.
[00:21:22] Unknown:
Or from cutting something else. My suspicions of missus Murchison were sharply aroused. I had myself stated to Westmore that whoever was responsible for these ghoulish happenings must be mad, stark mad. I was speculating on all this and going around to dinner, paying little attention to something Margaret and Westmore were discussing, when to the surprise of us all, lord Burley was announced for the second time that day. Is lord Shipley?
[00:21:57] Unknown:
Good evening, mister Zillion. Mister Somerset and you, doctor Westmore. Good evening.
[00:22:04] Unknown:
Lord Burley. Yeah. I thought our business had ended this afternoon.
[00:22:08] Unknown:
No, my dear. Business, sound business that is, never takes no for answer. Since I could not reason with you, I decided to ride over and, if possible, reason with your husband to me. To to answer your look, doctor, yes, I heard you were here. Is there anything you don't know, lord Verdi?
[00:22:28] Unknown:
Very little. Very little.
[00:22:30] Unknown:
As your betrothed may have mentioned to you, I'm interested in buying Moreland Manor. She didn't mention it. No. Oh, yes. Well, I am prepared to make you, all things considered, a quite decent offer, doctor, once you come into possession through marriage, of course. Would you be interested? I would indeed. Why do you want Moorland, my lord? Royalty joins my own estate. The 780 acres of Moorland would be your welcome addition. Nice of these areas.
[00:23:00] Unknown:
What are you prepared to offer?
[00:23:02] Unknown:
£1 per acre. 700 and 80 pounds.
[00:23:07] Unknown:
That isn't an offer, lord Burley. It's an insult. Not at all. Not at all.
[00:23:13] Unknown:
If you look at it in the right light, doctor, all things considered as I said. It's really something of a compliment. As attorney for the estate, I can assure you it's worth a very great deal more than £780.
[00:23:24] Unknown:
Oh, can you, mister Somerset? Can you indeed? In your position, you must also be aware that the estate is impoverished Yes. But that taxes are now a year and a real Yes. I know. I know. You entertain the hope, the forlorn hope, mister Somerset. That with proper management, for improved land production, you might salvage the estate. I would hope that doctor Westmore would when he becomes owner. Well, has he told you he means to sell more land within a month, perhaps less? You'd be willing to settle for shillings. What do you mean by that? I mean quite simply, my dear, that there would be no one here to run the place for you. No servants, no farmers, no stable help, no one. Why not? Because of the strange things taking place here, I refer to the occurrences in the family walks are already known in the village, and the people are frightened.
Within a few days, they will shunt Murlin Manor as if it contained bubonic plague. This is
[00:24:25] Unknown:
impossible. Well informed as you may be on what goes on in Burley, You couldn't be disciplined. Unless No. Nothing.
[00:24:40] Unknown:
No. No. I I insist. Unless what, my dear? I said nothing. But your silence signifies everything. If you're implying that I have a more than ordinary knowledge of what is going on here, that I am in some way involved, then out with it. That is indeed what I do, sir. Well, then let me assure you that you are wrong. I have my sources of information. Yes. I I have my informants, indeed a network of them, but I am not, I repeat not, a body snatcher. Body snatcher? Oh, good one, man. What do you think is behind all this? Body snatching. Oh, heaven help us. What naive day.
Do you think someone is simply playing games, having some sort of ghoulish fun? You, miss Prasilian, and you, mister Summers, said, yes. I can understand it with you too. But Westmore, you? Too human to say you haven't suggested this possibility? There's this probability to these two young people. Should I have? I bet you know better that anyone with need of bodies for dissection purposes were for the training of medical students? Medical schools would pay £10 for a fresh body and 15, as you damn well know, sir, for a fresh head. Anyhow.
[00:25:54] Unknown:
You're far more knowledgeable than I am, sir. Woah. You know nothing, Albert?
[00:25:59] Unknown:
You whose case is on trial this very moment before the college of surgeons for just such practices, you know nothing? What is he on trial for? I thought it was body snatching alone. Know that. Of course. Of course. But in the eyes of the authorities, something far more vile. Doctor Westmore is a grave robber. What? Yes, my dear. He not only snatches corpses, but robs them as well.
[00:26:28] Unknown:
Is this true?
[00:26:30] Unknown:
I own to nothing. You needn't. Your face says all. Blast you, Lord Barry. For what you've done to me these past minutes Fie to you? Have you not done it to yourself, sir? Yes. Heaven above help me, yes. But I had hopes stupidly had hopes, that I might repair the damage I've done others and myself. I dared to hope that with the monies I would receive from the sale of Morland, I might regain some reputation, some respect, some personal dignity.
[00:27:05] Unknown:
I ask your pardon. I I had not known you. You had in you even a spark of decency. Surely a spark. Nevertheless, a spark,
[00:27:13] Unknown:
which I might have fanned into flame. And you may still. What I have said has been said within the confines of this I know, lord Burley. It has been said within the confines of this woman's heart. And we'll echo there till the day she dies.
[00:27:28] Unknown:
Well, will I? I am Safi. But now as to my offer to buy more than enough Another time. We'll
[00:27:38] Unknown:
discuss it another time, if at all.
[00:27:43] Unknown:
Now, then I had best take my leave. That would be best.
[00:27:47] Unknown:
And more, Billy. My dear. Don't come back.
[00:27:58] Unknown:
The revelation of another side to doctor Westmore's character, a good side, came as a surprise to both myself and Margaret. Unhappily, this better side of doctor Westmore, as Margaret and I discovered in a long discussion with him following Burdey's departure, by no means influenced him in releasing Margaret from her obligation to marry him. Then finally, he retired for the night. Margaret and I sat hopelessly talking of the future.
[00:28:28] Unknown:
Edward. Edward. I love you so. From the thought of marrying Doctor. Westmore.
[00:28:35] Unknown:
I shudder at it. Aye, too, my darling. There must be something. Something. What?
[00:28:42] Unknown:
What solution will be thought of?
[00:28:44] Unknown:
One that only God could arrange, I'm afraid. Westmore's death. Oh, Edward. Thankfully, there have been times when I've been really driven to arrange it myself. You mustn't say such things, Edward.
[00:28:55] Unknown:
Not even think
[00:29:00] Unknown:
them. Two in the morning.
[00:29:03] Unknown:
No wonder we're having such wild thoughts. We're tired. I'll say goodbye to you, my dear. What are you doing here on the cliff? And Don't look, Margaret. I must. I Oh, my God.
[00:30:10] Unknown:
When I came to that part of Edward Somerset's journal, I could hardly wait to turn the page to find out what new horror had taken place in the crypt and the horror it was, a shocking horror, as you'll discover. Shall we turn that page of Edward Somerset's journal? Personally, I could scarcely wait to do so, But I am used to horrors and sort of take them in my stride while you, on the other end, you insist? Very well and then return the page.
[00:31:06] Unknown:
Margaret, for all her delicate beauty, is a strong woman, a woman of courage. But as she looked into her father's coffin, and the words, escaped her lips. I feared she was about to faint, but she somehow managed to retain control. When I was sure she wasn't about to collapse, I turned my attention to missus Murchison and said, pull yourself together, missus Murchison. I I'll cut her. And answer me. What are you doing here in the quick, kind of bizarre morning? Answer me.
[00:31:49] Unknown:
I wanted to clear myself. Clear yourself. To prove my innocence. Last night, when you saw the birds near on my arm, the way you looked at me, all of you, the way you talked, I could say you suspected me of doing this. But what could you here? What could you expect to prove here? I don't know. I only know I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned all sorts of thoughts going through my head, all sorts of needs to prove to you that your suspicions of me were unfounded. I came down here in desperation, I suppose, thinking you might find something, some clue, some bit of evidence that would give the light a hug.
Instead, I found that.
[00:32:45] Unknown:
What do you mean give the lie to Hobbs?
[00:32:49] Unknown:
I was in the kitchen all the time he claims he was looking
[00:33:00] Unknown:
pee from nothing else. So you say. You don't believe me still. Why should I? We find you here in the crypt under very curious circumstances and you expect us to believe your not very convincing story? It's the truth. I swear to you, sir, the illness, it's true. That's to be seen.
[00:33:19] Unknown:
The question now is what's to be done? Edward, the police must be notified as soon as possible. Yes.
[00:33:26] Unknown:
Doctor Westmore was going to take a message to London tomorrow morning. Well, someone else will have to do it now. Edward? Yes.
[00:33:37] Unknown:
Are we dealing with a mat now?
[00:33:41] Unknown:
I'd say what's in that coffin answers your question, Margaret. If we had found doctor Westmore's head, just the head, I might still have some doubts, but not anymore. Not after finding Westmore's head with the lips cut off.
[00:34:06] Unknown:
Terrible terrible what happened to doctor Westmoreland. Yes. Do you,
[00:34:14] Unknown:
do you belong in London, sir? Only overnight. I'll return in the morning. Here's, I hope, some member of the police force who can get to the bottom of what's going on at Moorland.
[00:34:23] Unknown:
Strange.
[00:34:24] Unknown:
Strange. Curse for Simon's body taken, but his head left in the coffin. Then his head gone and cleared his, oh, the poor girl, her head fell in its place. And now Doctor. Westmore's head in place of Katie's and the lips cut off was horrible, horrible day. Have you any ideas, sir, as to what's behind this? I have my suspicions, Hobbs.
[00:34:53] Unknown:
But that's all they are, suspicions.
[00:34:57] Unknown:
Well, now you'll be sure to return on the morning coach and so I'll be there to meet you then. Yes. Depend on me. And there now you see, the village just below us in the valley. I told you we gave plenty of time.
[00:35:18] Unknown:
You hardly touched your dinner, miss.
[00:35:22] Unknown:
I'm not hungry, missus Mortgerton. Oh,
[00:35:24] Unknown:
oh, wonderful. All this happened here.
[00:35:29] Unknown:
Have some of the village farmhands setting you today that they'd not be coming back to morning to look the fields? I'll see who it is, miss.
[00:35:41] Unknown:
Well, good day. Is your mistress at home, missus Metterson? I I am seeing the No need. I'm sure she is. I thought I had informed you, Lord Burley, that your presence here is no longer desired. You may change your mind about that. If you come to see me about I've come to see the crypt, if I may have your permission.
[00:36:00] Unknown:
Where before?
[00:36:02] Unknown:
I learned today that a good number of your farmhands have left you because of the doings here. Well, for my benefit, once I own more land, I think it best to clear up the mystery of the crypt as quickly as may be. Do you think you can? I know I can. Because you see, I know on good authority the reason behind what's been going on.
[00:36:27] Unknown:
Is it body snatching?
[00:36:29] Unknown:
Yes. So in any case, I am informed. But I wish to see for myself before taking action. I have your permission.
[00:36:39] Unknown:
Alright. No. Come along then.
[00:36:51] Unknown:
Now, first, I want to look in the coffin. Poor Westpaw. Lips mutilated as I was informed.
[00:36:59] Unknown:
Whatever it is you wish to see or do, will you do it quickly? To be absolutely sure, I'll open the top coffin on this stack. No. You can't do that. It's sacrilege.
[00:37:11] Unknown:
That's the coffin of my mother. I'm afraid it was the coffin of your mother, my dear. In truth, I'm afraid many of these coffins no longer contain their original occupants. They are now used as storage boxes for much fresher corpses. Now, with your permission, then? Yeah. So, see for yourself, Margaret. Please. I'd rather love to know. Come, come. You must. This once. I I want you to know I speak the truth. Look.
[00:37:54] Unknown:
But why? Why? If bodies are in such demand, why store them away? Why not sell them at once? My dear, you are as devoid of business sense as your father.
[00:38:04] Unknown:
In business, there is an inexorable law known as the law of supply and demand. When supply exceeds demand, prices fall and vice versa. There is more demand for corpses at some times than at others. More demand for heads at certain times.
[00:38:18] Unknown:
At the moment, medical schools are in need of heads. Why? I haven't the vaguest idea. My informant didn't know. I do. Oh, Hobbs. Hobbs, what are you doing here? No need to answer that, Hobbs. That butcher knife in your hand is answering now. Answer enough for you. Can your button show up for you? Oh, what? I am. I am. I am. I am. I am. I am.
[00:38:50] Unknown:
From him. Oh, knew everything. Knew all about what was going on down here. I even knew I'll be bound, that I am the body's not hers. You you didn't know? You didn't even suspect? Mister Somerset did. Lord Whirley did. Doctor Westmore? Oh, yes. He more than suspected. He knew because he was the one who bought what I had to sell. Westmore? He started me, but I I ended him. I I had to. Why? Why did you have to He was soon to go on trial before the College of Surgeons. They have enough evidence to convict him, to break him down, and you were told everything, including where he got the bodies, the heads, from me.
Here, here, me. That's why I had to cut off his lips, so he'd never tell.
[00:39:53] Unknown:
Never. You're mad. Yes. That may be. The bodies. The heads. How did you how did you transport them? The nearest medical school there in London now. I have a carriage. Well,
[00:40:05] Unknown:
more a wagon in the village. And the night before, I would go to London.
[00:40:11] Unknown:
On my days off, I would take what I had to sell into the village and stack them away in the wagon. You thought I went to London by torture? No, I never did. I always went in my wagon. Taking my produce to market to doctor Westbourne.
[00:40:34] Unknown:
I never suspected. I never knew. Well, you do now. No. No, don't.
[00:40:55] Unknown:
I've become very lucky. Oh, Winston. Suddenly,
[00:41:01] Unknown:
you you cannot.
[00:41:08] Unknown:
I never went. But Hobbs will never know that now. I know, dearest. I heard everything you said. But I knew the whole story before I came back from the village. You didn't do it alone? I never intended to. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed that if Lord Burley could buy information and he couldn't have got it any other way, then maybe if I spread the word in the village that I was willing to pay and pay handsomely Well, in any case, I did. And it worked. You learned about Hobbes. Everything. My God. You arrived in time. I thank him not only for that, but for the future that lies ahead for us.
There are two important tasks I will devote the rest of my life to. One, is restoring Rawlins' manner to what it once was. And the other? Making you the happiest woman on Earth.
[00:42:14] Unknown:
And so ended, happily, the strange and horrifying events at Moorland Manor. Edward Somerset continued his journal for many years, and I'm glad to be able to tell you that he did restore Moreland Manor to its former splendor. And he must have made Margaret at least one of the happiest women on earth, if nine children mean anything. Our story took place in 1874. There are many who say the world was a better place to live in then. Maybe it was. I don't know. All of us do face many problems, many frustrations, many fears these days.
But one fear we don't have now that just about everyone had then is the fear of being buried alive. At least, I don't think we have. Our cast included Suzanne Grossman, Gordon Gould, Anne Petoniak, Ian Martin, Colt Benson, and George Lowther. The entire production was under the direction of Hyman Brown. This is EG Marshall inviting you to return to our mystery theater for another adventure in the macabre. Until next time. Pleasant dreams.
[00:44:06] Unknown:
The preceding mystery theater program is furnished by the CBS Radio Network. This is WOR New York, an RKO general station. At the WOR time signal, exactly 08:00 Eastern Daylight Saving Time, here's John Wingate with the news.
Come in. Welcome. I'm E. G. Marshall. Welcome to the wonders of your own imagination. For although I am about to tell you a horror story, it is really your imagination that will bring bring it to life for you. I shouldn't even say I will tell it, for it's really the story of Edward Somerset as recounted in his private journal dated London Eighteen Seventy Four, a truly harrowing account of what took place at Moorland Manor. Our mystery drama, The Headstrong Corpse, was written especially for the mystery theater by George Loper and stars Suzanne Grossman and Gordon Gould.
As you may know, it's a custom of mine, a hobby, if you will, to read old diaries and journals, the accounts of lives written down by people long since dead and in their graves. Recently, I had Recently, I had the good fortune to come across the journal of a certain Edward Somerset, a young London Lawyer, Barrister, the English would say, who tells a grizzly tale of what took place at Moorland Manor in the year 1874. According to Edward Somerset but, no. Let him tell the story in his own words, just as he recorded it in his journal.
[00:01:55] Unknown:
And so, this being the appointed day, I took the coach to the village of Burley, Twenty miles south of London in Kent. And in spite of the storminess of the weather, made the trip in less than four hours. I found Margaret Brazillian, the girl I love devotedly, but who, alas, shall never be mine, in a terrible state of nerves. Edward. Edward. How glad I am to see you. Am I you, my darling? Though I feared you'd not welcome the sight of me.
[00:02:24] Unknown:
Darling. If only I'd never consented to marry Richard Westmore,
[00:02:29] Unknown:
never give him my promise. You have no choice. There's no escape, no way out. Only if doctor Westmore releases you from your promise. The same is the marriage contract you and your father signed. He'll never release me. In fact, he's coming for the weekend.
[00:02:43] Unknown:
He'll be here this evening to set the date for our marriage. Perhaps if I were to have a talk Now what's all that? Hobbs and missus Murchison having another meltdown. Mister Hobbs is that. Oh, no. It isn't missus Murchison by no means. Oh, we'll see, mister Hobbs. We'll see. Miss, what is it now, missus Murchison? Since we buried my father a week ago, you and Hobbs have quarreled without let up. What is it this time? It's him and his lofty ears. That's what it is. Sir Simon was hardly cold in his coffin before Hobbs began loading it over me and the other servants. Now your father is dead. He seems to feel he's in charge. I am.
[00:03:24] Unknown:
That's the way sir Simon would have wanted it. Oh, begging your pardon, miss. But as you know, I was butler and personal servant to your father before you were born.
[00:03:33] Unknown:
I've been with this family many years, most of my life, in fact. Whatever this disagreement between you and missus Murchison may be, we'll discuss it another time. At the moment, we must go to the crypt. Set your lantern so you can light the way. Well, why do you stand there?
[00:03:54] Unknown:
Well, there'll be no need for me to enter the crypt, I trust.
[00:03:59] Unknown:
I don't believe so. Edward?
[00:04:02] Unknown:
No. The will merely states that the coffin was to be left open for a week and food and water left nearby. The master was always afraid of being buried alive,
[00:04:13] Unknown:
deathly afraid. As many are. It's an all too common occurrence.
[00:04:17] Unknown:
But, no, you needn't enter the crypt hobs. Miss Drizilian must do that. And I, as a representative of the law firm of Costin and Lawing, must accompany her. Yes, sir. But when it comes to putting the lid on the coffin and screwing it down I'll do that since it seems to trouble you. Oh, thank you, sir. And I'll fetch the lantern.
[00:04:38] Unknown:
You may go, missus Mertris, We'll discuss this matter later. Very well, miss. But Hoggs is becoming he has become impossible. Oh, now who could that be on such a day as this? Whoever it may be, let him in out of the storm, missus Murchison. Yes. Oh,
[00:05:02] Unknown:
thank you, Murchison. Thank you for the frightful day. So to the skin of it. Paul Curley, What brings you out on such a day? Well, all days are good days for business, my dear. Business?
[00:05:13] Unknown:
Oh, I apologize. I haven't introduced you. This is mister Edward Somerset of Cawston And Loring, my father's solicitors. Yeah. I do. Edward, Lord Burley. How do you do, sir? Your year on business, you say? To be exact, we'll make another offer for Moorland Manor, my dear. You've chosen a bad time, my lord.
[00:05:31] Unknown:
Although, really, any time would be bad. As my father told you more than once, I think, Moorland is not for sale. Wrong tense, my dear. It wasn't for sale, but it is now. All I happen to know soon will be. What gives you that idea, Lord Burnley? Excuse me. The lodge has brought the lantern, Edward. Lord Burnley will have to excuse him. I had forgot. This is the day, and no doubt the time, for paying a visit to the family crib. Your father had a fear of being buried alive.
[00:06:01] Unknown:
Well, I'm sure you'll find him dead enough. May I ask how you happen to be so well acquainted with the private affairs of Nolan Manor? How do you know this is the day we were to visit the crypt? There's little goes on in Burley, in the county and of the village, sir, that I don't know.
[00:06:18] Unknown:
Would they do, sir? And you'll be hitting for me again, mister Jern. Terrible man.
[00:06:26] Unknown:
Certainly is. Well, Margaret, it's time. Yes. Hobbs, lead the way. Here we are. I'll open the door. Give me the lantern, Hobbes, and wait here. Oh, yes.
[00:06:54] Unknown:
So Margaret.
[00:06:56] Unknown:
Edward, I
[00:06:58] Unknown:
I can't enter that awful place again. I'm afraid you must. It was your father's wish.
[00:07:06] Unknown:
So cold.
[00:07:08] Unknown:
Damn. So There. There is the open coffin.
[00:07:15] Unknown:
Let me just shine the lantern inside it to be sure your father's body is still there.
[00:07:21] Unknown:
Yes. It is. Look, Margaret.
[00:07:28] Unknown:
Yes. The body is there. Go outside now.
[00:07:32] Unknown:
I'll put the lid on the coffin and screw it down. Alright. I'll wait for you with Hobbes until you Edward. What is it? There's something strange here. Something
[00:07:47] Unknown:
curious. The clothes on the body. The clothes? That is not the suit we buried my father in. In fact, Edward, Now, now, now. Edward, I tell you it isn't. Shouldn't you, my father? He was much taller, and
[00:08:22] Unknown:
he was thin. By heaven, you're right. But this makes no sense at all. It's his head. Yes. It is. I'm going to faint. Outside. Quickly. I'll join you.
[00:08:41] Unknown:
Miss, what is it, miss? Something horrible.
[00:08:45] Unknown:
Horrible. What, miss Ward? I don't dare see it, Hobbs.
[00:08:50] Unknown:
I don't dare think it. Mister Somerson, sir, what is it? What is it in there?
[00:08:56] Unknown:
The thing in the coffin, it's Sir Simon's head, but not his body. Not his body. Someone cut his head off, stole his body, and put another in its place.
[00:09:20] Unknown:
Incredible.
[00:09:21] Unknown:
Utterly incredible, Somerset. Doctor Westmore, what I've just told you, I saw with my own eyes. So did Margaret. In fact, she was the one who first noticed it was the wrong body. Where is she? Westing. Or perhaps I should say recuperating. It was an awful shock for her. No doubt. Have you notified the police? No. Well, why not, man? There's only a constable in the village, and I I've heard he is anything but competent. I intend to send a message to the London police by coach tomorrow morning. Better still, I'll take it for you. I'd rather not wait till you leave on Monday. Oh, I'll not be staying the weekend now.
[00:09:58] Unknown:
Margaret will be in no mood or condition to discuss our wedding plans. And as a surgeon at London Hospital, I have much to do. No point wasting my time here. You don't exactly sound like a man in love, doctor Westmore. In love? With Margaret, of course. But I'm not, nor is she with me. It's all purely a financial arrangement, you understand? Well, no. I didn't quite Oh, but of course. An arrangement I made with sir Simon. He was a very ill man for nearly a decade. He sought my rather special services, if I may say so. But as you know, Morland is mortgaged to the hilt, and he was unable to pay. In return, he offered you his daughter's hand in marriage. And Morland Manor, Even though the estate is heavily mortgaged, it'll give me a tidy sum. A fortune, in fact, once I sell it. I look here. Let's go down to the crypt. I want to see for myself. I'll ring the hobs first.
[00:10:58] Unknown:
You say you're not in love with Margaret? Not in the least. I am. Really? Are you indeed? And she's in love with me? Yes. Yes. I don't know quite how to ask this except to ask it. Will you release Margaret? Why, of course not. Even with oh, Hobbs. You rang her? Yes. Doctor Westmore and I want to go on into the crypt. Bring a lantern. Will you? Yes, sir. Oh, and tell missus Murchison she can serve tea in half an hour. Yes, sir. As I was saying, doctor,
[00:11:36] Unknown:
even if Margaret signed over, all right to mauling to you. Then why should I bargain for what will be mine once we marry? And if she refuses to marry you? She won't. Margaret is a woman of honor. What do you know of honor, doctor Westmore? Now, if you need to insult me, Somerset I mean to give you the truth.
[00:11:56] Unknown:
I've had to investigate it, doctor, quietly but thoroughly. I happen to know that you have priced in doctor for the Royal College of Surgeons on charges of conduct unbecoming a physician, charges which could not be proved for lack of evidence. I was not guilty that you are presently under investigation by the same college of surgeons who this time do have the evidence to revoke your license and will, doctor Westmore, because you are considered unworthy of the main doctor and will be barred from medical practice.
[00:12:28] Unknown:
You have been thorough, Somerset. Perhaps under the circumstances, you'd prefer I went down the crypt without your company.
[00:12:37] Unknown:
I'd better go with you since one of the charges against you is that of body snatching. I'll take the lantern, Hobbs.
[00:12:54] Unknown:
You wait here. Oh, well, thank you, sir. Oh, and you told missus Murchison about tea? Well, I'm sorry, sir, but I couldn't find her about. What do you mean? She must be somewhere in the house. No, sir. At least I was unable to find her, and you did want the lantern right away, sir. No, ma'am. Yeah. This way. Let's know. Those coffins stacked well on top of another. And their occupants have certainly been dead for years. Some of them for nearly a century.
[00:13:24] Unknown:
Curious. Is that Sir Simon's coffin there? The one with the lid off? Yes. And as you can see, the body isn't that of Sir Simon, but
[00:13:34] Unknown:
Good Lord. What in the name of Here, raise the lantern. Let's have some more light. You did say the head was Sir Simon's? It was. This is it's the head of a woman.
[00:13:51] Unknown:
Katie. Katie? Katie Johnson. The maid.
[00:13:57] Unknown:
What's this? Well, it's incredible. First, if I'm to believe you, Sir Simon's body was exchanged for another. And now his head? Is this some sort of a joke?
[00:14:11] Unknown:
I don't think so, Westmore. But if it is, it's the joke of someone going mad. Stark mad.
[00:14:27] Unknown:
A baffling mystery, wouldn't you say? You might even call it, head Sorry. I couldn't resist that. Edward Summers at the Daily Journal, recording what took place later on, is even more baffling and, I'm afraid, more ghastly. Most of this strange story, the body of it there I go again. All I meant to say was, there's more to come. The world is filled with all sorts of shocking things. But I must confess that even I, somewhat of a connoisseur of the shocking, was totally stunned by Edward Somerset's account of what happened following the gruesome discovery that sir Simon's head had now been replaced by Katie Johnson's.
If I was appalled merely in reading about what had taken place, the feelings of those who actually lived through these ghastly events can be imagined.
[00:15:46] Unknown:
But where is my father's body, head and body? Whose body is it in the coffin? Who killed Katie Johnson, severed her head from her body, and put it in my father's coffin? Margaret, I beg you enough. I can't answer even one of your questions, let alone a dozen. I didn't ask a dozen, Edward. You need to snap my head off. No. No. No. No. We're all somewhat nerved up. Talk. Talk. Talk. We sit here talking, then we should be doing something. Perhaps you have a suggestion, my dear Margaret. At least one murder has been committed in this house, possibly two. Katie Johnson and whoever's body that is in my father's coffin,
[00:16:25] Unknown:
shouldn't we notify the police? The village constable is worse than useless. Doctor Westmore has offered to take a message to the London police when he leaves in the morning. He will not be staying the weekend.
[00:16:35] Unknown:
I may soon cease to be a doctor, Margaret, certainly if the college of surgeons rescinds my license. But I still retain some remnants of the gentleman. You are certainly in no mood to discuss our wedding plans.
[00:16:50] Unknown:
Neither now nor at any other time. Ah, well,
[00:16:53] Unknown:
you have no choice there. Perhaps she does or could have. If, as you say, you do retain some gentlemanly qualities. You refer to the suggestion you made earlier just before we went down into the crypt. Yes. Not suggestion. That West release you from your pledge to marry him in return for Morland Manor, which after all is really what he wants. Not quite, my dear fellow. Not altogether quite. What do you mean? If you don't love, Margaret Love has nothing to do with it. It's a matter of convenience and what is best for me. I don't understand. Well, you would if you'd allow me to finish.
[00:17:29] Unknown:
Once my license to practice medicine is revoked, and it will be this time, I'm sure, I shall go into business. Contacts, important contacts, are vital to business success, and the making of contacts requires a good deal of entertaining. So you see, I shall need a wife to fill the role of hostess. Does that answer you? Yes.
[00:17:53] Unknown:
I guess it does.
[00:17:55] Unknown:
I beg your pardon, miss Margaret? No, Hobbs. Yes. You asked me to find out where missus Murchison had got to, and I I have, miss. Where did you find her? In the kitchen, sir, where she claims she'd been all the time.
[00:18:09] Unknown:
Only she hasn't. Did you tell her I want to see her? Yes, miss. He did. And I came straight along. Where have you been the past hour in the kitchen,
[00:18:20] Unknown:
ma'am, preparing for my dinner? Mrs. Murchison, more than an hour ago, I asked Hobbs to let you know we wanted tea, and he couldn't find you.
[00:18:28] Unknown:
Well, I don't know why not, mister Somerset. I've been in the kitchen all that time. And as for tea, there was no need to give me an order. Tea is always served in this house at five. Then why didn't you serve it? Too busy getting dinner, miss. I gave plenty instructions to fill it today.
[00:18:50] Unknown:
She never got to kill it. God bless her soul. Hobbs said he couldn't find you. Not anywhere.
[00:18:56] Unknown:
Oh, that is a lie. I have been in that kitchen the last two hours, never left at once. He's lying he is. Trying to get me into trouble. Oh, come now, Murchison. Why would Hobbs want to get you into trouble? Because I know too much about him. That's why. And he's afraid I might tell what I know. He wants to see me disappear. Oh, and this match. Stock match. Am I? Am I? We have been paid no salary in this house for six months. Now not that I'm complaining, if I'm not, but ask him how he can afford to buy the finest of vintage wines to swirl down his gullet. Ask him who plays for the costly cigars he smokes.
And ask him where he gets the money for the expensive suits, shoes, whatever he wears when he goes to London on his days off. Ask him.
[00:19:52] Unknown:
Is it true, Holmes? Why, yes, miss. I'll not deny that I enjoy a good wine and a fine cigar. How do I pay for them? Why, miss, your father paid me well in in the many years I served him. I was able to save considerable. And that misses all there is to it, though missus Murchison would like you to think otherwise. Think what?
[00:20:20] Unknown:
Well, missus Murchison? Nothing. Yes. I've said too much already. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll have a roast cooking. One minute.
[00:20:31] Unknown:
Sir? The inside of your right arm. I just noticed when you turned. It's smeared with with what looks like blood. What? Well, look at it. Oh.
[00:20:45] Unknown:
Oh, yes. Is it blood, Mrs. Watterson? Metrcerson? Well, I I I guess it is. Yes. I I, preparing the roast, cutting it, I I must have got a smear of blood on me. Is that how you got it, missus Metrcerson?
[00:21:04] Unknown:
What do you mean, doctor Westmore? Nothing.
[00:21:09] Unknown:
Nothing, missus Murchison.
[00:21:12] Unknown:
Right on, miss. Yes. And you too, Hobbs. Oh, yes, ma'am.
[00:21:18] Unknown:
Well, she could have got that blood on her from cutting a burst of boof.
[00:21:22] Unknown:
Or from cutting something else. My suspicions of missus Murchison were sharply aroused. I had myself stated to Westmore that whoever was responsible for these ghoulish happenings must be mad, stark mad. I was speculating on all this and going around to dinner, paying little attention to something Margaret and Westmore were discussing, when to the surprise of us all, lord Burley was announced for the second time that day. Is lord Shipley?
[00:21:57] Unknown:
Good evening, mister Zillion. Mister Somerset and you, doctor Westmore. Good evening.
[00:22:04] Unknown:
Lord Burley. Yeah. I thought our business had ended this afternoon.
[00:22:08] Unknown:
No, my dear. Business, sound business that is, never takes no for answer. Since I could not reason with you, I decided to ride over and, if possible, reason with your husband to me. To to answer your look, doctor, yes, I heard you were here. Is there anything you don't know, lord Verdi?
[00:22:28] Unknown:
Very little. Very little.
[00:22:30] Unknown:
As your betrothed may have mentioned to you, I'm interested in buying Moreland Manor. She didn't mention it. No. Oh, yes. Well, I am prepared to make you, all things considered, a quite decent offer, doctor, once you come into possession through marriage, of course. Would you be interested? I would indeed. Why do you want Moorland, my lord? Royalty joins my own estate. The 780 acres of Moorland would be your welcome addition. Nice of these areas.
[00:23:00] Unknown:
What are you prepared to offer?
[00:23:02] Unknown:
£1 per acre. 700 and 80 pounds.
[00:23:07] Unknown:
That isn't an offer, lord Burley. It's an insult. Not at all. Not at all.
[00:23:13] Unknown:
If you look at it in the right light, doctor, all things considered as I said. It's really something of a compliment. As attorney for the estate, I can assure you it's worth a very great deal more than £780.
[00:23:24] Unknown:
Oh, can you, mister Somerset? Can you indeed? In your position, you must also be aware that the estate is impoverished Yes. But that taxes are now a year and a real Yes. I know. I know. You entertain the hope, the forlorn hope, mister Somerset. That with proper management, for improved land production, you might salvage the estate. I would hope that doctor Westmore would when he becomes owner. Well, has he told you he means to sell more land within a month, perhaps less? You'd be willing to settle for shillings. What do you mean by that? I mean quite simply, my dear, that there would be no one here to run the place for you. No servants, no farmers, no stable help, no one. Why not? Because of the strange things taking place here, I refer to the occurrences in the family walks are already known in the village, and the people are frightened.
Within a few days, they will shunt Murlin Manor as if it contained bubonic plague. This is
[00:24:25] Unknown:
impossible. Well informed as you may be on what goes on in Burley, You couldn't be disciplined. Unless No. Nothing.
[00:24:40] Unknown:
No. No. I I insist. Unless what, my dear? I said nothing. But your silence signifies everything. If you're implying that I have a more than ordinary knowledge of what is going on here, that I am in some way involved, then out with it. That is indeed what I do, sir. Well, then let me assure you that you are wrong. I have my sources of information. Yes. I I have my informants, indeed a network of them, but I am not, I repeat not, a body snatcher. Body snatcher? Oh, good one, man. What do you think is behind all this? Body snatching. Oh, heaven help us. What naive day.
Do you think someone is simply playing games, having some sort of ghoulish fun? You, miss Prasilian, and you, mister Summers, said, yes. I can understand it with you too. But Westmore, you? Too human to say you haven't suggested this possibility? There's this probability to these two young people. Should I have? I bet you know better that anyone with need of bodies for dissection purposes were for the training of medical students? Medical schools would pay £10 for a fresh body and 15, as you damn well know, sir, for a fresh head. Anyhow.
[00:25:54] Unknown:
You're far more knowledgeable than I am, sir. Woah. You know nothing, Albert?
[00:25:59] Unknown:
You whose case is on trial this very moment before the college of surgeons for just such practices, you know nothing? What is he on trial for? I thought it was body snatching alone. Know that. Of course. Of course. But in the eyes of the authorities, something far more vile. Doctor Westmore is a grave robber. What? Yes, my dear. He not only snatches corpses, but robs them as well.
[00:26:28] Unknown:
Is this true?
[00:26:30] Unknown:
I own to nothing. You needn't. Your face says all. Blast you, Lord Barry. For what you've done to me these past minutes Fie to you? Have you not done it to yourself, sir? Yes. Heaven above help me, yes. But I had hopes stupidly had hopes, that I might repair the damage I've done others and myself. I dared to hope that with the monies I would receive from the sale of Morland, I might regain some reputation, some respect, some personal dignity.
[00:27:05] Unknown:
I ask your pardon. I I had not known you. You had in you even a spark of decency. Surely a spark. Nevertheless, a spark,
[00:27:13] Unknown:
which I might have fanned into flame. And you may still. What I have said has been said within the confines of this I know, lord Burley. It has been said within the confines of this woman's heart. And we'll echo there till the day she dies.
[00:27:28] Unknown:
Well, will I? I am Safi. But now as to my offer to buy more than enough Another time. We'll
[00:27:38] Unknown:
discuss it another time, if at all.
[00:27:43] Unknown:
Now, then I had best take my leave. That would be best.
[00:27:47] Unknown:
And more, Billy. My dear. Don't come back.
[00:27:58] Unknown:
The revelation of another side to doctor Westmore's character, a good side, came as a surprise to both myself and Margaret. Unhappily, this better side of doctor Westmore, as Margaret and I discovered in a long discussion with him following Burdey's departure, by no means influenced him in releasing Margaret from her obligation to marry him. Then finally, he retired for the night. Margaret and I sat hopelessly talking of the future.
[00:28:28] Unknown:
Edward. Edward. I love you so. From the thought of marrying Doctor. Westmore.
[00:28:35] Unknown:
I shudder at it. Aye, too, my darling. There must be something. Something. What?
[00:28:42] Unknown:
What solution will be thought of?
[00:28:44] Unknown:
One that only God could arrange, I'm afraid. Westmore's death. Oh, Edward. Thankfully, there have been times when I've been really driven to arrange it myself. You mustn't say such things, Edward.
[00:28:55] Unknown:
Not even think
[00:29:00] Unknown:
them. Two in the morning.
[00:29:03] Unknown:
No wonder we're having such wild thoughts. We're tired. I'll say goodbye to you, my dear. What are you doing here on the cliff? And Don't look, Margaret. I must. I Oh, my God.
[00:30:10] Unknown:
When I came to that part of Edward Somerset's journal, I could hardly wait to turn the page to find out what new horror had taken place in the crypt and the horror it was, a shocking horror, as you'll discover. Shall we turn that page of Edward Somerset's journal? Personally, I could scarcely wait to do so, But I am used to horrors and sort of take them in my stride while you, on the other end, you insist? Very well and then return the page.
[00:31:06] Unknown:
Margaret, for all her delicate beauty, is a strong woman, a woman of courage. But as she looked into her father's coffin, and the words, escaped her lips. I feared she was about to faint, but she somehow managed to retain control. When I was sure she wasn't about to collapse, I turned my attention to missus Murchison and said, pull yourself together, missus Murchison. I I'll cut her. And answer me. What are you doing here in the quick, kind of bizarre morning? Answer me.
[00:31:49] Unknown:
I wanted to clear myself. Clear yourself. To prove my innocence. Last night, when you saw the birds near on my arm, the way you looked at me, all of you, the way you talked, I could say you suspected me of doing this. But what could you here? What could you expect to prove here? I don't know. I only know I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned all sorts of thoughts going through my head, all sorts of needs to prove to you that your suspicions of me were unfounded. I came down here in desperation, I suppose, thinking you might find something, some clue, some bit of evidence that would give the light a hug.
Instead, I found that.
[00:32:45] Unknown:
What do you mean give the lie to Hobbs?
[00:32:49] Unknown:
I was in the kitchen all the time he claims he was looking
[00:33:00] Unknown:
pee from nothing else. So you say. You don't believe me still. Why should I? We find you here in the crypt under very curious circumstances and you expect us to believe your not very convincing story? It's the truth. I swear to you, sir, the illness, it's true. That's to be seen.
[00:33:19] Unknown:
The question now is what's to be done? Edward, the police must be notified as soon as possible. Yes.
[00:33:26] Unknown:
Doctor Westmore was going to take a message to London tomorrow morning. Well, someone else will have to do it now. Edward? Yes.
[00:33:37] Unknown:
Are we dealing with a mat now?
[00:33:41] Unknown:
I'd say what's in that coffin answers your question, Margaret. If we had found doctor Westmore's head, just the head, I might still have some doubts, but not anymore. Not after finding Westmore's head with the lips cut off.
[00:34:06] Unknown:
Terrible terrible what happened to doctor Westmoreland. Yes. Do you,
[00:34:14] Unknown:
do you belong in London, sir? Only overnight. I'll return in the morning. Here's, I hope, some member of the police force who can get to the bottom of what's going on at Moorland.
[00:34:23] Unknown:
Strange.
[00:34:24] Unknown:
Strange. Curse for Simon's body taken, but his head left in the coffin. Then his head gone and cleared his, oh, the poor girl, her head fell in its place. And now Doctor. Westmore's head in place of Katie's and the lips cut off was horrible, horrible day. Have you any ideas, sir, as to what's behind this? I have my suspicions, Hobbs.
[00:34:53] Unknown:
But that's all they are, suspicions.
[00:34:57] Unknown:
Well, now you'll be sure to return on the morning coach and so I'll be there to meet you then. Yes. Depend on me. And there now you see, the village just below us in the valley. I told you we gave plenty of time.
[00:35:18] Unknown:
You hardly touched your dinner, miss.
[00:35:22] Unknown:
I'm not hungry, missus Mortgerton. Oh,
[00:35:24] Unknown:
oh, wonderful. All this happened here.
[00:35:29] Unknown:
Have some of the village farmhands setting you today that they'd not be coming back to morning to look the fields? I'll see who it is, miss.
[00:35:41] Unknown:
Well, good day. Is your mistress at home, missus Metterson? I I am seeing the No need. I'm sure she is. I thought I had informed you, Lord Burley, that your presence here is no longer desired. You may change your mind about that. If you come to see me about I've come to see the crypt, if I may have your permission.
[00:36:00] Unknown:
Where before?
[00:36:02] Unknown:
I learned today that a good number of your farmhands have left you because of the doings here. Well, for my benefit, once I own more land, I think it best to clear up the mystery of the crypt as quickly as may be. Do you think you can? I know I can. Because you see, I know on good authority the reason behind what's been going on.
[00:36:27] Unknown:
Is it body snatching?
[00:36:29] Unknown:
Yes. So in any case, I am informed. But I wish to see for myself before taking action. I have your permission.
[00:36:39] Unknown:
Alright. No. Come along then.
[00:36:51] Unknown:
Now, first, I want to look in the coffin. Poor Westpaw. Lips mutilated as I was informed.
[00:36:59] Unknown:
Whatever it is you wish to see or do, will you do it quickly? To be absolutely sure, I'll open the top coffin on this stack. No. You can't do that. It's sacrilege.
[00:37:11] Unknown:
That's the coffin of my mother. I'm afraid it was the coffin of your mother, my dear. In truth, I'm afraid many of these coffins no longer contain their original occupants. They are now used as storage boxes for much fresher corpses. Now, with your permission, then? Yeah. So, see for yourself, Margaret. Please. I'd rather love to know. Come, come. You must. This once. I I want you to know I speak the truth. Look.
[00:37:54] Unknown:
But why? Why? If bodies are in such demand, why store them away? Why not sell them at once? My dear, you are as devoid of business sense as your father.
[00:38:04] Unknown:
In business, there is an inexorable law known as the law of supply and demand. When supply exceeds demand, prices fall and vice versa. There is more demand for corpses at some times than at others. More demand for heads at certain times.
[00:38:18] Unknown:
At the moment, medical schools are in need of heads. Why? I haven't the vaguest idea. My informant didn't know. I do. Oh, Hobbs. Hobbs, what are you doing here? No need to answer that, Hobbs. That butcher knife in your hand is answering now. Answer enough for you. Can your button show up for you? Oh, what? I am. I am. I am. I am. I am. I am.
[00:38:50] Unknown:
From him. Oh, knew everything. Knew all about what was going on down here. I even knew I'll be bound, that I am the body's not hers. You you didn't know? You didn't even suspect? Mister Somerset did. Lord Whirley did. Doctor Westmore? Oh, yes. He more than suspected. He knew because he was the one who bought what I had to sell. Westmore? He started me, but I I ended him. I I had to. Why? Why did you have to He was soon to go on trial before the College of Surgeons. They have enough evidence to convict him, to break him down, and you were told everything, including where he got the bodies, the heads, from me.
Here, here, me. That's why I had to cut off his lips, so he'd never tell.
[00:39:53] Unknown:
Never. You're mad. Yes. That may be. The bodies. The heads. How did you how did you transport them? The nearest medical school there in London now. I have a carriage. Well,
[00:40:05] Unknown:
more a wagon in the village. And the night before, I would go to London.
[00:40:11] Unknown:
On my days off, I would take what I had to sell into the village and stack them away in the wagon. You thought I went to London by torture? No, I never did. I always went in my wagon. Taking my produce to market to doctor Westbourne.
[00:40:34] Unknown:
I never suspected. I never knew. Well, you do now. No. No, don't.
[00:40:55] Unknown:
I've become very lucky. Oh, Winston. Suddenly,
[00:41:01] Unknown:
you you cannot.
[00:41:08] Unknown:
I never went. But Hobbs will never know that now. I know, dearest. I heard everything you said. But I knew the whole story before I came back from the village. You didn't do it alone? I never intended to. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed that if Lord Burley could buy information and he couldn't have got it any other way, then maybe if I spread the word in the village that I was willing to pay and pay handsomely Well, in any case, I did. And it worked. You learned about Hobbes. Everything. My God. You arrived in time. I thank him not only for that, but for the future that lies ahead for us.
There are two important tasks I will devote the rest of my life to. One, is restoring Rawlins' manner to what it once was. And the other? Making you the happiest woman on Earth.
[00:42:14] Unknown:
And so ended, happily, the strange and horrifying events at Moorland Manor. Edward Somerset continued his journal for many years, and I'm glad to be able to tell you that he did restore Moreland Manor to its former splendor. And he must have made Margaret at least one of the happiest women on earth, if nine children mean anything. Our story took place in 1874. There are many who say the world was a better place to live in then. Maybe it was. I don't know. All of us do face many problems, many frustrations, many fears these days.
But one fear we don't have now that just about everyone had then is the fear of being buried alive. At least, I don't think we have. Our cast included Suzanne Grossman, Gordon Gould, Anne Petoniak, Ian Martin, Colt Benson, and George Lowther. The entire production was under the direction of Hyman Brown. This is EG Marshall inviting you to return to our mystery theater for another adventure in the macabre. Until next time. Pleasant dreams.
[00:44:06] Unknown:
The preceding mystery theater program is furnished by the CBS Radio Network. This is WOR New York, an RKO general station. At the WOR time signal, exactly 08:00 Eastern Daylight Saving Time, here's John Wingate with the news.
Introduction to the Mystery
Edward Somerset's Journal
The Unwanted Marriage
The Family Dispute
The Crypt Visit
The Wrong Body
Doctor Westmore's Intentions
The Head Swap Mystery
Suspicions Arise
Lord Burley's Offer
A New Horror Unveiled
The Madman's Confession
The Body Snatching Scheme
Resolution and Future
