In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of classic radio series, focusing on the impact of "The Avengers" in South Africa, where television was not available until 1976. Despite the lack of a national television service, the series managed to gain some exposure through film rentals. We also explore the intriguing dynamics of a family bound by a will to live together, leading to tensions and ultimately, a murder mystery that Sherlock Holmes is called upon to solve. The episode takes us through the meticulous investigation led by Holmes, as he unravels the mystery behind the murder of Gerald Lovelace, a man found dead in his room under suspicious circumstances.
As the story unfolds, Holmes and Watson navigate through a web of family tensions, alibis, and a seemingly gentle suspect with a deep love for his dog. The episode highlights Holmes' exceptional deductive skills as he pieces together clues from a watch and the behavior of the family members to identify the murderer. The narrative is rich with suspense and showcases the classic detective work that Holmes is renowned for, culminating in a resolution that is both tragic and thought-provoking.
(00:20) The Avengers in South Africa
(01:06) Sherlock Holmes and the Lovelace Mystery
(16:00) The Investigation Begins
(24:58) The Revelation of the Murderer
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[00:00:01]
Unknown:
Check engine light on? Take the guesswork out of your check engine light with O'Reilly BaraScan. It's free. Ask for O'Reilly BaraScan today. O. O. O. O. O. O'Reilly.
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Auto parts.
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Other shows we have for you to enjoy at myclassicradio.net. The Avengers was most certainly not a household name in South Africa prior to the radio series. With no national television service until 1976, the mechanism simply was not present in the country to show television programs to mass audiences. While many other countries reveled in the filmed Adventures of John Steed and Company, South Africa was not equipped to join in the fun. The series took Britain by storm and made a major impression in the American markets, being that greatest of rarities, a British series given a network transmission slot. However, as a filmed series, rather than a videotaped one, the Avengers was able to gain a modicum of exposure in South Africa through film rentals.
Come and listen at myclassicradio.net.
[00:01:07] Unknown:
Petrie Wine brings you Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce and the new adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The Petri family, the family that took time to bring you good wine, invites you to listen to doctor Watson tell us another exciting adventure he shared with his good friend, that master detective, Sherlock Holmes. And I'd like to tell you about my favorite time of day. It's just before dinner. You know when the family's all sitting around in the living room and wonderful things are cooking in the kitchen? That's for me. And boy, that's the time for a glass of sherry, because Petri California sherry really makes waiting for dinner a pleasure.
That Petri sherry is the perfect before dinner wine. Just look at its beautiful amber color and then taste that wonderful Petri sherry. What a flavor. Petri sherry has a rich nutty flavor that's right from the heart of sun ripened grapes. And if you like your sherry dry, you know, not sweet, you want to get Petri pale dry sherry or better yet, taste them both. Don't buy one, buy two. Those letters p e t r I on the label are the personal assurance of the Petri family that Petri sherry is truly good wine. And now it's time to keep the weekly appointment with our good friend, doctor Watson.
[00:02:44] Unknown:
How are you this evening, doctor? I never felt better. Thank you, mister Bauter. Draw up your usual churn. Make yourself comfortable. Thanks. That's
[00:02:53] Unknown:
it. Oh, I see you've had the old tin dispatch box out again.
[00:02:56] Unknown:
I suppose you've been going through your notes on tonight's new Sherlock Holmes adventure. Yes, mister Bartel. And I think you'll find it as pretty a little problem as we ever encountered. Story began in 1887, a very busy year for us, my boy. It was the same year that Holmes solved the case of the amateur Mendelcan Society who held their meetings in a luxuriously furnished vault below a furniture warehouse. Oh, I remember that story, doctor. And, wasn't '87 the year you both escaped from death in the Paradol Chamber? It was indeed. You've got a very good memory, mister Bartel. The story I'm going to tell you tonight topped off this unusually exciting year. It was late in October, and the the gales had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had howled and the rain had beaten against the windows of our Baker Street lodgings.
Finally, it was nearly midnight as far as I remember. The storm grew higher and louder, and the wind in the chimney sobbed like a child. Suddenly, much to our surprise, the doorbell jangled, and a few months later, our midnight visitor stood before us. He was a man of about 45. And as he looked about him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, I could see that his face was pale and that his eyes heavy, like those of a man who's weighed down with some great anxiety. And yet when he spoke, his tone was businesslike and almost aggressive.
[00:04:15] Unknown:
I've come to you for advice, mister Holmes. That's easily obtained. And help. That is not always so easy. They helped the gentleman off this cope when he was. Here you are. So let me let me hang it up for you. Thank you, sir. I heard of you, mister Holmes, from major Prendergast. Oh, yeah. He said that you could solve anything. Oh, I'm afraid he said too much. But you've never been beaten. I've been beaten four times, sir. Three times by men and once by a woman. But suppose you sit down and introduce yourself. My friend's name is Watson, doctor Watson. How do you do, sir? How do you do, doctor?
My name is Lovelace, Edmund Lovelace. And what brings you to me at this hour of the night, mister Lovelace? I'm in terrible trouble, mister Holmes. You don't know anything about me, but if you'll accept my case, you can save four lives. I wouldn't say that I know nothing about you, sir. No. It's true that I know little beyond the somewhat obvious fact that, well, you're single, that you keep a dog, but not a manservant, and that you are much preoccupied with your business, which I take to be some form of insurance. Oh, come come come, host. Now what is this? Well, I magic. I'll wager that my friend's right though. Isn't he, mister Lovelace? Perfectly. But I'll be hanged if I can see how he knows. Practical application of logic, sir. The briefcase that you carry might at first indicate a barrister or some other professional man, but your brisk business like manner contracts that suggestion. An insurance broker who must visit clients at odd hours is the likeliest man to combine that manner with a briefcase at midnight. But, the wife and the man servant, and the fact that I'm preoccupied with my business. Your cufflinks don't match, sir. Each is from a different pair. That would suggest preoccupation, and it's a mistake that neither a wife nor a man servant would have allowed to pass. Yes. Yes, but how about the dog? Oh, surely that's obvious, Watson. Well, I can't see it. I shall let you ponder on that matter while mister Lovelace tells us his problem. Mister Holmes, are you as interested in preventing a murder as in solving one? Naturally, I am, mister Lovelace. Even more so. But, please tell me your story.
[00:06:12] Unknown:
I live with four cousins of mine in an old house in Camberwell. My grandfather left the house and a sizable fortune to the five of us on condition that we live together and maintain the family unity. It probably won't surprise you to know that we've grown to get pretty much on each other's nerves. Oh, what happens if one of you dies, mister Lovelace? His share is divided among the others, don't you? Oh, well, the wonder to me is, sir, that, not that a murder may take place, but, that it has not happened long ago. Who's responsible for the administration of the estate? My cousin Gerald. He's much older than the rest of us, and he's a thoroughly unpleasant, cantankerous man. Yeah. He gets an extra share in the estate as administrator, and in consequence, he doesn't work. We feel, of course, that he lives all of us, and we're continually quarreling with him about it. Sounds like a jolly household, Amos. There's going to be trouble, mister Holmes. I know it. Gerald hates us, and he's jealous of our share in the estate. You spoke of preventing murder just now, yet I can see that you've selected your cousin Gerald as the potential murderer. Am I right? Yes. You are. Mhmm. But don't think it's personal prejudice that makes me suspect him. I have good reason for doing so. What reason? This evening, just before dinner, I helped Gerald off with his topcoat and went to hang it up for him. As I did so, I heard a strange metallic clink in one of his pockets.
I slipped my hand inside it and found a hypodermic syringe in a small pile of liquid. I opened the pile and smelled it. Gentlemen, it reeked of bitter almond. Bitter Cyanide there? And what did you do? I thought of destroying it, but I realized that that would put him on his guard, so I replaced it in his pocket. Of course, I warned the others, and we decided that I'd come to you. I have to see a most important client tonight or I'd have been here earlier. Earlier. Yes. It seems odd that you didn't come directly to mister Holmes as soon you'd made the discovery, mister Lovelace. After all, if a potential murderer is walking about with a pocket full of cyanide,
[00:07:57] Unknown:
I should have thought that that itself was more important than business. Well, I, yes, I I suppose it might seem so to you, doctor. That's the most interesting stick you carry, sir. May I examine it? Of course. Here. Oh, thank you. Now I see how you deduced that mister Lovelace had a dog, Holmes. There are the marks of the dog's teeth on the stick. Yes, my dear Watson. But these marks under scrutiny
[00:08:18] Unknown:
give us even more specific information. He's a large dog. You had him for some years, mister Lovelace, and he's now old and feeble. Well, you're perfectly right, but I'll be hanged if I can see how you can tell that from looking at a walking stick. This stick is covered with teeth marks. Therefore, it has been carried many times by the dog. Now it's, a heavy stick, so only a large dog could have carried it. And the teeth marks also indicate a large jaw. The older marks are deep sunk. Look here. The fresh ones where the wood has not yet darkened are shallow. Yes. It's obvious that the jaws are losing their strength. That's very clever of you, mister Holmes, but I don't see what it has to do with the case in hand. Well, neither do I, Holmes. I must confess. No. Surely it tells us that your story, mister Lovelace, may bear a less terrifying implication than you think.
On the other hand, its implication may be even more terrifying. Oh, it's late at night I feel that any further delay in this matter would be extremely dangerous. I suggest if you get a cab and come to your house in Campbellville at once.
[00:09:30] Unknown:
Alice, Randolph, I'm glad you're still up. I was able to persuade mister Sherlock Holmes and doctor Watson to come back with me. Gentlemen, this is my cousin, Alice Harley. How do you do? How do you do, miss Harley? How do you do? And my cousin, Randolph Lovelace. How do you do, miss Lovelace? How do you do, sir? How do you do, miss Lovelace? I told him about the whole business, Randall, so we can all speak perfectly freely. Let's begin by sitting down, shall we? Randolph and I have just finished a little cold supper. We've been to the theater tonight. Well, mister Holmes,
[00:09:56] Unknown:
I I suppose Edmund told you about finding the hypodermic syringe and the cyanide in Gerald's coat pocket. Yes. Indeed. May I ask where your cousin, Gerald Lovelace is now? We left the house at seven, but I imagine Gerald went upstairs Eddie?
[00:10:10] Unknown:
On the stroke of eight, Alice. He's very fixed in his habits, mister Holmes. He goes up to his room every night at eight. There, he reads or works on his accounts and eventually goes to bed anytime between ten and one. But he might still be up. I should like to speak to him a little later. In the meanwhile, may I ask you two young people, tell me quite honestly your feelings about your cousin, Gerald? And you might as well be frank. I've kept nothing back. Alright.
[00:10:33] Unknown:
Randolph and I hate him. First of all, we're sure he's jealous of our shares in the estate, and
[00:10:38] Unknown:
and then we Alice and I want to get married, mister Holmes, and Gerald won't hear of it. But you're you're cousins, aren't you? Only second cousins, doctor Watson. Gerald is dreadfully conventional.
[00:10:48] Unknown:
He's threatened us that if we do get married, he'll go to court and try to have our shares in the estate annulled. And from the way the will is worded, I wouldn't be surprised if he could do it.
[00:10:56] Unknown:
So you can see why we have no great love for him and why we're afraid of him. Well, he sounds an extremely unfurled person to be
[00:11:04] Unknown:
You mentioned there were five cousins in the house. The three of you were here. Here. Mister Gerald Lovelace is upstairs. Who and,
[00:11:11] Unknown:
where is the fifth cousin? The fifth cousin is my brother, Gilley. He's something of a tragedy, I'm afraid. You see, Gilley's twenty, but he he never developed mentally beyond the age of eight. He had a bad fall in the hunting field when he was a kid. He's been like this ever since. I'm sorry to hear that, sir. But he's the dearest, most gentle boy you've ever met. And incidentally, the one person in this house who doesn't hate Gerald. Poor father father doesn't understand the conditions of the will, I suppose. No. But if he did, I don't think it'd make any difference. I swear that Gilly loves every living thing, especially Gladstone.
[00:11:46] Unknown:
Gladstone is the name of his dog. His dog?
[00:11:50] Unknown:
Yes. A dog may be the key to this whole matter. Dog? What makes you say that home? When a man brings a quick and painless poison home to a household containing an old and peopled dog, it's more than possible that he has obtained that poison quite legitimately
[00:12:04] Unknown:
to give the dog a merciful death. To kill Gladstone? Oh, no. After all, amister, he is old and almost blind now. But, mister Holmes, if you think Gerald brought home the poison to put Gladstone out of the way, and I admit it sounds perfectly logical, what made you decide to come here tonight? Because I dare not even guess
[00:12:22] Unknown:
what you may have done by including the thought of murder in this situation. Where is your brother, Gilly? In his room upstairs asleep. I wonder if we might go up to him. I should like to talk to him, if you don't mind. And after that, I I want a few words with your cousin, Gerald Lovelace.
[00:12:54] Unknown:
He's asleep, mister Helms. Yes. With him with a dog in his arm.
[00:12:58] Unknown:
I'm afraid we'll have to awaken him.
[00:13:00] Unknown:
Gilly? Gilly? That's alright, gangster. We're not going to hurt him. Gilly?
[00:13:09] Unknown:
Who who is it?
[00:13:11] Unknown:
Oh, hello, Alice.
[00:13:15] Unknown:
Who who are these men?
[00:13:16] Unknown:
They've come to take Gladstone away. No. No. Gilly, we we haven't. Of course not, Gilly. We've just come to admire him. Your brother's been telling us what a fine dog he is. Oh, that's different.
[00:13:27] Unknown:
He isn't he beautiful? I I just had such a wonderful dream about him.
[00:13:33] Unknown:
Such a wonderful dream. What was it, Gilly?
[00:13:37] Unknown:
Well, he he was all young again. Just a puppy. He he was chasing a rabbit across a cliff top, and and and I was running with him. Oh, Gladstone looked so beautiful. Didn't you, old boy? Of course, you did. And and, you know, the rabbit went down a hole and and Gladstone went down after him. And I went down after Gladstone. And and we all had tea with the rabbits. Oh. We're so funny. They all had little green hats on. Hats with with feathers. I wanted Gladstone to try one on, but No. He wouldn't. So sleepy. Come on, Gladstone.
Let's go back to the tea party.
[00:14:22] Unknown:
Okay. His world may be a great deal more pleasant than ours, Watson. That's what I'd like to think, mister Holmes. Now I'd like to have a few words with your cousin Gerald. His room's at the end of this corridor. I'm afraid Gilly wasn't much help to you, mister Hunt. On the contrary, young lady, he told me exactly what I wanted to know. Hurry up. This is Gerald's room. There's no light under the door. He must have gone to sleep. I'm afraid we must waken him too.
[00:14:53] Unknown:
Must be a heavy sleeper. But he isn't. He's a remarkably light one.
[00:14:58] Unknown:
Come on, miss Gwen.
[00:15:00] Unknown:
Strike a match, will you, Ophela? Not sure. The gas mantle is at the head of his bed, doctor Watson.
[00:15:06] Unknown:
Yeah. What is lying on the outside of his bed? He must be
[00:15:10] Unknown:
there's blood on the pillow. Great Scott Holmes. The back of his skull smashed in. He's been murdered. Oh, no.
[00:15:17] Unknown:
Horrible.
[00:15:18] Unknown:
Yes, Watson. But not by the blows on his head. Look here on the table by his bed. Hypodermic syringe and a broken file. Yes. A broken file. Reeking of bitter almonds. Poor devil. Well, I won't pretend I like him, but what a ghastly way to die. All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. So the scripture say, mister Lovelace, the very suspicion of the killing has brought murder to pass. Well, it's too late to prevent it. Our job now is to find the killer and see that he's brought to justice.
[00:16:01] Unknown:
Doctor Watson will tell you the rest of his story in just a few seconds. Just time enough for me to tell you that if there's one wine that's perfect for any occasion, it's Petri California sherry. With a bottle of that rich amber colored Petri sherry on hand, you can make that time before dinner a main event. And Petri sherry is the perfect answer to the question of what to serve when company comes. Serve petri sherry alone and let its full wonderful flavor speak for itself, or serve petri sherry with hors d'oeuvres or party sandwiches. And remember, you can serve petri sherry proudly because Petri is the proudest name in the history of American wine.
Well, doctor Watson, so you found Gerald Lovelace dead in one of the bedrooms of the house in Camberwell.
[00:16:51] Unknown:
What did you do? Sent for the police? Not at once, mister Bartell. Sherlock Holmes persuaded the remainder of the household to give him the opportunity of examining the scene of the crime carefully before the police were sent for. And so a few minutes before 01:00 that October night, Holmes and I stood alone in the room of death.
[00:17:08] Unknown:
And the gas a little high with the old chap.
[00:17:11] Unknown:
Gotcha. You know, Holmes,
[00:17:13] Unknown:
I think you should have sent for the police right away. In a case like this, Watson, I prefer to be my own police, and I have spun the web. They may take the flies, but not before. What are are the results of your medical examination, old chap? No. It's exactly as you reconstructed it, Holmes.
[00:17:28] Unknown:
He was first beaten on the head with that poker lying on the floor. Then he had the full file of cyanide injected into his left wrist. Can you estimate the time of death at all accurately? No. His room's confoundedly hot. He might have died anytime from one to five hours ago. Yes.
[00:17:44] Unknown:
It's now 01:00, and we know that he was alive at eight. Mister Edmund Lovelace saw him leave for his room at that hour. Yes. If he was telling the truth One thing we do know for a fact is that this man was murdered at the exact moment he was going to bed. He's wearing his nightgown and nightcap, but his bed has not been slept in. Well, isn't it possible the murderer might have killed him shortly after eight and then dressed him in his night clothes to confuse us? No, my dear chap. You will notice that the hypodermic needle passed through the sleeve of his night shirt. Here. Also, the nightcap is crushed and blood stained from the blows of the poker. No. Gerald Lovelace had prepared the bed. Yes. Look at the glass of water on the night table and the the prayer book and the watch. Yes.
Signs of a prosperous and meticulous man. Mhmm. Very fine gold watch and in excellent condition. Uh-huh. There's the answer, Watson. What do you mean there's the answer, Watson? I just wound this watch one turn, and then it was fully wound. That provides us with the time schedule for our murder. Come on. We'll send a servant for the police, and while they're on the way, if you'll call everyone together, I should like to put a few more questions to this family. Before the police arrive, I should like to hear your statements again very carefully, if you don't mind. Mister Edmund Lovelace, what were your exact movements tonight? I
[00:19:15] Unknown:
left here shortly before ten. From 10:00 until the time I came to Baker Street, I was with my client. His name and address, please? Derek Waterlow, thirty nine Onslow Square, South Kensington. Thank you. Make a note of these, Willie Watson. Alright. You're home. You, miss Harley, and you, mister Randolph, lovelies,
[00:19:31] Unknown:
went to the theater together. Can any independent witness testify as to your movements? Yes, mister Holmes. We went with friends, the Grant Moorsbys.
[00:19:40] Unknown:
They live at the Clarendon Hotel off Charing Cross. What time did you leave this house? Well, it it was about a quarter to eight, wasn't it, Alice? Yes. And after the play, we went to the Cafe Royale for a little refreshment with our friends and then came back here. I see. And what time did you arrive back at this house? Just a few minutes before midnight.
[00:19:57] Unknown:
I remember the grandfather clock in the hall striking just as we went into the drawing room. And your brother, Gilly, sir, I hate to waken him again. Have you any idea of his movements tonight? Well, he never goes out after dark, mister Holmes. But I spoke to the cook as we came in tonight. She says that he played cards with her until just after 10:00. He was fast asleep when I looked in on him shortly after midnight. Thank you.
[00:20:19] Unknown:
You've made a note of all these facts, Watson? Yes, Holmes, I got them all down. Good. Then let's be on our way to Baker Street. But the police, mister Holmes, they're on their way. I know. Please give them my regards, will you? Apologize for my informality and tell them that I shall have the answer to this matter probably in a little over twenty four hours.
[00:20:50] Unknown:
Holmes, here it is well after midnight. You haven't done a thing on the Camberwell case. No. But you have, old chap. You've checked on all the time alibis and found them buried. I'm much obliged to you. Well, since Spector Lestard was here tonight, you know, and he made some pretty caustic remarks, I can tell you. Oh, didn't you inform him that I'll, have the answer to the problem before many hours have passed? A little bit. You know Lestar, he he wanted action. He shall have it. Is the watch still running? There's another thing. What will a start say when he finds that you took the dead man's watch? I have no idea. Oh, why did you take it anywhere? You sound sleepy, old chap. I'm confounded asleep. Why don't you go to bed? What are you gonna do?
[00:21:30] Unknown:
Continue my vigil with my pipe and the watch of a dead man.
[00:21:46] Unknown:
Watson. Watson. Wake up.
[00:21:48] Unknown:
I'll tell you. 05:00 in the morning. What role are you doing up at this hour? The watch has just stopped. I'm about to rewind it. What are you rewinding it for, Holmes? You waited over twenty four hours for it to unwind. When I know how many turns it takes to wind it fully, I should have the answer to the whole business. Ten, eleven You're being confounded mysterious as usual. 14. 14 turns and the watch is fully wound. Get your clothes on, old chap. Where are we going on this hour? To the house in Camberwell. Now I know who murdered Gerald Lovelace. Mister Edmund Lovelace, I'm glad you let us in. Please take us up to your young cousin's room at once. Really?
[00:22:35] Unknown:
What do you want for him? I'll explain in a moment. Please take us up to him. Of course. But what brings you here at this hour of the morning? Mister Holmes knows who murdered your cousin. Well, I'm glad to hear it. It's more than the police seem to know. They were here half tonight cross examining us. Here we are. I don't think we're bothered to knock.
[00:22:56] Unknown:
Gilly? Gilly? I'm awake.
[00:23:00] Unknown:
We heard you coming up the stairs. Didn't we, Gladstone?
[00:23:05] Unknown:
It's the same man again. You're not going to take Gladstone away, are you? Please don't take him away. Don't worry, Gilly. We're not going to touch him. Oh,
[00:23:13] Unknown:
that's alright then. Oh, Gilly. Yes? You really love that dog, don't you? Of course, I do. More than anything or or anybody. I believe you'd even kill a man who tried to hurt Gladstone, wouldn't you? Oh, yes, sir. I would. Did it?
[00:23:32] Unknown:
No. Great shot, Doug.
[00:23:36] Unknown:
Gilly, Gilly, I don't think you really kill a man. I don't think you could. Couldn't I though? How would you kill him?
[00:23:48] Unknown:
I'd hit him first.
[00:23:49] Unknown:
I'd take a poker and hit him on the head so he couldn't fight back, and then I'd take the nasty needle he told me he was gonna stick in Glaston, and and I'd fill it full of that water he showed me, and I'd stick it in him. That's what I'd do. Then he'd be dead, and and he couldn't hurt my Glaston anymore. Not ever.
[00:24:09] Unknown:
Let's leave him, shall we? Goodbye, Gilly. Pleasant dreams.
[00:24:15] Unknown:
Goodbye, sir. Good old pastor.
[00:24:22] Unknown:
You satisfied, sir?
[00:24:25] Unknown:
Yes. Poor Gilly. There's no doubt about it, of course.
[00:24:29] Unknown:
Can there be no one had described the murder to him, and yet he's just given an exact description of its method? What what, what will happen to him? They
[00:24:38] Unknown:
they won't try him. No. No. No. No. A little pressure in the right places, and he'll be released to a private nursing home. I'll do everything I can, mister Lovelace. Thank you, mister Holmes. Thank you very much.
[00:24:59] Unknown:
Well, Holmes, now that we're back in Baker Street and the whole pressing case is finished with, perhaps you'll tell me how you knew that that Gilead committed the murder. Consider the time schedules, old fella. You checked the alibis of the other cousins and found them satisfactory.
[00:25:12] Unknown:
That meant that, Alice Harley and, Randolph Lovelace could have committed the crime only at midnight. Edmund, only before ten. Gilly, only around eleven. You said that the, time of death could have been at any of those hours. Yes. I did. So how did you pin it down to to eleven? The watch gave me the specific answer. When I picked it up, I unthink unthinkingly wound it, made one turn, and was then fully wound. Now when does a methodical precise man like Gerald Lovelace wind his watch? Just he's going to bed. Exactly, I'll tell him. So that it was obvious that he was killed precisely one watch stem turn before, Therefore, one turn of the watch stem equaled two hours, proving that Gerald Lovelace had been murdered two hours before 01:00 at 11PM.
[00:26:17] Unknown:
When Gilly was the only one who could have done it. You know, Holmes, I still find it hard to believe that boy was capable of such a ghastly crime. He seems so gentle. Oh, years. Years.
[00:26:29] Unknown:
Except when his beloved dog's life was at stake, probably out of some mistaken notion of kindness, Gerald Lovelace warned the boy of his intentions regarding the dog.
[00:26:38] Unknown:
It's a sad business, Watson. A sad business. I hate to think that boy is spending the rest of his life in a mental home. I have one prayer for his future. What's that, hon?
[00:26:47] Unknown:
The dog Gladstone can't live very long. I pray that Gilly does not long outlive him.
[00:27:07] Unknown:
Doc, that was a remarkable bit of deduction on the part of mister Holmes. Yes. Extremely clever, wasn't it? Of course, if I may say so, I was of some small help myself.
[00:27:16] Unknown:
Small help? Why, doctor, you practically solved the case by yourself. Oh, I wouldn't go as far as saying that. But, doctor, you did check all the alibis, didn't you? Yes. I checked where each suspect was at various times. Yes. You checked time. And And what's more important than time? Well Why doctor time is even vitally important when it comes to wine. I was wondering how you were gonna bring that in. And one thing we do know, Petri took time to bring you good wine. So nobody can miss with Petri wine. It's just gotta be good. You know, you can't be in the wine business as long as the Petri family without really learning all about the fine art of making wine.
And don't forget, the Petri family has been making fine wine since way back in the eighteen hundreds. So naturally, they've been able to hand on down from father to son, from father to son, the result of generations of experience at turning luscious sun ripened grapes into fragrant delicious wine. No matter what type of wine you prefer, you'll like it more if it's a Petri wine because Petri took time to bring you good wine.
[00:28:24] Unknown:
Well, doctor Watson, what new Sherlock Holmes story do you plan to tell us next week? Well, now next week, mister Barkell, I'm going to tell you a most unusual adventure that Holmes and I had when we were attending a performance at the opera house in Rome. Concerned the famous singer who lost her voice, an understudy who was nearly lynched, and a murder that baffled the police. I call it the adventure of the terrifying cat. Well, that's a story we've got to hear. Thank you, mister Bartel. And before you go, I want to talk to our friends about their war bonds. You know, during the war, the best investment we could find was United States war bond, and for my money, they're still a great investment. They're called United States savings bonds now, and only the name is changed.
Savings bonds are sold in the same denominations and give you all the same advantages, and you can buy savings bonds at the same places at your bank or your post up store through the payroll savings plan. So invest all you can in United States savings bonds because you cannot find a better or a safer investment.
[00:29:42] Unknown:
Tonight's Sherlock Holmes adventure was written by Dennis Green and Anthony Boucher, and was suggested by an incident in the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story, the Five Orange Pips. Music is by Dean Foster. Mister Rathbone appears through the courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer, and mister Bruce through the courtesy of Universal Pictures, where they are now starring in the Sherlock Holmes series. The Petri Wine Company of San Francisco, California invites you to tune in again next week, same time, same station. Sherlock Holmes comes to you from our Hollywood studios.
This is Harry Bartel saying good night for the Petrie family. Listen every Monday on on most of these same stations at 08:00 to Michael Shane, followed immediately by
Check engine light on? Take the guesswork out of your check engine light with O'Reilly BaraScan. It's free. Ask for O'Reilly BaraScan today. O. O. O. O. O. O'Reilly.
[00:00:14] Unknown:
Auto parts.
[00:00:16] Unknown:
Other shows we have for you to enjoy at myclassicradio.net. The Avengers was most certainly not a household name in South Africa prior to the radio series. With no national television service until 1976, the mechanism simply was not present in the country to show television programs to mass audiences. While many other countries reveled in the filmed Adventures of John Steed and Company, South Africa was not equipped to join in the fun. The series took Britain by storm and made a major impression in the American markets, being that greatest of rarities, a British series given a network transmission slot. However, as a filmed series, rather than a videotaped one, the Avengers was able to gain a modicum of exposure in South Africa through film rentals.
Come and listen at myclassicradio.net.
[00:01:07] Unknown:
Petrie Wine brings you Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce and the new adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The Petri family, the family that took time to bring you good wine, invites you to listen to doctor Watson tell us another exciting adventure he shared with his good friend, that master detective, Sherlock Holmes. And I'd like to tell you about my favorite time of day. It's just before dinner. You know when the family's all sitting around in the living room and wonderful things are cooking in the kitchen? That's for me. And boy, that's the time for a glass of sherry, because Petri California sherry really makes waiting for dinner a pleasure.
That Petri sherry is the perfect before dinner wine. Just look at its beautiful amber color and then taste that wonderful Petri sherry. What a flavor. Petri sherry has a rich nutty flavor that's right from the heart of sun ripened grapes. And if you like your sherry dry, you know, not sweet, you want to get Petri pale dry sherry or better yet, taste them both. Don't buy one, buy two. Those letters p e t r I on the label are the personal assurance of the Petri family that Petri sherry is truly good wine. And now it's time to keep the weekly appointment with our good friend, doctor Watson.
[00:02:44] Unknown:
How are you this evening, doctor? I never felt better. Thank you, mister Bauter. Draw up your usual churn. Make yourself comfortable. Thanks. That's
[00:02:53] Unknown:
it. Oh, I see you've had the old tin dispatch box out again.
[00:02:56] Unknown:
I suppose you've been going through your notes on tonight's new Sherlock Holmes adventure. Yes, mister Bartel. And I think you'll find it as pretty a little problem as we ever encountered. Story began in 1887, a very busy year for us, my boy. It was the same year that Holmes solved the case of the amateur Mendelcan Society who held their meetings in a luxuriously furnished vault below a furniture warehouse. Oh, I remember that story, doctor. And, wasn't '87 the year you both escaped from death in the Paradol Chamber? It was indeed. You've got a very good memory, mister Bartel. The story I'm going to tell you tonight topped off this unusually exciting year. It was late in October, and the the gales had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had howled and the rain had beaten against the windows of our Baker Street lodgings.
Finally, it was nearly midnight as far as I remember. The storm grew higher and louder, and the wind in the chimney sobbed like a child. Suddenly, much to our surprise, the doorbell jangled, and a few months later, our midnight visitor stood before us. He was a man of about 45. And as he looked about him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, I could see that his face was pale and that his eyes heavy, like those of a man who's weighed down with some great anxiety. And yet when he spoke, his tone was businesslike and almost aggressive.
[00:04:15] Unknown:
I've come to you for advice, mister Holmes. That's easily obtained. And help. That is not always so easy. They helped the gentleman off this cope when he was. Here you are. So let me let me hang it up for you. Thank you, sir. I heard of you, mister Holmes, from major Prendergast. Oh, yeah. He said that you could solve anything. Oh, I'm afraid he said too much. But you've never been beaten. I've been beaten four times, sir. Three times by men and once by a woman. But suppose you sit down and introduce yourself. My friend's name is Watson, doctor Watson. How do you do, sir? How do you do, doctor?
My name is Lovelace, Edmund Lovelace. And what brings you to me at this hour of the night, mister Lovelace? I'm in terrible trouble, mister Holmes. You don't know anything about me, but if you'll accept my case, you can save four lives. I wouldn't say that I know nothing about you, sir. No. It's true that I know little beyond the somewhat obvious fact that, well, you're single, that you keep a dog, but not a manservant, and that you are much preoccupied with your business, which I take to be some form of insurance. Oh, come come come, host. Now what is this? Well, I magic. I'll wager that my friend's right though. Isn't he, mister Lovelace? Perfectly. But I'll be hanged if I can see how he knows. Practical application of logic, sir. The briefcase that you carry might at first indicate a barrister or some other professional man, but your brisk business like manner contracts that suggestion. An insurance broker who must visit clients at odd hours is the likeliest man to combine that manner with a briefcase at midnight. But, the wife and the man servant, and the fact that I'm preoccupied with my business. Your cufflinks don't match, sir. Each is from a different pair. That would suggest preoccupation, and it's a mistake that neither a wife nor a man servant would have allowed to pass. Yes. Yes, but how about the dog? Oh, surely that's obvious, Watson. Well, I can't see it. I shall let you ponder on that matter while mister Lovelace tells us his problem. Mister Holmes, are you as interested in preventing a murder as in solving one? Naturally, I am, mister Lovelace. Even more so. But, please tell me your story.
[00:06:12] Unknown:
I live with four cousins of mine in an old house in Camberwell. My grandfather left the house and a sizable fortune to the five of us on condition that we live together and maintain the family unity. It probably won't surprise you to know that we've grown to get pretty much on each other's nerves. Oh, what happens if one of you dies, mister Lovelace? His share is divided among the others, don't you? Oh, well, the wonder to me is, sir, that, not that a murder may take place, but, that it has not happened long ago. Who's responsible for the administration of the estate? My cousin Gerald. He's much older than the rest of us, and he's a thoroughly unpleasant, cantankerous man. Yeah. He gets an extra share in the estate as administrator, and in consequence, he doesn't work. We feel, of course, that he lives all of us, and we're continually quarreling with him about it. Sounds like a jolly household, Amos. There's going to be trouble, mister Holmes. I know it. Gerald hates us, and he's jealous of our share in the estate. You spoke of preventing murder just now, yet I can see that you've selected your cousin Gerald as the potential murderer. Am I right? Yes. You are. Mhmm. But don't think it's personal prejudice that makes me suspect him. I have good reason for doing so. What reason? This evening, just before dinner, I helped Gerald off with his topcoat and went to hang it up for him. As I did so, I heard a strange metallic clink in one of his pockets.
I slipped my hand inside it and found a hypodermic syringe in a small pile of liquid. I opened the pile and smelled it. Gentlemen, it reeked of bitter almond. Bitter Cyanide there? And what did you do? I thought of destroying it, but I realized that that would put him on his guard, so I replaced it in his pocket. Of course, I warned the others, and we decided that I'd come to you. I have to see a most important client tonight or I'd have been here earlier. Earlier. Yes. It seems odd that you didn't come directly to mister Holmes as soon you'd made the discovery, mister Lovelace. After all, if a potential murderer is walking about with a pocket full of cyanide,
[00:07:57] Unknown:
I should have thought that that itself was more important than business. Well, I, yes, I I suppose it might seem so to you, doctor. That's the most interesting stick you carry, sir. May I examine it? Of course. Here. Oh, thank you. Now I see how you deduced that mister Lovelace had a dog, Holmes. There are the marks of the dog's teeth on the stick. Yes, my dear Watson. But these marks under scrutiny
[00:08:18] Unknown:
give us even more specific information. He's a large dog. You had him for some years, mister Lovelace, and he's now old and feeble. Well, you're perfectly right, but I'll be hanged if I can see how you can tell that from looking at a walking stick. This stick is covered with teeth marks. Therefore, it has been carried many times by the dog. Now it's, a heavy stick, so only a large dog could have carried it. And the teeth marks also indicate a large jaw. The older marks are deep sunk. Look here. The fresh ones where the wood has not yet darkened are shallow. Yes. It's obvious that the jaws are losing their strength. That's very clever of you, mister Holmes, but I don't see what it has to do with the case in hand. Well, neither do I, Holmes. I must confess. No. Surely it tells us that your story, mister Lovelace, may bear a less terrifying implication than you think.
On the other hand, its implication may be even more terrifying. Oh, it's late at night I feel that any further delay in this matter would be extremely dangerous. I suggest if you get a cab and come to your house in Campbellville at once.
[00:09:30] Unknown:
Alice, Randolph, I'm glad you're still up. I was able to persuade mister Sherlock Holmes and doctor Watson to come back with me. Gentlemen, this is my cousin, Alice Harley. How do you do? How do you do, miss Harley? How do you do? And my cousin, Randolph Lovelace. How do you do, miss Lovelace? How do you do, sir? How do you do, miss Lovelace? I told him about the whole business, Randall, so we can all speak perfectly freely. Let's begin by sitting down, shall we? Randolph and I have just finished a little cold supper. We've been to the theater tonight. Well, mister Holmes,
[00:09:56] Unknown:
I I suppose Edmund told you about finding the hypodermic syringe and the cyanide in Gerald's coat pocket. Yes. Indeed. May I ask where your cousin, Gerald Lovelace is now? We left the house at seven, but I imagine Gerald went upstairs Eddie?
[00:10:10] Unknown:
On the stroke of eight, Alice. He's very fixed in his habits, mister Holmes. He goes up to his room every night at eight. There, he reads or works on his accounts and eventually goes to bed anytime between ten and one. But he might still be up. I should like to speak to him a little later. In the meanwhile, may I ask you two young people, tell me quite honestly your feelings about your cousin, Gerald? And you might as well be frank. I've kept nothing back. Alright.
[00:10:33] Unknown:
Randolph and I hate him. First of all, we're sure he's jealous of our shares in the estate, and
[00:10:38] Unknown:
and then we Alice and I want to get married, mister Holmes, and Gerald won't hear of it. But you're you're cousins, aren't you? Only second cousins, doctor Watson. Gerald is dreadfully conventional.
[00:10:48] Unknown:
He's threatened us that if we do get married, he'll go to court and try to have our shares in the estate annulled. And from the way the will is worded, I wouldn't be surprised if he could do it.
[00:10:56] Unknown:
So you can see why we have no great love for him and why we're afraid of him. Well, he sounds an extremely unfurled person to be
[00:11:04] Unknown:
You mentioned there were five cousins in the house. The three of you were here. Here. Mister Gerald Lovelace is upstairs. Who and,
[00:11:11] Unknown:
where is the fifth cousin? The fifth cousin is my brother, Gilley. He's something of a tragedy, I'm afraid. You see, Gilley's twenty, but he he never developed mentally beyond the age of eight. He had a bad fall in the hunting field when he was a kid. He's been like this ever since. I'm sorry to hear that, sir. But he's the dearest, most gentle boy you've ever met. And incidentally, the one person in this house who doesn't hate Gerald. Poor father father doesn't understand the conditions of the will, I suppose. No. But if he did, I don't think it'd make any difference. I swear that Gilly loves every living thing, especially Gladstone.
[00:11:46] Unknown:
Gladstone is the name of his dog. His dog?
[00:11:50] Unknown:
Yes. A dog may be the key to this whole matter. Dog? What makes you say that home? When a man brings a quick and painless poison home to a household containing an old and peopled dog, it's more than possible that he has obtained that poison quite legitimately
[00:12:04] Unknown:
to give the dog a merciful death. To kill Gladstone? Oh, no. After all, amister, he is old and almost blind now. But, mister Holmes, if you think Gerald brought home the poison to put Gladstone out of the way, and I admit it sounds perfectly logical, what made you decide to come here tonight? Because I dare not even guess
[00:12:22] Unknown:
what you may have done by including the thought of murder in this situation. Where is your brother, Gilly? In his room upstairs asleep. I wonder if we might go up to him. I should like to talk to him, if you don't mind. And after that, I I want a few words with your cousin, Gerald Lovelace.
[00:12:54] Unknown:
He's asleep, mister Helms. Yes. With him with a dog in his arm.
[00:12:58] Unknown:
I'm afraid we'll have to awaken him.
[00:13:00] Unknown:
Gilly? Gilly? That's alright, gangster. We're not going to hurt him. Gilly?
[00:13:09] Unknown:
Who who is it?
[00:13:11] Unknown:
Oh, hello, Alice.
[00:13:15] Unknown:
Who who are these men?
[00:13:16] Unknown:
They've come to take Gladstone away. No. No. Gilly, we we haven't. Of course not, Gilly. We've just come to admire him. Your brother's been telling us what a fine dog he is. Oh, that's different.
[00:13:27] Unknown:
He isn't he beautiful? I I just had such a wonderful dream about him.
[00:13:33] Unknown:
Such a wonderful dream. What was it, Gilly?
[00:13:37] Unknown:
Well, he he was all young again. Just a puppy. He he was chasing a rabbit across a cliff top, and and and I was running with him. Oh, Gladstone looked so beautiful. Didn't you, old boy? Of course, you did. And and, you know, the rabbit went down a hole and and Gladstone went down after him. And I went down after Gladstone. And and we all had tea with the rabbits. Oh. We're so funny. They all had little green hats on. Hats with with feathers. I wanted Gladstone to try one on, but No. He wouldn't. So sleepy. Come on, Gladstone.
Let's go back to the tea party.
[00:14:22] Unknown:
Okay. His world may be a great deal more pleasant than ours, Watson. That's what I'd like to think, mister Holmes. Now I'd like to have a few words with your cousin Gerald. His room's at the end of this corridor. I'm afraid Gilly wasn't much help to you, mister Hunt. On the contrary, young lady, he told me exactly what I wanted to know. Hurry up. This is Gerald's room. There's no light under the door. He must have gone to sleep. I'm afraid we must waken him too.
[00:14:53] Unknown:
Must be a heavy sleeper. But he isn't. He's a remarkably light one.
[00:14:58] Unknown:
Come on, miss Gwen.
[00:15:00] Unknown:
Strike a match, will you, Ophela? Not sure. The gas mantle is at the head of his bed, doctor Watson.
[00:15:06] Unknown:
Yeah. What is lying on the outside of his bed? He must be
[00:15:10] Unknown:
there's blood on the pillow. Great Scott Holmes. The back of his skull smashed in. He's been murdered. Oh, no.
[00:15:17] Unknown:
Horrible.
[00:15:18] Unknown:
Yes, Watson. But not by the blows on his head. Look here on the table by his bed. Hypodermic syringe and a broken file. Yes. A broken file. Reeking of bitter almonds. Poor devil. Well, I won't pretend I like him, but what a ghastly way to die. All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. So the scripture say, mister Lovelace, the very suspicion of the killing has brought murder to pass. Well, it's too late to prevent it. Our job now is to find the killer and see that he's brought to justice.
[00:16:01] Unknown:
Doctor Watson will tell you the rest of his story in just a few seconds. Just time enough for me to tell you that if there's one wine that's perfect for any occasion, it's Petri California sherry. With a bottle of that rich amber colored Petri sherry on hand, you can make that time before dinner a main event. And Petri sherry is the perfect answer to the question of what to serve when company comes. Serve petri sherry alone and let its full wonderful flavor speak for itself, or serve petri sherry with hors d'oeuvres or party sandwiches. And remember, you can serve petri sherry proudly because Petri is the proudest name in the history of American wine.
Well, doctor Watson, so you found Gerald Lovelace dead in one of the bedrooms of the house in Camberwell.
[00:16:51] Unknown:
What did you do? Sent for the police? Not at once, mister Bartell. Sherlock Holmes persuaded the remainder of the household to give him the opportunity of examining the scene of the crime carefully before the police were sent for. And so a few minutes before 01:00 that October night, Holmes and I stood alone in the room of death.
[00:17:08] Unknown:
And the gas a little high with the old chap.
[00:17:11] Unknown:
Gotcha. You know, Holmes,
[00:17:13] Unknown:
I think you should have sent for the police right away. In a case like this, Watson, I prefer to be my own police, and I have spun the web. They may take the flies, but not before. What are are the results of your medical examination, old chap? No. It's exactly as you reconstructed it, Holmes.
[00:17:28] Unknown:
He was first beaten on the head with that poker lying on the floor. Then he had the full file of cyanide injected into his left wrist. Can you estimate the time of death at all accurately? No. His room's confoundedly hot. He might have died anytime from one to five hours ago. Yes.
[00:17:44] Unknown:
It's now 01:00, and we know that he was alive at eight. Mister Edmund Lovelace saw him leave for his room at that hour. Yes. If he was telling the truth One thing we do know for a fact is that this man was murdered at the exact moment he was going to bed. He's wearing his nightgown and nightcap, but his bed has not been slept in. Well, isn't it possible the murderer might have killed him shortly after eight and then dressed him in his night clothes to confuse us? No, my dear chap. You will notice that the hypodermic needle passed through the sleeve of his night shirt. Here. Also, the nightcap is crushed and blood stained from the blows of the poker. No. Gerald Lovelace had prepared the bed. Yes. Look at the glass of water on the night table and the the prayer book and the watch. Yes.
Signs of a prosperous and meticulous man. Mhmm. Very fine gold watch and in excellent condition. Uh-huh. There's the answer, Watson. What do you mean there's the answer, Watson? I just wound this watch one turn, and then it was fully wound. That provides us with the time schedule for our murder. Come on. We'll send a servant for the police, and while they're on the way, if you'll call everyone together, I should like to put a few more questions to this family. Before the police arrive, I should like to hear your statements again very carefully, if you don't mind. Mister Edmund Lovelace, what were your exact movements tonight? I
[00:19:15] Unknown:
left here shortly before ten. From 10:00 until the time I came to Baker Street, I was with my client. His name and address, please? Derek Waterlow, thirty nine Onslow Square, South Kensington. Thank you. Make a note of these, Willie Watson. Alright. You're home. You, miss Harley, and you, mister Randolph, lovelies,
[00:19:31] Unknown:
went to the theater together. Can any independent witness testify as to your movements? Yes, mister Holmes. We went with friends, the Grant Moorsbys.
[00:19:40] Unknown:
They live at the Clarendon Hotel off Charing Cross. What time did you leave this house? Well, it it was about a quarter to eight, wasn't it, Alice? Yes. And after the play, we went to the Cafe Royale for a little refreshment with our friends and then came back here. I see. And what time did you arrive back at this house? Just a few minutes before midnight.
[00:19:57] Unknown:
I remember the grandfather clock in the hall striking just as we went into the drawing room. And your brother, Gilly, sir, I hate to waken him again. Have you any idea of his movements tonight? Well, he never goes out after dark, mister Holmes. But I spoke to the cook as we came in tonight. She says that he played cards with her until just after 10:00. He was fast asleep when I looked in on him shortly after midnight. Thank you.
[00:20:19] Unknown:
You've made a note of all these facts, Watson? Yes, Holmes, I got them all down. Good. Then let's be on our way to Baker Street. But the police, mister Holmes, they're on their way. I know. Please give them my regards, will you? Apologize for my informality and tell them that I shall have the answer to this matter probably in a little over twenty four hours.
[00:20:50] Unknown:
Holmes, here it is well after midnight. You haven't done a thing on the Camberwell case. No. But you have, old chap. You've checked on all the time alibis and found them buried. I'm much obliged to you. Well, since Spector Lestard was here tonight, you know, and he made some pretty caustic remarks, I can tell you. Oh, didn't you inform him that I'll, have the answer to the problem before many hours have passed? A little bit. You know Lestar, he he wanted action. He shall have it. Is the watch still running? There's another thing. What will a start say when he finds that you took the dead man's watch? I have no idea. Oh, why did you take it anywhere? You sound sleepy, old chap. I'm confounded asleep. Why don't you go to bed? What are you gonna do?
[00:21:30] Unknown:
Continue my vigil with my pipe and the watch of a dead man.
[00:21:46] Unknown:
Watson. Watson. Wake up.
[00:21:48] Unknown:
I'll tell you. 05:00 in the morning. What role are you doing up at this hour? The watch has just stopped. I'm about to rewind it. What are you rewinding it for, Holmes? You waited over twenty four hours for it to unwind. When I know how many turns it takes to wind it fully, I should have the answer to the whole business. Ten, eleven You're being confounded mysterious as usual. 14. 14 turns and the watch is fully wound. Get your clothes on, old chap. Where are we going on this hour? To the house in Camberwell. Now I know who murdered Gerald Lovelace. Mister Edmund Lovelace, I'm glad you let us in. Please take us up to your young cousin's room at once. Really?
[00:22:35] Unknown:
What do you want for him? I'll explain in a moment. Please take us up to him. Of course. But what brings you here at this hour of the morning? Mister Holmes knows who murdered your cousin. Well, I'm glad to hear it. It's more than the police seem to know. They were here half tonight cross examining us. Here we are. I don't think we're bothered to knock.
[00:22:56] Unknown:
Gilly? Gilly? I'm awake.
[00:23:00] Unknown:
We heard you coming up the stairs. Didn't we, Gladstone?
[00:23:05] Unknown:
It's the same man again. You're not going to take Gladstone away, are you? Please don't take him away. Don't worry, Gilly. We're not going to touch him. Oh,
[00:23:13] Unknown:
that's alright then. Oh, Gilly. Yes? You really love that dog, don't you? Of course, I do. More than anything or or anybody. I believe you'd even kill a man who tried to hurt Gladstone, wouldn't you? Oh, yes, sir. I would. Did it?
[00:23:32] Unknown:
No. Great shot, Doug.
[00:23:36] Unknown:
Gilly, Gilly, I don't think you really kill a man. I don't think you could. Couldn't I though? How would you kill him?
[00:23:48] Unknown:
I'd hit him first.
[00:23:49] Unknown:
I'd take a poker and hit him on the head so he couldn't fight back, and then I'd take the nasty needle he told me he was gonna stick in Glaston, and and I'd fill it full of that water he showed me, and I'd stick it in him. That's what I'd do. Then he'd be dead, and and he couldn't hurt my Glaston anymore. Not ever.
[00:24:09] Unknown:
Let's leave him, shall we? Goodbye, Gilly. Pleasant dreams.
[00:24:15] Unknown:
Goodbye, sir. Good old pastor.
[00:24:22] Unknown:
You satisfied, sir?
[00:24:25] Unknown:
Yes. Poor Gilly. There's no doubt about it, of course.
[00:24:29] Unknown:
Can there be no one had described the murder to him, and yet he's just given an exact description of its method? What what, what will happen to him? They
[00:24:38] Unknown:
they won't try him. No. No. No. No. A little pressure in the right places, and he'll be released to a private nursing home. I'll do everything I can, mister Lovelace. Thank you, mister Holmes. Thank you very much.
[00:24:59] Unknown:
Well, Holmes, now that we're back in Baker Street and the whole pressing case is finished with, perhaps you'll tell me how you knew that that Gilead committed the murder. Consider the time schedules, old fella. You checked the alibis of the other cousins and found them satisfactory.
[00:25:12] Unknown:
That meant that, Alice Harley and, Randolph Lovelace could have committed the crime only at midnight. Edmund, only before ten. Gilly, only around eleven. You said that the, time of death could have been at any of those hours. Yes. I did. So how did you pin it down to to eleven? The watch gave me the specific answer. When I picked it up, I unthink unthinkingly wound it, made one turn, and was then fully wound. Now when does a methodical precise man like Gerald Lovelace wind his watch? Just he's going to bed. Exactly, I'll tell him. So that it was obvious that he was killed precisely one watch stem turn before, Therefore, one turn of the watch stem equaled two hours, proving that Gerald Lovelace had been murdered two hours before 01:00 at 11PM.
[00:26:17] Unknown:
When Gilly was the only one who could have done it. You know, Holmes, I still find it hard to believe that boy was capable of such a ghastly crime. He seems so gentle. Oh, years. Years.
[00:26:29] Unknown:
Except when his beloved dog's life was at stake, probably out of some mistaken notion of kindness, Gerald Lovelace warned the boy of his intentions regarding the dog.
[00:26:38] Unknown:
It's a sad business, Watson. A sad business. I hate to think that boy is spending the rest of his life in a mental home. I have one prayer for his future. What's that, hon?
[00:26:47] Unknown:
The dog Gladstone can't live very long. I pray that Gilly does not long outlive him.
[00:27:07] Unknown:
Doc, that was a remarkable bit of deduction on the part of mister Holmes. Yes. Extremely clever, wasn't it? Of course, if I may say so, I was of some small help myself.
[00:27:16] Unknown:
Small help? Why, doctor, you practically solved the case by yourself. Oh, I wouldn't go as far as saying that. But, doctor, you did check all the alibis, didn't you? Yes. I checked where each suspect was at various times. Yes. You checked time. And And what's more important than time? Well Why doctor time is even vitally important when it comes to wine. I was wondering how you were gonna bring that in. And one thing we do know, Petri took time to bring you good wine. So nobody can miss with Petri wine. It's just gotta be good. You know, you can't be in the wine business as long as the Petri family without really learning all about the fine art of making wine.
And don't forget, the Petri family has been making fine wine since way back in the eighteen hundreds. So naturally, they've been able to hand on down from father to son, from father to son, the result of generations of experience at turning luscious sun ripened grapes into fragrant delicious wine. No matter what type of wine you prefer, you'll like it more if it's a Petri wine because Petri took time to bring you good wine.
[00:28:24] Unknown:
Well, doctor Watson, what new Sherlock Holmes story do you plan to tell us next week? Well, now next week, mister Barkell, I'm going to tell you a most unusual adventure that Holmes and I had when we were attending a performance at the opera house in Rome. Concerned the famous singer who lost her voice, an understudy who was nearly lynched, and a murder that baffled the police. I call it the adventure of the terrifying cat. Well, that's a story we've got to hear. Thank you, mister Bartel. And before you go, I want to talk to our friends about their war bonds. You know, during the war, the best investment we could find was United States war bond, and for my money, they're still a great investment. They're called United States savings bonds now, and only the name is changed.
Savings bonds are sold in the same denominations and give you all the same advantages, and you can buy savings bonds at the same places at your bank or your post up store through the payroll savings plan. So invest all you can in United States savings bonds because you cannot find a better or a safer investment.
[00:29:42] Unknown:
Tonight's Sherlock Holmes adventure was written by Dennis Green and Anthony Boucher, and was suggested by an incident in the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story, the Five Orange Pips. Music is by Dean Foster. Mister Rathbone appears through the courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer, and mister Bruce through the courtesy of Universal Pictures, where they are now starring in the Sherlock Holmes series. The Petri Wine Company of San Francisco, California invites you to tune in again next week, same time, same station. Sherlock Holmes comes to you from our Hollywood studios.
This is Harry Bartel saying good night for the Petrie family. Listen every Monday on on most of these same stations at 08:00 to Michael Shane, followed immediately by
