 A mysterious traveller. This is the mysterious traveller, inviting you to join me on another journey into the realm of strange and terrifying. I hope you will enjoy the trip, and it will thrill you a little and cheer you a little. So settle back, get a good grip on your nerves, and be comfortable. Who do you care? Where are we going? We're going to join Walter Kavett, as he takes a little excursion into crime. Like all the stories, murder goes free. Late one-fourth meeting, seven years ago, as I was walking along one of the main streets of a large city, I was stopped by an elderly man who seemed unusually agitated. Pardon me, sir. May I speak with you for a moment? Of course. Here. Perhaps this will help. Oh, please, please. It isn't money I want. I just want someone to listen to me. No one is interested in seeing justice done. No one. Well, I should be glad to see what you have to say. You will listen to my story? Yes. I want to confess something that's on my conscience. I've confessed a hundred times, several thousand times, yet no one will believe me. You must help me make the believe. It all began that day in my office, when Martin, my son, came in to see me. Hello, Dad. All right. Oh, Martin. I'm glad you're here. I want to talk to you. Oh? Sounds like I've done something you don't approve of, Dad. Did you read the gossip column in this morning's Daily Legend? Oh. Oh, that. Why haven't you told me about this woman Diana Withers? Well, I'm sorry, Dad. I just didn't think it was important. You've always told me about your other friends. Are you ashamed of Diana Withers? No, of course not. Why should I be? Martin, you know as well as I do that her reputation is, well, spectacular to put it kindly. Well, the story's about her all lies. I'm not taken in by gossip, Martin. I happen to know that this winter's woman is just playing no good. Dad, I won't have you talking about her like that. Martin, you don't love this woman, do you? Yes. Yes, I do. Martin, you must give her up. Dad, I'm old enough to make my own decision. And she'll see what she's doing to you. She's just a predatory gold digger. Dad, stop talking about her like that. All right, son. That's the way you feel about it. You'd better go. All right. Goodbye, Dad. Oh, Martin. Oh, he's starting. Oh, perhaps that's... Come in. It's you, Norman. Hello, Walter. Put the metal in Martin. I guess that's him in the reception room. He appeared to be quite upset. We've got a quarrel. It's the first one we've ever had. We've got about that bit of gossip in this morning's Daily Ledger. Yes. Imagine Martin's name linked with that, but Martin will be all right. He'll get over it. Oh, no, he won't. I can't stand by and watch him ruin his life. I've got to do something. I wouldn't if I were you, Walter. You've got to let Martin make his own decisions. He's no child. You're a fool, Norman. You expect me to watch the only person who means anything to me? Get hurt? No, I suppose you won't. What are you going to do? I'm going to have a talk with that woman, Diana Winters. Oh, good evening. Are you Miss Winters? Yes. Would you come in? Thank you. My name is Wally Cabot. Wally Cabot? I see. And I have a word in private with you. Really? I have a guess, Mr. Cabot. Well, it will only take a few minutes. Well, all right. Time to play. Thank you. No, I'll bother us in here. I hardly know how to begin, Miss Winters. And let's be frank, Mr. Cabot, and save ourselves time. You can come here to ask me to give up your son, haven't you? Yes. Well, then you may as well know that you're wasting your time. I love Martin, and I won't give him up. I know better. Since we're being so frank, I'll get to the point. How much do you want to let Martin go? Are you insinuating what I said? Well, now come, Miss Winters. There's no need to put on an act for me. How much? Well, Mr. Cabot, you know, you're far more interesting than your son. Shall we say, um, a hundred thousand? A hundred thousand? Yes, a hundred thousand. You love your son. Surely he's worth it. I haven't anything like that amount of money. Oh, I'm sorry. Do you believe for a moment that Martin has any money? Oh, no, no. But he will inherit a quarter of a million dollars in his mother's estate in a few months. Oh, so you know about that? Yes, of course. What other reason would you have for leading Martin on? None that I can think of. What if I were to tell Martin about our conversation? You wouldn't believe you. You can't do this to him. I'm afraid I must be getting back to my guest, Mr. Cabot. No, wait, please. Please listen to me. Martin is everything I have. If I had the money, I'd gladly give it to you. But I haven't it. Oh, don't do that. Women like you don't deserve to lose. Please leave this one. If you don't give Martin up, I'll kill you. Don't get out of here. I'll have my friends throw you out. I'm warning you. Stay away from Martin or I'll kill you. He's trying to bribe her to give me up. Is that true? Yes, Martin, it is. You did that after I told you I loved him? Yes, because I know she doesn't love you. And why weren't you able to buy her off? Because she wanted $100,000. You're lying. She never asked you for one cent. Have you ever known me to lie to you? Dad, I told you I was fully capable of making my own decisions in my minutes. Mauer Gore asked Diana to marry me. Can't you accept it? You're going to marry her? Yes. There's a few days. So you're going to ruin your life for a cheap gold digger? Dad, I told you not to speak about it like that. You feel differently. Diana and I will be happy to see you. Get out. Get out of here! All right, all right, I will. After all these years and everything I've tried to do for him. Well, Walter, were you able to do anything right? No. I'm not going to let him ruin his life, you hear? But what can you do? If there's no bride, there can be no wedding. If there's no bride? Walter, you don't mean you... Why not? You think of anyone who deserves less to live? You're mad! For years, my hobby has been the study of famous murders. I've studied hundreds of cases closely. In each case, I was able to pick out the flaw that presented it from being a perfect crime. And then one day I began to work out a perfect crime for myself. What are you saying? I was merely doing it for fun, just as some men do crossword puzzles. Norman, I did hit up on a way to commit a perfect murder. And now I have a motive. You must stop talking like that, Walter. There's no such thing as a perfect crime. You're wrong, Norman. And I'm going to prove it. Walter, can't you see that what you want to do is insane? It's far better than Martin married that woman than for you to become a murderer. No! If Martin were to marry that woman, that would be the end for both of us. At least this way I can be certain that his life will be ruined. And that's all that counts. But, police woman, they'll never catch me. Never. Can you tell me the name of this horrible place? There ain't nothing horrible about Valley Springs, stranger. 1,142 people think it's a nighty-tine village. I've never seen an uglier place. What do people live here for? Well, I'm warning you, Mr. You'd better stop insulting this village or I'll run you in on the village council. Oh, so you're going to get rough, eh? It won't take me. I'll learn you to push it all around. You're under arrest for drunkenness and disorderly conduct. You and me are going to see George Hutchins, justice to peace. We've been stalking our village half a dozen times, Your Honor. He attempted to attack me. And that's when I arrested him. Hmm, did right, Pete. What you got to say to the charges, Mr. What's your name? I'm not going to tell you. Are you sure you had a judge for it, Your Honor? Mm-hmm. George is drunkenness, disorderly conduct. How do you pay it, stranger? Give me your other jewelry. Well, stranger, since you're Mickey Gilles, I'll only find you $20. What if I don't want to pay? Well, I'm afraid in that case you'll just spend the night in jail. I won't be intimidated. I'm not going to pay my fine and you can't make me. Pete? Looks like you'll have to lock him up tonight. Take him away. Now you can see what the inside of our jail looks like. Good. It still ain't too late to pay your fine. Don't you want to pay it and sleep in a nice, soft bed? No, I'd like it here. Which of the two cells is mine? Well, if you think so, I'm on the right hand. I don't sleep in the other. I got to guard you. Go ahead, get in so I can lock the door. Justice, you say, constable? Now, I don't want to hear anything out the other morning. Now, there's enough trouble sleeping in here without you bothering me. I'd be so quite comfortable you'll leave the norm here. We dream. Well, everything's easy now. Easy now, easy. I knew this whole place would be perfect for my plan. Now, if only the door doesn't creak as I open it. Now to get to the car and drive to the city for the most important part of the plan. Who's there? Perhaps if I turn on the lights this winter. You? Yes, Martin's father. What do you mean by breaking into my apartment? What do you want? What do I want? You remember what I said to you the other night? What you said? I knew it. And I'll refresh your memory. I said I'd kill you if you didn't give Martin up. You wouldn't dare. Oh, but I wouldn't. Oh, my friends, if you threaten me, you get the chair. I don't think I will, Miss Smithers. Why are you laughing at me like that? You're not trying to frighten me, aren't you? I tried to reason with you, but you wouldn't listen. You should have. No, you can't kill me. Stay away from me. Stay away from me, do you mean it? If no, you were shutting the door. I locked it when I came in and I have the keys. Please. Please listen to me. You'll do anything you want. I'll kill Martin up. I'll go away. You had your chance. You wouldn't kill me. No. Stay away from me. Don't touch me. I'll kill you. I'll just turn her wristwatch back to 12 and stop it. The exact time I was being arrested in Bowie Spring, my son is free. Free. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Wake up, wake up. I want another drink. Wake up, will you? Wake up. What's all this noise about? Oh, my back. Hey, what's the idea waiting me up? Why, it's not even dawn yet. I want another drink and I'll take it straight. Oh, go sleep. You hear? It's four o'clock and he ain't getting out of here until late in the morning. He's got four hours yet. I don't want to hear any more out here. Oh. So consumable, anything to oblige a gentleman. Four hours more. That spoke to me at four o'clock in the morning in my cell. Now I was very drunk. Oh, a perfect crime. Everything's worked out exactly as I planned. The police will never be able to prove a thing. In a few months, the murder will just be a thing of the past. Martin and I will once more be as close as ever. What's the day's office this morning? Well, so I finally caught up with you. My partner told me a few minutes ago that you had been looking for me. What's on your mind? That's putting it mildly. There's been a five-state alarm out for you for the past 24 hours. Why? Where have you been the last few days? I've been vacationing at a small resort a hundred miles upstate. And it's pleasant vacation, wasn't it? Even your partner didn't know where you were. So I went there on the spur of the moment. Oh, you did. Yeah. And where were you on the night of the 22nd? The night Diana Winters was murdered. Say, I read about that, Kelly. That's rather than the night... Not stalling. Where were you? Frankly, Kelly, I don't recall where I was that night. I'm afraid I was a little drunk. You're going to have to do better than that for the DA. Oh? Well, I'm afraid I won't be able to. I really can't remember where I was that night. But I think you're going to wind up in a place you're not going to like in the chair. That's your hat. We're going down to headquarters. Oh, that sounds serious. Well, if you mind if I speak to my partner and explain matters to him? That won't be necessary. You'll be able to read all about it in the papers. And believe me, it isn't going to make the pleasant reading. Witnesses have testified that the defendant, Walter Cabot, threatened to kill Diana Winters. And how has the defense replied to the charges of the state? It hasn't. Can we accept the flimsy story of the defendant? That he was drunk the night of the murder and hasn't any recollection of his actions? Perhaps Walter Cabot doesn't know where he was that night, but I do. He was in the apartment of Diana Winters, where he cold bloodedly strangled her if he vowed to do before a dozen witnesses. There is only one verdict you can render. Guilty of murder in the first degree. The state rests, Your Honor. Since you've insisted on defending yourself, are you ready for the defense's summation, Mr. Cabot? Your Honor, I've often observed the strange twists of fate by which a man is saved or condemned. My inability to recall any of my actions on the night of the 22nd left me without a defense. Yesterday, frankly, I regarded my case as being hopeless. Today, however, through a twist of fate, I have received a new lease on life. I'm now prepared to prove my whereabouts on the night in question. I should like to call upon a witness for the defense. You have the court formation. Thank you, Your Honor. I wish to call Peter Wilk to the stand. Peter Wilk to the stand. Here I am. Thank you, Your Honor. Here, please. You tell me where to tell the whole truth, and I'd want the truth to help you, Your Honor. I do. Take your name and occupation, please. And Peter Wilk. I'm constable for the village of Valley Springs. Mr. Wilk, will you tell a jury exactly what you told me this morning? Well, yesterday, George Hutchins, he's our justice of the peace, and myself, we're looking at a city newspaper, and in it we see a picture of a man, Mr. Cabot, right on the front page. It says he's being tried for murder, committed on the night of January 22nd. Well, George and me recognize him right away, as the fellow we locked up in our jail that night on a drunken and disorderly charge. It's good to see you again after all these months. Oh, it's bad. Can you ever forgive me for running away when you need it? To give you this nothing. To forgive, son. Dad, I know now how right you were about that. Well, you don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that, son. I've been through a great deal lately, but it doesn't matter now that I have you back. Dad, I'm glad to be back. I promise you I'll never let you down again. Come in, have a seat. Been quite some time since I've seen you. Yes, yes. Last time you were here, you put this cut on me for the winter's murder. Well, mistakes will happen. Anything on your mind, Kelly? No, nothing special. That's friendly calls. Oh, thanks for dropping in, Kelly. Oh, by the way, have you seen the latest edition? I know. Anything of interest happen? Yeah, you might find it interesting. It could mean a client to you. Oh, really? What's happened? Oh, here's a late paper. Read it for yourself. Oh, thanks. You suspect hells of winter's murder. Oh, no. Oh, it can't be. Why not? If you didn't kill Diana Winter, someone did. And we've got that someone down at headquarters. But you must be mistaken. What evidence have you got? Evidence? Yes. Oh, well, we can prove the guy we've got was at Diana Winter's apartment that night. Okay. But he was seen leaving just after midnight. After a flail of a quarrel with her. Quarrel? What about? Oh, you should think. We both know what Diana was. Two-timing gold diggers. Yes, of course. She had plenty of other boyfriends than your sons. Only none of them knew about the others. But that night, the guy who killed her found out a few things about her. And Buster asked. No. I don't believe it. I told you he left right after midnight, didn't I? That's right. Well, her watch was found on the floor where she dropped it during that fatal struggle. Stopped. Busted 12. And that watch is going to hang the guys. We may have been wrong in your case, but this time we have the right man, and we'll make it stick. Even though the evidence is circumstantial. Well, I'd better be running along. Good night. Can I take the paper? You might want to read the whole story. New suspect held for Windows murder. District attorney uncovered apparently conclusive evidence of guilt. I can't be. I had it planned perfectly so that no one, no one could be held for it. There's no such thing as a perfect crime, Walter. The murderer always overlooked something. No such thing as a perfect crime. Murderer always overlooked something. A human said that, but I knew better. And now an innocent man has been arrested for my crime. Whoever he is, he's innocent. I must kill him. Yes, I can't let him die. Gentlemen of the jury, you have reached a verdict. You have found the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree. Change in the courtroom. No, no, it can't be. You're wrong. Change in the courtroom. I'll have it cleared. Mr. Cabot, you're kindly refrained from such outbursts. But your honor, I protest. The evidence submitted by the state was purely circumstantial. It was no real. May I remind Mr. Cabot that this case may be appealed. Your honor, jury is quite uncalled for. But the prison is innocent, your honor. You haven't any right to... Another such outburst, Mr. Cabot, and I'll hold you for contempt, of course. Your honor, the defendant was convicted on purely circumstantial evidence. But I have positive proof of his innocence. Why did you wait until after the jury rendered a verdict to make this statement? I'd hope, your honor, that the defendant would be acquitted and I wouldn't have to reveal my proof of his innocence, but I would like to do so now. Yeah, this is highly irregular, Mr. Cabot. But since the jury has already rendered its verdict and cannot be influenced, you may proceed. Thank you, your honor. I know for a certainty that the defendant is not guilty of the murder of Diana Withers, or it was I who committed the crime. In this courtroom, Mr. Cabot, you say you confess the murder of Diana Withers? Yes, your honor. I and I alone are responsible for her death. You must believe me. Mr. Cabot, only three months ago you were acquitted of the murder of Diana Withers. You will know that a man may be tried only once for a crime. This confession now can do you no harm. The court sees your confession as being motivated only by your desire to see the defendant go free. No, no, your honor, that isn't true. I fit murder Diana Withers. Then I broke my watch and I set it back to 12 o'clock. You must believe me, you must. May I? Have Mr. Cabot discarded from this courtroom? Where's another remaining yourself? No, no, no, wait, your honor. Listen to me. He isn't guilty. I am either one of them. Say, in court, I confess a thousand times, yet no one will believe me, no one. But you, sir, you will help me, won't you? We can't let an innocent man die for a murder I committed? No, of course not, but I hardly see how I... Every minute that passes brings him closer to the end. We must save him, we must. If you really... Hello, Cabot. Oh, Kelly, I was just telling this gentleman here my story. We can't let an innocent man go to the electric chair. Kelly, you're a smart man. You believe I murdered Diana Withers, don't you? Yes, I do. You do? Then you'll help me save him? People wouldn't believe me any more than they do you. But they would, Kelly, they would. Why should they believe your story? You can't be tried again for the murder of Diana Withers. And what man in your position wouldn't confess to save his own son? But he's innocent, Kelly. Martin, my son is innocent. He was convicted only because he was near her apartment that night. And now there's so little time to do anything. The execution is set for midnight, and it's already... No, already. No! No! I'm sorry, Cabot. It's all right. My son... No! Traveller again. Enjoy our little trip. Too bad about poor Walter Cabot, wasn't it? Such a brilliant man. But his own intrigue sent the one person he loved to the electric chair. As the city all clocked down midnight, Walter Cabot must have heard his partner's warning. And it's no such thing as a perfect crime. The murder always overlooks something. If there any sense in your contemplating murder, I'd suggest you stop and think it over. As you find your sorrow, let it soon. Oh, you're getting off here. I'm sorry. But perhaps we'll meet again soon. On your third chapter, 67, the final chapter of this series of The Mysterious Traveller, tales of the strange and terrifying. In tonight's story, Murder Goes Free, Ed Latimer played Walter Cabot, Tony Barrett played Martin, and Irene Winston played Diana. The Mysterious Traveller is written by Bob Arthur and David Colgan, and original music is played by Henry Silverne. The entire production is under the direction of Jock McGregor. Traveller is presented from our New York studios. This concludes the present series of The Mysterious Traveller. Next Saturday evening at 9.30 Eastern wartime over most of these stations, Mutual will present a new program, Radio's first nationwide audience participation mystery series. It's called Calling All Detectives. We invite you to be with us for Calling All Detectives next Saturday night at 9.30 Eastern wartime. This is a Mutual Broadcasting System.