 Have you heard the strange tales of the whistler hmm the whistler Sylvia warned me. She told me about you now. I know why she was telling the truth She knows you Frank Gerard. She said you were no good Another Sunday night and again CBS presents the whistler I the whistler know many things for I walk by night I know many strange tales many secrets hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows and So I tell you tonight the unusual story of the confession The courthouse walls of a county in an eastern state have echoed for many years the vibrant persuasive voice of William Marshall Marshall has defended countless numbers of persons great and small who'd become entangled in the measures of the law and He has never lost the case The great criminal lawyer Attributes his success to the fact that he has never taken a case in which he was not convinced that the defendant was either innocent or the victim of unfortunate circumstances At the moment in the anti-rural of Marshall's office a beautiful young girl and a handsome man of 30 Wait for an audience with the attorney After some 15 minutes of waiting the girl speaks to the handsome man I Pardon me, but are you in a terrible hurry to see mr. Marshall? Well, I know No, that is my business can wait a few moments. Well, I'd appreciate it so much if I could see him first I'll only be a few minutes. I I just got off the train and I've got to see him. I see This is really as bad as all that what you sound as though you're in terrible trouble. I am I really am That's too bad. How did it happen? How did what happen? How'd you get into such trouble? I just Well, I've spent all my money. I'm broke Is that your trouble? Yes. What did you think? Oh, I thought maybe you'd murdered your husband Oh, no, I haven't a husband. I've never been married. No Well, uh, my name is Frank Gerard. Yes My name is Jean Marshall. William Marshall is my father I've been away at school for a year and you know what can happen to a girl's finances in a year So I've either got to borrow some money from father or borrow his car to get home Well, I'll tell you what I'll do is you care to wait a few minutes That is after I get to see your father. I'll take you right to your door Well, I suppose it's all right Are you a client of father's? Mr. I certainly hope to be he's a busy man, but I hope he can find time to handle my business All right, I live in mission hills. That's not far. I have nothing to do I'd love to accommodate you then I won't be with father over one minute. Your father will be right out, miss Marshall Jean darling, I'm very glad you're home. What are you doing at the office? I'm broke father. All right. Here you are Money money money Sorry darling, I wish I could talk to you a while now, but I've got to be in court in 20 minutes See you at dinner. Uh, this gentleman is waiting to see you mr. Gerard. Oh, I see gerard Welcome in mr. Gerard. See you at dinner Jean. Yes father. Bye. Come along Gerard Gerard, Gerard. Hmm. Sit down Seems to me I've seen you before Gerard. Have you, mr. Marshall? Where? Gerard, Gerard. Wait a minute. I know now. You're Frank Gerard. That's right Frank Gerard. What do you want? Why don't you handle a case for me? What sort of a case? Murder case. Murder? Who did you kill, Gerard? Oh, wait a minute. First, I want to know if you're going to handle the case That depends. Who did you kill and what were the circumstances? And remember I want the truth I've got to know everything All right I killed Joe Barkowitz. Joe Barkowitz? So that's what happened to Joe. Yeah And the police are hot on the trail And sooner than you imagine they're going to trace it to me. In fact, they're on my trail now The evidence is going to be so strong against me because we were enemies that Well, I'm going to have a tough job convincing a jury convincing them of what? That I shot Joe Barkowitz in self-defense. Self-defense? You shot him in self-defense? Certainly. I'm not a killer Self-defense. Do you expect me to believe that? Why shouldn't you? Gerard, I know all about you. You belong on the shady side of this city You've pulled several things that have not been traced to you. You've gotten away with them But I think you're very bad material. Joe Barkowitz was bad material It's too bad. You didn't kill each other at the same time. Is that the way you feel about it? I do. And if Joe Barkowitz came to me with the same story, I'd tell him the same thing It wasn't in self-defense. Yeah, I've got a witness. So Nikki Gifford was with me. He saw Joe pull a gun on me. Nikki Gifford? Why I wouldn't trust him across the street. He was Joe Barkowitz's right-hand man until you came along He turned state's evidence so fast that it'd make you dizzy. You really think that, eh? Certainly. I wouldn't touch your case Why not? Because I think you deliberately murdered Joe Barkowitz I've never yet defended a person unless I was convinced he was innocent of malice of all thought So you don't think I killed Joe in self-defense? No, I know you. I know all about you Okay, Marshall. I'll find somebody else. Then find them. I'm not interested. You're making a big mistake, Marshall A big mistake. I'm a busy man, Gerard. Good day. Okay, Marshall Okay Oh miss Marshall. I um, I was longer than I thought I'd be. That's all right. Mr. Gerard. Where did you say you live? Oh, yes. Yes, Mission Hills Are you ready now? I certainly am. I've got some bags downstairs. Can you handle them? I'd be delighted miss Marshall. Come along This is awfully sweet of you. How can I thank you? Oh, you don't have to thank me miss Marshall It's a pleasure A great pleasure A week later, Jean Marshall has fallen deeply in love with Frank Gerard. She's seen Frank night after night Now two weeks later. She's begun to stay out rather late too late In fact to please our beautiful stepmother Sylvia was mentioned the matter to mr. Marshall Jean dear, you've been getting in rather late quite a few nights in succession. Haven't you? Well, yes Lots of parties this summer father. They seem to break up unusually late. Sylvia says you came in around three this morning Oh Were you awake when I came in Sylvia? Yes, I've been troubled with insomnia lately insomnia at your age Now you should do something about that Sylvia. Who escorts you to these parties Jean? Why do you always leave here alone? Oh, that's the way everyone's doing these days. Gas rationing The girl meets her escort halfway parks her car and continues on in his I see Well, I'd prefer that you try to get in a little earlier I didn't know you were staying out so late until Sylvia told me. Is that why Sylvia has insomnia? Yes, Jean You never say where you're going or who you're going with if naturally worries me. Well, were you last night? Well, I I went to a party given by jack hyatt. You know the hyatt Of course, but I'm sure you understand what Sylvia and I mean. I'm not a kid anymore Well, I've got to run along now. See you at dinner Sylvia Why didn't you tell your father the truth, Jean? I told him everything he wanted to know You weren't at a party given by jack hyatt last night because jack hyatt has been at pincer colon naval station for four weeks He's on leave. I talked to his mother yesterday. She'd have told me if he were home You're meeting the same man every night Someone you don't want us to know about or it has nothing to do with gas rationing Either he doesn't want to come here or you don't want him to come. You're not my mother Sylvia And you're not so many years older than I am. So why don't you quit trying to mother me? Are you in love with this man? Yes, I am terribly in love I've never met anyone like him. He's young, handsome and charming and I'll marry him the minute he asks me Does that answer your question? Why don't you bring him to the house? Because he and father had some business disagreement and father doesn't care for him But whether father likes him or not. Well That has nothing to do with me. Who is he? His name is frank gerard Frank gerard You mean Well, what's wrong with him? You oh you can't mean it. What are you so shocked about you know him? No That is not personally Oh, but he isn't your type. He's a gambler a gangster. Oh, that's ridiculous He belongs to the lowest element in town the the underworld Oh, no wonder he doesn't want to come here. He's not in love with you. He's stringing you He isn't a marrying kind. Oh, please jean. Don't see him anymore Oh, if your father knew that it would kill him if we're talking about the same man father is entirely wrong Father forms opinions about people. He knows nothing about from personal experience Frank is the sweetest man in the world. Oh, please jean. Don't go through with this You know nothing about him except what father has told you no Then why don't you stop saying things about people things of which you have no personal knowledge? Very well jean I'm terribly sorry for you. I'm sorry for your father This will break his heart. Oh sylvia. Don't be so dramatic And now several more days have passed and jean continues to see frank jurad but never brings him to the house sylvia has said nothing about jean's infatuation to the father for fear of the consequences Then one day frank jurad has an unexpected visitor at his apartment Well, hello frank and it well come in I haven't seen you around for quite a while. No, I uh, I've been awfully busy lately. Yeah What's been keeping you so busy? One thing or another I haven't heard from you in over two weeks I lose my phone number. No Why don't you use it? I told you I've been busy. I've been out of town a good deal I subscribed to the grapevine. You ought to know that I can find out everything I want to yeah Frank you're making one terrific mistake If you think I'm the kind of a gal who can be kicked into the corner like an old shoe whenever you take a notion Who's kicking you around? What else would you call it? Now look you haven't anything to squawk about in it. You've had all the breaks for a couple of years So Just like that. You decide you've seen me around a little too long Now your imagination is running wild. You're just working yourself up in what dither You said it and frank when I really get worked up, you'll see a dither that is a dither You needn't get any louder I've overlooked an incident two before because they were Near flashes in the pan But believe me this time it's different. You've been listening to a lot of bunk I know where you've been and what you've been doing since the last time I saw you so what? I'm a woman frank. Oh not from vassar park avenue But when it comes to feelings and emotions, I'm just like any other woman. I don't care who she is Waited and waited for that moment when we could be married married. No other woman will ever love you as I have You belong to me frank This marshal girl has no right. No right. Whatever. Do you hear it's not for you to decide You don't love her You've suddenly gone high hat. You only make a sap of yourself. It's just a natural born troublemaker in it Troublemaker. Yes You had any ideas about marriage. You can talk to them yourself. I never mentioned the subject I could kill you What did you say in it pranked you rod if you marry this marshal girl if you even see her again I'll kill you Kill me Yes I think you're bluffing a net lover. I'll show you I intend to see gene marshal many many times And if I should decide to marry her I will So long frank I'll be seeing you. Yeah You better change your face before you get outside. You might scare somebody And On that very evening Frank Gerard and gene marshal sit in a booth of a quiet roadside inn on the outskirts of town The old innkeeper having no other customers divides his time between serving the food and playing soft music on an old violin Well, I like it here Frank So quiet and secluded. How'd you ever find it? Oh, I don't know. Have you been here before? Once some time ago, you know darling I guess that's why I like you so much Yeah, why well You always seem to know the right thing to do at the right time the right place to go your idea. Yes And we we seem to get along so well together We talk about the many things we understand each other. Yes We seem to have so much in common Mutual interests and things and places and people You we've sort of avoided people Why should we want people around us night clubs positively bore me You you really love me. Don't you Frank? What do you think? Oh darling From the moment you leave me at night until I see you again next day. I I almost Well, it seems like a thousand years All day long I I worry and worry What about But I won't see you that evening. Don't ever worry about that gene Remember that day in father's office When we first met I certainly do Did you feel the same way as I did? I'm sure I did I knew from that moment that I loved you That no one else had ever or would ever mean so much You're such a lovely girl gene Lovely eyes Right here In fact, you're the most beautiful picture I've ever seen in my life I have a wonderful idea. So have I a terrific idea. Why can't we drive someplace out of town tomorrow? That's just what I was going to suggest We can drive out of town and and go to someplace up in the mountains We can swim and fish and boat Would you like that and we could stop someplace on the way some little town? Of course we could just a dozen towns on the way. Oh frank telling us I've never been so happy in all my life. I oh Oh, wait a minute. What's wrong? Oh, I can't possibly go tomorrow gene. I have an important engagement tomorrow a business engagement. It's very important I've got to keep it. Oh, we can leave the next morning early. Won't that be all right there? Well I guess it'll have to be all right good And I won't see you until morning after tomorrow because Well, I'll be tied up all tomorrow evening as well. Oh, darn I can't help But I don't like it any more than you do All right, guess I can stand it Tomorrow morning and all day tomorrow and tomorrow night Well, I guess I can pull through I'll see you at the usual place day after tomorrow What time we better start early Say, um eight o'clock. I'll be there darling The next afternoon gene is in her room packing a few outing things Her father has come home from the office early. So he drops in to see gene on his way to his room Hello gene father. What on earth are you doing home so early? Oh, I don't know. I got a little weary kind of tired lately So I thought I'd just quit for the day. The heat was terrific in town Why don't you give up practicing heaven knows you've enough money Oh, I've thought about it But I just can't bring myself to quit afraid I'll fall apart once I admit I'm through with the profession I should think you'd want to quit and get around a bit and enjoy life See things. You've done nothing but keep your nose to the wheel Where in the world can you go these days? Oh, there are plenty of places to go right around here within a hundred miles of the own door Mm-hmm. And where are you going? Oh, I'm running up to the mountains with some of the gang looks like you're packing enough for a week Really? Oh, no just for the weekend Tell me in all the parties you've been to this summer, how does it happen you haven't been to the willmuts? No, I don't know just didn't happen to fit in I guess Parties at several places every night fine family the willmuts fine family What happened to you and charlie will mutt You and charlie used to be great pals before you went away to school Always like that boy when kids go away to school things like that just break up hasn't broken up with charlie I saw him today and he's still crazy about your gene. Is he? Yes, he said he'd tried and tried to talk to you on the phone, but you were never in Maybe I wasn't I'm taking charlie into my firm as junior partner next week Oh, you'll make a fine lawyer lots of brains that boy. No, he's such a stick in the mud. You could do far worse Are you trying to make a match for me? Is that it? Oh, certainly not. I wouldn't want you to marry anyone you didn't love Good. I'm glad you said that So why don't you let me select the man? I'm sure I'm capable of finding the one I love. All right, but charlie's a fine boy Oh, here you are william You're home early Don't you feel well? Well, you know You're awfully pale dear. You had another one of those dizzy spells. Yes, doctor said it's just my liver Take it easy over the weekend. Gene's going up to the mountains for a few days Mountains. Yes. Well, I think I'll take a nap for dinner Oh, when did you decide to go to the mountains gene last night? You're really going to the mountains. Yes, I'm going to the mountains with some of the gang When tomorrow morning at eight and as usual you don't believe me I think you may be going to the mountains, but not with the gang as you term it Then maybe you'd like to come along to make sure Would you like to be chaperone? Maybe I could arrange it. Please don't go gene. Please don't you'll regret this to the last day of your life Think so. You're not going with the gang. You're going with him with frank juror. Yes And on the way, we're gonna be married married. Oh, I don't believe that Why should I lie about it? You may think he's going to marry you, but he has no such intentions It's an old trick. Sylvie, if you don't drop the subject, you'll drive me into hysterics Very well gene. I've warned you I've done my best. You're going to be a sad, sad girl The afternoon passes and evening comes Frank Gerard in his apartment lolls and considers the past and the future Then as he prepares a drink There is a soft knock at his door Good evening. Good evening, Mr. Gerard. Well, please come in What can I do for you, Mrs. Marshall? I want to talk to you. Yeah, well make yourself comfortable Oh, what a beautiful gown, Mrs. Marshall. Thank you. I haven't seen you for some time How long has it been? It's been four years, Mr. Gerard We met last in a nightclub with a group of mutual friends. Oh, yes. Yes, indeed You're captivating that evening and may I say you're most charming tonight? What a line I've often wondered if I've ever seen you again. Have you? Well, here I am and I'm flattered Highly flattered and just as conceited as ever very happy you're here. You won't be when you hear why I came No Oh, how disappointing I I was sure you came just to see me me alone. I did come to see you alone Are you alone? Of course, you're perfectly safe here, Mrs. Marshall Mrs. Marshall The Mrs. Marshall of the blue book Sylvia de la Venti Remember the club national in Detroit? The full e-nationale starring Sylvia de la Venti direct from london I can see it now. So can I What of it? Um, does your husband know all about that? He does. I doubt it Maybe be interested to know, huh? I don't scare, Mr. Gerard And why are you on the defensive? Maybe you know why I'm here. Oh now, please please don't disappoint me I came here to appeal to your decency if you have any. Well Jean Marshall is a fine girl. I want you to leave her alone. I beg your pardon Her father is the finest man who ever lived. He worships her Jean is only the impression that you intend to marry her. I know better If gene got mixed up with you it it would kill her father Did gene tell you we were going to be married? Yes, and you've led her to believe that But you know you've no such intentions and you're going to the mountains with her in the morning That's right, but not to get married Mrs. Marshall if you were to run along home now and forget all about this and tend to your own business I might see to it that your husband never knows all about you that might be told You don't like gene's father and he doesn't like you Why would you want to marry a girl under those conditions? That is none of your business Maybe I'll make it my business. You do and I'll guarantee you regret it. You'd better run along now Then you won't listen to me. My appeals to your sense of decency mean nothing Now look I've had You better get out of here go out through the back way and through the other hall very well But please consider what I say. Yes. Yes. I'll consider go on Just a moment Darling, I had to see you. I just couldn't stand to be away from you so long I didn't expect to see you this evening. I knew you said you were going to be busy tonight, but I'll just stay a moment Oh frank darling, it's been a million years this day. Yes, dear. I missed you terribly, but well I didn't expect you and I just wanted to see you for a second at all Are we driving tomorrow or taking the train? We can drive if you like. It's not far. I can take my car I love to drive the top down and yours isn't convertible. All right, we'll take your car. All right I'll go now night darling Tomorrow's going to be the most wonderful day of my life But I've said that before so many times. Good night, dear. Thank you. Where are my slitters? What Who is that frank? I am the slightest idea Friend darling Sylvia Why jean, what are you doing here in those pajamas? How'd you get into that bedroom? What are you doing in my pajamas? Why I so you didn't know frank jerard never met him No wonder you tried to talk me out of Mary and you had a business appointment So this is your appointment. This is why you couldn't leave this morning. She just came here a minute or so ago I didn't know you didn't expect me. I thought you were terribly startled when I walked in I see it all now jean will you wait? Sylvia warned me She told me you were no good Now I know why. She was telling the truth. Sylvia knows you. You despicable rat Well, mr. Gerard, maybe that will take the wind out of your sail. I'll just slip into that bedroom I'll change now if you don't mind. You think you're very clever, don't you? Well, how'd you like it if I picked up this phone and asked a friend of mine down the whole step in here Finds you in this condition. What? Well, you wouldn't do that. That would be wonderful, wouldn't it? Famous attorney's wife found in Frank Gerard's apartment in pajamas. How'd you like that? Wait, don't do that It won't take a second. Please don't please. I'll go you'll keep your mouth shut from now on Yes, yes, I promise If I hear one key part of you, I'll really make trouble Next morning Sylvia Marshall gets a call to come to the apartment of Frank Gerard A few moments after her arrival attorney Marshall gets a call at his office to come to Gerard's apartment Now Sylvia's talking to captain Brent from headquarters But why have you called me here captain Brent? Frank Gerard was killed last night His body's in that bedroom. What? On the floor of the bedroom. We found this locket with your name on it pictures of you and your husband But but how could that have happened? That's what we wanted to ask you about How do you think your locket could get here? I I haven't the slightest idea Oh, hello captain. How are you bill? This is my daughter Jean Sylvia, what are you doing here? I sent for a bill Frank Gerard was murdered murdered We found your wife's locket on his bedroom floor I don't like to stir up more trouble than necessary. So I called you Here's the locket This is your Sylvia. How did it get here? Did you know Gerard? Yes, I knew him Years ago. What were you doing here? I came here to talk to him. What about? This is serious, Sylvia The truth now Would you like to tell them Jean? What does Jean know about it? Go ahead. Tell them Jean Very well I came here to talk to Frank Gerard last night because Jean had fallen for him and was going to the mountains with him for the weekend She thought he was going to marry her, but I knew better That's how my locket got here Jean. Is this true? Frank Gerard? She's lying I was here, but I learned she was in love with Frank and I came here to persuade her to give him up for your sake She was here when I came in in the bedroom in pajamas Sylvia That's right. I thought I could convince her that he was no good So when Jean knocked I slipped into the bedroom instead of out of the back door put on the pajamas and stepped into the living room But I left a few minutes later and I didn't kill Gerard Were you in love with this man Jean? No, I didn't even know him Jean. How can you say that? I'm sorry to say it, but mrs. Marshall is in a tough spot Especially with this locket. You didn't know this man Jean. No I left here before Sylvia did so if anybody stabbed him it must have been Sylvia I certainly didn't kill him if that's what you mean. Well, you've got one more suspect coming. I hope Here she is captain. I'm waiting for a train. Oh, yes. Come in mrs. Laverne What's all this about just want to check on a few things in that When did you see frank last? I It's been weeks and weeks. We split up Why what's happened? Frank is uh, well, he's in that bedroom. He's been murdered murdered Oh, no, you haven't seen him for weeks and weeks No, no, I haven't turn on that dectophone machine you found sergeant Say Annette Frank Gerard If you marry this marshal girl, if you even see her again Well, I think you're bluffing in it laverne. I'll show you I intend to see Jean marshal many many times And if I decide to marry her I will That Annette is your own voice Gerard recorded that on this dectophone You threatened his life, didn't you? Yes, but I didn't shoot him I couldn't have killed him. I love frank. I that miss annette laverne is the most conclusive evidence I've ever come across I didn't kill him. I didn't I tell you I'm a long annette Sorry, but there's nothing else I can do How did you say gerard was killed with a paper knife he was stabbed Mr. Laverne, I'm William marshal and I'm going to defend you I think you did society a good turn What if you consent? I'll defend you and from what I know of this case I'll practically guarantee that you'll be acquitted. How about it? May I help you? Yes, but But I'm innocent you're innocent of any wrong as far as I can see I think what you did Is pardonable Yes, mr. Marshal so far as you can see Annette did a good deed gerard was a blot on society The evidence is conclusive against her, but you'll get her an acquittal and why Because you know she deserves an acquittal She didn't kill gerard, but you know who did Yes Your daughter gene and how do you know? Because gene was the only person who knew how gerard was killed Gene said that if anybody stabbed frank it must have been sylvia Nor did mentioned how he was killed so if gene knew he was stabbed she must have been in the room But gerard is out of the way now. He'll be no further trouble to anyone CBS has presented the whistler Original music for this production was composed and conducted by wilbur hats The whistler is written and directed by j donnell wilson and originates from columbia square in hollywood Next week same time either whistler will return to tell you another unusual tale Good night. This is the columbia broadcasting system