 Here again to introduce Columbia's program suspense our distinguished stars tonight are two of the world's acknowledged masters of the art Suspense they are mr. Charles Lawton and miss Elsa Lanchester Mr. Lawton who will soon be seen in the Metro Golden mayor picture the man from down under is here to play a remarkable character Created by England's noted thriller author Agatha Christie a mild-mannered character whose initials were ABC And about whom revolved a series of savage murders all neatly and alphabetically arranged ABC was stamped upon all his belongings those being his rightful initials and ABC was stamped to upon the large railway timetable. He always carried There was nothing so odd about that detail Since no traveler in the British Isles would dream of planning a journey without consulting this famous railway schedule the ABC and And so with the ABC murders by Agatha Christie written for radio by Robert Talman and William Spear and with the performance of Charles Lawton The again hope to keep you in The time for closing bell rang in the public library Alexander Bonaparte Cust started pick up his battered briefcase for the almost faded initials ABC Closed the book he had been reading and shuffled over to the librarian's desk It's a most interesting book library and I should like to come back sometime and read another chapter of it if I may Yes, Mr. Clark, can I help you sir? No, hurry. Well, I'll be going along now. Thank you Brum little chap that what do you think he was reading? Studies in epileptic somnambulism medical stuff, eh? Oh, I say the little fellow left his briefcase. I'll catch him at the door I say sir just a moment. You left something. Oh, dear. It's my briefcase. I'm terribly sorry I seem to be getting more and more forgetful lately Why only the other day I left it on the counter in a tobacco shop lucky you have those initials not many people with the initials ABC sticks in your mind. What do you mean by that sir? Well after all they're the first three letters of the alphabet Practically the first thing we learn, you know, isn't it our ABC don't mention those letters to me They brought bad luck to me in more ways than one really how's that? Well, I used to be a traveling salesman and I used to carry one of those railway town tables in my pocket The threat me kind in which they list the towns and all the railroads alphabetically. Oh, of course printed right on the cover, isn't it? ABC yes, that's right. So well stockings was my line sir. I did door-to-door selling whenever I finished one town out Would come that timetable. I'd look up the next stop on my route I got sick of the sight of that ABC railway guide I can tell you sir It was like a symbol of failure to me one dingy little town after another and all listed in that railway guide with ABC printed on the cover my own initial staring out at me from every new stand in every dirty little railroad station in the Midlands Oh, come on. It couldn't have been as bad as all that matter of fact. I never noticed it Till I began to get the headaches. Oh you suffer from headaches. Yes. Hmm. Have you seen a doctor about? Oh, no, no, I wouldn't want to see a doctor about I already know what brings them on. Well, if you'd rather not talk about it No, no, it isn't that at all. So it was just such a long time ago during the last war In fact a shadow theory shadow theory. Oh, I see what a coincidence. I was in the thick of that myself Well, yes, we must get together for a drink one day talk talk over all times Franklin Clark is my name. I'm pleased to meet you. Mr. Clark. My name's Cust Alexander Bonaparte cast well, they must have expected great things of you giving you a name like that. I'm afraid they did mr. Clark. Yes I'm very much afraid they did Marbury that was very thoughtful of you You know mother don't son you you're her favorite lodger. In fact, sorry. Oh, no I'm just taking a little trip over the bank holiday. You know now now. Don't try to deceive me, mr. Cast You're embarrassed about owing us aren't you? No, you needn't be mr. Cast really you need you are a nice girl Miss Marbury you really are a nice girl as a matter of fact I'm not going just for the bank holiday. I've something rather important some very important matters to take care of You know, it's very possible that my mother didn't have me christened Alexander Bonaparte cast for nothing Have you got a position mr. Cast? Well, what is it? Come mr. Cast you can tell me can't you? Well, Miss Lily. I can tell you this much. I Shall be traveling quite a lot. In fact, where did I leave that ABC railroad guard? Oh, yes here It is first stop and over and over that's not very far No, no, no, but I must be getting on if I don't want to miss that train now Let me see if I got everything is the spectacles and me overcoat me typewriter Me walking stick did I ever tell you the history of this walking stick miss Marbury? It's a Scottish piece very old. It's always is it antique You know they used to kill people with these back in the days of the old clan wars in Scotland. I Wonder how many heads this one is Oh, please what a terrible way to talk. Yes, I'm sorry miss Marbury I'm a little bit surprised at myself talking like that. It must be my new job. It's gone to my head a bit That's it. It's gone to me head. Have you got an aspirin by any chance? What'll it be back at the gold flakes for me yes, sir and the other gentlemen three of vanners the shilling cigars Vanners you gentlemen must be up from London. That's right. Is that your name on the window of this shop? No, that's right sir Olivia Asher been in business right here in Andover and right here in st Andrew's place for 20 years Norways and over st Andrew's place and Asher funny ain't it never so much as cross be mine before well, Mrs Asher, we're from Scotland Yard We have reason to believe there may be a homicidal maniac at large in Andover We don't want to frighten you Mrs. Asher for all we know this may be just a practical joke You see we received an anonymous letter type written and signed a bc I bc this murder if there's anything in his story is planning a series of murders His mania seems to be centered on the alphabet If he follows his plan through his first murder will be committed in Andover and the victim will be a person Whose name begins with an a the Lord help me sir You don't think we don't think anything Scotland Yard has taken its precaution. Oh a woman takes a terrible chance There's probably nothing to be alarmed about but it won't hurt to keep a sharp look out Who's next on your list Mackenzie next is all for Atwood. All right. Let's be on our way then good day madam Thank you, sir. I'm good day to you sir And murder and lunatic in Andover of all places Yes, sir. What'll it be for you sir? These that'll be one and six sir I Said that'll be oh boy. Let me have one of those Both here you are. Thank you, sir Mostly business a mr. Oh, yes, very very you never know with lunatics They don't always look bomber, you know sometimes look the same as you on me. Hey, yes, I suppose they do Oh, it's a fact sometimes. It's the war uninged him never been right since Yes, I expect you're right. You know I don't know with walls. I hope this will be the last You don't know with wars a well young men I don't know with plague and sleeping sickness and famine and cancer, but they happen all the same and murder happens all the same They can't prevent him I'm sorry, sir. I expect you had a rocky time of it in the last one a yes Yes, ma my poor Ed's never been the same since I get terrible a day Well, I'm sorry about that sometimes I hardly know what I'm doing you don't say I forget things You know for instance, I could have sworn I had an ABC railway guide in my pocket an hour ago Do you know they found one of them ABC railway guides on the poor tobogganist lady that he murdered? Oh He ABC whoever he is Maybe he don't know himself. Let me stop to think of that. Maybe he's so bomb. He don't remember. I wonder Back sale back sale. Did you say back sale? That's my train. Well, goodbye young man Well, I don't think I love the am I damn for breakfast art. Yes, I think I love the mutton pie one mutton pie Yes, sir. What's the matter with you? You're trembling young woman. There's something wrong. Oh, sir If you only knew I have to walk home tonight after they close up here And there ain't hardly a light in Benson Terrace where I live Benson Benson Terrace in Bexhill. Yes, sir. You're afraid of the ABC murderer, aren't you? He follows the alphabet, don't he? That was the way he done in Andover. Hey, and does your name begin with a B Barnard's my name Mary Barnard. Oh dear me miss Barnard Well, I don't like to appear forward. Well, anyway, I'm old enough to be your father Would it make you feel easier if I saw you home tonight? Oh, you don't know sir You just don't know what it would mean. Oh, well, what time do they close up here? Nine o'clock. All right. I'll wait outside for you at nine o'clock ABC strikes again. Yeah, sir. Stop the yard receive third murder note. Help forbid murder at a strike again in Chirston Third class single to Chirston. Give me a pint of half-and-half, please. Yes, sir There you are, sir You up from London sir? Yes, I come directly from London. Oh, Salisman? Stockings is my line Rough going these days. What with ration, innit? Well, my old friend Alexander Bonaparte cuss. I'm sorry I'm afraid I don't remember. We met in the library remember in London. Yes had quite a talk Franklin Clark remember? Yes, of course. You'll forgive me, Mr. Clark. My memory it seems to be getting worse and worse You must have come under better times, Mr. Cust new briefcase. I see nice bright new initials Well, I got a job shortly after I saw you Mr. Clark from Bellinger limited stockings my old line You know, but to tell you the truth. I haven't been doing very well. Oh those headaches again. Yes the headaches and the murders The murders have upset me something terrible. Why you're shaking like a leaf man Hey Jonathan a brandy for mr. Cust. He needs it trouble with you Cust is you're inclined to be morbid I remember that book you were reading the day we met stuff about epilepsy. Well, it might be Epilepsy Mightn't it? What? Well, they discharged me from the army before the war ended. See I had a kind of a fiction now Never had anything like it again. Have you know I didn't ever fit again. Just the add aches I forget what happens hours at a time Do you know once I was sitting in a station waiting room and a news boy came by and I bought a paper from and it was All about that first murder in Andover It said the police had got another note another typewritten note mr. Clark and the murderer was going to strike next in Bexhill and suddenly I realized I was in Bexhill And I'd been in Andover the day before when the first murder happened Well, how did you happen to go from Andover to Bexhill? Well, that's the way I'm supposed to go on my route selling the stockings. I'm supposed to take the towns alphabetically Oh, well, that is not so surprising. You should have been in Bexhill after all is it just a coincidence. Well, the waitress in Bexhill then I I Walked home with her that night mr. Clark the night she was murdered. Oh good heavens Cust you don't think you killed Mary Barnard Do you I don't know mr. Clark It's said in that book that people who have had epileptic fits often do things and don't remember them They even commit crimes. I said good night to her and after that I don't know what the notes those typewritten notes Wouldn't you have remembered if you'd written them? I? Don't know well now I know a little something about psychology my self-cust and I'd stake everything I own on the fact that the man who wrote those Notes was conscious of what he was doing Do you really think so mr. Clark positive of it now pull yourself together, man Incidentally my sister-in-law lives here in Chirston my brother is Lord Cameron Clark, and I have to know she needs some new stockings Pop over there in the morning. Will you and show the old girl your line here? Here's the address might cheer you up to make a Good save I'm sure it would mr. Clark. I'm sure it would well. Good night, mr. Clark And thank you again for all your kindness. Oh wait a minute. You've forgotten something again. Oh Dear me. That's my typewriter. I shall certainly need that Oh, well as to type up my report to the home office in case I should make that sale tomorrow Oh, of course. Oh, yes. Yes by the way cast better watch out Somebody in Chirston is going to be murdered tomorrow. Hey old ABC is up to the letter C, you know, and your name is cuss Oh, I say good heavens mine is club Thank you again for your generous order Lady Clark. I hope you'll be pleased This line of woolen line of stockings is one of Ballinger's best buys right now Lady Clark My brother-in-law told me that you'd had some unfortunate times lately, mr. Cuss, but I really did need the stockings and I Stuffing myself with bacon and eggs make a sale old boy. Oh, yes, mr. Clark. Thank you Good good Louise is filthy with money and our leadership's legs are in constant need of recovering I wouldn't say that she she wanted the stockings. Well, thank you very much my lady I hope I shall have the privilege of serving you again next year. Goodbye, mr. Kast and good luck cheerio Kast Such a nice little man Franklin. He's a bit of his nut. I'm afraid Last night he tried to convince me that he was the ABC murderer his initials, you know He has minor lapses of memory that little man a murderer Good lord, what was that? Well the means is that girl What's going on in the master's bedroom a lady you better go with them, mr. Franklin Brothers, whatever are you doing here? Look look there on the floor a railway guide an ABC Take me out of here Franklin Louise. I'm sorry. You had to see this Cameron my poor camera Who never made an enemy in his life the man who did this was a maniac and I'm afraid I know who he is He always carried a walking stick with a heavy carved handle. That's how the other murders were committed with a heavy stick But he wasn't carrying his stick today Must have grabbed a knife up there somewhere to kill Cameron with but when Were you with him every minute? Well, I went upstairs to get my checkbook It took me a little while to find it that gave custody's opening. Oh, do you think that all that time? Oh, no, no, I'll never forgive myself None of that now Louise the important thing now is to stop him before he can commit another murder You're going to do Franklin. I'm going to the police and see if they'll let me help Let's have a look at this ABC railway guide. He left beside poor Cameron Hmm look here all checked see there and over Bexill Chirston each with a check mark after it. No, where's the next one? Ah, see see London He's through with ABC. He's gone home and I'm going after him Mr. Cast come in whatever kept you away so long silly. I've got to talk to you alone Oh, well, I'll go up with you. I want to show you the new curtains I put up in your room anyway. Oh, you are a nice girl. Miss Lily really Why don't we carry one of these mr. Cast the type right? No, no, no, I'll carry my own thing. Thank you Oh, Mr. Cast your trembling. Oh dear you do look afraid. Look, I'm gonna straight and get you a hot foot bath No, no, not now. Please not now miss Lily. There's no time for it. What is it mr. Cast? Close the door and lock it Are you in some trouble mr. Cast? I'm in terrible trouble miss Lily I want you to hear the story first from me. You're the only one who has ever been my friend Oh, I've had a lonely life miss Lily. Oh poor mr. Cast. Poor mr. Cast That's what they always say about me poor mr. Cast. I thought you were different. I don't take on so mr. Cast it was only a manner of speaking. Oh you don't need to worry. I'm all right now. I Never get two spells in one day. Spells? Mr. Cast I don't understand. What do you you word of the ABC murders? Shocking affairs, but mr. Cast, why are you saying to me that police will be here at any minute? Please let me finish. I don't want you to think harshly of me miss Lily I didn't plan it ahead. My instructions told me where to go. Some people can't help what they do There are diseases epilepsy for instance. You do things you don't remember you commit crimes And I'm like that. Oh mr. Cast I can't believe it when I was a child miss Lily They used to badger me about my name my mother worshiped strength She named me after the strongest people she knew about in history Alexander and Bonaparte, but nobody ever called me by those names. They called me ABC ABC I used to dream. I was boiling in a kettle of alphabet soup. I was a terrible disappointment to my mother mr. Cast you're unsettled and tired. You've got to wear me out miss Lily I couldn't I could have been a hero once in the army in the last war. I was happy I could have made something of myself then I started getting the adage You must hear me out miss Lily I started forgetting things after they discharged me from the army shot. They called it. I used to have dreams I was a great ruler the destiny of men was in my hands. I had the power of life and death Let me go First there was and over that tobacco list. I can't even remember what she looked like and there was Bexill I walked home with a waitress from the station restaurant. She was murdered too in Chester I sold a dozen Peris tokens to a lady and while she was upstairs getting her checkbook Her husband was murdered on the floor where I was waiting and now I come back here May be the alphabet charm is over Or is it? This is London hell Your name is Lily. Are you trying to frighten me mr. Cast? I am trying to convince you you murderer I don't believe it What about this look at it? Oh Closely at it. I found it in my briefcase when I came on the train miss Lily This knife murdered a man in Chirston just three hours ago Don't take on so he's all and gov pretty as you please in the next room Is this the night he threatened your win miss Marbury We just got here in the nick of time me from hey, that's a wicked-looking knife It's the Chirston murder knife right enough mr. Clark. No doubt of it Well, let's take inventory typewriter checks with a murder note walking stick same markings is on the heads of the first victim And the psychiatrist report says the murders were pre-meditated and the notes could not possibly have been written except by a Person who was conscious and in his right mind. Well, that breaks down any idea Cust may have had of entering an insanity plea, right? I think you'll sign the confession without any difficulty bring him in Bring the prisoner Well Cust are you ready to sign your confession? I don't know inspector a moment ago I was certain I must have done it, but why? That's what worries me. Why? Mr. Clark, why do you think I did it? You're wasting valuable time Cust. I don't care Why you did it you killed my brother and I want to see you hang for it I don't care how barmy you are you ought to be ashamed of yourself talking to our mr. Cust in that blood thirsty manner. I don't know what's getting into the gentry I'm sure he tried to murder you didn't he well. He couldn't help himself poor thing. He's been terribly upset of late You are a nice girl miss lily. You are a nice girl. The murders were willful and pre-meditated They couldn't have been pre-meditated mr. Clark. Why do you say that Cust? Well because I didn't go to any of those places of my own choice. I had my instructions from Ballinger's limited and those instructions were sent to me after the police got the warnings of the murders that were printed in the papers. There never were any such instructions. We ransacked all your things Cust. There wasn't any letter of instructions was there inspector? No. Oh yes there was. All right. We'll ring up Ballinger's. May I use your telephone miss Marbury? Oh it's certainly inspector. The number is Regent 3 3 1 3 inspector. Ballinger's are you there? Put me on the personnel or Mac start packing those exhibits will you? All right. Chrome speaking. Scotland Yard. But what day did you employ a commercial traveller named Alexander Bonaparte Cust? No Cust. A B Cust. Initials A B C. Yes. Yes. Never employed by you. You're absolutely certain. Did you send a man to Andover or Beck's Hill last week? Not on your route. Thank you. That's all I wanted to know. Too bad Cust. I guess this knocks out your last ghost of a chance doesn't it? No mr. Clark. Because you see the instructions were in the letter and that letter is right in this room. Well let's have a look. Come on Mackenzie give me a hand. Let's go through these things again. It won't do you any good to look there mr. Clark. I have the letter. Would you like to see it mr. Crumb? It's here. Well I'll be... Where did you get that? It wasn't on him inspector. I'll swear to that. Where did you have this hidden? Oh well inspector it isn't general in noun but I do wear a small hairpiece. Not out of vanity mind you. I'll find it necessary for the business. Let's see that letter. Oh gladly. Dear mr. Cust in close find advance typewriter is being posted today you will. What a lot of nonsense inspector look at the typeface of their letter. It's obviously written on Cust typewriter. Yes that's right mr. Clark. And the man who wrote that letter was the murderer. Cool as you like he sent the typewriter to me and instructions on one of Ballinger's letterheads and the money and everything else. What kind of stunt are you trying to pull here Cust? No stunt. It's just that when you made that telephone call inspector and Ballinger said I'd never worked for them I knew that the typewriter must have been sent to me by the murderer and the more I thought about it the more it seemed to me that the murderer must be mr. Clark. What? Like this is too utterly fantastic inspector really. Well the murderer would have to know something about me. Something I'd never confided to anyone but to mr. Clark about my well my headaches. I've been reading a book in the public library inspector book on epilepsy and it seemed to me that what I suffered during the last or might have been epilepsy and it was on my mind see it said that epileptics might commit crimes and not remember them under certain conditions without that to go on the murderer couldn't possibly have pinned the crime on me. That works two ways Cust you might have told me that story deliberately just so you could cook up this story now. Well I couldn't cook up your fingerprints mr. Clark and I'll wager anything your fingerprints are on that letter. Oh calm now really. Well that's easily settled we can do it right here won't take a moment take us out of mr. Clark's fingerprints Mackenzie you examine the prints in the letter meantime right inspector just press your fingers down firmly on this ink pad mr. Clark what is it mr. Clark it's quite simple yes yes it's so simple it isn't even necessary I'm afraid this is necessary mr. Clark only a matter of routine you know I tell you it isn't necessary because Cust is right I am the murderer you but wait then you killed your brother Cameron Clark so that you would inherit the estate yes exactly but the others the A and B murders in Andover and Bexhill and I committed them all of them yes but come now gentlemen surely you'll give me credit for thinking this thing through if only my brother Lord Clark had been murdered I being the only heir would have had a lot of explaining to do so I invented my own little crime wave to make it appear as though he were just one of the victims of a homicidal maniac and I must say it almost came out thanks to the the unknowing cooperation of mr. Cust here thank you just the same mr. Cust you're very welcome I mean oh mr. Cust I knew you couldn't be a murderer not really oh you are a nice girl mr. Lily really you are a nice person mr. Cust why don't you go to an oculus those headaches maybe you just need a new pair of glasses I think I'll do that mr. Lily good do you really think of course I'll wait you that's what's been the trouble with me all you know you need someone to take care of you oh I do miss Lily I do really if only you oh but no you couldn't ever think what mr. Cust well I mean miss Lily I was just thinking it would be really too much to ask anyone Mrs. Alexander Bonaparte Custard but when we're married please don't wear that toupee it's very conspicuous you are a nice girl mr. Lily really you are I do out people won't call you Mrs. ABC and so closes the ABC murders starring Charles Lawton with Elsa Lanchester and Bram will Fletcher tonight's tale of suspense this is your narrator the man in black who conveys to you Columbia's invitation to spend this half hour in suspense with us again next Tuesday when Agnes Morehead will return to our stage a star of the suspense play called she overheard murder speaking producer of these broadcasts is William Spear with Ted Bliss the director Ludgluston and Lucian Mahowick conductor and composer and Robert Talman the radio author collaborated on tonight's suspense this is the Columbia Broadcasting System