 Now, the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California presents... Suspense! Tonight, Roma Wines bring you the suspenseful play called My Own Murderer, starring Mr. Herbert Marshall. Suspense is presented for your enjoyment by Roma Wines. That's R-O-M-A. Roma Wines. Those excellent California wines that can add so much pleasantness to the way you live. Do your happiness and entertaining guests. Do your enjoyment of everyday meals. Yes, right now a glass full would be very pleasant, as Roma Wines bring you a remarkable tale of suspense. And with the drama called My Own Murderer, and with the performance of Mr. Herbert Marshall, Roma Wines hope indeed to keep you in suspense. I was never really much attracted by Alan Winnick, even before he murdered Baines. It had been a raw March day, and I returned home at about half past eleven in the evening to find Alan Winnick waiting on my doorstep. Hello, Dick. Alan, what on earth are you doing here? It's a long story, old boy. Aren't you going to ask me, you know, is it your habit to keep people waiting on your threshold? Well, give me a chance. After you. I say, this is cozy. You're not right for a bachelor who never entertains. I guess it wouldn't do for you at all. I wouldn't be too sure of that. Just one bedroom. There's a spare, but I've never used it. Not very hospitable, are you, old trout? I've never had an occasion to be. Well, you have now. What's in your mind, Alan? I'm coming to that. Remember Baines, my butler-in-valid? Vaguely? Well, Baines turned out a bad penny. Try to blackmail me, as a matter of fact. Blackmail? She got hold of some letters written to me by a lady. A married lady? You guessed it. Since you're my legal advisor, you may as well know the whole story. They were from Anita Kilner. So you bolted, warned her, and put the police on him? The police? No, I couldn't afford to do that. One couldn't very well produce Anita's letter. And you paid Baines the blackmail he wanted, huh? Certainly not. Then what? I'm afraid I lost my temper. Oh, good Lord, you don't mean to say there was violence? Of course there was. You don't think I could let a reptile like that go on living? Let me get this straight. You kind of tell me that you... I beat his brains out with a poker. You murdered him? I suppose that's what the police will call it. It happened this afternoon around three o'clock, I think. If I don't end on sooner, it's probably too late now to fix up an alibi for you. You'll think up something, won't you, Dick? You always do when I'm in a jam. And in the meantime, I can hide out here, can't I? What possible good will that do? They'll crack you down here sooner or later, and then we'll both be in the soup. No, Anand. You better get yourself up. Then I'll see what can be done about getting you off. That's a good mess you up a bit and plead self-defense. Is that the best your devious legal mind can dream up? At the moment, yes, I'm a little tired. Well, I'm not going to cooperate. I'm going to stay right here till you figure out a way to get me clear of this. Alan, be reasonable. For your own good, give yourself up. Is it my own good you're thinking of? Or is it because you're afraid you'll be caught harboring a criminal and lose your filthy law practice? That's a little bit. What are you doing? Teleponing the police. Put that phone down. It's best this way. Believe me, Alan. I've already committed one murder this evening. I've nothing to lose by committing another. All right. Sorry, wrong number. You're really afraid of me, aren't you? Now, perhaps, tomorrow I could turn you in with no risk whatsoever. But I don't think I will. There's a good fellow. I'll let you stay here, Alan. I'll save your neck for you, too. Why, this sudden change of heart. You've always brought me rather a worm, haven't you, Alan? Oh, I say, dickhole. You were the dashing man about town. You risked a page in your law of the extravagance and your women running after you. You're just a dull fellow trapped in a musty law office. Now your very life depends on me. I suppose that's why the situation appeals to me. It's an adventure if you like. Well, I don't, I'd say not. It won't be pleasant for you cooped up in this little flat with no one but me to talk to. Well, after all, it's only temporary. You may not like some aspect of it, even for a little while. You'll have to do your own laundry, of course. I see. Well, I'm going on with the favourite police trick. And no life is returned on the flat when I'm not at home. You mean I've got to sit here in the dark? You can go into the kitchen or the bathroom. There are no outside windows in those rooms. Oh, and talking of the kitchen, I think you ought to have your meals there, even when I'm in. You will serve me in the dining room. Look here, do you think I'm your servant or what? The matter of fact is only fair you should be, since I can't hire any help, so long as you're here. Wouldn't it be simpler and more meaty if we both dined in the kitchen? I'm not used to dining in the kitchen. Neither am I! Then the sooner you practice the better. The future's not going to be so simple for you as the past has been, Alan. But after all, you're very lucky to have a future at all. Eh? Well, Dick, whatever it is, one thing is certain. I'll have you to thank for it. But I warn you, Dick, if I do hang, it won't be only for being the murderer, but for yours as well. For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you as star Mr. Herbert Marshall, as Richard Samson, with Norman Lloyd, as Alan Renwick, in My Own Murderer by Richard Hull, which is Roma Wines' presentation tonight of Suspense. Between the acts of suspense, this is Truman Bradley for Roma Wines. Mention the name Elsa Maxwell, and you picture a famous hostess. Mention a meal featuring fish or foul, and Elsa Maxwell pictures, but let's hear it in her own words. The thought of a piping-hop fish or chicken dinner naturally calls up for me the picture of glasses of chilled Roma California sautern at each place. Roma sautern is delicate, pale gold in color, delightful in bouquet, and even more important, exquisite in taste. However you need not wait for a chicken or fish dinner to serve good Roma sautern, it goes perfectly with any food. The one important thing to remember is the name Roma. Each glassful of golden Roma sautern reflects the heritage of all Roma Wines, flavorful grapes from California's choicest vineyards, gently pressed, then carefully guided with all the ancient skill of Roma wineries, to the full goodness you enjoy in every Roma wine. Roma wines do not vary, are always high in quality, yet they cost only pennies a glass. No wonder more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wine. R-O-M-A, Roma Wines. And now it is with pleasure that we welcome back to our Hollywood soundstage Mr. Herbert Marshall, who as Richard Samson in My Own Murderer continues a narrative well calculated to keep you in suspense. Should Alan Winnick prove to be my own murderer, as well as Baines' this document will serve as his death warrant. If not, well I should make good use of it anyhow. This then is what I decided to do. I was to keep Alan Winnick and hide him where he was in my flat. I had a plan for affecting his escape, but it was more than a month before I had an opportunity to start it in motion. He came quite unexpectedly in the course of my almost daily visits to the Old Bailey. An insurance case preceded mine on the court docket, and I was forced to wait while a revolting red-headed duck rambled on with his testimony. That red hair of his rarely fascinated me, but not as much as his medical bag which lay on the bench before me. But when he stepped down from the box, I was already on my way out of the courtroom. He's stolen my bag! What's the trouble, Doctor? That man, the one with the tortoise shell glasses. He's made off with my kit. Was it you say, too? A black leather bag. You know the type with my name on it. I'm afraid he's lost in the crowd by this time, sir. But if your name's on it, could you identify him if you saw him again? Well, of course I could. He had on tortoise shell glasses and he had a bad mastoid scar just under his right ear. All the time he was talking to the policeman, I was panting not more than five paces away, lost among the curious crowd that had collected about them. I left the room with the crowd and hailed a cab. When I'd taken what I needed from his bag, I threw it with its remaining contents into the ever-useful region's canal. Its owner's name, stamped on the outer side of it, was of the revoltings' red hair. Jeremiah Bloggins. Jeremiah Bloggins. Now my plans for Alan's escape swung into motion. Our chief accomplice was a woman friend of Alan's named Margaret Farley, whom I knew to be the most intelligent of his acquaintances. Hello, Dick. Where's Alan? All right, Alan. You can come out now. Well, it's high time. Hello, Margaret. Alan. Oh, Alan, my poor, poor darling. Long time no see. But you're still the prettiest girl in London. Look, I'm sorry to interrupt this touchy little scene, but there's not too much time. Shall we discuss our plan? Yes, of course. Well, in essence, this is it. Alan's going to die. What do you mean by that? Oh, see, isn't that rather extreme? Not literally, of course. The point is to arrange a bogus death of some sort. To get you declared legally dead, and then you'll assume another identity. That has possibilities. Well, what about the body? Well, I'm afraid I'm crossed back on the old expedient of the suicide note, the clothes left on the river bank and the body that's never recovered. Later, you're declared legally dead. It's a very old plan. And rather unlikely to deceive the police for that reason, don't you think, old boy? Or we'll admit later on if necessary that it was a put-up job. What's the good of that? Don't you see? If the police ask too many questions, Ms. Farley here will admit being a party to a bogus suicide. But stick to her story that you were rarely drawn by Miss Adventure while trying to carry out your plan. Do you think it has possibilities, Alan? Where is this helispont that I'm supposed to swim? Well, I've been studying maps of the English coastline. We should choose the mouth of a river, but the tidal currents are strong enough to sweep the body out to sea. Not too broad a channel, so that it can be easily swum when the tide's at low ebb, and not too near a town or village. So there'll be no unwanted witnesses. So I grow a beard, swim the river, put on different clothes and become more... Jeremiah Bloggans or somebody for the rest of my life. Huh? How did you happen to mention that name? Jeremiah Bloggans? Why, not good a name as any. Don't you think so, Margaret? I don't think this is quite the time for facetiousness, Alan. Well, all right. So I become Jeremiah Bloggans. That's better than hang. But what will Jeremiah Bloggans do for money? Well, you couldn't. You could make out a will in favor of Margaret here or whomever you have... Oh, I suppose I could have been on you to make things stick legally. Well, I'm putting myself in a position where you could easily blackmail me if I didn't. He has a point there, Alan. Now, we'll need another confederate. Somebody to look after you when you get to the other shore. You could leave a car there, of course, with the effect of the cold water. Well, I think it's safer to have somebody waiting for you on the other side. Well, who will it be? That actress friend of Aaron's. Anita Kilner. That woman? Well, how can you suggest such a thing? Oh, come now, Margaret. It's true that Anita's a fool and rather attire someone. I don't know whether Dick told you, but her letters got me into this mess. Baines was trying to blackmail me for them, and that's why I killed him. But Dick's right. I need someone, and I can trust Anita because of those letters if there's no other reason. Heavens, what a scheme. Everybody's in a position to blackmail everybody else. Yes. That had already occurred to me. That's exactly why this plan can't possibly fail. The river mouth we finally hit upon was near Mudaford. It was Margaret Farley's choice, and it was a good one. Still, I was afraid to trust everything to her. So I decided to drive Anand down there and to leave him as soon as I saw him safely in the water. Margaret Farley was two meters there, and Anita would be waiting on the other bank. It was at times a revolting journey down to Mudaford that night. The trouble with you, Dick, is that you like managing people. Mark my words, one day I shall be a free man again, and then I shall try and repay you for some of the things you have made me put up with. Cleaning up after you, making me say yes, Dick. Certainly, Dick. Of course. Dick. I would just quite use this to point out to you that what I did was not only for your own good, but absolutely necessary. Incidentally, I shouldn't be smoking quite so much over you. Is that to do some swimming tonight, remember? I'm your hopelessly out of condition. How I should like to give you just a water on the jaw. Just one? Seven is your usual number, isn't it? Isn't that what it took to kill Bane? You were not a little swine. If you weren't driving the car, I'd give you something to remember me by. I shan't forget you easily as it is. Oh, forget what I said. I'm all on the edge. It's a devil of a cold night, too. Did you bring that black coffee I asked you to? Where's the thermos? They're on the back seat. Help yourself. Oh, thanks. Healthy coffee. I should have made it myself. Better save it a little for just before you go into the water. Well, Margaret's bouncer brought some, too. I'll just finish us off. Oh. Bad as it tastes, it's making me feel a lot better. You'd never come. Oh, Alan, you poor boy. We would pick the coldest night in the year. Nonsense. I feel marvelous, marvelous. Well, I brought you some hot coffee. It's here in the sermon. Better save it for just before I dive in. Well, come along. Let's get going. I wish he wouldn't rush things, though. He'll wear himself out before he gets in the water. If I know Alan, he's whistling past the cemetery. Hope he doesn't lose his nerve at the last moment. If he does... You mustn't imply things like that about Alan. Besides, I don't know that I could bring myself actually to push him. You must. You know what he is. And tonight is especially difficult. All right. I'll do whatever seems necessary. I don't know what's come over me. I feel positively numb. Really, it's much too cold. Hadn't we better try another night? No, Alan. I can't, Margaret. I'm... I'm afraid it's... it's too cold. Here. Here's a thermos. Drink this, darling. It'll warm you up. Oh, filthy stuff. Go on. Drink it up. There. Oh, I feel terrible. I've never been so cold in my life. No, go on, Alan. Be brave. You were always that. No. No, look, darling. No, really. No, don't die. No, don't. Please, don't. Don't die! I showed up. Are you sure you waited to the right spot? Of course. I think he didn't get across. I don't see why not. He was even narrower than I expected. I could have swum it myself. Now, look. You better go on home and act as if you hadn't been away. And don't tell him for me again. I'll let you know the moment I hear from him. No day with no word from Alan. I had no alternative but to assume that he had drowned there in the estuary that night. The body had not been found, but then they had deliberately chosen a place where the tide could be alleged to have carried it out to sea. The uncertainty was a little distressing. I had not forgotten his threat to come back and even score as would be once he'd got free. And tonight came an unprecedented scene which had not helped my frame of mind. It began with Anita. I know you're angry at me for coming here, Mr. Samson, but I've simply got to talk to someone. You ought not to come round here. It isn't safe. It isn't safe. You're a nice one to talk about safety. Do you think Alan's safe now? I don't know. I don't believe you care. He trusted you and you let him down. Oh, why did he ever trust himself to a brute like you? You and your plans and your cleverness. But where are they all now? And you sit back and tend it with what you've done. Want me to interrupt your panagery for a moment, Anita? I'd better answer that. You'll let him to be first. Oh, well, I wish we'll see about that. Well, seems to be a gathering of the clans. Oh, it's you, Mrs. Farley. Well, I want to talk to you, too. So you missed him? He didn't come. I did my part. Did you do yours? Well, I did my best. But I don't know. I ought never to have let him go considering how cold and miserable he was. I ought to have stopped him. Then why didn't you? Because you had a preconceived idea put under your head by this conniving group of an attorney. He planned it all. And now he isn't going to turn a hand to find Alan and help him if he needs it, because it might jeopardize his filthy little law practice. Well, I'm going to do something about it. I'm going to the police and tell him the whole story. Has it occurred to you that the police can't possibly help anyone in this case and may possibly harm all three of us? And if Alan is alive, you'll have to do him harm. Yes. Yes, he's right. I pushed him in. I pushed him in. Don't be morbid. You did what you could with excellent intentions. Are you going to clear your conscience by getting two other people into trouble? Are you an eater? No, I... I confess I'm not too keen on helping Margaret to be a martyr for Alan. How dare you! It was you and your hysterical lettuce that got Alan into this mess. And wouldn't it be ironic if they ended up by being published anyway? That would be a fine tribute to Alan's sacrifice, especially if he is dead and gone. What are you driving at? I have those lettuce. I'm not going to demand a price for them like veins. But at the same time... You dirty blackmailer! I'm merely forcing you to do something for your own good. Just like giving a patient Morpheus to prevent him doing an injury to himself. Morpheus? More figures to each, but I think you understand what I mean. Morpheus? After the women had gone, I thought over the conversation, particularly that part of it in which Margaret Farley repeated the word Morpheus. I think she knows. But even if Alan's body is recovered and they find what he really died of, they can never make an accusation. They have to prove possession of the Morpheus. And no one in the world can do that. I meant to call Anita Kilner and sound her out, but I find that I don't even know her married name. Not that it matters considering what we're doing with Alan behind our husband's back. In any case, I can depend on her letters to keep her mouth shut. On reading this over, I find that in my marshaling of the fact in this case, I have omitted one possibility. Far-fetched it's true, but there is one person whom I should set about finding if I were acting for the crown in this case. I refer to that abominable, truculent, red-headed doctor with a ridiculous name. I'm leaving the office for the day, Chatsworth. Will you put these files in my briefcase? Oh, yes, sir. And will you please get out Renwick's file? His will goes into probate tomorrow, and I want to study it at home tonight. Very well, sir. Oh, by the way, that gentleman is still waiting in the outer office. What gentleman? Oh, I must have forgotten to tell you. He came in with a lady just a moment ago. Dr. Bloggins. Bloggins? Jeremiah Bloggins. Ha, peculiar name, isn't it? Oh, big pardon if it's a friend of yours, sir. No. No, not especially. You say I was in? Yes, I'm afraid I did. Chatsworth, if you ever become a solicitor, be sure your office has two entrances. Shall I send him away, sir? Jeremiah Bloggins. There's he'll be unpleasantly persistent. Better let him come in. Yes, sir. Will you be needing me, Mr. Samson? Yes, you better sit down. I want you to take down a statement. Yes, sir. Hello, Mr. Samson. I want you to meet... Dr. Bloggins. Yes, we've met before. Oh, strange. You should have been the one to bring this about, Anita. I was taught Margaret Farley, the clever one. Or should I speak so frankly? Dr. Bloggins knows everything, Mr. Samson. Yes, I know, but just for the record, are you ready to take down that statement, Chatsworth? Yes, Mr. Samson. Very well. I murdered Alan Wrennick. Well, just a moment, Mr. Samson. He is not interrupt. Yes, I murdered him. And why not? He was a killer. He forced himself on me and turned himself into my private property. He might indeed be called my own murderer. My motive? Well, perhaps one day the world will learn that the strongest compulsion to murder is hatred. I hated Alan Wrennick. And I panned his murder brilliantly. I'd countered on the sea, holding Wrennick long enough for the traces of mafia to have gone. I really can't be responsible for the treachery of the elements. Only one man had the evidence to convict me. And the odds against his being found and brought face to face with me were so slight that I'd risk it again. I'm not sorry I killed him. Even now I'm able to say that it has been a great adventure, requiring courage and daring beyond Wrennick's wildest imagination. I have proved which of us was the better man. Do you have all that, Justin? Yes, sir. Oh, add this note at the bottom. In view of the customary bumbling and obtusiveness of the crown prosecutor, it will probably be necessary to state that his case will be greatly facilitated by calling as his first witness Dr. Jeremiah Bloggins. Oh, look here, perhaps I'm obtuse, but why on earth are you trying to involve me in your beastly murder? Huh? Oh, I see. Do you mean to say you don't recognize me? Oh, I know. Why should I? Anita, why did you bring this man here? Well, I thought you knew. He's my husband. After Alan's body was found, I decided to tell him everything. We simply came here to get the letters. And you don't even remember me when your bag was stolen while you were testifying at the Old Bailey? Well, so you're the blighter who did that. Good heavens. That's where you got the morphia out of my bag. Yes. I suppose I could get you with accessory after the fact, but that would only confuse the crown prosecutor. Well, on the whole, I'm rather glad it worked out this way. After all, as Nankie Pooh says in the Mikado, there's much to be said for the advantage of having it done by the public executioner. And so closes my own murderer in which Roma Wines have brought you as star Herbert Marshall with Norman Lloyd in tonight's study in Suspense. Suspense is produced, edited and directed by William Spear. Before Mr. Marshall returns to the microphone, let me say a word for Roma Wines, the sponsor of Suspense. Few hostesses have entertained as extensively as often as the world-renowned hostess Miss Elsa Maxwell. And that's why her words are significant. Back in the horse and buggy days, wine serving was surrounded by all manner of do's and don'ts. Today it's fashionable to serve delicious Roma Wines whenever and however you choose. For example, delicious versatile Roma California Toque is a light, moderately sweet, flame-colored wine that goes well before or after meals during cocktail hour, actually delightful at any time. Serve your Roma Toque cool. While Roma Toque differs in flavor from other Roma Wines, it is like them in these respects. Always delicious, never varying in fine quality. And since Roma Wines cost only pennies a glass, you can serve them often. Remember, more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wine. And the next time you use Vermouth, choose Roma Vermouth. Zestful, full-flavored Roma Vermouth is blended and developed with all the traditional wine making skill of the Roma Wanerys. It is made and bottled in the heart of California's famous vineyards, yet surprisingly low priced. Try Roma Vermouth soon, won't you? This is Herbert Marshall. It's been a great pleasure as always to make an appearance on Suspense, a show which is such a very great favorite with all of us. Mr. Spear has just been telling me about next Thursday's broadcast and it sounds like one of the very finest of the year. It's a perfectly wonderful story by W. F. Harvey, August Heat. And in it as your star will be Ronald Coleman. Now if you'll permit me a most important word. War news from the Pacific is encouraging. We are on our way to Tokyo, but until Japan is beaten to our knees, the war goes on. It takes dollars to buy the equipment our men need, your dollars. And by investing those dollars in war bonds now during the seventh war loan drive, you help your country and help yourself to greater post-war purchasing power. Get extra bonds, big ones during the mighty seventh. Next Thursday, same time, Mr. Ronald Coleman will be your star of Suspense. Presented by Roma Wines, R-O-M-A. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.