 The Mutual Broadcasting System presents Murder by Experts. With your host and narrator, Mr. John Dixon Carr, world-famous mystery novelist and author of the recently published Best Seller, The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Good evening. This is John Dixon Carr. Each week at this time, Murder by Experts brings you a story of crime and mystery which has been chosen for your approval by one of the world's leading detective writers. Tonight our guest expert is the noted mystery writer, Elisa Lipsky. From the many fillers he has read and enjoyed, Mr. Lipsky has selected a fast-moving sardonic story by Joseph Roscoe. And now we present Kenneth Lynch in Dig Your Own Grains. Harry Green, answer the question. Did you or did you not kill your wife? Yes or no? Yes or no? Yes or no? That's a good one. How can I answer it like that, just plain yes or no? I've been wondering myself, who was the killer, me or that crazy suspicious mind of hers? My wife was a very strange woman, and I want to get you inside that mind of hers. You'll know then just how it is that a wife could dig her own grave. I swear I was always true to Hannah. It's important you understand that. Up to this incident, I never even looked at another woman. She'd never believe me, though, never. You don't fool me, Eric. You were quite a lady killer when I met you, and men don't change their spots. When she met me, but what the years it slapped me down to, a time when a nagging wife, all the jobs she'd cost me, all the future with her suspicions. Don't lie, Eric, you're clumsy at it. My mind works faster than yours. There's a woman in your life somewhere. She was driving me crazy. She didn't trust me. Why should I trust you? How about the times I phoned you at Charlie's poker parties, and you weren't there? I won't be satisfied until I've found that other woman you're playing around with. I'm trying to get you inside that mind of hers, you understand? I swear there was never any other woman, up till that time. Then one day suddenly, through a silly circumstance, Hannah got the wild notion she'd at last discovered who her rival was. It's that young Betty Sheep, that little actress who lives across the street. But, Hannah... Don't lie. I saw it with my own eyes, didn't I? You mean about the dog just now? Yes, about the dog just now. But I can explain that if you'll only listen... You can explain everything, can't you, Eric? But I'm one person you can't fool. Hannah, for heaven's sake, where are you going? I'm going across the street to scratch her eyes out. Hannah, you'll disgrace us before the neighbors. I swear I don't even know the lady. Hannah... Hannah... I want you to leave my husband alone. What? What are you talking about? You didn't pretend, Miss Sheep. I can read through you and him both. I'm Mrs. Hannah Green, as you no doubt suspect. Get out of here. Get out of here at once or I'll call the police. You wouldn't dare. You're out of your mind. I don't know your husband and I don't know you. Who's met you? You're type, I mean. You're the kind who digs your own grave, aren't you? Miss Heath? Yes? Pardon me, you don't know me. I live in the apartment house across the street. I came to apologize for something that happened here the other day. Apologize for what? My name is Eric Green. Eric Green? Oh. So you're that madwoman's husband? My wife is very neurotic, Miss Heath. But why is she come barging in here? I'm not gave her the idea that I... I mean that... Well, I was standing outside my apartment house and the dog came up to me. It seemed lost, so I kind of walked it, wondering who it was. Hannah saw me and recognized the dog as yours, Miss Heath. Oh, so you're the one who found it. So that's why you're one... I see. So I gave it to you, a doorman. Oh, thank you, Mr. Green. That was kind of you. Yes. Well, you see, that's how it was. She thought all kinds of things, you know? Yes, I can imagine. Well, that's all I came to say. Uh, goodbye. Goodbye. I guess I... It was awfully nice of you. Sorry, I... No, no, no, no. I interrupted you. I just wanted you to... I'm sorry. You saw my fault. I don't know why I've been keeping you standing here at the door. Wouldn't you like to come in and have a drink? I'd love to. That's how it all began. For eight years, I hadn't looked at another woman. Then fate and the guise of an unwitting Hannah had introduced me to Betty Heath. It became a secret love that never would have been born if the twisted mind of a jealous wife hadn't conjured it out of thin air. I missed the next three Saturday night poker sessions. Eric, it's nice here. I like this place. Yes, it's sort of our place. I was never here with anyone else. Eric, what did you do with your Saturday night before? Oh, I don't know, poker or all night movie to forget I ever lived. No, don't talk that way. Betty, how do you feel about it? About what? Us. Are you scared or anything? Oh, well, I got to be scared of ours. My goodness, I simply felt sorry for you that first day I saw you. And honestly, you were so pathetic. Well, I knew you needed a friend. You know, maybe get things off your chest. Funny thing. Right now, I don't think Hanna even suspects I do know you. Well, she certainly was suspicious today. She stormed up to my apartment. Why the change? Search me. She hasn't said one word about it since then. I think when she came charging up to your apartment that day she expected to see some wild painted carousel of glamorous actresses. But instead, she sees a sweet innocent kid and gets thrown for a loss. You kind of threw me for a loss too, Betty, going for a guy like me. Why not? Eric, I let you in on a little secret. I'm a fake. I've no acting talent whatsoever. Oh, Betty. We can't get jobs. I'll never get anywhere. What I really want is to get married. Married? Yeah. There was a very nice fellow named Tommy Burt. He asked me to marry him. Why didn't you? I don't know. Met a married man. Name of Eric Green. Isn't that funny? Yes, that's how it all began. A drink, we talked, saw each other a few times, and we were in love. We didn't talk too much about Hannah, not at first. She was always there, the third point on the triangle. The longer Betty and I went on seeing each other, the more she crowded into my thoughts. Until the day came, it had to happen. Eric, it can't go on. It's got to stop. I'm much too much in love with her. Vice versa. Head over heels. It's not as though you're free, Eric. Don't you see it? It's not as though you were even ready to get a divorce. How many times have you gotten that off your chest? Bond and tight. And pity. All right, then I'll get somebody to pity me a little. There's still Tommy Bird. No, Eric, don't. Don't tell me. We must never see each other again. Eric, why are you sitting there so moody? Please, Hannah. I have an apology to make, Eric, dear. Yes. Oh, Eric, I must be a trial to you sometimes. But it's only because I love you. What are you driving at? Oh. That dog thing that time. That dog thing? Yes, you remember? Well, I later asked the doorman there and he said the dog was lost that day and you merely brought it back. So you checked with the doorman, huh? Oh, Eric wasn't it silly of me to think you were carrying on with that cute girl. Whom you didn't even know from ease. But I do. What? Very well. What's that? Betty and I are in love, Hannah. What? And it was all you're doing, poetic justice. Because we never even knew each other until then. Why, you... You're lying. I was right in the first place. It had been going on all the time, just as I said. Have it your own way. I could always read you, Eric. Read you like a book. You're sure of that? I knew it was that cheap actress. I knew it because I'm always one step ahead of you, Mr. Two-Timer. You're not dealing with just anyone. You're dealing with a lawyer's daughter. And that one-cylinder brain of yours was never a match for mine. Never will be. Well? What now? I want a divorce. Oh, never. You think I'd give her the satisfaction? I want a divorce, Hannah. Oh, Eric, how could you say all these things to me? How could you? You did it to yourself, Hannah. Crazy jealousy of yours. Oh! I tell you, I never did know her before. You promoted a triangle that never even existed. So go on, dig your own grave. Why did you say that? Those words. What words? Dig your own grave. Those are the words that woman has said. I only meant... I see it now. Of course! But I'm one step ahead of you, usual. You're planning to murder me, aren't you? What? Murder you? Yes! Murder me! So you'll be free to marry her. Well, don't deny it. I can see it in your eyes. That was the seed. I'm telling the honest truth. Till then, the thought has positively never entered my mind in the remotest way whatsoever. Harm Hannah, why I pitied her. Even still loved her, in a way. But somehow... Yes. Kill me. You want to kill me, don't you? Kill me. I know. She planted the seed in my mind. You understand? She planted the seed. Young and pretty, eh? That's the way you want one when I'm out of the way. She hammered the thought into my brain. Always know what's in your mind, don't I? It'd be heaven, wouldn't it? Heaven, wouldn't it, when I'm dead? Good heaven, stop it, stop it, Hannah! Can't stand to hear your thoughts spoken aloud, can you? You don't fool me, Eric Green. I'm sharp enough to even see how you intend to murder me. I can give you a blueprint. What? I congratulate you on planning the perfect murder. I didn't know you had enough brains. What are you talking about? What blueprint? Oh, don't pretend. I'm onto you. You will never outsmart me. I can read your mind. Like a book, sure. Oh, please, Hannah. Me and Betty have decided to give each other up if you want to know. So why on earth would murder enter my mind? Who do you think you're kidding, Eric? If she only knew it, that suspicious mind of hers was digging her own grave. Because now I really began to ponder a murder. If only I could extract that foolproof method from her. If I could be sure Betty still wanted me. Hello, Betty. May I come in? Yes, yes, of course. Thanks. Eric, I thought we weren't going to see each other again. I know, but Betty, I want you to wait. Give me a little time. A little time? Yes. I think Hannah is with me. You mean, she might give you a divorce? Yes. Well, if you still want me. Maybe. Of course I still want you. But are you sure? Because I may as well tell you. Tommy Birth, will he ask me again to marry him? Are you certain Hannah will give you a divorce? Yes, yes, I swear it. Just wait a while longer. A little while longer, Betty, and you'll see. I have a plan to get her to divorce me. Oh, that was a wonderful dance, Eric. You know you haven't forgotten a step. Oh, neither have you, Hannah. You still dance like an angel. I don't know what's come over you lately. You've changed so, Eric. Taking me out every night, shows, night clubs. Why couldn't you ever see you're the girl for me? Not anyone else? You were in that busy mind of yours? Oh, I'm sorry, Eric. We went over all that and I said I'm sorry. That woman across the street, for instance. Couldn't you see I was just pretending all that business to teach you a lesson? Oh. I had it coming to me, I told you. And was that mind of yours traveling? That perfect murder plot, for instance, huh? Silly little goose. Oh, Eric, don't. What on earth did you think I was hatching? Well, you'll die laughing. Okay, so I will. Well, you were staring rather intently at my medicine bottle that time we had to flare up. Huh? And anyone with half a mind knows that an overdose of dietol could kill a person without leaving any trace of it in the system. Yeah, no kidding. All you'd have to do is to go and get one of my prescriptions sometime, alter it to a stronger dose, replace my bottle a bit. I'd never be wiser. And poof, the perfect murder. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Couldn't I have made a good criminal lawyer like my father? Admit it. Sure, I followed her blueprint the very next day. First I paid a visit to Dr. Norton, the family's physician. I told him Hannah was down with a slight cold and couldn't come. Then I asked for the prescription, just her usual dietol, which he'd given her so often. I altered the prescription ever so slightly. My next stop was the druggist. Hey, you want the prescription, surely, Mr. Green? For your wife, huh? Yeah, from Dr. Norton. Where? I can have it filled for you in about an hour. Call back in an hour, Mr. Green. I see you're back, Mr. Green. Yes, is my prescription ready? You mean your wife's prescription, Mr. Green? Yes. The dietol refill? Yes, yes. Is it ready? Well, what's the matter? Is it ready or isn't it? Are you asking about the prescription you left in this drugstore or about an hour ago, Mr. Green? Well, yes. Why do you ask? What's wrong? Who are you? Detective Santini. Come with me, please. You're under arrest, Mr. Green. This is an outrage. I demand to know what I'm being held for. You did tamper with that prescription, Green, didn't you? Admit it. You're crazy. I want to see a lawyer. What are you charging me with? A tempted homicide. Tempted homicide? Yeah. You know, Green, when your wife reported our suspicions to us and demanded action, we thought she was crazy. What? We took routine action anyhow. She never at any time stopped suspecting about you and that other woman. Suspecting? That's right. What a head that woman had. Knowing you were going to kill her, she directed your efforts better to foil. No. Oh, no. Now, Green, what was the name of that mouthpiece you wanted me to call in? Because, Brother, you're sure going to need a good one. And so I submit your honor and, gentlemen of the jury, that the prosecution has not, and in the very nature of things, could not establish a clear case of homicidal intent. Intent, gentlemen, against the defendant, Eric Green. And why? For the simple reason that he had not given the fatal overdose to his wife. Hence, you must agree that even if the defendant had murder in his heart at the outset which we deny, how could it be proved he would have given that overdose to his wife? Might he not have had a change of heart? Might he not have changed his mind and thrown that deadly liquid into the nearest gutter? Fine, the defendant, not guilty. Captain, this man go free for a meal trial again. Congratulations, Mr. Green. We can't give you the electric treatment yet. But you'd better see that your wife stays healthy. Because from now on, if anything happens to her, Brother, you're it. I was a ruined man from that moment. I quit it, huh? That made a difference to people, huh? As far as the world was concerned, I was a would-be murderer, something black and evil, to be shunned like a leper. I lost my job. After nine years with the same firm, I lost my job. No one else would hire me. And my friends, even the guys that knew me all my life, none of them were in when I phoned. They crossed the street to avoid having to talk to me. But the biggest blow of all was my life. The biggest blow of all was a letter the postman brought me, just after the trial. Dear Eric, I've moved away because of the publicity, and it's no use trying to find me. I always thought you were so gentle and fine. How could you bring yourself to attempt such a vile thing? Tomorrow I'm going to be Mrs. Thomas Birch. And my wife? She had moved to a hotel and was suing me for divorce. I was a nice guy once, respected. She had ruined me. My whole life was a mess. I decided I must kill her. There was no room in the same world for the both of us. And yet? You'd better see that your wife stays healthy, Mr. Green. Get it? If Hannah should die, no matter how clever I planned it, even by remote control, even if I were a thousand miles away. Because from now on, brother, if anything happens to her, you're it. They'd still suspect me. Still, I decided to finish her off, even if I'd burned for it. Life meant nothing to me anymore, but just once to outfox her. I racked my brains. There's really such a thing as a perfect murder. Somehow I sensed a road direction, somewhere in Hannah's suspicious nature lays a perfect crime. Maybe by using her suspicions, I... Sure, if something clicked. By following the twistings of her mind, I'd hit upon a plan. Hannah, this is Eric. Hannah, don't hang up, please. What do you want? Hannah, I swear it was all a terrible mistake. Why, I never intended for one moment... Indeed. Hannah, if you'd give me half a chance to explain... Are you through? If that's all you have to say... No, no, wait, wait, please. It isn't all. Hannah, I'm going away. I'd like to see you once more before I leave. For old times' sake. Oh, you would, would you? For old times' sake, eh? Yes. I'd like you to come over right now and have breakfast with me before I leave. Just the two of us alone. One last cup of coffee together, Hannah, to prove no hard feelings. Just you and me and a cup of coffee, Eric? Yes. Just the two of us, huh? Just the two of us. Get the coffee ready. For you, Hannah, and one for me. And now, I'll let you in on the real reason for our little get-together. Yes, Eric. You've ruined my life, Hannah. I don't want to live anymore. I'm about to commit suicide. I want to give you the torture of witnessing it. Hannah, I've poisoned my cup of coffee. Well, let's drink to my exit. Come in, officer. What? Detective Santini. Hello again, Mr. Green. Officer, I brought you along because I was sure he was going to make another attempt to kill me. I can now prove my husband's guilty intent to kill me, which I couldn't before. Hannah, what are you saying? Suppose we let her do the talking. Notice, please, that he has just served two cups of coffee, one for me and one for him. He is, as usual, stupid enough to suppose I don't know what he's up to. Now, wait a minute. Shut up. Go on, Mr. Green. Not knowing, of course, that I would bring a witness along to this little plot of his, he has just told me he has poisoned his cup of coffee, that he intends to commit suicide with it. Very well. We shall see. Won't we, Eric? Obviously, he has poisoned my cup, as I shall now demonstrate. Hannah, what are you doing? It's there. I've exchanged cups with him. And now, Eric dear, let us drink. Come on, dear, don't pale so. Don't tremble. I'm drinking the poisoned coffee, aren't I? Hannah, don't drink it. So let's drink to your journey. Bottoms up. Hannah. There you see, Eric. I've... What, sir? She's dead. My gosh, she's dead. I warned her about my cup, but she drank it. You saw. Yeah, I sure did. You're a witness to what just happened, officer. Yeah. Must have been that suspicious mind of hers. Why, she dug her own grave, that woman. Why, oh, yeah. You're not getting away with this, Green. What? I'm arresting you for the murder of your wife. What are you talking about? It was an unfortunate accident, that's all. Was it? I'm innocent. Are you? You were a witness. Now was I. Then I witnessed that crazy mind of hers. Dug her own grave, didn't she? She sure did. And that's just it. I have an idea, Mr. Green. You could have planned it all this way, every step. Knowing how your wife's mind worked, you could have known what would happen. Exactly from the time you invited her over for coffee. Anyhow, suppose we let the jury decide. Well, there's the story. You asked me, did I kill my wife, yes or no? You see why I couldn't answer it like that? Yes or no? Who was the killer? Me or that suspicious mind of hers? Suppose you tell me. And so the curtain falls on Dig Your Own Grave, which was chosen by guest expert Aliza Lipsky, a former assistant district attorney of New York, and author of the memorable Hollywood film Kiss of Death. Next week at this time, Murder by Experts brings you a story of a man who exploited human mind, only to find his own giving way that his enemies closed in on. A story selected for your approval by Patrick Quentin. Until then, this is your host, John Dixon Carr, hoping you'll be with us again next week at this time. Dig Your Own Grave was written by Joseph Roscoe. In the cast were Kenneth Lynch and Shepherd, Hester Sundegard, Ron Dawson and Jimmy Stevens. Music is under the direction of Emerson Buckley. Music was composed by Richard DuPage. Murder by Experts is produced and directed by Robert A. Arthur and David Cogan. All characters in our story were fictitious, and any resemblance to the names of actual persons was purely coincidental. This is Bill Tonkin speaking. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.