 crime and Peter Chambers Created by Henry Cain transcribed and starring Dane Clark Private investigator duly licensed and duly sworn Peter Chambers You're a private eye That's your business anything else That's for laughs It's mid-afternoon, and you're in a nightclub on business There's nothing more ghastly than a nightclub in the daytime Reminds you of the whitewash inside of an unfinished coffin Anyway, this one's called a cafe tropical and in the nighttime when its tinsel isn't showing it's considered quite swanky Mr. Chambers. Yes, I'm Bruce Eldridge. I'm delighted that you could come Bruce Eldridge Perspective client. He's one of the owners of the cafe tropical about 35 well-dressed and quite good-looking and Quite composed except his eyes are nervous. I take it Did you know what happened here last night? Well your partner Paul Maxwell? He caught up with a slight case of lead poisoning He was shot to death right here in the club so I've read in the newspapers Observe the architecture of a little nightclub here. Now. There's this narrow little room where the bar is Yeah, not there. There's the archway which leads into the club proper. That's where we have our entertainment and This stairway right here now that leads upstairs or mr. Mrs. Maxwell have their apartment all the guy that was killed Yes, he and his wife Claire. This was well sort of their town apartment very cozy last night Our entertainment was in full blast Paul is Paul Maxwell was seated out here at the bar alone He was shot and killed He slumps over nobody's the wiser to bias the bartender thinks Paul has grabbed a little catnap And it's definitely established by the police that he was shot from the main room through the archway And what about the gun? Well, sir one of our patrons the distinguished book critic mr. Charles Morris Tells something strange in this time. Wait, wait, wait, don't tell me that turned out to be the murder gun Yes, yes It did in the rush of the crowd that culprit probably slipped into the first strange pocket He found which turned out to be mr. Morris's and what did this Charles Morris do? Well, he turned it over to the management which in this case was Mrs. Maxwell or Claire Maxwell a new widow Well, how many people in this management? There were three Paul myself and Claire equal partners Claire also acted as hostess So what happened then? Well, mr. Morris waited for the police told him the story and that was that the police of course So now have the gun Okay, Miss Eldridge. Where do you fit me into this? I I have reason to believe that it was my gun What I owned a gun like that. I have a license for it Two days ago it disappeared from my apartment and mr. Chambers. I Want to retain you right now to find out who stole that gun and who murdered Paul Maxwell? Well, don't you think the cops will attend to that? That's just what I'm afraid of they'll attend to it They'll come up with me guns can be traced. Can't they? I see what you mean. There's a $500 fee in it for you, sir All right now just where were you about the time Paul Maxwell was killed inside the main room I was seated at a table with Claire Maxwell Charles Morris and Ruth Benson Who's Ruth Benchie sings here in between shows? What were you people doing at your table at the time? We were watching the show new actor Calvin Cole wizard on the Afro Cuban drums and a dancer Manaja All right now explain to me how a guy can get shot from the main room There's by here without anybody hearing the shot or seeing the flash. Well, mr. Chambers. You see there was a show Hello, mr. Chambers You know our bartender sir, you know Tobias. He knows a lot of bartenders. I used to serve him when I worked in PJs Toby Tobias Lank and thin with a shock of hair falling over his forehead And the wise old ageless eyes that seem to be the trademark of bartenders born to be bartenders Well Toby would you explain to mr. Chambers how a shot can be fired and a man killed during our entertainment without anyone being the wiser Be my pleasure, mr. Elridge. You know who we got here. Don't you mr. Yeah, our Calvin Cole they tell me in his afro Cuban drums and Manaja Yeah, now here's how it works the lights go out you see with a small spot on Calvin Now he wraps them drums like gunshots Then this manaja comes out in a wild veil dance and they work the lights like flashes a lightening around us Oh a shot from a real gun it gets covered by Calvin Cole's drumbeat gunshots And then flashes a lightening around us Manaja. I get it Is Mrs. Claire Maxwell upstairs. Yeah, she is is it okay Eldridge if I go up and see her I don't see why not. Well, thanks Mr. Eldridge said I could speak with you May I come in you may She sits down crosses her legs lights a cigarette. She's blonde blue-eyed on the sunny side of 40 and She's got her points She's also got a pretty quick temperate scene. What is it, please? My name is Peter Chambers. I'm a private investigator, and I've been requested to look into the events of last night So you've been requested huh? Yes, well listen you private eyes in books private eyes in radio fine A lot of fun when it comes to real life. I don't go for it We got the police and the police are working on this and I'm cooperating with them fully So do yourself a favor young man get out of here You do yourself a favor and you get You get all the way downtown to police headquarters the office of detective lieutenant Louis Parker cop Gentlemen and good friend. Hi, you Peter Piper afternoon lieutenant. Oh, I detect a real sweet note in your voice Okay, what client is paying you how much for you to find out from us what he could have found out from self You know the usual cry the private eye. It's confidential All right young fellow. What are you working on? I'm working on that shooting last night the cafe Tropic How did you trace the murder gun yet? No, we're working on it real interesting case Pete. Hmm. How soon know the details I know he was shot from the main room all the way out to the bar while they drum guy was working the day With the lightning was dancing. Yeah one bullet one shot that finished him You know anything about trajectory Pete an angle of entrance. Hey, hey, hey thems fancy words I got them from my science boys Trajectory tells you about the flight of a bullet angle of entrance tells you from what direction the bullet came My science boys measured it perfectly. It eliminated everybody in that main room except a group around one table And what table was that the one Bruce Eldridge was that there's no question the bullet came from that room from that table No powder marks on the body distance estimated Rejectory angle of entrance perfect. Well, all you had around that table were Bruce Eldridge Claire Maxwell Charles Morse and Ruth Benson Mm-hmm, and one of those is eliminated which one Ruth Benson She left the room while Maxwell was still alive went upstairs powder room. Well, does she know that she's eliminated yet? No, no, Pete. I like to keep them all guessing you know Claire Maxwell the wife Charles Morse a book critic and Bruce Eldridge his partner. Well, it certainly narrows him down to what the wife Why should she she's married to a rich man? She's sitting pretty the book critic Why should he if he were the murderer would he plant the murder gun his own pocket the partner? Why should he pull Maxwell is the brains of cafe tropical and the operation is making money How about prints on the gun smudges? Look Louis. Yeah, yeah, there's a request for a favor coming up Well two things one. I'm going up to interview Ruth Benson. Can I Tell her that you've eliminated her as a suspect Well, it'll make a real big Sherlock out of me and it'll make for her cooperation. Yeah Well, you talk me into it Pete. I have to break it to all of them sooner or later What is the second favor? Well the addresses of the interested parties. Oh, it's an easy one for a change So armed with addresses and an affectionate pat on the back from Parker You're riding your white horse again, and you at Ruth Benson's neatly furnished apartment A brunette with glistening black hair and glistening black eyes and more curves than the Indiana Raceway You give her park is dope about her being eliminated as a suspect and you get what you want cooperation Anything at all. Well, well Well first Bruce Eldridge. He used to own a gun once that's a joke I know about that gun. Would you break that down for me a little? Well about two weeks ago I was at his place Bruce writes beautiful music, and I'm a singer you know, and I understand we're out on the terrace And he brought out that gun of his and by accident went off And guess what I give up. He fainted dead away guys got a phobia As a matter of fact when Paul Maxwell found out I've been at Bruce's apartment. He raised the roof. What do you raise the roof about? Oh well Paul and I we sort of had a thing going and Paul and Bruce Was this thing what they argued about? Mm-hmm when it's ridiculous Bruce was perfectly innocent of any wrong intentions, of course Well miss Benson, thank you very kindly not at all Next stop the book lined retreat of Charles Morse in Greenwich Village. I Welcome this visitor. I've always been keenly interested in the myriad and varied operations of the private and private investigator Charles Morse tall slender great temple and distinguished He's sipping brandy from an oversized snifter glass Drink perhaps mr. Chamber. No. No. No. Thank you. Shall we get on then mr. Morse. Are you a? Frequent customer at the cafe tropical frequent and regular an art and patron shall we say good man of your intelligence? It's a help How come you're so good a patron of a saloon well, sir It's difficult to put it into words, but I'll certainly try that's real sporting of you So are you perhaps chiding me no no no I ain't doing a thing except fish netting for facts Well about my being a patron of saloons Let me see now a good many of us you see in my profession a book critics are Frustrated writers and I'll admit to being one of those our Creative abilities just do not measure up to our desires So I'm a rather heavy drinker and in consequence an excellent customer of watering spots like cafe tropical Good enough. Do you know anything of a scrap between Paul and Bruce Eldridge? No, no, I do not all right there Mr. Morris thanks for the use of the hall, but it was most stimulating mr. Chambers I'm at the cafe almost every night You know so if you have any further need of my assistance in any way at all, please don't hesitate So that night you're back at cafe tropical and the join is jumping like they're featuring a strip dancer and handing out binoculars for free You're greeted by Bruce Eldridge Evening Chambers. Hey, wow Nothing like a murder to jump up business Quite macabre tonight, aren't you mr. Chambers? Everybody in this cast of characters makes with the big words you that Charlie Morris You mind if I go in a bar and mix with a hoi-palloy like Toby Devias don't mind of the least mr. Chambers How's the chambers business? How's it the bartending business? That stinks too, but if I play me cards, right? I'm getting out of it Well before we go any further than this colic. We point of order. Yeah, Scotch and soda coming at you mr. Chambers And now What's with your imminent retirement that? Listen hard mr. Chambers because either I make it or you make it look Tobias a little late for riddle This is a moment of relaxation for me. It's about to see a case you're working on. Oh, well Well, talk it up Tobias Milan. Now if I spill the dope I got this whole case becomes a hanger for you so spill I ain't spilling yet But I got a hunch I know just what this thing is all about That kind of information is good for a little a payola from a certain party enough payola for me to retire So tonight I make me play I'm off tonight at 11 and then I make me little old play Thank you little old play backfire then I'm calling on you at home on the phone and with the info I got for you. You're gonna turn out to be a big hero How much you asking for Toby 10,000 smackers and the party's getting off cheap Excuse me for now, mr. Chambers. I got to go to work and don't forget to be home come 11 o'clock The crowd keeps pouring in like it's bargain day at Macy's and the confusion mounts and you like it because right now you can use confusion It gives you a chance to slip off your bar stool and slip up stairs The daughter Clam max for zoom isn't locked And inside you do a rapid search and out of a dresser drawer. You come up with an interesting item an expensive heavy gold medal On one side, there's an engraving of crossed pistols and beneath that the initials see em Clare Maxwell The reverse side says Westchester Target Club competition first prize June 15th 1953 You slip the medal in your pocket and you're ready for a further gander when what's going on here? Clare Maxwell Indignation in her eyes and much worse an automatic in her hand big black Deadly Nothing special mrs. Maxwell get out of here quickly, please. I'm not finished yet, mrs. Maxwell finished or you will be Look, I got a right to shoot your atraspice are here Don't come a step nearer. I'll shoot Now I've got the gun and you've got nothing, but let's say a guilty conscience Because you meant to shoot A little lesson first mrs. Maxwell right here see see This is a safety catch the gun don't go off unless the safety catch is unhooked That's the next time Now for now I take the clip out Throw your gun back to you like so and I say Bye now You go home, but you don't go to bed You linger over a cup of coffee like a guy in a cafeteria killing time for a dime Then at 1115 Well, mr. Chambers. Yeah, Toby Toby the party give me a belly ache So now I give the party a belly where you at the chopper Cal Oh, no, I'm in a little broken down salon on third Avenue and 56 I want you to meet me here right away. Oh, what happens your retirement plans Toby Gonna retire, but the party is the party is gonna retire for good But not come on down here mr. Chambers and listen to Toby make like a canary the name of this joint Hello Toby Toby You get to 56 and third fast, but not fast enough because the cops are there already And the boss man is Louie Parker You set him up on the facts and it's directly connected with the other thing, right? Couldn't be right or Louie any idea who that certain party was no idea at all and he witnessed this shooting. No nothing I look Pete. It's late. No use you knocking yourself out on this one. Go home go to sleep. We'll be in touch here. I Think you're right Louie. Oh By the way, you trace that gun yet gone what good, you know the gun any other shooting the Paul Maxwell deal What's with guns? What's your interest? Nothing nothing just asking look stop bothering me with guns now. I got work to do. Good night So you're still at sea about Bruce Eldridge's gun and that after all is your real interest That's what you're going to be paid $500 for Anyway, you go to sleep sleep like a log and the next afternoon. You're at the Westchester Target Club asking questions and getting answers You're back in Manhattan now and ready for the wrap-up You put in a call of Parker and comes nighttime your saloon gore again cafe Tropic Cal For me, Mr. Chambers. Well, Ridge could we talk somewhere alone? Come on upstairs Charlie Morse show up yet expect him practically any moment. Do you want to talk to him too? Don't mind if I do right? I'll leave her down here for all right then Mr. Chambers. It's a real rich Why don't you tell me there was bad blood between you and mr. Maxwell? Well, I wouldn't over Ruth Benson good Well, because I don't believe in washing dirty linen in public. Now look mr. Chambers I didn't kill Paul Maxwell. I was told you people wanted to speak with Mr. Chambers I said I didn't kill Paul Max. I know that I'm not accusing you but I am however accusing him Charles Morse, I'm accusing him of the murder of Paul Maxwell and Toby Tobias Have you gone out of your mind chambers? I'll listen my dear cultured book critic You see this metal see it which I found in Mrs. Maxwell's room. Well, that set me on the right track Initials on it are cm. I thought it was Claire Maxwell But this afternoon I learned at the Westchester Target Club that cm Was for Charles Morse on the strength of that you're accusing me only one of three people could have killed Paul Maxwell That's right. The police have already informed us of that Bruce Eldridge. No soap a gun phobia Claire Maxwell no soap because she pulled a gun at me yesterday, and she didn't even know how to flip the safety catch Plus our murderer had to be a crotch shot. He killed Paul with one bullet That's my good friend leaves us. That is all mr. Chambers my compliments notice Please I'm holding a gun and as you know now it's in the most competent of hands And as long as you've got the drop on his friend you may as well complete the story just to satisfy our curiosity But I will finish it to exonerate Claire Maxwell. She had nothing to do with Paul's murder She had your metal pal and a rather expensive boy loved her and she loved me We asked Paul we begged Paul for a divorce, but he wouldn't exceed so I figured out the next best way I went to bias with the big eyes added two and two together and tried black man I was then compelled to dispose of Tobias to And now what kind of chance do you think you have now? I don't know but I'll find out I intend to make a run for it So I back to the door and remember gentlemen Charlie drop the gun Charles Morse may have won a medal but Parker has won many medals Anyway in the exchange of gunfire Morse winds up with a leaking shoulder and Parker winds up with a wide smile And the next day seated in your office. You thank Louis Parker for his nick of time heroics and you're back to your favorite subject Louis just for kicks Was that original gun traced yet? No, and I got it right here. My bet is he bought it in the hot shop Hey, you see every possible mark of identification has been filed off. Nobody can actually trace that. Oh, I don't know I don't know some people have an intuitive sense some people can tell just by looking at things Meaning you that's precisely what I mean lieutenant Look detective if you can tell me where this gun came from I'll donate five hundred dollars that Damon running fun Fair enough, but if you don't you donate that's a deal. I looked Louis. I got big fat news for you I couldn't tell you before but that gun Mr. Chambers, I found my gun You want it had followed behind some books in the show and my maid and what's this soil? Yeah, but nevertheless, mr. Chambers I owe you five hundred dollars and I want to write my check for it this very moment Yeah, yeah, you write your check and make it out to the Damon running fund. Oh, give it to the lieutenant here Well, that's very charitable of you mr. Chambers very charitable at these And there you've had crime and Peter Chambers Dane Clark was starred as Peter Chambers Crime and Peter Chambers was created and written by Henry Kane Others in the cast for Bill Zuckert heard as the tenant Parker and Petoniac as Claire Ed Peck as Charles and Nelson Olmstead as Bruce it was directed by Fred Way This is Fred Collins inviting you to tune in next week same time same station for Dane Clark in crime and Peter Chambers And Peter Chambers has come to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States armed forces radio and television service