 Autolight and its 98th verse bring you Mr. Van Heflin in tonight's presentation of Suspense Tonight, Autolight tells of one of the great mysteries of the sea as we recreate the mystery of the Marie Celeste Our star, Mr. Van Heflin Hello, Harlow. Good-bye, Hap. Good-bye. Sure. This is our last show till fall Hap. Last chance to tell folks about switching to those inspiring and Comparable and inevitable Autolight spark plugs the spark plugs that are ignition engineered for the finest performance money can buy What are you gonna do this summer Harlow? Keep an eye out for exasperated drivers with poorly performing cars Hap and then I'll say visit your Autolight spark plug dealer for a brisk brace of Autolight spark plugs like the amazing Autolight resistor spark plugs the double life spark plugs that make riding as smooth as a Summer breeze so call Western Union by number and ask for our friend operator 25. Yes, sir Operator 25 will tell you the location of your nearest Autolight spark plug dealer the man with ignition engineered Autolight spark plugs both standard and resistor type and remember from bumper to tail light You're always right with Autolight and now Autolight presents the mystery of the Marie Celeste Starring mr. Van Heflin hoping once again to keep you in suspense on December 9th 1872 The American Brigantine Marie Celeste was discovered adrift and derelict close off the coast of North Africa She had sustained some storm damage, but she was still unable ship Her sails were set her cargo was intact Conditions in her cabins and folks all seemed normal. There was no evidence of violence yet Not a sign was found of the crew that had manned her officers men and the captain's wife had vanished and No acceptable explanation of their disappearance has ever been advanced But perhaps this is that story It would start a New York City's Harbour District on the night of November 7th 1872 The eve of the Marie Celeste departure from that same harbor. Did you see a man running past this way? No? I didn't see anybody Who is it you're after he just killed some people? No? Listen, I heard something But I don't know Who did this man kill a young girl and the man she was with and then he killed the girl's mother He's a maniac and we've got to get I look down this way. I'll help if I can. All right shortly I didn't remember killing her mother Grace I killed because I couldn't help it the man because he came after me and Grace was down But I never never meant to kill her mother when I heard that I had I Wondered if the officer was right And that I was insane There wasn't time to think of it then Only time to think of getting away And through that night I searched for a ship that was leaving soon One that was badly guarded so I could slip aboard When I found her she was the Marie Celeste the drunken deck watch stayed in his sleep until I was hidden in the number two hole There I passed two days and a dream Neither fully awake nor asleep but always thinking of the horror I'd done And I knew that escape was wrong That I could never be sane until I cleared my soul On the third morning I proceed to make my Presence aboard known so that I can go to the captain and tell him of my crime and take the consequences I so richly deserve I climbed to the deck and I'm immediately seen by a crewman Boy in this turn. What are you doing aboard? My name is Sam Newcombe and I I want to talk to your captain. You'll talk to him right enough whether you want to or not How'd you get aboard? You'll be lucky if you didn't stand the 12 to 4 watch your last night in port because that's That's when it was your upper deeper store. Why aren't you? You're no better than a thief. Well, I admit that I want no trouble with you. Please take me your captain. I'll talk to him and no one else You take him bowl. I'd better stay for it. Yeah, come on. You come If you're gonna make the rest of the trip with us, you better drop your airs or there'll be trouble I don't have any ears and I don't think you'll be trouble with my company Oh, you mean you don't think you'll quarter with the crew. No You expect to be with the officers like an honored guest. No, well then Well, I I don't know. Yeah, you act like you're daft. Don't say that. I'll Do what? Nothing I'm sorry. I I want to talk to your captain. You'll watch what you do and say you'll be over the side What's your language skipper's wife is in the next cabin after his wife? Who's this? He just came out of number two holes, sir His name is Sam Newcomb got aboard on the 12 to 4 watch our last night in a bird's watch. He'll answer for it Well, Newcomb, what do you have to say to yourself? I'd Like it if if I could talk to you alone, sir That's all bowl. Tell her what I want to see me soon as he's off watch. Yes, sir You realize Newcomb that you've committed a crime by boarding this ship without permission and probably without passport or any other papers I suppose I know sir, but When I tell you why I I'm not a bad man, sir. Nothing like this has ever happened before but something drove me I I I didn't know what I was doing another one who's always wanted to go to sea. I suppose. No No, sir. I've I've been sailing for ten years. I'm an able hand. I I came aboard because Well, I had to get away. You were in trouble. Yes, sir. I I don't think it was my fault, but I am wrong. What kind of trouble? Well, there was a girl sir who I was in love with and Well, I don't know what came over me, but What'd you do to her I? Found her with another man and I I Just had to get away, sir. I love sick young calf. Well that doesn't condone Ben. Oh Yes, my dear. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought I heard you talking. Yes This is mr. Newcombe. He came aboard illegally the night before we left. Well, where has he been? It's three days In number two hold man. Have you had food and water? No, ma'am. Well, why haven't you come to us before this? I I don't know man. He was going to tell me why he came aboard. I don't suppose it's important anyone me, but I felt that I had to get away and It was a girl. I almost guessed that a Broken heart. I Thought it was and I know it sounds silly, but to me it seemed awfully serious And I couldn't think of another way to leave as quickly as I wanted to Well, there's no other way I can allow an affair of the heart to influence what I must do in this case Now by repetition. I'm a fair and I'm a seamen sir. I could work my way Not so sure that you deserve the chance Whatever you say sir Then I'll please grace great What's the matter with you? Nothing sir my name Grace is the name of the girl Yes, ma'am It was learning that the captain's wife was bored that made me change my mind about telling him the truth When I talked to him especially after his wife came in Everything was turned about it was though. I was the captain the stowaway was someone else It was as though my wife my grace had come in from the next cabinet the cabinet together we talked to this stowaway and We felt sorry for me. We wanted to be kind to him The wife can't be more than three or four years older than I and I feel close to her right away I think that even if she doesn't know what I've done. She understands me It's a good feeling to have one friend on the ship To her pleas. I'm sure I I'm not restrained and instead sent to take my place with a crew and their folks over There I find no friends. What are you doing here? Couldn't you find a better place to quarter? I was told where to come. Hey, Hubbard Wake up. Here's the one came aboard during your watch Oh, what's your figure? You'll be fine a week's pay. Yeah, that's right You come huh? Yes Why'd you come aboard? Why I Wanted to get away from New York Man's gotta have a better reason than that You running away from the police know what then? Well, it wouldn't interest you. It's not important. It's important to me And I want you to know how I feel about it You get up no I Don't want any trouble with you. You don't want no trouble you caused me trouble, haven't you? I'll be called up in front of the camp and because of you. Well, that's done There's no no way I can change it. We got three weeks before we make Naples You'll pay for it I'll see to that Through the following days, I knew no peace There were four deckhands in the first officer And although I had reason to fight because of the way they beat me and use me I didn't I was afraid of my own violence now that I'd killed The one named Hubbard. He was the worst. His eyes were always on me and I wondered why There was a night when I woke to find him bending over my bunk. He was smiling and From that moment on even in sleep. I felt him watching me on another night I'm on deck I'm crossing from the port to starboard and when I pass under the mania The Marlin spike falls from a loft and sticks in the planks beside me narrowing missing my head I look up to see Hubbard smiling down at me from the rigging. I try to avoid him But he drops to the deck to face me. I dropped my spike Yes, I know you did What are you gonna do about it? Nothing You take more than any man I've ever known I'm not proud of that But why do you keep after me? Why don't you leave me alone the cars? I'm a curious man. I Want to know truly why you're on this ship Your story the captain about trouble with some woman just doesn't set right. Well. No, that's the truth Not all of it. Why you say that? Anybody ever tell you you're talking your sleep It is bringing you mr. Van Heflin in the mystery of the Marie Celeste tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding theater of thrills suspense This is it. It sure is half the auto light resistor spark plug the double life spark plug That's the greatest advance in spark plug design for automotive use in the past 25 years I didn't mean the resistor spark plug Harlow I meant this is our last meeting will fall too bad too bad three bad No matter how many spark plugs are bad get them all replaced with a set of sensational Auto light resistor spark plugs the spark plugs that last twice as long and give smoother engine performance and really quick starts And the auto light resistor spark plug is only one of a complete line of auto light spark plugs Ignition engineered for every use is operator 25 going on vacation to Harlow No, sir. Have she'll be standing by to tell folks the location of their nearest auto light spark plug dealer Just call Western Union by number and ask for operator 25 and remember from bumper to tail light You're always right with auto light and now auto light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage Mr. Van Heflin in Elliot Lewis's production of the mystery of the Marie Celeste a true report Well calculated to keep you in Suspense I'd never been told that I talked in my sleep until the one named Hubbard and said I did He may have been lying, but I couldn't chance that Therefore I carefully abstained from regular sleeping habits allowing myself short naps only when I knew that Hubbard was at the helm or some Other ships business that he couldn't leave The horror of what I had done Became a secret that pressed against my head wanting escape, but I held it in and I took the abuse of the men aboard The only kindness and relaxation I find I during the moments when I chance to meet the captain's wife Off watch one night when it's not safe to sleep. I'm alone taking a cup of tea in the galley when she comes in Oh, Mrs. Brakes I haven't seen you you look ill. Is something wrong? No, no nothing now my my Sleep hasn't been so good and your cheek is bruised. What happened? Oh, it's nothing serious Just some trouble with the other hands. Have you told the captain? No, no, why not? I shall know please Please of course enough trouble. I wouldn't want there to be any more May I have some tea, Mr. Newcombe? Yes, ma'am Thank you. I Think you're a very kind man, Mr. Newcombe You do? Yes To protect the other hands for one thing. There are rough lot. I know no worse than most man You're very unhappy aren't you? This girl grace I know this is hard for you to understand But really no one girl is worth ruining your life for Not even losing sleep over Yes, ma'am. I wish you'd stop calling me ma'am Perhaps if you did you could talk to me about this girl. I think it would do you good, don't you? I don't know. Tell me about her. I'm sure she's quite beautiful Well, I thought so and you plan to be married. Yes But she's changed her mind She was never sure She was ambitious for me that's natural and I Disappointed it like I did my family my mother everybody I'm always thinking that I'm doing my best, but I was disappoint people What did she want you to be this girl ships master like your husband we dreamed of the day when she could sail with me Like you do on this ship. Well, you mustn't lose faith in yourself. It took my husband years to get his papers No years for me anymore She wouldn't wait. No No, she wouldn't wait You must have waited but but she wouldn't tell me it'll be good. She promised to wait But she didn't she never understood that it took time She was ambitious and she pushed me from my officer's papers and and I failed my family pushed me to but when I wasn't ready They made me fail and I went away a six-month trip to South America I I tried to jump overboard and they stopped me and then I got back and found her married to a ship's captain Her mother was there laughing at me. Well, I tried to tell him that I was happy about it Then Grace smiled at me and something happened I was only gonna kill her I didn't even know that the others were there Now I hit her and then she went down and then this man came after me and I hit him too Well, when you get mixed up like that, you don't know what you're doing and time means nothing like like everything else Then her mother well, and I don't remember that but she's dead too and they blame me. Maybe I did Mrs. Bray, where are you going? Stay away from me. No, no, no, you've been nice to me Why did it have to be you that I told everything? No, no, I like you what why did it have to be you? No, no, no, no, I don't want to kill you. I never wanted to kill anybody I won't hurt you. You know you've been nice to me Wait for me. No, no, no, I won't touch you. Wait, but you've got the promise that you won't tell I Don't know why I said those things there. They're not true See I get mixed up I dream things and then they seem real after I wake up. That's why I'm such a liar I always lie That's it. There's nothing that I told you was the truth. Do you believe that? And and you you won't tell anybody what I said, huh? No, I'm I'm I'm glad I'm not I can't come as a break and finish your tea come on. We'll talk it We'll talk about something else This is base Don't don't tell I knew she would tell So I hid I went back to the number two hole where I felt safe before They found me there. I don't know how much time passed. I See their land and as they come closer The truth is out. There's no place for me to go So I I stand up and wait I Hear of my thing This already have to be careful. Yes There you say come out of there new come Keep your land and down Hubbard keep us under the light. He's dangerous. No, I won't I won't cause any trouble So get him out of there. I won't cause any job. It's all right, sir. He's down dirty little scum lock him up I'm not sure how many days passed But I found comfort in being locked up because I could sleep without the fear of Hubbard leaning over me listening for what I might say Then there was one night when shouting on deck woke me up I couldn't hear the words being in the middle of the ship soon the shouting stopped and there was silence It was a new silence that I studied for a long time. I heard no footsteps on the deck I heard no voices. I heard no creaking timbers. It was a dead ship. I Wait for the one daily meal that they allow me and no one comes and then I shout If one were insane he'd surely break at a moment like that I was locked up and alone on a ship that was held motionless as if gripped by some great hand But I didn't break I dismantled my bunk and from the wood fashioned a ram with which I attacked the door the task of freeing myself consumed most of the day and Such was my concentration that I didn't realize the exact moment that the ship began moving as if a great hand had released its grip and set her free And I was free I Come out on deck to find a cloudless sky and empty sea horizons all around As if I'm alone in the world the wheels spinning highly with no one to attend it I lash it after fitting a new course to the sales. She's wearing the whole ship is mine. I Am master and crew I found peace and well-being as if I've been absolved of any wrongs I ever did Because what if not providence? Held the ship that night and sent the others to certain death in the endless sea But if not kind providence decided that I alone would survive The meek and the humble shall inherit the earth This narrative I swear to be true and on the second day of December the year of our Lord 1872 I hear by sign it and Seal it in a bottle to be delivered to the ocean's currents In the hope that someday it'll drift back to the hated world From which I am forever parted According to scientific theory a strange phenomenon takes place now and again off the coast of Africa near where the Marie Celeste was found Great rivers of sand are swept out from the coastal deserts when certain conditions prevail this sand is concentrated by the ocean's currents Millions of tons are massed until an island is born Lives briefly and then is swept away by a shift in the currents that created it One such island formed under a small ship during World War two held it for a number of hours then released it Much in the same manner that Sam Newcombe's providence acted Like occurrence could have caused the abandonment of the Marie Celeste But no one knows According to some reports Sam Newcombe's sign confession did drift ashore many years later If that is true perhaps another of the many mysteries surrounding the Marie Celeste has been solved That mystery was a short length of line that reportedly was found secured to the stern of the ship Close up under the transom where someone would hide Attached to this line was a man's leather belt that had parted in the middle Could Sam Newcombe have hidden there when the salvage crew was put aboard to sail the ship to Gibraltar Could he have hung suspended there against the weakening belt until it parted and let him sink silently into the sea Suspense Presented by auto light tonight star mr. Van Heflin This is Harlow Wilcox speaking for auto light world's largest independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment Auto light is proud to serve the greatest names in the industry They are members of the auto light family as well as other 98,000 auto light distributors and dealers in the United States and Thousands more in Canada and throughout the world Our family also includes the nearly 30,000 men and women in 28 great auto light plants from coast to coast and Auto light plants in many foreign countries as well as the 18,000 people who have invested a portion of their savings in auto light every auto light product is backed by constant research and Precision built to the highest standards of quality and performance. So remember from bumper to tail light You're always right with auto light And now I'd like to bring to the microphone a member of the auto light family the producer director of suspense Mr. Elliott Lewis tonight suspense program is the last for this season Suspense on television will continue through the summer Starting next week at this same time CBS radio will present a new series of true crime mysteries Crime classics by name which I heartily recommend to be worth your listening until suspense returns in September And so until that time all of us of the auto light family. Thank you for your support and attention during this last season We'll see you in September on Suspense Suspense is produced and directed by Elliott Lewis with music composed by Lucian Morrowick and conducted by Ludbliskin The mystery of the Marie Celeste was adapted for suspense by Gil Dowd Featured in the cast were Joseph Kearns, Jeanette Nolan, Paul Freese, Dana Hurley He, Hal Gerard and William Conrad Van Heflin may currently be seen in Shane a George Stevens production for Paramount You can buy auto light resistor or standard type spark plugs or all right electrical parts and auto light stay full batteries at your neighborhood Auto light dealers switch to auto light have a good summer This is the CBS radio network