 New post war old Dutch Clencher famous for chasing dirt presents Nick Carter famous for chasing crime Every week at this time two great names are joined as new post war old Dutch Clencher Brings you one of the most resourceful and daring characters in all detective fiction Nick Carter master detective You just took a ten thousand dollar fee from a client and then accused him of murder. That's right. Fancy, but I don't understand How could he have committed the murder? I don't know, but I'm going to find out but he was with us when it happened Yes, I know you and I Patsy are his alibi and yet. I'm positive. He killed William Lasher And now the case of the perfect alibi today's adventure starring lawn clock as Nick Carter Brought to you by a new post war old Dutch Clencher It is almost eight o'clock in the evening and Nick Carter and his assistant Patsy born are bound for the theater It's one of those rare evenings when Nick is not working and Patsy is happy enough to sing Oh, Nick first the theater then supper and dancing. Oh, we won't get home until morning Taking an evening off to see who's no happy. Oh, I am happy Nick They'll just be us tonight. No policemen. No crooks. No. Hey, look at that fool. He's driving right at us Oh that driver must be drunk Not injured I'll tell him a thing or two Are you in there you're hurt? Oh No, I'm okay. I'll get out. Let's have a look at you It was my fault entirely. I'll be glad to pay all the damage. What's wrong with you plenty of light on this street You must have seen that's coming. I know I said it was my fault. Yeah Here's my license and my registration. I'll call my attorney in the morning and he'll get in touch with you You're Paul Sanders. Yes. Yes Now you must have just started out the radiator of your car isn't even warm I was traveling slowly. I was just driving your eyes shut Well, my name is Nick Carter. You'll need that in your accident report Your Nick Carter really he certainly is really mr. Carter I need your help desperately for what mr. Carter a man is going to be murdered tonight And I'm the man with the strongest motive in the world for killing him. You have the strongest motive. Yes I have mr. Carter You may be the means of saving my life and the life of William lasher as well William lasher Yes, not the man who used to be this a fraternity. That's right He represents certain clients who are after my scalp naturally that makes him my enemy, too So what I phoned him just a little while ago. I argued and pleaded with him But it was no use he can ruin me and he's going to do it if he lives You don't make sense yet go on while I was talking to him on the phone He received a letter by messenger. He read it to me and accused me of sending it It said that lasher was going to be killed tonight Nick isn't lasher that da who was so tough there refused to let his name go up for real action Yes, Betsy stepped on too many toes I must have a reliable person who will swear that I couldn't have killed lasher Will you take the job mr. Carter? You know mr. Sanders? I think maybe I will I'll pay you any fee you ask anything The fee will be ten thousand dollars, mr. Sanders ten thousand dollars well That's pretty steep but Okay, I'll pay it all right first thing to do is to establish the fact that lasher is alive right this minute Suppose we use my car mr. Sanders mine will run yours doesn't look as if it would very well. I Don't like this me either. Why why do you think I accepted this case? Well, come on mr. Sanders Let's look into this murder you say is going to happen For your sake mr. Sanders, I hope mr. Lasher is alive. I hope so too even though I detest the man I think someone's coming Nick Yes, I'd like to see mr. Lasher. I'm Nick Carter. You're Nick Carter the detective. Yes, may I see him please? Well, gee, I'm sorry But he left strict orders that he wasn't to be disturbed under any circumstances part of his orders I want to see him. Well, he's all right. We have reason to believe it might be murdered tonight murdered Well, all right. I'll knock on the study door. He gets awful sore when I disobey him, but well, I'll try it Who's he mr. Sanders name is Joey Wilson nice boy lashes his guardian. Oh Mr.. Lasher mr. Lasher go away. I told you I don't want to be disturbed. You see yeah, let me try So lasher. This is Nick Carter. I want to talk to you. I said go away. I'll see no one tonight I'm afraid you're going to see me because I want to see you What happened Nick Well, look at me fortunately his aim was bad Then he's still alive. Yes, Sanders luckily for you. He's very much alive. Oh, Joey Do you know mr. Sanders here? Why yes, sir? He comes to see mr. Lasher sometime When was the last time he came to this house? He hasn't been here in a long time at least for two months. Yes. Yes, at least that I see Well, it's now 832 Remember that all of you lasher is alive now. What's more Sanders? Yes, mr. We're going to take further precautions to see that he stays alive as least as far as you're concerned. Come on Carter what's the idea of bringing me here to police headquarters because I want to look in on my friend sergeant Matheson before we go back to lasher's place Well, at least the last two hours have passed quickly Seeing your offices and laboratory was quite an experience Carter. At least it was one way of killing time while we were Establishing your alibi Hi, Maddie. Oh, hi, Nick. Patsy. This is mr. Sanders sergeant Matheson Hi, Sanders, and you any further word from lasher Nick? No, Maddie I called Joey half hour ago. He reported lasher was still very much alive Good I sent four men up there as you suggested just to cover the house and so to keep a watch over lasher Thanks, Maddie. I also did some checking down here You know Nick last year was about the toughest DA we've ever had Yeah, so I recall one of the boys he put away and one who hated lasher like poison Got out of prison yesterday That's interesting. Who is he? Pete Arnold lasher got him sent up for 15 years for armed robbery And the day he was sentenced Arnold swore he'd get lasher for sending him up I think I remember him. Wasn't he a big powerful fellow? Yeah mean and dangerous, too You know Nick, I think we ought to go see lasher again whether he likes it or not I think you've got something there, Maddie. Let's go. Come on Sanders. All right where you go I go for tonight at least your men well hidden Maddie didn't see one anywhere. They're here. All right, Nick Don't worry about that. Hello. Oh, it's you again, mr. Carter. Yes, Joey And this time we're going to talk to mr. Lasher orders or no orders. Well, it's at your own risk, mr I know Joey. Mr. Lasher. I'm coming in. I want to Hey Oh, no, he can't be he's dead. All right. There is a while everyone stay right where you are. Don't touch a thing Yeah, let me see There's no blood Nick. No No sign of a struggle either just that terrible expression on his face for me That means just one thing that's a lasher was poisoned Nick someone was here with him Look at that bottle of liquor and there's two glasses here on the desk and the glass beside lasher's hand is empty But the other one's full. I'll call the medical examiner and the homicide boys. Are you for go back in the living room? I don't want anything disturbed in here intentionally or otherwise Little while ago to the men I got outside so someone peering through the wind of the study where we found Lasher's body They catch him. No, they lost him in the darkness. Oh, they said he resembled Pete Arnold in size So the wind is being dust of a prince and so are the bottle and glasses all those glasses are hob nailed Maddie there Too rough to take an impression. Yeah, yeah, I'm afraid you're right. Well, I'm going back in the study Nick You carry on. Okay, Maddie Joey Why did Mr. Lasher insist upon being alone tonight? I don't know all I know is that every once in a while he clear everybody out of the house except me And my job was to see that nobody disturbed him. Mm-hmm. When was the last time that happened? I'm not sure but a year ago. I guess hey, Nick. Oh, yeah, buddy. Yep. There were prints on the window they match Pete Arnold's That's how and the medical examiner says he thinks it's poison just in the glass that lasher drank from no in both glasses The murderer must have slipped the poison into the bottle before it was poured. Well, one thing is sure Sanders didn't kill him. He was with us all the time. Thank you miss Bowen for those kind words Well, I'll get back to headquarters in case something breaks down there. Okay, Maddie You'll phone me just as soon as the poison is identified you better. Well, Nick good minute. I find out Well Two lucky things happened to me tonight. That's so Lasher is dead and I'm saved from bankruptcy Also, I ran into Nick Carter who furnished me with a perfect alibi. I'm not even suspected of the murder Well, you're a lucky man, mr. Sanders Now there was something said about a fee the fee. Oh, yes I've got the cash right with me here in five hundred dollar bills. Oh Lucky there you are mr. Carter $10,000 for three hours work Sanders. How does it happen you're carrying all that money around? Well, I always carry a lot of cash wouldn't be that you purposely had that much on you So you could wave it under my nose if I didn't want to take the case What why I didn't even know I'd meet you know when you collided with me the radiator of your car was almost cold Yet you said you've been driving around. Well, I had been I doubt that I believe you were parked at the curb until you saw Pats in me start away from my house. I believe you were waiting for us Are you trying to say that I framed that smash-up? I am you deliberately plan to have me furnish you with an alibi I suppose next you'll say that I actually murdered lasher. Yeah, I think you did How cool under that's crazy. How could I have been with you and be at this house at the same time? I don't know the answers yet, but I'm going to find them. I'm sure you killed him I don't have to stand here and listen to slander. You're not free to leave yet Sanders and stick around. Don't worry I'll be around if you need me Nick what's going on here? You just took a $10,000 fee from a client and then accused him of murder. That's right, Betsy Well, I don't understand. He was with us when it happened. You and I are his alibi. Yes, I know But in spite of that, I'm positive Sanders killed William Lasher As the case moves swiftly to a climax Nick and Patsy serve as the alibi for the man Nick accuses of murder In just a moment. We learned whether Nick can make this accusation stand. I'll back to the case of the perfect alibi Today's adventure with Nick Carter brought to you by new post-war old Dutch cleanser It is a short time later. The police are gone. Nick and Patsy are upstairs investigating Lasher's bedroom Well, nothing here that gives us any clue You really think he murdered Lasher? I do. Well, what about Pete Arnold? He's worried kill Lasher someday. Pete Arnold didn't do this job. How can you be so sure about that? Look Patsy, Lasher knew Arnold was dangerous. Would he have invited him in for a drink? No, no, I don't suppose so. Besides, men like Arnold don't use poison when they kill Yes, it's me, Joey. Oh, come on in Yes, Joey. I thought I'd see if there was anything I could do Oh, yes, yes, there is Joey Lasher was obviously a hot-tempered man. Was he always that way? Oh, no, sir That was just on the surface underneath. He was a swell guy. Oh, that's oh boy He built a new wing on the hospital and it cost him a quarter of a million dollars That's the Blystone wing. Why do you use that name? Because he didn't want his own name on it He didn't even want anybody to know he'd paid for it. Well, who was Blystone? Anyone special? Oh, yes. Mr. Blystone saved Mr. Lasher's life in the First World War and he was nearly killed doing it Oh, he used to come here every year to talk about the war and old times and stuff It was sort of an anniversary. You know where Blystone is now? Oh, he died five years ago Oh, oh, must be Maddie calling about the poison, Patsy. I'll get it. Okay. Thanks I'm coming Coming. Oh, Drap-Dark's. He always like that. You all right, Patsy? Oh, oh, Nick. Nick, I tripped. Oh, never mind. Are you all right? Are you all right? No. No, I don't think so. There was something stretched across the stairway I got it hit my ankle and then I lost my balance. Gee, that's too bad. Sanders did that. Huh? Getting scared. He knew I expected a phone call and wanted me to break my neck, but he tripped you instead But what was it that tripped me? This is an open stairway with a railing on both sides You could have passed a wire or a cord across the step Pulled it up as you came down and then pulled it forward free and got away. Oh, gosh, what a dirty trick. I'll say. Help me up, Nick. Okay I'm all right. All right, I'll be helping to the studio, Patsy. Sit down there and rest for a bit. Thanks, Nick. Okay. Much better. All right, there you are. Take it easy now until you feel okay. I will. Oh, Nick, that's Roger Madison probably wondering what on earth's wrong. Shall I answer it? No, no, I'll get it. Neck cutter speaking. Look, why don't you answer the phone? I was getting all set to come out there and see if you were still alive. Sorry, Manny. Patsy tried to answer your first call, but she fell down the stairs. She fell? She didn't hurt herself. No, no, I don't think so. Nothing serious. Oh, good. Well, your hunch was right, Nick. The autopsy shows the liquor was poisoned. That was potassium cyanide in the bottle and both glasses. So that's why it works so fast. Yeah. Oh, by the way, you better watch out for Pete Arnold. My boys never did see him leave the place. Thanks, Mary. I'll do that. For the size and say, Nick. Says it was poison. Cyanide. Oh. Hey, Joy, were there any more glasses to this set Mr. Lasher used? Not that I know of. I never saw more than two of them. I see. Hey, that's Brandy. She imported from France. More than 40 years old. Golly, it must be priceless. It is if you go in for that sort of thing. Now, to whom would Lasher serve 40-year-old Brandy? Have to be somebody very special. Mr. Carter, I remember now. Yeah? What? Mr. Blystone, every time he came here, that bottle of Brandy would turn up. Well, now... And about a year... Once about a year since Mr. Blystone died, I'd found the bottle here on the desk again with the two glasses. Did Lasher drink much? We never drank, Mr. Carter, except... Well, maybe the times I found the bottle left on the desk. Nick, think of me here quickly, by the window. Yes, what is it, Betsy? The second floor of the garage. Watch that window right in the middle. Yes. Someone's looking out. Someone with a cigarette in his mouth. Could... could that be Pete Arnold? I don't know. But it won't take me long to find out. Watch it now, Betsy. Hey, Nick, get down, get down. Nicky! You stay right here. Don't move. But what are you going to do? I'm going around the other side. He's out of the garage, and I went around the west corner. I saw the gun flash. Oh, Nick, please be careful. I'll be careful. Make it to the... Still shooting over the other way. If I jump him fast... That'll hold you. Nick, Nick, did you get him? I did. You'll be with us as soon as he wakes up. Oh. Having trouble, Mr. Carter? Mr. Sanders. Yeah, Sanders, where have you been while all the fireworks were going on? I was just walking around thinking. Okay, suppose you take all of Pete's legs, we'll carry him into the house, then we'll all do some thinking together. Okay, one handcuff around this wrist, the chain behind the steam pipe, and the second cuff on his other wrist. Which takes care of Pete Arnold for the time being. Carter, why did you bring Arnold upstairs? Why not just turn him over to the police? Because there are no police here at the moment, Sanders. Mattie took his men away. Figured that whoever had been prowling around had gone by now. He's waking up, Nick. All right, cut it, Pete. You're not fooling anyone. I'm Nick Carter. You try to kill Patsy and me. What a sap I've been. What a sap. Pete, did you kill Lesher? No. I was going to, but when I looked in the window, he was sitting there dead. Then what happened? I heard the cops moving around, so I hid in the garage. Why? Because I had to. The cops seen me here, they'd afraid me for the job. Nobody's framing you, Pete. But the police are going to ask you a lot of questions. Well, I guess I'll be here when they come. Is this all you're going to do, Carter? Sit here in the study and wait? Aren't you going to send for the police? I'll be glad to, Sanders. You decided to confess? You're crazy, Carter. Here you have a man who swore he'd murder Lesher, who even tried to shoot you. Don't you know when you've caught a killer? Sanders, there's an old photograph hanging on the wall here behind Lesher's desk. Looks like some of the men from Lesher's old infantry company. Yes, that's what it is, Mr. Carter. Oh, I know that picture. Get a copy of it. You're the third one from the left, aren't you? Yes. Can you name them? Yes, most of them. Brown, Morrison, Kelly, Blystone. Then you knew Blystone? Of course I did. That's my sergeant. But if you're trying to tie him into this, you're wrong. He's been dead for five years. Yes, so Joey told me. Oh, Patsy. Huh? Come to the living room a minute, will you? Of course, Nick. You too, Joey. Sure, Mr. Carter. Now, listen, both of you. Hang on. I'm going to accuse Sanders of murder again, point blank. And I'm going to show him how I can prove it. Gee, can you do that? I'm going to try. I get it. You want to make him so desperate he'll do something that will give himself away. That's it. Oh, but what about Pete Arnold? I've told you, Patsy, nothing as far as Lasher's murders concerned. But if Pete didn't do it, and Sanders was with us, who was with Lasher when he was killed? Somebody had to be. Patsy, when Lasher died, there was no one with him except possibly a ghost. Well, a ghost? Nick, are you trying to tell me this is a supernatural case? No, simply the work of a murderer who planned every move well in advance. Oh. Now let's get back to the study while I tell Sanders how he murdered Lasher without even being present. Well, be careful, Nick. Sanders may have a gun. I shouldn't be surprised. That's where Joey comes in. Me? Oh, gosh, I'll do anything I can. Okay, Joey, take one of those heavy book ends off that table. Go out of the house and around to the back. You have three minutes to reach the windows looking into the study. But then, then what do I do? Joey, when the time comes for you to act, you'll know it without me telling you. Oh. Hey, Sanders, want to establish some facts? Oh. You knew Lasher and his dead friend Blystone from World War I. Suppose I did. You knew that Blystone saved Lasher's life and that Lasher and Blystone made a pledge after the war was over to meet once a year and celebrate the rescue. Does that make me a murderer? Now, Lasher never used liquor except once a year when he and Blystone each drank a small glass of this fine old brandy and that celebration always took place on the same day, the date of Lasher's rescue, a date you knew because you were there when it happened. So two men celebrate an anniversary and that makes me a murderer. It does because you knew about it. Joey tells me the bottle and the two glasses were kept in plain sight in the cabinet over the desk. You must have seen them many times. It's been very easy for you to come here to see Lasher and then while you were waiting here in the study for him... So that's it. Get it, Patsy? Of course. Sanders poisoned the bottle of brandy when he was here over two months ago. He knew it wouldn't be used until tonight and he planned to set up an alibi for the exact time when Lasher would be killed. All right, both of you put your hands up fast. I told you he had a gun near. Get him up. Thank you. So you found out about me. I did. You were too anxious to have Patsy and me be your alibi and you were too eager to pay too much money for such a small job. I'm admitting nothing, Carter, but don't move either of you. I have plans for you. Sanders backs away his finger tightening against the trigger. We'll see what Nick does about this in just a moment. Now for the conclusion of the case of the perfect alibi. Today's adventure with Nick Carter brought to you by new post-war Old Dutch cleanser. Sanders slowly levels his gun at Nick and Patsy as he says... Here's where you and Miss Bowen get it. I hope you're... Down, Patsy! Nick, there was some haymaker you landed on his jaw. Well, he won't do any more shooting for a while. Was it okay, Mr. Carter? Ah, you were marvelous. You were wonderful, Joey. Well, gee, thanks, Miss Bowen. Boy, is he out of home! Well, Nick, your plan seems to have worked. Yeah. When Joey smashed the window, Sanders reacted just as I hoped he would. And that gave you a chance to go for it. Well, Matt, he'll have two prisoners now. Pete Arnold and Sanders. Gosh, it's hard to believe. Sanders killed Lasher and wasn't even here when it happened. That's right. Then, Blythstone was the ghost who was with Lasher when he was killed. Right. Oh, gosh, Nick, that was a clever scheme. Yes, and safe, too. The brandy was never used for anything else. He simply set a murder trap and waited for the reunion to set it off. Right. Which is murder in the first degree, as he'll find out very shortly. Day to the order of the community chest. $10,000. Nick, this is the first time in a long time a murderer's money has helped a worthy cause. A murderer's money? Well, I like that. That's my money, Petsy. I earned it by giving Sanders the alibi. You want it? Oh, that's right, you did. Now, if you just sign the check, I'll get it into the mail right away. All right, then you can go home. It's too bad you had to miss the play, Petsy. Yes, it's a shame. It was a mystery, Nick. Honestly, I love mystery plays more than any other kind. Nick Carter, master detective, is presented each week at this time and over these same stations by the Karahi Packing Company, makers of new post-war Old Dutch cleanser. Nick Carter, master detective, produced and directed by Jock McGregor, is copyrighted by Street and Smith Publications Incorporated. Charlotte Manson is featured as Petsy. Ed Latimer plays Maddie. Today's script was written by Norman A. Daniels. Original music is played by Henry Sylvain. This program is fictional and any resemblance there into actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental. This is Bob Martin saying, when minutes count, use new post-war Old Dutch cleanser. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.