 Autolight and its 98,000 dealers bring you Mr. McDonald-Carrie in a story based on fact tonight's presentation of suspense Tonight with names and places changed Autolight presents the true story of a man who to all intents and purposes disappeared from the face of the earth The dramatization is called the missing person our star Mr. McDonald-Carrie Say Harlow, what's that little book for I have that's my mileage record And it's proved to me that it's mighty important to always make sure my spark plugs are functioning properly Well, what do you mean Harlow? Well spark plugs are the heart of a car's ignition system They've got to be right so I see my auto light spark plug dealer every few months He compares my spark plugs with the exclusive auto light plug check indicator And if he finds my spark plugs are worn out He puts in world famous ignition engineered Autolight spark plugs for smoother performance quick starts and gas saving you believe in top performance. Hey, Harlow I sure do happen. I know it pays So friends take a tip from me and have your spark plugs checked this week See your neighborhood auto light spark plug dealer and if replacements are needed have him install Standard or resistor type auto light spark plugs the spark plugs that are world famous for quality and performance And remember from bumper to tail light. You're always right with auto light And now with the missing person and the performance of Mr. McDonald-Carrie auto light hopes once again to keep you in so spends at Approximately 7 30 p.m. The Thursday night of March 10th 1948 Joseph Ebbner at the time 38 years of age said goodbye to his wife Martha and left his home at 1210 East Bethany Road in Burbank, California He drove a light gray sedan license plates 702 R3 228 over Cahuenga Pass to downtown Los Angeles his destination the Civic Auditorium Joseph Ebbner is a musician first violinist and concertmaster with the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra He was on his way to play in a concert Ebbner arrived at the auditorium a little after eight o'clock After changing into his dress suit He smoked a cigarette and mingled with his fellow musicians in the hall down under the stage a Few moments before the orchestra's conductor Maestro Carlo Finello raised his baton at 833 Joseph Ebbner excused himself He said he'd forgotten something back down in his locker He turned left the hall and was never heard from again My name is Dexter Phil Dexter. I'm a writer I've written columns for some of the biggest dailies in the country. You may have read some of my stuff Right now. I'm doing feature articles for a magazine called the real story About ten days ago the managing editor Brad Louvy called me into his office Phil sit down. Thanks Phil how much do you know about missing persons like will Rogers Brad all I know is what I read in the papers Well, thousands of people disappear every year. Some don't want to disappear and they do some want to disappear and they do But eventually they turn up dead or alive agreed Eventually 95% of them turn up again dead or alive week a month a year Even ten years later What about the other five percent Phil the five percent advantage and they're never heard from again. What about them? I don't know That's the story. I want Phil. Now. I got a list here from the police department Bureau of missing persons. Take a look at it List of names, right now. You've got your choice. Take any one of the names you want. I don't care who it is Well, how about this one here Ebbner Joseph Ebbner the musician? Okay, follow it up You try to find Joseph Ebbner Phil and if you find him Ask him why he disappeared? And so the search for Joseph Ebbner began again a one-man search. I Wasn't too familiar with Ebbner's case and needed briefing I spent the whole afternoon going through his file at the police department Bureau of missing persons It was one of the most comprehensive files in anyone's life. I've ever come across Information which began with Ebbner's birth in Evanston, Illinois in 1910 Up to and including the color of his socks the night of his disappearance in 1948 Under vital statistics, I learned that Ebbner was married to a woman named Martha. He had two children two boys ages 11 and 14 Three years before the night he disappeared. He purchased his own home in Burbank That's where I decided to start. I Don't understand this concern after four years that Joseph's been away from home such a concern I really don't understand it. Mr. Dexter. Oh look, Mrs. Ebbner if you'd rather not discuss not talk about it Well, that's ridiculous. That's all I've done for four years is talk about it All kinds of people have asked me about Joseph But why shouldn't they he's a fine musician? He's he's gone away for a little while. There's nothing to be ashamed of is there course not What kind of man is your husband, Mrs. Ebbner a good man, Mr. Dexter good to me good to his children He gives us everything was Is your husband a happy man, Mrs. Ebbner happy? He never complains. He's satisfied. He gives us everything Why would he have left I Don't know Are you sure he left of his own free will? He has everything a man could want Makes good money good children good home Why why just the year before he left we had the music room added on the music room. Yes, it's his Joseph composed music, you know beautiful music Would you like to see it very much good this way? Come in Isn't it beautiful mr. Dexter? See there's his stand his books His piano just as he left them the night he went away. I Want them to be just like that when he comes home Is this some of his music? Yes. Yes, that's something he's working on. I don't know what it is Do you play mrs. Ebbner? Oh, well just a little I was wondering would you like me to play Joseph's composition? Yeah, it's pretty isn't it mr. Dexter Yeah, but it's not finished Well, I'm sure he'll finish it when he gets home. I imagine he will I Don't even know what he calls it. There's something in pencil scratched across the top of this page Hildy Funny title. Well, maybe it's a name somebody knows he likes Who knows I wouldn't ask him mr. Dexter. He's sensitive about his music my husband is a sensitive musician Mrs. Ebbner may I borrow these sheets music? Are you a musician? No, no, I just thought maybe I might get a lead on something Mr.. Dexter Mr.. Dexter If the music should lead you to my husband Tell him that his wife and his children are waiting for him We'll be here Nothing will be different It'll be just like it always was If the music leads you to him Please tell him that I Will Mrs. Edna I Promise you I will I found out that the night of Joseph Ebner strange disappearance Maestro Carlo Fonello had conducted the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra The following afternoon I tried to get in to see Fonello, but he was in rehearsal for a concert He was giving me anything later that night. I managed to corner his personal manager Nikki Benson at the Civic Auditorium I don't know mr. Dexter All depends on his mood these orchestra conductors are moody people especially before a concert did you tell him who I was? Yes, I told him who you were and what you wanted, but I'm sure you understand course Joseph was his friend He loved him very much the Maestro himself chose Joseph as the concert master. I see excuse me My straw. Yeah, my straw. This is the man. I told you about. Oh, yes. Yes, come in, please come in You see he would like you to sit if you please thanks Now you you talk you say as I said, I told him who you are and why you're here Maestro Fonello, I understand you and Joseph Ebner were very good friends More than friends in your Dexter more than friends. Yes. Yes You you like wine. Oh, no, thank you. I don't care for any. Well, you excuse go right ahead You want to find the Joseph Yes, I do he was a perhaps a good friend of yours. No Then why four years ago? He disappeared long time. I'm a writer. I want to write a story about his disappearance That night that Joseph disappeared back in 48, let's go back to that night Maestro Did he talk to you when he arrived here at the auditorium? No, no, we did not talk but you saw him. Yes when I arrived the Joseph was in the musicians room I passed through they all say good evening Maestro. I say good evening. That was when you saw him. Yes I read the testimonies of the musicians. He'd spoken to that evening. It was just idle conversation nothing of importance The police have asked me these very same questions. I told them exactly what I have tell you I Understand he did some composing. Oh, yes, a little he has talent to compose music many times I have encouraged him many times. He has come to the Maestro for advice. Did he ever speak to you about this piece of music Maestro? No, this I do not recognize It's not finished. I Know it's good. I think he calls it Hildy Hildy This strange No, this I do not recognize Joseph did not discuss this music with me He wrote this his wife gave it to me Martha. Ah, yes, they're Martha a wonderful woman a good wife And it's too bad too bad You are one man in four years many men have tried to find Joseph. They have not find it No one will find now. I'm afraid the senior Dexter very much afraid Now you will excuse me, please, of course this way, mr. Dexter and thank you very much Maestro for now You will not find him The following day I went back to the Civic Auditorium I went through the entire place all by myself examining every exit talking with people who knew something about the case Then I had a bit of luck. I was introduced to a stage doorman the same stage doorman who had been on the door the night that Joseph Evner disappeared. Yeah, I'm just about run out of answers on this Business, I know you've probably been questioned about this thing hundreds of times thousands of times I went over the entire auditorium I was and you discovered that there's only one exit backstage that he could have left by all the others was locked Yes, but what about the front of the auditorium where the audience was sitting? I couldn't left that way couldn't have gotten out there somebody to see him You're positive that Evner didn't pass you going out the back door if he'd gone out that door I'd have seen him Impossible He must have left by some exit a person just doesn't disappear into thin air Yeah, that's the odd part about this whole thing. Mr. Dexter Evner left the green room now some of the musicians saw him leave He said he was going to his locker did he get to his locker nobody knows But it's impossible that a man Mr. Dexter That's what everybody said at the time the police the newspapers everybody says impossible don't happen A man just disappearing like that, but it did happen. Mr. Dexter. It really did. It happened just like that I felt pretty discouraged and I thought about what my so if another would said a lot of men Experts some of them and tried to find the answer and they couldn't How could I expect to find anything that would have led me to Joseph Evner? I Still had his unfinished piece of music But that looked like a blind spot, too. I Was back up in the office. It was about 830. I was sitting there when the phone rang Hello, Mr. Dexter. Yeah, Mr. Dexter. This is Nikki Benson. Oh, yeah, I don't know Maybe it's important or maybe it's not. I don't know but still it's strange What are you talking about? Well, Eric Richter just showed up in the musicians lounge Eric Richter. Yes Well, who's Eric Richter? He was one of Joseph Evner's closest friends What's so strange about his showing up? Well, this is the first time anyone has seen Richter in four years, Mr. Dexter Because he disappeared the same night that Joseph Evner did Autolight is bringing you mr. McDonald carry in the missing person tonight's production in radio's outstanding theater of thrills so Spence Say Harlow, what's the best way to save gas? Well, that's easy half walk But if you want to drive and save gas make sure your spark plugs are functioning properly And if they're not Harlow well Happ if they're worn out get them replaced with a set of ignition engineered auto light spark plugs like for example the auto light resistor type Why the resistor type Harlow the auto light resistor spark plug is one of the greatest Advancements in spark plugs for automotive use in the past 20 years. It gives smoother performance and gas savings That's mighty important right now. It's the auto light resistor for me Harlow good Hap and it's only one of a complete line of ignition engineered auto light spark plugs designed for every use So friends have your auto light spark plug dealer check your spark plugs this week 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. McDonald carry in Elliott Lewis's production of the missing person a true story well calculated to keep you in Mr. Benson, where's Richter? He left when the concert started. Oh, oh Tell me about him. Is he a musician? Yes. Well, that is that is he was a musician at one time Eric used to play the violin with the orchestra, but he had some kind of a stroke some years ago paralyzed his hands he He used to come around a lot see Joseph and talk to his friends in the orchestra the night that ebner disappeared Had this Richter come around. Oh, yes. He was here. I Was in the musicians lounge for a little while that night. I don't know if anybody else saw it or not I saw it Eric came in and stood at the door for a long time Then I saw Joseph go over to him and talk to him for a couple of minutes Then Joseph went back to where he was standing with some other musicians. I went through the police files and I don't remember I know I know I I didn't say anything to the police at the time I I didn't think it was important but tonight funny night when I saw him for the first time since the night that Joseph disappeared Then I thought to myself it was important It was important the night that ebner disappeared mr. Benson. You should have told the police then it may have been very important Benson gave me Richter's last known address. It was a cheap hotel on 3rd Street I went there the unshaven landlord told me that Eric Richter was in I Told Richter who I was and what I wanted to know Please sit down mr. Dexter. Thanks Sorry, I have nothing to offer you if I'd known I was to have a guest. I should have quite all right You understand my situation. I'm sure see I haven't worked and mr. Richter I want to ask you some questions about Joseph Joseph ebner Yes, dear Joseph He's not dead, you know, I believe as you do mr. Dexter you disappeared the same night that Joseph ebner disappeared mr. Richter What happened to you? I disappeared. This is news to me I disappear Nikki Benson told me that she used to go to the auditorium quite a bit to talk to your friends in the orchestra But that after ebner disappeared you just weren't speaking accuses if I had committed some crime mr. Dexter For four years. I have not chosen to see my friends. I have not seen them. That's all I See Mr. Richter when ebner disappeared four years ago. He was composing a piece of music I don't know what it was his wife Martha doesn't know either. Nobody seems to know maybe you do Here look at it. Oh You will have to hold it for me mr. Dexter Yeah You know I What is it mr. Dexter, I do you know what it is. No, it's nothing. It's just Is hilly a name look mr. Dexter. I don't know anything that will lead you to Joseph ebner Besides there's been enough suffering for his wife. Why should there be more suffering suffering? What do you mean suffer don't ask me to tell you it isn't right for me to tell me Richter, please Hildi Hildi mr. Dexter is a woman a woman Who is she? She's a woman who was more than a friend Joseph. Oh, I see No, no, you don't see it. Where is this hildi? I don't know. I haven't seen her in a long time With her now I don't know said something to you that night in 1948 back in the auditorium. What was it? He he told me he he had found an answer to his problem and that was the last you saw it Yes, yes, I never saw him after that and hildi. I Never saw hildi again Eric Richter gave me the last known address of the woman named hildi in four years a lot of things happen I was almost afraid to begin my search for Afraid of what I might find But it was my story. I had to follow it up. I went to the address that Richter had given me Yes, excuse me. I was looking for someone this was the last known address of this party Perhaps you might be able to help me trace her down. How long ago? Well, she lived here four years ago Well, that's a long time a lot of people moved in and out since then you remember name her name was Hildi Hildi Yes, do you remember she still lives here? Mean she still well, what's this strange about that got a lot of people in the building who've lived does she live alone? Partman 207, you know if she's in now and you can use those stairs over there. Thanks. Thanks Yes Is your name Hildi Dexter Phil Dexter? I'm a writer with the magazine the real story Yes, I'm looking for Joseph Ebbner Won't you come in mr. Dexter sit down? Thank you. How did you find me Eric Richter? I see and now you want to ask me a lot of questions I'm not a reporter. I'm writing an article for a magazine still there'll be questions. Yes First you'll want to know if I know where Joseph is No, I don't know mr. Dexter if I knew I'd tell you why would you tell me? No man possessed of his talent has the right to deny it to others. I see Then next you'll want to know no, no, that's not necessary Let me tell you how we first met It was at a party We were introduced At first it was just a casual acquaintance Then Joseph invited me to a concert. He told me of his family his love for children Why are you telling me all this because I want you to understand that we never did anything to be ashamed of Our relationship was a thing of music Music is what drew us together When was the last time you saw Joseph three nights before he disappeared Why didn't you go to the police? Tell them what you knew. There was nothing I knew that would have helped the police Joseph's wife loved him Why should it have been necessary for her to suffer anymore then there were the children I don't understand Don't you see mr. Dexter the others would wouldn't have understood a relationship like ours I've got something here. I'd like to show you. What is it? You knew of course that Ebbner did some composing He had many talent. Yes. I know did you know that he'd been composing this No Didn't very beautiful He named it Hildy I Can see It was for you. Please Where is Joseph Ebbner Hildy? Where is he mr. Dexter? I Told you I don't know If I did know I tell you I Don't know where Joseph is Miss him just to see him Nothing more Just to know that he's all right is enough It fills alone. I understand Thank you Hildy. I've tracked down the last hopeful bit of information that might have led me to Joseph Ebbner It still leads into a blind alley Joseph Ebbner may never be found now But he's out there Somewhere Somewhere at this very moment. He may be listening to the sound of my voice If any one of you who are listening should ever hear this piece of music being played Get in touch with your local authorities because You will have found Joseph Ebbner suspense a True story presented by auto light tonight star mr. McDonald carry 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 are the 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 In still other 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 Next week a story about courage The terrifying Normal operational flight of a bomber and her crew a dramatization of the flight of the bumblebee Starring mr. Fred McMurray The story will be heard on so Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with music composed by Lucian Morrowick and conducted by Ludlustin The missing person was written for suspense by Richard George Petticini Featured in tonight's cast were Irene Tedrow, Joseph Kearns, Jane Avello, Herb Vigran, Paula Winslow and Jim Nussar Macdonald Kerry may soon be seen in the 20th century Fox picture my wife's best friend And remember next week on suspense mr. Fred McMurray in the flight of the bumblebee by auto light standard type or resistor type spark plugs the auto light stay full battery Auto light electrical parts at your neighborhood auto light dealers switch to auto light. Good night This is the CBS radio network