 The Anchor-Hocking Glass Corporation brings you crime photographer. Hiya, Casey. Hiya, Edward. Well, I see you got the windows and mirrors all dolled up again for the holiday. Yeah, the same guy comes every winter and paints them for us. Like little Jack Frost. Huh? You remember, when you were a kid, they told you Jack Frost painted those ice flowers on the window. Hey, that's a good one. I'll try it on Tony. Hey, Tony, who's the famous artist that paints on glass? Well, that's easy, Jack Frost. And speaking of glass, everybody knows that Anchor-Hocking is the most famous name in glass. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is Tony Marvin. Every week at this time, the Anchor-Hocking Glass Corporation of Lancaster, Ohio, and its more than 10,000 employees, bring you another adventure of Casey crime photographer. A cameraman who covers the crime news of a great city. Written by Alonzo Dean Cole. Our adventure for tonight, the life of the party. One of the most interesting sections of our city is known as Whitaker Grain, with its winding streets and century-old houses where artists have established a colony. The more successful live and work in a narrow, dead-end alley called Getty's Close. And in the late afternoon, a familiar, battered-looking automobile pulls up near the entrance of Getty's Closet. I guess I have to park here, Annie. They don't let you drive into this alley. Well, I prefer to walk the rest of the way, Casey. I love to look at these old houses. You do. Well, I got my camera and stuff. Come on, let's go. Okay. Higgin Studio is that big stone barn at the dead end. I'm going to get a big thrill out of seeing your studio and meeting him again. I think Andre Higgins is our greatest living sculptor. Well, he was. He hasn't been producing top quality lately, though. The art critics say this new bronze group that you're going to interview him about is only run-of-the-mill. I know. It's a busy playing to really work, I guess. Yeah. It's a sweet-centered crowd he plays around with, too. I've never met any of him except his model, Marcel. Certainly no bargain. Oh, wait a minute. She's the only one who is a bargain. That gal's the most gorgeous brunette I've ever looked at. Really? Uh, well, I mean of her type, I think. I don't know how a cultured mature man like Andre Higgins can stand having her around, let alone be in love with her, as he apparently is. Well, at least she's not dangerous. I can't say that for one of Andre's other pals. Who? Blister Hogan. He's the pal of Andre Higgins? Seen together a lot. Oh, jasey. Blister Hogan's suspected of a couple of murders. The cops have been trying to nail him for years. Uh-huh. How can Higgins associate with a man like that? I don't know. He's a strange guy. Like all famous artists, he attracts parasites who live on reflected glory, either too weak or too good-natured to get in the brush-off again. Uh-oh. Hey, look at that guy. He just came out of Higgins' place, didn't he? He must be headed for a costume party. Yeah, look at the green velvet pants on him. He's fantastic in that bright yellow smart and a red beret. If he goes outside of this deserted alley, a cop will pinch him for obstructing travel. Annie. What are you doing with that big knife? He stabbed himself, Annie. Quick, come on, guys. Look at the sidewalk. I can see the knife handle sticking out of his chest. He drove that blade right into his heart. We gotta get a doctor quick. This guy came out of Higgins' place, punched that doorbell, Annie. The door's open. Hello, Casey. Andre, come in. I saw you two from my window, so I... What's happened here? This guy just committed suicide. We saw him do it. Good heavens. Well, who is he? Why did he come out of your bedroom column? Our student. Student? What, he looked at least 50 years old. At that age, you say that, Mr. Higgins. He liked women to think of him as, uh, young. He was the life of every party he attended. That should be his epitaph. He was the life of the parties. What more? Well, he's gone, and there's nothing we can do to bring him back. Come inside and meet some friends of mine. We're having cocktails. Uh, what can I make for you, Mr. Higgins? Mr. Higgins? Wait a minute, Andre. You knew this guy. He just killed himself in front of your door. And it was most inconsiderate of him. Oh, hi. I know you think I'm callous, but I'm a realist. Okay. Now that I've spoken so frankly, how about a cocktail? We'll skip it. Definitely. Well, now, apparently, I've shocked you. Ah, my guests are coming out. Why are you staying outside so long, Andre? Yeah, what's the big idea? Andre, I want you to make me another drink. Please, please. Hello, myself. How old are you? Why is Bert lying on the sidewalk? He's committed suicide, myself. A knife in his chest? He stabbed himself, Tom. Of course, Sam. Did it because of Marcel, I suppose? Probably, Daisy. Well, I could not help it if he was in love with me, and I did not want to make marriage with him. You, my heart, belong to Andre. He should have. You tell the world you're harping on to Andre when Andre's around. How do you mean at last, David? Never mind. Uh, it's written, Higgins. You, uh, know Marcel, of course. Yeah? He's got their mind of painting. Send me three of them. I, uh, don't think you've met Mrs. Leland Carmichael. Noted for her wealth, the five husbands she's divorced, and, uh, bulk at a sleigh of diamonds. Gals who can get husbands get them, Andre, and gals can buy diamonds were'em. Glad to meet you, John. Call me Daisy. And, uh, this is Tom Thompson. He's an ear-opist and, uh, a bad one. Candor can sometimes be more unpleasant than refreshing, Andre. Nice to know you, Miss William. Miss Casey, thanks. No, let us all go inside and get the drinks. Oh, wait a minute. We'll have to do something about poor bird, won't we? Oh, that's Father Leland Leland. Oh, I've never met such as callous inhuman people in my life. Neither have I, and Higgins, I never could figure you, but I kidded myself you were the right guy. Now, I see you're nothing but a louse. As for these characters, you're called your friend. Why, get out of my way. I'm going into your joint and call a cop. I'm going with you. What? Oh, they're laughing. Yeah. Man, hey, look at the dead guy. He's getting up. The handle, that knife, still picking up. It's a gag. Oh, no. You fell for it, John. Miss William Casey, meet the late Coughbird Fallon. Oh, me, oh, me. If you could see yourself, you thought I'd done a harry-carry. Your collapsible knife trickin' a little ready can make it look better. Yeah. The knife blade slipped into the handle when I hit myself. See? We're gonna find a pair of dull skates. You don't pay a thing. Bird cooked up the joke when I mentioned you were coming, and we watched for you. Oh, I hope you're not stalling. Oh, no. Anything but. We can take it. And you certainly handed it out. Yeah. Oh, you'll get a laugh on somebody else before you leave here. I'll see to that. You could depend on Bird. He is quite a prankster. Yeah, I know a million gags. Our little bird loves fun. Well, why shouldn't I, Daisy? Fun never hurt anybody. That's a debatable question. What do you mean, Tom? Oh, do not talk so much, Bird. That's all I'm going to say. Come on, I want a drink. Let's come in. Casey, Miss William. Oh, close the door, Tom, and keep the common people out. What a lovely studio you have with the higgins. It's so big. Oh, thank you. Come on. Say, where's Blister? Oh, I forgot him. Here I am. Oh, he's sitting behind that statue. Miss William? Casey? Let me present Mr. Hopen. We already know Blister, Hopen. I'd like the gag they pull on you, Casey. Pretty good, huh? Good enough we fell for it. I know. I was watching from the window. Why didn't you come outside with the others? You'd have made the gag better. That's how. Well, if I'd seen you around, I'd have thought Bird fell and phoned his suicide with a murder. Why would you have thought that? You've done several jobs of killing, haven't you? Cops never proved it. They'll get the goods on you some day. You're luck will run out. I don't like this kind of talk. Listen. I am a good-natured guy. You never lose this temper. Casey saw it because Bird's suicide gag made him look like a sap and he's trying to needle me to get even. But I'm a good sport. I can take things as they come and laugh with... Oh! What's the matter? My foot! My foot's on fire! Fuck foot gag, Blister. I snuck up and stuck a match in your shoe. I told you, Casey, you'd get a laugh on somebody else. You love these little... Come on out! Come on out! Let him go, Blister. Let go of him or I'll hit him. Okay, Casey. Sorry, everybody. The joke's on me. Have a drink with me, Bird. Oh, pal. Let's all have a drink. Come on. They met you one of my best friends. Listen, what I feel about little man if you had stopped him, Casey. Yeah. We really stepped into something when we came here today. I'll say we did. I'd like to get out of here, Casey. Yeah, so would I. I mean, I came here for an interview and until you get it, we'll understand. I know. I think they haven't been able to pin Higgins down. He's all over the place. So is everybody else. How can a man like Higgins put up with such people? They have no talent, no intellect, nothing to recommend. Daisy, that big overstuffed gal told me this was Dear Andrews Inner Circle. Casey, do you think all those diamonds that Daisy wears are the real things? No, she told me their imitation. Except the big headlights she wears on her finger. That's a lot of carrots to the real McCoy. She says she's superstitious. She always wears it because her first husband gave it to her for luck. You're taking a big chance wearing anything valuable around a crook like Blister Holden. And I wouldn't plus that Marcel very far either. You don't like Marcel, do you? I have a message a phony. Look at her over there. Chewing gum like a chopping machine and playing foody foody with Thompson. Seems to be a little double timing going on with that young artist. She's been Higgins gal for a long time. Here comes Higgins. Well, what are you two doing there by yourself? Your body sort of wanted away from us, Andrew. People do scatter out in this big barn. Come on, the barn. Let me free your glasses. And now, thanks for working, people. I got to get that story from you, Mr. Higgins. I know. Now, you comply with me with questions over there. Is that a promise? Yes, it's been a promise. Come on, now. Well, OK. Hi, Daisy. I found him in the jungle and I'm bringing him back alive. Good luck, Mr. Chewing. Marcel, Tom, you gather around, too. Come, Javi. How do I want that? The master's voice. I'm not going to get that into you, OK? Not right now. Blister! Blister! What do you want? I'm gathering the clan. Come to the bar. Oh, I was grabbing a nap. I'm gathering the clan. I'm bringing him the sheep. Higgins has got himself a soup bowl. I was Daisy. Now that we're all together, knock, knock, knock, quiet all of you, please. Now that we're all together, my dearish friend, we're not all here. Where's Bird? Oh, yeah, yeah. Now where's Bird? Oh, hey, hey! Bird! Oh, now we need Bird, Marcel. He's always the life of the party. The party's better without his kind of life. No unfunny comedy, no practical joke. Tom! Bird's a cow. Yeah, maybe you're a cow. The last gag he pulled handed me as well, last. Your foot still feel hot, Blister? Yeah, that was very funny, Daisy. The way you took it, it was. Trying to kill the poor twerk. Lay off, will you? Maybe I'd better. No, on your reputation. Well, I gotta find Bird. Bird! Where is Bird? Sorry. Sorry while I'm busy. Can you speak to me if I speak with you? Okay, myself. Will somebody ever speak of chewing gum? Oh, let's look up. Nobody uses each button. We sometimes get the benefit of it after you've used it. You shouldn't stick the wads of it on kids. Huh. Don't my glass so, Tom, here. Ow! What's the matter? My ring, my ring's gone. Your ring? Perfect time of the real one. You had it on me. You were talking to me, Daisy. I know it, Casey. I was talking to you. You weren't worried about Bird. He would hold my hand after you left. He slipped it off. Bird wouldn't steal a ring. Well, of course he wouldn't. Tom, it's another as unfunny joke. Where is our ring? Let me get my hands on him. Not that hand me, you lad. Oh, shallow, Blister. Oh, shallow. Casey. Yes, I'm back? Come here. What is it? I've just found Bird. Dead. Dead? Is this another gag? No. He's not breathing. I think he's been murdered. Our story will continue in just a moment. Nothing is quite so comforting as a good hot cup of coffee, particularly the first thing in the morning, but that's the very time of day when everyone is in a hurry. Well, here's a way to enjoy delicious coffee with no fuss or bother of any kind and in a matter of moments. Simply take a cup, a spoon, and a glass jar of soluble coffee. Put a spoonful of coffee in a cup and add hot water, and that's all there is to it. But make sure to buy your soluble coffee in a glass jar. Glass jars are easy to open. A quick turn of your wrist and the coffee is ready. And then, too, your spoon fits easily and conveniently into the wide top of the jar. No trouble in measuring. And last but not least, glass jars protect the flavor and freshness of soluble coffee perfectly against moisture or contamination of any kind. Now, most of the better packers of soluble coffee protect their product by using clean, sanitary, anchor glass containers and anchor caps. Both products of anchor hocking. The most famous name in glass. I found a line here behind the statue. This is you, C.M. Casey. Oh, you said all right. A knife for a stroke. And just the right spot in so he'd make no sound. Who could have killed him? It had to be someone here, myself. Definitely. You tried to kill him earlier this evening, Blister. Don't you point the finger at me, Casey. You've been suspected of other killings. I'll be careful, Tom. You did it, please. I didn't. I swear I didn't. I think the consul made it on you. If all of you are against me, accuse me, maybe the will. But I'm given a no chance of doing a lamb. You're not leaving here. Yes, I am. You've got to go and take it. Leave away from me, all of you. I'm taking a rap for something I didn't do. I'm getting out of here. Anyone who tries to stop me gets a bullet... Oh, oh! You shot him. One has the right to shoot in the escaping measure. Luckily, I had a gun. Call the police, Casey. Okay, okay. The job of shooting you did. You caught Blister squarely between the eyes. That's the complete story, Casey. I don't think I've left out anything, Logan. What do you say, Miss William? I can think of nothing that Casey hasn't told you, Captain. No. Sergeant, have you finished searching those two bodies? Just now, Captain. There's no diamond ring on the guy who was stabbed or on Blister Huggland either. I'll have the man do a detailed search of his studio for us. Captain. You know, that ring may have no connection with Fallon's stabbing, do you see? Look, Logan, when a hunk of ice worth a good 15 grand is missed at about the same time that a guy suspected of taking it is found murder. I know. Casey, do you think Blister killed Bert? Well, Logan, I did. I fell in line with everybody else who was accusing him and I wasn't thinking, then. Well, now I... I don't know. But you'll testify that Higgins was justified in shooting Blister. I'll have to. That was a murder suspect. He threatened us with a gat and he tried to escape. I'd have shot him myself if I'd had a gun. Not as accurately as Higgins did. That was good shooting. Higgins told us he does a lot of pistol practice. He told me that when he shot me his permit for the gatties. You say Higgins discovered Fallon's mother? It's no police. Surgeon says Fallon was dead at least 15 minutes before the discovery was made. I think Higgins had anything to do with it. I'm simply thinking, Mr. Higgins. Nobody recalls seeing anybody near the spot where Fallon was found. Now we were all scattered all over this barn of a place, Logan, moving around, you know what the body's like. Everyone, excepting yourselves, has been drinking pretty heavily and was inclined to be quarreled. Marcel hadn't had much to say. Too busy crunching gum. Higgins wasn't quarreled. And he was tight. Until he found the body, that's so pretty much. Yeah, it naturally would. Fat Gal had lost a ring. He had a lot of dough. What about Thompson? Thompson's an art student. He goes in for surrealism, that kind of stuff. Go for that Marcel, babe. Yeah. Captain, Captain Logan. Yes, Sergeant? They just found a ring. Is it a diamond ring? There's no diamond in it, sir. The stone's been pried out. Pried out? What do you see? Here. Wrong. It's been forced to pry. That's the setting that held Daisy's diamond, Logan. Bring the Fat Gal in here, Sergeant. Bring all the witnesses in here. Yes, sir. Well, it proves that ring wasn't simply lost. It doesn't prove, but it certainly indicates. And how, Logan? Look, Bert Fallon slipped the ring off Daisy's finger as a joke, but somebody saw him do it and got an idea. And that somebody killed the little guy, took the ring, pried out the $15,000 stone because it was easier to conceal, and he just sat tight. Then when Fallon's dead body was discovered, it was a cinch that blister would be immediately suspected and accused of the murder. And if he'd gotten away with his run-out, even for a short time, no one would believe that he hadn't stolen the diamond in addition to knifing Fallon. Now, Higgins' gunshot spoiled things to the real thief and killer. Sure, because blister was killed before he could leave this studio in your search of his body proves he didn't have the diamond. Now, if your theory is right, it eliminates Higgins and the Fat Gal. He had no reason to steal her own diamond. He leaves only Thompson and Marcelle. Yeah, yeah. Casey, I think your theory is 100 percent. Thanks, Eddie. All right. It's fine. All right. Now, let's go over and meet him halfway. Now, you people sit down. That was comfortable. Oh, thank you. Here's your pet chair, Marcelle. Oh, thank you, Tom. Have you found my ring, Captain? Uh, we haven't found your diamond, Mrs. Rieland Carmichael. Oh, dear. They will find it. Oh, I hope so. And you know it's my luck. I'm going to ask a few personal questions, starting with you, Mr. Thompson. All right. Have you any money of your own? That is personal. I can get it from other sources if you don't tell me. I'm an ardent, a bad one many people think I'm always broke. Yeah. Thanks. What's your financial status, Marcelle? Well, I have only what I make as a model, and what do you say he's going to give me besides? What do you give her besides, Mr. Higgins? I am. I'm afraid I haven't been very generous with it, Marcelle. Oh, but you have, Sherry. $100 a month just for spending money. You give me any diamonds? No. I do not care for diamonds. Any woman who says that is a lie. Do not say I lie, please. Pipe down. Marcelle. Thompson. Huh? Which of you two has that stolen diamond? Stolen diamond. Which one of us? Love won't do you any good. You hand it over or must we search the Tobias? Oh, I have never been so incestuous. Search me immediately. I demand that you search me. You seem very sure of yourself. Of course she's sure. Would you steal anything, Captain? We're going to see about that, Mr. Higgins. Sergeant sent for a matron to search this girl. Right, Captain. Say, Logan, maybe you can save yourself a lot of trouble. Huh? A quick way to hide a diamond would be to wrap it in a wad of chewing gum. Chewing gum? Yes. There's one on the edge of Marcelle's favorite chair. Let's see. Marcelle is the only one here who chews that stuff. I put nothing inside my chewing gum. Well, someone put something inside this wad. Get a knife, Logan. Scrape the stuff off. I didn't. I swear I didn't. It's a diamond. It's my diamond. I didn't. I didn't. Well, we'll go into that at headquarters, Marcelle. Thoroughly. I'm taking you there now. No, don't let me, Marcelle. I have me. Wait. I stole that diamond, Captain. You, Thompson? Yeah. I hid it where you found it. Now, let Marcelle go. You think this Thompson's confession was just a noble act? Okay. Oh, sure. Of course it was, Albert. So is Logan. Yeah, it's all mine. Thompson's so crazy about that phony Marcelle. He'll go to the chair to protect her. Maybe they both done it together. You say the suspects was eliminated down to just them two? On the basis of my theory. But I can't see her doing it cold-bloodily for no better motive than a diamond too hot to wear and too hot to sell. Well, she could have had a double motive, Casey. You and Miss Williams say the dead guy was one of them practical jokers. Ain't you ever wanted to knock off one of them pests? Applebird has something there, Casey. Yeah. Yeah, maybe a lot. Excuse me, I'm going for a walk. I'll go with you. No, no, no. I want to be alone. Thank you. Come in, Casey. Thanks, Andre. Disturbing your work. Well, I'm scarcely in the mood for work after what happened here last evening. Anyway, I've been away from the studio until a few minutes ago. I was down to jail with Marcelle. Oh. How is she today? She feels utterly friendless even things I'm against her. You're trying to help her. You believe she's innocent? Naturally. How does she feel about Thompson? The idiot's phony grandstand confessions sprinkled in the circumstantial case against her. That was a net result of it. Mind if I sit down on the couch? Oh, yes. Please do. Oh, are you paying me this unexpected but welcome visit as a newspaper man or as a friend, Casey? This is a guy. Andre, what's your frank opinion of Mrs. Leland Carmichael Daisy? My all-around good fellow? Very superstitious, isn't she? That's very... So I gathered from her talk about that ring. I kind of got on my nerves last night. She's too calm and she's too bossy. Daisy can be a bit trying. Marcelle, a million dollars worth of looks and quarters worth of brains. She'd be hard to take as a steady diet. Really, Casey? Lister was hard to take in Thompson and Bert Fallon, but all these people had fastened onto you like leeches. What are you driving at? Just this. You saw a chance to get rid of all of them in one sweep last night and you took it. You got Daisy's diamond, you planted it to frame Marcelle, you killed Fallon, and then Lister, so you could be free. How will you prove this idea of yours? A cop will prove it when I sell them off. I haven't done that yet. I'll just bring it on you first and see how you react. Your face has told me that my fear is good. What does this reaction tell you? I thought the cops impounded that gun you killed Lister was. They did. This is another. No one else will realize the motive for what I did. I didn't kill for profit because of hatred. I simply had to be free to the friends who are wrecking my life. They were driving me mad. That was two weeks you cowardly to send them away. Now you threaten my freedom, so I must kill again. Oh, you don't? You broke out his gun, sir, to get the cops on it yet. Oh, don't, Captain. Logan, I was beginning to think you would make your play just a little too late. You, you policemen were hiding it. Yeah. That ourselves in here while you were visiting Marcelle at the jail. Casey, you said you hadn't told anyone. I'll never trust the newspaper guy, Andre. We're terrible liars. You'll join the crowd of the Blue Note in just a moment. One week from tonight when we join you on the air, it'll be Christmas, but there are still five shopping days ahead. And if you put off any of your Christmas shopping until this last hectic week is a very simple pollution. Between now and Christmas, your favorite chain store, department store, and other stores selling Chinaware and glass will be featuring the amazing new anchor glass heatproofed in aware known as J-dice. And that spells J-A-D-E-I-T-E. J-dice. Now, J-dice has the beauty of buying Chinese porcelain. It has the color of oriental jade, yet it is as sturdy as the Fire King oven glass you use for baking. And J-dice prices will be particularly easy on your Christmas budget. For instance, a complete 35-piece service for six costs less than $5. And J-dice in open stock is unbelievably low in cost. So be sure to ask for J-dice by name J-dice, the newest triumph of anchor hocking. The most famous name in glass. I gave you your notion about Higgins, Casey. You sure did, Oliver. When you said everybody would like to kill pests. Yeah, but nobody does kill them. They just say they'd like to. Well, that's always an exceptional person. A fact naturally only realized by an exceptional person like, uh, Miss Casey. Exactly, Miss Williams. And thank you, Miss Williams. You're welcome. Well, anyway, when I started to think seriously, a pest extermination is a motive. The parts that hadn't fit fell right into place. There's two parts that don't fit for me. Yeah, but then Higgins killed Fallon, framed Marcel for the murder and robbery, and then shot Blister Hoagland to make the frame stick. That three pests he'd figured out of his way, but he wanted to be rid of two more. Thompson and Daisy. Well, Marcel was the attack that made Thompson hang around Higgins' place. Once she was removed, he'd be removed. And Daisy was intensely superstitious. He'd never risk her luck around Higgins again. Oh. I don't approve of Higgins' methods, Casey, but I got sympathy for his feelings. Oh, how I'd like to make a clean sweep of a lot of pests. Good night, apple bird. Yeah. Oh, good night, great. Great. And John Gibson is Apple Bird. Herman Chiddison is the blue note for Yanis. Salvation Army Kettles are here. Help bring the other million a bit of Christmas cheer. Let's make this Christmas a happy one for our American kids by dropping a coin in a Salvation Army Christmas Kettle. This is Tony Marvin, saying good night for the anchor-hawking glass cooperation of Lancaster, Ohio, with offices in all principal cities of the United States and San Kenneth. The PBS Columbia Broadcasting System.