 Suspense tonight suspense brings you mr. Kirk Douglas as star but first a brief message from your announcer in America's finest hotels and restaurants wherever hospitality is the last word in luxury the first name in wines is CRE S.T.A. B.L.A.N.C.A. Cresta Blanca Cresta Blanca when you proudly poor Cresta Blanca California Burgundy or Sautern you pay guests the most gracious compliment possible for Cresta Blanca wines from the finest of the vines distinguish America's finest tables that's why when you serve Cresta Blanca wines you and your friends enjoy the best Shanley's Cresta Blanca wine company Livermore California and now Shanley brings you radio's outstanding theater of thrills suspense presented by Roma Wines that's R.O.M.A. Roma Wines of Fresno, California tonight starring mr. Kirk Douglas in the story of Markham's death a suspense play produced edited and directed for Shanley by William Spear you say Phil Martin's run dry well I didn't make it up my wife got it for a man hasn't written a word in six yes and I got it from Peters and his publisher they dropped him from their spring list well bye bye deed of American mystery writers I'm glad to see him go Phil Martin I thought that guy'd write from the grave I don't understand I guess it happens to the best of us hope he saved his money but I suspect he hasn't Phil Martin run dry I don't get it I don't get it no I didn't get it either unless you border on that fringe of abnormality which marks you as a writer you can't possibly understand the complete futility you feel when your talent is suddenly turned off like a water spot I spent as much time staring at the blank paper in my typewriter as I ordinarily spent in writing an entire novel oh and could sympathize with me because she loved me but I didn't need and stupid sympathy I'm sure it's only temporary temporary and I can't even write a decent ten-word telegram and it's no use and I'm afraid I'm through no you can't be not anyone as great as you though maybe you've done too much darling maybe a rest why don't you rest for a few months I've been resting well I mean get away yes that's my last chance dear I'm going to do just that I'm going abroad abroad oh honey when are we going we aren't going I am you're Philly is this a way of letting I mean oh don't worry dear I'm not running out on you I'll just be gone for a few months oh well just a few months yes alone and I told you when I first met you I'm a complex person I'm difficult to understand yes yes dear I know that I but I thought I understood you well you can't nobody can but I love you and I love you and but that doesn't change matters I'm going to England for a few months by myself you don't have a thing to worry about you keep your apartment and wait for me the rents paid through the first of the year I'll be back before that and Fleming was the beautiful not overly intelligent type of girl I've associated with since my divorce her only family was a half brother a petty hoodlum whose habit of always wearing gloves one of the imposing nickname of kid gloves that hadn't helped when he ran his car into a storefront killing two people just to block them where he'd held up a tavern kid gloves had gone to jail three months before I met and to serve 40 years for manslaughter and robbery a very corny plot the whole thing including and as I roamed around London I thought maybe a visit in this city of great mystery tradition would be my answer and it was the second day while wandering around aimlessly in the bomb doubt and still unrepaired section of Bloomsbury I stumbled onto my last inspiration quite by accident say when was all this hit right at the start of the wall sir oh then this isn't the bomb damage law no donny it's meant to pick the old house across the street at it the first time Jerry come over I'd almost say it was the first house to be in the war well it did it take only one bomb to level it like that well how many do you think it takes I've cleaned it up a bit now old house that too built back in 1750 really pretty well now lots of yanks made their digs there before the war that is thank you riders stayed there once when he was here what was his name ducky EP no no poll poll so you don't mean Edgar Allan Poe do you that's him that's him well Edgar Allan Poe once stayed in that house that's right American writer acquaintance of yours well well hardly a contemporary what oh nothing my little helmet was playing in the rubble there Tuesday last and dug out a box of junk maybe some of it was Mr. Poe's like to see it why yes certainly well it's vaguely possible I look through the battered steel box the woman provided me with a cup of tea as I spread the contents out in front of me it was thrilling somehow to think that these dusty things perhaps had once belonged to the man who had invented the detective story more than a hundred years ago as she went out and I replaced the trinkets I snagged the faded musty gray satin lining of the box and accidentally tore it trying to get it back together I only ripped it further I put my hand under the lining to straighten it something fell out it was a waterproof packet containing three yellowed sheets of paper written in a small fine hand at the bottom of the third page was the name Edgar Allan I slipped the packet into my pocket and returned the box oh find anything no just as you said a lot of worthless trinkets oh by the way I I ripped the lining as I was putting everything back oh that's all right oh no I'd like to give you something for your trouble and for my clumsy damage here and thank you so much five quid oh I say five quid but the old thing probably ain't worth a trip in a bit well your time your trouble in your courtesy are though thank you very much but five quid oh I say five pounds for an original Edgar Allan Poe manuscript it was a short story written by Poe during his brief stay in England many years before his rise and subsequent fall as I read and reread the manuscript I realized that it was an experiment in a completely new mystery technique here in effect was what Paul T. had never discovered in his thesis on the existence of only 32 basic dramatic situations suddenly I realized I was the only one who knew this story and that I could put it to better use than as a museum piece why here indeed was the 33rd situation why in my hands it could blossom forth as a novel of Fiona radio play I was about to be reborn and literary immortality was at my fingertips I began writing in London and all the way back home it took me six months to complete my work and then with everything finished I burned the original Poe composition and sent the novel off to the publisher then I called down will it be a big success darling big success well I've never been as confident of anything in my life I told you a rest was all I needed a change of scenery I'm glad I'm so glad I'm sorry dear oh look look and I'm going to be pretty busy for the next few weeks now I won't be able to see you very often I haven't but we'll see well I'm going to the mystery writers banquet tonight and tomorrow well okay but I'll come over for you an eight o'clock and for once will you try to be ready on time every year on the anniversary of Edgar Allen Poe's book the mystery writers of America hold a bank similar to the Academy Award banquet instead of awarding Oscars they give edgars for the outstanding works of the year all of a sudden everybody was looking at me I have a special Edgar to give this special award goes to the first writer to discover a new and startling different approach to the mystery story since the death of our patron saint the great Edgar Allen Poe himself Philip Martin for your novel Markham's death a special Edgar for an idea plagiarized from Edgar Allen Poe the end had justified the means and I knew that the original manuscript was now only ashes I was the only one who had ever seen it I was completely happy and enjoying my victory after the banquet in the quiet of my own home yes speaking this is Dr. Selgrove Dr. Selgrove yes I'm head of the Academy of American Letters I want to congratulate you Mr. Martin I was at the banquet tonight oh well thank you sir yes indeed I've been collecting data on Edward Allen Poe all my life your work was in the finest traditions of Poe well that is the supreme compliment doctor Mr. Martin what did you find behind the lining in that steel box in London what it was you wasn't it what I don't know what you're talking about yes in the truest Poe tradition so much so that I have reason to believe your idea was once pose now look doctor I I hope you haven't spread this misinformation around why you're wrong of course but well even the faintest suggestion could do me a repable harm well look how do you want me to disprove this ridiculous acquisition that will be fine doctor I'll be there around nine and as I set the receiver back on the hook I wondered just how much he actually knew and what I would have to do to silence him suspense Roma wines are bringing you Mr. Kirk Douglas in the story of Markham's death Roma wines presentation tonight in radio's outstanding theater of thrills suspense suspense radio's outstanding theater of thrills is presented by Roma wines that's our OMA Roma wines from the world's greatest reserves of fine wines now that autumn is here you'll be spending more evenings at home reading listening to the radio or entertaining friends now here's an easy delightful way to make the most of these pleasant hours simply serve delicious Roma California wines such as glorious Roma sherry with its nut-like taste ruby red Roma port or mellow Roma muscatel yes you'll find that Roma wines really help an evening along that's because Roma wines taste better they have a full rich body and fragrant bouquet you can find only in a fine wine tomorrow give your family and friends a real surprise treat them to better tasting Roma wines that's our OMA Roma wines America's largest selling wines and now Roma wines bring back to our Hollywood soundstage Kirk Douglas as Philip Martin in the story of Markham's death a play well-calculated to keep you in suspense the hands of the clock on the wall seem drug they move so slowly that day my appointment with Dr. Selgrove was for 9 p.m. I was to be at Anne's at 8 I figured about 20 minutes would wipe that slate clean I'll be ready in a minute I said I'd be here at 8 oh dear it's made already is it yes it's after a I thought it was only about 7 30 I'll hurry well there's no reason are we going out no and we're not going out as a matter of fact we're never going out again what I'm sorry and this is the last time we'll see each other but I went Phil I've I've I've told everyone told everyone that we were going to be married well you shouldn't have did I ever say I'd marry you know I was married once and it doesn't work for me this would be different what did I don't think so you see and you're taking up too much of my time but I wouldn't get in the way Phil you know you're also taking up too much of my thoughts I've probably hit that bad slump a few months ago because of you oh it wasn't your fault it was mine for not realizing it you really mean now look what about me what am I going to do you get over it here this should help take it just what you like a roll of nice clean you $50 bills feel better now you think you can buy everything with money don't well you can't and stop drumming with that letter opener well it takes care of everything doesn't it we're still friends no no we'll never be friends Phil Martin you're rotten you're rotten and you're conceited I said I don't like scenes goodbye as I left for a part and I paused to look at my watch it was 830 I noticed a man fade back into the darkness of a doorway but outside of the fact that he looked vaguely familiar I thought nothing more of it I felt as though a weight had been lifted from my shoulders at least from one shoulder and I was on my way to lift the weight from the other one the Academy of American letters was just a short distance from man's apartment Mr. Martin yes I take it you're Dr. Selgrove that's right sit down Mr. Martin I'll stand thank you you were at the banquet last night I remember seeing you and when I saw you I knew my search was over you fit the description just like the missing piece in a jigsaw puzzle I knew you were the man Mrs. Carruthers described who is Mrs. Carruthers the woman who gave you the steel box the box which must have contained the Edgar Allen Poe manuscript you so skillfully rewrote preposterous you deny that you were in London no but all that you found the box and examined it well no but I Mr. Martin a proper district and woman like Mrs. Carruthers couldn't forget a man who gave her five pound she could forget seeing him slip a packet into his pocket that is until someone came along and gave her ten pound to refresh her memory for ten pounds she probably dreamed up the whole story look you say you know something of Poe then you know that the time he spent in London was long before his prominence as an author why for all we know he didn't write a line during his entire stay there Mr. Martin I've devoted my life to gathering information about Edgar Allen Poe it's my hobby as well as my job I've been looking for one missing manuscript for a long time a manuscript whose existence I learned by quite by chance what are you talking about this letter which Edgar Allen Poe wrote to a cousin in Boston during his London visit fine piece isn't it well what about it let me read it to you he says my new theory for a tale of murder is a form of induction as opposed to deduction I refer to it as marcomism after the title character my first draft manuscript is stored behind a satin curtain built of steel to age and mellow until such a time as I may produce it without being turned mad I see you were overconfident Martin calling your novel Markham's death not only didn't you change the process you didn't even alter the name and if I should admit to all this what would be your price now mr. Martin money's of no consequence I'm a student a collector of American letters all I want from you is the manuscript impossible in return for my everlasting silence possessing the manuscript is payment enough I have no desire to ruin you unless of course it should become necessary for me to do so how would I know you wouldn't show it certainly you don't question my word the manuscript has been destroyed don't expect me to believe that it's the truth I burned it well if you want to be difficult I won't agree with you mr. market Martin pity you won't cooperate I'll just put this letter back in the safe and then tomorrow well we'll see panic fled with the return of code logic Dr. Selgrove was unquestionably dead I had to act quickly because speed was essential I knew that from what I myself had often written I took the letter in pocket it to be burned later in the privacy of my own home there will be no suspicious ashes for the police to sift the bookend was the only thing I touched I carefully fill the wash basin with hot water and drop the bookend into it smearing and obliterating any fingerprints now I had to work backwards the average murderer establishes his alibi first but in my case I had to establish it behind me and cover my time most people are careless about exact times and can be off many minutes especially in the recollection have you ever looked at your watch then had someone asked you the time only to find that you had to look again yes and would work as my alibi I couldn't confide in her but she was careless about time but what are the man I'd seen in your hall at 830 suddenly I knew it was Anne's brother kid gloves Fleming now that I thought about it I knew I recognized him from his pictures he'd obviously escaped from prison and had gone to Anne for help yes and would be more than happy to say I'd been with her until a quarter to nine unobserved I hurried back to her apartment house in front of the building I hailed a passing taxi and entered at precisely 9.5 the Milford Club on 59 not many taxis in this neighborhood are there were you waiting long 10 or 15 minutes I I wanted to be at the club by 9 it's almost that now that all I thought it was later oh well I'll get you there fast oh that's all right there's no hurry anything mr. Martin oh good evening Henry well not many coats being checked tonight are there no sir but look at all those hats let me see hmm seems as though I've misplaced my watch have you the time Henry why sure it's 20 minutes after 9 oh thanks I seem to be losing everything tonight oh what's wrong well I've dropped my notebook oh I must have dropped it in that taxi was it important well just to me I had some personal notes in there look I wonder Henry if you'd call the cab company for me and ask if it's turned in sure thanks my name and address I engraved in the cover as a matter of fact I even recall the name of the driver it struck me as unusual it was Alonzo P Alonzo I'll take care of it thanks oh and you might add that I'll post a $25 reward then I went down to see Lieutenant John Kirkland of Homicide we'd been classmates and I'd spent many an evening at headquarters discussing our favorite subject crime well well well hello hello Phil are you Johnny anything on the docket just routine mind if I sit in I want to get my mind off and and well what's matter you know Johnny the usual I I wrote Finney to our little romance and well she wasn't too happy about it still a dog with the women a kid oh say hey this is a coincidence remember that wild kid brother of Ann is kid brother oh oh you mean the one they call kid gloves well I remember reading about him why well he broke out of jail late this afternoon oh say Ann will certainly be worried else you won't have to worry anymore what yeah they caught him down at the railroad station trying to get out of town what are they bringing him in yeah stiff oh yeah the poor fool decided to shoot it out and he picked a crack shot like O'Malley to draw on oh well is O'Malley all right oh sure O'Malley's always all right but the kids dead this is gonna be tough on Ann even though they didn't get along he's still there her brother she'll get over it I guess it's better this way it's funny thing though he was still wearing those kid gloves and he had a roll of new $50 bills that would choke a horse now I understood Ann's brother had visited her just after I left and she'd given him the money well I was completely relaxed the only person who could possibly spoil my perfect story was dead oh pardon me so please hello this is Kirkland speaking oh when I see who for a Martin huh why why he's right here I said he's right here oh is it for me I just second though please yeah okay let me know I'll send him right up hey what's up Johnny I thought that call was for me no no it it wasn't for you feel it it was about you well about me yeah where were you this evening I told you I had dinner went over to see Ann and then met you weren't you any place else are you sure of course I'm sure say Johnny what is this a third degree do you remember what time you left and why well I must have left about a quarter of nine yes I'm sure of that it was just about nine when I caught my cat was anyone with you at Ann's no we were alone couldn't you be mistaken couldn't you been someplace else maybe at 815 or 830 no why why do you play right into my hands why do you make it impossible for me to help you what are you talking about murder Phil I'm I'm arresting you for murder in a few hours I'm going to be executed for the murder of Dr. Selgrove but the police don't know that yet you see although I'm innocent of the crime I'm scheduled to die for I'm powerless to save myself yes I backed out of my own crime successfully only I set myself squarely in the middle of a worse one the only way I can save myself is by telling that I was busy killing Dr. Selgrove at the time I'm supposed to have killed and Fleming I know that Ann was killed by a brother but there's no way of proving it the letter opener he plunged into her chest still had my fingerprints slightly smeared by his kid gloves robbery was ruled out because nothing was disturbed snooping neighbors had heard Ann and me quarrel and had heard her scream around a quarter of nine they suspected that I had hit her nothing more but it placed the time exactly exactly as I had placed myself in her company during that time well I see where they dug up another original hitherto unknown manuscript by Edgar Allen Poe in somebody's closet in Fordham New York it's all about a man who builds such a perfect alibi for himself that he gets executed for the wrong murder well I'm glad they only found it today after I had already written the above confession otherwise they'd say I'd been plagiarizing Poe again suspense the story of Markham's death starring Kirk Douglas presented by Roma Wines that's R-O-M-A Roma Wines America's largest selling wines yes Roma wines are America's largest selling wines and this is Truman Bradley to tell you the reason it's because Roma Wines taste better you see Roma gathers and presses only the choicest California grapes then with age old skills and unmatched wine making resources Roma master ventures guide this great treasure unhurriedly to peak taste richness these fine Roma wines are laid aside with mellow Roma wines of years before to await later selection for your enjoyment from the world's greatest reserves of fine wines this weekend enjoy the better taste of nut like Roma sherry fruity Roma port or fragrant Roma to K and always remember to ask for Roma that's R-O-M-A Roma Wines enjoyed by more Americans than any other wines Kirk Douglas may soon be seen in the Hal Wallace production I walk alone tonight suspense play was written by Bob Platt next Thursday same time you will hear Richard Nay as star of suspense produced and directed by William Spear for the Roma wine company of Fresno, California in the coming week suspense will present such stars as Louis Jourdan, June Havoc, Dennis O'Keefe, Marsha Hunt and others make it a point to listen each Thursday to suspense radio's outstanding theatre of thrills this is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system