 Whitehall 1212 for the first time in history Scotland Yard opens its secret files to bring you the authentic stories of some of its most baffling cases Research on Whitehall 1212 is prepared by Percy Hoskins chief crime reporter for the London Daily Express The stories for radio are written and directed by Willis Cooper. I Am chief Richard Anderson of Scotland Yard Murder with a gun is it's not common in Britain, but Anthony de Bruin was shot to death. I Would like you to see the evidence that led us eventually to the murderer This is Chief Superintendent John Davidson and you're standing in Scotland Yards black misery Of which I have the honor to be the custodian Now where we have certain extremely gruesome objects in these two rooms Many of them are quite innocuous when taken out of context They are here not as ghoulish exhibits for the morbid What is examples will study by our people in connection with their jobs? Now such an exhibit is this one in case number one six oh two seven seven Now this is an ordinary cheap raincoats. That's the one with those worn by thousands of men Identifying tags of all kinds have been removed It was completely anonymous Our people thought it might be an important clue to the identity of the murderer. It seemed impossible But my good friend inspector Anderson here followed this extremely tenuous clue to the end Almost to the answer. What do you mean inspector? I wasn't present when they were hangs up The crime at 10 o'clock of the morning of April 3rd 1947 Anthony de Bruyne a young stockbroker's clerk was walking with his fiancee toward Howard's jewelry shop in Charlotte Street near Tottenham Court Road in London. They were on their way to purchase an engagement ring Or at least six carrots darling set in platinum, too. I wish I could afford it really though. Whatever it is I love it and well come on. Let's see what I can afford shall we darling From inspector Anderson's first notes on case one six oh two seven seven Robbers wore white cloth masks face is not seen by anyone at murder scene Apparently young men No jewelry taken to Bruyne only casualty shot through head NB pathologist extracting bullet for examination Gun not found apparently taken with him by murderer Girl hysterical unable to talk coherently Witnesses to murder unable to identify Murder and companion disappeared inside business building at number 14 Charlotte Street Interview with Thomas cobbly porter at number 14 by detective sergeant John Quinn of Scotland Yard Cinema right sir see this knob on me one of emitting with a bleeding great pistol as he run past me sir After that he tried to shoot me, but the thing wouldn't go over you recognize either of them again cobbly Well, that's our good sir both of them had their marks down about in the next I'll see in their faces All right, I'll recognize the one with the mustache anyway sir. I think you know how they would rest well One of them had on a raincoat sir the other one Well, I'm afraid I don't remember sir, but I'd know him ago you sir Interview with police constable Roy Harris on point duty near the rear entrance to number 14 Yes, sergeant. I was there more right. I'm sure two men answering to cobbly's Distriction came running out of the rear entrance at ten seven sergeant I saw the one with the mustache would you recognize him again constable? Oh, I'm sure I would sergeant However, I didn't notice the raincoat. In fact, I'm sure that neither of them wore one But you would recognize them again though positively sergeant raincoat or no raincoat Inspector Anderson of Scotland Yard We found the raincoat three hours later It had been hastily tucked in a dark corner of the hallway at number 14 through which the men had apparently run Yes, it was the same coat you saw in the black museum a few moments ago The manufacturer's label had been removed so had the label of the shop that had sold it Contained no initials no marks of any sort a shabby shapeless garment that might have been worn by anyone In the right-hand side pocket was a caliber 45 automatic pistol The type used by the American army Apparently been fired twice a clip containing four ball cartridges was still in place When an additional one in the chamber, I took it myself to Chief Inspector Carl tree in the ballistic laboratory Hey, I had it checked Anderson for fingerprints and none of course let's use one of those shells Tom did you fill the catchment box with cotton wool? Yes All right stand aside Anderson All right, Tom get it out. Will you please? First time I've seen that sir. Hey, they're sending us up the bullet. They're taking out of this chap's head Most modern must be about finish Then we'll put them both under the comparison microscope and see for certain if this is the gun They both came from quiet. I'll be waiting sir. Hey, we'll let you know at once By the next afternoon the 4th April we were certain This was the murder gun Ergo the raincoat had probably belonged to the murderer the man with the moustache who we had been assured could be readily recognized If we could find him that would be difficult. I Put criminal records on to it. They produce some hundred and fifty dossiers of known criminals Whose taste ran to robbing jewelry shops and or carrying guns Further checks show that the pistol had been stolen from a US amphibious engineer regiment in June 1946 There's no clue to the thief the American Army DCI informed us The porter cobbly remembers that the men had worn gloves The Constable said that he did not see the direction. They had gone. They simply lost themselves in the crowd of passers-by Quinn and I went over the anonymous raincoat again. I haven't been able to discover anything sir He's done a good job every single identification that's visible to the naked eyes been removed How do you know I compared it with me on and nobby clacks and your sir all the tags on this one are gone I wonder if he removes things that aren't visible to the naked eye I mean things you might find with ultraviolet or infrared lights. I was thinking something else Watch her Give me a razor blade Quinn. You're going to rip the quarter part. I Was lucky the first cut I made The seam where the left sleeve was attached to the coat itself revealed a tiny stamped paper tag sewed inside the lining There's a kind of manufacturer stock tag Photographs were quickly made Circulated to every manufacturer of raincoats in the country That took a week, but a firmin leads identified it at once as one of theirs The coats they said bearing that stock number had been sold to shops in southeast London either Debtford or Bermond's a Well, thank heaven for forges Quinn. I said that I don't get sir. Look a People forge clothing coupons. Yes, sir B when you buy clothing at any store in London The shopkeeper puts down the number of the coupon book what you've bought and your name Oh, that's right, sir a gone find me the names of the people who bought these coats Quinn the lad That wasn't quite as simple as all that But it wasn't so hard either There had been 24 dozen of that lot of raincoats sold in those two districts and we accounted for all but six of them Inspector Anderson and I went over the list of 282 names We found not one name we'd ever heard of and criminal record reported that none of them were known in their files Well, it was a good try sir. I said to inspector Anderson Well, we still haven't checked on each of these names personally We'll have to do it sir. I expect quite well good up your loins Quinn, sir. They're right up under me chin now It's just thinking of something sir got your own book of clothing coupons on you Yes, sir. Let's see them. Will you? Yes, sir sign Sign it miss ultra What's the matter sir, what's your name? John Quinn, you know that sir. This is signed Quinn John And mine is signed Anderson Richard let's look at this list again the hind end to yes, sir Clancy Oliver that'll be Oliver Clancy gold Joseph Ever heard of Joe gold Johnston John or John Johnson? She and Robert. No one could be named she and Robert. We'll write old boy Freeman George George Freeman Mullen bike freaky. I remember that name So do I sir But he died last month. Yes, sir Smashing grab fella a real white boy. I remember Killed in a bus accident in Clarkwell. He must have bequeathed the coat to somebody mustn't he? Hmm You know, I I seem to remember he had a kid brother in borstal, sir Check up and see if he's still there. If he's been let out. I shall very much want to talk with young mr. Freeman In the room in Clarkinwell where George Freeman had lived prior to his untimely death Sergeant Quinn found the younger brother Arthur who had been released from a borstal reformatory only a few weeks before He was quite willing to accompany the sergeant to Scotland Yard where Inspector Anderson interviewed him Sit down for him. Don't mind if I do We found your raincoat for him Here you as Oh edit What I'll lend it to a fella Who? I'm not a copper snark mr. Inspector You um you lent it to someone then Yes Listen, what do you want of me? We want some people to see you. What about? Oh little affair up Tottenham Court Roadway. Oh That fellow got murdered right Well, who wants to see me? I should think you could guess I want to know good. I wasn't there That you can prove no doubt or I've gotten out of my I'll be glad to hear about it I'll tell you when the time comes. I've got it. All right. I expected you would have one How did you know it was my raincoat? Your brothers wasn't pretty smart Thank you, but not as smart as you think mr. Inspector Have you any objection to appearing as an identification parade me? Other people going to appear with me, of course Same size as me same bill to save off actually well If you're afraid you'll be identified Freeman nobody will identify me well in that case I shouldn't think you'd object. I'm not objecting. Well, then I just don't want to be framed. You needn't worry about that Take it or leave it Freeman It's you win tails. I lose a if I won't do it You lock me up and I'll arrest you on very definite suspicion. Yes And if I do you'll contrive some way to point me out to the look here Freeman I'm trying to be fair. Oh, I won't even go in the room where they're having the identification parade You'll leave me go as soon as it's over if you're not identified. Yes, nobody'll identify me. All right All right, then I'm not afraid Sergeant Quinn Yes, sir Quinn this gentleman's for the identification parade. Will you show him the way please? Oh, yes, sir Will you come with me, please sir leave the way my good man? Thank you want to know While it met right go to I'd be most interested Tell you what I'll do. I got my day. That rank out was found some way near that Charlotte Street Place That right Was it Yes You'd like to know who it was that lost it. I'm not going to bargain with you freedom. I Just want to be bloody sure. I'm not being framed When I walk out of that Identification parade without being fingered by anybody then I'll tell you why I lent it to thank you Are you ready sir in a moment my good man? That's a promise I wasn't there Perhaps he was Freeman was not identified by anybody True only two persons the Constable and the porter had seen the killers without their masks But neither was able to point out any person in the lineup at all Freeman in high glee returned to my room. I'll let the rank out to is Charlie Mortimer within the hour Criminal records had supplied us with details of Charles Mortimer whose record showed he had served two terms at Dartmoor for armed robbery True detective constables were sent at once to his last address of record Mr. Mortimer was not at home But in his room were found free patek Philippe watches They were once identified as part of the loot from a jewelry shop robbery at Queensway in Bayswater a few days Before the one in which the man de Bruin was killed Well, I said to sergeant Quinn our friend Mortimer may not be the murderer we want but he'll have some explaining to do Why don't you think he's a murderer? I didn't say that I said he may not be the murderer Well, sir if he had the raincoat if Yeah, sir I've seldom heard of People like Freeman Implicating others in murder except for a reason to get even is the phrase. There's another thing If Mortimer was in on the jewelry shop job in Bayswater as he obviously was at least he had those three watches Well, if he was why should he try on robbery again two days later, sir That's a very important point Quinn. I think so. Well when we find Mortimer, we'll have a lot of questions to ask We'll find him Excuse me Specter Anderson him. Oh Hello, Thomas You have Good Where we found him? Yeah Hello, Thomas. Where is he now? Oh? Here well Send him in. I'll go get him. Good Quinn's coming to fetch him Didn't talk didn't ask him any questions. Hey Good, let him think it's the Bayswater job. He's been that poor right and May I say that's very fine quick work? Quinn will be there in a second Right. Bye. Oh boy Hello in Specter Anderson again. Will you ring George and ask him how soon he can get those people together again? The people that attended the identification parade this morning The ones on the Charlotte Street murder case. What's the number? 160277 Thank you. I'll ask him to let me know as soon as he can will you thank you What is it the Americans say we're in business Sergeant Quinn this is Mortimer sir Go on in You may sit down Mortimer Sit down Quinn. Thank you, sir. Has he been charged? Yes, sir Accessory to I'm the robbery warned of course anything I say may be taken down in writing and used his evidence Asked me no questions. I'll tell you no lies. Let me ask you one more time Where's your raincoat? Out there at the desk. I mean the one you borrowed. What did I borrow one for I've got one I thought you borrow one from out of Freeman No Marty Freeman Lucky a mister Artie Freeman's been looking for me ever since I Ever since that jewelry shop job in base water that your bloody coppers pulled me in for do you think he'd lend me anything? Why is Artie Freeman looking for you Mortimer? He's promised to cut me throat the minute he sees me This is how Charles Mortimer explained that somewhat astonishing statement It was on the day that Arthur Freeman was released from a Bostell institution Whereas a juvenile delinquent he had served a long sentence a friend of his a certain basil green another Ex-Bostell boy and Charles Mortimer had arranged a welcome home party for Arthur at a pub in Clarkham Well, it's quite a party Mortimer said After the other guests had departed Arthur Freeman and Charles Mortimer sat at a table together and talked The third man green with a sleep on the floor Welcome home again, Artie old boy. Welcome home to you shawty. Very happy returns. That's right. You drink after you Yo, I got some money. Well, I got two half-crowns more than that. I got no more Maybe Basil's got some Hey Basil Why am I he's asleep? He is Take your first off his face. Why don't be polite. I'm fine. I Need money. I'm stony. Let's go get some. All right You know where I know jewelry shop Let's go rob it. Well, I mean Battle with us. He's got a gun. I ain't got a gun. I'll borrow battles Where is this jewelry establishment, huh? Bay's water Queensway Bay's water Listen You double cross me. I cut your heart out. Oh ain't gonna double cross you better not I Slick your throat boy. Just don't worry about your bow Charlie Mortimer boy Where we do it what rob jewelry shop kill people in shop get rules I got the place all figures out in case in it Taking sides. That's right. Where we'll do it tomorrow Listen I'm not kidding about this Charlie. I ain't had a sixpence of me own for so long What a bloody father I gotta have a money let go never have to kill somewhere to get it That's all right, too. I've got a kill to get money. I'm the ladle doors Look at me Charlie No, I don't care why kill and that goes for you too if you cross me up there think I'm a crook Meet me and Basil tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock on the down platform at Bay's water I'll bring battle to gun We're gonna be rich That was the way the first robbery began the first association of Arthur Freeman Basil Green and Charles Mortimer The affair was quite successful from their standpoint and the three men separated Mortimer carrying the loot Mortimer went directly to a receiver of stolen goods and disposed of all but the three watches we found in his lodging Thoroughly dishonest crook The rage of Arthur Freeman was terrible to behold when he came to Mortimer's deserted lodgings and found only the three watch embers Watches Mortimer told us he told us more I heard from Basil Green that he raged simply raged sir Cut me throat from ear to ear. He said cut me up in little pieces and feed him to me promised I was fair upset gentlemen. I'll never kill nobody. I know to do what he said because I know the knife He carries I'll be safe in prison. Won't I won't I I'm bloody weary of dodging arty Freeman I was just on my way to a boat for South America when you've gotten your gentlemen pick me up You saw the tickets Inspector Anderson sent me to pick up Basil Green and Arthur Freeman I found Green easily enough but our chief suspect Freeman had disappeared An identification parade Green was quickly identified by those present at the Charlotte Street murder No one even looked at Mortimer Green was placed under arrest for complicity in the latter case Mortimer was tried and convicted for the Bayeswater robbery Green a rather simple-minded young spiv decided to make a statement Yes, sir, ma'am, free will on the court Yes, sir. I understand what I say will be used in evidence. Go ahead Green. Well, sir. Well, I start wherever you like Well, sir, I I was asleep when they planned it. Do you mean when Mortimer and Freeman planned the first robbery, huh? Yes, sir. That's what I mean Arty and me and Charlie went to Bayeswater and we did that thing. You mean the robbery, huh? Yes, sir. That's what I mean Charlie took the stuff we got and when Arty and me went to find him he was gone You know about that, sir And then Arty got awful mad and he cursed and he what what did he say? Well, I couldn't repeat that, sir. There's a lady present and Miss Bellamy will hold her ears. Yes, sir Well, you threatened Charlie and said he cut off Charlie's bloody ears and cut his throat and stab him and murder him That is Charles Mortimer. You're referring to Yes, sir. That's what I mean Joe Jenny said we had to have some money right away. You're now referring to Arthur Freeman, huh? Yes, sir, that that's what I mean He said he wouldn't give me my Gun back and we'd go and stick up another jewelry store right away and I told him I knew a little about this place in charlotte street. He said all right. Let's go We went and looked at it and the next morning we did it Well, I say now, sir, whatever you like Well, sir We have those masks on we used that bays water As soon as we went in the place somebody shouted and Somebody must have pressed a buzzer or something Arty yelled out he cursed sir And we run out and there was this man this de Bruyne or whatever his name was He was just coming in the door and he said stop the naughty cursed again and shot the man And we ran now masks was fallen down and We hit a man in the other building we run right through it and out the back and Arty took off his raincoat and used to be his brother george's He was a very nice fella. You are now referring to george freeman as a nice fellow sir Yes, sir. That's who I mean Arty wasn't isn't I mean Well, Arty swore at the raincoat and said he could be identified by it and threw it away That's the way it was sir. Your statement will be given to you after it's typed What force for you to read and sign sir Or can't read Very good Well, I know where you can find arty if you want him, sir You you know where he is. Yes, sir You die when I tell you sir Should I tell you sir? If you like green What's the he's in jail? And there he was in bricks in jail We hastened there and the water took us down to the cell block where after a long walk we finally found our man He grinned through the bars at me Hello inspector. Hello freeman How'd you find me your friend basil green told us I'll kill him for that. I doubt it What are you in for freeman? Oh, I break policemen's jaw I thought they'd send me up for a while for that By the way My name's william patterson in here good place to hide out not good enough I got a little bothered about you. You see obviously You found charlie mortimer. Yes We talked at great length Just as basil green did unlucky for me. Oh, no We came to get you out of here. Oh, yeah and take you elsewhere Arthur freeman. I arrest you on a charge of willful murder I warn you that anything you say will be taken down in writing and maybe used in evidence unlock the door, please water At the trial at old bailey Both Arthur freeman and basil green were found guilty of the murder of anthony de brune And were sentenced to be hanged The sentence was duly carried out You have heard another in the series white hall one two one two compiled by special permission from the spiles of scotland yard Only the names have been changed Research for white hall one two one two is prepared by persie huskins of the london daily express The stories for radio are written and directed by willis cooper This evening whitaker chambers comes to the nbc microphone to read a letter to his children This is not an ordinary letter This letter means as much to you the american citizen as it does to mr. Chambers closest relatives This letter brings you the true nature of communism its political implication to you as a citizen of the world More particularly of the united states of america This evening mr. Chambers will tell you why he chose communism what he thought it would mean to him politically and personally That's a letter to his children by whitaker chambers Three chimes mean good times on nbc