 This is Crime Classics. I am Thomas Highland with another true story of crime. Listen. That's the way Robert, Robbie Boyd Balfour, walked across the room when he was angry. And this was one of the angriest days of his life. The object of his disaffection, a schoolteacher, and this is what Robbie did. Hit the schoolteacher across the mouth with his leather glove, which was, in that day and age, a challenge to a duel. Not me, said the schoolteacher. I said Robbie. I went Robbie with his pistol. Tonight, I'm going to report to you on Robbie Boyd Balfour. How he wrecked a big prison's reputation. Crime Classics. A series of true crime stories taken from the records and newspapers of every land from every time. Your host each week, Mr. Thomas Highland, connoisseur of crime, student of violence, and teller of murders. Now, once again, Mr. Thomas Highland. In 1707, the current saying around Enver Keating Scotland went something like this. Isn't it bad enough we suffered the Glen Coom massacre? Isn't it awful enough about the Dariem scheme that they had to go and join up with England and call us now the United Kingdom? The sentiments of the time among the Kilded Folk, whispers of bribery in the Scottish Parliament, threats of war, talk of open rebellion, a time of angers and furies, and between these passions, gentler ones. Isn't it bad enough we suffered the Glen Coom massacre? Isn't it awful enough... Hush, hush now Robbie Boyd. You're saying that so often, I'm wondering whether you believe it. I believe it plenty else. Why am I going away? Oh Robbie Boyd, let's get to the party. Let's throw the harshness of it and come to its softness. Aye, aye Glenis. Or say to me something soft with those sweet lips of yours. Aye, and Spain, how long for you Glenis? They say the hotness of the Spanish sun makes a warm torrent of your blood, and ever and always there are Spanish maidens. I'll not look at them. What? I'll not look at them. Aye, but they'll look upon you handsome Robbie Bonnie Robbie and say things in that strangling tongue and turn your head aside and make you forget a healing laugh named Glenis. Upon my father's tartan I swear it, and upon his barrel. I go to Spain only to protest what is done here. This exodus of the Scottish young men will show them through how we feel. I'm proud of you that you do not stoop to violence, that you do not stay to fight the English, but make witty protest by going away. They'll see, they'll see. The harsh again the conversation turns soft, soft Robbie Boy. Make soft words and close. Aye, Glenis, Glenis of the heather, Glenis of the gorse, Glenis of the gloom. And you'll come back to me, and you'll come back. Robbie Boy Balfour sailed away the next day and some 43 days later he got to a city in Spain named Madrid where he met some of his Scottish friends and together they did protest Scotland's union with England. And at home Glenis waited. She busied herself with spinning flax and arranging wildflowers and brief walks in solitude, the normal everyday things a girl did in Indra Keating when her Bonnie was over the ocean. Then on a day in April an event in the village. Mr. Henry Stenhouse appeared. I'm the new schoolmaster, knowledgeable of books and syntax, excellent with arithmetic and the sciences. Certainly do I boast of my penmanship. Oh, lovely. And certainly for my manner of composition. But listen, you are comely and you walk with a gentle sway of silk and stock. Lovely. And was taken to the hearts of the villagers for many of them had told each other their need for learning and Mr. Stenhouse could fulfil it. So they gave him a celebration. True, Mr. McPherson. The sum of the square of the other two is... Mr. Stenhouse. Mr. Stenhouse. Yes? May I speak with you for a moment? Of what? Of a favour to ask. Favour to ask Neath the Moon. A favour to become boon. Or so Radcliffe said poet that he is. Neath the Moon then, Mr. Stenhouse. Aha. Now to the favour. Oh, yes. I've a lad. A lad? Of Bonnie on love. And he's in Madrid. Protesting? Aye. And I wish to write to him of how I miss him. You cannot write. Only scratchings and simple words. But such as you... Could help you. Yes. Tell you what to say. Yes. Sweet words. I want you to. Glennis. Aye. A thing just happened. What thing? I saw the moon. And immediately then I looked into your eyes. And the stars were there. Come close to me, Glennis. So that I may look into a star. Oh. That I may... Press my lips into your hair. Oh, Mr. Stenhouse. Oh, no, no, no, no. No. But it was my landlady with my evening gruel. I've come for the favour, Mr. Stenhouse. To write your love, your Bonnie. Aye. Then sit there. And take quilt a hand and write as I say it. My darling. My own sweet love. There is a wraith of mist over the heather now. And in it, mysterious, my beloved's heart beats. Or is the flutter of some red encrested bird. Or perhaps it is only this throbbing with him. Oh, my. Oh, my beloved. How though the space between how I feel you neared me, I know your dear cheek and my breath on your... Oh, oh, oh, look what I've done. I just feel the ink in... Come, come to me. I can't help myself. Your words. Dearest, dear. Oh, yes, yes. Come back later, Mrs. McPherson. I didn't want my gruel the new. But does that mean less being in a strange country and finding me to learn the language? What does this mean? What it says here? La mugia esta in la casa. It means I love you. Everything means I love you. Put out the book, Robby Boy. Robby. Are you less? I love you. You must know I love you. Eh, less. Yes, dear. In Scotland far away there is one to whom I have promised myself. She waits for me. What woman waits? For what man? Glenis waits. I'd stick my soul on it. And the days rolled into weeks and the weeks into months. And in Inverkeething this was going on. Oh, how sweet you are, Henry. Oh, you've sweetened my life. While in Madrid? Eh, no, Pepete. And in Seville? I'm sorry. No, later less. In Barcelona? Eh, no. No, no, no. And in Cuernavaca, town in Andalusia, feigned for its beauties? Well, well... No, I'm sorry. Madeleine, I'm sorry, less. No, I'm promised another. Well, listen how things progressed in Inverkeething. Glenis. I love you. I've written it down and drawn a line beneath it and added it up and subtracted and added it again. There is an answer to it all. Will wed? Yes. Oh, yes. There now. Oh, how happy can a maid be? Oh, Henry. Yes? Robbie boy, what him? Oh, what of him? What if he comes back? What if he comes back, Henry? Oh, he'll not come back. Those young men who have gone to Spain, how many of them come back? My own brother did. But for a week and went back to Spain again? Aye, then there's not to bother of Robbie. No. Then we'll wed. Come good, Charlie, can think and day we'll wed. Come that day. Making a vow like that and not knowing that even as she said it, Robbie boy, Balfour was on the high seas, sick of Spain and sick with love for Glenis. And there was a good wind and a good sea and swiftly sailed Robbie into Scottish seas and friendly shores and the remembered and loved weather of mists and leaden sky away with a sun-drenched brightness of Hispaniola on with a kilt and to horse. I'm home again. Ride me to Glenis, you bunny-seed. Ride! Across moors and skirt the bogs, across glens, upland and hooves on stone and field. And Robbie boy was at the home of his beloved. Glenis? Glenis! Ah, the blush that comes here. Oh, the blessed, shaped softness. Where shall we put the pewter, Glenis? Who is he? Who is he? Robbie. This is Henry. So that you'll know who I am, sir. So that there'll be no quibbling about it. I am the betrothed of Glenis. And when the sun comes upon good Charlie Kensington Day, we shall wed. Is this the truth, Glenis? Say it, lass. Tell me, is it truth or no? It's truth. And now, sir, we were discussing Glenis and I of the placing of the pewter. This mark upon the floor. I dare you to step over it. And if I do, there will be a duel? Aye. I do not wish to duel. Therefore, I'll not step over it. Sir, this one block I put upon my shoulder. Knock it off. No, for I do not wish to duel. Then I'll put it down. And then this I do. My gauntlet in your face. You, you want me to duel? Not me. Sorry, not me. Said Robbie. I went Robbie with his pistol. You are listening to crime classics and your host, Thomas Highland. No actors, no tricks, no special effects will be used in Night Watch. The new CBS radio thriller making its debut next Monday night on most of these same stations. Actual tape recordings are made at the scene of the exciting action met by a prowl car in its nightly rounds. These will be what you'll hear on Night Watch. A reporter and a police sergeant ride the Night Watch and bring out the authentic material you will hear. Night Watch premiere next Monday night. And now once again, Thomas Highland in the second act of crime classics and his report to you on Robbie Boy Balfour, how he wrecked a big prison's reputation. A word to those who have grown rusty in their knowledge of the code of honour as it was practiced in the early 18th century. The Scottish code was different from all other codes in that seconds were dispensed with. Why, you ask? Well, it may have been because of the notorious Bruce Trolley Affair where the seconds were slaughtered instead of the dualists. Or it may have been because of the famed edict of Prince Jamie of Glam. Whatever the reason and the reason is still hotly contested by experts, that is why Robbie shot the school teacher where he stood. I gave him an opportunity. But he wasn't armed. Armed or not armed, he didn't want to fight. There are men like that. Cards. Cards is steel out of man's laces when other men are overseas. He is not dead. What? I think he only wounded him. Only wounded him, but in the shoulder. But I shot him twice with each of these pistols. And you hit him twice. Truly what? He was a coward. Yet you loved him. I did not know he was a coward. What will you do now? Robbie. Hi. How sweet it is that you are home. Sweet for whom? I close my eyes and I am in your arms again. Now open them. What do you see? You apart from me. As it will always be. Your love cries out, Glynus. He is hardly scratched. For a coward grievously hurt. Go to him, my girl. Bunt him. Heal him. The power of public opinion in Inverkeving was as strong then as it is now. A wedding day had been set on Good Charlie Kensington's day. And a wedding there was. Glynus McFarland and the school teacher Henry Stenhouse. And what of Robbie Boy Balfour? He was a hero. A man who had avenged his honour who had come out of Spain unscathed by the dangers there had come home to find his beloved in another's arms and had known what to do. And now at the school teacher's house and now that he had a wife Spoon me my gruel wife. Hi Henry. It was forced upon us, you know. What was? Our marriage, the folk could not have tolerated every ring of our vows. I know it, but gruel has to gruel. Henry. I cannot love a coward. I cannot. I cannot. Who else will you love? Him. Only him, Robbie Boy. Glynus. Glynus don't leave me. Glynus. Be with him. He's your husband. Your husband chosen by you. Robbie Boy. I go to him. For what reason? Finish him. Kill him, you mean? You started to do that. Then do it. Go and put another bullet in him. I tell you a thing. I. You're wild, Glynus. Your hearts are stolen and snuggles into the gorse. Yet what? I entered and she was Glynus Townhouse's wife to school master. He is here, what of it? I must see her. Glynus, that's the surgeon of invocating. I'll be wishes words. What will you surgeon? There was a screeching and a yelling about and a neighbor entered into your house to see what the matter was. Your husband it was, your husband of one day. In a delirium he was and I've come to tell you. Give to him what portions are necessary. I come presently. He needs only prayers. He lies a dine, only a miracle can save him. But it was only a shoulder wound. He got out of bed to fetch the bowl of haggis and slipped. Infection immediately set in. He lies a dine. Your husband lies a dine. Now, this might have looked like a happy turn of fate for Glynus and Robbie Boy. Oh, what a happy turn of fate this is for us. Glynus certainly thought so. I, I it does. Robbie thought so too. So when Glynus went home to her husband he are a dine Henry. Who holds the quilt to me Glynus for I'm shivering. Don't do you good. The quilt will overheat you. Well, back at Robbie's house he had some news. It's my duty to tell it to you Robbie Boy, Robbie Ladd. Tell me what judge. As judge of the county I'm telling you what's true. Tell me what judge. Though we may admire you for what you've done. Shooting Henry's done house. Though we may admire you for dependent your honor. There's a law Robbie Boy. There's a law Robbie Ladd. What law? The death goes with death. What are you saying judge? The death goes with death. An English law. And now we're one with England our law too. If Henry's ten house dies then he'll be dying of his wounds. If Henry's ten house dies he'll be dying because you put them there. Therefore you stand and try and for his dying. Now to my way judge. Where are you going Robbie Boy? Where are you going Robbie Ladd? To see the school master. Tell him a thing. Not today? Not today. So I take my way. If apologies will keep you alive school master I apologize. If humbling myself before you will keep you alive I humble myself. Stay alive. Spring and Scotland the most time stay alive. There's music to be heard in the land stay alive. The sounds of the seasons to be heard and the colours to be seen. They foolish to die and for a man as such learning as you. For a young man such as you stay alive. That's the word. It did not be fair to those of us who love it. It did not be fair. It did leave an emptiness in. Robbie. Robbie Boy. He looks better doesn't he? He's dead. Robbie Boy? Robbie Ladd? You're under arrest. Robert Balfour The jury by the plurality of voices having found it proven that you did discharge a pistol against Mr Henry Stenhouse and that Mr Stenhouse did die within two days of the day he was wounded. Then are you a judged prisoner and you will be beheaded at the cross of Edinburgh on the 7th of May 1710 and ordained of all your goods. Good Jailer. Robbie. Robbie Boy. Awake now Robbie. Tonight is your love and come to visit you to give you comfort. Oh, it's pale and drawn you are. Even in this poor light I can see. No one man expects to look healthy on the eve of his beheading. I have a plan Robbie. What? A plan. What do you mean? For your escape. You're daft. Daft with love for you. What do you mean daft? Where do you talk a plan? Listen, it's a good plan. There's no plan to get me out of this prison. There's a way to do it. What way? Tell me this. Where is the Jailer? Look past my shoulder and tell me where he is. Eh, eh, eh. In the corridor it is supper. Then keep the talk flowing and make laughter or tears or whatever suit you fancy. Yet only do what I do. Very well. Oh, I, I, I heard the song. The melody I cannot sing yet. It goes like this. Money trail is another way. Safe for your debounding sea. Many's the harp that'll break it, Twilight. If he doesn't come home again. What? A dinner. What else to say? Babel then. This I want to say to you. Nor is it Babel. I love you too. You're company and you're worthy of a love. What does the Jailer do? Are you ready? Aye. Then I'll call to him. Jailer, I wish to leave. I will meet you in Aberdeen by Auntie Bledhorse there. Aye. Now, here's what happened. While they were talking, they changed clothes. And, dressed in Glynnis' clothes, from tartan to tam, a robby boy walked out of jail. The switch wasn't discovered until the next morning when the headsman came in the cell to take his victim to the block. I'm not a robby boy. I'm Glynnis, and you can't cut my head off. But she was wrong, as wrong can be. She was ignorant of an old Scottish law. If a body helped a body escape a felony, a body then must stand on a body's stead, and ignorance is no excuse. That finished Glynnis. The authorities looked for Robby all over Scotland. They left no stone unturned, but didn't find him because at the very time they were looking... You're Teyamo. In Spain. You're Teyamo, too, Kalman. Robby boy, sadder, but wiser. In just a moment, Thomas Highland will tell you about next week's crime classic. Robby Balfour, tonight's crime classic, was adapted from the original court reports and newspaper accounts by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. The music was composed and conducted by Bernard Herman. And the program is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis. Thomas Highland is portrayed on radio by Lou Merrill. In tonight's story, Van Wright was heard as Robby, Betty Harford as Glynnis, and William John Stone as Henry. Featured in the cast were Virginia Gregg, Steve Roberts and Norman Field. Bob LeMond speaking. Here again is Thomas Highland. Next week, St. Petersburg, Russia, in the year 1801. The river Neva was frozen solid that year, but if you cut a hole in the ice, it was a marvelous place for a girl to put the suffocated corpse of an officer. It's listed in my files as the general's daughter, the tsar's lieutenant, and the linen closet, a Russian tragedy. Thank you. Good night. Jack Benny of CBS Radio will be on hand again this Sunday evening, wistful for Walkiegan, boastful about Beverly Hills, violating all rules for violin playing, daring all to deduct the dollar from his tight grasp. Jack's magic turns it all into some of the finest comedy on radio. Be listening for our Jack Benny show this Sunday evening, and share it with the whole family.