 Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and is intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised. Welcome, Weirdos, I'm Darren Marlar and this is Retro Radio Sunday on Weird Darkness. Each week I bring you a show from the golden age of radio, but still in the genre of Weird Darkness. I'll have stories of macabre and horror, mysteries and crime, even some dark science fiction. If you're new here, welcome to the show and if you're already a member of this Weirdo family, please take a moment and invite someone else to listen. Recommending Weird Darkness to others helps make it possible for me to keep doing the show. And while you're listening, be sure to check out WeirdDarkness.com where you can hear the daily podcast, send in your own personal paranormal stories, watch horror hosts present old scary movies 24-7, see Weird News items, listen to the Weird Darkness syndicated radio show, shop for Weird Darkness and Weirdo merchandise, listen to free audiobooks I've narrated, sign up for the newsletter to win free stuff that I give away each month, and more. And on the social contact page, you can find the show on Facebook and Twitter and you can also join the Weird Darkness Weirdos Facebook group. Coming up is an episode from Crime Classics. Crime Classics was a radio docus drama on the CBS radio network which was aired for just one year, from June 15, 1953 to June 30, 1954. The show introduced itself succinctly. Crime Classics, a series of true crime stories from the records and newspapers of every land from every time. And they meant it. The show examined real crimes from as far back as ancient Greece up to the late 19th century. The cases ranged from famous assassinations of Abraham Lincoln, Leon Trotsky and Julius Caesar, to the lives and often deaths of the likes of Caesar Borgia and Blackbeard, to the more obscure cases, such as Bathsheba Spooner, who killed her husband Joshua Spooner in 1778 and became the first woman tried and executed in America. And no matter how bizarre the story presented, each episode is based on actual events. Your host each week was Mr. Thomas Highland, connoisseur of crime, student of violence and teller of murders. In reality, though, Mr. Thomas Highland didn't exist. He was simply a character played by actor Lou Merrill, though you would never guess it from just listening. The character is treated like a real person. The show was produced, created and directed by Elliot Lewis in the writing of every episode, done by Morton Fine and David Friedenkin. This episode of Crime Classics was originally aired October 28, 1953. Mr. Hayes returns from war to his lonely wife to find her a frolic with two cumbly borders. His head is shortly thereafter found by the side of a river and then encapsulated in a glass jar. It's the story John Hayes' head and how they were parted. Now, bolt your doors, lock your windows, turn off your lights, and come with me into the weird darkness. Good evening. This is Crime Classics. I am Thomas Highland with another true story of crime. Listen, the glass you just heard broken was not ordinary glass. It was a closed vessel of exact contour of the man's head which it held. It was raised exactly one millimeter above the skin, all around, and above the hair. No small feet since the hair on the head was lush and curly. Another masterpiece by Dom Llewellyn, whose secret of blowing glass to enclose human heads, died when he died. Dom Llewellyn had been called in to do a job of work on what was left of Mr. John Hayes, which was all above the neck. So tonight, I'm going to report to you on John Hayes, his head and how they were parted. Crime Classics, a series of true crime stories 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. The 10th century was only a few years old and the town was warwick and the season was spring. Things were budding all around, trees, flowers, and there happened to be a 16-year-old girl named Catherine Hall. She appears suddenly in history this girl walking down the road. Suddenly because nobody knows what parentage put her there. Isn't that nice? A young girl swinging down a road in May. Tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la. Skipping, stops, together nuts. And alongside her, three soldiers, officers of his majesty's dragoons and gentlemen, gentlemen three and guardians of Catherine and Lieutenant Ambersley has the papers in his bandolier to prove it. Guardians and their ward at a crossroad. Yes, uncle. Uncle Fred and Uncle Ned and I think the time has come. For what, uncle? The time has come. Do not be shy. How is it that always you're shy when the sun shines? We have a wedding gift for you. Uncle. From all of us to you. Uncle. The gift. Here. A scarf. Uncle. We'll miss you. And are you? And the time now to tell you of him, of the man you will marry. Of the man who comes down this road and on to take you from us. From Uncle Fred and Uncle Ned and myself. Is he as tall as you? He is very rich. Is he as handsome as Uncle Ned? He is very rich. When has he the strength of Uncle Fred? He is very rich. But I know I shall love him well. Catherine. Yes, uncle. Your duty as wife? Yes, uncle. Always water in the pail and loving nuptials cannot fail. And? Happy marriage in a springtime day. Child in the cradle on New Year's Day. Oh, yes, uncle. Oh, yes, uncle. He is prompt. I die with impatience. He has a fine span of horses, see. Oh, trembling. Oh, John Hayes. Oh. You, girl. If your name be Catherine, get in. Uncle. Get in, girl, get in. A kiss, uncle. For farewell to you and Uncle Ned. Which we did in tears and kisses the whole night past. Get in, girl, get in. Here's your money, Lieutenant. Small, sacked full as was contracted for. Get it up. They were married that night, these impetuous 18th century lovers, these young people, Catherine Hall and John Hayes. History records that it was a rather hectic marriage. The groom's father went temporarily blind from drink before the ceremony. There was unrulyness among the servants. And some sources state that the bride herself tried to sneak off and had to be restrained. Married they were just as evening sun went down. And that evening, after the house of John Hayes had quieted down, after the pig had been eaten and the toast drunk, after the celebrants had gone home and the windows bolted and the doors barred, after all these things. There you are. There you are. Come on out now. There you are. Liberty bird. You know what you ought to do. What? Join the army. Join the army? Join the army. Why should I do that? I'd be so proud of you. Aren't you proud of me now? Think of you in a uniform. I never did. Then let's do it. All right. The scarlet trousers and the scarlet coat. Oh my. And the golden sash and the gleaming scabbard. And I'd stand up straight like this. On your curly hair in a cockade. And I'd march. And I'd march. Perhaps. What? They'd send you to America. Yes. No. You could volunteer for it. No. You'd miss me too much. You'd suffer. I'd write to you every day. The boats to America do not sail very often. I'd knit things for you and bake things for you. But mostly. What? I'd be proud. Oh, so proud. Dear John. Well, I don't know. Join the army. Proud. Yes. What would you do? Tell people. John. Yes. Golden sash and gleaming scabbard. And on your head a three-cornered hat with a cockade. John. And you'd march so straight and tall. You'd march. And like this. Yes. Like this. Yes. Dear father. I am writing this letter to tell you that I have just come back from a 20-mile march under full pack, and I do not like it. In the six months I have been in the army, I have not found a thing that I like about it. It is march, march, march, march. In spite of my education, I am still but a grenadier. Two of the lads who joined the army with me are left tenants and wear cockades. So please, dear father, present the government with 20 pounds and secure my release from this life. I would do it with my own funds, but I had wisdom enough to assign my wealth to my wife's name before joining the army. I do not wish to bother Catherine in this matter, as I am going to surprise her by my appearance in civilian garb and put an end to her loneliness. Please, father, do me this favour. Your loving son, John. Oh, yes. Please, father, just consider it alone. That curious tailor from Tottenham. Mr. Woodie, you're a one. And how about me? Oh, you're a one too, Mr. Billings. If it's the butcher boy, Mr. Woodie. Yeah, I'll send him on his way. All right. Who are you? Who are you? I am John Hayes. Who? John Hayes. Oh, he'd be in the army. Not now. I am John Hayes and I've come home to my wife. Where is she? Catherine. Who is it? Catherine. Catherine, I'm home. Dirty deserter. No. Oh, shame. Well, listen, I'm out of the army. But you cannot be. I just sent you a sweater. I'm out. My father paid a bounty for me and I'm home again. Who are these men, Catherine? I'm Billings the Cooper. I be Wood, the alehouseman. Tradesman? I? What do we need a Cooper and an alehouseman here? Are you questioning me, husband? Well, I'd like to know why a Cooper and an alehouseman? Welcome home. I welcome home. Runny year. Come to home. Drink a cheer, boys. Runny year. Oh, come to home. Runny year. Come to home. Come to home. Oh, husband. Dear wife. I was so proud of you when you were gone. And you told people. Oh, yes. Drink a cheer. Here. Drink a cheer. And now, wife. We will celebrate you and me and Mr. Billings and Mr. Wood. Well, I thought... Be good. We'll have a celebrate. John, you're dusty from the road. Go wash. There's a full pail, always a full pail, always waiting for your return. Go wash. Yes. Mr. Wood. Hi, Katie. Mr. Billings. How did you come to marry such a one, Kate? He's very rich. And he's come home. His wealth is assigned in my name. I receive it but in driblets. Poor lady. Shame. If I were a widow... The money? All at once. All mine. Billings? Aye. Let's make a widow. And how to do that? You kill an husband. You make a widow. Ain't that an axe above the fireplace? Oh, dear friends. I washed Catherine. I was proud. Ready, hero. A soldier had come home, to his wife, to his neighbors. There was wine in the room and a good fire. But it was one of the shortest celebrations on record. You are listening to Crime Classics and your host, Thomas Highland. This Saturday night, learn the true details of the Wheel of Misfortune case on gangbusters. When a wheel, gangland terminology for a driver and a crime, runs afoul of the law, he cuts himself out of the crime in question. After the robbery comes off, the wheel declares himself in for a cut of the spoils. And murder results before police clamp the lid on the crooks. Gangbusters, this Saturday night on most of these same stations. The same evening to listen for CBS Radio's thrilling gun smoke series. If you love old time radio, you'll want to visit our friends at ClassicRadioStore.com who provide all the shows for me to wear. At ClassicRadioStore.com, you'll find thousands of episodes available in pristine digitally remastered sound. Every episode they offer at ClassicRadioStore.com has been transferred from the master recordings and digitally remastered for superior sound quality. That's why the episodes that you hear on Weird Darkness sound so clean. And the shows at ClassicRadioStore.com are all uncut, unedited and are delivered to you as they were originally broadcast, including the classic commercials. You can download great shows that'll chill you and thrill you, such as Suspense, The Whistler, Inner Sanctum, Lights Out and more. There are mystery and crime shows like Sherlock Holmes, Philip Marlowe, Dragnet and Sam Spade. They got a great collection of old time science fiction radio shows like X-1 or Dimension X. Plus, there is a ton of comedy and westerns there too if you want to relive the shows of yesteryear. All the shows are available to instantly digitally download and the links never expire, so you can order them now and listen to them anytime you like. And because you're a listener of Weird Darkness, you can save 20% on any and all radio shows on the website by using the promo code Weird at checkout. Just visit ClassicRadioStore.com, select all the radio show packages you want, then at checkout use the promo code Weird and save 20% on your whole purchase. That's ClassicRadioStore.com, promo code Weird at checkout. And now once again, Thomas Highland and the second act of crime classics. And his report to you on John Hayes, his head and how they were parted. Historical background. We are concerned here with England in the early 1700s. George I sat upon the throne and the terms Whig and Tory were being muttered and bandied about and chopped on walls. During one February, the great Sir Hugh Burdenny took time away from the Navy and went ashore long enough to invent the side pocket, only to die a year later in the Fiji's. And in April, a month which concerns us most, King George put his queen in prison because of her part in the Fon Kunigsmach affair. But we are concerned most with a citizen of the time, Mr. John Hayes. We hear of him next on the evening of April 22nd. Two lovers who had never heard of him strolled along the Thames. Strolled. Let's sit here, duck. No, Thomas. So they strolled on. Mary. Duck. Let's sit here. Oh, no. And on. I like it here beneath the bridge, don't you? Well. See how the shadows lie like lacy web. Where? Yon. Oh. Let us sit and watch and see how they quiver as riding moon, a trail in the sky. Here? Just so. Mary. Duck. You are dear to me. Hush. And how to wash this torrent inside me. Fair Mary. Fairest. And most lovely. And how the blushes to your cheek beneath the moon. Thomas. Yes, Mary. I too. Thomas. This is an unreality which we see, Mary. A conjugation of shadow and moonlight. But it has such curly hair. Lacy shadows. And eyes and lips that grin. A head with no body. There in the mud. It'll go away. How can it? It's an abomination. Come. It's not real. It is real. It is not. Go see. Duck. Go see. All right. Well. Go. A head. Of a man. Of a curly headed man. I knew it. Thomas Ascot. I did not want to come down here in the first place. You made me. You made me. A head. Go. So they discovered the head in the mud of the Thames. And after they married, they had a lot to talk about. It was the head of John Hayes all right. But nobody knew it then. Thomas Ascot reported his unusual find to the constabulary. Who went to the spot. Saw that the lad was indeed a truthful lad. Poked about searching for a body to go with the head. Failed. And then brought back what had been found to the sheriff's offices. They cleaned and combed the find. Known as dressing the head in the trade. Then they mounted it neatly on a 10 foot pole. This was the custom of the day. Whenever an extra head was found. Mounted on a pole. Exhibited in the town square so it could be identified. Nobody however came forward in the prescribed three days. So Dom Llewellyn was called in. Do that thing you do with glass Dom. He was told with heads. And closed this one for preservation purposes. And Dom did. With caliper and a secretly fashioned glass and blowpipe. And Tom did. In the meanwhile, back at the home of Catherine Hayes. She's just stepped out of her door on her way to the cheese stall. Mrs. Hayes. You Mrs. Marson. Good morning to you. A marketing. A marketing. Mind you if I go along. If I walk with you. Neighbor who walks alone. Neighbours alone. Aye. Wise was the poet who first said that. Mrs. Hayes. Yes. A question. Many do. I'll go your two borders. A pace. So. Yes. Mr. Wood is an attractive one. Wouldn't you say. In truth I had not noticed. Nonny nonny nonny. In truth. I suppose you'll say you have not noticed the prettiness of Mr. Billings. Not at all. Through the goodness of my heart for poor tradesmen they live in my cellar. Truth I never see them. And Mr. Hayes. Your husband. Of him what? I have not seen him. I heard his returns on the army but I have not seen him. No wonder. No wonder. If he is on his way to Portugal how could you see him? Oh indeed. But Mrs. Hayes. Yes. So long he was in the army. Then home to such a young and comely as you. Then within four days he offs to Portugal. Restless John. My last words to him as he left. Restless indeed. Would that my husband were restless like that. And off to Portugal. And a cooper like that Mr. Billings about. Some has all the looky. And Mrs. Martin shook her head sadly all the way to the cheese stalls. There she selected a good round edam and went home and told all the neighbors that John Hayes had hide off to Portugal. And neighbors told neighbors and everybody was satisfied. For a week. For it was a week later that Mrs. Martin went down to London on a visit to a friend. It was an infrequent trip for Mrs. Martin and her friend took her around to show her the sights. The finest statuary, the best inns. And on a Sunday afternoon he took her to see a head which had been encapsulated by Dom Llewellyn. And which was on exhibition at the Constabulary Museum. And seeing it Mrs. Martin said this. Well I do believe I know that man. And her friend took her to the sheriff to whom she repeated herself. Well I do believe I know that man. What man? Why the man in that room there? The one whose head's in the glass. You know him you say? Did he? You're certain? Did he? Did he do? Who is he? A neighbor to me. Husband to a young lass, poor lass. Ah? Poor lass barely seventeen I'd say. And her husband dead in such a way. Who is she? What's her name? Catherine. Catherine Hayes. And he who you've got like you've got is her hobby dear, John Hayes. I'll be confused I'll be. How? What's he doing in that room like he is when he's in Portugal? What's he doing there indeed? Madam. Aye? Will you take me to your neighbor? Did he? Did he I will. We've had enough of you around Katie and I. We've had enough of you around Katie and I. What say you Katie? Settle it between you. Listen to me alehouse man. I'll just soon slit your gulletters look at you. And I'll do it if you don't leave us alone. Talky. It's all your good at billings. Come to me so I can let the air out of you with a knife. Aye. Settle it between you. Yes, who be you? Sheriff of London town. For what? If you'll be Mrs. John Hayes I come to take you with me. For what? To show you of your husband if he be the one whose head we have. Head? Aye. And madam? Aye. The two men I aspire over your shoulder may I inquire of their worth? Friends to me. And your husband? I would say so. We will all ride down to London town. And now Mr. Wood I will show you a thing. Come with me. Look you. Who is this man whose head is in this glass? I do not know. Who is this man? I do not know. I swear it. I am a pious man. When I swear a thing it is sworn to. And it is the truth. Very well. Sit there. Mr. Billings. Close the door please. Walk to that table Mr. Billings and tell me whose head it is in case there. Mr. Billings. Aye. What have you done with the rest of Mr. Hayes? Mr. Hayes. Did you put an axe in such a way as to sever his head? Me? You? No. Very well. Sit there. Mrs. Hayes please. Is that your husband's head who is on the table? No. You are not looking at the head Mrs. Hayes. Nor do I need to. For my beloved husband my strength and my love is in Portugal. Mrs. Hayes. What? Will you look at the head please? I will not. I will bring it to you so you can see. Do not. For what reason? Do not. Do not. How can it be my hubby love John when he isn't? Pretend Mrs. Hayes. Pretend he is not in Portugal and so pretending tell me is this your husband? No. Are you sure? It is not my husband. Perhaps you need a better look. No. No it is not John. Not him. I hold him by the hair and close to you. Now tell me. John. John hubby love. Your husband? Yes. Yes. Oh yes. And how got he here? They. They did it. Billings and wood. Say liar. No shame and no lies. You, the two of you evil men killed him and severed his head. Die while you fetched a pale to catch his head. And laughed as you caught it. In the name of his majesty I charged the three of you. Charge them not me. The three of you. And the three of them were tried. Billings and wood on the charge of murder. Catherine on the charge of petty treason. Which was 18th century talk for killing one's husband. All were found guilty. Wood died in jail. Billings was hung in chains. And Catherine, let me read to you from a journal of the times concerning Catherine. An iron chain was placed about her body and fixed to a stake. On these occasions when women were burned for petty treason, it was customary to strangle them by means of a rope passed round the neck and pulled by the executioner. So that they were dead before the flames reached the body. But the flames leaped so high that the executioner burned his hands so that he could not strangle. So that Catherine Hayes was burned alive. It is interesting to note that a graph of petty treason in England for a whole year after that shows a decided drop. Before it picks up again. In just a moment Thomas Highland will tell you about next week's crime classic. John Hayes 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 Betty Harford was heard as Catherine, Jeanette Nolan as Mrs. Martin, and Alastair Duncan as John Hayes. featured in the cast were Ben Wright, Richard Peele, Charles Davis and William Johnstone. Bob LeMond speaking. Here again is Thomas Highland. Next week Mahadwat India in the year 1894. We will concern ourselves with a father and son who just didn't get along to the point where one of them had to go. My report to you will be on Rashi among the crocodiles and the prank he played. Thank you. Good night. From the stars of Old Vienna to Rogers and Hammerstein here a cavalcade of musical treats illustrating how easy it is to become stage-struck the Broadway musical way with Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse as guides. Here the evolution of musical comedy with a host of star Friday night when CBS Radio presents Stage Struck. Lionel Barrymore's Radio Hall of Fame is great Sunday night drama on the CBS Radio Network. Thanks for listening to this week's Retro Radio episode of Weird Darkness. If you like the show please share it with someone you know who loves old time radio and a huge thanks to our friends at ClassicRadioStore.com for generously providing the old time radio shows you hear on Weird Darkness Retro Radio Sunday. Remember you can save 20% on all of the ClassicRadioStore.com shows by using the promo code Weird at checkout. The rest of the week I narrate new stories of the paranormal or strange stories, true crime, monsters and mysteries. So be sure to subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already done so. I upload episodes 7 days a week. You can email me anytime with your questions or comments at Darren at WeirdDarkness.com. Darren is D-A-R-R-E-N. And you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Minds, Miwi and the show's Weirdo's Facebook group on the Contact social page at WeirdDarkness.com. Also on the website, if you have a true paranormal or creepy tale to tell of your own, click on Tell Your Story or call the Dark Line toll free at 1-877-277-5944. That's 1-877-277-5944. Weird Darkness is a production of Marlar House Productions. Copyright Weird Darkness 2021. I'm Darren Marlar. Thanks for joining me in the Weird Darkness.