 You are about to hear a story based on actual events to protect the innocent names and places have been changed Auto light and its 96,000 dealers bring you mr. William Holden in a story taken from life tonight's presentation of Suspends Tonight auto light presents report on the jolly deathwaters a story about the tragic misuse of hot rod automobile Starring mr. William Holden Hi a hap. Hi Harlow. How was the vacation? Oh, uh, auto light I guess Auto light sure perfect just like the auto light electrical system in your auto light equipped car Oh, why bring that up? Well, why not your auto light electrical system is the willing and wondrous working whiz That produces and stores electricity right under the hood of your car to enable you to start your engine use your lights horn radio Sure Harlow, but the vacation all there's never a vacation half for the thousands of component parts that go to make up the complete Auto light electrical system So that's why my auto light equipped cars ready to go every time I turn the switch right you are half and that's why Auto light electrical systems are used as original factory equipment on many leading makes of our finest cars trucks and tractors You've sold me Harlow so friends take a tip from me and specify auto light original factory parts when replacements are needed You'll find it pays because you're always right with auto light And now with report on the jolly death riders under the performance of mr. William Holden auto light hopes once again to keep you in suspense You look tired I look tired and I got a right to look tired wrap it up Ask me some time when I'm not so beat I Hate him like this. We all do just kids cab just a bunch of punk kids that should have had more sense They need a good lesson and they've had a good one Look, I'll be in the other office making up my report in case anybody wants me. I'll relay the information. Thanks Let's see now accident report Murder yeah, and it'd be a better word for it from Lieutenant Harbor San Francisco Police Department to traffic division August 27th, 1951 report on the jolly high riders Jolly death riders might be more appropriate At approximately 835 p.m. August 22nd mr. And Mrs. Warren Milford of 3589 Glendon Drive Berkeley, California We're driving in their 1949 sedan along the Bay Flats Approaching the ramp into the Oakland Bay Bridge brackets special note August 22nd with the 10th anniversary of the Milford Warren Milford had arranged for a surprise party at his sister-in-law's home in the marina district and brackets As the Milford's passed through the tunnel on the Yerba Buena Island and approached the bay half of the bridge Traffic at that time of the evening was extremely light I think we should have telephoned the more. Ah, why they might not be home Well, I'm enjoying the ride anyway Nice night No fog clears a bell Listen more and I don't want you and that brother of yours to get started on that baseball That's all the two of you ever talk lattice. What are you talking about the minute we get together? It's baseball seals here seals there. You think that's all there wasn't a hey Look at those two cars coming this way You're going off the fast, but they must be crazy. They're racing Warren, they're right in the middle of the Those hot rods piled up with a bunch of youngsters Well, they're not moving over Get over In order to avoid a head-on collision with one of the hot rods Warren Milford swerved his car to the right, but he lost control and crashed into one of the steel beam supports of the bridge Neither one of the rot hot cars involved stopped and not one of the other passing motorists who stopped to render Assistance was able to give any specific information to the officers at the scene of the accident And view of that fact no general alarm was spread Results of the accident Warren Milford was thrown clear of the crash He miraculously only suffered cuts and bruises His wife Gladys died of internal injuries in the ambulance Warren Milford was informed of his wife's death at the receiving hospital Entwording anniversary. She didn't know a thing. I'm so sorry mr. Milford. I'd like you to try to answer just a few questions for me Probably thought I hadn't remembered but I I did know it's hard for you mr. Milford I I know it's awfully hard, but you think you'd be able to identify either one of the cars Cars oh Kids they were just kids kids. Yeah, the opera joyride Could you identify any one of them if you saw them again? No, no, I didn't see any faces They weren't all boys though Some girls I think just a bunch of jolly high riders and what about the cars mr. Milford do what kind were they? But you've seen them all over town all the young high school kids have another hot rods hot rods Could you identify just one of them? Jolly high riders took her what was that? It was in white letters on on a gold background Just for a second. I saw it. What did you see that Jolly high riders? Painted on the side of one of the cars They took her The Jolly high riders. Yes, it was white letters on a gold background All right, mr. Milford. You can rest now. Arjun kids. Just young kids out for a joy ride The following morning I assigned detective sergeant Boyle to locate the whereabouts of the hot rod club known as the Jolly high riders It was a simple matter. They were listed in one of the national hot rod magazines The address turned out to be a cheap gymnasium Located up on West Doctin the gym was up on flight of stairs You look inquisitive You want something? Yeah, the Jolly high riders. I understand they meet here. Maybe they do who's in charge You want a lot of information for you? Oh John Dharma, I should have smelled you. Where's the club meat, mr. I manage the gym John Dharma I'm the head boy. The Jolly high riders use the back room over there. See the sign the Jolly high riders The club meeting room. No harm. Is it no harm. They got five charter members Five in a whole club just five. Yeah, just five John. That's a big word with you Real big I learned it young bet you didn't Who are the charter members head boy? What's this all about? It's a legitimate club. I want names Me large brissy That's a name for you. Who else besides you large always Mickey Mickey holds it from a parking garage his girlfriend Julie and one delay the sweet girl Sweet to me all the time And Wally fat Bergman we call him Wally the fat boys over there. Hey, look at him skip rope What the lose weight with a laugh? Laughing come on Bergman Yeah Oh John down Wally a great big John. Oh, yeah That's nice. I'm glad to know you sir. Yes, Wally. Um, you're any any of you boys owner Yeah, somebody owns a hot rod John dog. Who? Whole club owns a car. What do you think of that? Wally, wherever you last night about 830 last night That's not where was I last night? I got such a bad memory went to a meeting in that room Wally went to a meeting to the club. Oh Yeah, it's right sir. We had a meeting we Discussed how come somebody stole our club car What Joker stole our car with the name on the side the jolly high riders and Right before the big race on Saturday. How come? March prison was a hard boy. He managed the cheap gymnasium and lived in one of its back rooms While the Bergman just out of school lived with his family It was Bergman who later volunteered the address of Wanda Lake and of the garage where Mickey Holzer worked The garage supervisor told me that Mickey was downstairs working in the mechanic shop He was working on the frame of a car Mickey I spotted you mister. What do you want? Lieutenant Harbor, San Francisco police department Getting ready for the race Maybe maybe not. What are those things you're working on? I'm putting on single acting shocks against the law. Oh It's your car Mickey Part of it when it's finished. Oh, that's right You and your girlfriend Julie are charter members of the jolly high riders. So This must be the club car The new one. Oh What happened the old one somebody stole it yesterday afternoon somebody glommed it Can you imagine why didn't you report the theft of the police? Because well, you know, we thought maybe one of the other ride clubs had made a big joke on us Right for the big ways coming up Saturday last night Mickey your old hot rod car Caused a big accident on the open bay bridge That's awful It's terrible the driver's in the hospital I'm sorry his wife's in the city more What's the matter Mickey? Nothing. I Just hate talk like that. I hate talk about killing Is it wrong to hate talk like that? After having spoken with the three male members of the high riders I knew I had a tough one on my hands all three boys were lying was obvious Wonder Lake was home when I rang the doorbell of her apartment on Kearney I took one look at her and understood why she was sweet Place Lieutenant Harbor Miss Lake. Hey, I talked to you for a few minutes Don't mind my colors, huh? I want some curl for tonight. I was just practicing to dance the gym. Come on in. Thank you I'd offer you a drink only I can't keep it in the house with Hazel round Hazel. Yeah My oldest sister she takes care of me ever since my folks died. It's a laugh, huh? Taking care of me. How old are you wonder? 17 Rightful age. Yeah What are we going to talk about lieutenant? Oh About the jolly high riders. Hey, I'm a child member. What do you know? Yeah, that's fine I understand your club car was stolen yesterday afternoon. Yeah, ain't it dreadful? Uh-huh, and it caused a big accident last night wonder You mean our hot rod. That's right Hey, how dreadful? Where were you last night? To me of our club at the gym. We talked all about our dance tonight. Do you talk about anything else? He sure did. We talked all about our club car being stolen right before the big race. Somebody stole her right off the street What's that just dreadful? Yeah, wonder just The high riders had built a solid alibi Whichever one of them had masterminded it had done it with careful planning We had no lead on the other hot rod involved so I had to follow through with what I had I Had one member yet to talk to Mickey's girlfriend Julie. I made plans to see her the next morning But a break in the case came sooner than I expected. It was late that same night I was in the office going over some reports when the call came in Lieutenant harbour speaking Bergman the fat boy lieutenant, you know Wally. Yeah, Wally Everybody's got you gotta meet again in an hour for another race where Wally the bridge Me at the traffic item is the harbour. I'll be there Straightaway onto the bridge was practically deserted when we got there as we drew up to the curb of the traffic island I saw that something was wrong Lying doubled up on the grass was Wally Bergman He had bruises and cuts all over his face and was bleeding at the mouth and standing next to him hands outstretched Mickey holes Another meeting with you Look somebody called me. I came to meet somebody save it. Mickey save it. I'll let there's somebody who will leave you All right cap put the cups on him Autolight is bringing you mr. William Holden in report on the jolly death writers tonight's production in radio's outstanding theater of thrills Suspense and the big Labor Day weekend is coming up If you're going to drive make certain that your car is in good condition If it's slow and sluggish treat your car to a checkup at your nearest authorized auto light service station Where you will find specialists trained under auto light supervision just look in the classified section of your telephone Directory under the heading automobile Electrical service or pay a visit to the dealer who sells your make of car in either case you can be sure of getting auto light original factory parts Remember only auto light original factory parts can assure you the balance teamwork and perfect timing Built into your cars auto light electrical system right on the assembly line Because from bumper to tail light you're always right with auto light And now auto light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage mr. William Holden in Elliot Lewis's production of the jolly death writers a dramatic report well calculated to keep you in suspense Mickey Hall sir was held for assault and battery After Bergman had been treated at the clinic I questioned him I got no quarters And I knew that I'd get none from Mickey either, but nevertheless I had him brought into my office Mickey you're in a bad way It looks like it doesn't a charge of assault and battery can be a bad thing. You got to prove it Mickey Tell me who was driving the car You're so smart figured out for yourself. No, I'm not so smart Just trying to see that things are done, right? It's the job of any police officer. I Wonder if Julia will tell me Mickey ask it go ahead ask it What about your mother? You try everything. Don't you copper? You're bitter Mickey. All right bitter. Is that against the law too? I'm holding you for 48 hours. I'm gonna find that car Go ahead be bitter for all 48 hours It seems that every cop over a long period of time develops a sense of intuition I was like any cop And my intuition told me that Mickey Holster was not the real assaulter of Wally Bergman The following morning I had a visitor. She was a small graying old woman. I told her the whole story Not Mickey mr. Policeman. Oh, no, not him. He wouldn't even hurt a little thing Tell me has Mickey ever gotten into any trouble before? Oh His papa died when he was only nine years old Mickey promised his papa he would never lie to me Mrs. Holzer all I want to know is the name of the person who was driving the car that Mickey was in If I know that person now, I'll know who beat up Wally Bergman But Mickey refuses to tell me. Oh, maybe I will talk to Mickey. Maybe he won't lie to me. All right. We'll try it Sergeant bring in Mickey Holster as soon as you bring him in. I'll leave you two alone I have faith in my son all the faith in the whole world. He promised his papa Oh, he wouldn't go back on his word. Mickey is not that kind of a boy. I believe him as his Holster mom Mom, what are you doing here? Oh my son? All right, I'll wait outside Nobody called me I came because I want to help me nobody can help me Here I got a lot of that if you would only tell him the name of the boy who was driving the car He said if you told him that Mickey, there would be no more trouble. There'd be lots of trouble If you vote for your mama, maybe you knew my break had to come from within the members of the guilty club And Julie Mickey's girlfriend was my last chance for that break She worked in a dime store on mission Street on her lunch hour. I asked her to walk over to the park with me We sat down on one of the benches. I know that somebody in the club is told you not to talk Julie Who told you Mickey please. All right Can you tell me who started the high riders Julie? Surely you can tell me that Mickey went to the gym to work out. He got to know the fellas. They all talked club got started that way Who bought the hot rod they all pitched in few dollars from everybody. Where's the car Julie? We all told you it was stolen. Yes. Yes. I know you told me, but it's a lie. You're all lying for no good reason It isn't so much what's been done Julie a terrible thing. Yes, but we want to see that doesn't happen again. Can you understand that? Was Mickey driving Julie no, I Need I what do you mean Julie? I told you what you wanted to know someday when you're older Julie You'll understand how important this is. I know you will You're not a bad girl, but it's it's up to me right now to make you understand young as you are please I don't want to talk about it's because you're afraid. Please mr. Julie someday you and Mickey will be man and wife Marriage is the happiness of two people a long time ago. This man Warren Milford and his wife were just like you and Mickey They made the same plans. They thought the same thoughts and in each other's arms. They felt the same feelings There was then no difference then then there is now between you and Mickey You've taken a silly pledge dictated by a person who in the cool of evening strikes down another person in death and thinks nothing about it You know what a person like this is called Julie. Do you know? A murderer Julie a murderer and if you and I let them go it can happen again But they did was wrong and we don't want it to happen again Tell me Julie tell me it was one. She was driving it. It was a race with applying leaders from Oakland I'm a bridge one who wanted to drive and large said it was all right and the hot rod. Where is it? I don't know. I don't know when we got back to the club. I said not to worry He made up the story. He told us not to worry about the gun Julie The case of the Jolly High Riders was broken. I needed one last item the car in question I poured over every last bit of testimony by the kids and then it hit me the big race on Saturday It was a hunch and I played it a local paper gave me the location out where the speed test trials were being held a Long sandy stretch of beach on the west end there the peninsula the trials. We're already in progress when I got there You aren't hard to spot. They were racing in a low cut down blue car The frame had looked familiar as it was by me. I recognized the single shocks that Mickey had been working on I Nice looking rod large at a latest 46 block member mountain for the master cylinder floor ship transmission Great for drag and single acting shocks right nice paint job When are you gonna put your club name on the side? Soon right now. Oh sure you will right about here large Paint job with a knife. Oh Underneath the blue and I bet if I scratch the rest of it J. Oh My hunch was that you boys couldn't resist this race I'm arresting you for assault and battery large and Wanda you per man slaughter large. We can't raise Yeah, that's right Wanda. You can't race and it may be a long time before you race again I later found out Wally Bergman's reason for wanting to volunteer information The boy had a crush on Wanda. She encouraged him and then laughed him off Wanda Lake not yet 18 will be turned over to juvenile authorities Large brissel just 21 and facing a charge of assault and battery may have some time to think over his mistake Actually, the only mistake he made was in trying to cover up the accident Hot rods are not really bad things. They're not wrong. In fact in some respects, they're healthy For kids to take them apart and put them back together again to see how fast they can make them run It gives them a direction in which to toss a lot of extra energy But there's that one important thing Hot rods should be driven in places like that stretch of beach on the peninsula Places set aside for them like Murak and the Bonneville salt flats in Utah Not on the highways End of report suspense Presented by auto light tonight star mr. William Holden Auto light has again started its new suspense season with a story which demonstrates the tragic results of careless driving And now here is a man who as president of the National Safety Council is vitally concerned with highway safety mr. Ned Dearborn Thank You mr. Wilcox It is especially significant that auto light chose to present report on the Jolly Death Riders this evening Because in a few days the Labor Day weekend will start with its tragic toll of needless highway accidents Through stories like this along with continued efforts of outstanding companies like the electric auto light company We are making some headway in the fight against thoughtless driving In recognition of vigorous and continued efforts of auto light in helping to improve highway safety It is my great pleasure as president of the National Safety Council To present for the third consecutive year the council's public interest award for exceptional service to safety To mr. Royce G. Martin chairman of the board and president of the electric auto light company Thank you mr. Dearborn safety is as much our business as making automotive aviation and marine products in our 28 plans from coast to coast We will always cooperate with the rest of the great automotive industry to help Make America a safe driving nation So this Labor Day and every day don't take chances Make sure that your car is in proper operating condition And then drive carefully the life you save may be your own Next week on suspense our star will be mr. Jeff Chandler in another story based on actual events and Concerning one of the most fantastic prison breaks ever engineered a dramatic report. We call the steel river prison break In weeks to come we shall present miss Agnes Morehead mr. Charles Lawton and the popular young favorite mr. Tony Curtis all on Suspense Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with music composed by Lucian Marwick and conducted by Ludbluston Report on the Jolly Death Riders was written for suspense by Richard George Petticini Featured in tonight's cast where Jack Krushan Sam Edwards Kathy Lewis eat it on gold Barbara Eiler Joseph Kearns and Eddie Firestone portions of this program were transcribed William Holden will soon be seen in Paramount Pictures submarine command starring William Holden and William Bendix and Remember next week on suspense mr. Jeff Chandler in another story based on actual events a dramatic report we call the steel river prison break This is the CBS radio network