 Good evening creeps Tonight's mystery playhouse story is entitled mathematics of murder You know it reminds me of a conversation I had recently with a friend of mine who's a detective He said that some of those mystery writers and their perfect crimes handed him a laugh He said the only reason those crimes are perfect is because the detectives in the stories are such cool And he claimed that 95% of those crimes could be solved by any detective with just a little routine legwork Well creeps and tonight's play you're going to meet that kind of a detective namely a legman listen now to mathematics of murder This is the story of two men Two men who have never met two men who move in different worlds Two men who have never even heard of one another and who certainly never expected to But let's not get ahead of ourselves After all that's the story Just now there are two other strangers each with something quite different on his mind No No, don't I'll make good. I'll pay I've told you that already only I can't this minute. I haven't got that much right now. I Know I know you're giving me plenty of time already only Look, I tell you what let me call you back Well, I'll try some more there must be someone who how much time can I have? No, no, I'm not stalling. This is on the level Yes, I'm sure of getting it. It's as good as mine. Now only I need a little time to collect it. That's all Yes, of course, I'm sure this is the payoff Well, I know how I can get it now I'm sure I tell you I I'm dead sure that was Colin Hughes Remember that name Colin Hughes And now this is a man. He's never met or heard of another stranger a man is remote from Colin Hughes's life as The Bronx from lower Central Park West Sam Evans a man with something quite different on his mind Sure. We're not let's ask him for dinner Friday night. You know, I'm always saying yeah Only you should taste my Mrs. Isborscht and cheese blinces, then you'll really taste something. Yeah, that's what I tell him And it's the truth Two men two strangers each going his own way each quite oblivious of the other Colin Hughes and Sam Evans I didn't expect it tonight. I just wanted to tell you I'd be over to see you tomorrow night Oh, that's well Colin only you come over and see me nearly every night. Well, I just wanted to tell you that's all my Why not ask some people in but you always like it's best when we're by ourself This time I feel like having some people around for change Hey, by the way, how often do you wind that clock? Oh, it's an eight-day clock. Oh Well, should I wind it now? Oh, it's not due for six more days. I did a day before yesterday. Oh Darn it all. What's the matter Colin? I think I left the lights on in the car Would you mind having a look from the hall window? Why sure Colin? Thanks Change that clock you turn them off. All right. Oh fine Well take off your hat and stay a while. No, I'm going now all ready. Mm-hmm Where are you taking that radio? Oh to the repair shop? I think it needs new tubes. Never won't we need it for the party? It plays good enough the way it is. Well, we'll play records or something. I'll be around tomorrow at eight Colin you're acting so strangely this evening at eight. I said I heard you Colin You'll be over tomorrow night at eight. Is there anything remarkable about that? The only remarkable thing about Colin's date was that he was a bit late in keeping it For the next evening at eight. He was behind the wheel of a car rolling smoothly along a lonely highway I must say you look charming Maureen. Thank you Colin Been a long time since I've heard you say something like that It's still nice to get compliments from one's husband even a divorced one How things been going with you Colin? Oh well enough. I Don't have to ask you. Everyone says you're the big lady executive these days. Oh, not really Well, I could never have bought you a silver fox like that Don't worry. I'm not gonna ask how much it cost. Well, that's one thing to be said for being divorced We don't have to quarrel about money anymore That was my fault really and you being such a success. Oh, Colin But let's not go into that. We're having much too nice of time. I Can't tell you how surprised I was when you phone and so please It seems so gay coming out here to meet you. I was like a schoolgirl in the first date Been so long Colin. Yes, it has rather New color Colin. How long have you had it? Oh A while very nice. I guess you're not doing too badly yourself. Oh the devil. What is it? It's these lights. I had the car in the garage just today to be fixed when I touched the dimmer button They seem to go out completely at least I think so. Maybe there's a ball blue And I better have a look You see when I touch this it's supposed to deflect the lights But if they really go out someone could easily plow into us Maureen, would you mind awfully? Maybe it's just one of them. Of course Colin. What shall I do? Well, I was wondering if you just step in front of the car and tell me what happens when I press the button Which light is gone see if it's the right. I don't mind so much. Of course. Yeah, wait, I'll get the door for you there They should both be on now. Yes, they are all right now stay there and watch when I sure Well, even a cocky little sleep sometimes Hello Yeah, speaking Yeah Yeah, I got it woman got killed in an accident. I figure it's just another hit-and-run, but you want me to have a look anyway Okay, be right out there There she is inspector gosh did when they found a clan scene. Yeah Well rest huh? Yeah, you don't get silver fox for peanuts nice-looking woman to die these hitting run driver. Yeah I guess she must have stepped into the road probably didn't even look where she was going Maybe something coming along hits her then the driver gets panicky and runs off. Maybe accidents. All right hit-and-run Maybe maybe it was an accident. On the other hand, maybe not Yes, mr. Hughes. I'm inspect the revins. I don't believe over. Here's my badge I'm afraid I got to ask you a few questions Come in. Thanks. I Guess you know your former wife is dead. Yes. I I read it in the papers When was the last time you saw him oh When the judge's chambers just about a year ago the day we were handed down our decree We shook hands and whisked each other luck and that was that huh? How was she fixed financially good? I suppose she had a big department store job I suppose you know you were named beneficiary on her insurance. No, I didn't how much is it for I don't know anything about that You'll have to take it up with them now Look would you give me the dates of your marriage from when the winds of course 1940 to 1943? Insurance was taken out in 1942. You were married to a then. How is it? You didn't know you were the beneficiary I saw you were lying and you didn't know you were the beneficiary. I Didn't know then you didn't understand what I meant. I didn't know I was still the beneficiary. I thought she changed it since As a matter of fact, I assumed she had Anything the matter Evan well No, only that that was just the wrong answer see Strangers no one man a murderer the other a man with a good hunch Sure, you know of course, but not the little man from the Bronx He only has a hunch and a way of getting the wrong answers. He couldn't possibly know yet But is he in trouble what are you doing? Oh, no, no, he isn't problem is causing he didn't do anything Just a checkup doesn't mean anything. Don't let it bother you Mr. Hughes was over here last night with you. Is that right? Yeah, he was just two of you by yourselves No, we had some others a party like what was it in celebration of I don't know. We'll get it up Oh, I guess it just got itself up. Oh, who's that it for nobody much my sister and I have been The couple next door that's about all I see well, I uh, I may be back Don't be frightened. I usually forget things. I want to ask the first time and have to come back and ask in the second time I'm not very good that way Gee I suppose he's doing the best he could but We acted like he doesn't know what it was all about They must take anybody on the detective division these days You're listening to the mole mystery theater on when radio was we'll be right back And now let's get back to the episode mathematics for murder on when radio was My sister and I were going to the movies that was the last night for gene Arthur But Nila just insisted and we didn't have the heart to turn her down. She seems so fat on it I guess we were there from about seven thirty to twelve Yes, that's right inspector. We were there he turned our down the first time she called I didn't want to go I'm pretty tired these days from working and all but now I just wouldn't take no for answers for the second time She called we gave it away Miss Carlson. Oh, hello, I guess you did forget something the first time you was here like you said About that party miss Carlson. Who suggested having it you is or you? Oh, it was between the both of us I guess the one time she called about coming over. Oh, I didn't he just came But he brought an armful of records in with him didn't he? Yeah, I did. And if you didn't call him how do you know enough to bring records to the party? Okay What did I ask you who first spoke of having the party? He or you? Well, I guess he did say something the night before then I did the calling so it was like between the two of us You might say I see What time did you get here? It was about eight. How'd you know? It was on the clock. That's how I know Well, what made you look at the clock? Well, he came in and said everybody here already. What am I late? So I look you know how you look when somebody says something like that Yeah, I know how you look when somebody says something like that. I Guess he took the other girl home first What other girl, you know the one he had out in the car with him Out in his car. Yeah Well, yes, that's all No, not a one Back to tell you yes That cup was an hour slow. He got here at eight five my socks, but everywhere else. It was nine He's kept it in this garage over a year Is there been any cleaning done on him? No, just bed it down for the night. I'll hold it slightly You're gonna have a look at the price for it. Sure What's up, Mr. I asked him a new answer How long is this company? I got the ticket here. Let's see He brought it back at 1145 sure then right here in the car before that when did he take it out? And the night What's the matter? It was a wrong answer You didn't lose your own car I'm asking you the news We only guess that that's a stupid thing to lose Yes, that's our thousand pounded. Don't let anyone go near it till I can send someone out of it What's the matter with it? There's nothing to find on it just now. It's still for five pair in the back of a piece All right at this time. Oh, Mr. Joe Miller. What kind of credentials did he ask? Well, you mean you rent cars without security? What nearly no sir, but that's a lot Deposit enough to come at the whole car Seven surely Doubt man Okay Seven ball in the corner pocket Say what's the idea grab my arm that way you could have ruined my shot. Take off your ice. They can come outside I want to talk to you Scram, I'm gonna finish this game. See you'll have already come on out. I don't see why it's a tin says do it Detective Okay Excuse me fellas All right, your name's Flynn last night you rented a car from Monica under the name of Joe Miller What'd you do with it and where'd you go? I don't have to tell you you don't have to you're under arrest for murder then come on Hey, wait a minute. I never murdered anyone. The cause of murder cars Look, it wasn't me. I wasn't in and I just took it out for somebody else. Oh, now you're telling you Yeah I was clean out playing some of the fellas back there and I come out for a breath of air Then this fella comes by and asked me if I had care to do him a favor There's 20 bucks in it for me. Thank you. Well, I wanted to get back in that game. Oh 20 bucks What was the favorite? Take a car that's for money under a fake name. That's my owner for fun So I took it out for him and I I just drove around the corner and picked him up And he dropped me off at the pool room There was still half of the 20 coming to me so about quarter to nine quarter to nine Yeah, quarter to nine. I went outside met him again like with a ring. He showed right on time Took the car back for him and reclaimed it apart and you gave that back to all Yeah, he wasn't there no boy. I don't know what happened for my couldn't find You think you're telling a lie, but she not he wasn't there anymore. He didn't wait only you didn't go back to look for him Even if you had though you wouldn't have found There's a smart plan. I figured you'd walk off of the money It was the best guarantee in the world if you'd stay out of sight and keep your mouth shut Yeah I know it sounds phony, but you'll have to believe me No, I don't have to but so happens That's him That's him. I tell you the tall guy just went in there now. That's the guy that came up. I know That's him. That's the guy don't let all along It's you going over there man. No, it would only be your word against Well What do you want to do with me? But you've got 20 bucks for getting out of that car the other night How'd you like to get another 20 to staying in it all the way to wherever it went in fact? I don't think you don't have to you get the 20 bucks Now get a murder And my name is Hughes officer Colin Hughes I had this message Inspector Evans asked if it was convenient for me to drop down here and write this way sir. Thank you Sure, I can't imagine why he wanted to write in here, Mr. Hughes. Oh, thank you Mr. Hughes, we'd like your help. We're holding a suspect suspect In what? Murderer of your wife murder I Thought it with the hit-and-run driver. Oh, it was premeditated murder. We've got the man dead to rights Oh, you have yeah, we've been pushing him around all day, and he's just about right to break down and confess. Oh That's fast work. Mr. Evans. No slow could have arrested him six hours after it did You could yeah, but I had to wait for proof But how did you know it was murder and not an accident? Well, you know, they always think they got to be so careful your wife's killer. It only been a little careless now What do you mean? Well put yourself in a killer's place. What? Of course, I know you're not tight No, I I hardly think so you see there were tread marks on your wife's for a cave Probably was there were tread marks on her to underneath the bird cave The killer must have run over her when she wasn't wearing the cave But he was so bent on making it look like an accident. He ran over the cape and then put it on it Yeah, he fixed it so it couldn't be anything else but murder just wouldn't be well enough alone But mr. Evans, how can I help? Why did you call me? Well the killer's got to involve you me Why let me explain your wife met a death of approximately 820 that night while you were with some friends at a party Yeah, we checked that must use no offense, but you understand we have to check everything naturally We also know that you accepted a lift from the stranger for several blocks from mercy So you're on your way over to your girl's house, but we checked on that too Now we wouldn't believe such a ghastly coincident, but that car and that stranger was Now we know that you were in in any car day 20 So all you have to do is tell us at what point you left the car so Established from what point on he took over the car alone The objection to helping us steam that out of it. No, not at all Not all fine you do that and I promise you won't be held as material with Milk and fast now where did you get out of the car? At market street mark. Yeah, all right When you ever see this gentleman before He's the one that got in the car with me at first for the last time when did he get out again? He didn't he rode all the way he come up to me. Had me hired. It's a liar plenty. He's got a car of his own I mean, I gave him a lift and he rode out all the way. No, I ain't bling Market Street, you know, you have no objection in signing the statement No, no, none, whatever. I'm looking shut up I Wrote in the car bearing the license number 908 7-6-1 Merchant Street and markets the night of April 3 Well, thank you It's all down. Thank you inspector. No, I mean Flynn But you said I wouldn't be held as a witness you won't be you're being held for murder Oh But there must be some mistake you do you admit it you were in that car I found a dozen witnesses who testified that Flynn was out of it from 8 to nearly 9 in a pool But my girl I was with her they you've got there at 9. No, I see all I had to do is get you In the car the rest is just a matter of subtraction two men in a car from Merchant of Market Street take one out The car goes ahead and kills your wife. Now wait a minute wait a minute one who stayed in with the one who killed Flynn can prove he got out of the car and you can't that leaves you That's mathematics. It's like one man from two men in the desk car and you've got the murder Yeah, you might sort of call it mathematics This is the on forces ready