 Now, Roma Wines present. Suspense! Tonight, the man who knew how, starring Charles Lawton. Suspense is presented for your enjoyment by Roma Wines. That's R-O-M-A, Roma Wines. Those excellent California wines that can add so much pleasantness to the way you live. To your happiness and entertaining guests. To your enjoyment of everyday meals. Yes, right now a glassful would be very pleasant. As Roma Wines bring you... Suspense! This is the man in black here for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California. To introduce this weekly half-hour of... Suspense! Tonight from Hollywood, Roma Wines bring you a star, Mr. Charles Lawton. And so, with Dorothy Elsay's intriguing story of... The man who knew how. And with the performance of Charles Lawton as Mr. Pender, a law-abiding citizen of suburban London. We again hope to keep you in... Suspense! Oh, no. You're perfectly welcome, I'm sure. Thank you. I'm glad to see someone come in as a matter of fact. Night journeys are always a bit tedious, don't you think? Well, I suppose it depends upon one's destination. Oh, yes. I do like a book to read. I have a copy of Hangman's Holiday here. I found it extremely... Thank you very much. I never read detective stories. They're so inadequate, don't you think, sir? Well, most of them are rather lacking in characterisation and human interest. But on a railway journey, one really has to... Well, I wasn't speaking of the character so much. I meant the crimes. Bungle, you know. Oh, but I don't agree with that. All those penned-readful murderers are so incompetent they bore me. Oh, I say. I think you're quite wrong. The criminals in books are usually a good deal more imaginative and ingenious than murderers in real life. Then the murderers who are found out in real life, yeah. Well, even some of those did pretty well before they got pinched. Crippen, for instance. But don't you remember Dr. Crippen? Oh, yes, of course. You know, Crippen, he'd never been caught if he hadn't lost his head and run off to America. What? That's the point, you see. He did lose his head. Very good. He bungled the whole business. It's so simple. Now, just for argument, if you were going to commit a murder, what weapon or means would you choose? Me? Well, oh, let's see. I've never really given it much thought to actually... I know. Yes. I should use a sandbag. A sandbag? Yes. It worked very successfully in two stories I've read recently. A sand? Oh, yes. Pardon me, I didn't mean to be rude, but the clumsiness of it, all the elaboration, the lies, the paraphernalia, the adibos, absolutely unnecessary. Come, come, come. You can't expect committing a murder and getting away with it to be as simple as shelling peas. Oh, you'll think that, too. Your mistake inside can be quite simple. Oh, well, if it's so easy, how would you set about committing a murder? I? Oh, well, that's different. I should never think twice about it, you see. I know how. You haven't tried, have you? Oh, my dear fellow, it isn't a case of trying. There's nothing tentative about my method. Well, what is this wonderful method? Oh, you don't expect me to tell you, do you? I'd never think of merging anybody. Oh, yes, you would, if you really believed what I was saying. We've all of us got a nice little murder locked up inside, just waiting for a chance to come out. Oh, well, why are all these tremendous artificial barriers built up around murder, but the church and by the law? Just because it's anybody's crime, that's why it is naturally breathing. That's ridiculous. Yes, that's what most people would say, but I wouldn't trust them. Not with sulfate or phenol to be bought for tuppence at any chemist. Sulfate of what? You think I'm giving something away? Well, I'm not. It's a mixture of that and one or two other things. You see, all equally ordinary and cheap. Well, for nine pence, you couldn't make up enough to poison the entire cabinet. Of course it wouldn't do to polish off so many at one time. It might look weird if they all died simultaneously in their baths. Why in their baths? Well, that's the way it would take them. It's not the mixture alone that does the trick. You see, it needs hot water to make the stuff take effect. Just a hot bath, anytime from a few hours to a few days after administration. It's quite a simple chemical reaction. It couldn't possibly be detected by analysis. It would just look like heart failure. I've never heard of such a thing. You know, it's very odd how often one seems to read of people being found dead in the bathtub. Have you noticed? I know. No. No. But look here. If nobody is fit to be trusted with this potent formula... I'm not to be trusted either. Exactly. Well, that's true, but it's past praying for now. I know the thing, and I can't unknow it. Unfortunately, perhaps, but there it is. Are we flying down? Yes, this is Rugby. Rugby already did me. I must get out here. I have a little business to do with Rugby. I'm most indebted to you, sir. I've been quite entertained with your secret formula. Thank you. Just a moment. What did you say was the name of that stuff? South 8 of... I'm a look here. If I were you, my dear sir, I'd just put it out of my head and forget it. There's a good fellow. Forget it. Yes, yes, yes, that would be better. I will try to forget it. Night for suspense. Roma Wines bring you a star, Mr. Charles Lawton, whom you have heard in the prologue to tonight's study in suspense. Far to the south of us is our good neighbor country, Ecuador. Let's imagine ourselves there now, dining on the Roof Terrace Cafe of the exclusive hotel metropolitan in Guaiquil, Ecuador. Near us, an American has just complimented his hosts on the magnificent dinner to which his host quickly responds, ah, yes, it is true that our foods are famous. But from your land comes a rare delicacy also. It is this superb wine, so excellent that we in Ecuador import it from your United States. My friend, I drink to you in your own delicious Roma wine. Our Ecuadorian friend is right, for Roma wine's superb quality has won such favor in many far places that they import it, enjoy it as a rare luxury. But not so here in America. Here, millions know and enjoy Roma wines as an inexpensive everyday delight, at mealtimes and when entertaining. So many, in fact, that Roma is America's largest selling wine. With no high import duties to pay nor expensive shipping costs, you enjoy these distinguished wines for only pennies a glass. Ask for Roma wines, which bring you old world wine making skill, plus Roma's own modern controls and testing. That's R-O-M-A, Roma wines, America's largest selling wine, made in California, for enjoyment throughout the world. And now it is with pleasure that we bring back to our sound stage Charles Lawton in The Man Who Knew How, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. Good morning, sir. Good morning, Charles. I have an egg for your breakfast, sir. Oh, thank you. They're quite scarce now, you know. Yes, I know. Will you have your tea now, sir? Yes, please. Anything in the post, Charles? Only a note from your tailor, sir. He'd be pleased to have you come in for a fitting at one on Tuesday next. Oh, very well. Charles, what's the back stairs gossip in the neighborhood, Charles? Oh, nothing much, sir. Mr. Skimmings, the old gentleman in number 11, had a falling out with his navel and has drawn up a new will, they say. Oh, really? He's left everything to his housekeeper, Mrs. Digby. Well, well, well, she's been with him nearly 20 years. That reminds me, Charles, I should draw up my will, you know, one of these days. And Charles, I shan't forget you. You've been more than loyal to me, Charles. Well, thank you, sir. Charles? Yes, sir? Charles, has it ever occurred to you that an unusually large number of people die in bath tubs? In bath tubs, sir? Yes, yes. You know, they seem to have a heart attack while in their bath, and they never come out of it. It's a common occurrence, I dare say, sir. There was one in the paper like that this morning. There was? Yes, sir. Right on the front page it was. That's how I happened to notice. Here, it's this account, sir. A wealthy manufacturer dies in bath. Mr. Brittleseed was, sir, of the Brittleseed's engineering works at Rugby. Rugby? You do know him, sir? No, no, I didn't know him. I believe the paper says his wife found the poor man. That's failure. That's a very peculiar coincidence. What, sir? I was just thinking, Charles. I met a man on the train down from Carlisle last night. He got offered, Rugby. He said he had a bit of business there. I wonder what his business was. Oh, Charles. Charles. Charles. Charles is someone at the door. Don't tell me the bell must be out of order. Charles. Where is that other slipper? Damn you, Charles. All right, all right, just a moment, just a moment. I'm coming, I'm coming. Mrs. Digby. Oh, I didn't mean to rouse you, sir. But Mr. Skimmings never kept a phone in the house, sir. And, oh, sir, perhaps you could tell me who to call. Step inside, Mrs. Digby. What precisely seems to be the trouble? Well, I thought he was at long time in the bath, sir. But I never dreamed. Oh, dear me, has Mr. Skimmings been taken ill? Is that what the matter? Worse than ill, sir. All blue he is. Dear me. If only I'd looked in sooner, sir. But you know a gentleman in his bath how it is, sir. Oh, yes, of course. I must say I've always been afraid something of this sort might happen. The old gentleman would take his bath, so very odd. Probably had a slight stroke, Mrs. Digby. I dare say the doctor will be able to bring him round. Not likely, sir. From the look of him, he's been dead. Sometimes, sir. Stand back. Stand back. Relatives don't need me until the coroner's completely jammed me in the body. Hello. Would you ever look at this card, please, officer? Who did you want to see in there, sir? Mrs. Digby. You'll find her in the library, giving testimony, most likely. No, yes, they've discovered the will, I imagine. I don't know nothing about that, sir. Will I just run in and have a look around? Officer! Who was that man who just went in to Mr. Skimming's house? Search me. Why did you let him in? He persuaded me like. Do you realize, officer, what you may have done? Of course, officer, I have no right to say it. But that man may have gone in there to destroy evidence. What evidence? Oh, I get it. You're one of them there sensations seekers. Barking at the wrong team, my lord. There ain't no murder case here. The old bloke died of art failure. Yes, I know. While taking a hot bath. Really, that happens every day. Five or six cases right around this neighborhood in the past month or so. I've been keeping track of them, officer. Did you know that in every single one of these cases, the persons who died left quite a lot of money? I wouldn't be surprised, sir. This is a wealthy neighbor. All right, then that's my number, Mrs. Digby. Give me a poem with any unusual development there. I will, then, sir. There he is, officer. Let's see. Well, hello, we meet again. Yes. I rather imagined we would. Did you know the old gentleman, Mr. Skimix? Only to speak to on the street. Well, then you'll live near here, eh? Oh, yes. The fourth house down. I'm just going back. Mind if I walk along? No, no, of course not. Hard on meeting again like this, isn't it? Most peculiar. Do you live in these parts, too? Oh, no. I was only here on a little matter of business. Matter of... yes. Last time we met, you had a business at Rugby. Oh, yes, I had. My business takes me all over the country. I never know where I may be wanted next. It was while you were at Rugby that, uh, silly old Brittle say it was found, uh, dead in his bath, wasn't it? Oh, yes, that's a funny thing going. He left all his money to his wife, I believe. She's a rich woman now. Good-looking girl, a lot younger than he was. This is my gate. Oh, already? Will you, uh... will you come in and have a drink? Oh, yes, thanks. I should like to very much. I trust your wife won't object to this intrusion. I have no wife. No bachelor's quarter, no? Yes. I do myself quite well under the circumstances. Oh, you're right. This is capital. Would you give me your hat? Oh, thank you. I think my man has gone off to bed, but I dare say we can manage. This way, please. Well, that file looks good. Would you take so much? It is, uh, remarkable. Uh, how many people have been found dead in their baths lately, isn't it? Well, I suppose... I suppose I've been taking more notice on account of that conversation we had on the train. You know, it is a curious thing how, when once your attention is attracted to any particular set of circumstances, that set of circumstances seems to haunt you. True. Let us say, for instance, that you get appendicitis. Now, immediately the newspapers are filled with paragraphs about people who have died of or recovered from appendicitis. True. You see it mentioned in all the magazines. You discover that many of your friends and acquaintances have had appendicitis. The thing seems rather too pursuable. Yes, yes, that's exactly how it is. And all these baths have deaths. The sequence of events is the same in each case. The hot bath, the discovery of the body, the inquest, and the medical opinion always the same. Death due to heart failure, following immersion in hot water. Yes. It just makes me wonder. You know how one does foolishly. Foolishly, whether anybody else had happened to hit on that drug you mentioned. What was the name of it? Oh, I shouldn't think so. I fancy I'm the only person who knows about that. You're a chemist? Oh, I'm a bit of everything. Sort of a general utility man. I do a good bit of studying on my own too. You see, well, I see you have some very interesting books. Yes, I collect modern first editions. May I see that green volume there? Of course, certainly. I'll set it down. It's a Henry James. It's quite a bargain, really. Here we are. Charming book. Yes, yes, indeed. It's a very interesting hobby. E. Pender, is that your name Pender? Yes, it's Everett Pender. You have the advantage of me now, sir. Oh, I'm one of the great Smith Clams. And work for my bread. Here's your drink. You're retired, I suppose. Yes, only recently. I was in a bank until I came into this bit of money. Well, you're one of the lucky ones, not married, comfortably fixed. I dare say you won't be needing any sulfate of panic. I didn't quite... Any useful drugs in the near future? No. I shan't be coming to you for assistance yet a while. Besides, how should I find you if I wanted you? Oh, you wouldn't need to find me. I should find you. There's been any difficulty about that. Well, I'd best be getting up. No, no, don't get up. I'll find my head. Thank you for your hospitality. I don't expect we should meet again, but we may, of course. Things work out so quillily sometimes, don't they? Yes. Good night, Mr. Seville. Good night. Oh, hello, Charles. I thought you'd gone to bed. I heard voices and thought you might be wanting something. Oh, it was just an acquaintance, Charles. Stopped in for a drink. He's gone. Shall I take the glasses? Yes, thank you, Charles. You wish to finish yours, sir? Mr. Pender. What? Your drink, sir. You wish to finish it. Oh, yes, of course. I thought I had. I'll draw your bath when you're ready for it, sir. Oh, there's no hurry. Tell me, Charles, did you ever notice a tall, dark chap with very thick spectacles and curly hair calling on Mrs. Digby? Why, yes, sir. Come to think of it, I have, sir. But then he always seems to be about whenever there's a death in the neighborhood. Lately, that is. Did you ever talk with him, Charles? Why, uh... Why, if I not to mention it, sir... Oh, you did talk to him, Charles. Why are you so upset, Charles? Well, sir, it was about Mr. Skimming's changing his will in favor of Mrs. Digby. And the grey-haired gentleman, a smith, I believe his name is, asked whether you hadn't changed your will lately. Did you tell him I'd left everything to you? Well, not in so many words. But you gave it away. Ah... Lord Inhab... What is it, sir? That... drink. He poured it while I was getting a book down from the case. What is it, sir? Charles. Charles. Under no circumstances am I to have a hot bath for at least two weeks. Do you understand, Charles? No hot baths. Very well, sir. Oh, Charles. In the paper. Has he... has anyone else died in his bath? Why, as it happens, oh, yes, sir. Here it is, sir. The inquest will be held tomorrow at three. The inquest? Yes, the inquest, Charles. I know what my duty is. I shall be at the inquest tomorrow. Hello, Charles. I was not expecting you home for a bit, sir. You didn't stay long at the inquest. I wasn't interested in the inquest, Charles. I went to the inquest only to see if a certain man would be there, and he was there, Charles. He was there, as I expected. Yes, sir. The afternoon papers come. There is still another of those bath deaths. Another? Oh, yes. Yes. They will go on and on unless somebody stops them. Charles, where was this one? In Launston Place, sir. A young woman this time. It's the most... No, no, no, no, Charles, no. I'm going out again, Charles. I have some business to attend to. Over in Launston Place, as a matter of fact. Goodbye, Charles. You have one of those old-fashioned sandbags. Sandbags? The kind one uses to keep drafts from coming in under a door. Oh, yes, man. In fact, I think we may have one left. I must demand for these now, dear. No, I suppose not. Careful if you use it on a stair landing, sir. One of these fell and hit a woman on the head in case I know, not dropped cold. You don't say. But I'll be very careful. Yes. Very careful. Good night, sir. Right, sir. Here you are. Well, thank you. Would you like a cigar to smoke later on? Thank you, sir. By the way, sir. It's a bloke following you. I don't know whether you know him. Yes, I know. Just let him learn, Bobby. I'm going to have some sport with him. Right, Charles, sir. Good night. Good night. I've known it ever since I left Launston Place. Bobby, to arrest me. Why should I? Because I'm going to kill you. Why ever do you want your thing like that? To put an end to one of the most fiendish careers and the annals of crime. You've committed your last murder, Mr. Smith. My name's not Smith at all. I'm William Bartlett. I didn't imagine it really was Smith. Do you actually believe that I'm responsible for all these buffs, have you? Do you deny that you are? Why should I? You told me yourself you're the only man who knows the formula for the poison. Sulfate of Thanatol? Well, yes, indeed. You have me there, Pender. And you stood to profit by every one of those deaths, didn't you, Mr. Buckley? You have me there, too. Look here, Pender, you're a great reader of crime stories. Haven't you ever wished someone would commit the perfect crime and get away with it just once? Yes, I have. God help me, but I don't anymore. I saw old skimmings dead in his baths. Blue and horrible. The man who committed that outrage must die. Pender, look. You, Buckley, you must die. Pender, you're mad. You don't know what you're doing. Pender! If you please, Miss... Warden, off at Coley. Yes, sir. You don't look at all well if I may say so, sir. Or to be home in bed, you ask? I dare say yes. That's fine for the phone-givens. Right away, sir. Say what's up, Tom? The club is not to beat me to the phone, and I'll tell you. Oh, if it's interesting like murder, my paper wouldn't print it anyway. What is it? Buckley of all people. No. Gone to an inquest. Some woman died in a bath. Where? Buckley must have been on his way to interview the husband at his laboratory. To the rough district close to the river, somebody crept upon him and gave him such a blow it broke his neck. Don't say it. We say it must have been a sandbag. Well, who did it, do they know? The vaguest notion got clean away in the park. Oh, that's too bad. Bill Buckley was a great crime reporter. He was a decent sort, too. I worked with him for a time. Great sport. No end of a leg for him. I know. Did you ever hear about that sulfate of Thanatolle stunt he used to work? No. What was that? Well, he'd look at you sober as a judge, he would, and then tell you about this sulfate of Thanatolle. Sulfate? Which mixed with a few other things he said would cause death if you swallowed it and then took a hard bite. Nobody believed him, did they? Oh, no. Oh, yes. He used to work off that wheeze on the boobs and right away carriages. Oh, no. See how they take it really? Would you believe it? One chap actually accused him of... Oh, not a panda. What's happening? Oh. Oh, no. Why, that bloody... He caught a bit of a chill out in the fog, I think. I put him to soak in a hot bath. That ought to do the trick. Well, if there's nothing more we can do. Mr. Pender wants me to thank you for bringing him home, gentlemen. Oh, nothing. My gentlemen, is your bath hot enough, sir? Mr. Pender. Mr. Pender. I found out the name of that drug, Charles. Sulfate of... Sulfate of Thanatolle. It was the man who knew how, starring Charles Lawton, appearing with Mr. Lawton as Hans Conrad as Buckley, in tonight's tale of... Suspense. Suspense is produced and directed by William Spear. Have you had the thrilling experience of enjoying a meal with delightful roma wines? Well, tomorrow evening, we suggest that when serving your dinner, whether it be fish, meat, or poultry, just place a well-chilled bottle of your favorite roma wine, sautern, burgundy, or claret on the table with the meal. You'll be in for a new experience in just how good even the simplest everyday foods can be when served with superbly flavored roma wines. Don't put off discovering how much these delicious and inexpensive roma wines can add to the pleasure of everyday living. Remember, thousands make roma wines their daily stand by for greater enjoyment, at a cost of only pennies a glass. Ask for R-O-M-A, roma wines. America's largest selling wine, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. Next Monday, same time, you will hear Miss Agnes Moorehead and Mr. Ray Collins as stars. They will be heard in the diary of Sophronia Winters by the distinguished radio playwright Lucille Fletcher. Don't forget to listen next Monday, too. Suspense. Presented by roma wines, R-O-M-A, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. Thank you.