 spent the hushed voice the prowling step in the dead of night the crime that is almost committed the stir of nerves of the ticking of the clock the rescue that might be too late or the murderer who might get away mystery and intrigue and dangerous adventure we invite you to enjoy stories that keep you in suspense for suspense tonight we present the body snatchers by John Dixon car be aware of the body snatcher who prowls after dark beware of the graves he robs beware of the murders he commits to provide new corpses for the doctors up to the year 1832 the body snatchers terrorized England according to the law only four bodies a year could legally be supplied to the surgeons for anatomical study and even these were a monopoly granted to the barbers and surgeons company of London but the study of surgery had to go on in hundreds of medical schools all over England perfectly reputable doctors were compelled to buy bodies and ask no questions in 1828 burst the scandal of Burke and here who found grave robbing too slow and murdered 16 persons in order to supply Dr. Knox of Edinburgh and so out of basic good purpose sprang the evil of the body snatcher turn back the clock now to a cold night just 110 years ago look into the brick kitchen of a house on once with common not far from London there in the light of a tallow dip sits all mother slayed in her draggled bunny what's that keep in them two hours two mortal hours for the Dutch clock and they're not here yet and the graveyard not off a mile off and once I thought I heard church bells ring and one mother slave did you call no more girl I did not call but I thought I and what are you doing up at this hour my girl I was only locking up mother slayed ain't it enough to have taken you over from a good for nothing mother not worth the gunpowder to blow her up please mother say I'm giving you a good home and brought you up practically like a lady with only the housework to do I'm sorry mother slayed only I wish you wouldn't talk like that about me own mother and what do you do Peggy stop up until this hour you miss lay miss not box 20 times a day I was only going to say I thought I heard a horse and cart in the lane in our lane yes mother slayed there it is now yes easy my dear drive easy with the merchandise the doctors don't like it if you've bumped the merchandise merchandise mother slayed what's that I'll tell you what it is my girl I didn't mean anything mother slayed it's your uncle Matt and your cousin Robert coming home from their business that's what it is you hear that piggy-lister I didn't miss lay your snuff box it's on the table and if you don't want me to take me fingernails to you instead of a strap you get on up to bed this minute yeah I'm coming my dears don't be impatient I'm a coming nasty dim light this candle gives oh my mother slayed has got the romantic so cruel she can hardly move just pull back the bar open the door will met did you get it did we get it like my blind but that's a good and ain't it raw still the cat can't you get get inside and close the door they ain't after you ain't they can't you anything thought I had church bills you're like a perishing funeral Bell if you ask me take it easy Rob take it easy we've shaken them off I've wait I wish I was a certain a Sam people the spades the sack is still in the cart let them stay who's are coming to find them then you didn't get it after all your six cow parents don't you start a blame in there you shut your potato trap of a slide or metal make you shut it what happened I'll tell you what happened he was too quick that's what the girl was only buried this afternoon the sooner the better my dear what's the good of the merchandise if it ain't fresh hey you hold your noise and listen we left the awesome card outside like we always do we creeps up to the lit skate to the church walk softly maps walk softly Rob in your oily beaver hats and net paws under the starlight and the white frosted Elms take care of the graves to spring guns may be set in some of them to protect the dead from rodders and if the coffin is one of those new iron ones all your labor will be in vain open the gate Mike such a bloody ride with them shovels I can't help it I'm loaded down with all this stuff and I'll do all the work when we do get there I will not I listen I can't hear nothing except your teeth are chattering Matt does other people be sorry just in this year church yard I two or three hundred deaders but they won't bother us I means living people don't talk soft somebody's got a dark lantern I see me blast past the grave stones where can't you see it in there it's a coming straight towards us I see you come on they've seen us Matt down beyond the gravestones crash down they can't shoot through stone Matt he says he's sacred to the memory of the girl's relatives they've been watching her I had my barkers first time in two years I've gone without a brace of pistols and this happens the chain got your barkers Matt Patterson I got what's just as good give me a shovel what are you going to do charge them this year's shovels got a nice in you left to take time out to reload won't they do that somebody started the bill that'll bring down every pillar within a mile if you want to dive and take it and then neck in your own a rope stop we are but if you don't want to get scrapped before your time follow me that's all there is to it mother slate we went out by the gate and blow me if they could stop us you're perishing nonscals did they recognize you know we had on the kitchen straight on eyes and did you do it I don't know there's blood on the shovels name that ain't mother Slade I wiped it off anyway we're here when I want now is a Christian fire to sit by and a drop of spirits to warm me stomach there's no spirits in the house Matt Patterson don't you lie to me you ugly man Matt Patterson I'm warning you better let Matt there's no spirits only half a loaf of bread don't I know it I haven't tasted a drop of gin all day black dogs on the back well I'll get what I say the doctor was promised a cork tonight all right theory he gets a cork tonight there's a few rebel again what's the clock all right come on spit it out a nice young cork without any trouble or bother my what about young Peggy up to me blind what about it I you'd have to be mighty careful why you'd have to smother there with a pillow while I sit on a legs it's what Birkin air done up in it every then you don't leave any marks on him you're off a tick wait what if the doctors see they've been polished off just plain murdered they won't have nothing to do with it these ways they don't like it like it or not dear a they all do who's buying the beef tonight Dr. George Arnold in the young filler out full and way that's a man dearie but I thought he was too pious and only to play that's what Dr. Arnold thought too till they started putting the screws on him at Barts College no cork they said to him no lecture no lecture no students they all come to it dearie sooner or later what beats me is why they got to have these bodies you'd think the doctors killed enough people as it is without up buying them after they was dead don't you question the ways of Providence Matt Patterson you can't do it Matt you can't do it mother slave you stole that noise Bob plenty do you want to wake the poor girl upstairs but you can't do it this covinal Lee knows that Arnold knows who he knows Peggy Peggy fair worships the grand he walks on he said there are once when mother slide broke it accidentally like as she can't forget him what's the honor going to think when he opens up the sack and he finds what can Arnold do he's bought her ain't he he can't go to the police and say he's bought Peggy Peggy left don't we do it and how do you two sick heads know what mother slide is they're going to do they're going to kill her ain't you Peggy Peggy Lester I thought I heard her moving about upstairs you did miss them milk and water she's on the stairs now Rob you're the least to be depended on go out and fetch in the sex don't do it he'll bring us all bad luck Matt you're a lead after me own art you stop where you are and do just as I tell you trim the candle let's have it all nice and snug what will she bring you think 15 Guinness maybe 20 maybe more 20 Guinness strike me blind but this is a way of doing business that I like did you call me mother slave that's right my ducky that's right my little pet put your wrap around you and your slippers to keep your feet warm and come right down here to Mother Slade I'm coming Mother Slade I'm coming who in those times would be a surgeon and still be an honest man at that drugged hour of the night look into the sitting room of a spacious house many candles are still alike there though they have burned down nearly to their silver sockets there is Chinese paper on the walls at a turkey carpet underfoot in front of the fire now almost out sits dr. George Arnold with his bottle green coat heavy dr. Arnold sir I beg your pardon mrs. tanker it dr. Arnold stir it's gone to a clock yes yes so it has you've got a lecture to deliver tomorrow and you'll be all wrong out why did you go on up to bed mrs. tankered yes sir you're a jewel of a housekeeper I admire you and I can't do without you but would you please go away and let me alone sure I'm very sorry sir no offense stop I shouldn't have said that I'm I'm thinking too much perhaps smoking too many cigars if you'll excuse me why must they keep tolling that bell at East Hill church why must they keep it up all night well else he says the person told him to do it else wait who who is healthy dr. Arnold sir I know you're always up in the clouds mooning over books and whatnot but I did think you recognize the name of your own parlor made that elsey I see well elsey says it's because of the murder in the church what murder to resurrection body snatches or you wouldn't know anything about such people no no no of course not they were caught trying to rob the grave but they got away one of them was a horrible big filler split Willie Kendrick's aid open with the edge of a shovel is anything wrong no no not exactly thought for a second see now you look today did they get the body yes sir it was Willie Kendrick he said was split open with a shovel no no I mean did these resurrection men get what they were after no sir thank God oh you may well say that doctor wasn't exactly speaking in the religious sense but never mind what else he says there are what she calls pillars all over the place pillars yes these new policemen after Sir Robert Peel and somebody from the new detective police that they're using instead of the Bow Street runners well Mrs. Tankard I'm going to smoke one more cigar and then I'm going to bed very good sir you see sometimes you give orders then it's too late to recall them whatever the medical practice is you you can't look your conscience in the face afterwards then I can't tell you how or why a miracle comes along and saves you and you're free you're what was that sounds like a horse and cart in the drive Mrs. Tankard yes doctor would you please go upstairs now make haste visitors sir or even Mrs. Tankard you heard my instructions obey them sir this is the front door I heard it the last time go away I will admit whatever visitors we have yes good evening dearie oh come into the sitting room here miss uh Mrs. Slade just call me Mother Slade you don't hardly seem natural or friendly to wear anything else it's a pleasure to curtsy to your doctor cool what's a lovely room I I suppose your candles is going out though one by one then you'll be in the dark I suppose you've come to report failure failure dear I I understand you didn't get what you went after bless you dearie we got something just as good finest piece of merchandise you ever saw you haven't got it here bless you dearie Mother Slade always keeps her word bring the merchandise in my dear so the doctor can see it please dearie I forgot the big stellar with the black eyebrows his uncle Matt the little stellar with the watery eyes his cousin Rob and between them in that sack they're carrying who is it in the sack 19 year old girl dearie finest anatomical specimen you ever saw where do you want this year thing why did you bring it here that's where you told us to bring it dear I mean why did you bring it to the front door why not to the surgery only place in the house where there was lights coming hurry up now where do you want it well take it yes dear take it over and put it in the cupboard there where I'm pointing this company yes then then close the cupboard door shame on you to tracking and muddy boots over the doctor's lovely turkey carpet easy my dear easy don't bruise the merchandise whatever you do don't bruise the merchant like me blind what's the order she can't feel it now there's your body mr. Sorbonne yeah let's see your money just one moment before I give it to you right now it's in this better not be no I I made a bargain with you and I'll stick to it thank you that's own common genteel of you kind of stand back so you're two stone of fat heavier than I am and you don't impress me I want to ask only one question where did you get that body that's a question dearie what people in your profession don't why not cuz they don't dare that's why would the police be interested in where you got the body no dearie not are so interested in as where we brought it to your house it's your responsibility now yes I suppose it is the victim wouldn't be by any chance that pretty little girl you used to treat so unmercifully you wrote your noise about how I treated her I was rather fond of Peggy I think this all get out of this house all of you go and get out not without that money dearie it's 20 guineas now there's money on the table under that newspaper take what you want and he get out of here before I what was that what was it late visitor I imagine was you expecting anybody no drop the lovely money drop it all over the carpet pick it up the back way out a yes it's the way you should have come through that arch and down the passing thank you for the rhino cabinet and no games mind you if you know what's good good night dearie remember you've got the body now yes I've got the body now poor little devil in heaven's name Mrs. Tancred haven't you gone to bed yet I had to get upset to answer the bill yes yes of course I'm sorry Dr. Arnie what's the matter with you matter watch as a ghost and you're almost crying am I well we must remedy that so dark in here I could barely see your city there candles going out one after another nothing but smoking and at least smell of grease and that cupboard door what about that cupboard door I always declare sir it won't keep shut without any latch or bolt if you'll excuse the lady Mrs. Tancred keep away from that cupboard Dr. Arnie are you ill or any no but keep away from that cupboard who rang the bell dear I was almost forgetting it's that man else he was talking to us about what man the officer of the detective police he wants to see him I'll see him but in some other room not here it's as you say there's not enough light not a bit of a doctor not a bit of it never too dark as you might say we're the police are concerned couldn't help it sir he must have followed me down the hole are you that's right doctor I'm stalker at your service inspector stalker how do you do inspector Mrs. Tancred you may go by your lease I'll just get some more candles and put them in that bracket by the cupboard it's not in no you needn't trouble no trouble sir excuse me first of all doctor I must apologize for intruding as late as this not at all inspector will you be seated thank you sir thank you kindly now I do say you're wondering why I'm here oh yes I am rather it's a bad business doctor a very bad business you mean the murder in the church house oh you've heard about it well my housekeeper said something about a man being killed with a shovel that's right doctor not much doubt about who did that no no the little fellow dropped his dark lantern with the initials on it their professional body snatchers we've had our eye on them for a long time speaking of body snatchers doctor well I expect this anatomy law is pretty hard in you surgeons it's an infamous lawyer sir all the same doctor it is the law yeah yes and if any surgeon happened to be caught with a body especially a murder what do you what are you hinting at nothing nothing I leave I only want to ask a question well what time did your friends leave now come doctor as one man of the world to another do you see any green in my eye you are not going to say you had no guests when the horse and car is still at your front door they didn't get away no doctor they didn't they made a little reception committee as they left by the back door Darby's on the wrist snap just as I might reach out and touch your wrist like this what do you mean by Darby's handcuffs I've got a pair in my pocket gags into their mouths that's to keep them from buying do we have to go on with this you you already seem to know everything I could tell you not exactly everything I don't know for instance where you've hidden the girl's body you're a very diligent man inspector stalker thank you sir I tried to do my duty you said a girl these gin muddle degenerates have been watched every second since they left each till church yard they hadn't a body then but they brought one here and there's only one other person who lives in the same house with them this is tankered listen to me must you always break in with the most completely old-time dentures at all the worst period of my life was only trying to be helpful sir that's right madam always be helpful you had to have some light he's the candle sir part of it in a big candle up we can hang them in the bracket man hold up that light hold it high really sir I'm not in the habit of being spoken to was hold it high I tell you do as the inspector tells your mrs. Tankered this is a very fine carpet you've got here doctor yes others have admired it tonight but it oughtn't to have foot prints on it muddy footprints footprints leading from the door past the sofa past the half over to that cupboard quite correct I think that's done it dr. Arnold I think it has inspectors stalker he couldn't have proved anything against you for that churchyard business but this let me open blue beards covered inspector let me be the first to show you what's inside who wanted a certain body appears you've come to the right place now look oh my I'm the body mr. police standing up and very much alive and wearing a nice new dress for the doctor gave me I gave you anything please don't say anything stop a bit miss aren't you Peggy Lester yes just because the doctor has to be so respectable and a girl who's fond of him has to come here in secret wait a minute everybody Peggy Lester you're lying I am not lying so that's it why didn't I guess it it's the oldest body snatchers trick in the world is it of course the old pinch penny like mother slay couldn't sacrifice a good household drudge of course they brought the body here instead of taking it to the surgery where it might get locked up could you be persuaded inspector to tell us just what you're talking about the body snatcher sir well what about them they take a living accomplice and put him into a sack and sell him to a green doctor as a dead man yes but see here they get the best price they can then in the middle of the night that accomplice gets up and robs the doctor's house and the doctor can't tell us because he's bought illegal goods I never intended to go through with it no young woman I tell you I wasn't going to rob the house they made me do this I was going to tell dr. Arnold when I found it where they were taking me I pretended to go through with it so I could warn the doctor they can hurt so much you'll agree to almost anything that sounds like the truth but it puts me in a funny position and no mistake your three murderers inspector seem to be in a believing they're leaving right enough trust up like fouls and under guard does anybody go with them how can anybody go with it I'm willing to believe this girl acted under threats he's committed no crime and I don't for the life of me see how we can touch you can't touch me no sir I can found you for making me lose a night's sleep there's no body we didn't you didn't even buy a body will you tell me doctor just what crime you committed and so when the body snatches the story of London at midnight a hundred years ago and tonight's story of suspense Columbia presents these tales of mystery and intrigue and dangerous adventure for your relaxation and enjoyment next Tuesday there will be another in this series same hour 9 30 Eastern wartime William Spear the producer John Deets the director Alexander Semler the composer conductor and John Dixon car the author our collaborators on this is the Columbia broadcasting system