Pursuit and Michael Shayne

Case Closed! (old time radio)

This episode of 'Case Closed!' features two classic old-time radio mysteries: 'Pursuit in the North Sea' and 'The Case of the Wandering Fingerprints.' The first

Key takeaways

• Smuggling operations in post-war Britain were highly organized, leveraging international networks and advanced technology like fast planes and speedboats.

Main topics

• International smuggling operations
• Cold War-era crime syndicates

Notable quotes

"Man hunts man. And when the hunter is relentless, even the shadows cannot hide."

Conclusion

Both stories underscore the evolving nature of crime and detection during the mid-20th century—where

Transcript preview

Speaker 7 (0:10) This is Case Closed, crime stories from the golden age of radio. Speaker 7 (0:18) This is Case Closed, one hour of golden age radio mystery and crime stories every Wednesday at relicradio.com. If you'd like to help support this podcast and all of the other Relic Radio shows, visit donate.relicradio.com or click on one of the support links in the show notes. Thanks to those who have. Thanks for helping make this show possible this week. We're going to begin with Pursuit this time and Pursuit in the North Sea, an episode from July 22nd, 1950. After that, it's the adventures of Michael Shane and the case of the wandering fingerprints. That story aired October 2nd, 1948. Wrigley's Spearmint Chewing Gum, the refreshing, delicious treat that gives you chewing enjoyment, presents for your listening enjoyment... Speaker 8 (1:05) ...a Speaker 2 (1:11) shoot! Speaker 2 (1:22) Pursuit. A criminal strikes and fades quickly back into the shadows of his own dark world. And then the man from Scotland Yard, the famous Inspector Peter Black, and the dangerous, relentless Pursuit. When man hunts, man. Speaker 7 (1:48) To make every day more enjoyable, treat yourself often to refreshing, delicious Wrigley's Spearmint Chewing Gum. Here's a taste treat you can enjoy indoors, outdoors, at work, or at play. The cool, long-lasting mint flavor refreshes you. The smooth, steady chewing helps keep you fresh and alert. Adds enjoyment to whatever you are doing. Wrigley's Spearmint Chewing Gum. Healthful, refreshing, delicious. Speaker 2 (2:17) Now with John Dana starred as the famous Inspector Peter Black of Scotland Yard, Wrigley's Spearmint Gum brings you tonight's story, Pursuit in the North Sea. The Speaker 1 (2:39) day was warm, as London days in July can be. Behind the bars, assorted animals gazed out at the humans, and in turn, the assorted humans stared back at the animals. It was Sunday in Regent's Park at the zoo. Speaker 1 (2:56) Muffin and I had gone there with 40 other plainclothes policemen and women. It was not, however, a Scotland Yard picnic. We were after more dangerous prey than leopards, tigers, or cobras. Funny thing about monkeys, sir. Look at that one. Yeah, his face is rather familiar. I hate to say it, sir, but I hope the commissioner never comes down here. Muffin, Muffin, you have no respect for your superior. Speaker 7 (3:24) Sorry, sir. Come Speaker 1 (3:25) along. There's another vendor, sir. Yeah, it's all right. Can't take any chances. I say there. Ice cream? Speaker 5 (3:36) Sorry, sir. All out. Just Speaker 1 (3:38) a moment. One o'clock on Sunday afternoon and you've sold out. Speaker 5 (3:42) That's right. Just going back for some more. Speaker 1 (3:45) You're pulling my leg. You must have one stick left. It's the truth. I haven't. Will you open the cabinet, please? Speaker 5 (3:50) Look here. Who do you think you are ordering me about? Speaker 1 (3:53) Scotland Yard, young fellow, my lad. Do as you're told. Speaker 5 (3:56) Scotland Yard? Why, I'm off. No, you don't. Now Speaker 1 (4:00) then. Let's see what you've got in there. Speaker 5 (4:07) Oh, blimey. How'd that get in there? What is it? Speaker 1 (4:12) That, my young friend, is a case of American-made nylon stockings. Brought into England in violation of the customs law and worth, I should imagine, about 500 pounds in the black market. Speaker 5 (4:22) Fancy that. The Speaker 1 (4:23) question is, how did it get in your ice cream cart? Speaker 5 (4:26) I haven't the slightest. You Speaker 1 (4:28) may remember when we get into the yard, sir. Speaker 5 (4:31) You can't arrest me. We're Speaker 1 (4:33) not arresting you. We're taking you down for questioning. Manacles, Moffat. Right. Speaker 5 (4:38) Oh, no. I don't want to go to prison. Me poor old mother. And me brother. Speaker 1 (4:46) Where did you get them? Speaker 5 (4:47) A chap behind the reptile cage came up with a cart. Bought all my ice cream. Put this in mine and he gave me a shilling. And Speaker 1 (4:55) what were you to do with it? Speaker 5 (4:56) Take it out to chap by the gate. He's got a van. Speaker 1 (4:59) Moffat, get some of the men. I want that van. Right, sir. We were too late. The van had gone. For at least the tenth time, the quarry had eluded the trap, and we were left with a sixteen-year-old boy and a case of contraband nylon stockings. It was a minute incident and a tremendous exercise which had become one of the greatest threats to Britain's economy and the age-old industry of smuggling. The British limitation on import made England the perfect target for these activities. At nine o'clock on Monday morning, I was called into the office of the Home Secretary. Speaker 2 (5:51) I am disappointed, Black. I must say that I am extremely disappointed. The Prime Minister takes Speaker 1 (5:57) a very serious view of the situation. Something's got to be done. Something simply must be done. Well, I can't defend my position, sir, but I hope you understand what we're up against. Now, we know that there's one big gang. But there are also a dozen, perhaps a hundred, subsidiary gangs. Possibly under the same leadership, possibly not. And we don't know who they are. French, Spanish, English, Americans. They use fast planes piloted by ex-combat pilots, both RAF and American Air Force. They use 45-knot Thornycroft torpedo boats to bring the goods in candidly, sir. Scotland Yard is not equipped to stop them. What about yesterday? At the zoo, sir? We were informed something was going to happen to transfer of contraband, an extremely small part of the entire problem. Unfortunately, there, as everywhere, they were as well informed as were we. Somehow, they always know when we're going to make a raid. What about the boy? After getting a worthless description of the man who gave him the goods, we let him go. Oh, he's being followed, but I think it's a case of a boy earning a spare shilling. Speaker 2 (6:56) In other words, Black, we've made no progress whatsoever. Speaker 1 (6:59) Following our present pursuits, no. Just stop them, if we can. We shall need the cooperation of every nation on the continent and in the Americas. Then get it. All right, sir. I shall. I have one request. Well? Can't launch. What do you mean? You've assigned me the problem, sir. Therefore, none of my methods will be questioned. Speaker 1 (7:21) Very well. I shall want a squadron of Royal Air Force planes at my disposal, and a destroyer for patrol. What? Planes? A destroyer? Speaker 5 (7:29) Impossible. Speaker 1 (7:30) They're using Spitfires, P-38s, torpedo boats. But it would cost us thousands back. Smuggling costs us hundreds of millions of pounds a year. Give me a ring this afternoon. I'll see what I can do. Speaker 1 (7:53) That afternoon, I received my planes and my destroyer. They were assigned to immediate patrol duty both in the Channel and the Irish Sea. The ensuing week was devoted to arranging a conference in Amsterdam between police officials from 37 countries. For our plan to succeed, we needed the utmost in international cooperation. It was two days after the parley that our cooperative plans began to bear fruit. Yes? Yes, Sergeant. Oh, splendid. Put them through, will you? Over Inspector Blacktallande here. How are you doing, Captain Stensrud? Good, good. Oh, very good. Very good, thank you. Yes. Aha, from Stavanger. That's good. Strange. Bravo, bravo, Captain. That's a good start. Many thanks, Captain Stensrud. Goodbye. Yes, goodbye. The first report of success had come from Stavanger, Norway. An unlicensed aircraft carrying a cargo of American cigarettes and whiskey had been apprehended. The crew, by their own admission, had been bound for England. But they would not, however, divulge the names of their employers. Speaker 1 (9:18) With this international cooperation during the month of June, a number of smuggling attempts were halted. In Portugal, West Germany, Spain, and even Italy. Three aircraft were confiscated in Northern Ireland. But at best, these were scattered victories. Our prisoners were little men. The big man was still at large. On July 16th, men of the special branch arrested a London postman. He was brought to my office. Speaker 1 (9:42) Hello, Black. Oh, Phillips. Nice Speaker 2 (9:44) to see you again. I should like you to meet Mr. Edgar Thwaite, a loyal servant of the Crown. I'm sure that he wants to tell you about his novel method of delivering Speaker 1 (9:55) black market produce. Sit down, Thwaite. What do you have to say for yourself? Speaker 2 (10:00) What do you expect me to Speaker 1 (10:02) say? Oh. From whom do you receive the goods? Speaker 2 (10:05) I don't Speaker 1 (10:06) know. Come now, come. I Speaker 2 (10:07) don't. I make my letter delivery same as always. The packages that's got the stuff are special marked. I take them home and wait till I get a telephone call. Then I deliver the packages where I'm told. Speaker 1 (10:19) You say that the packages are specially marked? Speaker 2 (10:21) That's right. They put them in my bin before I get to the post office. And Speaker 1 (10:25) you have no idea who puts them there? No. Who contacted you in the first place to do this job? It wasn't me. Speaker 2 (10:30) It was Speaker 1 (10:30) my wife. Your wife? Speaker 2 (10:32) She was walking along the road. A man came up and asked her if she wanted some nylon stockings. She said yes. And he said that she could get as many as she wanted if I would work for him. Speaker 1 (10:42) This man knew that you were a postman? Speaker 2 (10:45) I suppose so. He and I had a talk and I decided to do it. The man called that night and I said okay. That's how it started. Speaker 1 (10:55) Frighteningly simple, isn't it, Black? Are there others in the post office engaged in this activity? Speaker 2 (10:59) I don't know. Speaker 1 (11:01) I don't care. Wait outside, please. Well, it's a little more. You chaps better get to work on the post offices. Like Arthur heads, Black. Feel sorry, though, for that little chap. A few more years and he'd have had his pension. You must have known that when he took the chance. We're going to stop him and others like him. Speaker 2 (11:25) That's why I like you, Black. Speaker 1 (11:28) You're so earnest when you're working. Speaker 5 (11:30) Oh. Speaker 1 (11:31) Yes, I suppose I am, but, you know, I've been a policeman for so long, I've had a difficult habit to break. An investigation of the post office department added us 15 more arrests, and we began to feel that although each arrest in itself was minor, the results, when totaled, were surely making the distribution of contraband increasingly difficult. It was tedious and frustrating work, for these peddlers were little people, but we knew that by checking the distributors, we could eventually destroy the overseas source organizations. Speaker 1 (12:15) On July 19th at 5 o'clock, I received word from Calais that my associates with the French police had seen a torpedo boat putting to sea. But due to the heavy overcast, had been unable to maintain contact. Our destroyer, somewhere in mid-channel, was notified of this development. The destroyer's equipped with radar, sir. They might hit them. We'd better not wire this Captain Newton. Tell him I'm leaving immediately in an observation aircraft and we're keeping contact with him. Very good, sir. You hold on here, will you, Moffat? I shan't be long. Right, sir. Speaker 5 (13:23) buses, these Hudson's. I used to fly them over the North Sea. Thought Speaker 1 (13:27) they'd buried them all. Speaker 5 (13:29) British economy, old bean. British economy. Speaker 1 (13:34) There's not too much light left. I Speaker 5 (13:36) know. We should be able to spot them. A boat like that will leave quite awake. Speaker 1 (13:41) Where Speaker 5 (13:41) is Speaker 1 (13:41) that destroyer? Speaker 5 (13:42) Want to break radio silence? Try to reach them? No, no. I'd better not. Hello. You see something? Down there. See? Yes. It's Speaker 1 (13:57) hard to tell, though. Speaker 5 (13:59) All serene. We'll have a look. All Speaker 1 (14:15) right, old Speaker 5 (14:15) boy. Speaker 1 (14:16) Yes, splendid, thanks. My ears, you know. It happens in lifts, too. Oh. Speaker 5 (14:25) I'm taking her into the wind. Give us a better chance to have a long look at her. Speaker 1 (14:34) Torpedo boat, all right. Thornycroft, MPT. Swing around again, will you? Speaker 5 (14:48) Getting dark. If you're sure, better give our position to the destroyer. Speaker 1 (14:52) Right-o. Speaker 5 (14:55) Transmitter takes a moment to warm up. She's an odd one, all right. No flag. See. Speaker 7 (15:42) To make every day more enjoyable, treat yourself often to refreshing, delicious Wrigley's Spearmint Chewing Gum. The lively,