Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Dog Who Changed His Mind 09/28/1947

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio - Choice Classic Radio

In this classic episode of Sherlock Holmes on Old Time Radio, Dr. Watson recounts a mysterious case involving the death of Lady Blankensop, an eccentric

Key takeaways

• The dog Bobo was not innocent but played a crucial role in the crime—its wet paws revealed it had licked brandy from the floor before the murder occurred.

Main topics

• Murder mystery
• Locked-room puzzle

Notable quotes

"The dog who changed his mind"—a clever twist on the idea that Bobo's actions were not instinctual but orchestrated.

Conclusion

Holmes solves the case by realizing Bobo's behavior and physical state pointed to foul play rather than

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:00) Welcome to Choice Classic Radio, where we bring to you the greatest old-time radio shows. Like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, and thank you for donating at choiceclassicradio.com. The Speaker 3 (0:30) makers of clipper craft clothes for men, and 924 leading retail stores from coast to coast, present the world's most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. Speaker 3 (1:03) we are once again on the threshold of a well-remembered room. Lamplight streams across the handsome bindings of a cherished and well-read library. The fragrance of a bowl of ruddy apples fills the air. In a comfortable, worn leather armchair sits our old friend and favorite rockateur, the genial Dr. Watson. Speaker 7 (1:22) Come in, Mr. Harris. Come in and welcome. Welcome to you and all our host of radio friends. Speaker 3 (1:29) You look as if your summer vacation had been a huge success, Doctor. Speaker 7 (1:32) Oh, it was indeed. I've taken off a bit of weight, don't you think? Speaker 3 (1:36) Absolutely. How did you do it? Speaker 7 (1:37) Oh, helping Holmes look after his blasted bees. Mary and I were down in Sussex for a month this summer, you know. I Speaker 3 (1:44) had no idea beekeeping was so strenuous, Doctor. Speaker 7 (1:47) Oh, it wasn't that so much as the fact that I was jolly well stung on the lip by a rampant queen. In consequence, I was obliged to partake of a liquid diet for one entire week. But that's enough about me. Suppose we get on to the person I'm sure our listeners are most anxious to hear about, the world's greatest consulting detective by his own admission, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Speaker 3 (2:09) And which of his adventures are we to have this evening, Doctor? Speaker 7 (2:12) Well, suppose I relate to the case of the dog who changed his mind. It concerns a fabulous bottle of ancestral brandy and an old woman whose murder benefited no one but a famous society of wine tasters. Speaker 3 (2:25) Sounds promising. Speaker 7 (2:26) But before we become further involved, don't you think this is a good time to mention the gentleman whose courtesy, not to say checkbooks, have made this winter series of broadcasts possible? A Speaker 3 (2:37) very sound idea, Dr. Watson. For our listeners should know all there is to know about clipper craft clothes. As millions of men have discovered, They're just about the most amazing clothes values you've ever seen. And as you well know, there's a why and a wherefore for everything. In this case, it's the famous Clipper Craft Plan. By concentrating the buying power of 924 leading stores from coast to coast, you get all the advantages of steady year-round operation, all the savings in manufacturing and distribution costs. It gives you the benefits of group buying plus the friendly personal attention you expect. at the leading store in your community, at the store you can trust. And it doesn't take a Sherlock Holmes to discover that Clipper Craft values are second to none. You can buy expensive-looking Clipper Craft suits at only $35 and $40, with a few deluxe models Speaker 4 (3:31) at $43.75. Speaker 3 (3:33) You can buy Clipper Craft topcoats and overcoats at only $30 to $40, and sport jackets at only $24. Believe me. This is your clue to clothes satisfaction this fall. Simply compare Clipper Craft with clothes selling for many dollars more. Speaker 3 (3:59) Now, Dr. Watson, what about the case of the dog who changed his mind? Right-o. Speaker 7 (4:03) Yes, let me see. It was in the good old Baker Street days, a rather gloomy day in late October, to be exact. We had breakfasted late in front of a sea-cold fire. With my body in one easy chair and my legs upon another, I sat listening with growing irritation to Holmes as he practiced interminable scales through lards. glissandos and what have you on his violin. At last, a particularly screeching dissonance was more than my frazzled nerves could bear. Holmes, must you do that? Speaker 4 (4:39) Calm yourself, my dear Watson. I was not responsible for that last bit of cacophony. It was caused by the scraping of a carriage wheel against our curbstone. I rather think we're about to receive a client, a lady, rather slight and agitated. Speaker 7 (4:52) How can you possibly tell? Speaker 4 (4:53) You haven't Speaker 7 (4:54) even bothered to Speaker 4 (4:55) look out of the window. My ears, Watson, are nearly as well trained as my eyes. The infinitesimal creak of the carriage springs as its passenger descended to the pavement indicate a slender person. The tap of French heels indicate a lady. The quickness of her step indicates that she's agitated. Yes, decidedly agitated. Speaker 7 (5:12) Oh, I must say, Holmes, you have ears like a hawk. Speaker 4 (5:15) Your metaphor is a trifle mixed, my dear Watson, but I accept your tribute. Come in. Speaker 2 (5:22) Mr. Holmes? Mr. Sherlock Holmes? Speaker 4 (5:24) Naturally. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson. How do you do? Speaker 2 (5:28) Oh, thank heavens you're at home. You must come at once, Mr. Holmes. She's been murdered, I know she has, and they'll blame Reggie. Dr. Tillinghurst has sent for Scotland Yard. Oh, Mr. Holmes, can't you do something? My Speaker 4 (5:40) dear young lady, I can do a great many things, but not until you could give us a coherent account of your difficulty. Speaker 2 (5:46) Oh, I'm so sorry. I have made a fool of myself, but the whole thing is so impossible. You see, she'd never commit suicide. Even at 89, she enjoyed life tremendously. And no one could have killed her because she was alone with the door bolted from the inside. Speaker 4 (6:01) Who is this remarkable old lady, and why should anyone want to kill her? Speaker 2 (6:04) She's... she was Lady Blankensop. But who in the world would want to harm her? Oh, I'll admit she was eccentric and difficult at times. You know the French, Mr. Holmes. But it didn't frighten anyone. Not even Bobo. Speaker 5 (6:18) Bobo? Speaker 2 (6:19) Oh, Bobo is her pug dog. Terribly spoiled, but devoted and funny, too. Oh. It was always with her, sitting on her lap or sleeping at the foot of her bed. Poor little thing. That's where we found him this morning when we broke in the door. Just stood there barking at the noise we made and wagging his tail at Dr. Tillinghurst. Speaker 4 (6:37) Why did you break in the door? Speaker 2 (6:39) Because it was still locked when Potters, he's the butler, brought up Lady Blink in sops early tea. She always locked herself in at night. Didn't want anyone to catch sight of her without her curls, I suspect. Speaker 4 (6:50) But this morning was different, I gather. Speaker 2 (6:52) Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. I made her tea and a bit of toast at 9.30. You see, I'm her companion. But I do cook her breakfast and fix her a bit of lunch. There's a charwoman who comes in to do the heavy cleaning and cooks dinners. And Potters attends to the rest of the house. Speaker 7 (7:07) Rather a meager domestic staff for a person of Lady Blinken's outstanding, eh, what? Is she hard up for funds? Speaker 2 (7:13) Oh, no, I believe she's quite well off. Her own money, too. Of course, the Blankensop estates went to Reggie when Lady Blankensop's husband died. He inherited the title, too. Speaker 7 (7:22) Creating a certain amount of friction between the old lady and her nephew, no doubt. Oh, Speaker 2 (7:26) no, Dr. Watson, they were devoted to each other. Not that they didn't squabble now and then. Like last night, when Reggie stamped out of the house when she took her birthday brandy up to bed with her unopened. without offering him a drink. Surely he could drop round Speaker 7 (7:40) to his club if he wanted