The Shadow: Murder By Rescue 12/11/1938

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio

In this episode of The Shadow, Lamont Cranston and Margot Lane uncover a sinister plot by Professor Claude Mitchell to murder his nephew, Warren,

Key takeaways

Professor Claude Mitchell uses psychological conditioning to trigger a hypnotic state in Warren using car motor sounds.
The motive for the murder is the inheritance of Warren's estate once he reaches the age of 21.

Main topics

Hypnotic conditioning
Inheritance fraud

Notable quotes

Train it to do anything. Even die.

Conclusion

A classic suspenseful narrative demonstrating how The Shadow uses the

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. Speaker 2 (1:24) With a tread that sweeps wet roads so dry you can light a match on its track. It's the new Goodrich Safety Silvertown with the Lifesaver Tread. Because of its amazing road-drying action, this tread gives you the quickest non-skid stops you've ever had. Provides you with the greatest skid protection ever offered. For your own safety, your family's safety, equip your car with Goodrich Safety Silvertown. Speaker 2 (2:00) The shadow, mysterious character who aids those in distress, is in reality Lamont Cranston, wealthy young man about town. Cranston's friend and companion, the lovely Margot Lane, is the only person who knows to whom the unseen voice belongs. Today's story, Murder by Rescue. Speaker 6 (2:26) Yes, this phonograph record does sound like an automobile motor, but I must have more speed. Set it off, Ellen. Speaker 8 (2:31) All right. It's Speaker 6 (2:32) very useful to have some sound such as a bell or automobile to operate on the mind to help create the hypnotic state. Speaker 8 (2:39) Lord, if you take my advice... My dear Speaker 6 (2:41) wife, who is the expert scientist in this family? I am. Speaker 8 (2:43) Yes, but when are you going to get busy? Her precious nephew of yours, Warren, will be 21 in another month. Speaker 6 (2:49) Yes, even though my training has deliberately kept him almost a child, Warren will soon be of age. If he lives, Ellen. Speaker 8 (2:55) And if he does, he gets all his father's estate and we'll be paupers living on his charity. You promised we'd get that money. We will, my Speaker 6 (3:02) dear. Warren, unfortunately, will meet with a... shall we say, an accident. But Speaker 8 (3:07) when? Where? Soon, Speaker 6 (3:08) my dear. Speaker 8 (3:08) Claude, are you sure the hypnotizing trick of yours will work? Speaker 6 (3:11) Yes, yes. I've not been a professor of psychology over 20 years for nothing. This experiment will be the greatest I've ever done. You've seen how Warren reacts to our little phonograph record of the car when we played for him. Speaker 8 (3:22) Yes, but will your experiment show how one can train the human mind? Yes, Speaker 6 (3:26) train it to do anything, Ellen. Even die. My dear, we are trustees of my nephew's estate. We have the use of the money until he's of age. Now, if you were gotten rid of in an awkward manner, the police might ask questions. But this way, no one will know. Speaker 8 (3:41) Oh, I suppose you're right. That must be Warren now. Close Speaker 6 (3:45) up the phonograph quick. He mustn't see that record. Yes. Speaker 6 (3:48) Come in. Speaker 8 (3:50) Hello, Uncle Claude. Speaker 6 (3:52) Aunt Ellen. Speaker 8 (3:53) How are you, Warren, dear? Speaker 6 (3:54) Fine, Aunt Ellen. Speaker 8 (3:56) Going for your walk, my dear? I hope you're dressed warmly enough. Speaker 6 (3:59) Oh, I'm fine. Say, Uncle, can I take Jigs along? The poor pup's been cooped up in his kennel all morning. May I take him out? Speaker 7 (4:06) Just a Speaker 6 (4:06) while. So, Warren, you won't go far? No, just around the estate. Oh, then I ain't. That's all right. Well, Speaker 8 (4:11) I'll go get Jigs. Be Speaker 4 (4:13) careful, Warren, darling. Yes, Aunt Ellen. Bye. Speaker 8 (4:16) Bye, Warren. Come on, Claude, let's get to here. That young fool annoys me. He'll be better off dead. And we'll be better off when he is. Speaker 4 (4:31) Oh, Lamont, this air is wonderful. It's so good to get away from the city and out in the open air. Speaker 3 (4:35) Yes, isn't it, Margo? That's why I keep my country home open all year round. Speaker 4 (4:39) Lamont, who owns this lovely estate we're crossing now? Speaker 3 (4:42) I believe it belongs to Professor Mitchell and his family. Speaker 4 (4:45) Look, Lamont, there's a boy coming across the lawn. Speaker 3 (4:47) Yes. Well, see, that's a fine-looking dog he has with him. Speaker 4 (4:50) Hello, puppy. Hello, fella. Oh, my goodness, don't jump at me. Oh, so your name is Jigs, eh? He's a grand dog. Speaker 6 (4:59) He certainly is. He's clever, too. You see, my uncle's giving him special training. Your uncle? Yes. Oh, maybe I'd better introduce myself. I'm Warren Speaker 3 (5:07) Mitchell. Well, how do you do? This is Miss Lane. My name's Cranston. Speaker 4 (5:10) How do you do? Speaker 3 (5:11) Hi. How do you do? How do you do? Oh, I beg your pardon. That's all right. I didn't realize you were holding something when I started to shake hands with you. Well, it's just a picture. Speaker 6 (5:21) A Speaker 3 (5:21) miniature of my mother when she was a little girl. Speaker 4 (5:23) Oh, how lovely. She has beautiful red hair. Speaker 6 (5:27) Yes, he Speaker 3 (5:27) did. Speaker 6 (5:28) He's dead Speaker 7 (5:30) now. Speaker 4 (5:30) I'm sorry. Speaker 7 (5:32) I always keep the miniature with me so I can take it out and Speaker 6 (5:34) look at it. Speaker 4 (5:35) I Speaker 3 (5:35) understand. I'm afraid we're on your property. Speaker 6 (5:39) Oh, that's all right. Anyway, it isn't mine. At least not for another month. You see, my uncle, Professor Claude Mitchell, he handles my estate. Oh, Speaker 3 (5:46) he is. And next month? Speaker 6 (5:48) Then I'll be 21 and I'll control my own affairs. That'll give Uncle Claude more time for psychology. Speaker 4 (5:54) Oh, that's what he looks better off? Speaker 6 (5:55) Yes, they say he's good at it, too. Oh, you'd like to see something he taught Jason? Why, yes. All right, look. First, I ring this little bell. Speaker 4 (6:04) He barked when you rang it. No, he was trying to see. All Speaker 3 (6:07) right, boy, here's your candy. Oh, I see. Every time he hears the bell, he knows that he's going to get candy. And he barks till he gets it. Speaker 4 (6:15) Does it work every time? Speaker 3 (6:16) Oh, yes. What? Speaker 6 (6:20) Here you are, Jake. Candy coming up. Yeah, Speaker 3 (6:23) your uncle should be congratulated on a successful experiment. Speaker 6 (6:26) Warren! Warren! Oh, Speaker 3 (6:27) here's Uncle