Counterspy: The Sweepstakes Murder (A0124)

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas

In this classic episode of Counterspy, reporter Tom Fisher investigates a fraudulent Mexican sweepstakes racket in Gulfport, Texas, only to

Key takeaways

• The gold poker chip serves as a crucial clue linking the murders to the offshore gambling ship El Toro.
• A seemingly mundane fraud case escalates into a violent conspiracy involving international crime syndicates.

Main topics

• Cold War-era espionage
• Offshore gambling operations

Notable quotes

"You should have heeded the advice conveyed to your wife, then she would not become a widow."

Conclusion

Harry Peters uncovers the truth behind the sweepstakes murder by tracing the gold poker chip to

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:05) Welcome to the Great Adventurers of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Counterspy. But first, I want to encourage you, if you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And our listener support and appreciation campaign concludes... And you can become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters at patreon.greatdetectives.net. But now, from October 4th, 1949, here is The Sweepstakes Murder. Speaker 4 (0:53) Pepsi-Cola, P-E-P-S-I, that's your smartest cola buy. Pepsi-Cola presents Counterspy. Calling Speaker 2 (1:18) David Harding. Speaker 6 (1:21) Harding, Counterspy, calling Washington. Speaker 4 (1:30) United States Counterspy. Speaker 4 (1:35) and combat the enemies of our country. Speaker 4 (1:45) Tonight, the case of the sweepstake murder. Another counter-spy report to the American people. Brought to Speaker 2 (1:52) you Speaker 4 (1:52) each Tuesday and Thursday by Pepsi-Cola. Pepsi Speaker 2 (1:55) -Cola Speaker 4 (1:56) hits the spot. Two full glasses, that's a lot. That's right, you heard what they said. Two full glasses of sparkling Pepsi from one big 12-ounce bottle. You're getting an extra glass full. And what a delicious glass full. The most refreshing, delightful cola that ever tickled your taste. You can't top Pepsi's tangy flavor. And that big, big bottle saves you money, goes twice as far. Pepsi's America's big, big favorite. And America's biggest coal of value. So why take less when Pepsi's best? Whenever you reach for refreshments, remember... Speaker 2 (2:31) Why take less when Pepsi's best? Speaker 4 (2:35) And now, to Counterspy. Speaker 4 (2:46) It was a moonless night in the small southern town of Gulfport, near the Mexican border. In a dimly lit, evil-smelling corridor of a rooming house, two shadowy men stood before a closed door. Tom, you sure this is the room? Positive, Sheriff. Let's go in. Speaker 7 (3:06) Wait, wait, Tom. Get Speaker 8 (3:08) away from the door. But what? Get back alongside Speaker 5 (3:10) it. That's it. Let's see if it's unlocked. It is unlocked. No light in the room. Now listen, I'm going to shove the door open, shine my light in. You stay right where you are till I tell you. Okay, Sheriff. Speaker 8 (3:37) What is it? Look, there on the floor. It's Frenchy. What's left of him? His chest. Look at his chest. What? I don't know what did it. I've never Speaker 6 (3:54) seen anything like this. Speaker 8 (4:06) It's obvious, Uncle Ty. The big shots in the sweepstakes racket found out Frenchy was going to talk to a newspaper reporter. Me. So they killed him. I never saw anything so horrible. It's an outrage, Tom. If they think they've stopped me, they got another thing coming. I found something in Frenchy's room tonight which just might lead me to the men we want. Speaker 6 (4:27) Uh-huh. What did you find? Speaker 8 (4:29) I'll tell you all about it when I bring in the story. I've got to be on my way. Yeah, no, no, Tom. One man's been murdered already. I don't want anything to happen to you. Oh, now, look, Uncle Si, this is a terrific story. Thousands and thousands of Americans are buying tickets on what's supposed to be an official Mexican sweepstakes. But the Mexican government says it doesn't know anything about it. Yes, yes, Speaker 7 (4:48) yes, I Speaker 8 (4:48) know. And tonight the racketeers proved they're murderous, too. Is the Gulfport Gazette going to laugh that off? That's not the point, Tom. I can't let my own nephew Speaker 6 (4:57) risk his life. Speaker 8 (4:58) Your nephew has to take the same chances any other reporter would take. See you later, Uncle Si. Speaker 3 (5:13) Hello? Speaker 8 (5:15) Tom Fisher there? Speaker 3 (5:16) No, he's not, but this is his wife, Ruth. Can I take a message? Speaker 8 (5:20) Yeah. Tell him to lay off the big stories working on him, unless he wants the same thing to happen to him, that's a Frenchie. Speaker 3 (5:36) Tom, that man on the phone frightens me. Darling, please drop the story you're working on. Speaker 8 (5:40) Drop the biggest story that ever came my way? Don't be silly, Ruth. But I Speaker 3 (5:44) don't want anything to happen to you. Speaker 8 (5:45) Nothing is going to happen to me. Now, where... Oh, here it is. Speaker 3 (5:49) What's that? Speaker 8 (5:50) Oh, something I picked up in Frenchie's room. Speaker 3 (5:52) Looks like a poker chip. Uh-huh. Speaker 8 (5:54) Well, I've got to get moving. Where are you going? Now, now, now, you're forgetting the rules. When Papa goes out on a big story, Mama doesn't ask questions. Tom, Speaker 3 (6:01) don't go. Hey, stop it now. Speaker 8 (6:05) Relax. I'll be back soon. You and the launch. You got room for one more? I'm going out to the gambling ship, too. Number 22. Speaker 6 (6:47) Hiya, Taro. Speaker 7 (6:48) Yes, Monk. Speaker 6 (6:50) Big spending crowd aboard tonight, Taro. Here's the take from the wheel so far. Speaker 7 (6:56) How much, Monk? Speaker 6 (6:57) 2,100 bucks. And the launch is still bringing the suckers out here to the ship. Not bad, huh? Speaker 7 (7:04) No, he's Speaker 6 (7:07) not Speaker 7 (7:07) bad. What are you counting for? Don't you trust me? Just as far as, uh, how do you say? I can see. Oh, now, look, Toro. Oh, do I enjoy to count the money? Much money. Speaker 6 (7:20) You ought to be having the time of your life, then, the way that stuff is rolling in. Speaker 7 (7:26) The door, Monk. Speaker 6 (7:27) The Speaker 7 (7:27) back door. Okay. Speaker 8 (7:31) Who is it? Me, Johnny. Get in. Okay, Speaker 6 (7:40) get that gun out of my back. What? Speaker 8 (7:43) That's Tom Fisher, the reporter. Speaker 7 (7:45) What? That's right, Speaker 8 (7:45) Taro. Speaker 7 (7:46) Got Speaker 8 (7:46) him snooping around below decks. You know where. So, Speaker 7 (7:49) Senor Fisher, you have found what you expected below, huh? Speaker 8 (7:56) Why, I don't know what you mean. Now... You're a poor Speaker 7 (7:59) liar, Senor. Nor are you wise. should have heeded the advice conveyed to your wife, then she would not become a widow. Speaker 8 (8:10) A what? Now, listen, Toro, you... You know, Speaker 7 (8:13) senor, that I was once a matador, a fighter of bulls. Speaker 8 (8:16) No, I... Speaker 7 (8:17) This case contains two of my favorite swords. This