The Big Story: The Biggest Catch (EP5057)

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas

In this episode of 'The Big Story,' young journalism student Don Morrissey in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, seeks to prove his worth as a reporter by uncovering

Key takeaways

• A seemingly mundane incident—a car crash—unlocks a major criminal conspiracy.

Main topics

• Journalism ethics and ambition
• Crime detection through observation

Notable quotes

"You want a job with us, Don? You have to prove yourself. Not just a little brush fire or church social. A good story. You understand?"

Conclusion

Don Morrissey's determination and sharp instincts lead him to uncover

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:27) Welcome to the Great Detectives 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 The Big Story. But first... I do want to encourage you, if you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software, and you can become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.greatdetectives.net. But now, from February 4th, 1953, here is The Biggest Catch. The Big Story. Speaker 4 (1:20) Hey, mister. Yeah? How do we get on the road to Racine? Speaker 1 (1:25) Keep straight on this road for about a half mile. There's a stoplight there. Take the right-hand turn. That'll bring you right on to the turnpike. Speaker 4 (1:34) Sounds kind of complicated, doesn't it, boys? Speaker 1 (1:36) Yeah, it sure does. Why, no, it's very simple. Speaker 4 (1:38) We think it's complicated. Suppose you get in the car and show us the way, Vaughn. Speaker 1 (1:42) Oh, wait a minute. How do you know my name? Speaker 4 (1:44) Get in the car. Speaker 1 (1:45) Now, look here. Get in the Speaker 4 (1:47) car, Vaughn. Come on, get in before I blow your head off. Speaker 3 (1:56) The Big Story. The story you're about to hear actually happened. It happened in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. It's authentic and is offered as a tribute to the men and women of the great American newspapers. From the front pages of the Elkhorn Independent, the story of a cub reporter who used a fish story to make the biggest catch of his career in the world of crime. Speaker 3 (2:27) Elkhorn, Wisconsin. The story as it actually happened. Don Morrissey's story as he lived it. Speaker 1 (2:44) You're just a kid, Don Morrissey. But you've got a dream. And that dream is to be a newspaper reporter. Elkhorn is your hometown, but it so happens that you're a junior studying journalism at Marquette University. At the beginning of this particular summer, you're doing part-time work as correspondent for the UP and AP in your hometown. But you've got your eye on the future, Don Morrissey. And one day in late June, you walk up to the editor of the Elkhorn Independent, a weekly. Speaker 5 (3:19) Mr. Merritt, I wonder if I could talk to you for just a minute. Speaker 3 (3:22) Make it just a minute, Don. I've got a paper to get out here. We go to press tomorrow. Yes, sir, I know. What's on your mind? Speaker 5 (3:28) Well, Mr. Merritt, the fact is I graduate from Marquette next year, and I thought maybe you'd be interested in... Why don't you Speaker 3 (3:34) come right out and say it, son? You want a job with the Independent next year. Speaker 5 (3:37) Yes, sir. I'm working part-time for the AP and UP right now, but if you could take me on full-time next year, I'd sure appreciate it. Oh, you want to be a full-time reporter, do you? Yes, sir. That's all I've ever thought of. That's why I'm going to the School of Journalism now. Oh, Speaker 3 (3:51) School of Journalism. All they teach you is how to type neat copies. Got your eyes, cross your T's. I never heard of them showing any boy how to get a good story. You want a job with us, Don? You have to prove yourself. Yes, sir, but how? How? How does any young fellow prove his ability? Goes out and finds a story, that's how. Not just a little brush fire or church social. A good story. You understand? Speaker 5 (4:12) Yes, sir. Yes, I do. Well, I'll keep my eyes open, Mr. Merrick. You do that, son, do that. Speaker 3 (4:17) And, oh, shut the door on your way out, will you? Speaker 1 (4:23) He gives you the brush off, and it smarts a little. But you've got your eye on that job, Don Morrissey. And you figure if there's ever a decent story to come out of a quiet little place like Elkhorn, it'll come out of the police station. So you go down to talk to Sheriff Oliver Clayson, tell him what you're after. Speaker 6 (4:42) Son, let me ask you something. Yes, Sheriff? You're supposed to file copy out of Elkhorn for the Associated Press and the United Press, is that right? Speaker 5 (4:50) That's right. Speaker 6 (4:51) All right. How much have you filed? Well, nothing, sir. Nothing's happened. That's it, Don. That's your answer. People here are decent law-abides. Oh, we have an occasional drunk. Burglary once in a while. Want my advice? Sure do. Get out of Elkhorn after you graduate. Go to a big town. For instance, look at this. This morning's Milwaukee Journal. Speaker 4 (5:16) Here. Speaker 6 (5:17) Look at those headlines. Hmm? Edward Vaughn, missing. Speaker 5 (5:23) Wealthy Milwaukee brewer kidnapped by armed thugs. First ransom note received last night. Speaker 6 (5:29) See what it means, son? Okay, Mike, I'm in for five bucks more. Speaker 8 (5:44) I'll see you, Sam. Speaker 4 (5:46) I'll raise you both. Cost you ten. I'm in. Me Speaker 8 (5:52) too. What do you got, Leo? Speaker 4 (5:54) Full house. Queen's high. Speaker 8 (5:56) How do you like that? Speaker 6 (5:58) Me with a lousy straight. Speaker 4 (5:59) Me with three bullets. Better luck next time, suckers. Next time? Are you kidding, Leo? Yeah, you're in me and Sam now for a couple of hundred. Oh, you cheap punks. What are you whining about? Crying your crummy heads off for nickels and dimes when we're sitting back waiting for a hundred grand? Yeah, Speaker 8 (6:14) waiting is good. We've had Vaughn stashed away in his broken down hideout for a week. And still no payoff. Takes a little time to negotiate. Taking too long. Speaker 4 (6:23) Either of you two think you can do it better? Now, look, Leo, we didn't mean nothing. We was only thinking... You're not supposed to think. I'll do the thinking around here. We'll spring Vaughn when his contact agrees to pay off. And until he does, you two crumb bums are going to sit on your lard bottoms and wait. You understand? Yeah, yeah, sure, Leo. You're the boss. Only he was just wondering when you're going to make contact again, Leo. Well, I figure they must be getting ripe about now. Putting in a phone call tonight. Speaker 4 (7:03) Look, we're tired of waiting. Either we get a hundred grand tonight or you don't get your boy, you understand? That's better. Now, we want it in fifties and hundreds. That's right, fifties and hundreds. Unmarked bills and no cops around on delivery. Just keep your mouth shut and your ears open. I'm going to tell you how we want it. Speaker 4 (7:30) Hey, Leo. Yes, Sam? Do you think we're cool by this time? Yeah, we should be. We've laid low a month since they paid off. Speaker 8 (7:37) Brother, I can't wait till we get to Miami. Speaker 4 (7:39) Miami. Boy, am I nuts about Miami. Speaker 8 (7:42) Leo, what town is this? The sign says Speaker 4 (7:46) Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Speaker 8 (7:49) Elkhorn. You can have it. These towns. They all look the same and they all sound the same. Elkhorn. Step on Speaker 4 (7:57) it, will you, Sam? What do you want, Speaker 8 (7:58) egg in your beer? This is the main Speaker 6 (8:00) drag. I'm doing 60 now. Speaker 4 (8:01) Yeah, and there's a curve up ahead. You better slow it down, Sam. Don't want any of these jerkwater cops to catch you. Slow it down. Watch the road, you crazy fool. Look out for that telephone pole. Look out! Speaker 5 (8:21) Sheriff, Don Marcy. Oh, Speaker 7 (8:22) yeah, Don. I Speaker 5 (8:23) was just driving down Main Street when I saw a big car smacking on a telephone pole. Knocked the pole half over and kept right on going. Where Speaker 7 (8:29) did