The Landini Murder Mystery Omnibus, Part 1 (Ep5075e)

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas

The host introduces a condensed omnibus of the 1930s Charlie Chan radio serial 'The Landini Murder Case,' providing historical context on the character and novel before broadcasting surviving episodes. The narrative follows

Key takeaways

• Charlie Chan investigates the murder of Ellen Landini at Dudley Ward's Pine View estate, where all guests share a past marital connection to the victim.
• Host Adam Graham notes that Earl Der Biggers based the character on real-life Hawaiian detective Chang Apana as a benevolent counter to Fu Manchu.

Main topics

• Charlie Chan character history and media adaptations
• Old-time radio serial production and format

Notable quotes

"The fishes, though deep in the water, may be hooked. The birds, though high in the air, may be shot. Man's heart only is out of our reach."

Conclusion

This omnibus episode offers a highly accessible entry point into a cla

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:06) Thank you. Speaker 1 (0:10) © BF-WATCH TV 2021 Speaker 1 (0:27) From Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham. About a year and a half ago, we brought you the Landini Murder Case, a mostly intact 39-part Charlie Chan serial starring Walter Connelly. It was an enjoyable story, but I could understand how it would be a challenge to follow. We played two episodes per week. which meant that to play the 33 surviving episodes, it took 16 weeks, and we also had three weeks of scheduled and unscheduled breaks in that period. So I decided to compile all of the episodes and commentary from those 16 programs into three omnibus programs so that you can enjoy the Landini murderer mystery in a much quicker fashion. As always, please be advised, any offers or information included in the episode is not valid unless it's on our Great Detectives of Old Time Radio website. But here now is the first part of the Landini Murder Mystery Omnibus. Speaker 1 (2:07) Welcome to The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio. From Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we will begin our journey through the circulating episodes of Charlie Chan. But first, I do want to encourage you, if you are enjoying the podcast, to follow us using your favorite podcast software. And I want to encourage you to check out our other podcasts, including the video companion to this podcast, Public Domain Video Theater at videotheater.greatdetectives.net. You can also find us on YouTube and now on Spotify. Twice a month, we post... a public domain television show. Right now, we're alternating between Mr. and Mrs. North and Dragnet. And you can find all of our podcasts at our website at greatdetectives.net. Now we're going to talk about Charlie Chan. The Honolulu Police Inspector was created in 1925 by author Earl Der Biggers. in his novel The House Without a Key. He was inspired by real-life Hawaiian detective Chang Apana and was written as a benevolent hero and a counter to the more sinister Asian characters such as Fu Manchu. The character was massively popular, particularly in the second quarter of the 20th century. While only six novels were written before Biggers passed away in 1933, there were 44 Charlie Chan movies released between 1931 and 1949. And that's just the American films. The character also starred in a newspaper strip, as well as in several comic book features. and also still has a following to this day. There was a TV series starring J. Carol Nash as Charlie Chan in the mid-to-late 50s, and a Charlie Chan animated series released in the 70s with Key Luke, who played the number one son in so many movies, voicing Charlie Chan. There was also a TV movie and a not particularly well-received revival of Charlie Chan films in 1981 starring Peter Ustinov. I remember that the original films were favorites of my dad when I was growing up. I remember him watching the Charlie Chan marathon on AMC, which... actually stands for American Movie Classics. And believe it or not, there was a time when AMC actually played classic American movies rather than zombie TV shows. My memory of this officially makes me old. But of course, with Charlie Chan's popularity in other media, the character also made his way onto radio. The first actor to play Charlie Chan was Walter Connelly. And according to the best information I can find, Connelly played Chan for six months in a series that launched in 1932 over NBC. All the episodes of that series are lost, and it was self-contained half-hour episodes. Charlie Chan would return to radio in the fall of 1935 and really capture what was the spirit of the 1930s, which was serialized radio with 15-minute serialized episodes each week. Now, I do have conflicting information as to whether this particular series was aired over mutual or was syndicated. Although it should be said that in 1935, a lot of the mutual network associations were a bit looser. So you can imagine that this series ended up playing on a lot of mutual stations. The first serial we have in existence is the Landini murder case. This will be one of the longest stories we've ever played on the podcast. It was 39 serialized episodes long. And it's mostly intact. I say mostly because the first six episodes are missing. But the good thing about the Landini murder case is that it was actually based on a book. The very last Charlie Chan mystery novel by Earl Der Biggers. It was called The Keeper of the Keys. The Keeper of the Keys is noteworthy. The other Charlie Chan books were adapted to film, but this is the only one that wasn't. It was released in 1932, and it was adapted to stage in a Broadway play that starred William Harrigan as Charlie Chan. Now, when the story starts, the murder has actually happened, and so, to listen to it... That way, you kind of have to pick up what's happened, and you can do that, but because we do have the novel, I went ahead and read the portions of it that occurred before the murder. So, I can summarize a lot about the plots and characters and things that were established in the novel. Now, it should be said that some of this may have been changed for the radio program. And it's possible that the writers of the radio serial were also influenced by the stage play written by Valentine Davies. Although the nature of playwriting and radio writing meant they had two almost opposite purposes. For Valentine Davies, he needed to condense the novel to a point where it could be performed as a play. While for the radio play, you needed to expand on what happened in the novel a little bit, as well as arrange things so that you have 38 good cliffhangers. Now, The investigation will have been in early stages by the time we get into part seven. I'm not going to summarize a whole lot about what was found in the course of the investigation because the radio writers do a lot of rearranging of facts to fit the plot structure. For example, there are two events that both happen in the same chapter in the novel, but the radio writers put One event in part 7 and the other in part 14. So there's really only a couple aspects of the investigation that we'll discuss. Now, I will say that this is going to take a little while because there are a lot of characters and a lot going on. And you can skip ahead about 10 minutes and just get right into the episode and say, I'll just figure things out as I go along. You have that option. But there's a lot going on in a lot of situations that thought it would be helpful to offer the plot summary. So here goes. The Keeper of the Keys begins with Charlie Chan on a train to California, where his place in society as a celebrated detective is established. He's in California mostly as a vacation, but also had an intriguing... invite to visit a wealthy man named Dudley Ward. Ward has called an unusual dinner party where, except for Inspector Chan, all the guests have one thing in common. They were married to the same woman, the famed singer Ellen Landini. She's currently in the process of divorcing husband number four, Luis Romano, so she can marry a young singer 15 years her junior. Ward was the first husband, and none of them really bear any acrimony towards each other. He has called the others together along with Charlie Chan because he was told that Landini had a son within a few months of leaving him. and gave the son to a family to raise to spite him and hid the child's existence. Ward had hoped that maybe she'd accidentally let something slip to one of the other ex-husbands, or they'd accidentally seen something about the existence of his son, but all of them disclaim any knowledge of this child. However, their visit isn't entirely in vain because he's invited another after-dinner guest, Ellen Landini, who is over in Reno, completing the required wait in order to get her divorce from Mr. Romano. Ward determines to put the question directly to Landini. to show that he's serious about this. He's reached out to the other husbands, and he's engaged the great detective Charlie Chan. He is going to pursue this, and it would just be easier for everyone and far more pleasant if she just told him where his son was. However, Lindini denies that she had a child ever. and intimates that ward had been fed false information by his maid cecile more on that in a minute ward had assumed that landini would be in a hurry to leave the way the book interprets nevada law is that if landini was outside of the state of nevada after midnight, that her entire wait period for divorce would have to start all over again. However, Landini is perfectly fine to linger because she will be back in Nevada and has planned a dramatic exit from her ex-husband's estate by private airplane. However, that's not what happens. While the plane is making its approach, At around 11 o'clock at night, Chan hears a shot, runs up to where Landini was, and finds that she has been shot. And pretty soon, the whole household is there, and he begins a preliminary investigation with the intent of handing matters over to the local authorities. What he finds are a whole lot of suspects and potential suspects. Of course, there are the four exes. Ward had an acrimonious breakup with Landini over her decision to pursue her singing career, although he seems to be over that, and killing her would invalidate his stated purpose of finding his lost son. Husband number two was John Ryder, but the book, at least in the early stages before the murder, occurs doesn't tell us a whole lot about their marriage other than it was the shortest of landini's marriages before she died landini had sent chand to ask ryder to come talk to her and ryder declined and the book described ryder regarding her body coldly and without any sort of pity or feeling. Husband number three was Dr. Swan, whose breakup had been precipitated by Landini having an affair with her chauffeur. However, in a twist, Landini didn't get what she wanted, as the chauffeur was stolen away by a maid, and she ended up marrying Romano. The chauffeur, Michael Ireland, had come to be a charter airplane pilot and was in fact the pilot who was picking up Landini. And his wife was Cecile, the maid for Ward. What a very likely coincidence. Romano viewed himself as key to... Landini's career taking off and maintaining success as he brought discipline and structure to it that allowed her to succeed and continue to thrive and be professional. But trying to be a stern business manager and a spouse is a horrible combination. And so I'm... kind of sympathetic to why Landini might have wanted to end the marriage. In a noteworthy scene where Landini meets Hugh Beaton, he asks him how many cigarettes he allows Landini to smoke. Beaton responds that how much she smokes is her own affair and that he's only interested in love. Romano responds that if... Landini smokes too much, it will ruin her voice and career, and that she needs to have rules and limitations. And then, without Beaton asking for it, he goes upstairs to write down a list of rules for the young man to enforce on Landini. In addition to this, Romano had a major financial beef with Landini. She had signed a financial settlement. and had failed to provide him with the required support. Part of the reason he agreed to come out and meet Ward was because Ward offered him money and he needed it desperately. Ward's longtime Family servant Ah Sing, who's been with the family since Ward was a boy, was also in the house at the time of the killing. We're told that Ah Sing is in his 70s, but as was not uncommon for many people born in the mid-19th century, he wasn't exactly sure how old he was. It's obvious that Ah Sing knows more than he's letting on, which makes him a suspect, although... Figuring out an exact motive is kind of hard. The other suspect is Leslie Beaton, Hugh's sister. And I feel like the surviving episodes are not clear on why she suspected or what her motive might be, although it's hinted at. She's suspected for a couple reasons. First, a scar belonging to her was found near Landini's body. Second, she... She was in a room near where the murder was committed, although she claimed to be unable to hear much because of the thickness of the walls. Her motive is referenced at one episode briefly as her thought that Landini was ruining her brother, but it was a little vague as to what that actually meant. The novel was clear. Her family grew up in poverty. She'd always seen everyone in her family struggle. Her brother... cobbled together a little musical career and was maybe getting to a point where he might be able to have a break as a singer. But then along came Landini, a woman 15 years his brother's senior. She feared that Landini would ruin any chance her brother had of success. Landini had been quite clear that she was not going to offer any help to Hugh, she would be about herself and her own career. And you get the idea that Hugh would be subsumed in Landini's shadow. And not only that, because of her age, while Landini wasn't quite a has-been, her career was headed for an inevitable decline. Leslie pleaded with Landini. but to no avail. She even laughed at her. And according to Dr. Swan, Leslie told him that she wished Landini were dead. It should also be noted that present in the house at the time of the murder were Jim Dinsdale, a tavern owner who was also a friend of Landini who drove her from Reno, as well as Mr. Ward's cook. However, the novel doesn't treat either of them as suspects, and it should be noted that the Broadway play actually omits them entirely. Now, while Chan was ready to hand the case off to local law enforcement, local law enforcement was not quite so ready, as it was represented in the person of young county sheriff Don Holt. Holt was the son of the longtime sheriff who had gone blind and... really never had a murder case and is more than happy to have Chan's help in solving the case. Holt is also immediately taken with Leslie Beaton from the very first scene they share. So now you are all caught up to speed. Here from 1935 or 1936 are episodes 7 and 8 of the Landini murder case. The Chinese suspect and a barking dog. Speaker 4 (20:28) The most delightfully fascinating character in the realms of mystery, Charlie Chan. Speaker 4 (21:28) Charlie Chan had been invited to Pineview by Dudley Ward to assist a millionaire in locating a son whom Ward had reason to believe had been born to Landini following her divorce from Ward. Inspector Chan finds an amazing gathering. Landini herself, Ryder, Romano, Dr. Swan, and Ward, all at various times having been married to Landini. The Honolulu detective finds also Hugh Beaton and his sister Leslie. And while Landini's plane is landing at Ward's landing field, a shot rings out. and Landini is found murdered. Sheriff Holt arrives, and after questioning the group, orders everyone to remain in the house. Charlie Chan retires to his room. He stands looking out the window at the snow-covered landscape, when suddenly he sees a figure leave the house. Swiftly but silently, Chan makes his way downstairs. A front door opens to his touch. He watches the figure disappear behind the shrubbery, and running silently on the snow, he skirts the bushes, spreads wide his arms, and catching the figure, stares down into the wrinkled face of Ah Sing. Speaker 6 (22:27) Ah Sing? Speaker 3 (22:31) What's the matter with you? I think I'm going to see if the automobile house is all properly closed up. So much work in this place. No can do. No can do. Is that you, Inspector Chen? Yes, Sheriff, it is. I'm Speaker 8 (22:42) at present busily engaged in questioning our thing. Speaker 3 (22:45) Our thing, eh? What are you doing out after I Speaker 4 (22:47) warned you not to leave the house? Speaker 3 (22:48) I suppose I'm not going to leave the house. No can eat, no can sleep, no can do nothing. Every night more than a flirty year, seeing he leave the house. Go look and see everything or lock him up. Now you, you old ass little boy, speak to me no can do. Suppose I sing, he speak to you. Why you no go bed, sleep like not a man, huh? Speaker 8 (23:11) We forget our thing, but we are trying to solve a murder. Trying with little success, I must admit, to find who killed Madam Landini. Speaker 2 (23:23) Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, me Speaker 3 (23:25) forget. The missus dead. Yeah. Too bad. Speaker 8 (23:28) While believing that human brain functions more perfectly in cool climate, I find present degree of cold has numbing effects. Can we not continue this discussion inside house? A Speaker 4 (23:42) good suggestion, Inspector. Come Speaker 3 (23:43) along, I think. Let me go look at the automobile house. You all lock them up. You have the keys, sing? Oh, yeah. Plenty key got. We shall accompany you, I think. You like a catch-em call? All right. Let this known, is it, please? Speaker 8 (23:57) We shall accompany you. You lead way, please. You have an idea? No, but after turmoil of evening, such a thing as seeing that garage is locked seems insignificant trifle. Habits of lifetime, good or bad, are difficult to break. The wolf may lose his teeth, but his thoughts remain the same. Speaker 4 (24:19) Then you don't have any hopes of learning anything from our Singh. Who knows? Speaker 8 (24:23) Even the blind pig finds an acorn once in a while. Speaker 3 (24:27) In the automobile house, you all fix them tight. Then go inside house now. Speaker 8 (24:32) Very good, our Singh. We go to study. Speaker 3 (24:35) Me go to study? Speaker 8 (24:36) Yes, our Singh. Speaker 3 (24:37) Me go to bed. Or what's the matter, you? Our Singh get up four o'clock, maybe three o'clock morning. Now you're speaking. It's a time for study. Speaker 8 (24:46) Study is a more comfortable place in which to discuss matters of import. We're standing out here in the snow. Please lead the way to study. Speaker 3 (24:55) All right. We're going to backstair more quicker. Too much work in this place. Too much work. Speaker 8 (25:02) There are three things, Sheriff, I want to determine before we consider this day's work finished. And these are? Fingerprints. Yes. Time elements. Which time elements? I shall explain later. Aye. Oh, I see we're at the back entrance. And let Speaker 3 (25:17) me Speaker 8 (25:17) go first and switch them on the lights. One moment, if you please, I sing. These are the back stairs to which the seal referred when she said that she had passed Mr. Ward. Speaker 3 (25:27) Yes, Mr. Policeman. These are all the same stairs. And Speaker 8 (25:31) you did not have to come down these stairs to fetch the blanket for Madam Landini's dog, Pebble. Speaker 3 (25:38) No, no. Blanket his day, stop not a blood room. Speaker 8 (25:41) Then you did not see Cecile. Oh, Tom, this Speaker 3 (25:45) is number three time you ask me all the same question. I sing tell you all the same before. No see Cecile. Speaker 8 (25:54) All right, I think when they go to bed now good night and thank you so much Don't wait that you're in the corner. We saw Speaker 3 (26:03) Dominic a signal good night. Speaker 8 (26:05) You're going Speaker 4 (26:05) into the study. Speaker 8 (26:06) Yeah Speaker 4 (26:07) Well, you didn't seem to get much information from Ah Sing. No, nothing except Speaker 8 (26:12) confirmation. Confirmation? Yes. That Ah Sing is lying. Oh, Speaker 4 (26:17) what do you mean? Speaker 8 (26:18) According to Ah Sing, Madame Landini sent him for the blanket before the plane landed. Speaker 3 (26:24) Yes, that's true. Speaker 8 (26:26) And do you remember that Ah Sing came into the room with the blanket while we were all standing around looking at... Landini's body. Yes, I see. You mean it took Arsene a long time to find the blankets. Precisely. An extraordinary long time to find that Speaker 4 (26:42) blanket. Ah, but shucks, Mr. Chan. I've known Arsene since I was old enough to know anyone. He never killed Landini. I'll admit he's kind of evasive, but that's his way. He's, well, he's been more of a boss around here than Mr. Ward. What Speaker 8 (26:58) one might call... A privileged servant. Speaker 4 (27:02) That's it. I am surprised at one thing. That, uh, well, he didn't open his heart up as much as I thought he would. Being, well, him and you... Speaker 8 (27:12) You mean because we are both Chinese. Speaker 4 (27:16) Yes. Speaker 8 (27:16) My friend, the fishes, though deep in the water, may be hooked. The birds, though high in the air, may be shot. Man's heart only is out of our reach. What are you doing there? I've been examining lid of yellow on red box and lid of red on yellow box. Examining same for fingerprints. Speaker 3 (27:41) Yes, we found. Speaker 8 (27:42) No fingerprints. They've been wiped clean. Come. We examined doorknob on door leading to adjoining room through which murderer must have entered. Speaker 4 (27:52) Yes, but Inspector, lots of people may have used that door. Speaker 6 (27:55) True, but only murderer would lock Sam behind him or Speaker 8 (28:00) her. Speaker 4 (28:00) Well, there ought to be enough fingerprints on that doorknob for any police identification bureau. Speaker 8 (28:05) Well, little more lamp black. I replied thusly, and... What is it? There are no prints. Speaker 4 (28:15) But there should be. Speaker 8 (28:17) Alas, too many people read detective stories nowadays. Everybody have fingerprint complex, no? Pleasure of tracking down criminal by means of fingerprints in this case is denied us. What are you thinking? You stand in attitude as deep meditation. Speaker 4 (28:38) Oh, me? Thinking of our thing. I sort of hate to admit it, but you know, he's the only one who doesn't have an alibi. Like you, I have extreme Speaker 8 (28:47) distaste for admitting it. But must confess, the same thought has been recurring with regularity of thinking of what? Just the same. Speaker 4 (28:55) I'd go kind of slow. I know it's against your number one rule, but I can't think that our thing is guilty. Speaker 8 (29:01) Slow. Yes. He who moves slowly has ample time to read signposts. We will pay due attention to signposts. Speaker 4 (29:12) Meaning that you won't arrest him? Or sing, I mean? Speaker 8 (29:15) No, not immediately. You will be patient. Remember that in due time the mulberry leaf becomes silk. Speaker 4 (29:22) If waiting for the mulberry leaf to become silk means waiting for our sing to say something proven his guilt, I think we'll have a long wait. While admitting that Speaker 8 (29:30) alibi for our sin is lacking, I also am reminded that motive of sufficient importance is equally lacking. While I am detective, I should feel guilty of indefinable something at having to place under arrest one of my own countrymen, especially one who has served faithfully and well, a gentleman like Mr. Ward and... What's wrong, Inspector? What are you staring at? I'm staring at overturned vanity bench in the adjoining room. Yes? We are guilty, both of us. Guilty of carelessness. Before, when we searched this room in which Miss Beaton arranged her hair and powdered her nose, what did you think of overturned vanity bench? Speaker 4 (30:12) I naturally thought that Miss Beaton had upset it when she jumped up and she heard the shot. Speaker 8 (30:17) Yes, naturally. Both of us thought so naturally. Naturally as opposed to scientifically. Speaker 8 (30:24) Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Sheriff. And by not being humorous, I'm deadly serious. Were you to sit at dressing table arranging hair, which way would you face? Speaker 4 (30:38) What would the Speaker 8 (30:39) mirror? And jumping in hurry at terrifying sound of shot, vanity bench would land there? Speaker 4 (30:46) No. Oh, I see now. It wouldn't. It would Speaker 8 (30:49) lie the other way. Speaker 4 (30:50) Oh, but even so, is that Speaker 8 (30:52) important? We are agreed that murderer gained access to study through balcony door? Speaker 4 (30:58) Yes. Speaker 8 (30:58) And undoubtedly, murderer entered room in dark. Speaker 4 (31:01) I'm with you. And Speaker 8 (31:02) in crossing room in dark, murderer tripped over bench. Speaker 4 (31:05) Hmm. Speaker 8 (31:05) Ah. Maybe tomorrow somebody have pretty sore knee. I Speaker 4 (31:11) hope so. Even if infection sets in, it'll be all right with me. Speaker 8 (31:16) Listen. I Speaker 4 (31:16) thought I Speaker 8 (31:17) heard something a moment ago. In the hallway. Somebody heard. Speaker 3 (31:21) No, no, can't do. No, no, can't do. What has happened here? Speaker 8 (31:25) He's been struck down, beaten. I see. Who has done this thing to you? Who attacked you? Speaker 3 (31:32) No, no, can't see. No, no, can't see. Sit down, live sheriff. I'm doing it, inspector. Speaker 8 (31:37) Oh, old bedroom door is closed. Speaker 4 (31:41) Perhaps we'd better waken Mr. Ward. Speaker 8 (31:42) Yes, it is better, I think, that you know of this. Speaker 3 (31:47) What is it? Will you be pleased to come into hall, Mr. Ward? Yes, yes. Right Speaker 4 (31:51) away. Are you better now, Singh? Speaker 3 (31:53) A little more or like that. Speaker 4 (31:54) Good heavens. Who did this? What happened? Speaker 8 (31:57) We find your servant almost unconscious from blowing the face. A blow? Why, Speaker 3 (32:01) who got... What's the matter, you boss? You crazy? You walking around and no bathrobe, no slipper? You catch him cold. Tie, maybe. Never Speaker 4 (32:08) mind that. Who hit you, Singh? Speaker 3 (32:10) Oh, how me know? Plenty of big men and no can see. No light in the hallway. What Speaker 4 (32:15) were you doing here? Speaker 3 (32:17) Me doing? Oh, they say me all the time you work, work. Look-a-see, flyers. Oh, too much you work in this place. Speaker 4 (32:24) Well, run along to bed, Singh. You'll be all right now. Speaker 8 (32:26) Yes, Singh. Old man should not concert with ruffians. You had better go to bed, too, Mr. Ward, or you will catch cold. I suppose so. Well, good Speaker 2 (32:36) night. Speaker 8 (32:37) Yes, good night. Speaker 4 (32:38) Did you see our Singh? See him as he walked down the passageway? Yes. Speaker 8 (32:42) Walking was limp. Decidedly bad limp. But whether from so recent attack or falling over a vanity bench, who can say? Speaker 4 (32:53) It is morning. Lake Tahoe sparkles under the rising sun. The gloominess of the night before is somewhat dispelled with the coming of day. And as far as Don Holt is concerned, more dispelled as he walks out to the sun porch and finds Leslie Beaton already at breakfast. Good morning, Miss Beaton. Speaker 7 (33:09) Oh, good morning, Sheriff. Are you going to share breakfast with me here on the sun porch, or are you going to breakfast with another? Speaker 4 (33:15) Can't think of anything nicer than having breakfast with you, no matter where. Speaker 7 (33:19) A very pretty speech, Sheriff. But hardly to be used to run under suspicion of murder. Speaker 4 (33:24) Oh, shucks, Miss Beaton. Don't let that worry you. Anyway, I don't believe you're guilty. Speaker 7 (33:28) Better not let Inspector Chan hear you talking this way. Speaker 4 (33:31) I don't believe the Inspector believes any different. Pretty nice fellow, Inspector Chan is, and smart. Don't worry. You'll find the murderer all right. Speaker 7 (33:39) I... I'd like to thank you for what you did for me last night. Speaker 4 (33:43) Well, anything I can do. That is, it isn't too much out of line on the job of sheriff. Ah, there's Inspector Chan. Speaker 7 (33:51) Good morning, Inspector. Good Speaker 8 (33:52) morning. Speaker 4 (33:54) May I? Speaker 8 (33:55) You've committed to remark, Miss Beaton, that you look very lovely this morning. Speaker 7 (34:00) Thank you, Inspector. I did think for a while that I was going to have to appear in an evening gown, but Cecile helped me out. Not at all a bad fit, do you think? Speaker 8 (34:09) Opinion expressed by me on question of feminine fashion would be as useful as telescope in hand of blind man. Speaker 2 (34:18) However, Speaker 8 (34:19) we'll admit that it looks, in my humble opinion, leave nothing to be desired. Speaker 4 (34:26) Well, what's the order of the day, Inspector? Speaker 8 (34:28) First, there are certain questions I desire to ask of Cecile. Speaker 7 (34:32) You won't have to wait long for Cecile. She's bringing me some French toast for breakfast. Speaker 8 (34:36) Excellent. Then I fear we shall have the unpleasant interview with Mr. Ryder. After that, we shall proceed to question Cook before putting little dog trouble on plain as Madam Landini. I don't get the idea of the dog at all, Inspector. I guess it's all right. My plan is at present no more than guess. But if I am not mistaken, we shall have taken big stride over a difficult place in our upward climb. Here's the season. Yes. Good morning, Cecile. Good Speaker 7 (35:08) morning, Mr. Inspector. Speaker 8 (35:09) Cecile, I wish to ask you one or two questions. Speaker 7 (35:12) But of course, Mr. Inspector, that is to be accepted. Speaker 8 (35:16) The night of the murder, when last I saw you, Madame Landini had just asked you to fetch a blanket for her dog. Speaker 7 (35:24) Your pardon, monsieur. That one, Landini, never asked one single thing. She always ordered. And he? Me, monsieur, I frankly refused to get that blanket. Speaker 8 (35:36) Quite so, Steele. And so you asked Arsene to fetch blanket? Speaker 7 (35:41) Your pardon again, monsieur, but I did not see Arsene. I went to the kitchen and stayed there till I heard the shot. Speaker 8 (35:49) The cook was there all that time? The entire time? Speaker 7 (35:52) But yes, monsieur, all of the time. Speaker 8 (35:55) Then the cook could not possibly have killed Madame Landini? Speaker 7 (35:59) C'est impossible, monsieur. C'est ridiculeuse. The cook, she couldn't kill madame any more, any more than I can. Speaker 2 (36:08) Oh, thank you so much. That is all, Cecile. Speaker 7 (36:12) Monsieur, will I have breakfast? I see he has injured his leg, so this morning I am out with the breakfast. Speaker 8 (36:17) Ah, yes. I see. Breakfast, Cecile, yes. I shall partake of one glass of orange juice when I go to the kitchen to interview the cook. Speaker 8 (36:30) Man of my ample proportions must sacrifice likes on the altar of health, you know. And Speaker 7 (36:36) you, Monsieur Chéry, only orange juice? Speaker 4 (36:39) Oh, I should say not. I'll have ham and eggs and an orange juice. I've got a hard day ahead of me. Speaker 7 (36:46) Eh bien, monsieur. Oh, the eggs. You like them one way or two ways cooked? Speaker 4 (36:51) One way. Oh, I see. Yes, turn them over. Speaker 8 (36:54) Two ways. Speaker 7 (36:55) Eh bien, monsieur. Speaker 8 (36:57) Ah, I see, Mr. Ryder. I wish to ask him a few questions. Speaker 4 (37:01) Want me with you, Inspector? Speaker 8 (37:03) No, for a few minutes. Join us in study after breakfast. Okay, Inspector. Good morning, Mr. Ryder. Good Speaker 4 (37:10) morning, Chan. Speaker 8 (37:12) Mr. Ryder? May I ask you to step upstairs to study for a few moments? Speaker 4 (37:17) Now, really, Jan, don't you think this question-and-answer business has gone far enough? Speaker 8 (37:22) You are suggesting that we consider the matter of Madam Landini's murder closed and, like snap of fingers, permit murderer to escape? Oh, Speaker 4 (37:31) certainly not. The properly constituted authorities can take care of everything very nicely. Not, of course, that I deny your ability or anything. Speaker 6 (37:39) Mr. Speaker 8 (37:40) Halt? So sorry to disturb breakfast. Mr. Ryder declines to be questioned without presence of duly authorized persons. Now listen here. Enough, please. Go to the study. Speaker 4 (37:51) And supposing I refuse? Speaker 8 (37:53) The entire affair is out of my hands. Proper procedure, I believe, by probably constituted authority, would be to arrest you as material witness. Speaker 4 (38:03) You wouldn't dare. Sorry, Mr. Ryder, but that's where you're wrong. I'm not hankering after arresting anybody, but if I have to, I have to. That's all. Speaker 6 (38:10) You see, Mr. Ryder, no matter how hard the snake may try to swallow itself, the tail will always Speaker 8 (38:17) stick it to the throat. The conversational circle which we have just completed has taken longer than the questioning to which you object. But here we are, studied. Speaker 4 (38:29) Well, then, out with it. What do you want to know now? Speaker 8 (38:33) Mr. Ryder, you definitely stated last night that you were not in study until after Landini's death. Speaker 4 (38:41) And I still say so. And you can't prove otherwise. Mr. Speaker 8 (38:44) Ryder, here on desk is part of a burned letter, also enveloped. Same was retrieved from the fireplace. Sheriff will tell you to whom same was addressed. Speaker 4 (38:55) The letter is addressed to Mr. John Ryder. Urgent, private, and a bold hand. But it doesn't look like a man's handwriting. Speaker 8 (39:02) The writer will tell you whose writing it is. Speaker 4 (39:06) It is. Yes, it's Ellen Landini's. Speaker 8 (39:10) Correct. Dressed to you as private and urgent. Cawn open, letter removed. Who would do that, Mr. Ryder? Speaker 5 (39:18) How should I know? Speaker 8 (39:20) Not many in this house. No gentlemen. Surely no lady. Such would not tear open letters another. No, Mr. Ryder. It appears to me that there is only one person who would open that letter. Speaker 4 (39:35) Who? Speaker 8 (39:35) Yourself. Speaker 1 (39:37) a Speaker 4 (39:37) natural inference perhaps however if you were correct which you are not what of it don't forget that i was standing with you when landini was killed that Speaker 8 (39:45) mr rider is what i am beginning to doubt That is all just now. Thank you so much. Come, Sheriff. We will indulge in a few pleasantries with Cook. I'm certain if her cooking is engaged that she will be a more pleasant person to interrogate. Speaker 4 (40:04) Really, Inspector, do you think that letter is so very important? Speaker 8 (40:07) I can only surmise. I think said letter is as important in matter of links and chain of evidence as fatal bullet. or a little dog trouble. Speaker 4 (40:18) You've got me completely buffaloed with this dog trouble business. I don't see where on earth a dog can have any bearing on clearing up this mystery. Speaker 8 (40:25) You have heard the expression, the dog knows when his master is sick. Speaker 4 (40:31) Yes, I think I have. Anyway, I know it's true. Speaker 8 (40:33) We shall in a few minutes test again the truth of that statement. Speaker 4 (40:37) Oh, Speaker 8 (40:38) there's the Speaker 4 (40:39) cook. Oh, Mrs. O'Farrell. I'm Don Holt, sheriff of the county, and this is Inspector Chan of the Honolulu Police. Speaker 5 (40:45) Oh, Honolulu, eh? Sure got here quick. Speaker 8 (40:51) Honest, if I may say so. Last evening, I had pleasure of sampling your cooking, and I bow to you in humble congratulations. Speaker 5 (41:01) You talk real nice. Speaker 8 (41:03) Sterner topics now, engage us. You know, of course, what happened? That Speaker 5 (41:08) I do. Speaker 8 (41:08) Murder. And I don't Speaker 5 (41:10) hold Speaker 8 (41:10) with it. Well, none of us hold with it. Tell me, you were here when Madame Landini's plane approached? And that