WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:15.200 The Columbia Network takes pleasure in bringing you suspense. 00:30.000 --> 00:44.720 Suspense. Columbia's parade of outstanding thrillers produced by William Spear and 00:44.720 --> 00:51.480 scored by Bernard Herman. Notable melodramas from stage and screen, fiction and radio, 00:51.480 --> 00:59.880 presented each week to bring you to the edge of your chair to keep you in suspense. 01:11.320 --> 01:17.880 Tonight's story by the noted American author T.S. Stribling deals with a crime of murder on an 01:17.880 --> 01:25.360 exotic and atmospheric island with ragged beggars who slept in a Hindu temple and awoke with gold 01:25.360 --> 01:33.240 in their pockets and a dead girl lying near them and with a strange and mystical entrance into the 01:33.240 --> 01:40.960 life of hereafter which was the experience of an American psychologist. For your suspense for 01:40.960 --> 02:00.400 listening we invite you to join us for a passage to Benares. In Porto, Spain in Trinidad at half 02:00.400 --> 02:07.200 past five in the morning Mr. Henry Paggiorli, an American psychologist, stirred uneasily, 02:07.200 --> 02:14.220 became conscious of a splitting headache, opened his eyes in bewilderment and then with a shock 02:14.220 --> 02:22.520 saw where he was. He got up, arranged his clothing, he tried with his neat psychological mind to 02:22.520 --> 02:27.840 recapture his dream, to bottle up again the little smoking wisps that still floated about 02:27.840 --> 02:32.760 within his aching head. By seven o'clock he had found his way back to the house of Mr. Low, 02:32.760 --> 02:41.520 his host in Porto, Spain. Low was already about his coffee with an interested spoon poised above 02:41.520 --> 02:49.280 the morning paper. Ah there you are. Good morning Paggiorli. I say you are quiet, 02:49.280 --> 02:55.640 didn't hear you get up at all. Have some breakfast? Thanks. I have been out for a breath of air. 02:55.640 --> 03:05.080 What's the news today? Well the new governor will arrive in Trinidad on the 12th and hello, 03:05.080 --> 03:12.240 now the natives killed his wife. Tell me Paggiorli, as a psychologist why do coolies kill their wives? 03:12.240 --> 03:19.560 Oh for various reasons I imagine. Let's hear some of the facts. Ah I say this is a coincidence, 03:19.560 --> 03:25.160 really putting on a show for you Paggiorli on your first visit to Trinidad. How so? Well 03:25.160 --> 03:30.720 you remember that wedding procession you and I watched last evening down at the Hindu temple. 03:30.720 --> 03:36.040 The temple? Oh of course the cream-colored little bride with the breastplates and the 03:36.040 --> 03:40.960 link gold coins and the anklets and all the finery and the bridegroom. What you say his 03:40.960 --> 03:48.360 name was? Budman Low? Yes, well do you know what's happened? Budman Low is in jail this 03:48.360 --> 03:55.360 morning and his cream-colored little bride is dead with her throat cut. No. Do they think he did it? 03:55.360 --> 03:59.920 No doubt of it that's why he's in jail now. He always seemed like a sensible fellow too, 03:59.920 --> 04:05.360 one of our best patrons which only proves my contention Paggiorli, a bridegroom of only six 04:05.360 --> 04:09.960 or eight hours killing his wife without any reason at all. Oh there's usually some reason 04:09.960 --> 04:16.800 for murder. Maybe. I say oh boy you're missing the point completely. How? Well suppose you 04:16.800 --> 04:22.080 actually had gone and slept in the temple there last night. Wanted to you know remember and I 04:22.080 --> 04:30.080 said no white man ever stays all night in a coolie temple. You remember? Yes I remember. You said it 04:30.080 --> 04:36.960 simply isn't done. Well if if you had Paggiorli I say that would have been a pretty kettle wouldn't it? 04:36.960 --> 04:45.200 Yes, yes. Well I'm afraid I'll be mixed up in this. Both Mr. Low and his uncle the Hira Das are clients 04:45.200 --> 04:52.200 of mine. Old Hira Das is upwards of five million dollars in my bank. Hira Das? Didn't you tell me 04:52.200 --> 04:56.960 he built that temple where the murder took place? Yes it's what the Hindus call a temple and rest 04:56.960 --> 05:03.480 house. Hira Das gives rice and tea to any traveler who comes in for the night. It's an Indian custom 05:03.480 --> 05:08.480 to help mendicant pilgrims. A rich Indian will build a temple and rest house just just as you 05:08.480 --> 05:16.800 Americans erect libraries. Ah what does it say there about the murder though? Um Budman Low, 05:16.800 --> 05:23.200 nephew of the famous Mr. Hira Das, was arrested early this morning at his home for the alleged 05:23.200 --> 05:28.840 murder of his wife whom he married yesterday. The body was found at six o'clock this morning in the 05:28.840 --> 05:34.880 temple where the wedding ceremony took place. The temple attendants gave the alarm. The victim's 05:34.880 --> 05:41.680 head was severed completely from her body and all her jewelry was gone. Five coolie beggars who were 05:41.680 --> 05:47.320 asleep in the temple when the body was discovered were arrested. They all claimed ignorance of the 05:47.320 --> 05:52.880 crime but a search of their persons revealed that each beggar had a piece of the bride's jewelry and 05:52.880 --> 05:58.040 a coin from a necklace. Mr. Budman Low and his wife were seen to enter the temple at about 11 05:58.040 --> 06:04.040 last night for the Hindu rite of purification. Mr. Low, who is a prominent curio dealer, declines 06:04.040 --> 06:10.600 to say anything further. Doesn't tell you very much does it? Ah not much. What do you make of 06:10.600 --> 06:16.920 those beggars? Oh that's simple enough. Those devils laid in wait inside the temple until the 06:16.920 --> 06:22.200 husband went out and left his wife. Then they murdered her and divided the spoil. Ah but she 06:22.200 --> 06:26.960 had enough bangles and G-jaws to give a dozen to each man. Yes yes you're quite right Pajuli, 06:26.960 --> 06:31.360 that's a fact. Why should they continue sleeping in the temple after they'd killed her if they did 06:31.360 --> 06:36.320 murder her? Well why shouldn't they? They knew they'd be suspected and they couldn't get off 06:36.320 --> 06:40.440 the island without capture so they thought might as well lie down again and go back to sleep. 06:40.440 --> 06:47.520 Hmm you may be right Low but that doesn't look like the solution to me. Well I'm satisfied that's how 06:47.520 --> 06:53.640 it occurred. You mean the beggars killed her? Well I don't think so. I rather fancy that the actual 06:53.640 --> 06:57.760 murderer took the girl's jewelry and went about the temple thrusting a bangle and a coin in the 06:57.760 --> 07:05.120 pockets of each of the sleeping beggars to lay a false scent. Oh oh oh oh now that's laying it 07:05.120 --> 07:09.920 on a bit too thick Pajuli. My dear Low that's the only possible explanation for the coins and the 07:09.920 --> 07:16.060 beggars pockets. I tell you boy you've had lots of experience in these things. Come along with me 07:16.060 --> 07:22.120 and we'll go up and see Mr. Hiradas and see if we can't help his nephew. I'll be glad to but we'll 07:22.120 --> 07:45.600 go to the temple first then we'll call on Mr. Hiradas. Well here we are. Despite of the police 07:45.600 --> 07:51.080 guard at the door the temple doesn't look sinister in the daylight. Yeah it just looks dirty. Let's 07:51.080 --> 08:00.400 go in and question the beggars. Excuse me did any of you fellows hear noises in this temple 08:00.400 --> 08:07.520 last night? Oh much sleep Saib, no noise. Policeman Pancha's wake this morning makes it still here. 08:07.520 --> 08:14.960 What's your name? Sudha Chand Saib. When did you go to sleep last night? When I ate rice and tea 08:14.960 --> 08:22.440 Saib. Do you remember seeing Budman Lal and his wife enter this building last night? Yes remember 08:22.440 --> 08:29.760 Saib. Did you see them go out? No Saib, no one remember go out. You were all asleep then? All 08:29.760 --> 08:37.400 asleep Saib. Did you have any dreams during your sleep? Hear any noises? I dream bad dreams Saib. 08:37.400 --> 08:46.600 When policemen punched me awake this morning I think dream has come true. And me Saib. Did you 08:46.600 --> 08:53.080 all have bad dreams? Yes all have bad dreams. Look here Pajoli I don't see where this is getting us. 08:53.080 --> 08:58.360 I do think we ought to be getting on to old Hiradas's house. No I think we can now entirely 08:58.360 --> 09:03.560 discard the theory that the beggars murdered the girls. On what grounds? They told you nothing 09:03.560 --> 09:10.200 except that they all had bad dreams? That's the reason they all had wild fantastic dreams. That 09:10.200 --> 09:14.960 suggests that they were given some sort of opiate in their rice or tea last night. It's quite 09:14.960 --> 09:19.360 improbable that five ignorant coolies would have wit enough to concoct such a piece of evidence as 09:19.360 --> 09:25.400 that. That's a fact but I don't believe a Trinidad court would admit such evidence. We're not looking 09:25.400 --> 09:31.800 for legal evidence. We're after some indication of the real criminal. Now I suggest that we get 09:31.800 --> 09:57.160 on to the house of Hiradas. Please come in gentlemen I've been expecting you. Please be seated. Thank 09:57.160 --> 10:04.480 you. Thank you. Most mysterious murder in the life of my poor nephew will depend upon your 10:04.480 --> 10:10.800 exertions gentlemen. Tell me what do you think of the beggars that were found in the temple with 10:10.800 --> 10:16.920 the bangles and coins? Well I'm afraid my judgment of the beggars will disappoint you Mr. Hiradas. 10:16.920 --> 10:23.560 Huh? My theory is that they're innocent of the crime. Really? Why do you say that? Because they 10:23.560 --> 10:31.520 told me of dreams they had. All their dreams were very nearly identical. You are not English sir. No 10:31.520 --> 10:37.520 Englishman would have thought of that. No I'm American with a backlash sprinkling of Italian. 10:37.520 --> 10:47.480 My name's Pagioli. What is your profession Mr. Pagioli? You are a detective. No Mr. Das. I'm a 10:47.480 --> 10:55.800 psychologist. Your soul is at least groping after knowledge. However it gropes as a blind worm Mr. 10:55.800 --> 11:01.400 Pagioli and we must find the criminal who committed this crime and thus restore my nephew 11:01.400 --> 11:07.840 Budman Lal to liberty. You can imagine what a blow this has been to me after I arranged this 11:07.840 --> 11:14.080 marriage for my nephew. You did arrange the marriage for a nephew who is in his thirties? 11:14.080 --> 11:20.680 Yes Mr. Pagioli. I wanted him to avoid the pitfalls into which I fell. He was unmarried and he'd 11:20.680 --> 11:29.080 already begun to add dollars to dollars. I did the same thing. Now look at me. An empty old man in 11:29.080 --> 11:35.800 a foreign land. What good is this house where men of my own kind can't come and sit with me when I 11:35.800 --> 11:45.040 have no grandchildren to romp and play? No. I've piled up dollars and pounds. I've eaten the world 11:45.040 --> 11:55.880 Mr. Pagioli and found it bitter. Now here I am an outcast. And why don't you go back to India Mr. 11:55.880 --> 12:06.200 Pagioli? Why Mr. Pagioli my mind is half English. If I should return to Benares I'd walk about 12:06.200 --> 12:12.320 thinking what the temples cost. How much was the value of the stone set in the eye of Krishna's 12:12.320 --> 12:22.200 image. If I would ever be one with my own people again Mr. Pagioli I must leave this Western mind 12:22.200 --> 12:32.680 and body here in Trinidad. That's very interesting and moving but we were discussing your nephew 12:32.680 --> 12:40.320 Budman Lowe. Wait in searching for the criminal I would suggest you look for a moneyed man. Let 12:40.320 --> 12:47.240 me tell you my suspicions and you can work out the details. What are they? I went out of the temple 12:47.240 --> 12:52.400 this morning to have the body of my poor murdered niece brought here to my villa for burial. I 12:52.400 --> 13:02.400 talked to the five beggars and they told me there was a sixth sleeper in the temple last night. 13:02.400 --> 13:12.520 Was there indeed? Yes Mr. Lowe a white man. A white man? Yes Mr. Lowe all five of the coolest 13:12.520 --> 13:20.360 and my man Guta told me it was true. But Mr. Hiradas decapitation is not an American mode of 13:20.360 --> 13:29.840 murder. American? I was speaking generally I mean a white man's method of murder. That is indicative 13:29.840 --> 13:35.720 in itself. I meant to call your attention to that point. It shows the white man was a highly 13:35.720 --> 13:42.000 educated man who had studied the mental habits of other people's than his own so he was enabled to 13:42.000 --> 13:49.440 give the crime an extraordinary resemblance to a Hindu crime. But what motive could a white man 13:49.440 --> 14:00.960 have? Possibly robbery Mr. Pajole or if he were a very intellectual man he might have murdered the 14:00.960 --> 14:12.960 poor child by way of experiment. A murder for experiment? Yes Mr. Lowe to record this psychological 14:12.960 --> 14:20.960 reaction. Why I can't entertain such a theory as that Mr. Hiradas. Oh no it is too far-fetched. 14:20.960 --> 14:29.880 However it is worth investigating is it not? Yes yes but I'll begin my investigations with the 14:29.880 --> 14:37.560 man Guka. By all means Mr. Pajole and in your investigations gentlemen hire any assistance 14:37.560 --> 14:45.480 you may need. Draw on me for any amount. I want my nephew exonerated and above all things I 14:45.480 --> 15:10.800 want the real criminal apprehended and brought to the gallows. What do you think of that Pajole? 15:10.800 --> 15:17.760 White man in a temple. Sounds like pure fiction to me to to shield Bobon Lowe. You know these 15:17.760 --> 15:22.760 fellows hang together like thieves. Say it's a jolly good thing we didn't decide to sleep in the 15:22.760 --> 15:27.840 temple last night isn't it? You know in my opinion Lowe the actual criminal is Budman Lowe. Same 15:27.840 --> 15:32.720 here I thought so ever since I first saw the account on the paper. Somehow these fellows 15:32.720 --> 15:37.880 will chop their wives to pieces for no reason at all. Now what do you know about Budman Lowe? 15:37.880 --> 15:44.360 Well he was born here and has always been a figure because of his rich uncle. Lived here 15:44.360 --> 15:49.720 all his life? Except when he was in Oxford for six years. Oh he was in Oxford man? Yes yes. 15:49.720 --> 15:55.400 There you are. That's the trouble. I don't understand. What do you mean Pajole? I know 15:55.400 --> 16:00.280 that he fell in love with some English girl but when old Hira Das chose a Hindu child for his 16:00.280 --> 16:06.400 wife Budman couldn't refuse marriage. No man's going to quarrel with a five million dollar legacy. 16:06.400 --> 16:12.720 Then he chose this ghastly method of getting rid of the child bride. Yeah I dare say you're right. 16:12.720 --> 16:18.840 I feel sure Budman Lowe killed the girl. George I'm getting tired of walking. There's a cab. 16:18.840 --> 16:31.400 Let's hop it and ride the rest away. Hey caddy a cab. Aren't you coming? You know I don't feel that 16:31.400 --> 16:37.080 I can conscientiously continue this investigation trying to clear a person whom I have every reason 16:37.080 --> 16:42.520 to believe guilty. But man don't leave me like this. At least come as far as police headquarters 16:42.520 --> 16:48.040 with me and explain your theory about Guga the temple keeper and the rice. Well I thought I'd 16:48.040 --> 16:53.880 go back to your cottage and pack my things. Pack your things? Oh your boat doesn't sail until Friday. 16:53.880 --> 16:58.640 Yes I know but there's a daily service to Cura so it struck me to go there. Oh no come you can't 16:58.640 --> 17:02.880 run off like that just when I stirred up an interesting murder mystery for you to unravel. 17:02.880 --> 17:10.720 Why Poggioli you ought to appreciate my effort as a host more than that. All right then. To the 17:10.720 --> 17:12.680 police station. Yes sir. 17:12.680 --> 17:30.320 Chief Vickers this is my friend Mr. Poggioli. Mr. Poggioli Mr. Vickers is chief of Trinidad's 17:30.320 --> 17:36.600 police force. How do you do? How do you do? Chief Vickers I've asked Mr. Poggioli's counsel in the 17:36.600 --> 17:42.160 Budman Lowe murder case. He's already developed a theory as to who is the actual murderer of 17:42.160 --> 17:48.840 Mrs. Budman Lowe. So have I. Now in this matter Chief Vickers I want to be perfectly frank with 17:48.840 --> 17:54.440 you. I'll admit we're in this case in the employer of Mr. Haradas and are making an effort to clear 17:54.440 --> 17:59.680 his nephew Budman Lowe. We felt confident you'd use the skill of the police department of Port 17:59.680 --> 18:04.320 of Spain to work out a theory clearing Budman Lowe just as readily as you would to convict him. 18:04.320 --> 18:10.780 Our department usually devotes its time to conviction and not to clearing criminals. Yes yes I know that 18:10.780 --> 18:16.520 but if our theory will point out the actual murderer. What is your theory? Mr. Poggioli's 18:16.520 --> 18:21.840 deduction is based on the dreams of the men who were found in the temple. So Mr. Poggioli's 18:21.840 --> 18:26.680 deduction is based on dreams. It would be a remarkable coincidence Mr. Vickers if five men 18:26.680 --> 18:32.040 had lurid dreams simultaneously without some physical cause. It suggests strongly that their 18:32.040 --> 18:37.320 tea or rice was doped. Now if you find out what soporific was used then have your men search the 18:37.320 --> 18:42.120 sales record of the drugstores in the city to see who has lately bought such a drug. You will find 18:42.120 --> 18:50.040 the murderer. Aha. How do you like Trinidad Mr. Poggioli? I'd like it very much indeed. You've 18:50.040 --> 18:56.200 just arrived haven't you? Yes. In what university do you teach back in the States? Ohio State. A 18:56.200 --> 19:01.800 chair of criminal psychology and an ordinary state university. I'm not a professor I'm simply a 19:01.800 --> 19:07.640 docent and I haven't specialized on criminal psychology. I quiz on general psychology. You're 19:07.640 --> 19:13.240 not teaching now? No this is my sabbatical year. You look young to have taught in the university 19:13.240 --> 19:19.400 six years but then you Americans start young in your land of specialists. Now are you Mr. Poggioli 19:19.400 --> 19:25.320 I suppose you're wrapped up heart and soul in your psychology. I am. You dare do anything in the world 19:25.320 --> 19:29.960 to advance yourself in the science. I rather think so. Especially keen on original research work. 19:29.960 --> 19:34.760 Ha ha that's what he is she figures. Do you know what he asked me to do yesterday afternoon? No 19:34.760 --> 19:39.320 what Mr. Lowe? Oh I don't think we ought to burden Mr. Vickers with our household anecdotes. Oh but 19:39.320 --> 19:43.960 I'm really curious just what did Mr. Poggioli ask you to do yesterday afternoon Mr. Lowe? 19:43.960 --> 19:50.440 Oh well really nothing nothing at all it was just a little psychological experiment he wants to do. 19:50.440 --> 19:55.960 And did he do it? Oh no no no no I wouldn't hear of it. Oh as uh unconventional as that. 19:55.960 --> 20:01.320 Oh it was really nothing nothing at all. I think I could guess your anecdote if I tried gentlemen. 20:01.320 --> 20:05.640 About a half an hour ago I received a telephone message from my man stationed at the temple 20:05.640 --> 20:12.120 to keep a lookout for you and Mr. Poggioli. A lookout for us? Yes because one of the coolies 20:12.120 --> 20:17.800 under arrest told him that Mr. Poggioli slept in the temple last night. Oh but that's not true. 20:17.800 --> 20:23.000 That's exactly what he didn't do. He suggested it to me but I said no. You remember Poggioli you 20:23.000 --> 20:35.560 you didn't do it did you Poggioli? Did you? You see he did. Gentlemen I had a perfectly valid 20:35.560 --> 20:40.040 and important reason for sleeping in the temple last night and so I I can only ask your sympathetic 20:40.040 --> 20:44.440 attention to what I'm about to say. Go on. You remember Lowe you and I were down there watching 20:44.440 --> 20:49.240 a wedding procession. Well just as the music stopped in the procession at the building suddenly it 20:49.240 --> 20:54.520 seemed to me as if as if they'd vanished. Naturally they'd gone into the building. No no I don't mean 20:54.520 --> 20:59.880 that. I'm afraid you won't understand what I do mean. That the whole procession that ceased to exist 20:59.880 --> 21:04.920 melted into a nothingness. You see that's really the idea in which the Hindus based their notion 21:04.920 --> 21:10.760 of heaven, oblivion, nothingness. Yes I've heard that before. Well our medieval Gothic architecture 21:10.760 --> 21:14.840 was the conception of our western heaven and I thought perhaps the Indian architecture had 21:14.840 --> 21:21.000 somehow caught the motif of the Indian religion you know suggested Nirvana. That's what amazed 21:21.000 --> 21:26.120 and intrigued me. That's why I wanted to sleep in the place. I wanted to see if I could further my 21:26.120 --> 21:31.640 shred of impression. Does that make any sense to you Mr. Vickers? We are not interested why you 21:31.640 --> 21:40.040 went Mr. Poggioli. We know a murder took place in the temple. You don't you can't think that I 21:40.040 --> 21:47.240 committed a horrible murder as an experiment. You intellectual chaps do some pretty weird things 21:47.240 --> 21:53.800 Mr. Poggioli. Why only the other day I was reading about two young intellectuals. Oh Lord. Yes these fellows I 21:53.800 --> 21:59.800 read about also tried to turn an honest penny by their murder. I don't suppose you happened to 21:59.800 --> 22:05.720 notice yesterday that the little bride Mahila Ram was almost covered with gold bangles and coins. 22:05.720 --> 22:11.880 Of course I noticed but I had nothing whatever to do with her. I I did sleep in the temple. By the way 22:11.880 --> 22:17.560 you say you slept on a rug just as the coolies did. Yes I did. And you didn't wake up either Mr. Poggioli. 22:17.560 --> 22:22.920 No no. Then did the child's murderer happen to put a coin and a bangle in your pockets just as he did 22:22.920 --> 22:28.200 the other sleepers in the temple. I don't know. I haven't looked in my pocket since then. Then please 22:28.200 --> 22:38.360 do so now Mr. Poggioli. Oh yes. Here they are Mr. Vickers. You don't happen to have any more do you. 22:39.240 --> 22:45.720 No I've already been through all my pockets and I haven't any more. Well that's something. Of course 22:45.720 --> 22:50.360 you might have expected just such a questioning as this and provided yourself with these two pieces 22:50.360 --> 22:55.880 of gold but I doubt it. Somehow I don't believe that you're an experienced enough man to think 22:55.880 --> 23:02.360 of such a thing. However we shall see. I suppose you have no objection Mr. Poggioli. Am I accompanying 23:02.360 --> 23:05.640 you over to have a little search of your baggage in Mr. Low's cottage. 23:05.640 --> 23:13.640 Now then Mr. Poggioli be so kind as to open your trunk. 23:19.240 --> 23:20.200 Good heavens. 23:20.200 --> 23:27.640 Just as I thought. A trunk tray full of bangles and coins. I'll say we'll have to go to the 23:27.640 --> 23:35.960 temple. Good heavens. Just as I thought. A trunk tray full of bangles and coins. I'll say one thing 23:35.960 --> 23:42.200 for you though Mr. Poggioli. Your nerve almost got you by. But you can't believe that I did it. 23:43.960 --> 23:54.440 Oh you don't believe I did this do you. I don't. In your trunk Poggioli. If I did it I was sleepwalking. 23:54.440 --> 23:57.800 I've got to think that it's possible that right here in my own trunk. Well we might as well start 23:57.800 --> 24:03.800 back I suppose. This is all. I'll go back with you Poggioli. I'll see you through. 24:03.800 --> 24:12.040 Somehow I can't. I won't believe you did it. Thanks. Thanks. You know Poggioli you sat out to 24:12.040 --> 24:18.280 clear Budman Lowell and well dash it all. It looks as if you had. No he didn't. Budman Lowell 24:18.280 --> 24:22.440 was out of jail at least an hour before you fellows came into police headquarters to see me. 24:22.440 --> 24:28.440 Out. You mean that you turned him loose. Yes. How's that Chief Vickers. Because Mr. Lowell he 24:28.440 --> 24:32.760 didn't go to the temple at all with his wife last night. He went down to Queens Park Hotel 24:32.760 --> 24:37.720 and played billiards till one o'clock. He called up a few friends and proved that easily enough. 24:37.720 --> 24:43.560 My word that that leaves nobody but. Yes Poggioli. I don't know anything about it. 24:44.600 --> 24:49.720 If I did commit the murder I was asleep. I don't know anything about it that's all I can say. 24:49.720 --> 24:54.680 I don't know anything about it. Perhaps arrest and jail will help restore your memory. 24:54.680 --> 25:21.080 Well we'll see. Come now Poggioli old man. Don't be too downhearted. I promise you I'll do everything I can. 25:21.080 --> 25:26.600 In the case against Henry Poggioli having been deulatried by a jury of your pairs you have been 25:26.600 --> 25:31.880 found guilty and by the powers invested in me I herewith sentence you to be hanged by the neck 25:31.880 --> 25:50.040 until you are dead. To recall a lost dream is the most tantalizing task ever a human brain was 25:50.040 --> 25:58.520 driven to. But if I lie still long enough on this bunk perhaps I can recapture the dream I had in 25:58.520 --> 26:09.640 the temple last night. Yes yes. It seems to me that the image on the altar moved and suddenly 26:09.640 --> 26:15.960 the dome overhead was opened and left me staring upward into a vast abyss where I was alone in 26:15.960 --> 26:21.080 endless space. We're all creatures in all matter that had ever been or ever would be. 26:21.880 --> 26:27.480 Were wrapped up in me Poggioli. That was my dream. 26:29.800 --> 26:34.920 That's an odd thing. Six men dreaming the same dream in different terms. 26:36.040 --> 26:42.920 There must be a physical cause for such a phenomenon. Of course I've got it. 26:42.920 --> 26:51.320 Vickers. Flo. I have it. I've solved it. Get me out of here. I know who killed the girl. 27:05.480 --> 27:08.440 What is it my friend? I know who murdered the bride. 27:08.440 --> 27:16.360 Hold Hiradas did it. Now listen listen. Go tell Vickers to take the gold he found in my trunk 27:16.920 --> 27:22.600 and develop all the fingerprints on it. He'll find Hiradas' prints. Also tell him to follow 27:22.600 --> 27:27.400 up that opiate clue I gave him. He'll find Hiradas and demand to put the gold in my trunk. 27:28.280 --> 27:33.560 See if they don't find brass or steel filings in my room where the scoundrel sat and filed a new key. 27:33.560 --> 27:35.560 But they've already done that long ago. 27:35.560 --> 27:44.120 They have. But certainly. And old Hiradas confessed everything. Though why a rich old man like him 27:44.120 --> 27:51.160 should have murdered a pretty child is more than I can see. But why did he pick on me as a scapegoat? 27:51.160 --> 27:57.000 Oh he explained that to the police. He said he picked on a white man so the police would make a 27:57.000 --> 28:03.880 thorough investigation and be sure to catch him. He didn't? Aye. But what I know is that the police 28:03.880 --> 28:11.480 are not the only ones who are. They are the only ones who are. But what I can't see is why the old 28:11.480 --> 28:21.160 boy wanted to be caught and hanged. Why didn't he commit suicide? Why? I don't why. Because according 28:21.160 --> 28:26.440 to his religion in that case his soul would have returned in the form of some beast. He wanted to 28:26.440 --> 28:32.920 be slain because he expects to be reborn instantly in Benares with little Myla Ran as his bride 28:32.920 --> 28:40.520 and children. All the things he was not here in Trinidad. Yes, yes. You must be right. Why didn't 28:40.520 --> 28:45.400 you come and tell me of old Hiradas's confession the moment it occurred? What do you mean keeping 28:45.400 --> 28:51.000 me here when you know I'm an innocent man? Why didn't you tell me before this? Because I couldn't. 28:51.000 --> 29:03.960 Old Hiradas didn't confess until a month and ten days after you were hanged. So ends a passage to 29:03.960 --> 29:10.600 Benares. T.S. Stribbling's tale of mysterious death and death mysterious. This was tonight's story of 29:10.600 --> 29:19.880 suspense. Suspense is produced by William Spear. John Dietz was our guest director this evening. 29:19.880 --> 29:24.600 Tonight's radio drama was written by Carol Case and scored by Bernard Herman. Paul Stewart was 29:24.600 --> 29:30.600 Poggioli. Barry Kroger was Mr. Hiradas. And Horace Bram played Mr. Low. Others in the cast were Alan 29:30.600 --> 29:35.480 Hewitt and Guy Rep. Next week at this time Columbia will bring you another selected story from the 29:35.480 --> 29:42.280 world's great literature of thrills. Another study in suspense. This is Barry Kroger and this is 29:42.280 --> 30:09.080 the Columbia Broadcasting System.