0:05 the Columbia Network takes pleasure in
0:22 suspend stories from the world's great
0:25 literature of pure excitement a new
0:27 series frankly dedicated to your
0:30 horriffic ation and entertainment week
0:32 by week from the pick of new material
0:35 from the pages of bestselling novels
0:38 from the theatre of Broadway and London
0:41 the sound stages of Hollywood will
0:44 parade the most remarkable figures ever
1:04 tonight's presentation is one of the
1:06 finest of the contemporary stories of
1:09 mystery and terror John Dixon cars
1:26 famous novel the burning court ah a
1:29 glass of sherry by the fireside of a
1:32 beautiful suburban home what could be
1:34 more comforting you're an admirable host
1:37 mr. depe and it's really a shame our
1:40 first meeting is under such a cloud it's
1:43 also a shame I have so little time to
1:57 murdered your uncle last week now let's
1:59 see now I believe we're all here
2:02 your wife your friend mr. Stevens
2:04 captain Brennan yes and incidentally
2:07 yourself just who did you say you were
2:09 well no wonder you've had so much
2:11 difficulty with the case captain my name
2:17 is cross go down cross the writer as a
2:18 matter of fact it's because of my just
2:21 completed book poisoning throughout the
2:22 ages that I happen to be here now and
2:25 Ted Stevens there happens to be a member
2:27 of the firm which publishes my work I'd
2:30 never seen him until tonight but I've
2:32 been told what happened this afternoon
2:34 he began reading my manuscript for the
2:37 first time on the train the commuters
2:39 train which every afternoon deposits him
2:41 safely and soundly here in prison I
2:44 imagine he was halfway home by the time
2:47 he finished the first chapter then he
2:50 turned a page attached to the following
2:52 leaf was a picture
2:55 and looking at it the young man
2:58 stiffened suddenly and all but cried out
3:01 his shock it was a picture of a young
3:05 woman and under it had been printed
3:12 famous poisoner Marie dobre 1676 Ted
3:16 Stevens was looking at a picture of his
3:29 own wife imagine imagine his 25 year old
3:32 wife in 17th century costume the face
3:35 the features even a wistfulness of
3:37 expression were identical even the name
3:40 dobre was his wife's maiden name but no
3:43 no no that was ridiculous this woman in
3:46 the picture was well one of his wife's
3:48 ancestors yes that was it that was it
3:50 simply an amazing family resemblance
3:53 Marie would be waiting for him at the
3:54 station I'd have to tell her about it
3:58 he wondered why however she never told
4:02 him about oh well but you don't discuss
4:04 such an ancestor do you ted stevens
4:06 glanced down at the chapter to which the
4:08 picture had been attached it was
4:12 entitled the affair of the non dead woman
4:23 hello Ted Stevens was almost jolted from
4:26 his seat it was doctor Weldon professor
4:28 of English at the college an old friend
4:30 of his quickly he thrust the picture
4:32 beneath the manuscript and ruled over hi
4:35 I didn't see you doc oh here have a seat
4:37 alright maybe you were giving me the
4:40 what are they called the brush-off oh no
4:44 I say as a matter of fact doc you're the
4:46 one man I do want to see yeah
4:48 very flattering remember those
4:50 discussions we used to have about
4:53 murders better than bridge anytime well
4:55 I got the idea that you made sort of a
4:56 hobby out of the old cases the
4:59 historical ones well I've studied quite
5:00 a number of them years
5:04 ever hear of a woman named Mary no grey
5:11 reader brain read ray oh yes that was
5:14 her maiden name of course one of the
5:16 finest specialists and arsenic poisoning
5:19 you could ever hope to find we're almost
5:22 at our station Ted let's get to the door
5:26 yes or real charmer Marie was must have
5:28 disposed of half a hundred husband's
5:30 lover suitors and just plain friends
5:34 before she saw what happened to her doc
5:52 Oh absurd laughable Ted Stevens kept
5:54 saying this to himself and yet what he
5:56 knew was a foolish dread followed him
5:58 straight through the small suburban
6:00 station and clung to him as he reached
6:03 the street and there in the roadster was
6:05 Murray leaning toward him a little to
6:08 hold the door open and smiling at him Oh
6:11 Ted what on earth you're staring it lets
6:13 street light shining on your hair I like that
6:14 that
6:17 oh you're tight come on get in the car
6:25 then like a wisp of smoke it was gone
6:40 when at home brought the cocktails into
6:42 the living room the logs were burning
6:45 brightly in the fireplace throwing a
6:47 soft dancing blow upon a room that was
6:51 darkening with dusk to you Marie then to
6:53 you dear
6:56 as Stephens placed his glass down he
6:59 noticed the manuscript of my book it was
7:01 there on the table right where he placed
7:04 it when he first came in deliberately
7:07 turned from it and then turned back the
7:11 manuscript had been moved only an inch
7:14 or so but it had been moved keeping his
7:17 back to his wife he from through that
7:19 early chapter and discovered just as he
7:23 knew he would that the photograph was
7:30 gone for a long moment he thought of
7:34 what to do then slowly he turned around
7:38 this book by cross I brought home yes
7:41 there was a story of poisoner in it
7:44 rather funny her name happens to be the
7:46 same as yours your maiden name that is
7:49 oh that is odd isn't it darling
7:52 well she a relative of yours why did
7:54 you're serious
7:57 anyway yes oh I don't mean it it's
7:59 really important it's just that well
8:00 when you run across a person who's a
8:02 dead ringer for your own life and who
8:04 lived 300 years ago and was a top-flight
8:06 poisoner well you like to hear about it
8:08 that's all what on earth are you talking
8:11 about darling be honest with me
8:13 didn't you look at this manuscript when
8:16 I was out of the room no you didn't take
8:18 out a picture of a poisoner named Marie
8:21 Debray I most certainly did not hope
8:24 dead what is this all about are you
8:27 getting it for justice somebody took
8:28 that picture out of that manuscript
8:32 since I've been home now who's that well
8:33 I'll take a look
8:36 wait I don't feel like why it's mark
8:41 Depar mark Ted wait a second yes did
8:45 whatever it is he won promise you won't
8:48 do it promise I won't I didn't promise
8:51 you won't get yourself involved
8:54 please dead don't go out tonight say
8:57 what in the world is well anyway we
8:59 can't let him stay outside
9:03 ma how are you come on in thanks Ted
9:04 just thinking about giving you a call
9:07 later oh let me have your head no thanks
9:09 I Maria I hope you'll excuse me for
9:12 popping him like this but well I wanted
9:14 to talk to Ted it it's rather important
9:16 well I don't mind at all come on mark
9:17 we'll step into the library
9:19 oh you mind dear of course not Ted I'll
9:20 be making the sandwiches for us I'll
9:23 grab that chair in the corner mark let's
9:23 hear it
9:27 what's the trouble Ted my uncle miles
9:30 was murdered murdered oh the talk hasn't
9:32 reached you yet but it's already started
9:34 nothing definite of course just that
9:36 there was something wrong about uncle
9:39 miles death but I don't mark you sure of this
9:40 this
9:42 no he was murdered I don't know of
9:44 course I don't I just don't see how it
9:47 could be any other way uncle miles you
9:49 know had been sick for quite a while but
9:51 last Saturday he seemed so much better
9:53 that Miss Korbut that was his nurse
9:55 decided to take the day off and oh you
9:57 know all this you and Murray were over
9:58 that afternoon
10:01 anyway Lucy and I went to the club that
10:03 night to that masquerade party and we
10:06 left the old bye completely alone I've
10:08 cursed myself a thousand times since but
10:10 what about your housekeeper mrs.
10:12 what's-her-name Henderson wasn't she
10:15 around sure in that little house out in
10:18 back we told you to look in now and then
10:21 but well that wasn't good enough it was
10:23 after midnight when Lucy and I got back
10:27 uncle miles was dying Ted it looked
10:29 exactly like one of his regular attacks
10:31 but then later
10:34 after he was gone I happened to glance
10:36 under the chest of drawers in his room
10:39 there was a small silver cup under there
10:44 almost drained and uncle miles cat the
10:49 cat was still warm but quite did full I
10:51 managed to get the cat out of the house
10:53 and buried without anyone seeing me next
10:55 day I had the contents of the cup
11:03 analyzed it was poison yes arsenic well
11:05 what do you want me to do help me open
11:08 the Crypt what I want to have a private
11:10 autopsy performed help me get uncle
11:12 miles body out of that vault oh I know
11:14 it's a tough job the thing is sealed
11:16 solid but we can do it you mean without
11:17 the police knowing about it without
11:20 anybody knowing about it mrs.
11:22 Henderson's visiting her sister and I
11:23 managed to send Lucy over to the club
11:25 you must be crazy playing with dynamite
11:27 mark this is something you got to tell
11:29 the police now I can't take that chair
11:30 but still have to know sometimes your
11:32 only way out you know first I tell you
11:35 you don't understand it there was
11:37 somebody in uncle Niles room that night
11:40 handing him something in a silver cup
11:42 mrs. Henderson was on the porch by the
11:47 window she saw her she saw her Tim she
11:52 thinks it was my wife Oh Lucy it doesn't
11:53 mean anything to mrs. Henderson yet
11:55 because she doesn't suspect anything but
11:58 well then you've got to see while I've
12:01 got to be sure why I've got to know how
12:04 uncle miles died because it wasn't Lucy
12:05 Ted I know it was now of course not
12:07 March she had an alibi what she was with
12:10 you at the club wasn't she yes except
12:13 for half an hour I see you will help me
12:16 won't you Ted when do we start soon as
12:18 you can make it okay come on now I'll
12:20 get your head you draw it on ahead I'll
12:21 come over as soon as I can see Marie
12:23 you're not going to tell her about
12:24 course not
12:26 I'll think of something don't you worry
12:30 about no thanks good thanks a lot uh
12:35 Mary uh darling mark asked me to work I
12:37 know a kid yeah better take your
12:40 sandwiches with you he'll be hungry but
12:44 you knew I was going on yes I knew you
12:45 listen to us
12:47 I couldn't help it I had an idea what
12:49 marks because it was above they talked
12:52 about his uncle did there's a lot of
12:54 talk about it in the village that's why
12:56 I tried to tell you why I didn't want
12:58 you would get mixed up in it
13:00 but it's too late now isn't it I mean
13:02 you're going I can tell by the way you
13:07 look Ted wait a second there's just one
13:09 thing I want to tell you before you
13:12 leave and that is that no matter what
13:14 happened no matter what you find a thing
13:17 probably I love you
13:21 you remember that won't you I remember
13:33 you said so Murray by the light of a dim
13:35 kerosene lantern mark and shed Stephens
13:37 pounded their way through the thick
13:39 shelf of rock that covered the deposit
13:43 cessful tomb pried open the great slab
13:44 of stone which lay across the
13:47 subterranean door and then at last
13:50 descended to the dank ink black chamber
13:53 they found the coffin yeah it dragged it
13:56 from its crib and placed it on the cold
14:00 stone floor they unclamp the lid and
14:06 opened it mark it's empty that's impossible
14:07 impossible
14:10 it can't be but it is mark you know what
14:12 this means that bobby wasn't in this
14:14 coffin when it was placed here elsewhere
14:15 it was dead
14:17 from the time that coffin was closed on
14:19 uncle miles somebody the Undertaker or
14:21 Lucy or me somebody was with it until it
14:23 was buried and the Crypt was sealed
14:25 right after him somebody beat us to it
14:26 somebody's broken in here ahead of us
14:29 broken in listen Ted Lucy and I have
14:31 hardly left the house since the funeral
14:33 do you think anybody could break in here
14:35 smash through that stone and cement
14:36 without our seeing them without our
14:42 hearing them well well what well you
14:44 might as well come on out then brick who
14:49 is that maybe was to depart up here my
14:51 name's captain Brennan I'm from the
14:52 office of the Commissioner of Police
14:54 from like to talk to you if you don't
14:57 mind step I'm here follow
15:00 my flashlights out but I don't
15:03 understand that how did you how did you
15:06 know about this by listening Mele mind
15:08 if we go up to your house mr. day bar
15:11 why no not at all
15:14 oh thank you Oh Freddy look you clap
15:16 tonight Freddy this is mr. dick ba
15:19 without grain of mandatory mr. Damon and
15:23 mr. Ted Stevens is it how did you how
15:25 did you know my name very simple I got
15:26 the names of everybody who is here at
15:28 the day paws the day the old man died
15:32 you and your wife were included oh here
15:32 we are
15:35 but I don't captain who gave you those
15:37 names my housekeeper of course mrs. Henderson
15:38 Henderson
15:40 you didn't think mrs. Henderson saw the
15:42 dead cat did you mr. daypart
15:45 but she did she also saw you bury it and
15:48 then we've been interested in the case
15:50 of a sense
15:54 well nice place you have here mr. de pie
15:58 now let's see according to mrs.
15:59 Henderson your wife was wearing some
16:01 kind of a masquerade costume that night
16:04 what kind of a thing wasn't well it was
16:07 it there you can see it it was copied
16:08 from the dress in that old painting over
16:13 there ah hmm funny well where's the
16:15 woman's face it's always been that way
16:16 long as I can remember
16:19 somebody must have thrown acid on it or
16:21 something I can't blame him much she was
16:25 a poisoner a poisoner yes the story goes
16:27 that one of my ancestors was responsible
16:29 for her execution Maori Doughboy her
16:31 name was oh yes I've read about her
16:33 learned all the poison tricks in one of
16:35 her lover's sky for the name of goodness
16:38 a crock good as there always mr.
16:40 Stephens we cops read now and then and
16:44 did you see good as a car that's French
16:48 we call it cross huh absolutely no limit
16:51 to a cop's education is there dad but to
16:54 get back to your wife mr. de pie she was
16:58 dressed like the famous Marie now a mrs.
16:59 Henderson look through that when just a
17:00 minute captain
17:02 mrs. Henderson Kat Brooke she saw a
17:03 thing and you know it what do you mean I
17:05 mean you haven't any right to insinuate
17:07 that my wife was in that room
17:09 well who's insinuating I'm trying to say
17:11 that mrs. Henderson after thinking it
17:13 over realizes she was tricked by the
17:15 costume the woman she saw the funny
17:17 clothes handing a cup of poison to your
17:20 uncle wasn't your wife at all because
17:23 your wife is an unusually tall young
17:26 woman and the one mrs. Henderson saw was
17:29 fully half a head shorter more on the
17:33 order let's say of mr. Stephens wife my
17:36 wife is absolutely ridiculous I don't
17:39 know why what's the matter mr. Stephens
17:42 you're something like a leap and tell me
17:46 now just for fun where was mrs. Stephens
17:49 that night she was home with me the
17:52 whole evening certainly she retired early
17:53 early
17:56 yes we both did you I suppose was sound
17:58 asleep by midnight as I was and how do
17:59 you know where your wife was well I
18:01 heard one has demons she had to have a
18:03 costume that would match mrs. dick paws
18:05 how did she manage that where does she
18:07 get it but she she never had one she
18:08 never had a dress like that what about
18:11 our motive why did she poison him I
18:12 don't know for money suddenly none what
18:14 was it Katie did she hate miles did my
18:16 yes yes you did No
18:19 oh I don't know I don't know I tell you
18:22 Ron yes ready hold and go all of its
18:24 tape on the nurse all right that mrs.
18:35 home say let's come back here I'm going
18:54 hey Maria I oh it's Ted hey why have you
19:00 been Maria oh oh good evening ah who are
19:03 you i my name is cross go down cross
19:06 sauce where's my wife what have you done
19:08 to her you fiend what have you done to
19:09 my wife you were nothing at all young
19:11 man here here here sit down no lying
19:12 something's happened to her
19:14 the police das phone there wasn't an
19:17 answer why are you here why am I here
19:20 well because your wife reading my
19:22 chapter on the debris is realized I knew
19:24 more about the family than even she did
19:26 because she found my phone number on the
19:28 front cover of the manuscript and
19:31 because I know an exceptional case when
19:32 I hear one does that answer your question
19:33 question
19:36 no you know it doesn't can't you see I
19:39 got to I've got to know whether yeah I
19:42 see whether your wife is that Marie
19:45 Debray who was burnt burnt by order of
19:47 the High Tribunal for all poison cases
19:50 the burning court of France witchcraft
19:52 black magic the world across the
19:55 threshold you're quite sure no doubt
19:57 also that I'm go down sacré who first
20:02 Buddha no no my boy Hey no my real name
20:04 happens to be of all things Tom Simpson
20:06 most unsuitable for a distinguished
20:07 riding career
20:10 Amory dobre is no more your wife's real
20:13 name than mine is go down cross God your
20:15 esteemed wife was an adopted child mr.
20:18 Stevens adopted by people in Canada
20:20 named dobre remote members of the real
20:24 family of poisoners I can't believe it
20:28 oh why why didn't you tell me you why
20:31 because until I told her half an hour
20:33 ago she didn't know it herself you see
20:35 in the course of my research on the
20:37 family I found out about it and in the
20:39 course of talking with your wife I found
20:40 out something else
20:43 how four years she was haunted by the
20:46 fear that she might be a poisoner by
20:49 inheritance by blood and you can see
20:51 can't you why she never talked about it
20:56 her past to you yes and yet mr. Stevens
20:57 you had all but made her
21:00 get that past you and that's why she was
21:03 willing to lie to steal a picture do
21:05 anything in order to hold you to her
21:08 prayers here's I see that now you know
21:11 young man I I rather think she loves you
21:14 but as you will see though why she comes
21:18 only when I call her mrs. Stephens
21:22 you mean she's Maria chewed your all
21:24 right oh yeah you were both alright no
21:26 nothing can change it ever Murray listen
21:30 don't say media say Maggie Maggie oh
21:31 that's my name my real name
21:34 Maggie McTavish it's a lovely name dear
21:36 the most beautiful gorgeous darling
21:38 darling please you don't understand the
21:40 police they think you had something to
21:42 do with Myles dent they think I did so
21:45 now mr. Stephens before we go back to
21:46 the deposit on tieu think you'd better
21:48 tell me everything that's been said and
21:50 done up to date having just saved your
21:53 wife's soul from the burning Court now
21:54 I'll rest her body from the electric chair
22:04 yes mr. Depar truly excellent sherry
22:09 don't you think so Miss Korbut yes it's
22:12 very nice well that ladies and gentlemen
22:15 is how I happen to be here so let us
22:17 consider first that supernatural
22:18 hocus-pocus in the crypt
22:21 that body that walked out of the sealed
22:23 tomb that body that never was in the
22:27 tomb never was in the tomb No mr. Dubois
22:29 the murderer knew that very soon mrs.
22:31 Henderson's story would bring about an
22:33 investigation he had to get rid of the
22:36 well-known corpus delicti yes but who
22:37 could have kept the body out of the tomb
22:39 Oh mr. Dubois
22:45 why you sir I don't understand what it's
22:47 very simple you had the opportunity I
22:49 believe you said yourself you were alone
22:51 with the body before the burial and you
22:54 had the string I daresay you carried it
22:56 down to the furnace where it's now
22:58 probably nothing but ashes ridiculous
23:01 why would he spend an hour smashing into
23:03 a crypt for a body he knew wasn't there
23:05 why captain hmm to impress mr. Stevens
23:09 his witness and also apparently you
23:14 fantastic hahaha Lucy just comic and I
23:16 suppose mr. cross but I also put on a
23:18 woman's masquerade costume went into my
23:20 uncle's room and handed him a nice cup
23:23 of arsenic no no no that had to be done
23:26 by a woman your accomplice has matter of
23:28 fact oh now come come come you mustn't
23:30 all look at mrs. Dubois because Mark de
23:33 Paz won no black was his frantic effort
23:36 to prevent his wife from being charged
23:39 with the crime a crime which he and
23:42 nurse my record committed by record were
23:44 you yes sir yes mr. Stevens this quiet
23:47 little lady beside me why would I do
23:47 such a thing
23:49 money Miss Korbut a cutout of Mark de
23:51 Paz inheritance payments for services
23:53 rendered that's an absolute lie well you
23:55 see ladies and gentlemen captain Brennan
23:56 never bothered to check miss Corbett's
23:58 whereabouts on the night of the murder
24:00 why even think of the nurse she was the
24:02 custodian of the old man's hello crazy
24:03 you're crazy
24:05 yet who but a nurse could so naturally
24:07 offer the old man a cup a cup he was
24:09 sure contained medicine you're making it
24:12 no they did and home with his car but
24:13 living right here in this house would
24:15 know what kind of masquerade dress she
24:18 must copy would know when mrs. Henderson
24:19 would pass the window that night pass
24:22 and see her and accept her she hoped for
24:25 Lucy de pavo hellas not true
24:27 oh yes your scholar yes Miss Korbut
24:30 already has the touch the trick you that
24:33 was your own idea wasn't it not Marx you
24:35 weren't content with a mere murder a
24:37 share of the profits you wanted a wife
24:39 share half of the whole estate you
24:40 wanted Lucy Depar convicted and out of
24:46 the way for Gordon well I give you a
24:47 toast is called
24:51 with mr. Depaz excellent sherry to a
24:57 particularly ruthless poisoner and yet
25:00 you know on the whole I'm rather partial
25:17 mr. cook
25:20 what's the matter Brennan this man's dead
25:22 dead
25:23 and from cyanide if I know anything
25:25 cyanide from that glass of sherry
25:28 cyanide that a nurse could get quite
25:30 easily that glass was right beside you
25:31 miss Corbett and nobody else was there
25:34 it too bad he didn't drink it as soon as
25:36 you hoped a second ago we had nobody to
25:38 use against you but we have now Miss
25:42 Corbett we have now and I arrest you for
25:58 five months ago that the prominent
26:00 author was murdered and tonight my
26:02 requirement pays with her life for that
26:03 crime the former nurse at first
26:06 protesting her innocence yes I'm in here
26:10 dear oh I thought you might what did you
26:12 cut it off for huh
26:15 what do you mean the radio oh oh yeah
26:18 well I thought you wanted to talk poor kid
26:19 kid
26:20 don't you think I know you're better
26:23 than that what was on the radio well
26:24 there wasn't nay
26:29 okay it's about my record she goes to
26:31 the chairs man oh I didn't think you
26:34 wanted to be reminded I don't really but
26:36 making such an effort to hide it on me
26:38 keeps it alive doesn't it all right
26:41 darling know what I came into her if you
26:43 wanted a cocktail before dinner largest
26:45 one you've got Hey now get off the ice
26:48 cube I know if I'll takes up the fire
26:50 okay Maria steel uh where are some
26:52 papers to start it me right there by the
26:56 bookcase and name's not Murray it's Maggie
26:56 Maggie
27:01 because darling mummy did and gone forever
27:19 oh no Marie we're never did neither of
27:23 us it was your hand that touched that
27:25 glass I know that now
27:29 and I could return the favor but instead
27:33 I shall ask that you will dispatch your
27:39 husband this one like all the others now
27:43 just a little bit of poison in the drink
27:51 hurry any time what kind did mmm what
27:57 kind of a cocktail shall we have Oh an
28:20 you'll just hurt the burning court from
28:23 John Dixon cars famous novel the first
28:25 and Columbia's new series about standing
28:27 classics and chills by world-famous
28:29 authors the Nights play ladies and
28:31 gentlemen has one rather special
28:32 significance we think you'd like to know
28:35 about as you perhaps have heard every
28:37 fine comedian is said to cherish a
28:39 secret desire to do an abrupt about-face
28:43 he pines for the part of a blaggard well
28:45 tonight you witnessed the fulfillment of
28:47 one such desire the role of that
28:49 literary and quite infamous diehard
28:52 gordon cross was portrayed by none other
28:54 than Hollywood expert provoker of laughs
28:57 Charlie Rocco's given New York for the
28:58 world premiere of his latest screen
29:00 success friendly enemies the role of Murray
29:01 Murray
29:03 well that was enacted by young lady who
29:05 long ago won national acclaim as one of
29:06 Broadway's most accomplished tramatic
29:09 actresses Miss Julie Hayden thank you
29:11 Charlie Ruggles I'm Miss Julie Hayden
29:14 for your splendid performances the play
29:16 tonight has all plays in this series was
29:18 produced and directed by Charles Vander
29:20 written by Harold Medford and scored by
29:22 Bernard Herrmann next week we bring you
29:24 an intensely exciting and moving drama
29:29 the life of Nellie James this is the
