The Shadow - "The Murder Underground" (Old Time Radio)
The Shadow presents “The Murder Underground,” episode 218 of the Mutual network series, originally broadcast March 9, 1941. This archival recording stars Bill Johnstone as Lamont Cranston/The Shadow and Marjorie Anderson as Margo Lane.
Mysterious deaths in a rat-infested municipal vault draw Lamont and Margo into a fog-bound waterfront investigation involving confiscated slot machines, missing nickels, and the ominous address of Number Six River Street. Scripted by Jerry Devine and adapted from the Shadow novels by Walter B. Gibson, the episode follows a dangerous trail beneath the docks.
The Shadow presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.
Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:55 Original Broadcast
26:01 Closing
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Speaker 1: Jerry Devine wrote the script for this March ninth, nineteen
forty one mutual presentation of the Shadow, adapted from Walter B.
Gibson's Shadow Novels. Episode two hundred eighteen. The Murder Underground
features Bill Johnstone as Lamont Cranston and the Shadow, with
Marjorie Anderson as Margot Lane and Ken Roberts. Announcing on
a fog bound riverfront mysterious deaths in a rat infested
municipal vault send Cranston and Lane along a trail of
confiscated slot machines, missing Nichols, and the waterfront house at
number six River Street. Their inquiry points toward a concealed
riverside operation and an underground route beneath the docks. Blue
Coal brings the program, and we now take you back
to the original broadcast.
Speaker 2: Who knows.
Speaker 3: What evil works in the hearts of men?
Speaker 2: The Shadow?
Speaker 4: Now, the Shadow who aids the forces of law and order,
is in reality Lamont Cranston, wealthy young man about town.
Years ago in the Orient, Cranston learned a strange and
mysterious secret, the hypnotic power to cloud men's minds so
they cannot see him. Cranston's friend and companion, the lovely
Margot Lane, is the only person who knows to whom
the voice of the invisible Shadow belongs.
Speaker 2: Today is gotta.
Speaker 5: Murder underground in the metropolis. A river front and by
day presents a noisy, boisterous cross section of our city lights.
The docks are crowded with shouting workers Hosker. The air
is filled with a town of polt, a creek of
giant crank grunting and putting of tiny tugs and mighty
ocean lights. And from above we hear the steady hum
of motor car as they travel in an endless street,
a cross of bridge.
Speaker 6: And for.
Speaker 5: This day there's the river front by day.
Speaker 6: But at night.
Speaker 7: At night we find a different picture.
Speaker 5: Are quiet, an unearthly quiet descends upon the scene. The
docs are deserted now, and from the river itself we
hear only the mournful moan of a lone fam living
out to the open sea. A cold, damp park embraces
the street and the buildings on it. A blinding fog
an ear, a mysterious fog that masks the movements of
those who live within it.
Speaker 2: At night.
Speaker 5: No one has ever seen on these streets. They are heard,
they are filled, but never seen. Meet the shadow of
the breeze, which in a hard shrouded building. Two of
these people of the night are to be found, a
mother and her son.
Speaker 8: Hey, hey, Johnny, did you tell the boy?
Speaker 2: Yeah?
Speaker 8: The fog and pulling the boat in under the house.
Speaker 9: Now, good watch after this time a.
Speaker 8: Load of silk and just landed it this morning. I've
been chasing the job all day. It ain't gonna be easy.
Speaker 6: It's never easy. Where is this stuff?
Speaker 2: Warehouse nine? They got four watchmen on the job.
Speaker 9: He's taking care of that many before then, I know.
Speaker 8: But the heat's on now since that last job, we
pulled west and double the number of cappas and river patrol.
Speaker 9: You've taken care of him before to yeah, yeah, and.
Speaker 2: I can take care of him again. How was that
that noise from upstairs?
Speaker 9: Well, you had no noise.
Speaker 8: Somebody's upstairs and I'm gonna find out who it's.
Speaker 9: So no, don't get excited.
Speaker 8: Oh there is someone there, Oh is it's just a
border border?
Speaker 9: He moved intoday?
Speaker 2: Where did he come from?
Speaker 9: He bought the nipple from my stand or check was
looking for a place to live, was is the whye
brought him me here and rented.
Speaker 2: In the room up to your old tricks.
Speaker 6: Huh, what's your name?
Speaker 10: Son?
Speaker 2: You don't know why you've brought that guy here?
Speaker 6: Well, I don't know what.
Speaker 9: You're talking about.
Speaker 8: I'm talking about them slap machines. The cops are got
stown under the bridge. You're planning to drop that guy
through the hole you got in the back wall. Make
them bust open the machines and hands you up the
nickels and then leave them for the rack.
Speaker 2: Now, look that's what you've done with the last guy.
Speaker 6: He's just a boarder. Son.
Speaker 8: Look I'm running a million dollar business here, see a
million dollar business and hijack goods, and you're gonna spoil
the whole thing for a measiately handful of nickels.
Speaker 2: Second, you're getting that bum out of here right now.
There's the signal. Boys are down below on the boat.
I'm gonna go.
Speaker 8: We should be back here by midnight. Keep a lookout,
there's any patrol boats around.
Speaker 2: Have a light on in the upstairs bedroom. Oh yeah,
and get rid of that guy.
Speaker 9: I suppose I must get rid of him, but I
to pass up all that money.
Speaker 6: Mister.
Speaker 9: Yes, would you come down here me?
Speaker 7: Okay?
Speaker 8: John?
Speaker 11: Well what is it, ma'am?
Speaker 6: Yeah?
Speaker 9: I must ask you to leave?
Speaker 11: Well, what's wrong?
Speaker 6: My son?
Speaker 9: My son don't want me to take in boarders?
Speaker 11: I see, well, let me have my rent money back?
Speaker 6: Then your money back? You want your money back?
Speaker 11: Well, certainly I paid your week in advance, didn't.
Speaker 9: I what I don't want to give up the money.
It's mine now, see it's mine.
Speaker 11: Well, look, either give me back the money or I
stay here.
Speaker 9: You'll stay if you don't get the money.
Speaker 11: Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 2: I see well I tried.
Speaker 9: I tried to make a go, didn't die, and you're refused.
So there's nothing I can do about it?
Speaker 2: Is there?
Speaker 6: No man?
Speaker 9: Not a thing we then, as long as you're staying here,
mister mardony, I use a little favor. I want you
to do for me, A little favor for a poor
old lady. Come along, come with me. Keep memory and
the walks wrong?
Speaker 11: Now, hey, what's that?
Speaker 8: Don't stop?
Speaker 9: Don't stop now?
Speaker 2: Right down here?
Speaker 9: I think a lot you. I've gotta let up your
right bother maya around my al Then we got to
get that money.
Speaker 10: All those miles.
Speaker 9: Just think of mister Alry right now keep memory, don't
break the machines open in no time. Rested, Now con
that bucket to the rope.
Speaker 6: I pully top.
Speaker 7: I can't find a rope.
Speaker 2: Water a little there?
Speaker 7: Yeah, rock crawling over my right mouth.
Speaker 9: Your pet bucket to the rope. There's no time to.
Speaker 2: I brother, y here is.
Speaker 9: Now I you pully toppy yesh rock La has left.
Speaker 8: Hor lower the rope, quartering the rock to crawling on
around me?
Speaker 9: My hall of it mine.
Speaker 2: Roast.
Speaker 9: Do what you get? That's what you get for being
the thing.
Speaker 3: This is the place we're looking for, Number six River Street.
Speaker 10: Got someone imagine living in a house? Seems to be
don't right against the base of the bridge.
Speaker 6: Wonder why did you see that?
Speaker 2: Yes?
Speaker 3: I saw cat ran right.
Speaker 6: In front of me, almost tripping.
Speaker 3: That wasn't a cat model?
Speaker 6: What was it?
Speaker 2: A rat?
Speaker 6: Amount of rat that side.
Speaker 7: Is a common sight here on the riverfront. Maybe I
better agree again, No one seems to.
Speaker 3: Yes, cannot be Oh good evening? Good are you the landlady?
Speaker 9: I'm the owner of this.
Speaker 7: I see well. I wonder if we might see mister
Joseph mcgoney please, yes, I understand that he's living here
with you.
Speaker 3: My name is Clemston. Miss mcgooney was a former gardener
of mine.
Speaker 9: What reason have you to believe that he lives here?
Speaker 7: Well, I I received a postcard from him this morning
asking for his old job back.
Speaker 9: Are you sure you have the right head, Chase.
Speaker 3: Yes, you have the card. They haven't to macao.
Speaker 2: Yeh here it is.
Speaker 6: You see he addresses six River Streets.
Speaker 9: It's the six River Street, all right, but it's no
room as a tool right now. The house is taken.
Speaker 3: I see.
Speaker 9: It's sorry not to be able to that's that's quite
all right. I'll keep an eye out for him though.
I remember his name mcgoney.
Speaker 3: Did you say yes, Joseph mcgonney, good night, good night.
Speaker 6: Good night.
Speaker 10: Well what do you suppose could have happened to him?
Speaker 6: Lamark?
Speaker 3: I no, no, I don't understand it.
Speaker 6: Well, there's no way of finding him tonight.
Speaker 10: I guess you'll just have to wait until you hear
from him again. You'll probably go on another card or something.
Speaker 3: Clicking your pace not noticeably?
Speaker 6: What is it?
Speaker 3: I hear footsteps behind us? Someone is calling us. It's
a policeman or.
Speaker 2: Holy smoke, it's mister.
Speaker 3: How are you, Keelly?
Speaker 2: Oh fine, so fine.
Speaker 8: I'm apt to thinking that I'm tailored a couple of
desperate characters. You know, miss Landon nowhere, didn't I whilst
with it at the Policeman's ball.
Speaker 5: Wonderful, thanks to you, ma'am.
Speaker 3: But tell me what brings you people down to a
neighborhood like this. Well, I was looking for a man
who used to work for me, but we couldn't even
look at him.
Speaker 7: Please patrol board a bit of trouble up river. I
guess there ain't no novelty down here. Well, we'll cut.
Speaker 8: Through this tunnel under the bridge. It's the shortest way
to the center of town.
Speaker 10: Officer, what's behind all these iron doors?
Speaker 3: City storage ball?
Speaker 8: They keep confiscated slut machines and their kinds, and all
of them.
Speaker 3: They don't destroy them. They get a car order.
Speaker 10: Wouldn't be bad to get in there and get all
that money.
Speaker 8: You wouldn't be saying that if you knew what it
was like inside. There was a man who found that
out only last week.
Speaker 3: Oh what happened, Kelly. It's a gruesome story.
Speaker 8: It happened just a week ago to night be in
another kapa walking through the tunnel here, just like we
are now. It's a bitter cold night in the windows,
howling like a lovestick bench.
Speaker 7: Then aboot the wind. Faintly at first we hear the
cry of a human voice for him inside the bout.
Speaker 2: Kelly, did you hear that?
Speaker 3: Yes, it sounds like like someone in the bout. We
better investigate. Ah, but that place is full of rats.
Speaker 2: Hat stop man eating rats. We can't go in there.
You've got the cheese here and I'm going in.
Speaker 8: Get your club ready, McCaffrey, right, flash a light.
Speaker 2: Was of a mercy. Look look at them rats, millions
of them.
Speaker 11: Look over there in the corner.
Speaker 3: It's a man, the body of a man, for sure.
We can never get through to him, Kelly.
Speaker 2: We've got to call the riots squad quick. By the
time the Riots squad got there, nothing was left to
the poor devil.
Speaker 3: Oh how did he get in there?
Speaker 2: We never found out.
Speaker 3: But you know, ever since then.
Speaker 8: Every night when I passed by here, I keep thinking
I hear the voice of that unfortunate man crying out
against them demons night.
Speaker 7: Oh yeah, I just imagined I heard it. Then, that's
such your imagination. There is someone in there, Kelly, well
that's key all right here to give them to me quickly.
Speaker 6: Hurry, hurry, Lamont crying and stop giving up.
Speaker 3: I stand back, Mago.
Speaker 7: I'm opening the door.
Speaker 3: Oh hell, calls the door quickly, hid that swarm inside?
Speaker 6: Right, Yeah, he's unconscious.
Speaker 3: Help me turn him over with Kelly, sir, And there.
Speaker 6: Is he dead? Lamont?
Speaker 3: Yes, do you know who this is? It's the man
we've been looking for. It's Jill mcgooney.
Speaker 7: You won't mind dropping around of a mark tomorrow morning
to identify the buddy, now, will you?
Speaker 3: Mister Kunston, I'll be there, Kelly.
Speaker 10: Is there any place near here that we can get
a cup of coffee offster, Kelly?
Speaker 6: Our nerves need a bit of steady Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 2: Right at the end of the tundel. I walk you down.
Thank you.
Speaker 3: When you talk to headquarters, Kelly, did you get word
through the commissioner that I wanted to have mcgoney's death investigated.
I did that so, but the commissioner said they had
no time for it tonight.
Speaker 7: Oh why not? There's that able to pay in this
neighborhood right now? A gang of river pirates just looted warehouse.
Name every available man on the fast is calm in
the district for them.
Speaker 3: Well, here's your looks room. You'll have to be leaving,
you know. Well, thank you Kelly for all you've done.
An answer. Good night here, ma'am, good night.
Speaker 7: Good night.
Speaker 3: Come on, mother, let's go inside.
Speaker 10: About that apple pie the Manjuerie put at the counter
along the tables.
Speaker 3: I think a table would be better, Maga. You just
want coffee?
Speaker 6: Yeah, that's all.
Speaker 3: Thanks, Good evening, good evening. We'd like two cups of coffee. Please.
Speaker 7: Who comes to this is coffee? Right?
Speaker 6: That experience coffee?
Speaker 10: You'll be mighty welcome.
Speaker 11: Now, neighbor, Good evening, Mary.
Speaker 3: You look, look there's the woman who entered the door.
Speaker 6: Look less.
Speaker 7: You must have a bottle of Oppers today day, good day.
Speaker 9: People are very kind to over the woman.
Speaker 10: Like me a month.
Speaker 6: Look at that partn.
Speaker 11: Know if I can give you bills for all those
Nichols tonight, Mary, I haven't got that much money in
the place.
Speaker 9: I'll be great confident as much as you can tell.
Speaker 7: Me about five dollars worth.
Speaker 9: And that'll be fine. I'll just teut about he all right.
Speaker 8: Here you are two cups of coffee.
Speaker 3: Delicious. I thank you. Oh say waiter, Yes, that old
lady standing at the counter. Just what does she do,
old Mary?
Speaker 11: She's got an apple stand.
Speaker 3: Up on the bridge. Oh, she seems to do very
well at it.
Speaker 11: Sure well, she don't often make as much as she's
got tonight. She usually only says about.
Speaker 2: A dollar's work.
Speaker 7: She must have run into one of them philanthropips.
Speaker 3: Yes, I'll pay for these now more Nicholas, keep the change,
so thank you. I don't know why, Margot, but I
sense a vague connection between all those Nichols that the
old lady made today, and the Nichols and the machines
under the bridge.
Speaker 10: Do you mean that you think that she does know
something about magooney?
Speaker 3: It's worth investigating an our old apple. Then that leaves
we're following her. I'm curious to learn just what goes
on at number six River Street.
Speaker 6: She's gone into number six.
Speaker 7: Yes, we'll stand here in this doorway for a few minutes, Margo,
see if we can detect any activities from outside the house.
Speaker 6: Which is fogwood clear?
Speaker 3: Margo? Yeah, do you remember your remarking other house was
built right against the base of the bridge. Yes, look
at the house again. The side wall is right next
to the storage board where they keep the stock machines.
Of course, that might explain how Joe mcgooney got into
that board.
Speaker 6: Laman, do you think it should be quiet?
Speaker 3: Doors opening? The old lady is coming out again.
Speaker 10: Yes, and she's carrying a lighted lantern in her and
I wonder what she's up to now.
Speaker 3: Look, he's crossing the street's behaving so furtively. Seems to
be looking for something your regular chron isn't she Yes,
she's going out on that dock toward the river. Come on, Margo,
we've got to find out what she's up to quiet quickly.
Let's get behind these packing cases. We can watch her
safely from these.
Speaker 6: Look she's putting the latter on the edge of the dock.
Speaker 3: Yes, must be some sort of.
Speaker 6: A signalman, Can you see anything on the river?
Speaker 3: There's quite a few searchlights playing around. Must be the
police patrol boats looking for those river pirates that Kelly
told us about.
Speaker 6: Look, gam on tap at the edge of the dock.
Isn't that a boat moving quietly through the shadows.
Speaker 3: Yes, yes, it is.
Speaker 6: Your lady's going back to the house.
Speaker 3: I think we've stumbled on something more important than her Margo.
Why what do you mean that boat could be carrying
river pirates? They stuck the boat right by that sea
wall in front of the house.
Speaker 6: You supposed are going to unload their stolen goods right here.
Speaker 3: They wouldn't, dare, Marco. What the front of the sea wall,
it's swinging open.
Speaker 6: Good heaven. The boat is going under it.
Speaker 3: Yes, and if I'm not mistaken, their destination is the
basement of number six.
Speaker 6: Look, the wall is closing again.
Speaker 3: Very clever, but not quite clever enough.
Speaker 6: What do you mean?
Speaker 3: I want you to go back to that lunch room,
Margot and phone Western have him send a squad here
at once.
Speaker 6: What are you going to do?
Speaker 3: I'm paying another car on that sweet old lady in
search of the missing Joe mcgoney. Yeah, good evening.
Speaker 6: Oh it's you again.
Speaker 3: Yes, I'd like to come in and talk to you
if I may. I'm sorry, but it'll only be a moment.
Speaker 9: Oh wait a minute. You can come in here, and
I am in here.
Speaker 7: The night air is rather chilling. I think it would
be much more pleasant if we conversed in one of
your rooms. I'll come back here.
Speaker 9: This is my understanding.
Speaker 3: I thought you might be interested in knowing that I
have gotten further information about josephmcgourney, the gentleman I was
seeking earlier this evening.
Speaker 9: I don't care about this.
Speaker 7: You'll get out of my ear He was found dead
about an hour ago.
Speaker 9: What is this magoney got to do with me?
Speaker 2: He had been in that.
Speaker 7: Storage vault next door. Well, I think you know how
he got in there.
Speaker 9: That's a lot.
Speaker 7: I don't believe you. You're not telling the truth, and
I'm not going to leave here until you do.
Speaker 2: You're not ever going to leave here, buddy, Johnny rage
foot friend.
Speaker 3: Well, and who might this good protector?
Speaker 11: Bean?
Speaker 9: This is my son and he don't like Snooper say.
He's got a way of taking care of Yeah, and
I got a way.
Speaker 2: Of taking care of you too.
Speaker 8: What I this guy said about mcgoney, No, Sonny, it again?
Speaker 2: Huh you didn't get rid.
Speaker 8: Of macgoney like I told you, Sonya are so hungry
for nicol Ja had spoilt Chatters for a million buckley
john right, she did do away with him knowing that
ain't gonna do you no good?
Speaker 2: Now, brother, what do you mean he'll find out the rest?
Speaker 6: Johnny?
Speaker 9: The arrest you'll make much a nice company for the
rex going.
Speaker 3: Buddy, you don't think you can get away with this?
Speaker 2: Do you open that trap door?
Speaker 7: Mark?
Speaker 9: Ladly, gladly, sir me.
Speaker 8: That's a rope hanging down there. Lower yourself down on it.
Speaker 7: Your little stunt won't work.
Speaker 8: Lower yourself a shove you down?
Speaker 3: Very well, I go.
Speaker 9: You've got to make noise sounds for the rack. Tell
the others what you sound the attacking the wrat.
Speaker 2: Okay, we'll make noise, plenty of it. The right are
coming out, and that's why I'm doing it. Happy time, brother.
Speaker 6: I was looking for the gentleman who was here with
me earlier this season.
Speaker 10: Oh yes, come me in, come me in, Thank.
Speaker 9: You, right this way my company, Mark, Yes, this young
lady is looking for a legitment frame.
Speaker 6: I'm sorry to trouble you, but where is it?
Speaker 2: He's down below in the storage vault.
Speaker 8: In the vault, Yeah, having a little conference with the rats.
Speaker 10: Oh no, no, I tell you quiet like you've got
to let him Mark be killed.
Speaker 2: Ain't that funny? Same idea?
Speaker 9: Come to me and my Johnny Smarty.
Speaker 8: Ye, both of you and now sister, we wasted enough
time on visitors tonight. We're getting ready of you, quick
your hand of me, open up.
Speaker 9: The traptot, be ready for your Now.
Speaker 2: What was that.
Speaker 6: I knew? Were that they who just talked?
Speaker 3: I think you've heard of me? There's the shadow Shadow, Yes,
I thought you'd know me.
Speaker 2: What are you doing here?
Speaker 3: I've come to put an end to your evil doing?
Speaker 2: What do you mean by that?
Speaker 7: I'm aware of the work that both of you have
done tonight. You already have sent two men to face dead.
Speaker 2: That rat hole.
Speaker 7: No, no, your son even now has a boatload of
stolen goods planted beneath this house.
Speaker 2: Yeah, crazy, arrive here just.
Speaker 7: In time to prevent you from sending that girl to
a doom as well. I think you know that sound
well enough to realize the police will be up here
any minute.
Speaker 2: It is right, and you're a blame Yes with your
are you lasting, Nicol? Grabbing your rowin everything?
Speaker 7: And better prepare to give yourselves up. There'll be no escape.
Speaker 8: We can still get out of here, not with a
police at your front door. You can a's more always
and want to getting out of this joint? Shadow and
you and nobody else is stop And I say, yeah,
that's right, sister.
Speaker 2: Now, all of us run even times. Come on, man,
we're making a break for the boat.
Speaker 9: Quick thinking done.
Speaker 2: Where are you now? O here the car?
Speaker 9: Well, mister shadow, yes, yes, we're getting.
Speaker 5: Mom.
Speaker 2: What happened? Oh no, Ma, my all right, come out face.
Speaker 6: I'm Richard Dough for your mom.
Speaker 2: Trying to clap my hand. Yeah, help, please put my
hair off.
Speaker 8: Your part too, you've got my hand, Hey, mom, don't
get so hot on.
Speaker 3: My Oh my?
Speaker 9: Why your.
Speaker 7: Badly mother that I was unable to bring those two
people out of that rat hole.
Speaker 3: Alive a month.
Speaker 10: You did everything you could going down there alone trying
to save them.
Speaker 6: You're lucky you didn't get killed yourself.
Speaker 7: Well, I guess the police will see to it that
no one else ever gets into those gults again.
Speaker 10: On How did you get out of the rat hole
the first time?
Speaker 6: And they forced you down there?
Speaker 3: I turned to the rope, never lowered myself down. When
I closed the top door, I waited till their footsteps
moved from the room, and I opened it again and
joined them as the shadow, for.
Speaker 6: Which I'm very grateful.
Speaker 2: Well, it's all over.
Speaker 6: Now, let's go out someplace the mountain to get about it?
Speaker 3: All right?
Speaker 6: Where to Let's go see a Nickey mount.
Speaker 2: Way of crime. There's a crime does not.
Speaker 3: Shadow.
Speaker 1: That was the shadow in the Murder Underground. Thank you
for joining us for this mutual broadcast from March ninth,
nineteen forty one.