Broadway Is My Beat: The Ruth Nelson Murder Case 10/11/1952
episode
Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
30 min
9 speakers
6 chapters
transcribed 3 months ago
Transcript
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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
What is the Ruth Nelson murder case about?
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Broadway's my beach, from Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world.
Broadway's My Beat, with Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover.
On the flow of October dusk, the sounds of Broadway are softer, fall gently on the ear. Through loudspeakers, the autumn songs filtered by electronics and darkening twilight. The voices that keened against day, quieter now, and the walk is slower. The direction not yet decided upon. The in-between time. The time for the conjuring of images, remembered and sought for. And night hits. Night mushrooms in the street rocks. So start running, kid. Refuge waits in a neon doorway. And night has a good hold now in the street of the rooming house where autumn wind quick strokes the light of street lamp across scarred brownstone, across the faces of kids clustered in their night game. Upstairs from that, a room where I was, Detective Muggerman, and a woman dead of the deep knife in her.
It's a place to die, huh, Danny? This room, the way it's furnished, no extras, just the necessities. The bed, washstand, chest of drawers, hot plate behind the screen. You find out who she is? Yeah, super told me. Said she answered the room to let sign in his window around noon. Paid a week's rent in advance. Gave her name as Mrs. Ruth Nelson. Around 55 to 60, I'd say, Danny. Her hands worked hard. This dress she's got on, mission salvage type. What could a woman like this do that'd make someone stick a knife in her?
What could... The suitcase in the bureau mugger when you've looked at it.
Oh, not yet.
Open it, look in it. Yeah.
A couple more dresses like the one she has on. There's some nice underclothes. Tortoiseshell comb, hairpins.
Who is Detective Danny Clover and what is his role?
There's some papers here in one of the pockets. Take a look, Danny.
Release and discharge from Women's State Prison Farm.
Notice the date here, the time this lady was let out of stare?
Yeah, today, this morning, 8 a.m.
Hits this room at noon, lives in it a while. Same night, dies in it, gets killed in it. A day she must have marked with a red circle on the calendar. Uh-huh. Well, let's look around some more.
And it becomes this. Violence in a narrow room and the two men who move through it. And this. Night and dust in corners. And far away behind a crack in a window that cuts it in half, a rind of yellow moon hung on a drifting cloud. City and pale light and dust and death. To make notes on it, give it to Detective Muggerman. And get out. Get out and go where the bed is. Give yourself up to him. And go after this night's version of sleep. And finally give that up too, because then it's morning. Back to headquarters, check in. Then the long ride upstate to the woman's prison farm. And in the warden's office, the woman who shakes your hand and takes your hat, touches at her graying hair and points at a leather chair for you, is named Miss Fembris.
And now we can talk.
It's about Ruth Nelson, Miss Fembris.
Ruth Nelson? I don't understand. She was released yesterday.
It was in this morning's papers. What was? She was found murdered last night.
Oh. That's ironic, isn't it?
It is.
I would say so. A woman who spends 30 years in a penal institution is finally... 30 years? Is finally released and is murdered. Why? What happened?
We only know that she was here at the prison fire, Miss Fember. She was murdered, and we want to know why.
Well, this is an impasse, isn't it? You want to know why, and I want to know why. What shall we do now?
She was here for 30 years. On what charge?
Murder. She did a thing to her husband with an axe.
I see. Is there anything you know of, anything, Miss Fember, something that happened here in your... Institution?
Nothing. Nothing. I knew Ruthie quite well. A model detentionee. She left yesterday with silk underwear that the girls bought for her.
I'd like to see your institutional records on her, Miss Fembris.
Sick call, do you mean?
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the Ruth Nelson murder case about?
0:00–2:37
2
Who is Detective Danny Clover and what is his role?
2:37–5:34
3
What details are revealed about Ruth Nelson's death?
5:34–10:06
4
How does the investigation into Ruth's past unfold?
10:06–11:02
5
What significant information is learned about Louise Downey?
11:02–26:07
6
How does the connection between Louise and Ruth impact the case?
26:07–30:34
Speakers
9 identifiedMore from Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
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