Bert Clexton, an insurance accountant, sees his close friend Randy Stoneman leave the back door of Riley's Grill at 5:45 in the evening, and he is later asked to tell police what he saw. Randy is arrested after Tom Riley is shot and left in a coma, and Bert is caught between his loyalty to Randy and his sense of duty. His wife Linda and Randy's wife Kay add to the pressure as Bert struggles with what he knows. Ronald Dawson wrote the story, adapted from a tale by Anne Howard B. Leibt, and it aired on Suspense on October 9, 1960. Frank Thomas Jr. plays Bert Clexton and William Redfield plays Randy Stoneman.
Characters: Bert Clexton, Randy Stoneman, Kay Stoneman, Linda Clexton, Lieutenant Conover, Bill Tyler, Tom Riley
The transcript of “Witness for Death”, an episode of Suspense first broadcast October 9, 1960. Press a time to play from that line (a 60-second preview; Potato Plus plays it all). Suspense plays Suspense free, live around the clock. Search inside this transcript.
Transcript
And now, another tale well calculated to keep you in. Witness for death. Witness for suspense by Ronald Dawson, based on a story by Anne Howard B. Leibt. Life was good to me. I had a wonderful wife, a lovely baby, and two of the best friends a man could ever want, Randy and Kay Stonner.
One day after work, I thought I'd drop in at Riley's Grill where Randy often stops on his way home. I was approaching the rear entrance when I noticed the time on a window clock and stopped to check my watch.
It was exactly 545. Suddenly I saw a ramp carrying out of the rear entrance of Riley's thrill. Randy! Hey! Randy! Randy, you think? Randy drove away without things. Little did I think that this simple incident was going to lead to one of the greatest crises in my life.
So later I was at home when not there. Did you come into the living room for a moment? I moved the baby's shoulder somewhere with you. Where to? Well, anywhere just so it's out of sight before Randy and Kay get here.
Going to a lot of fuss, aren't you? Oh, I'm tired of their always seeing the apartment in a mess. Kay has lovely things. Randy has lovely bills, that poor guy. Oh, stop defending him. He spends as much as Kay does.
At least they have things. Oh, salesmen have to look good, Linda. And the cows and don't, I suppose? I'll take a steady salary anytime. I don't Randi's commissions look big but they Oh there they are. Would you let him in, Bert? How about I run across the hall and bow Mr. Zakey's fake knives?
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Well, I looked at my watch. What time was it? Exactly 545. Alright, go on. What did you do next? I started across the street and at that moment I saw Randy Stoneman come out of the back door of Riley's Grill.
I've been listening to Witness for Death, written for suspense by Ronald Dawson. Heard in tonight's story were Frank Thomas Jr. as Bert Clexton and William Redfield as Randy Stoneman.
Others than the cast were Ruth Tovin, Mary Jane Higbee, Roger DeCovin, Maurice Tartland, and Guy Wreck. Listen again next week when we return with Infernal by Peter Fernandez. Another tale well calculated to keep you in.
So Spence has come to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.
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