This is Your FBI: The Honeymoon Homicide

The Equitable Life Assurance Society presents This is your FBI. This is your FBI. The official broadcast adapted from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The senate transcribed as a public service by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and reputable societies represented in your community.

Of more than four and a quarter million members of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, many thousands of those who have seen the advantages of the independent 60s plan. Independent 60s is just what does that mean?

It's an equitable society plan for self-reliant people who wish to enjoy financial independence on reaching the age of 60. Does that describe you? Then you want to listen carefully in about 14 minutes. When I give full details on the independent 60s plan, authored by the equitable life of human society of the United States.

The Nature BI File, the honeymoon homicide. Almost 100 years ago in a speech at Springfield, Illinois, a tall, gone figure of a man, a man who was soon to become the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln said, I believe this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free.

In a few short years a war was being fought to decide that question. A war in which almost 500,000 Americans became casualties. Now, not quite a century later, a very similar question plagues the minds of some people.

Of people whose chosen profession is law enforcement. of this state. There are in the files at FBI headquarters in Washington, the fingerprints of more than 8 million people with arrest records. In 1938, those same files contained entries aren't only half that many people. Thus, in a dozen years, the increase has been an even hundred percent. The question plaguing the minds of serious law enforcement officers

throughout the nation today, again concerns slavery and freedom, for to them it is a question whether this nation can long endure if the criminal population continues to rise at that rate. This is not to say that our freedom is currently endangered and teetering in the balance, for that is not the case. However, it is imperative that something be done before

The crime does become that great a menace. Before the current crime wave and gulfs us all. Tonight's file opens in the chapel of a funeral home located in the large Midwestern city. A short, middle-aged woman dressed in black, her head bowed in green.

Stands at the door receiving the sympathies of the departing mourners. She leans on a man who is comforting her. Easy, Clara. Help. Help. Mrs. Turner? Yes. I'm very sorry about your troubles. Thank you. It's a terrible shame.

And I'm your honeymoon too. Come on, Tara, put yourself together. Is there anything I can do? No, no, thank you. I don't think we met. I'm Mrs. Turner's brother. Oh, how do you do? All the arrangements have been arranged.

Oh, I see. I'll leave you with your sorrows. I'm so sorry. More person left, Tara. He's coming up the aisle. But no one did you. So too.

If we missed the nine o'clock train you'll never make that apartment tomorrow with your next husband. The next day at the local FBI field office, Special Agent Jim Taylor approaches the desk of Agent Dave Brewster.

Morning Dave. Hi, Jim. We were assigned to work together on something that came in this morning. We got to locate a woman whose name we don't know and whose identity we're not too sure of.

Sounds like a new quiz game. The last name this woman used that we know about was Clara Jackson. What's the crime? Well, well, this Clara Jackson and her husband were not the honeymoon. He suspected that he was getting small doses of poison in his coffee.

It's a novel wedding present. Ah. Well, Jackson went to a hospital, had himself examined, and he was right. Doctors just barely saved his life. I see. That was about a month and a half ago.

And when he recovered, he gave the police all the details. And the woman had gone by that time. Yeah, naturally. Well, how come we're in on the case? The police in Jackson's home time discovered that she was headed here with the money and valuables that she had stolen.

Her, their lead was confirmed last night when Jackson's gold watch was found in a six-seven-up pawn shop. And you say we don't have a good description on this woman. Not yet, but we may soon.

The wedding pictures that she took with Jackson are on their way, and as soon as they hear, we'll start doing some leg work. Oh, George. Why, what's the matter? You're tracking mud all over the floor.

I just washed it. Oh, that's a nice touch, Carrick. Keep it in. Listen, Mr. Dillon is on his way. Ooh? The man. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I'm not sure.

The man I've been writing to for you. You know, your next husband. Oh... Oh... Yeah. Have you seen him? No, no, but I talked to him on the phone and told him where the cottage was.

Well, gracious, I'd better get these flowers arranged and go in and take off this apetron. Oh, no, no, leave it on. With company, come me? Clara, you're perfect just the way you are. Why, I don't care about it.

Clara, if I had invented you, I couldn't have done a better job. Oh, sure. Rosie cheeks your hair tighten the bun a floured house dress and an apron that's been used your hair Everything a man in the lonely hud's club dreams about you look like fried chicken and hot biscuits Oh, do I have to be something fatening?

Ha ha your weight darly is is part of your charm your personality Oh, that must be Dylan. Well, I'm going out the back door. Go ahead. Let him in Hello. Hello. Mr. Dylan. Yes. Yes. Come right in. Thank you.

Oh, yes. I'm Mr. Franklin. I'm pleased to meet you. My Christ. You'll have to excuse the appearance, Mr. Dylan. Brother and I only moved in yesterday, and there's so much to do. Of course. Is it right here?

Thank you. Well, you write nice letters. You belong to the club very long? Oh, about six months. You're my first pen friend. Mrs. Franklin. Yes. Do you? Well, I mean, I hope you don't mind me asking on such short acquaintance, but I'm not sure.

But asking what? Do you like bingo? Oh, seven, yes. My large has a bingo party every month. Really? Oh, I must tell you what happened last time I played. What? You know those little pieces of corn you put on the numbers?

Uh-huh. Well, we were all playing. Fire bus girls at a little table. And we all had a lot of numbers covered What's going on the floor? What would you do with me tomorrow night? I got something about Jackson Fire.

Remember those wedding pictures that I was expecting? They came and I had copies printed up. The place distributed them to all the neighborhood stores. And then this morning we got a call from a supermarket over in Third Avenue.

This woman was one of the customers called us out Mrs. Turner. Get in the address. Not yet. Not yet. The SEC's and Ira Williams down the city hall. Check on their logistics. Well, I've got something to it, Jim.

Jackson's belongings turned up in several pawn shops here. And in every case, the pawning had been done by a man. I'm having a composite picture made of an organism. Special agent, David speaking. Ira. You have?

I see. Any address? Ira. Ira. Thanks very much. Williams down the city hall. You find the marriage license? The victim this time was named Albert Turner. I tried to contact Turner to warn him that it was too late.

Turner's dead day. Women's already moved out. Well, let's call the coroner and have that body exome. We may have a murder case on our hands. Not a step. Me either.

Let's go sit down. Right. Oh. I can't wait to see what's going on. That's me. Who was this? What? Let go of his friend, too soon, and he keeps running with a kiddoo player. Oh, here's a good place to rest.

Oh, yeah. Oh, my. Nice to sit down again. I must say, Arthur, you keep a body going. You're all a player. Yeah, I mean, I haven't caught my dress all week. First, that bingo game, then the boat ride.

Yes, it has been a wonderful week. You know, Pera, you've made me seem young again. Me? Why, I should feel in your youngest person I know. If I am, I have you to thank. And you came along, I never realized how lonely I've been.

Oh, I mean it. Pera, I know how fun you are of your brother. Well, I kind of wish... Oh, I'm not very good at this kind of thing. Tara, when George goes on the road again with you, I mean...

Could you... Tara, will you marry me? Let your big old heart of course I will. They have a report that came in from the lab on the turn of killing. Yes, cause of death was poison.

Nice business. Oh, according to the porn brokers that compiled a picture we had done on the man was a good like man. You check out a police of course. Yeah, her picture too couldn't get anything.

But you sent pictures to Washington? Yeah. I didn't sure they've got them this morning. I also spread copies around town. Where? Well I went to the rail, plane and bus terminals. None of the tickets were recognized them, but I had them posted the pictures and all the employees locked around.

Jim, I wonder what made them start using poison. I'll tell him the previous marriage is all she did was to take off with her husband's money. I got it for you. Special agent Taylor speaking.

Yes, that's right. You have? When? He's quite sure? He says, fine. Yes, thank you very much. A locker room picture is just paid off. A Pullman Porter recognized both of them. Did he know where they went?

Yeah, they were on the Blue Diamond Flyer about ten days ago and they got off at Capital City. got off at Capitol City, clean up your desk, be able to get an okay and fly to Capitol City tonight.

Oh, great! It's a wonderful wedding, Arthur. Yes, it will. You think it's all right for us to sneak out this way? Oh, heaven, yes. I thought I'd let me get this right out of my hair.

You too didn't think you were going to sneak away without saying goodbye to Brother George. Did you? No, no. You made a beautiful couple. Thank you. I say, George, if you'll help your sister get this rice out of her hair, I'll see if the car is ready.

All right, old boy. Don't let her run away. For the heart of what it seems is saying. You know, George, I've become very fond of him. Well, that's nice. I think her wife should always be fond of her husband.

You're making fun of me. Now, look, Clara. You know you get this way every time you marry somebody. But this isn't like the others. I want to stay married to Arthur. Uh-uh. Please George. Look, I got a new bottle of the treatment. It takes a couple of weeks to do its work.

Have fun with him for that long. But I do. Ready to leave, Clara? She'll be right there, Arthur. All right. And here's the bottle here. Start giving you to him tomorrow. We will return in just a minute to tonight's exciting case from the official files of your FBI.

Now a quick interview with Mr. Joseph Clark, a 63-year-old member of the Equitable Life Insurance Society. When he was 39, Mr. Clark started an Equitable Independent Sixties Plan. Today his plan is all paid up.

He's retired from business to enjoy the free freedoms that go with an Equitable Independent Sixties Plan. First, freedom from money worries and job worries, financial independence. I've got four married children, Mr Keating, but I'll never be a drain on them.

Every month, right on the dock, there's a check from the equitable society in my mailbox. Second, with an independent 60s plan, you're free to live anywhere you choose. Life and I bought us a little place in North Carolina.

Nice climate. Nice neighbors. Third, freedom to do the things you've always wanted to do. Just for the fun of it, we started our own little tourist camp. We've got three cabins and room for six trailers.

Places paid for itself already. Mr. Clark, whenever I hear a man talk like that, I ask myself, why doesn't everybody in America have an equitable independent 60s plan? Guess they make the same mistake I did years ago.

They think you have to have a lot of money to afford one. How did you learn the truth? From my equitable society representative. It's a fact. You don't have to earn big money to begin an equitable independent 60s plan.

Ask your equitable representative to explain why you probably have a big head start towards independent 60s because of social security and life insurance already owned. Often only a small amount of additional insurance is all that's required.

A few dollars a week did it for me. Friends, why not take a lead for Mr. Clark's book? Why not phone your equitable society, a representative without delay, or send a postcard care of this station to the Equitable Society?

EQITABLE. The equitable life assurance society of the United States. And now back to the FBI file, the honeymoon homicide. Possibly a good many of you now listening to this case from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

By wondering how it happens that two criminals like the ones you are meeting tonight can remain free for any length of time. There are numerous answers to that question. As you have heard, many previous victims of this pair of swindlers were not murdered, but merely cheated.

The pride of those victims who survived is the most basic reason for the freedom of these criminals, just as it is the reason behind the liberty of almost every swindler. The average victim of any right is afraid to be known as a person whose judgment has been found wanting, usually licks his own wounds and keeps the knowledge of his loss to himself.

By doing that, he comforts his vanity, but he also does something else. He ensures the fact that what was stolen will never be returned. In addition, the selfish silence allows the criminal to continue on his way to swindle still other people.

If that were all, it would be bad enough. But by remaining quiet, the victim does something even worse. It is a truism in law enforcement circles that one crime should remain unpunished, inevitably leads to another.

And as they continue, the seriousness increases until finally it reaches the only possible climax. murder Right file continues in a small-eyed who will met police that borders in the capital city If I just spoke to Washington about the pictures we sent them the man's name is George Mercer the woman is his sister

They had recognition. Yeah, they were arrested together some years ago on a transatlantic line at what for the old badge again And his sister used the name of Clara then. That's the name she used when she married Jackson and turned her to yeah I think we can assume that she will stay with it. Well Dave. Let's lay out a plan of action

Okay, now the previous pattern has been to pawn the belongings of each husband. So I think our first visit should be the wall pawn shops. Oh, I had another thought coming over here, one that we haven't touched yet.

Lonely Hearts Club, the other, a good source for. I'll tell you what day, why don't you see if you can get a list of Lonely Hearts clubs here in Capital City and start checking them out.

I'll cover the pawn shops when we're back here. It's pretty. It's pretty. What's the name of it, Clara? Merci, Arthur, I don't know. Who can ask me? I find out. Well, bless my soul. Who is he?

The comedian's surprise, sir. Oh, Clara. What is this? I hope you don't find me dropping by this way. Oh, how? Let me take back. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You're a sight for sure, I.

Insity. How long is it? I'm going to take it. I'm going to take it. I'm going to take it. I'm going to take it. I'm going to take it. I'm going to take it. I'm going to take it.

I'm going to take it. How long you in town for? Before, just for a few days. Well, I went back and ready to spare him. No, no, no, let me do that. Nonsense, Clara. He's your brother.

You sit here and chat with him. I'll do the fixie. Oh, that's mighty nice of you, Arthur. Thanks. Father at all. I like having you with us. Thank you. Hmm. He looks awfully healthy, Clara.

Doesn't he? Well, man, he has trouble putting on any weight, but I've been making everything... Nobody would take him for a man whose coffee is being spiked. Are you giving it home? George, you haven't been in the house a minute and you're talking business.

Verde, I asked you a question. Just tell me. Are you spiking his coffee? Yes or no? Well... no. Why not? Well, I just can't. I wouldn't feel right poisoning our service. Oh, look there. This isn't a question of how you feel.

It's something that has to be done if we're going to get to Quincy. Quincy? What are we going there for? Why to meet your next husband of course. I've just been up there picking him out.

I bought some new stuff that works real quick. You put it in his coffee tonight and by morning you'll be back again in the widow business. Hey, if I almost made connections with Mercer. Where?

One of the pawn shops he just pawned some of the late Mr. Turner's belongings including his police. Which could give us a lead. The police? Yeah, there was a baggage stubble in my handle. Some numerals on it, so I called the railroad.

They said it could be a crime number, and they're checking on it now. Jim, if you remember, he pawned one husband's stuff the day before the next husband was poisoned, y'all. He follows a pattern that couldn't mean, they're just about ready to leave.

And just about to poison another victim. Or did you get a name at the Lonely Hearts Club? I like contact with all of them. They're checking that membership now. Especially to him, too. Yes, Mr. Anderson?

You have? That was, huh? Yes, right away, and thank you very much. That was the railroad day. Pullman car number 1847 came in yesterday as part of the Golden Nugget. Those numbers that were on the baggage stuff?

Yes, the Golden Nugget's an extra fair train, and they list the passengers' names. Dave, I'm gonna go over there and find out who occupied that car. ["The Star-Spangled Banner"] I've got that list date, versus name is not it.

Let's see. Yeah, 20 names and not one of them close to mercy. None of them even start with the letter M. No. One thing we can do now, check every hotel, see whether any of these twenty names registered yesterday.

They did what go up with a picture and find out if it's mercy. Jim has mercy staying at this hotel. He was. The clerk identified him as a guest named Black. That was one of the names on the real road.

That's right. Unfortunately, he checked out an hour ago. Is this room been cleaned yet? No, they're holding it for us today. Let's go in and take a look. Nothing in this bureau, Jim. I may have something.

What? A letter, Dave? What a visit address to Mrs. Franklin. David, Mrs. Clark, we've still got a chance. Was it in it? Oh, oh. Arthur, I think Clara's become even a better cook since you married you.

You hear that Clara? Yeah. George thinks she'll cook things even better since I married you. Oh. George, you being here with us calls for some kind of celebration? And I know just what it'll be.

Yes? I got some cigars a couple weeks ago, saving them for a time like this in that energy. There is the stuff in the coffee. Yes, but I'm not going to get a tonne. Don't be foolish. You can't make me George. Oh yes I can. How? Would you like Arthur to find out about the boats we used to work?

Oh, or about the men you've been married to? Oh, George. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Turner maybe? Oh, no. No. Then you'd better do it or I'll tell him everything. You'd buy one of these cigars, George.

Oh, thanks, thanks. How about a little coffee, Clara? Oh. All right. Here, George. Oh, none for me, thanks. Thanks, no, give it to Arthur. Oh. Yeah, I'm sick. Hey. Er, little sugar and cream maybe?

No, I don't drink it plain. Oh. I'll get it. Hello Clara. There's a message, Jim. Yeah, I see. Clara, who is it? Pardon me, sir. Are you this woman's husband? Yes. And maybe we got her in time.

We're special agents of the FBI. We're taking these two down to headquarters. George Mercer and his sister Clara were turned over to local authorities and tried in a state court on a charge of murder. Both were convicted and sentenced to be executed.

When Special Agent Taylor found the Lonely Hearts letter in the hotel room, George Mercer had rented, he realized it was then possible to trace the wanted woman, possible even without the help of any of the clubs. A painstaking search of records at the marriage bureau revealed that a Mrs. Clara Franklin, the name and the salutation of the letter Taylor found, had obtained

license to wed one off a dillon. His address was also listed on the application, a fact which, as you have seen, was responsible for saving his life. Analysis of the copy in the cup before dillon revealed enough poison to kill a dozen men, and to kill them quickly. Thus, the arrest directly saved one life, and indirectly, probably saved many more. The experience of the Federal

Bureau of Investigation, in cases like this, among others, is proof that one cannot be too cautious in meeting strangers. It does not follow as an automatic thing, but it is possible that remembering this fire may one day save your life. In that event, the men of your FBI will once again have done their job and done it well, their job of protecting the lives and property of

you, the American people. Now let's quickly review the three freedoms you can assure for yourself with an equitable independent 60s plan. First, freedom from money worries and job worries after your 60th birthday. Real financial independence. Second, freedom to live where you choose. Third, freedom to do the things you've always wanted to do. That's the good life you can look forward to with an independent

60s plan. Don't say you can't afford it until you've talked to your equitable society representative. Alright, care of this station to the Equitable Life Assurance Society. Next week we will dramatize another case from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a story of the FBI's relentless efforts to prove a man's innocence, its subject, extortion,

its title, the campus, shakedown. The incidents used in tonight's equitable life-assurance societies broadcast are adapted from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, all names used are fictitious. and in its similarity there are for the names of persons living or dead is accident tonight the music was composed and conducted by Frederick Stein the author

was Jerry D. Lewis your narrator was William Woodson and special agent Taylor was played by Stacey Harris others in the cast were V. Benadira her butterfield water catlet herb Rawlinson gules Bratton and Paul Theodore this is your FBI is a Jerry Divine production this is Larry Keating speaking for the equity of the

life assurance society of the United States and the equitable society's representative in your community and inviting you to tune in again next week at the same time where the equitable life assurance society will bring you another thrilling trans-fried story from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the campus shakedown on this is your FBI.

The Adventures of Ozzy and Harriet, fun for the whole family, follow immediately over most of these ABC stations. Stay tuned. This is ABC, the American Broadcasting Company.