Case of Arthur Freeman

Fight Hall 1212. This is Scotland Yard. For the first time in history, Scotland Yard opens its secret files to bring you the authentic stories of some of its most baffling cases. These have for obvious reasons been changed.

The stories are presented with a full cooperation of Scotland Yard. Research on Whitehall 1212 is prepared by Percy Hoskins, Chief Crime Reporter for the London Daily Express. The stories for radio are written and directed by Willis Cooper.

I am Chief Richard Anderson of Scotland Yard. Murder with a gun is not common in Britain, but Anthony de Bruin was shot to death. I would like you to see the evidence that led us eventually to the murderer. This is Chief Superintendent John Davidson.

And you're standing in Scotland Yard's Black Museum, of which I have the honor to be the custodian. Now, while we have certain extremely gruesome objects in these two rooms, many of them are quite innocuous when taken out of context. They're here, not as good as exhibits for the morbid, but as examples for study by our people in connection with their jobs.

Now, such an exhibit is this one in case number 1602777. Now, this is an ordinary cheap rain Ah, that's the one. Identical with those worn by thousands of men, identifying tags of all kinds has been removed.

It was completely anonymous. Our people thought it might be an important clue to the identity of the murderer. It seemed impossible. But my good friend Inspector Anderson here followed this extremely tenuous clue to the end.

Almost, to the answer. What do you mean, Inspector? I wasn't present when they were hanged, sir. The crime. At ten o'clock of the morning of April 3, 1947, Anthony de Brun, a young stockbroker's clerk, was walking with his fiancé toward Howard's jewellery shop in Charlotte Street near Tottenham Court Road in London.