The Case of Margery Tate

Whitehall 1212. For the first time in history, Scotland Yard opens its official files to bring you the true stories of some of its most baffling cases. These are the true stories. The plain, unvarnished facts just as they occurred reenacted for you by an all-British cast.

Only the names of the participants have for obvious reasons been changed. The broadcasts are presented with a full cooperation of Scotland Yard. Research on Whitehall 1212 is furnished by Percy Hoskins of the London Daily Express.

The stories for radio are written and directed by Willis Cooper. Chief Superintendent John Davidson acts as custodian of the Black Museum. He will tell you now about Scotland Yard Case No. 630-612, which began on the 20th June 1946 and was concluded the 26th October the same year.

Here is Chief Superintendent Davidson. Good afternoon. Aside from our collection of weapons of murder, which we have a great many, many more objects here which seem highly incongruous among the knives and the guns, the battered bullets and the conventional blunt instruments, I can show you a hat.

A left boot, folded five pound note and a riding crop, a copy of the Book of Common Prayer. All of which have figured in their various times in one murder or another. What I have to show you from the file of case number 630612 is this very small thing.

I assure you there are other things in that box, but this artificial pearl from a girl's necklace aided enormously in hanging a man. In all your contemplating murder, a look at our exhibits here at the Black Museum would almost make you lose your enthusiasm for it.