The Case of the Borrowed Knife: Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator (November 7, 1951)

“The Case of the Borrowed Knife” is an episode of Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator, the old-time radio show, first broadcast November 7, 1951. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

Listen to Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator free, live around the clock: every episode, in the order it first aired. No sign-up.

What happens

When young Wilma Lord arrives at Barry Craig's detective office asking for protection before her marriage to wealthy philanthropist John Waring, she hints at danger but refuses to say whose murder she fears. Before Craig can learn more, a man with a knife in his back is found dead—and he turns out to be on crime boss Harry Otis's payroll, the same man who employs Wilma. As the police investigate and an alarm goes out for Wilma, she calls Craig from hiding and arranges a secret midnight meeting in the park.

A big city, primarily Craig's office in the old mercantile building, the streets at night, and various locations including a park and Willie's hot dog wagon

Characters: Barry Craig, confidential investigator, Wilma Lord, a young woman, John Waring, a wealthy philanthropist, Lieutenant Rogers, homicide, Harry Otis, crime boss, Jake, building elevator operator, Willie, hot dog wagon operator

Listen for: The moment when Wilma reveals why she really needs Craig's protection, and what connection John Waring has to the dead man and the crime world around them

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.