The Coward: Let George Do It (September 19, 1949)

“The Coward” is an episode of Let George Do It, the old-time radio show, first broadcast September 19, 1949. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

George Valentine is called to investigate a bizarre case when Douglas French sends him an accusatory telegram claiming Valentine murdered 37 people. French himself is found shot on a bridge, and a magazine article reveals the truth: during World War II, a group of four were forced to betray the location of 37 refugees fleeing Singapore, and one of them was a coward who informed on the others. Now that the article has exposed this secret, the four survivors—scattered across the country—begin receiving mysterious telegrams, and a writer who knew the truth is found dead.

A city in the American West, involving investigations at hospitals, telegram offices, a botanical study, and various locations connected to the four survivors of the Singapore wartime incident.

Characters: George Valentine, Douglas French, Lieutenant Riley, Enzo Onslow, Nick Atkins, J.J. Farrell, Brooksie, Emil Martinez

Listen for: The revelation of the coward's identity and motivation, the connection between the mysterious telegrams and the wartime betrayal, and the tragic reason behind the attempted murder.

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.