The Case of the Talking Tree: Nick Carter, Master Detective (September 9, 1945)

“The Case of the Talking Tree” is an episode of Nick Carter, Master Detective, the old-time radio show, first broadcast September 9, 1945. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

When a murdered tramp is found stabbed on a trolley car, Nick Carter discovers an uncut opal worth considerable money hidden in the victim's clothing. The dying man's cryptic final words—"killed by talking tree"—puzzle Nick, but a jeweler reveals the opal was recently appraised by two men: a tramp-like figure and a well-dressed professor named Stevens. Nick and Patsy set out to locate Professor Stevens at the university to unravel the mystery.

New York City, including a trolley car, Nick's brownstone mansion study, a jewelry appraising office downtown, and the university.

Characters: Nick Carter, Patsy, Mr. Peter Simpson, Sergeant Matheson, Mr. Foreman, Professor W.A. Stevens

Listen for: A mysterious reference to a "talking tree" in a murder victim's dying words, and the appearance of an uncut opal worth considerable money as a key clue.

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.