The Jewel Thief: Richard Diamond, Private Detective (February 19, 1950)

“The Jewel Thief” is an episode of Richard Diamond, Private Detective, the old-time radio show, first broadcast February 19, 1950. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

Listen to Richard Diamond, Private Detective free, live around the clock: every episode, in the order it first aired. No sign-up.

What happens

Richard Diamond investigates the murder of a man named Wells, whose body is found in his apartment with $100,000 in stolen jewels hidden in the water pipes. A tipster named Mario Chimino had alerted police to the jewels' location, but has since disappeared. Diamond must uncover the truth behind the murder, the jewels, and the mysterious Chimino before the jewels are claimed by Wells's wife.

New York City, including the Fifth Precinct Police Station, Greenwich Village, a schooner landing, and a fishing boat in open water

Characters: Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Walter Levinson, Sergeant Otis, Mrs. Wells, Mario Chimino, Vladimir Sokolowski, Bob (boat operator)

Listen for: The clever twist revealing the body in the morgue is not Wells but Chimino, and the revelation that Wells himself orchestrated the entire scheme using his wife as an accomplice; Diamond's witty banter with Levinson and Otis, and his charming interrogation of Mrs. Wells.

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.