The Oklahoma Cowboy Murder Case: Richard Diamond, Private Detective (August 16, 1953)

“The Oklahoma Cowboy Murder Case” is an episode of Richard Diamond, Private Detective, the old-time radio show, first broadcast August 16, 1953. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Private detective Richard Diamond travels to Oakmogiel, Oklahoma, when rancher Clay Baxter hires him to investigate his brother's death. The sheriff calls it an accident—Will Baxter was thrown from his horse and struck his head on a rock—but Clay suspects foul play, particularly since Will's wealthy widow stands to inherit the substantial ranch. Diamond discovers the death was no simple accident and must uncover who orchestrated the murder.

Oakmogiel, Oklahoma, a cattle ranching town with a population of 17,000, including Will Baxter's ranch forty miles outside town and a nearby mine shaft.

Characters: Richard Diamond, private detective, Clay Baxter, rancher, Sheriff Jim Billings, Will Baxter, Clay's brother (deceased), Wilma Baxter, Will's widow, Frank Kelly, ranch foreman, Luke and Finneas Merryweather, miners, Doc, the coroner

Listen for: Diamond's struggles as a New York city detective learning to ride horses in the Oklahoma desert; his investigation revealing the murder weapon was a long needle jabbed through the victim's eye; the climactic trap set in the mine shaft to catch the killer.

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.