1939-10-29 Phantom Fingerprints

Broadcast October 29th 1939 on Mutual at 5:30 p.m. EST sponsored by D.L. & W. Coal Company "Blue Coal" and syndicated for the summer by Goodrich Tires

This episode is included in Radio Spirits CD Set The Shadow: Strange Puzzles*

Written by: Sidney Slon

Announcer: Ken Roberts

Cast: Bill Johnstone (Lamont Cranston/The Shadow) Marjorie Anderson (Margot Lane) Kenny Delmar, Alan Devitt, Arthur Vinton, Lou Krugman

Music: Elsie Thompson

Synopsis:

Doc Kilgour of the police department is found murdered in Commissioner Weston’s office with a knife plunged deep into his skull. The fingerprints found at the scene of the crime are that of Killer Norvelli, a professional knife thrower executed for murder in 1931. The Shadow questions his widow, Maria, who is still performing in vaudeville, and learns that she had many students — including Dr. Giles of the police department. Suspecting a connection, The Shadow questions Giles and learns that the doctor felt Kilgour stood in the way of his promotion in the department. Giles ‘stole’ the fingerprints from Norvelli’s hands when he performed the autopsy on his body eight years ago and used them to frame a dead man for the crime. Commissioner Weston arrives to learn the truth and Dr. Giles stabs himself in the heart to escape the electric chair.

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Note:

*This episode is also available on The Murray Hill Anthology of The Shadow - Legends of Radio: The Shadow - Radio's Greatest Man of Mystery