1941-9-28 The Headsman of the Camerons

Broadcast September 28th 1941 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 is a lost episode and no recreation of it has yet been made. If you have a copy of the script please let me know.

Written by: Sidney Slon and/or Peter Barry

Announcer: Ken Roberts

Cast: Bill Johnstone (Lamont Cranston/The Shadow) Marjorie Anderson (Margot Lane) Paul Huber

Music: Elsie Thompson

Synopsis:

While visiting his good friend Phillip Cameron, Lamont witnesses a series of murders in which each of the victims is beheaded. The suspected murderer is the two hundred year old ghost of “Bloody Rufus Cameron,” who, on his deathbed, beseeched those gathered around him to behead him in atonement for his violence as a public executioner. The Christian men present refused this request and the dying headsman swore that he would go on through eternity beheading the innocent, wielding his ax until he himself is beheaded for his manifold butcheries. Margot arrives in town late and is invited by the ghost to enter the ‘painting.’ When Lamont accidentally discovers the painting is really the entrance to a hidden passage, a panic-stricken Margot confirms that the specter is really a flesh and blood man in disguise. The identity of the murderer is quickly revealed as Clarence, Phillip’s young nephew. The mind of the young man snapped, having been teased by the other children for having bloody roots to the family tree. Believing he is the undead Rufus Cameron, he committed murders to prevent himself from being put away. The boy pleads with Lamont to use the ax against him but Lamont throws the ax away. Unwilling to go to a sanitarium, Clarence crashes through a large glass window, falling to his death, his roar and scream ended by a sliver of glass from the window which reached the ground before he did and decapitated him.

Note:

According to the Wikipedia page for The Shadow Episodes and the Radio Gold Index for The Shadow an incomplete recording of this episode exists. Radio Gold Index states that the first 13 minutes exist and the conclusion of the episode missing.

Radio gold Index does not sell recordings of shows or episodes it lists As stated on their web site:

"This web site, despite ending in “dot.com,” is not a commercial venture. The programs described are not for sale, at least by J. David Goldin and the “Radiogoldindex.” Many of the master tapes containing these recordings were sold to a company that does business under the name, “Radio Spirits.” I suggest you contact them at 1-800-833-4248 or visit their website at www.Radiospirits.com"