"For a most brutal murder, instigated by robbery- a murder whereof you, Stephen McBirney... stand convicted after a fair trial byjury- it is the judgment of this court... that you are hereby sentenced to the punishment of death... to be executed upon you at Sing Sing Prison... during the week of December ninth." "December ninth." "Thanks, Judge." "I won't have to do any Christmas shopping." "And thank you, Mr. Chan, for what His Honor just handed me." "Your evidence sticks me in the death house." "And I won't forget it- while I'm alive." "Come on, Mac." "Threats won't help your appeal." "Well, Charlie, you put him where he belongs." " I hope you don't let his threats keep you awake." " On contrary." "Conviction of most dangerous public enemy... bring more peaceful sleep." " What's that shooting?" " McBirney!" "Grabbed a deputy's gun- shooting his way out." " We gonna stay here all night?" " Take it easy." "Bus leaving right away." "Next stop" " Chinatown." "Come on, everybody." "Step smart." "Bus leaving right away." "Next stop" " Chinatown:" "the mysterious Orient in the heart of New York." "Shake a leg, folks." "Step right this way, folks." "Step fast and you'll see Chinatown before she goes to bed." "Let's go, Bill." "You've got an awful nerve- asking me to marry you in that Chamber of Horrors." "What do you think marriage is anyway?" " Where's Doc Cream?" " Can't you read?" "We're closed for the night." " You can't come in." " Yeah, yeah, I know." "But where is he?" "He's busy." "Says he don't wanna be bothered." "That's only a dummy, you dummy." "Come on." "You can't go in there." "Watch this carefully." "This is a difficult but brilliant move." "You can't beat it." "Why, that's splendid." "Superb." "I was not prepared for that." "But watch this one." "Hey, is he playing chess with that dummy, or am I crazy?" "Why, that's checkmate." "You've got me." "Mac." "Hello, Doc." "What's the idea?" "Oh, a little lesson in strategy." "I was coaching my protégée." "So you're the works." "A mechanical woman." "Gentlemen, my assistant- Miss Latimer." "I'm glad to know ya, babe." "Why, Lily, my dear, don't you recognize Steve McBirney?" "He's been with us for years." "The little boy from New York's Hell's Kitchen... who went out West and made good in Chicago." "Gee, Mac, it's you." "And Butcher Dagan." "He wasn't that beautiful when they fished him outta Lake Michigan- with the 13 bullets you pumped into him." "Hope you never double-cross me, Doc." " Well, Mac, I'm no fool." " That's what I hear." "Well, you got a great racket- a wax museum on top of the sweetest hideout the mob's ever had." "No wonder the cops never bother you." "You know, Grenock, that doc is smart." "He makes faces behind their backs." " Do you ever see the faces he makes?" " Oh, this wax stuff is okay." "No, no." "Before he operated on the law... he was the best facial surgeon in the country." " A face doctor?" " Sure." "Well, Doc, it's my turn now." "Change this map." "Fix it so no cop will ever know me." "Well, that would be easy, Mac." "But why not come back in a month when this getaway has blown over?" "Oh, no." "You start the job now, tonight." "Lily, you'd better go downstairs and prepare things for an operation." "Hey, what's her angle?" " She's my assistant in surgery too." " Oh." "Uh, follow me." "Of course, you realize that you'll have to hang out here... for two or three weeks after the surgery." "Well, swell." "I can use the rest." "You know them, Joe?" "That was Steve McBirney just come in." "He" "Joe." "I'm forgettin'." "Why-Why, Steve's your pal." "Sure." "Didn't he knock off Butcher Dagan for framing' you?" "I remember." "That's what I call a real pal, Joe." "So this is the Chamber of Horrors?" "Spooky joint." "I'd sure hate to be found dead in it." "Is this where you operate, Doc?" "Oh, no." "Just an exhibit in there." "That's a genuine electric chair." "Still in use two years ago." "109 murderers met death on it." "Well, I had a date with his brother, thanks to Charlie Chan." "Hey, Mac, get a load- the real thing." "Careful." "That's the switchboard for the museum." "It serves as atmosphere here." "But it's practical." "Say, Doc, you're the one practical thing around here for me." "I want the best face you ever made- just so's I can walk up to Chan and say..." ""Hiya, Charlie," before I let him have it." "Yeah." "And won't that copper be surprised?" "Charlie, do you mean to tell me you've never been surprised in your life?" "Only one occasion, Inspector  when honorable wife announce arrival of 13th offspring." "Always prefer to utilize element of surprise... never to be victim." "Well, I wish I could say that." "Haven't gotten over McBirney's little courtroom surprise yet." "Three weeks ago yesterday." "He must have gotten out of town, or we'd have him." "Only very foolish mouse make nest in cat's ear." "Hello, Pop, Inspector." "Hope I'm not interrupting." " Hello, Mary." "Who let you in?" " AskJimmy." "He's our scout leader." "Mary Bolton- reporter and pest, Daily Record." " How do you do, Mr. Chan?" " Hiya, Doctor." "Inspector." "Charlie, this is Dr. Cream of the Cream Crime Museum." "I'm very happy to meet you, Mr. Chan." " Oh, Inspector, this is Dr. Bun." " Von Brom!" "Herr Doctor Otto Von Brom." "Formerly with the Berlin Police Department." "Today I specialize in the psychocriminology." "Well, as one cop to another, Doctor, what's that?" "Detective who uses microscope instead of common sense." "Please, allow parent to make Confucius saying." "So, Mr. Chan, you do not believe... in the scientific methods for apprehending criminals, eh?" "Any powder that kills flea is good powder." "Now, can law student explain crime of playing hooky?" "Well, I didn't mean to cut classes, Pop." "But they" " Miss Bolton and Dr. Cream- came up to college with a great idea." "Pop, you're going into radio- on the Crime League broadcast from the Museum of Crime." "This is all Dr. Cream's idea, and a swell yarn for me." "But you confer first with chip off old chopstick?" "Only because I remembered where to find Jimmy when we couldn't locate you today." "You see, each week, we have a famous detective... who tries to unravel some old, unsolved crime." "On tonight's broadcast, we had hoped that you and Dr. Von Brom... might throw some new light on the Rocke case." "Yeah." "Isn't that a swell idea?" "Let honor of advertising museum go to scientific detective." "Tomorrow, parent depart for Honolulu." "Tonight, same prefer good dinner to ancient crime." "Excuse, please." "But, Mr. Chan." "This is your favorite unsolved crime." "Do you recognize this man?" "Likeness ofJoseph Rocke." "Innocent man hang for crime he did not commit." "Real murderer never caught." "This is an insult to my ability." "Once before, you made such a statement." "Joe Rocke was convicted on my scientific evidence." " How dare you insinuate" " Now, boys, don't get violent." "People have been arguing for years over whetherJoe Rocke fired that poison dart." "You could settle it tonight on my broadcast." "Sorry." "Must decline." "Ach." "Surely, you're not afraid... to cross the wits with my logic and science." "Perhaps you leave the town because of Steve McBirney's threats, ja?" "My pop don't run away from anybody." "But it might look that way if you don't accept this challenge." " What'll I tell the fellas in my class?" " Challenge?" "Dr. Cream make same in presence of offspring's classmates?" "Yeah, and I accepted for you." "I'm sorry you're turning us down, Mr. Chan." "It would be an unusual experience for you." "You most anxious for humble presence at broadcast tonight." "It's a question of showmanship." "I know what the public wants." "Will imitate woman and change mind." "Most happy to accept unusual radio invitation." " Splendid, Mr. Chan." " This is news." "Thank you, Mr. Chan." "You be there at 8:00." "We go on at 8:15." " I'll be there." " So long." "I'll be there too, Pop, in case you need any help." "Contradiction, please." "At 8:00, young legal sprout... have date for lecture on Old Roman law." " No hooky." " Okay, no hooky." "Say, Charlie, you certainly changed your mind in a hurry." "I'd have given odds you wouldn't go for that phony challenge." "Correction, please." "Challenge may solve more than Rocke case tonight." "Dr. Cream once famous surgeon." "Now friend of many criminals..." "like Steve McBirney." " What's on your mind, Pop?" " Yeah." "Come clean." "Possible McBirney visit doctor for perfect disguise." "Underworld once whispered his former partner, Butcher Dagan... receive same from Dr. Cream- a new face." "Well, he wasn't wearing it when they found his body." " Say, what are you driving at?" " Perhaps wrong man found and buried." "Faceless body in water three months." "Have long suspected Butcher Dagan, ruthless killer... not dead, but still alive... and hiding behind face created by Dr. Cream." "Perhaps worthy doctor have secret purpose behind challenge tonight." "You think Cream's coming here has something to do with McBirney." " A trap." " Knowledge only gained through curiosity." "I think I'll catch your act tonight, Charlie." " In fact, I'll go with you." " No, please." "Mice only play when cat supposed to be in bed." "The mother, the son... and the music teacher- correctly seated at the fatal breakfast table... that sentJoe Rocke to the gallows." "We'll be seated that way tonight." "My pal." "And he sits right there." "Hey, you." "Don't touch that." "You'll get burnt to a crisp." "Dr. Cream, I didn't do this." " I wouldn't." "It's dangerous." " Shut up and get out of here." " Come on." "Get out." " Mac." "Don't go through with this insane plan." "It'll ruin me." "Oh, it can't." "It's all part of a gag that goes wrong." "Crazy Willie there rigs up an electric chair." "He puts too much heat on, and someone gets hurt." "No cop will ever believe that one." "Well, what are you gonna do about it?" "You queer this and you're both through." " Don't get excited." "We're all in it with you." " No choice." "It's about time Grenock got down off that pole." "You know, listening to the broadcast week after week... give me the idea." "Von Brom, the old Rocke case." "The one case Chan would go for." "And that phony challenge got him." "Now all we have to do is to wait for Chan to be seated comfortably." "Then" "Okay?" "Yeah." "She's hooked up to the switchboard now." "Just tapped 2,300 volts from that high tension line." " Now, it can't fail?" " Not a chance." "If you'll please excuse me." "You can't go through with this." "It'll ruin everything- this place, your racket." "What can I do?" "It may turn out the way he says." " You know it can't." " My throat, it's very dry." " Am I too late?" " We're closed up, ma'am." "But you said you'd let me in." "You told me Dr. Von Brom was coming." "Oh, I" " I forget." "I thought you were Joe Rocke's friend." "I am." "I am." "He's my pal." "Then... give him this." "Oh, no, no." "I never touch those things." "You know he needs protection tonight." " He's in great danger." " Yeah." "That's right." "You can't letJoe down." "Uh, you take it to him." "No, no." "Not that way." "This way." "This way." "Use the upstairs way and then go right home." "I understand." "Gotta make my rounds and- Where's my clock?" "Bad night, ain't it, Frank?" "You know about people." "They open windows and they never close 'em." "Who did that?" "Who did that?" " Lily, you wanna give me a test?" " Sure." "One, two, three." "Testing." " One, two, three." "Testing." " Okay." "The Crime Museum is honored by your visit, Mr. Chan." "Of course, you recollect the tragedy of the Broadway Butterfly." "Here are some more of my wax creations." "This is Jack the Ripper, London's mystery murderer of the year 1888." "He was never caught." "And here we have Henry Désiré Landru... the Bluebeard of Paris." "They say that he destroyed 40 women- in that very same stove." "Excellent likeness." "Oh." "Here's Mr. Agnew now." "Well, we're all ready downtown for Charlie Chan." "I'm nearly ready here." " Mr. Tom Agnew, the director and announcer of our program." " Glad to know you, sir." " Miss Latimer, my assistant." " Miss Latimer." "How do you do, Mr. Chan?" "And Mr. Edwards, our engineer." " Is Mary here yet?" " She's with Dr. Von Brom, looking at the exhibits." "Von Brom?" "You didn't tell me he was in this show." "Sort of a last-minute idea." "I didn't come prepared to handle two masterminds." "I'm sorry, Tom." "I phoned to tell you, but you weren't in." "Ach, liebes Fräulein." "Do I know these men?" "This is the Butcher Dagan." "I see him in Chicago many years ago." "I have a photographic memory." "My eyes, they never forget anything they see once- you know, uh- the, uh, face, the shape of the head." "It is my scientific training." " Wasn't he killed many years ago?" " Ja." "Murdered." "My friends, good evening." "Mr. Chan, I'm here." " Delighted, Dr. Von Brom." " We are ready, ja?" " Looks like we'll have a swell show tonight." " Sure." "That is if the two bloodhounds bite each other." " How about supper later?" " I'd love it." "Well, gentlemen, we go in 12 minutes." " Is everyone ready?" " I'm ready." "I am famous for this case." "The doctor." "The doctor's voice." "Well, Doctor and Mr. Chan, we hope you settle the Rocke case tonight." "The Rocke case?" "I thought we were doing the Gradley case." " I'm sorry." "It's all my fault." " I have no notes on Rocke." "I have." "I'll get them for you." "Mr. Agnew, I will help." "I solved this case years ago." "Old solution, Doctor, sometimes like ancient egg." "Since I do the interview, I'd like your slant, Mr. Chan-what questions to ask." "Joe Rocke unjustly punished for crime committed by Butcher Dagan." " Hmm." "He sounds like an eyewitness." " Excuse, please." "I never saw Dagan." "My theory simply based on evidence already supplied by Dr. Von Brom." " Oh!" " How do you mean?" "Dagan and McBirney partners many years ago." "Also partners with Joe Rocke in honest enterprise." "Rocke honorable man unaware colleagues were criminals." "Like freak of nature, McBirney- although brutal killer- have almost brotherly affection for Rocke." "But Dagan- true child of Cain- hate him." "To acquire business, he cause Rocke to be suspected of murder he did not commit." " An innocent man was hung?" " Brother McBirney had his revenge." " I read that he killed Dagan." " He got what was coming to him." "Same believed by many persons." "But electric chair now await McBirney for more recent crimes." "McBirney ought to get a vote of thanks." "He's got mine." "You knew Dagan?" "Oh, no." "I mean, according to your story." "If it's true, he got what he deserved." "Excuse, please." "May see sore finger?" "Oh, it's just a scratch." "I" " I'll live." "Wound very odd." "And recent." "I caught it on Dr. Cream's desk, in the office." "Beware of infection." "What a yarn." "Mr. Chan, if you can prove Dagan's guilt" "Dagan won't mind." "He's dead." "Justice can be brought to dead men." "Dagan." "Ja." "It is possible." "Joe Rocke" " Maybe he's not guilty." "But I proved that once." "And I'll prove something else too." "Now." "Tonight." "Quiet, please." "The studio's checking the trunk line." "Testing." "One, two, three, four." "Testing." "One, two, three, four." "They're ready downtown." "We go in two minutes." "I can't help that." "I've got business here." " You can't break in here like this." "Get out." " I've got to see Dr. Cream." " I'm Dr. Cream." "What is it?" " My name is Lane" " Carter Lane." "Representing Mrs. Rocke." " Joe Rocke's wife?" " Yes." " Is she here?" " Why would she come here?" "We heard about the broadcast, and it must not be made." " She doesn't want this Rocke case discussed." " Why not?" "What is she afraid of?" "Humiliation and rather painful memories." " He can't stop us." " We are within our rights, Mr. Lane." "A suit for damages will determine that." "Don't let him scare you." "He's afraid of what Dr. Von Brom and Mr. Chan have turned up." "What do you mean?" "It is imperative the broadcast is made." "One clue I did not understand, tonight she's clear." "I will tell everything aboutJoe Rocke- sensations." "To the radio, I will tell the police where to find the real murderer." "That's why Mr. Lane is here- to prevent you from telling." "You know, you're very beautiful, but you're just a little crazy." " Stand by, everybody." " Uh, take your places, please." "Now we are seated as the family was gathered at the fatal breakfast table." "Mary, you sit down there." "Lily, you sit there." " Mr. Chan" " Uh, I" " I sit here." "Mr. Chan sits here." "Dr. Cream, is this correct?" "Little Otto wants a seat of honor too?" "Truth speak from any chair." "We're on now." "Quiet, please." "Crime is always punished." "Good evening, folks." "This is Tom Agnew bringing you The Crime League... through the courtesy of the Murphy Arms Company." "We are gathered for our 1 3th weekly broadcast... in Dr. Cream's extraordinary Museum of Crime... an educational institution." "Hey." "There he is now." "All right." "Tell him exactly what I told you." "Hey." "What are you doin' in here?" "Hello, Willie." "Don't you know me?" "I'm the new warden." "Oh." "I'm sorry, Warden." "For a second, I didn't place you." "Uh-huh." "Oh, by the way, do you believe in capital punishment?" " You mean killing' murderers?" " Uh-huh." " Sure." " Fine, fine." "Would you be willing to serve the state in executing a criminal?" " Would I?" "You bet." " Good." "Then I hereby appoint you chief executioner of this prison." "You mean I can hang the Reno Kid and guillotine the Bluebeard of Paris?" "Sure, sure." "But first you gotta begin with an electrocution." " I'll do my duty." " You know how to work this thing?" "Yeah." "When you get a signal, you push up." "Well, never mind the signal." "You see that clock?" " At 8:20- at exactly 8:20" " Mmm." "I want you to throw that switch and electrocute that man." " Yes, sir." " Okay." "Sorry to see you go, pal." "And now Dr. Otto Von Brom, the famous criminologist... and Charlie Chan will attempt to prove the innocence or guilt ofJoe Rocke." "We were seated at the breakfast table, June the 9th, 1929... as demonstrated in court." "It was a happy family gathering." "Gentlemen, this seating is incorrect." " I should sit there in that chair." " No." "No, Doctor." " But I insist." " As you please, Doctor." "Every bird seek its own tree." "Never tree the bird." "Excuse." "Stop him quick." "Who turned the lights off?" "There's something burning behind Dr. Von Brom's chair!" "Stand by, folks." "The storm seems to have taken the light off our mystery." " I tell you there's a fire!" " Yes." "I see it." "Doctor!" "Doctor Von Brom!" "What is it, Doctor?" " He's fainted." " Gentlemen, carry him over here, please." "Right here." " Why, he's dead." " There's a wire connected to that chair." "That's what caused the flash." "The doctor was electrocuted." "Contradiction, please." "Wire to chair previously severed by wire cutters." "Dr. Von Brom not electrocuted." " Heart failure perhaps?" " Am not doctor." " You make diagnosis?" " Well, no." "I" " I've been too shocked to examine the body." " Excuse." "Because of an unfortunate accident..." " the Crime League broadcast will be discontinued at once." " Oh, Tom, no!" "I now return you to our main studios where you will hear a musical program." "You're an awful reporter." "Tell them what happened." " It's a great story, Tom." " No, Mary." "No." " Criminologist was murdered." " What?" " Murder?" " You're crazy." " But how?" " Observe small puncture on back of neck." " I see." "Note peculiar discoloration." "Can be caused by tonga- poison used by Dayak headhunters of Borneo." "Found on doctor's coat collar, close to wound." "Small bamboo dart projected by blowgun." " Served as poison carrier." " What do you mean, Mr. Chan?" "Lethal dart was propelled by sharp breath... towards dead man during seconds of darkness." "By one of us." "It's the only logical explanation." "But the wound's on the back ofhis neck." "Dart aimed at face." "But doctor, attracted by electrical display behind chair, turned head." "Was struck here." "Well, whoever has a blowgun... can certainly save us all a lot of trouble by giving himself up now." "The Dayak blowgun- The museum has one." " May examine, please?" " Why, certainly." "This way." "Here we are." "It hasn't been touched." "Killer use similar tube-like implement." "You going to search everybody for something as big as that?" "No." "So big." "You knew chair designed to electrocute occupant." " You're still crazy." " Observe wire cutters." "Uh, that figured in the Willden auto murder." "It was used by the killer." " This young woman use same to sever lethal cable." " You're all wrong." "Injured finger produced by act of untwisting wire... which held implement to shelf." "Received identical wound just now doing same." "That's a mighty impressive deduction, Mr. Chan." "But you couldn't sell it to a jury." "Am not ready for jury." "Please, can explain presence here instead of own chair when light returned?" "Why, of course." "I got up to see what caused the flash." "Nobody else bothered to." "Mind you, I'm not making any accusations... but in the darkness, Mr. Lane seemed to lean past me toward Dr. Von Brom." "That's right." "The killer had to lean forward to take aim." " Oh, now, you couldn't mean me by any chance, could you?" " That looks like a toothpick." " Please." "Do not touch possible evidence." "Mr. Chan." "Mr. Chan!" "There's someone inside!" "Step out, please." "Don't shoot, Pop." "Will please explain presence of one dummy inside another dummy?" "Well, I couldn't stay away, and I didn't wanna bother you... so I got into this fella to watch." " While in chess man, did offspring make use of own eyes?" " You bet I did." " What you see?" " Well, nothing suspicious." "That toothpick" " It's gone." "Valuable clue lost because offspring imitate dummy." "One of us took it when all eyes were on the chess player." "Hollow toothpick made from goose quill." "Possible blowgun." " Let's search everybody." " No use." "Small object easily destroyed." "Well, all you have to do now is find out who uses that kind of toothpick." "Let's preserve any possible fingerprints where the toothpick was discovered." "I'll cover it." "There's your quill toothpick." " Gee, Pop." " Number two son must have been shoplifting at Automat." " We got another broadcast to do." "We better be goin'." " Contradiction, please." "No one may leave without permission of police." " But I've got to phone my city desk." " Must wait." "Suggest all gather in office of Dr. Cream." "Uh, this way, please." "Do not recall presence of woman in black... at murder of Broadway Butterfly." "Why, I've never seen her before." "Why, she's alive." "Can explain presence here?" "I must have fallen asleep." "Are visiting hours over?" "Have been here long?" "I don't remember." "You witnessed events leading up to murder?" "Murder?" "I heard nothing." " A man has been killed." " Oh, yes." "But that was long ago- 10 years ago." "How could I forget?" "I still wear black for him." "He was killed- murdered." "Please, would mind joining others in office?" " Mrs. Rocke!" " Mrs. Joe Rocke?" " Are you sure?" " Well, I oughta be." "She's a client of mine." " How long has she been here?" " We don't know." " Dr. Von Brom sent her husband to the" " Let me have that" "Wait a minute." "Police calls come first." "Okay, Pop?" "Well, did you find the blowgun on her?" "Man murdered tonight was Dr. Von Brom." "Careful, Mr. Chan." "She's easily upset." "Police headquarters?" "I want to report a murder." "I'll connect you with the Homicide Bureau." "It's Jimmy Chan calling' the cops." "Homicide Bureau, Lieutenant Leslie speaking." "Yeah, yeah." "Mm-hmm." "Von Brom- Somebody got him with a poisoned dart... shot from a quill toothpick." "What'll I tell the kid?" "Tell him the cops are comin'." "We'll be right over, Mr. Chan." "Don't let anybody leave the building, and don't touch anything." "You don't have to tell me, Lieutenant." "I've handled a case before." "Okay." " They're on their way." " Good." "Everyone remain here and possible clues at scene of crime will not be disturbed." "You mean, it's easier to keep an eye on us this way." " Please, Doctor, desire to see electric switchboard." " Oh, certainly." " I was just going to suggest that." " Wait here with other witnesses." "Okay, Pop." "I get it." "These suspects won't get away from me." "Suspicion is only toy of fools." "Come." "Oh, I" " I didn't mean" "I hope I haven't offended anybody." "Oh, that's all right." "We all know that one of us is a murderer." "Sure." "No." "Say, I'm not so sure about that." "Pop!" "Oh, Pop!" "Pop, I forgot to tell you." "There's somebody else in this museum." "He disappeared into a cell." "I saw him when I came in." "Say, Pop, don't you feel well?" "Don't you know a wax dummy when you see one?" "Say, you're not supposed to be out here." "Get back in the office." "Who's tellin' me?" "All right." " What did you do with that gun?" " You mind your own business." "Let me handle this." " Look, will you please go home?" " No." "Dagan's here." "I'm going to settle with him too." " Dagan!" "How do you know?" " Never mind." "But I know." "You people had no right to sneak away." "Well, I thought the body ought to be covered." " It looked like you were goin' through his pockets." " No, I was arranging the sheet." "Get back in the office, please." "Okay, Mr. Chan." " Boo!" " Don't do that!" "Oh, Jimmy, I'm so sorry." " What are you doing here?" " Believe it or not, I'm looking for a telephone." "Oh." "Most odd that owner of museum cannot explain wedding of electricity... with chair reserved for humble self." "I assure you, I don't know how it happened." " Say, Pop" " Please, why you not remain with others?" "Well, uh, th-there's something I forgot to tell you." "I saw" " Willie." " Uh, gentlemen, I pronounce this man dead." "Please remove the body for autopsy." "My night watchman." "Perfectly harmless." "It's the swellest execution I ever made." "Even the lights went out." " You threw switch?" " Sure." "The warden himself" " He came right in here, and he made me head executioner." " Please, description of warden." " There isn't anyone." "He imagines all this." "That's what he thinks." " Can recall warden?" " Sure:" "about so high, and dark, and smooth face..." " and, mmm, looked like an evil choirboy." " Uh-huh." "Just imagination." " Pop, I've got a theory." " Quiet, please." "Uh, tell me exactly what you do." "At 8:20, just like the warden told me..." "I pushed the switch and electrocuted Red Maddox." "Where is warden now?" "I don't know." "He went out that way." "There is no warden." " May examine room, please?" " Why, certainly." "Pop, listen!" "Like busy mosquito, offspring keep chasing parent." " Why?" " Well, there's something I've got to tell you." "None of those people in there are guilty." "There's another man in this building." " You see him?" " Yeah." "He disappeared into that cell." "And then when I looked, he wasn't there." "I swear he came in here." " This gentleman you observe?" " No, it was a man." "And there was a dummy in here with its head all bandaged up, right here where I'm standing." "And now it's gone too." "Bandaged dummy part of exhibit?" "Well, yes." "It, uh, must have been changed temporarily." "Uh, shall we move on?" "One moment, please." "Marks on floor indicate prison bed moved... thus." " A trapdoor!" " Oh, just a storeroom." "If storeroom innocent, will apologize." "Lead way, please." "Yes." "Now this, gentlemen, is my workshop, my studio." "Here I create in wax the photographic likeness of famous criminals." "My work, purely educational- endorsed by schools and colleges." "My theme is "Crime does not pay."" "The end of the evil trail is prison or death." "Please, please!" "Uh, sculpture was my hobby." "It is now my profession." "There is an artist in everyone, if you look for him." "Don't you agree with me, Mr. Chan?" "Most unusual form of art." "Uh, I do that when I'm nervous- tearing pieces of paper, you know." "Exact duplicate of Steve McBirney's signature... first observed in courtroom." "Why, nonsense." "I don't even know McBirney." "Say, Pop, I'll bet" " Hey!" "A hidden room." " Oh, boy!" " Doctor." " Most interesting." " This where you operate on your dummies, Dr. Cream?" " No." "This is surgical birthplace of new faces." " But, Mr. Chan" "Evidence betrays museum to be hideout for hunted criminals who change faces to cheat law." "So they could carry on the rackets." "Pop, you've discovered a big thing." "Now I understand why Miss Latimer cut wires to chair." "She did not want murder to expose museum's most profitable business." "One moment." "You answer telephone." " Hello?" "What is it?" " Hello, give me Walker." "Then give me the city desk." "What?" "Who?" "Jimmy Chan?" "Uh-huh." "You're talking to the cellar." "Oh, Pop." "Miss Bolton- She dialed her office and got me." "Telephone obviously operated upon so outside world cannot be reached." "Then I didn't talk to the police." "They're not coming!" "McBirney- He didn't tell me about that phone." "And now they know that Von Brom died instead of you." "Here's where I settle with Chan." "I thought they'd gone." "That was the plan." "But if they know that you're alive, well, then they're still here." "And they'll kill you and they'll kill me!" " Like they killed Dr. Von Brom!" " Correction, please." "Criminologist not killed by McBirney." "Murderer was Butcher Dagan." " Dagan?" " How do you mean?" "Three clues spell Dagan:" "quill toothpick, bamboo dart... and poison called tonga." " Get that Chinaman before he gets us." " No." "First we'll let him spot Dagan, then we get 'em both." "Dagan send another man to meet McBirney's bullets." "Officially dead, Dagan vanish into new identity... until recognized tonight by Dr. Von Brom..." "And threat of exposure cost criminologist his life." "Dagan kill to prevent exposure of new face." " Dr. Cream, which one Dagan?" " I tell you, I don't know!" "With a new face, he could be a woman- I mean, posing as a woman." "You give to Butcher Dagan living disguise." " Dr. Cream!" " The" " Yes?" "Doctor, you've got to tell us who Dagan is." "I'm afraid I can't help you." "I never met Dagan." "You're covering up." "Mr. Chan knows what he's talking about." " We're all in danger here with a killer loose!" " Mr. Agnew quite right." "Will send offspring outside of building immediately to telephone police." "Okay, Pop." " Mr. Agnew, please lock front door after son's departure." " Very well." " If you'll excuse me, I have something to attend to." " Oh, no, you don't." " Why, you let me go!" " Tryin' to make a getaway, huh?" "Now, how you make getaway to summon police?" "Oh, gee, Pop, I forgot." " Where's the key?" " I don't know, you idiot!" "Perhaps radio control box connected by telephone... to broadcast studio will summon police." "Right." "I never thought of that." "Edwards, put me through to the studio." "No connection." "They signed us off." " Say, Pop, when I was in the lobby, that" " Please." "Too many theories." "Let no one leave this room." "Will try to fix office telephone." "You fool." "Don't try another double-cross." " What'd you say?" " Oh, uh, I said..." " "It looks as though you're the boss."" " Oh." "Didn't sound that way to me." "Mr. Lane, why were you spying on Mr. Agnew and Mr. Chan?" "Spying?" "What's this?" "I want to know what's going on." "You see, I came here to prevent a murder- Dr. Von Brom's murder." "What?" "Who wanted to kill him?" "My client, Mrs. Rocke." "The death of her husband left her embittered." "She believed that Von Brom persecuted Joe Rocke to make his evidence stick." "Tonight, at her apartment, she threatened to shoot Von Brom... if he wouldn't exonerate her husband." "I begged her to let me handle the matter, but... she lost her temper and ran out with a gun." "That's why I came here." "And now I'm convinced that she couldn't have killed Von Brom." "Mrs. Rocke, is this true?" "Do you know this man?" "Then he isn't your lawyer." "She's under a very great emotional strain." " I think Mr. Chan should know about this." " That's your business." "Who did that?" "Put those lights on!" "Don't move." "There's a killer among us." " I hope this isn't somebody's idea of a joke." " Where's the light switch?" "Please, Inspector O'Matthews?" "Yes, telephone feel much better." "Desire inspector at once." "Regret to report murder at Museum of Crime." "Killer, Butcher Dagan, still in building." "Witnesses to crime in great danger, and" "Why doesn't someone speak?" "Tom!" "Mr Lane!" "M-Maybe Dagan's sneaking up on us." " Somebody just touched me." " I did." " How many times do I have to ask?" "Where's the light switch?" " The corridor, on the right." " Uh, oh- sorry." "Sorry." " Watch yourself." "What's going on here?" "Which one of you put those lights out?" " Hey!" " Where's Dr. Cream?" "I knew I had the right man." "He got away in the dark." " You!" "You work with him." "You put the lights out for his getaway." " Prove it!" "Pop!" "Pop!" "Pop." "Pop!" "Knifed!" " Got him from the other door." " Question, please." "How you know killer use other door?" "Well, Mary was outside this door... and no one could come in this way." "Gee, Pop, it's really you." "Oh, for a minute, I thought that" "Filial grief honorable music to ancient heart." "I get it." "You set a trap to catch the killer." "Am most grateful to wax twin for deceiving same..." " but knife thrower escape in darkness." " Oh, the knife" "No, do not touch." "Fingerprints may have message." "Oh." "Dr. Cream" " He's gone." "Do likewise." "Go for police." "Each moment of delay dangerous to all here." "I'll have a general alarm sent out for Dr. Cream." "He's Dagan." "I got it all figured out." "There wasn't any Dr. Cream." "Dagan killed him and had somebody give him Cream's face." "He wouldn't run away ifhe wasn't guilty." "Unless doctor desire to escape offspring's theories." "And there was something else." "Just before the lights went out, I saw" "Sometimes better to see and not tell." "Dr. Von Brom proved that." "Once more, hurry for police." "Okay, Pop." "I won't let you down this time." " Please, everyone assume position held before darkness came." " All right." "Pop!" "Oh, Pop!" "Pop!" "The bandaged dummy I saw" " He's dead." " Who is it?" " Removal of bandages necessary for identification." " What happened?" " He's all right." "Oh, that bandaged dummy." "It was a man." "He's dead." "Please touch nothing." "Fingerprints will prove dead man was Steve McBirney." "Are you sure that was McBirney?" "Dagan strike again." "Wound in dead man's back indicate mortal blow with knife." "Say, what were those five crisscross scars on the back of his neck?" "Fresh scars?" "Signature of Dr. Cream." "Incisions made in facial surgery... to tighten and alter contour of face skin." " Playin' a game?" " Oh, Inspector, I-I thought you were the killer." "Where's your dad?" "Please, Inspector, must apologize for reception committee." "Well, that's okay, Charlie." "When your broadcast was cut off..." "I figured I'd better come over and see what was goin' on." " Oh, can you let my men in?" "The front door is locked." " Jimmy." "Say, we picked up Doc Cream outside." " Is it true what he tells me about Von Brom?" " Quite true." "Steve McBirney also murdered by Butcher Dagan." " Dagan?" " Contrary to opinion, Butcher Dagan still alive." "Dagan here?" "Well, which one is he?" "Have you spotted him yet?" "Killer will be identified when fingerprint expert arrive." "That's right." "Well, sure." "Dagan's prints are on file." "Oh, but he must have thought of that." "But he could have changed them by an operation." "You sound likeJimmy Chan." "Oh, no." "I wasn't trying to escape." "I was" " I was just going out a-after some help." "You certainly tried to avoid my squad car." "Pete, call headquarters, get Homicide over here." "Burns, get on the front door." "Nobody leaves." "Now, Cream, which one is Dagan?" "You know, we can't protect a man who won't name his enemy." "Well, perhaps the doctor doesn't consider Dagan his enemy." "I swear, I don't know him, and I never did know him." "Please, suggest others remain here." "You come with me." "Mike, go in that back room and see that no one gets out of that window." "Casey, you come with us." "Now, what you see just before lights go out?" "Mr. Lane." "He made a funny move towards that wall." " Then lights go out?" " Yeah." "Observe, please." "Secret light switch concealed in door to curio case." "I get it." "Lane plunged us into darkness and grabbed a knife from here." " See, it's missing." " Say, Charlie... if Lane is Dagan, why didn't he try a getaway?" "Killer evidently made attempt to escape in moments of darkness... but met obstacle of front door, which I had previously locked." " Then he saw McBirney and knifed him!" " Correct." "Cream knows who Dagan is." "Why won't he talk?" "Fear is cruel padlock." "Well, we'll get him with fingerprints." " He can't get out ofhere." " Hey!" "Hey, come outta there." "Please." " We've got Dagan." " Contradiction, please." "Prisoner is Grenock, bodyguard to Steve McBirney." "Don't let Dagan get me." "He killed Mac, and now he wants me." "If you're McBirney's man, you know Dagan." "Where is he?" "I don't know." "We were waitin' for Chan to spot him." "There." "She's Dagan!" "Why, I thought he was Dagan." "Dr. Cream's surgery not create Mrs. Rocke." "Take him out." " You came here to kill Dr. Von Brom." " No, only to confront him- to beg him to reconsider the evidence that convicted my husband." "He would never see me." " Say, Pop, she doesn't sound insane." " I had to pretend that... after I guessed- the way you did- that Dagan was here." "I wanted to stay- to avengeJoe." "No weapon in handbag earlier." "When the lights went out during the broadcast, I was suddenly afraid, so I hid the gun." " I didn't want it found on me." " But now you use same." "Yes." "And no jury would convict me for killing Dagan." "He framed my husband, sent him to the gallows." "Mock insanity not always safe alibi." " Mrs. Rocke, how did you get into this museum?" " Watchman feels sorry for me." "He thinks I come here to talk to my husband." "I'm sure he didn't throw the knife at Mr. Chan." "Uh, am also positive." "Say, Pop, Dagan must have McBirney's gun." "I don't see why he doesn't shoot his way out." "May be contemplating same, if unable to remain invisible." "Or may strike from darkness with blowgun." "Please, hold valuable evidence:" "antidote for tonga- poison used on bamboo dart." " Where did you get it?" " From Dr. Cream's office." "Observe." "Duplicate of blowgun used by Butcher Dagan." " That's a toothpick from the Automat." " Yes." " You tryin' to tell me Von Brom was killed with a toothpick?" " No." "Small bamboo dart containing original poison." "Dagan blew it into the doctor's neck." "A mere scratch is fatal." " Ah, that's silly." "I don't believe it." " Go on, Pop." "Show him." "Son read parent's thought." "Tom Agnew!" "You fool!" "Give me that antidote!" "Don't waste time." "This is quick!" " You killed Dr. Von Brom." " Yes!" " Also Steve McBirney." " Yes, I had to!" " You framed Joe Rocke, innocent man." " Yes, yes!" " But hurry." "Give me that stuff!" " Dart only broken matchstick." "Original needle of death still in pocket." "Your prisoner." "Casey, take him out." "My boss." "Club me with a feather." "Mr. Chan, you've cleared my husband's name." "I'm deeply grateful." "How can I ever thank you?" "Justice, like virtue, brings its own reward." "Well, Mr. Chan, you win the radio debate." "You solved the Rocke case, all right." " Charlie, how long have you known this?" " Knowledge short, suspicion long." "I might have known." "Any other radio man... would have stayed on the air to broadcast Von Brom's murder." "Small nose for news in radio man first aroma of suspicion." "You knew he was there all the time?" "Hiding place discovered when wax figure suddenly develop... telltale scars on back of neck like Steve McBirney." "Gee." "McBirney gave you the clue to spot Dagan." "And we might have cleared out of here and left him to a clean getaway." " What about Dr. Cream?" " Oh, he'll get five years for lifting mugs' maps." " Supper?" " I've got a whale of a story to phone." " Well, after you phone then." " Mr. Lane..." "I'm awfully sorry I suspected you." "Oh, that's all right." "Forget it." "It kept me on Mary's mind." "Hey!" "I've been watching you." "You can't get away with museum property." "Let that be a lesson to you." "Yes, sir." "Say, Pop, what was Dr. Cream doing with an antidote for blowgun poison?" "Ah, that was a bluff, Jimmy." "Just a bottle of toothache painkiller." "Boy, you sure pulled a fast one." "I'm gettin' sick and tired of all these dummies around here." "Pop!"