# Broadway's My Beat: The Mary Smith Murder Case (EP4968)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-great-detectives-of-old-time-radio-daily-mystery-dramas-162279/broadway-s-my-beat-the-mary-smith-murder-case-ep4968
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-great-detectives-of-old-time-radio-daily-mystery-dramas-162279/broadway-s-my-beat-the-mary-smith-murder-case-ep4968.md
Podcast: [The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-great-detectives-of-old-time-radio-daily-mystery-dramas-162279)
Published: 2026-05-06T07:00:03+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/broadway-s-my-beat-the-mary-smith-murder-case-ep4968--71871100
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdcn.co/e/pdrl.fm/997ffb/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/71871100/gd4968.mp3
Processing state: processed
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-great-detectives-of-old-time-radio-daily-mystery-dramas-162279/episodes/broadway-s-my-beat-the-mary-smith-murder-case-ep4968
Duration seconds: 2081

## Resource

Detective Danny Clover investigates a murder at the Hotel Savannah where a woman is found dead in a room registered under a false identity. The investigation uncovers a complex web of hidden marriage licenses, suicide notes, and a potential cover-up involving a talented writer.

## Highlights
- Main idea: The discovery of a woman's body in a cheap hotel leads to a search for her true identity
- Tension: A suicide note found at the scene suggests a closed case, but forensic evidence points to a double homicide
- Failure mode: The assumption that a lack of a weapon at a crime scene implies suicide is debunked by ballistics
- Practical takeaway: Investigating the motives of those left behind, like the widow Janice Kirk, reveals deeper secrets
- Main idea: The intersection of crime and the literary world provides a motive involving a destroyed manuscript

## Topics

Old Time Radio, Detective Drama, Crime Mystery, 1950s Radio, Police Procedural, Golden Age of Radio, Murder Mystery

## Chapters
- 3:30 — The Body at Hotel Savannah: Detective Danny Clover arrives at the scene of a woman's death, noting the lack of a weapon and the suspicious 'Mary Smith' alias.
- 6:00 — Tracing the Victim: Police attempt to identify the deceased, uncovering her past connection to the Women's Army Corps.
- 8:20 — The Writer's Connection: The investigation shifts toward William Walter, a writer whose life and work are intertwined with the victim.
- 10:50 — A Motive of Passion: Interrogations reveal a complex relationship between the deceased and a woman who claims to have mentored a writer.
- 15:50 — The Discovery of the Note: A handwritten note is found on the desk, appearing to be a suicide note, but its true meaning remains ambiguous.
- 18:10 — The Widow's Testimony: Janice Kirk arrives to discuss her connection to the deceased and the late William Walter.
- 25:50 — The Burning Evidence: The investigation reaches a climax as the destruction of a manuscript and a hidden marriage license come to light.

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## Transcript

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