Auto Light and its 98,000 dealers bring you Mr. David Miven in tonight's presentation
of Suspense.
Tonight Auto Light presents a story based on fact, the true report of a man who had
everything going for him.
But since all his dealings were illegal, it became necessary to move around more frequently
than was usual.
It's called Grand Theft, our star, Mr. David Miven.
Hey, Hap, what's the rush?
Well, not much time, Harlow.
For what?
Why, to enter that Auto Light family charity drawing?
Ah, you're right, Hap.
And friends, if you haven't signed up in the greatest charity event of all time, you'd
better hurry too.
You may make it possible for your own church or hospital...
Or your school or club...
Or any other recognized local or national charity to share in $100,000 in cash.
Tell them how simple it is to enter, Harlow.
Why, all you do is sign your name and address on a registration form at any Auto Light family
car dealer.
There's nothing to try or buy, nothing to solve or write.
But if you're one of the 25 persons selected, you will name any recognized charity you wish
to share in $100,000.
So visit any or all of these car showrooms.
De Soto, Hudson, Plymouth, Studebaker, Dodge, Willis, Nash, Packard, Kaiser, or Chrysler.
There's not much time left to enter the Auto Light family charity drawing.
So why not sign up tomorrow?
And now, Auto Light presents Mr. David Nevin in Grand Theft, hoping once again to keep
you in suspense.
Here's how it works.
You appraise things.
You stroll through a house, take your notes, make your calculations, and eventually you
come up with some interesting figures on which they pay you.
Of course, it's interesting work.
And if one is resourceful and competent and ambitious when no one is looking, one might
turn out to be wealthy.
Oh, there you are, Mr. Bentley.
I was afraid you might get away.
Oh, no, my dear Mrs. Payne, just waiting to say goodbye to you.
Oh, Mr. Bentley.
Oh, Mrs. Payne.
Well, I'm glad you did wait to say goodbye.
I feel I've really come to know you these last three days while you've been at our home
appraising all of our goods.
And I to know you, dear Mrs. Payne.
I really must hurry now.
My plane leaves in an hour.
Mr. Bentley, I know you've seen many lovely homes in your line of work.
What do you think of bars?
Oh, one of the loveliest I've ever seen.
Oh, truly, Mrs. Payne.
Did the insurance company ask you to appraise the jewelry, too?
No, no, they didn't, Mrs. Payne.
Oh, oh, dear.
Well, we had such a delightful chat while you were here, and I do feel I know you.
You did see my bracelet, the platinum one at dinner last night.
Oh, I couldn't help but notice it, Mrs. Payne.
Well, it's a matter of curiosity, and I know you do have this knowledge.
What do you think Roger paid for it?
Well, not a cent under $5,000.
Oh, then he does love me.
Be most assured of that, Mrs. Payne.
Oh, I really must go now.
Well, whenever you're in Denver again, call us, won't you?
Won't you, Mr. Bentley?
Of course I will.
Goodbye, Mrs. Payne.
You say goodbye, you take a cab to the airport, get on an airplane, and try to forget her
fat face on the way to New York.
However, once there in a little pawn shop you know of on 3rd Street, that face looms
before you just for one painful second.
Hi, Ben.
Hi.
Well, what you got this time?
Let's see.
Mm, platinum, eh?
So I understand.
What's your price?
Give you $1,500 for the thing.
Take it or leave it.
What?
He didn't love her enough.
I'll take it.
But that way is very small stuff.
Cheesecake instead of caviar, if you will.
No, one must broaden one's horizons, enlarge one's activities, launch into greater, more
productive fields.
In short, one must never be satisfied with $1,500.
That would be decadent.
Well, punctual as usual.
Oh, I always like to make my little visits on time.
I love you.
And how is your dear old grandmother today?
Is she comfortable?
She's as good as can be expected.
When do we get the money?
Soon, very soon.
I don't be impatient.
I'm going to speak to the insurance adjuster later on today.
But first I'd like to speak to Mrs. Mullen seriously.
She'll be the key person in this situation.
Ben, wait.
What?
You and I, Ben, we're two of a kind, but grandmother's not like us and she doesn't
know about us.
I...all I want to do is just get enough money to get out of here and get married and go
to Paris and forget everything.
So do I, my dear.
Well, whatever we do, I mean, does she have to be involved?
Only in a small way, love.
She's old, Ben.
She's never done anything wrong in her whole life.
Look, when you talk to her, be gentle.
For some reason, she thinks the sun rises on your shoulders.
Why, I don't know.
Well, your granny is a woman of supreme taste.
You might as well come along.
Oh, terrible house.
Ghastly knickknacks.
It's all she has left in her life.
These things, her memories.
Too bad she doesn't have any money any longer.
She broke her glasses yesterday.
They're being fixed.
You have a visitor, grandmother.
Mrs. Mullen?
Mrs. Mullen?
Ah, granny, granny, dear, good morning.
Ben, it's a wonderful morning, Ben.
Yes, it is, dear.
Have you been enjoying yourself?
You're looking well.
Oh, Ben, it's such a lovely morning.
Dear, I've something to talk to you about.
Will you listen carefully, dear?
Ben, be gentle.
Sometimes she'll answer, sometimes she won't, but she hears you.
What is it, Ben?
Now, I want you to be a very good girl and do as I ask you, dear.
Yes, Ben.
Sooner or later, possibly before the end of this week, a man will call on you.
Yes.
Now, I don't know his name, but he will represent an insurance company.
Now, he will ask you certain questions about some family jewelry.
Do you remember about the family jewelry?
Do you remember what I told you about the family jewelry, Mrs. Mullen?
Granny?
Yes, I remember, Ben.
What did I tell you?
Maud's grandfather gave it to me.
Then I gave it to Maud when she was 21, and she's had it ever since until it was stolen
from her.
Very good, dear, very, very good.
And that is exactly what you will tell this man when he comes here.
He'll ask you all about it.
Yes, Ben.
What's this all about?
I thought the claim was all right.
It's just that I'm going to stir things up a bit.
The insurance adjuster's bound to get here the next day or two.
He'll talk to you too, Maud.
You know what to tell him.
Ben, are we going to get in trouble?
Shh.
Now, no one's going to get into any trouble as long as dear old Granny does what she's
told.
Ben, dear.
Yes, Granny dear?
There never was any jewelry in this family, Ben.
Never.
I've never told a lie, Ben.
Never in my life.
You just say what I told you to say, dear, and everything will be fine.
You judge the picture of an old woman who never lied, and you wonder about it.
But you feel that the larger gain, the promise of it, the Paris of it, the unutterable delight
of being financially exhilarated, demands that you continue the action.
So you make a phone call to a certain insurance company.
Then you go home and await developments.
I believe you called Great Atlantic Underwriters yesterday about a claim.
I did.
The people who made it asked me to find out what's delaying the matter.
I'm from Allied Adjustment Bureau, Mr. Bentley.
Great Atlantic.
Turn it over to me.
My name's Coombs.
I'm happy to know you, Mr. Coombs.
Come in.
Thank you.
I just took a chance and thought I'd drop by this morning.
I'd like to ask you some questions about the claim, if I may.
Party name of Mullen, Maud Mullen?
Yes.
Look, I'm just getting ready for an appointment.
I don't want to be late.
Oh, be all right with me if you want to go undressing while we're talking, Mr. Bentley.
Well, it would be nice to get this settled for Miss Mullen.
Yes.
Oh, I see you paint.
No, no, I don't paint, Mr. Coombs.
Other people paint.
I just collect paintings.
Oh.
The pursuit of art is a natural activity with me.
Paintings or any other work that I can put in my home.
Anything to remind me that man is creative and not destructive.
Now let's see if I have all this right.
Chalmers Bentley, B-E-N-T-L-E-Y.
No initial?
No.
And you're an appraiser, Mr. Bentley?
Oh, yes.
Mm-hmm.
How about now?
Are you with anybody now?
No.
No different insurance companies call on me at different times to make appraisals.
I see.
You're in the same business, Mr. Coombs.
Different ends, of course.
I appraise fine objets d'art, rare household furnishings, jewelry, and, well, Mr. Coombs,
all of those things upon which the ordinary person would have no idea how to place a price.
Does that answer you?
Yes.
Do you work in New York all the time?
Most of the time.
But of course I have to travel and sometimes even live away from here, wherever my work
takes me.
You have any family here?
No.
What's on your mind?
Is there something wrong with the Mullen claim?
Well, you reported the burglary for these people six weeks ago.
You claimed that Maude Mullen was robbed of $18,000 worth of family jewelry, which you
had assessed.
The claim for the loss was filed three days later by you.
It should have been signed, sealed, and paid off by now, don't you think, Mr. Coombs?
Well, ordinarily, it would have been paid by now, Mr. Bentley.
If I wore a tweed, do you think I could get by without a top coat?
Oh, I think so.
It's quite warm outside.
I get so tired wearing a coat every time I go out, Mr. Coombs, don't you?
Excuse me.
Now, what's holding up the claim?
Well, several things.
First, the burglary they reported.
The police found no evidence of a forced entry in that old house of theirs.
I know all that.
But then I'm not a policeman and I'm not the burglar.
And it wasn't my jewelry that was stolen.
So I can't very well tell the police where to find the evidence.
Now, can I, Mr. Coombs?
Well, it's a point to consider, Mr. Bentley, and you did file the claim for them.
Oh, just as a favor.
You keep mentioning that.
There's another point, too.
I don't understand why they put a button in the back of some of these shirts.
Can you get it for me, Mr. Coombs?
Oh, yes, of course.
Now, as I understand it, that jewelry had been in the Mullin family some 60 years.
But in all that time, it had never been insured.
Now, they take out a policy three months ago, and just a month after your assessment, the
jewelry's stolen.
That strike you as something for us to look into, Mr. Bentley?
No, not at all.
Oh, thank you.
Oh, of course.
Why didn't they insure it before, Mr. Bentley?
Now, I don't know.
I have no way of knowing.
I see.
Were you in Denver last month?
Yes.
Why?
Appraise some things in the house of a family named Payne?
Payne.
Yes, I believe that was their name.
Yes.
Did you know that two days after you left, Mrs. Payne discovered a platinum bracelet missing?
No, I didn't know.
I know.
One of the companies I represent held a policy.
Mr. Coombs.
This has the flavor of an intimidating conversation.
Why do you mention the incident in Denver?
It has nothing to do with the claim with the Mullen family?
Well, in a way it has, but I won't go into that right now.
Oh.
Mostly, that's why the payment's been held up.
We just want to look into it a little more.
Mr. Coombs.
Yes?
I know you have your little task to perform, and the very nature of your work requires you
to suspicion everyone and everything.
However, I appraised the jewelry in the Mullen home.
I saw something of the circumstances there.
They asked me to file a claim for them.
When I tell them what you've just told me, perhaps they'll ask me to notify the insurance
commissioner.
Well, of course you can do that for them, Mr. Bentley.
That's what the insurance commissioner's there for.
But I'll tell you what they'll be up against.
We aren't convinced there was a burglary, and we aren't sure there was ever that much
jewelry in the Mullen family.
And if there was, and you assessed it, Mr. Bentley, we aren't so sure that something
like what happened to Mrs. Payne's platinum bracelet didn't happen to their stuff.
That's how it is.
Goodbye, Mr. Bentley.
Goodbye, Mr. Coombs.
Auto Light is bringing you Mr. David Niven in Grand Theft, a story based on fact.
Auto Light's presentation in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
During recent months, it has been Auto Light's privilege to salute leading car manufacturer
members of the Auto Light family and their dealers throughout the world for many years
of close association.
Car dealers from coast to coast have held open house, and some 30,000 Auto Light men
and women have visited special automobile showings set up in 26 Auto Light plants.
This third annual Auto Light family salute program will be brought to a brilliant close
with the opening this coming Wednesday of the famous Easter Parade of Stars automobile
show in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf Historia Hotel in New York City.
Here against a colorful background of thousands of living wildflowers, record breaking crowds
will see latest car models produced by members of the Auto Light family.
If you are in New York City this week, we cordially invite you to the Easter Parade
of Stars Auto Show at the Waldorf.
And wherever you live, remember more than 400 Auto Light products are famous throughout
the world for outstanding quality and performance.
Yes, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Auto Light.
And now, Auto Light brings back to our Hollywood sound stage Mr. David Niven in Elliot Lewis's
presentation of Grand Theft, a story based on fact and well calculated to keep you in
suspense.
When one's problems become complex, one must rely on experience to carry one through.
A suspicious insurance investigator can only operate on single track theories.
A resourceful insurance appraiser is quite aware of these methods and therefore regards
them in the proper light.
Naturally, one must be practical and bend all efforts to know where one stands.
Ben.
Well, Maude.
I've been waiting for you, Ben.
Mr. Coombs was at the house.
Of course.
He was here yesterday afternoon.
I tried to call you to tell you about it, but you weren't in.
He spent an hour with Grandmother talking to her.
What did he ask her?
What did she say?
I don't know, Ben.
You know how she is sometimes.
She just won't talk to anybody no matter what you ask her.
Where were you?
That's just it.
I told him she was ill and might not understand him, but he insisted on talking to her alone.
There was nothing I could do.
It would have looked bad if I...
I've got to find out what she told him.
Wait.
No, not now.
Something's happened to her right after Mr. Coombs left.
Some sort of shock.
The doctor doesn't know what it is.
Wait till tonight.
Maybe she'll be better then.
No, Ben.
Let go.
I said I have to see her.
Mrs. Mullen?
Mrs. Mullen?
Granny?
Ben.
That's right, Granny.
It's me.
I want to ask you something, dear.
It's important or I wouldn't have disturbed you.
Is it a nice day, Ben?
Lovely day, dear.
Lovely.
Mr. Coombs spoke to you yesterday afternoon about that little matter.
Do you remember?
Do you remember Mr. Coombs, Granny?
Granny tell me, did...
What did he ask you?
What did he say?
Mr. Coombs?
Oh, Ben.
He was very, very nice.
He smoked a pipe like Maud's grandfather.
I told him all about the jewelry, the brooch, the ring and the necklace.
I told him it had been in the family 60 years, Ben, and that I gave it to Maud when she was
21.
Is that right, Ben?
Granny, that's exactly right, dear.
Did he ask you anything else?
Did you tell him anything else?
That was all, Ben.
That was all.
Now, you go back to sleep, dear.
I'm sorry to have disturbed you.
Ben?
Yes, dear?
There never was any jewelry in this family, Ben.
Never.
Of course there was, Granny.
Didn't you tell Mr. Coombs all about it?
Yes, I told him.
But oh, Ben, I'm an old woman and I shouldn't have lied.
Now, don't you worry.
It's all right.
Maud?
Well?
Everything's all right.
What?
I'm telling you, we're in business.
Paris and all.
Pack your things.
Well, wait, Ben.
How is she?
Your grandmother.
Oh, my dear girl.
We don't have to worry about her anymore.
You'll put her in a nice home.
Now, pack and smile.
You sure we'll get the money on the claim?
I'm going over to get it now.
Now you finish it off.
Of course, there never was any jewelry, even though I assessed some.
And there never was any theft, even though one was reported.
However, there was a claim that in any adjuster's eyes, word on the evidence of it appeared
to be absolutely legitimate.
Oh, glad you came by, Mr. Bentley.
I was going to phone you.
This will save time.
That is precisely why I'm here, Mr. Coombs, to save time.
When will the Mullins receive their money?
Well, I'm afraid that's something I can't answer, Mr. Bentley.
Mr. Coombs, a valid claim has been placed with the company you represent.
And I'm sorry they have so many reservations about honoring it.
However, I know something of the workings of insurance companies.
I know that you, not the company, are holding it up.
That's quite right.
Why?
I understand that you had the effrontery to call on that poor, sick old lady.
Wonderful person.
I doubt if many people call on her nowadays.
Most of her friends must be dead by now.
I'll tell you why I'm here.
Miss Mullin asked me to come.
She wants her $18,000, Mr. Coombs.
The policy was written.
The money is owed.
Now, where is it?
The grandmother made a sworn statement.
All checks out there.
Oh, you're satisfied then.
Mr. Bentley, I want to tell you something.
This is off the record, just between you and me.
When I was at your apartment the other day, I couldn't help noticing the stuff on the
wall.
And I just asked around.
Some of those paintings in your place are worth $2,000 or $3,000.
That's a lot of money, even for a man who gets paid as high as you do.
Now, what am I leading up to?
Well, just this.
Not only the Denver thing, but you worked a case in Dayton, Ohio a year and a half ago,
pray some things for Midwestern indemnity at the home of some people named Vansing.
Do you remember Vansing?
Two days after you'd done your work, the Vansings found out that a diamond ring worth $8,500
was missing from their house.
I see here...
Now, just let me go on.
Similar thing happened in Omaha three years ago.
Family named Van Cleave reported 6,000 worth of jewelry missing.
It happened that you appraised their household goods just a week before.
Now, here's one from San Francisco and there's another one from St. Paul.
I mean, you see, you talk as though you expected to find stolen jewelry hanging on the walls
of my apartment.
No, no, but jewelry can be turned into money to buy paintings, can't it?
None of these things are any of my business.
Even those nice paintings hanging in your apartment, none of my business.
I have nothing at all to do with these people and their $18,000 claim with us.
Now, as you said, Mr. Coombs, all of this has nothing to do with their claim.
They want their $18,000, Mr. Coombs.
They want it within 24 hours.
You understand?
Now, that's pretty clear, Mr. Bentley.
But you can tell them they're going to be disappointed.
You see, it's out of my hands.
What?
I've turned the matter over to the Federal District Court.
I've asked them to find the insurance company not liable under the policy.
But it... take weeks for a hearing.
Yeah, I'm afraid so.
And if the court decides against them, Mr. Bentley, the grand jury will have grounds
to indict you for an attempted insurance fraud.
Oh, oh, that's a pretty rough thing to beat.
But now, if I had a statement from you right now, we might consider withdrawing from the
court and letting the entire matter drop.
I see.
Well, what do you say, Mr. Bentley?
Do you want to make that statement and clear all this up?
Mr. Coombs, I'm due on Long Island at 2 o'clock, an appraisal job for Eastern States underwriters.
They called me this morning.
I'm late now.
Then you don't want to make the statement.
Mr. Coombs, I simply wouldn't know what to say.
You really do know what to say, but under the circumstances, it would be inadvisable
to confide it to Mr. Coombs.
Two words suffice.
Get out.
What had looked good and promising in Parisian had suddenly turned into an ugly accusation
of theft, which was not the case, but which did definitely close the door on $18,000.
So one more crack at the old game.
And if you have to, Paris alone.
Would you care for tea or a drink?
Mrs. Prescott, I'm in rather a hurry.
Thank you.
Some other time.
You've been so efficient, going from room to room, wandering all over the house.
I'll just wait and not one single object escaped your eye.
Oh, did you happen to notice my daughter's diamond earrings?
Aren't they lovely?
Her graduation present.
Earrings?
Oh, oh, yes.
Oh, lovely.
Yes.
Yes, I believe I did notice them.
You see, we do have to be very thorough, Mrs. Prescott.
You understand that.
Oh, of course, of course.
Tell me, Mr. Bentley, did you see my son's bedroom?
Yes, I believe so.
Second door to the right top of the landing.
Yes.
Did you happen to see that little jade vase?
The jade vase.
Oh, yes.
Oh, Mr. Bentley, I know this is asking for information that should come officially from
the insurance company.
But what is it worth?
Forty dollars.
Forty dollars?
Oh, dear, and I thought it was worth thousands.
I bought it in Hong Kong.
What did you pay for it?
Forty dollars.
I'm just going to show you.
Are you sure you won't have any tea or something?
Quite sure.
If you'll excuse me.
Good day, Mrs. Prescott.
Good day, Mr. Bentley.
I do hope you'll come back again someday.
I want to talk to you about your work.
Goodbye.
Goodbye.
Hello.
Mr. Bentley, this is Detective Ivers.
Central Division, Mr. Bentley.
What is this?
Mr. Coombs, have you lost your mind?
Your full name is Chalmers Bentley?
Well, of course it is.
He knows that.
I understand your occupation is appraising, is that right?
It certainly is.
Now, I have a question.
Just a minute.
I'd like to see that briefcase, Mr. Bentley.
What?
Sorry.
Now, put it all back.
You're behind this, Coombs.
I bet you think what will happen when I call my attorneys.
It's just a little idea, Mr. Bentley.
I had to risk it.
Now, you can hear.
Nothing but a day's work, all unassorted, thanks to you.
Sorry.
Mind standing still?
I certainly do.
Now, take your hands off me.
I've got authority to search your person, Mr. Bentley.
It'll be done sooner or later.
What are you looking for?
A gun or something?
We have reason to believe you've taken some jewelry from this home.
That's why I looked over the briefcase.
That's why I have to search.
Oh, empty your pockets.
Give me a hat.
Hold still.
Nothing?
Can you finish it downtown?
Now, see here, I've been subjected to just about enough of this.
All right, it's not a necklace or a bracelet.
We'd have found it by now.
It's something smaller, a ring or a pin, or maybe you just pulled something out of a set,
but it's on you somewhere in your shoe or taped under your arm or somewhere.
Come on, now, what did you take this time?
Diamond earrings.
Where are they?
Here, right under my belt.
It's for the pay for my passage to Paris.
You're very good at your job, Mr. Coombs.
I'm an expert.
That's a real compliment.
Okay, let's get in the car.
Wait, Mr. Coombs.
How did you find out?
Well, I talked to your girlfriend's grandmother.
I don't understand.
I wanted you to talk to her.
She was my ace.
Oh, she told us the right story, Bentley.
Your story.
It broke that old lady's heart to lie.
Just broke it.
That's how we found out.
I bet that old lady never told a lie in her whole life before.
A two-year-old kid would have known she was lying.
Yes, I should have thought of that.
You never can trust these beginners.
I should have worn my top coat.
Suspense.
And now, the car.
Say, Harlow, just who's eligible to enter the Auto Light family charity drawing?
Anyone and everyone.
18 years or over, Hap.
And just what do you have to do, Harlow?
Why, Hap, it's as simple as signing your name and address.
In fact, that's all you do.
Just visit any Auto Light family car dealer showroom, sign your name and address to a
registration form, and nothing more.
There are no sentences to complete, no puzzles to solve, nothing to try or buy.
If you're one of the lucky 25 persons selected, you will name any recognized local or national
charity you wish to share in $100,000 in cash.
It costs nothing to enter.
So give your favorite charity this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to collect thousands.
Get one or all of these car dealers, De Soto, Hudson, Plymouth, Studebaker, Dodge, Willis,
Nash, Packard, Kaiser, or Chrysler.
Not much time left, so sign up tomorrow.
Next week, the story of a man whose welcome home party promised little gaiety and many
tears.
And surely, his death.
It's called Parole to Panic.
Our star, Mr. Broderick Crawford.
That's next week on Suspense.
Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis, with music composed by Lucian Morrowick
and conducted by Lud Bluskin.
Grand Theft was written for Suspense by E. Jack Newman.
In tonight's story, Mary Jane Croft was heard as Maude, Florence Walcott as Grandmother,
and Joseph Kearns as Coombs.
Featured in the cast were Trude Marston, Paula Winslow, and Vic Perrin.
David Niven may soon be seen in the Love Lottery.
And remember, next week, Mr. Broderick Crawford in Parole to Panic.
This is the CBS Radio Network.