# Pursuit: Pursuit of the Tall Man (EP1281)

An episode of [Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1696519927), 10 Aug 2026, 29 min.

Audio: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/f90a09/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/57359938/gd1281.mp3

Release Date: June 09, 2014 The police searched for a tall man believed to be behind a series of robberies. Original Air Date: January 6, 1950 Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at https://support.greatdetectives.net Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715 Give us a call at 208-991-4783 Take the listener survey at https://survey.greatdetectives.net Check out our social media at https://www.greatdetectives.net

## Transcript

[0:29] Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
[0:35] is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, send it
[0:39] to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter Radio
[0:45] Detectives, and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com slash
[0:50] Radio Detectives. Before we do get started, I didn't want to let you
[0:56] know that we do have a their podcast. Check out the War at Thewar
[1:03] dot Great Detectives dot app for old time radio wartime programming from World War Two,
[1:11] and the Old Time Radio Superman show Lasernsword dot com. Well, now
[1:15] it's time for today's episode of Pursuit. And there were several lost episodes between
[1:23] last week's showing this one. This one was the first program of nineteen fifty
[1:29] from January sixth, nineteen fifty. Here is the Tall Man, purshoots and
[1:48] a criminal strikes and fades quickly back into the shadows of his dark world.
[1:52] And then the Man from Scotland Yard, The Relentless Dangerous Pursuits, quen Man,
[1:57] Huntsman, The Nice Story, The Tall Man, A brief message from
[2:10] the Board Dealers of America, Park Dan, the Allway Construction engineer and builder
[2:15] is one of more than one hundred and ten thousand owners of new nineteen fifty
[2:19] boards. He says, when I build, I like to start with a
[2:23] solid foundation. So when I first looked at the fifty Ford, I got
[2:27] right down under and examined its frame. One luck told me that this wasn't
[2:30] the frame you usually see under a low price car. It was quality,
[2:36] sturdy steel, worthy of America's finest cars. And the heavy gate steel of
[2:40] the Lifeguard body told me the same quality story. But it was driving the
[2:46] fifty Ford that convinced me. That tire of the owning one. It's a
[2:50] fine car, feel and show makes me glad I picked a Ford. Yes,
[2:55] we board dealers of America don't want you to take anyone's word for this
[3:00] new nineteen fifty four. You can't know how good it is until you test
[3:04] drive it yourself. Any Ford dealer will be delighted to let you test drive
[3:07] the fifty four. If you don't know his name, just look it up
[3:10] in the classified section of the phone book. Test drive it for power,
[3:15] for safety, for the quietness, which is its market quality. Yes,
[3:19] before you buy any car at any price, test drive the fifty four.
[3:23] It will open your eyes to how good a low price car can be.
[3:30] Now, with Ted n Cossia's starred as the famous Inspector Peter Blackham's backland yard,
[3:36] we bring you tonight's story of violence and murder pursuits of the tall Man.
[3:54] Oh good you mean whether I do hope you'll wind? Is katy on
[3:59] several long oh persa at the back of the shower, Thank you, mom
[4:02] b to say, yeah, yeah, that's all right, that's going good
[4:20] anything, Oh, Inspector black I didn't realize the importance of the case.
[4:28] It's nice to see you. Any chance. The bullet pilicates the left side
[4:31] of the body, no point of exit. Here's the left love internal hundreds
[4:38] at plenty talk. I don't think it'll make any difference. Now you can
[4:42] cry in case. I'm Inspector black I'm sorry, but I must ask you
[4:48] some questions. Do you know who shut you now? Can you tell me
[4:54] what you looked like? She was big? Dark? Do you mean a
[5:00] tongue? Yes, hatty us customer pulled out, Yes, yes, I
[5:08] know, Hey, okay to reach the hi to be seized? Um finished,
[5:19] bad luck mating you want the bullet? Yes to send it ballistics if
[5:24] you will, and thank you doctor details yes starting Fisher, any inspector.
[5:34] Oh hello Fisher, you're a lead Mubbitt. Go home and enjoy yourself.
[5:39] Thank you, sir. Come up with anything at Fisher not much so at
[5:43] least we shan't have to look far for emotive and these broken curry cases,
[5:47] you know, ser, this or gets into a definite pattern. Oh,
[5:51] two nights ago a jewelry firm Macintoch Limited was held up and rub and yesterday
[5:58] and Greenwich at Huxton House. Also at gory Burn it happened again. Was
[6:01] there a description of the men but both mister mcindosh and mister Duxton it's god
[6:05] the man as tall and wearing dark clothes. Then it appears that we're looking
[6:10] for the same men in all three instances. As a potho were no prince
[6:14] nosa, no more than here. Well, I don't think there's anything more
[6:17] you doing here on the premises, No, sir. I posted a constable
[6:21] outside, but they're not so good. It's in in your repoti soon as
[6:25] you can. So I knew I should have won my garages. How I
[6:36] think it's giving up for a bit. Come on for mind the battle.
[6:40] Thank you they please, Yes, sir, we knew we were looking for
[6:50] a tall man in dark clothes. Our witnesses had a greatpence. Now we
[6:56] wanted a comprehensive record of every criminal who specialized in your in particular those who
[7:00] stood over seventy two inches a night. We wanted the name, history and
[7:04] picture of every man in our files who answer to those qualifications. From that
[7:09] point, the pursuit of the tall man would progress accordingly. Pert, good
[7:24] even, thank you at your report. Yes, yes, Chrishner, we're
[7:30] up against an experts then one man, no doubt about, at least as
[7:34] far as the actual deed is concerned. Witnesses descriptions, even the man's methods.
[7:40] Hey, here's the breakdownswer twenty two men of the general description meet our
[7:44] requirements. These thirteen vent penal servitude at the moment, two awaiting trial at
[7:49] Brixton. End of the remaining seven four unknown dead ent here are the other
[7:53] three. Let me see and Jack Peeter sertainly foreigns requatics, un usual rectory.
[8:01] I'll see of them exactly. I think that's about it, sir.
[8:03] It's a matter of identification. Now, may I usual telecomone? Good,
[8:07] thank you, back here, would you not, if I'm mister mcintash and
[8:15] mister Huckston, that i'd like to see them in my office at nine o'clock
[8:18] tomorrow morning. A routine identification, that's all. Oh, yes, how
[8:37] do you do, mister Saxton? How do you do? Mister Huckston?
[8:39] Have you met mister McIntosh? No, I have not had How do you
[8:43] do? Of course we are before, well have away? Your face is
[8:50] familiar. Well, perhaps at the market, possibly so pustle crystal. Yes,
[8:56] gentlemen, before I asked you to look at these photographs, I want
[8:58] to ask a question. It is our belief that the person who rapped your
[9:03] shops so thoroughly acquainted with the merchandise who had him stock. Now all of
[9:07] you saw him, of course, at the time of the robbery, But
[9:09] do any of you recall see him prior to that? Well, gentlemen,
[9:13] well, I have my regular salesman, the customers inspector, and of course
[9:18] my top in tray. But I can't remember anyone who's a considerable amount of
[9:22] time in the shops. And Humiss Jackson. We know. I'm afraid I
[9:26] can't help you there. I will certainly remember him, I see, would
[9:30] you both step over here. Please attagin Marty, would you turn out the
[9:33] lines now? Gentlemen, I shall run these photographs through this lantern sign.
[9:41] We believe there is a possibility that one of these men is the man who
[9:46] rapped your shops and killed mister Jason. Now, then if you see anyone
[9:50] recognizable stuff and here's the first I help all right, what about this man?
[10:00] Leave? Yes, mister magniz. Have you have you got a spite
[10:05] few of the swamps and spike? Look, yes, mister Macintosh, I
[10:07] have put it in my There you are, mister macintarsh front. Have you
[10:13] seen this man before? I'm sure that's someone who make stadst and why I
[10:20] yes, I think the man's mouth it's incredible. I figure up. Why
[10:28] do you look at me like that? Or I mean, no offenserver,
[10:31] but the resemblance between you and the man I pick out, he's incredible,
[10:37] even your size. Look here are you in senior even now? Gentlemen,
[10:41] I'm sure mister McIntosh myth don't harm. We'd hardly be likely to suspect the
[10:46] victim of a crime, now, would we? Just no offense intended?
[10:48] I am very much abliged to book. I'm sure we shan't have to take
[10:52] up any more of your valuable time. It's not my time. I'm worried
[10:54] about this. It's my good now of course god Man's came. Well,
[10:58] a good day, gentlemen. Well now, Mary, I think we're getting
[11:07] somewhere. You may miss Hoxton, Sir. I think Macintosh's identification was no
[11:11] more than the witness's confusion. You might inquire further into his background, however,
[11:16] all right, although I doubt you'll find anything we don't already know.
[11:20] Now, I believe Jack Cleever's a many Let me have that record card?
[11:24] Would you here? You are so, thanks tether. Jack Cleever first arrested
[11:28] June nineteen thirty nine connection with burglary jewel house, Sussex conviction two years Jack
[11:35] Cleaver's subsequent arrests following release of convictions Jack clear at your robberis Twin in nineteen
[11:43] forty seven, released in sufficient evidence, great many questions and a very few
[11:48] answers. There am I have had a character said? Yes, Well I
[11:54] think we guys, Martin, I think we know a man not a fine
[11:56] to me get me a car? Would you want to pursuits with ten to
[12:13] Costia star as Inspector Peter Black of Scotland Yard continues in just a moment,
[12:18] but first a brief message from the Ford Dealers of America. More than one
[12:24] hundred and ten thousand happy owners of the new nineteen fifty port will tell you
[12:26] that it's just common sense to test drive the fifty fort before you buy any
[12:31] car. Ten minutes will convince you that the fifty four tops them all.
[12:35] That's why your Ford dealer wants you to test drive the quiet new V eight
[12:39] engine. It's the tight hu's in America's most expensive cars. He wants you
[12:43] to test drive the magic action of the King size breaks, which are thirty
[12:46] five percent easier to apply. He wants you to test drive it for the
[12:50] feeling of security of its lifeguard body and the comfort and spaciousness of its midship
[12:56] ride. He wants you to test drive it for the Ford field, which
[13:00] is a revelation of driving ease and player. If you don't know your fourty
[13:03] dealer personally, you'll find his name in your classified phone book. Even a
[13:07] ten minute test driver the fifty four will open your eyes. You'll discover there
[13:11] is one fine car in the low price field, and only one. The
[13:16] fifty Ford and now back to Tonight's story Pursuits of the tall Man. A
[13:35] man engaged in crime is usually consistent in his actions, even perform the same
[13:39] crime in the same manner again and again. And in pursuing the criminal,
[13:43] the assumption of this factor is to hunt his basis of operations. So,
[13:48] on a rainy afternoon in London, the last words of a dying man described
[13:52] his killer. They describe a million men living in medic Trabollt in London.
[13:56] They describe five hundred with criminal records. They describe twenty two men who could
[14:01] have committed the murder, and in the end they describe only one man one
[14:07] certain suspects. Good morning, Jerry. You're ropping the dog, Jerie,
[14:16] ain't you? I'm inspected by starving young Oh what's that? Now? I'm
[14:20] here to question a man named Jacks people, madam, which one does he
[14:24] occupy? Please the big fellow, ye angel peer more than a year now?
[14:28] He always hide his lodgings on time, Not like that, judge.
[14:31] It according address. Now do you know as she can be reached? Let
[14:37] anybody knows where to reach Leggie. She's making a fight in mind for herself
[14:41] around the corner of the eye. Eye steer. Yeh, she calls herself
[14:46] a dancer. That's between you and me. I don't think her audience care
[14:50] as much what he does with our feet. You know what I'm mean?
[14:56] I understand you to mean good morning? Oh what a sec I'm not time
[15:16] yet, I'm inspected black scoff and Johnny, I'm coming from home please,
[15:28] So so you are Letty clever? What are this sister? Do Jack clever?
[15:35] And what of that? We wish to question your brother in connection with
[15:37] a series of robberies? No good you're asking me about yet it will be
[15:41] easier for him if you tell us where we can try to Should I tell
[15:43] you anything? Well, all you've ever done is down and until he had
[15:46] believe the country. You want to know where he is? Or right,
[15:50] I'll tell you where he is, dear l, tell you sit that's where
[15:56] he is, passed his life out there are two months ago you and Darry
[16:00] Rock Britain sort of that he's dead. I'm sorry, miss, I'm sorry.
[16:15] And the cable was sent to Paris and the French officials of the Surete
[16:18] confirmed the information Jack Paper was dead. So somewhere in our pursuit, there
[16:23] had been a side turning that we had missed. The next morning we started
[16:29] the tedious process of retracing our paths. It was Sergeant Moffatt, searching through
[16:33] the files and papers of the deceased, who came across the detail which had
[16:37] been overlooked. Two weeks before his murder, Jason had discharged a clock named
[16:42] King King. As Marbat put it, it had occurred to him that this
[16:47] detail might send some light. As it turned out, it did. I
[17:00] want to question me, boy, I've never done a dishonesty in my life,
[17:03] asked him. I'm sure of that, mister kinkidjelp me, sir.
[17:07] How long had you worked in Jesus Jewishop before you were this charge? Better
[17:12] than four years? It was my discharged two weeks ago came as a great
[17:17] shock. I must say. Yes. During the last few months, did
[17:22] you notice any persons other than regular customers who frequented the shop? Well,
[17:26] I know, sir, that is excepting his wife. And I suppose she
[17:30] had good reason. What do you mean by that? Well, I hesitate
[17:34] to mention it, but poor missus Jason, she had good reason to keep
[17:38] an eye on him. Another lady mister Kinkin, well in a manner of
[17:44] speaking a woman? What did she look like? Go? I'm not in
[17:48] the habit of looking at strange women, Inspector Black. I'm a happily married
[17:52] man. Ah. She was pretty and blonde, quite tall, well formed,
[17:57] you might say, would you not if you saw her again? I
[18:00] should smile. Do you know I name? No, sir, I don't
[18:03] to the best of your knowledge. Did missus Jason's wife ever see her husband
[18:07] in the company of this lady? I should hardly like to say so,
[18:11] but I wouldn't be surprised. Thank you. You've been very helpful. I
[18:15] always told my wife. I don't know what you can understand, but it's
[18:34] not pleasant. We need to admit to be till this change is that my
[18:37] husband was involved with another woman. As I said before, Missus Jason.
[18:41] As unpleasant as this must be for you, there are questions that must be
[18:45] answered if we are to find your I don't know when it started, perhaps
[18:52] two or three months ago. He changed myles. Was never a very good
[18:57] liar. Perhaps it was my fault. I think I've forgotten how to be
[19:06] attractive to him. I'm not young. I suppose he saw in her what
[19:11] if once saw in me? I'm sorry, you know, I once saw
[19:19] them together, and she was quite attractive. Her hair was blonde, not
[19:29] like not died. She wasn't a chowdy, middle aged woman who you will.
[19:42] Don't have to tell me any more, missus Jason. And if there's
[19:47] anything I can do, you should can't. There are times in pursuit when
[20:03] the residue of violence is even more tragic than the violence. It is at
[20:07] this point in pursuan and I find that I neither respect myself nor find satisfaction
[20:12] in my job. I am aware, Inspector, that you did not ask
[20:32] me here to speak of frivolities. As a matter of fact, in a
[20:36] way I did have you. In the week's previous to the robbery, met
[20:40] a blonde woman, rather tall, and I gat a quite striking look here,
[20:45] though then you did. I consider that extremely impultimate question, can you
[20:52] give me her name, mister Macintosh? I see no recent This is officials.
[20:56] I must insist very well. Sylvia, Sylvia Pembleton. She'd come into
[21:03] my shop at tea time. What supper that hit meant nothing? I stopped
[21:10] seeing her when I saw her with him with whom sa the follow in Latin
[21:12] EU office Axton. I lost the one, I said to myself, and
[21:18] I saw she had another string. That was no hope for an old blotter
[21:23] like myself. So that was the last I saw of her. Do you
[21:27] still have her address? A Liberty? Well? Possibly mister Huckston had better
[21:34] for you. Just caught me in time, Inspector. I was about to
[21:52] close up. I shall be very brief, sir. Do you know a
[21:56] lady who calls herself Sylvia Pemberton? I'm afraid not should I blonde? Rather
[22:03] tall, attractive, my dear fellow. That's a description could put any number
[22:07] of my estimates. She would not be a customer, Miss Saxon. Now
[22:12] what are you driving at? I'm a married man. I am aware of
[22:15] that, sir, but I haven't promoted idea of what you're talking about.
[22:18] I must remind you that endured mister Mackintosh's statement in my office. So you
[22:22] mean a resemblance between I see you follow me? I could ask you to
[22:29] come along with me. There is a girl Rita went with Now I met
[22:37] her some three months ago that you pictured her. But Rita, that is
[22:44] what mister Macintosh thought about Sylvia. Pemberton or Rita went with? Oh,
[22:49] kaya can't believe this? You you you mean the trees? A man's a
[22:52] companess, possibly Miss Hudston, quite possibly. And now perhaps you'll be good
[22:56] enough to tell me where I can find you. This went give she's a
[23:02] dancer and it's good. The icis sciens si, I know how it is?
[23:06] Man? Are you yes? Yes, of course? Please be good?
[23:10] Thank you? Oh I, Muffett, would you be good enough to
[23:18] see that mister Macintosh meets mister Huxton myself at the stage jar of the Isis
[23:23] Theater about eight o'clock, good man, oh I Muffett here if you think
[23:29] that, bring mind looges? Will you thank you? Mouse? Oh?
[23:48] Thank you? Mama? This very gentlemen. There you are, mister Magnutish,
[23:57] can you identify her? I? That's how all right? That's Sylvia,
[24:03] mister Huxton, you know her as Rita Wentworth. He is I've been
[24:07] up, bloody fool and spier. I only offer stuck too late for me
[24:11] to a couple of mids. I imagine you will, sir. It's unfortunate,
[24:15] however, that it's too late for mister Jason to recover his life now
[24:18] gentlemen, I think we might as well wait for the lady in her dressing
[24:22] room. Sit down. It may be a few wants. Mister Hackston,
[24:37] I'd rather stand than your life money. Have a look around. Here's her
[24:49] look here find something money? I think so good? Show my see what
[24:56] else were you began? Mister Magantish? Have you ever seen these before?
[25:03] Oh? I'm not sure. The overfelt seems to be the weight he was
[25:10] with a pole and the hat it was black, Yes, sir, it
[25:15] might be the one that he and you, mister Huxton. Is this curtain
[25:18] hat familiar? Well, I don't know. Well, during the robbery,
[25:22] I was so upset I didn't notice what what about these? Sir? And
[25:27] so that's it. Well, gentlemen, I think we've found our man,
[25:34] or should I say woman over? Yes? Woman. These issues, gentlemen,
[25:41] are the enterical rips, not the heels, and bil was up inside.
[25:45] They would increase one's had some for inches. Now I want you to
[25:48] picture Letty alias Sylvia Penderton alias Rigel Went. We have dressed in the clos
[25:55] you identified wearing these lips by skip Volve of course. Cleefer Wie that's the
[26:00] name of the man we identified in your office. He's sister exactly, Letty
[26:03] Clever, she's our tall man. Yes, Miss let me Clever, I
[26:14] am placing you under arrest for the murder of mister Miles Jason, and I
[26:18] must warn you that anything you may say will be taken down and given in
[26:21] evidence. The criminal is like the animal. His reaction to capture maybe fury
[26:36] or sickness or docility. Miss Letting Clever was docile pursuit, and the pursuit
[26:45] is in Welcome Back. This would be the last episode where the naming scheme
[27:11] was not in effect that after this every episode would include the title pursuit either
[27:22] in or of except for a couple during the summer replacement series, because I
[27:33] think that does add something to it in terms of the rhythm. In terms
[27:37] of the missing episodes, the one, there were a total of eight or
[27:42] seven missing episodes, the Double Faced Killer, the Veiled Hat, the Tears
[27:48] Tears of Siva pattern for homicide, Death is a memory, Murder is the
[27:52] Cargo, and the five Pound Killer. So it missed quite a few,
[27:59] and we only have the twenty twenty nine that we're done with Ted Decrcia in
[28:07] the role. We actually only have four, so all right, Well,
[28:14] that will actually do it for today. We'll be back tomorrow with Pat Novak
[28:18] for Hire, and then join us back here on Monday for another episode of
[28:25] Pursuit. In the meantime, sender comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot
[28:30] app, follow us on Twitter, Radio Detectives, and become one of our
[28:33] friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com. Slash Radio Detactives from Boise, Idaho.
[28:38] This is your host, Adam Grahamson and Off

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