Boston Blackie Podcast; Master Detective · Humphrey Productions

Richards_Diamond_Case

March 13, 2026·26 min·1 clip

Inspector catches Blackie in a lie about being shot—but Blackie admits he did it himself.

This episode of *Boston Blackie* follows the master detective as he is framed for the murder of John Richards, a man robbed of a valuable diamond. The host, Dick Calmer, portrays Boston Blackie, with supporting characters like his friend Shorty, love interest Mary Wesley, and his police nemesis Inspector Faraday. Blackie is shot in the shoulder outside Richards' home but has no memory of the crime. John Richards was killed after showing Blackie a $75,000 diamond he planned to purchase. Inspector Faraday arrests Blackie, citing Richards' dying claim that he shot his killer. Blackie fabricates an alibi about being shot while cleaning a gun at Charlie Kingston's apartment. Faraday intercepts Blackie's phone call to Kingston, exposing the lie. Blackie escapes headquarters by tricking Faraday with a ketchup trail. Mary Wesley seeks Blackie's help because her dog, Muttsy, faces destruction for allegedly biting a man named Robert Washburn three times. Blackie deduces Washburn faked the dog bite after shaking his bandaged hand without causing pain. Mrs. Richards is found in possession of the supposedly stolen diamond, implicating her. Muttsy leads Blackie and Mary to the woods, where he digs up a bloodstained jacket with a bullet hole in the left shoulder. A cleaner's tag on the jacket traces to the Johnson Tailor Shop. Blackie forces Faraday to accompany him to the cleaners, where the tag is linked to Robert Washburn's address. Blackie theorizes Washburn knocked him unconscious, killed Richards during a robbery, and then shot Blackie to frame him. He believes Washburn tried to have Muttsy killed to eliminate the dog as a witness. Faraday initially confronts the wrong man at Washburn's home, mistaking the butler for Washburn. Blackie corrects him, leading to the arrest of the real Washburn, who possesses the matching bullet wound. The episode concludes with Blackie and Mary celebrating Muttsy's role in solving the case. The most interesting insight is that the dog, Muttsy, is the unexpected key to the mystery by unearthing the critical evidence. Blackie's deduction about the fake dog bite reveals Washburn's broader scheme. The episode cleverly subverts the typical "framed man" plot by having the protagonist actively wounded and amnesiac about the crime. Faraday's persistent but flawed pursuit adds tension, while Blackie's reliance on his small circle of allies highlights his resourcefulness. The tone is a fast-paced, classic radio detective drama blending suspense with witty banter. The style is conversational and narrative-driven, featuring tight dialogue, sound effects, and periodic commercial breaks that maintain the era's broadcasting style. The episode balances Blackie's serious predicament with lighthearted moments, particularly involving the dog. Fans of old-time radio mysteries and hardboiled detective stories will love this episode for its intricate plotting and charismatic lead. Listeners who prefer modern, gritty crime narratives or dislike the dated audio quality and formulaic structure might skip it.

As heard by us

A brisk mystery built around a $75,000 diamond, a shooting, and a dog complaint.

The episode opens with a $75,000 diamond and quickly folds a shooting into Blackie's effort to sort out who can be trusted. The pleasure is in the fast accusations, the bandaged-hand squeeze test, and the dry humor that keeps the danger from getting too heavy.

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Why you'd press play

Want an old-time radio mystery with a diamond, a gunshot, and a dog in the middle of it?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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