Suspense Sundays (94) Madman of Manhattan

Suspense was a radio series from 1942 to 1962.  I have a fondness for "Old Time Radio" as we call it now, and Suspense is my favorite show.  It sets up weird, dark, scary, or intriguing stories with a plot twist in the end, and all in half an hour.  For Suspense Sundays I'll give a short review of an episode.

"Madman of Manhattan"

Air date: March 8, 1959
Starring Myron McCormick

>>Episodes here<<

Lacey Abbott, convicted murderer, has just escaped from an asylum after killing his lawyer to go after the man who he believes is really responsible for the death of Lacey's wife.  Lacey corners the man - Martin - at home with Martin's wife and children sleeping nearby.  As the conversation continues between the two men, Martin vehemently denies he had anything to do with killing Lacey's wife.  But Lacey is prepared to kill Martin's family if he doesn't confess.  But did Martin do it, or is Lacey really crazy?

The best part of this episode is not knowing whether or not Martin did do it.  It's also quite chilling to hear how desperate Martin is to save his family near the end.  There's one scene early on where Lacey goes out to buy a gun, and after the man sells it to him, Lacey thanks him and says he won't forget it.  "Neither will (laughs a little) a friend of mine," he adds.  Umm.... that seller should have thought twice about selling him the gun after that statement!  I think the ending of this episode was better than the whole of it though, so overall this was just an okay episode.