Suspense - The Defense Rests (#81)
Channel: Old Time Radio Researchers
Date: 29/03/2023

Suspense - 03/13/44, episode 81
Brought to you by the Old Time Radio Researchers, courtesy of The Suspense Project

Alan Ladd plays Robert Tasker in The Defense Rests, a young ex-con who is rehabilitated by a criminal attorney who hired him to be a clerk in his firm. A lawyer in the same firm is the former DA who convicted Tasker. When that ex-DA is murdered, everyone knows who the likely suspect is: Tasker!

East and west network recordings have survived. This is an incomplete aircheck, station not identified, of the west coast broadcast. There is also an Armed Forces Radio and Television Service recording from the late 1970s / early 1980s that is derived from the east broadcast.

The aircheck has a gap at the end of the recording where some final announcements were made. The recording returns and has the CBS network ID at the conclusion of the recording.

The network recordings are the ones in best sound quality, with the west slightly better.

The story also appeared in Suspense Magazine #1 and a PDF can be downloaded at the same link for the recordings.

The cast: ALAN LADD (Robert Tasker), John McIntire (Max Craiger), Will Wright (Judge), Frank Graham (Prison warden / Cop / Bailiff), Hans Conried (Arthur Hines), Joe Kearns (Man in Black), Joe Forte (Police Captain / Johnson), unknown (Peggy), unknown (Harry Marvin)

For more information, visit https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2023/03/1944-03-09-defense-rests.html