The Hangman Won’t Wait: Memory Lost, Justice Delayed, and a Waistcoat’s Truth

Originally Aired: February 9, 1943

In Suspense #28, “The Hangman Won’t Wait,” a young woman named Helen Barton awakens in a prison cell with no memory—only to discover she’s been convicted of murder and scheduled for execution at dawn. Dr. Gideon Fell is called to investigate and slowly unravels a web of deceit, emotional trauma, and circumstantial evidence. With mere minutes to spare, Fell uncovers a critical forensic flaw involving a bullet's trajectory and a telltale waistcoat, turning the case on its head. Featuring Sidney Greenstreet as the brilliant sleuth, this masterful locked-room-style mystery proves that sometimes, a tiny detail can mean the difference between death and justice.

Cast:
Sidney Greenstreet

Tags:
Suspense, thriller, SidneyGreenstreet, JohnDicksonCarr, mystery, amnesia, wrongfulconviction, GideonFell, classicdetective, oldtimeradio, 1940sradio, suspensepodcast, prison, lastminute, forensicclue, classicdrama