The Evil of Adelaide Winters

Originally Aired: September 10, 1951 Suspense #438, "The Evil of Adelaide Winters," Adelaide Winters, played by Agnes Moorhead, defends herself from what she claims are unjust accusations. Speaking after years of paralysis caused by a bullet lodged in the base of her skull, Adelaide recounts her work as a medium during the war years. With her assistant Robert reading names of soldiers missing in action, Adelaide contacts grieving families, offering them hope of communication with their lost loved ones. When Edward Porter receives word that his son John is missing, Adelaide reaches out to him. Though Porter is a skeptical businessman who has always dealt in facts and figures, his desperation leads him to Adelaide's office. Over seven days of séances, Adelaide appears to make contact with John's spirit, bringing Porter both comfort and anguish. Adelaide insists she helped people when they had nowhere else to turn, but her methods and motivations remain deeply questionable as she builds toward explaining the horrible affair that left her shot and paralyzed.