The Story of Markham’s Death: Poe’s Lost Manuscript and a Fatal Alibi

Originally Aired: October 2, 1947 In Suspense #265, “The Story of Markham’s Death,” washed-up mystery writer Phil Martin (Kirk Douglas) stumbles upon what appears to be a lost manuscript by Edgar Allan Poe hidden in a bombed-out London house. Hungry for revival, Phil plagiarizes the work, passing it off as his own and winning literary acclaim. But his crime spirals into deeper deception when a Poe scholar confronts him, leading Phil to commit murder to preserve his secret. Ironically, in attempting to cover one killing, Phil builds the perfect alibi—only to be convicted of another. A sharp, ironic tale of ego, guilt, and poetic justice in the finest Poe tradition. Cast: Kirk Douglas Tags: Suspense, thriller, mystery, KirkDouglas, EdgarAllanPoe, literarycrime, oldtimeradio, plagiarism, psychological, MarkhamsDeath, fatalalibi, noir, vintagehorror, 1940sradio, classicdrama, suspensepodcast, metafiction