The Robbery
The archive describes a double murder in a town auditor's office and an investigator arriving without announcing who he is.
Listen to this episode ↗Crime & Detective
In the Name of the Law.
Police files become radio drama in In the Name of the Law, an early syndicated crime series from 1936. Each story begins with a case, drawing the listener into the work of uncovering what happened and who was responsible.
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Police work before the familiar television formula.
The programme presents stories introduced as being drawn from police case files. It predates later radio procedurals such as Dragnet, and its appeal lies in hearing an earlier approach to dramatizing investigations.
These stories invite attention to circumstances and testimony rather than a recurring hero's personal history. Choose a case and hear how an early recorded police drama presents its account.
Start with a case.
In the Name of the Law · THE COLLECTION
Choose your next episode.
Choose from 12 episodes. Search by title or sort by running time.
Showing 1-12 of 12 recordings.
The Robbery
24:59Who Killed Francis
25:38She Was Murdered
24:16July Fourth Picnic
25:45I Didnt Do Nothing
25:22He Did It Or Did He
25:27Phantom Gang
26:09Bumped Off Hubby
25:01
The directory follows the order of the available collection. Historical dates, where verified, are explained in the episode guides.
A 1936 series with incomplete documentation.
The UMKC entry identifies The Robbery as a syndicated programme and places it in 1936, while explicitly warning that its exact listed date is subject to correction. OTRCAT also places the series in 1936 and describes its police-report basis.
Those references support the period and premise. They do not justify inventing a definitive first transmission day, full network history or cast list. The 12 recordings here describe this collection, rather than a proven total production count.
Before you listen.
Are the stories presented as real police cases?
The programme introduces its dramas as drawn from police files. That presentation should not be confused with an independently verified historical reconstruction of every detail. [2]
Why is there no exact premiere date?
The archive itself qualifies the date attached to The Robbery. This guide retains the verified period rather than publishing a certainty the source does not support. [1]
Why is the cast not listed?
The sources consulted do not establish a dependable production-wide cast for these recordings. Missing names are left out rather than guessed. [1]
If you enjoy In the Name of the Law.
Crime Does Not Pay
For a later crime anthology with better-documented production credits and an explicit moral frame.
The Black Museum
For case dramatizations linked by Orson Welles and objects from a crime museum.
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Sources and recording notes.
Programme and historical references
Heritage Radio Vault recordings
Official In the Name of the Law recordings ↗ supplies the available audio, artwork and modern recording metadata.
The year 1936 is supported; a precise premiere date is not asserted. No unsupported claim that only 12 programmes were ever made is attached to the 12 recordings in this selection.
Historical references and modern publication dates describe different events. Sources checked 4 November 2026. Original scripts, recordings, performances and music may carry rights belonging to their respective owners. For corrections or rights enquiries: markwilliams@heritageradiovault.com.