The Greatest Thief in the World

Originally Aired: June 21, 1951 Suspense #434, "The Greatest Thief in the World," presents James Mason as Peter Marriott, a sophisticated gentleman who may or may not be the elusive criminal known as the Squire. Scotland Yard possesses two bulky files—one on Peter Marriott and one on the Squire, a jewel thief who has stolen half a million pounds over five years without leaving a trace of evidence. When Marriott attends a shooting party at the estate of Sir Leslie and Lady Banbridge, he listens politely as his host rails against the infamous thief and boasts about his own security measures. Days later, 8,000 pounds worth of jewels disappear from Sir Leslie's safe in the Squire's unmistakable style. Scotland Yard begins to notice a troubling pattern: Peter Marriott has attended several parties thrown by the Squire's victims. As detectives watch him more closely, they discover he maintains a relationship with Jenny, a working-class girl who keeps mysterious parcels for him. When Jenny mentions that a stranger came asking questions about Peter—a man who referenced Canada and someone named Bushby—Peter's composed demeanor cracks for the first time, revealing there may be more to his story than meets the eye.