Titus Meely, Commodore Stitch/Von Rinker Titus Meely is a very rich old crank. While he looks pretty ordinary and lives modestly, he's made a killing in the stock market and he attributes this to the use of a psychic. He also is quite greedy and wants more money--though he certainly doesn't need it. Because of all these factors, he's ripe for the picking for a gang of con artists run by a guy who calls himself Commodore Stitch.
Soon, Titus 'accidentally' meets up with a woman reading a book about clairvoyants written by a guy named Von Rinker. The book is real but has been altered--and the photo inside of Von Rinker is actually the Commodore. She informs the mark that Von Rinker is in town and takes him to see this 'great psychic'.
To convince Titus that this guy can tell the future, they set up a phony mind-reading act. Titus is hooked--excited to give them his money in the hope that he'll get even richer. Instead, he just gets taken.
This bunko case is a lot more complex than usual for "Racket Busters". Lots of equipment and quite a few confederates make this one a bit unusual--but with such a rich mark, it made sense. What's also unusual is that this entire story is told by the Commodore to Captain Braddock in his office! It seems that the man's been caught and is bragging about their having taken Titus Meely! Overall this is a very good episode--made even better by the fun acting of Fritz Feld as the Commodor/Von Rinker. He's a familiar face from television and often played rather strange continental types and does a nice job. I also LOVE the crazy twist that occurs with the psychic equipment--but you'll have to see the episode to know what I'm talking about in this case. Well worth your time. Finally, it's one of the few cases where there is NOT a rescue at the end and Braddock and the Commodore laugh at just how stupid Meely was!!!
By the way, if you get the Alpha Video disc with this episode on it, it's labeled 'Miracle Mud' but is actually 'One More Dream'! Oops.
Soon, Titus 'accidentally' meets up with a woman reading a book about clairvoyants written by a guy named Von Rinker. The book is real but has been altered--and the photo inside of Von Rinker is actually the Commodore. She informs the mark that Von Rinker is in town and takes him to see this 'great psychic'.
To convince Titus that this guy can tell the future, they set up a phony mind-reading act. Titus is hooked--excited to give them his money in the hope that he'll get even richer. Instead, he just gets taken.
This bunko case is a lot more complex than usual for "Racket Busters". Lots of equipment and quite a few confederates make this one a bit unusual--but with such a rich mark, it made sense. What's also unusual is that this entire story is told by the Commodore to Captain Braddock in his office! It seems that the man's been caught and is bragging about their having taken Titus Meely! Overall this is a very good episode--made even better by the fun acting of Fritz Feld as the Commodor/Von Rinker. He's a familiar face from television and often played rather strange continental types and does a nice job. I also LOVE the crazy twist that occurs with the psychic equipment--but you'll have to see the episode to know what I'm talking about in this case. Well worth your time. Finally, it's one of the few cases where there is NOT a rescue at the end and Braddock and the Commodore laugh at just how stupid Meely was!!!
By the way, if you get the Alpha Video disc with this episode on it, it's labeled 'Miracle Mud' but is actually 'One More Dream'! Oops.