The Magic Necklace — Epilogue

by Tom Nichol

based on an episode of the same name from the
Adventures of Superman (1954)

[Writer’s note: At the time this episode was filmed, the laws regarding the crimes of both kidnapping and extortion, to say nothing of attempted murder, were much sterner than they are now. This is particularly the case given the fact that Lois and Jimmy were not only kidnapped, but were taken to Tibet as well. (This was prior to Tibet being taken over by the government of the People’s Republic of China.)]

A week had passed since Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen had been kidnapped by gangster Jake Morell and taken to Tibet, where Professor William Jody, of Metropolis University, had supposedly discovered a necklace that could protect anyone wearing it from harm in any way. Only the intervention of Clark Kent, and his alter ego Superman, had prevented Morell from murdering Professor Jody, his assistant, and Lois and Jimmy by means of a dynamite bomb.

In the process, Professor Jody had broken down and confessed that the whole affair had been a gigantic fraud. Lois, Jimmy, and Clark were now in the private office of Perry White, the owner and publisher of the Metropolis Daily Planet. Inspector William Henderson, of the Metropolis Police Department, acted as a liaison between the local, state, and Federal law enforcement agencies which had become involved in the investigation.

“So what’s going to happen to Morell and his goons, Chief?” Jimmy Olsen inquired.

“I can answer that, Jimmy,” the Inspector replied, a tone of steel in his voice, his eyes like flint as he spoke. “Because Morell and his two goons not only kidnapped you, but took you out of the country as well, the Federal laws regarding kidnapping come into play.”

“That means the FBI now has primary jurisdiction, doesn’t it, Bill?” Clark asked. The Inspector nodded grimly. “It also means that Federal criminal penalties apply, not only for kidnapping, but for attempted murder as well!”

“Yes,” Perry added, his face just as stern as the Inspector’s, “and that in turn means that Mr. Morell and his cohorts will all be eligible for the death penalty! The U. S. Attorney in charge of the case has personally assured me that he intends to demand just that for all three of these wretches!”

Clark, who had also been trapped in the cave along with Professor Jody and his assistant, let out a low whistle as his two fellow reporters grimly nodded their understanding.

“What about Professor Jody himself?” Lois then inquired.

Perry let out a long sigh, then responded, “That, Miss Lane, is where the situation becomes somewhat complicated. As it turns out, although the Professor confessed that the whole situation was a fraud, in point of fact, he committed that fraud under duress—he was literally forced into doing what he did! As a result, no criminal charges will be placed against him!”

As Lois, Jimmy, and Clark all gasped in surprise, their employer went on, “As you know, I’ve been on the Board of Trustees of Metropolis University for a number of years.”

Clark interrupted, “You were recently elected Chairman of that board, weren’t you, Chief?”

“Yes, Clark, that’s right,” Perry went on, “and it was in that capacity that I did some serious investigating, with the help of the Inspector here. To make a long story short, we found out that one of the Professor’s former students, whom the Professor caught cheating on an exam—and had that student expelled from the University as a result—kidnapped the Professor’s daughter and her two young children, and threatened to kill them unless the Professor did exactly as his former student said!”

“That’s both kidnapping and extortion, isn’t it, Mr. White?” Jimmy exclaimed, his face, like those of his two colleagues, turning beet red with anger.

“You’d better believe it, son,” Perry replied, his own face, like that of Inspector Henderson, a mask of rage, their eyes like flint as he continued, “His plan was to ruin the Professor beyond any hope of redemption or recovery!”

“We can’t go into a lot of details right now,” the Inspector added, “but I CAN tell you that, as a result of Perry’s investigative work, we now have more than enough evidence to send this wretch to the electric chair!”

“How come?” Lois asked.

“It’s because his actions took place over both state and national boundaries,” the Inspector replied. “That, in turn, automatically brings the FBI into the case, with both state and Federal penalties applying!”

As Lois nodded her understanding, Clark inquired, “What about the Professor himself, Chief?”

“Yeah, and what about the Professor’s family—are they all right?” Jimmy added.

“Yes, they are, I’m happy to say,” Perry answered, smiling, “and let me say, Jimmy, that I think all the more of you for your concern about them!” As the young ginger grinned appreciatively, Perry continued, “As for the Professor himself, as I mentioned earlier, he has been cleared of any criminal responsibility, although of course the poor man has been badly shaken by this whole affair. He has, and I think wisely so, elected to take early retirement, and the Board of Trustees has formally established a trust fund for his benefit which will enable him to spend his remaining years in peace and comfort!”

“Chief, that’s great!” Clark exclaimed, as his companions voiced their agreement.

“But what about the Professor’s professional reputation as a result of this affair?” Lois asked.

Still smiling, Perry answered, “I’m delighted to be able to tell you that word of his ordeal has already made its way through academic circles. As a result, the Professor has already received any number of messages of sympathy and support. His professional reputation, therefore, remains unblemished and unsullied!”

As the meeting prepared to break up, Clark observed, “This case, it seems to me, is yet another example of the truth of the words of Theodore Roosevelt in a speech he gave back in 1910: ‘No man is above the law, and no man is below it!’”

Posted May 30, 2026
Jim