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1001 Radio Crime Solvers
THE MEDIUM RARE MATTER and THE THREE FOR ONE MATTER YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
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For over twelve years, from 1949 through 1962 (including a one year hiatus in 1954-1955), this series recounted the cases "the man with the action-packed expense account, America’s fabulous freelance insurance investigator, Johnny Dollar"....
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And young Mason Moore got more done quickly uploading HD product demos and video conferencing without freesight, the numbers look good. Brad, you're on mute. Switch from cable Internet to Ziply Fiber and get more of what you love for $65 less per month than cable at Ziply. Fiverr.comJohnny Dollar I am thy father's spirit. What? Doomed for a certain term to walk tonight. Well, good for you. And for the days confined to fasting fires. How about that? Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature are burnt and purged away. Bravo, Mr. Shakespeare. Now why don't you just relax and enjoy it? I wish I could. Johnny, this is Jack Price down here in Corpus Christi. I thought I recognized those pear shaped tones. How are you, Jackson? Oh, fair, fair. Why? The long winded quote from Act 1 of Hamlet. Tell me Johnny, do you believe in ghosts? Are you kidding? Not a bit. Because a lot of innocent people down here in Corpus are beginning to. You are kidding? No, sir. How come? Because of a so called psychic medium who's moved in on us. A medium? He's been holding seances or whatever you call him and making with the clairvoyance bit. He's a rare one, Johnny. Now which is a Jack, huh? Rare medium or maybe well done. Well, the act he puts on is well done. All right, but what you worry about him? He's costing us money. How? Come on down here, Johnny. I'll give you the story and you can get to work on him, okay? All right, Jackson? Why not? The CBS radio network brings you Mandel Kramer in the exciting adventures of the man with the action packed expense account, America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Doll Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny Dollar to try Western Life Insurance Company office in Corpus Christi, Texas. Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the medium rare matter expense account. Item 1.132.15 for a cab to Bradley Field. Then plain fare to Corpus Christi. Item two is a buck 35 for the airport limousine to the Robert Driscoll Hotel where I got myself a room. Parked my luggage before walking over to Jack Price's office in the Katz building. I bet you're tickled pink to get away from that cold New England winter weather. The truest thing you ever said, Jackson. How are you? Fit to be tired, Johnny, on account of this so called psychic medium. Oh, sit down. I'll tell you all. All right, tell me. Don't the police around here kind of frown on such this? Sure is. But somebody's got to prove it and put him out of business. Johnny, there are a lot of people who believe in spiritualism. But when a rank charlatan like this comes along. Well, let's face it, Jack, you find them all over. They ought to be locked up, but they're usually too smart. Now let's have the story. Well, first off, he operates out beyond the city limits. That's why our Corpus Christi police are helpless. Yep. His name is Udi Vishnu. Vishnu. @ least that's the name he uses. You ask me, that Hindu or whatever it is accent he uses has a touch of Brooklyn in it. No? Phony, Phony, Phony. But they continue to fall for him. Knowledge of the past, present and future. Mind reading. Message from the dead. Phooey. You really don't like him, do you? He's already cost us money. Unless you can stop him, he'll cost us a lot more. Us and a lot of other people. And that means a lot of heartbreak too. Don't tell me that he makes a charge for his meetings, seances, whatever you want to call them. Too smart. He'd be up against the laws on fortune telling. No, Johnny, all it takes is contributions. There's no law against that. Just where and how does he operate? A few miles out south. Staple Street. You remember the place they call Ranch 66? Wasn't that a gambling joint? Among other things. Well, they prefer to call it a roadhouse anyhow. On a side road, ways beyond Ranch 66 is a little theater that's been empty for years. And now all decked out in fresh paint with a new facade. It's Udi Vishnu's temple of the living truth. And, Johnny, every single night of the week, that place is packed with the poor suckers who think he's some kind of a new prophet. He must be good. Yes, he's great. And, brother, you should see the money they lay on the drum. Plenty, right? Including proceeds from the insurance policies they've been cashing in. Ah, so that's where it hurts. You bet it does. We made a big thing over the years of insuring the little guy. The one that some of the big companies don't want to bother with policies for. Only a grand or two. Don't you see, Johnny? Those are the people who need that insurance. And you've got to stop him. Well, Jackson, I don't know. You got it, Johnny. Before any more of these people get hurt, every single night, they're out there shelling out their door to hear his glorified magic act. People from all over this part of the country. Oh, yeah. Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, wherever he's carefully planted his literature. At least that brings some extra money into this thriving city of Corpus Christi. Wrong. I forgot to tell you. The suckers don't know it, or if they do, they don't care. But he also owns a big old hotel that just happens to be only a block away from his temple. It's always jammed with his followers. This thing's been going on for over a month now, so he's really cleaning up. But mostly, of course, on the contributions. I don't know, Jack. I mean, if he's not committing any actual crime. I think he is. What do you mean? What sort of crime? Murder. Murder? Yeah. He's been getting his people in, his. His followers to name him as the beneficiary of their insurance. Not temple, Johnny, but him. Oh, yeah. And listen, go ahead. In the last two weeks, for no apparent reason. And remember that. Yep. Two of our clients, both of them in good health, but neither of them wealthy or anything like that. Yeah, go on. For no apparent reason, they've been murdered, and the murders are unsolved. And you think this Udi Vishnu did it? Now, wait. No, no, he's too smart. But knowing his influence over his followers, their fanaticism, the way that some of them do anything for him. And I mean anything, Johnny. Even murder. Well, what do you think? You want to look into it? Looks like somebody better done than good. Now, just how do you plan to start your investigation of this phony mystic, this Udi Vishnu? Well, it seems to me, Jack, that it might Be smart to go on out there to his temple and catch his act. That's what I thought. So here, you better have this. What's this? Admission ticket. You mean you have to have a reserved seat? Sure do. And here you are for row h, seat number 43. Well, I thought you said there was no charge. Well, there isn't. But you have to have a ticket or you'll never get in. That's funny. Most of them are handed out there at the Temple of the Living Truth Hotel. And just to make it look good, some of the small hotels and motels on the edge of town are given a few ducats too. I see. Anyhow, if you want to go tonight. Here. Okay, Jackson. Thanks. Item 3. $50 deposit on a rental car by the time I'd got it. And going back to the Robert Driscoll to freshen up. Well, item four is six eighty for a cocktail and a leisurely dinner. Then I drove out to the Temple of the Living Truth. Literally scores of people were standing around begging to be let in. But only those with tickets for reserved seats were admitted. And remember that reserved seats the audience rather. The auditorium held something over a hundred people and the house was packed. The wide, shallow stage was hung with gray velvet drapes and was bare except for a sort of reading stand or lectern. There were steps leading from the audience to stage center. And Jack had been right. Most of the people gathered there looked like rather poor folks. The very kind most likely to be taken in by this self styled mystic. My ticket stub said the service would start at 8:30. At exactly 8:27 the lights were slowly dimmed except for a blue spotlight that shone on the lectern and on the steps that led up to it. And from somewhere came the recorded music of an organ. Low, haunting, mysterioso. The crowd grew silent. They all leaned forward expectantly. And then at 8:30, on the nose, from one side of the stage into the spotlight glided Udi Vishnu. I'll say this for him, he cut a mighty impressive figure. He was tall, with curly chestnut hair and a smart short beard. Brown eyes that were set deep in their sockets but that almost seemed to glow in the spotlight. His face rather pale and wan, like that of someone who has suffered. He wore a long gray robe bound in the middle by a cord that looked like gold. It reached to the tips of his gold colored sandals. His hands were those of the artist with long slim fingers that barely gracefully curved as he gave the sign of a blessing. He simply stood there for a moment. His Eyes raised upward as a soft, almost imperceptible sigh passed through the crowd. Then he lowered his hand and the music died out. As he looked out over the crowd, I realized that there was something almost magnetic in that gaze of his. Almost hypnotic. Believe me, whatever it was, this man had it. And do you believe? And do you believe in me? Believe. And do you know that I, and I alone possess the infinite knowledge? Yes, we know. Of all things. Then and now and forever. Yes. Then you know, my children, that through me, you too can be possessed of supranorma. Supernatural powers can share my unification with the omnipotent consciousness that rules the cosmic destiny of all mankind. My bond with the supreme intelligence. And you can gain psychic powers beyond belief. Know all things about all people. Now these tremendous forces lie dormant within you. They must be aroused and developed as only I can show you how, if you will uphold me not only in worldly things, but in things spiritual. If you will believe, believe in me and show me that you believe your lives will be successful, full and complete. You know this. Then be silent. As I close my eyes. As I concentrate on someone here I have never seen before. But who will be the first tonight to be relieved of all worldly cares? Who is one of the elect to share with me the. Yes. Yes. I see now a number. The number. Eight. Four, one. Oh, it's me. Really? That's my ticket. My seat number. Oh, I'm sorry, mister, but see, it's the number of my seat number. Yes, I see, miss. But when. Patience, my child, I may speak. Oh, I. I'm sorry. In the eye of my mind, there comes a vision. Now. A farm in Oklahoma near the town of El. Yes. El. El Reno. Yes. Oh, and a little girl, perhaps 10 years old. Her name is Martha. That's my name. Martha Winter. Yes. And with her a little dog. The dog. The dog she was not supposed to have. She never told her mother. His name was Skipper. Skipper. I'd almost forgotten. Then Martha's school and Ms. Albright, my teacher. But how could he know? Yes. Who alone helped Martha decide not to run away from home? It's true. And now when she got the call to come here to see me. But she left the car. An old one. It's blue. He's right. He's right. 4, 3U7418. That's the license number. But. But it's back in Oklahoma. Are you here, Ma? Yes. Yes. All you said is true. And do you believe? Yes. Do you all believe? Yes. Yes. Yes. You went on that Way for two hours, Telling people there in the audience all about themselves. Names, places, dates, intimate things about their faraway homes, their childhood friends, Events in their lives that they themselves had almost forgotten. Believe me, it was impressive and very convincing. And when he promised eternal supernatural help for all those who would help him. Brother, you should have seen the money pour into the collection baskets after it was over and the crowd outside. I talked with those people to find out how he had learned so much about them. But they'd only arrived that very day, that morning. And more important, not one of them had told anyone. Not any one of the personal things that he had known. Who could blame them then for believing him and for believing in him and for going on back to their farms or whatever. Convinced that thanks to him, all their troubles were over and forever. And the next night there'd be another. A fresh mob there to shell out their money for his phony promise of supernatural help. But how to stop him? You know the only way, of course. Do I, Jack? Sure. Somehow prove to those followers of his how he actually does get all that information about him. But it's pretty fantastic, isn't it? He's never seen them before. Doesn't even have any way of knowing they're gonna be there. Yeah, he's mighty convincing. And what he does is just plain impossible. But until you or I or somebody can duplicate his act and tell him it's all a phony. But how? Even Houdini or Thurston or Blackstone or any other magician would have to take a back seat to this bunk. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Jackson. Yeah. Reserved seats, huh? And one of those names you mentioned, a magician years ago when he set out to expose the phony medium. What are you talking about? In all the big cities where he played. New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, all the big towns. But this one, this Udi Vishnu, plays to the country folks who couldn't have known about that magician's exposition. Look, will you please tell me. Jackson, I think I can do it. Yeah. Get some tickets for tonight's performance. And drag in all the state or county authorities, whoever has jurisdiction, all of them that you can. Also somebody from one of the news services. What are you gonna do, Johnny? See if I can prove once and for all that this big mystic is just one big mistake. The next few hours were about the busiest I ever spent. First of all, through a contact there in Corpus Christi whose name I had better not mention, I got the answer to the one key question in my mind. Amount of the latest monthly phone bill Paid by the Temple of the Living Truth Hotel. Then, on the excuse that I wanted a reservation for the night, I paid a visit to the hotel. Needless to say, all the rooms were taken. But I sneaked a good long look at the register. And sure enough, beside the name of each guest were the two things I needed to know. Home address and ticket number for the night's meeting. Only let's call it performance. Now. Then, back in town, I ran up item four. $121 in telephone calls. I know a lot of calls, but very necessary ones. Then I don't know where and how Jackson got the tickets, but he did. And there in the audience with us were six or seven state and county cops out of uniform and looking fresh off the farm. And two reporters from the national news services. Again, the house was full. Again, the dim lights and organ music. Again, the opening preliminaries. Do you believe and do you believe in me? And do you know that I alone possess the infinite knowledge? Yes, we know of things then and now and forever. Yes, yes, yes, yes. In the mood. And again I say it was pretty impressive. Then he began his demonstration. He was every bit as good as he'd been the night before. And by the end of an hour, he had them with him all the way. Finally came the break that I'd been waiting for when he called out one of the numbers on the list that I had compiled. And I see another number in the eye of my mind. Number L13. That's me. It's my seat number. Then listen, my brother, while I tell you of the wondrous things I know through the psychic powers that have been granted me, that have made you one of the elect. No. Let me tell him. Wait. Wait. Be silent, my children. And who are you, my brother? I was here last night. Don't you see? You've inspired in me the same powers that you have. The same powers. Listen to me. Listen to me. Seat number L13. Have you ever seen me before? No. No, I haven't. Wait. My cheers. You haven't, nor have I ever seen you before. But that doesn't keep me from knowing all about same kind of trickery that this Uri Vishnu has been using on you. Do not listen to him. Number L13. Your name is Martin Mefford. You came from Cotton Valley, Louisiana. Car license number CFU160. You're a plumber's helper, right? Yes. No. No. He has to give. He has to give. Please do not listen to this man. Mr. Meppert, you walked with A limp. Because you broke your leg when you were six years old when Tommy Parkin shoved you out of a tre. True. Do not listen to this. Your teacher in the first grade, Ms. Brewster, she promised you a book if you'd stop chewing your nails. Is that a fact? Yes. How do you know I'd forgotten myself? I know. By the same trick this crook has been using my children. Seat number 341. Mrs. Nathan Parry. Your maiden name was Wilma Leonard. You were born in Africa. You went away to Austin when you were 14 and little secret in your life. Well, listen and I'll tell you. No. No. Stop this man. Stop him. Stop it. By the time I got through telling some of those people stuff that even Uri Vishnu hadn't found out about them and some of it was pretty personal, they fairly tore the place apart. Then when Rudy dragged a gun from under his robes to protect and pulled off a couple of shots, well, then the police moved in. As for the radio newspaper story that followed. Now, believe me, Udi Vishnu, whose real name turned out to be Bernie Bildrick, won't try that caper again, even if he does get out of a pen. But you still haven't told me how you got all that dope on those people. And in only a matter of hours. John. Same way he did. John. And some of it pretty intimate stuff, too. And stuff they couldn't have told you because they'd forgotten about it. What's more, you'd never seen him before. How, Johnny? Look, the tickets were free, but all the seats were numbered. Reserved. Now, there had to be a reason. Jackson. That's what reminded me of the famous magician. The trick that he'd used up in New York. Yeah, he'd call the ticket agency, the hotel, find out the name and address of a guest who bought a ticket to his show. Well, down here, of course, all I had to do was look at the register right there at the Temple of the Living Truth Hotel. Which will soon be out of business, I promise you. Having seat number, name and home address I got on the phone that Mr. Martin Mefford from Cotton Valley, Louisiana. I called the police chief there and the mayor on the information they gave me. I called his old school teacher, two cousins, a couple of boyhood pals, an old girlfriend. Jackson. By the time I got through, I knew more about him he did about himself. And the same with the others. Well, I'll be darned. So that's that. You certainly proved your point. Point? Big mystic. No, big mistake. Whether they can pin the two Murders on him that Jack told me about remains to be seen. That's up to the authorities. Not in my hands now. Expense account total 465.30. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Now here is our star to tell you about next week's story. Next week, a nice quiet little town in South Jersey that doesn't stay that way for long. Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar is written by Jack Johnstone, produced and directed by Bruno Zarato Jr. Music supervision by Ethel Huber. Johnny Dollar is played by Mandel Kramer. Featured in our cast were Maurice Tarplin as Jack Price, Dan Akko as Udi Vishnu, Evelyn Juster as the first woman, Bill Lipton as Martin Mefford, Tony Darnay as the second woman. Also heard in our cast were Guy Repp and Sam Raskin. Be sure to join us next week, same time, same station, for another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Art Hannah speaking. The number one network for news expanded CBS News on the CBS radio network. Darwin would approve. T Mobile's network has adapted to so many locales because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network switch. Now keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off up to $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com keepandswitch. Up to four lines via virtual prepaid card will have 15 days qualified unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required card is no cash Access and expires in six. Johnny Dollar? Mr. Dollar? Yes, this is Christian Albeck at International Life and Casualty in Boston. Well, Mr. Albeck, I haven't heard from you in three or four years. No. How are you? Fine, just fine, Mr. Dollar. But I'm afraid I have a bit of a problem. Well, who hasn't? I wonder if you could. What was that? Nothing you were going to say. I wonder if you're free to come up here and see me right away. I don't know. Why not? As long as you're willing to pay my expense account and commission and maybe a little extra fee in addition. Well, that remains to be seen. Of course there is a quarter million dollar policy involved. Say no more. I'm on my way. The CBS Radio Network brings you Mandel Kramer in the exciting adventures of of the man with the action packed expense account. America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny Dollar to the International Life and Casualty Insurance Company, home office, Boston, Massachusetts. Following is an account of expenses incurred during my Investigation of the three, for one matter. Expense account item one, 775. Plane fare to Boston. Item two, two and a quarter for a cab to International's office in the little building at the corner of Cremont and Boylston, across from the Terrain Hotel. Come to think of it, it's not too far from Station WEI that carries the broadcast reports in the cases. Christian Albeck is in his late 40s, tall, blonde, lantern jawed. His casual manner and rather bland expression belie a sharp, keenly analytical mind. I've always had the feeling that he might always be just one jump ahead of me. Sit down, won't you, Mr. Darling? Thank you, Chris. Only, why the mister? Well, after all, you are in Boston, you know. Cigarette? Thank you. It's fairly known. I take it you come up here by plane. Mm. With an ulterior motive. I figured if I got here in time for lunch, I might persuade you to foot the bill over at the old Union Oyster House. Why not? Afterwards we can pick up a rental car for you. Oh, yes. See, it'll be necessary for you to run up to center harbor in New Hampshire. Up there at Lake Winnipesaukee again? Yes, where you handled a case for us once before. Great, huh? Well, it's pickerel perch, smallmouth bass only. Why didn't you tell me that on the phone, Chris? So I could have brought along some fishing tackle this time of year. Oh, that's right. I kind of lost my head. Now, why don't we go on over to the Oyster House, and while you're gorging yourself on seafood, I can tell you what this is all about. Fine. Another dozen on the half shell, Mr. Do. Oh, are you kidding? I've had it. Oh, I just hope I can make it up to Lake Winnipesaukee. Come to think of it. To what, Chris? To see if you can find out what's happened to a Mr. John Stewart Kirkman. Kirkman? Yes. He and his wife live on Red Hill Road up there at Center Harbor. He's a man of about 60, retired, worth quite a lot of money. I see. His wife telephoned me just before I called you this morning. He gave me no details, but it seems that Mr. Kirkman left the house sometime after dinner last evening, presumably to see a man on business of some kind or other. And, well, she simply hasn't seen or heard anything of him since. A quarter million dollar policy. Yes, with A double indemnity clause. She's checked with this man that he went to see. She doesn't know who it was. What about the police up there? Chief Mike Sharp, isn't it? Yeah. I talked to him this morning, too. He'll give you all the details. And he's happy you're on the case. He thinks a lot of you, Johnny. Mr. Dollar. And he promises complete cooperation. Well, good. Incidentally, now. Yeah? Well, no, nothing. I. Well, you see, what you think when you get up there. What I think about what? Chris, forget it. No, no, no. Wait a minute. You've got an idea, maybe. About someone who might have helped Mr. Kirkman disappear. I didn't say that. Now, don't start that again again. That other case up there. Winnipe, if you told me your suspicions right at the beginning would have saved me a lot of trouble and your company a lot of expense. But if I'd been wrong. But you were absolutely right. Quite possible that I'm wrong this time. Who do you suspect, Chris? Of wanting to get him out of the way. Well, then, who is the beneficiary of this policy that he holds? His wife, Mona. Quarter of a million? Yeah. Or maybe double that. But I'm thinking of, well, three people. Daughter who might, and I use the word might. Now, mind Jim. Go on. Who are they? Well, it's Charles B. Hawkaway. Who's he? Hawk Away. A sort of junior partner for a while in Mr. Kirkman's investment business here in Boston. Before Kirkman retired. Went up there to live in Center Harbor. What about him? Hakaway. Borrowed a lot of money from him on a handshake, no contract. Never paid it back. For the simple reason that he's a completely impractical, incompetent, wasteful. How much? Nearly $100,000. I understand. Anyhow, last time I talked with Mr. Kirkman, he said he was going to take legal action. Even if it meant complete ruin for Hackaway. Did he? I don't know. Do you know that Hawkway was not only worried, but bitterly resentful? He was. He said he'd really earned the money, which isn't true. That Kirkman didn't need it. And that he'd see him in Hades before paying a cent of it. And a couple of months ago, Hawkaway quietly took a little cottage up there in Center Harbor. You think that in order to avoid paying off his debt, he would go so far as to. No, I didn't say that. Then there's Mildred. Mildred who? Armstrong. She was Kirkman's first wife. When he divorced her, he made what was then a very generous settlement. But later, when he began to get really wealthy and wouldn't add to what he'd given her, well, I just happen to know that she's been threatening him for years. Threatening to kill him. Now, Mr. Dollar, I didn't. All right, you didn't say that. No. But she, too, has recently moved to Center Harbor. Well, now, Chris. And finally, there's Tony Benson, who's turned up in Wolfsboro on the other side of the lake. And who is he? He's a fairly bright young fellow. Basically just a bomb. Just an irresponsible young Mr. Dollar. Tony has been in more scrapes, and I'll wager he's had at least a dozen different jobs in the last 10 years. Been absolutely no good in any of them. Right now, he's a sort of dental assistant for Dr. Porty. And what's his beef? Mona, Mr. Kirkman's wife. Tony was in love with her once, or with her fortune, really, but Kirkman beat him to it. I thought Kirkman himself had the money. It was hers that enabled him to build up his business, therefore his own fortune to the point where he could retire in four years. Anyhow, I don't think Tony would stop at anything to get even. Wait a minute. Get even with Kirkman or his wife? Frankly, knowing the way that love can turn to hatred in such case, I would have thought with Mona. Now, of course. Well, they're pretty thin motives, it seems to me, Chris. All of them. But you think that one of those three might possibly have decided to put Kirkman out of the way? No, I didn't say that. I only. Okay, Chris, let's get out of here. Get me a car and I'll be on my way. Item 3. 50 bucks deposit on a rental car. By the time I'd covered the 125 miles or so to center harbor, it was late afternoon. Police Chief Mike Sharp was out of his little office. So I left a note on the door, went over and checked in at the Garnet Inn. I wanted which of the people that Chris had mentioned I should contact first. If, that is, anything actually had happened. Mr. Kirkman? Yes. Come in. Well, howdy, Mr. Dollar. Chief Sharp, nice to see you. I thought maybe it was you'd moved in here, and I saw that rental car out front. Here I am. About that Mr. John Stewart Kirkman, the man you come up here to look for. Yes. Might have saved yourself trouble, Mr. Dollar just found him myself. Oh, good. Found his body rather, Mr. Kirkman's dead, Stone dead. If you leave your car outside at night and hope in the morning, it'll be all right. If your car's in the garage that has no heat, you want antifreeze protection. That's right. Real, complete. Don't ask for trouble. Ask for dupont Xerox Antifreeze. For dependable protection against sudden drops in temperature all winter long, use dupont Xerox Antifreeze even during a warm spell. Xerox won't boil away. It outlasts winter. And to guard against damaging rust and corrosion, Xerex has Mr. 8 rust inhibitor, an exclusive DuPont development that protects all engine metals, including aluminum. So for safe, dependable protection, do as millions of motorists have done for over 20 years, ask for Xerex Antifreeze. It's made by Dupont. Remember, four cars left out at night or in unheated garages. Don't ask for Trouble. Ask for Dupont Xerox Antifreezer. Now, just take it easy, Mr. Dollar. Coming to that curve up ahead there. All right, Chief. That is, unless you want the same thing to happen as happened to Mr. Kirkman. Maybe you better stop along about here. Yes, I see those tire tracks out over the edge of the curve and on through the broken fence there beyond. That's what happened to him, all right. Lost control, mister. Curve went on over the edge. Yeah. There, now, see how it hit the bottom down there? 60 or 70ft. Come along, Miss Dollar. What, you step here? Yep. Put in's not so good on this side of the hill. Yeah, I see that. Who is that down there? Old Doc Higby. He's the coroner. I want him just to be sure that body's all right. How do you mean, all right? Well, looks pretty obvious like an accident. But you didn't have a chance to look at those tire tracks as careful as I did. I think I know what you mean about them, Chief. Do you? Yeah. There were no skid marks. They show that he tried to put on the brakes before going over. That's right. Those tracks are so clear, so plain, Mr. Bella, you wonder if Kirkman wasn't dead before he hit the curve. It's a possibility. Maybe somebody killed him and propped him up behind the wheel and helped that car over the edge. Yes, sir. So if Doc Higbee has found any sign on him, any sign at all. Well, how about it, Doc? Not a mark. She shot. Not a single mark onto him. Except for the blow to his head that killed him when the car rolled over. You're sure of that? Dr. Higby. Yeah. Eh, I mean, there's no other mark that might possibly have accounted for his death. You're absolutely certain of that? Now, just a minute, young man. Who is this young man talking to me like this? Now, now, now, doc, this is Mr. Johnny Dollar. He's kind of a special investigation. Johnny Dollar, the insurance investigator? That's right. Well, now, howdy, Mr. Dollar. I might be pleased to meet you. Well, thank you, Doctor, but you'll have to pardon his sparking up that way, Mr. Dollar. I guess we folks around here have him spoil. He's just not used to having someone question his professional opinion. Yes, sir. Oh, that's perfectly all right. And I'm glad to know you, Doctor. Yes, but now, knowing how thorough you always are, Mr. Dollar, you see, I listen to all those reports on your cases over the radio. Mostly on W, G A N and over to Portland and on W, E E, I down to Boston. Well, I'm glad to hear that, sir. So I suppose in spite of. In my opinion, in spite of the way this looks like an accident, maybe I better do an autopsy. I think it might be a good idea, doctor. Because if he was killed before the car rolled on down here, I'll do it right away if you two will help me get the body down to my car that's down below. Sure. In the meantime, Chief Sharp. In the meantime, Mr. Dollar, just in case, there are three people I'd like to make certain are still about in these parts. Like Charles P. Hockaway, for instance. Well, yes, but how'd you know? And perhaps Mildred Armstrong and Tony Benson. Yes, sir. Especially that Tony Benson. Over to Wolfs Bar. Okay. While you're rounding them up, I want a mechanic to look over the brake system on this car to find out, if possible, why it went over the edge. That's a good idea. While you and Doc take in the body, I'll get a hold of Frank Marshall over at the gas station to look at the brakes, and then I'll round up those people you mentioned. Fine. I didn't stick around to watch the autopsy, thank you, but went back to the Garnet Inn. It was dinner time. And in spite of the hefty lunch in Boston, I was hungry again. But as I went to my room to wash up, it's funny, I guess I forgot to lock it. Oh, you locked it, all right. What? Who are you? Johnny Dollar, ain't you? That's right. Well, I'm Tony Benson. Well, I saw the note you left on the door at Chief Sharp's Office. I came over here to wait for you. Got tired of standing around, so I came up here and slipped the lock with a business card. Any objection? And if I decided that you should be held for breaking and entering, well, it's a lot better than being held for murder, isn't it? Murder? Well, that's what that crazy old police chief would do in a minute if you. He could hook up something wrong about the way old Kirkman's car went over that cliff. Oh, you know about it? Doesn't everybody? But I don't want anybody accusing me of murder. Why should they? Because they all think I had a grudge against Kirkman, that's why. Didn't you? No. Wasn't him that did me dirt. It was that. Well, it was Mona that left me flat. If I had a grudge against anybody, it was against her, not him. Well, if you don't believe me, ask her. Maybe I will. Anyhow, when I found out you were here, at least I knew I'd get a fair shake for a change. Tony, you said murder. What makes you think Kirkman was murdered when all the signs point to an accident out there, hmm? Well, now, listen. All I said was that old Chief Sharp would try and, well, you know, cook up something or something just because he. Well, he doesn't like me. Maybe he has good reason. Yeah. Wait a minute. Johnny Dollar? My name is Mildred Armstrong. Mr. Dollar? Yes? I must see you right away. Oh, what about? You know very well what about. About John Kirkman. And I'm not the one who murdered. I mean, had him murdered. What makes you think he's been murdered, Miss Armstrong? Well, I. Well, he's dead, isn't he? Yes, he's dead, all right. But it looked like an accident. Oh. Oh, well, I. I didn't know. Then there won't be any silly suspicion of me. Well, should there be? I beg your pardon. Are you here in Center Harbor? Yes. Why? Well, then I think you'd better come on over here and see me. Now, just a minute. Or would you rather I had Chief Sharp bring you over? Very well, Mr. Dollar. Al, I'll be over to see you. All right now, Tony. So maybe now you got a better suspect, huh? What do you mean by that? Well, I mean, if old Kirkman was murdered. I mean, what you said to that Armstrong dame. Now, look, if you want my opinion. No, thank you. Oh, now what? Mr. Johnny Dolan? That's right. Well, I'm glad to see you here. My name is Tony. Charlie boy. Come on in. Join the party. Mr. Hockaway. Isn't? Oh, yes. At this point, I guess I can only say I've been expecting you. I'm afraid I don't understand. Well, you came to tell me perhaps that I didn't murder John Kirkland. That word seems to be getting pretty common around here. What's that? How do you know he's been murdered? Oh, I see. A little slip of the tongue and you've immediately become suspicious. Well, don't, old man, because there's no reason to. What I meant was. Well, you know. Now, what did you mean, Mr. Hackaway? Well, just that if there should turn out to be anything suspicious about the. Well, let's face it, $kirkman and I were not on very good terms. Yes, so I understand. Careful, Charlie, you're sticking your neck out. But if there should be any question of murder, old man, well, needless to say, I didn't do it. That's right. I'm glad you understand. Sit down, hawkawayne. Oh, surely, Mr. Dollar, Chief. Yeah. This is Ms. Armstrong, Mr. Dollar. I met her on the way over after I checked with Frank Marshall about the car. Oh, won't you go on in, Ms. Armstrong? Certainly. Well, Ms. Armstrong, as to where the other two are, that I. Huh? Yeah. Where'd you find them, Mr. Dunlow? Well, let's say they found me, Chief. Have you checked with Dr. Higby? Yeah. Let's shut this door a little. Sure. Well, looks like we were wrong. Doc says it was the Accident Guild, Mr. Kirkman. No doubt about it. So all this roundup of suspects, Chief, what did Frank Marshall say about the brakes on the car? He went over it with a fine tooth. Go, Mr. Donner. Nothing tampered with, no loose connections, nothing wrong at all. I see. Well, me one thing. There was no fluid in the brake lines. You know that copper tube in that carries the fluid? Oh, but only because of a tiny little leak. A little hole so small that even his smallest drill wouldn't fit in it. That car is pretty new. Yeah. So it must have been just a defective piece of that tube in let fluid leak out. Wait a minute. Hold everything, Chief. Yeah. Look, go on in there and keep an eye on the suspect while I go over and take a look at that car, will you? Yeah, but I thought that you suspect. That's right. But who? Which one? Judging by the way they all descended on me, as though to make sure I wouldn't suspect them. It could be any one of them. But you just sit tight right here and we'll see. Night, Tommy. See you in the morning. Now, Miss Frank. Well, like I told Chief Sharp, Mr. Dollar must have been an accident. These brake lines on this car been tampered with. And I would have known it right away. I'm sure you would, Frank. Sure. Any wrench or other torbin put on, any connections, any bleeder lines, I'd have noticed, kind of. It would have disturbed the mud from that last rain we had. Would have left a mark. There's no saw marks, anything like that anywhere on that copper tubing. And I also checked the master cylinder and all four wheel cylinders, too. Well, then how do you account for no fluid in the line? Well, I thought about that myself. Account? If I checked the fluid level last time I did a lube jar on this car last week, the chief said that there is a small hole in one of the lines. Yes, sir. It's a defect in the tubing. Leastwise, it's much too small for any drill point. Is it? Oh, yes, sir. And I know because I got drill points in my kit all the way down to 128th of an inch. The hole's a lot smaller than that. Is it all right if I get under and take a look? Oh, sure, go ahead. Yeah, you can use this crawler. Just lay down, roll under. Good. You have a flashlight? Yeah, sure, sure. Yeah, right here. Is there any kind of a magnifying glass around here? Yeah, sure. You can use this little pocket magnifier if you want. Okay, fine. The hole in that copper tubing that carries the brake fluid was tiny, but under the magnifying glass, it was. It was all too obvious that someone had drilled it there. And remember this. Where an ordinary metal drill leaves a burr, a bit of metal shaving on the edge of a hole that it's cut here. There was none. See it under there? Too small for any kind of drill. Much too small. Any kind. Sorry, Frank, that's where you're wrong. Oh, howdy, Mr. Dollar. Chief. All right. Where you been, Dollar? Not digging up another suspect for the murder that wasn't a murder after all. Yes. The chief has just told us it was an accident due to faulty brakes. All right, it's. It's all over. It's all settled. So you see, Mr. Dollar, I told you there was no cause for suspicion. Right. So come on, let's get out of here. Just one question first. Yeah, what is it, Mr. Dollar? What is it? Tony? Yeah. You're a dental assistant, aren't you? Well, yeah, that's right. Then you ought to be more careful with the equipment. Now, what do you mean by that, don't you remember what you did with this dental drill that you borrowed from the office? This tiny drill that you used to drill a hole in that brake line? No. You don't remember where you put this drill without bothering to clean it? Without bothering to clean off the chips of copper on it after you used it on the brake line? Well, Tony, you're pretty smart, you know. No. Just smart enough. So, once again, it's up to the courts. And how about the switch on this one? I mean, the logical suspect being the logical suspect for once. Expense account total, including board and room mileage on the rental car and the trip back to Hartford. Plus, incidentally, of course, 8,000, 150. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Now here is our star to tell you about next week's story. Next week, one of the cleverest ways to work a racket that ever tripped up a crook. Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Actually, Johnny Dollar is written by Jack Johnstone, produced and directed by Bruno Zarato, Jr. Musical supervision by Ethel Huber. Johnny Dollar is played by Mandel Kramer. Also featured in our cast were Leora Thatcher as Mildred, William Mason as Tony, Robert Donley as Chris, Robert Dryden as the police chief, Reynold Osborne as Charles, Arthur Cole as the doctor and Bill Lipton as Frank. Be sure to join us next week, same time, same station, for another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. This is Art Hannah speaking, Durward Kirby's favorite program, the Garry Moore show on the CBS Radio Network at row 59 on your tri Cities dial. This is WROW Music in Albany, New York. Young man, are you gambling with your future, going round and round in circles waiting for a break? Well, has Lady Luck smiled on you lately? Too bad. But your future still is ahead of you. Why not kiss Lady Luck goodbye and put the odds in your favor? 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