Case Closed! (Old Time Radio) - Episode: "Let George Do It and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar"
Host: RelicRadio.com
Release Date: October 30, 2024

I. Let George Do It: The Ghost on Bliss Terrace

Introduction to the Mystery

The episode begins with George Valentine receiving a compelling assignment from Mrs. Angela McCauley. She is determined to dispel the rumors of a haunted house on Bliss Terrace—the now-empty Mitchell house—believing it's merely a focal point for ghost stories stemming from an unsolved murder.

• George Valentine [00:00]:
  “Danger is my stock and trade. If you're crowded into a corner and you can't fight your way out alone, you've got a job for me, George Valentine.”
  [00:00]

• Mrs. Angela McCauley [00:57]:
  “There’s no such thing as a haunted house... We just want you to prove that all those stories about the Mitchell house are full.”
  [00:57]

Unveiling the Haunted Happenings

George delves into the mystery, uncovering accounts from neighbors like Fred Horton and Tommy Koenig, who reported seeing ghostly apparitions and hearing unexplainable music emanating from the Mitchell house.

• George Valentine [02:30]:
  “We’ve been through that house with a fine-tooth comb. We've watched it from the outside. Nobody could have got in or out without us seeing them.”
  [02:30]

• Fred Horton [05:28]:
  “Like I’ve been saying, a face in the window around dawn one morning. A thin face like it was almost all bone.”
  [05:28]

Confronting the Supernatural

Determined to debunk the hauntings, George and Mrs. McCauley spend the night in the Mitchell house. Their investigation turns tense as unexplained noises and movements suggest they are not alone.

• Mrs. Angela McCauley [10:15]:
  “I kept getting the feeling that I was in a honeymoon cottage that hadn’t been changed in 40 years.”
  [10:15]

The Revelation

The true nature of the haunting is unveiled when Paul Huff, an ex-gangster, is discovered hidden within the house. Driven by jealousy and a desperate need to remain hidden, Paul reveals that he murdered Sam Mitchell in a fit of envy after being seen by him.

• Paul Huff [25:12]:
  “Suddenly I felt nothing but hatred and envy. And I grabbed the stove poker.”
  [25:12]

• Mrs. Angela McCauley [22:45]:
  “Oh, it’s horrible, Paul. How could it be, Paul?”
  [22:45]

Conclusion

With Paul's confession, George Valentine successfully closes the case, debunking the myths surrounding the Mitchell house and bringing peace back to the Bliss Terrace neighborhood.

II. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Village of Virtue Matter

The Assignment

Transitioning to the second story, Johnny Dollar, a savvy freelance insurance investigator, is approached by Ben Orloff from Continental Insurance Company. Orloff tasks Johnny with investigating a string of thefts in the seemingly tranquil town of Virtue, South Carolina.

• Ben Orloff [31:59]:
  “Glad to see you. Sit down.”
  [31:59]

• Johnny Dollar [34:11]:
  “Now, look, why don't we go up there so I can see for myself?”
  [34:11]

Meeting Lieutenant Riley

Johnny teams up with Lieutenant Riley, a former gangster who turned to the insurance business after the crackdown on organized crime. Riley provides insight into the current troubles plaguing Virtue, hinting at deeper corruption beneath the town’s peaceful facade.

• Lieutenant Riley [32:07]:
  “What are you doing in the insurance business?”
  [32:07]

• Riley [33:18]:
  “Some of the boys from New York and Chicago went around, did pretty good. Could have blown all that dough on booze and dames and big times.”
  [33:18]

Investigating the Caraway Plantation

Their investigation leads them to the Caraway Plantation, owned by Mayor Parley Carraway, who also serves as the town's police chief. The plantation, a historic estate, becomes the focal point of their inquiry as they uncover a web of insurance fraud and orchestrated thefts.

• Lieutenant Riley [35:04]:
  “Bull Magoon had himself a nice little fishing boat handed ever since he went straight and moved in up there 20 years ago. Now, somebody stole it.”
  [35:04]

Confrontation and Unveiling the Fraud

As tensions rise, Johnny and Riley confront the plantation's ex-gangster operators who have been staging thefts to file fraudulent insurance claims. Their scheme aims to destabilize the community, allowing them to seize control of the plantation and its lucrative assets.

• George Valentine [46:38]:
  “Why, Mr. Caraway, why would these men suddenly want to make trouble with their friends, your townspeople?”
  [46:38]

• Mayor Carraway [47:32]:
  “Why haven't you called in the state police? Because I am the mayor of Virtue. I'm the police department and I can take care of these things myself.”
  [47:32]

Resolution

Through strategic negotiation and exposing the deceitful practices of Carraway and his associates, Johnny Dollar ensures that the fraud is uncovered, and Virtue is saved from impending civil unrest. The plantation's control is restored to its rightful owners, and Virtue returns to its peaceful state.

• Johnny Dollar [42:16]:
  “And listen, those pals of yours, you better drop in on them now and then to make sure they do stay on the straight and narrow as well as that old coot Caraway.”
  [42:16]

Notable Quotes

• George Valentine [00:00]:
  “Danger is my stock and trade. If you're crowded into a corner and you can't fight your way out alone, you've got a job for me, George Valentine.”
  [00:00]

• Mrs. Angela McCauley [00:57]:
  “There’s no such thing as a haunted house... We just want you to prove that all those stories about the Mitchell house are full.”
  [00:57]

• Lieutenant Riley [32:07]:
  “What are you doing in the insurance business?”
  [32:07]

• Johnny Dollar [34:11]:
  “Now, look, why don't we go up there so I can see for myself?”
  [34:11]

• Paul Huff [25:12]:
  “Suddenly I felt nothing but hatred and envy. And I grabbed the stove poker.”
  [25:12]

Conclusion

This episode of Case Closed! masterfully intertwines two gripping narratives from the golden age of radio crime dramas. George Valentine brings resolution to a haunting mystery, debunking ghostly myths and uncovering a human perpetrator driven by personal vendetta. Simultaneously, Johnny Dollar navigates the murky waters of insurance fraud and organized crime, showcasing his astute investigative skills to restore peace to the town of Virtue.

Listeners are treated to a seamless blend of suspense, character development, and insightful resolutions, making this episode a quintessential homage to the classic era of old-time radio crime storytelling.