← Case Closed! (old time radio)
Case Closed! (old time radio)
This Is Your FBI and Johnny Dollar
This Is Your FBI kicks off this week's Case Closed (episode 1000!) with its story from September 30, 1949, The Dead Man's Tale. (30:16) The next story is The Two's A Crowd Matter, from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. That one aired March 26, 1961. https://traffic.libsyn.com/forcedn/e55e1c7a-e213-4a20-8701-21862bdf1f8a/CaseClosed1000.mp3 Download CaseClosed1000 | Subscribe | Spotify | Support Case Closed Your donation of any [...]
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Foreign. This is Case Closed Crime stories from the golden age of Radio. Welcome back to Case Closed, your hour of mystery and crime from the golden age of radio. Every Wednesday@ RelicRadio.com we'll begin this week with this Is yous FBI and hear their story from September 30, 1949 titled the Dead Man's Tale. After that it's yours truly, Johnny Dollar. And the two's a crowd matter. From March 26, 1961, the Equitable Life Assurance Society presents this is Your FBI. This is your FBI. The official broadcast from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, presented as a public service by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and the Equitable Society's representative in your community. Now for a moment, we're going to hear from a representative of our sponsor, the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. Last week I saw my daughter off to our state university. She's going on an Equitable Education Fund I started the year she was born. And on the same train were five other youngsters of her age leaving for college thanks to the Equitable education funds I planned for their dad. Do you wonder? I'm proud to be a representative of the Equitable Life Assurance society. In approximately 14 minutes I'll be back to give the whole story of the Equitable Education Fund an important contribution to American education made by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. Tonight's FBI file. Dead man's tale. This morning a graduation ceremony was held in Washington D.C. a graduation ceremony at the FBI National Academy, a school operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the dissemination of knowledge to members of local police organizations throughout the country. If it seems strange to you that these local police officers, the men who form your first line of defense against crime, are going to school to learn the latest methods of waging that war. And you are guilty of old fashioned thinking. Yesterday's blue uniformed minion of the law who took his tribute in fruit from the corner stand has been replaced by the modern police officer. A younger man who in every respect is better equipped to do his job. Is better equipped to safeguard your precious freedoms. Each day as more of these well trained young men take their places as members of your local police, law enforcement becomes even more established as a recognized and honorable profession. This FBI Academy is a young school, 14 years old, but already its graduates are in every state in the union. Soon we hope they will be in every city. For when that time comes, the war against crime will not automatically have been won but a tremendous Stride will have been taken in the right direction, in the direction of victory for the people over the common enemy, the American criminal. Tonight's file opens late at night in a large frame dwelling located on the bank of a river running between two Midwestern states. A man stands alone in the front room of this establishment, idly throwing dice on the table. A second man enters. Money's all counted, Tom. How we do tonight? Win 3600. That's not bad. What's with those dice? Trying to win a mine bet. Watch them, they're loaded. No craps. You going to use them in a joint? You ever seen me use a gimmick, George? No, and I going to start now. Told that to the guys who try to sell me these things I run. The game's honest here. I get from 3 to 16% running for me every time a bet's made. So instead of eight G's a night, I make 3,600. Give a little, take a little. That's it. Look at the guy in the gray suit. Tonight he walked out a $200 winner. Tomorrow he'll tell everybody that he beat the joint for 2000. Everyone he tells is a new customer. After that joint. Yeah. Say we're closed for the night. All right. Hello? Yeah, Frankie. He is this late? Yeah. Yeah, we're closed tight. They just hounded me. Yeah? You sure? Okay, Frankie. Thanks. So what's Frankie down at the hole? What do you want? That cop that's been giving us trouble on his way out here, Scott just got a warrant, but not to slal the joint. He's gonna try and put the collar on you. What for? That Hamilton guy signed a statement for him saying that you threatened his life if he didn't clean up his tab out here. What'll we do? We'll see him. What? I'll make him one more offer to come over. And if he turns you down, we'll fix it so he don't bother us again. A few days later, at local police headquarters, FBI Special Agent Jim Taylor is greeting an old friend. It's good to see you. Same here. What are you doing in this neck of the woods? Oh, I came down to investigate a stolen car ring. Oh. Oh, you're not working on the case, eh? No, I'm still on traffic control. Hey, is Carl Scott around? No, Jim. I heard he got an appointment to the academy. I wanted to congratulate him. He won't be using it. Oh, what do you mean? Carl's dead, Jim. He's what? Come on in. The locker Room. I'll tell you the whole story. Go ahead, Jim. Thanks. I gotta get in a uniform. Dave, what happened to Carl? They fished his body out of the river early this morning. They what? Yeah. Coroner's preliminary report says drowning was no sign of any physical injury. I'd be willing to bet that he was murdered. By whom? A man named Tom Caldwell. Who is he? Local Capone. Trolls, gambling and just about everything else. Wow. Been arrested about 30 times on various charges, but no one's been able to make any of them stick. No? Why not? Political protection. Hand me that shoot tree over there, will you? Yeah. Thanks. What makes you think he killed Scott? Carl dropped by my desk late Monday night and he said he was going to arrest Calwell. And this time at Woodstock. Do you know what he meant? Yeah. He told me that a customer named Johnny Hamilton owed Caldwell a lot of money. Caldwell had given him credit at the gambling house. And when Hamilton didn't pay, his life was threatened. By Caldwell? Yeah. Hamilton had given Scott a signed statement. Who is this Hamilton? Son of a wealthy local family. Have you spoken to him? Yeah. He denies that he ever gave any statement to Carl Scott or that he owes Caldwell any money. Sounds like Caldwell got to him first. Promise? Jim, Carl Scott had two big ambitions. One was to go to the FBI academy and the other was to put Caldwell out of business. I've asked to be transferred from traffic control so I can work on the Caldwell file. I think the chief will approve. If he does, I'm not only going to prove murder, I'm going to solve it. Tom. Yeah? You seen a paper? No. What's in it? The coroner's office this afternoon declared after a complete examination of the body of policeman Carly Scott, that the cause of death was accidental drowning. Oh, you already heard? Oh, I just been to see Johnny Hamilton. Did you collect? No. Why not? Who wouldn't pay? Did you tell him about the cop? Yeah. What'd he say? I just laughed. So I said to him, what's so funny? The same thing could happen to you. And he kept laughing. You want me to get some muscle to collect for us? No, we'll collect. I think I know just how to do it. Dave. Oh, Dave. Hi, Jim. What brings you up to this end of the state? I'm on my way to Washington. Oh, you remember that Carl Scott was supposed to go to the session of the academy starting next week? Yeah, Chief, for sending me instead. Why, that's great. Good luck, Jay. Thanks. I'll sure need it. I haven't done any concentrated studying since I Was in school. Ah. Keep a good notebook, study a lot and you'll make it. You taking the plane? No, on the bus. That's a long jump. I know, but it's cheaper. And every buck has to go a long way. I borrowed on my car to finance this venture. It'll be worth it. I know that, Jim. The only regret I have is stopping on that Caldwell farm. There'll be plenty of time for Caldwell when you get back. If we don't catch up to him first. Are you working on him, too? Well, I don't know, Dave. We got a complaint from the chief of police across the river from Yule about some slot machines being in candy stores next to school houses. That sounds like Caldwell all right. That's what this chief of police thought. And if we can prove that he transported them across in the state line in a stolen car that the police found, we may be able to give the U.S. attorney enough to prosecute. I surely hope so. Hey, time for my bus. Look, I'm going to be at Mother McCartright's in Washington, Jim. And the address? I know it well. Good. If you get anything on call, well, let me know. I will, Dave. I hope when you get back you can visit him in a cell. Nine is the point. Get your bits, Bill. You can't accumulate unless you speculate. Here we could. Tommy. Yeah, George? Oh, look. Johnny Hamilton just walked in the joint. Is he gambling? No. What'd he come for? See you. He's waiting outside now. Bring him in. All right. I haven't heard you say. Hey, Mr. Hamilton. Come on in. How are you, Mr. Caldwell? Okay. You're doing good business. Tonight we'll break even. Want me to stick around? Hey, might as well. You come to pay up, Hamilton? No. Look, if you want to settle for less than, you're on the ramp. I don't want to settle. What are you bothering him for? He's a busy man. I'll handle it, Joe. Why'd you come here? I came to collect 5,000. Why? You owe us five. I know. I want you to call that square and give me a bonus. Are you daffy? No. I figure it's worth 5,000 you to avoid being tried on the charge of murder. What are you talking about? Remember the night that cop came out here to see you? The night I gave him the statement about you threatening me? Uh huh. I drove out here with him. I was at the window when you killed him. I see. That's worth 5,000 to you and your friend here, isn't it? Well, it's worth something. Like what? Like this. Thanks, George. That pays him off. We will return to tonight's exciting FBI file in just a moment. Now for another type of thrill, one that you may experience tomorrow afternoon as you watch your favorite college football team battle it out with some traditional rival. Here's the play. Jones takes the passing center. He's fading back. It looks like a forward pass. A long one way down the field. Looks like. Yes, it's competed for a touchdown. Football fields aren't the only places where college men score touchdowns. Surveys show that after graduation, they're still on the ball, still playing to win. It's a fact that a college graduate is nearly 15 times as likely to reach a salary of $10,000 a year as the non college man. And the same principle holds good in every salary bracket, from $10,000 to $100,000. Yes, a college education is not only an endless source of personal satisfaction, it pays off in dollars and cents. Realizing this, many years ago, the Equitable Life Assurance Society created its famous Equitable Education Fund. As its name suggests, this is a plan for far sighted parents who want to make certain that their children get the higher education that means so much to their future success. First and foremost, an Equitable Education Fund is sure S U R e right. This fund combines planned regular saving with life insurance. So if the father dies or becomes permanently disabled, this plan makes it certain that his children will still be able to get the education he was ambitious for them to have. Second advantage, An Equitable Education Fund is easy. You'll be amazed how quickly a comparatively small monthly payment builds up into a sum that is ample to see a boy or girl through college. Remember, higher education and higher salaries go hand in hand. So the more truly you love your children, the more determined you will be to give them a head start toward future success and happiness with an Equitable Education Fund. Get in touch with your Equitable Society representative soon or send a postcard care of this station to the Equitable Society. That's E Q U I T A B L E. The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. And now back to the FBI file. Dead man's tale. The situation described in tonight's case from the files of your FBI. The situation of a local police force anxious to do a job but being prevented because of political shackles is not an isolated instance. There are, for example, few jurisdictions where gambling is legal. And yet only the blind can truthfully say that they see no gambling in virtually every community in the country. In a few such instances, the Laws are inadequate or antiquated and should be rewritten to fit present day conditions. In the overwhelming majority of cases, however, the laws are sufficient. But law enforcement officers are, to put it bluntly, restrained from functioning. Only one thing can free them to do their appointed jobs, and that is an aroused public. The Federal Bureau of Investigation does not imagine that any single individual can remedy the situation alone, but it does believe that something can be done. It's a big job, but it must be undertaken. And you, as an individual, can help start it and help see it through, can help clean up your city and make it the kind of place in which you're proud to live. You can help do it by cooperative effort, by working with other individuals who by themselves could accomplish little, but who, by a mass effort can achieve your aim. Your aim of seeing democracy at work, of seeing your local police function so that they can repay and build your trust. Tonight's file continues. At the FBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia. Policeman Dave Mitchell and his class are just finishing at the pistol range when Special Agent Jim Taylor approaches. Are you shooting, Dave? Hey, Jim. What are you doing here? I'm in service. Once every 18 months, every special agent comes back to Washington for a refresher course. The same things I'm studying at the academy. That's right. We learn what new scientific advances have been made by the lab, we exchange ideas with agents from other officers, and we get a series of lectures. I see. Well, say, did you get anything on your investigation of Caldwell? No, Dave. No one was willing to testify against him. And so far as you're concerned, Caldwell is untouchable? I wouldn't say that. We haven't given up entirely yet. Dave, didn't you tell me that a man named John Hamilton was Carl Scott's informant? That's what Carl told me the night he was killed. Why? Well, Hamilton's disappeared. How do you know, Alex? Parents reported his disappearance over two months ago. They were hysterical. They wanted immediate action. Yeah, well, since we felt it might give us the key to a federal violation, we went to work on the case. We traced Hamilton's movements on the night of his disappearance. They led to John Caldwell's. Did you arrest Caldwell? No. Just about that time, Hamilton's parents withdrew their support and asked that everything be called off. But why? I don't know, Dave. He didn't turn up. They said they were satisfied that he'd just run away, come back when he was ready. Well, that'll be something else for me to work on. Yeah, well, when do you graduate, Dave? This week. Then I'm going home. I'm going to keep working till Tom Corwell goes to the camp of Carl's murder. You want me, Tom? Yeah. Go down to the hall and see Frankie. Okay. Find out if he knows anything about a guy named Dave Mitchell. Who's he? The cop. He was just here. I think he'd like to make some trouble for us. Why? Yeah, that other cop was his pal. Oh. I think he suspects we killed him. Yeah, but he can't prove nothing. Might be able to prove something on Hamilton. Why? It's in the river, ain't he? His body ain't turned up yet, has it? Well, they ask a lot of questions about Hamilton. Have we seen him? Where was he? You know. You want me to see Frankie about? Have him check. See if they have anything on this guy. If they have, we'll get him bounced off the force. What if he's clean? Then we'll bounce him ourselves into the river. Got a few minutes? Jim? Oh, hello, Dave. I was just going to call you. Oh, by what? Well, I just got back from Washington this morning. The SAC put me on a case that's down in your section. What kind of a case? I live in civil. Hijackings recently on the highway outside of Hawthorne. I'm going down to see if I can spot anything. Tell me, how you doing with Caldwell? I think he's responsible for Hamilton's disappearance, Jim. Oh? Any proof? Well, I went over the microfilm at our local bank to see what checks Tom Caldwell deposited the day after Carl Scott disappeared. Well, you see lots of the people who gamble at Caldwell's and lose pay by check. I thought those checks could tell me who had been at the gambling house that night. Good idea. That's an investigative angle I learned at the Academy. And it paid off? Yes, sir. I interviewed the writers of every check and finally I came up with one who was stalled in the parking lot after the place closed. He saw a policeman knock on the door and someone let him in. That would be Scott. Yes. And also he saw a man that night who answers the description of Hamilton nowhere, driving the car that brought Scott out to Caldwell's. He says the man stayed in the car and waited. It was exactly 3 o'. Clock. The coroner's report says that Scott drowned at 3:15. Now that's a real solid fact today. Yeah. Oh, this is what I came up for. Jim, will you send this sheet of paper to your lab and see if they can read it? Sure, sure. What is it? It was found on Carl Scott's body. It didn't mean anything to any of us on the force then. But the knowledge I gained in document examination at the academy made me take it to an X ray lab in Hawthorne. They put it under black light. Fluorescent showed up all over it. The water had washed away most of the ink, but the pigment remained. Enough to read any of it? No, but I'm hoping they'll be able to read it by using infrared photography at the lab. Okay, Dave, I'll air mail it right away. Thanks, Jim. And as soon as I get it off, we can leave and go back to Hawthorne together. Jim, I just finished talking to your office. They gave me a report from the lab. They find enough to read on that paper? Yes. The infrared did the trick. Hey, great. It said, I'm giving this statement to policeman Carl Scott voluntarily and of my own free will. I do hereby swear that within the past 10 days, one Tom Caldwell, the owner of a gambling establishment, threatened. And that's all there was on that sheet of paper? Obviously there was a second sheet that wasn't found on Scott. There's no signature at all on that page. No, but from what Scott told me the night he disappeared, Hamilton had to have been the writer. Why? There's only one way to learn what was on that second page, Dave. Find young Hamilton alive. Hello? Hello, Jim. I set up surveillance on Hamilton's father. Any luck, Dave? Yeah, he went to Western Union. I followed. Watched him through the window. I saw him take a pad of money order blanks, write out an order and give it to the clerk. You find out who he sent the money to? No, I couldn't. But I've got the pad. See you back at headquarters, Jim. I'm making progress. What happened? I used a parallel beam on the Western Union money order blanks. Did you read the indented writing? Yes. Mr. Hamilton sent the money to someone named Mr. Harvey W. Morton. Oh? Who's he? I don't know. But I'm going back to the bank and examining Mr. Hamilton's canceled checks. That might give me a lead. Have there been any calls for me, Jim? No, Dave. I was hoping I'd hear from the police at Fultonville. That's where the money order was sent. Don't you go to Hamilton's checks? Yes. Several of them were cashed by this Harvey W. Morton. Excuse me. Hello. What's that? Fine. Yes. Hold him. Well, looks like I like his turning, Jim. Oh, why? That was the Fultonville police. They've located Harvey W. Morton and they're holding him for us. And Jim. Yeah? Morton is really John Hamilton. Come in. Hello, Mr. Caldwell. Hamilton? That's right. And I'm alive. Come in. You don't mind if I come along, do you, Caldwell? What's this cop doing here? He came with me. You know what I came for. No, I don't. Hamilton told me a story. What story? I told him about the night you killed that cop. I don't know what you're talking about. We have a witness who saw Hamilton drive Carl Scott out here that night. Who's your witness? You can find that out later. Right now, I've got a warrant here for your arrest on a charge of murder. I've got one for your friend George Walker, too. Where is he? Right here. Well, keep your hands above your head, copper. This gun goes off. Nice work, George. What do you want me to do with him? Finish the job on Hamilton and give the cop the same treatment. Kid, find where you are. Grab these gun tapes. Right. Who are you? Special agent of the FBI. I've got a federal warrant here charging you with theft from interstate shipment. But I think we'll turn you over to Officer Mitchell here and let you face the charge of murder. All members of the Caldwell gang were turned over to state authorities, prosecuted for murder, convicted and executed. In the dramatization of tonight's case. From the files of your FBI. You have seen the solid values received by those local policemen who go to the FBI National Academy. Values in training which enable them to solve a tremendous number of cases through the increased knowledge of science and through their own sharpened natural talents. And now, this is your FBI brings you a message from Washington, D.C. from the office of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mr. J. Edgar Hoover. Mr. Hoover's message is, and I quote. Tonight, this official radio program of our organization has given you an insight into part of the job done by the FBI National Academy. For you have seen a local policeman use his newfound knowledge to improve his efficiency. The rest of the job is done by the local law enforcement officer when he passes along the benefits of his training to his fellow officers. As of this date, the knowledge gained by the graduates of the academy has been made available to more than a hundred thousand other officers in every state in the union. And as each succeeding class has graduated, that knowledge is spread even further. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducts this school because it believes that brain science and hard work are the most effective weapons against criminals. And because it teaches every special agent to use those weapons. It is now our hope that ultimately, through the FBI National Academy, every local policeman will learn to use those weapons too. And so will be better equipped to perform the job of every law enforcement officer to protect you, the American people. In just a moment, we will tell you about next week's exciting case from the files of your FBI. But first, let's hear briefly from an Equitable Society representative on the subject of an Equitable education fund. I'd like to leave this one thought with our audience, Mr. Keating. The sooner a father starts an Equitable education fund after his youngster's birth, the lower the monthly payment will be. So don't delay. The man whose words you have just heard speaks for 6,000 equitable society representatives from coast to coast who are always ready to give you friendly help and counsel. If you do not know the name of the Equitable man in your community, send a postcard care of this station to the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. Next week we will dramatize another case from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Another factual report on organized crime. Its subject, kidnapping. Its title, the Meticulous Mobster. The incidents used in tonight's Equitable Life Assurance Society's broadcast are adapted from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, all names used are fictitious and any similarity thereof to the names of persons living or dead is accidental. Tonight the music was composed and conducted by Frederick Steiner. The author was Jerry D. Lewis. Your narrator was William Woodson. And Special Agent Taylor was played by Stacy Harris. Others in the cast were Tony Barrett, Bill Conrad, Ed Gargan, Peter Leeds and Bill Johnstone. This is your FBI Is a Jerry Devine production. This is Larry Keating speaking for the Equitable Life Insurance Society of the United States and the Equitable Societies representative in your community and inviting you to tune in again next week at this same time when the Equitable Life Assurance Society will bring you another thrilling story from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Meticulous Mobster on this is your FBI. This is abc, the American Broadcasting Company. Johnny Dollar, Paul Ferris here. Ferris? That's right. And where is here? New York City. Oh, yeah. Worldwide Mutual Insurance. Right. Well, hi, Paul. I haven't talked to you since that little problem with Tony Valentine. Then you remember him? Are you kidding? When that little punk found out I was on his trail, he made a lot of big talk about getting me before I could get him. Yeah, I know. And I finally turned him over to the police there in your fair city. He started making with the threats all over again. But as long as he's safely behind the bars now, he was. Why Worry about him. What's the. What did you say? I said Tony Valentine was behind bars. But a few days ago, he and a con named Sandy Reinhardt broke out of that little upstate prison. No kidding. A couple of nights ago they pulled a red light robbery on a dark side street right here in the middle of the city. Tony's old racket, huh? Yeah. To top things off, they pulled a gun and killed the driver of the car. They'd stopped, a man named Barton Osborne. Tony Valentine is not a killer. One of them did it. Why call on me, Paul? Isn't this a police matter? Osborne is or was one of our policyholders. Oh, I see. A policy for close to $75,000. So when the heirs tell us to get in the ball, we get on the ball. Also, Johnny, since you know Valentine, you know his tricks how to handle him. Okay, I'll see what I can do. The CBS Radio Network brings you Bob Redick in the exciting adventures 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, the Worldwide Mutual Insurance Company, New York City office. Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the Two's a crowd matter. So Tony Valentine, one of the original Red Light Bandits, was on the loose again. The case I thought I'd solved a couple of years ago was far from closed, especially now with a killing involved. But before getting into the old expense account, let me tell you the rest of my conversation with Paul Ferris of the insurance company. Now, now, wait a minute. No, Paul. In spite of his threats to me, Tony Valentine never had a reputation as a killer. Nonetheless, John. Sure, he'd drive around at night flashing red light at expensive looking cars posing as the highway patrol. When they stopped him, he'd wave a pistol at them. But he was never known to pull the trigger. Maybe the police theory is right. The killing was done by Sandy Reinhard. The kind of escape with him. What police, Paul? Well, when you get down here, contact Lieutenant Randolph Singer. Randy Singer, 18th Precinct. That's right. Well, fine. He's an old pal of mine. He'll be able to give you far more detail than I can. Right, Paul, I'm on my way. Expense account Item 1, $8 plane fare to New York. Item 2650 cab fare into 18th Precinct Police Headquarters. When I barged in on him, Lt. Randy Singer raised his hands in mock horror. Oh, no, no, no, not you again. Hi, Randy. You mind if I sit down? Well, I do if you're down Here. On account of Tony Valentine? How did you guess? Johnny, why don't you leave these things to us? I mean, just because you happened to be lucky in tapping Valentine once before and without getting your head shot off. Lucky? Yeah, what else? How else did you ever solve any of those wacky insurance cases? Sheer luck, that's all, Randy. Maybe you have a point there. Sure, sure. I mean, just because none of our boys could find him and you just happened to stumble over him and bring him in for you on a silver platter. I wish you had, Johnny. All nippy stuff with lead and we wouldn't have to be out hunting for him again. Only Johnny, the one we really want, that is Sandy Ryot. Because he did the killing. You sure of that? Absolutely. He's the one that had the gun that helped them engineer their escape out of the pen. I see. One of my boys found that gun down a sewer near the scene of the holdup just a little while ago. Reinet's fingerprints all over it. No prints of Tony. Any leads on either of them, Randy? Well, a man answering Tony's description is known to have taken a plane to Oklahoma City within a few of a caper. A man of his description? Yeah. And when I showed this photo with Tony to the clerk at the airline, she was positive it was the same man. So I formally requested that a warrant and a copy of this be sent out there. So if they see him, they can pick. Yeah, what is it? Conrad Ratio for you, Lieutenant. Oh, okay, thanks. Now, let's see what this is. Now, wait a minute. Wait. You said Oklahoma. Yeah, that's right. Well, what's the matter with you, Randy? Plenty, but that's beside the point. No, listen, don't you remember? That's where Tony was to go when I latched onto him before. Overton, Oklahoma. Overton? Oh, yeah. And I still think that's where he stashed a lot of the loot from some of his earlier jobs. Well, maybe I better get that out to him. I'll send them a full report. All right, you send them a report, Randy, and you can also tell them that's where they'll find me. You're going out to Oklahoma? Right. And I'm taking along this photo of Tony. Now, listen, if I'm lucky, if I make good plane connections, I'll be there by the time you mail your report. So, Randy, will you wait? Now, look at this. This note that Conroy. Yeah. Just listen, huh? Johnny? Yeah. Sergeant Mike Thomason, Detective Detail at the station. Never heard of him. Well, you should have. From your insurance company. Why? Because he's a nephew of that old man who was killed. So he stands to share in the old man's will, his insurance, what you're getting at? Yeah. No, I don't know. I don't know. That's beside the point. Is it? The point is that Mike doesn't know Sandy Reinetz, the killer. That he's been picked up. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. You see right here in this special. Yeah, I see. And meantime, what has he done? He being Mike the police sergeant. He being Mike the police sergeant. Well, taken a couple of weeks off and he's gone out to Oklahoma. I mean, following that tip from the airline. Now, get this. Johnny Mike is one of the deadliest shots on the force. And he's crazy mad about that murder. You mean that if he gets out there and finds Tony before I do, he'll kill him for sure? Sure. I mean that. Johnny Mike's a good cop, but he's too worked up over this. And if he still thinks Tony may have killed that uncle of his, well, go ahead. Go on out there to save the life of the man I'm gunning for. Is that what you mean? Yeah. Okay, Randy. Why not? Hi, this is Dennis James to make a point about reliable, effective Kellogg's All Brand. Repeat after me, please. What do you want when you need brand? What do you want when you need brand? Reliability. Reliability. Now, what do you get in Kellogg's All Brand? What do you get in Kellogg's All Brand? Reliability. Right. You see, Kellogg's All Brand is the reliable brand that millions depend on for the effectiveness they want. It's the real Battle Creek formula that brings you more brand bulk in every serving. More of the vital brand bulk that helps you keep. Regular Kellogg's All Brand is also low in calories and mighty pleasant tasting. You can trust Kellogg's for that. The crisp toasted shreds have the kind of good brand muffin flavor that most folks are partial to. So next time you are shopping, get Kellogg's All Bran and you'll get reliability. That's what you get in Kellogg doll brand reliability. Or maybe Randy Singer's alarm was uncalled for. All he had to do was get the Oklahoma City police on the phone, tell him to pick up Tony Valentine to keep Sergeant Mike Thomason away from him. And then arrange for Tony's extradition back to New York. And Thomason, off duty, acting on his own, couldn't do a thing about it. If that is, if Tony stayed in Oklahoma City and I Didn't think he would. I thought he'd head for Overton, far away from Oklahoma City's jurisdiction, a mere pinpoint on the map that most likely wouldn't have a police department of its own. If Tony were there. If Mike were to find him there, nobody would ever see him again, would ever know what happened to him. Unless somehow I could get to Tony Valentine first. Okay, then. Expense account. Item three is 650 for a cab to the airport. Item four, 8950, plane fare. Oklahoma City, center of the mad rush for free. PRAIRIELAND Back in 1899, where in one day, some 10,000 people staked their claims in newly opened territory. Now it's a clean, modern city of something over 300,000, with skyscrapers crowding its central business district and oil and gas wells crowding in around its edges. A city of iron, steel plants, clothing, furniture, factories, stockyards and meatpacking, oil and cotton processing, electrical equipment and the gamut of recreational and cultural facilities, country clubs and fine homes. But despite the change in time zone, it was late afternoon when the plane set down at Will Rogers Field. And there I spent item 5. 50 bucks deposited on a rental car. And I tore on the town to police headquarters. No, Mr. Dallin, we haven't turned up a single lead on this Tony Valentine. I expect he must have just passed on through. Okay, now, Captain, did you yourself talk to Lieutenant Singer of the New York Police Department? Yep. He told me about Mike Thomason. Sergeant Thomason? Has he been here? Have you seen him, Mr. Dolly? He spent two solid days combing this town for Tony Valentine. And, well, he's acting kind of unofficially, isn't he? He sure is. I suppose you can't exactly blame him, his own uncle getting murdered. And, of course, his not knowing it wasn't Valentine who did it. But what about Mike? Well, let's see. About 15, 20 minutes ago, he came in and told me that he was giving up around here, but that he had some other ideas on Valentine's possible whereabouts. Oh? Mm. And that he was leaving town to follow him up. Leaving for where? Well, that he wouldn't say. Oh, fine. Except that it's way outside our bailiwick. But if any other authorities needed to be notified, he'd take care of such notification himself. Captain, how do I get to the town of Overton? Overton? A town? Well, there's a kind of a railroad sidon, maybe a couple of sleeping cars for a section gang. Where maybe an oil loading rig and a water tank. Where? Oh, I'd say it's about 75, maybe 80 miles north. North and west of here. Okay. An old abandoned oil well there, too. And a shack to go with it. Yeah, well, thanks. Bleeding Heart Number One, they called it. What did you say? I said, they call it Bleeding Heart. A Valentine. And his name is Tony Valentine. You mean, you think? No wonder he picked it as a place to stash away some of his loot. Or maybe it was owned by his family. All right, Captain, thank you very much. You think maybe his folks own that? Well, something like that. I'm thinking a lot of things. I headed north on 74, driving as fast as I dared. And then a few miles up the Cloud, crossing the Cimarron River, I swung left onto a dirt road that was hard to navigate even with good headlights. And finally, after crossing seemingly endless miles of barren prairie, I saw the light in a railroad shack at one side of a huge water tank and a cattle loading platform. I looked through the window. Inside the shack, sleeping, sprawled over a sort of desk with a telegraph instrument on it, was an old man. Good evening. Howdy. Listen, I am looking for a man. Are you the police or something? Would you like to see my credentials? Better still, look at this. This picture on the bottom here, it says New York Police. That's right. Well, have you seen this man around here? Well, yes, I have, son. When? Where is he now? Well, I seen him just about sundown heading over towards the old Bleeding Heart Number One. Where'? That. Why anybody should want to monkey around that place. Where is it? I. Huh? Oh, just follow that road alongside the tracks for about two miles, and there you are. All right, now listen to me, and listen carefully. Yes, sir. Has there been anybody else around here asking about this fellow in the picture? No, sir, not that I know about. Are you sure of that? Well, that I am, sir. Okay. Now, there is another man looking for him, and he may come around here tonight. Watch out for him. He's a killer. Killer? That's right. Now, he may show you credentials that look as though he's from the New York Police Department. Don't you believe him? You mean he's what you call a phony? Now, you understand me? Don't believe anything he tells you. Oh, okay, son. And above all, do not, under any circumstances, let him know that you've seen the man in this picture around here. Well, now, look here. Unless you want to be a party to a murder. Oh, okay, son. I'll do anything you say. All right. Now, I'm going out there, and you're not going anywhere. Look he's got a gun. That's right, idiot. Make a move, I pull a trigger. Have a commander, welcome aboard. Have a commander, welcome aboard. The cleaner the tobacco, the better it tastes. Have a commander. And see the cleaner the tobacco, the better it tastes. And in commander, the tobacco is vacuum cleaned. Have a commander, welcome aboard. Try new king size Philip Morris commanders made on a new machine, the Mark 8. That takes rich full flavored tobacco and gently vacuum cleans it. And the cleaner the tobacco, the better it tastes. Noticeably better the cleaner the tobacco, the better it tastes. And in commander, the tobacco is vacuum cleaned. Have a commander, welcome aboard. It was pretty obvious that the man standing there at the door covering us for the police. 38 was not Tony Valentine. It was also obvious that he didn't know who I was. And I knew better than to tell him once he realized I was, was there to keep him from finding Valentine. Well, put it this way. There was a bad look in his eye, almost a mad look. And he held the gun. Mine was still in my pocket. What's more, I knew better than to use it on a police officer when a hastily pulled shot might be a fatal one. By seeming only to shift the weight on my feet, I edged closer to the telegraph table with its old fashioned heavy glass lamp on it. Don't move. I didn't move, I mean you. Until I get used to the light in here and make sure. Just trying to relax. Yeah, yeah, okay. Go ahead and relax. You're not the punk I'm looking for now. Thanks. Now, if you just put down that gun, you'll try and jump me. That it? Tell me this, wise guy, you know who Tony Valentine is? Valentine? Look, I'm new around here, you know, just driving through. Yeah? When'd you get here? Just a couple of minutes ago. That's true, mister. That's true now. Yeah, old man. Well, do you know him? Valentine? Yeah, yeah, Tony Valentine. Yeah. Look, here's his picture. Well, I said, do you know him? No, no, sir. But I know who you are. You're a killer. What are you talking about? And your name is Sergeant Mike Thomason. What? Who are you? I said who are you? Come on, wise guy, talk. You're a killer. That's what you are, a killer. Shut up. That's why you come here with that gun, to kill somebody. Shut up. Now listen, wise guy. Oh, no, you don't. When he knocked down the old man, I pushed the lamp off the table. Died for his knees. Are you dirty? Couple of those shots came. Fire too close for comfort. One of them grazed the top of my head. I locked his gun hand under my arm and shoved a fist into his midsection and then came up to his chin with everything I had. After making sure the old man would recover, I got into my car. I drove out the road beside the railroad tracks. Thanks to the moonlight, I could see the oil Derek for the Bleeding Heart number one and the shack beside it in plenty of time. So I turned off the headlights and I drove cautiously to within about 500 yards of it. I ditched the car in a gully and then quietly went the rest of the way on foot. The little building was nothing more than a tool shed and there was a lantern burning somewhere inside. Peering in through a dirty window, I could see Tony Valentine. He was on his knees, placing a plank on the floor. Beside him was an open bag, and it was loaded with money. Slowly, carefully, I pulled out my gun, edged my way around to the door and then kicked it over. Dollar? That's right, Tony. So this is where you hid away all your loot, huh, Johnny Dollar? Guess I should have known you'd be after me again. Yeah, you should have known. Got a gun? You know I never use no gun. All right, now, Tony. And listen. Dollar, Listen, about that killing back in New York. I know, Tony. I know all about it. Yeah? What do you know? I know Sandy Reinhardt did it. That's right. And the cops have nabbed him for it. And I'm clean and I'm all right. You are? Well, sure. Dar. Look, don't you see? I was afraid they'd catch me and burn me for it. It's the reason I come out here, get everything I had so I could skip the country. Not a chance. What do you mean, not a chance? I'm gonna give up easy and go back to New York with you. Just because you're holding a gun on me. You've got a choice. Oh, yeah? What is it? Go on back with me and without any trouble. Or I can leave you up to Mike Thomas. So who's Mike Thomason? That killer cop? That's right. That man was his uncle. He thinks you killed him. But I didn't. Nothing you or I can tell him will ever convince him otherwise. And he's out here, Tony, gunning for you. I don't believe so. You have your choice. Go back with me and take whatever they hand you for the jailbreak and hold up. Or be shot down by Mike Thomas. Ah, you're lying. You're trying to trick me. I knocked him out over at the railroad Shack. But not for long, so we haven't much time. As a matter of fact, we haven't. Anytime. The car out there. That is Mike Thomason. You got a gun. You gotta stop him. $do I? Look? You can see him in the moonlight. With that gun you can nail him. Would you like to be the cop killer? Oh, no. No. He'll come in here and kill me. At this point he might try to kill both of us. What do we do? He's coming over here. Shut up Tony and be quiet. Know I'm in here with you unless you kill him first. I told you. Who wants to be a cop killer? But I want to live. Well, so do I. If I could reach that lantern, knock it off the table under this oil soaked floor without him seeing it. Okay, Valentine, I know you're in there. Come on out here with your hands up. Answer him. No, no, I do that, you kill me. That's right. Maybe I would. Now the lantern. What are you doing with that lantern? It's setting the place on fire. Now the joint's on fire. So now you got a choice. You stay in there and burn up with it or come out here and take a bullet. Either way, Valentine, you're gonna pay for killing that man back in New York. Now Tony, listen to me. He doesn't know I'm here. Go over there on that doorway and let him see you. He won't pull that trigger unless you try to make a break for it. As long as he sees you. He won't see me. Go out through that back window. I hope there's fire. There's smoke. Get over there where he can see you. He'll kill me. Knowing there wasn't a second to waste because of that fire, I plunged through the window into the nights. I ran wide of the shed to get around in back of Mike, hoping and praying his whole attention would be on Tony inside. And it was. Until I tore into him with a flying sound. You again, Mike. You knocked him out. You're okay. Dollar Sure I know. And dollar here. I. I guess you better keep his gun. Oh, thanks Tony. And you think maybe. Maybe me and you better start on back to New York before he comes to. Funny, I never did think to find out if Mike Thomason kept his job on the force after that little episode. Tony, of course is back in the pen finishing out a somewhat extended term expense account total including travel back for the two of us. 379.50. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Now here is our star to tell you about next week's story. Well, next week, strange vengeance for an even stranger crime. Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, starring Bob Reddick is written by Jack Johnstone, produced and directed by Bruno Zarato Jr. Musical supervision by Ethel Huber. Heard in our cast were Bill Lipton as Tony Valentine, Larry Haynes as Randy Singer, Roger De Koven as Mike Thomason, Arthur Cole as the old man, Mendel Kramer as the police captain, and Joseph Julian as Paul Ferris. Be sure to join us next week, same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. This is Art Hannah speaking. This is the CBS Radio Network. There's more from this is your FBI Johnny Dollar, Case Closed and all of the Relic Radio podcasts at Relic Radio. Thousands of episodes to listen to there and a shout cast stream with even more Old Time Radio. This is episode 1000 of this podcast. Thanks to those of you who have supported this podcast with your ears and your donations. Thanks for joining me this week. I'll be back again next Wednesday with another hour of Old Time Radio Crime on Case Closed.