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Narrator
Welcome to Choice Classic Radio where we bring to you the greatest old time radio shows like us on Facebook. Subscribe to us on YouTube and thank you for donating@ChoiceClassicRadio.com.
Horace W. Milford
Johnny Dollar, this is the Milford Advertising Agency in Denver, Colorado.
Johnny Dollar
Mr. Dollar Advertising Agency.
Horace W. Milford
Mr. Horace W. Milford would like to speak.
Narrator
Hold on, please. Hello? Dollar?
Johnny Dollar
That's right, Mr. Milford. Yes.
Narrator
Can you come out here to Denver to see me right away?
Johnny Dollar
Well now look, sir, if you're interested in buying commercial time on my weekly radio program, you'll have to contact CBS Radio in New York.
Narrator
No, $, this is a purely personal matter that I wish to see you about. That I must see you about.
Johnny Dollar
Well, I'm sorry Mr. Milford, but unless there's insurance involved.
Narrator
Well, yes. Yes there is. The same company that's insured my life.
Johnny Dollar
One of the outfits I work with.
Narrator
Tri Western Life Insurance Company.
Johnny Dollar
Yeah, that's one of my clients.
Narrator
Well then please come out here right away.
Johnny Dollar
Well, I'd better check first with the company and get their authorization to.
Narrator
What was that? No, by all means do not contact the insurance company. Not yet.
Johnny Dollar
Well, there's a little matter of my
Narrator
expense account that will be taken care of most adequately.
Johnny Dollar
Okay, whatever you say. Now what's this all about, Mr. Milford?
Narrator
Mr. Dollar here on the phone. I can only tell you it's a matter of preventing. Yeah, yes, of preventing a murder. CBS radio brings you Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action packed expense account, America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator, yours truly, Johnny doll. And now act one of yours truly, Johnny Dollar.
Johnny Dollar
Expense account submitted by special Investigator Johnny Dollar. Mr. Horace W. No, no. To the Tri Western Life Insurance Company. You'll see why later on. And following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the hired hom. Expense account item 1, $77 plane fare. The big mainliner took off from Bradley Field in Hartford at 8:25pm and set me down at Staple and Field in Denver at the ungodly hour of 3:35am Item 2, $5 for a cab into the Brown Palace Hotel where I added some sleep to the few hours I'd had aboard the plane. Breakfast was item three, $1.50. And then I walked over to the office of the Milford Advertising Agency on California Street. Horace W. Milford was tall, gray haired and with a very dignified bearing. He got to the point immediately. And yet in a kind of Roundabout
Narrator
Way, Mr. Dollar, I must emphasize that this whole thing must be completely confidential.
Johnny Dollar
Oh, well, now, that depends.
Narrator
I will pay you well. Very well.
Johnny Dollar
You sound as though there might be something illegal about whatever it is you want me to do.
Narrator
I can only hope that you can prevent something illegal from happening. Something terribly wrong.
Johnny Dollar
You mentioned murder.
Narrator
I said prevent a murder.
Johnny Dollar
Pose, Mr. Melford, yours.
Narrator
I'll be as brief as possible, Mr. Dollar. Time is of the essence, but first you must know some background.
Johnny Dollar
Right ahead, sir.
Narrator
Since my wife passed away some years ago, this advertising business and my daughter Claire have been my sole interest in life.
Johnny Dollar
How old is Claire?
Narrator
She was 27 on her last. Now listen, please. I built this business by myself until two years ago. I made all the client contacts, planned the campaigns, wrote the copy. I bought the space and radio, time, everything. And then Tony came along.
Johnny Dollar
Tony?
Narrator
Anthony Ferringer. He's my son in law.
Johnny Dollar
And he works for you, Mr. Milford.
Narrator
Out of pity for a young man who seemed to be struggling to make his way in the world, I gave him a job. Then by way of repaying me, I thought he brought the Bonar Electronics account to this office.
Johnny Dollar
Bonar Electronics Corporation? Yeah, I've heard of them. Pretty big outfit.
Narrator
I understand it means annual billings of some $2 million.
Johnny Dollar
To us, that's a sizable advertising account.
Narrator
Now, the point is. Well, he told me later that his means of getting it were somewhat unorthodox. Unethical is a better word.
Johnny Dollar
Now, how do you mean?
Narrator
He told me that he had something on officers of the Bonar organization. That he threatened exposure and ruinous scandal if he weren't permitted to handle their advertising here.
Johnny Dollar
Well, now, that doesn't seem possible with a big but.
Narrator
Thanks largely to my own efforts and ideas, we have established them as one of the most important companies in their field.
Johnny Dollar
Don't ever underestimate the value of advertising, huh?
Narrator
Yes, to the public as well as to the company. Yeah.
Johnny Dollar
Well, now, mister.
Narrator
Once I took over the account, young Tony was content to sit around, collect his salary in a big commission and do nothing. Nothing, that is, but constantly remind me that he had brought the business here.
Johnny Dollar
I see.
Narrator
But Mr. Dollar, were the account suddenly to go to some other agency, it would ruin me. Oh?
Johnny Dollar
How so?
Narrator
Buying this building, setting up the organization adequately to service such an account cost me everything I had. I'm not a young man anymore.
Johnny Dollar
Or is somebody else scanning for Bonar Electronics?
Narrator
Far worse than that, Mr. Dollar.
Johnny Dollar
Now, wait a minute, please. I'm afraid we've got far away from the subject of murder that you, Mr. Dollar.
Narrator
Far worse than his simply falling down on the job is the fact that Tony Ferringer, against my will, mind you, because I knew him well enough not to trust him, courted and eloped with my daughter. And it wasn't because he loved her, believe me. It was only a further step in a plan to get his hands on this advertising business of mine.
Johnny Dollar
You're sure of that?
Narrator
He had the nerve, the audacity, to say so himself. I can see him now, sitting right there where you are, with a smirk on his face, blandly telling me that now that he'd lost her, he'd have to resort to other tactics. That he'd have to take this important account away from me by opening his own agency and that I couldn't stop him.
Johnny Dollar
Wait a minute, please. You said lost her. What did you mean by that?
Narrator
Because of his duplicity, what he'd done to me, because of the miserable way he treated and tortured her. Claire, my daughter, my only child. Claire took her own life.
Johnny Dollar
Oh, I'm sorry.
Narrator
Well, the shock of it almost killed me, $. Tony Ferringer was bringing my whole life crashing and crushing down upon my head. I hated him with every fiber of my being. I was beside myself. I could see only one thing left for me to do.
Johnny Dollar
Milford, please.
Narrator
Then my clients at Bonar came to me two days ago and they told me they realized what had happened and why. And they assured me there was nothing Tony could do or say that would hurt them and that they would stand by me. Well, that straightened me out, Mr. Dallas. It made me realize that killing Tony, there was no point, no use in it.
Johnny Dollar
Well, I'm glad of that, sir. But then I'm afraid I don't see why you sent for me.
Narrator
Because it was too late. What, Because I had already hired a man, a professional killer, to murder him? Yes.
Johnny Dollar
Well, then, good heavens, man, call him off.
Narrator
I can't.
Johnny Dollar
Sure get in touch with him.
Narrator
And what do you mean you can't? There's no possible way for me to reach him, contact him until after he's murdered Tony Ferringer. And now, act two of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. And the hired homicide matter.
Johnny Dollar
Now, wait a minute, Mr. Milford. You mean there's no way to reach this hired killer to call him off, to tell him not to murder Tony Fenger?
Narrator
No, none whatever.
Johnny Dollar
But look here, you can't just.
Narrator
Mr. Dollar. When the only thing I wanted in life was to see him dead for all the terrible things he did to me, to my daughter, I went about arranging it very carefully. How? By means. I don't need to go into here. I finally established a contact in the. In the underworld here in Denver. Sort of a stool pigeon, I suppose you'd call him. A man named Eric Blinker.
Horace W. Milford
Yeah.
Johnny Dollar
Yeah, for a price.
Narrator
Blinker had the killer contact me at my home.
Johnny Dollar
You know the name of this killer?
Narrator
Well, he only told me that if he felt it necessary to phone me to contact me in any way before the job was done, he would identify himself as Blackie. Oh, great. Great.
Johnny Dollar
Then the only thing you can do is contact this Eric Blinker again. Tell him to call off Blackie. Have Blackie get in touch with you.
Narrator
No, Mr. What do you mean, no? Eric Blinker's body was found floating down the Platte river yesterday afternoon just before I called you. But don't you see, Mr. Dollar? Unless we can somehow contact this Blackie, he'll go ahead with the murder. The murder I arranged. It must not happen.
Johnny Dollar
All right. How much do you know about Blackie? What does he look like?
Narrator
I don't know.
Johnny Dollar
But you just finished telling me that he called on you to make arrangements for the killing.
Narrator
He came to my home at night. He insisted on talking to me from outside a window where I couldn't see him. I couldn't see.
Johnny Dollar
All right. Did you give him any money?
Narrator
$5,000 in cash. Marked.
Johnny Dollar
Huh? Marked bills.
Narrator
No. Oh, fuck. Well, he said that if any of the money was marked in any way, that he would know about it and that he wouldn't hesitate to kill me. All right.
Johnny Dollar
When was he to do the job?
Narrator
He would only say by the end of the week.
Johnny Dollar
And this is Friday.
Narrator
This is Friday.
Johnny Dollar
And you can't give me anything to go on to find this man Blackie?
Narrator
Nothing. Unless he calls.
Johnny Dollar
Well, if that happens, you don't need me. Mr. Milford.
Narrator
Yes? Have you.
Johnny Dollar
Have you told Tony Feringer anything of this?
Narrator
Good heavens, Dollar, you don't know the man. Can't you see what would surely happen if I did? He would bleed me for everything I have. Me, accessory to a plot to murder him. Don't you see what that means?
Johnny Dollar
Yeah, sure I do. And if you were to call in the police, it would be just as. Oh, yeah. Mr. Milford, you've really stuck your neck in a noose.
Narrator
Somehow you've got to get me out of this. You?
Johnny Dollar
What about Tony? Right guy or wrong, he's the one who's gonna be killed.
Narrator
Well, I meant stop this thing. I don't want his blood on my hands, not anymore. Somehow you've got to stop this killing.
Johnny Dollar
Oh, yeah, sure, great. But how? You got any good ideas? Hey, a phony telegram, something like that.
Narrator
What?
Johnny Dollar
Yeah, some kind of a message telling Tony to get out of town.
Narrator
But if it weren't to reach him soon enough, or if you. If he were to disregard it, if
Johnny Dollar
you were to go to the police.
Narrator
Oh, I'd sooner kill myself. I might as well.
Johnny Dollar
Or contact them. An anonymous warning, maybe.
Narrator
There is only one place from which Tony Feringer might expect trouble.
Johnny Dollar
From me, Mr. Milford. Well. Oh, I. I don't know. So. So help me. I don't know. I'm. I'm not even sure you deserve help after what you've done.
Narrator
I. I beg you, Mr. Dolly. Hey, you.
Johnny Dollar
You told me on the phone there's insurance involved in all this.
Narrator
Well, when he first came with me, Tony had his life insured. He named some distant relative as the beneficiary through tri.
Johnny Dollar
Western life.
Narrator
Yes, but he didn't even name Claire in it when he married her.
Johnny Dollar
Yeah, well, that's beside the point.
Narrator
Do you have an idea, Mr. Dollo? Something, some way.
Johnny Dollar
Oh, no, no. I was just thinking. It's not only your neck I've got to look out for now, but I got to keep the insurance company from having to pay off on Tony.
Narrator
You. You could watch over him.
Johnny Dollar
Oh, yeah, sure. Sit on his lap for 24 hours a day without his knowing it. Where is he now? I don't know. Where does he live?
Narrator
Well, then you will watch over.
Johnny Dollar
We'll see. Scribble down his address and phone number for him.
Narrator
Oh, yes, yes, of course. He lives at 425.
Johnny Dollar
What does he look like?
Narrator
About the same height and weight that you are here.
Johnny Dollar
My God, 425.
Narrator
But his hair and complexion are somewhat different. Tony? That's right, papa. And who are you, mister?
Johnny Dollar
I take it you're Tony Ferringer.
Narrator
That's right. Oh, Tony. Oh, listen, you old fool. I just found out you spoiled my
Johnny Dollar
chances of starting my own agency. That you can't bone our electronics into staying with you.
Narrator
No, no. It's because you lied to me about the way you got us.
Johnny Dollar
That account. So you finally caught on.
Narrator
Tony, will you listen to me?
Johnny Dollar
You listen to me. I'm not gonna let you get away with this.
Narrator
Please, Tony. Or maybe you will. Maybe I can't stop you. But believe me, believe me, you're gonna pay me plenty. Tony, will you pay me?
Johnny Dollar
Why, I haven't figured it out yet,
Narrator
but you'll pay me, Papa. Just remember that.
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Narrator
Oh, dear. I don't know. I don't know what to do.
Johnny Dollar
Just keep your shirt on. Mr. Melford.
Narrator
Yeah, what?
Johnny Dollar
Yeah, and wish me luck. Item 2, $5 for a taxi that followed Tony Farridge's car to a residential section east of town. And sure enough, he pulled up in front of his own home.
Narrator
Maybe.
Johnny Dollar
Maybe the wild, the crazy idea that I'd suddenly got back there in the office would work.
Narrator
Driver. Yeah.
Johnny Dollar
End of the line. Pull around this corner. All right, here. Here's a five spot. Stick around for a while. Instead of walking up to Tony's front door, I sneaked around to the back half, hidden by a hedge at the side. I hope that none of the neighbors would see me, raise a fuss or report me as a prowler. I rang the buzzer at the back door, then stood aside, flat against the wall so that whoever opened it wouldn't see me.
Narrator
Yes. Yes. Hello. Somebody ring this door buzzer. And now
Johnny Dollar
the rest of this wild plan works out. In you go, Ton.
Narrator
And now, act three of yours truly, Johnny Dollar.
Johnny Dollar
After wasting some fine scotch whiskey pouring it on Tony Farringe's clothes. Item three was another five to the cabbie for helping me haul my apparently drunken friend to a cheap rooming house over on the other side of town. A place run by a frowzy old dame who called herself Ma Letcher.
Horace W. Milford
Here, mister, just carry him up and let him sleep it off in this room here at the top of the stairs. Here, I'll open it up for you.
Narrator
Yeah, thanks.
Horace W. Milford
You ask me, somebody must have hit him with a bottle. Here you are. Well, you can lay him onto the bed. This room will cost you a buck and a half, though.
Johnny Dollar
All right, here. Here's a five Spot.
Horace W. Milford
Well, thanks. Who do I tell? Him.
Johnny Dollar
And here's another for telling him. A taxi driver brought him in here. Somebody you never saw before.
Horace W. Milford
Oh, don't worry. I know how to keep my mouth shut when I get paid for it. Paid good, that is.
Johnny Dollar
Okay, I'll make a 10.
Narrator
Here.
Horace W. Milford
Well, mister, you ain't got a worry in the world.
Johnny Dollar
Wanna bet? Item 4. A$10 for another cab back to Tony Fering again. Hoping none of the neighbors would see me, I let myself in the back door with a key I'd taken out of his pocket. I figured all I could do now was sit around and wait until the killer showed up. But as I walked through the doorway into the living room.
Narrator
Just hold it and don't turn around, mister. Hands up high,
Johnny Dollar
Blackie.
Narrator
That's right, Blackie. Well, carrying a gun, huh? No, don't turn around. Just walk over to that bench now and sit down. The piano bench there in front of you.
Johnny Dollar
Now, look, if you think I'm Tony Farringer, sit down. Now, keep pacing.
Narrator
That way.
Johnny Dollar
I suppose I haven't got much choice.
Narrator
I know you're not Tony, but you know who I am. That means you know what I was hired for. That means you know too much.
Johnny Dollar
All right, now, listen, Blackie. Base front.
Narrator
I was afraid Eric Blenker might talk, but I didn't dump him in the river soon enough. And listen.
Johnny Dollar
I'm listening.
Narrator
You think I won't get Tony, but you're wrong.
Johnny Dollar
I saw you take him into that crummy rooming house.
Narrator
I saw what you did to him too. He won't be moving out of there for a while. That means I have plenty of time.
Johnny Dollar
Hey, Blackie.
Narrator
Mister, I hate to do a killing without getting paid for it, but as long as you know so much. Well, I'm afraid you don't give me much choice, do you?
Johnny Dollar
Are you talking for your own amusement? I'm giving you a chance to say
Narrator
your prayers, if you still know how.
Johnny Dollar
Hey, Blackie, look, we can front. Well, what difference does it make, huh? If I should see you? I mean, if you're gonna kill me?
Narrator
Let's just say I prefer it this way. Are you ready?
Johnny Dollar
Are you kidding? You think you're gonna get away with this?
Narrator
I'm absolutely sure of it.
Johnny Dollar
And I asked you, do you think I'd come here looking for you without taking precautions? You've said enough. Now, do you feel this gun in the back of your head? I could tell by his voice that he stood directly behind me. I put my right heel tightly against the leg of the piano bench. And then, as I felt the cold muzzle of his gun against the back of my head, I suddenly dropped to the floor, kicking the bench against his. Well, Blackie, I'm afraid your rather unique career has finally come to an end. Listen, boy, down. Nailing Blackie for the murder of Erica Stooli made it easy for me to keep Mr. Milford out of the picture completely. Nor did Blackie talk something cold in the underworld, I guess. As for the expense account, well, in view of the fee that was handed to me, you can forget it. Tony Feringer, incidentally, never did quite know what happened to him. Now, will somebody please give me a nice clean case to work on? Yours truly, Johnny Doll.
Narrator
Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, starring Bob Bailey, originates in Hollywood and is written, produced and directed by Jack Johnstone. Heard in our cast were Virginia Gregg, Marvin Miller, Lawrence Dobkin, and Russell Thorson. Be sure to join us next week, same time and station, for another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. This is Dan Coverley speaking. Johnny Dollar has come to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States Armed Forces Radio and Telev.
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Host: Choice Classic Radio
Episode Featured: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar – "The Hired Homicide Matter"
Original Air Date: December 6, 1959
Podcast Release Date: March 9, 2026
This episode revisits “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar,” one of radio’s most beloved detective dramas, focusing on the case titled "The Hired Homicide Matter." Johnny Dollar, the “man with the action-packed expense account,” is drawn into a desperate and dangerous situation when a grieving father, Horace W. Milford, tries to reverse a murder plot he himself set into motion. The episode deftly blends suspense, emotional drama, and classic detective work as Johnny races against time to prevent a hired killing.
| Timestamp | Segment/Event |
|---|---|
| 00:49 | Milford’s initial call to Johnny Dollar |
| 03:27 | Milford insists on confidentiality and big business pressure |
| 06:40 | Milford reveals Claire’s suicide |
| 07:43 | Milford admits hiring a killer to murder Tony |
| 09:10 | Eric Blinker’s murder closes off contact with Blackie |
| 13:29 | Johnny’s plan to hide Tony |
| 16:38 | Johnny confronted by Blackie |
| 18:13 | Tense exchange and Johnny’s counterattack |
| 19:44 | Johnny’s closing reflection – craving a simpler case |
Johnny Dollar (anti-heroic humor):
"Now, will somebody please give me a nice clean case to work on?" (19:44)
A classic, tightly plotted old-time radio drama, “The Hired Homicide Matter” showcases the genre’s strengths—moral ambiguity, tense pacing, and sharp dialogue. Listeners journey with Johnny Dollar through a maze of regret, revenge, and redemption, proving once again why the series endures as a shining example of the Golden Age of Radio detective fiction.