← Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)
Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)
BONUS - Dollar Days: The McCormack Matter
01:18:08
We're kicking off a new bonus series and a deep dive into arguably the best radio detective series of all time: the serialized run of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar starring Bob Bailey as "the man with the action-packed expense account." This beloved...
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- [00:00]
Bob Bailey
Get this and get it straight. Crime is a sucker's road and those who travel it wind up in the gut of the prison of the grave. The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. The Adventures of Sam Spade Detective the Adventures of the Saint Starring Vincent Price, Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action packed expense account, America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar.
- [00:57]
Vincent Price
Hello and welcome to down these Mean Streets and a bonus episode as we kick off what I hope will be a recurring feature called Dollar Days. A spotlight on one of the best runs of any old time radio series, detective or otherwise. It's the 1955-56 serialized installments of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. These stories that played out in 15 minute episodes weeknights on CBS feature top notch writing and performances from some of radio's best actors. Chief among them Bob Bailey, who made the role of Johnny Dollar his own. Each of these bonus shows will feature in order, one of the serialized Johnny Dollar adventures. And appropriately enough, we're kicking off with the shows that started it all. But first, a little bit of Johnny Dollar background information on its early years when it was a very good but arguably not yet great radio drama. The show of course centered on Johnny Dollar, a freelance insurance investigator whose cases took him all around the world. The show initially aired between 1949 and 1954 and during that time three different actors, Charles Russell, Edmund O'Brien and John Lund, played Johnny Dollar. Russell's portrayal was more humorous, while O'Brien and Lund played him more like a hard boiled detective. The show was well made, but as good as it was, I don't think it hit the dramatic or creative heights of say, the Adventures of Sam Spade with Howard Duff, Richard diamond with Dick Powell or Gerald Moore's run as Philip Marlowe. The show signed off seemingly for good in late 1954, but in October 1955 CBS brought Johnny Dollar back to the airwaves and at the helm was writer, producer and director Jack Johnstone. Johnstone was a very busy talent behind the scenes. Among his big credits is the Six Shooter, the outstanding western drama that brought Jimmy Stewart to radio in his only regular series role. Instead of airing one 30 minute story once a week, the new Johnny Dollar aired Monday through Friday and presented one story in 15 minute chunks, which added up to more than double the airtime of a standard radio episode. That expanded format gave Johnstone and his fellow writers more room to develop characters and add scenes to flesh out their conflicts. Scenes that a regular radio show just didn't have time to include. And perhaps most importantly, the show had a new star, an actor who was fresh off another gig as a radio detective. Bob Bailey starred on Let George do it from 1946 until 1954. But Johnny Dollar is the role he's remembered for today. His portrayal combined the best elements of his predecessors, the wry humor of Charles Russell and the intensity of Messrs. O'Brien and Lund. But he added some elements of his own, particularly a world weary romanticism. Bob Bailey's Johnny Dollar sometimes wore his heart on his sleeve. And while he could crack a joke, you could also feel the weight of his job and the things he encountered affecting him. It's a perfect marriage of character and actor and it's perhaps the single best portrayal of a radio detective. Today we'll hear the inaugural story of this celebrated run, the McCormick Matter. It originally aired on CBS between October 3rd and October 7th, 1955. It's written and directed by Jack Johnstone, who's using his pen name of John Dawson for the script. And it really helps to set the tone for the series that follows. In the very first chapter, Johnny visits Sing Sing prison at the request of a chaplain. A man Johnny put behind bars is at death's door and he wants to speak to Johnny before he checks out. It turns out the man has a line on some stolen property and as his final earthly act, he puts Johnny on the trail of the thief. It's a great character introduction to Bob Bailey's Johnny Dollar. It shows that he's tough but fair, with some compassion extended to a dying man, even if he once worked on the wrong side of the law. From there, Johnny works to track down the thief and encounters the wealthy victims of the robbery who may know more than what they've told the police. It's a terrific mystery and it's a great way to kick off this series. Along with Bob Bailey, you've got a murderer's row of west coast radio actors in the cast, Mary Jane Croft, Virginia Gregg, who had worked with Bailey on Let George Do It, Marvin Miller, Forrest Lewis, Frank Gerstel, Herb Butterfield, Herb Ellis, Tony Barrett, Ken Christie, Junius Matthews and Jack Krushen. So now let's go back to the night of Monday, October 3, 1955 and meet the new Johnny Dollar in the McCormick matter.
- [06:30]
Bob Bailey
From Hollywood. It's time now for Bob bailey as Johnny Dollar. Mr. Dollar, this is Father Taggart. I'm calling you from Ossining. I'm one of the chaplains here at Sing Sing. Oh, yes, sir. What can I do for you, Father? Well, Nothing for me, Mr. Dollar, but possibly for someone else. Michael Cairn, one of our inmates, asked me to contact you. Michael Cairn? Mm. You remember him? He wasn't sure you would. Old time grifter and con man who got tied up with an insurance fraud a few years ago. Blonde fella. Yes. Michael wants to see you. Mr. Dollar. Could you possibly find the time to come up here? Well, I don't know, Father. Is this something important? It is to Michael. Oh. Well, look, I'll be in New York sometime next month. Maybe I'll get a chance to stop off. Well, couldn't you possibly make it sooner? What's the rush? He's gonna be there quite a while, isn't he? Not very long, I'm afraid. Michael is dying. All right, Father. You can expect me. Welcome to Johnny Dollar. Beginning tonight and every weekday night. Bob Bailey and the transcribed 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 to the Allied Casualty and Insurance Company Limited, Markham Building, Hartford, Connecticut. Attention Ed Barth, Controller's office. This is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the McCormick matter. Though you didn't authorize the investigation, Ed, I'm sure that once the facts are out, you will honor the following expense account. Item one, $7.95 train fare and incidentals. Hartford to Ossining, New York. I was admitted inside the prison and greeted by Father Taggart. He's a tall, mild looking man. A Jesuit, I believe. He had a pass all ready for me and he led me straight to the prison infirmary. Just in here. Michael will certainly appreciate your coming, Mr. Donner. I hope it satisfies whatever's on his mind. I can't imagine what it would be. You know, it was my investigation and testimony that put him in here, Father. He told me all about that. And I'm sure it has nothing to do with why he wants to see you. See, his lungs started to go about two years ago and there's just been no way to arrest the condition. Does he know how close he is? Oh, yes. And he's not afraid to die. Here we are, Mr. Dollar. Oh, what? Hardly the same man I remember, Father. He's had it bad lately. Lost a great deal of weight. Yeah. Asleep? Yes. Michael. Michael. Oh, hi, Father. I brought someone to see you. What do you say? Hiya, Mike. Oh, thanks for coming. Thanks, Johnny. Thank Father Taggart here. He's an alright guy, Johnny. He's just like you. I always said you were the best insurance cop. Here. Here. What's all this? I'm kicking out, Johnny. Didn't you tell him, Father? He told me, Mike. Guess I didn't live right. I'll be back in a little while. Thanks, Father. You take it easy, Mike. Lousy place to die, prison. But I ain't got my choice, thanks to you. Well, it's just that you picked to do a couple of things that the law and some insurance companies didn't agree with, Mike. I don't hold none of that against you. The guy does what he does. I don't know how to tell you this. Maybe I better get the doctor. You shouldn't be talking so much. No, no, wait, Johnny. Look, you know I'm no crybaby. When the doctor gave me the news, I got to thinking. I ain't scared to blow out, you understand? I know, Mike, I know. It's just that I had a wife once. Long time ago when I started out. Oh, yeah? Then I just kind of drifted out of her picture one day. You've got a cough drop. Heavy. Yeah, I guess it wouldn't cure what I got. Anyhow, I got to do something for her before I. Well, Johnny, I lay here and I get myself an idea. Yeah, Mike. Johnny, if there was some real easy money lying around, would you pick it up for me? Depends on how clean it is, Mike. And where it's lying. Yeah, sure, sure, sure. Well, it's clean all right. You can find that out for yourself. All right. Now listen. Till they moved me down here in the infirmary, I roomed upstairs with Jojo Pani. You know him? No, don't believe I do. McCarthy from the Haystates. Got his sabbatical three weeks ago. Paroled? Uh huh. Well, I've been in the camp with a lot of guys, but Jojo, Panty takes a cake. He's got a little five year trick to put in this Jojo. He does it like a vacation, you know, a real picnic. Every time he gets a chance out in the yard, he's taking sun so he don't get the color, see? Yeah. Yeah. When they push him in with me, I notice this and I get to going over in my head. Why does a guy whistle in a cell block, Johnny? Why is he treating it like a rest home? Short term? He's got something outside waiting. That's it, baby. He's got something waiting for him outside. Something that he knows will keep safe. Money. Thought you said this was legitimate, Mike. It is. It is. Now wait, I didn't ask JoJo anything about this? No, I figured it out myself. Then a couple of times I hear him yelling in his sleep. McCormick. Here. It's McCormick. Makes sense now, Johnny. Not yet. The big heist, Johnny, the big heist. A few years ago, a rich guy named McCormick out on Long island or someplace like that gets turned over for $100,000 worth of jewelry. You remember? Vaguely. Well, I'm thinking that Jojo Panty was in on it somewhere else. Why would he be singing and whistling and chilling himself around this fly trap for five years? Else why would he be talking about that when he's sleeping? McCormick. McCormick. Yeah. Maybe you've got something, Mike. I know I got something, Johnny. And you got something, too. Oh, now, Mike, take it easy. Oh, I'm all right. I'm all right. Don't you see? The insurance company must have a reward out. They always do. A reward. Yeah, but Mike, Look, I tell you, JoJo is the ginzo that done the job. Or he knows who did it. So you look into it, work on it, maybe turn up the stuff and get the reward. Good clean coin. Yeah, yeah. Send half of it to my old lady, will you? You keep the rest yourself. What do you say? What do. Mike Kern died three hours later. The last living thing he did was wink at me. Expense account item 2. $14.20. Train fare and incidentals. Ossining to New York. I arrived at 2:15. Dropped my bag off at the New Western and went over to the Metropolitan to find out what I could about the McCormick matter. It was all pretty much as old Mike had told me. A Junior McCormick living on Long island had suffered $100,000 jewelry burglary in 1951. Twelve suspects had been arrested and released. The case was marked open and unsolved. Allied Casualty had been the insurance company involved. This is the Adjustment Office. Frank Porter speaking. My Name's Johnny Dollar, Mr. Porter. I'm an investigator. Oh, I think I've heard of you, Mr. Dolly. Yeah? Wonder if you could give me a little information about a claim your company handled in 1951. A man named Julian McCormick out on Long Island. Gee whiz, long time ago. What about the McCormick claim? I might have some information on it. I don't know yet. It's a long chance. I'm at police headquarters and I notice you investigated for the insurance company. I'd like to talk to you. Yeah, sure, but it's kind of late today. Tomorrow. Okay, well, you can tell me this right now. Is there any reward being offered? Gee whiz kind of folds my sails. How's that? Well, asking about a reward. You sound like you can make full recovery and want to make sure that you'll be paid for it. Well, I said it was just a long shot. How about the reward? Well, that's pretty standard with us on cases like this. Yeah, I think it's 7,500, something like that. I'm not sure. Where you staying? New Weston. Well, I'll look it up, get the exact figure and call you there. How'll that be? Fine. Fine. Thanks. That'll be fine. Before I left the police station, I turned out a mug on Jojo Panney. He was a big, broad shouldered lad with plenty of beef and a list of petty convictions. Four of them in New York State. The last one was for carrying concealed weapons. His parole status was good though, and the parole officer furnished me with his home address. The Allen Hotel. Rates day, week, a month. 115th Street. It's open. It's open. Come on in. Hi. Looking for Joe Penn? Yes, sir, that's me. My name's Johnny Dollar. Yeah, I. I just came down from Ossetting. I saw a friend of yours up there. Joe. Who was that? Mike Cairn. How's Mike? Not so good. He died today. It's too bad. He was a nice old coot. Kind of liked him. Said if I ever saw you to say hello. Uh huh. He didn't give you my address? No, I got it from the parole office. You some kind of cop? No, I work for an insurance company. Oh. Buy a drink? Sure, why not? Expense account item three. $4 even for drinks. I wanted to look at Jojo Panney and talk to him and figure out how I was going to go about getting information from him. And the more I saw and the more he talked, the more I wondered if whatever he might have said about the McCormick case in his sleep happened to some other McCormack. After all, a man with a long list of petty thieveries is hardly ever involved in a slick, big time safecracking job. That takes another kind of talent. And one I was sure that Jojo didn't have. So I just been taking it easy and looking around. I figure I can get a job pushing a truck or maybe a cab if I'm lucky. Gotta get something to do. Parole office is kinda hard nosed about things like that. Yeah. Drink up. Want one more? Oh, no. No thanks. Freeze. My limit. Like to keep in shape. Sure. Say, you got anything to do? Nothing special. Why? Thought I might go out to Long Island. Later on tonight to say hello to an old friend of mine. If you haven't got anything to do, come on along. You're okay, bub? Sure. Why not? This friend of yours, he's an ex con, too? No, he never did any time. Just a friend. Want to say hello, is all. Rich fella? His name's Julian McCormick. You're very big with the hellos around here today, aren't you? Anything wrong, Joe? You probably are. Why do you say that? Nothing. Ever know anyone named McCormick? I knew a guy named Arnie McCormick once, back in Salt Lake City. We were pals for a while. Oh, yeah? Arnie was killed in the war. He'd got himself drafted in the infantry. Maybe he's related to my friend Julian McCormick out on Long Island. He wasn't related to anybody. Not that bird. I'm leaving. I want to get up early tomorrow. Why not come with me? Thanks for the drinks. He drifted off down the street and left me standing there. And one thing I was sure of, he had the name McCormick on his mind. Whether it was the right McCormick or the right case, I didn't know. Anyhow, he was my one big lead. So I was back at his hotel early the next morning and talking to the desk clerk. Annie, did you say room 210? Yeah, that's right. Vamoose. What? He left bagging baggage last night. Well, where did he go? What's his forwarding address? He didn't say, just left. Now here's our star, Bob Bailey, to tell you about tomorrow's episode. Thanks. Tomorrow, there's living proof that a pretty girl can be just as dangerous as a pretty girl. Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Is transcribed in Hollywood Written by John Dawson. The entire production is under the direction of Jack Johnstone. Be sure to join us tomorrow night, same time and station, for the next exciting episode of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Roy Rowan speaking from Hollywood. It's time now for Bob Bailey as Johnny Deller. It's Frank Porter, allied casualty. Yes, Mr. Porter. Call me Frank. Johnny. You phoned yesterday about the McCormick matter. I got all the stuff about the case on my desk here. And we're still offering $7,500 reward. Thanks for confirming it, Frank. Sure. You got a tip or something? An old con named Mike Cairn gave me a tip about a guy named Jojo Panty. I'm working on it. Need any help? No, not yet. I might. Jojo pulled out of his hotel last night, bag and baggage. What are you going to do? I'm on my way to Long island, huh? I want to talk to McCormick himself. Oh, Johnny. Yeah? Let me give you a tip for your own good. Don't bother Julian McCormick unless you've really got something. Could be dangerous. I think I've got something. Tonight and every weekday night. Bob Bailey and the Transcribed Adventures of the man with the Action Page. America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Expense account submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar. To the Allied Casualty and Insurance Company Limited, Markham Building, Hartford, Connecticut. The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the McCormick matter. Item 4, $10 deposit on the car I rented to drive out to Julian McCormick's home on Long Island. And judging by the looks of the place, a Safe full of $100,000 worth of jewelry would feel right at home. It was a mansion, and the rugs on the floor were an inch thick. I'm sorry I've kept you waiting. Mrs. McCormick and I were packing for a little trip to Europe. Sit down, please. Thanks. Going to be gone long? Oh, we usually spend several months a year over there. We're a bit late this year. Our reservations are for next week. I envy you, Mr. McCormick. Dollar the name. That's right. Forgive me, but I don't seem to recall having heard of you before. That's okay. We never met. I'm an insurance investigator. Oh, really? Am I being investigated or something? No, no, nothing like that. It's just that I might have a lead on that jewelry that was taken from your home a few years ago. Well, that's wonderful. You must tell me about it. Can I make you a drink? No, thanks. You're from the insurance company, Allied Casualty? No, no, I'm not. I'm an independent investigator. Well, why should anyone feel it necessary to call in a. Oh. Oh, I see. There's a reward, of course. That's right. Yes, of course. But now, tell me, how can I help you? Well, I'm just checking a few things, Mr. McCormick. I haven't even gone over it with a man who handled a case for Allied. Possibly I have run into something that'll help. I don't know. I'd like you to tell me what happened. My safe was opened and my jewelry taken. I mean, how it happened. Well, it was right in this very room. That's the wall safe there. Mrs. McCormick and I had just returned from our honeymoon five years ago. It was. Yeah. All I know is that when I stepped into the library here that morning, the safe was open and everything was gone. Whoever did it was extremely clever and Quiet, I must say. Was the safe cracked? No, no, no. It was just opened. Someone figured the combination or something like that. Well, who knew the combination at the time? Only myself, Mr. Dahlan. You're sure of that? Why, of course. I see. I reported it to the police right away here on Long Island. Then some men from New York City were here, too. And your insurance company? I reported it to my insurance company immediately. They had a man on the scene as soon as the police. A Mr. Porter. Frank Porter? Yes. Do you know him? I've talked to him on the phone. I haven't met him. A very nice chap. He worked very hard trying to recover it. I'm sure he did. Did they have an adjuster? Yes. How much did you collect? If you don't mind? Not much. What do you mean? Well, it was unfortunate. By keeping that much jewelry in a small house safe, it seems I violated a clause in the contract. It should have been kept in a safety deposit box or some such. Consequently, the matter went into litigation. I'm afraid the court found me at fault. I collected only a part of the insured value. $20,000. So you can see. I certainly welcome a recovery. Sure. The Julie was in the family a good many years. I had given it to my wife and I. Well, a man hates to lose things he loves. Yes, I understand. Was Mrs. McCormick here the morning it happened? Oh, yeah. I'd like to talk to her. She's terribly busy. But if you think it's sufficiently important, I'll call her. No, never mind. I'm curious, Mr. Dalla. This case has been closed a long time. At least no one's contacted me or asked me for any information about it for at least four years. What opened it? A man named Mike Cairn. Huh. Who's he? An old convict up at Ossining who shared a cell for a while with a man named Joe Panney. Uh huh. Cairn died yesterday. But before he died, he told me he thought Panney had something to do with it. He'd heard him mention your name. Well, it seems to me you should talk with this Joe Penny. I did, and I will some more as soon as I locate him again. Right now he's missing. I'm sorry. Well, thanks for the time, Mr. McCormick. You let me know if you learn anything. Sure. Do you honestly think you can recover that jewelry? With any luck at all? That would be wonderful. Wonderful. You think so? Why, yes, of course, Mrs. McCormick might be glad to know about it, too. You said it was her jewelry. I don't know. Why I said that to just a sudden impulse. But he wasn't smiling when he walked me to the door, shook my hand and patted me on the shoulder. I had a funny feeling that Mr. Julian McCormick was scared like a rabbit of me. I drove back to the city, had lunch at Walgreens and dropped into Allied Casualties New York office to pick up the folder on reward information. I met Frank Porter and liked him right away. A big red headed man in a tweed suit. Gee, where's Johnny? It makes me feel older than ever doing this. How come? Well, I weighed 15 pounds less when this case started. June 1951. Ah, here we are. These are pictures of the stuff. Now, that one they call Tierra del Cuego. Some necklace. I can see why. Yeah, and this one was called Imperial in the royal family of Russia at one time. And this is the other one. Placid. Beautiful stuff. Oh, you can say that again. That almond. Well, that's about the size of it, Johnny. $100,000 gone. Yeah. Help any? Sure. It's nice to know what I'm trying to find. Well, I hope you have better luck than I did. Yeah. Say, who was the police officer on the case? Martin Duels. Martin out of Central? Yeah, we ran down every lead we could find, big and small. The file said you made 12 arrests. Yeah, something like that. But not one of them panned out. Had to let them all go. Martin requested pickups on every big time jewelry man in the country. Now, I don't think one of them was overlooked. Well, no, Johnny. Somebody just simply walked in that house, opened the safe as neat as you please and walked right out with all of this. Very slick job. Had to be an experienced man. Might have been a first job for someone just starting in. He got lucky. Yeah, we thought of that. And we didn't think much of it after a while. Thank you. Gee whiz, Johnny, you know nobody could be that lucky. Case the house. Knew exactly where the safe was. Know what was in it, View, get in, open it up and get out. Without anybody, servants, the McCormicks or any of their friends even seeing you. Yeah, well, that wasn't even the hardest part. You see, not one scrap of this stuff has ever turned up anywhere. Yeah, anywhere. Now what? What did whoever took it do with it? Did he break it down, sell it overseas, what? Not a trace of it. Imagine that. Imagine. You know what I think? I think the guy who swiped all this stuff still has it. I think he's sitting around waiting for it to cool off. Could be. Yeah, but it's never Going to cool off. Johnny, there isn't a city in this country or across the ocean that isn't on the lookout for these pieces, I suppose. Now, sooner or later, Hot Boy or Lucky Boy, well, whoever is, will make a move. Meantime, we just wait. Unless, of course, you've got something for us to look into. Not yet, Frank. Yeah, well, when you have, we'll be right with you all the way. Good. Good. How about a drink? Take a rain check. Okay. But remember, we got a whole floor full of lawyers upstairs. They can get up warrants, writs, seizure orders, anything you might want. You. You just let me know when you get somewhere and we'll go to work. I'll do that, Frank. I left Frank Porter and went back over to the parole office to see what had developed with Joe Panney. After all, if he didn't report in, he'd be in violation of his parole, be in real trouble. But nothing had developed. He hadn't put in a change of address, nothing. So I went back to my hotel and had some dinner. Then I shaved, changed my clothes. Expense account, item five, dollar and a half, cab fare. I garaged my rented car, went back to Central Police Station and pulled out the mug on Joe Panney once more, hoping to get a line on some friends or relatives of his where he might be staying. Up till then, things had been going pretty routine. Then a clerk from the parole offices stepped across the hall. Hi, Mr. Dollar. Hi. Thought it was you I saw in here. It wasn't you? Sure. How's it going? Fine, fine. Talk to your friend JoJo Panney yet? Not today. Why? You seemed awful anxious to talk to him is all. I am. Why don't you go see him? You playing games? I've been trying to find out where he is all day, and I already told you. You what? Sure, I gave it to you half an hour ago when you phoned. When who phoned? Sure, about half an hour ago. Look, Joe Panney called in and told me his address. Yeah? I no sooner set down the phone than you call in and said, this is Johnny Dollar. If you heard from Joe Panney. I said, yeah, and I told you his address, that's all. What address did you say? The Allen Hotel on 115th Street. Same place he was before. What's the matter, you forget? It took me 10 minutes to get from the police station over to the Allen Hotel. Ten minutes of wondering who'd put in that call and used my name. I went up the stairs two at a time up to the second floor and right at the top of the landing, I bumped into a dark haired woman wearing a silver fur piece. Oh, I'm sorry, I. I didn't see you. It's all right. You hurt? No, not at all. Please let me go past. I'm in a hurry. Yeah, I'd be in a hurry too. What do you mean? The gun. You should carry it on the inside of your purse. Oh, I didn't suppose I. Take it. No. Let go of me fingernail, sir. Give it to me. All right. Take it. She'd given it to me all right. Right on the side of the head. It didn't knock me out, but it did knock me off balance. So I tangled up with a hall table and that gave her plenty of time to scurry down the stairs while I got out of the furniture and back on my feet. By the time I got down the stairs and out on the street, she was nowhere in sight. Hmm. No one yelled, I'm shot. No one did anything but what they were already doing. Hi. Where were you just now? You weren't here at the front desk. I was out back eating my dinner. Why? Nothing. You happen to see that woman who just ran through here? No. Tall, dark haired woman, about 30. Wore a mink stole. Me? Yeah. Oh, you're kidding. In this joint? You still looking for Joe Panney? He lives here again, doesn't he? Yeah. Have you seen him? Where is he? Out. I sat down with myself and waited. A half an hour later, when the clerk went back to finish his dinner, I stepped over to the desk and borrowed his pass key and went back up the stairs to rob room 210. Well, I didn't need the pass key and I didn't need to doubt the clerk. Joe Panty wasn't there, but all of his things were. The curtains were drawn and the windows closed. Every drawer had been pulled out of every dresser. The mattress on the bed was slipped from top to bottom and the rug had been ripped and turned over. Expense account, item six. One dollar. One drink for me. I left Jojo's room, went to the nearest bar, sat down and had a drink. A scared victim, a missing con, a dark haired woman wearing a mink and a gun and other things. Right then and there, I decided that Mike Can's tip had been pretty good at that. Now, here's our star, Bob Bailey, to tell you about tomorrow's episode. Thanks. Tomorrow, a slight case of mayhem when the right guy turns up in the wrong place. Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Is transcribed in Hollywood Written by John Dawson. The entire production is under the direction of Jack Johnstone. Be sure to join us tomorrow night, same time and station, for the next exciting episode of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Roy Rowan speaking from Hollywood. It's time now for Bob Bailey as Johnny Duller. This is Duels Martin. Lieutenant Martin? Yeah, that's right. I got a message you called while I was out and left this number. Yeah. I want to talk to you about the McCormick case. Lieutenant McCormick, $100,000 burglary out on Long island back in 1951. I was the officer in charge. Who are you? Insurance investigator. I got a tip that an ex convict named Joe Panney might have pulled it. I'm at Pani's Hotel. Well, let me know how you make out. Say, listen, his room's been torn apart. Every inch of it's been searched. And when I came here tonight, I got socked by a woman with a gun. Give me that address tonight at every weekday night. Bob Bailey and the transcribed 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 the Allied Casualty and Insurance Company Limited, Markham Building, Hartford, Connecticut. The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the McCormick matter. Expense account item seven, $2. Two drinks for myself and Lieutenant Duels Martin, NYPD. A big, swarthy man who seemed to know what he was about. Martin looked over the damage done by the unknown ransacker of Joe Panney's room. Questioned the clerk who was unable to furnish any helpful information. Then, because Joe Panney was officially a parole violator. Ordered a general pickup. We should be able to get our hands on him pretty soon. Duller. I hope it's that easy, Lieutenant. Any reason why it shouldn't be fairly routine? No. Just a feeling, I guess. I don't know. This whole matter has been flimsy. The tip was weak, but it seems to be paying off. Nothing fits, though. I don't quite get all this dollar. How'd you come in on this? Old Mike Cairn died up at Sing Sing two days ago. Before he went, he told me he believed Joe Panney might have pulled a McCormick burglary. It didn't seem likely then. Panney being a small time auto thief and whatnot. But now it does. In view of what's been happening lately, somebody sure wants something Panty might have. Judging from that room, I never saw one taken apart. Better an expert search job. Yeah. Hey, Lieutenant. When you pick Joe Panty Up. I'd like to be in on it. He's my only lead in this case and I want to talk to him again. That's not asking too much now dollar about this woman you saw. Pretty, about 30, dark hair, good dresser. Wore a silver mink. Stole. The gun she socked me with was a little one.25 or maybe.32 automatic. Mm. You think she might have done the searching in Joe's room? What do you think? She was flustered and upset when I bumped into her. Anxious to get away from the place. And of course, the gun in her hand. Yeah. She sound familiar to you? In this neighborhood? No. No. Could be anybody. Yeah, well, that's about it. Lieutenant. Yeah. No, I got it. Oh, thanks. I suppose you talked to McCormick. Got the full story of the burglary from him? Almost first thing. Yes. I remember him when it first happened. Nice enough, but strange. I thought. This business about somebody phoning the parole office ahead of you to get Joe Panney's address. That stops me though. That's hard to figure. You sure you're telling me everything? Sure I'm sure. That part sounds crazy. Not if somebody knew I was looking for him. One to get him first. But who? How should I know? Well, we'll see what we will see. Can I drop you anywhere? No, thanks. I'll walk you. Let me know when you pick him up. Sure. Two days passed and I didn't hear from Lieutenant Martin. I finally phoned in and a supplementary had turned up. No leads. Martin had men watching Joe's hotel. His former friends and acquaintances were being checked. Meanwhile, I decided to try and find out who the dark woman in the first stole had been. It seemed pretty obvious that she had just come from Joe's room. That she knew him or was connected with him in some way. So once more I combed over Joe Panney's file at headquarters, this time looking for a woman's name. The only one mentioned was an ex wife who had divorced him six years before. Her name was Iris Carter at the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The marriage certificate and record of divorce proceedings gave me a composite picture of an unhappy and turbulent three year marriage. It also gave me a general description of Iris Carter that could very well fit the woman I'd seen briefly in the hallway outside Joe Panney's hotel room. There was a six year old address to start on. Eunice? Is that you, Eunice? I said, is that you, Eunice? No, ma'am, I'm not Eunice. Oh, no? You sure? Ain't you seen her? I Don't know. I really don't know her. Oh. Well, what do you want? I'd like to talk to the manager. I want some information. What's your name? Johnny Dollar. What kind of information are you looking for? Are you the manager? Yes, sir, I am. Well, I'm trying to locate a woman named Iris Carter. She might have used the name Iris Panney. She was married once to a man named Joe Panning. Lived here about six years ago. Were you here then? I was. Did you know her? I did. Did you know him? Yeah. He went to jail. Does she live here now? She don't. Do you have any idea where I can find her? I don't. Well, do you happen to know if she ever worked? Just to talk to her. When did she move out? Oh, long time ago. Five years maybe. What's your business? Insurance. Oh, what's up? Oh, nobody around here buys insurance. We don't have to go into that. If you can think of any place I might get a line on her, I'd appreciate it. It seems to me she worked at a bookstore down the street. Down what street? Out there. Block or two down that way. I think she worked there. I don't know. You can try. Thank you, I will. My, you polite, you tip your hat. So tell me, do you remember what she looked like? Sort of. Yeah. Well. Oh, about as tall as I am. Nice, pretty girl. Blonde or brunette? Dark hair, almost black. Know any of her friends when she lived here? No, No, I couldn't tell you that. Why? Oh, I might look up one of them and ask her about her, that's all. You ask at that bookstore? I think she worked there. The bookstore? Iris Carter PA was as dismal as the neighborhood. The proprietor and Mrs. Olds yielded a little more helpful information than Iris Carter's former landlady. Yes, Iris had worked there for about six months. She'd quit almost five years before. No, she didn't know where to find her. Expense account. Item 8, $1.02. Lunch. I had it in a neighborhood diner called the Showboat. A place where Mrs. Ohles said Iris Carter had frequently eaten. The restaurant manager remembered Iris vaguely. She also remembered Iris boyfriend. I asked for a description. She did better than that. She gave me his name, occupation and address. An old rehearsal hall two blocks away. The five man combo. Working there was really putting it up. Yeah, and the minute I saw him, I knew the boy wearing the trumpet was the one I was looking for. Just good looking and smooth enough to go with a girl. Iris Carter sounded like smooth Trumpet too. Okay, Guys, take five. I'm looking for Jack Lang. You found him. I'm Johnny Dollar. Can we talk a minute? That's about all I got, Mr. Dollar. Want to smoke? No thanks. Oh man, gets real tired out about this time of day. Yeah, I imagine it does the way you put it on. Well, everybody to his own racket. What's yours? Insurance? Investigating. Okay, now what? Well, I've been asking around the neighborhood and they tell me you once knew a girl named Iris Carter or Iris Panney. Iris Carter. Go on. I'd like to find her and talk to her. And I thought you might be able to help me. Go on. I want to talk to her ex husband most of all. I thought somehow she might know where to find him these days. He's in the can. He was released three weeks ago. Any ideas? No. I thought finding her might be a shortcut to him. I wouldn't think so. They were all washed up when I knew her. When was that? Five years ago. She hadn't seen him for over a year then. Uh huh. She didn't have much use for him. I don't blame her. How long did you know her? No, we went together for a while while she worked at some crummy bookstore and she moved away and I didn't see her after that. I think she said something about going back to Ohio. You think? I don't remember offhand. Well, let me put it this way. As far as I know, she's in no trouble. The one we want is her ex husband. You'd be helping a lot if you could tell me where to find her. I don't know. I honestly don't know and I sure wish I did. I. I'd like to find her myself. Why? Well, when she went with me, I. Well, wasn't any good. I think she just walked out because she was tired of losers sick up to here. You know what I mean? Can't blame her. He gave her a pretty bad time. I didn't do much better. But now I got something. It's this little five piece outfit. Not much, but something. I'd like to show it to her and say Iris is mine. You kind of had it bad, huh? Bad as a guy like me can get it. I know I'll probably never see her again as long as I live. But boy, if another one like her ever shows up, I'm gonna be ready. Dad. Ever see her? No. She must have been something. Yeah. Take a look. Nice, huh? Yeah. Why? Take it back. What back? About seeing her. I've seen her When? Where? Two nights ago in the hallway outside Joe Pani's room. You sure? I'm sure. She hit me with a gun before she left. The picture he had flipped out of his wallet was old and well thumbed. It showed a sultry kind of face that could have been 20 or 30 or 40. A wide, frank, smiling, happy mouth. Not the kind of girl I would imagine could ever be married to a Joe Panning. But there was no doubt about it. She had been married to him. And I had seen her. On my way back to the hotel. I dropped in to check with Lieutenant Martin. Hi. Hi. Doing any good? Any lead on Joe Panney? Nothing so far. This may take longer than I thought at first. Well, I've been out looking for his ex wife. I didn't find her, but I found a few people who knew her. She was the one at his hotel the other night. Name's Iris Carter. You sure? Positive. I saw her picture. We better try to pick her up, too. I'll put it out right away. Fine. Well, I'll keep in touch. Oh, wait a minute. Don't go, huh? We had some action here today. Sit down. Thanks. Julian McCormack called up, reported you. He said you came out there bothering him a couple days ago. He said he doesn't want to be bothered. Well, I only talked to him to get his story on the burglary. And I told him as long as you didn't break the law, there was nothing we could do to stop you from investigating. But he didn't like it. He seemed perfectly willing to cooperate with me when I talked to him before. Yeah, well, sometime these rich. Excuse me. Martin here. That's right. How long ago? Okay. Well, they found your boy, Joe Penny. What? Yeah, he's on his way to the morgue. Harbor Patrol picked up his body a couple of hours ago. Loaded down with slugs. Some case. And that ain't all, Johnny. Huh? His feet were burnt. Now, here's our star, Bob Bailey, to tell you about tomorrow's episode. Thanks. Tomorrow, a phase of this case that ought to be called the Talking Corpse. For believe me, this one said plenty. Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Doll from Hollywood. It's time now for Bob Bailey as Johnny Duller, Frank Porter at Allied Casualty. How's it going, kid? I don't know. You ever find Joe Penny? The harbor patrol found him floating around the harbor. He'd been shot and his feet were burnt. What? Gee whiz. Torture. Well, what can I do to help? Find a girl who was once married to him, Joe Panty had a wife. Yeah, she wears a mink stole these days and carries a gun. She's tied up with it somewhere. Her name's Iris Carter. Iris Carter? You've met her Just long enough to get slug with her gun. Wait a minute. I'd like to get it all straight. Can I come over? I'll be here tonight and every weekday night. Bob Bailey and the transcribed adventures of a 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 Allied Casualty and Insurance Company Limited, Markham Building, Hartford, Connecticut. The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the McCormick matter. Expense account item nine, $14 even. Secretarial services. I dictated a detailed report of the hundred thousand dollar McCormick case. I did it for two reasons. One, to make certain that Allied and the New York police were thoroughly informed of my part of the matter. And two, to review the case for my own benefit. One of the key figures, Joe Panney, was a murder victim. Attached is a copy of that report. I tried to cover as closely as possible my conversation with Mike Cairn at Sing Sing when he tipped me off that Joe Panney had something to do with the McCormick burglary of five years ago. Also one conversation with Joe Panney, his subsequent disappearance and murder. I had a copy for Frank Porter when he showed up at my room. He read it from top to bottom. Gee whiz, Johnny, if this isn't something you come here for. Joe Panty looks like he did the McCormick job. Now he's dead. You're stopped. What can you do? Find his wife, maybe. You're doing this at your own expense, aren't you? Oh, I think your company will pay for it in time. You have to recover the stuff. I know you think you will. I think so. Yeah. Well, your key man's dead. You'll have to start all over again. Maybe not. I don't really know whether Joe Panning was my key man or not. I still can't see a small time auto thief working a big slick safe burglary. Every indication is that he was the one. I know. I'd like to find that girl, Iris Carter, and talk to her about it. She's connected with it. From what you say on the paper. Yeah, very much. Gee whiz, I feel like a fifth wheel. I'm not helping you a bit. You know. I handled this case for the company when it first broke. I worked with Lieutenant Martin for six months on it. And we didn't turn up a thing, you're on it three or four days and you have all kinds of action. Well, I must have stepped in at the right time. Yeah. Johnny, somebody gunned your panty down. I know you like to work alone, do things your own way, but be careful. If you stay on this. I get worried when somebody starts shooting. Oh, sure. I didn't get that though. Why, if I keep on this, I wouldn't let it go now if my life depended on it. I'm gonna find that woman and I'm gonna find the stuff. Sure. Well, gee whiz, don't let anything happen to you. I won't. I talked some more with Frank Porter about the case. He repeated his offer in the name of Allied Casualty to help if he could. I told him I'd take it up on it if anything came up at all. He left. I was at Central Police Station 10 minutes later. And five minutes after that, Lieutenant Duels. Martin was calling for the medical examiner's report on Joe Panney's death. A uniformed man brought it in. Martin shoved it across the desk at me. The me says Joe Panney's been dead about 48 hours or longer. 225 slugs right through the chest, penetrated both lungs, one through the neck. It's very neat shooting at that range. What range? Oh, at least 20ft. Maybe longer. Not many people shoot.25s that well. It's a little gun. A woman's gun. Yeah. Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. Now let's talk about that woman you saw around there that night. Now, you say it was Panty's ex? Yeah, Iris Carter. I don't know whether her gun was a.25 or.32. Well, think about it. I have. Now look, don't get sore with me. It's just that she looks like better than ever for opening this case up. I put her on on all points. Sorry, I got riled. That's all right. Now the ME thinks that Penny was killed before he was dumped in the water. Possibly ambushed by someone he didn't know or didn't trust. If he's right about the range, that'd fit in. Someone who knew him would do it close up. Yeah. Hey, wait. You said his feet were burnt. Yeah. I got the pictures here to prove it. Now take a look. These are the glossies. Uh huh. Now these are the burns here. Right here, here and here. Then he wasn't ambushed. Exactly. Look, I don't know what he was, but this is the crazy part. He was already dead when this happened. No rope marks on his legs or wrists. You don't sit still for burning, no matter how tough you are. It's fascinating, huh? Someone shot him down, then tried to make it look like he was tortured for information first cover up. He's supposed to look like he knew something or had something. And maybe he didn't know or have anything at all. Well, how do you feel? Lousy. If the burning was cover up, then maybe the big search of his room was cover up, too. To throw us off. To throw you off. Not me. I wasn't in on it then. Yeah, well, one thing that's genuine. What's that? The corpse. An hour and a half later, a witness was delivered to the office of Lieutenant Martin. His name was Edmund Thompson. He sold papers in the dock area. Both Martin and I looked at him twice and I could tell both of us were doubting the credulity of anything he might have to say. I, I. My name's Martin. This is Mr. Dollar. Yes, sir. Glad to know you both. Now, would you mind telling us everything you saw the other night? Tuesday night? Yeah, it was Tuesday. Sure, why not? I saw this guy dumped in the water. We understand that. Can you tell us the circumstances? It's against the will of God. Yes, it certainly is. Against the laws of nature, too. What did you see, Mr. Thompson? I prayed for them both. You tried, $. When did you pray? Right after I saw it. Yes, sir. On the street, huh? No, I was on the vacant lot. I was cutting across towards the dock. Oh. Then I see this car pull up. Long black car, a lot of chrome on it. This fella jumps out and goes around at the back. He opens the trunk and he pulls this other fella out, hoists him up and he carries him over the dock. Then he just lets him go. Then you prayed? Then I prayed. I was a little too scared to do anything else. This car, the man had long black, one lot of chrome. Sedan or coupe? What's the difference? Two seats or one seat? One seat. Happen to get the license number? All right, all right, Let that go. How about the man? Can you describe him? He stood there, looked down at the water and started himself a cigarette. What kind of a face did he have? Dark light, A mustache. What? A devil's face. Now, what does that mean? The devil. Mr. Thompson, do you understand that we want to apprehend this man? That he's responsible for one man's death and that he might harm someone else? I'll pray for him. Pray for him all. Well, how was he dressed? Didn't notice. Hat? Don't know. Coat? Don't know. But he had a long black coupe. You know the make? Nope. Would you know him if you saw him again? No. Look, when you saw him dump a body into the water, why didn't you notify the police? Why should I? It's police business. Let them take care of their business, I'll take care of mine. Any of you fellas got a cigarette on you? I left Lieutenant Martin brooding over his witness. Went out for a bite of dinner. When I called him later, he hadn't learned anything more. So I decided to call it a night and went back to my hotel. I found a note waiting for me from Jack Lang, the band leader. Friend of Iris Carter. Said he got a tip she'd worked at one time at the Elmar Theater in the Bronx. If I learned anything, please let him know he was still in love with her. Elmar Theater. I decided my night was far from over. Hey, you. Buy a ticket out front if you want to look at the girl. I only want to see one. Her name's Iris Carter. Does she work here? I just told you, go buy a ticket out front. Just tell me this, does Iris Carter work here? Is the name familiar to you? Have you ever seen her or heard of her? You give me any more trouble or. Clark, I told you, go out front. Can't you answer a simple question? I'm looking for Iris Carter. Iris Carter? Yell at Mr. He never heard of it. What? Call me a cop. Gloria, this guy's giving me. Nevermind. I'll take care of him. Come on. You Iris Carter? Is that what you said? Yeah. I gotta change. I gotta get back on in five minutes. Then I'll talk to you later. You haven't got much to say. Stick around. I'll change back to the screen. Okay. I'm Gloria Ward. Who are you? Johnny Dollar. What do you want with Iris Carter? I want to see her and tell her something. Tell me. Well, for one thing, her ex husband's dead. What? Oh. Better watch that screen. Oh, say that again. Joe Panty. Her ex husband's dead. No kidding. That no good bum is really dead? Yeah. Where can I find her? She don't work here no more. Hasn't worked here in four or five years. She quit. Where is she? You took over from the old man out there when you heard me mention her name. You've satisfied yourself that I'm really looking for her. So suppose you flip with me, mister. I'm not satisfied about anything. Where is she? She got herself Married to a nice guy. Good for her. Is she in town? You sure you just want to see her and tell her Joe's dead? That's about it. I thought maybe she might be able to help me and the police find out who killed him. He was killed two days ago. They found his body today. How do you know about that? Are you a cop? I'm an insurance investigator. And you have to see it. You want it put in writing? Don't get enough. What I'm getting at is this. Quick change, huh? Now listen, Iris is good, you know what I mean? And she's married to a nice guy. Now, will any of this make her trouble? Not if she hasn't done anything wrong. Well, I can tell you she hasn't. If it does make trouble, it'd be a shame. She set up nice, and I like to see a girl set. Well, don't you? Certainly. I haven't seen her almost since she left here. But you look like a right kind of guy. I believe you. Thanks, Gloria. She lives out in Long island now. Her name's McCormick. Iris McCormick. By the time I said goodbye to Gloria and walked out the stage door and got out into the alley, I thought I had most of it again. The ex wife of an ex con married a wealthy long Islander named McCormick. When the honeymoon was over, the safe was robbed. Walking out that alley, I was wondering whether to phone the police or Allied Casualty first. Oh, shooting. You've been hit. It isn't bad. Did you see him? I didn't see nobody. The car. See the car? The one that just gunned out. Oh, the car. We had a long black coupe, a lot of chrome. A fella didn't have his lights on. Hey, that's against the law. Hey, you need help, mister? No, no, I'm all right. Now, here's our star, Bob Bailey, to tell you about tomorrow's episode. Thanks. Tomorrow, the end of the trail of a.38 caliber slug. Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar is truly transcribed in Hollywood. Written by John Dawson. The entire production is under the direction of Jack Johnstone. Be sure to join us tomorrow night, same time and station, for the next exciting episode of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Roy Rowan speaking from Hollywood. It's time now for Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar. Ready with your party in Hartford, Connecticut, Mr. Dollar? Go ahead, please. Hello, Mr. Barth? Yes, this is Johnny Dollar. Johnny, what's up? Now, listen carefully, Ed. I've just been shot. What? Oh, it's nothing serious. I'm backstage at the Elmar Theater in the Bronx. Johnny, I'm all right. Now listen to me. I got a tip from old Mike Cairn, a convict that a man named Joe Panney might have had something to do with the McCormick case a few years ago. Yeah, It's a jewelry case. $100,000. Well, panty's been murdered. I didn't get a chance to learn anything from him. But I have learned that Panney's ex wife is married to Julian McCormick. You've contacted our New York office. I've been trying to get your man Frank Porter at his home, but no one answers. It's going to be pretty nasty for Allied Casualty if she plotted with this Joe Panney to Rob McCormack. Yeah. Do you want me to wait and let Frank Porter handle it? No, no, no. You go ahead. If somebody's throwing bullets around, they'd better be stopped before. Well, by me rather than Frank Porter, huh? Okay. Tonight and every weekday night, Bob Bailey in the transcribed adventures of the man with the action packed expense account. America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Expense accounts submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar to the Allied Casualty and Insurance Company Limited, Markham Building, Hartford, Connecticut. The following is an accounting of expenditures incurred during my investigation of the McCormick matter. Item 11, $7. One bottle of Scotch which I sent the stage doorman out to get while I was calling Ed Barth at Allied Insurance. Apparently everybody in the neighborhood thought the exchange of shots between me and somebody in a long black coupe were backfires. It was the doorman who dragged me back in the theater. You got yourself a boy now, mister. Ah, it's just a graze. I sure don't get you. Conor assures people are not police. Somebody fires a gun at you, call the cops. Have another drink. That's the way it seems. Hey, hey, where you going? You should see a doctor. Later I went back outside in the alley where the shooting had taken place. 10 minutes of looking around and I dug a pair of.38 slugs out of a telephone post. Expense account item 12, $4.35 cab fare. El Mar Theatre to Long island. It was 12 o'clock straight up. When I got to the McCormick hall, there were no lights burning and apparently everyone had retired for the night. I checked the garage first. A 55 Cadillac convertible and a 4 year old Jag. No warm motors, no black coupes. I went to the house. Oh, it's you. Hello, Mrs. McCormick. No, no, please, please don't come in here. My husband. Oh, please. I don't know who you are, but I remember meeting you at the hotel the other night. I'm Johnny Dollar, an insurance investigator. Insurance? Oh, well, there must be some way we can fix this up. Talk to me tomorrow. I'll meet you somewhere. How can you fix up murder? Murder? What are you talking about? Joe Panney's dead. Your ex husband. He was shot with a.25 just like the one you swung at me at the hotel. Oh, no. You want to tell me about that? All right, I'll tell you. Joe was your husband once. You helped him rob this house five years ago. He couldn't have done it alone. He wasn't that slick. He wasn't that good. He could steal a car. But a safe lock's different from ignition. Well, yes. Yes, I helped him do it. He made me. He promised me if I helped him, I'd never hear from him again. I opened the safe for him. But you were down to see him at his hotel the other night. You searched his room. Searched his room? Yeah, well, I don't know anything about that. He called me, said he wanted money. I didn't know where he'd been for these last few years. Up the river. Oh, well, he wanted money. Only he wasn't there when I went there. And I was. Yes, and the gun. I went down there to kill him. But I didn't see him. Not then. Later, somewhere. I haven't seen him at all, I tell you. Just talk to him on the phone. I don't suppose it'd make any difference if I told you I had a good reason? If I told you I love my husband very much? Not likely, in view of the fact you helped your ex husband rob him of $100,000 worth of jewelry five years ago. Oh, I can explain that. Joe came around when we got back from our honeymoon. It's an old story. My past isn't all it. Well, anyhow, Joe threatened to tell my husband about it unless I gave him money. I didn't have any. So I opened the safe for him that night. It was all I could think to do. Yeah, then you split with him later on. I told you, I haven't seen him. Why would I want to do that? I have everything I want in life right here. Mostly my husband. Well, it's still a police matter, Mrs. McCormick. I spent a long time looking for you. Maybe you better get your coat, Iris. You'll remain exactly where you are, Julian. And So will you, Mr. Dollar. Julian, you heard what I said. Don't worry about it. My dear Mr. Dollar, I'm a gentleman that this Is a gun. I noticed. A.38. I got a couple of slugs in my pocket that came from it. Stand over there. Now, this is pretty silly. You can put that thing away and we can settle this the only way it can be settled. I just told you the absolute truth, Mr. Dollar. She's innocent of any wrongdoing so far as I'm concerned. Is that clear? It's pretty glib, McCormick. She's accessory to a hundred thousand dollar heist and she hasn't done anything wrong. If she wanted to give them away to an ex husband, to anybody, that was her affair. I would not press charges. Well, that takes care of you. How are you gonna square it with Allied casualty in the state of New York? And you also forget a little manner of a dead man. But I haven't forgotten you, Mr. Dollar. Julian, please don't. I've caused enough trouble. Please calm yourself, my dear. This is the least I can do for you after what you've done for me. Just being my wife, Mr. Dollar. Will you accept money? Not enough for murder. Fifty hundred thousand. I'd hate to kill you, Mr. Daller. You tried once tonight. You've referred to that before. But you weren't very good. And now you're even worse. You forgot to take the safety off that gun. Safety? Oh, no. Oh, you killed him. You killed him. Ah, he's all right. Get out of the way and let me see that gun. I wasn't interested in either one of them for the moment. I was looking at the.38 I'd taken from Julian McCormick. There was a smear of cosmoline still inside the barrel. I sniffed it, checked it, found all chambers loaded. It was a brand new weapon and it had never been fired. Expense account, item 13. $5 and a half. Cab fare again. This time from Long island to an apartment in Queens. The man I wanted to see was allied casualties man Frank Porter. He lived in a very polite neighborhood. That's apartment 203. But Mr. Porter's not in, sir. I'll wait for him. Yes, sir. It's all right if I sit in your lobby, isn't it? Oh, yes, sir. Yes, sir. But I'd prefer that you waited somewhere else. He would. This is a rather exclusive apartment building, sir. And we don't like people loitering in the lobby. Well, I'm on a pretty exclusive mission. But you don't like the mud on my clothes and the tear on my coat, huh? Are you a friend of Mr. Porter's? Yeah, good friend. He wouldn't mind if I Waited in his apartment, if that's what you mean. No, sir. Impossible. But a couple of bucks can do wonders sometimes. Was quite a layout. Books, pictures, furniture and whatnot. That make living at home pretty agreeable. I propped myself up on a stool at Frank's little bar. Poured myself a drink and sat there waiting for him. I was like that a half an hour later when he showed up. He looked a little unsteady on his feet. Well, gee whiz, Johnny Dollar. Hi. The last person in the world I expected to see. I'm glad to light and let you in. I didn't think you'd mind. No, not at all. I tried to phone you earlier tonight. You were out. I'm sorry, Chief. With what's on your mind, Johnny? I wanted to tell you I was shot at tonight. I wanted to tell you I found out who Mrs. McCormick is and was. Since you were on the case first for Allied. I thought I'd tell you. First what you wish. Say, this is a nice setup. Full of nice things. Yeah. I've been in places like this before, Frank. They usually start at 300 or better a month. But maid service, phone service. All those things cost money. A lot of money, don't they, Frank? Gee West. When did you tumble to it, Johnny? A little while ago, when I was out on Long Island, Julian McCormick made me a proposition. He finally offered me $100,000. A lot of money. He sounded like he'd had experience making propositions. I should have tumbled to it a couple of days ago. When you phoned the parole office after I left you. You used my name when you asked for Joe Panney's address. Yes. I wondered if your tip was on the right track. I didn't figure Joe Panty was eligible for parole so quick. I had to get to him before you did. He wasn't the kind to keep his mouth shut. You shut it for him, didn't you, Frank? Mind if I sit down, Johnny? Now? Go ahead. They'll be strapping you down one of these days. Gee whiz, no. Hundred and a half a week investigating claims by nice places like this. It was one of those lucky. Johnny. When I was called to Long island to investigate that heist five years ago, I met McCormick's wife. Happened to recognize her as Joe Penny Sex. And you knew McCormick was in love with his wife. Enough to pay you to keep quiet. I gave him service for his money. The cops would have broken that case in 24 hours. But I covered up all the tracks I could find. And I made it real Safe by seeing Joe. Sent up the river. How? Just tipped off the cops to some of his hot car deals. And they picked him up. He happened to be carrying a gun, so he got to work. Then you just sat around drawing blackmail from McCormick. Gee whiz. Don't look at me like that, Johnny. Every guy has a price. How about you? That's the second offer I've had tonight. It's a good one. Joe Penny was a dumb guy. He picked up that jewelry and went right downtown and plunked it in a safe deposit box. Been sitting there all the time he was up the river. Still worth. Sorry, Frank. You sure? I'm sure. Gee whiz. Gee whiz, Johnny, you are a good dick. You don't buy off. I just wanted to see, I guess. Sure, Frank. Well, do we go in quietly? You'd be surprised, Johnny. How quiet. You better dial for an ambulance if you want me to go to trial. You. You were good in that alley back of the theater tonight, Johnny. When I tried to knock you off, I followed you all night, looking for my chance. You. You nicked me twice. Dial the doc. Quick. Quick. Gee whiz, it hurts. He died right there without saying another word. The disposition of the case and what to do about Frank Porter, an insurance adjuster who goes bad is a matter I don't have to handle. And I'm glad. Expense account. Item 14. Hotel and board in New York City, $79.30. Item 15, $84. Legal fees and incidental expenses involved in locating the widow of Mike Cairns, who it seems is still alive somewhere in Iowa and will accept half the reward as promised. Item 16, $14. Even transportation back to Hartford. Expense account total $265.91. Remarks? Gee whiz. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Now here's our star, Bob Bailey, to tell you about next week's story. Thanks. Next week, the story of a ship, the Molly K. Destination Davy Jones Locker. Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Yours truly, Johnny Dollars. Transcribed in Hollywood Written by John Dawson. The entire production is under the direction of Jack Johnstone. Heard in this week's cast were Mary Jane Croft, Virginia Gregg, Marvin Miller, Forest Lewis, Frank Gerstel, Herb Butterfield, Herb Ellis, Tony Barrett, Ken Christie, Jack Crucian and Junius Matthews. Be sure to join us on Monday night, same time and station, for another exciting story of you, yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Roy Rowan speaking.
- [76:05]
Vincent Price
We just heard Bob Bailey as Johnny dollar in the McCormick matter. That will do it for this bonus episode. I'll be back from time to time with more of these Johnny Dollar specials. Of course, you can always join me every Sunday for regular episodes of the podcast. You can also tune in on Thursdays to stars on Suspense, my other old Time radio show. If you like what you're hearing, don't be a stranger. Remember, you can rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. And if you'd like to lend support to the show, you can visit buymeacoffee.com meansts otr. But now, until we meet again for more Old time radio detectives and crime solvers, good night and happy listening.
- [77:29]
Bob Bailey
Now here is our star, Vincent Price. Ladies and gentlemen, In a prejudice filled America, no one would be secure in his job, his business, his church or his home. Yet racial and religious antagonisms are exploited daily by quacks and adventurers whose followers make up the irresponsible lunatic fringe of American life. Refuse to listen to or spread rumors against any race or religion. Help to stamp out prejudice in our country. Let's judge our neighbors by the character of their lives alone and not on the basis of their religion or origin.