Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Eastern Western Matter (EP4764)

Summary

Summary of "Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Eastern Western Matter (EP4764)"

Release Date: July 25, 2025

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Introduction

In this gripping episode of "Yours Truly Johnny Dollar," listener Adam Graham immerses us in the tumultuous events surrounding the Eastern Western matter. Set against the backdrop of Florida's challenging winter of 1958, Johnny Dollar navigates a complex web of deceit, financial desperation, and betrayal to uncover the truth behind a significant insurance claim.

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Act One: The Big Claim

The story unfolds with Johnny Dollar receiving a substantial insurance claim from Bart Trimble, a rancher who alleges the loss of his entire herd due to severe winter conditions.

• Johnny Dollar: "A rancher has just hit me with a big fat claim." [02:20]

Earl Poorman, Johnny's trusted associate, meets him at Sarasota Airport to commence the investigation. They travel to Trimble's ranch, discovering devastating evidence of cattle loss exacerbated by environmental hardships.

• Earl Poorman: "I had heard something to that effect." [01:27]
• Johnny Dollar: "Ordinarily, the year-round pasturage makes it unnecessary to lay up a lot of hay and feed for the winter." [02:07]

As they assess the damage, Johnny grows suspicious of the enormity of the claim, especially since Trimble is the only one reporting total herd loss amid similar claims in the area.

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Act Two: Dinner and Doubts

Upon arriving at the Trimble residence, Johnny and Earl meet Betty Trimble, Bart's wife. The cordial atmosphere quickly turns tense as Johnny confronts Betty about the legitimacy of the claim.

• Johnny Dollar: "I won't kid you, Mr. Foreman. I'm glad to see you. Howdy. I hope you brought me a nice big insurance check." [05:43]

Betty appears distressed and desperate, revealing the financial strain Bart has endured over the past three years. During dinner, Johnny experiences a sudden awakening from a chloroform-induced stupor, prompting him to piece together the mystery.

• Johnny Dollar: "It was chloroform. Yeah, yeah. On your pillow." [13:55]
• Earl Poorman: "What are the. It's chloroform." [13:54]

The attack suggests that someone on the ranch aims to silence Johnny before he uncovers the truth.

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Act Three: Unmasking the Culprit

Johnny and Earl delve deeper, uncovering incriminating evidence that points to Shorty Skinner, a previous worker with a questionable past, as the initial suspect. However, further investigation reveals shocking truths about Betty Trimble's involvement.

• Johnny Dollar: "A lot of things have been understood. Wrong things. Did Shorty give you a home address when he came to work here?" [20:16]

Through meticulous examination of documents and testimonies, Johnny confronts Betty, leading to her confession.

• Bart Trimble: "Yes. Yes, it's true. You know how I hated this place? This horrible, miserable cattle ranch? This living out in this godforsaken wilderness? Well, you wouldn't do anything about it, so I did." [21:12]

Betty admits to orchestrating the poisoning of the herd to collect insurance money and eliminate Johnny as a threat to her scheme.

• Johnny Dollar: "You kill the herd. You tried to kill me." [21:37]
• Betty Trimble: "How dare you." [21:39]

Shorty's unwitting involvement was merely a facade to divert suspicion away from Betty. With the evidence stacked against her, the authorities move to apprehend her, bringing the case to a satisfying close.

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Conclusion

"Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Eastern Western Matter" masterfully blends suspense, character development, and intricate plotting. The episode highlights Johnny's unwavering dedication to uncovering the truth, even when faced with personal threats. Through sharp dialogue and well-timed revelations, listeners are kept on the edge of their seats until the final confession.

Notable Quotes:

• Johnny Dollar: "That's how dare you." [21:12]
• Betty Trimble: "You wouldn't do anything about it, so I did." [21:12]
• Earl Poorman: "I called the state police to get out on all points on Shorty Skinner." [19:16]
• Johnny Dollar: "Anoric acid. That's what killed the herd. Yeah, beyond the shadow of a doubt." [18:07]

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This episode exemplifies the classic allure of old-time radio detective stories, blending real-world issues—like the impact of severe weather on agriculture—with timeless themes of trust and betrayal. Through Johnny Dollar's incisive investigation, listeners gain a profound appreciation for the complexities of rural life and the lengths to which individuals will go to secure their futures.

Transcript

[Johnny Dollar]

Sam.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. But first, I want to encourage you, if you're enjoying the podcast, to follow us using your favorite podcast software. And remember, when making your travel plans, check johnnydoller air.com first. Johnnydollarair.com is our Priceline affiliate link. So. So if you click on that, you will get the same benefits of going to priceline.com but part of your purchase price supports the great detectives of Old Time Radio at no additional cost to you. So remember, when making your travel plans, check johnnydoller air.com first. Well, now, from April 6, 1958, here is the Eastern Western matter.

[Earl Poorman]

From Hollywood. It's time now for Johnny Dollar, Earl.

[Johnny Dollar]

Foreman Johnny down in Sarasota.

[Earl Poorman]

Don't tell me, Earl. The Florida weather's finally behaving itself. The water in the Gulf is warmed up, so I'll grab my fishing clothes, tackle box, couple of rods and reels.

[Johnny Dollar]

Maybe you better grab your Levi's, boots and saddle and a couple of six guns instead, huh?

[Earl Poorman]

What is this, a western?

[Johnny Dollar]

It may be an eastern western before we're through. Listen, Florida is the leading cattle state here in the Deep South.

[Earl Poorman]

I had heard something to that effect.

[Johnny Dollar]

Okay, the freezing weather a short while back hit some of the ranchers pretty hard.

[Earl Poorman]

To say nothing of the tourist trade, right?

[Johnny Dollar]

Ordinarily, the year round pasturage makes it unnecessary to lay up a lot of hay and feed for the winter.

[Earl Poorman]

That figures.

[Johnny Dollar]

But this year, thanks to the freeze, the cattle were so weakened by malnutrition and then sloshing around in soggy pasture land that, well, at least a couple of hundred thousand of them have died.

[Earl Poorman]

What's your problem, Earl? Outside of the high cost of steak.

[Johnny Dollar]

A rancher has just hit me with a big fat claim.

[Earl Poorman]

Oh, how much?

[Johnny Dollar]

$78,750. Says that he lost his entire herd.

[Earl Poorman]

Well, I knew a lot of them and lost quite a few. But the entire herd?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah.

[Earl Poorman]

You coming? I sure am. 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. Expense account submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar to the Tri State Life and Casualty Company, Sarasota, Florida office. Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the Eastern Western matter. Expense account item 1. 9480 Plane Vern Incidentals. Hartford, CT to Sarasota. As I Expected. Earl Poorman met me at the airport. We headed north on Route 41. Thirteen miles later, at Bradenton, we turned east on 64 after grabbing a late lunch. That's item two, 575. Then, still traveling eastward, we crossed the Kissimmee river onto a narrow, unimproved road into the swampland. And it struck me that what should have been lush, green vegetable in this low, damp country was brown and lifeless.

[Johnny Dollar]

That's what the cold weather did, Johnny. All that grass, that good pasture, froze and rotted away.

[Earl Poorman]

No wonder the cattle haven't been eating well. But didn't I read somewhere they were fed the ruined orange crops?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yes, but that still didn't save a lot of the herds.

[Earl Poorman]

Losses have been pretty heavy, huh?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, but as I told you over the phone, Trimble is the only one I know of who lost all his steers.

[Earl Poorman]

That the one who's made the insurance claim? Yeah.

[Johnny Dollar]

Bart Trimble. His fence starts at the next turn in the road.

[Earl Poorman]

Have you had many claims, Earl?

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, a few a month or so ago. Small ones? Not many. Many of these people insure their herds there. That's where Trimble's place starts. You see it?

[Earl Poorman]

I saw it all right. Hundreds of acres of wet, brown, dead looking pasture land. I also saw the steers, hundreds of them, their carcasses lying there rotting in the sun. What was left of them. The Buzzards had done well.

[Johnny Dollar]

525 head, Johnny.

[Earl Poorman]

But surely some of them must have survived.

[Johnny Dollar]

Not according to the claim I received. That's why I called you immediate, Earl.

[Earl Poorman]

You said the other claims were filed a month or so ago.

[Johnny Dollar]

I hoped you'd catch that.

[Earl Poorman]

Why did Trimble wait so long?

[Johnny Dollar]

That's another reason I called you.

[Earl Poorman]

Yeah, I see what you mean.

[Johnny Dollar]

Here's his gate. Let's see what he has to say.

[Earl Poorman]

The Trimble place was unexpectedly new and tidy looking. The main house was a concrete block affair, all white with a slab roof. Behind it was a barn and a corral. The stack of bale hay was obviously for the horses and hardly big enough to feed a herd of steers. A few chickens pecking around here and there.

[Johnny Dollar]

Coming.

[Earl Poorman]

The woman who opened the door was about 40, tall and nice looking, well made up, almost out of place on a cattle ranch.

[Betty Trimble]

Yes? Oh, Mr. Foreman. How are you?

[Earl Poorman]

And her voice was soft, gentle, pleasant.

[Johnny Dollar]

How do, Mrs. Trimble?

[Betty Trimble]

Nice to see you, Mr. Foreman? Won't you come in?

[Johnny Dollar]

I hear you say Foreman, Betty.

[Betty Trimble]

Yes, Barton. He has a friend with him.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, I won't kid you, Mr. Foreman. I'm glad to see you. Howdy. I hope you brought me a nice big insurance check. This is Johnny Dollar. Mr. And Mrs. Trimble. He's with our company.

[Betty Trimble]

Well, how do you do, Mr. Dollar? Won't you please come in?

[Earl Poorman]

Thank you, Dollar.

[Johnny Dollar]

I think I've heard of you.

[Betty Trimble]

Oh, sit down, won't you? Supper will be ready in a little while. And, of course you're going to stay.

[Johnny Dollar]

Aren'T you, Johnny Dollar? Well, now, that depends.

[Betty Trimble]

Of course you'll stay.

[Johnny Dollar]

I really should get back to Sarasota tonight. My wife. Now, wait a minute. How do I know you're the insurance investigator.

[Earl Poorman]

That's right.

[Johnny Dollar]

And what's he doing here? Foreman. What's there to investigate? You may be trying to say I killed off the herd myself to collect the insurance money. I said nothing of the sort. Then what's to investigate? I told you I don this, and I'm telling you right to your face.

[Betty Trimble]

Bart, you shouldn't talk like that.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, it's the truth. Just what do you think you're gonna do around here, Dollar?

[Betty Trimble]

Bart, please.

[Earl Poorman]

Well, that depends, Mr. Trimble.

[Johnny Dollar]

Does he have to say it's okay, Pullman before you can pay my claim? Yes, he does. Well, believe me, if I'd known this was the kind of outfit I was dealing with. Paying premiums too. Okay, all right. Poke around as much as you want. Stay around as long as you like. We'll bed you down. We'll feed you. We'll show you what kind of people we are. Just don't get in my way. I've got a lot of work to do. And don't tell me I'm a crook. Now, let's be reasonable about this.

[Earl Poorman]

Me?

[Johnny Dollar]

I'm being reasonable. You're the one that. What do you want, Shorty? Well, you told me to tell you, boss. Tell me why the truck has come to pick up them hides and help them load them on the truck. Go ahead. Go ahead.

[Earl Poorman]

You're selling the hides from those animals?

[Johnny Dollar]

I will? Sure. Why not? Oh, we could salvage that. Is anything wrong with that?

[Earl Poorman]

Nothing at all.

[Johnny Dollar]

All right. You want horses to snoop around, help yourself. Saddles are in the barn. But just stay out of my way. Come on, Shorty. Let's get out where the air is nice and clean. Sure, boss.

[Betty Trimble]

I'm sorry, but Bart's been so upset over losing all those steers.

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, of course, we can't blame him for that.

[Betty Trimble]

He's been working so hard trying to save some of the hides and sell the carcasses for fertilizer.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yes, I know.

[Betty Trimble]

With so many ran trying to do the same thing.

[Earl Poorman]

Why did he wait so long before Filing his claim, Mrs. Trimble?

[Johnny Dollar]

Why?

[Betty Trimble]

Because he's been so busy and because he hoped he could salvage something from the herd.

[Earl Poorman]

I guess because this lapse of time has given the bodies a chance to decompose. What has given the buzzards and other scavengers a chance to remove any evidence that maybe those steers were deliberately.

[Betty Trimble]

Oh, no. Surely you don't think for a minute that my husband would.

[Earl Poorman]

Where can I find the nearest veterinarian?

[Betty Trimble]

Well, the vet we use is up in kissimmee. Okay, but Mr. Dollar, you. You don't. You can't possibly think.

[Earl Poorman]

I'll let you know what I think after a good cow doctor has a look at those animals. Act Two of yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.

[Johnny Dollar]

In a moment, from the halls of.

[Bart Trimble]

Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli is an exciting beginning to a stirring song. It is an historic salutation to the efforts of a valiant group of fighting men. Why is their history glorious? What spurred them on? Patriotism and desire for excitement are sometimes given for reasons, but these are not the answers. The answer is these were men of vision, men who understood our country's needs. Respect, honor and prestige are things that go hand in hand with a country's greatness. Major Smedley D. Butler recognized this in the year 1915. At that time, our diplomatic negotiations with Haiti were disrupted by CACO bandits who perilously affected the lives of some United States citizens in Haiti. A contingent of Marines under the command of Major Butler was sent in to bring the bandits under control. Though they were holed up in Fort Liberty, Major Butler found an opening in the wall and led a terrifying charge through the breach that resulted in very dangerous hand to hand combat for himself and his men. Amid a furious onslaught of cocker bandits and a hail of enemy bullets, Major Butler succeeded in overcoming the resistance and creating a peaceful atmosphere. His grateful country awarded him the Medal of Honor for bravery, forceful leadership and action above and beyond the call of duty. The second time he was awarded this high honor, Major Smedley Butler had a code of conduct born of years of devotion and service to the United States of America.

[Earl Poorman]

And now, Act Two of yours Truly, Johnny Dollar and the Eastern Western Matter. At dinner that night, Burt Trimble had changed his tune, was very apologetic, almost too much so and too nice.

[Johnny Dollar]

I didn't mean it, Mr. Dollar, what I said before, at least not the way I said it. But this whole thing has hit me pretty hard. Losing over 500 steers and handful of cabs.

[Betty Trimble]

I told you, Bart, when they all went so quickly that night, you should have been suspicious.

[Earl Poorman]

What night, Mrs. Trimble?

[Betty Trimble]

It was the last big freeze.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yes, I got back here late. I'd been up to Lake Whales, trying to beg some feed. No luck. Then it blew up cold by the time I got back here. Got the hands rounded up.

[Earl Poorman]

How many, Mr. Trimble?

[Johnny Dollar]

There were five of us, including Shorty Skinner. I've seen that Shorty somewhere before. Anyhow, when we got to them, the cattle were all bunched up at the north fence. We thought we'd drive the strong ones back here where they'd have some shelter. We could give them the hay we keep for the horses, but they wouldn't move. Most of them couldn't move, and it was dark and freezing. Wind was cutting across the swamp, so all we could do was come back here and pray. Next morning they were dead. All of them. I've put everything I had into this ranch. Every penny I saved for my factory work up north. Betty's money from nursing, even cashed in my own life insurance policy. And now they're gone. So if I got a little nasty, well, I guess a man can take only so much.

[Betty Trimble]

It's been awfully hard for Bart these past three years. And just when things were going good.

[Earl Poorman]

Your hands bunk out in that building beside the barn, huh?

[Johnny Dollar]

Only Shorty skinned out all the steers we could. The other boys left. I still owe Shorty some wages.

[Earl Poorman]

I'm going to ask a pretty blunt question, and I want an honest answer.

[Johnny Dollar]

Huh?

[Earl Poorman]

Had you ever thought of giving up, going somewhere else?

[Johnny Dollar]

Sure, lots of times. For Betty's sake, too. Even thought of going out to California. I see she has relatives out there, all doing fine. They've kept after us to go out there and crop farm with them. Maybe I should have.

[Betty Trimble]

But we stayed, didn't we, dear?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yes. I wouldn't give up. Even Betty reconciled herself to sticking it out.

[Betty Trimble]

If only we'd known that this was going to happen.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Earl Poorman]

We talked on for a couple of hours, but got nowhere and finally Earl and I plunked into our beds in the guest room. Mine was beside the open window. Now, when Earl Poorman sleeps, he's dead to the world, but he snores mightily. So after throwing a couple of shoes at him, I gave up and managed to drop off with a pillow wrapped around my head. That was a mistake. An almost deadly mistake.

[Johnny Dollar]

Johnny. Johnny. Johnny, wake up. Wake up, Johnny. Johnny, you hear me?

[Earl Poorman]

Johnny, wake up.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh.

[Earl Poorman]

Oh, my head.

[Johnny Dollar]

Stand up. I'll help you. Breathe deeply. Can't you smell it?

[Earl Poorman]

What are you talking.

[Johnny Dollar]

Deep breath. Deep breath. Come on.

[Earl Poorman]

What. What are the. It's chloroform.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yeah, yeah. On your pillow.

[Earl Poorman]

Oh, yeah.

[Johnny Dollar]

I threw it out the window. Your pillow. It was saturated with chloroform.

[Earl Poorman]

Give me. Give me a hand, Earl.

[Johnny Dollar]

I'm.

[Earl Poorman]

I'm dizzy.

[Johnny Dollar]

Somebody came in that window. Pillow was over your head. You.

[Earl Poorman]

You see him?

[Johnny Dollar]

No, no. But, Johnny.

[Earl Poorman]

Oh, let me sit down again.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yep. By the window. Now breathe deeply. I rolled out of bed in my sleep. That narrow bed, or I'd never have awakened. I heard the door slam. Then I smelled it.

[Earl Poorman]

But who?

[Johnny Dollar]

Johnny? I knew I'd seen that Shorty Skinner somewhere.

[Earl Poorman]

Yeah.

[Johnny Dollar]

Was on a road gang over near Sarasota. A prison gang.

[Earl Poorman]

You sure?

[Johnny Dollar]

I was driving my brand new cat as I passed him and the rest of that glowering bunch he let fly with a handful of mud. Now, if you ask me, he's the one who came in here and tried to chloroform.

[Earl Poorman]

But why?

[Johnny Dollar]

That's what I'm going to find out right now.

[Earl Poorman]

No, wait. I'll be feeling okay in a minute. Let me handle it. By the time I was able to navigate and get grass, Mrs. Trimble called us for breakfast. To say the Trimbles were upset over what had happened to me would be an understatement. Breakfast waited while we all went out to the bunk house. Shorty was gone.

[Johnny Dollar]

Took what little he owned with him, too.

[Earl Poorman]

Has either of you any idea why he'd attacked me?

[Betty Trimble]

Good heavens, no. But I never did really trust that man. He was such a sneaky looking, like a little rat.

[Johnny Dollar]

Yet he was the only one who stayed when I couldn't keep their wages up to date. Where would he ever get hold of Chloroform?

[Betty Trimble]

That's the part I don't understand.

[Johnny Dollar]

From the locker. Deer back in the barn, huh? You know the stuff. We got to put that old sick mare out of the way.

[Betty Trimble]

Yes, of course.

[Johnny Dollar]

I think why Shorty did this is pretty obvious, Johnny.

[Earl Poorman]

Yeah.

[Johnny Dollar]

He was afraid you'd find out what and who killed off this herd. Bart. Look here, Betty.

[Betty Trimble]

The note on top of this bunk.

[Earl Poorman]

Let me see it.

[Johnny Dollar]

What's it say? Johnny?

[Earl Poorman]

I'm tired. I'm tired working for no pay. I will leave. You know where to send my pay when you collect on that there insurance. Shorty.

[Betty Trimble]

Shorty. Shorty Skinner.

[Johnny Dollar]

Crazy fool wanted his money. He knew I had none. But I could collect plenty on the insurance if he poisoned my herd.

[Earl Poorman]

Oh, was it poisoned, Trimble?

[Johnny Dollar]

What?

[Earl Poorman]

You didn't seem to think so before, but now that you have somebody to depend it on.

[Johnny Dollar]

No, no.

[Earl Poorman]

Now you seem pretty sure of it, Mr. Dollar.

[Johnny Dollar]

No, Johnny. It must have been Shorty.

[Earl Poorman]

Maybe, maybe not. When the vet arrives, if he decides the herd was poisoned. Okay, we'll take it. Act three of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. In a moment, our flag now numbers 50 stars and behind each star there stands yet another flag representing one of the 50 states. Wyoming's state flag pays homage to the monarch of the Great Plains, the bison, or buffalo, as we call him. Set over the bison is the great seal of Wyoming, almost as a brand. The red on the flag's border represents the Indians who knew and loved the country long before white settlers. ARR. It also represents the red blood of the pioneers who gave their lives in reclaiming the soil. The red, white and blue border of the flag indicates Wyoming's oneness with the Union. Wyoming's state flag, the flag of the 44th state to enter the Union was adopted on January 31, 1917. And now, Act 3 of yours truly, Johnny Dollar and the eastern western matter. The veterinarian arrived from Kissimmee. He, Bart Trimble, Earl Poorman and I rode out on horseback to inspect the dead catalog. As I had anticipated, the vet made it plain that the bodies were too far decomposed for him to tell anything. Until, that is, he noticed a pale purplish line around the inside edge of a watering trough at a far corner of the fence.

[Johnny Dollar]

Whoever used it didn't realize that it leave this telltale ring around a tail.

[Earl Poorman]

Used what, Doctor?

[Johnny Dollar]

Let me scrape off a little. Make sure you think it's a poison, Doc. If I can taste it without getting enough to hurt me. Well, yeah, no doubt about it. Anoric acid. That's what killed the herd. Yeah, beyond the shadow of a doubt.

[Earl Poorman]

That's another very well known poison, Doctor.

[Johnny Dollar]

I know. It's used almost entirely in laboratory experimentation. I remember it well from my college days.

[Earl Poorman]

But out here.

[Johnny Dollar]

Who did this to me? Who did it? You don't know, Shorty? Who else, Mr. Dollar?

[Earl Poorman]

Look, I'm going back to the ranch house to a telephone. I'll see you when you get back there. I called the state police to get out on all points on Shorty Skinner. Then I started on the police in the neighboring towns. The second call to headquarters at Lake Wales got me. Unexpected results.

[Johnny Dollar]

Sure. We got him right here in the clink, sir.

[Earl Poorman]

Oh, what are you holding him on.

[Johnny Dollar]

Just vagrancy, no visible means of support. Found him sleeping on a bench in the park about 9:30 last night. So we hauled him in, let him put his ex on a police blotter.

[Earl Poorman]

His what?

[Johnny Dollar]

His ex, you know.

[Earl Poorman]

I certainly do. Thanks very much. The others hadn't got back from the pasture yet. Mrs. Trimble was in the kitchen making lunch, quietly as possible. I sneaked into their bedroom, carefully hidden in a desk. I found a lot of letters from the relatives in California. Letters urging that they give up the ranch, do something, anything, to get the money out of it and move to California. Those letters were addressed to only one of the Trimbles they were addressed to. And then I saw it neatly framed on the wall. A diploma. A diploma from the famous Lippenwall school of.

[Betty Trimble]

Why, Mr. Dallas, what are you doing?

[Earl Poorman]

Mrs. Trimble, I found out that Shorty Skinner has served time.

[Johnny Dollar]

Shorty?

[Earl Poorman]

At least to the extent of working on a road gang. What for? I don't know.

[Betty Trimble]

Then he is a criminal. Then there's no question about who poisoned the herd.

[Earl Poorman]

Oh, you know about the vet's findings? That they were poisoned?

[Betty Trimble]

Well, no, no, but I thought it was understood.

[Earl Poorman]

A lot of things have been understood. Wrong things. Did Shorty give you a home address when he came to work here?

[Betty Trimble]

Yes. Yes, he did. Do you think he'd go there after?

[Earl Poorman]

I'd like to see it, please.

[Betty Trimble]

It's here in this top drawer. Yes, here.

[Earl Poorman]

That's not his writing.

[Betty Trimble]

No, that's mine.

[Earl Poorman]

You see, Shorty can't write. Oh, so he couldn't have written this note you found in his bunk.

[Betty Trimble]

But who.

[Earl Poorman]

But look at it. Doesn't that curlicue on the letter T look like the one here when you wrote his address? And how about this? Capital I?

[Betty Trimble]

Good heavens. Mr. Darling.

[Earl Poorman]

Friends who wanted you to go to California. And you wanted to go, of course. But as Bart told us, you reconciled yourself to staying here.

[Betty Trimble]

Apparently I did. I did stay here, even though I wasn't happy.

[Earl Poorman]

And the big freeze gave you a chance to kill off the herd, collect a lot of insurance money and get away with it.

[Johnny Dollar]

You thought Mr. Dollar.

[Betty Trimble]

How dare you.

[Earl Poorman]

The method. A little known poison you learned about back in the Lippenwald School of Nursing.

[Johnny Dollar]

No.

[Earl Poorman]

But you hadn't expected me here to investigate, so you had to get rid of me. How? As a nurse, you knew all about chlorophyll. Look, Mr. Dollo, it was a natural, with me sleeping with my head on the pillow. And you knew that Earl was a sound sleeper. He's been Here before. And who'd get blamed? Shorty, because he'd left. Only Shorty had left long before that.

[Betty Trimble]

What?

[Earl Poorman]

He was picked up in Lake Wales at 9:30 last night.

[Betty Trimble]

What? Well, then. No.

[Earl Poorman]

Listen. You kill the herd. You tried to kill me.

[Johnny Dollar]

Is that true, Betty? Bart, tell me. Is it?

[Betty Trimble]

Yes. Yes, it's true. You know how I hated this place? This horrible, miserable cattle ranch? This living out in this godforsaken wilderness? Well, you wouldn't do anything about it, so I did.

[Bart Trimble]

Good Lord.

[Earl Poorman]

But I failed. But I failed. Item 3. $50 to a lawyer at the county seat who took my deposition. It'll be used in the trial of Betty Trimble. As for Bart Trimble, well. I'm sorry. Expense account. Total, including transportation Back to Hartford. $207 even. Yours truly, Johnny Dalek. Our star, will return in just a moment.

[Bart Trimble]

It doesn't take a war to make a hero. Nor does it take a situation filled with an onslaught of deadly enemy gunfire, bombs and mortars. It takes a man to make a hero. And a man's qualities of greatness are based on his code of conduct. It serves him in peace as well as War. In August, 1916, when the United States was still at peace with the rest of the world part of our fleet was anchored off Santo Domingo City. The USS Memphis was in danger of total destruction from a hurricane. Only the efficient operation of the engines and boilers could get her out of the critical area. Lieutenant Claude A. Jones was senior engineering officer aboard. In rapid succession, boilers and steam pipes began bursting about him, scalding him with clouds of steam. Thousands of tons of water came down on him in complete darkness. Lieutenant Jones nobly remained at his post as long as the engines would turn over. His supreme unselfish heroism inspired the men with him. When the boilers exploded, Jones, with two men, rushed into the fire rooms and rescued the men trapped there in the face of death by drowning, burning or suffocation from the scalding steam Lieutenant Claude Jones performed a heroic feat because he felt was his duty to do what he did. He earned the Medal of Honor because he had a code of conduct that served him well.

[Earl Poorman]

Now here is our star to tell you about next week's story. Next week. One honest woman, two honest men. Yet a hundred thousand dollars was gone. Fact. Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dol. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, starring Bob Bailey, originates in Hollywood and is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone, who also wrote today's story. Heard in our cast were Virginia Greg, Vic Perrin, Jack Moyles, Marvin Miller and Herb Vigram. Be sure to join us next week.

[Johnny Dollar]

Same time and station, for another exciting.

[Earl Poorman]

Story of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. This is Dan Cubberley, spe.

[Bart Trimble]

This is the United States Armed Forces.

[Earl Poorman]

Radio and Television Service.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. One thing I don't think I've given Jack Johnstone enough credit for, and I think this was part of the success of the series and why it lasted all the way until 1962, was that his scripts often tied into relatively recent events which kept them relatable to the contemporary audience. We heard that with the Saulkov duo, where that story actually tied into a recent rocket launch. And this ties into a story that was very important for the audience of the time. It's something you can do effectively, most effectively, I should say, with radio drama, because you've got a relatively short lead time, you don't have the demands of filming. And even when you look at something like Law and Order in recent history with its stories ripped from the headlines, these headlines were generally many, many months old or even years old before they became the subject of Law and Order episodes. And while I won't say that no one else did that, particularly during the war, a lot of current events shaped a radio drama. But in the post war era, I don't think anyone tapped into current events for their radio scripts on the same level that Jack Johnstone did. The 5758 winter Florida snowstorms were really noteworthy. And you can find a lot of information just plain out on the Internet. There are pictures of people building snowmen in Tallahassee. I even read one account of people sledding there, although I have to wonder who brought a sled to Tallahassee and how long had they been waiting to use it. At any rate, it was a serious matter in other ways. With school closures and the state's ag sector being hit. News stories I found focused on vegetables and of course, the state citrus crop. But this story highlights the diversity of Florida's economy. And I can imagine it having a huge effect on the cattle industry. Now, I will say Bart's initial approach to Johnny was ridiculously hostile. Essentially, it's how dare you question the only rancher in the entire state of Florida to lose his whole herd? Good insurance companies write checks and ask no questions. I mean, that's just not reasonable in terms of the actual suspect. I think Johnstone did a good job casting suspicions on Shorty, and we weren't focused on Betty at all as a suspect. And I do think it may have been even more successful at the time, since this isn't typically a crime where a woman would be suspected. Of course, there were things that pointed to her a little the chloroform. The chloroform I'm not certain is a great clue, because a lot of people knew about chloroform and it was such a common plot point in so many mysteries, both in books and on radio and on film, that it didn't really require medical training. Although I don't know if the average person would think of a solution like that. The fact that a poison was involved would also point to someone more experienced in science than Shorty, who also never really had a motive, which I think was also one of her big problems with trying to get Shorty as the person who would take the fall for killing Johnny. Like, why would he do that? Her clumsy attempts at framing Shorty probably did her in more than anything else. Listener comments and feedback and we have an email here from Nancy who writes, I love every episode of Johnny Dollar, but I have to say the Boron 112 episode has me stumped. Other than as another Floyd's of London episode with amusing characters and a weird situation, there doesn't seem to be much of a mystery. And Louise is so annoying. I guess they all can't be an episode with Howard McNear. Speaking of Howard, it occurred to me that there must be enough material available that a summer series or a celebration of a landmark birthday would be possible. I'd certainly listen to that. I've enjoyed the show for many years and just up my contribution to Detective Sergeant. Keep up the good work. Well, thank you so much, Nancy. The Barron 112 matter, I think kind of comes under that whole heading of current savant stories that we were just discussing. In this case, it's tied into the Cold War in terms of Howard McNear. It's an interesting idea. I might consider for an encores week and pick out some programs that McNear appeared in or had somewhat of a prominent role. The big challenge I'd run into, of course, is that I was a bit behind Andrew in getting good show notes together. He, I think since the beginning has pretty much been using cast list in his show notes, and I pretty much started that about a year ago, so I would have to refresh my memory as well as refer to the radial gold index to find programs that McNear had been in in terms of something like a summer series. Is that typically with those for example, when we did the Summer of Jack Webb or we did the Jack Webb Anniversary show, we focused on Programs in which Webb had either a very prominent or starring role. McNear as a consummate character actor. It's a lot more tricky to track down his stuff. I think I am fairly diversified in the things that I listen to, but I've not come on anthology programs where he plays the lead, nor have I come on a lot where he is really given a chance to shine or do something memorable. There are probably like a few doc themed episodes of Gunsmoke that could be tossed in there, but I think it would be a very labor intensive process to find programs where he's really given something interesting. And you're not just saying, okay, I'm throwing in this episode of Lux Radio Theater because I want to throw it in. And Howard McNear did doubles for a couple of people parts in this episode. So that's the challenge. But I'm not opposed to it in principle and if there's more interest to it, I can think about it. Maybe I'll figure out some way that I could make it work. Thanks so much. Appreciate the comment and appreciate your support over these many years, Nancy. Well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Rachel, patreon supporter since June 2022, currently supporting the podcast at the level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support. We'll be back next Friday, another episode of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. But join us back here tomorrow as we go to the great adventurers of Old Time Radio and Cloak and Dagger.

[Johnny Dollar]

Where who do you pass on your information to? I don't pass it on to anyone. You are after the minutes of the meeting between General Harris and the British. How did you know that?

[Earl Poorman]

We cooked it up just to flush you out.

[Johnny Dollar]

We figured the comrades would go for the report. I told you, I'm not a communist.

[Earl Poorman]

And why did you do it?

[Johnny Dollar]

They.

[Adam Graham]

They.

[Johnny Dollar]

They offered me money. Who's this they you keep referring to, huh?

[Earl Poorman]

You claim it isn't this Charles Brisseau?

[Johnny Dollar]

Well, I. I was lying. You got your tenses mixed.

[Earl Poorman]

You still are.

[Johnny Dollar]

Listen, where are you? Only if you start telling the truth. Now who are you protecting? No one. No one, I swear.

[Earl Poorman]

You married?

[Johnny Dollar]

Yes. But Madeleine knows nothing about this. I give you my word. You better come along with me. What for? Because something smells around here and I think it's your story.

[Earl Poorman]

No.

[Johnny Dollar]

Come on, Steve. Let's not make this any tougher than we have to. Stay away from me. Now don't be a fool, fella. Put away the gun. I said stay away. Sir, Help me. I'll use it if I have to. No, you won't. I'm warning you, Waring. I've got everything to gain and nothing to lose. You're the only one who knows about this.

[Earl Poorman]

I'll tell you what I'll do. Steve.

[Johnny Dollar]

Get back.

[Earl Poorman]

I just wanted to show you.

[Johnny Dollar]

I said get back. I warned you. I told you I'd shoot. Wearing. Wearing.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box13.greatdetectives.net follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com Great detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.