Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
Episode: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Neel Breer Matter (Encore) (EP4880)
Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Adam Graham
Source Material: “Yours Truly Johnny Dollar” original air date July 18, 1951
Star: Edmund O'Brien as Johnny Dollar

Episode Overview

This episode revisits a classic mystery from the golden age of radio: “The Neel Breer Matter” from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to a small town to probe the questionable death of a young man, Neil Breer. Originally considered a natural case—a heart attack—Dollar’s investigation uncovers suspicion of poison, family secrets, and ultimately, murder with a tragic motive. Host Adam Graham provides brief commentary and historical context after the drama.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Setting the Investigation in Motion

• Tension Between Insurance and Local Authorities
  Johnny Dollar arrives following an anonymous letter questioning Neil Breer’s cause of death.
• Coroner Resistance
  Coroner Guy Hamill is unwilling to reopen the case or disturb local peace:

  “Case is closed as far as I'm concerned. I'm busy with other work.” (08:37)

• Pressure from Dollar
  Dollar leverages local statutes, prompting the coroner to soften:

  “If his survivors demand an autopsy…I’ll accept that as reasonable suspicion and I'll order an autopsy.” (11:06)

2. Dr. Henry Richards Raises Alarm

• Dr. Richards is burdened by his decision to question the death, fearing the small-town consequences:

  “I have a wife and a son and a practice to think about. This is a small town and I could be banished for stirring up a lot of unnecessary trouble.” (05:09)

• He outlines the medical symptoms, acknowledging poison (Bismane) as a possible cause.

3. Emotional Toll on Survivors

• Mrs. Breer (widow) is overwhelmed and initially opposed to any exhumation or reexamination:

  “I know the truth. Neil is dead, and there's nothing I can do about it. Nothing. Now leave me alone.” (12:36)

• Mr. Breer (father) is equally resistant, showing a stoic acceptance:

  “Grief ain't honest after a person's dead...the big problem ain't dying. It's living on.” (13:09)

4. Mounting Suspicion – Mysterious Warning

• Johnny receives a threatening phone call urging him to drop the investigation:

  “You've got to stop what you're doing and leave town...If you don't stop, you're going to be hurt.” (16:17–16:48)

• The call is later traced to a young man, indicated as “almost hysterical.”

5. Confirmation of Foul Play

• After exhumation and expert toxicology, the verdict: Neil Breer died from Bismane poisoning, a rare substance:

  “Neil Breer's death was caused by Bismane.” (19:46)

6. Tracing Motive and Means

• Interviews with Family and Friends
  • Mr. Breer suspects possible suicide, tied to a new insurance policy.
  • Wesley Bircher (business partner) refutes the idea that marriage troubles led to depression or suicide, noting Neil's loss of interest in life.
  • Discussion of an Old Romance:
    Paula Wilson (Mrs. Breer) had been in love with Alan Richards (Dr. Richards’ son), who went away for medical school.
  • Marriage as Rebound:

    "Paula's strong-willed...when the guy she really liked had to go to medical college...she just got sore. She threw herself at Neil and they ran away and got married." (25:07)

7. Case Resolution – Murder, Not Suicide

• Confrontation with Mrs. Breer
  • Dollar presses the widow; she ultimately confesses an affair with Alan Richards, who is later revealed to have administered the poison.
  • Emotional Outburst:

    “We couldn't help it. I wanted to get a divorce. Neil wouldn't.” (28:33) “He decided on the poison?...Yes. Oh, yes. It was all going to work. Neil's heart. No one would ever ask a question.” (29:02)

  • The murder was made to look like a natural heart failure, exploiting Neil’s known condition.

8. Aftermath & Reflections

• Johnny Dollar Wrap-up
  • He provides evidence to local police: Alan Richards (medical student) had access to Bismane, administered via coffee.
  • Ethical Reflection:

    “A doctor in doubt about a death certificate calling on the interested insurance company for confidential help is a splendid idea, but in this case the doctor's son was an accomplice to murder.” (30:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Small Town Life:
  Dr. Richards:

  “…I could be banished for stirring up a lot of unnecessary trouble.” (05:09)

• On Death and Grief:
  Mr. Breer:

  “Grief ain't honest after a person's dead…at a time like that, the big problem ain't dying. It's living on.” (13:09)

• On the Limitations of the Law:
  Coroner Hamill:

  “It's not my job to check up on the doctors that sign death certificates.” (10:13)

• On Investigation Ethics:
  Johnny Dollar:

  “It's the law. Do you think survivors will feel the same way…?” (10:51)

• Confession of the Widow:
  Mrs. Breer:

  “All right. I didn't love him.…I could never love him.” (27:13–27:16) “He decided on the poison?...Yes. Oh yes, it was all going to work. Neil’s heart. No one would ever ask a question.” (29:02)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|--------------------------------------------------| | 02:37 | Episode proper begins (after ads, host intro) | | 05:09 | Dr. Richards explains his concerns | | 08:13 | Johnny confronts the coroner | | 11:53 | Interview with Mrs. Breer (widow) | | 13:04 | Interview with Mr. Breer (father) | | 16:17 | Johnny receives a mysterious threat | | 19:46 | Autopsy reveals poison as cause | | 22:43 | Interview with Wesley Bircher (business partner) | | 25:35 | Truth about Paula and Alan Richards | | 27:13–29:15 | Mrs. Breer confesses | | 30:43 | Johnny reflects and wraps up the case | | 32:13 | Host Adam Graham shares commentary |

Host Commentary Highlights (Adam Graham, 32:13+)

• Observes the curious approach of not naming the city and changing names, speculates if it’s for legal reasons or perhaps inspired by a real-life case.
• Draws connections between this Johnny Dollar episode and the influence of Dragnet.
• Remarks on Ralph Moody’s performance as the coroner and his memorable Dragnet role, reflecting the nostalgia and legacy of classic radio actors.

“…when you get into the Bob Bailey era, there’s this idea, and this is a key plot point, that Johnny’s adventures are broadcast over the radio, which is not something being done during the O'Brien era. There are two things that occur to me. Maybe this was…a wink before it became an ongoing plot point. The other possibility…is that a real life case might have been the basis for the story.” (32:13)

Summary

“The Neel Breer Matter” delivers a tight, suspenseful story of small-town secrets and treacherous motives, propelled by Johnny Dollar’s dogged pursuit of the truth. What begins as a possible insurance scam unfolds into a tragic tale of unrequited love and illicit murder, with nuanced performances that capture the moral ambiguity and emotional complexity of classic radio drama. Host Adam Graham contextualizes the episode’s significance, connecting its themes to broader trends in old-time radio and the genre’s enduring appeal.

Recommended for mystery fans, OTR enthusiasts, and listeners seeking a layered whodunit with a quintessentially American setting.