Welcome to the great Detectives of old time radio. From Boisier to Hold.
This is your host, Adam Grant. Let's get into the next episode of
Donny Dollar, where he solves a crime in Los Angeles from Hollywood. It's
time now for Johnny Doller. What are you doing lying around the hospital?
This is Dave Blaine, Johnny, are you hearing Los Angeles? I'm in
Boston. Still what happened? I was with missus Parsons this afternoon trying to
find out what happened to her husband. She missed a turn in the road.
How is she? Is she all right? She was killed? Dave?
Good? Look Johnny? What can I do to hell? Nothing?
Dave? Nothing much to do? Now Parsons is back, and well,
now he's back, I'll wrap it up, Johnny. What is it,
bou? She was a pretty nice person, Dave. I saw a die
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 Investigators, Truly Johnny Deller
Expense Accounts submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Doller to the Eastern Casualty and Trust Company
number twenty five Yardley Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts. The following is an accounting
of expenditures during my investigation of the calocles matter. I had them three twenty
six cents for a package of cigarettes, which the night nurse at Saint John's
Hospital bought for me. She also brought in a sedative. That was the
last thing I remembered until about five o'clock in the morning. God, look,
looks got a bad dream. Yeah, yeah, I guess you just
lie down. You need some rest? Yeah? Can I think you want
to bring mister donners and water? No? No, sister, no,
no, thank you. What's your name? I'm sister Amada. You you
weren't here when they brought me, you know. Now you just go back
to a sister. Wait. Yes, I'd like to talk to you about
it, of course. You mean the accident, Yes, yes, all
of it. I I'd feel better. Well, we want you to do
that, certainly. I came to Los Angeles for an insurance company. Back
east, we had a report that a big executive in a stock firm out
here was missing. A man named David Parsons, junior partner with his father
in the stock and bond business. Oh yes, I've heard of the Parson's
family. I talked to a man named Ecker, old mister Parsons secretary.
Ecker took me out to see the old man. He was pretty nasty,
wouldn't talk much about his son being gone for ten days. Then I met
David Parson's wife. I told her I thought the matter should go to the
police. She agreed with me. But later on this afternoon, oply the
ocean, she said she expected him to come back. She called the house
and they said David Parsons had come back. It was a strange afternoon.
The sister. I mean, we sat in the sand and talked about these
things. I could have fallen in love with her. Maybe I did.
I'll never know, sister of a day Dollar, you're more shaken up than
you think. Really, you should never get used to things like this.
Now you just sleep, mister Dollar, go and I'll go to sleep.
The world becomes very heavy sometimes I just go to sleep. Ride them four
fourteen dollars and ninety five cents. One night in the hospital. When I
got back to the Beverly Hilton, I bought a copy of the Morning paper,
ordered some lunch and sat down to read about my accidents. An unidentified
woman was killed, an unidentified man was slightly injured in a car crash on
sunset full of bar the afternoon before. No names, no details, no
nothing strange. But even stranger was the appearance of Robert Ecker, old man
Parsons secretary at my door. Then I didn't know why his eyes were red
rammed. How do you feel? Oh, all right now, I guess
coming. This whole thing is pretty terrible. Dollar. I just stepped up
to see how you feel. Is Is there anything I can do for you?
No? No, nothing, Thanks, mister Parsons wanted you to know
that he's concerned for you. Tell him I'm okay. How are thanks there?
Young? Mister Parsons is pretty broken up. He's really back then,
well then I'm just about through out here. Could I see him? Mister
Parsons thought you'd want to Yes? Expensive con I'd have made one hundred and
seventy eight dollars airplane ticket back to Hartford, Adam, nine forty three dollars
hotel board for two days in Los Angeles. I had them ten six dollars
cab fair. My plane was scheduled to leave at nine o'clock that night.
I checked out about four in the afternoon and went directly to the home of
David Senior. He looked a little ashen when I came in, but his
temper hadn't improved much. He pointed a crooked finger at me. I've got
this to say to you right now, a dollar. If you hadn't insisted
on talking to her, she'd be alive today. She wouldn't have been with
you driving that car. If she hadn't been forbidden by you to see me,
we wouldn't have had to drive around in a car. You haven't drink
around here right there. I didn't come here to argue with you anymore.
My job was to find your son. Evidently he wasn't lost. Ecker told
me I could meet him here about this time. You're pretty free with my
whisk you can afford it. No one. I got a jigger before every
menial. It's all cheers, well, am I earlier? Why David will
be here anytime now? Have any arrangements been to me yet? You'll have
to ask Ecker about that. I don't know. I liked the sense of
flowers something that's all with a logical gesture there's mister Dollar. David. Come
in. That's my son, David. A man in a black suit.
Wasn't what I expected in the way of David Parsons Junior. Somehow he was
tall and rangy, almost athletic. He had a good sunburned, a pair
of square shoulders. I would have read him for an advertising man or a
pro ball player, certainly not for the investment prop riche business. We shook
hands. He smiled wanly and lit up a cigarette. Dad tells me you've
been looking for me. That's right, mister Parsons, Where have you been
all this time? I took a freighter out of Los Angeles and wrote it
up to Oregon just a whim. Wanted to be alone and do some thinking.
I'll come. No word, that's a whim too. Are you trying
to get into my personal life? No? No, just curious again.
Well, here's some reports I have to make out. If you'd sign them,
i'd appreciate him. Go ahead, sign them, let him go?
Sure? Sure, I have a pen? Okay, fine, thank you,
satisfied Dollar completely? What ship did you take up there? Ship?
The boat to Oregon? Oh? The Loreen b Winner Maker Timber Company's ship
oh, sure, Well, I'm glad you're okay. Thank you for your
co operation. I went back to my hotel, checked in once more,
canceled my airline reservations, and put in a call to Robert Ecker. He
wasn't in his office. A little arguing got me his home number. No
one answered. I went out and spent twenty five dollars. I had a
mate to rent a car. I drove it over to Ecker's apartment address.
He wasn't in, so I waited. Half an hour later, he drove
up, ran into his apartment for about a minute and a half, came
back out and got into his car. When he pulled into traffic on Wilshire,
I was one buik behind him. He finally stopped at a place on
Olympic Boulevard, the Parkway funeral Home. I waited five minutes and then walked
in. Robert Ecker stood in a semidoc roll, my hands folded before him,
as if at prayer. He was looking down at the body of David
Parson's wife. I don't like her. Hello, you can buy to pay
my respects? Sure? Sure, I wish she Ecker? Why was that?
Who's this girl? She isn't Dorothy Parsons. I know that much.
Who wish she? Mhm, we better talk about this, Yeah, yeah,
we better dock. Her name's Ellen. Her name was Ellen Myers.
I'm going to be married. I'm sorry. She was one of those only
people that you finding this time. I mean she worked a bit in pictures
and drew and painted a little bit. I don't know how I met her.
I do know that she was fresh and lovely, and she'd do anything
for me or for old man Parsons. For me, she was mine.
Everything else is his. She was mine. He blew up the other morning
when I called up and said, you weren't town looking for David junior.
He said, we had to steer you out here. Didn't want you talking
to anybody. Are you arranged that she'd be there posing as missus Parsons?
He asked me to get someone. She was delighted with the ideas and a
little game for where's the real Missus Parsons? Oh my guess I don't know.
I'll find that out now. Tell me who's the guy who shook hands
with us afternoon? He said he was David Parsons Junior. I don't know
his name. Is someone the old man hired to play the part for it.
Then David Parsons is still missing. Yeah, why all to cover up?
Why doesn't the old man want him found? He does want him found.
He wants him found in the worst way. He's been turning the country
upside down looking for him for a week now. It's something like twenty three
operators from a private detective firhim looking for him. But he doesn't want it
to go to the police. Wants it out of the papers at all costs.
Parsons is going to merge with Little in Tennis, and you've heard of
them. Yeah, the old Man's got to take it easy, heart attack.
Parsons Junior will get into the saddle when the merger happens. He'll take
over the whole play. That is, of course, with the old man
sitting down in Palm Springs dictating orders to him. In other words, old
Man Parsons wants his figure had to be on dick, clean and unsullied for
the merger. That's it. What do you think happened at Junior? And
I don't have any idea what happens to any of us who worked for Parsons.
We give him lip at first we get mad at him. In the
end he shakes out all the dignity and honesty you might have a habit.
He makes you his own personal robin. Look at me, dollar. He
got me to make my girl play all that out in front of you,
she said. And I'm still a robbit for take it easy. It's sure.
How did you get onto Junior? He didn't look broken up. He
was a pretty bad actor. He also gave some wrong answers about being off
on a shipping so on. Hey, look, you don't have to say
anything about talking to me, but I will. I'll tell Parsons you pumped
it all out of me. Worry, I'm a bit. You'll figure out
some other way to stop you. I told you once before dolling, he'll
break your heart. Johnny Diller, ready with your quest few number, mister
Dowler. Good yeah, mister Parsons, Johnny Doller, what are you doing
in tom Still looking for your son? Mister Parsons, you met him,
Yesterday's been found. He wasn't lost. I met the man you hired to
convince me that he was your son. I know he isn't to make trouble.
I will if I have to I have that guy's signature on two papers
in my briefcase. It constitutes a witness forgery no matter how you look at
it. I'd be willing to call up a lawyer and see what kind of
noise I can make. What do you want, I'll be out to teny
in twenty minutes. Expense accounts submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Doller to the Eastern
Casualty and Trust Company, number twenty five Yard the Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts.
The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the Calicles Matter.
Expense account Item nine, one hundred dollars legal retainer. I hired an
attorney named Robert Watson to arrange for a quote order and pounding all the records
in the Parsons Brokeragh house. I also turned over to him the Forge reports.
After that, I drove out to see Parsons still laid up in PETTONI
to be you did. Mainly I didn't believe that guy here yesterday afternoon.
I didn't believe the woman who was supposed to be his wife. So let
it go at that. I'm here to find David Parsons juniors. Let's stop
playing games. Don't get fresh with me, boy, I've crunched money a
loud talker just like you. You want me to walk out of here and
start jamming up your works right now? Or do you want to listen?
You've watched up everything so far. Do I handle it? Or do we
keep on like this? I'm gonna kill you when I get on my feet.
In the meantime, you're gonna lie there and like it. I came
out here to find your son. You arranged to throw me off his trail
by hiring a woman to play his wife and a man to appear and pretend
he was your son. Let's take it from there. I understand you've had
private detectives looking for him all over the country. What agency? Universal Operators?
Who's in charge of it? There? Man named Underwood? Have they
got any leads? Nothing? Nothing? For twelve days? Did he take
anything? I don't know. We haven't made an audit. Well there'll be
an audit. I've got the machinery started right now. Who do you think
that up? And lie down or you'll bust up. Blood vessel is missus
Parsons in town. I sent it out a palm spring, all right,
it's ten fifteen. Now, if I remember right, there's a plane for
Palm Springs about noon. Call her there and tell her I'll be at her
house at two o'clock. I want to talk to her. Are you giving
me order? Sure? Am? I want everybody in that household there at
two o'clock. You arrange it. I'll arrange nothing for you. Now get
out of here. Call who you have to call two o'clock, mister Parsons.
I left him fuming on the phone, and drove my rented car downtown
to the offices of Universal Operatives Incorporated. Mister Underwood, the man in charge
of finding David Parsons Junior, shook my hand and told me he could report
nothing to me about the case. I asked to phone all man Parsons,
which he did. That changed his mind. He broke down and gave me
an hour long story on what they'd done to locate the missing man. When
he was finished, it came out the same way, they'd run into blank
walls everywhere. They had no idea where David Parsons might be. I told
Underwood he and his staff were fired, and that mister Parsons would confirm it.
I left him fuming on the phone expense account ATIM ten four dollars,
two drinks and lunch all along. After that, I drove over to the
residence of David Parsons Junior. Missus Parsons was a tall, graceful woman in
her late thirties, settled on a sofa in front of the fireplace. The
clothes she was wearing, the house itself, the appointments of the formal room
all suggested a well run, well kept sort of life. I've answered so
many questions from those private detectives. I'm sorry to put you through it all
again. You must operate in a rather high handed manner, mister Dowler.
My father in law expressly told me, the point here is not to let
any of this get into the papers. The point here is to find your
husband, Missus Parsons. He's been missing twelve days now. Well, I
suppose I was the last one to see him. It was after dinner,
he went upstairs. I didn't see him after that. This would be the
thirteenth, Yes it was. Did he sleep here that night? His bed
had been slept in. Yes, then he really disappeared some time on the
fourteenth. I suppose that's accurate. He wasn't in his office that day.
Did he take a car? No, but I know the private detectives checked
the cab companies. He could have flagged one two blocks away? How about
close? Did he pack anything? Not a thing? Money? I don't
know. Okay. Can you think of any enemies who might want to harm
your husband? Enemies? Oh, dear, No, think a minute.
Well, perhaps in his office, in his business, there's someone. But
he never discussed what went on there with me. Are you sure it was
a rule. This is our home, that is David's business. We just
never talked about what went on in his office at all. How long have
you and mister Parsons been marying? Eighteen years next July? Have you been
getting along? Of course we've been getting along. We've gotten along always.
Ever discussed the probability of divorce or anything like that? Certainly not. Can
you think of any reason why mister Parsons would just walk out and not come
back? None whatsoever? Have the people in his office been worried about him?
Well? I believe mister Eckers the only one who knows. The others
think he's away on a business trip in otherwids. The whole thing has been
kept quiet. Oh yes, of course, this merger's situation is quite delicates.
Parsons, Were you very close to him? I beg your pardon,
don't beg my pardon. Just answer the question. Everybody seems to be worried
about a merger, not about a man. Did you spend time together?
Do things together? Of course? We entertained frequently, we traveled, We
had common interests home of course. Else, I don't know what you mean.
Did you enjoy each other? Go out together? Have fun? Really?
Did he have a hobby? But yes, sort of. David liked
to read and write a little. He fancied himself a scholar along some lines,
what lines literature? Of course? It was just an indulgence. Where
did he indulge himself. He had a small study upstairs. What'd be possible
to look at that room? I? Yes, I suppose so. All
right, I'll get to that in a minute, mister Parson, drink very
much, cocktails before dinner, maybe two or three after ever, any long
drinking jobs on the town. David never went off and drank. If that's
what you're trying to find out, Oh, that's what I'm trying to find
out. Is he in good health. Yes, perfect, I think.
What's the name of his doctor, Stanley Warner? Doctor Warner? Okay,
how about his attitude? What do you mean? What kind of man?
Is he? Quiet? Loud? What I'd say, David is and always
has has been a very quiet person. Like his work. Of course he
loves it. I'm terribly afraid there's a great deal of insinuation in these questions.
You ask, mister Dollar, what have you been doing in Palm Springs
resting? Got a boyfriend, mister Dollar? I resent that very much naturally
with my husband here. I go out with friends there. David knows about
it. You have a girlfriend. You're being ridiculous. No, you're being
ridiculous. You sit here and describe the kind of association a man has with
a drug clerk who sells some cigarettes, and you call it a marriage.
Your husband disappears from the face of the earth, and you romp off to
Palm Springs forgetting all about it. You're in sullen When I ask you what's
wrong, you're hurt. When I ask you how common, you're annoyed when
I mention it, what on earth do you want me to do? Final
a missing persons complaint right away? Get some help in here. If it
isn't too late, too late, it could be, lady, it just
could be you and your father in law have fooled around too long. She
made the call. A half an hour later. Two detectives and the Missing
Persons Bureau are out here gathering facts. I tagged along. They questioned Missus
Parsons, the servants. They examined the study as well as his bedroom.
From all they could gather, David Parsons had nothing but the clothes on his
back when he disappeared. By mid afternoon, the police had started on old
man Parsons and gone downtown to question the members of David Parsons office force.
The district Attorney moved in quickly and the gated my court owner, impounding the
books and records for a careful audit to determine if any money or barns were
missing. They promised to keep me informed. I went on on my own.
Come in, please. Doctor Stanley Warner had a four sweet office on
Wilshire Boulevard. He was a big, graying man who looked as though he
played a lot of golf and drank a lot of whiskey when he had the
chance. I told him about Parsons being missing and asked for some details.
According to my records, I examined him in the first of last month.
He was in good health, excellent for a man of his age and responsibility.
Could you explain that, doctor, No, I was thinking. I'll
look by comparison. David Parson's is forty years always held a position of tremendous
responsibility for many years for a lesser man, or for a frailer man.
The incidents of organic disturbance in this age are he increases considerably David Parson's case,
that didn't seem to hold true. Doctor. Are you talking about the
pressure from his father, you know, the old man, I'm talking about
that. Yes, it cracked up a lot of people. How do you
suppose David Junior escaped? He knew how to escape, at least for periods
of time get a complete rest. Was there any indication or any reason whatsoever
when you examined him to suspect that he might suffer from some sort of mental
trouble. No, I'd say that when I examined him, he was an
excellent mental shape too. See did you ever meet him outside the office socially?
Yeah? Yes, both belonged to the same country club, led golf
with him several times, seen him at dances other affairs. He and missus
parr and strike you as a happy couple. I might answer that by saying
that happiness is intangible. I envied him, though not because of his wife.
You understand, because with all the with all the requirements that were made
of him, he was still a gentle, decent man. You ever appeared
with other women, not that I know. Did you ever have occasion to
talk with him with his hair down? Once startled me. At first.
I was aware that he was a man of education and culture, but I
was quite taken aback by his ability to quote the classics. Seemed incongruous somehow.
I remember this day we met in the club. We had a drink.
I don't think anyone was there except the waiters. I was talking to
him, and suddenly he dropped off the conversation. He stared ahead, and
then he began to quote a Greek Calicles Calocles. Yes, I was so
impressed by the passage. I took the trouble to look it up myself and
write it down. I have it. Yes, I can still see him
quoting that word for word. Read it. But if there were a man
who had sufficient force, he would shake off and break through an escape from
all this gone? Would you? He would trample underfoot all our formulas and
spells and charms, and all our laws which are against nature. The slave
would rise in rebellion and be lord over us, and the light of natural
justice would shine forth. When did persons quote this to you, doctor Monday,
the day before he disappeared? Any dollar, David Parsons? Did you
read the morning paper? Yep? It's spread all over them. My son
missing, I met called from the York all the morning long. The business
marchers jeopardize is that you're doing anything else to say? When I finished with
you and your liability company, they won't be enough left to burn for jump,
mister Parsons, before you shoot off any more steam. Do you want
me to give the papers the other half of the story, the one about
you arranging for people to impersonate your son and his wife. Are you threatening
me? I guess I am? Why are you? By expense accounts submitted
by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar to the Eastern Casualty and Trust Company, Boston,
Massachusetts. The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the calicicles
matter at AM eleven ten cents one newspaper. I lied to Parsons about seeing
the paper. I hadn't seen it at all, but I can guess what
had happened when they got hold of the story that a prominent broker I have
been missing some fourteen days. It was all there, spread over the front
page. I waited a couple of hours before I took old man Parsons on
again. You'll think you're pretty smart, don't you. You should have given
this matter to the police in the first place. I gave it to a
detective agency. And what do you mean by fire? Oh? They were
just spending your money and you're losing it for me, we'd all listening to
papers. I'm still trying to find your son, mister Parsons. Remember you
aren't going to find him here. Something's come up. Maybe you're gonna explain
it. The DA's office and Pound of the Books yesterday finds thousand dollars was
withdrawn from your son's personal account. What do I have to explain about that?
Wait? It was taken out the morning he disappeared. Do you have
any idea why he'd withdraw some of money that size. No, you sure
somebody could have been standing at back him with a gun threatening to blow his
head off. He might have had a date to go to a wedding and
eat it some tip money. What can you add? You're getting mad?
Dollar, Go find your answers someplace else. You don't care if he's ever
located, do you, Dollar? Let me tell you something. My son
means that to me no more. He's never had brains enough for energy enough
to do anything by himself. I do everything, always have the only reason
I want him back is to affect the merger with a little in Tennyson.
You knew that right away, I suppose so. I just wanted to hear
it said to believe it. Well, now you've heard me say it.
You know one reason why I always run the show. Dollar. My face
never looks like yours over anything. I got out of there fast. I
went downtown with the tall police were named Jerry Angle to interview a bank teller.
I'm Sergeant Angle, is mister Dollar, Oh yes, you phoned me.
It's about mister Parsons. You took care of him when he came in
here last Tuesday week ago. Is I right? I handled a withdraw Yes,
we'd like to see the slip on that. Yes, I looked it
up. I have it ready for you. Have you known mister Parsons very
long? Well I don't know him. Well, really, look at this
picture. This man is the same who signed the withdrawals slip last Tuesday morning.
Yes, that's mister Parsons. Okay, tell us what happened. We
just came up to the cage and handed me withdrawal slip. That's I see.
Weren't you a little surprise when he made out a withdrawal slip for five
thousand dollars. That's a lot of money. Well, maybe I was a
little surprised, but mister Parsons has withdrawn large sums from his personal account several
times. I always assumed it was some sort of speculation where he needed cash
on hand. When he came up to the cage to you, what exactly
did he say, Oh, just good morning or something like that, and
then will you please take care of this? Didn't he stipulate how he wanted
the money? Oh? Yes, yes he did say that. I'm sorry.
He took it mostly in hundreds and fifties, any of these bills having
to be recorded, No such anything else you can remember about the transaction that
might help? Sorry, nothing, well maybe, well you both know the
kind of business mister Parsons is in. I mean, it seems like a
hurried sort of business. Always phone calls, rushing and so on. He
was always always liked that. It seemed to me he'd come in here,
do what he had to do, and rush out very brisk, you know.
But that morning he didn't seem in a hurry at all when he lived.
I mean, I had the distinct feeling that mister Parsons didn't particularly carry
in what direction he went. A rechecked with Missus Parsons, and the house
servants established that Parsons had not left the house with the described money bag.
The police went to work on that angle, trying to find out where he
had purchased it. A supplementary bulletin went out with the news about the bay
that this big attorney's men were trying to find out if he was involved with
another woman and if so whole. Parsons was reported to be in Toledo and
Detroit, the Virgin Islands, in Boston. All the reports were untrue.
Yeah, so that's him. That's the guy who was in here that night.
You're sure. I'm positive that's his picture. Was he with anybody?
I was all alone, he said, over there, and that's too.
How long was he here? Oh? Is here? We closed the joint.
Did you happen to see where he went from here? And what guy
of shape? Was he? In? Drunk? No? No, he
was real sober and quiet. Drank all night, but he seemed to hold
his stuff. Okay, did you talk to him at all? No,
just took a order for drinks. He didn't even want to talk to anybody.
I see. Did you happen to notice if anybody who was in here
went over and talk to him? I think a couple of people tried,
you know, you get that sort of thing at a joint like this,
but he didn't say much to any of them, so they just left him
alone. He just settled on a drink. No, he was making a
phone call the time he was here, a long distance call from the booth
over there, he said, at the end of the bar, so he
could hear the phone ring. How do you know he was making a long
distance call in twenty onces and asked me to change at the quarters for him,
all the quarters I had about what time was this? I don't know
exactly, but it took him two or three hours. Anyway, do you
know if he ever completed his call? He poured a lot of dough into
the phone. I guess he didn't. Finally, did he have anything with
him while he was here? What do you mean? Was he carrying a
little black bag? Maybe nothing, but his over coating what he did say
something to me at that He asked me if I knew CALLI please CALLI clea,
Yes, sergeant. He was about three bourbons along with them. I
mean anything I've heard about that before? Kellickles was a Greek. Parsons quoted
him to his doctor once, something about a man breaking through and shaking off
his chains. A pretty piece of poetry. Poet. I thought he was
a bookie. Oh excuse well, Jerry. One thing for sure, we
know he was alive. That night Jerry Engels started a check with a telephone
company. There records disclosed that David Parsons had place to call from the papers
from the bar on the night in question. It had been a person to
person called to a Kenneth Temple in San Francisco. We tried to place a
call to the same number, but there was no answer. We waited another
two hours trying to complete the call, and the operators were still trying.
When we drove out to the Parsons residence once more, Missus Parsons gave us
a cool greeting. I certainly don't appreciate any of this. You're responsible,
mister Dollard for all this publicity. We don't have to go into that,
Missus Parsons. We need your help now. We found out that your husband
called a man named Kenneth Temple and San Francisco the night he disappeared. That
name Kenneth Temple. Does it mean anything to you, No, I've never
heard it before. Mister Parsons never mentioned it to you. Oh. I
can't say for certain, but it's not familiar to me at the moment.
Have you ever been to San Francisco? Yeah, twice, going to and
coming back from a y two years ago. As mister Parsons ever been to
San Francisco, he was on the same trip. This name Temple. Maybe
it was someone you met while you were there. No, I don't recall
meeting anyone there at all. Sergeant All, this has been quite upset and
quite nerve wracking. Really, I don't know what progress you people are making,
but I do wish it would all be handled sooner. Excusingly, sure
this isn't getting us very far. I don't get it. Hello. Who
oh oh, yes operated, just a moment's for you, sergeant, Oh
thanks, probably San Francisco Operating. Thank you as Sergeant Angle. Yeah,
all on its temple, Sergeant anglem in Person's division. Was I was,
please, we're trying to locate a man named David Parsons. Huh, all
right, he's there now are you going to put him on? David?
Let me talk to him now? Just about at that an extension? Oh
yes, please let me talk hollow a minute, miss Parsons. I'm pretty
worried about you. Yes, yes, she's all right, she's right here.
Okay, missus Parsons here taking David. Oh are you? It's so
good to hear your voice, David. When are you coming home? Your
father and I've been I read about it in the papers. Now I want
you to listen to me, Dorothy. Dad's going to ask you, so
listen, but listen to me. I'm listening David, do you remember all
the times that I've asked you to talk to me, the times during these
years when I wanted companionship, warmth, a home that was lived in.
Each time I asked for these things, you were always too busy to taken
up with things outside my life. Do you remember all that? But yes,
yes, David, I remember all that. Well, this is the
end of you and me. But your father had a father and me too,
Dorothy. You tell him that. He probably won't believe it, but
you tell him the merger is all his. You'll have to get another figure
hit. I'd be so angry. What I'm trying to say is his anger
doesn't worry me anymore? What about me? I never worried you. But
I'm going away a long sea voyage with Temple. You don't remember him,
but he was a sailor. I used to talk to a board ship when
we went to Hawaii. He has a boat. Now I'm shipping on it.
When will you be back? I won't be back now? Will you
put that police officer on? How long? Mister Parsons that my name's Johnny
Doller. I've been trying to find you for two weeks. I'm an insurance
investigator. Oh, I've found out quite a lot about you. To make
sure I'm talking to the right man. I won't answer a lot of questions.
Just one that's not even a question, Calicles, Oh, I mean
anything. I don't know who you are. I didn't even get your name.
But you did find out. If there were a man who had sufficient
force, he would shake off and break through and escape from all this.
He would trample underfoot all our formulas and spells and charms, and all our
laws which are against nature. The slave would rise and repickon and be lord.
So far as the police were concerned, there was nothing more to do.
So far as the insurance company is concerned, We'll have to sit on
a hundred thousand dollar bond and hope that David Parsons will return to his life
at Los Angeles when he gets whatever it is out of system. Expense account
total eleven hundred dollars and fifty nine cents remarks just missus Parsons to me.
She asked why he never talked about this to her. I told her he
did. No one ever listened. She didn't understand that either yours truly,
Johnny Dollar. No, here's our star to tell you about next week's intriguing
story. Next week, one of the most heartless, most vicious rackets and
insurance investigator ever had to face join us. Won't you Yours Truly? Johnny
Dollar? Yours Truly Johnny Doller, starring Bob Bailey, is transcribed in Hollywood.
Written by John Dawson, It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone.
Heard in this week's cast were Virginia, Greg Harry Bartel, Lilian Bayeff will
Write, Geen Bates, Carlton Young, Lawrence Dubkin, Bert Holland, Marvin
Miller, and Herb Bigran. Musical supervision by Amrigo Marinho. Be sure to
join us on Monday night, same time and station for another exciting story of
Yours Truly Johnny Doller, Roy Rowan speaking play play Welcome back. Well,
first things first, some listeners may have wondered about the intro, and I
will confirm that, yes, I was impersonated, and here's the young man
who did it. Hi, Adam, my name is Lucas. I live
in Centennial, Colorado. I'm eight years old and I'm a really big fan
of your podcast. Well, thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed
the podcast, and I appreciated the impersonation. I actually received this from Lucas's
father, Ray back in June, and he said I could use it as
I would. I decided to hold onto it until we came to an episode
that was actually set in Los Angeles. And I also decided to play it
without any explanation at the start, because all the pertinent information is in the
show notes, and this program was from May second to the fourth and nineteen
fifty six, and so I thought this was the best way to play Lucas's
introduction without being too extraneous. Now as to the episode itself, one thing
you have to appreciate about this era is the literacy of the writers of Johnny
Dowler. They had a knowledge of the classics, the Bible, and history
that I don't see reflected in most of our modern writing. Yeah, they
managed to pull out ideas and themes that were relevant to the story and never
shot over the audience's head as some radio writers could. But I think resonates
with many people either listening in nineteen fifty six or today. Is the idea
of living a life that someone else set out for you, that's not really
who you are or who you want to be, and continuing as long as
you can, living to keep others happy until you reach a breaking point and
then you're done. Now, whether how he chose to respond to this was
the right thing is another matter altogether, but you can definitely relate to where
he's coming from. The confrontations between Johnny and Parsons Senior were delicious. Parsons
arrogance and expectation that Johnny would jump at his every whim or met with Johnny's
calm, confidence and refusal to put up with parsons nonsense or be intimidated by
his threats. The only time that Parsons got the better of Johnny was their
final conversation, and that was because of the confirmation of the type of person
that Parson was, someone who viewed people as nothing more than tools to be
manipulated to serve his ends. Parsons is the type of Billain that Johnny Doller
Riders love to hate, the dominary tyrant who pries to run the lives of
others. What is it about that sort of character that makes him the perfect
foil for Johnny? I think it may be the writing coming from the post
Wars perspective and the views of democracy. In a democratic society, no one
should be able to control another adult to the degree these characters do other than
criminal methods. The way these characters managed to rule others is through bullying and
threats, or, as we saw a few weeks ago in The Laird Douglas
Douglas of Heather Scope Matter, through manipulation. This sort of deprivation of freedom
is something that Johnny has to fight. He calls it out and all the
hypocrisy and dysfunction it brings. His conversation with Missus Parsons in episode three was
pure fire, with the line that she talked like she was Parson Junior's drug
store clerk rather than his wife Johnny's nightmare and episode three was poignant. His
statement that you never get used to sort of tragedies he encounters reflects why his
character is so loved. Johnny faces a lot of evil, sickening and heartbreaking
things, but never gives into a cynical latitude and holds on to his humanity
and decency, regardless of the pain that comes with that. I also love
the Sisters lines. It was simple but beautiful. The world becomes very heavy
sometimes. I don't think we discuss enough or appreciate enough how talented the company
of actors surrounding Bob Bailey was. Virginia Gray gets some credit, but really
each one of these recurring actors were immensely talented and capable of delivering powerful performances.
And I think Harry Bartel in episode three just breaks your heart in the
scene where Eckers explains that the fake Missus Parsons had been his fiance. Finally,
I do want to note that this was based on a nineteen fifty three
John lunscript, The Brisbane Fraud Matter. Well, now we turn to listener
comments and feedback, and we go to YouTube where a listener rights regarding the
first two episodes of The Laird Douglas. Douglas of Heather Scope matter. For
me, the comedy just isn't working at all cringe level. In fact,
if there's anybody out there who is tuning into Johnny Dowler for the first time,
this is not a typical episode, and please don't judge the series based
on what you just heard. Harry is the most annoying character we've heard so
far. I guess it will take a darker turn on Friday and we can
get back on track. Well, it did take the darker turn on Friday.
It is interesting that I've had a couple of negative comments on Harry Branson,
which wasn't something that I recall hearing the first time we went through the
series. Harry is definitely a unique character. He's very fastidious, cautious,
detail oriented, and sometimes struggles to get to the point. I've always enjoyed
him, and he is a recurring character, both in the serials and later
on in the half hour stories. And of course he's also played by Harry
Bartell, who gave such a good dramatic performance in episode three of this story.
But it's interesting to hear different perspectives as we go through the series for
a second time. Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day,
and I want to go ahead and thank Emily. Emily's been one of
our Patreon supporters since February of twenty twenty one, currently supporting the podcast at
the rookie level of two dollars or more per month. Thank you so much
for your support, Emily, and you can join our Patreon supporters at Patreon
dot Great Detectives dot net for as little as two dollars per month. But
that will do it for today. If you are enjoying the podcast, please
follow us using your favorite podcast software. And if you're enjoying the podcast on
YouTube, be sure to lock the video, subscribe to the channel, and
mark the notification bell. We'll be back next Tuesday with another episode of Yours
Truly Johnny Dollar. But join us back here tomorrow for Dragnet where no,
gentlemen, I did not kill Helen Claude. You gave your seeing lessons,
mister Ostrander. You know we're pretty well. Yes, I gave up voice
coaching. Everybody get and a half. Helen. You had a little promise,
not a great voice bad. You knew her pretty well. Why do
you say that, mister Ostrander. Didn't you used to take her out last
in a while. No, no, I didn't know Helen socially at all.
We know you had dates with her, That's not true. Only times
I saw he was funce. You came here to the studio for lessons.
You better tell the truth, mister Ostrander. We can prove that you've been
out with her afraid of the publicity is the certainly I'd say I have a
successful business here. I spent years billion. Anything like this is ruined.
Then you have been out with her only a few times, nothing serious.
I had nothing to do with her murder. No, that's the true.
Don't you know that we'reholding information about a thing like this can go kind of
hard for you. Yes, I know them. What else could I do,
mister Ostrander. Somewhere in this city right now, there's a guy who
beat a young girl to death. He crushed her skull with a piece of
steel pipe. We need every bit of information we can get to track them
down. I know that you could have come to us. We wouldn't run
to the newspapers with it. If the information is confidential, that's the way
we treat it. Most of the time. It's the people who run to
the newspapers first, then they come to us. That's right, mister Ostrander.
People are their own press agents. Sargeant. I'd like to know what
right you have to invade my privacy and let me on my city. Joe,
all right, I'll tell you what right, o stranger. We want
the man who murdered Helen Corday I got as much right as he had.
At twelve fourteen this morning, I hope you'll be with us then. In
the meantime, do send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net,
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram,
Instagram, dot com, slash Great Detectives From Boise, Idaho, This
is your host, Adam Graham's son and Off