1 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:34,920 Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This 2 00:00:35,119 --> 00:00:39,679 is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it 3 00:00:39,719 --> 00:00:46,799 to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, Follow us on Twitter at 4 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:54,000 Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram dot com slash Great 5 00:00:54,039 --> 00:00:59,840 Detectives. If you're enjoying this podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcasts 6 00:01:00,039 --> 00:01:03,959 software. And a reminder, as you're making your travel plans for twenty twenty 7 00:01:03,959 --> 00:01:10,280 four, remember Johnny Dollar air dot com. Johnny Dollar air dot com is 8 00:01:10,359 --> 00:01:14,519 a price line affiliate link, so part of the purchase price goes to support 9 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:19,719 the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio at no additional cost to you. So 10 00:01:19,879 --> 00:01:23,599 remember when making your travel plans, check Johnny Dollar air dot com. Well, 11 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:29,120 now it is time to get into the conclusion of this week's Yours Truly 12 00:01:29,359 --> 00:01:34,439 Johnny Dollar Cereal from July twenty fifth, twenty six and twenty seventh, nineteen 13 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:41,239 fifty six. Here now is episodes three through five of the Open Town Matter 14 00:01:44,439 --> 00:01:51,640 from Hollywood. It's time now for Johnny Dollar. How are you making out? 15 00:01:51,719 --> 00:01:55,239 Johnny boy? Who is this? You disappoint me? Johnny? You 16 00:01:55,239 --> 00:01:59,519 want to recognize the condition of not the voice Joe Cleany, Yeah, that 17 00:02:00,079 --> 00:02:01,599 reporter on the daily Era. I want to talk to you. Where are 18 00:02:01,599 --> 00:02:05,840 you? Oh no, you do not tonight? Why not? In ten 19 00:02:05,879 --> 00:02:08,680 minutes? You'd have me shoot my big mouth off about the rackets here and 20 00:02:08,719 --> 00:02:13,960 the murder of the honorable Chief of Police and the peculiar marls of his lovely 21 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,639 young wife and Joel listen, and the last, but not least, the 22 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:23,039 ethical and philosophical problems of an intellectual lush a reformed idealist. Once or even 23 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:27,840 twice all an hour ago in front of city Hall, somebody fired five shots 24 00:02:27,879 --> 00:02:31,960 at me. Joe, are you there? Beat it, Johnny, grab 25 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:36,199 a plane, train, bus, or walk, but get out now when 26 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,719 they put the finger on it sticks. Greensport, boy, is a wide 27 00:02:39,759 --> 00:02:53,000 open tom tonight and every weekday night. Bob Bailey in the transcribed Adventures of 28 00:02:53,039 --> 00:02:58,280 the Man with the Action Pact Expensercount America's Fabulous freelance insurance Investigator, Yours Truly, 29 00:02:58,759 --> 00:03:15,919 Johnny Dollar. From Special Investigator Johnny Dollar, location Greensport, Missouri to 30 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:21,439 the home office, Great Plains Guarantee Company, Hartford, Connecticut. Assignment the 31 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:31,680 Open Town Matter Expense a count continued, itdem seven dollars eighty five cents taxi 32 00:03:31,759 --> 00:03:36,919 to the home of the Mayor of Greensport, Will Lyons. I decided to 33 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,199 go straight to headquarters, so to speak. Joe Crayley, professional reporter and 34 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:43,599 semi pro drunk, might have been able to help, but I didn't know 35 00:03:43,599 --> 00:03:46,800 where to find him. So far, I had a lot of questions, 36 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,800 no answers. Police Chief Ed Blake had been shot to death in his own 37 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:54,360 home with his own gun. His young widow Marty and city Attorney Dave Sherman 38 00:03:54,400 --> 00:04:00,199 had been present and both told the same story mysterious prowler. Supposedly the prowler 39 00:04:00,319 --> 00:04:03,560 was Shorty Wells, an ex convict with a grudge against the murdered chief. 40 00:04:04,199 --> 00:04:09,120 But Shorty was missing and the case was at a standstill. So I went 41 00:04:09,199 --> 00:04:15,160 right to the top to may Allons. Come in, mister Dollar, come 42 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:19,360 right in. Thanks. My wife has going out this evening and committee meeting 43 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:23,560 at the Women's Club. We can talk here in the library if you don't 44 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:28,839 mind right fine, take a chair there. Yeah, well, mister Dollar, 45 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,000 I will say it's a pleasure to see you safe and sound. Or 46 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:34,959 you heard about the shooting, then I heard the shots from my office, 47 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:39,240 and the acting chief of Police phoned me a few minutes later, Well does 48 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,800 he know yet who did it? And not the slightest There were no witnesses, 49 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,600 at least none who cared to talk. Carr took off at high speed 50 00:04:46,639 --> 00:04:51,680 and then just disappeared, like shorty Wells. Fine. I sympathize with your 51 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:55,800 feelings, mister Dollar. I'd feel the same way if i'd been made to 52 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:59,839 target of. But you can rest a short sir, that every facility of 53 00:05:00,079 --> 00:05:03,040 law enforcement in this town he's working round the clock to bring the culprits to 54 00:05:03,199 --> 00:05:08,399 justice. Yeah, that's very comforting me. Eh, But actually I'm not 55 00:05:08,439 --> 00:05:11,519 sure I was the target? What do you mean? Well, when I 56 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,199 left you and Dave Sherman and came out onto the sidewalk, Marty Blake was 57 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:17,720 waiting for me in a car part of the curb. She'd been there about 58 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,439 twenty minutes. She told me, Yes, but a lot of fire. 59 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,959 Those shots had the set up plan worked out, and I don't think they 60 00:05:24,959 --> 00:05:28,800 could very well a plant it for me. Why not? My schedule wasn't 61 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,959 predictable enough. They didn't know when i'd leave City Hall, whether i'd be 62 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,959 a loan or not, or what I'd do when I stepped outside. It's 63 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:35,959 a point, all right. Marty, on the other hand, had been 64 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:40,360 there for twenty minutes, plenty of time to arrange the thing. But why 65 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:44,000 why should anyone want to kill her? Well, you got me. I 66 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,120 don't know. After the shooting, of course, I had a police officer 67 00:05:46,199 --> 00:05:49,639 assigned to god duty at her home, but I regarded it as merely a 68 00:05:49,759 --> 00:05:54,279 routine precaution. I was certain that the attempt was made on your life, 69 00:05:54,319 --> 00:05:57,040 mister Dollar. Well, those bullets came too close to both of us for 70 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,160 very much peace of mind. Well, at least missus Blake has protection now, 71 00:06:00,399 --> 00:06:06,079 oh yeah, yeah, unless that police officer himself knocks her all. 72 00:06:06,759 --> 00:06:11,600 You're joking, of course, Maya. That's the worst thing about this whole 73 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:14,920 case. I don't know whether I'm joking or not, But surely you don't 74 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,680 say you are you certain of which ones you can trust in the attorney's office, 75 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:23,839 the police force, in your own department, even not entirely. No, 76 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,560 the rackets as wide open as they are here, some of the men 77 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:30,160 around you are bound to be involved. I know it stands to reason. 78 00:06:30,199 --> 00:06:33,839 Every raid we've ever attempted. Has been tipped off before we even got started. 79 00:06:34,639 --> 00:06:40,439 Blake tried while he was alive. Dave Sherman tried. I even organized 80 00:06:40,439 --> 00:06:44,240 to myself, told nobody about them, brought him the state police to carry 81 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,279 them out. Same results. Say what about Blake? He must have been 82 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:50,240 in with a mob to live on that lavish scale. He did, I 83 00:06:50,319 --> 00:06:55,639 suppose so. Dave and I suspected him at times, but we could never 84 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,519 turn up any actual evidence. Were he in the city attorney friends ed and 85 00:06:59,639 --> 00:07:02,920 Dave. No, they couldn't get along at all. And yet the night 86 00:07:02,959 --> 00:07:06,839 Blake was shot, Dave Sherman was staying overnight in his home. Yes, 87 00:07:06,959 --> 00:07:12,000 I know, I've thought myself it was a little odd. Dave says. 88 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,800 Blake had asked him to invited him to go on a fishing trip the next 89 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,199 morning, a fishing trip, and yet they couldn't get along. Why. 90 00:07:19,319 --> 00:07:24,800 No, I can't explain it any more than you can. Any chance Dave 91 00:07:24,839 --> 00:07:28,759 Sherman was the intended victim that night instead of Blake. I really don't see 92 00:07:28,759 --> 00:07:32,000 how mister Dollar in view of the circumstances. Blake was killed when he heard 93 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,959 a prowler and went downstairs to investigate. No one could have expected Dave to 94 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:40,079 do something like that. No, No, I guess not. It was 95 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:44,879 just an idea. I've thought of all kinds of outlandish possibilities myself, but 96 00:07:44,959 --> 00:07:48,120 it always comes back to the same thing. Shorty Wells. Yeah, the 97 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:51,279 ex convict who swore he'd get Blake when he went to prison. He was 98 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:55,920 parled just the week before, mister Dollar, and he was seen in town 99 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,639 the day before the killing, and nobody has found hide or here of him 100 00:07:59,639 --> 00:08:03,439 since. Yeah. Yeah, it adds up all right, But somehow I 101 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:07,120 still can't buy it. Maybe it just adds up a little too well. 102 00:08:07,879 --> 00:08:09,839 Three forces of the criminals who are sentenced make threats like that, but it's 103 00:08:09,879 --> 00:08:13,160 a rare one who carries it out. Rare, yes, but not unknown. 104 00:08:13,279 --> 00:08:18,480 Not true. I admit he's a strong possibility. But when I hit 105 00:08:18,519 --> 00:08:22,680 town this afternoon, I thought Marty Blake was a strong possibility until the city 106 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:26,439 attorney himself came up with an airtight alibi for her. Why did you suspect 107 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,639 her? Mister Dollar insurance a fifty thousand dollar policy on Blake's life. His 108 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:35,200 wife's the beneficiary. Well, I don't imagine fifty thousand the last, Missus 109 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:39,879 Blake very long they tell me something? Mayor? Are she and Dave Sherman 110 00:08:39,799 --> 00:08:45,799 close friends at one time? Yes? In fact, Dave was pretty serious 111 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:48,360 about her, But after she married Blake last year, Dave turned against her 112 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:52,120 completely. I see. I don't think he'd risk an alibi for her out 113 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:56,679 of friendship, if that's what you're thinking. Oh, I don't know exactly 114 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:01,039 what I'm thinking. Mostly I'm just guessing. I have been doing that two 115 00:09:01,159 --> 00:09:05,279 years now, mister dollar, guessing, figuring, trying to spot the leader 116 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:11,360 behind these rackets, not knowing which officials I could trust. Mayor is Dave 117 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:24,000 Sherman one of those you can trust? I am not sure. Good evening, 118 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:28,159 Missus Blake. Wow, this is a surprise. Come in, Johnny, 119 00:09:28,919 --> 00:09:35,200 join the party. Thanks, because I'm the party. There isn't anybody 120 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:39,559 else kept my watchdog sitting out there in front? Yeah? I saw him. 121 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:43,240 Cute, isn't he? I didn't notice? I did. I think 122 00:09:43,279 --> 00:09:46,120 that's terrible, Johnny, A girl who's been a widow four days noticing another 123 00:09:46,159 --> 00:09:50,519 guy? Why not? You didn't care anything about your husband? That's right, 124 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:56,600 I didn't. Here's to all husbands, May they rest in peace. 125 00:09:58,519 --> 00:10:03,600 He's a good couple. You know what. I asked him to come inside 126 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:07,759 and have a drink with me, and he actually blushed and stammered. That 127 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:13,320 wasn't that cute? Devastating? Would you blush and stammer? Johnny? No, 128 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,759 I take a drink, which I will, by the way, if 129 00:10:16,759 --> 00:10:22,879 you don't want here, make me another one too. What's the reason for 130 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:28,960 this one woman celebration? Missus Blake? I said what I heard you, 131 00:10:28,759 --> 00:10:33,679 and you can call me Marty if you want me to answer you. Marty, 132 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:37,000 Why have a lonesome gal routine? It's not so lonesome now, Johnny? 133 00:10:37,399 --> 00:10:43,360 Oh, here's your drink? He used to getting shot at, shot 134 00:10:43,399 --> 00:10:48,000 at how Marty, like we were this afternoon? Or like your husband? 135 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:54,639 Everybody can't be lucky. Maybe I just didn't live right. Well, he's 136 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:58,879 not living anyway now. I'll bet you know how to live, Johnny. 137 00:10:58,919 --> 00:11:01,879 Oh, sure, what the system tell me about it? Well, the 138 00:11:01,919 --> 00:11:05,639 first thing I do is hook up with the rackets so I can buy my 139 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:09,679 wife lots of expensive kids. Why don't you lay off that stuff? Why 140 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:13,679 don't you try being nice for a change. Well, it's not part of 141 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:18,200 my system. God didn't kill him, you know, that now, So 142 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:22,639 why don't you relax and be human? Oh? The last time I relaxed 143 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:24,720 around you, I caught the breeze off of five bullets. You're breathing, 144 00:11:24,759 --> 00:11:28,679 aren't you? I might not be if they'd been after me instead of you. 145 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,399 So he's stelling that kick. Oh, it figures, Marty. I'm 146 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:35,120 no threat to anybody, not yet. I don't know enough about this mess, 147 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:39,480 and you're saying I do. I suppose I think so? Now? 148 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:43,080 Who'd want to get you out of the way Marty? To keep you from 149 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:46,240 talking? Maybe? Don't you ever give up? All right? Tell me 150 00:11:46,279 --> 00:11:50,240 this. Did Dave Sherman really see that shooting? Or is he just giving 151 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:52,559 you an alibi? Why don't you ask him? Or is he giving himself 152 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:58,080 an alibi? By any chance? You're crazy? Maybe? Where short? 153 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:00,519 He? Wells? I said, where is short? I heard what you 154 00:12:00,519 --> 00:12:03,399 said? Well? And suppose you turned out? What are you so upset 155 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:05,720 to get out of here right this minute? Get out? Or so help 156 00:12:05,759 --> 00:12:09,200 me off? To take it easy, Marty? What's that cute cop going 157 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:11,960 to think? I don't care what anybody thinks. You get out of here 158 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:18,720 and get out fast. Nine I'm nine fourteen dollars and forty cents drinks, 159 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:24,399 tips and transportation for a local expedition and playing in fancy pub crawling. I 160 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:28,799 was looking for Joe Craley, dissolution idealist, and that's y reporter on the 161 00:12:28,799 --> 00:12:31,720 Green Sport Daily Herald. I found him on my third martini. He was 162 00:12:31,759 --> 00:12:37,480 on a separate Oh Johnny, how'd you do it to? What? How'd 163 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:41,120 you find me? Called your paper? I gave me a list of your 164 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:46,960 hangouts. I had four more to go. The reputation is a wonderful thing 165 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:50,320 keeps you from staying off the straight and narrow. He is looking at you, 166 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:58,399 right, Joe, tell me about Martin. Tell you what about it? 167 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:03,039 Everything you know before? She's got an alibi. Oh yeah, I 168 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:07,759 know, I don't know about but you still won't give up. Well, 169 00:13:07,799 --> 00:13:13,000 she hates champagne, but she always orders it. Why because it costs more? 170 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:18,240 I see. She's every man's dream, Johnny. A pink and gold 171 00:13:18,279 --> 00:13:22,360 doll and spangled tights, and she's a four star tramp. She's an next 172 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:26,519 answer, isn't she? She's an ex lot of things? Ex girlfriend of 173 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:33,200 Shorty Wells. Ex girlfriend girlfriend is Shorty well sure Ed Blake took her away 174 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:37,879 from him. That's why Shorty threatened to kill him, said Blake was framing 175 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:41,200 him. Maybe he was. I don't know anything could have happened with the 176 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,679 police they got in this time, crooked? Is that what you're trying to 177 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:48,200 say? Some of them are that. The rest of them are useless. 178 00:13:48,879 --> 00:13:52,440 Like that business with the gun? What gun that Dad Blake was shot with? 179 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:56,320 They found a line beside his body, his own gun. He just 180 00:13:56,799 --> 00:13:58,879 assumed he shot it out with the killer. It was two days before they 181 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:03,200 realized he'd been shot with that gun, that Blake hadn't used it, the 182 00:14:03,279 --> 00:14:07,440 killer had Wait a minute, do you think Shorty Wells and Marty could have 183 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:11,559 planned the thing together? Johnny? I wouldn't put anything past that name. 184 00:14:11,519 --> 00:14:16,519 Why do you hate her so much? John Guess again, my friend. 185 00:14:16,799 --> 00:14:18,879 I don't hate her. I'm in love with her, always will be. 186 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:26,960 John Yeah, before she met Shorty Wells used to be my girl. H 187 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:48,399 gives you something to think about, doesn't it, Johnny? Johnny Dellar? 188 00:14:48,919 --> 00:14:56,879 Hello, Hello, Johnny? Yeah, who's calling Hello? Hang on a 189 00:14:56,879 --> 00:15:03,120 second, Johnny, Look what the devil is that you? Joe? Joe? 190 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:05,639 Sorry to keep you waiting, Johnny, I was trying to get all 191 00:15:05,679 --> 00:15:07,879 the dope on another phone? What Joe and how to just sober up so 192 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,759 fast? It's a big story, breaking boy and lusher or not, I'm 193 00:15:11,799 --> 00:15:13,759 still a reporter. Then go somewhere and report I'm going to bed. You 194 00:15:13,759 --> 00:15:18,120 want to bet I'll look Joe? He sleeps in Greensport, Johnny. It's 195 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,639 a wide open town racket shooting's a murdered police chief with a lovely widow. 196 00:15:20,759 --> 00:15:24,840 Sure, fine, So what's the big story? A fire? Boy, 197 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,519 house burning down, flames fifty feet high, three alarms, Put your clothes 198 00:15:28,559 --> 00:15:31,200 on and let's get going. You get going. The only big story I'll 199 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:33,960 be interested in is when Marty Blake is charged with murder, Johnny. That's 200 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:54,200 where the fire is at Marty Blake's From Special Investigator Johnny Dollar location, Greensport, 201 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:58,159 Missouri to the home office Great Plains Guarantee Company, Hartford, Connecticut. 202 00:15:58,559 --> 00:16:07,519 Assignment, The up in town matter expenser count continued. Itdam ten a dollar 203 00:16:07,519 --> 00:16:11,559 and a half for a breakneck taxi ride to Marty Blake's home, its location 204 00:16:11,639 --> 00:16:14,639 marked against the night sky by a pillar of flame visible for a mile. 205 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,320 The fire didn't make sense, so it fit in nicely with the rest of 206 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:21,679 the case, None of it made sense. The police chief had blake Marty's 207 00:16:21,679 --> 00:16:23,159 middle aged husband of eight months had been shot to death in his own home 208 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:26,440 with his own gun, and less than twenty four hours later, Marty had 209 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:30,759 filed claim on his fifty thousand dollars life insurance policy. She didn't love him 210 00:16:30,759 --> 00:16:36,720 and admitted it good case except for one thing. The city attorney himself was 211 00:16:36,759 --> 00:16:38,840 present at the time of the shooting and backed up Mardy's story of a mysterious 212 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:44,679 prowler, supposedly ex convict Shorty Wells. But Shorty was missing, and the 213 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:48,720 whole thing was just a little too convenient, too pat especially in a wide 214 00:16:48,759 --> 00:16:56,279 open town. Joe Crailey was going to meet me at the fire, but 215 00:16:56,279 --> 00:16:59,720 I didn't see him around. The fans had taken a strong hold in the 216 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:03,200 whole side of the house was blazing. The fireman couldn't do much except try 217 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:06,759 to control it from spinning. And the whole back of clouds that had collected 218 00:17:06,759 --> 00:17:10,440 on the street lawns. Oh, how do you figure this one, mister 219 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:14,519 Doner? And how that's present? Was City Attorney Dave Sherman, And you 220 00:17:14,599 --> 00:17:18,240 wanted to get things stirred up and they seemed to be stirred. All right, 221 00:17:18,519 --> 00:17:21,200 were you here when this happened, mister Sherman, No, this time. 222 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:23,160 I am not a witness for the defense. I arrived after the firing. 223 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:26,599 Yeah, what about money. She's all right, she got out before 224 00:17:26,599 --> 00:17:32,319 it really caught, sitting over there in my car. Then she was here 225 00:17:32,319 --> 00:17:36,440 when it started. Yeah, alone, so it seems. But there was 226 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:38,920 a police officer on. God, I thought you meant alone in the house. 227 00:17:40,319 --> 00:17:42,039 Now he was out here in front. The first thing he knew, 228 00:17:42,079 --> 00:17:45,200 flames were breaking out of the windows. And then Marty came running out of 229 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:49,880 the house. No one had arrived and left a lot that he saw. 230 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:52,839 You're still trying to tag her. Huh. Oh, I'm trying to take 231 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,400 whoever is skilled. He she figures, that's all not on the shooting. 232 00:17:56,519 --> 00:18:00,640 Oh, I'm not with the alibi you've given her. There's the dollar. 233 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:06,359 Look, she was standing ten feet away from me in the second floor hall 234 00:18:06,559 --> 00:18:10,799 when ed Blake was shot to death in the dark downstairs. Now that is 235 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:12,720 not an alibi, It is a fact. Ah, yeah, sure, 236 00:18:12,799 --> 00:18:18,160 I know, unless, of course I'm lying. All right, I am 237 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:22,279 why for old time's sake, maybe you were in love with there once, 238 00:18:22,319 --> 00:18:26,559 mister Sherman, I could name two dozen guys around this town who were once 239 00:18:26,759 --> 00:18:30,599 Yeah, Shorty Wells, for instance. That's right, that's why Shorty threatened 240 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:34,240 to kill Blake when Blake sent in a prisoner. He claimed he was being 241 00:18:34,319 --> 00:18:38,839 framed out of the way to give Blake a clear field. Gone, Shorty's 242 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:42,279 a hudler. He was guilty as charged, all right. But Blake was 243 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:47,000 in on the rackets, wasn't all It would seem that way. Then there's 244 00:18:47,039 --> 00:18:48,920 also Joe Craley. Marty was his girl at one time, wasn't she. 245 00:18:49,759 --> 00:18:52,920 That's when he started drinking when she threw him over. Why did she throw 246 00:18:53,000 --> 00:19:00,920 him over for the usual reason. Somebody knew who Well I thought. Took 247 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,359 me three months to find out that I was running interference for Shorty well All 248 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:07,599 right, so Joe Craley took to drink. What did you take to, 249 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:12,519 mister Sherman, Law enforcement. I set out to break the rackets in this 250 00:19:12,599 --> 00:19:15,640 town and get rid of hoodlumbs like Shorty Wells and all the rest of them. 251 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:18,880 Yeah, but the rackets are still here and I'm still trying dollar. 252 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:23,759 Oh look, I want to get one thing very straight. What ed Blake's 253 00:19:23,799 --> 00:19:29,079 killing. It happened just exactly the way I told you. That story is 254 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:33,519 true. Marty didn't do it, maybe not, but she's in it some 255 00:19:33,599 --> 00:19:37,200 way. She's bound of me. Well that's something I wouldn't know. Everywhere 256 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:40,200 you turn in this case, you keep hearing about Marty Blake. Marty Blake, 257 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:44,200 she's a one link that ties everything together. Oh maybe that fire there? 258 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:51,720 What's the story on that? Why don't you ask her? I left 259 00:19:51,759 --> 00:19:55,359 him standing there, staring into the fire, staring into his own pass. 260 00:19:55,440 --> 00:20:00,279 Maybe I didn't know. To me was still a puzzle question. Mark have 261 00:20:00,319 --> 00:20:03,680 the answer to him, not a much else. In fact, if he 262 00:20:03,799 --> 00:20:07,079 was telling the truth, Mrdy Blake couldn't have killed her husband, and so 263 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,599 far, at least there was nothing to show he was lying. I pushed 264 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:14,640 on through the crowd of spectators, the thrill seekers, the morbidly curious followers 265 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:18,839 of fire engines, and walked towards Sherman's car. Marty was sitting there along, 266 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:25,400 subdued for once in quiet, and she looked scared. Hello, Johnny, 267 00:20:25,799 --> 00:20:33,599 get in and sit with me. All right, Just look at it? 268 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:37,480 Isn't it terrible? It is be worse if you were in it when 269 00:20:37,519 --> 00:20:40,960 I was when it started. Just how did it start? I don't know. 270 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:45,440 I think you were right, Johnny about that shooting in front of the 271 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:48,400 city Hall. Oh, I think it was me they were after, not 272 00:20:48,599 --> 00:20:52,160 you. Now they've tried again. Possible, there's no other reason for burning 273 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:56,119 down my home. Who do you mean by they? Mighty? Who? 274 00:20:56,279 --> 00:21:00,920 I don't know whoever killed it? If you know, you'd better tell me 275 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:04,240 why. You still can't. If somebody is out to get you, If 276 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:07,799 that's what's behind all this, then they obviously mean business. I don't know, 277 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:11,359 Johnny, I told you that. Well, how about a guess then? 278 00:21:11,559 --> 00:21:15,039 Oh? Maybe Shorty Wells. I don't know why. Why the man 279 00:21:15,079 --> 00:21:18,200 he threatened is already dead. Why would he go after you? Maybe to 280 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,480 get even? And he told me he hated me when I broke off with 281 00:21:21,559 --> 00:21:23,400 him. It's just the kind of thing you think of doing. Or didn't 282 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:26,319 you know he was in love with me once? Oh? I know, 283 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:30,039 I'm asking you. How did the fire start? I don't know really. 284 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:34,000 After you left this evening, I lay down on a sofa. I've been 285 00:21:34,079 --> 00:21:38,039 drinking, as you know, and I guess I just went to sleep. 286 00:21:38,079 --> 00:21:41,799 Anyway, no one else had been there after I left. No, anyway, 287 00:21:41,839 --> 00:21:45,359 I woke up with smoke all around, and flames and all. It 288 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:48,599 was terrible, Johnny. I was just lucky I got out alive. You 289 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:52,799 always were lucky, Marty. Joe, what are you doing here? How 290 00:21:52,839 --> 00:21:55,599 about it? Johnny? Glad I phone or not? Oh? Yeah, 291 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:57,240 sure, I wouldn't have missed it for a million? Has she confessed yet? 292 00:21:57,279 --> 00:22:00,160 We can run a new headline on the extra she I can do without 293 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,720 any remarks from you. Joe. Sure you can, Baby, You're doing 294 00:22:03,839 --> 00:22:06,880 fine just as you are. Get away from here and leave me alone. 295 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:08,799 Can't do it, baby, I'm assigned to cover the fire. Gotta get 296 00:22:08,799 --> 00:22:12,640 all the angles. Human interests. That's you, baby, You are human, 297 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:18,079 aren't you? You stupid fool? Financial angles too, got one there 298 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:19,920 you might be interested in, Johnny. Did you know the house is heavily 299 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:23,039 insured against fire? Yes? Yes, I know, Joe. I checked 300 00:22:23,039 --> 00:22:26,000 through the company report before I left the hotel. Oh what of it? 301 00:22:26,039 --> 00:22:30,559 What if it is? Most houses are insured against fire, aren't they? 302 00:22:30,599 --> 00:22:33,000 Sure they are, especially by prudent people like you, people who think of 303 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,880 everything. Take it easy, Shoe, get them away from here, Johnny. 304 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:38,799 Only you didn't think of everything. Baby, what it's too bad your 305 00:22:38,799 --> 00:22:41,640 car wasn't in the garage instead of sitting out in the driveway. Then all 306 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:47,400 your assets would have been converted into cash, nice green, bloody cash. 307 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:49,400 Get away from me, Get away and leave me alone. Why, baby, 308 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,839 you can afford me now, You couldn't a couple of years ago. 309 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:56,759 That's why you're tied up with all the other What the devil he came from 310 00:22:56,799 --> 00:23:00,720 the house? Well, they couldn't immun issue. Maybe your husband must have 311 00:23:00,759 --> 00:23:03,359 kept boxes of cartridges around the house. Look thereby the cellar door, somebody's 312 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:07,279 staggering up out of the basement. Chimmy, looky, he's got a gun 313 00:23:07,279 --> 00:23:11,720 in his hand. He's falling down on the ground. Come on, shoe, 314 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:18,519 Oh man, when the damn breaks, everything goes. How could anybody 315 00:23:18,559 --> 00:23:22,279 come out of that thing alive? We greensporters and tough cookies, I mean, 316 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:27,880 unlucky. Apparently he's passed out cold. Another minute, he wouldn't have 317 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:32,160 made it. His clothes are smoldering. Yeah, let's turn them over and 318 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:38,880 get that coat off right easy? Now? Oh good lord, what's my 319 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:45,519 maname? This is the boy everybody in town has been looking for. Shorty 320 00:23:45,599 --> 00:23:56,720 Wells Room six O four Green Sports City Hospital. Time midnight, the time 321 00:23:56,759 --> 00:24:00,160 when the pulsive living starts to slow down, the beginning of the quiet, 322 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:04,319 time when the city sleeps and the nurses and interns walk even more softly, 323 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:10,200 when a ticking clock becomes a drum beat, and the ears of restless patience. 324 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:15,039 The time of crisis, when battles for life are fought in silence and 325 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:19,640 one are lost. A battle like that was being fought, and six SO 326 00:24:19,759 --> 00:24:30,279 four witnessed at the moment by myself and City Attorney Dave Sherman. Ellis is 327 00:24:30,319 --> 00:24:34,480 always the tough part and the slow board of waiting it at him, maybe 328 00:24:34,519 --> 00:24:38,799 a long way, mister Sherman, nearly three hours and he still hasn't regained 329 00:24:38,799 --> 00:24:42,759 consciousness. You know, I can't understand where he's been hiding out since Blake 330 00:24:42,839 --> 00:24:45,640 was sure. Yeah, well, it's hard to tell. I've turned this 331 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:51,480 upside down. I just can't understand it. Oh, I can't understand a 332 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:55,000 lot of things. It's just another one of a lot of things about this 333 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:59,000 case that are hard to figure out. All. Let's tied up with the 334 00:24:59,039 --> 00:25:02,880 rackets, That's what I'm sure. I'm not sure if anything about this miss, 335 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:04,200 So if we could just tag the person behind him, we gotta wrap 336 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:12,279 it up if we get on me excuse me, Dave sureman's me? Oh, 337 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:18,160 yes, ma'am. Oh. Doctor Morton says he may hang on for 338 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:19,640 a day or two. As far as pulling through it, he hasn't got 339 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:26,359 much chance. Oh, he hasn't been conscious at all yet. Yes, 340 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:30,799 yes, I'll keep in touch on it. You know, the minute isn't 341 00:25:33,319 --> 00:25:40,240 all right? Maya good night me and Lance. Yeah, he's a real 342 00:25:40,319 --> 00:25:45,119 fuss budget sometimes you gotta go to bed. Wait a second, he's trying 343 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:53,079 to talk. Yeah, thoughts alarm again. Dollar. Do you think he 344 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,720 started that fight? Oh? I don't know if he did. He got 345 00:25:56,720 --> 00:26:00,720 caught in his own trap. I can't figure out what he'd hope to gain 346 00:26:00,799 --> 00:26:08,200 by doing it by Has he been able to talk yet? Not yet? 347 00:26:08,279 --> 00:26:14,480 You get your story fine, just under the wire. Of course. It 348 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:19,200 consisted mainly of questions. Well, shorty Wells has the answers if you were 349 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:23,279 only able to give him out. I can't figure him firing those shots, 350 00:26:23,319 --> 00:26:26,960 Johnny, I can't either. He fired them before he came out of the 351 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,960 blaze. He apparently wasn't trying to shoot anyone. He couldn't even see anyone 352 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:36,319 who waves burn. I'm afraid I wouldn't do is wait, at least we 353 00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:40,160 don't know the whole story once he's able to talk. Suppose he never is 354 00:26:40,279 --> 00:26:45,519 able. Well, he's the only lead we've had, and he's the only 355 00:26:45,519 --> 00:26:49,319 one we've got. Now. The whole case is lying right there on that 356 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:55,839 bed. If Shorty Wells dies without regaining consciousness, then we can drop it 357 00:26:55,880 --> 00:27:19,559 and forget it because we're beat. Johnny Dollar, It's me, Johnny Mary. 358 00:27:19,799 --> 00:27:23,480 Yeah, how is he all about the same? Doctor Waton just gave 359 00:27:23,559 --> 00:27:29,039 him another transfusion. Has he been able to say anything yet? He hasn't 360 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:33,160 been conscious? Why Marty? Who's there with you? Joe Crailey and the 361 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:37,000 city attorney? Look, Johnny, I've got to talk to you right away, 362 00:27:37,079 --> 00:27:41,599 all right, go ahead and talk, not on the phone, all 363 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:44,680 right. It's room six o four City Hospital. Come on over, not 364 00:27:44,799 --> 00:27:48,440 with them there. Why don't you come meet me? Because Shorty Wells is 365 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:51,079 the key to this whole case. If he's able to talk before he dies, 366 00:27:51,079 --> 00:27:53,440 I want to be here to listen. Suppose I tell you I'm ready 367 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:59,160 to talk, Johnny, Are you telling me I'm in an all night lunch 368 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:03,279 room right across this in the hospital. Can you come over here? All 369 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:06,200 right, Marty, I'll gamble with you. Be there in five minutes. 370 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:23,680 From Special Investigator Johnny Doller, location, Green Sports, Missouri to the home 371 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:29,920 office Great Plains Guarantee Company, Hartford, Connecticut. Assignment the Open Town Meda 372 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:37,480 expense account final page. I hung up the phone more puzzled than ever, 373 00:28:37,559 --> 00:28:41,319 And heaven knows, the case had been puzzling from the start. Marty Blake, 374 00:28:41,359 --> 00:28:45,920 young widow of the murdered police chief, had been completely uncooperative and unwilling 375 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:51,480 to talk, and now she was reversing her field. Why her house had 376 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:53,480 burned to the ground earlier in the evening, and Shorty Wells, number one 377 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:56,359 on the City attorneys wanted for murder list, had been found trapped in the 378 00:28:56,400 --> 00:29:02,079 flames. Maybe this had something to do with Marty's phone call. She'd been 379 00:29:02,119 --> 00:29:04,839 my number one suspect at first, since she stood to collect fifty thousand dollars 380 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:08,920 as beneficiary of her husband's life insurance. But then the city attorney himself, 381 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:12,920 Dave Sherman, had provided her with an airtight alibi, and I'd reluctantly let 382 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:17,440 her off the hook. Now this, I didn't know what she was up 383 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:22,039 to, and I couldn't afford not to find out. Summing up, Dolly, 384 00:29:22,559 --> 00:29:25,440 I was Marty Blake, mister Sherman. She's in a lunch room across 385 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:27,559 the street. She wants to see me. Oh what about She didn't say, 386 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:30,039 we'll go ahead and talk to if you want to, Johnny, I'll 387 00:29:30,079 --> 00:29:33,920 call you, Shorty stuts to regain consciousness. All right, thanks, Jim. 388 00:29:33,079 --> 00:29:37,279 I'm sticking right here myself. That's when I'm going to follow personally. 389 00:29:37,599 --> 00:29:40,519 Well, if you really want to break the rackets in this town, your 390 00:29:40,559 --> 00:29:42,839 answer is lying right there in that bed, Shorty Wells. I think you're 391 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:47,680 right if he's ever able to talk, and if your police laddies don't fall 392 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:49,519 over their own feet again the way they did on that gun business when Ed 393 00:29:49,599 --> 00:29:55,359 Lake was shot, mistake was partly justified. Joe, the chief song gun 394 00:29:55,359 --> 00:29:59,160 that was lying beside his body, was natural to assume that he'd exchanged shots 395 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:02,240 with a product. Yeah, but two days to realize he'd been shut with 396 00:30:02,279 --> 00:30:04,079 his own gun. All right, all right, they fouled up a minute, 397 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:07,880 and the ones who aren't stupid are cooked. Every rage you try to 398 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:11,160 pull has been tipped off. And even when Mayor Lyons brought in state police, 399 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:15,119 the whole plan was tipped which you took great pleasure in pointing out in 400 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:18,359 your story. And you, guys, look now, I'll leave you to 401 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:21,759 to settle this stick on this guy like a leech, and if he shows 402 00:30:21,799 --> 00:30:23,359 any sign of coming to and talking, let me know right away when you 403 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:42,400 network could. Yeah, I'll see you lady back here in the booth, 404 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:51,920 Johnny. Wow, what's on your mind? Money? Sit down, Johnny? 405 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:57,759 Here? Come on, well, the waiters in back if you'd like 406 00:30:57,839 --> 00:31:03,720 some coffee or something. Thanks. Okay, Now what is it? What 407 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:07,920 is what? You had to talk to me? Right away? How I 408 00:31:07,039 --> 00:31:14,599 talk? Johnny? I'm not too hard to take him. I no, 409 00:31:15,319 --> 00:31:18,960 Oh, you're a pink and gold doll, wild honeysuckle and a handful of 410 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:23,400 stars. At least that's what a couple of guys said today. I don't 411 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:27,720 care what a couple of guys said. What do you say, Johnny? 412 00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:33,119 I guess the description fits as far as looks are concerned. And if that's 413 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:36,799 all you want to talk, No, no, Johnny, I'm in the 414 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:38,559 clear on this. You know that the night my husband was killed. I've 415 00:31:38,559 --> 00:31:42,720 got an alibi, and nobody could shake right. Well, I'm pretty well 416 00:31:42,759 --> 00:31:45,559 convinced you didn't pull a trigger, if that's what you mean. And you 417 00:31:45,559 --> 00:31:49,920 could convince the insurance company too, couldn't you if you would? Oh? 418 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:53,000 Yeah, yeah, they go pretty much on my reports. But I don't. 419 00:31:53,039 --> 00:31:56,240 Why don't we get this settled and over with? Why don't you be 420 00:31:56,359 --> 00:32:01,960 nice Johnny and turning a real good report? Oh so that's the pitch. 421 00:32:02,079 --> 00:32:05,200 Well, it's not a pitch. I didn't do it, So why can't 422 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:07,640 you tell them? So? Why don't we get some more answers? First 423 00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:10,039 to a lot of questions. Explain a few odd angles, maybe, like 424 00:32:10,160 --> 00:32:14,720 what like the fact that you heard the noise and woke up, that you 425 00:32:14,839 --> 00:32:17,079 sent your husband downstairs, that you turned on the light behind him and made 426 00:32:17,119 --> 00:32:21,200 him a perfect target for whoever held a gun, Johnny, the fact that 427 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:24,160 you found your insurance claim less than twenty four hours after your husband was killed. 428 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:29,559 Suppose we hear what Shorty Wells has to say before I make any report. 429 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:35,200 What if Shorty dies without talking, Well, in that case, I 430 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:37,880 guess you will be in the clear, because right now he's the only lead 431 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:43,279 I've got don If you excuse him, Johnny, make that report, make 432 00:32:43,319 --> 00:32:45,279 it now. Sorry, I'll give you ten thousand dollars out of the insurance. 433 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:50,119 You are anxious, aren't you. I just want to get it settled. 434 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:52,279 Sit down, Johnny, and let's talk about it. Yeah, Joe, 435 00:32:52,319 --> 00:32:55,000 what is it? Fire? When I just came by the hospital, 436 00:32:55,079 --> 00:32:59,640 Johnny, they found out why Shorty fired those shots just before he ran out 437 00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:04,079 of the blaze house. Why that cellar door was pad locked on the outside. 438 00:33:04,519 --> 00:33:07,160 He had to shoot the lock off to get out. Then he probably 439 00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:10,359 didn't set the fire after all. Not if he was locked in the basement. 440 00:33:12,839 --> 00:33:15,640 What about that Marty. Was he the one who was supposed to die 441 00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:19,240 in the fire if he was hiding out in my cellar, I didn't know 442 00:33:19,279 --> 00:33:22,640 anything about it. Just another one of those hard angles. Huh oh, 443 00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:24,519 stop it, Johnny. By the way, Uh, what do you want 444 00:33:24,519 --> 00:33:27,920 to see me about? See you about? What do you mean? Well? 445 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:30,200 Yeah, the nurse said you phoned the hospital, said you wanted me 446 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:35,200 to meet you here. You mean you didn't come on shore. Let's get 447 00:33:35,319 --> 00:33:44,799 back there. Sure, that's why she wanted me to meet her there, 448 00:33:44,839 --> 00:33:46,759 to get me away from that room. And somebody phone and got you away. 449 00:33:46,839 --> 00:33:51,880 Elevator's coming down now, Johnny short he's the one big threat to whoever's 450 00:33:51,880 --> 00:33:54,440 gilly. They know that if he talks their tag, you get up to 451 00:33:54,480 --> 00:34:00,599 his room, I thought, mister Sherman leaving, well, yes, phoned 452 00:34:00,759 --> 00:34:02,160 it's the mayor. He wants me to meet him across the streets. Anybody 453 00:34:02,160 --> 00:34:06,880 out there with Shorty wells doctor will be back in a few moments. Sherman 454 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:09,159 back into the air. A minute. Look, I've got to meet Mayo 455 00:34:09,719 --> 00:34:15,000 six floor six may I ask what's going on here? I haven't got time 456 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:16,599 to go back upstairs. I told you you'll have to take time, mister 457 00:34:16,639 --> 00:34:21,119 Sherman, it was all right to leave. Dollar. Shorty wasn't showing any 458 00:34:21,159 --> 00:34:24,119 signs of coming to Did you make sure that did that? But Dollar, 459 00:34:24,159 --> 00:34:27,840 I don't hit what you're driving frying? Come on now, let's go. 460 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:30,719 Would somebody please let me in on this. Let's take a look at Shorty 461 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:34,920 first, mister Sherman, Johnny, what happened to? Copo was on duty, 462 00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:37,559 was here in the hall when I left. Just a moment ago. 463 00:34:37,719 --> 00:34:40,039 I got to walk down to the did you leave that door a jar? 464 00:34:40,159 --> 00:34:44,400 Mister sherman. No, no, of course not. Come on, wait 465 00:34:44,679 --> 00:34:52,519 but quietly, are we interrupting something? May Alliance? Well, what do 466 00:34:52,639 --> 00:34:54,159 you do with that pillow? Nothing? Nothing, I wasn't doing the thing. 467 00:34:54,199 --> 00:34:58,280 We were holding it down over shorty face, get out of the way. 468 00:34:59,199 --> 00:35:06,159 I think you were sure he's dead. You smothered him with that pillow. 469 00:35:06,440 --> 00:35:07,519 No, he was. He was dead when I came in, I 470 00:35:07,559 --> 00:35:09,679 was. I was just moving the pillow. Dave, did you have to 471 00:35:09,719 --> 00:35:13,400 get us all out of this room and then send the police guard away just 472 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:15,280 to move a pillow? Dollar? Are you suggesting? Well, I'm suggesting 473 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:20,519 it for one dollar. I've been sure for months that may Alliance was back 474 00:35:20,519 --> 00:35:22,079 of the rackets here, but I didn't have any way of proving it until 475 00:35:22,119 --> 00:35:27,159 now, Perhaps until now, Mayor very well, don't move any of them. 476 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:29,320 Oh no, wait a minute. That gun isn't really your ansom. 477 00:35:29,360 --> 00:35:32,039 Mayor. There are three of us, you know you can't get us all. 478 00:35:32,199 --> 00:35:36,679 Tell me something. Why did you have Ed Blake killed? Wasn't he 479 00:35:36,719 --> 00:35:39,360 one of your own boys? I can tell you why. Now, Ed 480 00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:43,599 Blake was going to pull out of the rackets dollar and spill the whole setup 481 00:35:43,599 --> 00:35:45,000 to me. That was the reason for that fishing trip. Then it must 482 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:50,880 have been Marty who tipped off may alliance. Sure sure it figures she loved 483 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:52,880 that racket money that it was bringing home. And surely Wells was in town 484 00:35:52,960 --> 00:35:59,079 with a grudge against that already. It was real convenient for you, wasn't 485 00:35:59,079 --> 00:36:00,920 it, Mayor? A matter of fact, Dave, it was very convenient. 486 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:05,039 Then. Surety hid out in the cellar Amani's house until she decided things 487 00:36:05,079 --> 00:36:07,920 would be less complicated if she locked the cellar door and burned the house down. 488 00:36:07,159 --> 00:36:09,159 He was a weak link, you might say. She stayed out. 489 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:14,320 You better give me the gun. No, get back to what he says, 490 00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:15,639 Mayor, you haven't a chance. I'm warning you, Dollar if you 491 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:21,199 try, I hear, but I doubt if you can do go over Mare, 492 00:36:21,880 --> 00:36:27,000 drop that gun. Let go off. No thanks, Now, if 493 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:29,760 you got us getting away, what don't you never stop me for a car 494 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:49,280 that we don't? You tried it six floors down? Yeah, well he 495 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:53,480 got out of being prosecuted. As a matter of fact, there's nobody left 496 00:36:53,480 --> 00:37:04,039 to prosecute. You want to bet she was still sitting there in the lunchroom 497 00:37:04,079 --> 00:37:07,760 across the street from the hospital, and she'd heard what had happened. I 498 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:10,880 knew it the second day, and I walked in from the half smile of 499 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:16,199 triumph on her face and from the way she greeted me, too bad, 500 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:20,440 Johnny. You should have taken my offer because I don't need your help. 501 00:37:20,519 --> 00:37:24,039 Now your company's going to have to pay off. I'm really in the clear 502 00:37:24,119 --> 00:37:30,320 now you are. Huh. And poor Dave, when nobody left to prosecute, 503 00:37:31,239 --> 00:37:36,360 he still has you, Marty, accomplice to your husband's murder. Aunt 504 00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:42,079 Johnny Surety died without talking. Mary Lyons is dead. No witnesses, no 505 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:46,800 case. Sorry, Marty, there is a witness. Oh who you? 506 00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:52,440 What are you talking about? What's that paper? Well you intended it to 507 00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:58,159 be an insurance claim, but actually it's more of a confession, signed and 508 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:01,480 witnessed. What you were over anxious, Marty, and you filled it out 509 00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:07,039 in complete detail. It says we found my husband's body at the foot of 510 00:38:07,079 --> 00:38:12,079 the stairs. That's right, that he'd been shot and killed with his own 511 00:38:12,119 --> 00:38:15,960 gun. It's true, isn't it. That's what happened. Yeah, But 512 00:38:15,039 --> 00:38:19,639 this claim was in the main office of the insurance company less than twenty four 513 00:38:19,679 --> 00:38:23,159 hours after your husband was killed. The police didn't find out he'd been shot 514 00:38:23,199 --> 00:38:32,119 with his own gun until two days later. Real need confession, how Marty 515 00:38:37,119 --> 00:38:42,039 expense account out of twelve three hundred and ten dollars and forty five cents incidentals 516 00:38:42,079 --> 00:38:46,199 in Greensport and transportation back to Hartfred expense account total five hundred and sixteen dollars 517 00:38:46,199 --> 00:38:52,400 and twenty cents. End of account and of report remarks. Marty Blake never 518 00:38:52,559 --> 00:38:57,440 was able to explain how she knew about that gun. She sure tried. 519 00:38:58,639 --> 00:39:14,639 Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Now here's our star to tell you about next 520 00:39:14,679 --> 00:39:19,320 week's story. Before I do that, please let me say thanks to all 521 00:39:19,320 --> 00:39:22,320 of you who are so kind about writing and telling us how much you like 522 00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:25,960 Johnny Dollar. It's a very gratifying experience. It's encouragement to all of us 523 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:30,639 who are involved in production of the program, and we appreciate your letters more 524 00:39:30,679 --> 00:39:32,760 than you know. As always, I'll try to answer you promptly, but 525 00:39:32,920 --> 00:39:37,079 sometimes the mail does pile up. In any event, Thanks, thanks very 526 00:39:37,119 --> 00:39:43,679 much for writing next week. A yacht that wasn't there and a man who 527 00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:47,519 wasn't there. They never were, but that's where I found them. Join 528 00:39:47,599 --> 00:40:01,519 us, won't you? Yours? Truly Johnny Dollar. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar 529 00:40:01,639 --> 00:40:07,920 starrying Bob Bailey is transcribed in Hollywood. It is written by Les Crutchfield and 530 00:40:07,079 --> 00:40:13,400 produced and directed by Jack Johnstone. Heard in this week's cast were Gene Tatum, 531 00:40:13,519 --> 00:40:17,840 Paul Dubov, Joseph Kern, Stacy Harris, and Russell Thorson musical supervision 532 00:40:17,880 --> 00:40:22,440 by Amarigo Marino. Be sure to join us on Monday night, same time 533 00:40:22,519 --> 00:41:06,599 and station for another exciting story of Yours Truly Johnny Dollar. Roy Rowan speaking 534 00:41:28,440 --> 00:41:32,440 Welcome Back. This is yet another story that was expanded from a John loun 535 00:41:32,599 --> 00:41:37,159 episode, in this case the Dan Frank matter. A few months back, 536 00:41:37,199 --> 00:41:42,840 a gentleman was posting quite a bit on our YouTube channel and made the argument 537 00:41:42,880 --> 00:41:49,000 that the serials expanded pointlessly on thirty minute stories. I disagree with this in 538 00:41:49,119 --> 00:41:54,880 general, because we have quite a few stories that are original anyway. But 539 00:41:54,960 --> 00:41:59,719 if you want to make that case, this serial would be a prime exhibit. 540 00:42:00,239 --> 00:42:02,400 Of all the serials we've heard so far, it's hard to think of 541 00:42:02,480 --> 00:42:07,320 one that added less to the original story than this one. Most will either 542 00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:15,199 combine storylines from multiple old time radio programs or add more emotional weight or side 543 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:19,960 characters to a story to give it more depth. I mean, where's a 544 00:42:20,079 --> 00:42:23,519 taco truck when you need it? In this story, this one pads out 545 00:42:23,599 --> 00:42:29,400 the runtime. We have a lot of recapping and characters kind of circling each 546 00:42:29,400 --> 00:42:35,400 other and relitigating their old grudges, particularly over Marty. This story itself is 547 00:42:35,440 --> 00:42:39,480 still a solid one in terms of its mystery and plot, but doesn't really 548 00:42:39,519 --> 00:42:45,159 do a whole lot with its expanded runtime. I do wonder what was going 549 00:42:45,199 --> 00:42:50,239 on behind the scenes on this one. Given that next week's story got delayed 550 00:42:50,239 --> 00:42:54,719 by week. It's possible that less Crutchfield script had to be pushed forward because 551 00:42:54,880 --> 00:43:00,239 he could really get it finished and just did the best he could, even 552 00:43:00,239 --> 00:43:05,119 if the results were not optimal. Shorty's murder at the hospital was a very 553 00:43:05,199 --> 00:43:08,360 risky maneuver, but at this point you're dailing with a desperate man. In 554 00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:12,880 the case of the mayor, I don't think Marty was desperate. I think 555 00:43:12,920 --> 00:43:19,119 she fully expected how things would play out, only being surprised that her own 556 00:43:19,239 --> 00:43:22,880 eagerness in filling out the claim form did her in. This makes the mayor's 557 00:43:22,920 --> 00:43:28,480 statement about her being a weak link in his plans ironic. Since I think 558 00:43:28,480 --> 00:43:34,039 he was probably the weak link in hers. Also, I appreciated Bob Bailey's 559 00:43:34,599 --> 00:43:38,480 note to letter writers who support an encouragement had to be vital for their continued 560 00:43:38,639 --> 00:43:45,360 success on radio in an era when radio was in decline, and really the 561 00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:52,199 people who kept listening are the only reason that we have the last few years 562 00:43:52,239 --> 00:43:57,760 of the golden age of radio. Now we turn to lessener comments and feedback. 563 00:43:57,960 --> 00:44:04,920 And we have a comment from Reiser regarding the IDAs Touch matter. Lake 564 00:44:05,079 --> 00:44:10,239 Mahovey is my favorite Johnny Dollar location. Love the relationships that develop between Johnny, 565 00:44:10,280 --> 00:44:15,440 Buster Ham, et cetera. A great show. And then I also 566 00:44:15,559 --> 00:44:22,039 had a comment regarding the monster we had a few weeks back. This one 567 00:44:22,119 --> 00:44:28,239 comes from Gypsy Gypsy Rites. Green Archer Comics isn't a great company name for 568 00:44:28,320 --> 00:44:32,159 people who use search engines when they can't remember the url. I'm sorry if 569 00:44:32,199 --> 00:44:38,239 you struggled with finding the exact url. It did actually include it in the 570 00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:43,800 show notes of the episode, and I had a card pop up when the 571 00:44:43,880 --> 00:44:50,000 video played on YouTube with the website for Green Archer Comics. However, for 572 00:44:50,119 --> 00:44:53,320 anyone who missed it, I'll go ahead and repeat it. It's Johnny Dollar 573 00:44:53,920 --> 00:45:00,079 dot i oh and I know dot i owe is not one of the the 574 00:45:00,159 --> 00:45:04,760 old school domains so many of us are familiar with, but that will get 575 00:45:04,760 --> 00:45:08,360 you there. Johnny Dollar dot io as in India, oh, as an 576 00:45:08,360 --> 00:45:13,840 oscar and just Johnny Dollar completely spelled out. Now, by the time this 577 00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:17,880 episode airs, their Kickstarter will be over. But the good news is, 578 00:45:19,719 --> 00:45:23,840 at the time of recording it has already surpassed its goal. So issue two 579 00:45:23,920 --> 00:45:30,039 of yours truly Johnny Dollar, will be printed and when it is, you'll 580 00:45:30,039 --> 00:45:34,000 be able to get it from that website, along with issue one, which 581 00:45:34,079 --> 00:45:37,719 is available now at Johnnydollar dot io. Well, now it's time to thank 582 00:45:37,840 --> 00:45:42,440 our Patreon supporter of the day, and I want to go ahead and thank 583 00:45:42,559 --> 00:45:47,280 down. Down has been one of our Patreon supporters since October twenty twenty one, 584 00:45:47,920 --> 00:45:53,239 currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of seven dollars and fourteen 585 00:45:53,320 --> 00:45:58,440 cents or more per month. Thank you so much for your support, don 586 00:45:59,000 --> 00:46:02,079 and that will actually we do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, 587 00:46:02,280 --> 00:46:07,199 please follow us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and 588 00:46:07,239 --> 00:46:13,239 review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back on Tuesday with 589 00:46:13,360 --> 00:46:16,960 the Johnny doll or cereal. We were promised last week, but join us 590 00:46:17,039 --> 00:46:23,119 back here tomorrow for dragnet, where you get anything from the neighbors, the 591 00:46:23,199 --> 00:46:28,360 usual ed, no jealous boyfriend's ex husbands, nothing like that. Boys find 592 00:46:28,400 --> 00:46:31,119 any evidence yet, Sgaber, I'm still working on it. You got any 593 00:46:31,119 --> 00:46:36,199 theories? And we know the killings well done by the same game. Cuts 594 00:46:36,199 --> 00:46:38,440 the same pattern of the window screen, cuts the same pattern with a glass 595 00:46:38,440 --> 00:46:42,519 cutter out of the window, reaches in and flips the luck all right, 596 00:46:42,559 --> 00:46:45,159 where's that leaving? And before he gets inside, he makes sure there are 597 00:46:45,239 --> 00:46:49,320 only women in the house. That means he probably watches the house for a 598 00:46:49,320 --> 00:46:52,679 few days. Once he gets inside, he wants only one thing to kill. 599 00:46:52,639 --> 00:46:55,760 He's never taken any valuables as far as we can tell, He's never 600 00:46:55,800 --> 00:47:00,519 searched for any kind of a man work like that. I think the guys 601 00:47:00,599 --> 00:47:05,679 killed crazy hey Follas, Yes, Donnie, hope you'll be with us then. 602 00:47:05,920 --> 00:47:09,960 In the meantime, do send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives 603 00:47:10,039 --> 00:47:15,880 dot net, follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us out 604 00:47:15,920 --> 00:47:22,119 on Instagram, Instagram, dot com, slash Great detectives from Boise, Idaho. 605 00:47:22,760 --> 00:47:24,440 This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.