Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
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Johnny Dollar Air dot com first. Well, now we're going to get into
the conclusion of The Cranesburg Matter. The original air dates August twenty, ninth,
thirtieth, and thirty first of nineteen fifty six. It's The Cranesburg Matter,
episodes three through five from Hollywood. It's time now for Johnny Dollar.
This is Betty mister Dollar, missus Crane's made. I'm the one who well,
oh yeah, What can I do for you? Beddy? Have you
told anyone about it? The gun? No? Not yet, Kevin?
Do you still have it? What do you think i'd do? Bury it
somewhere? Oh? You look, somebody's used this gun, used it recently?
Who was it? You know? I never saw it before? Then?
Why were you trying to hide it in the incinerators? I was scared.
I didn't know what I was doing. Is it your gun? I
found? Where? Please? Is it tied end with the theft of his
crane's necklace? I don't know anything about it, about anything. I just
know I'm in trouble. You've got to help me, mister Dollar, Please
tonight and every weekday night. Bob Bailey in the transcribed Adventures of the Man
with the Action Packed Expensive Out America's Fabulous Freelance Insurance Investigator, Yours Truley Johnny
Dollar, Special Investigator, Johnny Dolly, Location, Cranesburg, Ohio to the
home office Tri State Guarantee Company, Hartford, Connecticut. Assignment the Crane matter
expense account continued Item seven three ten cents for a bad steak and worse coffee
in the hotel dining room. But it didn't matter much. I had to
rush it anyway. With one eye on my watch. I was meeting Jewel
Thief's swanny prel at his rooming house at nine o'clock, and Melbourne Crane's made
Betty was coming here to the hotel at ten, providing she could slip away
from the house. The schedule was tightening up on me, but I still
hadn't seen hide nor hair of the stolen necklace. That is, if hide
nor hair can apply to a string of match pearls and shure it for twenty
thousand dollars. Fourteen twelve North Oak Street was in the lost and forgotten corner
of town, dark and nearly deserted at this hour of the evening. The
rooming house, a ramshackle frame built flush to the sidewalks, seemed to wait
for me, brooding and stad silence. So no names on the letterbox is
no sign of an office. I tried the front door. It was open.
Room six was the number smile he had given me. I walked down
the long hall, studying the numbers and the doors with a dim light from
a single bulb at the far end. For I've six, I heard the
barest hint of movement behind the door. In silence, I reached down quietly
and turned the knob. The door was unlocked. I took a deep breath
and then went in fast. Hold what the devil? Take it easy,
Mac all right, I'd hold it. Now find the light switch. Well,
well, i'll be mister hat. You a little out of your territory.
Mister Crane, I don't know what you mean. Sit down before you
shake your teeth loos, beg your pardon, sir. I'll mention it if
I may remind you who you're talking to. You don't have to remind me.
You're Phineas P. Crane, uncle of Miss Melbur Crane, who had
a pearl necklace stolen frum Her. You're one of the last two surviving members
of the Crane family who founded Crane mister, and I have just caught you
prowling the room of a known professional jewel thief. Now sit down, I
can explain this. Yeah, I hope. So I suppose our host isn't
home. There's no one else here. Was the door unlocked or were you
equipped with a set of keys? I beg your pardon again. You're the
most polite burglar I've ever tagged. This is not the way it seems.
I assure you, all right, Now you've assured me, convinced me.
I came to ask some questions of the gentleman who lives here. Do you
know him? Certainly not. It's hardly likely that i'd be acquainted with a
person of his type. Oh, I don't know he's a jewel thief.
Your niece had a necklace stolen ten days ago. It kind of adds up
in a way. Oh, now, are you accusing me of complicity?
I'm not accusing you of anything. I'm just trying to find out what you
were doing hiding here in Smiley Prowl's wrong. I came here to talk to
her. What about m but the reasons it personal? Mist did then you
did know him? No? I knew he lived here because I followed him
one day. I didn't know his name, and I didn't know he was
a jewel thief until you said so just a moment ago. Come, I
know, I know this seems rather well. That's one way of putting it
that you'd understand if I were in a position to explain it might be a
good idea if you got in that position in view of the circumstance. I
simply cannot, and I do not believe your capacity is such that you can
force me to. You're quite right, but the police might handle it somewhat
different. Oh, I doubted very much. My grandfather founded this town.
They remember that here a matter of pulling rank. Oh, they had leaned
toward believing any reasonable story that I might give them. A story like that
is reasonable only as long as there's no actual evidence to disprove it, and
you have such evidence. Not yet, but I think I will be for
long. Oh, then I'll have to deal with that eventuality, when and
if it happens. Who are you trying to protect, mister Crane? I
don't know what you mean. Why did you follow smiling? Because I saw
him under rather unusual circumstance before or after the robbery? Well? After,
yes, when I followed? Well, what was that tonight? No,
there was several days. But I expect him to be here tonight. Oh,
were you accounting on his room being empty? I did not come here
to commit burglary, May I remind you? Said? Oh? Yeah,
I know your Phineas P. Crane, and you and your niece of the
tip top aristocrats on the local totem poll. Also, I happen to know
your flat. I imagine twenty thousand dollars worth of insurance would look pretty good
to you. I am not a thief. People have an odd moral sense.
A lot of them seem to think insurance for it is not quite the
same as actual Have you not happen to be one of those persons, mister
do? What about your niece? Well, that necklace was given to her
as an engagement gift by the man she's going to marry, and I'm sure
it's value to hers much more than the amount of the insurance. Maybe and
maybe not. You did tell me this afternoon that she's headstrong, impulsive.
Well, yes, but I did not mean to imply soon. I imagine
you'll be around when I want you. You're not the kind of man who
runs away. So for the moment, play it your way, cover up
and hide behind the family name. But sooner or later you're going to have
to talk it out with somebody, either with me or someone else. Am
I free to go now? Sure, sure, as far as I'm concerned.
Unless you want to stick around and wait for smiling, Well, I
doubt whether there's much point in that now under the circumstances, good night,
sir. Keep cool, mister Crane, I shall make every effort to As
soon as Crane left, I made a quick search of the room and found
nothing. Smiling evidently traveled light and lived light. There was hardly any sign
he was even living in the place. I gave it up as a bad
job. Finally closed the door behind me and drove back to my hotel.
I was starting to see a faint gleam of daylight in the case, but
I couldn't quite figure how Phineas Crane fit into it. And unfortunately, I
was in no position to pushing very hard, since technically I had no more
right in that room than he did. But all of my theories fell apart,
and I walked through the door of my hotel. Come right in,
son, I have a seat. Thanks. One of us could be in
the wrong room, of course, not if your name's Dollar. Oh,
I wasn't questioning my presence, mister. You know fella name Smiley Prell.
Well, I know who he is. Got business with him? Have you?
Maybe? Do I have any with you? Well, my name is
Durham, mister Dollar, Ed Durham. Oh, well, it's a little
late, mister Durham, So if you don't mind, I'm chief of police
here in Cranesburg. Oh maybe it's not as late as I thought. Found
your name where this fellow Prail and wrote it down along with your room number
here at the hotel, careless of it. Got a helpful though You a
friend of yours? No, no, I'd hardly call him that. Oh
I don't see any point in holding out on your Chief Durham. Here are
my credentials. I'm an insurance investigator working on that crane robbery. You don't
say, Smiley. Prel is a jewel thief, two previous convictions. He
found the insurance company in Hartford and wanted to talk a deal. I flew
in here this afternoon. Well he's seemed to be an order all right,
thanks. I had an appointment to meet Prell this evening and it's from house
at nine o'clock. But he didn't show Reckon. He wasn't in much shape
to mister Dollar, what do you mean Praill got himself shot four or five
hours ago? Shot, Yeah, real shot. Matter of fact, he's
dead, murdered kind of looks that way. Found him in a back alley
behind the city park. Must have happened sometime this afternoon. You wouldn't know
anything about it, won't you, mister Dollar. I don't know. I
might. Do you know what kind of a gun was used to kill him?
Thirty two revolver according to the boys and ballistics. Hold onto your hat.
I may have it right here. Uh, don't bother looking under the
mattress, mister Dollar. I already found it. Yep, got it right
here. You're pretty cagy, aren't you. Wasn't sure how to figure you
reckon? You're all right though, or you'd have kept your mouth shut.
Well, thanks? How'd you come by it? I'd take it away from
Melbourn, Crane's housemaid, to girl named Petty. Yeah, I know who
she is. It was some time between six thirty and seven this evening.
I caught her trying to hide it in the incinerator. You don't say it's
been fired, as you undoubtedly noticed. You might have a check through,
but I don't imagine it's registered. It's registered, all right. Oh,
we don't have many guns around here. I recognize this one right off belongs
to Phineas Crane. What add up to anything, mister Dollar? Not the
way I've been adding. It's got me stumped too. I U, I
don't suppose you found that necklace on Smiley Prowl's body. No, not a
sign of it. You figure then this murder is tied up some way with
that robbery. What else is it? A figure? What about these cranes?
Chief? Just who are they? What are they? Well? An
old line family, just to of them left now Phineas and Melbourne not as
wealthy as they used to be. Made Elton Barkley at the bank told me
the same thing. Funny thing about that though lately at least Old Phineas seems
to have plenty of cash to jingle together. How lately not just since the
robbery, if that's what you mean. It's longer than that, last four
or five months. That checks too with what Portley said. You got some
idea they planned that robbery, mister Dollo, Oh, I don't know.
I've got no evidence of it. If that's what you're asking. How do
Phineas and Melbourn get along together? Well? They kind of like royalty here,
you know, they're pretty much to theirselves. Man. If they do
have any trouble, it's never heard outside the house. Uh, huh.
What do you know about Melvis's fiance, This Dean Sellers. Well, he's
been here about eight months, seems to be a pretty nice fellow civic leader
and all that. Everybody in town thought it was just fine when they got
engaged, figured they was meant for each other. Well, he certainly goes
in for lavish gifts, a necklace with thirty eight match pearls credit expecting somebody.
Yeah quiet, oh, isn't ready? Let me and mister dollar just
a minute, She phoned earlier, wants the gun bank. Maybe you've been
a listening for the bath of the bathroom there, good idea. Let me
get set okay, right, come in, Betty, thank you. I've
got to have it back, mister Dollar. Have what back? The gun
you were trying to hide in the incinerator this evening? Yes, of course
you mean this one. Oh yes, please, mister Dollar. Somebody's trying
to get me into trouble. I don't know I found that gun, that's
the truth, getting in a drawer in my room, out of the crane.
I don't know. I don't know when I saw it. I got
scared. I was trying to get rid of it. When you stop me,
and now tonight on the radio it says a man's been shot. Did
you know him? No? You know whose gun this is? I don't
know anything about it. Give it to me, please. I liked you,
Betty, but I'm afraid things aren't that simple. What do you mean?
All right? Chief, it's all yours Johnny Dollar, Miss Dean Sellers.
Mister Dollar, you may recall in meeting me this afternoon. Yes,
you're Miss Crane's fiance. What's on your mind, mister Sellers. I'm downstairs
in the hotel lobby. I'd like him up and talk to you if I
could. Well, I was just on the point of leaving for the police
station. Oh and you know about Betty. Yes, As a matter of
fact, Chief Durham arrested her here in my room. What I said?
She was arrested? What was she doing there? I had the gun that
was used to murder Smiley Prowl. She wanted it back. What do you
mean wanted it back? Why all the interest in this girl, mister Sellers?
Is it just because you happen to be engaged to the woman she works
for. Well, yes, you might say that. No, that's not
it at all. I've got to talk to you, all right, I'll
meet you in the hotel bar in five minutes. From Special Investigator Johnny Della
location, Cranesburg, Ohio to the home office Tri State Guarantee Company, Hartford,
Connecticut. Assignment. The Cranesburg Meta expens account continued. It am ten
two dollars and seventy five cents for three brandies straight, one for me and
two for Dean Sellers, new coming, a Cranesburg man about town and fiance
of local socialite Melba Crane, the man who'd given her the pearl necklace that
had been stolen from the safe in her home. It had supposedly been an
engagement gift. Yet now Sellers was flipping his lid because Melbourn's maid was in
a jam. I remembered the scene in the Crane sunroom earlier in the afternoon,
and Dean Sellers remembered it too. When you walked up on the porch
at the Crane estate and saw Betty and me and each other's arms, you
were well, I thought the obvious natural. Yeah, I figured as much.
That's why I tried to cover up when I talked to you after him.
You didn't have to mister sells, I kind of wrote it off as
just another bachelor having a fling before he settled down. Yeah, that's the
way I looked at it at first. So so it didn't work out that
way? How did it work? I finally realized I was in love with
Betty. I see. I know it may sound corny, but it happens
to be true. Does Melbo Crane know about it? Oh? Well,
at least I don't think she does. Well, what did she think when
you broke off your engagement? Or I haven't actually broken it off, I
just postponded. I told her I was loaded with work and we'd have to
wait a while, and she accepted that. She seemed to can't be sure
about Melbourne. Oh, she's a cool and place of cards close. Most
women are pretty cool when they suspect somebody is poaching on their own private preserve.
She may have suspected, but I don't think she could have known anything
for sure. Betty and I haven't always been as careless as we were this
afternoon. Or what about the pearls? Were you intending to ask Melbury to
give them back? I didn't really know what to do, mister dollar twenty
thousand dollars, there's a lot of money. On the other hand, I
gave them to her as an engagement gift. It seemed kind of rough to
ask for them back after breaking the engagement on her. Do you think she'd
have returned them if you had asked her? Why? Suppose? So?
Of course, it didn't go that far. Before I could make up my
mind what to do, the necklace was stolen, and this afternoon the man
who claimed he stole it was murdered. Betty had nothing to do with that.
You could be prejudiced, mister Sellers. I know her, I tell
you how well well enough that I'm planning to marry her. That's what I
mean, all right. But that doesn't mean I'm completely blind about her.
Somebody's trying to frame that girl, who, for instance, I don't know
and for what reason. I don't know that either. But I do know
one thing. When she says she knows nothing about it, she's telling the
truth. I admire loyalty myself, mister Sellers. But there are a lot
of facts against her. What facts, As you probably know, when I
caught her with that gun out at the Crane place and took it away from
her, she was trying to hide it in the incinerator. All right,
what's that prove? She'd found it hidden in her room and she was trying
to get rid of it. Well, a lot of people, if they
were innocent, might have gone to the police with it. She got scared,
that's all she She lost her head, now maybe, but that's not
all that's against her. There are other things that kind of patterned. What
things that's safe at the cranehouse was opened during the one hour of the day
that everybody was out somewhere, including Betty if you remember, so she claims,
and she probably was. I'm not saying she actually committed the theft.
She couldn't have. No one except Melbourne and her uncle Phineas knows the combination
to that se No, No, I think Smiley Prow actually did the job.
An old fashioned safe like that would be a cinch for a pro of
his talents. Then how do you figure Betty as being involved. Smiley had
to know when to do it, and he had to get into the house.
There were no locks forced, so he must have had a key.
So of course the maid must have helped him, not necessarily, but it
should has ed up and then Smiley. Pell was murdered shot. Are you
claiming she did that too? She was in possession of the gun that killed
him, she was caught trying to get rid of it. But why why
would she kill him if they were in on it together? Well, as
you mentioned a couple of minutes ago, twenty thousand dollars, there is a
lot of money. Maybe she wanted a whole necklace, not a half of
one. You don't know, that's all. No, No, you're right,
But I do know what the facts seem to point to. Circumstantial evidence,
nothing else true. And not only that, but it leaves you hanging
right up in the air. What do you mean a pearl necklace? Now
there's a fact for you to swallow. As I understand that the police haven't
found that. That's right. It wasn't on Prell's body, and they didn't
find it on Betty. If she killed him to get it, where is
it? I don't know. Well, she's a rain for this. The
prosecuting attorney had better know because with that he won't even have a case.
I'm quite aware of that, mister Sellers. I left him standing there,
belligerent and despondent, and drove across town to the police station. It was
late by then in Cranesburg. Hat pretty well folded up for the night,
and that was fine with me. A fewer people I saw at the moment
there better. I felt about as low as Sellers did, because I was
starting to get a hunch that this one might turn out messy, that no
matter how it might end, some average decent people were bound to get hurt.
It's like that sometimes when there's been a murder. Chief of Police Durham
looked like he was expecting me. Sit down, mister Deller. Thanks Chief,
you are planning to spend the night here. No, I'm about to
give up going home in a few minutes. I have been trying to get
a statement from that girl. Any luck, It depends on how you mean
it. She's willing to talk, all right, is anything we ask her,
but not the way you want her to answer. Is that in She
won't budge an inch away from that same story. So she found the gun
hid in the room, was scared because of the robbery last week, and
tried to get rid of it. What about Smiley? Prowl claims the first
she heard her him was that bulleting on the radio telling about his murder.
That's when she got panic in came to the hotel to get the gun back,
and that's all she knows about it. Huh. So she claims he
couldn't budger on it. Uh huh. You still haven't found any trace of
the necklace. Nope, and without an I doubt if the DA even if
she will complaint. Yeah, the same possibility was raised by someone else a
few minutes ago. Who was that Dean Sellers, the fellow who gave the
pearls to miss Crane in the first place. How come he's getting into it?
Well, it appears that love has reared its head. He's fronting in
the mouth over this girl's arrest, claims she's being framed. He could be
right, mister Deller. I know it beats me. Man just don't know
where to start with a mess like this one on his hands. I think
I'm beginning to get some idea where it is, Turgean, how do you
mean? Look, I've got a photograph here from the insurance files. Take
a look. It's a photo of that necklace. I see. I was
wondering, Chief Durham, do you know of any jeweler here in Cranesburg.
Who could make a duplicate of that A skillful limitation. No, I'm afraid
you'll have to go into Cincinnati for that be the closest place at least.
No, No, I don't want a duplicate made. I want to know
whether somebody did go into Cincinnati for that purpose some four or five months ago.
Well, it might take a while to find out. How much of
a while not too long? A little luck I could get Jim Markley in
here. Markley, he's a local jeweler. He could take his photograph and
give them a technical description over the phone. Done things like that for us
before good. I might have something back for you by tomorrow afternoon. Sooner
the better. Yeah. Now, call Jim and ask him to come down.
One other thing, chief, Yeah, I've already phoned Hartford and started
them to work on this. But we may get faster results if you move
in on it from this end. What is it you want? I want
to trace her? Put on Dean Sellers. I see complete rundown. He's
been here for eight months. What did he do before that? Where did
he come from? Where'd he get the necklace? Who are his friends?
What's his financial status? Anything you can get. Hey, I don't quite
see what you're aiming at, mister Dollar. I'm not quite sure I do.
It was after midnights and there was nothing more I could do until the
next day except drive back to my hotel and sag in for the night.
It was a good, sensible, conservative intention, and I managed to carry
it to the point of taking off my tie and unbuttoning my shirt. The
night manager had been pretty upset earlier when Betty Jackson came to my room and
then left under arrest. I don't know what he thought when I had my
second female visitor. Wow, good evening, miss Crane. Could I have
a word with you, mister Dollar? Sure? Why not come on in?
Thank you. I guess it's a little indiscreet of me to come here
like this, Oh I saw. Well, after all, this is Cranesbergen.
When one has to maintain a sort of position in town. Well,
I'm sure you understand, oh perfectly. How about a drink? Drink d
R I n K. I even happen to have two clean glasses. I'm
afraid you have the wrong impression, mister Dollar. Why so, it's good
cognac, the best. In fact, I'll do a bit of harm to
your position, make it a double if you will check. May I ask
you what has happened to cause you to throw discretion to the winds in this
mad fashioned screen. I've felt it was something I ought to make clear to
you concerning Dean, my fiance. I see here you go. Thank you.
I believe you talked to him this evening, didn't you briefly? Yes?
Then you know, of course that he's taking up for this girl,
trying to defend what she did. He did seem to have something like that
in mind. I also think you may have observed a little tableau in the
sun room when you came to the house this afternoon. Oh no, look
my screen, I'm quite aware of the situation. I've observed a few of
those scenes myself. I'm not a complete fool. You know. Why are
you telling me? All the reason should be obvious. I'm dense. I
can only understand what I actually hear. What I mean is it should be
rather apparent that any alibi Dean might supply in a noble attempt to save this
poor innocent girl should not be given too much credence because he might be prejudiced
in her favor. Is there any doubt of it? Your glass is empty
like another one. Oh, I don't believe I should. Aren't you a
little prejudice, miss Crane against the girl? Very likely under the circumstances.
Am I to take it then? That you're on her side? I am
on the side of the Tri State Guarantee Company. And if you remember,
there are twenty thousand dollars on a necklace that was stolen. I'm here to
get it back, that's all. Think I'd better go. I shouldn't have
come here at all, whatever you think. Oh, by the way,
has Uncle Phineas talked to you yet? We passed the time of day,
that's all. We didn't have much time. The circumstances were a little unusual,
and you've probably been spared some of his wilder imaginings. I wouldn't count
on that. What do you mean? Sit down, miss Crane? Finish,
should drink. We haven't even started to talk. Johnny Dollar, Good
afternoon, sir. This is Phineas Crane. How are you, mister Crane?
Now? What's bothering you? My generation used to call it conscience?
I want to talk to you, mister Dollar. Well that's quite a change
isn't it from your attitude last night. There have been a number of changes
since last night. I can't bear the thought of that girl being in prisoned.
She doesn't like it too much herself. All right, what's on your
mind? I'd prefer now to discuss it over the telephone. Then you'll have
to hold your horses. I'm waiting here for a call from Hartford and some
information from the police. It might be the same information I'm ready to give
you, sir. I don't think so. You should have talked last night,
mister Crane. I might have been willing then to make a deal of
some kind, and now no deal. I can guess what happened to the
necklace, And as far as the rest of it's concerned, I never make
deals on murder. From Special Investigator Location, Cranesburg, Ohio to the home
office Tri State Guarantee Company, Hartford, Connecticut, assignment the Cranesburg Meta expense
account final page item thirteen twenty eight dollars and sixty five cents phone calls to
Cincinnati and Cleveland, and two prepaid calls to Hartford. The wheels were spinning
now and I spent most of the day just sitting back and waiting. Toward
late afternoon, police Chief had Durham phone, then Hartford, and then Durham
again, and finally the three black bars dropped into place, and the payoff
was Jackpot item fourteen ten dollars and fifty cents second day's rental unhired car.
I left the hotel just before dark and drove out through the north edge of
town to the Crane estate. When I'd gone out there the day before,
I'd been mostly guessing, playing hunches, But this time I knew pretty much
what I wanted and just how to go about getting it. I thought the
place deserted as I walked up the long arbor from the carriage house, But
as I stepped out onto the terrace, I realized I was wrong. Mister
Dollar, over here, in here, please hurry. Why all the secrecy,
mister Crane. I wanted to talk to you alone. I rather doubted
whether I would be able to if it were known that you were here,
able to or permitted to. Well that's what I meant, permitted. Who
would stop you, mister Crane? But that, you might say, is
part of the story, the story I didn't tell you last night. Why
not? Why didn't you tell me? I still thought then I might be
able to save things, and you don't think so. Now I'm afraid not.
It's too late. You know too much about it. Now. What
were you doing in Swinley Pearl's room when I found you last night looking for
the necklace? I told you that. Did you know then he'd been murdered?
Oh no, no, no. I wouldn't have had the nerve to
go there if I had, and they wouldn't be of any use of going.
That's when I realized it was all over, when I heard mister Prell
had been killed. Dishonesty is one thing, but murder is something else.
Again, you're so right, of course, it wasn't dishonest at first.
It was all quite legal in the beginning, but not later. No,
no, not, Lisa, I was against that, Not that I'm claiming
any virtue for it. Probably it was just cowardice. Mister Doller, be
as easy on her as you can. I'm afraid it won't be in my
hands, I suppose not. These things are always done so impersonally by institutions
created for that purpose, rightfully, no doubt, But one occasionally wonders,
there's something I wonder about Sometimes, mister Crane, you refer to human greed.
That's true. There's no real excuse for us, my niece and me.
Reasons, yes, an inherited social position and way of life and declining
wealth to support them. We're soft people, mister dollery, and when life
gets hard, we looked for a soft way out, and that usually turns
out to be the hard way. She'll find it, So for me it
doesn't matter anymore. How did you get in on the smiley prel How did
you know he was the one who robbed yourself? I was just guessing until
you told me yesterday that he was a professional jewel thief and that he'd phoned
the insurance company and claimed to have the necklace. Before that, when you
were guessing, how did you know about him? What reason did you have
to guess? I'd seen him hanging around the estate here twice the week before
the robbery, and when I saw him again afterward talking to his contact.
I guess you'd call it as employer fits the facts better, I suppose,
So anyway, I put two and two together and I followed prero I found
out where he lived. The employer know you've done this soon hardly all.
I doubt that i'd be sitting here talking to you. Oh, not that
it matters, since you probably know more of the details than I do.
All right, Uncle Phineas, that's quite enough, Melboura, that was a
very quiet entrance to screen. It wasn't intentional. I didn't know you were
here until I heard voices. Uncle Phineas, would you mind leaving us alone?
It's too late, my dear. I think Tim is about to run
out on all of us, aided a great deal, I presume by some
of your more senile imaginings, mister Daller didn't really need any help. Please
leave the two of you then to what I anticipate, maybe rather storm?
What were you doing pumping him, trying to make him say things you could
twist later news against him? No, it was more a matter of humoring
him. I'd say, what's the matter Melbourne hangover last night? I suppose
you told him that too, that I came to your hotel to see you.
No, didn't seem relevant. Somehow, I see, where's your fiancee?
Sure? How many of you got? Mister Sellers is in the billiard
room? Why what do you want with him? Oh, I need just
a few more facts to fill out the picture. I think he can supply
them. That's all. What facts? Why have you come here? Uncle
Phineas invited me? What for? He said something about wanting to clear his
conscience? His mind wanders. You know that you can't rely on anything,
he says, I'm not. What about the girl they arrested? Your maid?
Betty? Yes, Betty, if the police are satisfied she's guilty,
why aren't you? Because I was hired to find a pearl necklace that was
stolen from your safe. It was insured for twenty thousand dollars, remember,
and I haven't found it yet. Suppose I were to withdraw the insurance claim,
it's a little too late. The police would want to know why.
Why? Simply because I choose to because I don't want any more fuss about
it. It's not a loss. Actually, the necklace was a gift.
Oh yes, I know, an engagement present of great sentimental value from that
wealthy young philander, mister Dean Sellers, whoincidentally is broken than you are.
What. Yeah, got a complete rundown on him from Hartford later this afternoon.
I don't believe it. It's quite a shock. I imagine you'd say
anything just to help that girl get out of jail. Nah, you got
me mixed up with Sellers, haven't you. He's the one who rallied to
her defense. Cheap little flat. I hope they convict her. Do you
really believe she's the reason Sellers broke off your engagement? It wasn't broken off,
it was only postponed. Well, it's like I said, mother,
a lot of surprises. By the way, I'd like to search Betty's room,
if you don't mind. That's actually why I came out here. What
that necklace? I was hired to recover it? Remember, But if you
think she's innocent, and why do you you know what I think? I
haven't really said, have I? No, that's true, That's quite true.
Lucky shot, mister Della. You got two on the break, the
result of a misspent youth, all right, four ball in the corner pocket
expert, huh ah, just lucky, like you said. Oh, by
the way, mister Sellis, you were right about Betty. She isn't Gilly.
She was being framed. I told you so. Yeah, she was
just an innocent bystander, you might say, even though I did find the
necklace a few minutes ago, hidden in her room. You found it good.
The cranes, though, aren't quite so innocent. The cranes nine ball
on the far side, pocket, What do you mean about the cranes?
They were broke and they needed money to keep up a front. When you
came to town and showed an interest in Melbourne, they figured you with the
answer. Why you're making Melbourne sound pretty cold blooded? You know, Oh,
there was no love loss. You were playing the same game, sure
soller Is that's the way you've always operated. Your last wife was a wealthy
widow in Miami, Florida. You stayed with her for a year and a
half and took her for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, And all that
was left of it when you came here was the twenty thousand dollars you had
invested in the pearl necklace. That was your stake, and that's the way
you used it to convince Melbur Crane you weren't a fortune hunter. Twelve ball
in the flart corner, Darla, When did you get all this information?
Police records? Then about a month ago you broke off your engagement with Melbur
Crane. Why because I was in love with Betty. You were playing Betty
for a pigeon. You backed out because you'd finally discovered that the Cranes were
flat broke. I wasn't after Melbourn's money. Sure you were, but you
wanted to get out without losing your investment that necklace, so you brought in
Sminny Prell to steal it from you. I never saw Prel in my life.
Uncle Phineas saw the two of you together a couple of days after the
robbery. He's lying, So Prel pulled the robbery and then he told you
the pearls he'd stolen. You accused him of double crossing you. He thought
you were double crossing him. That result, he got sore and tried for
a deal with the insurance company. That's why you killed him. Are you
accusing me of murder? That's right? Sellers eight Paul in the end pocket
who else? Sully's Betty wasn't in it except that you tried to frame her.
And both the Cranes knew the pearls were imitation. You were the only
one who didn't. They weren't imitations. I paid twenty thousand dollars for that
necklace. Not for this one. Melba sold the necklace a month after you
gave it to her. They've been living on the money. She had this
copy made in Cincinnati cheats. So the pearls you killed Smiley for and then
planted upstairs in Betty's rama worth about two hundred bucks at the most. Something
to think about, isn't it. That's right, Dolla? And so is
this That's a losing game too, sellys will be for you if you try
to make a move shoot it out with the police. Is that your answer?
If it comes to that, Dina, how to use a gun?
Smiley pro could tell you. Did you steal this one from Uncle Phineas too?
Oh no, this one's my own. Put down that pool queue and
get your hands up slow and easy when I go out of here, Dean,
what are you doing with that? Thanks, mister dollar. Nothing.
It's going to make him feel very happy for the next day. I saw
a pool queue makes a pretty handy weapons. Why what was he doing with
that gun? Surprise number one? Your fiance is the lad who had your
necklace stolen and then later killed his partner. Oh that's probably the chief of
police. He was coming out to meet me. You want to let him
in murderer and I was going to marry you. Yeah, I guess murder
is a lot worse than fraud. What do you mean you filed an insurance
claim on a necklace you'd already sold. I imagine the company will want to
prosecute. I didn't know what I was doing. You sure didn't. Anywhere
along the line. You were marrying Dean Sellers for the money he didn't have,
and at the same time he was trying to marry you for the money
you didn't have. Too bad, it didn't work out. You two were
made for each other. The police are getting impatient. Miss Crane. Expense
account had him fifteen one hundred and eighty six dollars and twenty five cents in
Cintles and Cranesburg in transportation back to Hartford. Expense account total four hundred and
nine dollars and ten cents end of account and of report under separate cover.
I am forwarding one necklace consisting of thirty eight pearls all imitation approximate value two
hundred dollars, along with my sincere condolences, yours truly, Johnny Dollar.
Now here's our star to tell you about next week's story. Next week the
curse of an ancient king and how it affected the lives and deaths of two
people. Join us, won't you Yours Truly? Johnny Dollar? Yours Truly
Johnny Dollar is starring Bob Bailey, is transcribed in Hollywood. Written by Les
Pruttsfield, It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone. Heard in this week's
cast were Howard McNair, Forrest Lewis, Paul Richards, Mary Jane Croft,
Virginia Greg James Mcalliam, Shirley Mitchell, and Russ Thorson. Musical supervision by
A. Marigo Marino. Be sure to join us on Monday night, same
time in Station for another exciting story of Yours Truly Johnny Dollar. Roy Rowan
speaking welcome back. The story definitely picked up the pace a bit, and
I think the serial ended really well based on the strength of Bob Bailey's performance.
He had some great lines and some really good scenes with both the cranes,
who, of course were played by Howard mcneer and Virginia Graig. This
was an expansion of a lunch story, the Beauregard Matter, and liking the
Beaureguard Matter, it features the coolest way to have a mystery denoument, and
that is when you're shooting an amazing game of pool and revealing at the same
time that your opponent is a criminal who's going to jail. I think that
the serial was entertaining, but probably would have been more so if it lasted
the typical five parts. If the expanded storylink proved anything, it's that the
five part serial really was a sweet spot format that gave stories just the right
amount of opportunity for development without dragging them out. Well, now we turn
to listener comments and feedback, and we started with an email regarding the nixt
Shurn Matter. Lauren's email has the subject line, is it even Christmas if
you don't listen to the NICKT Shern Matter? Lauren writes, So, I
admit I listened to my favorite cereal a little late in the season. Listening
to the Nick Shearn matter is a tradition for me, and it did not
disappoint. I even noticed a few new details this time around. For example,
the not so subtle part that radio plays in Johnny's survival during the blizzard
a sign of the time's too good. I actually think I enjoyed it more
than usual. Perhaps this was because I was anticipating this special tradition of mine,
or perhaps it was because I wasn't distracted by the seemingly endless Christmas to
do list, or possibly I'm just getting older and appreciating the little joys in
a different way. Also, your commentary on the serial was so insightful.
I especially resonated with the cole mingling of good and evil points, which mimics
real life true words. Right there, and Lauren concludes with best wishes for
a memorable twenty twenty four. Well, thank you so much and to you
as well. And finally, we have a comment on the YouTube channel from
Shelley, who writes, I started listening to your channel in May. I
was intensive care for a month and couldn't sleep. When a person is in
there, no one can stay the night, not even the hobby. You
guys kept me company and made the lonely night shorter. Thank you well,
Thank you so much, Shelley, and I'm so glad we could be of
service, and I appreciate you taking the time to leave that note. This
sort of feedback means more to me than you could know, and I hope
you have a healthy and happy twenty twenty four. All right, well,
now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day, and I want
to go ahead and thank zant Zen has been one of our Patreon supporters since
February of twenty seventeen, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of
seven dollars and fourteen cents or more per month. Thank you so much for
your support, zant and that will do it for today. If you're enjoying
the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. If you're listening
on YouTube tube, be sure to lock the video, subscribe to the channel,
and mark the notification bell, all those great things that help YouTube channels
to grow. We will be back on Tuesday with another yours truly Johnny doll
or Cereal, but join us back here tomorrow for Dragnet. Where what am
I gonna say to Frank? You always sided him with his mother. He'll
never believe me. What can I tell him? During can give you more
trouble than your husband? Ken? What you're gonna tell them? Are you
stupid or something? How many times do I have to say and I didn't
kill her, I didn't care. It's a small rooms Reeard. We can
hear you sit down. Please. I won't sit down. You're not pinning
this on me because I didn't do it. Anybody could killed the old head,
but I didn't. Will you sit down, please, I don't have
to take this on No Trump cheaping me in here asking me questions. I
told you all I know. Look, you're in a bad spot. I
hope you realize that I didn't kill mis Renard. How long have you and
your mother in law been living together in the house on Chabas Road and took
the job up in Idaho? Not six months? He said it'd be better
for me while he was away living with her. Your neighbors told us you
didn't get along very well with your mother in law. That's right, I
didn't. She hated me. I hated her. You used to fight with
her, is that right? You hit her only a couple of times.
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 Sogn and Off