1 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:35,159 Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This 2 00:00:35,439 --> 00:00:39,159 is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it 3 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:45,320 to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at 4 00:00:45,439 --> 00:00:51,079 Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com, 5 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:56,399 slash Great Detectives. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your 6 00:00:56,479 --> 00:01:00,799 favorite podcast software. And as a reminder, if you're making travel plans in 7 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:06,640 twenty twenty four, remember to check Johnny Dollar Air dot com first. It's 8 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:11,200 our price line affiliate link and if you opt to fly through that link, 9 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:15,359 part of the purchase price will benefit the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio at 10 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,400 no additional cost to you. So remember when making your travel plans, check 11 00:01:19,439 --> 00:01:23,439 Johnny Dollar Air dot com first. Well, now we're going to get into 12 00:01:23,439 --> 00:01:30,640 the conclusion of The Cranesburg Matter. The original air dates August twenty, ninth, 13 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:36,079 thirtieth, and thirty first of nineteen fifty six. It's The Cranesburg Matter, 14 00:01:36,599 --> 00:01:48,239 episodes three through five from Hollywood. It's time now for Johnny Dollar. 15 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:53,040 This is Betty mister Dollar, missus Crane's made. I'm the one who well, 16 00:01:53,359 --> 00:01:57,040 oh yeah, What can I do for you? Beddy? Have you 17 00:01:57,079 --> 00:02:00,439 told anyone about it? The gun? No? Not yet, Kevin? 18 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:02,480 Do you still have it? What do you think i'd do? Bury it 19 00:02:02,519 --> 00:02:07,599 somewhere? Oh? You look, somebody's used this gun, used it recently? 20 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:10,280 Who was it? You know? I never saw it before? Then? 21 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,919 Why were you trying to hide it in the incinerators? I was scared. 22 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:15,120 I didn't know what I was doing. Is it your gun? I 23 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:19,159 found? Where? Please? Is it tied end with the theft of his 24 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:23,520 crane's necklace? I don't know anything about it, about anything. I just 25 00:02:23,599 --> 00:02:27,360 know I'm in trouble. You've got to help me, mister Dollar, Please 26 00:02:34,479 --> 00:02:38,120 tonight and every weekday night. Bob Bailey in the transcribed Adventures of the Man 27 00:02:38,199 --> 00:02:45,120 with the Action Packed Expensive Out America's Fabulous Freelance Insurance Investigator, Yours Truley Johnny 28 00:02:45,199 --> 00:03:04,199 Dollar, Special Investigator, Johnny Dolly, Location, Cranesburg, Ohio to the 29 00:03:04,199 --> 00:03:07,960 home office Tri State Guarantee Company, Hartford, Connecticut. Assignment the Crane matter 30 00:03:08,599 --> 00:03:16,719 expense account continued Item seven three ten cents for a bad steak and worse coffee 31 00:03:16,719 --> 00:03:20,319 in the hotel dining room. But it didn't matter much. I had to 32 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,840 rush it anyway. With one eye on my watch. I was meeting Jewel 33 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,479 Thief's swanny prel at his rooming house at nine o'clock, and Melbourne Crane's made 34 00:03:27,479 --> 00:03:30,120 Betty was coming here to the hotel at ten, providing she could slip away 35 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:35,000 from the house. The schedule was tightening up on me, but I still 36 00:03:35,039 --> 00:03:38,120 hadn't seen hide nor hair of the stolen necklace. That is, if hide 37 00:03:38,159 --> 00:03:42,159 nor hair can apply to a string of match pearls and shure it for twenty 38 00:03:42,159 --> 00:03:51,319 thousand dollars. Fourteen twelve North Oak Street was in the lost and forgotten corner 39 00:03:51,319 --> 00:03:54,280 of town, dark and nearly deserted at this hour of the evening. The 40 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:59,039 rooming house, a ramshackle frame built flush to the sidewalks, seemed to wait 41 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,960 for me, brooding and stad silence. So no names on the letterbox is 42 00:04:02,039 --> 00:04:06,840 no sign of an office. I tried the front door. It was open. 43 00:04:09,599 --> 00:04:14,039 Room six was the number smile he had given me. I walked down 44 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,279 the long hall, studying the numbers and the doors with a dim light from 45 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:26,000 a single bulb at the far end. For I've six, I heard the 46 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:32,000 barest hint of movement behind the door. In silence, I reached down quietly 47 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:36,959 and turned the knob. The door was unlocked. I took a deep breath 48 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,560 and then went in fast. Hold what the devil? Take it easy, 49 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:48,199 Mac all right, I'd hold it. Now find the light switch. Well, 50 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:54,360 well, i'll be mister hat. You a little out of your territory. 51 00:04:54,439 --> 00:04:58,360 Mister Crane, I don't know what you mean. Sit down before you 52 00:04:58,439 --> 00:05:02,439 shake your teeth loos, beg your pardon, sir. I'll mention it if 53 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,000 I may remind you who you're talking to. You don't have to remind me. 54 00:05:06,199 --> 00:05:10,199 You're Phineas P. Crane, uncle of Miss Melbur Crane, who had 55 00:05:10,199 --> 00:05:13,759 a pearl necklace stolen frum Her. You're one of the last two surviving members 56 00:05:13,759 --> 00:05:16,680 of the Crane family who founded Crane mister, and I have just caught you 57 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:24,560 prowling the room of a known professional jewel thief. Now sit down, I 58 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:29,560 can explain this. Yeah, I hope. So I suppose our host isn't 59 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:33,879 home. There's no one else here. Was the door unlocked or were you 60 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:39,040 equipped with a set of keys? I beg your pardon again. You're the 61 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,399 most polite burglar I've ever tagged. This is not the way it seems. 62 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:45,480 I assure you, all right, Now you've assured me, convinced me. 63 00:05:46,439 --> 00:05:49,800 I came to ask some questions of the gentleman who lives here. Do you 64 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:54,600 know him? Certainly not. It's hardly likely that i'd be acquainted with a 65 00:05:54,639 --> 00:05:57,959 person of his type. Oh, I don't know he's a jewel thief. 66 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,920 Your niece had a necklace stolen ten days ago. It kind of adds up 67 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:04,360 in a way. Oh, now, are you accusing me of complicity? 68 00:06:04,439 --> 00:06:08,519 I'm not accusing you of anything. I'm just trying to find out what you 69 00:06:08,519 --> 00:06:13,040 were doing hiding here in Smiley Prowl's wrong. I came here to talk to 70 00:06:13,079 --> 00:06:16,879 her. What about m but the reasons it personal? Mist did then you 71 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:23,959 did know him? No? I knew he lived here because I followed him 72 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,000 one day. I didn't know his name, and I didn't know he was 73 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,800 a jewel thief until you said so just a moment ago. Come, I 74 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,720 know, I know this seems rather well. That's one way of putting it 75 00:06:33,759 --> 00:06:38,720 that you'd understand if I were in a position to explain it might be a 76 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,920 good idea if you got in that position in view of the circumstance. I 77 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:46,560 simply cannot, and I do not believe your capacity is such that you can 78 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,480 force me to. You're quite right, but the police might handle it somewhat 79 00:06:49,519 --> 00:06:55,319 different. Oh, I doubted very much. My grandfather founded this town. 80 00:06:56,759 --> 00:07:00,639 They remember that here a matter of pulling rank. Oh, they had leaned 81 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:04,319 toward believing any reasonable story that I might give them. A story like that 82 00:07:04,439 --> 00:07:09,360 is reasonable only as long as there's no actual evidence to disprove it, and 83 00:07:09,439 --> 00:07:12,600 you have such evidence. Not yet, but I think I will be for 84 00:07:12,759 --> 00:07:17,160 long. Oh, then I'll have to deal with that eventuality, when and 85 00:07:17,319 --> 00:07:20,879 if it happens. Who are you trying to protect, mister Crane? I 86 00:07:23,519 --> 00:07:26,079 don't know what you mean. Why did you follow smiling? Because I saw 87 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:30,720 him under rather unusual circumstance before or after the robbery? Well? After, 88 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,600 yes, when I followed? Well, what was that tonight? No, 89 00:07:33,639 --> 00:07:36,560 there was several days. But I expect him to be here tonight. Oh, 90 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:40,720 were you accounting on his room being empty? I did not come here 91 00:07:40,759 --> 00:07:45,720 to commit burglary, May I remind you? Said? Oh? Yeah, 92 00:07:45,759 --> 00:07:47,199 I know your Phineas P. Crane, and you and your niece of the 93 00:07:47,199 --> 00:07:50,199 tip top aristocrats on the local totem poll. Also, I happen to know 94 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:55,800 your flat. I imagine twenty thousand dollars worth of insurance would look pretty good 95 00:07:55,839 --> 00:07:59,680 to you. I am not a thief. People have an odd moral sense. 96 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:01,560 A lot of them seem to think insurance for it is not quite the 97 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:05,240 same as actual Have you not happen to be one of those persons, mister 98 00:08:05,279 --> 00:08:09,240 do? What about your niece? Well, that necklace was given to her 99 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:13,600 as an engagement gift by the man she's going to marry, and I'm sure 100 00:08:13,639 --> 00:08:18,399 it's value to hers much more than the amount of the insurance. Maybe and 101 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:24,000 maybe not. You did tell me this afternoon that she's headstrong, impulsive. 102 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:28,720 Well, yes, but I did not mean to imply soon. I imagine 103 00:08:28,759 --> 00:08:33,919 you'll be around when I want you. You're not the kind of man who 104 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,799 runs away. So for the moment, play it your way, cover up 105 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:41,279 and hide behind the family name. But sooner or later you're going to have 106 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:45,639 to talk it out with somebody, either with me or someone else. Am 107 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:50,879 I free to go now? Sure, sure, as far as I'm concerned. 108 00:08:50,799 --> 00:08:54,519 Unless you want to stick around and wait for smiling, Well, I 109 00:08:54,639 --> 00:09:03,279 doubt whether there's much point in that now under the circumstances, good night, 110 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:09,679 sir. Keep cool, mister Crane, I shall make every effort to As 111 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:13,120 soon as Crane left, I made a quick search of the room and found 112 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:18,480 nothing. Smiling evidently traveled light and lived light. There was hardly any sign 113 00:09:18,519 --> 00:09:20,960 he was even living in the place. I gave it up as a bad 114 00:09:22,039 --> 00:09:24,720 job. Finally closed the door behind me and drove back to my hotel. 115 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:28,120 I was starting to see a faint gleam of daylight in the case, but 116 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:33,480 I couldn't quite figure how Phineas Crane fit into it. And unfortunately, I 117 00:09:33,519 --> 00:09:37,000 was in no position to pushing very hard, since technically I had no more 118 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:41,240 right in that room than he did. But all of my theories fell apart, 119 00:09:41,279 --> 00:09:46,200 and I walked through the door of my hotel. Come right in, 120 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:52,120 son, I have a seat. Thanks. One of us could be in 121 00:09:52,159 --> 00:09:54,960 the wrong room, of course, not if your name's Dollar. Oh, 122 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:01,080 I wasn't questioning my presence, mister. You know fella name Smiley Prell. 123 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:03,679 Well, I know who he is. Got business with him? Have you? 124 00:10:05,159 --> 00:10:09,120 Maybe? Do I have any with you? Well, my name is 125 00:10:09,159 --> 00:10:13,679 Durham, mister Dollar, Ed Durham. Oh, well, it's a little 126 00:10:13,759 --> 00:10:16,279 late, mister Durham, So if you don't mind, I'm chief of police 127 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:22,440 here in Cranesburg. Oh maybe it's not as late as I thought. Found 128 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:26,559 your name where this fellow Prail and wrote it down along with your room number 129 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:31,360 here at the hotel, careless of it. Got a helpful though You a 130 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:35,679 friend of yours? No, no, I'd hardly call him that. Oh 131 00:10:35,759 --> 00:10:39,600 I don't see any point in holding out on your Chief Durham. Here are 132 00:10:39,639 --> 00:10:43,000 my credentials. I'm an insurance investigator working on that crane robbery. You don't 133 00:10:43,039 --> 00:10:46,799 say, Smiley. Prel is a jewel thief, two previous convictions. He 134 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:50,159 found the insurance company in Hartford and wanted to talk a deal. I flew 135 00:10:50,159 --> 00:10:56,600 in here this afternoon. Well he's seemed to be an order all right, 136 00:10:56,679 --> 00:11:00,320 thanks. I had an appointment to meet Prell this evening and it's from house 137 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,759 at nine o'clock. But he didn't show Reckon. He wasn't in much shape 138 00:11:03,799 --> 00:11:07,440 to mister Dollar, what do you mean Praill got himself shot four or five 139 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:13,120 hours ago? Shot, Yeah, real shot. Matter of fact, he's 140 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:18,000 dead, murdered kind of looks that way. Found him in a back alley 141 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:24,320 behind the city park. Must have happened sometime this afternoon. You wouldn't know 142 00:11:24,399 --> 00:11:28,519 anything about it, won't you, mister Dollar. I don't know. I 143 00:11:28,639 --> 00:11:31,679 might. Do you know what kind of a gun was used to kill him? 144 00:11:31,879 --> 00:11:37,039 Thirty two revolver according to the boys and ballistics. Hold onto your hat. 145 00:11:37,759 --> 00:11:41,440 I may have it right here. Uh, don't bother looking under the 146 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:46,200 mattress, mister Dollar. I already found it. Yep, got it right 147 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:50,120 here. You're pretty cagy, aren't you. Wasn't sure how to figure you 148 00:11:50,799 --> 00:11:54,600 reckon? You're all right though, or you'd have kept your mouth shut. 149 00:11:54,639 --> 00:11:58,559 Well, thanks? How'd you come by it? I'd take it away from 150 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,879 Melbourn, Crane's housemaid, to girl named Petty. Yeah, I know who 151 00:12:01,879 --> 00:12:05,200 she is. It was some time between six thirty and seven this evening. 152 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:07,200 I caught her trying to hide it in the incinerator. You don't say it's 153 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:11,039 been fired, as you undoubtedly noticed. You might have a check through, 154 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:15,679 but I don't imagine it's registered. It's registered, all right. Oh, 155 00:12:15,759 --> 00:12:20,679 we don't have many guns around here. I recognize this one right off belongs 156 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:26,200 to Phineas Crane. What add up to anything, mister Dollar? Not the 157 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:30,799 way I've been adding. It's got me stumped too. I U, I 158 00:12:30,799 --> 00:12:33,840 don't suppose you found that necklace on Smiley Prowl's body. No, not a 159 00:12:33,879 --> 00:12:37,000 sign of it. You figure then this murder is tied up some way with 160 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:41,759 that robbery. What else is it? A figure? What about these cranes? 161 00:12:41,879 --> 00:12:43,159 Chief? Just who are they? What are they? Well? An 162 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:48,120 old line family, just to of them left now Phineas and Melbourne not as 163 00:12:48,159 --> 00:12:50,919 wealthy as they used to be. Made Elton Barkley at the bank told me 164 00:12:50,919 --> 00:12:54,120 the same thing. Funny thing about that though lately at least Old Phineas seems 165 00:12:54,159 --> 00:12:58,200 to have plenty of cash to jingle together. How lately not just since the 166 00:12:58,279 --> 00:13:01,440 robbery, if that's what you mean. It's longer than that, last four 167 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,360 or five months. That checks too with what Portley said. You got some 168 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:09,759 idea they planned that robbery, mister Dollo, Oh, I don't know. 169 00:13:09,879 --> 00:13:13,080 I've got no evidence of it. If that's what you're asking. How do 170 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,720 Phineas and Melbourn get along together? Well? They kind of like royalty here, 171 00:13:16,759 --> 00:13:18,519 you know, they're pretty much to theirselves. Man. If they do 172 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:22,399 have any trouble, it's never heard outside the house. Uh, huh. 173 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:24,799 What do you know about Melvis's fiance, This Dean Sellers. Well, he's 174 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:28,320 been here about eight months, seems to be a pretty nice fellow civic leader 175 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:31,919 and all that. Everybody in town thought it was just fine when they got 176 00:13:31,919 --> 00:13:35,279 engaged, figured they was meant for each other. Well, he certainly goes 177 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:41,519 in for lavish gifts, a necklace with thirty eight match pearls credit expecting somebody. 178 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:46,159 Yeah quiet, oh, isn't ready? Let me and mister dollar just 179 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:50,039 a minute, She phoned earlier, wants the gun bank. Maybe you've been 180 00:13:50,039 --> 00:13:54,000 a listening for the bath of the bathroom there, good idea. Let me 181 00:13:54,039 --> 00:14:05,519 get set okay, right, come in, Betty, thank you. I've 182 00:14:05,519 --> 00:14:07,879 got to have it back, mister Dollar. Have what back? The gun 183 00:14:07,919 --> 00:14:11,840 you were trying to hide in the incinerator this evening? Yes, of course 184 00:14:11,799 --> 00:14:16,120 you mean this one. Oh yes, please, mister Dollar. Somebody's trying 185 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,840 to get me into trouble. I don't know I found that gun, that's 186 00:14:18,879 --> 00:14:22,000 the truth, getting in a drawer in my room, out of the crane. 187 00:14:22,679 --> 00:14:24,679 I don't know. I don't know when I saw it. I got 188 00:14:24,679 --> 00:14:28,080 scared. I was trying to get rid of it. When you stop me, 189 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,320 and now tonight on the radio it says a man's been shot. Did 190 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:33,679 you know him? No? You know whose gun this is? I don't 191 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:37,720 know anything about it. Give it to me, please. I liked you, 192 00:14:37,799 --> 00:14:41,039 Betty, but I'm afraid things aren't that simple. What do you mean? 193 00:14:43,480 --> 00:15:09,879 All right? Chief, it's all yours Johnny Dollar, Miss Dean Sellers. 194 00:15:09,879 --> 00:15:13,039 Mister Dollar, you may recall in meeting me this afternoon. Yes, 195 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,080 you're Miss Crane's fiance. What's on your mind, mister Sellers. I'm downstairs 196 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,679 in the hotel lobby. I'd like him up and talk to you if I 197 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:22,480 could. Well, I was just on the point of leaving for the police 198 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:26,840 station. Oh and you know about Betty. Yes, As a matter of 199 00:15:26,879 --> 00:15:30,559 fact, Chief Durham arrested her here in my room. What I said? 200 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:33,480 She was arrested? What was she doing there? I had the gun that 201 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:37,120 was used to murder Smiley Prowl. She wanted it back. What do you 202 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:41,120 mean wanted it back? Why all the interest in this girl, mister Sellers? 203 00:15:41,559 --> 00:15:43,240 Is it just because you happen to be engaged to the woman she works 204 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:46,639 for. Well, yes, you might say that. No, that's not 205 00:15:46,759 --> 00:15:50,879 it at all. I've got to talk to you, all right, I'll 206 00:15:50,879 --> 00:16:08,639 meet you in the hotel bar in five minutes. From Special Investigator Johnny Della 207 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:14,279 location, Cranesburg, Ohio to the home office Tri State Guarantee Company, Hartford, 208 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:27,159 Connecticut. Assignment. The Cranesburg Meta expens account continued. It am ten 209 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:32,519 two dollars and seventy five cents for three brandies straight, one for me and 210 00:16:32,559 --> 00:16:37,159 two for Dean Sellers, new coming, a Cranesburg man about town and fiance 211 00:16:37,279 --> 00:16:41,799 of local socialite Melba Crane, the man who'd given her the pearl necklace that 212 00:16:41,879 --> 00:16:45,320 had been stolen from the safe in her home. It had supposedly been an 213 00:16:45,399 --> 00:16:49,799 engagement gift. Yet now Sellers was flipping his lid because Melbourn's maid was in 214 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:55,480 a jam. I remembered the scene in the Crane sunroom earlier in the afternoon, 215 00:16:56,000 --> 00:17:00,240 and Dean Sellers remembered it too. When you walked up on the porch 216 00:17:00,279 --> 00:17:03,119 at the Crane estate and saw Betty and me and each other's arms, you 217 00:17:03,279 --> 00:17:07,960 were well, I thought the obvious natural. Yeah, I figured as much. 218 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,480 That's why I tried to cover up when I talked to you after him. 219 00:17:11,759 --> 00:17:15,119 You didn't have to mister sells, I kind of wrote it off as 220 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:18,920 just another bachelor having a fling before he settled down. Yeah, that's the 221 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:25,720 way I looked at it at first. So so it didn't work out that 222 00:17:25,799 --> 00:17:29,880 way? How did it work? I finally realized I was in love with 223 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:33,880 Betty. I see. I know it may sound corny, but it happens 224 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:37,200 to be true. Does Melbo Crane know about it? Oh? Well, 225 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:38,720 at least I don't think she does. Well, what did she think when 226 00:17:38,759 --> 00:17:41,440 you broke off your engagement? Or I haven't actually broken it off, I 227 00:17:41,839 --> 00:17:45,440 just postponded. I told her I was loaded with work and we'd have to 228 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:51,680 wait a while, and she accepted that. She seemed to can't be sure 229 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:55,599 about Melbourne. Oh, she's a cool and place of cards close. Most 230 00:17:55,599 --> 00:17:59,839 women are pretty cool when they suspect somebody is poaching on their own private preserve. 231 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:02,799 She may have suspected, but I don't think she could have known anything 232 00:18:02,839 --> 00:18:06,759 for sure. Betty and I haven't always been as careless as we were this 233 00:18:06,799 --> 00:18:10,160 afternoon. Or what about the pearls? Were you intending to ask Melbury to 234 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,240 give them back? I didn't really know what to do, mister dollar twenty 235 00:18:12,279 --> 00:18:15,759 thousand dollars, there's a lot of money. On the other hand, I 236 00:18:15,839 --> 00:18:18,400 gave them to her as an engagement gift. It seemed kind of rough to 237 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:22,559 ask for them back after breaking the engagement on her. Do you think she'd 238 00:18:22,559 --> 00:18:26,160 have returned them if you had asked her? Why? Suppose? So? 239 00:18:26,839 --> 00:18:29,440 Of course, it didn't go that far. Before I could make up my 240 00:18:29,519 --> 00:18:33,119 mind what to do, the necklace was stolen, and this afternoon the man 241 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,799 who claimed he stole it was murdered. Betty had nothing to do with that. 242 00:18:37,839 --> 00:18:40,920 You could be prejudiced, mister Sellers. I know her, I tell 243 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:42,440 you how well well enough that I'm planning to marry her. That's what I 244 00:18:42,519 --> 00:18:48,000 mean, all right. But that doesn't mean I'm completely blind about her. 245 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:52,680 Somebody's trying to frame that girl, who, for instance, I don't know 246 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:56,799 and for what reason. I don't know that either. But I do know 247 00:18:56,839 --> 00:19:00,480 one thing. When she says she knows nothing about it, she's telling the 248 00:19:00,519 --> 00:19:03,319 truth. I admire loyalty myself, mister Sellers. But there are a lot 249 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:07,799 of facts against her. What facts, As you probably know, when I 250 00:19:07,839 --> 00:19:11,720 caught her with that gun out at the Crane place and took it away from 251 00:19:11,759 --> 00:19:12,799 her, she was trying to hide it in the incinerator. All right, 252 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:18,839 what's that prove? She'd found it hidden in her room and she was trying 253 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:19,440 to get rid of it. Well, a lot of people, if they 254 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,240 were innocent, might have gone to the police with it. She got scared, 255 00:19:22,279 --> 00:19:26,119 that's all she She lost her head, now maybe, but that's not 256 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:30,759 all that's against her. There are other things that kind of patterned. What 257 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:33,599 things that's safe at the cranehouse was opened during the one hour of the day 258 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:40,440 that everybody was out somewhere, including Betty if you remember, so she claims, 259 00:19:40,559 --> 00:19:42,599 and she probably was. I'm not saying she actually committed the theft. 260 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:48,240 She couldn't have. No one except Melbourne and her uncle Phineas knows the combination 261 00:19:48,279 --> 00:19:51,319 to that se No, No, I think Smiley Prow actually did the job. 262 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:52,880 An old fashioned safe like that would be a cinch for a pro of 263 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:56,759 his talents. Then how do you figure Betty as being involved. Smiley had 264 00:19:56,759 --> 00:20:00,559 to know when to do it, and he had to get into the house. 265 00:20:00,039 --> 00:20:03,839 There were no locks forced, so he must have had a key. 266 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:07,000 So of course the maid must have helped him, not necessarily, but it 267 00:20:07,039 --> 00:20:11,880 should has ed up and then Smiley. Pell was murdered shot. Are you 268 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,680 claiming she did that too? She was in possession of the gun that killed 269 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:18,480 him, she was caught trying to get rid of it. But why why 270 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:21,640 would she kill him if they were in on it together? Well, as 271 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:23,839 you mentioned a couple of minutes ago, twenty thousand dollars, there is a 272 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:29,079 lot of money. Maybe she wanted a whole necklace, not a half of 273 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:30,599 one. You don't know, that's all. No, No, you're right, 274 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:36,279 But I do know what the facts seem to point to. Circumstantial evidence, 275 00:20:36,519 --> 00:20:40,000 nothing else true. And not only that, but it leaves you hanging 276 00:20:40,079 --> 00:20:42,839 right up in the air. What do you mean a pearl necklace? Now 277 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:48,160 there's a fact for you to swallow. As I understand that the police haven't 278 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:51,240 found that. That's right. It wasn't on Prell's body, and they didn't 279 00:20:51,279 --> 00:20:53,440 find it on Betty. If she killed him to get it, where is 280 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:56,799 it? I don't know. Well, she's a rain for this. The 281 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,799 prosecuting attorney had better know because with that he won't even have a case. 282 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:11,960 I'm quite aware of that, mister Sellers. I left him standing there, 283 00:21:11,079 --> 00:21:15,559 belligerent and despondent, and drove across town to the police station. It was 284 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:18,319 late by then in Cranesburg. Hat pretty well folded up for the night, 285 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,319 and that was fine with me. A fewer people I saw at the moment 286 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:26,960 there better. I felt about as low as Sellers did, because I was 287 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:30,400 starting to get a hunch that this one might turn out messy, that no 288 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:33,759 matter how it might end, some average decent people were bound to get hurt. 289 00:21:34,799 --> 00:21:41,440 It's like that sometimes when there's been a murder. Chief of Police Durham 290 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:45,000 looked like he was expecting me. Sit down, mister Deller. Thanks Chief, 291 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:49,880 you are planning to spend the night here. No, I'm about to 292 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:53,319 give up going home in a few minutes. I have been trying to get 293 00:21:53,319 --> 00:21:56,279 a statement from that girl. Any luck, It depends on how you mean 294 00:21:56,319 --> 00:22:00,119 it. She's willing to talk, all right, is anything we ask her, 295 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:03,559 but not the way you want her to answer. Is that in She 296 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:07,400 won't budge an inch away from that same story. So she found the gun 297 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:10,400 hid in the room, was scared because of the robbery last week, and 298 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:12,599 tried to get rid of it. What about Smiley? Prowl claims the first 299 00:22:12,599 --> 00:22:15,480 she heard her him was that bulleting on the radio telling about his murder. 300 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:18,920 That's when she got panic in came to the hotel to get the gun back, 301 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:22,559 and that's all she knows about it. Huh. So she claims he 302 00:22:22,559 --> 00:22:26,799 couldn't budger on it. Uh huh. You still haven't found any trace of 303 00:22:26,839 --> 00:22:30,799 the necklace. Nope, and without an I doubt if the DA even if 304 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:33,960 she will complaint. Yeah, the same possibility was raised by someone else a 305 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,799 few minutes ago. Who was that Dean Sellers, the fellow who gave the 306 00:22:37,799 --> 00:22:41,039 pearls to miss Crane in the first place. How come he's getting into it? 307 00:22:41,519 --> 00:22:45,240 Well, it appears that love has reared its head. He's fronting in 308 00:22:45,279 --> 00:22:49,079 the mouth over this girl's arrest, claims she's being framed. He could be 309 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:55,200 right, mister Deller. I know it beats me. Man just don't know 310 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:57,400 where to start with a mess like this one on his hands. I think 311 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:00,599 I'm beginning to get some idea where it is, Turgean, how do you 312 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:06,079 mean? Look, I've got a photograph here from the insurance files. Take 313 00:23:06,079 --> 00:23:08,839 a look. It's a photo of that necklace. I see. I was 314 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:12,440 wondering, Chief Durham, do you know of any jeweler here in Cranesburg. 315 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:18,680 Who could make a duplicate of that A skillful limitation. No, I'm afraid 316 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:22,119 you'll have to go into Cincinnati for that be the closest place at least. 317 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:23,319 No, No, I don't want a duplicate made. I want to know 318 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:26,839 whether somebody did go into Cincinnati for that purpose some four or five months ago. 319 00:23:27,319 --> 00:23:30,559 Well, it might take a while to find out. How much of 320 00:23:30,599 --> 00:23:33,559 a while not too long? A little luck I could get Jim Markley in 321 00:23:33,599 --> 00:23:37,519 here. Markley, he's a local jeweler. He could take his photograph and 322 00:23:38,039 --> 00:23:41,960 give them a technical description over the phone. Done things like that for us 323 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:47,920 before good. I might have something back for you by tomorrow afternoon. Sooner 324 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:51,799 the better. Yeah. Now, call Jim and ask him to come down. 325 00:23:51,839 --> 00:23:55,119 One other thing, chief, Yeah, I've already phoned Hartford and started 326 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:56,880 them to work on this. But we may get faster results if you move 327 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:00,119 in on it from this end. What is it you want? I want 328 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:04,319 to trace her? Put on Dean Sellers. I see complete rundown. He's 329 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:08,519 been here for eight months. What did he do before that? Where did 330 00:24:08,519 --> 00:24:11,720 he come from? Where'd he get the necklace? Who are his friends? 331 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:15,000 What's his financial status? Anything you can get. Hey, I don't quite 332 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:18,680 see what you're aiming at, mister Dollar. I'm not quite sure I do. 333 00:24:25,279 --> 00:24:27,440 It was after midnights and there was nothing more I could do until the 334 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:32,000 next day except drive back to my hotel and sag in for the night. 335 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,240 It was a good, sensible, conservative intention, and I managed to carry 336 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:40,200 it to the point of taking off my tie and unbuttoning my shirt. The 337 00:24:40,319 --> 00:24:44,599 night manager had been pretty upset earlier when Betty Jackson came to my room and 338 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:48,200 then left under arrest. I don't know what he thought when I had my 339 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:57,640 second female visitor. Wow, good evening, miss Crane. Could I have 340 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:02,079 a word with you, mister Dollar? Sure? Why not come on in? 341 00:25:02,319 --> 00:25:07,279 Thank you. I guess it's a little indiscreet of me to come here 342 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:11,000 like this, Oh I saw. Well, after all, this is Cranesbergen. 343 00:25:12,039 --> 00:25:15,960 When one has to maintain a sort of position in town. Well, 344 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:22,000 I'm sure you understand, oh perfectly. How about a drink? Drink d 345 00:25:22,279 --> 00:25:26,680 R I n K. I even happen to have two clean glasses. I'm 346 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:29,440 afraid you have the wrong impression, mister Dollar. Why so, it's good 347 00:25:29,519 --> 00:25:32,200 cognac, the best. In fact, I'll do a bit of harm to 348 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:37,519 your position, make it a double if you will check. May I ask 349 00:25:37,599 --> 00:25:41,400 you what has happened to cause you to throw discretion to the winds in this 350 00:25:41,599 --> 00:25:45,599 mad fashioned screen. I've felt it was something I ought to make clear to 351 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:51,359 you concerning Dean, my fiance. I see here you go. Thank you. 352 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:55,799 I believe you talked to him this evening, didn't you briefly? Yes? 353 00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:59,440 Then you know, of course that he's taking up for this girl, 354 00:26:00,039 --> 00:26:03,960 trying to defend what she did. He did seem to have something like that 355 00:26:03,039 --> 00:26:07,079 in mind. I also think you may have observed a little tableau in the 356 00:26:07,079 --> 00:26:08,920 sun room when you came to the house this afternoon. Oh no, look 357 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:15,200 my screen, I'm quite aware of the situation. I've observed a few of 358 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:19,640 those scenes myself. I'm not a complete fool. You know. Why are 359 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:23,839 you telling me? All the reason should be obvious. I'm dense. I 360 00:26:23,839 --> 00:26:27,680 can only understand what I actually hear. What I mean is it should be 361 00:26:27,759 --> 00:26:33,960 rather apparent that any alibi Dean might supply in a noble attempt to save this 362 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:38,599 poor innocent girl should not be given too much credence because he might be prejudiced 363 00:26:38,599 --> 00:26:42,079 in her favor. Is there any doubt of it? Your glass is empty 364 00:26:42,519 --> 00:26:51,079 like another one. Oh, I don't believe I should. Aren't you a 365 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:56,799 little prejudice, miss Crane against the girl? Very likely under the circumstances. 366 00:26:56,559 --> 00:27:02,200 Am I to take it then? That you're on her side? I am 367 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:04,599 on the side of the Tri State Guarantee Company. And if you remember, 368 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:07,880 there are twenty thousand dollars on a necklace that was stolen. I'm here to 369 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:11,160 get it back, that's all. Think I'd better go. I shouldn't have 370 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:15,559 come here at all, whatever you think. Oh, by the way, 371 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:18,359 has Uncle Phineas talked to you yet? We passed the time of day, 372 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:23,000 that's all. We didn't have much time. The circumstances were a little unusual, 373 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:27,839 and you've probably been spared some of his wilder imaginings. I wouldn't count 374 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:32,720 on that. What do you mean? Sit down, miss Crane? Finish, 375 00:27:32,759 --> 00:27:53,759 should drink. We haven't even started to talk. Johnny Dollar, Good 376 00:27:53,799 --> 00:27:59,440 afternoon, sir. This is Phineas Crane. How are you, mister Crane? 377 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:03,759 Now? What's bothering you? My generation used to call it conscience? 378 00:28:04,559 --> 00:28:07,400 I want to talk to you, mister Dollar. Well that's quite a change 379 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:11,799 isn't it from your attitude last night. There have been a number of changes 380 00:28:11,839 --> 00:28:15,960 since last night. I can't bear the thought of that girl being in prisoned. 381 00:28:15,039 --> 00:28:18,079 She doesn't like it too much herself. All right, what's on your 382 00:28:18,079 --> 00:28:22,559 mind? I'd prefer now to discuss it over the telephone. Then you'll have 383 00:28:22,559 --> 00:28:25,359 to hold your horses. I'm waiting here for a call from Hartford and some 384 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:29,359 information from the police. It might be the same information I'm ready to give 385 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:32,440 you, sir. I don't think so. You should have talked last night, 386 00:28:32,519 --> 00:28:33,799 mister Crane. I might have been willing then to make a deal of 387 00:28:33,839 --> 00:28:38,359 some kind, and now no deal. I can guess what happened to the 388 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:42,359 necklace, And as far as the rest of it's concerned, I never make 389 00:28:42,440 --> 00:29:03,200 deals on murder. From Special Investigator Location, Cranesburg, Ohio to the home 390 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:08,119 office Tri State Guarantee Company, Hartford, Connecticut, assignment the Cranesburg Meta expense 391 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:22,000 account final page item thirteen twenty eight dollars and sixty five cents phone calls to 392 00:29:22,039 --> 00:29:26,720 Cincinnati and Cleveland, and two prepaid calls to Hartford. The wheels were spinning 393 00:29:26,799 --> 00:29:30,400 now and I spent most of the day just sitting back and waiting. Toward 394 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:33,079 late afternoon, police Chief had Durham phone, then Hartford, and then Durham 395 00:29:33,119 --> 00:29:37,640 again, and finally the three black bars dropped into place, and the payoff 396 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:48,240 was Jackpot item fourteen ten dollars and fifty cents second day's rental unhired car. 397 00:29:48,119 --> 00:29:52,039 I left the hotel just before dark and drove out through the north edge of 398 00:29:52,079 --> 00:29:55,559 town to the Crane estate. When I'd gone out there the day before, 399 00:29:55,720 --> 00:30:00,000 I'd been mostly guessing, playing hunches, But this time I knew pretty much 400 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,400 what I wanted and just how to go about getting it. I thought the 401 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:07,319 place deserted as I walked up the long arbor from the carriage house, But 402 00:30:07,359 --> 00:30:10,480 as I stepped out onto the terrace, I realized I was wrong. Mister 403 00:30:10,559 --> 00:30:18,720 Dollar, over here, in here, please hurry. Why all the secrecy, 404 00:30:18,799 --> 00:30:22,480 mister Crane. I wanted to talk to you alone. I rather doubted 405 00:30:22,519 --> 00:30:25,440 whether I would be able to if it were known that you were here, 406 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:30,039 able to or permitted to. Well that's what I meant, permitted. Who 407 00:30:30,079 --> 00:30:32,640 would stop you, mister Crane? But that, you might say, is 408 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:36,720 part of the story, the story I didn't tell you last night. Why 409 00:30:36,759 --> 00:30:40,279 not? Why didn't you tell me? I still thought then I might be 410 00:30:40,319 --> 00:30:42,519 able to save things, and you don't think so. Now I'm afraid not. 411 00:30:44,359 --> 00:30:47,720 It's too late. You know too much about it. Now. What 412 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:51,480 were you doing in Swinley Pearl's room when I found you last night looking for 413 00:30:51,519 --> 00:30:53,640 the necklace? I told you that. Did you know then he'd been murdered? 414 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:56,640 Oh no, no, no. I wouldn't have had the nerve to 415 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:59,720 go there if I had, and they wouldn't be of any use of going. 416 00:31:00,279 --> 00:31:03,880 That's when I realized it was all over, when I heard mister Prell 417 00:31:03,039 --> 00:31:10,519 had been killed. Dishonesty is one thing, but murder is something else. 418 00:31:10,559 --> 00:31:14,240 Again, you're so right, of course, it wasn't dishonest at first. 419 00:31:14,279 --> 00:31:17,599 It was all quite legal in the beginning, but not later. No, 420 00:31:17,599 --> 00:31:22,240 no, not, Lisa, I was against that, Not that I'm claiming 421 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:30,160 any virtue for it. Probably it was just cowardice. Mister Doller, be 422 00:31:30,279 --> 00:31:33,640 as easy on her as you can. I'm afraid it won't be in my 423 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:41,640 hands, I suppose not. These things are always done so impersonally by institutions 424 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:48,359 created for that purpose, rightfully, no doubt, But one occasionally wonders, 425 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:53,720 there's something I wonder about Sometimes, mister Crane, you refer to human greed. 426 00:31:55,759 --> 00:32:00,599 That's true. There's no real excuse for us, my niece and me. 427 00:32:00,079 --> 00:32:07,720 Reasons, yes, an inherited social position and way of life and declining 428 00:32:07,799 --> 00:32:12,799 wealth to support them. We're soft people, mister dollery, and when life 429 00:32:12,839 --> 00:32:16,400 gets hard, we looked for a soft way out, and that usually turns 430 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:22,480 out to be the hard way. She'll find it, So for me it 431 00:32:22,519 --> 00:32:27,000 doesn't matter anymore. How did you get in on the smiley prel How did 432 00:32:27,039 --> 00:32:30,400 you know he was the one who robbed yourself? I was just guessing until 433 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:34,839 you told me yesterday that he was a professional jewel thief and that he'd phoned 434 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:37,319 the insurance company and claimed to have the necklace. Before that, when you 435 00:32:37,359 --> 00:32:40,839 were guessing, how did you know about him? What reason did you have 436 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:45,920 to guess? I'd seen him hanging around the estate here twice the week before 437 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:51,400 the robbery, and when I saw him again afterward talking to his contact. 438 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:54,039 I guess you'd call it as employer fits the facts better, I suppose, 439 00:32:54,079 --> 00:32:59,000 So anyway, I put two and two together and I followed prero I found 440 00:32:59,039 --> 00:33:02,000 out where he lived. The employer know you've done this soon hardly all. 441 00:33:02,079 --> 00:33:05,680 I doubt that i'd be sitting here talking to you. Oh, not that 442 00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:07,559 it matters, since you probably know more of the details than I do. 443 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:14,440 All right, Uncle Phineas, that's quite enough, Melboura, that was a 444 00:33:14,559 --> 00:33:19,000 very quiet entrance to screen. It wasn't intentional. I didn't know you were 445 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:22,440 here until I heard voices. Uncle Phineas, would you mind leaving us alone? 446 00:33:23,319 --> 00:33:28,799 It's too late, my dear. I think Tim is about to run 447 00:33:28,839 --> 00:33:30,559 out on all of us, aided a great deal, I presume by some 448 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:36,799 of your more senile imaginings, mister Daller didn't really need any help. Please 449 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:49,640 leave the two of you then to what I anticipate, maybe rather storm? 450 00:33:49,799 --> 00:33:52,559 What were you doing pumping him, trying to make him say things you could 451 00:33:52,599 --> 00:33:57,599 twist later news against him? No, it was more a matter of humoring 452 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:00,039 him. I'd say, what's the matter Melbourne hangover last night? I suppose 453 00:34:00,079 --> 00:34:04,000 you told him that too, that I came to your hotel to see you. 454 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:07,400 No, didn't seem relevant. Somehow, I see, where's your fiancee? 455 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:12,960 Sure? How many of you got? Mister Sellers is in the billiard 456 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:16,159 room? Why what do you want with him? Oh, I need just 457 00:34:16,199 --> 00:34:20,800 a few more facts to fill out the picture. I think he can supply 458 00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:22,639 them. That's all. What facts? Why have you come here? Uncle 459 00:34:22,639 --> 00:34:27,199 Phineas invited me? What for? He said something about wanting to clear his 460 00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:30,440 conscience? His mind wanders. You know that you can't rely on anything, 461 00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:32,079 he says, I'm not. What about the girl they arrested? Your maid? 462 00:34:32,159 --> 00:34:35,840 Betty? Yes, Betty, if the police are satisfied she's guilty, 463 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:38,039 why aren't you? Because I was hired to find a pearl necklace that was 464 00:34:38,039 --> 00:34:42,320 stolen from your safe. It was insured for twenty thousand dollars, remember, 465 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:49,480 and I haven't found it yet. Suppose I were to withdraw the insurance claim, 466 00:34:49,639 --> 00:34:51,960 it's a little too late. The police would want to know why. 467 00:34:52,079 --> 00:34:55,880 Why? Simply because I choose to because I don't want any more fuss about 468 00:34:55,880 --> 00:35:00,000 it. It's not a loss. Actually, the necklace was a gift. 469 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:05,000 Oh yes, I know, an engagement present of great sentimental value from that 470 00:35:05,079 --> 00:35:08,840 wealthy young philander, mister Dean Sellers, whoincidentally is broken than you are. 471 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:13,960 What. Yeah, got a complete rundown on him from Hartford later this afternoon. 472 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:16,840 I don't believe it. It's quite a shock. I imagine you'd say 473 00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:20,800 anything just to help that girl get out of jail. Nah, you got 474 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:22,400 me mixed up with Sellers, haven't you. He's the one who rallied to 475 00:35:22,440 --> 00:35:27,400 her defense. Cheap little flat. I hope they convict her. Do you 476 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:30,159 really believe she's the reason Sellers broke off your engagement? It wasn't broken off, 477 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:34,920 it was only postponed. Well, it's like I said, mother, 478 00:35:35,159 --> 00:35:37,800 a lot of surprises. By the way, I'd like to search Betty's room, 479 00:35:37,840 --> 00:35:42,199 if you don't mind. That's actually why I came out here. What 480 00:35:42,280 --> 00:35:45,800 that necklace? I was hired to recover it? Remember, But if you 481 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:47,880 think she's innocent, and why do you you know what I think? I 482 00:35:47,880 --> 00:36:00,159 haven't really said, have I? No, that's true, That's quite true. 483 00:36:07,119 --> 00:36:12,119 Lucky shot, mister Della. You got two on the break, the 484 00:36:12,199 --> 00:36:16,159 result of a misspent youth, all right, four ball in the corner pocket 485 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:22,800 expert, huh ah, just lucky, like you said. Oh, by 486 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:27,760 the way, mister Sellis, you were right about Betty. She isn't Gilly. 487 00:36:27,960 --> 00:36:31,079 She was being framed. I told you so. Yeah, she was 488 00:36:31,119 --> 00:36:35,599 just an innocent bystander, you might say, even though I did find the 489 00:36:35,639 --> 00:36:37,960 necklace a few minutes ago, hidden in her room. You found it good. 490 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:45,159 The cranes, though, aren't quite so innocent. The cranes nine ball 491 00:36:45,159 --> 00:36:50,920 on the far side, pocket, What do you mean about the cranes? 492 00:36:51,039 --> 00:36:53,559 They were broke and they needed money to keep up a front. When you 493 00:36:53,639 --> 00:36:57,400 came to town and showed an interest in Melbourne, they figured you with the 494 00:36:57,440 --> 00:37:00,400 answer. Why you're making Melbourne sound pretty cold blooded? You know, Oh, 495 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:04,360 there was no love loss. You were playing the same game, sure 496 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:07,280 soller Is that's the way you've always operated. Your last wife was a wealthy 497 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:09,719 widow in Miami, Florida. You stayed with her for a year and a 498 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:13,960 half and took her for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, And all that 499 00:37:14,119 --> 00:37:15,679 was left of it when you came here was the twenty thousand dollars you had 500 00:37:15,719 --> 00:37:20,159 invested in the pearl necklace. That was your stake, and that's the way 501 00:37:20,159 --> 00:37:23,199 you used it to convince Melbur Crane you weren't a fortune hunter. Twelve ball 502 00:37:23,239 --> 00:37:29,400 in the flart corner, Darla, When did you get all this information? 503 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:32,199 Police records? Then about a month ago you broke off your engagement with Melbur 504 00:37:32,280 --> 00:37:37,000 Crane. Why because I was in love with Betty. You were playing Betty 505 00:37:37,039 --> 00:37:39,360 for a pigeon. You backed out because you'd finally discovered that the Cranes were 506 00:37:39,360 --> 00:37:43,840 flat broke. I wasn't after Melbourn's money. Sure you were, but you 507 00:37:43,880 --> 00:37:46,679 wanted to get out without losing your investment that necklace, so you brought in 508 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:50,559 Sminny Prell to steal it from you. I never saw Prel in my life. 509 00:37:50,639 --> 00:37:52,280 Uncle Phineas saw the two of you together a couple of days after the 510 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:58,800 robbery. He's lying, So Prel pulled the robbery and then he told you 511 00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:02,599 the pearls he'd stolen. You accused him of double crossing you. He thought 512 00:38:02,639 --> 00:38:07,039 you were double crossing him. That result, he got sore and tried for 513 00:38:07,079 --> 00:38:09,960 a deal with the insurance company. That's why you killed him. Are you 514 00:38:10,079 --> 00:38:15,039 accusing me of murder? That's right? Sellers eight Paul in the end pocket 515 00:38:16,639 --> 00:38:21,880 who else? Sully's Betty wasn't in it except that you tried to frame her. 516 00:38:22,119 --> 00:38:24,679 And both the Cranes knew the pearls were imitation. You were the only 517 00:38:24,719 --> 00:38:29,599 one who didn't. They weren't imitations. I paid twenty thousand dollars for that 518 00:38:29,639 --> 00:38:32,679 necklace. Not for this one. Melba sold the necklace a month after you 519 00:38:32,719 --> 00:38:36,760 gave it to her. They've been living on the money. She had this 520 00:38:36,880 --> 00:38:40,760 copy made in Cincinnati cheats. So the pearls you killed Smiley for and then 521 00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:45,199 planted upstairs in Betty's rama worth about two hundred bucks at the most. Something 522 00:38:45,239 --> 00:38:49,960 to think about, isn't it. That's right, Dolla? And so is 523 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:54,119 this That's a losing game too, sellys will be for you if you try 524 00:38:54,159 --> 00:38:57,719 to make a move shoot it out with the police. Is that your answer? 525 00:38:57,920 --> 00:39:00,360 If it comes to that, Dina, how to use a gun? 526 00:39:00,559 --> 00:39:05,159 Smiley pro could tell you. Did you steal this one from Uncle Phineas too? 527 00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:08,280 Oh no, this one's my own. Put down that pool queue and 528 00:39:08,320 --> 00:39:14,280 get your hands up slow and easy when I go out of here, Dean, 529 00:39:14,599 --> 00:39:20,199 what are you doing with that? Thanks, mister dollar. Nothing. 530 00:39:20,239 --> 00:39:22,440 It's going to make him feel very happy for the next day. I saw 531 00:39:22,320 --> 00:39:27,480 a pool queue makes a pretty handy weapons. Why what was he doing with 532 00:39:27,559 --> 00:39:30,280 that gun? Surprise number one? Your fiance is the lad who had your 533 00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:36,480 necklace stolen and then later killed his partner. Oh that's probably the chief of 534 00:39:36,519 --> 00:39:37,599 police. He was coming out to meet me. You want to let him 535 00:39:37,639 --> 00:39:43,039 in murderer and I was going to marry you. Yeah, I guess murder 536 00:39:43,039 --> 00:39:46,559 is a lot worse than fraud. What do you mean you filed an insurance 537 00:39:46,599 --> 00:39:51,440 claim on a necklace you'd already sold. I imagine the company will want to 538 00:39:51,480 --> 00:39:55,519 prosecute. I didn't know what I was doing. You sure didn't. Anywhere 539 00:39:55,519 --> 00:40:00,599 along the line. You were marrying Dean Sellers for the money he didn't have, 540 00:40:00,119 --> 00:40:02,320 and at the same time he was trying to marry you for the money 541 00:40:02,360 --> 00:40:07,519 you didn't have. Too bad, it didn't work out. You two were 542 00:40:07,559 --> 00:40:15,119 made for each other. The police are getting impatient. Miss Crane. Expense 543 00:40:15,119 --> 00:40:19,239 account had him fifteen one hundred and eighty six dollars and twenty five cents in 544 00:40:19,320 --> 00:40:23,159 Cintles and Cranesburg in transportation back to Hartford. Expense account total four hundred and 545 00:40:23,239 --> 00:40:28,880 nine dollars and ten cents end of account and of report under separate cover. 546 00:40:29,119 --> 00:40:34,440 I am forwarding one necklace consisting of thirty eight pearls all imitation approximate value two 547 00:40:34,559 --> 00:40:40,119 hundred dollars, along with my sincere condolences, yours truly, Johnny Dollar. 548 00:40:52,119 --> 00:40:55,239 Now here's our star to tell you about next week's story. Next week the 549 00:40:55,320 --> 00:40:59,639 curse of an ancient king and how it affected the lives and deaths of two 550 00:40:59,639 --> 00:41:06,400 people. Join us, won't you Yours Truly? Johnny Dollar? Yours Truly 551 00:41:06,519 --> 00:41:09,239 Johnny Dollar is starring Bob Bailey, is transcribed in Hollywood. Written by Les 552 00:41:09,280 --> 00:41:14,360 Pruttsfield, It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone. Heard in this week's 553 00:41:14,360 --> 00:41:16,880 cast were Howard McNair, Forrest Lewis, Paul Richards, Mary Jane Croft, 554 00:41:16,960 --> 00:41:22,360 Virginia Greg James Mcalliam, Shirley Mitchell, and Russ Thorson. Musical supervision by 555 00:41:22,360 --> 00:41:24,480 A. Marigo Marino. Be sure to join us on Monday night, same 556 00:41:24,519 --> 00:41:30,039 time in Station for another exciting story of Yours Truly Johnny Dollar. Roy Rowan 557 00:41:30,119 --> 00:42:30,519 speaking welcome back. The story definitely picked up the pace a bit, and 558 00:42:30,599 --> 00:42:37,360 I think the serial ended really well based on the strength of Bob Bailey's performance. 559 00:42:37,599 --> 00:42:43,440 He had some great lines and some really good scenes with both the cranes, 560 00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:49,920 who, of course were played by Howard mcneer and Virginia Graig. This 561 00:42:50,079 --> 00:42:53,400 was an expansion of a lunch story, the Beauregard Matter, and liking the 562 00:42:53,440 --> 00:42:59,320 Beaureguard Matter, it features the coolest way to have a mystery denoument, and 563 00:42:59,360 --> 00:43:04,280 that is when you're shooting an amazing game of pool and revealing at the same 564 00:43:04,400 --> 00:43:08,559 time that your opponent is a criminal who's going to jail. I think that 565 00:43:08,639 --> 00:43:14,639 the serial was entertaining, but probably would have been more so if it lasted 566 00:43:14,719 --> 00:43:20,079 the typical five parts. If the expanded storylink proved anything, it's that the 567 00:43:20,159 --> 00:43:25,280 five part serial really was a sweet spot format that gave stories just the right 568 00:43:25,480 --> 00:43:30,960 amount of opportunity for development without dragging them out. Well, now we turn 569 00:43:31,079 --> 00:43:37,719 to listener comments and feedback, and we started with an email regarding the nixt 570 00:43:37,719 --> 00:43:44,639 Shurn Matter. Lauren's email has the subject line, is it even Christmas if 571 00:43:44,679 --> 00:43:47,960 you don't listen to the NICKT Shern Matter? Lauren writes, So, I 572 00:43:49,039 --> 00:43:53,119 admit I listened to my favorite cereal a little late in the season. Listening 573 00:43:53,119 --> 00:43:57,280 to the Nick Shearn matter is a tradition for me, and it did not 574 00:43:57,480 --> 00:44:01,920 disappoint. I even noticed a few new details this time around. For example, 575 00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:07,800 the not so subtle part that radio plays in Johnny's survival during the blizzard 576 00:44:07,960 --> 00:44:13,239 a sign of the time's too good. I actually think I enjoyed it more 577 00:44:13,280 --> 00:44:17,760 than usual. Perhaps this was because I was anticipating this special tradition of mine, 578 00:44:19,119 --> 00:44:22,880 or perhaps it was because I wasn't distracted by the seemingly endless Christmas to 579 00:44:22,920 --> 00:44:28,840 do list, or possibly I'm just getting older and appreciating the little joys in 580 00:44:28,880 --> 00:44:32,320 a different way. Also, your commentary on the serial was so insightful. 581 00:44:32,400 --> 00:44:37,440 I especially resonated with the cole mingling of good and evil points, which mimics 582 00:44:37,519 --> 00:44:44,480 real life true words. Right there, and Lauren concludes with best wishes for 583 00:44:44,599 --> 00:44:47,960 a memorable twenty twenty four. Well, thank you so much and to you 584 00:44:49,000 --> 00:44:53,960 as well. And finally, we have a comment on the YouTube channel from 585 00:44:54,159 --> 00:44:59,039 Shelley, who writes, I started listening to your channel in May. I 586 00:44:59,159 --> 00:45:02,960 was intensive care for a month and couldn't sleep. When a person is in 587 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:07,519 there, no one can stay the night, not even the hobby. You 588 00:45:07,599 --> 00:45:10,760 guys kept me company and made the lonely night shorter. Thank you well, 589 00:45:10,800 --> 00:45:15,440 Thank you so much, Shelley, and I'm so glad we could be of 590 00:45:15,519 --> 00:45:20,440 service, and I appreciate you taking the time to leave that note. This 591 00:45:20,480 --> 00:45:24,039 sort of feedback means more to me than you could know, and I hope 592 00:45:24,119 --> 00:45:30,280 you have a healthy and happy twenty twenty four. All right, well, 593 00:45:30,320 --> 00:45:34,159 now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day, and I want 594 00:45:34,199 --> 00:45:38,320 to go ahead and thank zant Zen has been one of our Patreon supporters since 595 00:45:38,400 --> 00:45:45,639 February of twenty seventeen, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of 596 00:45:45,719 --> 00:45:49,960 seven dollars and fourteen cents or more per month. Thank you so much for 597 00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:53,360 your support, zant and that will do it for today. If you're enjoying 598 00:45:53,400 --> 00:45:59,480 the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. If you're listening 599 00:45:59,519 --> 00:46:02,559 on YouTube tube, be sure to lock the video, subscribe to the channel, 600 00:46:02,639 --> 00:46:08,000 and mark the notification bell, all those great things that help YouTube channels 601 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:14,760 to grow. We will be back on Tuesday with another yours truly Johnny doll 602 00:46:14,880 --> 00:46:20,480 or Cereal, but join us back here tomorrow for Dragnet. Where what am 603 00:46:20,480 --> 00:46:23,119 I gonna say to Frank? You always sided him with his mother. He'll 604 00:46:23,119 --> 00:46:27,599 never believe me. What can I tell him? During can give you more 605 00:46:27,639 --> 00:46:30,360 trouble than your husband? Ken? What you're gonna tell them? Are you 606 00:46:30,480 --> 00:46:32,559 stupid or something? How many times do I have to say and I didn't 607 00:46:32,639 --> 00:46:36,719 kill her, I didn't care. It's a small rooms Reeard. We can 608 00:46:36,760 --> 00:46:38,519 hear you sit down. Please. I won't sit down. You're not pinning 609 00:46:38,519 --> 00:46:42,639 this on me because I didn't do it. Anybody could killed the old head, 610 00:46:42,679 --> 00:46:44,679 but I didn't. Will you sit down, please, I don't have 611 00:46:44,760 --> 00:46:47,320 to take this on No Trump cheaping me in here asking me questions. I 612 00:46:47,320 --> 00:46:50,320 told you all I know. Look, you're in a bad spot. I 613 00:46:50,360 --> 00:46:54,760 hope you realize that I didn't kill mis Renard. How long have you and 614 00:46:54,800 --> 00:47:00,400 your mother in law been living together in the house on Chabas Road and took 615 00:47:00,440 --> 00:47:04,960 the job up in Idaho? Not six months? He said it'd be better 616 00:47:05,000 --> 00:47:07,119 for me while he was away living with her. Your neighbors told us you 617 00:47:07,159 --> 00:47:09,880 didn't get along very well with your mother in law. That's right, I 618 00:47:09,920 --> 00:47:14,079 didn't. She hated me. I hated her. You used to fight with 619 00:47:14,119 --> 00:47:15,679 her, is that right? You hit her only a couple of times. 620 00:47:16,039 --> 00:47:20,239 I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, do send your 621 00:47:20,280 --> 00:47:25,199 comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at 622 00:47:25,320 --> 00:47:31,119 Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash 623 00:47:31,159 --> 00:47:37,639 Great Detectives from Boise, Idaho. This is your host Adam Graham's Sogn and Off