1 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:35,399 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. 2 00:00:35,759 --> 00:00:39,359 This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're 3 00:00:39,399 --> 00:00:42,600 going to bring you this week's episode of Yours truly, 4 00:00:42,719 --> 00:00:46,119 Johnny Dawler. But first I want to encourage you. If 5 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:50,479 you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite 6 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,280 podcast software. And I do want to go ahead and 7 00:00:54,439 --> 00:00:59,960 acknowledge that this is a milestone episode. It is our five. 8 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,320 I have a thousandth daily episode of the Great Detectives 9 00:01:03,359 --> 00:01:08,159 of Old Time Radio. As we began this podcast on 10 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,040 October the twenty sixth, two thousand and nine, and I 11 00:01:12,079 --> 00:01:14,879 want to just go ahead and thank everyone who's listened 12 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:17,560 to us along the way and been supportive of the 13 00:01:17,599 --> 00:01:20,680 podcast over the years. Will of course have a five 14 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:26,079 thousandth episode special coming up on Sunday, but now from 15 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:31,239 May twenty fourth, nineteen fifty nine. Here is the Cask 16 00:01:31,519 --> 00:01:32,439 of Death. 17 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:39,239 Speaker 2: Matter, Johnny Dillar. 18 00:01:39,439 --> 00:01:42,799 Speaker 3: This is Harry Brentson at Philadelphia Mutual Liability and Casualty Company. 19 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,239 Speaker 2: Harry, it's been a long time. What's on your mind, John? 20 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,159 Speaker 3: I have a case for you involving several of our 21 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:48,439 very important client. 22 00:01:48,319 --> 00:01:50,519 Speaker 2: Good then, I ought to pay me a nice big fee. 23 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 3: I'm not sure about that. 24 00:01:51,599 --> 00:01:53,599 Speaker 2: John. Of course, we'll pay you a regular expenses and 25 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:55,599 your regular commission. No extra fee. 26 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:57,879 Speaker 3: I don't know you huh. That is to say, it 27 00:01:57,879 --> 00:02:00,840 all depends on what you are able to, shall we say, on. 28 00:02:00,879 --> 00:02:04,599 Speaker 2: Earthed something or someone? Harry? What you said on earth? 29 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:05,040 Didn't you? 30 00:02:05,359 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 3: What facts you're able to ascertain? 31 00:02:08,199 --> 00:02:08,879 Speaker 4: Is what I meant. 32 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,879 Speaker 2: Oh, so, what about these very important clients. 33 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 3: Of yours, John? They have disappeared? 34 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 2: Oh well, and maybe on earth is the proper term. 35 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:17,759 What have the police got to say about them? You 36 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:18,960 did call and the police didn't. 37 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,879 Speaker 3: Yes, but they gave up years ago, at least years ago, 38 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:23,759 that's right, at least in the case. 39 00:02:23,759 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 2: Wait a minute, Harry, you say they disappeared years ago. Well, 40 00:02:27,319 --> 00:02:29,159 but now all of a sudden you expect me to 41 00:02:29,199 --> 00:02:32,319 be able to what did you say the extra fee 42 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:33,360 will be on this case? 43 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,719 Speaker 3: I told you it all depends exactly. 44 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, on whether I'm able to literally dig them up 45 00:02:38,879 --> 00:02:40,639 for you. You know where they're buried? 46 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:42,919 Speaker 3: John, This morbid so called sense of humor? 47 00:02:43,039 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 2: Okay, Harry, Okay, I'll be down to see you and 48 00:02:45,439 --> 00:02:48,080 you might have a good strong shovel ready and waiting 49 00:02:48,120 --> 00:03:00,400 for me. John Bailey in the Exciting Adventures The Man 50 00:03:00,439 --> 00:03:04,280 with the Action packed to Expense account. America's fabulous freelance 51 00:03:04,319 --> 00:03:14,000 insurance investigator is truly Johnny Dollar. Now Act one. The Yours, 52 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:33,000 Truly Johnny Dollar expense account submitted by Special Investigator Johnny 53 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,479 Dollar to the Philadelphia Mutual Liability and Casualty Company following 54 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,319 as an account of expenses incurred during my investigations the 55 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:47,759 Cask of Death Matter expense Account out of one thirteen 56 00:03:47,919 --> 00:03:51,280 forty trained fair and Incidentals Harpord to Philadelphia. I went 57 00:03:51,319 --> 00:03:53,479 by train, since Harry Branson didn't seem to be in 58 00:03:53,479 --> 00:03:55,639 a hurry, and I enjoyed a look at the countryside 59 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,280 this time of year. It was a little afternoon by 60 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,280 the time I reached the office on Walnut Street sat 61 00:04:00,319 --> 00:04:02,400 down to talk with Harry. But I thought I impressed 62 00:04:03,759 --> 00:04:06,560 old sober sides. Branson hadn't changed a bit since the 63 00:04:06,599 --> 00:04:09,000 last time I'd seen him, and he still looked as 64 00:04:09,039 --> 00:04:10,800 though he was carrying the weight of the world on 65 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:15,080 the shoulders. However, now that you have finally arrived, suppose 66 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:16,360 I get right to the point and tell you what 67 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:18,000 this is all about, Well, you sit on the phone 68 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,800 that some of your policyholders have disappeared. Yes, said, you 69 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:24,160 must understand this, John, Yeah, in accordance with Pennsylvania law 70 00:04:24,399 --> 00:04:26,560 in a case of a mysterious disappearance. And I'm sure 71 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,040 you're familiar with a mysterious disappearance clause. It's part of 72 00:04:29,079 --> 00:04:31,199 all our life insurance contracts. Well, if you mean, did 73 00:04:31,199 --> 00:04:33,680 I ever read the fine print on one of your policies, 74 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:37,240 The answer is no, you should sometime. The fact remains 75 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:39,600 that when the insured disappears and fails to return or 76 00:04:39,639 --> 00:04:41,879 otherwise be accounted for by the end of seven years, 77 00:04:42,199 --> 00:04:44,240 when the company has received no proof the insured is 78 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:47,639 still alive, the company then presumes the insured to be deceased. 79 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:51,120 Do I make myself clear? Keep talking, Harry. It simply 80 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:52,759 means that at the end of seven years, the full 81 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:54,959 amount of the insurance is then paid to the beneficiary 82 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,879 or beneficiaries, whichever the case may be. So, So, seven 83 00:04:58,959 --> 00:05:01,360 years ago, mister will Be Javis of Goshenville here in 84 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:05,519 Pennsylvania mysteriously disappeared. Now his beneficiary is demanding payment of 85 00:05:05,519 --> 00:05:07,959 the insurance naturally, so why don't you pay it? We 86 00:05:08,079 --> 00:05:11,360 shall But in checking through the files, I've suddenly discovered 87 00:05:11,399 --> 00:05:13,399 that his was only the first in a long series 88 00:05:13,399 --> 00:05:16,560 of mysterious disappearances. There have been a total of eight, 89 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:20,680 all within a relatively small area, and of recently increasing frequency. 90 00:05:21,079 --> 00:05:23,000 One was the last one, the fourth of last month, 91 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:26,040 mister Charles Moody, SARL's Moody where in the little town 92 00:05:26,079 --> 00:05:28,680 of Kirkwood, New Jersey. And the police have found no 93 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:31,319 clue as to what might have happened to them, none whatsoever. 94 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:35,800 One in Goshenville, Pennsylvania, One in Kirkwood, New Jersey. Where 95 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,199 were the others? Two and other small Jersey towns, Two 96 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:43,079 here in Pennsylvania and two down in Delaware. Any any 97 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,560 relationship among the beneficiaries. None, that is, none that we 98 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:50,360 know of. Why do you ask that I just wondered 99 00:05:50,399 --> 00:05:52,839 if some one person was killing them off to collect 100 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:56,279 the insurance. No, the beneficiaries are all widely separated individuals, 101 00:05:56,279 --> 00:06:00,319 So you can dismiss any possibility of murder in a 102 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:04,240 case of this kind. That's the one possibility I never dismissed. 103 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,839 Harry's secretary put together a comprehensive list of the people 104 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:18,800 we were concerned with, the names addresses, beneficiaries and so on. 105 00:06:19,879 --> 00:06:21,800 In my room of the Bellevue Stratford. That evening I 106 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:25,279 went over a carefully. All of these people had disappeared 107 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,480 from their homes in small communities. All of them had 108 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:32,279 been in their sixties, had been widower or bachelors. As 109 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:35,000 for the beneficiaries, they were scattered about all over the country. 110 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,160 Early the next morning, I paid my hotel bill. That's 111 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,240 item two eighteen dollars even for the Roman a couple 112 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,319 of meals. Then spent item three fifty bucks deposit on 113 00:06:43,319 --> 00:06:46,240 a rental car. I drove first to the little town 114 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:48,920 of Kirkwood, New Jersey, from which a mister Charles Moody 115 00:06:48,959 --> 00:06:51,800 had disappeared just about a month ago. I stopped to 116 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:55,160 make inquiries at the general store. Thank you, Mitt Peterson. 117 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:59,040 Now'll see you next week again. Now, as you were saying, 118 00:06:59,079 --> 00:07:02,560 mister hermy, yes, mister Doner, I certainly hope mister Moody 119 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,680 shows up again. Your fine man, fine man used to 120 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:07,360 come down here at the store for a quiet game 121 00:07:07,439 --> 00:07:10,399 of checkers. Now man and the police have no idea 122 00:07:10,639 --> 00:07:13,360 where he might have gone or why. Yeah, well, I 123 00:07:13,399 --> 00:07:16,480 guess I'm about the only police we have here in Kirkwood. Oh, 124 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:19,920 of course, I notified the state police, and I presume 125 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,000 they're still looking for him. Just what happened, mister Hurling 126 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:26,800 just took the bus into Philadelphia one day. Well that's 127 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:28,759 the last we heard of him. Do you know anything 128 00:07:28,759 --> 00:07:32,920 about the beneficiary of his insurance. Let's see, according to 129 00:07:32,959 --> 00:07:36,800 my list, it's a nephew, mister Dollar. Yeah, Charles Moody 130 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,079 lives out in California. Yeah, mister Moody always felt that 131 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:42,680 he was the most deserving of his relatives, left him 132 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:46,199 everything Hu well, the insurance and his money. Yes, you know, 133 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,920 I know because I'm the only lawyer here in Kirkwood, 134 00:07:49,959 --> 00:07:51,079 and I made out a will for him. 135 00:07:51,879 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 3: You say, just the money to his nephew, except for 136 00:07:54,879 --> 00:07:55,639 his wine cellar. 137 00:07:55,759 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 2: All his property will go to the town wine cellar. Yes, 138 00:08:00,279 --> 00:08:02,560 if mister Moody doesn't come back where if he's proved 139 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:04,319 to be dead, the wine cellar will go over to 140 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,439 a man over in Philadelphia had themselves a sort of 141 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,680 a girl met club. I guess you'd call it. I see, 142 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:12,839 But now tell me, you know, I kind of wish 143 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,199 he will meet a wine cellar. Oh, you should see 144 00:08:16,199 --> 00:08:19,279 the collection he has there from all over the world, German, 145 00:08:19,399 --> 00:08:23,279 wines and French. And yes, I'm sure what hu now, 146 00:08:23,279 --> 00:08:25,959 mister Hurley, is there anything else you can tell me 147 00:08:25,959 --> 00:08:28,120 that might help me to find him? How about his friends? 148 00:08:28,319 --> 00:08:32,120 Everybody was mister Moody's friend, mister Doler, But he, I started. 149 00:08:31,879 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 3: To say about Lord Wine. 150 00:08:36,799 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 2: So I checked out all of mister Moody's friends there 151 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,759 in Kirkwood and ended up with no more information than 152 00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:45,480 I got from the storekeeper. But you know something, if 153 00:08:45,519 --> 00:08:48,039 I had had sense enough to realize it, I'd have 154 00:08:48,039 --> 00:08:50,840 gotten plenty from him. He had given me a real 155 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:54,720 key to the disappearance, not only of mister Moody, but 156 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,159 of the seven other people on the list. And what 157 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:00,519 a key. Yeah, So what turned out to be one 158 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:07,440 of the weirdest cases I ever had? Now act too 159 00:09:07,519 --> 00:09:10,559 of yours truly, Johnny Dollar and the Cask of Death 160 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:16,399 matter and am five forty two seventy traveling expenses, food 161 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,159 and lodging. For the next two days. I drove my 162 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,200 rental car to Pittstrove on Malega, New Jersey. I am 163 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:25,759 strong in Mount Pleasant down in Delaware, then Hickeryville, Pennsylvania, 164 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:29,879 Goshenville and the nearby town of mill May. I contacted 165 00:09:29,879 --> 00:09:32,000 not only the local police, such as they were, but 166 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,519 dug up the lawyers who'd written wills for the missing men, 167 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,200 and by doing so I learned a strange, intriguing factory. 168 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:40,840 You see, my last contact was there in the village 169 00:09:40,879 --> 00:09:43,279 of mill May, with a one lawyer in time, mister Dollar, 170 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:45,919 my client, mister Frederick Burton, fails to return by the 171 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,480 end of seven years, your company will have to pay 172 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:52,320 the insurance as for the rest of his estates, including 173 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:56,559 a wine cellar. It's very excellent one. Its contents will 174 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,720 go to a friend of his who lives in Philadelphia. 175 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:03,200 Mister Edward Aldenpo Yes, that's right. How'd you know when 176 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:05,399 I've been doing a little poking around these past couple 177 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:07,919 of days, do you understand? Of course, that's only if 178 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,879 we receive some definite evidence of mister Burton's death, or 179 00:10:10,919 --> 00:10:13,240 if he fails to return before the seven years is 180 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:16,000 up and therefore legally is presumed to be deceased. Do 181 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:20,480 you know anything about this man, Pauline, I don't. It 182 00:10:20,519 --> 00:10:23,279 seems they had a sort of epicures club. Do you 183 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:26,840 know who the other members of it were? Mister Burton 184 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,879 told me who they are sometime before he disappeared. If 185 00:10:29,919 --> 00:10:31,600 you'll just give me a moment, Paps, I can recall 186 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:33,440 their name. I want to check them against this list 187 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,720 of mine. Yeah, if you like, I must see mister 188 00:10:36,759 --> 00:10:40,080 Frederick Burton. That's your plan. Yes, John L. Wakeman over 189 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:44,000 in Hickoryville, Wilbey Davis in Goshenville, that's correct, Harmon Phillips, 190 00:10:44,039 --> 00:10:46,159 and Ralph Haunter from down in Delaware. That's right. And 191 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:50,679 finally Charles Moody, Nathan Norwood, and William Harnell over in Jersey. 192 00:10:50,799 --> 00:10:53,360 This is quite correct, mister Dollar, except for one a mission. 193 00:10:53,799 --> 00:10:57,279 There was another, mister Bradford W. Turner. You know where 194 00:10:57,279 --> 00:10:59,960 he lives. This is a little town of Alloway here 195 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,279 in Pennsylvania, that is, if he hasn't disappeared. Yes, I've 196 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,919 good Heavens. Do you mean to say that all the 197 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:10,679 others Well, I know of course that mister Burton did. 198 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:12,879 Speaker 5: But do you mean to say that all the others 199 00:11:12,879 --> 00:11:14,200 on that list have disappeared too? 200 00:11:14,279 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 2: Yes, sir, And I'm going to find out about this 201 00:11:16,279 --> 00:11:18,559 mister Turner right now in the town of Alloway that 202 00:11:18,639 --> 00:11:21,519 you say, Yes, it's about eighteen miles north of here. Okay, sir, 203 00:11:21,639 --> 00:11:25,080 and I'm very much obliged to Yeah. Do you really 204 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:28,519 think there can be some connection between these disappearances and 205 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:30,480 the fact that all these men have willed their wine 206 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:33,840 collections to this Edward Alden Polly? What do you think? 207 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:39,559 Wait a minute, had I told him the others all 208 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:42,559 willed their wine collections to Pauline or had he just 209 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:48,440 come to that conclusion or what? M Anyway, I drove 210 00:11:48,519 --> 00:11:51,639 due north to Alloway. The one large, rather nice home 211 00:11:51,639 --> 00:11:54,039 belong to mister Bradford W. Turner, the man whose name 212 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,440 was not on my list, so I hope that he 213 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:58,679 was still here in the land of the Living. He was, 214 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:00,919 and he turned out to be a very fine gentleman, 215 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,039 despite his preoccupation with vintage wine. 216 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 6: A little Order of Epicures has not been very active 217 00:12:07,279 --> 00:12:10,240 since several of the members well disappeared. 218 00:12:10,799 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 2: But not you, almost e A. Polly. I was just. 219 00:12:14,159 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 6: Preparing to make the trip over to Philadelphia's pay visits, 220 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:17,559 Miss Polly. 221 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:20,039 Speaker 2: Oh, mind telling me why. 222 00:12:19,759 --> 00:12:24,440 Speaker 6: Mister Turner not with all I happen to have an 223 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:25,879 excellent wine. 224 00:12:26,159 --> 00:12:28,279 Speaker 2: Yes, I rather guess that. Oh, but there's. 225 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:32,799 Speaker 6: Nothing compared to that mister Polly's Edward is younger than I, younger. 226 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 2: Than any office. 227 00:12:33,639 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 6: But he vast labyrinthkin Sellar is a veritable treasure house 228 00:12:37,919 --> 00:12:39,759 of rare and priceless vintace. 229 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 2: I see now. 230 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 6: Even I haven't seen the full extent of it. But 231 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:45,960 if only I could get. 232 00:12:45,799 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 5: Hold of some of that ancient. 233 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 6: Rare mantiado. He has so often totaled us about promost. 234 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:55,240 You show us so many times welcome to Now I've 235 00:12:55,279 --> 00:12:59,279 not said anything worth It's operator in exchange. But now 236 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:04,039 I've acquired a bottle of very old isn't from. 237 00:13:03,799 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 5: The doc, and you've gone half, so I shall. 238 00:13:07,279 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 2: Take it to him in the You know, you talk 239 00:13:10,279 --> 00:13:12,559 as though this wine collecting were the most important thing 240 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:16,960 in your life. Oh it is, sir, and Polly. 241 00:13:17,039 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 5: It's an almost overpowering passion. 242 00:13:20,919 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 4: It is his life. 243 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 2: The kind of man who kill his own mother for 244 00:13:24,279 --> 00:13:24,960 a bottle of wine. 245 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 6: Huh, that's not the gest you may think it is, 246 00:13:27,919 --> 00:13:31,799 mister Dollan, Which is why I wonder if this bottle 247 00:13:31,879 --> 00:13:33,720 of fine my doc will be enough. 248 00:13:33,879 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 2: Mister Turney, you're not taking it over to him. I 249 00:13:36,919 --> 00:13:40,159 beg your pardon. I am now look here, mister doll. 250 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:44,159 I've been awaiting this opportunity for years, and you'd probably 251 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:47,360 give just about anything. You are right, sir, I would 252 00:13:48,399 --> 00:14:08,559 your life. Yeah. Every one of the old men who 253 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:11,200 disappeared had been a nut on the subject of wine collector, 254 00:14:11,759 --> 00:14:13,919 and had provided in his will that his cellar was 255 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,519 to go to a mister Edward Alden Polly. You know something. 256 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:19,919 When I talked to Poli this home in the old 257 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:23,080 German Town section of Philadelphia, I decided he was the 258 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,840 biggest nut of all, and possibly a dangerous one. There 259 00:14:26,919 --> 00:14:28,639 was an old house, and a big one. It must 260 00:14:28,679 --> 00:14:31,480 have been one of the original Philadelphia mansions. As for 261 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,159 Polie himself, well, I'd say he was a man of 262 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,919 about fifty. He was short and heavy set, and his face, well, 263 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,000 his face reminded me of a bird of prey, very thin, 264 00:14:41,279 --> 00:14:44,360 with a long aquiline nose. His eyes were far apart 265 00:14:44,399 --> 00:14:47,200 and almost beady. In spite of his shortness, he seemed 266 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:51,120 to almost hover over things, including me. As he led 267 00:14:51,159 --> 00:14:53,080 me into the library, his eyes kept glancing at the 268 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:55,200 package I carried, and there was a kind of inner 269 00:14:55,279 --> 00:15:02,919 glow in them. I can think of only one thing, Madness, Allah. 270 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,639 Speaker 5: Dollar did you say, that's right, Johnny Down. 271 00:15:08,039 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 2: I see. 272 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 5: Oh, I mean it's a very unusual name. 273 00:15:13,919 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 2: I can't help but admire this library, mister Polly. 274 00:15:18,559 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 5: Only the best. I must have only the best, mister Dollar. 275 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:24,679 Speaker 2: Yes, it looks so nothing. 276 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,639 Speaker 7: No one must stand in the way of my having 277 00:15:28,039 --> 00:15:32,879 the rarest, the finest of everything. Sometimes it takes years, 278 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:36,759 mister Dollar, but sooner or later I get what I want. 279 00:15:37,559 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 2: I notice you have a lot of the works of 280 00:15:39,679 --> 00:15:40,759 Edgar Allen Paul. 281 00:15:40,639 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 5: The greatest writer who ever lived. I am fortunate to 282 00:15:44,559 --> 00:15:45,960 bear the same initials. 283 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:48,879 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, look there. 284 00:15:49,279 --> 00:15:53,519 Speaker 5: First copies of his works. Look there the manuscript of 285 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:54,000 one of them. 286 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 7: Of it? 287 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 5: What it has to do with a certain wine? 288 00:15:59,039 --> 00:16:03,759 Speaker 2: Yeah, I see, which brings us to what you are there. Well, 289 00:16:03,799 --> 00:16:07,919 it's a famous old medoc mister Polly, A de gras age. 290 00:16:07,879 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 5: The vintage. 291 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:18,159 Speaker 2: Let me see what do well? Sure? Yes, yes, look, well, 292 00:16:18,159 --> 00:16:22,039 I only brought it here for your opinion. Hope I must, turfish, 293 00:16:22,919 --> 00:16:24,639 I must. I'm afraid that's impossible. 294 00:16:25,399 --> 00:16:28,279 Speaker 4: Oh we shall see. 295 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 5: Perhaps we'll make an exchange. 296 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 7: I have in my boats an old rare of priceless amontiado, Come, 297 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:38,759 mister Galla, the chask of Montiado. 298 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:49,039 Speaker 2: What was it? Nothing, sir? Lead the way he did, Yeah, 299 00:16:49,159 --> 00:16:52,600 he should do through a hidden door behind a panel 300 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:55,639 on the wall. Instead of using a flashlight, he took 301 00:16:55,679 --> 00:16:58,080 along a sort of torch, a flambeaux I think you 302 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:01,360 call it. That gave off an evil oily smell that 303 00:17:01,519 --> 00:17:04,680 stained the passageway was smoking. He led me down a long, 304 00:17:04,799 --> 00:17:09,000 winding staircase between the walls. Then finally we came to 305 00:17:09,079 --> 00:17:13,400 the vast wine fall steep underground. This was really something 306 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:16,079 out of Edgar Allen Paul. It was cool. I'm damp 307 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,799 with great drops of water slipping down the old stone walls. 308 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:21,480 On one of them was a model the name of 309 00:17:21,839 --> 00:17:26,920 may Impune LAKESI I'm afraid my laughing is a little rusty. 310 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:34,000 No one dare seek to best me with impunity? Yeah 311 00:17:34,759 --> 00:17:36,759 what now? The monta. 312 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 5: You amazon? A nice little joke, is. 313 00:17:47,079 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 2: You see? 314 00:17:47,519 --> 00:17:47,839 Speaker 5: I have? 315 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,279 Speaker 2: They pulled a small trowel out of the inner pocket 316 00:17:50,319 --> 00:17:54,920 of his coat, then laughed strangely. Sure, the cask of 317 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:57,960 a montioch, just like in the story by abd Allan Paul, 318 00:17:58,559 --> 00:18:01,119 The dark damp wine balls, that motto on the wall, 319 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:05,160 the troal, and this mad man was living apart. No 320 00:18:05,279 --> 00:18:08,359 wonder his friends had disappeared, because each of them had 321 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,119 had some priceless wine that he wouldn't part with. That 322 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:13,440 is until the next world. 323 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:17,599 Speaker 7: Rista dalla a large crift with niches in the walls, 324 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:19,640 some of them blocked in, others empty. 325 00:18:19,839 --> 00:18:24,079 Speaker 2: Waiting there. I'll introduce you to my friends who are 326 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:27,880 gathered there, your friends of the Order of Impicures, They 327 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:30,160 too have brought me wines for my collection. 328 00:18:30,559 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 5: Davis Love with Hannel under. 329 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:37,519 Speaker 7: Philip's Wakeman, Frederick Burton, those names, even my old friend 330 00:18:37,839 --> 00:18:38,880 chs movie. 331 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 2: You killed them, didn't You killed them, You brought them down. 332 00:18:44,559 --> 00:18:46,880 Let me see the buttle of de Gras. You promised 333 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,519 to show them the cask of a mariata, then buried 334 00:18:49,559 --> 00:18:51,319 them here on one of these crept sees. 335 00:18:53,039 --> 00:18:57,279 Speaker 5: Mister, you must not keep our friends waiting. 336 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,079 Speaker 2: Yeah, there's the mourner in the breakfast. 337 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:03,400 Speaker 5: And the monto inch behind you. 338 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:05,920 Speaker 2: Morna box a hole for mixing in that shovel. 339 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 4: Shovel, and with it you joined my mate, excuse. 340 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:32,160 Speaker 2: The weak to the eight men who disappeared. Yeah, they 341 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:34,440 were all buried behind the bricks and water that walled 342 00:19:34,519 --> 00:19:38,279 up eight of the niches and that deep underground pat Money. 343 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:40,480 I completely forgot to look to see if there was 344 00:19:40,559 --> 00:19:43,519 a cask of a mantiado in that cellar Edward All 345 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:46,279 and Polly. When the courts get through with his case, 346 00:19:46,279 --> 00:19:48,440 I'm sure he'll be committed to an institution for the 347 00:19:48,519 --> 00:19:51,200 rest of his life. Yeah, I told you in the beginning, 348 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:55,359 this was the weirdest case I ever tackled. Expense account 349 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:57,880 total including incidentals and the trip back to Hartfred one 350 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:14,799 on one, Yours trually, Johnny Dollar. Now here's our star 351 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,160 to tell you about next week story. Next week, I 352 00:20:17,279 --> 00:20:20,160 run into a girl who is fabulously rich and because 353 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:24,000 of it, fabulously poor. Join us, won't you? You? As 354 00:20:24,039 --> 00:20:36,160 truly Johnny Dollar. Yours truly Johnny Dollar, starring Bob Bailey, 355 00:20:36,319 --> 00:20:39,799 originates in Hollywood and has written, produced and directed by 356 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,759 Jack Johnstowe. Heard in our cast were Harry Bartel, Boris, 357 00:20:43,839 --> 00:20:48,079 Lewis Bartlett, Robinson, Harley Bear, and Marvin Miller. Be sure 358 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:51,079 to join us next week, same time and station or 359 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:57,880 another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. This is 360 00:20:58,000 --> 00:20:59,599 Dan Cubberly speaking. 361 00:21:05,319 --> 00:21:09,599 Speaker 1: Welcome back. This is probably the episode of Johnny Dowler 362 00:21:09,759 --> 00:21:13,240 that has the most gothic feel to it. It's a 363 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:18,240 creepy idea for a mystery and well realized with a 364 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:21,839 lot of atmosphere. I do wonder why they decided to 365 00:21:22,279 --> 00:21:25,559 air this on May twenty fourth. To me, this feels 366 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:29,160 like a Halloween episode, and I can't find any date 367 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:33,519 with Poe that's tied to May twenty fourth As a mystery. 368 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:38,160 The atmosphere is great, but it does sacrifice some realism. 369 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:42,400 It's tough to believe that when the police investigated this 370 00:21:43,079 --> 00:21:47,319 at some point the fact that they all belong to 371 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:51,839 the same wine club and their wills all left their 372 00:21:52,039 --> 00:21:55,880 wine collections to the same person who just happened to 373 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:59,839 have the same initials of Edgar Allan Poe and be 374 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:02,960 obsessed with him. This is a red flag. 375 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:03,319 Speaker 4: Now. 376 00:22:03,559 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 1: Obviously the murders were grouped out over many years and 377 00:22:10,599 --> 00:22:14,319 many different states, but if Harry Branson figures it out, 378 00:22:14,519 --> 00:22:18,920 it does seem that police should have cooperated and figured 379 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:21,519 it as well. But then Johnny wouldn't have had this 380 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:25,519 great case to investigate. So a very different episode of 381 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:31,599 Johnny Dollar, very literary and gothic for an overall intriguing 382 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:35,400 little story. Well, now it's time to thank our Patreon 383 00:22:35,519 --> 00:22:39,559 supporter of the day. Thank you to Pippin, Patreon supporter 384 00:22:39,799 --> 00:22:45,200 since March twenty twenty two, currently supporting the podcast at 385 00:22:45,319 --> 00:22:48,240 the rookie level of two dollars or more per month. 386 00:22:48,519 --> 00:22:51,759 Thanks for your support, Pippin, And that'll do it for today. 387 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:56,240 If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your 388 00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:00,480 favorite podcast software, and be sure to read and review 389 00:23:00,559 --> 00:23:04,319 the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back 390 00:23:04,559 --> 00:23:08,160 next Friday with another episode of Yours Truly Johnny Dowler. 391 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:11,799 But join us back here tomorrow as we give way 392 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:15,720 to the great adventurers of old time radio and Counterspy. 393 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:20,400 In the meantime, send your comments to Box thirteen at 394 00:23:20,599 --> 00:23:26,079 Greatdetectives dot nit, follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, 395 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:31,319 and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash 396 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:37,160 Great Detectives From Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. 397 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:38,000 Sign and off.