Latest / Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas / Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Henderson Matter, Parts One and Two (EP0963)

Transcript

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Henderson Matter, Parts One and Two (EP0963) · Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas

0:29
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
0:35
is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it
0:38
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectors dot net, follow us on Twitter at
0:44
Radio Detectives, and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com
0:50
slash Radio Detectives. Before we do get started, I want to thank everyone
0:55
who has gone to Johnny Dollar Air dot com for making their travel plans.
1:00
It's a great way to support the show. Johnny Doller Air dot com is
1:03
a Priceline dot com affiliates, So if you do your search there and you
1:07
find a good deal that'll work for you, then you just go ahead and
1:11
purchase it. And part of what's your purchase on the side, whether it's
1:15
through one of the great published specials you can get there or by naming your
1:21
own price, part of your purchase goes to support the Great Detectives of Old
1:25
Time Radio. So when you travel, remember Johnny Dollar Air dot com speaking
1:30
of the man with the action packed expense account. It's time for a new
1:36
Johnny Doller series. We begin with the Henderson Matter from Hollywood. It's time
1:42
now for Johnny Doller Tim gunners, John boy, congratulate me. Congratulations Tim
1:49
Well for I just had another boy. Seven bonds, twelve moonses Hey likes
1:53
the guys. Sure, look come on down, pick one up. Oh
1:56
maybe you better pack a suitcase too. I got one boy, yacht and
1:59
cover my Montana. Where is that? I just told you Montana Somewhere.
2:02
We have a debt policy holder there named Henderson. Yeah. Now we don't
2:07
know if he was murdered, committed suicide, or had an accident. What
2:09
does it look like? All three? Okay? Tim, be there in
2:13
an hour tonight and every weekday night. Bob Bailey in the Transcribed Adventures of
2:24
the Man with the Action Packed Expense account America's Fabulous Freelance Insurance Investigators, Truly
2:30
Johnny Dollar Expense accounts submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar, the Paramount Insurance Adjusters,
2:46
Hartford, Connecticut. The following is an accounting I've expended sures during my
2:50
investigation of the Henderson matter. Whatever it's going to be. Expense account item
2:57
one dollar and a quarter for a detailed map. I had an idea that
3:00
Culver, Montana was a place that only Ran mcdally might know about. They
3:04
did, I found it tucked up in the high northern corner of the state
3:07
near Great Falls. Hey, where's your bag, hump? I told you
3:14
to pack it now. Look you're a cigar, Tim. Tell me about
3:15
the new boy in the new case. Okay, have a chair. Hey
3:20
are I wouldn't smoke it if I were you terrible? It cost me two
3:23
bucks a bux. Hey, you know something I'm thinking of naming the new
3:27
boy John. Oh tough case. H Yeah. Look, Look we're in
3:30
the same sweet old spot, John, the same old problem. One of
3:34
our policy holders is dead, and for looking into the circumstances of his death,
3:38
the insurance company is no longer a friend of the widow an orphan,
3:40
but a big bad monster trying to wheezle lout of a just claim. All
3:45
claims are just claims, or aren't they? Well, of course they are.
3:47
No one ever tried to pull a fast one on an insurance company.
3:52
Well, the world's full of nice on a straight playing people. Now tell
3:55
me about getting sandbagged in a poker game. Look, I want to get
3:59
this out of the way and get back over to the hospital and see my
4:00
wife. Now, John, this claim came into the insurance office yesterday afternoon
4:05
air mail special. The insurance company turned it over to me today. What
4:10
company Western? The policy's worth twenty five thousand dollars face value. Double indemnity
4:15
of death was by accident, no payment for suicide. Uh you say the
4:17
man's name was Henderson. Yeah, it says here George Water Henderson, Montana
4:21
rancher last Thursday, fell four stories out of a hotel window and Culver and
4:26
died instantly. At least that's what we have in this report here. Somebody
4:29
could have shoved him, or he could have taken the leap. Now we
4:31
have to know for certain. Oh what's on the claim report? Accidental?
4:34
There was no inquest, no police investigation. And that's not good enough for
4:38
us. This Henderson prominence and he was big enough, Johnny cattleman, rancher.
4:44
It was also a major stockholder and the only newspaper and Culver. So
4:46
I doubt if his paper it'd suggests suicide or anything else. Do you.
4:49
I don't know it's him. I never met the editor. Well meet him
4:51
if you like, talk to him, talk to anybody in Culver, find
4:55
out what was what this is allousy, cigar, Johnny, you know how
4:59
to handle he sings. We have to have more information than this if you
5:02
try to do anything on it at all. Yeah. I've phoned the Sheriff's
5:04
office long distance to talk to a man named Holton E. Folton. He
5:08
said he'd be happy to cooperate on else. I've phoned the beneficiary to get
5:12
some information. Names Pauline Henderson, his widow. Is she going to cooperate
5:15
too? I don't think so, Pale huh. She hung up on me.
5:24
We will continue with the Henderson matter in a moment. Friends, how'd
5:29
you like to thrill your favorite jungster with some of the most exciting toys of
5:32
the year. Picture the breathless excitement of any child surrounded by six gaily colored,
5:36
balloon like giant animals up to three feet long and all for the low,
5:41
low price of just one dollar. First you get Bounds of the clown
5:45
with round potbelly and funny nose mex Cooms Happy the Australian kangaroo. Third,
5:49
there's Ruscoll the Ruler skating bear. He's two feet tall and looks almost like
5:54
real. Fourth, there's Whitey the fat indoor stoman. And fifth Mortar with
5:57
the giant mouse eighteen inches long and shortest garlow whiskers off any cat. That's
6:01
five different giant animals. But now hold your breath for the most sensational toy
6:05
of all, the star of the whole Christmas season, the jolly giant talking
6:10
Santa Claus, guaranteed to make everybody's Christmas a merrier one. He's a big,
6:14
roly poly, happy Santa. He stands erect on two legs, is
6:16
actually over three feet tall and thirty two inches around. Best of all,
6:20
he actually talks. Just pull the tape and he says Merry Christmas for all
6:26
to hear. He's the biggest, merriest talking as Santa ever, sure to
6:30
please your youngsters and spread goods. Here, yes, Giant Santa proves there
6:32
really is a Santa Claus. That's a total of six giant animals made of
6:36
brightly colored preforms dirty latex, which the kids can easily inflate. And the
6:41
costs just one dollar, not for each, just one dollar for all.
6:45
Six of these lovable giants will turn your home into a circus parade. And
6:49
here's a surprise. Mail your order today and you'll also receive absolutely free Peter
6:55
the Rabbit, actually over two feet tall with big red ears almost nine inches
6:59
long. But you must send now Rush one dollar plus ten cents for packing
7:03
and mailing for each set you want to Giant Animals, Box ninety, Grand
7:08
Central Station, New York City. If not delighted with every one of your
7:12
seven Giant Animals, return them to the Super Animals Company for a full refund,
7:15
but keep the Giant Talking Sata as our gift. Order Now supplies are
7:19
limited. Rush one dollar and ten cents for packing and mailing for each set
7:24
in cash, check or money order to Giant Animals Box ninety, Grand Central
7:28
Station, New York City. That's one dollar plus ten cents with your name
7:31
of the dress. Mail to Giant Animals Box nine oh, Box ninety,
7:35
Grand Central Station, New York City. Giant Animals Box ninety, Grand Central
7:41
Station, New York City. Expense account Item two one hundred and eighty five
7:47
dollars and sixty five cents. Air Fair Hartford, Connecticut. The Great Falls,
7:51
Montana, the nearest point I could make to Culver by air. Item
7:55
three three bucks. I took the train to Culver. Sometimes when I'm having
8:01
nightmares, I dream about the Smeller stacks standing up against the cadaverous hills that
8:05
lie to the south of town. Everything, including the three or four feet
8:07
of snow covered with a uniformed dinginess, made Culver an ugly little town set
8:13
in an ugly notch between two ugly mountains. The only hotel in town was
8:16
the Butte. It happened to be four stories high. It also happened to
8:20
be the place where George Henderson had met his death. Okay, just a
8:30
minute, mister dollar. Yeah, I'm Eve Holton, sheriff here. Huh.
8:39
You're from the insurance people, aren't you. That's right. I've been
8:43
expecting it you'd be in sooner or later. I'm glad to meet you,
8:46
mister Holton. Call me eve Son. Everybody did, and hey, good
8:52
drink on you, and no I haven't. Well, I got one on
8:56
me nice and chilly too. Well, I'll see it. There's some glasses
9:00
around this here. He didn't waste any time looking me up, No,
9:05
I guess I didn't, Son. I thought it to save a little time
9:07
this way. I knew you'd be looking me up sooner or later. I
9:11
really thought we ought to have this drink together. Private may not have any
9:15
more together while you're here. Well, health and happiness boy, same to
9:26
you. No, this drink we're having this is in your room, and
9:33
I'm just a fellow welcoming you to culver in my office or on that street
9:37
out there. I'm a sheriff and I'm going to be real official, all
9:41
right, go on. I want you to notice I'm not asking any questions
9:43
of your son. I'm just answering anything that you might want to ask me
9:46
right now. Hu, you're gonna have to plow ahead yourself on this one
9:50
pretty much alone. Let me tell you what kind of plowing you got in
9:54
the store for you. Ecuse me. Now, First off, this is
10:01
a little burg like you ain't used to. We got thirty five hundred four
10:05
thousand people living here, some of'em working that mine you've seen on your way
10:09
into town. Others higher out to work on the ranches around here, some
10:13
in business. Very tight little place. We hardly ever fool around with anybody
10:18
else. Sure are you're here because your insurance company don't like to pay off
10:22
on a policy without knowing whys and where for it. They don't like the
10:26
word accident without knowing some of the details. No, they don't. There's
10:31
a lot of people here, most people who don't care about those details.
10:35
As a matter of fact, son, they'd all just as soon put old
10:39
George Henderson down on the ground and said it was an accident and let it
10:41
go with that. Well maybe it was Sheriff. I don't know, but
10:46
I'm gonna find out. Yeah, well, now let me go on.
10:48
Those people who don't like the details, don't like detail getters, you understand,
10:54
h Yeah, scary any not yet YouTube all rights. So maybe you'd
11:01
kind of like to get your coat on and come to your funeral with me.
11:03
Starts at three andersens. Yeah, give a chance to look around,
11:07
get the lay of the land. Okay, good idea. I wondered what
11:11
kind of bullworkers insurance companies turned out. I like you, Dollar, You're
11:16
all right. You ain't bothering with any questions till you've got some worthwhile asking.
11:22
You're tired a little, Well, this won't take too long. A
11:31
half hour later, I was standing beside Sheriff Eve holding on a flat top
11:35
hillside that served as a cemetery. The snow was white and gleaming under the
11:39
winter sun of the mid afternoon skies. The air cold and crisp. Do
11:46
they our Heavenly Father, who knoweth all things? We commit the body of
11:48
our beloved to thy eternal care. They will be done. I will below,
11:52
trusting every indy mercy winged up the constellation of thy shouldering wing birth Stuart
12:01
ashes to ashes, dust to dust and sure in certain hope of resurrection into
12:07
eternal life, and the name of your father. And it was sid And
12:11
of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Oh that's that, yeah, poor George
12:24
ef. Which one is missus Henderson r? That's Pauline Henderson. Yeah,
12:31
that's her. Well, she can't be more than twenty five, twenty six
12:35
to be exact. Dollar. I went to her birthday party two months ago.
12:39
Well, how old was George Henderson fifty nine? Went to his party
12:43
too? Yeah? Pretty thing. Very Any other family Nope, No other
12:52
wife, nope, quarter meter no not right now, foot yourself kind of
13:00
thought. You might start thinking when you got to look at her, and
13:03
I just keep on the way you're doing. You're doing fine. When there's
13:07
something you got to know, you find out, well, Leaf, I
13:11
already know one thing. Yeah, what's that? I'm going to ask for
13:15
a corner's inquests just from seeing her, just from seeing her. M you're
13:22
a sly one, Johnny, Johnny doller. How are you this morning?
13:45
Oh pretty good, Sheriff. How about yourself? Oh I'm fine, Danny.
13:48
You were over the city hall this morning, and that's right. I
13:50
requested the corner to conduct an inquest into the death of George Henderson. I
13:54
know. The coroner lifted up to me. Huh yeah, came into my
13:58
office and asked me if I had any reason to conduct an inquest into the
14:01
death of George Henderson. I told him I didn't have any reason, but
14:05
I'd do it if I was ordered to. Oh what happens now? Oh,
14:09
somebody will have to decide whether there's going to be an in question or
14:11
not. Oh, Mayor, I guess I don't know. Anyhow, you
14:16
stirred up some action and you'll be getting it. Yeah. Where Just stay
14:20
where you are, son, My guesses it'll come right to you. Expense
14:28
accounts submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar to Paramount Insurance Adjusters, Hartford, Connecticut.
14:35
The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the Henderson matter.
14:41
The death of George Henderson of Culver, Montana, where I am today
14:46
a casual certification announced that death is accidental having been received by a fall from
14:50
a hotel windle. No one in Culver seemed to be too worried about any
14:54
of the details, but details of my job. That's why I requested the
14:58
coroner's office to conduct a inquest. I took Sheriff Holton's suggestion and waited to
15:03
see what my request flushed up in the dingy colored mountains of Culver. An
15:07
hour later, my first bird winged up to my hotel room. He was
15:15
a tall, gray haired man and a stetson, earmuffs and the western version
15:18
of a Chesterfield. His Honor Mayor Newton, mister Dollar, I want to
15:24
talk to you about this request you made for an inquest into George Henderson's death.
15:28
Yes, sir, mister Mayor, you are aware, of course that
15:31
George's death, and he was one of my beloved and personal friends for many,
15:37
many years, was a great blow to the entire community. No,
15:41
I didn't know that, Mayor Newton. Only the smallest part of the community
15:45
were at his funeral yesterday afternoon. His widow and I'd say not more than
15:48
half a dozen other people. I understand that your insurance company is not quite
15:54
satisfied with the certificationers at correct more or less, What would they need to
16:00
be satisfied, Sir, an exact knowledge of how mister Henderson fell out that
16:06
hotel window. I would rather no inquest were held into mister Henderson's death.
16:11
Why, Sir, George Henderson is dead and buried. It should remain that
16:15
way. If an inquest were to be held, it would only prove that
16:18
George fell out of a window. I beg you to consider that, mister
16:22
Doner. You seem very certain that an investigation would prove that death was accidentally.
16:27
It was accidental George fell out the window. Well, I can't just
16:32
tell that to my insurance company, can I. We are a small community
16:38
with a rudimentary police force, not equipped in any way for an exhaustive investigation,
16:44
nor for the financial burden of such an investigation. I strongly urge you
16:48
to reconsider this request for a carner's inquest. You do, I do.
16:53
Indeed, his untimely death was an unfortunate occurrence, outside the pay you of
17:00
any of our poor abilities to foresee a terrible, terrible accident. I'd like
17:07
proof of that proof an inquest, mister mayor her inquest? All right,
17:21
we will continue with the Henderson matter in a moment. My interview with Mayor
17:30
Newton had convinced me that I'd get no real help from him in the Henderson
17:33
matter. Quite the contrary expense account item three twenty cents coffee myself and Sheriff
17:37
EF Fulton. Well you got it, huh. At the direction of mister
17:41
Jackson, that's our corner. He deputized me temporarily to conduct an inquest.
17:47
It's going to take place tomorrow morning, nine o'clock, City Hall, tomorrow,
17:49
Sheriff Room two o seven. Well, Eve, you won't have time
17:53
to do anything. I guess I won't not much anyhow, Brother the Mayor
17:59
pitched me pretty hard for not having the inquest. I knew he would any
18:03
idea. Why nope, you think somebody asked him to stop it? Yeah,
18:07
who don't know, Johnny honest. The next morning I struggled my way
18:18
against the belligerent north wind the City Hall and the inquest, if you could
18:22
call it that. I sat in the back of the rum and listened while
18:25
a doctor Horace Nam assured the six man jury that George Henderson was quite dead
18:29
when he was called out of his office and examined him on the street.
18:32
Doctor Nam reckoned George had died from a broken neck. An ancient bellhop,
18:36
a desk clerk, and a chambermaid gave their versions of what had happened to
18:38
day Henderson fell out the window I used for her to tell the truth to
18:42
hold too, so up, you got I do share if I'm the acting
18:47
coroner today, Miss Cubley, sit down now, When did you see mister
18:53
Henderson last last Thursday morning? Where was this Miss Cubley at the Beaute hope
19:00
you know what time of the morning? It was about ten o'clock. I
19:03
went in to make his bed and straighten up his room. I see.
19:07
I made his bed while he worked on some papers there. Then I left.
19:10
Did you see him after that? No? Soon? You didn't see
19:14
him come downstairs for breakfast or anything. No soon. Do you know if
19:17
anybody went up to see him? I believe I saw missus Henderson in the
19:21
lobby after that. Do you see missus Henderson in this room? Yes,
19:25
sir, I believe that's missus Henderson over there. No, that's missus Henderson.
19:30
Now do you know if missus Henderson visited mister Henderson in his room?
19:34
No, sir, I don't know that Miss Cubley. Did you happen to
19:38
notice if anyone else went up to mister Henderson's room that morning? No,
19:42
Sir, I went on all morning. Sheriff Houlton, acting in the coroner's
19:48
position, questioned person after person all had more or less the same vague knowledge
19:52
concerning George Henderson's death. I was most interested in Pauline Henderson's testimony. Now,
19:57
then, Missus Henderson, when did you last see your husband? Thursday?
20:03
I went to see him about noon, maybe a little before. Where
20:07
did you see miss Henderson at the Beaute Hotel in his room there? The
20:10
same room he occupied prior to his death, of course, the same room
20:15
from which he fell. Yes? Were you alone when you went to seeing
20:18
Missus Henderson? Yes, I must have left before twelve thirty I had an
20:22
appointment of the dentist. That was the last time you saw your husband alive.
20:27
Yes, I was still in the dentist's chair when they told me he'd
20:30
fallen out the window. What did you and your husband talk about, Missus
20:34
Henderson? Must I answer that, well, we're trying to determine something here.
20:41
I appreciate it. George and I discussed our divorce. Could you tell
20:45
us about that. George and I decided to part about a month ago.
20:49
He moved out of the house and moved into the hotel outside of the divorce.
20:55
Were you on good terms? Oh? Yes, We've always been on
20:57
good terms, Missus Henderson. Do you think there's a chance that he might
21:02
have thrown himself out that windows? Missus Henderson, do you think he might
21:08
have thrown himself out that window? No, at least not over us,
21:11
if that's what you mean. As far as you knew, was your husband
21:15
in good hell? Yes he was. You happen to know when he was
21:18
examined last, oh, a month or so ago, he was in perfect
21:22
health. One more thing, did mister Henderson drink? Yes? Did he
21:26
drink that morning with you? I think he had a couple of drinks?
21:32
Yes, Yes, he had a drink or two while we were talking.
21:34
He could have stumbled at that window close were New York, the perfumed Paris,
21:38
the jewelry, Tiffany's the look he might expect it on the riviera,
21:42
where everybody tries to wag board with too many good things in life. Her
21:47
dress, blank for the occasion of death, was cut too well and too
21:49
carefully for her to pass as a grieving widow. She answered the questions without
21:52
hesitation or emotion. Fifteen minutes later, the jury brought in the expected verdict.
21:59
Therefore, it is the opinion of this jury that the said deceased George
22:03
Walder Henderson came to his death as a result of injuries incurred in the fall
22:07
from the fourth floor of the Butte Hotel at Or about twelve forty five pm
22:11
on the nineteenth day of this month. No evidence to the contrary. It
22:15
is deemed and declared that the manner of death was accidental adjourned as far as
22:23
culverts people, it's police and its mayor were concerned. Yeah, the mayor.
22:30
Well, mister Dollar, I hope you're satisfied. It was a pretty
22:33
good inquest, manne Owtin. I trust the official verdict of the jury will
22:37
answer any questions your insurance company might have had on their minds and clear this
22:42
whole matter of them. I'll forward it to them and tell them the circumstances
22:47
under which the inquest was conducted. Mister Mayor Sanders Factory, I trust no,
22:52
but it served a purpose. Now that everybody thinks it was an accident,
22:56
everybody will breathe easier, certainly. Yeah, if everybody's relaxing like that,
23:02
somebody's going to get careless. See you, mister mayor Johnny Dollar will
23:22
be back in a moment to tell you about tomorrow's episode. Friends, Send
23:26
for your set of some of the most exciting toys of the year, six
23:30
giant inflatable toys for only one dollar, some up to three feet tall.
23:33
You get Bounce All the Happy Clown Happy, the Australian kangaroo, Ruscoe,
23:37
the two feet long roller skating bear, Whitey, the fat indoor snowman,
23:41
Mortimer the Giant mouse eighteen inches long and less but not least, the Great
23:45
Giant Talking Santa, a roly poly giant over three feet tall and thirty two
23:49
inches around the belly that actually says Merry Christmas out loud when you pull the
23:55
tape. That Six sensational giant toys for only one dollar made of sturdy gaily
23:59
call latex that the kids can easily inflate. Send one dollar for each set
24:03
to Giant Animals Box forty six Grand Central Station, New York City. And
24:07
if you want to right now, you get Peter the Rabbit over two feet
24:11
tall, absolutely free. If not delighted with your Giant Animals. Your money
24:15
refunded immediately. Order today. You may never hear this offer again. Rush
24:18
one dollar plus ten cents for packing and mailing in cash, check or money
24:22
order to Giant Animals, Box four six Grand Central Station, New York City.
24:26
That's one dollar plus ten cents for each set with your name of address
24:30
to Giant Animals, Box forty six Grand Central Station, New York City.
24:40
Now here's our star to tell you about tomorrow's episode of the Henderson Matter.
24:44
People do get careless tomorrow all over Calver, Montana. John Us want you
24:49
yours truly, Johnny Dollar, Yours truly, Johnny Dollars starrying Bob Bailey is
24:57
transcribed in a hollyw written by John Dawson. It is produced and directed by
25:03
Jack Johnstone. Be sure and join us tomorrow night at the same time and
25:07
station for the next exciting episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Deller. Roy Roland
25:11
speaking welcome back. Well, I can kind of relate to this episode since
25:41
my family lived in Montana for quite a few years, and I spent about
25:47
four years living in a small town, actually smaller than Culver. It was
25:52
this town of Eureka, of course, is an entirely different part of the
25:56
state, entirely different set of scenery. There are some places, like Johnny
26:03
Doller described in Part one, where due to the way a lot of the
26:10
mining was conducted in the nineteenth century, as well as they that in one
26:18
part of the state, eastern part, they had kind of their own many
26:23
depression slash dustbel situation that saw a lot of areas get depopulated. You do
26:30
have some less pleasant landscapes. The physical landscape much different up near Eureeka.
26:37
That's in the northwest part of the state, about sixty seventy miles from Glacier.
26:41
But I could imagine a lot of the social dynamics the same if they're
26:47
you know, it would definitely be a sensation in that town if there were
26:55
a depth of a prominent citizen and insurance investigator was insisting it wasn't an accident
27:03
or really not buying what the local police have to have to say. So
27:11
I could see some of this playing althem, perhaps not to the same extreme,
27:17
just because of the sociological dynamics. All right, Well, listener comments
27:22
and feedback, I have quite a few from Johnny on Johnny Doller. David
27:30
says, Virginia, Greg was always fun to hear in these episode Thanks for
27:34
playing them. Joyce says, we are hooked on Johnny Doller and safety Kitty
27:45
Post. We love your sight and Johnny Dowler and thanks so much. I
27:55
appreciate your support and I do. I am also plays when I see the
28:06
when I see the we in there, which means that, if anything,
28:10
are counts of downloads and how many people are listening to the program or perhaps
28:18
a bit understated, if somebody are listening with friends and loved ones. So
28:25
appreciate everybody out there that listens and that will actually do it for today.
28:30
Remember you can follow the show on Twitter at Radio Detectives, become one of
28:37
our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com slash Radio Detectives, and be sure
28:42
and a lot a friend. If you know a friend who would enjoy the
28:45
show, be sure and let them know about it. But from Boise,
28:48
Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, sign and off.