Latest / Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas / Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Peerless Fire Matter (EP1351)

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Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Peerless Fire Matter (EP1351) · Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas

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Just email me and I'll provide you a mailing address. With that said,
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though, let's go ahead and get into today's episode of Yours Truly Johnny Dollar.
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Today's program is the Pairless Fire Matter on Hollywood. It's time no or
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Donny? Do you smell smoke? Johnny? What do you think? Who
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is? That? Will be at course State Mitchel and John? Oh,
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Hi, Hank, And I asked if you smell smoke? Good eye?
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What guy the guy five thousand dollars makes when it goes up? And playing?
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Where I'll bring Cranford the place junk Guy up. That's right. But
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if there's only five thousand dollars laws, how can you afford me? Because
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what I smell is as for Bob Bailey and the exciting adventures of the man
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with the action packed expense account, America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator is truly Johnny
3:23
Dollar, and now act one of yours, truly Johnny dollars expense account submitted
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by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar to the four State Mutual Insurance Company Highford, Connecticut.
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Following is an account of expenses encourage during my investigation of the peerless fire
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matter expense account out of one a dollar even cab to Hank Willoughby's office in
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the Security National Building or he lost no time in getting to the point unless
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he was taken up by one Oscar H. Lehman about four years ago.
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He's the owner of the junkyard address of the units corner of Howard and Kingsway
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Boulevard. And why do you suspect arson? I fire didn't start until about
4:23
four o'clock this morning. When I got hit of the office a few minutes
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after nine, the claim was already on my disk, almost as though he'd
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had it filled out and waiting even before the fire occurred. Huh, precisely.
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How much do you know about this man Layman? Nothing really on center
4:35
the data on the policy. His home address is a two thirty two weeks
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fourth Street, also in Cramferd. Yeah, okay, Hank, I'll see
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what I can see. I had him two forty cents phone call to make
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sure the suspect or. At this point, I guess I better call him
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a client to make sure he'd be around for questions. Here's PA's oscar nam
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on the lame of this is Johnny Dollar, representing your insurance company. So
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why do you waste time in the den home that maybe you're coming? Here?
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Is my chake for five thousand dollars either of me? Yeah, well,
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you see, there are a couple of things that's all all night.
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I'd be waiting for you when you come as the money good bye. Huh.
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Item three one for a train ticket at Cranford. Had him four two
5:30
dollars for an old rattle trap taxi when I got there. Cranford is a
5:38
new town or other, a new one built on what was left for the
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old when the Big clock company folded up at the end of World War Two,
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Cranford kind of fell to pieces what situated as it was just a few
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miles about the busy city of New Haven, a bunch of smart New York
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operators that stepped in, and we're busy making a nice modern residential community out
5:55
of it. New stores, new homes and all the fixations. You see.
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Then block up there ahead. I had a big fighting there that day,
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an big junk yard. Yeah, I see, man was really hot.
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Thought it was going to take the three hounds there on Howard Street along
6:11
with it, you know, flying embers and the heating all, but the
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wind swung round. He didn't even get touched. Yeah, well, pull
6:16
up, well, yeah, I want to look it over. Came,
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I see you the boss. Hey, you want me to get the meter
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running? No, I'll leave you here. Kay. That eighty five cents,
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but it would have been a buck and a half where you first wanted
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to go. Okay, hey, hey, dang boy, how I hate
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to see that junk yard? Gun? Oh? Why oh, that's where
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I've been buying my parks to keep the Gold Great tied together. You know
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something, it looks now that pilot is gone. I'll probably either have to
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get a new camp or either try and fix this one up, right,
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you know that cost goes? Yeah, well, happy fixing. Like I
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say, though, out of something bad, oh he comes something good.
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Sure, And I'm not only my taxting this year, but them Hans are
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there too. What about that they're on Howard Street that they've been beefing their
7:04
heads off ever since the yard got it flight? So now no more Junkyard.
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Now the whole place could be residential like at Uti. Like I always
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say, out of something bad, I always I'm good. Yeah, yeah,
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I gotta get gone, know something. Maybe that fire gives me a
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good idea, like maybe I should burn up this old wreck of mind.
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And the insurance company it'd have to show me in know and hen you I
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got that. Maybe you'd better be careful who you say that so, especially
7:30
not to an insurance investigator. Don't you worry? But I'm too smart?
7:35
You you that's right? Oh, happy day. In spite of the value
7:48
efforts of fire in chief Jail Mirley and his crew, the peerless Junkyard was
7:53
just that chunk, and he agreed with the camp driver. The other property
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owners were probably glad to see the eyes are go up and well you wouldn't
8:01
like it either, dollar having a place like that in your front yard.
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And just take a look at those folks standing around you see what I mean.
8:07
Yeah, I must admit they don't look very unhappy about it. So
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the fire started in the ship that stood right here, that's right. Yeah,
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it's a big shed that Pillas used to store a lot of old furniture
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and stuff like that. Hey, Peter hit that carner or whatever, small
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pole. Yeah, I'm goin to run the grocery store on the catty corner,
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and he sleeps upstairs over it that a goal came up, went off
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with a boom, like a small explosion. Have you considered the possibility of
8:35
arsency? Yeah? I have. That's why I called New Haven asked them
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to send up a couple of men from their spatial squad. But you found
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no trace, nothing I could put my finger on. You got any ideas,
8:46
Yeah, yeah, I think maybe I have. I learned a long
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time ago that a lumber yard or a furniture factory were about the worst places
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in the world to look for signs of arsens. The wood goes up so
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hot, I'm so fast, and the remains of the ship wouldn't be much
9:03
better. So I walked over to the little grocery store and spin out him
9:07
five twenty one cents for a wolf of white bread, and I rejoined Cheef
9:11
Finley at the rowing the shower. The next person come up from it?
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Hey, hey, what's the matter? Dollar? You could get to eat
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breakfast? Oh? Something like that? Hey you want a junk d without
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strawberry jam and a cup of coffee? Hey, herb beg it he for
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you're a stop it around like that? You wipe out all the clues.
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And I got told you, Dollar, that fire started somewhere right around here,
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and the quick shift and the wind moved it over that way. Gee,
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yeah, here, shoe a piece of this fresh bread. Well that's
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right, chee it. Get the taste of it in your mind? What
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po to it? Would you? Please? Here? You've got an idea
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of man? You bet I have here? You mean, chewing on a
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hunk of bread is going He's going to watch I'll swallow it? What is
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this a gag? Something's gone out by a long shot. Now watch,
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well, don't throw the wait now you got my appetite up, I'll have
10:01
some more work, you know, chew on this piece. Well, if
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you dropped it in the ation, that's right, chew on it. Oh
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now wait do it? I'm serious? Holy kerosine, that's right. Well
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I'll be dog gone. Yeah, fresh bread will pick up even the slightest
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trace even after the fire. And after a fire, that means kerosene was
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brought in and poured over the floor of this furniture. Shuld to set it
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off and dollar I'm going to get into the police and have him locked up
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with Wasker a Layman. So now wait what for until I can talk to
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Laman? Wow? Now look you look, this isn't any absolute proof of
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arsenal. It's good enough for me. It's good enough for a suspicion charge.
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I'll tell the police what I found out. Who found uh, well,
10:43
what I found out. I don't forget that. But if it puts
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us on the trail of an arsonist, if you like, you can take
10:50
the credit for it, only if you'll cooperate. Yeah, but doub Otherwise
10:54
you'll lose any cooperation for me. Okay, yeah, okay, yeah it
11:03
am six eighty cents caved to the addressed on East fourth Street, where Oscar
11:07
Layman lived. Michael Howard Street address. This was a hands been section.
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Layman's home reminded me of some of those on the other side of the town,
11:16
next to the junk yard. When the old carried to let me and
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I wasted no time in getting to the point. You ask why I should
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be staying here in my home instead of his the yard, And I'm asking
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you why not? What good can I do over there? My lovely junk
11:30
yard is gone. There's nothing I can do. So I'm waiting here to
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correct the money your company owes me. So are you going to bay me
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or not? One of that depends. As I started to say, I
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tell you I didn't even know about the fire until I went down there.
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The olden mobby gave them starts a day. What time did you get down
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there, mister Lamon there no CD right already. You shouldn't waste any time
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getting your claim into the office, and heart of course no. So,
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so as I say about happen, I time up the claim and take it
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to heart Ford and the office is closed, so I leave it under the
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door. Yeah, well what else could I do it? Around? That
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way? To think about it? Why the money is coming to me?
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That's my money as I should have it. You know how much merchant I
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are having that yard twenty twenty five thousand dollars retail? Yeah, then why'd
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you Bernada? Do you think I'm crazy? I should do that? I
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think? Don't you understand? Now? I'm out of face? And that
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for god? What I mean my my license for the yard on condition?
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You know, a conditional license. Yeah, that's right. If I'm not
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in business every day, I lose the license, I lose the lease on
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the land. Then they make houses little stores at the big development company.
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So you're crazy to come and talk to me. Tell me I should say
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it fire. Maybe I've certainly changed my mind, mister Lehman. Maybe I've
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already met the arsenist and I was just too blind to see it. BacT
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too of yours, truly, Johnny Dollar in a moment. Our flag now
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numbers fifty stars, and behind each star there stands yet another flag representing one
13:28
of the fifty states. Missouri's state flag is a horizontal tricolor of red,
13:33
vibe and blue. In the center is a circular device bearing the state coat
13:39
of arm an eagle, symbolizing the superior authority of the nation. A grizzly
13:45
bear representing Missouri, chosen for his size, strength and valor, and the
13:50
crescent moon symbolic of the shield carried by the second Sun, Missouri being the
13:54
second state carved out of the Louisiana territory. A belt encircles the coat of
14:01
arms with a motto inscribed United, we stand, Divided we fall. A
14:07
top the flag is a cluster of stars representing the Union, with a larger
14:11
star for Missouri as she surmounts her difficulties and assumes her rank among the states.
14:18
The state motto is also inscribed on the flag, Salos populi suprema lex
14:26
esto the welfare of the people shall be the supreme law. Surrounding the device
14:31
is a group of twenty four star Missouri's state flag, a flag of the
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twenty fourth state to enter the Union, was adopted on March twenty second,
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nineteen hundred and thirteen, and now Act two of Yours Truly. Johnny Dollar
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and the Peerless Fire matter. Oh, something the camp driver has s said
15:00
while taking me to the scene of the Junkyard fire, and something come back
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to me. He's been talking about the nearby property owners, homeowners. They've
15:07
been beeping their head off ever since they got it licensed. So now no
15:09
more junk yard. Now the whole place can be residential. I get out
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of Yeah, like I always say, out of something bad, always comb
15:16
something to right them. Seven eighty five cents another taxi. Back to the
15:20
scene of the fire. The men from the department were still busy cleaning up.
15:24
The chief dal Moley had been busy with some detective work, had some
15:26
answers that seemed to make good sense. I don't care. You see this
15:30
hardware, See this groove in the foundation wall. Yeah, big sliding door,
15:33
huh, that's right. And here the lock was still in a half
15:39
and I see it's hardly locking. Somebody tried to pull a big sliding door
15:41
closed and lock it after starting a fire with caro scene too dangerous unless he
15:46
used a wick of some kind. Yeah. Yeah, but look here on
15:50
the side that faced Howard Street Street, I just call this an alley.
15:52
Yeah, I'm pretty narrow from the old age. Now look here on this
15:58
window glass, right, Yeah, there was a window here. You see
16:02
here, here's the two parts of the catch growing. The catch was opened,
16:06
and the question is was it open from the inside or outside? And
16:08
I think I've got the answer. Look across the street. So those homes
16:15
and the little lawns and gardens in front of them. So what you see
16:18
the rocks they all used the border their flower beds. Go on, she
16:22
I'll look there, just inside the shed where the window was, I found
16:27
this rock under the ashes dollar. It looks to me like somebody threw that
16:32
rock through the glass, opened the catch, climbed in, spread the kerosene,
16:34
climbed out, tossed in a light of some kind of left in a
16:37
hurry. But that's just it. You got a better idea than old man
16:42
Layman. You talk to him? Yeah, I think I have like who.
16:47
I'll let you know when I find out the name. Well, now,
16:48
wait about a dollar. I hope that last crack would keep Chief Marley
16:55
from sending the police after Oscar Lama. Maybe he was guilty of firing his
16:59
own junk yard, but with only five thousand insurance, I didn't make sense,
17:03
and I had a couple of better ideas, at least about people who
17:07
might have had reason to do it. Three is a matter of fact,
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or there were three residentss on Howard Street facing what remained of the junk yard.
17:15
Thanks to the sudden shift of wind. They receive little damage. I
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walked down the short length of Howard Street to the first old house. The
17:22
name Howard mcgeil was on the little metal mailbox as well. What is it,
17:30
mister McNeil. I'm Johnny Dollar insurance investigator looking into this junkyard fire.
17:33
This is a fine time to come around and selling insurance after the fire is
17:37
out. You should know better, young, all No, you misunderstood me.
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Wait, don't know what would have happened. If that wind hadn't changed.
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It would have set this whole block on fire. That's what it would
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have done. It would have burned us all out. We'd have been healthy.
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Yes, Speter McDaniel, That poor old the lady is coming down there
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in the third house, right across from the shed where the whole thing's starting
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us to McNeil, Yes, I'm not here to sell insurance. I'm investigating
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the fire. I understand, Well, don't what's that? You can stop
18:03
right now, just leave things as to be. Don't you know that fire
18:07
was a blessing? I'm not quite sure I said blessing. That fire was
18:11
the finest thing that happened around here in years. Oh, you like it's
18:18
having happened. I just better I do the only way we could ever get
18:22
rid of that awful pile of junk right in our front yards. Now,
18:26
maybe they'll give us back our nice little park they need to sit there,
18:27
or built a lot of track houses, all right, what do they do?
18:32
Anything is better than that wretched junkyard. I hated it. Everybody's hated
18:37
it. I hated it enough to set it on fire, Yes, or
18:41
we absolutely? No? Me? Well, a quiet, peace loving person
18:52
like me, Oh no, why I wouldn't even think of such a thing,
18:56
especially since that fire might have got out of control and burned me up.
19:00
Do you carry insurance? Of course I do not. I don't believe
19:03
in it. No, So don't you try to tell me? I told
19:04
you I'm an investigator. Well, why don't you ask that nothing if he
19:08
had insurance? Not say that Oscar Lehman, the own that gurky young guard.
19:15
Why do you call him that? Well he's a German, is what.
19:17
It doesn't make him a Nazi? Well it does need anybody who wangle
19:21
a license to put up a filthy place like that on our beautiful street,
19:23
especially if he's a German. Well to me. He's a nazier the worst
19:26
time, the worst kind, the very worst time. I think she's a
19:32
ladies man. All right, now, I have you any idea who besides
19:34
you would have liked to see that place burn up? I certainly have.
19:40
Why don't you ask the police? They were here at dawn asking us all
19:44
questions? You said, asking us all? Of course I mentioned the window
19:49
of commings and live in the third house. And then there's missus Gertrude,
19:55
Mary Anna Stacia Conra and the nice spincy lady who lives next door. Anyth
20:00
very charming lady, Miss Conroy. Well now you want when what spirit?
20:03
She has not left the way. I like them ladies with spirit. And
20:07
do you know something that one of these days I'm going to ask her for
20:11
a dating in spite of the competition. You never have, no, no,
20:17
sir, no no, I'm not the bold type like some people I
20:19
know who had I I've been working up to it. And how long have
20:23
you been a neighbor? It is sixteen years? And you mark my word.
20:26
One of these days I'm going to mark right up on her front porch
20:30
and Miss Conroy, I'm going to say, well, thank you very much,
20:33
years. But I was going to tell you what I do. Oh,
20:36
dear, I'm just said something wrong, and what the divil is that
20:45
you would be oneting Miss Conroy is right, I don't just see this time
20:51
beside the door. No pedulous, no solicitations to be gone with you.
20:53
I'm busy cleaning a small got to be house for that offer, pig.
20:57
That's well, that's what I'm calling about. I'm a fire I'm an assurance
21:00
investigator regator. Ah, well, not justin. If you're an investigator,
21:11
young man, if you see your badge right, that's right. If you're
21:14
an investigator, you're a detective. And if you're one of them, you're
21:18
with the policeman. No, no, you can go right back and have
21:21
your chief. I've had me. If you're right up to here with answering
21:23
full questions about that fire, and if I had, what did you?
21:29
For years now it connimed and connected how to get that terrible dirty Selphy Junkyard
21:34
out of this neighborhood. And no, poor soul he's lost that Oh I
21:40
could cry my eyes out what a lovely old man he is when I finally
21:45
met him, That dear mister Lemon, all the horrible things that hit her
21:49
done to him. The party escaped him, Nazis that took over his final
21:53
old country, and when he got here, he put all his savings in
21:57
that lovely second hand lot so you could earn an honest live. I'm afraid
22:03
I don't know that's a fine man, such a gentleman. Do we get
22:07
clearly heeled and bow when you come and colin on Sunday after no longer omen
22:11
A, miss Connor, I don't get it. A couple of minutes ago
22:14
you sounded as though you hated that junk yard second hand lot. So I
22:18
did until I got to know that nice mister Damon. And I'll tell you
22:22
this in spite and despite the fact they won't ever let him set up in
22:26
the same kind of business again. If it takes every Sunday own, I'll
22:30
see that it gets started in something else investigator, insurance investigator. And then
22:34
I suppose I can tell you confidential that I've set me kept for the oscar.
22:41
You mean you hope to marry him, hi, and that I will
22:45
before him through. But I got the impression that your neighbor, mister mcneede,
22:49
that's crazy. Your stigma that will but if you're from the insurance company,
22:56
how can I help you lad with your investigation? Well, you can't
23:02
tell me this. Why is your friend mister Lehman in need of money particularly?
23:07
Well, no, his business has been good. He writes a nice
23:11
car and keeps a nice home. But like I said, if he needs
23:14
more than he's got to get started again, I'll be the first to help
23:18
him. Besides, it will sort of help to bring us closer together if
23:22
I'm worrying about him a bit. No want, yes, I guess it.
23:26
Well, I just want to you. No, wait a minute,
23:30
Wait a minute, it's so blind. I was thinking to me, done
23:33
and ask her, So that's what you went up to with your nastic questions
23:38
implication that he might have burned up his place by his own self to get
23:41
the insurance money. Is that what you're ever filthy mind was thinking of.
23:45
I didn't say that that's what you meant. No, after all, somebody
23:49
set that fire. And if he was and needed money, because I told
23:53
the poor sould he gets his claim and real quick this mind you told him.
23:57
Of course, I did give him something to do besides standing around in
24:02
the ruins crying his poor old eyes out keeping his harrows to hisself. But
24:07
I'll soon put to stop to that. I'll cook him up a real nice
24:11
metacon beef and cabbage, a German style, that is, and take it
24:15
over for his supper, to comfort and keep him company. And what would
24:18
you be doing for the poor soul? Well, that depends, it depends.
24:23
Will you in that insurance company that will pay? I'll put your old
24:26
him instead of making snide talk about maybe hisself set that fire, and he's,
24:32
oh, get out, go on, get out? Twice? Should
24:33
I be wasting my time talking to the likes of you when I've got cook
24:37
him to do for me? Oh? Brother, this was turning out to
24:45
be the most offbeat insurance matter I ever handled. Well, there was only
24:51
one suspect left, the woman living in the third house, offs of the
24:53
shed where the pirates started the winter Cummings Mcneila calder. I went over the
24:59
porch, rang the doorbell and again. After the third time, I was
25:08
about to decide no one was home when the door was folly open, and
25:14
just inside the door in a wheelchair, said a little old lady, hale,
25:18
gray haired. Her face reflected ears of pain of work I've been waiting
25:25
for you to come, mister Dollar, So you know who I am.
25:29
I overheard you at my window when you talked to mister McNeil and Missus Conrad.
25:33
Listening to the neighborhood. Is the only thing I have left these days,
25:37
tied down as I am to this wheelchair. Yes, I see,
25:41
I'm sorry. Come in and sit down, please nice. There's no one
25:49
to take care of youre only Rudolph, who does as little as he is,
25:56
and you must take him away, mister Dona. Rudolph my stepson who
26:03
keeps me here, waits for me to die. What not even a rest
26:08
home for I'd have care and friends, but here to die. He'd help
26:12
me die too if he did. Because of the money. What money Missus
26:18
Cummings had. My husband left me a lot, mister Dona, and this
26:22
Rudol wants to get his hands on him. That's all he wants. That's
26:27
why he wants me dead. But he hasn't. They had killed me because
26:32
everybody knows that we're alone here together, and if I should die from his
26:37
neglect, they'd know he did it. But he's smart. That's why he
26:41
thought of the fire. Gee what he thought that it would burn down his
26:48
house too, and tap me here, Missus Cummings, do you know what
26:51
you're saying? The divine providence, the changing wind kept the fire away.
26:56
He set that fire to burn this house, and you he's clever. He
27:02
made it known that he'd be away all night, that he wouldn't be back
27:03
here until he finished his work at the plant in New Haven. But he
27:07
came back, mister Donner, this morning before dawn. I heard him hear
27:15
in this house, and from this window I could see him in the moonlight,
27:22
Missus Culling. Now I must tell you quickly, because he'd be coming
27:26
back from work, his work to keep up appearances, to keep them from
27:30
suspecting the gambling, the terrible people he goes out there that night gangsters,
27:37
that's all. And I must tell you because if I don't listen to me,
27:44
imist. I saw him take a can the kerosenely keeping the setup when
27:49
the electricity goes out. He took it across the street and broke the window
27:53
of the shed and went in. Then he came out and threw a piece
27:57
of burning waste back in. Then ran, Missus Cummings. Are you sure
28:04
I lied to the police. I couldn't make myself tell him after all these
28:11
years of knowing what he's been and saying nothing. But I thought i'd wait
28:18
for him. Maybe when he saw as he were planet failed but I was
28:22
still here, maybe I could make him give himself up. But in my
28:30
heart I knew he wouldn't because he's bad all dead. Missus Cummings, I'm
28:42
glad you told me God forgive me, but I knew. I knew that
28:49
if I didn't, he find some other way. You must take him away,
28:56
mister Darla before he does. Men expense account out of eight ten dollars
29:15
board in Rome. I've stayed an extra day in Cranford to clear things up
29:19
for while I waited for Rudolph to return. I found the kerosene dammy us
29:22
down in the cellar. Chief Marley found the top from it in the ashes.
29:27
The police have since found only his prints on it. Rudolph was in
29:32
the city jail, and I'm sure Missus Cummings will testify against him. After
29:36
all, her life is at stake. Hoskit Layman, his claim will be
29:41
paid in full. Well. I hope he and Miss Conroy lived happily ever
29:47
after. Expense account total inputting incidentals on the way back to Hartford fourteen dollars
29:52
forty six cents, Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Now Here is our star
30:11
to tell you about next week's story. Next week exploration in the High Sierra
30:15
Country of California, and at the end of the trail live day, join
30:21
us, won't you yours truly Johnny dollars? Yours truly, Johnny Dollars,
30:37
starring Bob Dailey, originates in Hollywood, is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone,
30:41
who also wrote tonight's story. Heard in our cast were Virginia Greg Peggy
30:47
Weber, John Stephenson, Herb Bigrant, Hunts, Conried, Boris Lewis,
30:51
and Parley Bear. Musical supervision is by Amerigo Marino. Be sure to join
30:56
us next week, same time and station for another exciting story of yours,
31:00
Julie, Johnny Dollar. This is Dan Coverly speaking. Welcome back with respect,
31:40
Johnny. This was not the most off the wall case you've ever taken.
31:45
I hate to point this out, but this episode aired me the fifth
31:52
of nineteen fifty seven. Three weeks ago. Johnny was investigating the ming Toy
31:57
Murphy matter. He was looking for a talking dog. Second and half of
32:02
the episode was fun because we got to see three very competent actors create some
32:09
enjoyable characters. It's just like character actors go out and character act, a
32:15
very lovely thing to observe. Plus, I did like the solution with Johnny's
32:22
thinking on the case being pretty logical but just not able to anticipate who the
32:29
real target was. It was a good story and just about really following the
32:35
evidence until you get down to the truth. And so I enjoyed this one.
32:42
I mentioned mingtoy Murphy matter in in the comments, so let's go ahead
32:49
have some listener response to this one got thirty six likes and three shares on
32:54
Facebook. Some of the comments include John who says Johnny Dollar every Day plays
33:07
well, I've got five other shows, but you'll get this. You're going
33:09
to next week, but be doing pretty well with Johnny Dollar Sunday, Johnny
33:15
Dollar Tuesday, and Johnny Dollar Friday. But that's probably a bout as good
33:21
as it's going to get for now. And Austin comments regarding this episode,
33:30
this episode meantoy Murphy. This episode is really goofy. It's a great show.
33:34
Johnny Dollar and then Pastor Releasa says, I agree, this was pretty
33:37
silly. I also like the five part series better. Did they change writers
33:43
for the show at this time too, This would explain the difference. Nevertheless,
33:47
I still love Johnny Dollar and hope this new format thirty minute shows will
33:52
get better over time. Bob Bailey is a great actor regardless. Well,
33:58
thanks so much for the quite and comment, pastor re Lisa. The show
34:01
didn't really change writers during much of the serial era. They took a lot
34:07
of scripts, particularly those by E. Jack Newman and Less Crotchfield, that
34:13
were thirty minute scripts or combination of several thirty minute scripts, and kind of
34:17
created a feature length story out of it spread out over the five part serial
34:24
and the big thing they lost is the ability to expand those into more complex
34:29
stories. There would be different writers on the show, but the big reason
34:34
for that was the changing economics of radio. Radio used to be a big
34:39
source of money, with millions upon millions listening to radio drama. But by
34:45
the time you get into the mid to late fifties, there's a lot more
34:51
money to be made writing in television than there ever was in radio. So
34:58
many of the great radio writers had already begun to migrate exclusively to television,
35:04
and so you saw different writers, and unfortunately it wasn't usually new, exciting,
35:09
talented writers who were taking things by a storm. On Johnny Doller,
35:15
Jack Johnstone took a hand in writing more scripts as budgets declined. He did
35:21
a lot more on each program right up through the end of the Golden Age
35:27
Radio. So while there were no immediate changes to who wrote Johnny Dollar,
35:31
it would be a process over time and not always resulting in the highest quality
35:37
scripts. But Bob Bailey always very good to listen to and a true professional
35:43
who did the best he could with whatever script he was handed. All right,
35:47
well, I do want to remind you to support our listener support campaign.
35:52
Among the thank you guests that we do offer. At the twenty dollars
35:55
level, we will send you your choice of several Perry Mason, That's an
36:00
Audio Place from Colonial Radio Theater. Also Zoro and King Solomon's Mind are among
36:07
other titles available for your listening pleasure. As I thank you you for a
36:09
donation of twenty dollars or more, and you can again support the show support
36:15
dot Great Detectives dot net. We'll be back tomorrow with drag Net and join
36:21
us on Sunday for another Johnny Dollar omnibus program, Tuesday for a newly discovered
36:28
Johnny Dollar episode from the EDMN O'Brien era, and then back here next Friday
36:34
for another Bob Bayley episode of Yours Truly Johnny Dollar. In the meantime,
36:37
sendra comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter
36:43
Radio Detectives, and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com,
36:47
slash Radiodatactives from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Grahamson and Off