 The equitable life assurance society presents this is your FBI This is your FBI the official broadcast from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Transcribed and presented as a public service by the equitable life assurance society of the United States and the equitable society's representative in your community When you opened the mailbox this morning Did you receive a postcard from a representative of the equitable life assurance society? This postcard I'm talking about was mailed to thousands of people by equitable society representatives yesterday Inviting everyone to listen to a brief but very important message in tonight's middle commercial It will give you interesting details about the equitable society's independent 60s plan a practical workable plan for people who want to be independent after they reach the age of 60 I'll be back in approximately 14 minutes to give you full information on this special plan Offered by the equitable life assurance society of the United States tonight's FBI file the merchant of death From time to time the Federal Bureau of Investigation has reported the latest figures on the current crime wave to you Through the medium of this their official program Now it is time to report on one facet of the latest survey one fact which stands out like a beacon above all others There is a person murdered in the United States every 40 minutes day and night throughout the year These are shocking figures, but even if they fail to impress you in any way your FBI asks you not to ignore their potential danger The killing of that many people more people than died in many of the big battles of World War two Is something that requires every citizen's attention if only out of the selfish motive of self-preservation The victims in some portion of the more than 13,000 murders which took place last year Were criminals who happen to be killed by other criminals Their loss to the community was negligible in most cases and a boon in a few others But the great majority of victims were decent law-abiding people Who merely happened by accident of fate to cross the path of a murderer and Who because of that accident? were killed Tonight's file opens in the attractively furnished private office of John Williams a real estate broker in a large eastern city a Visitor one mr. Homer Cooper has just been shown in well Have a chair mr. Cooper. Thank you, sir. Thank you. I'm sorry. You've kept you waiting Think nothing of it. I'm a patient man. Mr. Williams Well, that's good. Now. Uh, what particular kind of property were you interested in seeing? Oh, I'm afraid there's been some mistake I didn't come here to talk to you about real estate. Oh When I told your secretary this was a business matter. I I meant my business. Oh, I see well What is your business that? That's a difficult question to answer mr. Williams. You you might say I was kind of Commission broker commission broker. Yes. Yes. I handle all types of Unusual services for instance if you wanted to get a passport and you found you couldn't get it legitimately Then you might come to me Understand yes Yes, I think I do and I I don't know what brought you here mr. Cooper But I haven't any need for your services. Let me finish. I came to see you about a commission. I've just received it Concerns you how? Someone has requested that I use my offices to have you killed Mr. Cooper, I Don't like practical jokes. Oh, I assure you. I've never been more serious This party came to me and said he'd pay me two thousand dollars if I'd hire someone to murder you Oh, and incidentally my client says no guns This is supposed to look like a hit-and-run accident Mr. Cooper if all this is true and understand I'm not saying I believe a word of it Why are you telling me? This is my business mr. Williams? You see I thought it might be worth more than two thousand dollars to a man like you to stay alive Oh Well now I get it a very clever racket. Oh, this is not a racket mr. Williams Please believe me everything. I told you was true, but why now look sir You don't have to make any hasty decisions. We have time Why don't you just think this whole matter over and when you come to a decision? Let me know and if I don't Then sir much as I regret it. I will be forced to go ahead with the original plan You mean here is my card mr. Williams You'll find my business address and telephone number on it the price for your remaining lives, sir is $5,000 for that sum I reveal the name of the client who wishes you killed If you wish to pay it just come up to my office with cash otherwise well Then sir, I'll always remember you as the man who wouldn't pay $5,000 for staying alive John Yes, and What's the matter darling? Oh? Nothing Tossed and turned ever since we went to bed Yes, I I just can't fall asleep Something's bothering you Come on John. What is it? Well a man came see me today Man named Cooper and He told me he'd been hired to Well to get someone to kill me John I Don't believe it. I didn't at first. Why the whole thing is preposterous. I know it's so preposterous and that Well, I I I just can't help thinking it might be true. Oh darling. I can't help thinking that who would want to kill you I don't know But this Cooper said he'd reveal the name of the man for $5,000 John he's just trying to get money out of you. I accused him of that But he swore that his facts were true. I don't believe him, but and John Look darling try to get some sleep now We'll discuss it again tomorrow Well, all right, I just hope tomorrow isn't too late The rhythm, please the rhythm please mr. Harper the sound as the rhythm dance Ralph hello, and I see you a minute. Oh sure Pardon me. Are you just going without me? I'll be right back What is it and let's go to your office. I can't just walk out on the glass I'll be back. Oh, and what is it? John knows about Cooper what Cooper went to see him at his office said that for $5,000 he'd agree to tell him who hired him By that dirty chiseler Ralph just how much did you tell Cooper about what about us? I absolutely nothing Why didn't Cooper come to you if he wanted more money? I don't know Let's offer him six thousand go to John and ask for eight. That's true racked my brain I can't think of anything does John want to pay him wants to go to the police It's just as bad. I convinced him to sleep on it another night What do we do Ralph? You go on home darling. I'll think of something The next morning at the local FBI field office special agent Jim Taylor approaches the desk of agent Paul Mason Hi, Jim. There's a switching signal. I don't have to go to court Fine fine as soon as you finish your report on that case then we can go to work on this new one How much have we got so far on the body of a rather well-dressed middle-aged man was found on a government Reservation where it now appears that he was murdered. Who was he? We don't know that yet. We're checking on the labels in his clothes I don't think we'll have much trouble learning his identity any word in the report on how he was killed I was sapped with some heavy weapon on the back of the head and his body left on the highway That wouldn't seem to be a very good place to conceal a body Well, apparently this was supposed to look like a hit-and-run accident Oh, there were skid marks in the road and the body was very carefully placed right beside them Do we know for sure that it wasn't a hit-and-run accident? Well the victims clothes didn't have a spot on them Paul. If he'd been struck by a car that was going fast enough to leave skid marks He'd have ripped something when he hit the pavement. Yeah, I guess he would have besides which there was no identity in his pockets Oh, I'm going out now to check on some of the labels that were found on the dead man's clothes Right Jim as soon as we find out who he was we're going to action Well, I stopped off to see that mr. Cooper why I decided to pay him and find out what he knew What did he say? He wasn't there. He's been murdered What? He was murdered last night. How do you know? Well, there was a man from the FBI at his office He told me all about it. He questioned me for quite a while About who mr. Cooper was How I met him Well, I was doing in his office or a lot of things. What did you tell him? Well, I I Lied I told him I'd received a telephone call from mr. Cooper yesterday to come and see him about a real estate transaction I told him I'd never seen mr. Cooper that I didn't know anything about him. Did he believe you? I don't know what else went on Nothing except they're searching for the killer. They know who it is. He didn't say And I Decided to go back to see him the FBI man. Yes, what for I? Was wrong. I shouldn't have lied to him I'm going to tell him what I know John that wouldn't serve any purpose, but I want this is a murder case The tabloids will be filled with every detail. Do you want to be mixed up in that? But I must do something darling go inside and lie down think the whole thing out very carefully And I'm sure you'll decide then that the best thing to do is forget the whole thing Hold it hold it. Well, someone please take that record off Thank you. I'm afraid you're just not watching me Look one and two one and two one and two one and two Now that's simple isn't it all right start the record again Yeah, I'll be right back Go ahead What is it John just came home. He's been to Cooper's office. So there was an FBI man there He told John that Cooper was murdered. Oh Ralph did you kill him? Yes How did it happen? Well, I called him yesterday morning after you left here and asked him if he'd take a ride with me Yes, he agreed and we went out to the country. I started to question him about the double cross. What'd he say? I got mad and throw a punch at me There was a tire wrench on the floor of your car and I picked it up and hit him with my car. You used my car. Yes Oh Well, let's back in your garage now. Nobody knows I took it. We have no assurance of that and How much did John tell you about what went on between him and the man from the FBI? Why? Well, do you know whether or not the FBI man asked John if he knew Cooper? Yes, he did. What'd he say? Said he never met him That's fine Why? All you have to do is tell one small lie What are you talking about? If the police should learn from some anonymous source that John was driving your car last night, they'll question you And you want me to say he was? You say he was out all night What good does that do? Darling it hangs mr. Cooper's murder right around John's neck We will return in just a minute to tonight's exciting case from the official files of your FBI Now here's an invitation to all members of this audience an invitation to join a group of American citizens Who have taken advantage of the equitable society's independent 60s plan? If you've ever been worried by the thought What's going to become of me when I'm 60 years old this plan is the answer it provides for financial Independence when it's time for you to retire it enables you to be your own boss to live as you like and where you like I Retired to the little old town where I was born and raised Believe me my wife, and I have a mighty good life now. I'll bet you do mr. Keating Our food bills amount to practically nothing eggs for our own chickens fruit from our own little orchard and Believe me. I have one of the best vegetable gardens in town Whenever I hear a man talk like that. I say to myself Why doesn't everybody in America have an equitable independent 60s plan? They make the same mistake? I made for years They think an independent 60s plan is a proposition only a rich man can afford How did you find out different from my equitable society representative? He showed me that I was already halfway towards independent 60s Thanks to Social Security and the life insurance. I already owned that's a fact in many cases only a small amount of additional Insurance is required to enable a man to look forward with complete confidence to Independent 60 a few extra dollars a week did it for me So why not see your equitable representative without delay phone him soon or send a postcard care of this station to the equitable Society at EQ UI TABLE the equitable life insurance society of the United States And now back to the FBI file the merchant of death The Roman Empire which existed from the year 27 BC when it was established by Augustus Caesar until the year 395 AD Was the home of a civilization which reached heights the world had never before known It contributed military leaders artists and statesmen to the pages of history Men who will be remembered as long as people studied the lives of those who went before them We know a great deal about these people who flourished almost 2,000 years ago We know how they dressed and how they spoke and what the common axioms of their language were We know too that even then the criminal among them was a cause of concern And that through the years he has not changed his habits very much That can be said because one of the axioms that has come down to us through the corridors of time From those ancient Romans is as true today as it was then a Proverb which applies to tonight's case from the files of your FBI and which said Who is content with one crime only? The answer is that no criminal is content with a single misdeed Not even when as in the case portrayed this evening That crime is murder Nights file continues later the same day Special agent Taylor is just signing out at the FBI field office as agent Paul Mason enters Jim you going out on that murder case? Yeah, yeah, Paul we found out who the dead man was Oh who a man named Homer Cooper? He was first arrested about 25 years ago after I learned his identity I went over to his office in the bulletin building and he leads there all out of correspondence I haven't read it yet and there's an old dictograph machine in the inner office But no records any place to be found have we got Cooper's home address not yet But we may not need it poor while I was searching Cooper's office a man named John Williams came in looking for him He seemed to be legitimate. I questioned him for a while. He said he'd never seen Cooper. So I let him go But then I checked at Williams office just to make sure His secretary said that Cooper was in there two days ago and spent quite some time closeted with her boss I wonder why he lies. I think I have the answer We got an anonymous phone call a few minutes ago the person who called said that he didn't want to become involved in the case But he said if we checked closely enough, we would find that John Williams was being blackmailed by Cooper That'd certainly give him a motive. Yeah, well, I'm going out now and pick up John Williams for questioning Just a minute hello, Anne I've got some good news the FBI picked John up for questioning. I knew they would How I told them about him What yeah, I called them and said that Cooper was blackmailing John. Oh I didn't give my name, of course About a drink. Yes, Scott. Mm-hmm They took my car. Yeah, I figured they would why Well, I told him I saw John riding in your car with Cooper last night. Oh There you are darling, let's drink a toast to John May he stay in jail and may we stay out All this Cooper case is really breaking open what happened The lab just got finished examining Williams's car What's the dope the tires match the tracks that were found at the spot on the highway where Cooper's body was discovered There are stains on the upholstery that turn out to be human blood Cooper's type I'd say we had just about enough Jen What's William's story? He says he was home all last night. Hmm. That ought to be easy enough to check I've got the switchboard trying to locate Mrs. Williams now. They tried her at home, but she was out. Oh By the way, those Dictograph records of Cooper's were found in a safe deposit box are being sent up here now. Good. We had it Special agent Taylor speaking Yes, yes, Mrs. Williams Yes, I just wanted to ask you one question if you don't mind Mrs. Williams Where was your husband last night? I see you're sure now Well, thank you very much, Mrs. Williams. Goodbye What'd she say? She really hung it on him Paul Said she's sure that her husband wasn't home all night. Well, that's just about it I'm not so sure. Hmm. Something happened during that phone call that makes me think Williams might not be guilty Sorry, you've had to listen to all these records by yourself, Jim. Did you find anything? Yeah, what this record on the machine now? Exonerates Williams. Oh, it's a conversation between Cooper and someone else and Cooper is being hired to get someone to kill Williams Then your theory about Williams innocence was right Yeah, but it was more than a theory Paul while I was talking with his wife I heard a very unusual set of chimes starting so so I heard the same set of chimes a couple of hours earlier Well, they were in the background when that anonymous phone call came in telling us that Cooper was blackmailing Williams Switchboard is trying to locate the address that goes with the number where they found Mrs. Williams now About this record Jim. Can you recognize the other voice? No, no, I can't quality just isn't good enough This is pretty obsolete equipment Cooper was using now. That's too bad. Well, let's listen to it again Paul see if you can catch anything. I've done this so many times now. I'm kind of numb I'll try okay. I'll start it here in the middle of first half isn't very Messy and I understand I understand Just can't help your name Can you be past my bedtime? Well, if you call me again say day after tomorrow, I'll arrange for you to meet the young man I have in mind with a job Nice youngster. He's got just the right Paul Paul. That's it Oh, how did I miss it all those other times miss what Jim? He said it was getting to be past his bedtime. Come on Let's check on something In your living room, I've just been admiring your taste John's coming up the walk, but he's in jail. I managed to get out somehow. Please darling. You've got to I'm afraid it's too late. What do we do? Let me handle this Tell him you're in here. I'm in here darling. Oh I thought for a moment that you Who is this? I'm a reporter with a bulletin mr. Williams. I came by to ask your wife some questions. Oh But now that you're back just a minute don't go But don't you want to ask me some questions? Don't you want to know how I happened to be picked up for questioning? Well, I'll give you some very good items for a story For instance, my wife here told the FBI that I was out all last night and that wasn't true Why did you tell them that and I didn't John? Yes, you did why they must have misunderstood me I said you were ill and up all night not out Then how does it happen that there was blood on the front seat of your car? Wouldn't you like to know about that? Mr. Brown wouldn't that interest you mr. Brown? John? I won't stand here and be questioned by you in front of a perfect stranger You'll pardon me mr. Williams But this looks like a family fight to me and our paper isn't interested in that sort of thing. I must leave John dear you don't believe that I deliberately tried to get you in trouble. Do you and I I don't know what to believe But why should I? Hasn't been a day since we were married that I haven't been in love with you John and you with me Why yes, mr. Taylor come right ahead Ralph and I've been arrested. What's this all about this man is the one who hired mr. Cooper he also killed him Ralph they can't prove that can they I'm afraid we can Mrs. Williams I've got warrants here for the arrest of both of you on a charge of murder Ralph Brown was found guilty of murder in federal court and sentenced to be executed Mrs. Williams was also judged guilty and sentenced to five years as accessory to the crime When special agent Taylor heard mr. Cooper's voice on the recording say that it was past his bedtime He realized that he could learn the identity of Cooper's visitor Checking the records kept in mr. Cooper's office building of all visitors after 6 p.m He learned that the man he was searching for was named Ralph Brown When he later learned that the number from which the anonymous phone call had been made was listed in the name of Ralph Brown Things began to gel The information that Mrs. Williams was a constant visitor of Brown's plus the fact that a search of his apartment led to the finding of The tire wrench which had been used as a murder weapon was conclusive enough to bring forth confessions from both And so another crime was solved by your FBI And the solution added further proof that the phrase getting away with murder is just a phrase and nothing more Under the alert eyes of the law the truth of another phrase has been demonstrated time and time again the truth of the simple words murder will out In just a moment we will tell you about next week's exciting case from the files of your FBI Now two final questions on the equitable society's independent 60s plan Mr. Keating now, what's the best age to start one of these plans any age your equitable representative will explain that the sooner You start the less your plan will cost you each year What about the income how much can I expect when I'm 60 the exact amount depends on two factors your present income and your future needs In any event your equitable society representative will be glad to work it out for you without obligation Phone him soon or send a postcard care of this station to the equitable life assurance society of the United States Next week we will dramatize another case from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation a story depicting the short-lived careers of two vicious young criminals It's subject robbery its title threes a crime The incidents used in tonight's equitable life assurance society's broadcast are adapted from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation However, all names used are fictitious and any similarity they're loved to the names of persons living or dead is accident Tonight's program was transcribed and the music was composed and conducted by Frederick Steiner The author was Jerry D. Lewis your narrator was William Woodson and special agent Taylor was played by Stacy Harris Others in the cast were Jack Edwards, Bill Johnstone, Lynn Whitney, Roland Winters, and Donald Wood This is your FBI is a Jerry divine production This is Larry Keating speaking for the equitable life assurance society of the United States and the equitable society is representative in your community and Inviting you to tune in again next week at this same time when the equitable life assurance society Will bring you another thrilling story from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Threes a crime on this is your FBI This is ABC the American Broadcasting Company