 WBBM FM Chicago the refreshing delicious treat that gives you chewing enjoyment presents for your listening enjoyment Edmond O'Brien as Johnny dollar This is Hamill. Did you call me if you're guy Hamill the local corner? I did that's who I am What do you want? I wonder when I could get together with you and talk over the breeder Yeah, which one was that Neil Brea? He died last week I'm an investigator from his insurance company. They aren't convinced that he died a natural death They received a letter from someone here in town who said they weren't quite sure I'm sorry. I can't tell you that right now, but I'd like to go over the case with you I'm busy with other work. All right, Mr. Howell. I'll have to start from someplace else The makers of Brigley spearman chewing gum bring you Edmond O'Brien in a transcribed adventure of the man with the action Pact expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar Refreshment while you work for enjoyment anytime Chew a stick of Wrigley spearman gum the delicious long-lasting real mint flavor of Wrigley spearman cools your mouth and freshens your taste The good smooth chewing helps keep you feeling fresh and alert adds enjoyment to whatever you're doing So indoors outdoors at work or at play enjoy chewing Wrigley spearman gum Wrigley spearman refreshing delicious Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to home office great eastern insurance company Hartford, Connecticut The following is an accounting of expenditure is during my investigation of the Neil Brea matter Expense account item one two hundred and thirty five dollars air fan incidentals between Hartford and my destination in Compliance with the company's request. I will not make that city in its state a matter of this record And I will leave it up to the company to strike the true names of the people involved My first personal contact was the man whose letter had set off the investigation. Dr. Henry Richards We met in his office secretly that evening after his nurse had gone home I'm sorry to admit mr. Dollar that there have been moments when I regretted writing that letter I have a wife and a son and a practice to think about this is a small town And I could be banished for stirring up a lot of unnecessary trouble both the company and I understand Dr. Richards And we want you to know that your letter and everything you tell me will be kept in strict confidence if Neil Brea's death was due to natural causes if it wasn't of course the letter and my report will do you no harm Yes, I see you've nothing to worry about. I'll be the villain As a matter of fact, I think I am one already. I talked to your car. Oh, you told him why you were here Yes, the only way for me to handle this is to stay out in the open with him and everyone else I make a fool of myself. I'll take a late train out of town. You told him you received a letter Yes, but not from whom you're sure he doesn't suspect me He didn't sound like he did there's no reason for him to is there you issued the death certificate didn't you yes Yes, I did tell me about Brea. How old was he? He was 26. He was taken seriously ill at work. Why didn't he work? He was part owner of a service station. I was called there that morning He was in a coma when I arrived, but Berger described his convulsions to me but it was his business partner Yes, Wesley Berger. He described the convulsions quite clearly It sounded as though they were the result of a violent heart attack I want you to understand Mr. Dollar a heart condition could have caused the symptoms he described and his condition when I got there I called for an ambulance, but he was dead before it arrived. Do you know his medical history, Dr. Richards? Yes. Yes, I do. He's been coming to me for a number of years I was the attendant physician at the high school during his junior and senior years He was a classmate of my son Alan and he and a number of the others continued to come to me Berger for one. Did Brea have trouble with his heart? Yes, there had been a condition, but it wasn't serious at his age I told him that he'd have to be careful when he reached a certain age, but I was stunned at his death I hesitated as long as I could before I signed the death certificate But as I told you if I'd refused to sign it I don't think it's fair to ask a private physician to take that responsibility I don't either, but it seems to me the way we run things What else might have caused his death doctor? Obviously a poison. Yes, his mean. Yeah, it's a metallic poison, isn't it? Yes, how fast does it work? 20 to 40 grains would be a fatal dose in from 10 to 30 minutes and the symptoms could have been those described by this Virtua. Yes convulsion, coma and death. Brea is buried here in town. Yes, what are you going to do? You want to arrange for an autopsy? I don't know how you'll do that I'm gonna ask you to play one more part in this and then I won't involve you anymore You haven't told anyone about the letter you wrote us. No, no, not even my family. All right I'll come tomorrow morning when your nurse will be a witness I'll demand that you show me Brea's medical history and I'll go to the coroner and ask for an autopsy I know I started it, but I don't like it now. Believe me doctor You have nothing to worry about and you wouldn't have started it if you didn't want to see the right thing done, true? Yes, yes, I'll see you in the morning. I made my appearance at the doctor's office the next morning was Unpleasantly efficient with his nurse went through Brea's medical history and proceeded to the coroner's office The fact that he held that public office had nothing to do with mr. Guy Hamill's personality He was close to 50 and it had taken years to develop it if he'd been a banker or anything else I'm sure he would have been the same. I Caught him as he came out of his office. I told you yesterday. I was busy with other business I know but I hoped you might spare just a minute or two. Why didn't you call for an appointment? That's what I was doing yesterday when you told me you were too busy. Well, I am Why don't you come back tomorrow sometime? It would be faster to go to the state police mr. Hamill Well, why don't you do that then I want to play fair with you I don't want to go over your head unless I have to I'll keep you from your lunch only a minute or two Well, all right, come on You've got a lot of nerve, you know saying these things to me Maybe you're right, but I'm being paid to say Dan and a lot more right now I'm gonna ask you to have Brea's body exhumed have an autopsy performed So you're an investigator from an insurance company in Hartford. Well, I think it's time you brushed up on municipal law As a coroner, I'm required by law to hold an inquest and order autopsies when there is reasonable grounds to suspect that the disease Suffered a violent or unnatural death or died suddenly from some unknown cause Yeah, it's a perfect quote Neil Brear died as a result of a heart attack and a competent doctor issued a signed death certificate to that effect Do you have reasonable grounds? Yes, the letter I told her about reasonable in effect It said that Brea was young and healthy and that there was a reasonable question about his dying of heart attack Did this person presume to know as much about Brear as his doctor as much maybe How familiar are you with poisons? Have you been trained to diagnose their symptoms and so on? No, I haven't I rely on the attendant doctors to inform me I'm not blaming it for that But has it ever occurred to you that every practicing physician is not an expert toxicologist The study of poisons is almost a science in itself It's not my job to check up on the doctors that signed death certificates and What's this about poison? There is a poison that while it's killing gives the same symptoms as a heart attack I'm adding that to the letter the insurance company received to me that adds up to reasonable grounds for suspicion You know, I think your heart is in the right place I don't go for this poppycock, but I can see how you'd get upset It's not me It's the insurance company that doesn't like even the possibility that murder or suicide Can be committed and charged off to death by natural causes simply because a doctor signs a death certificate Now do I get my autopsy cases closed no matter what you say? I think the law do you think Brea survivors will feel the same way as father and widow? I don't know you can go ahead if his survivors demand an autopsy and I don't think they're fools enough to Then I'll accept that as reasonable suspicion and I'll order an autopsy. That's good enough And if you talk them into it, you're going to be held responsible as far as I'm concerned Now I'd like to eat my lunch. You don't mind I Spent the rest of the day in the Hall of Records and pouring over old newspapers and the high school yearbook of Neil Brea's graduation By that evening I had a fair picture of the boys background He'd been a hard-working student a good athlete He'd eloped with a classmate Paula Wilson less than a month after they left school and since then he had lived a completely average small-town life There would be no reason for suspicion except for the doctor's letter and his statement to me So I kept that foremost in my mind and after a 630 dinner went to pay a call on Brea's widow An attractive girl who turned a nation gray when I told her why I'd come Why Why would anyone say such a thing? I don't know Mrs. Brea unless they had reason to believe it believe what I don't understand Why should anyone think Neil died from poison? I want to see dr. Richards this morning. I demanded that he show me your husband's medical record There was a heart condition, but it shouldn't have been fatal not at his age Nobody told me Please leave me alone. I can't miss a beer. I'll have to coming this far and learning what I've learned I can't stop until I know tops is performed and learn the truth whichever way it goes No, it would be much easier for all of us. I think if you'd help me, I won't I can't stand it You can't ask me to go through it all again. I'd hope you'd want to know the truth yourself I know the truth Neil is dead and there's nothing I can do about it. Nothing They'll leave me alone Please go away leave me alone Neil Greer's father ran a small grocery store with living quarters above at first meeting I hope for more cooperation from him. He evidently had a calmer acceptance of that You should have come to me first. I could have told you about Paula Grief ain't honest after a person's dead The person's alive and suffering then it's honest After a person's dead You ain't really feeling grief for them. You're feeling it for yourself I suppose you've got a point mr. Brea. I made up my mind to that after Neil's mother died And some people think it's cruel I suppose But at a time like that the big problem ain't dying. It's living on mr. Brea After what I've told you will you request an autopsy? No, no, I won't don't you want to be sure why your son died? I am satisfied yet. Heart trouble. We all knew it. I described a possible poison to you There'd be no way for Neil to get it I know about insurance too Don't like what's behind what you're saying and I'm not going to take no part in bringing up things that are finished What do you think is behind what I'm saying? I know about Neil's new insurance policy and I know about suicide clauses You think my son took his own life and I tell you he didn't you're wrong mr. Brea would be stupid to infer anything like that not knowing the cause of death And that's all I want to know what major son died. I told you I'm satisfied how he died He's beyond this world now, and I won't have him brought back Good evening, sir. Hello kid room 312, please. Yes Oh, uh, mr. Dollar, you've had a couple of calls the last one just a minute ago. Oh, thanks No name left and no sir Who took the cause please I did we don't have a regular phone operator. Oh, this Gentleman, what did he say why he asked for you? No, the first time he asked if you were registered here and had me ring your room Then he called back a minute ago. He seemed awfully upset. Did you ask his name? Yes, but he said never mind I'll call back. Could you tell anything about the boys like whether it was an old man or a young man? Well, I say it was young Yes young and almost hysterical Yeah, here's my card and ID When this man calls again, I want you to listen to the conversation No, you won't maybe over a legal matter. I'd like to have a witness I can't pay for your health because paid witnesses is no good with a healthy sure. It's all right. It is. That's a promise Thanks. I'll go right up to my room But now I'd like to say this for the young women between the ages 18 to 34 If you've been wondering how you can help out an America's fight for freedom and liberty Investigate the many important jobs now open in the women's Army Corps It is again an important part of our team for the fence get complete information at your local army recruiting station And now back to the music is a request from a certain party over on Oak Street who signed our note He wants to dedicate this You don't know who this is but you've got to listen to me You've got to stop what you're doing and leave town Why because there's no reason for you to be trying to cause a lot of trouble that there's no reason for you've got to stop For you it doesn't make any difference. You've got to stop That's all there's no reason for you to be here The fact that you call like this and won't give me a name makes me wonder if there isn't more reason than I thought You've got to stop Warning me. Yes, I'm warning you. Oh, that was the same man. Yes, it was and you heard him warn me I heard him. All right. Good. Now. Would you get me the home phone number of Karna guy hammered Freshman while you work for enjoyment any time chew his dick of wriggly spearmint gum when your mouth feels dry when you're warm or tired Wrigley spearmint is really refreshing the lively full-bodied real mint flavor cools your mouth Moistens your throat freshens your taste and the chewing itself gives you a little lift helps you feel your best and do your best So for chewing enjoyment plus pleasant refreshment chew delicious Wrigley spearmint gum And now with our star Edmund O'Brien We bring you the second act of yours truly Johnny dollar Suppose you feel perky this morning better than I felt yesterday afternoon and I can tell you that and I suppose you've got a Right toxicologist on his way from the state capital the body will be ready for him and his helpers when they get here. I Hope you understand that I couldn't do anything with what I did sure I did all I have to go by is the death certificate But something like that phone call to you comes up and then I can move I suppose you never thought of it But your position and that of a big share of the coroners in the country is pretty much the same as the position of the insurance companies Hmm and all they've got to go on is the certificate to dr. Sine's one the company meets the claim Nobody will ever know how many poisonings have been chalked off to natural causes Not because the doctor isn't sincere as a rule But because he has had the training to rate the responsibility of making the decision Well, it's 930 those men from the capital should be here in an hour or less I guess I'd better see you the things are ready for them. You want to be on hand? Thanks, Karna. I'll leave my name number with a clerk if you'll haven't phoned me when they're through, huh? I Boned up on it enough to know that a metallic poison such as bismine would leave traces in spite of embalming where other types would be Impossible to detect. I also knew approximately the tests and analyses They would have to make and I didn't think it would take experts very long It didn't at 2 o'clock that afternoon the results were phoned me. This is Johnny dollar doctor Yes, what is it? Well, you should feel proud of yourself, sir. Neil Brier's death was caused by bismine Was kept undercover a man from the state capital came over they just finished Certainly was and I hope you get the credit you deserve I'd like to but I can't promise actually this case has just started for me And I am right back to you for help again About the availability of bismine, where could Bri have gotten a hold of some? Very small amounts of it are used in the treatment of certain blood disorders. It's not a common drug by any means I really don't know where a layman would get it. Okay Well, all right. Thanks doctor. Of course. Good luck. Call me if there's anything I can do The inquest was not to be held until the following morning But I asked for and got permission to start my investigation before the formal pronouncement of the jury We all knew what it would be death self-inflicted over the hand of person or persons unknown Yes, thank you Mr. Dollar you did it, didn't you I'm sorry, but at this point I'm hardly the one to blame am I blame you for tearing up our lives again Who's better before no matter what? Sometimes ignorance is more merciful than knowing things. I'm afraid I can't agree with that Don't make no difference We know and we'll have to take the things that come with it you mentioned suicide yesterday, mr. Brea did you have any reason other than being angry with insurance companies and me not no definite one Nothing he told me what reason then Neil and me weren't very close hadn't been for quite a time. I Didn't like his marryin that girl the way he did me knew it What do you mean the way he did Running off her barely the age of consent and him not much older I told him they was ashamed to tell their parents because they knew it wasn't decent haven't they been happy I'm not sure either way Neil didn't come home much and he wouldn't tell me anyhow But his business partner young west bircher come to talk to me Asked me what was a land meal said something was he was down in the mouth all the time and on the strength of that You mentioned suicide to me. You know when I learned you was an insurance man after something and then you talked about poison That's when I figured you thought it was suicide on account of that new policy. He took out There's very much as it. All right, mr. Brea. I'll go down and talk to us bircher There's talking about sure I won't have to see him I dropped by the store and buy a pack of cigarettes once in a while What did this happen about Neil anyway this thing about poison just today they exhumed his body and made some tests I Just can't believe it and his dad talking about suicide I think seems to make sense to me and you don't think he was depressed about his marriage. Well, not depressed exactly what then What I said to his dad was that Neil didn't seem to be interested in anything anymore We used to go hunting and fishing he loved it, but pass you maybe less Well, he just lost interest, but I never said had anything to do with his marriage to Paula That's what mr. Brea told me what he's wrong. I never talked to him about her about their marriage because I know that he was just Against it. What do you think was wrong with me? Oh, I don't know now After he died, I figured was because he'd been sick I felt terrible about how hard he worked around here and except that he never said anything about it I was half blaming myself But now with this stuff about poison. I just don't know what to say. Well, you realize how serious this is now If it wasn't suicide was it was murdered? Yeah, that's right, isn't it? Everything you told me I just never thought about that was there something wrong with Neil's marriage Well, I know it's tough because to tell me you have to talk about friends that you've known for a long time But the truth has to come out. I'm not the only one that'll question your words Well, I don't mind talking. I don't think anything I say will mean anything Everybody will tell you the same thing. There wasn't one person in our graduating class that thought Paula Neil should have gotten married Why? Because it was also one-sided Neil had chased her all through school and Paula just sort of laughed at him After they were married they used to come over and spend the evening with my wife and me and Well, even then you got the idea that it wasn't quite right The only time Paula ever got interested was when we got talking about We were in school Why did they get married less? Paula and everybody knows this Paula's strong will and the guy that you really like in school had to go to medical college She didn't want him to go away and When he told her he had to go she just got sore She threw herself at Neil and they ran away and got married and you think he knew that Maybe not when he should have but he must have found out. He never said anything Like I said, he didn't seem depressed more like he was always trying to You know get her to love Gosh, I don't know. Maybe he did do something Maybe finally gave up and who is this other guy? Is he still here in town? Yeah. Yeah, he's here for the summer He's our riches Alan Richard. Yeah, Doc Richard's son They went together also a school, but she just told him that she wouldn't wait for him if he had to go away She sounds spoiled. Suppose you tell me what happened here the day Neil died According to virtue nothing unusual that happened that day they'd opened their place at 730 They hadn't worked unusually hard. They'd taken a break at about nine and Neil Brea had been taken ill about 25 minutes later And as I've heard he was dead not long after that These people didn't fit into a picture of murder none of the innocent ones had suspected it for a minute But it was murder. I didn't have any proof of it when I had up the service station But I thought I had answers to a lot of questions The solution was pathetically simple Hello, miss Brea friend, I'll have to bother you again. What do you want? Haven't you caused enough trouble the trouble started before I came here I come in All right They called me about the inquest. I told you yesterday that it would be easier if you'd helped me get one You didn't so it had to be done without you now that I've learned your husband was murdered there girl wasn't murdered How do you know that? I didn't I know that no one would murder him There'd be no reason to how do you think he died? I don't know This story about poison is true. He must have taken it himself. Why do you think he would have done that? I don't know. I've talked to people. I know more about you and Neil than you think I do All right, I didn't love him. He knew it. I could never love him. That's why he committed suicide. I don't know You asked me why he would We weren't happy. Why didn't you get a divorce? I want it. I don't know We didn't want to there only certain grounds in this state. You aren't cut out for this part, Mrs. Brea what part quick answers you're scared stiff I am not why should I be didn't you start to say that you wanted a divorce and then you thought better than no I didn't what you meant is that he wouldn't give you a divorce no matter what you did Oh, no, that isn't what I meant what then what I said about Alan Richards What about him Neil wouldn't divorce you and you just had to get away from him. Isn't that right? I don't know what you're saying Neil's heart. He said he why don't you tell me you married him on impulse. You knew you shouldn't have You talked to Alan. Yes, I had What did he say he called me last night to warn me to leave town? No, no, you talked to him today. He told you you tell me you're part of it Lost isn't it You know, don't you yeah, I think I do we couldn't help it. I'll came home for Christmas vacation and it started all over again. I Love him. I love him so sit down, Mrs. Brea We couldn't help it. I wanted to get a divorce Neil wouldn't it was his fault, too This was near Christmas. He told me in you. I married him and he'd never let me go He told me I deserved it for doing what I did to him. I Baked him. Did he know why you wanted to leave him? No, nobody knew Everybody forgot about Alan and me We were careful But we knew we had to do something Alan was studying to be a doctor like his father, wasn't he? Yes It was my fault. I should have waited for him. He decided on the poison Yes, it was all kind of work Neil's heart. No one would ever ask a question But it was my fault It's with the police the fact that the uncommon poison was available to a medical student It was administered by way of a vacuum bottle of coffee after that I left town Expense account item two miscellaneous eighty six dollars and seventy cents item three same as item one Transportation back to Hartford expense account total of five hundred and fifty six dollars and seventy cents remarks I hope the company will understand my not going back to dr. Richards a doctor and doubt about a death certificate Calling on the interest of insurance company for confidential help is a splendid idea But in this case the doctor's son was an accomplice to murder yours truly Johnny dollar Remember friends for refreshment while you work for enjoyment any time chew a stick of wriggly spearmint gum There's lots of lively real mint flavor in it to cool your mouth freshen your taste and sweeten your breath and Chewing wriggly spearmint helps keep you fresh and alert you feel better work better get more fun out of doing things So indoors outdoors at work or at play always keep delicious wriggly spearmint chewing gum handy for Refreshment while you work for enjoyment any time chew a stick of wriggly spearmint gum Yours truly Johnny dollar brought to you by wriggly spearmint gum stars Edmond O'Brien in the title role and is written by Gildow with music by Eddie Dunsteader Edmond O'Brien can soon be seen starring in the Paramount Pictures production Warpath featured in tonight's cast were Ralph Moody Edgar Barrier Joe Deval Jean Bates Mary ship Tony Barrett and Peter Leeds Yours truly Johnny dollar is transcribed in Hollywood by Jaime Del Bacchus of wriggly spearmint chewing gum Hope you've enjoyed tonight's story of Johnny dollar and that you're enjoying delicious wriggly spearmint gum every day We invite you to join us next week at the same time when from Hollywood Edmond O'Brien returns in another adventure of yours truly Johnny dollar This is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system