 From Hollywood it's time now for Johnny dollar Hillary Fuchs Johnny Time to live time to die, you know what's up a claim on a hundred thousand dollar policy I wanted investigated hundred thousand what kind of policy straight life. You sound worried. I am I think we're gonna be taken this time Johnny Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator goes truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to continental insurance and trust company 657 North Spear Boulevard Hydeford, Connecticut The following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the DeSalle matter I'd heard of Dave DeSalle. I guess everybody in this country's heard of him at one time or another DeSalle television DeSalle radio DeSalle electronics DeSalle appliances race tracks theaters DeSalle listen that But up until the time I talked to Hillary Fuchs about the case. I had never put a man behind the name Expense account item one two bucks two drinks for Hillary Fuchs and myself We had them in his office out of my bottle over his desk just plain worn out with it But I'll tell you this I'm not going to make a present of a hundred thousand dollars of stockholders money to anybody I wouldn't do that either. Thank you drink Here's to war salute Now while that's settling maybe you'll settle down and tell me what it's all about Dave DeSalle know him I've heard the name. Yeah, well, he's dead drowned four days ago out on the coast. Oh Did you ever see our K policy series? I've heard of it Well the premium is about triple a normal life policy It's designed only for people with big money sure, but it's got a feature that makes those people with money look at it a long time This clause isn't anything more or less than the old accident clause paying double indemnity Broken down we aren't taking much of a chance the incident statistics are with us. All right. I'll look it up if I need it Okay, three months ago. We insured Dave DeSalle on one of those K policies Four days ago. He fell off the back of a yacht and drowned and we're hooked for a hundred thousand dollars Accidents happen. You'll bet you all the time, but I'm not sure it wasn't accident At least there's not enough proof in this coroner's report to convince me You say it happened four days ago. Yes as a claim been filed yet Yes, and the beneficiary is the deceased widow in quest in quest burial everything. Was there an autopsy? No, there was not investigation. Yes, it was handled by the local police in San Ladino San Well, San Ladino a little place about 30 miles south of Los Angeles four days ago Why didn't you put someone on it then I did Bert Kenyon? Here's his last report No evidence available to dispute current is verdict of accidental drowning recommend claim be honored Kenyon Sounds like cold turkey to me it may sound that way to you, but I still don't like it I want it warmed up now look Bert Kenyon knows his way around and he can miss like anyone else I want you to go out there and work with him cover it all again get it to Sal's widow She stands to gain most by his death. Maybe the two of you can come up with something What do you do about the claim deny liability on the grounds that the accident is not proven Hillary you will be sued I'll take that chance Fuchs was an old chance-taker who had been raised in the insurance business The kind of man who gave a claim every kind of test and if it's still passed He sat down and smelled the paper it was written on and if he didn't like that he'd take his chance Expensive count item two a hundred and thirty eight dollars playing for at a Los Angeles Item three three dollars a telegram to Bert Kenyon advising him of my arrival Which turned out to be at one o'clock in the morning ten minutes ahead of a fog that blanked out the whole area at the airport Johnny Johnny dollar. Oh, hey, Bert. How are you Johnny? Good to see you Come on. I got a car. Well, you got a cigarette. I ran out two hours. Oh sure, man There you go Good to see you Good to see you boy The last time I saw a Bert Kenyon was July a year ago and Dayton, Ohio He was there working on a Narsen claim for the National Underwriters Before that I'd run into him in Denver Portland and Chicago and we'd work together for two weeks in New Orleans on the San Antonio case He sent me a Christmas card every year. I sent him one We were as close and as far apart as two friends can be When I saw him this time he looked tired and thinner and he lit one cigarette after the other You like San Lidio Johnny. Yeah, how's the hotel? Oh Spanish job big rooms fireplaces smells kind of damp all the time. You get used to it Are you tired? Yeah Well, tell me about the claim Bert nothing to tell routine so far. Oh fuse was pretty worried about it He doesn't like the coroner's report. Ah, you know fuse worry worry. That's what he gets paid for Oh, that's what we get paid for too Okay, okay On the face of it, I questioned the claim right away just on the three months period alone I'd question it you still think it was an accident. I think we should pay up and shut it I'd like to have met this to sell guy Johnny stocks and bonds and pretty blondes. He sure had them all Where do you meet Mrs. DeSalle? Where do you see the layer boy? And Fuchs worrying about a hundred thousand dollar claim. Do you know how much the sales widow is worth? eight million dollars A hundred thousand dollars means about that much to her not that much peanuts You want to hear something funny real funny go on the sale bought that policy one day at the racetrack at Delmar Yeah, because an insurance broker gave him a tip on a horse. Yeah, I Can just see Fuchs worrying about his hundred thousand and finding out about that part How did you find out about it? Mrs. DeSalle. She told me the story. What about her? Now what about it? She's a beneficiary. I told you a hundred thousand doesn't mean a thing to her Why would she kill him for a hundred thousand dollars? Why not? Fuchs sent you out here to take over because he thinks Silas stopped didn't he Johnny? He sent me out to see if I could give you a hand. He wants us to cover the whole thing again Wasn't kid enough now. Would you I'd never try for it. I Bet you wouldn't I Just bet you wouldn't in another 10 minutes. We were in San Lodillo a sprawling little town built around a natural harbor The houses looked expensive the boats even more expensive Kenyon pointed out one house on a hill a three-story affair with an acre or so lawns around it He explained it was the DeSalle home. I Checked into the San Lodillo hotel and got a good night's sleep Next morning Bert Kenyon and I went over to the statements of everyone who had been on the yacht the night DeSalle went overboard Then we went out and interviewed everybody again including mrs. DeSalle Getting awfully dull you understand. We have to do this Dave and I were having drinks with a few friends He said he felt like getting a little air He went up on deck a few minutes later. Someone was looking for him. Mr. Burke It might have been. Well, that's what's on your statement All right Mr. Burke We couldn't find Dave and then I remembered he was on deck We went up there and saw his hat floating on the water We looked around We didn't see him. I Felt one of the crew to call for help They fished him out an hour or so later You were never on deck until then. No, I wasn't Who are they you said they fished him out? Oh, please someone I don't know A lot of men they tried to give him artificial respiration. Oh, what did you do? I watched What else was there to do? I think to watch mrs. DeSalle your husband just drowned Yeah Yes, it was is that all Yeah That's all Come in. What's all this that you'd been bed just going over the reports again Well, what do you think? Oh, I don't know I'm trying to make up my mind Bert about Mrs. DeSalle the way she looks the way she acts I told you she was something. Yeah, sure 50-minute seller souls to be tired of with her one way or another She had help Bert What she had to have help to kill him a dozen people swear She was below drinking martinis with him so someone was up on deck waiting for DeSalle What have you got to go on DeSalle swam the English Channel 20 years ago He should have been able to swim 20 feet to a gang plank drunk or sober. He should have been able to do that I knew about that swimming business expert swimmers drown all the time. We both know that What else why didn't somebody hear him yell? Maybe he didn't everybody lets out a yell in a situation like that falling or in the water There were a dozen people aboard one of them should have heard him yell Yeah, I guess you're right all right suppose he didn't yell But suppose this corner made a mistake about the bruises on the side of his head Suppose they happen before he went over the side I'll be hard to prove now Johnny. Oh, look. She's got a boyfriend somewhere Bert. She had to have one The servants can be gone over somebody at the house has seen him. He's called her center messages. He's our boy We can bring him out in the open. We'll get help from Los Angeles We'll call the legal department and get them busy get permission to exhume the body and have an autopsy What? Let this one go, huh? What drop it? It's just lousy enough to get by fuchs. We got a good case for it. I know I've known it all along Johnny a sellout Mrs. DeSalle offered me the whole hundred thousand the whole hundred thousand Johnny to let it get by Who helped it do it? I don't know. I wasn't interested anymore when she came up with the offer Look What does DeSalle mean to you and me nothing? He got a whole life the best it could get him we can't bring him back I'll split the hundred thousand with you Johnny. We have a little chance for some things too Johnny no deal No deal. You're a good dick Johnny Stand up all put that thing away. I've been looking a long time for a mark like this Now you've lost it up and I have to beat it Turn around Bert So long Johnny. I went down to my knees trying to hold on to the desk. I Saw him stand there a minute like he might want to help me And then he was gone. I Did everything I could to make my feet, but my legs wouldn't work And then I was all over Two of yours truly Johnny dollar in just a moment Democracy what does it mean the word itself is of Greek origin Deimos meaning the people and Krautos meaning authority Thus in a democracy the people have the authority to rule themselves But where does the authority come from? The authority comes from the people themselves They put it in their constitution and the constitution can't be changed by anyone except the people That puts the supreme power of the government of a democratic country right in the hands of the people and the people elect their Representatives to run the government in that manner democracy gives everyone equal representation in the government Democracy provides mankind with its greatest legacy of freedom now back to of yours truly Johnny dollar and the docile matter The light on the desk was the first thing I saw it was still on the window was still open The room was a way to headman before I Kept thinking about every man having a price and how Britt Kenyon had settled for a hundred thousand dollars It seemed like a fair price It also seemed too bad. There was no way for him to collect it There were two of them a heavy-set man about 50 years old Nataline face man with dark eyes. They looked me over your name dollar Yeah, police you want to talk to you? My name is Blair. This is Sergeant La Frida. You sick or something? I bummed my head. Oh, never mind Well, what do you want? We'll ask the questions. What are you doing to send the deal? I'm standing around in a hotel room talking to a couple of cops just answer up. Don't be funny, fella I don't feel even a little bit funny. You got a license to carry this gun. Hey, what is it? Have you? Yes? Your meat-handed friend ought to put it down or it might go off and fired Tom. Ah Meat-handed. That's what I said. I'll remember that. Okay, okay? Tell us about it. Tell us what you're doing here and don't waste a lot of time doing it I'm an insurance investigator. Tell his goon to back away and un-double his fist or I'll break a chair over his head Are you gonna try to be tough, baby? I'm gonna try to find out what this is all about You want me to pop him open as if he's as tough as he sounds. Behave yourself, Tom Let's see something that says you're an insurance dick. Tom for the dressing. Bring it over, Tom. Sure. Okay Now tell us what you're doing in town. The DeSalle case. Now you tell me what you're doing. You know what's right, Kenyon? I know him. I've been working with him. He's been around town four or five days We haven't seen you. I only got here this morning. You could prove all that, could you? Oh sure with a plane ticket with a hotel clerk downstairs with a bellhop who brought up my luggage with a dozen people or more I've talked to today and tonight. What about tonight right here? You could prove that too. Try the clerk downstairs. There's Kenyon Where is Kenyon? I don't know. You ought to know. Why don't you sit down, Tom? Now, when did you see Kenyon last? A couple of hours ago Now tell us what you talked about and don't forget anything. We talked about the DeSalle case Kenyon have something new on it? No Don't hold out on me, boy. That's the police business Tom here's pretty edgy for a cop But I'll turn them loose on you by half to because I haven't got a whole lot of time to waste being sweet. Tom worries me to death One more minute. Just one more minute is all I'm gonna take off this guy. Oh shut up I'll ask you again dollar. What's new on the DeSalle case? What did Kenyon tell you? The way we look at it you came out here because something new popped up that might take two guys to handle it Look at it any way you want to. Blair, you're gonna take this stuff. Never mind Okay, get your hat and coat dollar. We're gonna see a fella. Not unless I know why and I mean that Dollar your buddy's been killed What Kenyon somebody shot him up an hour ago. I Put on my clothes and we went downstairs and climbed into a bannered-looking police car Tom the freedom drove I sat with Blair in the back seat. No one said anything A half a mile out of San Lodillo We turned onto the main highway and drove to a spot about two miles away all night filming station There were a couple of highway patrol cars there and ambulance and men in dark suits who looked away policemen always look Wait here. Keep an eye on them Tom. Sure. Be just a minute He's a soft old gink. I suppose you're hard. I know how to handle pinballs like you Before we're through you and me. We'll have it out Okay, dollar and get out. Yeah, sure Tom put the spotlight on him Good now posey Posey take a good look at this man. You ever seen him before No, look good. Take your time boy. No, man. I saw was shorter by this much. He wasn't his husky Okay, you're going back to your place then get some sleep boy at all. There'll be more by morning. Go long Sure Always all that time get out you sit around here with dick and Wally Okay, you're the boss you get in the front daughter. You're lucky posey didn't recognize you I suppose I am why an hour ago posey's pumping gas He hears three or four shots off in the dark then a car starts up and gets out of there real fast Then posey sees your pal Kenyon stagger out across the highway full of lead Kenyon drops dead right in front of the station That's him to mopping up now We had half an idea you might have been the man beaten in the car. That's a dumb idea He shot close up like it was somebody we just stand and talking to an old friend You're an old friend. It is clear you got it all wrong. Huh? We haven't been friends for three hours His full name was George Blair. He'd been on the Los Angeles force 12 years Then they retired him in half pay when a hold-up man shot off part of his right foot He'd taken the same Ladeo job because it was the only police force he could find it would take a man who limped more than a little Expensive count item for 20 cents coffee for lieutenant Blair and myself. I Don't know maybe you went that to the wrong way in that hotel room. That's my fault But a man's been murdered and I get excited about things like that. I don't blame you No hard feelings. No As long as I don't have to do business with your boy Tom. Yeah, I got Tom a freedom three other boys None of them worth the press and their pants I need help darling what this town's popping open tonight your buddy got it. Let's tie it in with the salting somewhere You're sure he didn't have anything new for you. No You wouldn't want to tell me about that bump in your head. Would you not right now? No My boys are so green they tromped all over the boat the night the sale drowned They lost up anything that might have helped me to find out how he went over the side They banged his head against the dock a few times bringing him in I couldn't tell if the bruises were there before or after He was in the water You don't think the sales was accidental. I was murdered She had somebody do it But why didn't any of that come out in the coroner's report? My coroner runs a drugstore when he isn't being a coroner if you feed him enough scotch You'll tell you whether somebody's dead or not. He don't know from nothing You know the thing that kind of got me was this Kenyon. He went along with that coroner's report. I know that both know that All right, I'll lay it on the line. I Need help darling if I'm gonna get anything done find out who killed Kenyon and get at this to sell thing I need help. All right. I'll help you Hoping you'd say that More coffee. No dollar what? You can start by telling me about that bruise in your head Kenyon Sold out did he yeah to miss us to sound He covered up for in the reports. He sent in a man back in Hartford got suspicious and sent me out to make a recheck Yeah, I guess something like that No dummies those claims men Look Who'd he say was in on it? He didn't say I Don't think he really knew at least not any more than you and me No wonder you didn't want to talk up that kind of news Kind of hurts doesn't it like having a bad cop around You should know Well, how do you feel mister? I feel lousy a friend of mine's been shot What's more he died a bum Well, I'm talking about dropping in on people while a smoke still hanging around Mrs. So yeah, let's go It was about a quarter to seven in the morning when we left the diner By 7 30 we were winding up the driveway to the de Sal mentioned overlooking the ocean Layer mumble things about the fog lifting and what a nice day it would be I smoked cigarettes and looked to watch the contented smile he kept on his face Well, what do you know? I mean a free this car. What does that mean? Well, let's find out Tom is off duty at six o'clock as far as I know. I told you it's gonna be a nice day. Yeah, you did it then Nice place The only thing nicer is Buckingham Palace Mr.. DeSalle picks up all these little knick-knacks when we probate that will the boat down there everything nice Yes, this is a sale place at this hour of the morning. She's still asleep Now we kind of guess she might be in bed you tell the police are here and want to talk to her police now you got it Yes, sir. Just a moment. That's you player. Hello Tom Wait to see her too Thought she might have a little something to say that it helped and that Kenyon kill and be willing You remember mr. Dollar Mr.. That's what I said Tom. What is this? He's giving me a hand. You trust him better than I do you Kind of a crack is that no crack just that you're always talking you ought to be listening Besides that you've been drinking again. Go on get your hat and get out of here I just gave you an order beat it like to kill somebody that bread I'm not so sure he didn't You got a gun in that coat. No Take mine what I don't like him being here It just came to me. He was the first one down at the dock the night DeSalle got it the first one Her boyfriend could be I can't awaken this is this out. You'll have to come late. I will handle that part Which room is hers, but you can't come in here? Which room? At the top of the stairs the first door you run along and buy yourself a cup of coffee. Come on, darling Mrs. DeSalle, hey get the light switch Please Tell anyone so I just Don't look Mrs. DeSalle. We aren't gonna hurt you. Tell us who did this to you. Tell us why Tom LaFrieda was it Tom Tom helped you get rid of your husband. Is that right? We know that's right now. What about Kenyon? LaFrieda killed him why you wanted money to get away Tom said it'd be easier He's here to kill him off and let it go Tom did this Why People be around to see me Talk about anything about anything this is George Blair get an ambulance over to DeSalle place fast He said he loved me He never loved Anything anything in his life Brown and get it I'll warn you Tom dollars got my gun these next you look at mine You all right. Okay. Here's what the ceiling you okay. He's gone What made him dollar what made him all these knickknacks and her Expense account at him five twenty five bucks one phone call to Hartford I told he'll refuse the whole story and he promised to send out the necessary legal aid Item six ten dollars flowers for bird Kenyon Item seven two dollars one drink to one good cop with a bad foot the drink cost a buck the glass cost a buck The drink for the good the smashed glass for the bad. Oh, yeah, I was hammy, but it made me feel Expense account total four hundred sixteen dollars remarks none yours truly Johnny dollar Now here is our star to tell you about next week store next week one of the sweetest old characters I ever met and with him one of the cleverest killers Join us. Won't you yours truly Johnny dollar Johnny dollars starring Bob Bailey originates in Hollywood It is written by John Dawson and is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone Heard in our cast were Virginia Greg Harry Bartell John Stevenson will write James McCallion and Ben Wright Musical supervision is by Amarico Marino Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar Dan Cumberley speaking Johnny dollar has come to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States Armed Forces radio and television service