 Good evening. This is Ken Roberts inviting you to listen to another adventure of Casey crime photographer Ace cameraman who covers the crime news of a great city our adventure for tonight the disappearance of mr. Dizelle Night a quiet street of old conservative brownstone mansions on one of them a small bronze sign bears the modest legend Adam Dizelle Dealer in rare books Approaching this house, but on the opposite side of the street Don't go Lula. I enjoyed that movie them two fellas was funny Pretty good. All right, but have past lab is too late for us to be coming home Henry I got to be up cooking breakfast for mr. Dizelle by seven in the morning. Yeah, we both got her Mr.. Dizelle seems to be keeping late hours yourself tonight. There's a light showing behind the blinds in his office What was that somebody shooting guns in our house mr. Dizelle's house somebody's busting out our door running down the steps Yes, three men two of them. It's carrying the side man. They're getting in that automobile. Now you stay here Lula I'm gonna you stay right here till we find a policeman. Let me look for policemen. I see two of them coming Henry They heard them shot the cars get the way Pauline officer We saw him come out and I'll come in their car and go after them shouts You'll see what the shooting was about. Okay, George the shoot was in our house mr. You come with me. We'll get inside you to work for mr. Dizelle. Oh, yes, we keep house for him and mr. Lawrence We live down in the basement that front doors wide open it sound like them shots was fired at mr. Dizelle's office his office doors Close Lula in a slot to bust it here The office is empty. Where's mr. Dizelle? What happened to mr. Dizelle just let me get one more picture I'll be all finished all these pictures of Lula and me gonna be in the papers mr. Casey The best ones will be now now hold it just like that Now you two can go now. You've told me all you can I guess we told you all we know Captain Logan come on Henry Good night. Good night Now I suppose you give us a load down on this business Logan Annie and I just got the assignments Williams are slipping Casey the other cameras and reporters are all finished before you two showed up That's the brakes. Sometimes they work the other way. Oh, what have you learned about the shooting Captain Logan? Nothing of much value yet a black sedan pulled away from here right after the shots were heard One of the three men in that sedan was dragged or carried to it by the others He was probably Adam Dizelle Anyway, Dizelle is gone blood stains in this office plus some bullet holes indicate he was the victim probably kidnapped Hey a slug went through this very expensive looking book Yeah, we found the slug and two more all fired from a 38 revolver And maybe the two gorillas came here intending a robbery and Dizelle discovered them They plugged him without killing him and then took him away so he couldn't describe or identify Casey our experts. Tell me there's a folio Shakespeare worth plenty on that shelf in plain sight It could have been lifted in a split second But it wasn't well such extremely rare volumes as folio Shakespeare's must be almost impossible for thieves to dispose of Captain Logan Ownership of every such book in existence is known. Oh, it's weird. It's book collecting in some instances is nothing less than a disease Rabbit collectors or buy items they know are stolen just for the sheer kick of personal possession Casey you remember that little crook who called himself professor ishka ishka Yeah, yeah an interesting little guy, too He and I were almost buddies Annie before unsympathetic cops like Logan sent it back to the big house about 10 years ago for his third offense Now professor ishka was a rare book thief miss Williams, but he got bragging streaks occasionally You know theft to me have been the motive in this case And I'm hoping to get a lead on the real motive when Neil Lawrence is located Neil Lawrence Now he's disel's nephew. He lives here and acts as a sort of assistant to his uncle So he should know a lot about his business and personal associations And the servant she met told me that Lawrence left the house early this evening to go to the theater Disel was all alone here then from At 8 p.m. On yeah See the lock on this Office door is broken now a cop who got here right after the shooting founded locked and he broke it Wonder why the kidnappers bothered to lock it from the outside when they're such a hurry Wondered about that. They must have taken the key away with them. We haven't been able to find it. Oh, it's the only door Walls are solid bookshelves from floor to ceiling except for those two windows facing the street and those windows are locked from inside Disel's visitors got in through that door Well, he must have admitted him then and because he knew him since they came long after business hours Yeah, I think you know him captain Logan's in your uncle shop. Mr. Lawrence. He'll tell you all about it Lawrence is here. Thank you officer. I'll go now come right in mr. Lawrence. I've been waiting for you I'm captain Logan a homicide bureau one of your men outside just told me I'm sorry you came home to such bad No, he gave me no details captain What happened? Oh first I must ask you some routine questions. I told you went to the theater tonight. Yes the globe later We had a few drinks and steak at the Bristol Club. I just came from there by we you mean young lady was with you No, well, what was your friend's name, please? This is all part of a necessary general checkup I I was with Bruce Madden not Bruce Madden, Jr. Yes, I know you check up on anything. I tell you I've met Bruce Madden, Jr. Professionally when he tried to extort money from his wealthy father So you're a friend of his look here captain I've never been connected with any of the trouble Bruce has been in we've simply been friends since we were kids and you And he were together tonight when your wealthy uncle was probably both shot and kidnapped by two men Sit down mr. Lawrence I'm gonna ask you some questions that aren't just routine Captain Logan thinks Dizelle's nephew this Neil Lawrence had something to do with his uncle's kidnapping He's about convinced that Lawrence and his pal Bruce Madden junior had everything to do with it Please check up shows that Lawrence and Madden left the Globe Theater about 11 o'clock And they didn't show up at the Bristol Club until after 1230 the shots inside Dizelle's place were heard at 1130 But why should this Lawrence put a snatch on his uncle and who's Bruce Madden, Jr. Oh, don't you ever read the papers at the birds? Oh sure miss Williams, but Bruce Madden, Jr. Is the playboy son of that rich millionaire? Yeah, yeah, yeah several months ago Madden senior Washed his hands at the young screwball and cut off his supply of easy money And young Madden tried to extort money from his father Now Logan figures that he and Bruce, Jr. Got desperate for the old green stuff and put the snatch on Dizelle in order to get it It listens to me like he figures right Has he put Lawrence and Madden under arrest yet? No, he's got any real evidence They're being watched every minute though. Well, Neil Lawrence doesn't look to me like a kid napper Mm-hmm. He's a good-looking young guy Appleport. Well, now that has nothing to do with my opinion We're not even sure there's been a kidnapping. No, not yet until there's some proof such as our demand for ransom I'm gonna believe well that that Neil Lawrence is simply a victim of circumstances Say pay sixteen we haul yourself out that bed. Let me get breakfast for mr. Lawrence now So until you close while I go upstairs and fetch in the mill Why don't that milk man leave them bottles in front of our basement like he used to cause told him not Dogs come sniffing down there Mr. Lawrence. Yes, it's time to get up. I was just so worried about your uncle. Well, oh Mr. Lawrence, here's a letter addressed to you a letter. Yes, it was lying half under the door when I took in the milk It's got no postage stamps on it. Well, let's see it. Mr. Lawrence. You look pretty. Is there something in that letter about your uncle? It's from my uncle for mr. Dizel. Yes, I was phone the police But it tells me he's being held by kidnappers and that I must raise a hundred and fifty thousand dollars to ensure his safe return Williams can look at the ransom letter Casey, but not a line about it in your paper until I say, okay It's off the record Even tells Lawrence how to raise the money is to pledge or sell securities and books and borrow whatever else is required Is sure this letter is in Dizel's handwriting. It's authentic. We've checked on that and someone came here during the night And and stuck it under the front door miss Williams Lawrence stuck it under the door from inside Four of my best men were watching the outside of this house, and they say no one came near that door except the milk man Well, maybe the milk we're investigating him, but Lawrence is our guy plus young Madden Now last night they forced Dizel write this letter then sometime before morning Lawrence slated under the street door for a Weller Clarence to find what she went for the milk Annie it looks like the good-looking mr. Lawrence all the way You'll let Lawrence raise the ransom dough then according to the instructions of this letter Yeah, he's not on that job now trailed by my guys and to FBI agents FBI I notified the feds the moment this letter proved we had a kidnapping case They've been nice so far and haven't taken it completely out of my hands. Excuse me gentlemen and miss William What is it mrs. Grant? Well, I got the thing that maybe y'all come up here without having much breakfast and would like some hot coffee I wouldn't me too. Well, I got some percolating back in the dining. I'll eat us to it You know the dining room is just behind this room, but you got to go out and round this hall to get to it This shop here used to be the parlor before mr. Dizel had it built into a bookshop Did you work here when it was just a residence toilet? No, mr. Casey Henry and me come here to work about six years ago just a little before mr. Lawrence did and mr. Dizel he had the place changed for his bookshop long before that Yeah, sit down at that table and I'll serve you coffee and sandwiches and sandwiches They're just made out of odds and ends. I had an icebox I was gonna open up some can ham and chicken to keep for emergencies But I found that man am I tonight a month your husband's an icebox robber Luella Hitter declass up and down he didn't touch nothing miss Williams, but he's lied to me before He's a coffee Luella. You're a friend in need Yeah, dig into him. I got the makings for more. You're a Entertainer the mob who won't hesitate to ask for more. Well, well, that's the kind of people I like to feed Pickles for me Yeah, some fireplace you have in this dining room the beauty Casey it's so big oh poor mr. Dizel love that old fireplace, but right up so much wood my Henry got misery in his back from toting it napkin There's a telephone excuse me. Oh, you have an extension here in the dining room. Yes, Mr. Dizel put extensions all over this house Hello Yes, sir Well just a minute sir, it's for you Captain Logan your headquarters call it. Oh, thanks hold this pickle Casey got it Logan speaking Identification positive What was he found? How long you been dead? I'll leave Sergeant Martin in charge here and get right up there. What is it longer? Yeah, what's up quite our coincidence? Another dealer in rare books a guy named Vladimir has just been found shot to death in Eastview Park According to the medical examiner. He died at about the same time last night and Adam Dizel was taken from this house And to make the coincidence more Coincidental at the bird it appears that the second book dealer Vladimir was killed with a 38 slug of the same type used in the Dizel shooting And he wasn't killed at the spot in Eastview Park where his body was found now The medical examiner says that the corpse was thrown out of a moving automobile What kind of a book dealer was this Vladimir about as different from Dizel as a piece of glass is different from a diamond Dizel's a big timer with an a1 record while his Vladimir character has been indicted several times for having stolen books in his possession From what you've told me I can't see any real tie-up between his murder and the Dizel job The way that ransom letter was found nails Lawrence for his uncle's kidnapping and it ain't possible that he and his pal Madden could have been shooting up this Vladimir at the same time of the evidence against Lawrence is purely Circumstantial effort Well, I got some clean-up work to do at the office. You coming over Casey. No, no, I'm through for the day any I'll wait around for you here Okay, so you're both later. So long miss Wham. I knew more about the rare book racket. I Don't trust coincidencees at the birth. There must be some connection. Hey, how about a little service? Hmm? Oh Be right with you, Mr. Evans. Excuse me Casey. I gotta wait on a customer. Yeah, oh sure pal go ahead Hello Casey, huh? I've been waiting and watching for you to be alone. Yeah I think I know you brother and I've lost weight and considerable hair since the last time you saw me Prison never agreed with me. Hey, wait a minute. You're the guy that used to call yourself professor ishka. Yes quite Well, well Don't you get out? I'm glad to see you only last week Honey, you know Captain Logan and I were talking about you only a few days ago Running into you now professor is like the answer to a prayer this meeting is not accidental case He had been trying to reach you all day. Yeah, why should you want to? I want to talk to you about Adam de Zell and Paul Vladimir huh Well coincidences do happen. What do you know about those two? I was in the racket. Yes I remember you may not recollect a stolen autograph copy of the first in only addition of mrs. Browning sonnets by ebb Was responsible for my most recent experiences a guest of the state. Yeah, it's because I recollect as your specific talents Wait, there's a vacant table in that corner. It'd be just as well of certain people don't see me with you So I'll talk fast. Okay, Casey. I'm not a stoolie. So I can't go to the police But I've got to get a guy and you can help me talk straight professor Is this straight? Paul Vladimir was my brother. Ah and Adam de Zell killed him de Zell killed Vladimir. Yes Casey the rich and respectable Adam de Zell the Reliable expert has been the biggest fence in the hot book racket for 20 years you on the level a hundred percent Zell has also been the biggest double-cross in the wreck My brother Paul and two other gentlemen whose names you don't have to know Went to his place to collect for some hot stuff. They'd passed him on consignment He sold his stuff, but he refused to pay He'd attempted that sort of thing before Paul swung a punch at him de Zell thought the three were about to gang up on him which they were So he pulled a gun and began shooting Paul got a bullet in the chest The others carried him out and went away fast was Vladimir not de Zell who was taken away in that black sedan Yes, when Paul died in the car his friends couldn't risk being found with his body They had to dump him in the past what happened to de Zell after the shooting. He took a run out of course There wasn't any kidnapping Why have you told me this Casey? I'm an ex-convict my word is worth nothing to the police and To preserve my criminal standing of course. I don't dare talk to him anyway I don't know where de Zell is hiding out But with the information I've given you I think you can find him and see that he pays for the killing of my brother I'm gonna be pretty sore if this turns out to be a bomb steer professor Casey believe me I'm leveling all the way, but I'm convinced the story is a straight one and if it is de Zell is deliberately playing up his supposed kidnapping in order to collect 150 grand So he'll be well healed when he starts for South America or wherever he plans his permanent I don't sure and his nephew is probably in on the deal But if there was dealing in stolen books, we should have found some of his house and we didn't he must have another joint somewhere Maybe that's where he's keeping undercover right now I would just sit tight till he sends instructions as to how to pay over and never stops I'm a side duo Captain Logan. Yes, sir Yeah Where'd you find it? No, don't open it. I want to see it exactly as you found it. I'll be right up there Come on Casey. We're heading for de Zell's house. What one of my guys on duty there Just found a sealed envelope addressed to Neil Lawrence Lying in the sidewalk in front of de Zell's place This may be the instructions as to how to pay that ransom. It's a letter of instruction from de Zell All right Casey, but not a final instruction me here really my dear nephew My captors demand that you bring the hundred and fifty thousand dollars I have begs you to raise to my house by tomorrow at the latest There it must be kept in readiness for instant delivery Logan Come outside of me. I want to ask you sergeants. Come on. Hey sergeant. Yeah, Casey Where did you find this letter addressed to Lawrence exactly on the sidewalk right here underneath the window of de Zell's office? Yeah, it was tied to a little rock De Zell himself probably drove by in a cabin tossed out the weighted envelope. You kept the rocket was tied to Sergeant on a case like this We keep everything here it is Hey, that's not a rock. It's a piece of fire brick. What's the difference? Hey, look, where's the nearest place you can get a tear gas bomb tear gets The sixth precinct station a couple of blocks from here. Yeah, we'll have your sergeant get one pal Well, you're quick. I'll explain it in a minute. I don't waste time. Oh, okay, sergeant get a tear gas bomb. I'm on the way Cut you better get to know Casey. What's a big idea? Oh, then I think I know where mr. Adam to Zell is hiding about this I And I'll give you my shield and you can teach me how to operate a press camera Takes a clever guy to operate a press camera and it takes a screwball to get your kind of nutty ideas We'll know how nutty my ideas in just 15 seconds if your sergeant does his stuff on time. I will This shop of disels is a modern place Casey. You're figuring as though it was some old European cast Here's the first tear gas bomb fell behind that wall all right straight down that chimney There goes number two I'd have your gun ready Logan our guy faces a murder rap and he's got a 38 Hey section of bookshelves Casey, it's swinging out like a door Yes, and our kid that book dealer is coming from behind them up that gun to zeal and stick up your hands All right, all right, but let me get air Let me get Let's all get fresh air Logan a tear gas is filled this room Oh, and I cried so much since the Dodgers Well, you know That fella diselle was hiding in his own house Casey in a secret chamber secret chamber describes it too Romantically ever when diselle had the living room of that old mansion remodeled into an office in the bookshop He had bookcases built across the opening of a very big fireplace that was there And that section of bookcase was hinged like a door and the fireplace behind it gave him a handy and all together Hidden little room in which to store stolen books and when he suddenly needed a hiding place for himself You got plenty of air through the chimney and at night he sneaked into the kitchen got supplies of food and water And he planted the ransom note under the door himself and his housekeeper told us the chief order husband was robbing the icebox When did you start to get wise to the setup Casey? Not too long after I should have been I'd noticed a big fireplace in the dining room and wondered why there wasn't one in the original parlor The door of the bookshop was found locked after the shooting and I'd wondered why guys leaving in such a hurry and they'd bought it to lock it And diselle had locked it effort to make sure no one could get in before he'd open and closed his secret chamber And he's confessed that his nephew had no part in the affair at all Everything finally added up when Logan said that Lawrence had put the dough and diselle's office safe That was a logical place to put it and it suddenly hit me that that was what diselle figured and wanted so we could come out and get it Then when I saw the piece of firebreak that had been tied to the second ransom letter I knew my total was right. Yeah, but how did he figure he'd get away with that money when there was cops all around the place? Well, he meant to climb up the flu with a big chimney and make his getaway over the you know the roofs of the joining houses, huh? Well Annie How about taking you home now? Well not tonight Casey. I have a well, I Have a date with the mr. Lawrence, huh? Hmm. I knew he couldn't be a kidnapper He looks like he ain't so sure about that miss Williams not so sure This is the United States armed forces radio service the voice of information and education