 Johnny dollar Johnny, this is Don Boomer down in Sarasota, Florida. That's right. Don. How are you? How's the real estate business? Just fine and business is booming. I haven't seen you since I flew down there to do some fishing with our mutual pal Earl poorman I didn't sense a value. Oh, what's that mean? Always drips out to California all the time Oh, and this time it looks as though he might stay out there Don, I think all you Floridians are jealous of California now into ourselves Be rank heresy Anyhow with Earl poor man out of town at least for a while I'm kind of holding down the office of tri-state life and casually these days. So what happens? Trouble trouble Clients name is Thomas Patterson. All right. What's happened? Somebody knock him off or something? Yeah So now this killer's on the loose and you figure Tom Patterson's life isn't worth a bag of beans No Okay, Don, I'll grab the first plane I can CBS radio brings you Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance Investigation Australia Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to the tri-state life at casualty insurance company Sarasota office Following as an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the deadly debt matter Expense account item one seventy nine forty taxing a plane out of Hartford The flight was good and by early afternoon I was in Don boom how are his real estate office in Sarasota, Florida after the usual amenities now Let me lay it all out for you Johnny. Yeah sure Don go ahead and to begin with the life insurance policy involved has a face value of $70,000. Hmm. Let's see then my commission will come to Don't you ever think of anything but money sure like what? Well right now I'm thinking about the chances of staying alive After all with a killer on the loose. Well, at least the thought of a few bucks coming to me could help me die happy The insurance name you said is Thomas Patterson. It is now Some years ago Johnny young Tommy lived up in Jacksonville worked as a milkman Early one morning that was in 1951 he pulled up in front of an alley just in time to see a man named Casey Kerry Shoot down a fellow named Harker who just happened to be busy at the moment blasting away at Kerry with a 38 So Kerry pleaded self-defense, huh? Early tried to but the jury wouldn't go for it. You see there'd been a long-standing feud between the two of them Only reason they didn't give Kerry the chair is because Harker had a record as long as your arm Instead Kerry was given 10 years to life The point is that Tommy Patterson's testimony was what really convicted him So of course he made the usual melodramatic threat. Oh, yeah that he'd get Patterson if it was the last thing he ever did They didn't care when he'd be a no hurry, but sooner or later. He'd track him down and kill him. So what's happened? The term had just got married started nice little family two boys and a girl So Kerry's threats scared him as much because of the wife and kids as for himself Yeah, but now Don you know as well as I do how little those courtroom threats usually mean now now wait About that time some relative died and left Tom a considerable sum of money So he changed his name legally change it to what do what it is now Thomas K. Patterson What it was before doesn't matter Okay, go on then he and his family moved on down to Venice a few miles south of here Yeah, I remember the time there in Venice. He set up the excellent dairy products company Nobody down here has known him as anything but Tom Patterson. So he's felt perfectly safe Until that is about six months ago. Yeah, he was up in Jacksonville on a business trip He was well He was just walking along the street one day Turned a corner and bumped into a man coming from the other way. Oh, yes He took one look at the man's face and started running like a scared rabbit KC Kerry. Oh, what do you think? But I'll wait on if Kerry got ten years to life I know I know when he stopped to think about it Tom couldn't believe it But he went down to the public library and dug into the old newspaper files. Yeah, sure enough Thanks to good behavior model prisoner and all that sort of stuff carried get out carried got out Legitimately, but to Tom Patterson that would only mean one thing Kerry was out to get him In the exciting history of great American inventions and inventors There is no one who stands out with the eminence of Thomas a Edison Among his hundreds of great inventions Edison gave us the phonograph the microphone a telephone system various improvements for telegraphy and motion pictures and most significantly the electric light or incandescent lamp originally referred to as bottled light When Edison was still in his 20s He set out to invent an electric lamp which could operate on low power and would be safe for use in homes and other buildings He knew that resistance to electricity would make wires and other substances glow for an instant with white heat But they would be instantly consumed so he tried several types of fiber or wire Sealed in a vacuum and succeeded in producing a glow which lasted for several hours The next step was to find a filament that would give off a bright light and last for a longer time In his search for the right substance which he could seal in his vacuum bulb He tried 6,000 different substances ranging from human hair and tar to food stuffs and vegetable fibers Finally, he hit upon the idea of using the fibers of the bamboo tree Carbonized these threads provided the filament he sought and thus the incandescent lamp became a reality It was discovered not by accident nor by profound scientific knowledge It was the result of tireless effort and endless trials Edison like so many geniuses before him found success through determination and the philosophy which has blessed the work of most American inventors Somehow there must be a way Let's find it and now act two of yours truly Johnny dollar Wait a minute, son. Yes, Johnny. Tom Patterson wasn't sure that Kerry actually saw him recognized him At the time no after all Tom had only had a very brief glimpse of the man and the man had made no attempt to go after him Uh-huh, but he's sure now that it was Kerry. Yes. All right. So what did he do? He drove on back to Venice quietly bought himself a colt 32 and got a permit to carry it Did he tell the police why he wanted the gun? No Of course all along Johnny Tom had hoped that Kerry hadn't recognized him that even if he had he wouldn't know where to look for him But now done unless this man Kerry has made some move against him. I'll just wait Johnny, okay? Okay, tell us your way a couple of months ago Casey Kerry appeared and settled down in Venice. Oh Yes, he rented a small house and got himself a job in charge of one of the filling stations on the trail Well, that doesn't sound as though he moved in just to carry out his threat against Tom Patterson Needless to say Tom tried to avoid him But now and then when he'd see him on the street or forget and go past the gas station It was Kerry who'd avoid him dare not to see him. I know what you're thinking Johnny But just remember one thing. Yeah, what's that? Kerry had made it plain right from the beginning that he was in no hurry to get back in time So you think he's kind of playing a cat and mouse game with him I just to build up the old fear in him prolong the agony maybe what else and believe me He's succeeding when Tom finally called and asked me to have you come here to protect him He was almost a nervous wreck. All right. Tell me this has carry any brains Or is he just a typical dumb hood? He's in charge of a modern filling station for one of the big important companies All right, then he must have too much sense to commit another murder But if he can simply wear Patterson down with fright, maybe even grab him off his rocker Johnny Kerry swore he'd kill Tom Patterson and I'm convinced that he meant it more important Tom is what are the police say? Well Tom hasn't told him in order to keep his wife and kids from finding out about it That's a pretty small town, you know If it weren't for his family Tom would have just pulled up steaks and headed for Timbuktu Don if he's as scared as you seem to think as I see if there's no good reason for it. Well Got an extra car I can use. Yeah, sure the yellow one parked up front. Yeah, here. Yeah, the keys What are you gonna do? I'm on down to Venice to see Tom Patterson and the police Item 2 425 for a tank full of gas In Venice, I found Tom Patterson in his office at the excellent dairy products company about to leave for the day What Don boom Howard said about him was true He was just about beside himself with fear and someone against his wishes. I hauled him over to police headquarters Brand younger the chief was most cooperative, but okay, Billy. Let me know when he comes in And yes, mr. Dollar, I know all about Casey Carey. Oh, then why haven't you done something about it? Oh, no, why have you let him settle down here in Venice just a minute, mr. If you know who he is that he's the man who's threatened to kill me. I said just a minute, mr. Tom Now you just sit there and be quiet. Yeah, please go on with what you were saying chief Mr. Johnny, I learned all about carry from the big oil company who works for all about him Including that foolish thing he said in court nine years. All right, then So I had a little talk with him and we kind of kept an eye on him cause only the boys on the force and I know that We uh, well, we weren't sure that mr. Tom here knew about him being here Of course, I did there was no reason to scare him or that nice family is very considerate chief So considerate what's considered about letting a killer settle down here in the fall now hold it Tom look here. If you want helping this thing from me or the police or anybody else, of course I do why else do you think I had mr. Boom how are sent all right? Then let us handle it our own way otherwise We'll be glad to back out. Just let you take care of it all yourself, but I Well All right, mr. Dollar. I I'm sorry. Okay, so anyhow, mr. Johnny. I'm convinced that Casey Carey is all right He's forgotten his threat and I tell you that he No chief I've got to have protection against him somebody to watch over me night and day Tom Suppose Kerry hasn't forgotten his threat to kid. I'm sure he has and suppose chief younger were to give you protection For a while and the hope Kerry might try to make a move while did you say that's right? He said he'd be in no hurry to get me. I know and waited nine years so far He'll wait longer if he has to but sooner or later. He's and what about my family? Oh, okay, Billy. Okay. I'll be through here in a minute. Yes Now you're very upset man. Well, wouldn't you be and I see there's a pistol permit listed in your name You have that gun on you mr. Tom. It's at home in my bureau. What about it? Now don't you think it might be real sensible if you turn it in before you get excited and do something foolish? No No, I don't Why not Tom Because if you won't help me Then maybe I'd better help myself I took the chief aside and promised I'd stay with Tom Patterson if possible get his gun and turn it in And Tom and I left as we rounded the corner. We pass Kerry's gas station No, mr. Dollar. He's off duty this time of the evening. Oh, you know where he lives. Yes, where? Because that's where we're going What what are you wanted to show down with him? Okay, now's your chance But without my gun you You can't be serious While grabbing a sandwich and some coffee that's item three a dollar forty I managed to sell him on the idea and we drove on over to Kerry's house on a lonely side street You must have seen me mr. Dollar and he's probably waiting in there in the dark Yes, oh What did you say ma'am and who are you one of the neighbors mister? That's what when I heard that shot in there. You heard a shot Well, then I kind of thought about it for a while and then I called the police While we were sitting in that restaurant having come on Tom this door is open There's got to be a light switch here on sir. There it is Mr. Dollar, huh? This Is Casey Kerry? Yes, sir only Shot through the head And it looks like about a 32 Tommy Isn't that the caliber of your gun? Why yes, and Where did you say it is? At home in the bureau Well chief chief younger sorry mr. Tom holding you for murder Gold is considered more precious than silver and Because it is we find it hard to understand why silver takes precedence over gold in the military insignia of rank in the United States At one time except for the silver stars of generals worn on epaulets of gold The color of an officer's insignia of rank depended on his branch of army service Infantry officers wore epaulets of silver with insignia of gold all other officers wore the opposite In 1851 all epaulets were gold with silver insignia But majors and second lieutenants had no insignia at all except for a difference in size of the epaulet fringe Between the Civil War and the Spanish-American War most epaulets were abolished and Majors were given gold leaves to indicate their rank But the poor second lieutenant had to wait for his gold bar until and believe this or not 1917 Regardless of the date of establishment All military insignia have been a source of pride for members of the armed forces of the United States of America And now act three of yours truly Johnny dollar and the deadly death matter I'm holding you for the murder of mr. Casey carry. No, no chief. You're wrong. Am I? Looks to me like this is his dead body laying here And I guess this hole in his head was made by a 32 caliber bullet chief young girl Listen Tom. That's the same as this gun of yours. So here you are. Mr. Dollar. Here's a murder weapon That's my gun. Where'd you get it? Mr. Tom? I hate to say this. I had a feeling you're coming to see me with a bluff Bluff. Yes, sir to make me think you hadn't yet done any harm to mr. Carrie here wrong chief Am I I had to practically drag Tom over here to see you? Well, then let's just say he was more willing than he let on that's not true And when some woman phoned about here in a shot out here and young Billy Barker came in Parker One of my new boys on the force when he laid his gun on my desk and the number on it checked out against your permit Mr.. Tom, where'd you get this gun? Right where you throwed it off to the start of the road over toward midnight pass What that's right? If young Barker hadn't stopped to fix a tire on his squad car and stepped on it could have laid there forever Nobody there was him, but I told you I left it in my bureau at home That just doesn't make sense now mr. Tom, and you know, but it's true So where were you after you and mr. Johnny left me at headquarters. Well, I can answer that Mr. Tom you came over here and killed mr. Carrie and took the gun and throwed it off in the bush Wait chief younger listen. Yes, sir. Tom has been with me for the time. We left you Yes Well, and all that means is you killed him before you came to see me Oh, no, and when the dock digs a bullet out of Carrie's body And I take you along with your gun up to the police lab in Sarasota, mr. Dollar, and if they match up together Tommy It looks kind of bad for you doesn't it? Nope, please listen. You better come along with me mr. Tom Maybe Maybe chief younger was right And when a report came back from ballistics that the bullet had come from Tom Patterson's gun When Tom had no way of proving he'd left the gun at home Well, I I still couldn't believe Tom and Tom Another thing the neighbor woman had heard the shot only a little while before we got there What's more Carrie's body had still been warm But instead of putting up a defense for Tom I decided to play a real wild hunch that just might turn up Carrie's killer Item three from a phone both 30 cents for a call to Don boom horror No, Johnny the man Tom saw Carrie murder back in 51 was named Harker not Barker Well, and I guess why hunch about this new man in the department hunch about what oh, it's uh, nothing Don forget it and thanks So maybe I was wrong So maybe instead of always acting on these crazy hunches and yet Item four was a dollar ten for a call to Jacksonville to Mike Kirby in the city room of the Times Press and Bless him. He came up with some mighty revealing information for me And then he worked for a while on the police force Johnny. Oh, they're in Jacksonville. That's right Maybe a month or two ago. He handed in that's right, but Johnny if he was a cop here's another maybe what maybe that boy still is What a cop? Thanks a lot Mike. I went back to police headquarters where chief younger was half asleep at his desk I told him I wanted to have a little talk with one of his men But it's after midnight and he doesn't come on duty until late in the morning Okay, if you insist, I'll call him get him out of bed and have him come down here And then about half an hour later there in chief younger's office Special chief get me out of bed this way Billy. I want you to meet Johnny dollar Johnny This is Billy Barker my Billy Only Why did you change your name from Harker when you came down here to Venice? Well, what's that sir? I'm afraid it was a dead giveaway. I don't know what you mean I'm sure I know that and the fact you didn't move down here until Casey Currie did Oh, yeah, you mean that man that was killed this afternoon. That's right The man who'd killed your own father back in 51 Is that true Billy? How did you know mr. Dollar Casey Currie the man you swore you'd someday get even with for killing your dad How did you know that I didn't I was guessing looks to me like you guessed right mr. Johnny now Now when you learned that Kerry was getting out of jail You joined the force up there hoping that maybe you could find some excuse to kill him in line of duty You don't know before you could do it. He moved down here to Venice So you followed him and joined the force down here You you think that's the reason I came down all you could do was buy your time until this afternoon When you heard us talking in here and found out about Tommy Patterson Recognizing Kerry being so wild with fear that he was willing to kill him now you listen all you had to do was get hold of Tommy's gun I don't know how or when that's beside the point mr. Johnny you sure this I'm not sure of anything chief You bet you are but if Billy is willing to go over to the police lab and Sarasota let them make a perfect test of his shooting hand Well, oh Oh Chief you You want to let Tom Patterson out of that cell? So we can go home to his family. Yes, sir right away and thank you, mr. Johnny Expensive out total including our motel room some fishing out in the Gulf with chief younger the next day Then the flight back to Hartford call it $200 even remarks the fishing was great Yours truly Johnny dollar Yours truly Johnny dollar starring Bob Bailey originates in Hollywood and is written produced and directed by Jack Johnstone heard in our cast were Virginia Greg Russell Thorsen Barney Phillips Sam Edwards Bert Holland and Stacy Harris Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar This is John Wall speaker Johnny dollar has come to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States Armed Forces radio and television service