 From Hollywood. It's time now for Johnny dollar Fred Larkin Johnny New Jersey fire and casualty Oh, but it didn't get you out of bed. Well, you sure did Freddie, but how are things in Trenton in Trenton fine In the little town of Vineland. I'm not so sure Vineland about halfway between Philadelphia and Atlantic City That's the place what goes down there fire arson. That's what I hope you can find out well Any reason for suspicion? Yes Man who holds the policy on $83,000 worth of betting betting mattresses box springs it went up in smoke two days ago Okay, friend. I'll grab the first train Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-pact expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance Investigator is truly Johnny dollar And now act one of yours truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar To the New Jersey fire and casualty insurance company home office Trenton, New Jersey Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the smoky sleeper matter Expense account item one ten seventy five fair and incidentals Hartford to Trenton Item two eighty cents taxi to Fred Larkins office on West State Street He lost no time and getting right to the point. That's right eighty three thousand total loss Well, who's filed the claim friend name is Ben Murray soul owner and manager of Ben Murray furniture sales in Philadelphia Sort of a small chain scattered around all over the city. I thought you said the loss was in Finland It was that's where he had a big warehouse all of his stores are in Philly He claims it's cheaper than maintaining a big warehouse in the city also apparently it's close to a couple of sources of supply He's been a good account Johnny. We've made a lot of money on his policies Well, it sounds like you've issued him quite a few and we have you see in addition to the usual coverage on his stores We've issued him a lot of short-termers on warehouse contents from time to time. I don't quite see what you mean His whole business is based on special sales Pre-inventory going out of business distressed merchandise Fired water damage sales summer winter spring and fall sales anything you can think of no kidding Periodically loads up his violent warehouse with stuff. He's accumulated for the next big sale And we insure it this time it was eighty three thousand dollars worth of box springs and mattresses Oh, that's a lot of betting for just one sale. Don't worry. He did got rid of it His salesman of the sharpest bunch you ever saw too sharp if you asked me almost like a bunch of con men You know what switching means in the retail trade Isn't that when they advertise a well-known item at a very low price? That's it Then when you try to buy it, they just happen to have sold the last one. That's it But by that time they've got you in the store where they can use the high-pressure pitch to sell you some inferior item at an even Higher price and on a no return basis. Yeah by the time the customer gets wise. It's too late exactly I suspect they're not above using the label switch to you know have some local Manufacture make up a cheap item then put a nationally recognized label on it or pretty good coffee my my what nice clients You have Freddie. Well, what can we do Johnny as long as you don't catch them red-handed in something that directly affects us You don't need to write any more policies The company says different at least until such a time as they try to pull something on us or we find proof of such doings I see Well, I find this been Murray either his main office in Philadelphia or down in Vineland looking over what's left in the shell Of that warehouse on what exactly does Murray base the amount of his claim face value of the policy Which in turn was based on the cost to the goods to him You mean you use the figures he gave you Hardly we got the figures from the actual bills sent him by the manufacturer. Well, I wondered I don't blame you No Johnny that 83,000 is exactly what the mattresses and box springs cost him It was a special order from one manufacturer made up especially for one big sale Can you secretary check on Murray's whereabouts for me? Sure. All right, then let me use your phone I may be able to save us all a lot of time later in soap I call my old friend Adam bulls who lived within a few miles of Vineland who before he retired was one of the top arson men in the country Investigator I mean He wasn't home But I left word for him to drive to Vineland and meet me in the lobby of the Eastland as hotel whenever I got there Meanwhile Fred's secretary had learned that Ben Murray was in his Philadelphia office Expense account item three five sixty for a train to Philadelphia and cab to the main office of Ben Murray furniture sales The place was a madhouse Okay dollar go ahead in it's that first office on the right. Thanks. And listen wait a minute Sales department. Call me back. I'm busy Listen dollar if you can get a word in edgewise with Ben ask him. Where's the contracts for that West Philadelphia deal, will you? Oh, sure? Sales department. Yeah Oh Make the picture in that advertisement look good see put a lot of stuff around pictures on the wall Rugging the floor stuff like that Yeah, make the suckers think they're getting a 25-piece dining room suit not just a table four chairs and 20 crummy dishes Dollar sit down. Thanks. Yeah, make it look like they'll be getting everything they see in the ad Yeah Now to get them sofas in from Sterling Okay, put a price ticket of 95 bucks on them and then mark it down to 49 95 and we'll clean out the whole Mr. Murray Huh? He what? Sterling charges 25 bucks for those lousy sofas Listen, we're giving them 20 to 50 for them except for the demonstrator. We show on the floor the good one Who does he think he is telling me the price is gonna charge me? Oh that lousy bunch of chisels trying to hike the price on me. Oh, he what a business from the looks of that outer office You've got plenty of it. Yeah, yeah volume dollar. That's what does it. I work on a narrow margin, see oh Yeah, sometimes even lose money just to keep the volume up. I got nine stores. See they're all over Philadelphia Hey, Ben. Yeah, what's the matter now? Hind Street wants to know the sale prices on those three grades of night cloud mattresses. What do I tell them? What are the cost prices all the same 13 bucks a piece cost us 13 bucks Well price them at 39.95, 49.95 and 69.95 Okay, Ben Narrow profit margin and I look dollar your card says you're an insurance investigator That's right. Well if it's about that fire add down in Vineland a couple of days. That's exactly what it's about Well, let me tell you something Yeah, what is it? Oh Yeah, well listen Hey, pick that other phone off the hook dollar that noise is killing me. Would I not I might learn well you tell him I don't care. These are the part of the internal revenue in person. Hello Wait just a minute Look this isn't been just hold on a minute. What do you hold on you tell that bookkeeper? We got there. He either keeps the books the way I tell him or either he Look, I'll call you back. See you hold that call for me dollar. Yeah, yeah, yeah Hello. Yeah Yeah Well, don't take any chances. Give her anything she wants give her the one she saw on the floor go out and buy her one a good one Just make her happy keep her from Well, you know what I mean. Yeah Troubles troubles troubles When I look dollar You think there was anything wrong with that fire you prove it. I'll give you this whole business What do you think I am a crook? I haven't said that Yet then what's the idea investigate not you but that fire we always investigate when a claim this large is involved Oh, yeah, do it automatically Look, I'm trying to run an honest business here. Just barely scraping by that phone called just now a customer ain't a hundred percent satisfied We make her satisfied. Oh sure the keeper from blabbing about the way you looked her Oh, look look get out of here. Would you can't you see I'm busy? I try to run a decent business here and punks like you come in and Oh Yeah, hold on Look You've got some legit reason to investigate dollar you come around Dan maybe I will now go on get out. Will you gladly? Listen Charlie, you tell him he tries to outsmart me. I'll sue him for every city's got Expense account item for $50 deposit on a drive your own car I crossed the Delaware River Bridge and finally picked up route 47 for the 35 mile drive down to Vineland Flat country this with plenty of beautiful trees and rich farmland an occasional cranberry bottom The soft smell of riving peaches greeted me from the vast orchards. I passed it was all very pleasant Certainly a complete contrast of the noisy unhealthy joint. I just left And I could see only too plainly why Fred Larkin suspected arson in the warehouse fire Sure If a character like Ben Murray didn't resort to arson, he'd feel he was missing a good bet Proof of arson, however is a different matter and not always easy to come by that's where I wanted the help of Ed bulls But I hadn't got to the hotel when I arrived in Vineland So I drove over to the police headquarters at 610 Wood Street a block north of Landis Avenue the main drag There I found Sergeant Louis Tomaso who'd been working on the case Be glad to take over their dollar just the other side of Chestnut Avenue. That's over south of town All right, Sergeant. I'd like to see that warehouse or what's left of it Oh, there's plenty left of the warehouse all metal construction come on that in itself might make it hard to spot arson dollar We've been over the lieutenant. Mr. Dollar and I are going out to the Bedmore warehouse We went over that place with a fine-tooth comb both during and after the fire came up with nothing Nothing that would give any cause for suspicion Sergeant, you know a man with a name of Adam bulls. I certainly do he's been giving me a lot of help with this You know just to sort of keep his hand in and he's found nothing another thing Of course, he's the kind that never gives up. Yeah Well, let's get on over and take a look at that place It was obvious that the whole contents of that warehouse was damaged beyond repair And apparently the big steel building had been packed to the roof. I Looked over some of the damage mattresses very carefully Sometimes with the aid of my pocket knife and I learned some rather interesting things Things that showed the best possible reasons for wanting to burn up a lot of merchandise like this Wow Well, have you seen enough mr. Dollar? Yeah, I guess so but I still want to talk to Adam bulls So let's go on back to wait a minute. Wait a minute looks like ad pulling up in that car there. Huh? So it is Hey, yeah, sergeant don't tell me you said for a half with my doll just a minute now stinky Why the greenest rookie on the force it gets and I'll brain you you two know each other You kidding Johnny, how are you baby great just great? You got my message, huh? Yeah, but I hereby inform you that as usual you got here too late Oh, is that so when I found out you were coming. I decided I'd better get to work if only to show you So I did and I found out who started the fire. Well, I've got a pretty good suspicion myself Who did it ad poor old Jerry Cumber? Who Jerry the old town near the will yep and that poor foolish old whine-o Oh How'd it happen? Oh, he was just wandering around that night as he often does with a bottle to keep in company found the back door of the warehouse open thought he'd take a little nap or Rather sleep it off. He certainly had his choice of nice soft beds. Yeah So he went to sleep with a lighted cigarette in his fingers. There you have it And a funny thing sergeant. Yeah only charge you can really hold the old bomb on is being drunk and disorderly And of course trespass what will you look it up? You see I'm right as for you Johnny You can just go on back to your company and tell them to pay the claim. Oh, that's so yes, sir Case is closed at least for you. That's where you're wrong, huh? After a couple of things I heard at the Benmore office plus a couple of things. I've seen here Adam, I think this case is just starting for me Two of yours truly Johnny dollar in a moment for a long time people have been saying that the earth is shrinking because Transportation is getting faster and faster And because this is true people are getting closer to Today our neighbors are not only the ones who live next door to us. They're all over the world It is axiomatic that one should help his neighbor, but Americans have gone a step further In addition to individuals helping individuals now many American cities Help many other cities through the sister city program now, perhaps you've heard how it works. If not, here's an example or two in the fall of 1959 a large area of Nagoya, Japan was struck by a devastating typhoon her sister city, Los Angeles, California Sent tons of relief materials to Nagoya by way of an Air Force plane headed for the area the marines and the Navy Rendered vital emergency aid during the disaster When earthquakes shook vina del mar chili during the summer of 1960 her sister city Sausalito, California sent hundreds of dollars worth of relief materials to help out another case in point The school children of Clovis, New Mexico sent a number of cultural exchange packages to students and their sister city of Adana, Turkey There are hundreds of such examples because there are hundreds of sister cities By using this means of diplomacy Friendship and understanding have increased throughout the world and paved the way for permanent freedom the right of all men everywhere and Now act two of yours truly Johnny dollar and the smoky sleeper matter From the looks of things the case was practically over The fire at the warehouse full of box springs and interspring mattresses had been accidental and it looked I underlined that word looked As though Ben Murray's claim for reparation of the tune of $83,000 was entirely justified Ed bulls the finest expert on arson. I knew had produced the man who started the fire as proof So on the surface there was nothing for the company to do but pay Ben Murray's claim But I smell a rat a big one Expensive kind of him 575 cents for a person-to-person call to Fred Larkin and Trenton Well, Johnny if you're satisfied with bulls conclusion that it wasn't arson Well, that's that we'll have to pay off the claim What if I could prove fraud fraud? What do you mean? Look Fred you told me you saw the bills the manufacturers bills to Murray giving valuation on the bedding that was Stored in that warehouse. Yes, I have photostats of those bills right here in my desk, but what good for you dig them out Well, yeah, oh why go on go on dig them out Fred and read them to me What if there was no arson? I feel to see what you're trying to do what I ask you I'm trying to save your company some money. Oh, well the labels on the remains of the mattresses I looked at at the scene of the fire those labels indicated there There was a model called the night cloud sleep rest and that checks with these bills Let's see 500 mattresses called night cloud sleep rest. Well forget the quantities What was the manufacturers price to Ben Murray on that night cloud sleep rest honey? They cost Ben Murray exactly 2550 a piece and there's an equal number of box springs 2550. That's right But I overheard him say in Philadelphia. Did he only pick? Hmm what Johnny and nothing nothing. What are the models are on those bills? night cloud super sleep and the price Just a second and I thought you're figuring you might be interested in knowing that the labels on that sleep rest indicated a retail price of $69 each some profit here now Johnny the night cloud supers cost Murray 2620 a piece. Wow. Hey, all right. I got it and he claimed to be working on a narrow profit margin now the night cloud Perfection sleep cost him $27 and 14 cents each good any more those were the only ones he bought and stored in the warehouse All right, I'll give you the name and address of the manufacturer easy good now one more thing Can you think of the name of another big chain of furniture stores? You know like Ben Murray's only in New York or Chicago or some of the big city well or plowder brothers Only there's such a disreputable outfit that when they try to talk insurance with us ready. That's all the better. Thanks a lot Oh wait, you still haven't told me. Oh, I will Freddie. Don't you worry? I will Why I didn't get pinched for speeding somewhere along highway 49 I'll never know because I certainly didn't hold back the horsepower Just short of the town of tucker hole I turned off on 557 and then a few miles later pulled into wood vine Although it's a small community surrounded by farms that boast a big hat factory a couple of clothing factories a vast sprawling state institution And on the far edge of town the golden bedding corporation's huge plant I think the best thing to do was put on a bull front and pull my way into the president's office But any such tactics proved entirely unnecessary Yes, mr. Golden, but just Barney's good enough. I should say it is because you must be Barney junior I've known your papa for years Sit on my boy. Do you like a cigar? Well, no, no, thanks. You don't look like your old man You know that not a bit. Of course, I haven't seen him since 42 Barney do all that. Yeah Well, what are you doing this part of the country? I'm Barney. Oh, um business pleasure business, huh? It's a matter. We haven't had any orders from you people lately Well up to now I haven't really had anything to do with the business Living off the old man's many that's my boy. She go to college. Yeah for four years. That's the way smart boy Now you are in the business Buying maybe if you mean from you and that depends If you're as sharp as your papa How old is he now huh pop? Yeah Let me see. How's your mama mama? All right, look mr. Golden if you if you don't mind we'll talk business first Yeah, chip off the old block sure business always first After maybe you come out to the house love dinner talk over old times your family sure maybe all right You go right ahead. Tell me what you want order a thousand mattresses and box springs 10,000 Anything you want my boy and at a good price. Well, like I said that depends what kind of a deal that what you mean Yeah, all right. I'll tell you your papa's a very smart man. You know that he's a good businessman I know what he's thinking so I know what you're thinking. All right If you want to give me a nice big order for a lot of merchandise, I'll name you a price that you Listen bonnie. I've got such a good customer in Philadelphia these days Not mentioning any names, but you'll pardon me. I don't even miss your papa's business Understand me but to get your business back again. I'll make you the same type deal I give this man for a firm order that is you understand no cancellations you'll uh You'll uh pre-ticket the merchandise that is put the list price on the labels for me for us any price you say irregardless of the cost to you Look over here my boy the pictures of our merchandise here on the wall Uh-huh Night cloud perfections. Well, we're putting on any name you like One should sound like some national brand will think up a name for you Not a bad deal So far and we make up as many models as you want You know, we change just the ticking they look different all 196 springs. I personally guarantee it only 196 all you need sure Nobody can tell the difference except of course the demonstrators you keep on the floor to show the customer demonstrators You got 392 springs those you can jump on and bend them anything you like Yeah, and the customer thinks that's the kind he's getting what else I tell you bonnie boy. Just as smart as your old man. Yeah Now uh, what about the price? Ah price now bonnie this you can't resist You understand out here in the country low overhead. No labor problems. Nobody snooping. Yeah. Yeah. I know how much Well for you my boy How many Well, uh, say, uh 10 000 units 10 000 units. All right. I'll give you a special price. How much Well, now this depends on the ticking material. Hmm. You look here See First-class material looks like twice the money go on playing blue and white ticking That's cost you and remember bonnie. This is very special because of your papa and getting back his business so At 10 000 units than this ticking $14.93 and you never saw such a buy that okay Strace means a little high a little high. I'm not making a thing on it Look at here this the fancy taking this is real class $15.06 a unit now you can't beat now. Wait a minute. Wait a minute Of course bonnie my boy if you want to order a few more I think maybe I can do better up in new england in new england who tell me who All right. All right. Now look, I told you I've got a big customer in philadelphia. Well, all right never mind We'll do it the same way for you. We do for him. All right on the books What do you mean? No, let me 14.93 cents, huh only what would you think of the bill? I send you says 29.96 Double. Mm-hmm You'd make it look like I paid twice as much so Yeah Yeah For tax purposes, I'd only be showing about half the profit. I was actually making smart boy bonnie Or uh, suppose I insured the stuff for the amount your bills showed and something happened. Well, that's right. Sure. However, you want excuse me Hello Oh Hello, ben. I was just thinking of you. I hear you had a lucky fire up there. What? No, not now. Listen, ben, I've got a customer. I've got No, I've got an important customer here the son of a very dear old What? Yes, he is Yes A blue shirt and a bow tie Oh, no Oh, no, then I'll call you back mr. Dollar. That's right. Johnny dollar in person from the insurance Oh, no, oh, no too bad ben murray's call interrupted our conversation That was a very interesting lot of facts you gave me And I strongly suspect it'll not only put murray out of business But you too and a lot of people you've been dealing with Brother, I hate to think of what the better business bureau will do when they get hold of these facts To say nothing of the federal trade commission dollar But I have an ocean it'll help to clear up one of the dirtiest chip rackets in years Even the long-suffering public understands this sort of shady operation when it's brought to their attention For the decent legitimate national firms you've been practically stealing from dollar. Will you please listen a minute? Yeah, go ahead business has been good. I've made a lot of Maybe you could use a little bit, you know, we'll call it the commissioner say ten thousand dollars in cash It wouldn't show Gold and I wouldn't even spit on that kind of oh, I could maybe persuade you couldn't persuade me to have any part of it Brother, you've had it coming for a long long time And believe me. I'm going to see that you get it Understand Yes, doctor. You make it I understand I understand you too You dirty crook You faker you liar. You're cheating dirty conniving chiseling life. You ruined me here You ruined me Yes, friend I'm afraid that your nice client ben murray based his insurance claim on a lot of values that didn't exist On the hiked up prices hiked up to cheat you and the income tax boys And if that is not right fraud, I'll eat my shirt So you can just forget about paying that claim or any part of it And I hope that you and the company will take whatever legal steps are necessary to put these guys out of business Expense account total including incidentals in the trip back to hartford 130 dollars 49 cents And cheap at half the price Yours truly Johnny dollar star will return in just a moment Our flag now numbers 50 stars and behind each star there stands yet another flag representing one of the 50 states Kansas state flag is dark blue and in the center is the state seal Surmounted by a large sunflower the official state flower The seal reflects the history of cancels the train of ox wagons going west For most of the great roads passed through cancels and indian is depicted chasing a herd of buffalo Recalling the words of the official state song. Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam For this truly was the home of the buffalo and indian The east is represented by a rising sun and the promise of future prosperity is indicated by the steamboat on the river And the farmer plowing the field Above a mountain range are 34 stars for cancels was the 34th state admitted to the union Overall is the state motto ad astra per ospera to the stars through difficulties Kansas state flag the flag of the 34th state to enter the union was adopted on march 23rd 1927 Now here's our star to tell you about next week story Next week the case of a girl who was willing to kill For money. She didn't need Join us. Won't you yours truly? Johnny dollar the johnny dollar starring bob bailey originates in hollywood It is produced and directed by jack johnstone who also wrote tonight's story Heard in our cast where russel thorson jack edwards will write ball de bob lauren stoffkins and vick parents Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly johnny dollar