 From Hollywood, it's time now for Edmund O'Brien has Johnny dollar Yeah, that's right, you're here about the almost Scott shooting. Yes, who is this is this a gang? No, it is the gang Well, it's about time you gave yourself up, isn't it? No. No, I won't because I didn't kill it. Why'd you take a run out? All right, I can do that. How can we work it? So I'll be sure are you still in San Francisco? I'll be alone. My word is good Edmund O'Brien in a transcribed adventure of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar Submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to home office Columbia all-risk insurance company Hartford, Connecticut The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the Alma Scott matter He's got out of one two hundred nineteen dollars FN incidentals between Hartford and San Francisco For a day and a half the investigation had taken the form of a search for the man who called me Alan Swain Four witnesses tenants in the dead girls apartment house had seen him running away in the corridor outside of flat Immediately after they'd heard the shots So when this chief suspect phoned about eight that second night to say that he was innocent and wanted to see me I was naturally more than anxious to set the meeting up later. I wasn't so happy about it According to arrangements I capped to the corner of Fulton 26th Avenue found a photography shop in front of which I was supposed to be picked up and stood there for about five minutes looking at the pictures of some uninteresting brides No, thanks. I'm supposed to meet somebody here I'm from Hartford, Connecticut. I guess we were fated to meet what about the guy that called me I thought he was going to show up changed his mind. I'll take you to him one. There's a cab waiting around the corner. I Memorized the number of the cab hoping it might have picked her up at some address that might be useful later There's a silent trip the girl with a pretty but rather hard face slumped in her corner Looking almost bored except for the fact that she smoked once the grad after another When we left the cab in front of a cafe on a coast highway She took my arm and led me away from the lights across the road toward the sand and air behind the added protection of a Low concrete abutment. I met Alan Swain He did come alone You weren't followed were you ask him I've gotten out of the habit of trusting people so I wouldn't want to say I told you My word was good Swain. Maybe you deserve it. Maybe you know, what do you mean? Well from the beginning I haven't been able to figure how a guy like you got mixed up with a woman like Alma Scott I wish you'd been here a month ago to knock that into a thick skull lay off Helen doesn't do any good now That never did I didn't kill her mr. Dollar. I swear. I didn't why have you done everything a guilty man would do You were seen running away from the scene and getting into your car you abandoned that a cab driver Remember is picking you up a block away from where it was found and bringing you back to Market Street Everything you did has been done by scared killers before I know I know I did everything wrong, but I didn't kill her I wasn't even in her apartment to match all the testimony. That's as you did kill her Can you put your hands on any that says you didn't know? When I was in the hall when I heard the shots Well if I'd gone on in instead of losing my nerve and running I could have cleared myself, but I Didn't all I thought I was my own hide then when it was too late I realized that police would never believe anything. I said what makes you think I was I don't know I'm just asking you to give me a chance chance to do one. I want to tell you what led up to that night It doesn't make any difference how I met her or anything I knew she was no angel, but I never thought she was all bad and I still don't that's what two years of college Don't lay off Helen four years. You'd be our hundred percent flying What's your story about that man? Alman I were gonna leave town We're gonna fly to Mexico and get married and we were going to Los Angeles and stay there She wanted to get away from this town and the people she knew here I don't think that's worth much, but is there any way I can check it clean reservations Yeah, they're under the name of AJ Hall for next Friday night at 9 what airline Cal Mexico by the switch and names Alma said there might be people who wouldn't want her to leave and she didn't want her to leak out We were gonna cancel the reservations under that name and make them under my own Friday morning to match our identification at the border Who was she afraid of I don't know if she wouldn't tell me probably had a big choice. Do you know who? New in town give me time. Okay. What's the rest of it Swain? Well, she broke a date with me that night said she wasn't feeling so good Then about 10 she phoned and told me she changed her mind about going away with me What reason did she give she didn't give any she hung up I started right over there a place It only took me five minutes when I got there I stopped just outside her door because I heard her talking to somebody what about I Didn't understand the words, but she was sort of screaming I started for the door again, and that's when I heard the shots And I don't know what happened to me except that I thought whatever was happening was somehow my fault And I ran That's all I know that's all yeah, what do you think I can do with that? I don't know, but it's the truth There must be a way you can find out who was in there with it. Don't you have any idea who it was? No Man or a woman? Man it must have been a man. Do you hear a man saying anything? No, but there must be some way to find out who was there I don't know what it is, but I'll follow it up, and you won't tell the police about meeting you I doubt they'd believe me if I did you can phone me if you think of anything. All right Are you coming with me Helen not cricket to pick a man up and then just drop him? Maybe I can lure him into the bar over there, so he won't see you leave Think you can afford me temporarily. Yeah, I'm on an expensive This one over here, okay? Yeah sure. It's fine I'll take your order No fashion. I guess Ryan's okay. I Uh It's not generally known that Swain has a sister is it you think he has You're too young to be his mother Thanks. I can't quite see you in that woman's scorned part. I've been there Can I have a light? Oh, sorry Tell me something Why do you think a woman? I didn't say that did I ask Alice any whether it was a man or a woman? There's nothing but wishful thinking she carried a life insurance policy with a half sister as beneficiary. We can't find it I hadn't even thought of that kind of an angle never crossed my mind But she was killed for any reason except what sort of a dame she was what kind. Oh, don't get me started Has anybody else's name come up? She knew a lot of men. It's been open and shut against Swain without lineup of witnesses The police certainly have no reason to chase out anybody else Any ideas? Yeah The guy she dropped when she put a leash on Al His name is Walter Helm the police know him if you don't you mean you think he killed it Found out they were going to Mexico. I think he would have or had it done. I didn't swing tell me this So he didn't know I've dame never bothered to tell him She was using him for something and she didn't want to scare him away. You didn't warn him. I had a better idea But things seemed a backfire Got me to think for this messy thing. I Tipped Walter Helm that they were leaving for Mexico How did I know I would go storming up there? I don't have the faintest notion But I wish you've flown the different detective. You don't have to follow it up You don't want to It's all I've got to say and I Want the drink Maybe some other time. I Didn't wait for mine either. I settled the bill and followed her out I was in time to see her get into a cab whose number I added to the one we come out in And I waited 20 minutes for another to take me back to my hotel I had no idea of sharing with the police or torsing at Walter Helm the vague hearsay evidence that had been given me It seemed to me the logical place to go is back to the tenants in Alma Scott's apartment building And the developments that followed paint a fairly true picture of that hindrance to accurate investigation the average witness I won't bother quoting all four at the address, but Mrs. Swinehart will serve as a composite Thank You mr. Swinehart, I Just come from talking with mr. Robertson down the hall Didn't you say that he was already in the corridor the other night when you got there Well, he seems to think now that you were there before he was Oh, but that's not so I remember distinctly. I went out and if you know the Robinson apartment is across into the rear The one that woman lived in toward the rear of the building from the Scott Yeah Well, why when I went out the first person I saw was mr. Robertson standing there Then I heard the sound of running up toward the front and saw this man He was running toward the street entrance. Yes, he was so you look very briefly toward the rear and saw Mr. Robinson and then turn toward the sound Are you absolutely positive that it was mr. Robertson you so of course I was anything said no Nobody said anything for a minute. We were sad as you know Now mr. Robertson remembers that as soon as he came out and saw you he asked you what had happened Oh, well, mr. Robertson is wrong He was there when I came out if he said anything I didn't hear him Could it be that you expected to see mr. Robertson standing where you had so often seen him and after a glance that took me a second Your mind automatically said that is mr. Robertson Mr. Dollar, I know what I saw What's the meaning of this? It's just possible that there was a second man mixed up in this thing the other night a man who might have come out of Mascot's apartment instead of bolting toward the front entrance gone quietly to the rear stairway and out the back Oh, that's why it's so important that you're sure could it have been someone else that you glanced at and glanced away from Someone who left while your attention was on the running man. I was sure it was mr. Robertson the second time you looked it was we're all sure of that for that first glance I was so sure it might be that Swain who looks so guilty might not be it could be the difference between life and death I was so sure But I shouldn't like to call mr. Robertson a liar if he truly believes that I was in the corridor when he came out After all it all was so sudden and shocking I I suppose anybody's mind could play tricks as you say will you come and talk to mr. Robertson with me oh dear Yes, I will but I'd so hope we'd heard the end of this dreadful thing In less than an hour four positive witnesses had broken down in the face of doubt None of them could swear that there had been a second stranger in the hallway But neither could they swear that there hadn't been and none of them had actually seen Alan Swain come out of the Scott apartment I didn't look forward to telling the police what was happening to their open and shut case without at least something constructive to offer At three that afternoon I still hadn't had it But I got it when I stopped by my hotel to check the phone call the clerk told me that I missed a wall to hell But waiting for me in the bar first table to the left Down that's right. My name is Donna Drinking nothing thanks. It's a little early for me. I don't suppose you know anything about me, but I'll get right to the point Paper say you're working on the Alma Scott case. I have an interest in he was a friend of mine Oh, you've got to do something about finding that maniac that killed her if you think he can help you ought to go to the police I don't want to go to the police. I want to talk to you. Where can we do it in private your room? I guess so if you've got reason to keep it that private I have Come on Which way do we go? We will return to yours truly Johnny dollar in just a moment Assets one block of wood Liabilities more trouble than the legendary paper hanger with a hide Times is though Edgar Bergen had a pretty bad bank balance doesn't it? But luckily for all of us he comes back week after week to CBS radio with his block of wood named Charlie and lets himself in for more trouble As for you, you're really in the chips when you take in the Edgar Bergen Charlie McCarthy show heard over most of these stations every Sunday Don't miss them tomorrow night on CBS radio Now with our star Edmund O'Brien, we bring you the second act of yours truly Johnny dollar Don't get you yes you do Acting funny like you've got seven ideas about me. Your name came up in a conversation last night The killing you've got an interest in what else who is this conversation with you don't expect me to tell you We won't get any place this way Somewhere along the line you picked up the wrong idea about me. Let's get a straight knock I just spent an hour looking you up in a newspaper morgue That's hardly the way to build towards a fast and strong friendship. That's business. It's got nothing to do with you and me I Came here to talk about Alma. Well, let's get it over with it I'll level it. I've been waiting for a call from the police and it hasn't come I know they'll pin something on me if they can't they've been trying for years That's why I want to do something about seeing that swing maniac picked up so it can be pinned on him That's where it belongs. I don't care what you think about me You can't go along with them letting a crazy killer go free because they want to put me away. Can you I didn't know That's what they were doing. They will if they get the chance What did they do with that check burn it up? What are you talking about? What check cash is checked for $15,000. I gave it to them I knew her well enough to know I didn't have to kill it a keeper from going to Mexico where that's come She got tired of me before but not so tired a small gift wouldn't bring her back. I Knew I was a sucker, but that was the only way I could keep her it was all right with me It doesn't set so well. That's the way it was maybe this time money wouldn't keep it. You're wrong She changed her mind. She wasn't going one thing interests me. How did you know she was going to Mexico? How'd you find out swing sister phone? Crazy about his life being ruined said if I didn't do something to stop it She would what day was that day Alma was killed I went over that afternoon with a check and had a talk That's when she changed her mind I'm an honest thing pretty much in the beginning and there wasn't a check And they got rid of it. They're trying to pin this thing on me There's a record kept of cashier's checks if you bought one you can prove it by going to the bank And if you're wall the helm you can't Say I bribed some probably pay a few bucks themselves to prove that That's one of the things I want you to do go to the bank. So you'll believe me about that check I'll pay your own price. Aren't you afraid they'd make that out of Brian? They would if they could This is legit You've got a private license you're for hire aren't you not by a suspect after I've been given access to state's evidence What kind of it I? Could really make this worth your while Just between you and me I feel sorry for you helm You're a big wheel but when you can't count on your money getting you something of getting you out of something you're lost Because nobody will take you anything you say or anything you do at face value Maybe you're right I'm not complaining, but maybe this is the deal that sets you right The papers say she was killed by a 32. That's it hasn't been found yet I don't sound like this. It's probably at the bottom of the bay or in the ocean. Don't you think? 32 is all they need to really pin it on how come I gave it to her it's registered to me How do you know that was the gun that killed her she kept it in a drawer in the living room and you Didn't find one in the apartment any place did you and that's true. You wouldn't hurt yourself by telling the police you tell not me I Thought I could talk business with you You say you're not for hire So this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to post a reward $20,000 I might be a smart move. It'll be legit read about it in tonight's papers The notice made the front page of the paper. I got under the caption cooling murder sparked by reward And strangely another sounded sincere not slanted towards swing as I'd halfway expected But offering 20,000 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who murdered Miss Alma Scott I didn't know how the police fared but as far as I was concerned Reaction set in almost immediately Johnny dollar Oh, how are you making up? I don't know. It's got news value and he must have laid cash on the line might even be on the level Oh, yeah, but he says he didn't kill her talk to him. Yeah, what do you say just that that he didn't kill her I'm surprised. You're so upset according to your sister. You don't know anything about him This is a mess It should have been done a long time ago. Why don't you give yourself up swing? That would be the best thing to do Come on in and talk about it swing the case against you isn't as strong as it was The witnesses who saw you outside Alma's apartment. They aren't sure now that they didn't see somebody else too Sure, I am that's what I mean. Come in and talk about it Again about an hour and a half later I thought it was swing, but it wasn't lieutenant Hallow and police headquarters He had a confession to Alma Scott's murder that he wanted to talk to me about it was made He said by a woman who claims she was Alan Swain's sister This name says she knows you that she met you last night I guess she did she says you met Swain and her at the beach this guy phoned me lieutenant It could have been a crank it could have been anything I met them and nothing they said would have done you any good So I didn't bother with it bother me with it with what we haven't had did you think I'd mind picking up a suspect? You know my racket sometimes I have to give my word I get out of the habit of keeping it I'm gonna miss a lot of bets Sometimes I wish I was still a private cop and could get away with that stuff again. You are one. Yeah, Seattle until 49 And you understand I'm not supposed to I tell you what they gave me just broke down the case you were building now It looks like there was nothing to it what she's saying last night Did she question you as to why you thought a woman might have killed Alma Scott? Yeah, a beneficiary. They only possible insurance angle in the case by the way She said that when you mentioned that she figured you had something on her when the reward was posted She decided to give herself up you sound like you don't quite believe her lieutenant I'll be honest. I don't know you think she's protecting her brother. I said I don't know Hey, you want to talk to him if it'll help I'll send you That's not important Move over. I was surprised to hear about this What do you mean I thought I'd go this far Get rid of people who were hurting me Murder is pretty fine. You think it was worth it? I don't know I had to get him away from it Say I didn't grind food for less causes for ten years to let that happen I'm taking care of him that long Longer I'm not thinking If I took my mother comes like that on him Then in the school Even two years of college I guess it was wrong I guess I spoiled him more than mom would If you're going that far I couldn't stop when that ego got her cars into I don't think you killed her He did it that cop but I did When I learned she and I were going to Mexico I went up there and headed out with her You said you called Walter Helm I did but he wouldn't do anything So I said I would He told me he went to see Alma and that she changed the line about going That's not what she said to me Then I went there about nine Sold her to lay off my brother and she laughed at me So I killed her Where'd you get the gun? I had it What caliber? 32 After you killed her what'd you do? I just stayed in the apartment for a while And I looked out the door and When the people were out of sight I left Back way? Yeah What street did you come out on? Hope Street Oh no you didn't The alley doesn't go through the poke It turns halfway through the block goes out to California Maybe that was it I wasn't thinking of where I was going at the moment I don't think you were there Yes I was Oh please he didn't kill her He wouldn't have You don't kill something you love And he thought he loved her It takes only a split second for love to turn into hate He didn't kill her I told you I did One dollar Yeah? There's been a shooting out of Walter Helms No Butler was hit Helm was waiting for her He managed to shoot each other How are they? Well it's still alive sir We'll go in This man's an insurance investigator he's alright Yes sir Thanks Sergeant Right over there sir Thanks Remember me? Yeah Yeah Did it Did it kill him? We don't know yet I hope I did He took away from me He took away from me How sweet He said he gave her a check And she changed her mind about going with you He took her away from me We better leave him alone He's in pretty bad shape A long shot I think That Helm is over there Now this would happen over some day Did you come Take it easy What happened Helm? I heard the Shots There he was Why'd he come here? I don't know There's only one reason Helm You know it And we know it Doesn't make any difference does it? Sure I killed her She was going to leave I couldn't buy her back So I stopped her the only way I knew Knows come like he was But I'm going to take her away Nobody Is going to Take her away Expense account item 2 $134 miscellaneous Item 3, same as item 1 Transportation back to Hartman Expense account total $572 Remarks I was wrong from the beginning I'm not making excuses for it But I wasn't as far wrong as the sister If her false confession had ended it She wouldn't have taken a rap for her brother Who she thought was guilty But her war to Helm Who she was afraid was innocent It only proves again That you have to watch the words That go above your signature Truly Johnny Dollar Your truly Johnny Dollar stars Edmund O'Brien In the title role and is written by Gil Dowd With music by Wilbur Hatch Edmund O'Brien can now be seen Starring in the Paramount Pictures Technicolor production, Silver City Featured in tonight's cast were Jack Moyles Virginia Gregg, Jeanette Nolan Herb Butterfield, I Everback And Harry Long Your truly Johnny Dollar is transcribed In Hollywood by Jaime Del Valle This is Dan Cumberley inviting you to join us Next week at this time when Edmund O'Brien Returns as Your truly Johnny Dollar