 The Equitable Life Assurance Society presents this is your FBI. This is your FBI, the official broadcast from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Presented as a public service by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and the Equitable Society's representative in your community. Now for a moment we're going to hear from a representative of our sponsor the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. As a representative of the Equitable Society I naturally sell all types of life insurance but the one that gives me the greatest personal satisfaction is an Equitable Education Fund. The date 65 boys and girls have gone to college on Equitable Education Funds I plan with their fathers. In approximately 14 minutes I'll be back to give the whole story of an Equitable Education Fund. An important contribution to American education made by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. Tonight's FBI file, The Friendly Storeway. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has just completed a survey of the arrests made by police all over the United States in the first six months of this year. A survey which depressingly shows that overall crime increased 2.7% in the cities of our nation and more than three times that much in our rural area. That means that if the present six month period shows a similar increase last year's record number of a million and a half major crimes will be shattered beyond recognition. And while this is a country which is constantly breaking records of one kind or another this is not one to which we as a people can point with pride. As was said earlier, the survey which points out those facts serves a very useful purpose to the men of your FBI or with it they can study the movements of their enemies. It can also serve a useful purpose for you who are listening to this program because it does serve warning to everyone that something must be done and done quickly to turn the tide. Your local police can do that job with a little help from you, a little support which will show them that you stand behind them, that you acknowledge them to be what they are. Your first line of defense in the war against crime. The night's file opens in a town located on the banks of a river in one of our eastern states. It is evening, a cool barge tied to a pier can be seen dimly through a heavy fog. Inside the shanty of the barge a bedridden old lady listens to the radio. And that's the mystery tune on phone your fork in this week. Can you name it? If you can, and you're the one we call, you get around the world trip with stopovers in New York, London, Paris, Cairo, Tokyo, Honolulu, and Hollywood. In addition... Are you comfortable Ma? I'm still comfortable. You're listening to that again? It's a shit. But Ma, what's the sense? What do you mean? We got no telephone. I still like it. You go to work. I did everything. You looked at the broadens? No. It is almost time for the phone, Peter. Go look at them. All right. Take a light. I don't need it. It's about time. Hold on. I'll take a light. All right, Ma. Who's that? Hey, you hear me? Hey, you stop! A girl! What are you doing here? I need help. Why? I'm in trouble. I'm being chased. Please? No. No, look, I'll tell you about it later. Just hide me now. But we pull out in ten minutes. That's good. Hide me, please. I beg you. You can save my life. All right. Here. Get under that canvas. On the river to Whitestone, delivering coal. Some coffee. I brought it. Oh, thank you. I can't tell you how grateful I am. That's all right. I suppose you're wondering what this is all about. Why I'm here. Yes, I am. Well, I don't quite know how to tell you. You said you were in trouble. That's right. You are being chased. Yes. Who was chasing you? My stepfather. Why? I might as well tell you everything. He abused me for years. He resents and hates me. He always has. Tonight before I ran away, he tried to beat me. It's you? He started to, but I screamed and ran. I crossed the field. Went through a wood. He followed. Then I came to the river. The rest of you know. Aaron. If he finds out that I'm on this boat, he'll have it followed. Have me taken off. I know he will. No, miss. I won't let him. You mean? Yes. You're wonderful. You want some more coffee? I'd love some. My mother will make you some more. Your mother? Is she here on this boat? Yes, in the shanty. Come and meet her. Well, I wonder if I should. Why? Well, she might not understand. You're in trouble, miss. She'll understand. Come along. Meanwhile, that same evening at a nearby FBI field office, special agent Jim Taylor approaches a fellow agent's desk. Hi, Tom. Oh, hello, Jim. Ah, you want to complain to us? Mm-hmm. Anything coming for me? Nothing. I was expecting some word on Jenkins' case. You want to hear it while, Jim? Yep. I have to work. Do you mind answering phones so a starving man could get some nourishment? No. No, I'd be glad to. I won't be gone long, Jim. Okay. Oh, by the way, the police up in Madison may call in. We should have a follow-up report for us. Now, on what? Miss Cape Prisoner. What's the story? You know that cheese box prison up at Clayton? A women's prison? Yeah, one of the inmates opened her cell door with a bent hairpin. What? Stole a car outside the prison and drove it over the state line to Madison. Oh, who is she? Her name's on the report, right in front of you. Uh, this one? Yeah. And Slater? Yeah, that's it. We know anything about her? No, but her arrest record is on the way. Prison warden is teletaping it to report. Okay, I'll watch out for it, Tom. Now go on, get something to eat. Go ahead, Miss. Thank you. Mom may be sleeping. My mother. The radio was off, so I thought... My son was off. I've heard talking. She's the one you were talking to? Yes, ma. This is Miss... Miss... Jackson. I'm Jackson. That's my mother, Mrs. Bemici. I'm pleased to meet you, Mrs. Bemici. Mrs. Bemici. Why is she on the boat? Well, she... She was in trouble, ma. What kind? She was running away from her stepfather. He tried to beat her. Why did she come here? He was chasing me. I just saw your barge and jumped on board. Why didn't you call the police? Well, in America, he's against the law through his people. I had no time if I'd stopped you to court me. Now we've got to help her. Hello. Let her ride with us to Whitestone. She can sleep in here. Use my barge. Oh, no. I can roll up on deck. I like it there. What do you say, ma? Let me... She's on board. She stays on board. Thank you. Thank you so much. I better go out and check light. You can turn in now, Miss. Well, I'm really not sleepy. Can I go out with you? Sure. Peter. Yes, ma? Did you see this man who was chasing her? No. Why? I just wondered. Good night, Peter. FBI. Yes. Yes, thank you very much. Think I got lost, Jim? No, you went long time. Anything come in? Yeah, reports from the Madison Police. One of their motorcycle men found the car that was used by the girl who escaped from Clayton. Oh, any lead on her? No, the car was found abandoned in the woods down in the river. All the, uh, warden of a Clayton call and gave me a prison record. What was she in for? Grand last name. She had a pattern charm. She used to get a job as a social secretary and stayed with an employer for about three months. Steal what she could and then run. Any personal background? Yeah. She's well educated. College degree. Didn't adjust to prison. Fell herself above her fellow inmates. And two weeks before the break, she tried to stab one of them. Nice girl. After the stabbing, the warden had her examined by the prison psychiatrist. His report was that she was completely neurotic with definite homicidal tendencies. Well, that makes this case a little more important. I'd say very important, Tom. You see, when she made the break, she also commandeered a gun. Oh. Now, you couple that with the psychiatrist report and she becomes a very likely candidate to kill anyone who gets in her way. Yeah. Yes, I see at home, Tom. I gave him a full report on the girl. He's assigned us to work on the case. He wants us to get up to Madison first thing in the morning. Peter told me you love the thing the lady on. I do. Oh, don't turn it off because of me. I didn't. I turn it off because I want to talk to you. Oh. I'd like to ask you some questions. Sure. What about this story you told Peter about how I came here? That's right. Would you tell it again to me? Of course. My stepfather tried to beat me. It wasn't the first time. I just couldn't take it anymore. But when I ran away, he followed me. I got to the river and jumped aboard your barge. I don't think you tell the truth. What do you mean? Well, you were on deck with Peter. A man was on the radio. He told about the girl. He said she wore a coat, a brown coat, like you have on. Also a brown hat, like yours. What about it? He said that the police were looking for her. He said that she had run away from her prison. Oh. Now, Mrs. Amici. Surely you don't think that he was describing me? I do. But I've already told you. You told a lie. Call Peter in here. But what? I want to tell him what I heard on the radio. I want him to signal the talk. They must pull in to short. Why, Mrs. Amici? You must be brought to the police. But I'm not that true. No, they'll call Peter. I don't see why we should, Mrs. Amici. You're completely mistaken about me. Yes. That is not calling Mrs. Amici. You see, I have a gun here. If he came in and believed you, I'd have to kill him. You will return to tonight's exciting FBI file in just a moment. Just last Monday, the American Institute of Public Opinion released the results of a nationwide opinion survey. Hundreds of typical Americans were asked this one question. Everybody makes mistakes now and then. Well, you tell me what you consider to be the biggest mistake of your life so far. And here's the answer that was given by the largest number of people. I didn't get enough education. Right. Education pays. And pays well. For example, the average college graduate is nearly 15 times as likely to make $10,000 a year all over as a non-college man. Yes, the odds are 15 to 1 in favor of college education. That's one of many reasons why the Equitable Life Insurance Society created the famous Equitable Education Fund. It's a plan for parents who want to make certain that their children get the higher education that means so much to their future success in life first and foremost. An Equitable Education Fund is sure. S-U-R-E. Right. This fund combines planned regular saving with life insurance. So, if the father dies or becomes permanently disabled, this plan makes certain that his children will still be able to get the education he was ambitious for them to have. Second advantage, an Equitable Education Fund is easy. You'll be amazed how quickly a comparatively small monthly payment builds up into a sum that is ample to see a boy or girl through college. Remember, the odds in favor of a college education are 15 to 1. So, how can any parent who truly loves his children hesitate even for a moment? Resolve now to see your Equitable Society representative without delay. Ask him for complete facts and figures on an Equitable Education Fund or send a postcard care of this station to the Equitable Society. That's E-Q-U-I-T-A-B-L-E. The Equitable Life Insurance Society of the United States. And now back to the FBI file, The Friendly Storeway. Tonight's case from the files of your FBI acts as two important points. The first is illustrated by the fact that in this case you meet a young girl who is well educated, who seems to possess above the average intelligence, but who, despite that, is a dangerous criminal. This is conclusive proof that there is no criminal type, no peculiarities by which you can tell them apart from the law-abiding person. The second point is illustrated by the fact that this young girl escaped from a small local prison by opening the door to her cell with her hairpin, which makes apparent the conditions now existing in many local small-town prisons. Not every jail need be an alcatraz, but it does little good for the police of the nation to apprehend the criminal and then to see that same criminal escape with something approaching ease. Not only does little good to have that happen, but on the contrary, it does harm. And that harm is done to you, the tax-paying citizen, because every search takes time and men and money, your money. For that reason, it is to your best interest to see to it that your local jail is strong enough to hold the prisoner it gets. Hold them until they have served their sentences. Night file continues the next morning at local police headquarters in Madison. Hi, John. Well, I was just going to send a party out for you. Oh, I've been out brushing up on my wood lord. Oh, where? The local police. Coming to Woods with the Slater girl left the car. Was the woods well? Partially, I found some heel prints, female variety. They led down to a pier on the river. You sure they're along with the girl we're checking? Yeah. Local police identified them as the type that's worn by inmates at Clayton. Any leads that appear? No. No one around there could remember having seen it. It could have been a rendezvous point. I doubt that, Tom. She was a loner. Oh, excuse me. Sure. Special Agent Ramsey. Well, sure, just a minute. See you, Jim. Oh. Special Agent Taylor speaking. Yes. Good. Yeah, that'd be about the right time, too. Where was that? Thanks very much. Bye-bye. Ah, now we're getting someplace. Who was that? A man from a local towing company said one of his tugs pulled a string of coral barges out of that pier that the girl was traced to. When was this? Last night. And just about the time that Anne Slater got to the river. Where are the barges headed for? Down river to Whitestone. They'll get there late tonight. She could very easily have hidden aboard one of those barges. That's right, Tom. We'd better grab a plane, set it down there at Whitestone, and try to intercept her. No! No! No! Wendy, a fog. Slow this down some. Want some coffee, Ma? No, please, Patricia. How about you, Miss Jackson? No, thank you. You ain't been out on dates this morning. How about some air? I think I'd just as soon stay in here. Keep your mother company. That's good. No radio this morning, Ma? No, Patricia. When do we get to Whitestone? Late tonight. In spite of the fog? Oh, sure. Well, I got some work to do on deck. You want anything? Just call me. Thank you, Peter. I will. I am grateful to you, Mrs. Meji. You're being very co-opted. Oh, and you look for faith to me. I realize that you're a good mother, and he's a fine son. And if you just continue to keep quiet, you'll both suffice. A string of barges isn't going to be too easy to locate. We should be able to pick up the running lights. What's the name of this tug we're looking for? Cyrus Jones. Oh, yeah, yeah. Stella Skipper? Yeah. He doesn't think she's faster yet. She says those barge strings are going to travel about four or five knots an hour. Yeah. Right in the head. Where, Skipper? Off the board by. Oh, yeah. Were you heading for them? I'm just beginning to take shape up there now. Yeah. I think I make out what looks like a tug. You're right, son. It is a tug. And the string of barges behind it. Well, this should be what we're looking for. Yes. I don't want to scare you anything, but on a boat pulled up alongside the tug, four or five men in it, I think they're police. They moved back to the first barge. Looks like they're searching it. That's good. Good. Ma, it could be her stepfather looking for her. We got to hide them out. No, son. But the first stepfather. Peter, I want to thank you for your loyalty, but I have no stepfather. The police are looking for me for other reasons. She escaped from prison, Peter. I heard they dug the radio. No. I know that's shocking to you. I'm afraid this gun will be an even bigger blow. God. I want you to see it, Peter, because if you don't do what I ask, well, I have to shoot your mother. What are you talking about? There isn't much time. They'll be coming to this barge next. Now, I want you to go out on deck. Meet those men. Tell them that I'm not on board. Do you understand, Peter? But I... No buts, please. I'll stay in the cabin here with your mother. If anything should go wrong, well, you know what will happen. They're both now. They must be coming aboard. Please go, Peter. I'll go. But first, I got to tell you, if anything happens to my gun or no gun... It's time to go. Give me a hand up, will you, please? You coming aboard? Now. Here. Here. All right. Thanks. I'm a special agent of the FBI, Mr. Nomeji. You know my name? Yes, I got it from the tug. Oh. Here. These are my credentials. I'm looking for a young girl. On one of these barges? That's right. We're pretty sure she jumped aboard one of them before the string left Madison last night. My mother and me were the only ones on this barge. You were? You mind if I look around? The girl couldn't be on this barge without me knowing it. I see that piece of canvas there is loose at one end. She might have come aboard without you saying her and find none of that. You want to look? You see? Nothing under there but coal. Well... Well, let's see if we find her on the next barge. And if she isn't there, I don't think we'll just have to go back to Madison and start all over again. I see. Thanks for your cooperation. You're welcome. Here. I'll help you. Oh, thanks. Okay, Trevor. Next barge. That's right. Sorry. Bye. Handle that very well, Peter. You are right, Ma. Thank you. How close are we to Whitestone? 30, 40 minutes. What's the procedure I'm going to get there? What? What happened to the barge? I have to the coal dock. Run load. Other people come aboard? That's right. Many people? Quite a few. That would complicate my getting ashore. You know, it just might make things simpler if I were to use this gun now. What do you mean? If I were to kill you. Are you kidding? No, Peter. I realize it sounds terribly cold-blooded to you, but I have myself to think of things that shouldn't be wrong in the hell. That's not true, Mrs. Amici. I have full possession of my faculty. I know exactly what I do and what I'm about to do when I was right. Stand over there, Peter. Very well. Then I shall have to shoot you from here. All right, drop it. I have the gun. Good. Looks like we came back just in time. All right, Miss, come along. And I think we can find a prison this time that'll hold you. And Slater, Alias Jackson, was prosecuted, found guilty, and sentenced to a five-year term for violation of the National Motor Vehicle Pet Act. He was then returned to the state prison to serve the balance of her sentence. Special Agent Taylor returned to the barge of Peter Amici because, when he got back to the church to report that he was returning to shore, he learned that Mrs. Amici was bedridden and that she used no cosmetics of any kind. He remembered, however, that when he lifted the canvas on the barge, he had seen a coffee cup. A coffee cup that bore a tell-tale smudge of fresh lipstick. And so another case from the files of your FBI was closed. In passing, it might be of interest to note that when the number of days this girl was sentenced to was divided by the amount of money she had stolen, it showed that she was serving her time for the price of approximately 45 cents a day, which should demonstrate to all who have not yet been convinced that crime in any shape or form cannot be made to pay. In just a moment, we will tell you about next week's exciting case from the files of your FBI. But first, let's hear briefly from an equitable society representative on the subject of an equitable education fund. Remember, folks, like everything else, the cost of a college education has gone way up. You'll take an awful beating paying for it in four years. Why not spread the cost over 10 or 15 years by starting an equitable education fund without delay? The man whose words you have just heard speaks for 6,000 equitable society representatives from coast to coast, who are always ready to give you friendly help and counsel. If you do not know the name of the equitable man in your community, send a postcard, care of this station, to the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. Next week, we will dramatize another case from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Another effect will account of a criminal double-cross. It's subject, larceny. It's title, The Helpful Hobo. The instances used in tonight's Equitable Life Assurance Society's broadcast are adapted from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, all names used are fictitious, and any similarity they're of to the names of persons living or dead is accidental. Tonight, the music was composed and conducted by Frederick Steiner. The author was Jerry D. Lewis. Your narrator was William Woodcliffe and special agent Taylor was played by Stacey Harris. Others in the cast were Whitfield Connor, Georgia Ellis, J.C. Flippen, Peggy Weber, and Roland Winters. This is your FBI as a very divine production. This is Larry Keating speaking for the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, and the Equitable Society's representative in your community. And inviting you to tune in again next week at the same time, when the Equitable Life Assurance Society will bring you another thrilling story of investigation. The helpful hobo on This Is Your FBI.