 From Hollywood, it's time now for Johnny dollar Johnny lieutenant Barry homicide got messages from you three inches thick Yeah, but trying to get hold of you all morning Can I come down there to headquarters come ahead and if you're a good boy, I'll introduce you to the man who did the killing What of course he denies it completely who wouldn't but will you hear his story? It's a while hold it your way ahead of me. You're saying you've got the killer there. That's what I'm saying Who is he nobody seems to make a little sense with your lieutenant look you coming down or not right now Night and every week day night Bob Bailey in the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. That's truly Johnny dollar from special investigator Johnny dollar location Los Angeles, California to National Underwriters Association Hartford, Connecticut assignment the long shot matter Los Angeles traffic being what it is There was plenty of time to think on the way to Barry's office, but think about what an unsigned warning that someone was going to collect On a hundred thousand dollar policy a frail defeated woman who wasn't going to have to worry about weakness anymore There was an awful lot to find out before this whole thing could begin to make sense. That was pretty obvious The man I was going to see was anything but obvious big and round. He was like a fat cubie doll with a gun You always had the feeling his round little eyes were dreaming past you seeing an island where there was no jail cells a lot Of cons had made that mistake found out too late that Barry was as sharp as any homicide cop alive Life is like that a Johnny yesterday your visit was social today. It's business Yeah, there's one dead woman can make a lot of difference sit down like I said, I'm way behind you How did it happen? Why sit down? I can't talk when you're standing Okay, Santa Monica substation got the call about nine last night from dr. Palmquist He was real excited said he was holding a rifle on a prowler would come in and shot and killed his wife No, we got out there fast. Wait a minute. Did the doctor know let me tell it my way, huh? Okay We found Mrs. Palmquist dead on the living room floor and the doctor is still holding this guy at rifle point 38 colt lay in a corner with nobody paying much attention to it ballistic says it's the murder weapon What's the doctor's story says he was out on a house call got home a couple of minutes before nine on the way to the front door He glanced through the living room window saw this prowler holding a gun on Mrs. Palmquist the doctor got into the house quietly and was sneaking up from behind when the prowler heard him and got rattled Prowler fired and killed the woman just as the doc brought a paperweight down on his head nice, huh? A little out of left field Funny I always thought prowlers and gunmen are two different things nothing says it can't happen and the evidence says it did What does that mean that this is one prowler who's sewn up tight because everything checks out the 38 is his his Printer on it lab found the lock he forced to get in what else you want a moving picture and I'll get mad don't get mad I'm just asking Now that house call the doctor was out on I'm a stranger in town But isn't that kind of a late hour to see a patient unless it's a real emergency not when they looked like this one Oh, I checked with her this morning. She could make me go to medical school right now even at this age Nice put it this way her first name ought to be Marilyn. Well, that's pretty clear. Who is she a Mrs. Laura? Considine 35 widow money and everyone should look like that She's been dr. Palmquist patient long three or four years and she backs up the story of the house called completely you sold I want to know about the prowler. Who is it Xcon drifter 57 years old got a record that goes way back What kind of record I was afraid you'd ask because that's the fly in the ointment It's a long sheet and it's very bunco con game badger bad checks pigeon drop all small stuff But not announce a violence anywhere a killings way out of pattern, isn't it? Yeah, this prowler. What does he claim? It's so wild. I'm embarrassed to repeat it. How's chances of my seeing him? Maybe he'll tell me Very took me upstairs to what they call the hotshot section a very exclusive floor this one because the cells hold only prisoners suspected of the big wrap murder You know something I never had a place like this But what an old fallacy comes bouncing back into my mind that bit about being able to tell a man's character by looking at him What does a murderer look like? Go ahead put yourself out on that limb, but don't drag me out there with you Because the man sitting quietly in cell 8a looked about as hard and dangerous as a victorian at a Macassar Lonnie Miller prowler and murder suspects Lonnie Miller gray haired tall and slim a man with good straight bearing even while he sat Yet with a delicacy about him, or maybe it was just the natural good manners of the born con man. I didn't know Yeah, when you want out Johnny. Yeah, I'm not going to change the story. I'll tell it again But it'll be the same is that what you want officer. I'm not the police Miller. My name is dollar I'm an insurance investigator. It's a little late for me to buy insurance isn't Millie You don't have to talk to me if you don't want to but you'd be helping yourself if you told me the truth They didn't believe me not one word. Why would you my jobs are different? My interest is in the insurance angle Did you kill Mrs. Palmquist? Nearly 60 mr. And I've done everything in the book almost everything. I never killed never I Can't make them see that yeah, I know told them a hundred times word-for-word step-by-step They just sit and look at me What do I have to do to make them believe I didn't do it from what I hear? They've got an awful lot of evidence that says you didn't You too, huh? Go away, mr. You may be a little different kind of cop, but you're talking like all the others are thinking like them Let me alone You haven't got much chance Miller if that's your only answer to evidence evidence. I know all about that stuff You can buy it and sell it Manufacturer make it stand up in two tricks the cops. Well, you're talking through your hat You've been the route. Do you know one case where the police ever manufactured evidence and I don't mean can't talk I mean one you actually know of What's the difference? Look, why don't you tell me about it? I think you could listen without sneering nobody else try me, huh? Now, how did you get into this I? Just finished doing time in San Diego Been hitchhiking my way up from there Four nights ago a truck let me off on the Pacific Coast Highway about 15 miles south of LA Few minutes later a man in a big cad gave me a lift nice enough fellow Little nosy about where I was from where I was going things like that, but nice. Yeah, go on After about five minutes he decided we needed coffee. So we stopped at a little tacos joint ten minutes later We were back on the road After about two miles. He said it felt like we had a flat so he stopped it was a flat alright left rear so Well, he had given me the lift the least I could do was to change his tire. So I did it He was real friendly the rest of the way told me to stick around town and he'd see I got a job Gave me a 20 told me where to get a room set to wait for him to phone He said his name was Carter. You do what he said Last night he called me said to be at his house at nine sharp to meet a man who had a job for me an address in the palisades or go on The house was dark when I got there. So I rang the bell Someone opened the door. I took one step inside and got hit on the head Next thing I know I'm coming to on the living room floor As a dead woman a few feet away and my friend Carter's Holding a rifle at my head threatening to blow it off if I move Only when the cops got there they didn't call him Carter, but dr. Palmquist Palmquist Melody realize what you're saying. I know and every word of it's the truth I'll tell me this mister. How do I get anyone to believe it? Miller sat there quietly looking first at his burning cigarette than it be It was as though he didn't expect either one of us to believe him. I was glad to get out of there Well, I'll say this much for Miller Johnny. He's got that story down pat He didn't tell you one word that he hasn't been telling us Lieutenant there's dr. Palmquist know what Miller claims we haven't discussed it didn't I tell you the doctor's Resting at Blair hospital for a day or so shock of his wife's death. He intend to tell him look I know you're a fellow who automatically roots for the underdog, but face it boy What have I got an ex con with a wild story against a respected citizen with a perfect alibi? I'd look on a silly questioning palmquist at the moment at the moment Does that mean you've got doubts about palmquist? I doubt everybody till the last page boy That's how I got to be a lieutenant That's where we left it. I had a long thoughtful lunch which included two very dry martinis aimed at helping solve a new problem To which how best to arrange a few words with a hospitalized dr. Palmquist at such a delicate time In the end. I did the only thing I could walked into room 913 at Blair Hospital and introduced myself Dr. Palmquist didn't seem at all surprised by the visit. He seemed annoyed if anything, but the annoyance was with himself I'm not a very good advertisement for my own profession at the moment. Am I mr. Dollar? I I'm sorry to intrude doctor I probably could have picked a better time for a visit you've been doing your best What which do you prefer mr. Dollar my office or my home? Would you like the names of a few friends? Perhaps they can tell you whatever it is You're trying to find out about me. It's my job doctor and just what is your job mr. Dollar insurance Investigating for the company that holds the policy on Mrs. Palmquist and yourself. I see Then you can stop running around now, can't you you can simply go to the police and they'll tell you anything you want to know Doctor may I know I don't usually prescribe without a thorough examination Bob please do very well I don't think California is your cup of tea. I suggest another climate entirely The visit was over Palmquist laid back against the pillows no longer interested and I turned to leave Just as I was reaching for the door it opened and one of the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen started into the room I think you have the wrong room madam for a moment. She just stood there startled then without a word She turned and hurried out But not before I'd gotten a good look at the large block initials on the purse. She carried LC The two letters plus the way she looked made Laura Considine a pretty good bet nice twist, huh? The doctor is ill and the patient comes to call You can't trust anybody these days. Can you? Here's our star to tell you about tomorrow's intriguing episode of this week's story tomorrow Oh, beauty may be skin deep, but fear goes a lot further down than that Sometimes as far as death Join us. Won't you yours truly Johnny dollar truly Johnny dollar starring Bob Bailey is transcribed in Hollywood Written by Tony Barrett. It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone Be sure to join us tomorrow night same time and station for the next exciting episode of yours truly Johnny dollar Roy Rowan speaking