 From Hollywood it's time now for Johnny dollar good Mr. Parsons Johnny dollar Still looking for your son, mr. Parsons. I met the man you hired to convince me that he was your son I know he isn't Trouble I will if I have to I have that guy's signature on two papers in my briefcase It constitutes a witness forgery no matter how you look at it I'd be willing to call up a lawyer and see what kind of noise I can make What do you want? I'll be out to 10 in 20 minutes Tonight and every weekday night Bob Bailey in the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Oh, it's truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar To the Eastern Casualty and Trust Company number 25 Yardley Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the Cali clays matter Expense account item nine one hundred dollars legal retainer I hired an attorney named Robert Watson to arrange for a court order impounding all the records in the parson's brokerage house I also turned over to him the forge reports After that I drove out to see parson still laid up in bed Who spilled the beans you did mainly I didn't believe that guy here yesterday afternoon I didn't believe the woman who was supposed to be his wife. So let it go at that I'm here to find David parson's junior. Let's stop playing games. Don't get fresh with me boy I've crunched many a loud talker just like you. You want me to walk out of here and start jamming up your works right now Or do you want to listen? You've watched up everything so far. Do I handle it or do we keep on like this? I'm gonna kill you when I get on my feet in the meantime. You're gonna lie there and like it I came out here to find your son You arranged to throw me off his trail by hiring a woman to play his wife and a man to appear and pretend He was your son. Let's take it from there I understand you've had private detectives looking for him all over the country. What agency universal operators Who's in charge of it there? Man named underwood. Have they got any leads? Nothing nothing for 12 days. Did he take anything? I don't know. We haven't made an audit. Well, they'll be an audit. I've got the machinery started right now Who do you think got up and lie down or you'll bust a blood vessel Is mrs. Parsons in town? I sent her down to palm springs. All right, it's 10 15 now If I remember right there's a plane from palm springs about noon call her there and tell her I'll be at her house at two o'clock. I want to talk to her. Are you giving me orders? I sure am. I want everybody in that household there two o'clock. You arrange it. I'll arrange nothing for you Now get out of here Call who you have to call two o'clock mr. Parsons I left him fuming on the phone and drove my rented car downtown to the offices of universal operatives incorporated Mr. Underwood the man in charge of finding david parson's junior shook my hand and told me he could report nothing to me about the case I asked him to phone old man parson's which he did that changed his mind He broke down and gave me an hour-long story on what they'd done to locate the missing man When he was finished it came out the same way. They'd run into blank walls everywhere They had no idea where david parson's might be I told underwood he and his staff were fired and that mr. Parsons would confirm it I left him fuming on the phone Expense account item 10 four dollars two drinks and lunch all alone After that I drove over to the residence of david parson's junior Mrs. Parsons was a tall graceful woman in her late 30s settled on a sofa in front of the fireplace The clothes she was wearing the house itself the appointments of the formal room all suggested a well-run well-kept sort of life I've answered so many questions from those private detectives. I'm sorry to put you through it all again You must operate in a rather high-handed manner mr. Dollar My father-in-law expressly told me the point here Is not to let any of this get into the papers the point here is to find your husband mrs. Parsons. He's been missing 12 days now But I suppose I was the last one to see him. It was after dinner He went upstairs. I didn't see him after that. This would be The 13th Yes, it was Did he sleep here that night his bed had been slept in. Yes Then he really disappeared sometime on the 14th I suppose that's accurate. He wasn't in his office that day. Did he take a car? No But I know the private detectives checked the cab companies to see he could have flagged one two blocks away How about clothes? Did he pack anything? Not a thing money? I don't know. Okay Can you think of any enemies who might want to harm your husband enemies? Oh dear no Think about it Well, perhaps in his office in his business, there's someone But he never discussed what went on there with me. Mm-hmm. Are you sure? It was a rule This is our home. That is david's business We just never talked about what went on in his office at all. How long have you and mr. Parsons been married? 18 years next july have you been getting along? Of course, we've been getting along. We've gotten along always ever discussed the probability of divorce or anything like that Certainly not Can you think of any reason why mr. Parsons would just walk out and not come back? None whatsoever Have the people in his office been worried about him? Well, I believe mr. Eckers the only one who knows The others think he's away on a business trip. In other words, the whole thing's been kept quiet Well, yes, of course This merger situation is quite delicate As you know, Mrs. Parsons Were you very close to him? I beg your pardon. Don't beg my pardon. Just answer the question. Everybody seems to be worried about a merger not about a man Did you spend time together do things together? Of course We entertain frequently. We traveled. We had common interests. What? A home of course. What else? I don't know what you mean. Did you enjoy each other go out together have fun? Really? Did he have a hobby? Well, yes sort of David liked to read and write a little He fancied himself as scholar along some lines. What lines literature? Of course, it was just an indulgence. Where did he indulge himself? He had a small study upstairs. What it'd be possible to look at that room. Oh, yes, I suppose so. All right, I'll get to that in a minute Mr. Parsons drink very much Cocktails before dinner maybe two or three after ever any long drinking jobs on the town David never went off and drank if that's what you're trying to find out. Oh, that's what I'm trying to find out Is he in good health? Yes, perfect. I think what's the name of his doctor? Oh Stanley Warner dr. Warner. Okay How about his attitude? What do you mean? What kind of man is he quiet loud? What? Oh, I'd say David is and always has been a very quiet person like his work. Of course. He loves it his home I'm terribly afraid. There's a great deal of insinuation in these questions you ask mr. Dollar What have you been doing in Palm Springs? Resting got a boyfriend mr. Dollar have you I resent that very much Naturally with my husband here. I go out with friends there David knows about it. He have a girlfriend. You're being ridiculous. No, you're being ridiculous You sit here and describe the kind of association a man has with a drug clerk who sells them cigarettes and you call it a marriage Your husband disappears from the face of the earth and you romp off to palm springs forgetting all about it You're insulted when I ask you what's wrong. You're hurt when I ask you how common you're annoyed when I mention it What on earth do you want me to do file a missing persons complaint right away? Get some help in here if it isn't too late too late. It could be lady It just could be you and your father-in-law have fooled around too long She made the call A half an hour later two detectives from the missing persons bureau are out here gathering facts I tagged along They questioned mrs. Parsons the servants they examined the study as well as his bedroom From all they could gather david parson's had nothing but the clothes on his back when he disappeared By mid-afternoon the police had started on old man parson's and gone downtown to question the members of david parson's office force The district attorney moved in quickly and negated my code order impounding the books and records for a careful audit to determine If any money or bonds were missing they promised to keep me informed. I went out of my own Come in please Dr. Stanley warner had a force suite office on wilshire boulevard He was a big gray man who looked as though he played a lot of golf and drank a lot of whiskey when he had the chance I told him about parson's being missing and asked for some details According to my records. I examined him the first of last month. He was in good health Excellent for a man of his age and responsibility Could you explain that doctor? No, I was thinking only by comparison david parson's is 40 years old has held a position of tremendous responsibility for many years for a lesser man or for a frailer man The incidence of organic disturbance in this age area increases considerably david parson's case that didn't seem to hold true Doctor, are you talking about the pressure from his father? You know the old man. Mm-hmm. I'm talking about that Yes, he It cracked up a lot of people how do you suppose david jr. Escaped He knew how to escape at least for periods of time get a complete rest Was there any indication or any reason whatsoever when you examined him to suspect that he might suffer from some sort of Mental trouble. No, I'd say that when I examined him. He was an excellent mental shape too. I see Did you ever meet him outside the office? Socially yeah, yes both belong to the same country club Blood gulf with him several times seen him at dances other affairs. Mm-hmm. He and mrs. Parsons strike you as a happy couple And I'd say that by saying that happiness is Intangible I envied him though not because of his wife. You understand But because with all the with all the requirements that were made of him He was still a gentle decent man You ever appear with other women not that I know Did you ever have occasion to talk with him with his hair down once? Startled me at first. I was aware that he was a man of education and culture But I was quite taken aback by his ability to quote the classics seemed in congruence somehow I remember this day we we met in the club. We had a drink. I don't think anyone was there except the waiters I was talking to him and suddenly he dropped off the conversation. He stared ahead And then he began to quote a greek calakles Calakles. Yes I was so impressed by the passage. I took the trouble to look it up myself and write it down. I have it. Yes Yeah, I can still see him quoting that word for word read it But if there were a man who had sufficient force He would shake off and break through and escape from all this Gone will you please? He would trample underfoot all our formulas and spells and charms And all our laws which are against nature The slave would rise in rebellion and be lord over us And the light of natural justice would shine forth When did persons quote this to you doctor? Uh monday the day before he disappeared Now here's our star to tell you about tomorrow's final intriguing episode of this week's story The answer is with that old greek who lived 3 000 years ago Tomorrow, we'll find it Join us. Want you yours truly johnny dollar Yours truly johnny dollar starring bob bailey is transcribed in hollywood Written by john dawson. It is produced and directed by jack john stone Be sure to join us tomorrow night same time and station for the next exciting episode of yours truly johnny dollar roi roan speaking