 Well, you're listening enjoyment John Lund as Johnny dollar at Talbot Johnny. What are you working on? Why nothing at the moment? I was thinking of going to New York for a couple of days. Why? Well, I have one here on my desk You might be able to do something with while you're there Well, tell me about it currently and covers a textile offer in New York Wallace Cottons and company this week Their audit has found a shortage in the books. How much of a shortage? It's nearly 5,000. Wait. I got it right here $4,185 and I'm supposed to find out who took it Oh, no, we already know who did that one of the bookkeepers in their office Lester James He's been arrested and admitted everything. I thought maybe you could find out what he did with all that money Well, I'm going to New York anyway. I'll see what I can do Prince accounts submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to the Continental Adjustment Bureau 418 Elizabeth Avenue Hartford, Connecticut The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the Lester James matter Expense account item one thirty two dollars and fifty-six cents Trained fare and incidentals between Hartford and New York City After receiving from Ned Talbot the necessary information concerning the indemnity claim of Wallace Cottons and company incorporated I arrived in New York at 1 30 in the afternoon and checked in at the new Western Central division told me the Lester James is being held in the 17th precinct jail. I went right over Here you are, darling Now what take it easy James? This is Johnny dollar. He wants to talk to you. Hello James. Hi I'll see you later, darling, huh? Yeah, thanks, sorry. You'll give me a yell when you finish, huh, right? Now, what are you lawyer or something? Nope. I don't want a lawyer Said somebody be around to talk to me again, but I don't want to see anybody Why not? I just don't want to see anybody that's all. Well, you have to be represented by counsel when you go to court Right. Let somebody represent me Just a technicality anyhow. I know what'll happen in court I've got my confession Who are you anyway? I'm an insurance investigator Well, what are you doing here? It's swell day outside I'm trying to find out what you did with that 4,185 bucks that you took from Wallace Cottons Yeah, how about it James? Isn't it enough that I'm in jail? It's enough for the police, but not for my insurance company I don't have anything to say to you. Now look, don't be foolish a Hole or partial recovery will have a lot to do with what happens to you in court I don't want to be foolish is just that I spent it all every dime of it No way to pay it back Spend it on what? Doesn't make any difference. I make a lot of difference. I don't have anything to tell you You've never been in trouble before have you know? They think of things like that when a man comes up for sentencing This is your first offense. I know I know You're trying to shield somebody James Why don't you go away? You've been trying the market Did you gamble with it? No, no, just leave me alone. I won't tell you anything, Mr. Dollar if you bought something with it or gave it to somebody if it can be recovered in some no no I tell you go away leave me alone. I Like to but you're a thief James And you're gonna get what's coming to you. I can't leave you alone. Listen. Are you listening to me? If I don't get the information I want from you, I'll get it elsewhere I'm gonna be real honest with you Corinthian liability wrote a blanket policy on walls cottons and company Promising to pay them in full for every loss caused by fire or theft and their premises Now no insurance company takes the word of some guy sitting in a jail cell where there's cash to be recovered It's the same as stolen property. You gave it to someone or spent it when it wasn't yours. It's still redeemable Now what do you have to say look mr. Dollar, this won't do you any good I'm no low-forehead job who got caught crawling in a drugstore window. I'm a college graduate I've been in the business world for ten years or better I know what I want to tell you and what I want to keep to myself And I don't want to talk about this do you understand and there's no way or no person who can make me talk about it I took the money. I admitted that I did a bad job of it. I was caught. I've confessed and you've got me and that's the whole story Okay Have it your way. Let's go away. Just go away, please Buster James was a tall dark complexion man in his early 30s His hair was black straight and closely cropped his features regular not good not bad kind of man you see every day on the street Somehow the kind of man I hadn't expected to meet Expensive count item two dollar thirty five cab fare. I went over to the apartment on 59th Street Where Lester James had lived According to the pencil note above the first door to the right of the entrance Mrs. Anastasia Denevich was the manager Yes, what is please are you're a Mrs. Denevich? Yes, what do you want, mister? Understand a mr. Lester James lived here. Is that right? Oh Yes There's I hear a stealth money and that's bad Yeah, I'm from the insurance company Mrs. Denevich. We're trying to recover some of that money if we can Wonder if you could help me I fixed dinner now for my son who's come home from work. What I do Well, I want to know about Lester James about this It works. Mrs. Denevich did he drink gamble? Did he stay in nights or go out? Did he pay his rent? You're a policeman insurance investigator? Oh, please Sometime else. Okay. It's important now. I talked to Lester on phone. He said I don't have to answer any question Well, you don't have to but I'd appreciate it if you would my son home soon Oh Alright, I know these things you ask about men who live here. Well, look, how about his friends who visited them? I know I cannot say no visitor. How is he a good tenant? No trouble like mr. Aselepon on the third floor always drunk fine Do you ever meet his girl girl? Sure is girl. He has a girlfriend. No, I I never see girlfriend How long have you known him? Five six year maybe ever since you move in here this place, you know how he spent his time work He work hard. No, I mean besides working at the textile company. How else? I know He poor fellow that one. How's that? He's still money throw, but he poor fellow just same for him I feel yeah, Lester he quiet and he think I know he live up in that little room quiet Think she does all the time he think oh My son's dinner, please you go now Just a minute. I'd like to see his apartment if I can No matter You'll bring key back, please. Thank you, Mrs. Denovich The apartment Lester James had lived in was as dismal as the neighborhood a tiny closet kitchen a bed that came out of the wall and A pair of grimy windows that looked across the court into another pair of equally grimy windows The furniture was early 30s and thread there Among his personal effects. I found nothing of value the apartment yielded no more information than James had Expense account item three one dollar ninety-five cents dinner. I had it in a neighborhood restaurant called the 59er a Place where I learned Lester James at frequently evening The restaurant manager remembered him and liked him a Woman who ran a bakery shop across the street told me how he'd come back from the war in 1946 and had worn his uniform For a month until he got a job and could buy some civilian clothes All in all I was getting a composite picture of Lester James that Didn't look quite right Whatever he was to the people who knew him casually He wasn't a man who ever had any money to spend No good, huh Now that's where it goes We had some action here today, you know, oh James preliminary hearing was this afternoon a man from the district attorney's office took about 15 minutes to lay out the evidence against James Uh-huh, and the public defender took about three minutes trying to get James to answer one question What did he do with the money can I miss anything? Yeah, I don't think wouldn't open up at all just said that he'd spent it Well public defender about threw up his hands. I'm ready to throw up mine When is the trial set for a sometime next week like to talk to him again He'd been moved yet didn't go to the sheriff's office somebody bail him. He bailed himself $200 he hadn't wore bonds He left you now go get out of about six. That's when the ship changes. Are you still want to see him? Yeah, I'll wait for later when Lester James emerged from the doorway and turned right. I Followed him, but I have to block behind when he caught a cab and headed up town I caught one stayed right with him When he got out of the Empress theater and walked around to the stage door, I was standing at the alley entrance Ten minutes later. He came out and hail a cab Once more I followed This time he went back to his apartment on 59th Street. I waited 15 minutes before I went in James James is me Johnny dollar. I got a couple of whiffs of it standing there in front of the door The room was accurate Stinging with gas fumes and Lester James was stretched out on the floor of his six-foot kitchen When I picked him up and carried him out. I didn't know whether he was alive or dead The second act of yours truly Johnny dollar these seconds after I found Lester James I'd called the police ambulance in a matter of minutes an intern was working over him with a pull motor There was no telling how much gas he breathed in or for how long a time the jet had been open and me that Thanks, okay You're live maybe hard to say on these that shot should cause some reaction It's your place. Oh, it's his you know him Name is Lester James. I met him earlier today. Can you give me that we might be getting something here about this thing? Yeah, he'll be sick of What he's catching on. Oh, yeah, yeah, let's have a little more getting some pulse Respiration to what are you making? It depends. He had a heart condition. It'll be tough Nothing more we can do here. That's moving. I will he be 48 Street emergency. Why I like to talk to him when he comes around Better phone in first. I'm sure it's the third one tonight What is it the weather? Not for him. You know why? He's out on bail Goes to trial on an embezzling charge pretty soon. Oh Well, I'll be sure and call in. Yeah, right Investigating officers questioned me regarding the circumstances of Lester James's attempted suicide. I Told them what had happened and gave them my business address for reference After that I went back to my hotel and had dinner Then I went over to the Empress theater Musical show was playing there and it had just finished I Didn't quite get that mister dollar. Oh, mr. Dollar. What can I do for you, sir? Between 6 30 and 7 o'clock tonight Man came here to the stage entrance and talk to you a lot of people talk to me here. What man? His name was Lester James. No, I don't remember no Lester James. Maybe he didn't give you his name Come here to see somebody He might have I don't know he's about 511 weighs a hundred seventy-five or eighty didn't have any hat on Raincoat dark man. You remember him. Oh, yes, of course him You remember oh sure. Yeah, he's been around a lot of times Lester. Yeah, I didn't even recognize that name first Would you mind telling me what he was doing here? Well, it comes here to see Margie cook at his girlfriend Oh, no, I don't think so. She never sees him when he asked who's Margie cook. She sings here You ever seen him together? Well, no, no, I've never seen him together She's still here. What's that? I'd like to talk to her. She's still here. Oh, no, no, Margie left. She finishes in the second act Could you tell me where she lives? No, I'm sorry. I can't tell you that Where can I phone her? I just can't tell you that either. Look, would you do me a favor? Well, if I can what is it would you telephone her and tell her my business and ask her if you'd see me Well, I suppose I can do that. All right, mr. Dollar. Take a chair right there. I'll just see what I can do Expense account item four two dollars and sixty-five cents more cab fare this time to the apartment of Margie cook singer She met me at the door with cold cream on her face wrapped in a chenille dressing gown And this cook you must be mr. Dollar come in, please. Thank you. I Didn't quite understand Frank on the telephone Frank all of the doorman of the theater Yeah, I didn't quite know what to make of it. Good. And so you really an insurance detective Yeah, investigator Can I fix your drink? No, no, thanks. You mentioned something about a man named luster James, mr. Dollar Yes, you know him. Well, no, I don't as a sort of a reservation on the way you say that miss cook You know his name. Yes, I know the name What's this all about? Oh just a routine investigation. Are you sure? Oh, yes I'm curious. How did you get my name? How am I connected with luster James? Well, that's what I want you to tell me Oh first about my name. Well, James was at the theater tonight asking for you I found that out from the doorman and then I asked to speak to you. Oh Understand James has been around there quite a bit. No, I Really don't know how to tell you this. I've only seen the man once in my life Is that so? He's Well, he's really quite impossible. I Dear This is very embarrassing to be asked about a thing like this by a complete stranger. Well, maybe I can save you that embarrassment if you Answer one question. All right You ever give you any presents? Yeah What? well That's a red case there This one mm-hmm in the lighter to go with it mm-hmm Tiffany's pretty I think and Expensive what else? Well, let me think. Oh That wasn't from him. Oh, that was what the lamp over there. Uh-huh and a fair piece Could I see that I'm afraid I gave it away. I gave it to my kid sister was visiting me a couple of months ago What kind of fur piece was it? I think that's about it except for orchids that used to come every night and doesn't orchids every night He sent them to you mm-hmm for about three months You only saw him once and he gave you all these gifts. Oh dear. I know how that must sound Look it started about six months ago, I guess I got a card in my dressing room one night asking me to dinner It was signed Lester James. Well, I'd never heard of anyone named Lester James and I tore it up But every night after that I kept getting the card and pretty soon flowers and then the lighter and the cigarette case came That's when I saw him. I didn't even dine with him. Mr. Dollar. We had one drink and I told him I had a headache I see gifts still kept coming flowers invitation. I ignored them I tried to send the things back, but I didn't know where to send them So I gave away some and some I've kept and that's it Why didn't you see him after that one night? Oh, he's Was so different than what I'd imagined. I mean I've had my share of stage door Johnny's but this man was Well, he couldn't say a word without stumbling. He had no poise no sophistication nothing all he had was money I see. Well, he didn't have money either miss cook. What? He worked for 72 dollars a week as a bookkeeper But all the gifts the things he gave me sent me he had to have money. He's been stealing it to buy those things for you That's why you're here No wonder you tried to commit suicide a couple of hours ago suicide No, oh No I'm sorry. I had to come to you to get this information He wouldn't tell anybody what he done with the money Will he go to prison? I'm afraid so But we had nothing he was just a name to me Well, apparently you were something more to him I Spent the next two days tracking down the places from which the gifts had been purchased and ascertaining their retail values total 2780 dollars I Also learned from Margie cook Lester James had made appointments to meet her at various times at different expensive restaurants around town She never once kept any of these appointments a Check with the Waldorf 21 the stork and several other places revealed that James had always made elaborate arrangements to entertain her His restaurant bills which were paid came to 835 dollars the florist bill 680 dollars total 4295 dollars Hello. Hi Remember me sure insurance, man but no How do you feel okay? You saved me didn't you I suppose so why? Well for the same reason you'd save a man who was dying James You know what I've been doing what? Answering the questions that you wouldn't answer I Met Margie cook what my job I had to listen you had no right to go to how you had no right It's the company's money you were spending on it. I had every right Unpleasant as a baby and she She knows all about me. Yep. We took back all the things you gave her you dirty scum Look look don't get mad at me. It matters yourself. I didn't steal the money you did why didn't you leave it alone? What difference does the money make to you? Nothing to me. What do you want now? Well, I didn't get all of it traced down. There's still 410 dollars. I'm worried about I Yeah Here I've got this much. Yeah Can you remember what you did with the rest of it? Pretty thorough aren't you I try to be Well, oh Come on Lester. We've got most of it. What difference does it make now you and your money? That's all it is to you dollars and cents dollars and cents that were stolen remember that What did you do? See you're on the stage one night No She was in the office office your office. Yes Some passion convention about six months ago She was modeling some of our fabrics for them that publicity people brought her over. I Never saw anyone like that before You figured a little money with a tractor to you, huh? I heard that's the best way to do it Well, it's one way, but it's not the best way Lester All right, I picture myself knocking on her door one night and saying I'm a bookkeeper and I live on 59th Street Why don't you come over and I have a bottle of beer with me? You know She might have come What makes you think so I? Met her up until the time I talked with us to James in the emergency hospital I had my doubts about love at first sight After I talked to him I was convinced that it could and did happen to him I was sorry that he didn't know quite how to handle it I was also wondering if I'd been in his shoes, but I have done the same thing Johnny dollar. Oh, I was afraid you might have left town. I'm just packing up. Who's this? Margie cook remember me. Oh, yeah, sure I haven't been able to sleep thinking about thinking about that man. Lester James. Yes, what'll happen to him? He'll go to prison even with all the money returned Only half of that stuff is redeemable take at least oh 2,500 more and then what well then it would be up to the court. I Want to pay it? What I want look miss cook. I Know your motors are the best, but you're not responsible in any way for this man's actions He just went dollar. He's the first man. I've ever known who actually went out on a limb for the girl He loves I'm the girl and he's the man Are you serious? He doesn't belong in any prison. You ought to get married to some nice girl. I want to help you. He's still there Yeah, yeah, no matter. Oh Nothing Nothing at all Spencer count item five twenty eight dollars hotel Item six thirty seven dollars meals Item seven fifteen dollars fifteen cents miscellaneous item eight same as one Transportation back home total one hundred and fifty one dollars and twenty-two cents remarks James comes to trial next week and view of Margie cooks paying back the money so James just might get a suspended sentence, but as always that's up to the court Here's truly Johnny dollar