 The equitable life insurance society presents this is your FBI This is your FBI the official broadcast from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation presented transcribed as a public service by the equitable life insurance society of the United States and the equitable societies representative in your community Are you a regular listener to this program? Then you've undoubtedly noticed that the commercial messages from our sponsor the equitable life insurance society Always treat you like an intelligent human being tonight, for example The equitable society is going to talk about educating your children to lead more successful lives We'll then outline a simple workable low-cost plan to help you do exactly that a Plan that will appeal to every thoughtful father or mother if you have ambition for your children You'll welcome this informing message from the equitable society coming in about 14 minutes Tonight's FBI file the aged apprentice Many people labor under the mistaken impression that a single crime not involving loss of life is relatively unimportant It is true that no single person could possibly find time to Concern himself with each of the million seven hundred thousand major crimes committed in this country in the past year That however does not negate the fact that each of those many crimes was important Important not only to every law enforcement agency, but also to every person living anywhere in the nation Perhaps the best way of proving that statement is by analogy The number of waves washing onto a beach in a day is almost beyond count They wash ashore and run out to sea again And even by watching closely It is impossible for the naked eye to see any difference in the shoreline Yet each wave wears away an infinitesimal part of what it touches No beach is washed away in a moment or via a single wave But because it does ultimately disappear Every wave was important for each helped in the job of destruction Similarly it is improbable that any single crime will ever destroy our fundamental respect for law and order But such a day might conceivably come If the waves of crime continue to wash over the land This is not to say there is no hope of defeating our army of criminals The point is that by hard work we can make that defeat more than a mere hope But it will take action to bring victory Action on the part of every decent American Tonight's file opens late one afternoon in a Midwestern city An elderly woman stands behind the counter in a printing shop and watches a well-dressed couple enter the store Good afternoon. Hi Can I help you? This is only Guthrie's place. That's right. We like to see him. Oh, he's out right now When do you expect him back? Well not for a couple of hours. My name's Caldwell. Chuck Watkins wrote to him about me Of course, we got the letter yesterday. I'm Mrs. Guthrie. Mm-hmm. Well, I'm glad to know you. This is Mrs. Caldwell You'll excuse me, I think it might be wiser if I lock the front door. Sure. That's it. Go ahead. Go ahead Oh, you've seen my picture. Oh, yes many times in the post office. Oh Now what can I do for you, Mr. Caldwell? Well, we understand that you handle specialized printing orders. That's right. I'll show you a few samples if you'd like. Samples? All right The good thing Ernest is out. He doesn't like me to do this Says it's showing off But he does do such fine work. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah Here's some football tickets he did last year Yes, the man who had them printed wrote us a wonderful testimonial He said these tickets were so good that over 200 of the legitimate ticket holders were thrown right out of the stadium Yeah, not a fact. Yeah. Well, they look pretty good. Well, we're not in the market for tickets. Yes Diplomers that Ernest did. Look, Mrs. Guthrie, what we're interested in is stocks. Oh Well, I have some samples of those And it's right here. Oil stocks, municipal bonds With what type of security were you interested in? Gold mine. They've got to look good. We're building up a real smart chump. Oh, I understand Well, you'll want the deluxe job. Hmm. Yeah, what's that? Gold seal, red ribbons and the governor's signature. Oh, that sounds good Any particular governor? No, you tell your husband to just pick one out You print me 5,000 shares and deliver them to my heart at the hotel Broadway Meanwhile at an FBI field office a few hundred miles away special agent Jim Taylor approaches the desk of agent Andy Parker Hello, honey. Oh, hi, Jim. You've been looking for me. Yeah, we just drew another one to work on Swindle this time. What's the deal man who called himself Bentley went to a local broker's office after he established a Legitimate position. He asked the broker to handle a negotiation for him a stock negotiation Yeah, he asked him to contact another man here in town So this man had some oil stock that he was interested in I say he gave the broker a $20,000 and asked him to buy the stock for him He also said the stock might cost a little more and asked the broker to lay out the difference I think I know what's coming the owner of the stock was a confederate. That's right Victor made the contact the confederate held out for 30,000 and the victim laid out an additional 10,000 his own money Yeah, and the two swindlers disappeared. That's right And he leads all the police arrested Bentley's confederate this morning as he talks Oh, not yet found a card in his pocket with a phone number the hotel central on it I contacted the hotel and the Bentley and his wife had been registered, but just checked out fine Andy did you ever hear of a con man called the Fox? vaguely his real name's Fred Caldwell now from the descriptions we've gotten I have a feeling that he's Bentley I'm waiting for confirmation now from who from Washington We got some of Bentley's fingerprints of a drinking glass. It was in the victim's office. Oh, uh, Andy You're working on a report. Yeah. Yeah, just cleaning up the case well And you can wait here for a word in the prince. Where are you going back to the hotel central? See if I can get a lead on where the swindlers have gone Well, baby, we're all set to make the money move. I just left the chump and he's ripe and ready Has the stock been delivered yet? No Well, what goes I told the old aim to have it here. You may not be needing it Why not can't work the swindle without a front man. Can you we got a front man? You had a front man Hmm, what do you mean his wife just called he's gone on a bender. Oh, no, no, no wait Are you kidding? No, I am not I'm not surprised either I knew when you took that guy on that he looked like a lush Ruth you don't have to knock whiskey Fred isn't this thing serious to you of course it is Then what are we gonna do? Well, let me think can't just dig another front man from left field We've got to get a guy who looks legitimate acts legitimate. I know I know Answer that will you just a minute Mrs. Carl will that's right. Hi, mr. Guthrie. Who and it's good for me. I have those stock certificates ordered Oh, yeah, come on in. Thank you. Really. Who's that? Mr. Guthrie. He's delivering the stock. Oh Hello there mr. Guthrie. How do you do sir? Here are the certificates. Oh, yeah. Yeah, thanks. I Worked all night on them, but a few extra little touches in you might like Just take a look at the scroll work under the seal there Wait a minute. What about him? Huh? Look at him gray hair dignified push nice front could be sure he could You talking about me? Yeah. Say mr. Guthrie. Did you ever do any freelance work? What do you mean have a front of the touch work the stock shake? No, and you're going to right now Oh, but mr. Colwell. I never did anything like that. Sit down my dear mr. Guthrie and have a drink Oh, no, then have a cigar. We're about to become partners Yes, yes dear Waiting for you, and I kept saying you'd be right back. And I uh, I was delayed Mr. Colwell. Yes Anything wrong? No Please let me sit down Oh My head is still spinning you've been smoking again. Oh, that isn't the reason why I have to sit down. I Just have to assemble myself. How are you talking about? Well first of all, I I'm now mr. Colwell's partner Partner. Oh goodness. You must have smoked a lot. No. No. No, it's truly. Yeah, he wants me to work with him Knowing what? Well, yeah Yes, something all planned He explained it to me. I don't remember it too. Well All I know is I I wear my blue suit sitting in office and Hold out for $30,000 Anything back from my dandy? Yeah Bentley turned out to be called. Well, all right. That's pretty sure of that I just finished sending out an alarm. Yeah, did you go to the hotel central? Yeah, I interviewed the doorman He remembered the cold wells. They had their own car. Could he describe it? Oh, not well He just remembered that it was a black sedan. He had no idea where they went. No, none at all Well, did you check the hotel garage? Yeah, but it didn't keep the car there The police are contacting all the other garages in the neighborhood for us. Well, we have cold wells complete record here I didn't wired it. Hmm. That it there. Yeah, run three full pages. I just finished reading it He's gonna be rough to catch Jim. He seldom uses the same swindle more than twice. It means that you know Special agent Taylor speaking. Hello Taylor. This is Lieutenant Bard headquarters. Oh, yes, Lieutenant We look at the garage that call well used. It's at 111 Oak Street. Well, yeah, we'll I write that down surely 111 Oak Street that right, right? Thanks a lot lieutenant. You're welcome Andy the police have located the garage that call well used. I'm gonna get right over there Oh man Guthrie call yet. No. Hmm. That's funny Anders went to see him an hour ago. I hope the old guy got to the office. He did. How do you know his wife just called? It was kind of cute cute. What do you mean? Big thank you for launching the guy on a new career seems. He's always had an ambition I'll get it Hello, mr. Caldwell. Yes, this is Ernest Guthrie. Oh, well, hi pop anything happened Mr. Andrews was just here. Well, we discussed money matters for quite some time almost an hour in fact Well, what'd you get him up to? 30,000. Well, good boy. Did he lay it on the line? No, then what's the deal? He's delivering it here tonight. That's fine pop fine. Mr. Caldwell. Yeah, I Want you to know I very much enjoyed doing this job. Yeah, yeah, yes. Well, yes, I I Like it much better than the printing business. Yeah, what I'm trying to say mr. Caldwell If you think that I've handled myself properly. Oh marvelous. Wonderful. Would you consider continuing this relationship? Sure. Sure. Why not? Do you mean that? Oh, yeah. Oh That's wonderful Excuse me, I better call and tell Lydia right ahead. Yeah, you call her see you tonight Well, Ruthie everything's in line to the chump pay off tonight start packing honey and as soon as we collect We'll call the cops tell him where to pick up old Guthrie and we'll be on our way Our special message from the equitable life insurance society to fathers and mothers of young children About 10 or 15 years from now that youngster of yours is going to be saying to you Hey, dad the letter came today accepting my application for college your boy or girl will have three good reasons for feeling elated First college men and women earn more money. Look dad Here's a magazine article which proves that college men earn $72,000 more during their working years than the fellow who doesn't go beyond high school second college men land the bigger jobs See dad it says it out of every 16 men earning $10,000 a year or more 15 are guys who've been to college 15 out of 16 third college men get more out of life Learn to appreciate art and good books and music gain culture. They wouldn't trade for any amount of money So don't leave your children's education to chance be sure be certain start an equitable education fund now An equitable education fund. What's that? It's the painless way to pay for your children's college education in this equitable society's plan You start when your children are young then each year you pay a sum of money that doesn't hurt an Amount that scarcely makes it dent in your budget when your youngsters ready for college the money's all ready for him That's spreading the cost of education over 10 or 15 years Instead of taking a beating and for right now suppose the father dies or becomes totally disabled Then no more payments are necessary. The fund becomes fully established When the youngster is ready for college he gets the same education as if his dad had lived So don't delay a day longer Let your equitable society representative show you how little it costs to start an equitable education fund or Right care of this station to the equitable society. That's a qi TAB le the equitable life assurance society of the United States And now back to the FBI file the aged apprentice One of the subjects constantly occupying the sociologists of our nation is crime Why does a family for instance breed one decent law abiding citizen and one homicidal criminal? What is the single factor in the background of each that made one conformed to the rules of society and one decide to break them? Obviously, it is not a matter of inheritance since both have a common heritage Nor could it be entirely a matter of environment for college professors have been raised in squalid slums that also gave the world at John Dillinger It is impossible to write any general set of rules by which the background of a person might be measured Any such set of rules would be as false as the bromide handed from generation to generation about There being such a thing as honor among thieves You need no more proof of the fallacy of that statement than tonight's case Nor is this one any exception Instead it follows the criminal pattern in one case for instance an apprehended fugitive turned states evidence His testimony brought a long term of imprisonment to his accomplice who happened also to be his brother Lest it sound like such a lack of brotherly devotion set a new record the files of any law enforcement agency can produce many similar accounts Because there is no such thing as the average criminal It is impossible to tell you every characteristic of every lawbreaker. However Devotion and honor are quality seldom found among them Greed is the common denominator of the criminal who regards with compassion and complete sympathy Only one person in the world himself Tonight's file continues at the FBI field office. Hi, Jim. Oh, hi, Andy. Well, that's with the map I'm just checking off some gas stations. Have you got a lead? No, not exactly I talked to an attendant at the garage of Cowell kept his car when he pulled out He asked for a map the attendant didn't have one and call well said well He'd pick one up on the road. Did he say where he was going? No, but they said his gas tank was almost empty So he must have stopped for a map at a service station reasonably close to town Have you tried to contact any of them? All the state police are working on that angle for us I interviewed Caldwell's confederate, but unfortunately it didn't lead any place He didn't know where Caldwell had gone now message from teletype, mr. Taylor. Oh, thanks, george It's in the state police, honey Yeah, here we are one night last week. Caldwell stopped at a gas station on route 30 Did he pick up a map? Yep, and he also asked for directions to where Grove City. Come on, Andy. Let's get over there Yes, who is this? Oh, come in come in This is a surprise Did you come to see the officer? Has he been here yet? Who mr. Caldwell? Oh, no, no, and I've arrived in time. Well, Lydia What are you talking about? I've just heard some very distressing news, Ernest about mr. Caldwell Oh, well, what is it one of the miller boys came into the shop I told him about you who you were working with and he just threw up his hands in horror Why he's known mr. Caldwell for years He told me that whenever he does a job He engages a confederate when the job is over he calls the police and has a confederate arrested Uh, no, that's undoubtedly what he plans to do with you Well, uh, Lydia, I I can't believe it. Uh, mr. Caldwell wouldn't do that But it's not this man, the one who's to pay you the money Well, uh, I expect him here any minute And how much is he bringing? It's thirty thousand dollars Ernest, I think we should teach mr. Caldwell a lesson You mean, uh, yes The whole thirty thousand? Yes Oh, that'd be very risky He'd find us and I think he'd find the means to get the money back But he intends to double cross you Well, I can avoid that by leaving here right now And leave thirty thousand dollars Lydia, if I were a young man, I'd be willing even eager to teach mr. Caldwell a lesson Ernest, you just wait here Where are you going, Lydia? I've thought of a way to get that money No, no, Lydia Ernest, there's a moral point involved We have a chance to prove to mr. Caldwell once and for all that being dishonest just does not pay Sign coming up on the right, Jim Catch it, will you, Andy? Uh-huh It should be the arts court, it's a gross city Yeah, yeah, it is Now I made good time And have you ever been here? No Your police headquarters is just a few miles down on the right-hand side Uh-huh How do you want to work? Well, I know the town, Andy, so you better stay at headquarters and take the phone detailer Uh-huh Call up your garage in town, will you? See if you can locate Caldwell's car Okay I'll distribute the pictures and cover all the leading hotels How many are there? All half a dozen or so If I come up with anything, I'll call you Hello Andy, Jim Taylor Oh, yeah, Jim At the Brown Hotel, I just missed the Caldwells What happened? They checked out here a half an hour ago You located the car? No Well, I think you'd better come right over here Andy Oh, uh, get anything, Jim? No, not yet What have you covered? I'll have interviewed the manager, bell boys, room clerks They don't know where the Caldwells went They might have wired ahead someplace for reservations Yeah, there's a telegraph office in the corner All right, I'll go on down there Okay, I'll go interview the switchboard girls and check the telephone slips See you back here in the lobby Any luck, Andy? No, how about you? No, I drew a blank, too They didn't make any calls Not in the room An elevator man said Caldwell used a payphone here in the lobby Well, I guess we'd better go back to police headquarters Yeah, we might have heard Hey, wait a minute What? I'm going to go back and talk to the switchboard girls again Over to see old Tom Morgan Tom? What for? To get a check for $30,000 You can give it to Mr. Caldwell But, Lydia, he told me not to take a check This one is certified as one you printed for old Tom Oh Did the man come here with the money? Yes, he just left Let me have it Lydia, I think- Give it to me, Ernest Very well I'll just put it in here in my knitting Here, you take the check All right All right, Poppy Well, I didn't expect to see you here, Mrs. Guthrie I was just curious to see how Ernest looks Seated behind the desk Did Andrews come here? Yes To give you the dough? Yes, I have the check right here Check? I told you to take cash Well, the check is certified, Mr. Caldwell Oh, well, that's different Fred? That's your Ruth? Yes Huh? Good Did he give you the dough he collected? Yeah How? Certified check It's a phony What? I just got a call from Tom Morgan The old dame here got that check from him And filled in your name He had a beef against her So when she left, he called me I'm still a Lydia, son of a- Fred, they're trying to hand you one Now make them come up with the cash Caldwell, I don't know what she's talking about I do Andrews paid you in cash and you tried to pull a switch Where's the dough? Ernest, I've heard enough of this I'm getting out of here Oh, no, you're not Fred, let's risk them Just a minute Come here, Pop No, no, no You keep away from them Give me a look Stop Stand where you are, all of you Huh? I'm saying, Kevin I'll take the money you've been discussing And you can have these What is this? They're warrants for your arrest Fred Caldwell and his wife were convicted in federal court Of violating the National Stolen Property Act And sentenced to serve 10-year terms Ernest and Lydia Guthrie were also convicted On the same charge and sentenced For the same number of years Special Agent Taylor, knowing it was impossible To trace a call from a pay station telephone Was about to give up on that angle When he realized there might be some records Which would aid in locating Fred Caldwell Those were the carbon copies of messages Caldwell received at the hotel Three messages had been left for him By a Mr. Andrews By thorough but rapid investigation The right one was located The Andrews who had been victimized After answering Caldwell's elaborate prospectus He gave the two special agents The address of an office in another state Where the swindle had taken place The office at which the address were made And so another case from the files Of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was closed But in a sense it has not been closed For there are still men like Fred Caldwell At large in many parts of this nation Neither your FBI nor any law enforcement agency Can put a halt to their depredations For they do not hear about it Until after the crime has been committed However, these men need not continue To be successful For you can stop them You, the American people By refusing to accept anything for nothing And thus by refusing to be victimized The last word to fathers and mothers Of all the things you can do for your children There's no greater proof of your love for them Than an equitable education fund They'll be grateful for it as long as they live Your boy or girl may only say a few words like Thanks, Mom Thank you, Dad But you know from the look in his eyes And the ring in his voice That he'll never forget your foresight In starting an equitable education fund Right now make that wise resolution To see your equitable representative soon Next week we will dramatize another case From the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation A fact will account of the operations Of a big city racketeer It's subject, kidnapping It's title, The Vanishing Witness The incidents 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 thereof 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 Woodson And special agent Taylor was played By Stacy Harris Others in the cast were Tom Brown, Walter Catelyt Tony Hughes, Bill Johnstone Florence Lake and Peggy Weber This is your FBI Is a Jerry 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 Has another thrilling transcribed story From the files of the Federal Bureau Of Investigation The vanishing witness on This is your FBI Stay tuned for the adventures Of the Thin Man Fun and excitement for the whole family When the Thin Man comes your way