 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 is representative in your community. In the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States nearly four million members are banded together to build better futures for themselves and their families. Their reasons for becoming equitable society policy holders are many but certainly among the most unselfish and far-sighted Equitable Society members are those parents who have seen the wisdom of an equitable education fund. Fathers and mothers in just 14 minutes the Equitable Society will tell you how to make sure that your children get the funds necessary for the education you want them to have through an equitable education fund. Tonight's FBI file the Phantom Mine. In the black market then he would be willing to pay for the same article if he were able to buy it legitimately across the counter. That type of person is always looking for an angle for a connection through whom he may be able for a little while longer to put off the ignominy of going to work. There is nothing such a person detests more than the idea and the practice of a day's wage for a day's work. Those people are known as operators and even when they continue for years to be small operators they never lose hope that one day through some miracle they will become Mr. Big Shot. In their eyes a Big Shot is anyone who does not have to work for a living but who makes his money through lying cheating or killing. There are those who have pictured this swindler as a criminal in kid gloves who wanted only money and who abhorred the type of criminal operation in which lives are lost. Such a picture is a sentimental caricature because the truth is that to the criminal whatever his type of crime may be no one's life is important except his own. Which is tied up to a dock along the waterfront of a large eastern city. It is early afternoon a bright sun is shining but below decks on this rusting trap dampness and bloom prevail sheltered by this atmosphere a man moves silently stealthily along a grimy corridor then looking furtively about he enters the engine room and moves swiftly to one of the engines. He stands examining it intently unmindful of the quiet approach of footsteps. What are you doing? I asked you what you were doing. Well I was going to tell you. One of the wipers and the engineer of the ship I never seen you I just signed on sir what's your name Louie Jackson sir what were you trying to do to that engine or nothing sir look may I go now sir What's that in your hand? Just a brush sir. Let me see it. What for? I smell kerosene. I think it comes from that brush Let me see it now and there is kerosene on it. So what if there is come on? I'm taking you to the captain. Good morning captain. Good afternoon Mr. Metcalfe. Captain I Hate to trouble you, but I've got to report this man Won't you just signed on? Yes, sir. Now what's your report Mr. Metcalfe? Well, I was down in the engine room a while ago This man came sneaking in didn't see me. He went over to one of the engines Started a fool with it when I called out to him. Yes. He refused to tell me why he was there Then I discovered he had a brush in his hand The brush was soaked with kerosene. I see I haven't looked at my engine jet captain I don't know whether they're damaged or not Let me know as soon as you inspect them. Yes, sir. Do you wish to press charges against him? That's up to you, sir Well, I'll question him you go examine the engines leave the man here with me. Yes, sir And thanks for being that alert mr. Metcalfe. You're welcome sir. Well, well what that was pretty stupid Don't you think letting him nail me. I mean yes from now on Louis keep away from that engine room till we get to see Let the local FBI field office special agent Jim Taylor is approaching the desk of agent Tom Allen Hello, Tom. Oh, hello, Jim. I thought you were in court today testifying in that Dexter case I wasn't any need for me to testify Dexter changed his plea to guilty. Oh Glad that file is closed. Yeah, so am I but it looks as if we've got one to work on now That's gonna be just as tough new one. That's right. Just came in as I got back from court the s.a.c. Assigned it to us. What's the story seems a man named refuel Fernando went to the United States Council in Barcelona Spain and confessed that he'd been an accomplice in a fraudulent bankruptcy in Barcelona No in Chicago Well, the council took Fernando story and sent it back to the State Department in Washington They in turn sent it over to the Bureau. Well, how does it get to this office? Well, it was sent to the Chicago field office first and they conducted an investigation on it How long ago did this bankruptcy take place 14 months ago in Chicago? That's right It's probably given everybody connected with it a pretty good chance to scatter. That's what the Chicago investigation showed You see the bankruptcy originally took place when Fernando a partner in the firm allegedly Absconded with $250,000 and then fled to Spain. Have you read the Fernando confession? Yes, it's here in the file I just finished reading it does Fernando explain why he waited 14 months before he finally decided to confess Yes, his partner in bankruptcy was a man named William Gilbert Fernando says that all he ever got out of it was transportation back to his home in Barcelona He says that Gilbert promised to send him $50,000 But that he never sent him anything at all. So this man Gilbert took all the money well Fernando took the blame That's it That still doesn't explain how we happen to wind up with a case in this office Oh, the Chicago office started to search for Gilbert. They learned that he'd changed his name and was headed for here They didn't find out whether he intended to set himself up in business here, did they Jim? No, according to everything they could find out he was headed here to buy a Liberty ship Well, Chicago also said that Gilbert had not only changed his name But that he was very adept at changing his appearance. Hmm. This makes the Dexter case look like high school stuff It's not gonna be easy. I'll give you that Well, let's go to work and see what we can find How does everything look your ship is in tip-top shape mr. Grant. You're ready to sail tomorrow night. Yes, sir When do you expect to do the job? Well, we're a few miles offshore. You've made all preparations Let me put a charger powder under one of the floorboards in the engine room It'll blow a hole in the side of this ship big enough to walk through splendid and just to make sure After we sail I'll have him paint the floor down there with kerosene and you've got your story straight sure After she thinks I say we ran into a floating mine That'll stand up and take every precaution captain those insurance companies Investigate every angle in a case like this What do you collect from them? That's the grant 175,000 and the boat stood your hundred and twenty thousand. That's right Sounds like we're gonna make a good night's pay I'm gonna walk with me down to the teletype room expecting something Jim The SAC spoke to the Chicago office a little while ago. They said that has something for us on the Gilbert bankruptcy They say what it was. No, no they didn't They did say they had located Gilbert sex girlfriend though She was coming into the office there to answer some questions for them I hope she can give us more of a lead and we've been able to get so far I checked every hotel in town today. Nobody answering the description Chicago gave us on Gilbert is checked in recently Oh, he's been in town. I found out that much. Oh, well, you know that list of offices I got from the US Maritime Commission. Well, you mean that list that came in yesterday afternoon. That's the one I called the men who have been conducting the sales I found that they remembered a man of that description bidding on Liberty ships here six weeks ago. Well, did he buy one? No, I didn't Man, that would have been an easy way to trace you Then three days after he left here He tried to buy one in Boston, but he didn't have enough money to get one there either We've they've got those sales someplace about every week. Haven't they Jim just about I checked every one of them. He attended every sale there was up to about two weeks ago. Did he buy a ship at that one? No All of a sudden he stopped showing up Maybe he found a ship someplace Why do you suppose he's so anxious to get a ship? I don't know it's nothing in his background that would indicate he was interested in smuggling There's your message Hey, John, this might be the break we're waiting for is the old bird sex girl says that he's living here now under the name of Harry Grant Good evening, Captain. Hello, Mr. Metcalf. You know, I shouldn't bother you this late captain, but this couldn't wait What is it? Well, you remember the episode with the wiper yesterday. Yes, I have something further to report on him. Yeah, I Just couldn't help this captain. I've harbored a suspicion against him ever since I caught him in the engine room So I kept thinking about it all day today and a couple of minutes ago I went to his locker. You did what I went to his locker and I opened it Well, I found some black powder and some fuses explosives. That's right him What in the world with my opinion captain that can indicate only one thing he aims to sabotage the ship Yes, he certainly appears that way doesn't it? Viewing our deal with the man is now. No, sir. I haven't but we can certainly Captain will you question or shall I look I've got to see you alone, sir We have something important to discuss with you Jackson. I'll handle him. Mr. Metcalf You go back to your quarters, but you need the evidence against him captain. I took it from his locker I have it right here captain. You better get rid of this guy see here You better talk respect. Please go mr. Metcalf, but I can't leave without her what he said get out What is this Metcalf? I've asked you to go to your quarters captain. Are you taking his side was I say are you in favor of his? Louie, why did you do that because that charge is going off any second and he's been through your locker He found some powder and fuses now. I know I mixed up in this too. That didn't mean we lose There it is What happens now? When the report comes in I'll alert all members of the crew to stand by to abandon ship What happens with Metcalf? We leave him here. He liked the ship so much. We'll let him go down with it We will return in just a moment to tonight's case from the files of your FBI Already the bells of our colleges have called nearly two and a half million eager young Americans back to their books and classrooms To be given one of the greatest advantages of all a college education as a boy in our block Who'd give anything to answer that bell brightest kid you ever met all his life? He's planned on college then law school But it's all washed up now his dad's last illness wiped out the family savings Now that boys had to go to work to help support his two younger brothers Shame his father never heard of an equitable education fund What's that an equitable education fund is a plan offered by the equitable life insurance society To make certain that your children get the funds necessary for the education you want them to have Regardless of what happens to you now here are three things about the plan you should consider first You start when your children are young and spread their educational costs over 10 or 15 years Instead of taking a licking in four Second when your boy or girl is ready for education the money is ready and waiting for him right there in the equitable education fund Third this equitable plan works whether you live or die if you are totally or permanently disabled The fund continues to build up without any further payments if you die the education fund becomes fully established immediately That's exactly the plan. I've been looking for mr. Keating. I think I'll see my equitable society representative first thing tomorrow That's the thing to do see an equitable society representative as soon as possible or send a postcard care of this station to the equitable life insurance society Remember from the moment you set up an equitable education fund You make sure that when the college bells ring for your boy or girl, they will be ready to answer the call And now back to the FBI file the phantom mind The crime being committed in tonight's case from the files of your FBI is a serious one But it is only one of the more than 5,000 major crimes committed every day in the United States Your FBI cooperates in bringing this series of official radio programs to you Because it wants to acquaint you with the ways of the criminal so that you as an individual will be better able to cope with Every particular type of lawbreaker your FBI does this because it has a responsibility to you a Responsibility which involves fighting America's army of criminals to the best of its ability But you the individual citizen also have a responsibility It is up to you if you wish to see the crime wave conquered to see to it that you have a strong local police force and That that local police force is adequately paid Money saved by cutting police protection or by not allowing local policemen to earn a living wage is not in the long run Money saved for where protection is inadequate crime increases in one major city in the United States a City of well over a million population a survey determined that more than 50% of the local police were so poorly paid That they were in constant debt a companion survey showed that crime this year in that city has risen more than 50% Your local policemen's life is at stake when he puts on his uniform It is your duty to see to it that while he risks that life. He is paid a living wage The night's file continues in a waterfront house that is occupied by mr. Grant owner of the scuttle chip He is just greeting a visitor welcome home captain. It's good to see you. Have you got a drink? I need one sure Now take it straight. Thanks very well, and I'll join you Let's drink to the SS Marion green the best ship I ever skip it and the best one I ever owned Oh Where's Louis didn't he come with you? I'll be here. He was in the other boat. They're probably still asking them the same questions They ask me who asked you any questions the coast guard They picked us up after the ship went down sure from the road for about an hour before they started is what kind of questions Did they ask you where was I at the time of the explosion whether I saw anything stuff like that Anybody in the crew suspicious that it wasn't an accident. Yes Metcalf chief engineer. What did he find out? Louis had explosives. How did you deal with him? Louis knocked him out. We left him in the cabin after the ship went under That's right Yes, he just got here a couple of minutes ago. Where are you I'm still down town the coast guard just let us go with a suspicious What do you mean the captain tell you about the engineer Metcalf? Yes I thought he went down with the ship so did I What would you do that for what did Metcalf say when he saw you where is he now an emergency hospital? Hmm Listen to me Louis and get this straight. Yes, Mr. Grant. What is it? Get into that hospital and get to Metcalf But you had the right answer when you got that list of new registrations on all boats Grant bought a boat in the last two months. It must be one of the boats on this list I agree with you there, Jim, but we've checked almost every one of those names all but three and they're all owned by Corporations now this first one the SS Dorothy drew was owned by a corporation in Santa Monica, California The Los Angeles office is checking on that one for us with a two hour difference in time We might not get an answer until tomorrow afternoon Yeah, but there's nothing we can do about that son the second ship the SS Marion Green is owned by the black and white corporation Can't check on them until tomorrow morning either. Oh, I did get some details on the SS Marion Green though What were they well? She's a 4,000 ton freighter equipped as a lumber carrier She can carry about two and a half million feet of lumber. Did you find out what the black and white corporation paid for? Yes, they paid a hundred and five thousand the last owner said that the black and white corporation would have to spend about $15,000 in repairs to make her C worthy again. It's pretty good boy There aren't many 4,000 tonners around you can pick up for a hundred and twenty thousand. I know Now the ABC Handwin corporation owns the third ship. That's the SS Edith Summers That doesn't seem to be any way of finding out anything about them until tomorrow either Maybe we ought to call it a night Jim get a fresh start in the morning Yeah, I suppose you're right Special agent Taylor speaking. Hello, mr. Taylor. This is dr. Elliot over at the emergency hospital Yes, doctor anything I can do for you Well, I call police headquarters report this and they told me to call the FBI I've just treated a man named Joe Medcaff a shock He came to for a little while and explained that he was in a ship break, but that the wreck was no accident Now let me get the facts on this straight dr. Elliot this mr. Medcaff claims that there was a deliberate scuttling in the ship that he was on Is that right? Yes, that's right. Did he tell you the name of the ship? Why yes, he did. It was the SS Marion green Thank you for calling dr. Elliot. I'll be right over to talk to mr. Medcaff After four the week all over an hour ago. Why haven't we heard from him? I know I Can't wait around much more got things to do mr. Grant things to take care of Now I suppose you pay me off and I'll be getting along pay you for what the job I did Captain I'd like to point out to you that there's a man named Medcaff who by your own admission may jam up this whole deal So the deal's jammed up. I don't collect from the insurance companies And if I don't collect captain neither do you just a minute I made a deal with you to sink a ship. Well right now that ships at the bottom of the ocean That was only part of the deal The most important phase of it was making it appear to be an accident that you didn't deliver look can I help it if Louie Mess things he was your responsibility. You hired him. Mr. Grant captain that has nothing to do Who is it me Louie? Oh, hello, Mr. Grant. Hello captain What do you want me to put your chief engineer? What's matter Jimmy look beat I'm getting a little tired of these wild goose chases what happened this time Well, I got over to the hospital that doctor took me up to talk to Metcalf. Don't tell me he changed his story worse than that Tommy was gone. He was Huckered that happened a friend came in and took him out. He told the nurse. He was a shipmate of Metcalf's Did the doctor tell you what Metcalf said while he was conscious? Yes, he said he was the engineer aboard the SS Marion Green You know, it's probably the boat that Grant bought did Metcalf story explain why he bought it Yes from what Metcalf told the doctor the SS Marion Green was purposely scuttled And I think we'll find that that ship was very heavily insured Let Calf's the only one then who could prevent Grant from collecting on that insurance I'd said so the shipmate who came to the hospital and get Metcalf out must be one of Grant's men. I would think so You know, I hate to think of the treatment. They'll give him checked every possible record Jim every boarding house every hotel every rental listed At the real estate board there isn't a single Harry Grant on any of those lists Oh, Metcalf gave this waterproof pouch to Dr. Elliot before he passed out again Said there were some papers in it that he got out of a drawer in the captain's cabin just before he jumped off the ship Metcalf's sake. I hope there's something in here that'll tell us where Grant is. Hey, you take half and I'll take half I'll take these Doesn't seem to be anything here Jim except some paid bills. I think I've got something to listen to this It's a note to the captain saying I'll come aboard about 10 o'clock to discuss final plans within its sign with the initials HG Standing for Harry Grant. I should think so There's no return address on the envelope It's very common stationery too, Jim. There wouldn't be any chance of tracing the purchaser of his stuff. No, that's right. I Think we might find out where mr. Grant sent this from them. Let's get a classified telephone directory I think he's coming to you better stop hitting him. Why are you afraid? I'll hurt him. No, we want to talk to him Metcalf can you hear me? Yes, I can hear you Answer a few questions Do you remember being at the hospital? Did you talk to anybody at the hospital? What did you say to him? I told him all about you and their wiper and blowing up the ship How do we handle this mr. Grant? There's a way Metcalf is the only one who actually saw Louie in the engine room, isn't it? That's right What's that got to do with it? Then he's the only one that can prove anything You forget about the doctor at the hospital. You'll blabber sure as you're born. What do you think my lawyer will say to him on the stand? I don't know you'll say doctor Isn't it possible that a man of mr. Metcalf's age might get hysterical and delirious after an accident like that? The doctor will have to say yes, and that will be all there is to it I see that means that if Metcalf is dead and can't be found the insurance company has to pay I Don't carry a gun Louie does don't you Louie? I lost mine when the ship went down you'll find one in that top drawer Get it and take care of him. Okay Try it and find out What is this? Special agents of the FBI Metcalf still alive Jim good job. What are you two doing here? We came here to serve warrants for arrest on the three of you. What are the charges? Conspiracy to defraud see here. That's a serious charge to make without any proof I think we've got enough proof on that charge and when we get back to headquarters We'll add another charge against all of you attempted murder Harry Grant captain Spencer and Louie Jackson were all tried in a federal court and convicted on both charges They are now serving long terms in a federal penitentiary Tonight's case from the files of your FBI was solved because special agent Jim Taylor noticed that there was no Stamp on the envelope containing the note found among the captain's papers He therefore reasoned that it had been delivered by some messenger a check of the messenger services listed in the classified telephone directory Revealed that one of those services had been summoned by mr. Grant to deliver the note to captain Spencer aboard the SS Marion Green a Further check of the delivery slip showed that the note had been sent from number 415 Ocean Avenue And it was at that address that special agents Taylor and Alan located the three criminals What was even more important than the capture of the criminal triumvirate was the fact that your FBI was able to save the life of an innocent person And thus once more your FBI by the speed of its investigative procedure Succeeded in performing its double function of protecting not only your property But your lives We will tell you about next week's exciting case from the files of your FBI Now Joe, I understand there's one thing you'd like to clear up about an equitable education fund. Yes, mr. Keating are these funds flexible and they be increased later if I can afford it and they certainly can many young fathers start with An equitable education fund that would pay part of a boy or girls way through college Then as the family income goes up the amount of the education fund is increased Your equitable representative will be glad to show you just how it's done Look him up soon or right care of this station to the equitable life insurance society of the United States Next week we will dramatize another case from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation An authentic record of the operations of one of the cunningest of the criminal breed the confidence man its subject fraud its title the atomic swindle The incidents used in tonight's equitable life insurance societies broadcast are adapted from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation However, all names used are fictitious and any similarity they love to the names of persons living or dead is accidental Tonight the music was composed and conducted by Frederick Steiner the author was Jerry Lewis The director Sid Goodman your narrator was William Woodson and special agent Taylor was played by Stacy Harris This is your FBI is a Jerry divine production This is Larry Keating speaking for the equitable life insurance society of the United States and the equitable societies representative in your Community and inviting you to tune in again next week at this same time when the equitable life insurance society Will bring you another thrilling story from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation The atomic swindle on this is your FBI This is ABC the American broadcasting company