 From Hollywood it's time now for Johnny dollar You don't think I murdered Warren Staley apparently you were the only one who was with him when he died Now look here. I'm the one who's kept even the family out of here What's more important? You're the only one in the whole estate who might be trusted to keep things intact any possible evidence So, please don't leave your room. Okay, diplomat. I'll sit tight 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 investigators. Yes, truly Johnny dollar Expense account or rather report submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar To the Philadelphia Mutual Liability and Casualty Company Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in connection with my investigation of the layered Douglas Douglas of Hetherscote matter No need to itemize expenses at this point because there are none The magnificent suite in which I'm parked out at the sumptuous mansion of mrs. Peter Malcolm Kelly van python is fine Except for the body of young Warren Staley mrs. Van python's nephew draped over the arm of the easy chair in which he died a few minutes ago I'd call lieutenant Howard at homicide on the phone in my room immediately and within minutes the nearest patrol man was stationed outside my door Refusing admittance even to the lady of the house After all this was the third murder that tied up with the Scottish Terrier who started all this layered Douglas Douglas of Hetherscote While waiting for lieutenant Howard in his crew. I shaved showered and changed my clothes then about ten minutes later Well, darling lieutenant see what you mean. Yeah He seemed like a nice kid too He's all yours doctor go right ahead Okay Okay, darling, let's have it what happened Well Warren brought me up here himself, and I said I'm down to ask him some questions You suspected him didn't you in spite of what I told sure a soul beneficiary of the van python estate Empire as he called it. Yeah. Well, what do you think now that you were right that he was clean No, you can't keep me out. This is my own house and this is my own I have to wait until we can get Just a minute lieutenant hey whoa young fella hold on a minute who are you Johnny dollar who are you Ronald Kenworthy his best friend What happened to him he was poisoned poisoned and where were you how could a thing like this happen if you were running? Just calm down a minute How long have you been here in the house? Why half three quarters of an hour something like that, but I don't where where were you? Well, I was down in the reading room with mrs. Van python all the time When out in the garden alone Yes, except for a few minutes while I talked to Hastings the butler out there What were you doing in the garden? I was on my way up here by the back way to see Warren I've always used the back staircase from the garden ever since we were kids together This suite of rooms used to be our play room ever since I can remember all right all right go on was what you were saying Well, then about that time or a few minutes later. I don't know exactly I heard the police car come screaming at the driveway That was the first that any of us mrs. Van python or Hastings or I that any of us knew that something was wrong That's something that happened to Warren, but now look here mr.. Dollar I can't with you to what you'll have to leave with mrs. Van python until we're thrown here But go ahead Ronnie go ahead all right poor old dame sorry for Finding anything doc. Yes, I think so I certainly think so be with you in a minute all right Better go on with what you were saying dollar well now much more to say lieutenant Warren felt the same way you do the Branson at the insurance company does If anything happened to the dog layered Douglas, it would be the end of mrs. Van python That the murders of the dog's handlers caretakers were purely incidental to attempts on the dog's life, but But what and we apparently was as concerned over this whole thing as we've been Said he had a very strong theory about who might be back of all this Oh, did he tell you he was about to and this whatever it was hit him I'll tell you what it was lieutenant. Yeah, doc. Oh, this is mr.. Dollar Norfolk acid same thing that killed the two dog handlers and was used on the dog itself I can tell without further examination wait a minute doc wait a minute if the dog got the same thing that killed a couple of grown men A dog with a much more sensitive stomach unused to all the strong food and drinks the human stomach is constantly abused with a Dog would immediately regurgitate and retain only a minute amount of the panoramic acid See in the case of Warren staley here It was added to the Scotch whiskey drink traces of it in his glass and in a full glass beside your chair Well, I'll give you check those bottles on the cellar, right? Which bottle did he pour that out of darling the one right next to that bottle of EO there he Wait a minute This isn't the same bottle What the one he poured from was half empty. This is nearly full And now what's the matter with you boys? You let somebody switch bottles a minute ago Wait a minute wait a minute nobody else came in here besides Mrs.. Van Peyton and young Ken worthy Hastings the butler But he just stood in the doorway Yet somehow between the time war and staley poured those drinks and now somebody switched bottles Unless you're wrong about this dollar You've been here in the room all this time Yeah, sure and in the bath I shaved and showered and dressed while waiting for you to get here But only after one of your men came and parked outside the door Where does this door lead to the dog's quarters two rooms? I see Come on, darling You might wait for us What about that door beyond all that ma'am cell parol the dog's governess. Oh, I was she how should I know? I didn't even me Guess I should have knocked Sorry ma'am cell we're the police Nothing ma'am nothing, but but how long have you been there in your room? Yeah, that was obvious Not now you haven't get dressed now send an officer into a scorcher downstairs. Come on Say Pete send somebody around the back way to cover the governess and take her downstairs questioning and Johnny Looks like you goofed. Hmm While you were showering somebody came in through her room through the dog's quarters and did the bottle switch on us Oh, well, then we're even yeah What you have very carefully must have any fingerprints it might have been on those doorknobs. Oh Jerry see if you can get any prints off those doorknobs back there by having erect them But Johnny if I didn't know about you and your reputation I'd take this on you so fast you Haven't been holding out on me. Have you I? Assured him that I hadn't then went downstairs to the monstrous living room and sat in while we went through a routine questioning of everyone in the household. I Even went through the motions of bodyguarding the dog that had started all this tried to console Mrs. Results of the questioning Nothing darling nothing no lead. Yeah, so I noticed The two previous murders of the dog's caretakers or bodyguards, whatever you want to call them. Yeah, well same poison was used then Be an air food as well as a dog Why why Steve why why they to keep them from helping Laird Douglas when it hit him Yeah, more likely because those handlers had got wind of the attempt to poison the dog and suspect that who was trying to do it Yeah, that makes sense. Yeah There's one thing you're overlooking darling. What's that the intended victim of this last poisoning was not Warren staley But you know brother. I'm not overlooking that for one second. Yeah, and that's why I asked you if you were holding out anything on me Because it would indicate that you have a lead or at least suspicion about someone sure sure I got a lot of suspicions Ronald Kenworthy his old man the butler heaven help us even Mrs. Van Pyton Maybe even you Steve When it comes to evidence Yeah, I know what you mean Well, I've got work to do Looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack was nothing compared to hunting for the poison bottle of scotch There was no doubt stashed away somewhere Far far into the night a regular army of policemen probed and dugged and poked around The open drawers and closets and cabinets pounded on walls looking for sliding panels and secret compartments went through the trash Sifted a trash heap dug up any freshly turned earth. They could find on the grounds even climbed trees Yeah, they prowl through attics and basements looked everywhere result nothing Meanwhile, I stayed close to Mrs. Van Pyton and I'll say this for her in spite of her almost silly infatuation with that dog She showed real strength of character We sat alone together in the reading room. I know mr. Dollar. There's nothing I can do to bring Warren back Therefore, there's no point in simply sitting here weeping over you. Yeah, yeah, that's true But it isn't easy because it meant more I'm sorry I Want to ask you some things with some and pardon I Suppose this is the wrong time, but I know ask me mr. Dollar. I think I know what you want to ask and now Now that this last terrible thing has happened. I hope I pray that I can help you Well, I had quite a talk with Warren before he died. Oh, oh, I'm glad Warren would have been the sole heir to the van Pyton estate. Yes He alone would have carried the honor of prestige of the family after my passing. Oh No Surely who didn't think that he could have been behind those other terrible murders quite frankly at first I did But he told me something else and it's bothered me About mr. Kenworthy and his son Ronald No, mr. Dollar. He was supposed to be Warren's best friend You said supposed to be Well, I Warren made it very clear that if the Kenworthies could have somehow acquired the van Pyton holdings either by mr. Kenworthy marrying you I have told Harrison arc and yes I know if Laird Douglas wins the show from his Kerry blue terrier, you'll marry him. Yes, and I still think it's a screwy idea But the fact remains it's apparently true quite true. Neither you nor mr. Kenworthy has too many years ahead if you'll forgive me Mr.. Dollar, so there's now only one person left to benefit by the death of Laird Douglas of Warren of you And ultimately of mr. Kenworthy Good heavens, mr. Dollar. That's right Ronald Kenworthy Well I know I Know it. I think you've said enough mr. Dollar Ronald Yes, I heard it all Mr. Dollar, I think you said too much for Shall we say your health? Oh? Here's our star to tell you about the final intriguing episode of this week's story tomorrow All cards are laid on the table and believe me the deck proves to have been stacked right from the beginning Tomorrow the wind up join us. Won't you? Yours truly Johnny dollar yours truly Johnny dollar starring Bob Bailey is transcribed in Hollywood It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone who also wrote tonight's story Be sure to join us tomorrow night same time and station for the next exciting episode of yours truly Johnny dollar Roy Rowan speaking