 From Hollywood, it's time now for Johnny dollar Paul Kendrick Johnny over at Eastern Ally Casualty remember. Oh sure Paul How are you seeing any good fights lately price-wise? That is yeah the championship bottle the stadium over in Mulville last week We're there now. I had to miss it, but it didn't miss me Huh the minute Georgie hit the canvas in that fourth round. It cost me 50 bucks Johnny Are you kidding? I've watched that boy come up from the Golden Gloves Well, I know I lost on him to 20 bucks Bailey in the exciting adventures of a man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator was truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to Eastern Ally Casualty insurance company 422 Spital building Hartford, Connecticut Following as an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the squared circle matter Expense account item 1 a dollar 10 cents camp from my apartment to the offices of Eastern Allied when I get upstairs into his personal cubicle I found Paul Kendrick pacing the floor Sit down Johnny have a drink if you want one. No, no, thanks Hey, looks like you're the one who used a drink. What are you worried about? Don't tell me you've been hitting the company till for big money to bet on the fights Johnny. I'm worried about murder Listen, I'm all ears. How long since you've seen Al Coronado fight? Oh, six months a year maybe but before that when he was working all the local arenas You and I were present every time you put on the gloves. So we knew him when he had reflexes quick enough to Well, do you remember how he'd show off by picking a fly or mosquito out of the air grabbing it between his fingers without even hurting it Yeah, sure He was no metal giant not by a long shot, but he had the fastest eyes and hands they ever saw in a man Right, but something has happened to him something very wrong, and I think I know what it is Listen a few years ago his manager Ricky Malone took out a $50,000 policy on him an Uri So what a lot of managers take out policies on their boys and then get them killed Look Al is fighting again tomorrow night in a small town outside of Joplin Joplin Missouri a little place just across the state line Johnny I want you to be there. You mean has a sort of bodyguard. I want you to see the fight That's all see Al Coronado fight Yeah, but this murder correct I'm having a copy of the policy made and you can pick it up at the Joplin post office general delivery. I'll pour I know I know I may be all wrong This may only be a hunch without a single legitimate reason for suspicion That's why I took a whole week to think it over before calling you That's why I want somebody who knows Al as well as you and I do to Look will you go down there and see him while I will pay the freight Pant your expense account anything you like. Oh, now that's an attractive, but do it Johnny. Will you? Item two another dollar ten back to my apartment a pack Item three one hundred twenty four dollars even plain fair and incidentals to Joplin By your leave Paul the incidentals included a new sports shirt loud enough to startle a whole state of Arizona an extra pack of razor blades and A new toothbrush also item four three bucks flowers for the stewardess who managed to find me an extra bottle of champagne I arrived at Joplin shortly before noon and after checking into a hotel found that by some miracle a copy of Al's policy was waiting for me at the post office a Quick plan said it brings up item five four dollars and a quarter phone call. I thought you said Ricky Malone took out the policy But the beneficiary named is Frankie fortina now. Who's he I don't know yet Well, his address is in New York City. You better look him up. Would you I've been trying to let the address on the policy Was a racetrack bookie joint. Oh, so that's why you're worried. That's one reason Well, if you learn anything about I'll let me know will you I'm staying at the Beverly arm. Okay, Johnny Yeah, call me again. Sure. I was tired. So I had a big lunch that's item six went up to my room and slept I overslept It was nearly nine o'clock when I woke up So I grabbed a cab that's item seven and went out to the arena in the nearby town of Mount Elba The five bucks out of eight I managed to get a seat of ringside and time to catch the end of the last preliminum Program told me I was scheduled for the main event against some local boy named rave Cummings I've never heard of him and I doubt if anybody else had a two-sign ever had I Understood why when he stepped into the ring this kid looked like the rankest kind of amateur strong sure and a good condition but clumsy he almost took over his own size 15 feet And it was no act of fooling opponent either Al when he came in looked as good as ever He gave me a quick glance of recognition. Oh, I'm sure he knew nothing about me except possibly my name At the opening belly came out fast all the old speed and timing were there faint weave and flick out that light But punishing left same old pattern same old Wait a minute those quick left jazz were only landing about one and four As though he touched Cummings only when the clumsy ox having to walk into him Because of his speed out took nothing but a few light ones on the body he kept his face well out of reach Oh, yeah, his timing was perfect, but his aim was terrible Every time he shot out his fist he was three four inches wide What a funny thing happened at the end of the round when Al went back to his corner and remember rave It only tapped him a few times in the body when he went back to his corner and started to sit down He almost missed the stool would have if one of the seconds had named it under him funny The second round got underway the same as the first now was all speed dodging weaving keeping his face out of the way But again, he wasn't hitting his mark And then it happened He missed Cummings wide then practically ran into his glove catching it hard in the cheek and down he watched Why there wasn't enough steam behind Cummings glove to hurt it But Al took the counts. He'd been hurt by that tap on the face Then another thing the second he was counted out his handlers practically hold him out of the ring and back to his dressing room And believe me Al looked terrible his eyes had a strange almost far away look as though that little smack had knocked his brains loose My seat was on the far side of the ring But I elbowed my way through the crowd and back to the row of dressing rooms in a hallway built on the one end of the building Al Al Coronado, I told you on the way up the aisle doc. We don't need you the boys. All right. Go on duck beat it You hear me doc. Listen. This is Johnny dolly. I'm old fan of Al's from Hartford I want to see him some other time. No now right away. Come on open up. I Said some other time. Don't you understand? We're pulling out of this burger and we ain't got time to stand around and talk now look buddy Malone's a name I meld's manager seeing when I say get out. I mean vermouth. Are you okay boy? This is Johnny dolly. Oh, no, you don't Brother, that's what you're wrong Hey Al Al Good Lord Al. What's the matter with you? Oh? Hello, Johnny. Yeah, look at me. No, no, I mean straight at me here Al I'm I'm all right. Johnny. You're in bad shape. You should never have fought tonight. Oh That's all right. What are your seconds your trainer Ricky? Don't don't let nobody in after fight. Look Al. Can you get up off that table stand up and walk? Oh sure sure Johnny Then come on. I'm taking you out of here to a doctor easy. Oh look look behind you He's up. He's got it. You bet. I am Who of yours truly Johnny dollar in just a moment Each Monday through Friday evening most of these same stations bring you the Amos and Andy music hall variety entertainment at its best For top songs informal visits with top stars and for a never-ending supply of fun Turn your home into the Amos and Andy music hall five nights a week Now act two of yours truly Johnny dollar and the squared circle matter When I came to the dressing room was dark and quiet After carefully falling off the table where they'd left me I groped my way to the light switch Stumbling incidentally where the remains of the chair Ricky Malone had used on me It was well after midnight. So I left by the dressing room window The second I reached my hotel room I put through a long-distance call hoping Paul Kendrick would be in home in bed He was Johnny dollar and Paul you're right. It'll be murder unless I can stop it Hey, you awake Plenty and listen that boy is more than punch-drunk. He's had a brain injury of some kind. I'll bet on it That's what I was afraid of the tap on the face that knocked him out tonight wasn't enough to hurt a kitten But a good solid blow it probably kill him. That's why he kept protecting his face Who else I just met the gentleman by the way Before I could he cracked me over the head with a chair See if the police can track them down Malone said something about leaving town right away You kidding I haven't had time it's an annuity that much I saw beginning on a nice little income of the rest of his life If he survives, but the beneficiary named yes with the policy of al dyes, Johnny Yeah, I got a rundown on Fortina. You said he was a bookie at one time I was the least of his then you're probably thinking what I am you know that yes So with this injury to his brain the only way Fortina can clean up on him is by seeing him dead That's right. Oh, what about medical examinations before these fights? That's possible, of course. Also hardest things in the world to detect. Yeah. Yeah, I must admit He looked great when he entered the ring Okay, Paul one things in our favor either Al nor Ricky Malone knows who I am outside of being a fight fan Just so 14 it doesn't learn different. Where is 14 by the way? Expense account item 9 370 for a couple of phone calls some breakfast and a taxi to police headquarters I'll say this for the gentlemen police when they go into action. They really get things done Within less than two hours Sargent Danny Ruskin dug up all the information I want Well that ties in with what Conroy found out at the airport now that does it harm. Thanks very much Something and I think it gives us the whole story Johnny Alan is manager Ricky Malone checked out of their hotel the Raybury at one o'clock this morning just the two of them ride There was no third party by the name of 14 or anything else just the two of them They caught the 140 plane for Oklahoma City, huh? And there they bought tickets routing them to Monterey, Mexico, Mexico How soon can I get a plane? Going down there. I told you I got to save that guy's life All right. Look in Monterey. Look up Sergeant Romelia Garcia main homicide division. You mentioned my name He'll give you anything you want. Good. Now. What about that plane? The deal on plane connections turned out to be bad the best time I could make was by way of El Paso That's item Santa 127 dollars including incidentals I finally pulled into Monterey shortly after 8 p.m. I part my bag at the airport taxied into town item 11 I went straight to main headquarters of the Pulisier Sergeant Romelia Garcia was off-duty had gone to the fights Item 12 $4 American for a fast taxi ride to the Plaza del Fistic cops or what a minute call it Therefore item 13 five bucks. I had the sergeant paged over the PA system After two or three minutes a short stocky important-looking figure and police uniforms stored up to the door Your Johnny dollar and that's right sergeant. How are you you Americanos now? What is so important? I must leave the excellent fights to talk with you Huh the possible murder of an American fighter right here in your own ring So what is that to be excited about something that happens all the time? It's because the Mexican fight is more better than the Americano fight So if that is all it is bother me Sergeant Danny Ruskin of the job Why do you not say so at the beginning? Well, you didn't give me much of a chance How is it my good friend sergeant Danny? Well, this is too long. I have see yeah Excellent man sergeant Danny When I have trouble with one of our Mexican nationals who escape across the border and go all the way to Missouri Joplin He's sergeant Danny who? But you have a problem. Yeah a fighter named of Al Coronado But of course tomorrow night he is fighting here and he will lose. Why do you say that come look? Here on the what you call a billboard a picture of the man he is to fight so El Toro negro that sounds more like the name of a bull in him See big man is he not is this picture real 240 pounds in your but Al Coronado only weighs in at 181 see El Toro big man The senior dollar he is a killer our best three men. He's knocked out of the ring But nobody hard seems oh and no wonder you worried Sergeant unless you and I can stop it that won't be a fight tomorrow night It'll be a premeditated cold-blooded killing. Oh so I Showed Garcia my credentials then told him what I knew and what I suspect Till we have proof of this and you are to start what you call a International situation you are not now in your own country, you know Still he agreed to cooperate first thing of course was to locate Al and his manager in this city of nearly 200,000 that could be pretty rough, but he said he tried He drove me by the airport to pick up my bag into a hotel and There is the bell hop unlock the door of my room. I got a real break the next door down the hall open Hey kid, how'd you like to bring me up a glass of warm milk? Al? Al Coronado. Oh Here boy, just put in my bags inside and leave the door open Yeah alone sure Hey Johnny H. Yeah, that's right Johnny, and I want to talk to you I used to see you excited all the time up my heart for that. You saw me in Joplin, too Only you don't remember Where's Ricky Malone your manager? Oh, he said he had to go meet somebody. He's always going out Look Al, I'm an insurance investigator. Oh, oh, I got some assurance. Yeah One more fight and somebody's gonna collect it. Oh, no Johnny. That's my retiree money The only one who'll retire on it is Frankie Fortina. Hey, Frankie. He's my owner, you know Hey Who takes all the aspirin around here me I get a lot of headaches all the time Hey, baby, that's why I ain't been hitting so good lately. Yeah Here catch this bottle Now look what you did. No, no Al you look what you did You missed that bottle by three inches For the same reason you haven't been hitting well why you have these headaches All right, I'll give it to you straight You've had a brain injury Al One good wallop on that head will kill you and that's just what Ricky and Fortina want No, Ricky always says they keep my head protected. So you must be wrong. Am I well Ricky's good to me Why you numbskull he's trying to get you killed. I Johnny you all wrong. You know the man you're up against tomorrow night. Well, I know his name Well, he's the one scheduled to finish you off Johnny, I Don't believe that Al. Listen, you gotta believe it. Now. Where's it up here? Who you gonna call? Hello, this is an emergency. Get me Sergeant Romino Garcia at Central Police headquarters cops. That's right Al and a doctor Oh, no Ricky says to stay away from doctors all they do all they do is stop you from ever fighting again And that would make you worth just fifty thousand dollars less to Frankie for Sergeant Johnny dollar I found Al hotel room right next to mine room 915 bring a doctor a brain specialist if you can even if you have to drag him out of bed Don't look we'll fight the international situation when we come to it you get a doctor up here. Yeah, you hang up Or I'll blow your head off well Mr. Fortina, I believe him Ricky sure boys He's clean. Huh? I hate to shoot an unarmed man dollar, but if you make one phony move so you know who I am I'm Ricky here may be stupid in some ways But he had sent enough to call me from Joplin after you broke in on him there finding out what you're up to wasn't difficult Finding out what you're up to wasn't very tough either Fortina, but it's all over not for me dollar That's where you're wrong that phone call. I made was to the police I know to Central headquarters That's over three miles from here by the time your sergeant finds a doctor and gets here You will be dead and I will be gone. Have you forgotten that you have a boarded across 14 times stupid Frankie Fortina has never been here's never been even in Mexico Because my tourist card reads Charles Edward Smith Since the next plane leaves for the States in about 20 minutes Ricky Yeah, boys, I think mr. Dollar had better have an accident Fall out of the window perhaps. Oh now wait a minute boys. I mean what listen to me well I had two reasons for coming down here to see if you were right about dollar and to make sure of that fight tomorrow You've been stalling with Al you've taken too long the heat is on up north. I need the dough I told you boys that El Toro will do it tomorrow. Shut up and look If you take care of dollar, what about me, huh? Maybe you can get back to the States, but me with dollar laying dead here And if I'll talk Al won't talk you won't either Frankie Dollar has given us a perfect setup. He came here to Al's room. You found him here Hmm you had a fight dollar ends up in the street below, but what happens to me and I always taken care of you In the past when you were working for me You know what will happen if you ever try to cross no no all right all right all right I Have contacts down here. I have plenty of them. I have lawyers good ones It's going to be self-defense pure and simple like what if I'll talk told you before Ricky You've taken too long with him Frankie while I hold this gun You're going to take care of Al too the way you should have a long long time ago in his fight Listen to me Frank you listen I do this whole thing just as deep as I have and deeper because you're the one who's kept out fighting You've paid off all those phony medicos. You set him up for this El Toro tomorrow night You'll do it Ricky. No, then I'll use the gun on all three of you Frankie How do you mine fortina am I it will still look like a fight between you and Ricky boys I'll just happen to get hit accidentally by the gun that will be found beside your body Boss I'll do it You bet you do anything you say if you just help me get out of it Okay Okay, go ahead Dollar is first and brother if you think it's going to be either the window or this gun dollar So far as you're concerned. I don't care which go on Ricky. Just remember your own life depends on it You bet I Dirty will you the window Ricky the window? I said Remember it's your own life All right, Fortina, so you have got a gun How Yeah, Johnny I I hit him but well, I'll be Season your dollar with one very fine clean left hook. Well, Fortina was watching you and the unfortunate Ricky Yeah, you got here a little late Garcia, you see but tell me senior What makes you think this Al Coronado has lost his punch? Expense account item $1,300 legal expense mainly a deposition for a lawyer to take to court Just now Garcia got me on a having to stay in Monterey for a hearing. I will never know what he did As for Al Coronado, I suggest the company makes some adjustment in his policy that'll permit paying his annuities immediately And why not the company should have investigated more thoroughly before issuing this policy anyway, and if it doesn't show a little heart But I'm sure it will Adam 14 224 50 hotel and incidentals and transportation back to Hartford Expense account total 491 20 yours truly Johnny dollar Oh here is our star to tell you about next week story next week a fast trip to the west coast to an impossible case involving an Impossible man Join us. Won't you yours truly Johnny dollar truly Johnny dollar starring Bob Bailey originates in Hollywood? It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone who also wrote tonight's story heard in our cast were Harry Bartell Herbellis Victor Perrin Jack Crucian Les Tremaine and Lauren Stubbkin Musical supervision is by Emery go Marino Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar Stay tuned for five minutes of CBS news to be followed over most of these same stations by the FBI in peace and war Dan cover Lee speaking