 From Hollywood it's time now for Johnny dollar John, this is Harry Branson of Philadelphia Mutual Harry. What are you doing in town? I'm not at least not in your town, but you've got a case for me Do you know anything about violins? Oh, don't tell me so he opened up his fiddle case and out came a submachine gun That it John that technique went out with prohibition now seriously this case contains a genuine amati good What's in a muddy one of the finest most expensive violins ever made this one was insured for $30,000 was Yes, now someone has to find it for us. What's more? Okay, Harry. I'm on my way Tonight in every weekday night Bob Bailey in the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-tact expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance Investigator yours truly Johnny dollar Expense accounts submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to the Philadelphia Mutual liability and casualty company The following is an accounting of expenditures incurred during my investigation of the Ricardo Amarillo matter Expense account item one twelve forty train fare and incidentals to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania I took the train because Harry Branson didn't seem to be in any particular hurry And I kind of like a slow look at the countryside this time of year When I got to Philadelphia, I checked in at the Bellevue Stratford shaved and showered Then went over to Harry Branson's office in the security first building on Walnut Street. You deceived me, John I thought when we talked long distance that you'd be here right away, but instead of flying down Sobersides Branson had changed a bit hair a little grayer than the last Still the same serious lad who always acted as though he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders I feel a deep personal concern of the whole matter because it was a man I put in this office myself who issued the policies both of them two policies on this fiddle you were talking about No, John one on the Amati violin thirty thousand dollars and one on Ricardo Amarillo himself for twenty thousand dollars Who is Ricky? Who? Well, isn't that what you said his name is? I'm sure I didn't mention anyone button. Oh, oh, Ricardo Amarillo Yes, yes, well, where's he playing the purple cat or maybe we willies join over on John This man is a concert violinist or was he's disappeared now, please no more levity. Sorry, Earl. It's Harrison. Sorry, hurry All right. I'm quite all right now I realize that you have quite a sense of humor John But in a matter as important as this yeah, sure now let's have the story very well a few years ago Ricardo Amarillo was one of the world's leading concert violinist as famous in London Paris Rome is in the concert halls of this country Such virtuosity almost unbelievable. I shall never forget one evening here in our Academy of Music He had just finished a perfectly brilliant Vinny off ski amazing technical performance. Yeah, well on core He played Sarasate Sopatialo even more brilliant Harry, but the audience wouldn't let him leave the stage Ricardo Amarillo has disappeared. Oh, oh, yes, and you're in a hurry to get on with the case I'm sorry now thinking of his superlative performance that night carried me away for Yes, he's dead disappeared in the violin no trace dead. He didn't say that before I know you see there's no proof of death. Nobody disappeared. Well, don't let me shock your finer sensibilities, Harry Murder we have thought of that. Of course. Who's we the Port Morris police Port Morris, New Jersey Yes, you see since Amarillo's car went through the bridge rail crashed right through it and plunged into the river Trying to tie Harry down to pertinent facts that would help me in my investigation was to well futile At least three times during the next half hour He went off on glowing descriptions of violin recitals. He had known hyphets Elman Chrysler and so on But he did come up with one of two things I wanted first Amarillo and his fiddle had been driving down from Philadelphia to some spot in the South Jersey seashore Crossing an old wooden bridge over a little stream and inlet from the ocean the car had smashed through the guard rail and gone to the bottom of the inlet The car of course was found Amarillo in his violin. No Second and just as important the name of the beneficiary of Amarillo's policies Item two an expense account one dollar even Taxi to the Harnell building also on Walnut Street in the office of Peter Corbin Amarillo's booking agent The building was plush but Corbin's office was about as bare as I'd ever seen an old Beat-up desk a battered filing cabinet and a couple of straight chairs. That was it Corbin was chewing the stub of a cigar that he'd forgotten to relight for at least a couple of days We made with the usual howdy-dos Well, you man Branson told you exactly right dollop. I'm Ricardo Amarillo's soul and only beneficiary Well, it's not have been unusual for a man's agent to be as air or Was it because you were all personal friends. I'm gonna give it to you straight I Brought him a rig over to this country myself my own soul expense. I actually gave him the build-up I started his whole entire career I kept him on top all at my own expense. Well, didn't you collect a regular agents commission on his own sure sure plenty more Why kid about it sure while he was working. What's that supposed to mean bottle what yeah started hitting the bottle bad Not good and believe me the word gets around fast Instead of making me money himself to cause he started costing me money But you see he never saved anything even when he was earning big, you know how these artists. Yeah, right Well, it's the same with all of him. He got in that actually up to his ears and nobody know but no family No relatives nobody to pull him out nobody but me Big hearted Corbin. So you had him take on a lot of insurance to name you has beneficiary Well, that was his idea actually of course. He always did have the Amarillo insured. That's his violin I saw I learned. Oh, you know about violence. No Oh Well, but the life insurance that was his own idea double and then of the all that sort of trouble and then oh But guess who had to take up the mula for the last couple premiums Big hearted Corbin. You're right. Not a bad investment. Oh, is it well? Hey Premiums and you stand to collect plenty if we can find proof that he's dead and if we can't I don't like that dollar. I don't either Corbin. It doesn't smell good Oh, you think me his own agent actually ricks something like that for one of my best friends you think that Listen wise guy Even if I did have any any of us such idea that'd be crazy Anything actually is as obvious as that. Well, sometimes the most obvious is the best cover. Oh, get out of here dollar Unless you want somebody start collecting on your insurance even if it isn't you, huh? Get out So help yeah, pretty obvious and every time you open your mouth Why is it that people who telegraph their punches are always the first to start swinging? Anyhow, I left Corbin to pick himself up and start thinking about some alibis he might need And in the camp back to my hotel, I did a lot of thinking myself Sure, the obvious off times is the best cover up and yet it might be too obvious far too obvious Branson here Johnny dollar here. Oh John good. Listen, at least there'll be no double indemnity to pay in the Amarigo matter For accidental death that is you see wait a minute about an hour ago. You weren't even sure he's dead Did somebody find the body? No, unfortunately, but I've just received a call from the Port Morris police They completed their examination of Amarigo's car after they pulled it out of the creek, of course. I hope so John They found conclusive evidence of murder Harry, I'll call you from Port Morris Expense account Adam to subway ferry train and bus fares to South Vinyl, New Jersey South Vinyl because Ed Bowles lived there, and I knew that if anything anything at all happened in the heart of sunny southern Jersey Ed would know about it Retired in raising some of those wonderful South Jersey sweet potatoes and peaches with plenty of hired help He amused himself by mowsing around getting to know everybody and everything that happened in his section of the state He had an insatiable curiosity and money enough to keep it satisfied gisling son of a gun I've been waiting for you to get here what took you so long What was that conniving chiseling crack son? We're still on expense account aren't you? Yeah, sure And so helped me nobody in history ever had the knack of patting out an expense account the way you can and collect those fancy commissions on top Hi, when I was a private investigator who is retired You call this retired? 270 acres of sandy soil from which to try to wrestle the poor living Wait a minute that that Cadillac Eldorado out front that belongs to one of the hired 983 peach trees and isn't that a landing field I see out there through the window a lot of sweet potato land to be cultivated Yes, hey, why didn't you fly down or let me know and I'd have picked you up look with all the time I have How long you're gonna stay so I can figure out where we'll go what we'll add I'm on a case sure Ricardo Amarigo and his priceless fiddle. Oh, no, it was easy When I heard about him going over the bridge I contacted Barney Peters of the Port Morris PD from Barney I learned all about the next akin fit his agent that is Pete Corbin, right? And that boy at Philadelphia Mutual Harry Branson and I knew Branson wouldn't call anybody but you in on the case So here you are still a private eye aren't you? You're gonna have some way of killing time and I suppose you have the whole case solved yep Well according to Harry Branson who heard from the Port Morris police just before I left Philly. It was murder. Oh You point killer. I thought I'd be the one to tell you that. Oh, sorry the cops knew it first second I told him huh? Yeah, I showed him where somebody used a hacksaw on the steering arm of Amarigo's car When they dragged it out of the creek So that was it yep, and who wielded the hacksaw Pete Corbin who else why who else stood to benefit by Amarigo's sudden trip to the great beyond No, it's too easy yet. What's more? He's the only one who had constant and complete access to Amarigo's car Why he not only mothered little Ricky clothed and fed him and kept him in booze But he paid his rent swept out his apartment serviced his car It's too easy and Johnny that car was even kept locked in Pete Corbin's own garage and Corbin had the only key Why did you learn that's Corbin's landlord by phone of course Said he thought Corbin did that so Ricky couldn't go out driving when he was drunk me. I think it was the other way around He'd only let him drive when he was drunk Instead of good chance of smashing up what would look like accidental death so that Corbin would collect the double indemnity It's open and shut Any proof Sherlock ha just get to Corbin throw it all at him and break him down Maybe you'll even find the hacksaw tucked up his sleeve too easy any bets that it isn't Corbin Yeah, yeah, I'll bet you you name it My commission on a case I'll match it. Oh and Plus your expense account look Ed I want to see that car and the bridge and the creek anything else I can find sure sure I'll fly you down there then we can go on over to Atlantic City hit some of the night spots your treat You know so we can build up the expense account enough for me to collect plenty And bulls had been a pretty good investigator in this day seldom gone off half-cocked Yet all his evidence was purely circumstantial And where was the body? What's more Pete Corbin acted anything but scared or so I thought until I put through a routine call to Harry Branson He was worried he had a right to be Pete Corbin had packed a bag jumped into his car and Disappeared now. Here's our star to tell you about tomorrow's intriguing episode of this week's story tomorrow a soggy day in a soggy, South Jersey swamp and The discovery almost too good to be true Join us want you yours truly Johnny dollar yours truly Johnny dollar starring Bob Bailey is transcribed in Hollywood Written by Sam Dawson. It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone Be sure to join us tomorrow night same time and station for the next exciting episode of yours truly Johnny dollar Roy Rowan speaking