 In the name of the law, we bring you another of the thrilling stories in this exciting series, taken from actual police case files. Our story begins in the town treasurer's office of High Springs, Florida. Town clerk's office, Ms. Collins speaking. Oh yes, Mr. Britton. Well, that tax payment is due by the fifth of the month. Not at all. Goodbye. No, it's down the hall on your right. That's Mr. Britton's office, indeed. Yes, Officer Britton, Chief of Police. Oh, thank you, ma'am. Oh, excuse me, ma'am. Oh, it's troubling you. Oh, it's this job. Who do you expect being town clerk and treasurer all in one? I'm getting a job as waitress. That'll satisfy me. Now what are you doing? Oh, I've got to fire up the stove before I go out to lunch. Here up. Maybe you'll get an appropriation for an oil burner. Yes, maybe. This town is still too poor to afford such luxury. I'll just have to use this enormous wrench and break my own coal and back, I guess. Hey, come on. How about a tad of lunch together? I'm sorry, Helen, but I promise mother I'd go home and have lunch with her. Well, come on and walk the corner with me then. No, I'm sorry. I can't. I've got to make a phone call. It's very important. Well, I'll see you tonight. So long. So long. Cherry, two, four, three, please. Yes, two, four, three. What was that? There's no answer. Operator, there must be an answer. It's very important. Doesn't answer. Oh, my goodness. What can I do? Hello, operator. Will you try Main 388, please? Hello. Hello, is this Main 388? Is Mr. Hunter there? Oh, when do you expect him? In half an hour? No. No message. That will be too late. Oh. What are you doing? Oh, don't, don't. Look at me. Oh, but I, I got him, Bunny. I got him for you. Help! What's the matter, Artie? He shot you with a gun. I just shot a strange colored man. He was murdering Bonnie and Collins. What? Yes, Bonnie. Yes, he did. I'm afraid so, but maybe she isn't. Come on, will you help me? Get a doctor. Come on. I suppose you tell us again exactly what happened. Well, all right, corner. Now, we just see it. And, man, we've marked the spot where the victim fell right over here by her death. And here's the body of Lee Walker. This is he fell by the counter here. Now, Artie, you were on duty in your office next door when this happened? Yeah, that's right. I heard kind of a commotion in here, and I jumped right up and ran down the hall. When I opened the door there... Yeah, go on, Artie. Well, when I opened the door, I saw a man. His back was to me. But I saw he was beating Bonnie Collins over the head with that wrench there. Now, man, you see this wrench? It's a heavy wrench used here in the office to break up lumps of coal for the stove. Go on, Artie. Well, I saw this man hitting Bonnie over the head with that wrench. And I saw her cash box open there. It looked to me like Bonnie had been putting up a fight to keep him from that money. All right, then what happened, Artie? Bonnie fell, and this man reached for the cash box. I yelled at him to drop it. And he ran for the window there, and I shot him twice in the back. Go on, Artie. I knelt down by Bonnie for a minute. I saw she was hurt pretty bad. Then I ran out. I got Landy Chew and Abe Giloche. And they came back with me and helped me to get ahold of Dr. Goof. Rickton taken to Lake Shore Hospital. All right, Artie. Now, when did you first know it was Lee Walker you'd shot? Well, after we first looked after Bonnie, why, we turned this fellow over, so we saw his face. Yeah, surprised to find it was Lee Walker, huh? I sure was. One of the best natured fellows you ever wanted to meet. Why, he'd want to murder a town clerk in treasure for a few dollars like candy. And never mind, Artie. I know how you feel. So I'll hold up and murder going on. Man, chief police, you did your duty. We'll figure it out, Jim. Hell, man, this is Corners' jury. Are you prepared to enter verdict? Yes, sir. Mr. Chew, what's your verdict? Bonnie Collins met death at the hands of Lee Walker in the commission of a robbery. Verdict of death at the hands of Lee Walker during the commission of a robbery. Corners, the boy's been talking it over and we'd like it to go into the records. Mr. Corners' jury congratulates chief of police, Artie Burton, for his prompt action in killing the man who murdered Bonnie Collins. And we'd like you to know, chief Burton, that the citizens of High Springs consider your prompt action most praiseworthy. Oh, shucks. Mr. Johnson, I only did my duty, that's all. That's telegrams for Artie. Well, don't open them now. Oh, quite the contrary. We are going to open them now. Here, Abe, you help me. Come on, boy. Help us open the telegrams. Let's see. Congratulations to you and your community. Another hero has been added to police's row of honor. The border should be proud to keep the police out of Burton. Well, dear consider position, trade and candidates. Oh, genius justice, I've ever known. Congratulations. What do you think of that, Artie? Oh, shucks. I told you, I was only doing my duty, that's all. Oh, you're too modest, Artie. Now, what do you think about it, Mrs. Burton? Well, I might be sorry about Bonnie Collins, but I'm glad Arthur was there to see that she got quick jumpers. You know Mrs. Burton, I wouldn't be surprised if they made your husband Mayor before long. Oh, go on, Landie, what do you think about that? I'm not one for politics, but I can tell you you would get a good honest man for Mayor and my husband. That's it, sir. Mrs. Burton, that's it. Well, boys, I guess we ought to be going and let Artie and his Mrs. see something in their own home. Mayor and Mrs. Burton, good night. Do you hear what they said, ma? Mayor. Gee. Sure, why not? I got no more call to be Mayor this time of year. Oh, that's the door. More telegrams, I suppose. Why, you sit right down, ma, and I'll answer it. Chief, I'm John Logan of the State Auditor's Bureau. Oh, yes, yes, Mr. Logan. Sit down. Thank you. Excuse me, ma, this is a little business. All right, Artie, I'll just straighten up the kitchen. And what can I do for you while you're here, Mr. Logan? Just been down to Town Hall. Glad you locked up Bonnie Collins' office after the murder. Yes, I thought it might be best since she was city treasurer and all that. Would you like to have the key? Yes, as a matter of fact, that's why I came here tonight. Sorry to bother you. Oh, not at all, not at all. Here's the key. Thanks. Oh, congratulations on solving a murder case so quickly. Oh, I don't deserve any credit. I just happened to be there. You didn't recognize this murderer of this, the Walker at first, did you? No, I just saw a man beating Bonnie Collins to death, and I let him have it. Huh? Look, you were there. Shot him twice in the back, I understand. That's right. It was the only place I could get a crack at him. I see. Well, Mr. Burton, I'll be getting along. I'll probably see you at Town Hall tomorrow. Oh, sure. Or anything I can do to help, why? Just sound off. I will. Ordering books after a murder isn't such a nice job. But anyhow, we'll balance the accounts, all right? Come on in. My name's Logan. I'm from the state auditor's office. Just going over Miss Collins' books. Oh, I see. Well, I'll be getting on. Wait, wait, just a minute. Yes, sir. You work around here? Yes, I'm a janitor. You see, what's your name? Thomas Smith. Well, you know, we auditors sometimes have to ask a lot of questions. Sure. Not about the murder. Oh, no, no, no. It's just a little money matter. You see, there was $112.33 in Miss Collins' cash books. Uh-huh. Now, this colored fellow, Lee Walker, who was killed while robbing and beating Miss Collins, was he around Town Hall here a good bit? Sure. Lee was kind of a town character. Sold them voodoo charms, cotton drawer books, and dream tickets. And the numbers? Sure. He's pretty lucky, too. Did Miss Collins play the numbers? I don't know. Well, did you buy any of those conjure books or voodoo charms? I don't know. Tom, did you help carry the bodies out of the office here? Yes, sir, we, sir. Both of them helped to get Miss Collins in the ambulance and helped carry out Lee Walker after the coroner's jury gave her to T-Murdered Bonnie. Oh, which way was Walker's body lying? Lying almost flush with his hand at the counter. Which way were his feet? Right near that doorway. And Bonnie Collins' body was lying around the corner of the counter by this desk. Is that right? Sure is. Tell me, are you the Tom Smith who's down here on the payroll for $12 a week? That's me. Do you know this Lee Walker very well? Sure. I've known him for years. Hey, Mr. Logan, do you think that you could get me a raise? I'll try to get something for you, Tom. I won't promise you what it'll be, but it'll be something. Oh, sure. I've been here since seven this morning. You know what these audits are. Man, all official jobs are like that, I guess. It's later than I thought. How about some lunch? Sure. I know a good place. How about some blocks from here? Fine, that's fine. How's the examination coming along, Logan? Looks like there might be a little shortage, not much. But otherwise, everything seems in order. Well, I'm glad to hear it. Bonnie was a fine girl, regular, honest. Yes, I know, but I haven't been hearing such nice things about Lee Walker. I understand he was a gambler, sold chances on a number lottery and all that kind of thing. Yes, that's right. But I always figured he was a harmless sort of guy. Never thought he'd try to steal. I'm just wondering if this Collins girl was mixed up many of these lotteries. Bonnie? All right. Stake my head on it. Why, she was absolutely above suspicion. I think. I'm afraid to be positive now, aren't you? Well, come on, let's eat on the start. Anything else, Mr. Burton? No, thanks. I've had enough. How about you, Logan? Want some dessert? No, thanks. I've had enough. That'll be... You want one check, Mr. Burton? Sure. My treat, there. Oh, no, nothing doing, Burton. I want that check. Yes, sir. No, sorry. This is on me today. Here's the money, girlie. And bring me the change in quarters, will you? Yes, sir, I know. Oh, I'd like to have a few quarters in my pocket. Here you are, Mr. Burton. Here's the change. Oh, thanks. Now, you just watch how I make these quarters work for me. Hey, what's he going to do? Play the slot machines, I guess. He does that every day. But Mr. Burton isn't as lucky as Mr. Hunter. Mr. Burton never wins. Well, he doesn't expect to, does he? Well, the odds are a million to one against him. I guess they are. Well, who is Mr. Hunter? Him? Oh, he owns most of the slot machines in town. He's a gambler. Oh, my God. You know Mr. Burton well? Oh, sure. Gives me the shivers when I think that I spoke to Bonnie only five minutes before it happened. Oh, you did? Yes. And I think Bonnie had a feeling something had happened to her. Why do you say that? Well, I tried to get her to go to lunch with me, and she wouldn't go. First she said she had an appointment for lunch with her mother, and then she said something about an important telephone call. Hey, finish, Logan? Yes, yes, just waiting for you. Come on, let's go. I have plenty to do yet this afternoon. Oh, how'd you make out? Oh, no luck as usual. These slot machines don't believe in giving you a break. Well, I guess you're right about that. Hello, Mr. Hunter. Yes, sir. Mr. Hunter, I'm going to get right to the point. My name is Logan. State all of this bureau. I'm down here because I've got to examine the books that Miss Collins kept. Well, I've got nothing to do with this office. Yes, I know. I just heard about something that does connect you with her death. Connect me with her death? Yes. I understand that Miss Collins tried to phone you a few minutes before she was killed. According to the records of the telephone company, she called Cherry 243. That's your number, isn't it? Yes, yes, but what if it is? That's what I'm trying to find out. There was no answer to that number, and Miss Collins then called Maine 388. That's my office. Yes, I know that. Now, Mr. Hunter, do you know why Miss Collins was so anxious to reach you? No, I don't. Where were you at that time? I don't know besides what businesses of yours were I was. Mr. Hunter, what is your business? I'm a merchant. Did you know Lee Walker? Sure, everybody knew him. He worked for you, didn't he? Yes, in a way. And it's... Oh, hello, Burton. Hello, Hardy. I'm glad you came. Who is this guy anyway? What does he want? He's out of the books. That's so. Well, what in the place does he make me come down here, and what businesses of his what I do, or where I was when Bonnie was killed? I told you, Mr. Hunter, I've got to make a full report. Of course, if you don't want to cooperate with me, I can't force you to. Sure, Logan is right. If you don't have to tell him anything, you don't want to. And I'm leaving. I don't like this whole business one bit. Looks like a friend is annoyed with me, doesn't it? Sure it does. He's a pretty powerful man, this town. That's a know what he do. Well, he's a gambler, runs the number game in town, owns slot machines, and he has the right connections. I see. Lee Walker worked for him, didn't he? Yes, he did. Sold lottery tickets for him. Oh, Burton, you can do me a favor. I'm going to be through with my examination tonight, and I'd like to present it to the town council for certification before I leave. Will you notify them? Sure. What time do you want them? Oh, eight o'clock, I guess. Well, they'll be there. If you want me, I'll be in my office across the hall. Well, thanks, Burton. Hello, operator. Get me long distance. Hello, hello, long distance. I want the governor's office. Yes, that's right, and hurry please. Well, hello, I'd like to speak with the governor. This is Gask. Yes, yes, that's right. Hello, hello, governor. Yes, this is Gask. What's up with that? I have a paper report. Tonight's the night. Yes, tonight. Positive. If I could be the whole town will be here tonight, and I'm going to break the news to them. Yeah, Bombshell is right. Now, governor, if you want me this afternoon, I'm going under the name of Logan. Yes, that's it, John Logan. What? Well, just... Yeah, but don't worry a little bit. I'm sorry, I can't speak to you anymore now. Goodbye. People, now, will you please give me your attention? I've called all you people here tonight for a very unusual reason. I was sent here by the governor of this state to investigate the columns of Lee Walker. Please, please. In the first place, I want to introduce myself. My name is Gask. Buddy, Gask. And I have no connection whatsoever with the state auditor's bureau. For obvious reasons, I use the name of Logan. For obvious reasons, I conceal the identity of my position. I am a special state investigator. I shall ask some of you certain questions tonight. I expect truthful answers. If any of you do not cooperate with me, I have the authority to place you under arrest. Oh, Miss Clark, please. Miss Clark, you told me that you spoke to Miss Collins just a few minutes before she was murdered. Yes, sir, that's right. She told you something about making an important phone call. Yes, sir. I wanted her to take lunch with me, but she said she had to telephone somebody. She didn't say who it was, sir. Thank you. Now, gentlemen, I checked the phone calls made from this office, and I learned that Miss Collins called two numbers. One was the number of Mr. Hunter's home, and the other, Hunter's office. Mr. Hunter, where were you at the time Miss Collins phoned you? I don't remember. You earn your money gambling, don't you? I earn it honestly if that's what you want to know. Lee Walker worked for you, was that right? Did you send him here to see Miss Collins the day she was killed? I don't remember. How well did you know Miss Collins, Mr. Hunter? Is that your friend? Did she ever gamble to your knowledge? Hell, sir, never. Bonnie, Miss Collins is a fine girl. All right. Well, Dr. Turner. Yes, sir. Dr. Turner, your coroner of this county. Is that right? Yes, sir, that's right. In coroner of 28 years. You examined the victims? Yes, that's right. This is your report, isn't it? According to this, your findings indicated that Miss Collins was killed by that wrench over there. Is that right? That's what it says. And Walker was shot twice. That's the cause of his death. Great. Yep, that's right. All right, that'll do. Now, uh... Mr. Burton, please. Mr. Burton, you shot Walker when you saw him hitting Miss Collins? Yes, he was running tall that window when I came in. I shot him. You didn't want him to escape. Is that it? Yes, that's right. And then you called Mr. Chew and Mr. Deloche? Yes, that's right. They helped me get the doctor. Did you see anybody in the corridor when they ran out? No, sir, nobody. You sure? Did you see Miss Clark or Mr. Hunter anywhere? Well, I'm not sure, but I don't think so. I guess I'd have recognized him if they were there. You knew Walker, didn't you? Oh, sure. He hung around there all. But when you shot him, you didn't know it was he, did you? He was running away from me when I came in and his back taught me, and I just plugged him. All right, Burton, thank you. Uh, Mr. Chew. Yes, sir. Mr. Chew, you were outside the building when Miss Collins was killed, were you not? Yes, sir. I was talking to Mr. Deloche. And when you heard the shots, you ran in to see what happened? Yes, sir. Now, Mr. Chew, did you see a... Oh, just a moment. Oh, Burton, will you please open that window? It's very hot in here. Now, Mr. Chew, did you see anybody in the corridor or outside when you heard the shots? No, don't believe me, indeed. Now, you knew Mr... What's the matter, Burton? Can't you open it? No, it's nail-pap. Well, all right. We'll be through soon. And now, Mr. Chew, you knew Mr. Hunter, didn't you? Yes, sir. I knew him all right, but I didn't see him around here. Well, tell me this. After the shots were fired, you ran in here with Mr. Burton. Is that right? Yes, sir. And he told you that he had shot someone. Is that right? Yes, yes. He said he shot a strange man. And then you turned him over and saw that the man was Lee Walker. That's right, yes. Thank you, Mr. Chew. Thank you very much. Mr. Gasp, the investigator and not, you have no right to embarrass these citizens. Sergeant, we have our own chief of police here who caught Walker red-handed and killed him. Our investigation disclosed that Walker had robbed and murdered Bonnie Collins. If it weren't for Chief Burton, Walker might have got away. And Dr. Turner, I'll get to the point immediately. Bonnie Collins was not murdered by Lee Walker. But the person who did kill her is here in this room right now. Arthur Burton, you're under arrest for the murder of Lee Walker and Bonnie Collins. Are you crazy? You must be mad, Gasp. Chief Burton is one of the most respected men in town. Yes, sir. Be quiet. Be quiet, all of you. I know what I'm doing. Before I'm through with you, every single one of you will be convinced. Burton is guilty of murder, understand? And I'm going to prove it. The governor is going to hear of this, Gasp. You can't come into our town. Shut up, every one of you. I'm doing the talking now. Oh, Riley. Riley. Oh, me? Yeah. Throw your gun and stand at that door. Anyone tries to pass your shoe. All right. Now, all of you, listen. Every person I've spoken to insisted that Miss Collins was absolutely honest. Audits of her accounts in the past have also indicated that very thing. After checking her books since her death, however, I find that her accounts were approximately a hundred and fifty dollars short. Walker, robber, are you appropriate? I'm doing the talking, Burton. Walker, robber, what happened to the money? You told us that you shot him just as he was putting his hand into the cash box. Is that right? Well, what a chance of me, Burton. You also said that you shot Walker because he tried to run away through that window. Gentlemen, my investigation yesterday disclosed that that window cannot be opened. You recall, I asked Burton to open it a little while ago. You all heard what he said. It's nailed fast. Now, Walker was as familiar with this office as any of you are. All of you know that. If he knew that that window couldn't be opened, why should he have tried to escape that way? That's your proof. Now, wait till I'm finished, Dr. Turner. Let me finish. Walker never tried to run through that window. Now, the next step that really happened, simply this, Walker faced this door and Burton shot him. How do I know? Because Lee Walker was not shot in the back. That's how I know. Burton faced him and shot him down in cold blood. That's why Burton was careful to say that he'd shot a strange man. Strange man, get it? That's how he put you off the track. Now, why, you ask, did Burton want Walker killed? I'll tell you. You're a police chief as a gambler. I myself saw him lose several dollars in the slot machine this afternoon. I can prove that your honorable chief of police loses as much every day. You know the salary he received? Figure it out yourself. See if he can afford any losses on the modest salary you pay up. And now for the next point. What happened to the money that was stolen from Bunny Collins' cash box? I'll tell you. Burton stole that money. Because he wasn't able to put it back, he planned what he thought was a perfect crime. That's a lie, a dirty lie. I never stole anything like that. Man 200, hurry, operator. Hello, record? Give me the desk. Hello, Joe? This is Graham. This is my Burton case. That's what that buddy, Gast, said. And listen to this. Gast dug up a surprise witness. The guy testified that Burton offered to get him Bunny Collins' job for 50 bucks. Said it was going to be vacant. Yeah, he shouldn't have offered that job a month before he killed, or it showed premeditation today, he said. And here's something else to talk. The governor sent Gast down and asked his crack investigator because Bunny Collins' mother wrote him and said her daughter's death was suspicious. He was friendly with Hunter and told him that the big shot police chief was swiping dough. Yeah, nice guy. And that isn't all either. Gast found a witness to solve Burton's motion to Walker to come into Bunny Collins' office. He cracked Bunny in the head of the ranch and then shot Walker to make it look like a perfect crime. Yeah, that's right. Perfect for Gast in a D.A. And after the jury brought in the verdict guilty, you should have heard that judge go to town and he sentenced him. Yeah, life. Well, sure enough to a good farmer. What do I mean to do? And I'm gonna make that guy mayor. How do you like that?