 Good evening. This is Ken Roberts inviting you to listen to another adventure of Casey crime photographer Ace cameraman who covers the crime news of a great city our adventure for tonight the fire Morning, the first paint glow of dawn is lighting the sky Inside a small cheaply furnished apartment in a shabby old-fashioned building Glows the more sinister light of fast-spreading flame Outside it's locked door fireman swing their ax This is in that corner Ed may kill it with a hand extinguisher. I think we can get into the bedroom Joe Anyone sleeping there's probably overcome Chemicals over there boys. We'll soon have this one like yeah, but not if we've got the alarm a minute later You're right. It could have been a racer. What is it Joe? Take a look. Yeah lying half under the bed this guy. Oh smoke got him smoke don't make a guy's head All bloody who his skulls been crushed and that's what did it an iron bar on the floor beside him Hey Joe this man's been murdered according to the medical examiner miss Williams This guy was bumped off about 11 o'clock last night and he'd been dead all round Seven hours when the fireman found in Captain. That's right after the killer sucked him with that hunk of iron He proceeded to give this two-room kitchenette and bath a reel going over yeah Then he found what he'd been looking for and started the fire and beat it That's the way it sizes up Casey started the fire of course hoping to cover up his murder and search of the place Oh, he started the fire in a pile of photographic film Casey You know how that stuff will spread ablaze and how I was looking at the few bits of film that weren't burned old negatives apparently That guy seems to have gone in for photography in a big way a lot of equipment in his kitchenette and largest tanks good stuff I saw my techman tell me have you found any lead to the killer Captain Logan and so far miss Williams What could the killer have been searching for that's a payoff question What have you found out about the dead guy pal and that much all I could learn here was his name was Henry Milton Quiet guy who kept to himself and held some kind of office job with a CJ Winbur company I'm going to the Winbur factory as soon as its office is open at nine o'clock and try to get a real lowdown on the guy Good any now go with you. Yes, we'd like to know more about mr. Henry Milton I'm Shocked deeply shocked to hear about the tragic death of poor Hilton and sergeant Logan Milton was the man's name mr. Winbur and mine's Logan captain Logan. Oh, yes. Yes. Yes to be sure you're Logan Yes, good faithful older Milton. I'd like you to tell me all you can about this man. Yes Well, I think perhaps I'd better turn you over to my executive vice president He keeps in slightly closer touch with the tales and personnel than I do Oh, not that I'm unfamiliar with the people who work for me captain I regard them all as partners and close friends, but You rang mr. Winbur. Yes, sir. Pervis. Tell mr. Heywood. I want to see him. Yes, sir It's just a minute. Has there been any news of Crowley yet? No, sir Well, don't neglect to inform me at once if any message is received. You'll be told immediately mr. Winbur Yes, that's all and get Heywood. Yes, sir Now captain as a policeman you might give me a bit of advice Yeah, you see my cashier a chap named Crowley went away on a two-weeks vacation 16 days ago He was due back at his desk day before yesterday, but he hasn't appeared and nobody in the plant here at his home has Received even so much as a postal card from him since he left now Do you think I have reason for concern if he was my cashier? I'd feel concerned. You investigated the books Not yet, but I haven't ordered done in those books right away. Your man is bounded, of course Oh, yes, yes, the firm will face no loss But I pride myself on my judgment of character and it would be a sad blow. Oh You're here. Heywood. Yes, CJ This gentleman is captain Captain Logan of the police police. Yes, this is mr. Heywood my executive vice president captain How do you do nice to annoy your captain and that lady and gentlemen over there? Will you introduce them captain miss Williams, mr. Heywood and Mr. Casey and they're on the morning express. How do you do miss? Hi, the pleasure Policemen and newspaper people this must mean that you've got bad news about Crowley CJ Unpleasant news. No, this gentleman in lady. I hear about a murder Murder a man employed in your offices was killed last night and his body discovered early this morning a man named Milton Not Henry Milton. That's the name. Yes, poor old Henry. He was in our sales department He would he was a bookkeeper CJ third assistant in Crowley's department. Oh, yes, yes Yes, well, that's what I meant. How was he murdered captain? Tell me will you excuse me as captain Logan has already told me The distressing news and I have other things to do. You won't mind. Oh, yeah, mr. Wimper. Thank you It's been a pleasure meeting you miss. Um, well, yeah, yes, of course. And you mr. Um Casey oh, yes, great. So please go on me when I can give you some more assistance captain. I'm always ready to help Thanks. Good morning to you all Good morning Now maybe we'll find out something case about time I heard your comment miss Williams Evidently, you haven't had a very illuminating interview with mr. Wimper. Mr. Heywood It was a total blackout that guy must have inherited this big outfit. He did from his father. Oh, don't misunderstand CJ is a grand fellow very shrewd in his way. He simply doesn't keep in touch with many things that Those are things of my job. Tell me about Henry Milton captain. I came here to be told things about him. It's a what How long did he work for this firm? Well, I'd say offhand at least six years He was an excellent bookkeeper. What do you know about him personally only that he was a bachelor Without any apparent vices There's a quiet fellow who kept to himself And Well, I'll be surprised if anybody here can tell you much more I'd like to speak to some of the other people in his department. Yes, sir They sent him in here one by one and without any knowledge of his murder or my purpose very well, excuse me Yeah, I'm afraid we're not going to get very much here Casey. Yeah, it seems this Milton was a kind of mystery man Casey did you notice the gorgeous diamond that mr. Heywood wears on his finger? Well quite a ring, isn't it any? Must have turned a delicate shade of envious lettuce green when I saw it it's for carrots at least Beautiful engagement Why don't you buy a girl friend a little piece of ice like that? Well, I also buy a yacht in the country estate Heywood doesn't place the only big headlight in this joint to one C. J. Winbur had on his finger wasn't broken off Any bottle mr. Winbur or a diamond ring? Yeah, did you notice it Annie? Well, no, I didn't either How you could have missed it? Oh, well come to think of it though. He turned the stone around to the inside of his hand while you were introducing yourself Logan Guess he's one of those nervous guys who fiddle with things. They were I brought you our head bookkeeper captain Logan Hi, mr. Heywood. Now we can get back to business Hop in the car Annie. Mm-hmm with pleasure Well time we've spent in the Winbur plants been a dead loss Casey. Yeah, nobody knows anything about that guy Milton at all Except that nobody liked him which doesn't give captain Logan much to work on Well, we might as well enjoy the scenery in what scenery the factories on that side of the billboards on this side This becomes a nice old country road after we round the curve just a head kid Yeah, we'll see spring busting out all over. Oh, I'm too tired to to look at it You know someday I'm going to quit this newspaper racket and get married and Live like a human being. Yeah Yeah Pick the guy I'll take the first one who sips a diamond on my finger And it doesn't have to be the size of mr. Heywood anything that shines just a little bit will do So whoever gives it to me won't have to be in the country estate class. I mean Leaves the field wide open, huh? Yeah Well, personally, I got no use for diamonds. You wouldn't You take my advice kid and hold out for a country estate And now now you can look at some real scenery any look down there on that valley below us, huh? So what? So it's nature in her fairest aspects budding trees new grass birds and bees. Hey nature pulled a sneak play there Look at that. There's been a landslide part of the hill took a trip down to the valley It's to happen very recently. I was along this road only a month or so ago I'll stop next that old guy sitting on the fence. Oh, I want to get back to the office case He and then home. What do we care about no slides messed up a view? I've often the joy, honey Hey pop Speaking to me young fella. Yeah, when did this landslide happen? Just a little over two weeks ago. I'm doing that rain and spell we had rain did it, huh? Imagine so it happened during the night so nobody know how far did slide Quite a spell far as that, huh? Yeah, maybe a little further I figure rain loosened the ground under a big rock It was here when the rock start roll carry part of the hill along You mean the big white rock that looked like a warty cucumber. That's the one It's a one of that old cucumber rock didn't do a brody long time ago, and he was only sort of balanced there I've been telling folks for years It was going to fall someday and take half the hillside with it I always said that a strong man stick a foot crowbar under that air rock in the right place You'll be healthy even over she'd go No man ever tried it, but the rain proved the point your dad pop. Let's get along Casey. Oh Okay, and well thanks Papa so long Good luck to you and your missus. I'm not his missus I'm not even a friend. I hate men who have no use for diamonds As you was saying Casey before I hit the weight on that customer wasn't saying anything We was gonna say something wasn't it? You ain't gonna just hang over this bar and not talk and let them to talk about How about the Milton murder have the cops learned anything new since yesterday morning that Christmas Williams Well the office I guess She Saw her at you But you must know Yes, what was she sore about? I don't women Women you never let a guy understand the metal but you think they're kidding about something like something like diamond rings for instance And then you kid back I just open the soup Pretend to know much about women Casey, but if perchance it was diamond engagement rings You tried to kid about I have learned that ain't a safe subject with the unfair sex Us bachelors are natural prey for the female of the species and all women are wolves I didn't see you come in that was evident and how are you Casey? Why I haven't seen much of you since yesterday. Oh, well, I've been around. Oh, have you? Guess I didn't notice And about yesterday. Oh, yeah. Yeah, the Milton murder I suppose I suppose you've talked to Captain Logan today. Is there anything new no look kid What I started to say is I just got some news from the city desk It has no real bearing on the Milton case, but I don't care anything about the Milton case I'm trying to I'm sure you'd like to hear this Missing cashier at the Winbur plants. They just found out that he embezzled at least a hundred thousand dollars from the firm before he left So what? He did huh and CJ Winbur and its bonding company have just called the cops to start a search for him The guys got over two weeks start now What was the matter that you wanted to talk about two crimes connected with a Winbur outfit? I asked him wasleman's and murder starting at the same point and becoming evident at almost the same time You start and I got a hunch. Oh, no, not one of those things. Yeah, don't keep us in suspense Look, we figured that Milton's killer found what he was after in that apartment. Well, maybe we figured wrong Continue superman. Oh, come on cut the rust up. We did why what do you mean? I don't know me. You're right, Casey I'm interested. You're okay pal. I'll tell you what looks to me now as though the killer started that fire Because he'd searched all night without finding what he was after he started the fire not to cover his traces But to destroy the thing he couldn't find hey, hey, you may be right. Yeah, I'll try to prove. I'm right now tonight So long and I'm going to Milton's burned out. Hey, wait a minute. Casey Casey wait for me Close this door dark in here Sunday you're gonna get into trouble for opening doors that you have no right to open cops expected to keep people out of Milton's apartment They should have done a better patch up job on the door the fireman busted down You know, I expected a cop to be unguard out there So did I homicide guys went over this joint so thoroughly? I guess Logan figured there was nothing to guard here I went over it so thoroughly that I can't imagine us finding anything that they missed. They didn't know what they were looking for Do you? Exactly, never mind. Don't waste time talking. Let's see if cops and a killer didn't search Where um, uh, how about the plumbing hiding stuff in pipes and sink traps an old gag You bet Logan's guys use their wrenches here seems to me they and the killer didn't overlook any possible hiding I think they did and he looked the fire didn't reach this bedroom and the curtain on this window still in place Nothing could be hidden in that curtain. It's net. We can see right through it. Yeah, sure But the metal rod it hangs on this hollow. Hey, that's so let's see anyway Tubing isn't even fully closed in the back Extension rods, yeah, and I pull it apart any you found something look what is it? It's film rolled up film Rolls no bigger than a cigarette in the end of the inside rod Negatives 35 millimeter negatives four five six of them. Uh, what are the pictures on them? I tell him here. We'll take him out in the hall where there's life No, really okay Yeah, yeah, Casey, how about you? Yeah, I'm all right. I guess Man who hit us guy who killed milk Came back here to go on with his search And he saw us find what he was after he wouldn't do action and good. Did he get the films Casey? Yeah Well, but when I came to I found this little torn piece of negative in my hand any Guess I had a death grip on that one. Oh, is there anything on that right? Let me see. Yeah. Yeah, there's something on it Yeah Big black shape and isn't that a hand showing that closed fist What good will that do us? Okay, so you can enlarge it wait a minute what this big shape in back of the fist You've seen that before that's what is it? Place it is just something familiar Wait a minute. I got it now. That's the warty cucumber. What are you rock? You know the big balance rock that caused the landslide come on kid We're going back to the office where I can blow this thing up and be sure Look at this blow up any it shows the big cucumber rock and plenty more what more the hand it isn't simply a closed fist It's wrapped around a crowbar crowbar You'll get it all in a minute. Look, what do you see on the hand in this picture? A ring separate a big stone that may be a diamond. Yes We've met two guys who wear big rings like that Heywood and CJ Winbur either Heywood or Winbur murdered Milton and another guy Another guy and either Heywood or Winbur socked you and me just a little while ago And I'm not forgetting that but which one early tomorrow morning you and I and Logan will go to the Winbur factory and find out I suppose captain that you've come to see us about the distressing disappearance of mr. Crowley my former cashier I don't handle embezzlement cases. Mr. Winbur. I'm strictly a homicide cop But then you're continuing your inquiry about the murder of poor Milton about the murder of Milton and your cashier Crowley Well Crowley hasn't been murdered that anyone knows of one person knows of it. The guy who did the killing. I say what that's a nice diamond ring You wear mr. Winbur did I Captain how can you turn the subject to rings immediately after you mentioned murder murdered a Logan mr. Winbur is simply a matter of business Your ring enters him because he didn't notice it when we were here before you had the diamond turned inwards Yeah, for some reason you got it out of sight when I introduced myself as a cop I'm afraid I don't understand you but for no reason maybe you haven't bothered to hide it today Now will you gentlemen, please tell me what you're driving in you sent from easy Jay. Oh Sit down mr. Heywood and join our party. Thanks. I Didn't expect to find you here captain pleasant surprise Morning, Miss Williams Casey. Good morning. Have a good night's sleep. Heywood. Oh, yeah Fine. Thank you. I didn't either to miss Williams. We had headache. I'm sorry. How did you sleep mr. Winbur? I always sleep well, and now I'd like to know why I'm going to tell you with Logan's permission. Shoot pal Well sometime ago one of the big shots in this company started to steal money from it He covered his thefts by doctoring the books that sort of thing was bound to be discovered of course eventually and Mr. Big Shot planned to cover himself by Shifting the blame to an honest cashier. You missed occasion your cashier was going away on a vacation mr. Winbur And on the night before he was to leave mr. Big executive on some phony pretext Got him to the top of a hill not far from here and pushed him over the steep edge. Do you mean Crowley? Yes, mr. Heywood Then this mr. Big Shot who had a crowbar handy pried several tons of balanced rock off its perch Causing a landslide that buried Crowley very very deep How do you bring Milton into this mr. Casey Hilton was a bookkeeper mr. Winbur he got in wise to both the embezzlement and the embezzler And he decided to cash in on what he knew He began trailing this executive and sneaking pictures of him very incriminating pictures One of them actually caught the guy tipping over the balanced rock Finally he showed prints of his pictures to mr. Big Shot and told him to come across with heavy dough or else Milton tried to blackmail this big shot exactly mr. Heywood The big shot then killed him took the prints and did his best to find the negatives that they'd been made from But failing that he tried to burn the negatives by setting fire to the place The fire company reached Milton's apartment before the place had done much damage Well, I managed to find the negatives and he got him away from me But he left a little piece of One of the negatives in my hand That's going to send him the chair Who is this man mr. Casey the guy who wears a swell diamond ring mr. Winbur good heavens you don't think that I know You wore your ring today But the guy who left that piece of negative in my hand last night knew that a ring might help to nail him You're not wearing your diamond Heywood. No, but I have a gun. Hey, we're don't make a move captain or any of you Hey, would you I'm the man Casey's accusing CJ. I don't know if we can back up his accusation I'm taking no chances. I'm getting out of here. No one's going to stop me And this weekend well, he hit me on the head last night didn't he but how this guy is out cold and all you hit him with Is that little handbag ha ha this little handbag has half a brick in it half a break I put it in there this morning just hoping I'd get a chance like this you Logan the female of the species is more deadly than the male So now you're a KO artist Thomas win Heywood didn't come to till he reached the old jail Well, I only gave him half of what's coming to him as he owned up that he killed that cashier and Milton After a bulldozer went to work on that landslide this morning and uncovered the cashier's body That's a swell ring on your finger. Where did I've Casey? Well, you see that was it was CJ windburst ring he He wanted me to have it as a reward for trapping Heywood, but of course I got no use for diamonds So Mr. Winbur gave it to me. It kind of looks like a engagement ring. Well, it isn't Ah Annie I Priced a beautiful little house today way out in the country a House oh Way out in the country well, I Couldn't afford it. Hmm. I'm going home. Good night. Well, wait a minute Annie Annie wait for me. I Don't blame her Who'd want to live way out in the country? This adventure of crime photographer starring Stott Cotsworth as Casey came to you through the worldwide Facilities of the United States armed forces radio service the voice of information and education