 Johnny dollar Johnny Continental insurance company that's right in Boston mass. Yes. Well, it's nice to hear your voice again Freddie Only why doesn't somebody call me from somewhere where it's nice and warm this time of year? Well, that's pretty hot for me Tell me all okay, and I'll bring you Bob Reddick in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator yours truly Johnny dollar Expense accounts submitted by a special investigator Johnny dollar to the Continental Insurance Company Boston office Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of The paperback mystery matter decided it might be smart to have my own car along So expense account item one is 420 for a tank full of gas And less than four hours after I talked with Fred briscoe on the phone I was in his office on Commonwealth Avenue there in Boston and then over a lunch at the famous old Union Oyster house Then another half dozen on the half-shell Johnny were you kidding? But I sure love the seafood in this town of yours who doesn't But I certainly wish mr. Gerson would get here. I ought to be back at the office Gerson. That's your client. Yes, Henry R. Gerson He wants to tell you all about his worries himself And I'm sure the only reason he insisted on meeting us here was to catch a free lunch that kind of Johnny That old crook is worth millions. You'd never know it by the way he lives and dresses by that Ramshackle old apartment he lives in he said crook. I did Every penny that old miser ever got hold of and still has for the most part Came from some dirty deal that he put over on somebody Which makes him one of the most hated people I've ever known And just as soon as he made a new friend he'd proceed to take him, but royally a real nice guy What sort of deals does he make? Well, he doesn't anymore last 10 or 15 years He just sat around counting his money and gloating over the fact that he can keep a couple of poor Resentful nephews and niece from getting their hands on it until he dies and they are Gerson's heirs only because there is only living relatives And they're poor yes, and Well, I'm afraid I'll have to admit that they deserve to be Up until their parents died and left them with no money. No nothing Jerry and Paul had planned to study for the ministry But now mr. Gerson tells me that they're just drifters one job after another and never on a job long enough to pay their bills 11 Syracuse New York just waiting for the old man to die right so he has no use for them and the niece Her name is Nancy Trimmer lives here in town works as a checkered one of the supermarkets when they don't catch her short changing the customers And I guess she just as leaf helped the old man into his grave as the other two nice people yeah But no worse than Gerson himself, so he's worried that one of them may try to knock him off. Yeah, that's it John Oh, here he comes don't let on to him that I told you anything at all about it. I told you that I'd tell him Oh, hello there mr. Gerson. Oh, you're Johnny doll. Hey, that's right. Mr. Gerson You don't look like much to me and you think you can keep those white those young relatives of mine from murdering me You get their hands on my money. Well, suppose you sit down sir and tell me what makes you think they might try it I think I know what I've got proof of it all the proof I need What kind of proof go on move over breast go let me sit down Oh, certainly sir at least that insurance company of yours can do is to buy me a square meal Oh, yeah, of course, I'd be glad to after all I give the company over a thousand a year in premiums on my life insurance Don't I something like that 1124 dollars and 12 cents every year And the only reason I haven't tried to cash it in is because you give me back less than half of what I put into it Well, now that isn't all right. All right, let it go. What's the face value of the policy friend? 47,000 double indemnity and if those crooked nephews of mine get away with whatever they're up to That's the way it'll get paid to them double But if you're leaving them the rest of your estate what well this insurance money is only a drop in the bucket Oh, it is huh. Well, you know something I'd commit suicide just to cut them out of it You hear me and have all those $1,100 premiums paid out for nothing. Hey, I take it There is the usual suicide clause and the policy. Yes, you're all right All right, we've been all over that now the thing you gotta do dolly is to keep me from getting murdered now Wait just a minute. Yeah, you talk about being perfectly willing to commit suicide That's right. You sit here and demand protection to keep you alive. Now that doesn't make sense Does it don't you get smart now? Wait, I tell you what's been going on. I suppose you do later later later after I get some food in me. Waiter. Waiter Bring me a menu And he packed away the food as though it were to be his last meal on earth And refused to talk further about his problem until he was finished and the bill was paid by Fred briscoe, of course Even then I asked him once more about whatever it was that had him worried In a public place like this Where everybody in town might hear me you think they don't know Was that what did you say nothing nothing? You think I want to stay around here in town with my life in danger. I'm going to take you out to my place where I'm safe You got any objection? Whatever you say, Mr. Gerson if you can foresee the end of international tension, you're more of an optimist than most people It's understandable that all of our citizens like to keep in touch with latest global developments CBS news meeting this American need to know has expanded its worldwide coverage for longer stronger reports reviews and commentary Expanded CBS news on CBS radio the first word in speed the last word for accuracy daily at this address sense If it was perfectly safe for all mr. Gerson to wander in town and meet us at the oyster house Why this sudden urge to get on back to his place and lock himself in? Anyhow after telling Fred briscoe. I'd check with him later. I drove Gerson to his apartment It was in a wholly undesirable section that I hadn't even known existed How they're railroad tracks out and back of this place. What's the matter with you? Can't you hear? Well, if you will pardon me for saying it mr. Gerson Well, I got the idea from Fred that you were pretty well off I am of course I am yet you live in a dingy place like this in a neighborhood like this Is there any reason why I shouldn't waste not want not is my rule sure I got money plenty of it a couple of million if you want to know That's no reason. I've got to throw it away on high living is it two locks on the door That's right, and double locks on the windows. I've seen them on myself Even nailed up the trance from there over the door Long as I'm here. I'm safe. You sure are I got plenty of food in there And if I run out of it before you can put a stop to all this nonsense Well, you can bring me some more. Well now you still haven't told me. All right. All right sit down dollar now I'll tell you why I know that one of my nephews. Oh, maybe it's monies Why one of them is going to try and kill me and just to get their dirty hands on my money You sit on the chair now sit on the bed well Look look here If these aren't proof If these warnings aren't proof they're going to kill me. I'd like to know what it is Philippians 212 that's from the Bible. You know your Bible. Well, I'm afraid I don't recognize that part Yeah, I looked it up and you know what it says in that chapter and verse it says work out your own salvation Well, I'd hardly call that a threat. I would and the second one came in the mail Same neat kind of typing No name signed on them. Where are they mail from over in Syracuse, New York? Well, my nephews live and look at this one. I'd say a thirty eight one that's thirty eight chapter first verse Set thine house in order. I Thought you didn't know the Bible Well, I remember that because it was used in a threatening letter a few years ago out in Chicago So you see you see what I mean and this one Revelations 210 says be thou faithful unto death So I should be faithful to them a keep my promise to leave more I got huh Mr. Gerson and this one Romans 623 the wages of sin is death. That's right Sin just because I I let them starve a bit when their folks died and they didn't have anybody to turn to and you Didn't give them any help. Why should I? Couldn't they get out and use their brains the way I had to Don't get any help from me not well, I'm alive that you're still keeping them in your will What's the matter with you? Don't you see that's what they've got me They're all the relatives. I got if I don't will it and the state will give it to them anyhow There's nothing to keep you from giving your money to charity charity me not on your life So I gotta leave it to them, but I'm not going to let one of them kill me naughty if you Can help it you see what I mean Yeah, I guess so yeah, that's what you're getting paid for isn't it yeah Listen boy now either you lock up those rotten kids and throw a scare in them that'll keep them from murdering me Or else you've got to stay here and protect now wait a minute these Quotations from the Bible. I tell you they're threats That's as plain as it is the nose on your face Didn't Fred say that one of the boys had planned to study for the ministry and Ministry for a what boy in his right mind would ever spend his whole Sure sure That proves the notes came from one of those boys which one how should I know they both had that crazy Preach right here up to the folks died off and I guess I'd better look them up go ahead Go ahead Then you come back here and look after me because while you're gone. I'm staying locked up tight here in this apartment You do that this old man was either a nut or up to something But what? And I had to admit those unsigned notes pointing out passages in the scriptures could possibly have been taken as threats and Since both the nephews had planned to study for the ministry But first I called on the niece Nancy Trimmer because I hope that she'd know enough about the nephews to be able to tell me if her Suspicion about them was justified Her rooms in the southeast corner of town were a little better than her uncle's and most of our conversation Her conversation took place in the kitchen Look at you from the parole, Mr. What you see your name is a dollar Johnny dollar. Yeah, well, just leave me alone. See so maybe I did make a little mistake Helping myself to some of the groceries in that job. I had before this trimmer this new job. I'm playing it straight And I'm keeping my shirt. Yes, I'm sure you are that's the last keeping your skirt clean sweeping out the back end of a Warehouse look what I mean is why don't you guys leave me alone, huh? Why you gotta come around here checking up one, but I'm not persecution that What do you mean? You're not I represent your uncle Henry's insurance company. Oh, yeah Well, I don't want any insurance. So get out of here and let me cook myself. Not even his insurance If he dies What's that? I said hey sure Me I'll grab anything. I can't have that old-skinned Flint's insurance or anything else I can get my hands on So, uh Maybe you've got some idea how to make him die real quick. Well apparently somebody has he's been getting threats against his life Yeah, well, I hope whoever it is means it. You know who's doing it. No, not yet That's why I'd like to ask you some questions. Yeah, what about about your cousins Jerry and Paul? Listen, you want to know anything about them you look them up in Syracuse, New York Ask them and leave me alone so I can fix my supper and yeah Then curl up with a book and improve my mind just like Paul and Jerry always said I ordered and I look miss trimmer Preachers, huh? Well, the only preacher and I ever got from them was I ought to read up and educate myself Maybe that's not such a bad idea. Oh, yeah, you think I don't read I read a lot You see him in there all those books. You mean all these paperbacks. What's the matter with reading that stuff? You want to know the truth the only reason I sit around here with them every night is account I can't afford to buy a lot of fancy clothes and be out on the town with a lot of fancy sports like you miss Trimmer if you'll stop talking I like sports like you anyhow all I like is me see I like my company better So if you'll just get out of here and leave me alone, then you're not interested in the threats against your uncle Not unless somebody carries him out now. Will you leave me alone? Syracuse But I had to see him I had to see him Item two ten cents or a phone called a Fred briscoe and I told him what I'd learned or hadn't learned Yeah, I know how you feel Johnny, but if those are meant to be threats Oh, I'd better grab a plane and call on those nephews Jerry and Paul You know their address old man Gerson gave it to me. Good perfectly safe there alone Huh, I could call the police on this not even the police could get into this apartment of his without busting down the door So don't worry about him. I'll see you when I get back. Okay, Johnny You know something I Should never have hung up that phone and flown to Syracuse. I Should never have left old man Gerson alone there in his apartment Don't worry about him Probably the wrongest thing I ever said in my life Back go the better it tastes and in commander the tobacco is vacuum clean new machine the mark eight that takes rich full-flavored tobacco and Gently vacuum cleans it and the cleaner the tobacco the better it tastes noticeably better the cleaner the tobacco the better It tastes and in commander the tobacco is vacuum clean 1990 plane fare to Syracuse Item 5 650 for a cab from Hancock Field to the first floor apartment out near Sunnycrest Park Where Paul and Jerry Gerson lived no, I'm Paul mr. Dollar Jerry isn't here. Oh, where is he? Well to be honest about it. I don't know but he said he mightn't be back tonight. Oh, he did but Come in sir. Thank you from Uncle Henry's insurance company. Did you say that's right? Sit down, please right you and Jerry stand to collect quite a bit when your uncle dies, don't you? We don't want it mr. Dollar. Oh You don't oh, it's been tough sir. I I won't pretend it hasn't but Jerry and I have finally earned enough to continue with our Studies for the ministry so we'd have no use for this Well, maybe it sounds a little corny sir, but That's tainted money the only way Uncle Henry ever gotten you money was by cheating people We don't want any of it No, it's a very pretty speech Paul. I beg your pardon, sir When did Jerry leave? Well, it was right after mr. Fred briscoe over in Boston phone to say you'd be here and then Fred told you I was coming here Yes, sir, and he said to please have you phoned him, sir. Oh, excuse me. Oh great. No wonder. I'm getting all this pretty talk Hello Yes, sir, he's right here. It's for you mr. Dollar for me Mr.. Briscoe know it is Fred what was the big idea of telling these kids? What did you say in spite of all this locked over hold the phone all right? Oh, that gun sir, and maybe you better start remembering where your brother went Johnny everything's under control friend Well, I'm not sure I know what you mean because you see mr. Gerson's death was suicide what the police are certain of it They are are they well, I have some other ideas you have all the guns Jerry Johnny maybe so Maybe no, please sudden appearance knocked everything into a cocked hat And then the boys reaction of their uncle's death They're repeated completely honest assertion that they wanted none of his money Well, I ended up apologizing to him But then item six is 180 Recall back to Fred and I tell you there's no question about it Johnny The landlord woke up smelled the gas call the police emergency squad They arrived broke down the door and they're laying bed as night your dad is a door nail gas from that heater there in his bedroom The windows were still closed and locked so it couldn't have blown out and all those locks on the door locked So nobody else could possibly have gotten into the of Rome and turned on the gas in other words suicide Okay Fred up No wait now was anybody around there to see him after I left him Well when I talked with his niece Nancy trimmer Yeah, she told me she'd gone around to beg some money from him earlier He acted very strange friend and much to her surprise he gave her some money and then she left Then she did it What that was no suicide. She murdered him. No, Johnny That was long before he could have got the bed and turned on the gas Nobody else could possibly have done it any bets Meet me at the airport item 7 is 2640 for a cab and cocked field Plain fare back to Boston all because of those paperbacks that I'd seen strewn around her apartment Fred met me at Logan International. It was shortly after dawn and then a few minutes later What this mystery magazine? I saw when I came in here before Jack Johnstone writes for it now and then Johnstone The man who dramatizes all these cases of mine and here here's his story in it death by jet Listen you mind telling me what you're death by jet Nancy here didn't know that I'm a special investigator But my talk about her uncle's money. She'd get reminded her of this story. She figured this was the answer. So why waste time? Sure, go ahead tear it up. It's too late now. I'm afraid I still don't that story death by jet That means a gas jet huh another of those locked room mysteries and it gave her the idea for killing her uncle without getting caught Or so she thought you don't know what you're talking about But what kind of an idea in the basement of that dingy building where he lived She got in there and turned off the gas line to his apartment Then she went on upstairs to see him when he wasn't looking she opened the valve on that gas heater in the bedroom And then she left and waited until he had time to get to sleep. The whole procedure is in that story I get it when he was asleep. She went back to the basement right and Re-open the gas line and if we check I think we'll find she didn't have sense enough to wipe her fingerprints off that Bowel down there. Oh, yeah, well, that's where you're wrong because I did wipe them off I wiped them off so clean that neither you or any Yeah, call it police bread So it looks as though the boys will get the old man's fortune whether they want it or not and his insurance There were a lot of fine churches with money like that Expense account total call it. Oh Call it 70 bucks yours truly Johnny dollar But next week story next week Proof that a man's best-laid plans can really go awry Join us, won't you yours truly Johnny dollar is written by Jack Johnstown produced and directed by Bruno Zerato Jr. Musical supervision by Apple Huber heard in our cast were Edgar Staley as Mr. Gerson Terry Keane as Nancy Krimmer Ralph Camargo as Fred Briscoe John Thomas as Paul Richard Holland as Jerry Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar This is Art Hanna speaking a great many auto accidents are caused by excess speed You may be in a big hurry to get somewhere But that extra 10 or 15 miles per hour that you drive will only save you a few minutes at most and it may cost you your life