 From Hollywood, it's time now for Johnny Dulling Hello, what'd you say? Who is this? Yeah, that's right. I'm investigating the Ricardo Amarillo matter who are you? Hello Hey, listen, you have some information a tip on the case. Who are you? Hello. Hello. Hey, what is this a gag? Or is this supposed to be some kind of a cock-eyed threat a warning for me to get off the case? Hello Hello Tonight and every week day night Bob Bailey in the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-pact expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigators yours truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania To the Philadelphia mutual liability and casualty company Following is an accounting of further expenses incurred during my investigation of the Ricardo Amarillo matter Expense account item 10 $21 even for drinks for me alone and believe it or not I'm cold sober But the least I could do was buy one at each of the bars on the list Pete Corbin gave me a List of all the places Ricardo Amarillo used to hang out before his disappearance in a South Jersey swamp In spite of all the circumstantial evidence pointing his way I still wasn't convinced Corbin had engineered an accident to kill Amarillo Pete did also give me a list of Amarillo's closest personal friends three of them I told them I'd see them later Meanwhile, I hope to learn something helpful from the places where he apparently spent most of his time during his last few months on this earth But the result can pretty much be summed up at the last bar on the list the hangover club Cost you 80 cents. Yeah keep the change. Oh, thanks Yeah, it's just like I tell you mister Come in here Buy a few drinks sitting drink come leave well Didn't you ever talk to anybody? Not even me just sit here and get plastered Don't one of his friends come in drag them away. Oh, did you know any of them? Oh, sure Well, they are your saxophone player at the crystal room. Oh Who else? Jerry somebody little player Jerry Goldsmith. Yeah, they're on my list. Hmm anybody else. No. Oh, yeah Sure his agent Pete Corbin. Yeah, that's it. Hey, if you knew that why'd you ask me? I've heard the same thing exactly 20 times so far today. Well, I'll say this for them They must have loved Amarillo. They might have fought and argued with him when they caught him in here But it was all for one thing to try and straighten them out. But mister He was too far in yeah Yeah, shame for a talent like him concert violinist to hit the skids the way he done Nobody couldn't see the story had been exactly the same in every bar in the list Apparently the only friends the only associates that Ricardo Amarillo had had where those Pete Corbin had named Expense account item 1110 cab fare to the apartment of William Elliot over on Caliwell Street Same story. No new names of friends or even acquaintances He and Corbin and Goldsmith and the old English violin maker Eric Snowden had known Amarillo for years good times and bad Had all tried to help him straighten them out. We're deeply grieved over his death Item 12 570 cab to a suburb call in arc to see Jerry Goldsmith where I'll admit I expected to get the same story the same names no more no less This time I took the Amati violin with me. I'm Johnny Donner. Oh, yes, you called come in Friend of Pete Corbin's you said Mr. Goldsmith, I'll get right to the point. I'm an insurance investigator and I came in case That that looks like Riccardo's it is and and the Amati. Yes I found it down on a South Jersey swamp where Amarillo's car plunged off the bridge It had been lying there hidden by the Marsha for several days. Is it all right? May I see it? One reason I brought it along was so you could substantiate identification. I make no bones about it, Mr. Dalla I covered this violin like nothing else in the world. I've played many fine instruments strads when you're a Even this my stain I see but Riccardo's Amati it There was something between that violin myself that could exist for no one else Not even Riccardo Amarillo when he was at his greatest and when he started his terrible downfall you Wanted it even more. Yes more than anything else in the world Enough to kill for it. Mr. Dalla. I Should kill you for even thinking such a thing I love Riccardo Okay, sorry The fact remains somebody saw through a steering arm on his car. I still can't believe that No one could have killed Riccardo. No one Only three others beside myself even knew Riccardo these past few years Corbin Elliott and Eric Snowden Pity him feed him clothe him Try to fight him away from the liquor that had ruined his brilliant career. Yes even hate him at times what he'd done to his life, but Murder, I'm sorry May I sure? It's a is the Amati. Yes I know it as well as I know my own May I play it sure? What's the matter? I don't know Mr. Dollar it it isn't here the tone of the brilliance the response it isn't here Something's wrong. You're sure this is the Amati. Of course. I'm sure but something's wrong Something's happened to it. It isn't the same. Why do you think the dampness of the swamp? Oh, no, you can see it's it's all right But but it isn't well. I I don't know anything about violence. No cracks. No marks. No damage Even the sound post but you're sure it's Riccardo Amarillo's Amati. Yes. Yes. I told you so I couldn't possibly be mistaken but something is The dollar well, I don't know You know something I don't either I'm afraid I left Jerry Goldsmith rather abruptly and around the distress condition But I had plans and the sooner I could carry them out the better Item 13 on expense account 420 taxi fare back into town at the shop of Eric Snowden violin maker The only man who'd been allowed to touch Riccardo Amarillo's amati except of course for the music store owner Who'd cleaned it up after I found it in the swamp Yeah, it was possible. He had done something to it that would destroy its tone But for some reason or other call it a hunch of your like I hope not Snowden shop was located on a colorful little side street really not much more than an alley called Isminger Street Right in the middle one of the busiest sections of the city surrounded by skyscrapers office stores and all the traffic that goes with them This one little alley Except for Snowden's place the tiny buildings packed side-by-side are all residences Left over from years gone by when this was a residential section and still unspoiled by the bustling activity around And I'll be sure to hear you at the Academy of Music Saturday night Mr. Snowden yes, I'm Eric Snowden, but that violin case. I'm Johnny dollar. I thought oh, please come in Mr. Dollar That's right. It's Riccardo Amarillo. It's been found Please let me mr. Snowden. I'm an insurance investigator part of my job has been recovery of this violin It's possible loss was the most heartbreaking thing I ever contemplated, but you found it I think so you think I don't understand. Well here take it examine it Yes, but not here come we'll go up to my work room on the second floor where I can check it thoroughly I'll lock this front door so we won't be disturbed now come with me, please It's so wonderful. You found it. It would have been a terrible loss to the world. Yeah, I guess so You're not a violinist yourself. No, I'm afraid the only violin music. I know is what I hear and what a shop Most of the finest violins in the world have been here one time or another The Stardivarius of Yasha was quite a shop the violins are lined with fiddles in the making and with tools some for midurian some that were A couple of them small and delicate boy, but one a big one dirty As Eric Snowden turned away to open the violin case I ran my fingers over the blades There was grease on one Well, mr. Snowden Yes, mr. Dollar, this is Ricardo Emery goes violin. You're certain of that Do you think that I have all people wouldn't know mr. Dollar aside from Ricardo himself I am the only person who has touched this magnificent instrument for years now. I Must confess I resent your least question of my judgment. All right. I'll be honest with you I don't pretend to know much about violin so I had somebody play it a while ago I'd be that as it may it didn't sound to him or even a me like a $30,000 violin and whom did you permit to lay hands on this priceless instrument a friend? Should be horse-whipped Only an artist a great artist should be permitted to handle a thing like this, but I suppose you Understand that mr. Dollar. I don't suppose you what go on mr. Dollar Someone has tampered with this. Oh, of course. It doesn't sound right Did this friend of yours presumed to be a violin maker to what do you mean the sound post the placement of the bridge? Of course, it doesn't sound right. No now why does somebody have to join answer that no let them wait This is more important. No wonder you or your friend or anyone else question the validity of this instrument Hey, whoever that is down there. He really wants you look here a simple adjustment here and here. Oh Bother go ahead. I'll wait. All right. I shall be right back It was a quick suspicion when I spotted the hacks on the wall and I couldn't forget the warning over the phone Snowden waited on his customer. I poked around the shop some more looking for goodness knows what and I found exactly nothing No doubt Snowden was telling the truth Until I started to sit down to wait for him and as I pulled over a stool I knocked open the door of a cabin next to his workbench. I started to close it again And then I saw it Hanging there on a hook was a violin. I grabbed it out of the cabinet and held it under the light beside the one in Amarigo's case. I held them up together It was unbelievable The shape the color the markings nicks on the little pegs you tune them up with a spot of stain on the scroll Even a tiny almost indiscernible scratch on the back an old pencil mark on the inside near the label It was impossible, but it was true These two violins were absolutely Identical. Oh, here's our star to tell you about tomorrow's final intriguing episode of this week's story tomorrow Well, it's a wind-up, but believe me a wind-up with a real twist Join us. Won't 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 You