 This is your FBI This is your FBI the official broadcast from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation The subject of our FBI file extortion its title The Hollywood shakedown Since the passage by Congress of the federal extortion statute in 1932 The number of such crimes has been drastically reduced However, it is probably safe to say that some form of extortion is practiced almost daily in some parts of the country This evening's program is brought to you not to acquaint you with the modus operandi of the typical felon who commits this type of crime For there is no average extortion case The circumstances in each instance are different However, this case history is dramatized in the hope of reaching people who are being victimized by extortioners And who through fear Are now keeping it a secret If this description fits you Protect yourself Protect everyone except the criminal By instantly notifying the nearest field office of your FBI Their telephone number is on page one Of your local directory tonight's FBI file opens in the fan mail department of a motion picture studio Oh letter from my hometown Somebody was left after you moved Hey smell the screen No, I Went school together What you want Picture Lionel Butler Well, let's dig a good one. Okay And maybe I ought to put a little note to Alice I should get a kick out of it. I wonder what she's doing. Nancy listen Dear Ruth Elmore. I have received certain information from bertha kingman You know that information I mean and you also know what would happen if it was made public I am willing to sell all my material for ten thousand dollars If you agree to pay put an ad in the papers Do not go to the police with this if you do I will kill you Where'd you get that off the pile? Here's the envelope Oh, you think it's a crank. I don't know Who are you taking to the super? This is one fan letter Ruth Elmore better answer From the FBI is here. Oh, let him come in. Have a chair Thank you Mr. Noble. I'm agent taylor. Oh, we we spoke on the phone. That's right, sir You have the note here. Yes Who's handled it? Quite a few people Girl in the fan mail room Her supervisor my secretary miss elmore herself. May I see it, please? Of course Studio will give you every cooperation Oh, um, is miss elmore making a picture now? Yes, she's playing roslyn in as you like it Mr. Taylor, did you ask that because you think this is a publicity stunt? No, sir. Good. I assure you it isn't Miss elmore doesn't want or need that kind of publicity. Well, as long as we're on that subject mr. Noble I have a request we'd like to avoid any publicity on this until the investigation is completed I can promise that fine Or and uh, would it be possible for me to see miss elmore? Of course, I'll have a boy take you over now All right. Thank you, sir. Her trailer is right inside state seven Call if there's anything else you want the entire studios at your disposal Oh Yes, that's right Mr. Noble called and said you were coming. Please sit down. Thanks very much You've come to talk about the note. That's right miss elmore I can't tell you how glad I am. It's come out into the open This extortion business has been bothering me for five years You mean you've been paying someone for five years? No, but I did pay the first installment that long ago To home bertha kingman the woman mentioned in the note Who is she a woman who used to be my secretary? I know I should have gone to the police five years ago, but for once in my life I let somebody change my mind and who was that the man I was married to at the time He convinced me the publicity would ruin my career Where is he now in europe? Signing himself on the Riviera with his fifth bride That eliminates him now. Who else knew about it? No one How much did you pay mrs. Kingman $500 and believe this or not mr. Taylor Everything she threatened to expose was a complete and utter lie When did you last hear from mrs. Kingman five years ago by letter? Yes Would you know where she lives? I have no idea. I see. Would you have a picture of her publicity department has a few? Oh, that's fine. Is there anything else I can do? Yes, mrs. Elmore. We'd like you to insert that ad All right You see we may get a lead when you receive instructions for pay I'll have my secretary call the papers this afternoon. Good and we'll start an immediate search for mrs. Kingman The intricate process by which the federal bureau of investigation looks for a person was put into action A copy of bertha kingman's marriage license was obtained The two witnesses were questioned But they had lost track of the subject many years ago Finally a lead was secured Her address five years ago was a modest hotel Arriving there agent Taylor learned mrs. Kingman had checked out three years ago From the hotel she was traced to a small apartment building And finally to a cheap theatrical boarding house on a hollywood side street Good morning. Are you the landlady? You can save your breath. We got no vacancies I don't need another vacuum cleaner and I never subscribe to magazines ma'am I'm a special agent of the fbi. Oh, here are my credentials. Oh, come in come in. Thank you Sorry, but it's only 9 30 and I've been swinging this door so much I feel like a hinge and that only sounds like an earthquake That's the hungarian hussar rehearsing his wrestling match for tomorrow night Quiet little spot we got here Yes, yes it is Uh, tell me ma'am. Do you have a tenant named bertha kingman? What kind of an act does she do? Well, she's not in the theatrical profession But I understand that she once lived here. Well, then I ought to know her Well, do you keep a register? Oh, I used to till a guy checked in with a talking goat Well, uh, I have a picture of her that I'd like you to take a look at if you will. Okay Do you recognize her? Uh, wait a minute now. She looks familiar Oh bertha kingman. Oh, yeah now I remember she lived here about a month Would you know where I can find her? I'd like to ask her some questions. That'll be pretty tough. She's dead Leo I checked at that boarding house. Mrs. Kingman's dead. Uh, yeah, I saw the death certificate at the Hall of Records myself. She died two years ago another note came today Oh, where it is delivered to the studio by messenger In the description of the boy's uniform. It sounds like the central messenger service They're checking their delivery slips. What'd the notes say get the money ready. No, uh pay off instruction Oh, not yet, but the threat was repeated. Well, excuse me sure Agent Sumner, that's right You did uh Just a minute pencil. Yeah, thanks All right, go ahead. Uh, what what street was that? Yeah, I got it Well, fine. Thanks very much Yes, I'll wait here for him Jim central messenger did deliver that note the boy picked it up from the bartender at this salon When around three this afternoon the messenger's on his way up here now I'll try to get a description from it. All right. I'll see what I can pick up at this bar I'm a special agent of the FBI. You're my credentials. Okay Tell me were you on duty? Uh, about three this afternoon Ha, I worked 12 to eight this week Well, did you give an envelope to a messenger an envelope addressed to a ruth elmore? Always in it. I don't know Customer give it to me with a couple of bucks told me to pay the kid who picked it up What's customer's name? You've got me Does he come in often? As far as I know today was the first ever seen him What's he looked like? Hey look, I don't remember every guy who buys a couple of beers All I can tell you is he sat over in that corner Alone First I must have gotten talking to the others Uh, I remember he bought him a drink. Well, do you know the people he was talking to? Yeah, but I don't want to get them into a jackpot. They they come in all the time I look I I just want to ask him a few questions. Maybe they can remember what this person looked like that, so I guess that's okay He was talking to a couple of seamen named Joe Logan and arty jackson And a girl named sally pow We're gonna reach them Joe Logan lives in that apartment house across the street Arty jackson shacks up in the next block Uh 737 I think And the girl I don't know. She hit town a couple of weeks ago and started hanging around here Uh, I don't know where she's staying. Well, could you have her call me? Call you myself the next time she comes in Leo, did you get anything from the messenger? No, Jim. He didn't talk to anybody about the bartender How'd you make out? Well, the subject stayed at the bar a while Struggled with conversation with the these three people I went to see the two seamen They've already shipped out. No for where? Well, the destination is classified But they're shipless an hour ago and no address on the girl Oh, the bartender will call if she comes in there again Jim you think there's any possibility mrs. Kingman passed her information on to a relative before she died Miss Elmore doesn't remember the old woman ever mentioning any family wife I think I'll check and see who paid for her if you know Without the ever no no Orlando Men are april when they woo December when they wed Maids are maids. I'm sorry. I can't remember the speech May we please have a few minutes 10 minutes everybody Take as much time as you want. I'll be all right. Of course you will you should have seen the rushes this morning Those boom shots through the trees were wonderful. Oh, mr. Noble. Oh, hello, mr. Taylor Could I speak with both of you? Can it wait, please? Miss Elmore isn't feeling very well. Have you seen the papers? I haven't even stopped today for a sandwich Well, the extortion story is all over the front page in the papers That can't be I haven't told anybody about this. Have you miss Elmore? No Ruth, do you mind if mr. Taylor sees you back to the trailer? Not at all I'm going over to publicity and find out about this Let's go this way. Oh, I saw your trailer over there. I know I have something to tell you I don't want my mate or anyone else to hear it. I'm afraid to trust anyone now Oh, what happened? I got a call from the extortioner When a little while ago he doesn't want the money anymore Why not because I went to the police He said he's going to kill me I file the hollywood shakedown Sons of extortioners show as wide a variety as those of their victims One is a youth with criminal ambitions Another is a hardened criminal The third is a psychopathic killer No two are alike That is why your FBI never takes chances in an extortion case It treats each one as if the threat is real As if the extortioner will carry out his menacing promise It advises you to adopt the same attitude You may be fortunate enough never to receive an extortion letter But if you do Protect yourself by remembering one thing It may be from a harmless crank It may be from a criminal intent on money or murder Don't take any chances Call your FBI Tonight's file continues at the local FBI field office the following day Jim, how's Ms. Elmore? Well, she seems to have recovered completely from last night's phone call I wonder if it's safe for her to be working Oh, the studio's arranged for three shifts of armed guards to protect her around the clock Maybe it'd be a good idea to ask Mr. Noble not to allow visitors on her set, huh? That's a pretty tough stage to keep closed, Leo. I've got a couple hundred extras on I think Oh, excuse me Agent Taylor Oh, yes You have them Fine Y'all right away Thanks very much Leo, that was the bartender at that salon. You get the girls to drink. She's in there now. I'll see you later Ms. Powell That's right. I'm agent Taylor of the FBI. Hi Come on sit down. Thanks very much I hear you want to ask me some questions. That's right Oh, man, you spoke to day before yesterday. I don't know his name, but he talked to you here in the bar Oh, that's like ask me about which salted peanut I ate. I get to talk to lots of guys Well, you were over there in that corner with this man and two seamen Oh, that still don't tell me which one you mean. Well, the seamen's names are arty jackson and joe logan Oh Yeah, I remember them Well, do you recall the other man? Uh-huh. He stayed after the sailors left Can you describe him? Uh-uh Do you remember his name? Well, he told me but I forgot if I don't like somebody their name don't register Well, if you didn't like this man, why'd you sit with him? Oh, it's better than drinking alone paying for your drinks What didn't you like about him? He kept telling me what a big shot he was Real big shots don't keep reminding you. They don't have to How do you try to impress you? Oh, he's the kind of guy who knocks winners. He just can't stand anybody else doing good Well, do you recall specifically what it was he complained about? Everything the way the studios are run who should have gotten the askers what's wrong with color pictures You name it. He knocked it. Is he in show business? According to him Say what he did No, but he talked like he wrote directed produced and acted in every picture and then stood in the lobby and took tickets He probably hustles hamburgers. Is it a drive in? Hi, I Can you remember anything else he said? Anything else he said about pictures? Oh Let's see Yeah, he even put the blast on the way Lionel Butler fenced in his last picture Hell the sword wrong knees were bent too much didn't have his feet spread wide enough His elbows were stuck out everything with this guy was a federal case Did he actually say all those things about fencing sure right with you, honey Uh miss Powell, you mentioned before this man complained about the oscar winners Yeah, that's right. Well, did he indicate that any of the candidates was a friend of his? No, I can see why he saw about the Oscars though. He must figure he should have gotten one Oh for what the biggest romance of the year the one he has with himself Oh, I just interviewed that girl get anything no description, but she told me a few things that might come in handy Oh, like what? Well from her report of his conversation. It sounds like he's an emotion picture business That's what man could be anything from assistant messenger boy on up. Oh, that includes a lot of people. Yeah, I'll get it Agent Taylor Oh, yes, mr. Noble When I did Yeah, I think oh who touched it fine Yeah, right away Leo another note was just delivered to miss elmore. This one was left in her trailer while a maid was out anybody see who left it No, but miss elmore saw it to it that no one except herself touched it. Maybe we can get some prints Where's the note now? No, they're holding it at the studio. We'll pick it up and send it onto the lab So we just got a report from the lab What does it say they found some clear latent prints on the envelope of the last note We sent him. Well, how about the note itself? No prints, but miss elmores and a typewriting done on the same machine Not much to work on jim Leo, you know extortioners don't like to carry around a note any longer than they have to Yeah, so so this last one was delivered right to miss elmores trailer yet. No one remembers a stranger coming by Plus which we have a fair suspicion that the criminals connected in some way with the motion picture business Do you think it's someone at her own studio? Could be we can check the typewriters out there Let's do that. We'll also try to get as many fingerprints as we can Fingerprinting a group of people takes time. So does rounding up sheets of paper all bearing the same message Fingerprint cards and typewriting samples were gathered and sent to the laboratory Where train technicians examined each one and then reexamined them before making a report Come in mr. Taylor. Thank you, mr. Nobu. Have you found the extortioner? Not yet sir, but we're making progress. We've located the typewriter Where here at the studio sir on stage nine. Wait, uh, I'll look at the production schedule Stage nine Oh, here it is That's the newspaper office set Who would have access to that typewriter, sir A lot of people i'm afraid Everyone working on the picture and actually any one at the studio could buy the set when it wasn't being used Or would there be any chance Are you looking for me leo? Yeah, jim We matched those fingerprints on the extortion envelope. They belong to a studio messenger I just spoke to him. He says he got that note to deliver from home A man wearing a leather vest black tights appointed suede robin hoods hat and a heavy beard But that's the way the extras on miss elmore's picture addressed Well, the messenger also said the man drew this diagram for him on the inside of this book of matches What was that for the messenger just went to work here and didn't know where miss elmore's trailer was Hmm Well, they aren't these matches Belong to the messenger no to the extra Mr. Noble, can you come over to the stage with us? Of course You think you can pick the extortioner out of 500 extras now, sir, but there's a good chance you'll pick himself out for us A woman I would kiss as many of you as had beards that pleased me Complexions that liked me and breath that I defied not And I am sure as as many have good beards and good faces or sweet breath Will for my kind offer when I make curtsy bid me farewell All right, print that one Uh, mr. Taylor, we can try that now. Why mr. Noble Mr. Taylor, have you found him yet? No miss elmore, but we may in a minute attention attention all extras These gather on the other side of the moat It's mr. Noble doing that. We have evidence the extortioner is an extra on this picture. That's right Which one? Well, that's the part we don't know yet I'll See the man crossing the bridge over the mark the one in the blue suit Yes Well, that's agent somner of our office. Now, mr. Taylor, shall I go ahead? Yes, mr. Noble if you will Extras please face this way Additional scene to shoot and we need a man who knows how to fence Well, all those who do please raise your hands Mr. Taylor, what's this all about? See the extra that agent somner is heading toward A one with his left hand raised Yes Well, I'm pretty sure that's the man we want A few minutes after agents Taylor and somner began questioning the extra He made a full confession and explained that he had known miss elmore's former secretary And had heard about the original extortion from the old lady before she died Agents Taylor and somner asked mr. Noble to make the announcements because of two things The girl at the saloon had mentioned the extortioners criticism of the fencing form exhibited by an actor whose picture was on the saloon wall Because the criticism was technical It seemed probable that the extortioner knew how to fence Then agent Taylor noticed that in the book of matches given to the messenger by the extra All matches had been torn from the left side Indicating that the user was left-handed When only one extra raised his left hand in answer to mr. Noble's announcement He did what agent Taylor predicted He picked himself out of the crowd and led to his own arrest He was subsequently brought to trial convicted and sentenced to a term in federal prison Used in tonight's broadcast are adapted from the files of the federal bureau of investigation However, all names used are fictitious And any similarity thereof to the names of places or persons living or dead is accidental This is your fbi is a gerry divine production