 From Hollywood it's time now for Johnny Deller Paul Prenton inter-allied insurance company Johnny. Oh, hi Paul. How's the world doing by you? Oh, I got troubles. Oh, like what like Alfred W. Winkler Winkler. Who's he? Maybe you mean who was he? Well, which is it? Well, that's a trouble Johnny. We don't know. Huh? Well, he's disappeared and with him a hunk of emerald worth exactly 100,000 clams Well sure Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of a man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Deller Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny Deller to the inter-allied insurance company Dawson building Hartford, Connecticut Following as an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the blooming blossom matter Expense account item one a dollar even taxi from my apartment to the offices of inter-allied where Paul Brennan wasted no time Getting to the point. Albert Winkler was a partner in a small jewelry firm down in New York real exclusive type place blow it in Winkler Yeah, that's the outfit well a few days ago. They got hold of an emerald It's called the green eye of Cal cut and Johnny the darn things big enough to choke a hole. Okay, Paul Okay, I don't think you need to go any further. No wait They plan to put it on an exhibition at the big international jewelry show in Chicago next month and Winkler took it home to work on it In short for a hundred thousand you said yeah and Winkler is insured for ten. Okay, so who killed him and stole the rock? Listen, will you go ahead? Well Sunday morning his partner blew it tried to phone him at his apartment. No answer So blew it saunter down to the office thinking he might be there, but no sign of right Nor of the green eye of Cal Cutter Only a note Winkler left the night before saying he was taking a stone home to work on it Well, that makes it look as though maybe Winkler listen About that time the phone rang there in the office. It was the police department also looking for Winkler Oh, yeah, they'd been called by Winkler's landlord after a chambermaid had found his apartment completely ransacked and the old boy missing Oh, who's working on it for the NYPD? I mean Sergeant Randy Singer 18th Precinct homicide old friend of yours I believe yeah, good man. Has he come up with anything? Nothing Well Johnny sure Paul now now Item two another dollar for a taxi back to my apartment where I slicked the stubble of my face showered dressed and was about to head for New York when the phone rang Johnny dollar Johnny that's right. Well, who's that? Well, who are you? What's this all about mr. Blossom, did you say what that's how did you know that? Is this some kind of a gag What are you talking about? Don't you see I follow every single one of your cases either in the newspapers from the radio Oh, I'm your biggest fan is uh, is that all you call to say mr. Blossom? Winkler, you know something about him is whereabouts. I certainly do. Where are you mr. Blossom? You're at my house in New York, and I'll be waiting for you, sir. Goodbye. No, wait. Give me your address The address man the address dollars and 20 cents transportation and incidentals to New York City in 825 e 73rd Street It turned out to be one of New York's famous old brownstone houses well preserved and reeking of an era long past When the city's wealthy and elite had built row on row of these monuments to a now forgotten financial aristocracy Look I mean mr. In a little bit can really blossom and I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be working with you on this. I Don't know how to describe it, but I'll try The inside of Blossom's home was unbelievable Ornate pre-Victorian furnishings heavy velvet draperies huge lamps and chandeliers guilt frame mirrors Even an ancient horse hair sofa It was also filled with dusty piles of newspapers and magazines hundreds of old books I've all books, mr. Dollar and mystery. I just love mysteries One corner of the high-ceiling living room was piled with old trunks and handbags an old carpet bag even Boxes of tools and utensils were stacked about an ancient Victoria beat-up sewing machine You just never know when you might want to sew something there old guns and pistols some of the museum pieces a Stringless tennis rag a pair of rusty handcuffs locked at the base of a floor lamp without a shade a broken bicycle pump That's just in case I ever find a bicycle to go with that you understand Against one wall stood an old metal cabinet loaded with rusty surgical instruments and a worn-out catcher's mitt Yet directly opposite was a corner shelf full of priceless porcelain figurines and rare pieces of china Some of the old clocks and jewelry on the mantelpiece were collectors items Fine original oil paintings lay among piles of old shoes All in all it looked as though the contents of half a dozen pawn shops had been dumped into it at auction sales Mr. Dollar, I just cannot resist an auction sale or a bargain, but What are you gonna do with all this stuff? Oh, just keep it. I like it. I like a lot of things. Yeah, so I see including 12 gross suspense a superlative steel tip shoelaces patterned at 1840 A bargain Mr. Dollar just like all this fine artwork is damn sure some of my friends pampered me a bit though You know send me things they pick up at sale. Yeah, now look mr. Blossom You told me you know something about Albert W. Winkler. Oh, yes. Yes indeed. Well and think of that magnificent emerald God Disappeared. Yeah, but now you said that poor intra-light insurance company. Oh my that's how I knew you would be called on this case But a hundred thousand And ten thousand dollars on mr. Winkler. Well, at least they're off the hook on him until he's proved dead. Ah-ha And that's where I come in With proof proof what proof have you seen with mr. Dollar? I Have or is he you understand of course that I know mr. Winkler very well because I've seen him at his office so many Yeah, okay, go on Such beautiful beautiful jewelry he had there and of course he was always trying to buy some of the things But you say you've seen him where well Saturday I'd planned with a couple of old friends to attend a railroad auction That was a canyon city in metropolitan railroad Winkler was there at the auction sale Yes, did you speak to him? Oh? Why not just said you knew him. Oh, I didn't go to the auction. I wasn't feeling very well that day I had a little Then how do you know he was there my friends went and at least they talked about going to blossom And I'm sure they did too because they sent me something from and what do you suppose it was I don't know I don't care and I look here. You got me there was the very thing that has solved this whole case for you What and think of it? This is dull drab dreary life of mine has suddenly become Why it's almost like a mystery story isn't it yet venture and look mr. Blossom You think of it. I'm being a detective. I'm working with my idol The famous Johnny dollar. Oh, Joe. Mr. Blossom. What did they send you? Here it is sir, it's right here between the erector set and the golf clubs This old trunk, that's right Great Scott you Think you do at first of course. I I thought of calling the police But knowing all about you Mr. Blossom, let me see that excuse me There are a lot of crumpled newspapers on top. Yeah, I see Good lord it isn't pretty Sergeant Randy singer homicide Randy Johnny dollar get somebody over to wait 25 e 73rd Street right away with your body of Albert Winkler And he got there in a matter of minutes got the same story from blossom that I had then call for the lab crew to come and take over Now now who delivered this trunk mr. Blossom, but it was just Just a delivery man, and you describe them. Would you know him if you saw him? Yeah? Well, he was big and strong who's very distinguishing features scars or a limp or a beard or something I told you Johnny was big and strong. How old well, I would say he was somewhere between 25 and Um Yeah 50 Yes, I'm sure well, that's a lot of help. Yeah, you better have those thick spectacles change, but he was big Yes, we know and strong. What about his truck? Oh, I didn't see that he left it outside No, now look these friends of yours who did attend the auction who were they? Now the investigation proceeds now the excitement who were they mr. Blossom? Well, there's a Randy singer took down the names of Blossom's three auction-winded friends The lab crew arrived Randy took off to dig up Blossom's friends, and I took a cab that's item 480 cents to the apartment of Elwood Bluitt Winkler's partner in the jewelry business Bluitt lived alone in a modest but tastefully furnished five or six rooms on East 52nd Street Of course, mr. Dollar, I'll be glad to help you all I can Albit's death has been a terrible blow. Yes. Well, tell me this please Yes, did mr. Winkler make a habit of taking valuable pieces of jewelry to his residence? Yes, Albit often took pieces home with him to work on them clean polish and so on wasn't that a rather dangerous practice Frankly, I always thought so, but he felt there was far more chance of being robbed if he were alone at the office Then that is flat where he wouldn't be expected to have anything of great value Well, who has seen the green eye of Calcutta beside you and mr. Winkler? I'm not sure of course almost anyone would have been able to recognize it because of the publicity and pictures when you brought it over here Yes Come to think of it Blossom indicated he'd been much impressed with it Wilbur Blossom. Yeah, you know He's been in the office many times He and Albit were always bickering over pieces that either bickering well It was really something of a joke Albit always wanted some of Blossom's heirloom pieces and Blossom wanted some of the finer things We had did he ever buy never he always wanted us to put them up at auction or at a bargain price Hardly our way of doing things needless to say. When did you last see Blossom? By last Friday. I was busy with an important client and from the back room where Albit worked I remember hearing Blossom insist that Albit show him the emerald. What did he? I don't know the silly argument got so noisy that I closed the door on them. Hmm. Oh Now wait, certainly you aren't thinking that perhaps Wilbur Blossom I'm not quite certain what I'm thinking mr. Bluett Item 5 10 cents phone called a Randy singer three names on Blossom's list is in Europe The other two did go to the railroad auction, but purchase nothing Randy do a couple of things for me Will you like what phone whoever is stationed at Winkler's place that I want to look it over Sure, everything is just as it was including the poker that would use to kill him Also, I want to copy the picture of the trunk your lab boys took on the list of Blossom's friends I'll have them waiting for you and post a man at Blossom's place. Keep an eye on them Yes, right away Johnny have you learned something? No, no just well just for his protection say I'll talk to you later Yeah, but maybe I hadn't given enough thought to the strange little character Right a why the trunk when Winkler's body had been at his place But if he were involved why call me in cover up possibility But Wilbur Blossom kill a man Yeah, maybe he could Maybe he did I'd better see him as soon as I get through with the inspection of Winkler's apartment Mr. Dollar oh hi officer did sergeant singer call and tell you that he's on the phone here in the Winkler apartment now What's to talk to you says it's very urgent, sir. Okay. Thanks Johnny dollar Johnny, how did you know huh a man? I said to cover Blossom's house for you got there too late. What what's him? Yeah, really Johnny dollar in just a moment democracy as Everyone knows democracy means many things Self-rule of the people a higher standard of living freedom of speech press and religion rights and privileges liberty But the most vital promise of democracy is mankind's right to dignity For it is through the dignity of man that democracy has given mankind its greatest legacy of freedom Now act to of yours truly Johnny dollar and the blooming Blossom matter Expense account out of six two dollars and a quarter for a fast taxi ride to 18th precinct police headquarters. All right Soon as I got your call Johnny I sent a uniform man over to Blossom's house from the way you talked. I thought maybe you suspected him. Yeah, Randy I'm afraid I did boy. How wrong can you be? Anyhow when he got there he found the front door open and blossom lion in the dark hallway Where's blossom now the hospital, but he's okay. Just bruised up a bit. They're letting them out Fingerprints anything to go on labs checking on the prints right now. Let me know yeah Anything else nope So now it's find out who tried to put Blossom out of the way and we'll have the guy who killed Winkler and Stole 100,000 worth of emerald then ship Winkler's body to blossom. Oh And by the way, here's the picture of the trunk he asked for and the three names Blossom gave me Harrison Norton and Scatterday. What are you gonna do with him? Randy hmm suppose the man who attacked Blossom is the one who did all the rest you got a better suppose Well look Randy whoever wielded that poker on Winkler couldn't have been very strong I really hefty wallop would have bent it out of shape and the lab agrees with you But of course it didn't take much of a blow to finish off all Winkler He didn't weigh much over a hundred pounds. You know yeah any strong arm could have finished him off easily and without messing up The whole apartment and don't forget whoever did him in also put him in the trunk and delivered it to Blossom's house But why yeah, yeah, and where's the emerald that's what you should be worried about a hundred grand worth of worry For your insurance company Now what are you gonna do with that picture of the trunk and the list to Blossom's friends? Oh, yeah, sure. Hmm. I'll see you later Item seven five dollars and a half for a taxi to the warehouse of the Canyon City and Metropolitan Railroad over in Jersey There I finally managed to track down a man who knew something about their occasional auction sales of unclaimed baggage and stuff Insurance investigator, that's right. Mr. McKinney one of those boys with a fancy expense counter That's a matter of opinion. Look you had an auction sale here last Saturday didn't you that's right handle it myself Want to know something about something so dog exactly and I'm your man Always remember all about every single light of my cell and who bought it and all about that's fine Because I want to know if any of the names on this list bought from you on Saturday Randolph Harrison Remember the name of Harrison by anything? No, how about Percival went with scattered egg No, Ellsworth North. No, you're sure mr. McKinney. I'm sure How uh How about Blossom that a man's name? Yes, Wilbert Blossom? Well, no, sir. No never heard him and like I told you I never forget the stuff I sell of the fellas I sell it to wait This picture of a trunk. Have you ever seen this trunk? Yeah, did you sell this trunk on Saturday? Yes, I did home come on man. It's important Well, I was really early in the sale. Yeah for most of people got here What this trunk and had it sent to his apartment in New York and his name. Well, it was a funny kind of name Blinky or winky or Winkler Winkler that was it Albert Winkler Adam ate $2 two drinks for myself at the nearest bar, but they didn't help to kill my feeling of utter frustration I'd have nine five fifty taxie back to 18th precinct headquarters in New York for one of a better place to go It's about time you got here Johnny. Oh, we matched up the Prince we found after Blossom was attacked. You know who made them Yeah, here's his card Carlo Bernasconi any record couple of a dozen arrests only one conviction anything to do with jewelry better accessory to a Hijack operation a couple of years ago. He drove the truck. Hey, sure got a mug shot of him We got him downstairs. Come on. I'll take you down ready. What's he look like like you'd expect the truck driver to look Big husky brute has he admitted anything well the threat of a murder charge made him talk All right, but none of it makes any sense. Of course it does, but he's our boy All right. He killed Winkler beat up Blossom. I thought your lab decided whoever killed Winkler was a small fella Yeah, so the theory about the same man killing Winkler and beating up Blossom doesn't work, but Johnny holy Come on down. Let's talk to this Bernasconi after I make a phone call Get me a man named McKinney Canyon City and Metropolitan Railroad warehouse over in Jersey make it fast We yes, sir Hey, you've been over there Johnny just before I got here find out anything. No, but I'm going to now like what? Randy for the first time this whole thing is beginning to make sense. Here's your party mr. McKinney This is Johnny dollar remember Yeah, well look Yes, now you told me that trunk was bought by a man who gave his name as Winkler You remember what he looked like now. How about the color of the eyes? Thanks, Mack I'm sending you a tense spot in the next mail. Well, come on Randy. Let's go down and see this Bernasconi You find something out new yeah, and I don't like it Alec Bernasconi you're in plenty of trouble for the assault on Blossom maybe even more But I'm the man who can save you from a murder rap if you'll answer a couple of questions sure I told the cops all right all right Did you pick up and deliver a trunk yesterday morning? Sure? I told him for a guy named Winkler. You got the trunk from Winkler sure it is apartment on east. What did he look like? How tall maybe five eight or ten Light build or heavy or what I'd say about medium maybe a hundred and fifty pounds Johnny I'll look miss now wait a minute you look did you deliver that trunk to a man named Blossom sure at eight twenty five 73rd Street, what did he look like them? I never seen I know it's the dollar from a window that the door was open And I should put the trunk in the living room What a junk house, but you must have seen them later when you came back and assaulted them It was night then when he come to the door I just slugged them and let them lay there and I went inside where the lights was on to look for Well, I'll look for the big rock. I'd read about in the paper Then I heard a prowl car coming so I beat it Frunk wasn't there anyway. Okay, Bernice coni. See you later, Randy. Not just a minute. Hey, what about me? Item 1090 cents taxi to Wilbert Blossom's old Brownstone house on a 73rd Come in come in Johnny. Thanks. Mr. Blossom all recovered from your beating. Oh, of course. I am here sit down sit down You uh, you said you wanted to help me on this case. Oh, yes Why this chance to work with the man I consider the finest insurance investigator in the world Yeah, that's why I called you when I got the trunk with mr. Winkler's body and Mr. Blossom Why don't you tell the truth? Life I wanted to be a detective an investigator and this was my chance my chance Tell the truth Mr. Blossom Listen to some facts for a minute and see what conclusions you draw from. Oh deductions like a detector to begin with this house of yours so full of Well junk I told you Johnny. I like things. I like but it also has a lot of fine paintings sculpture China jewelry Like all sorts of things especially if they're fine and rare and bargains Like the green eye of Calcutta The most beautiful emerald in the world and I would conclude that you'd do just about anything to have that stone Yes, I'd reach the same conclusion Okay Now when Albert Winkler and the emerald disappeared it was in the papers that inner allied had written policies on them Conclusion yes, sir. I would deduce that you would be called in wouldn't it be smart then if the killer was afraid I'd eventually get around to him anyway, wouldn't it be smart for him to call me in and offer to help me? As a cover-up for what he'd done Or at least he'd think it would I guess he thought it was Another thing mr. Blossom What is it Johnny the body was packed in the trunk with old newspapers Like these you keep piled around And I would so obvious that both Randy Singer and I overlooked them completely. Well, there's so many things piled around it You couldn't be expected this Johnny Yeah What really made you decide that? Well, I'd like to know all right Albert Winkler was a frail little old man about 411 how much over a hundred pounds But the man who bought the trunk and had it sent to Winkler's apartment who gave his name as Winkler That man was about five nine a hundred and fifty five pounds And he wore a thick old-fashioned steel rim glass Johnny. I can't see without them Then there's the truck driver the man who ordered the trunk delivered to this house gave his name as Winkler to But Winkler was dead by then Dead from a blow inflicted not by some big bruiser but by somebody of Say your bill all that awful truck driver who thought the emerald would be in the trunk and came here to steal it and to beat me up I suppose you want the emerald Yeah Yeah, Johnny I kept it in this old coffee pot there that I picked up at an auction sale real bargain Isn't a beautiful stone Oh, if only mr. Winkler would have sold it Had a bargain that is Then none of this would have happened Well, I guess we better go online. It's such a silly thing Me trying to act like a detective. I guess I didn't even make a very good killer Did I why? Just this overpowering passion to have things Well, maybe it was just a reaction a Last desperate attempt to some way anyway break from a lifetime of lonely dull drab items. I Don't know But for some crazy reason I feel sorry for the funny little old character who turned killer Expense account total including incidentals and fare back to Hartford 61 dollars and 55 cents yours truly Johnny dollar Well, here is our star to tell you about next week story next week a case so simple so easy So obvious that it proves almost impossible to sell Join us. Won't you yours truly Johnny dollar or is truly Johnny dollar starring Bob Bailey? Originates in Hollywood. It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone who also wrote tonight's story heard in our cast were Howard Mcnear herbellis her by Grun Junius Matthews her Butterfield Frank Gersel and Johnny Jacobs Musical supervision is by Jerry Goldsmith Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar really speaking Johnny dollar has come to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States Armed Forces Radio and television service