 Or your enjoyment, Wrigley Spearman chewing gum presents from Hollywood, Edmund O'Brien as... Johnny Dalla. Good evening. Oh, sure. Hi. I was unable to reach Mr. Snell before he left for the West Coast. But he asked me to outline the case to you and hoped you'd follow him out there. What is it? Our company has been carrying the policies on a line of pleasure boats for a West Coast sales agency. The Aerocraft Cruisers. Within the past two weeks, three of them have sunk, with no survivors. Bad risks. Yes, for nearly a million dollars. Edmund O'Brien in another adventure of the man with the action-pact expense account. America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Dalla. To make every day more enjoyable, treat yourself often to refreshing, delicious, Wrigley Spearman chewing gum. Here's a taste treat you can enjoy indoors, outdoors, at work or at play. The cool, long-lasting mint flavor refreshes you. The smooth, steady chewing helps keep you fresh and alert, adds enjoyment to whatever you're doing. Wrigley Spearman chewing gum. Healthful, refreshing, delicious. Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny Dalla to Home Office Grand East Life and Liability Insurance Company, Hartford, Connecticut. The following is an accounting of my expenditures during assignment to Millard Snell of your legal department on the investigation of the Arrowcraft matter. Expense account item one, $275 air travel Hartford to Los Angeles and rented car travel from Los Angeles to Newport Beach and the Heart of the Trouble. She's wet tonight. Hey, give me your arm. Come on. Didn't think you were going to make it. You talked to your secretary? Yes, but that was yesterday from Chicago. Well, I didn't know where you were until I called her from the Los Angeles airport a couple of hours ago. And when I got here, your hotel told me you just left to charter a boat. What's up? My eyes. How long would it be? Robert should be here any minute, Mr. Snell. Couldn't leave without him. All right, if you can hurry him up anyway, do it. Come on in the cabin, Dalla. Out of this foul night air. Out of this fog. I thought it was bad sometimes in Hartford. Another cruise has been reported, Dalla. An Arrowcraft? Yes. Reported by a private plane between here and Catelyn Island. That's 30 miles offshore. The Coast Guard been notified? Yes, but candidly, I hope we see it before they do. Find out what we insured. If we can find it in this fog. Find it? You mean this one is still afloat? Before dark, yes, barely afloat. Robert, hurry, get aboard. Ah, there it is, the navigator we've been waiting for. I hope he's sober. Tell me, what have you learned so far? What makes them sink? I don't know. The sales agent, Fred Crocker. You'll meet him. Swearers by Arrowcraft. Says they're one of the best hulls afloat. Ah, but the fact remains they've been sinking. Uh-huh, and a tragic fact too. The loss of life so far has been hard. Three 28 foot boats, 11 fatalities. No trace of the cruisers, even. But a life ringer too. Must have been deep water there. What about bodies? Seven have been recovered and four still missing. Ah, we're getting started. It was 10 p.m. when we left the quiet resort village. And it was dawn when we saw in the fog what we had been unable to find during a whole night of searching. The Arrowcraft, without sign of life, was almost entirely awash, bowed down in the channel swell. Close enough, Myers. Right. We don't want a nudger. She's allowed her all over. Yeah, but there's nothing we can do about her. How she stays up is beyond me. And a chance of touring it in? None of that shape. Give her any weight. She'll just take more water and go down. Can you put me aboard? If you want to go, I can put you there, but I don't know what your weight is going to do. She's ready to roll. What do you think, Roberts? Oh, we'll put him over the stern. That shouldn't upset her. We'd better get some of those clothes off, Della, while we swing around. All right. Do you think it's worth it? You're going aboard? Worth it? I'm not going for a night like that without having a look at it. Gives me the creeps. A thing of wash like that. Looks dead. Yeah, too dead. Why isn't there anyone aboard? Why isn't somebody hanging onto the side? Okay, darling. We'll move into it now. I'm ready. Get back down to Transom. That's it. Right there. I'll swing you right into it. Right. There you are. Go ahead. Okay. Get off the gun and stay on midships. I'll get you to the side. She'll roll. I'm all right. Anything there? Yeah. Yeah, there's something here. There's a girl in the cabin. Her body floated face down in the flooded cabin, held in there by the narrowness of the passageway. After an unpleasant and picklish 15 minutes, she was lifted aboard the other boat by three suddenly silent men. There was little else I could do on the derelict, but memorized the name and address on the certificate of ownership. So I left it and followed the girl. I didn't bargain for this, darling. It doesn't bother me to read about 11 of them, but this girl... Why, she can't be over 18. Yeah, I noticed. You know, if it was a guy, it wouldn't hit so hard. Beautiful. Myers, have you radioed in about this? I waited to find out whether you want to stand by the boat or not. No, we'll start right back. Get word to the police. Ask them to meet us. I think it's a case for them. The boat's registered to a Chester McNeil Newport Beach address. McNeil Newport Beach address. McNeil, yes, all right. You want to get us started, Robert? Right. What'd you find, darling? Come here, look at this. The... behind the rear. You see the bruise? I noticed it when I was getting her out of the cabin. She'd been slugged? She could have been. His long black hair, you see here. The water's ruined most of it, but there's still part of a braid. It could have been a hard blow, one that might have killed a man, but her braid might have softened it. I'm looking for an answer to why she was on that boat alone and dead. It was an answer I never did actually find and prove because in the final analysis, the death of this beautiful dark-haired girl was no more important than any of the rest of it. She was taken to the County Morgue and after making my formal statement to the police and giving them my informal theories, I followed her there. Now, I take it that the deceased is not a personal friend of yours. That's right, Dr. Sain. I'm an insurance investigator. I'm in Southern California because a number of people have died. And the sinkings of some insured pleasure boats. Oh, yes, the aircraft. Yes, and the death of this girl has become important to me. What's her name? Caruso Antonia Caruso. She was identified by her mother. Antonia? Are you planning an autopsy? Why do you ask? I wonder if you noticed a bruise behind her right ear. Yes, I reported it. You're an observant, fellow. Dr. Sain, you must have examined some of the other bodies from these sinkings. Were there any indications of violence on them? If there were, I was unable to discover them. The period of immersion in other cases you must understand was much longer than in the Caruso case. Water makes it difficult. Why do you ask? Well, the rest of the sinkings, the boats themselves have been blamed. But after today, it seems to me there's a possibility that something else has caused them, at least this one. The contusions? Yes. There were two other people on that boat, the owner, Chester McNeil and his father. But the girl's body was the only one aboard. Why? I didn't know the particulars. I think the girl wore braids, Dr. If she did, could she have survived a blow that would have killed the two men? Protection? Well, location of the wound would bear you out behind the ear. Could she have been knocked unconscious, been thrown overboard, and then recovered enough to get back on? Could this have happened to the girl? Are you suggesting homicide, Mr. Dollar? I'm not sure. Then I'm not sure why perfectly good boats start sinking without survivors, either. They have to make autopsy examination to determine the degree of concussion. That's why I asked. Are you going to perform one? In the state of California, Mr. Dollar, except in cases of unquestionable criminal acts, autopsy is allowed upon only permission of the next of kin. This contusion, well, it could have been sustained so many ways. Yes, I know, I know. Matter of fact, arrangements have already been made to move the body to a private establishment. Oh. Um, could you give me her mother's address? Well, yes, I suppose so. But I'd be doing no more than saving you a search of the phone book. What is it you want? Mrs. Caruso, I'm the man that found your daughter. Oh. Then why have you come here? You shouldn't know my grief. I do, Mrs. Caruso, but I'd like to talk with you if I could. What is there to say? I don't want to see you. There is no room for sympathy. I didn't know anything about your daughter, but I'd like to. I'd like to hear about her. Why do you do this? Because... because I don't think her death was accidental. Oh, go away. Why do you say this? My girlish never did a no wrong. I didn't mean that, Mrs. Caruso. Please, may I come in? All right. It's in my house. I'm sorry. It's not cared for. There have been so many things today. And I won't stay long. She was a good girl. She was going to marry Chester. His father was with them. She was going to marry Chester. Oh, we hope that there's so much Antonia and me that it would be a good marriage. Mrs. Caruso. We always had a dream. We were good people, only poor. We give everything so Antonia would be better. She was so beautiful. She was going to marry Chester. I'm sorry to bother you at a time like this. No. She's gone. I saw her. I saw her too. And I want to learn why she's gone. Now, Mrs. Caruso, is there any reason that you can think of why there should have been trouble on this trip in the McNeil boat? Oh, no. They go many times. They love the boat. They go many times. Always with his father, they care of them. He'll love her too. My daughter, he'd call her. She wasn't going to marry, he suggested. Be so happy. Please, Mrs. Caruso. Oh, my Antonia. Antonia. Please, go. You know my grief. Leave her my house. Leave her my house. I left her house and drove back to Millet-Snell's hotel. It was 7 p.m. and I hoped we could get to Crocker, the West Coast agent for Arrowcraft, before the night was out. But I found Snell white-faced when I opened the door and too anxious to show me the front page of the evening paper. I didn't know where to find you, Dollar. For what? Then you haven't heard. Fred Crocker, the Arrowcraft agent. He was killed this afternoon. How? It says traffic, hit-and-run victim. But I don't believe it. Look at this. Violence in another form preceded the tragedy, the story said. Crocker's sales office was entered earlier today in a bold daylight strike. The interior was wrecked, but whether or not the entry was for purposes of theft has not been ascertained. The writer didn't make any definite statements. The reading between the lines, he knew that he was exploring the possibility that revenge was at the bottom of both the violence and the tragedy. That those who had lost family or friends in the Arrowcraft sinkings had wrecked Crocker's office and then killed him. But remembering the bruise behind the Caruso girl's ear, I didn't believe that either. To make every day more enjoyable, treat yourself often to refreshing, delicious, wriggly, spearmint chewing gum. The lively, full-bodied, real mint flavor cools your mouth, moistened your throat, freshened your taste. And the chewing itself gives you a little lift, helps you keep going at your best. So for real chewing enjoyment that's refreshing and long-lasting, always keep wriggly, spearmint chewing gum handy. Healthful, delicious, wriggly, spearmint gum will make every day more enjoyable. And now with our star, Edmund O'Brien, we return you to the second act of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Snell and I drove out to what had been Crocker's sales office. A sheriff's deputy met us outside and took us in. Give me some light if the... Oh, there's a switch. Not as bad as it could be. At least the drawers aren't dumped. These are from a file cabinet we'll start here. What are you looking for? Crocker's sales records. Sales records? The names and addresses of all the people who bought arrow crafts from him. I don't think we'll find it. I don't get you. We've got a theory that those boats didn't just sink, that they were boarded, that the people who've been lost were slugged before they were drowned, and that the boats were scuttled. What do you think of it? Why would anybody sit out to wreck arrow crafts? That I don't know. Probably because they're linked to something important. Maybe something or somebody is on an arrow craft and somebody else doesn't know which one. Here's the sales folder, Dollar. It's empty, all right. Sure it is. That gives them the location of every arrow craft between here and San Diego. Sheriff, nobody has said where Crocker was when this place was entered. They don't know yet. You've got a theory? Yeah. That he was here. Yeah, that after the list of names and addresses was taken, he was dragged out of here and killed with a car for the same reason the others have been killed. Because alive, they might have been identifying witnesses. Well, they say everybody's got a right to his own opinion, but that's too crazy for me. Well, I don't blame you. It's too crazy for anybody. Maybe so crazy it'll never be cleared up. Expense account item two, $112 cost of entertainment that same night for as many members of the press as I could get hold of. They listened to my theory, agreed that it was unbelievable but worth printing on the grounds of sensationalism. The story made the morning additions. Most of the papers slanting it towards warning the arrow craft owners listed in Crocker's stolen records. But it didn't look so unbelievable because it had a companion piece. A night watchman at one of the yacht clubs lay near death from gunshot wounds after apprehending a prowler aboard an arrow craft. The prowler was being held at the county jail. Who is this guy, Sergeant? Jerry LaBarber is the name he uses. We put a search on him last night. He's one of those things you call a known hoodlum because nobody's been able to pin much on him. Known to the police in Las Vegas, L.A. and San Diego, and I name a few of them. Here he is. I hope you had better luck with him than we did. If you meant that, you leave me alone with him for the rest of the day. Sorry. Off the bunk, LaBarber. You got a visitor. On your feet. Stand up. Okay, hero. You got me up. What's the matter with you? What's missing, LaBarber? What? What's lost? What were you looking for on the arrow craft? Come on, who you're working for? I'm out of work. Why don't you save your breath? How many of the other killings were you mixed up in? What are the killings? I get into a scrape with an eager night watchman and now you're talking about pinning other killings on me. What is this? Who you're working for? I'm out of work. You could do yourself some good, you know. I'm not complaining, am I? You're off to a pretty good start. Even if that watchman lives, you're going to be tried for assault with intent to kill. That's a long wrap. You might make it shorter by using your head. Is that a promise? Don't make me laugh. You're a sucker, LaBarber. But this is a promise. I'm going to see you charged for Crocker's murder. Who's Crocker? And I'm going into the business of searching arrow crafts myself. Don't be stingy. Don't be stupid. Why not put the blame where it belongs? Blame for what? Okay, Sergeant, I've had enough. So have I. I wonder how long it takes to get that way. For what? I could buy and sell you a cheap tin star. Now, what do you think? He's covering for somebody, isn't he? I think you're right. You shouldn't have tipped your hands so much about searching the boats. Word's going to get out. Out of a jail cell? He called for a lawyer, one of the hot men from LA. We can refuse him visitors, but not a private session with a criminal who happens to be his lawyer. Oh, I'd like to hear that one. You should. You're going to put a bigger bull's eye on your back in that newspaper store he did. There was no trouble that day and no progress. We had time to contact two arrow craft owners that afternoon and went aboard their boats. Nothing came of it, but a feeling of frustration because we didn't know what we were looking for, how large or small it was, whether to empty fire extinguishers or break and open batteries. That night the news broke that the night watchman had died of his wounds. Snell and I made an attempt at eating dinner and took a bottle of cognac to my room to see what it could do. The phone call came at 9.30. Hello? Hello? Well, this is Dallas speaking. Who's this? What about it? Where do I meet you? I'll find it. I will be. Some girl says she wants to talk about the arrow craft. Wants me to meet her in Long Beach. Don't be ridiculous. You're not going. Somebody has to do something. Nothing as foolhardy as this. You've been expecting them to make a move. Here it is. You do it for a minute. I think she's telling the truth. I won't find out sitting here swilling brandy with you. I wasted 10 minutes in Newport circling through alleys and side streets to shake any tail that might have been put on me. And then I headed up the coast highway. At exactly 1045, I was ordering a drink in Leeds Bar. It arrived simultaneously with a metallic nudge in the ribs from a man who had taken the stool on my right. Drink it, darling. We've got to go. I was supposed to get a message from a girl. You've had it. Come on, drink up. All right? I'll leave. I'll meet you outside the door. Do I get to talk with this girl? She's outside. Okay. No, you get in front of her. I'll get them back. Where to now? Just a little way. You weren't followed? I made it a point not to be. All right? You wanted to talk? Yeah, I do. I don't know what's going to happen to me, but I don't think I care anymore. It's been like I killed all those people who've died. Take it easy, honey. You mean their deaths are your fault? Sort of, yeah. I mean, I could have stopped it, but I was afraid to because one of his men would have killed me. And I thought he'd stop before this. Hey, who do you mean? Hey, watch what you're going. Yeah, let us stop for him. This is as good a place as any. Yeah. I didn't go to the police because I have a record. And he's so powerful, he could have made it look like black mail-in had wouldn't have gone any farther. Who is so powerful? George Masterson. George Masterson? Who's he? He seems like a businessman. He owns a line of furniture stores. I've known him for three years. It was one of those things where, oh, every once in a while I'd learned something about him until I finally understood what he really was, and he knew I did. What kind of payment do you expect for what you're telling me, darling? I hadn't thought of money. I swear I hadn't. All right. Go ahead. Masterson is far outside the lodge you can get narcotics, jewels, and furs, aliens, and Mexican gold, anything. He runs the West Coast for a combination that has headquarters in Italy. Who knows this? I do. And I wrote it all down. We used to prove it. But the names he uses for all his bank accounts to evade income tax, all of it. That's what he's been looking for on those boats. Well, then he was afraid. He was running it down was the only way I could think of to protect myself. He was afraid of me because I knew so much about him. He was going to have me killed. We were in Mexico when I told him. Ensenada. When he didn't believe me, I shot him a copy. I told him I'd hidden the original on a boat I'd visited and that if he killed me, I had a way of letting the police know which one. Which one is it? I was lying to him. I didn't put it on a boat. I was lying. Arrowcraft was only a name I remembered. When he asked me, I said Arrowcraft. You mean there's nothing on those boats and 16 people have died? I know. I know I was wrong. I should have. But when you're scared, you only think of yourself. Don't, Gwen, honey. You'll be all right. This paper you say you wrote. Where is it? I have it here. I want you to take it. Now, get out of here. I want to take her home. I didn't fully believe her until I had finished reading her denunciation of George Masterson after they'd left me. But by the end of it, I knew that in my hands was the hottest document in California. I knew that hundreds of rotten lives could be crumbled, and millions of dollars in criminal traffic could be stopped. And it did away with the possibility of any suit against Arrowcraft or your company. But it wasn't enough. I should have gone to the authorities with it then. Instead, I took a room for the night and mailed it to the FBI in the morning. Then I went after Masterson. I found him in a plush office in one of his furniture stores. Here, just a moment, sir. You can't go in there. This is Masterson. What's the meaning of this? You're announced the boy you get in here. Not this morning, Masterson. I'm sorry, sir. Get somebody to throw this man out. What's the matter with you? Who are you? Johnny Dollar, working on the Arrowcraft sinkings. Gwen Thomas. I've read her statement. I don't know what you're talking about. About 16 debts. The FBI can have you for the rest. I want you for those 16 debts. Get away from me. Get away from you. Get up. Listen to me. As far as I was concerned, that was it. The girl was placed under protective custody by the FBI and the district attorney who had worked out 75 counts on Masterson's indictment before I left. It's too bad that all of the next of kin out of 16 dead can't sit in the jury box. Expense account item three, same as item one. Expense account total, $940.20. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Remember, friends, to make every day more enjoyable, treat yourself often to refreshing, delicious Wrigley Spearmint chewing gum. There's lots of cooling real mint flavor in every stick. And chewing Wrigley Spearmint helps keep you feeling fresh and alert. You feel better, work better, get more fun out of doing things. So indoors, outdoors, wherever you go, keep some healthful, refreshing Wrigley Spearmint chewing gum handy. To make every day more enjoyable, treat yourself often to delicious Wrigley Spearmint chewing gum. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, stars Edmund O'Brien in the title role and is written by Gildowd and David Ellis with music composed and conducted by Leith Stevens. Edmund O'Brien can soon be seen starring in Columbia Pictures' production, 7-Eleven Ocean Drive. Featured in tonight's cast were Gene Bates, Howard McNeer, Clayton Post, Harry Bartel, Hi-Averback, John McIntyre, and Jeanette Nolan. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, is produced and directed by Jaime Del Valle. Here's a Wrigley Spearmint chewing gum. Invite you to join us next week at this same time when, from Hollywood, Edmund O'Brien returns in another adventure of your truly, Johnny Dollar. And speaking, this is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.