Yours Truly Johnny Dollar

Johnny Dollar - The James Clayton Matter

https://www.solgoodmedia.com - Listen to hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, and ambient sounds all ad free! Daily Yours Truly Johnny Dollar offers a unique spin on the beloved old-time radio detective series. Tune in every day to follow the intelligent and daring Johnny Dollar as he solves complex cases involving insurance scams and more. This daily podcast blends nostalgia with gripping story arcs, perfect for detective genre enthusiasts and those who love a good mystery.

Duration:: 32m
Broadcast on:: 10 Jul 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

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That's renterswearhouse.com or call 303-974-9444 to speak to a rent estate advisor today. It is Ryan here and I have a question for you. What do you do when you win? Like are you a fist pumper? A woohoo, a hand clapper, a highfiver? If you want to hone in on those winning moves, check out Chumba Casino. Choose from hundreds of social casino-style games for your chance to redeem serious cash prizes. There are new game releases weekly plus free daily bonuses so don't wait. Start having the most fun ever at Chumba Casino.com. Sponsored by Chumba Casino, no purchase necessary. VGW Group, void word prohibited by law. 18-plus terms and conditions apply. From Hollywood, it's time now for John Lund as Johnny Dollar. Hi, Chet Graham, Johnny. Who? Wake up, boy. Chet Graham claims New York Mutual. Oh, hi, Chet. How are things? Bad, Johnny. I have to make a little trip out to the coast on a phony claim. I'll be gone about four days, but I need someone to hold on my office while I'm away. Can you do it? That's not my line, Chet. You know that. We'll make it your line, Johnny. Somebody has to be here. Look, you can live in my apartment. You can use my tickets to wish you were here. You can even take my girl if you want. New York swell this time of year. Has you got anybody there? Oh, everybody's got the flu or busy or something. When do you want to leave for the coast? Like to get out on the noon plane today. Well, I can be down there by 11. Good. We'll probably miss each other, but just walk right in the office and make yourself at home. I'll call you from LA. Have a good trip. By the way, what does your girl look like? Even your best dream was never that good. Just leave her phone number on your desk. John Lund in a transcribed adventure of the man with the action-packed expense account. America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Here is truly Johnny Daller. Expense accounts submitted by special investigator Johnny Daller to New York Mutual Underwriters Limited Rockefeller Center in New York City. Attention Mr. Chester Graham claims and adjustments. Dear Chet, you probably read some of this in the Los Angeles papers, but they don't have the whole story. Maybe they'll never get it all. I hope not. I've found out part of it stumbled into the rest of it and I'm trying to forget all of it. The following is an accounting of expenditures during your four-day absence and my investigation of the James Clayton matter. Expense account item one, $14.35 transportation Hartford to New York. Where, as per your advice, I walked in your office, sat down, and made myself at home. And where, 15 minutes later, I had a caller. Mr. Daller, is this? That's right. The girl at the reception desk said Mr. Graham was out of town and that you were taking his place. Yes. Please sit down. Thank you, but I don't have time. I'm Miss Tevans. Dr. James Clayton's nurse. He asked me to see you. I see. He gave me these policy numbers. He said that your company wrote these policies and that he'd like to talk to one of you. Well, certainly, Miss Tevans. He can come by any time. No, you don't understand. Dr. Clayton can't get away from the office. We're terribly rushed and I really should be getting back myself. He's there all alone. Do you know what it's about, Miss Tevans? No. The doctor's been acting strangely all day. He had me cancel all of his outside calls and then he sent me here. He said to explain that it was very urgent. I'm very concerned for him. The tall pale brunette girl in the crisply starts uniform and Cape was certainly concerned about something. She bit her lip forced out a one unprofessional smile and started to cry. I pretended not to notice all this as we got on the elevator and went down into the street. However, ten minutes later, when we arrived at the suite of offices in the Pelroy building, I had to notice Dr. James Clayton. He met us at the door. Most of his costume was medically correct. White coat and carrying a stethoscope in one hand. But in the other, he brandished the 32 Iver Johnson. The safety was off. Oh, oh, it's you. Yes, doctor. This is Mr. Dollar from the insurance office. Claims investigation? Yeah. Oh, fine. Jane, this would be a good time for you to get some lunch, don't you think? Well, doctor, I have all of those lab reports. No, go ahead, Janey. Like a good girl. I want to speak with Mr. Dollar alone. Who's doctor if you say so? Goodbye, Mr. Dollar. Goodbye. Come in, Mr. Dollar. Sit down. Very fine girl, Jane. She's worked for me a long time. Very fine. Do you always meet her at the door with firearms, doctor? Oh, oh, this. Well, all I can say is this is a ridiculous mess. My life's been threatened by a man who has definite homicidal tendencies. This, I don't even know how to load it. I look foolish, I suppose. A threat on your life, doctor, comes under the heading of police business. I know that very well. And I would go directly to the police only. Well, it is a delicate matter. You seem dubious already. No, I'm just curious. Go on, please. Several months ago, I attended a patient named Florence Harmon. A thorough examination disclosed that her poor physical condition wasn't based on any organic disorder, but rather upon an emotional instability. Now, this, I find the discovered, was brought about by her marriage to an erratic, ruthless, ill-tempered man, Benjamin Harmon. I could only advise that she divorce him immediately. Well, that's somewhat extreme, doctor. Are you always certain of advice like that? In this case, there's no other answer. I approached Mr. Harmon on the subject last night at his home. I explained that Mrs. Harmon's health her very life is in jeopardy. More is involved here than keeping intact a union, which has nothing but legalities, a binding force. I see. But Mr. Harmon doesn't care for semantics, huh? He attacked me. If it hadn't been for the assistance of Mrs. Harmon in a servant, he might have choked me to death. When I left, he threatened me. Then you should have called the police. Yes, yes, I thought of that. But look, if you approached Harmon in the right manner, he might discard his ideas of violence. Well, you're the expert on homicidal tendencies, but the best thing I can see for you is to prefer assault charges and have him locked up. I know all that. But it's for Mrs. Harmon's sake. Please understand, she's been through a shattering ordeal. Look, Mr. Dollar, would you go see him and talk to him? If you think he means it really, then I'll call the police and prefer charges against him. The Harmon residence was in Westchester, a story and a half colonial with all the trimmings. There was a 51 Cadillac in the open garage and a 52 Ford station wagon in front of the house. Yes? This one didn't have a white coat or stethoscope, but he had a gun. What is it? Mr. Harmon? I'm Harmon. What do you want? Mr. Harmon, my name is Dollar. Dollar, huh? Get out of my way. Oh. Yeah, Mr. Dollar. Drink this. Even now. Oh. Take it, please. Oh, you had quite a blow. Try a little more. It should make you feel better. What was who? Oh, you can bring suit against him against us. You can do anything you want to, Mr. Dollar. He's just ungovernable. He could easily have killed you. Do you, Mrs. Harmon? Yes. Your husband think I was the iceberg? Oh, I don't know what he thought. I just heard him yell at you. And when I came to the door, you were lying there and he'd taken the station wagon and left. Well, last night, he even attacked my personal physician and threatened to kill him. I don't know what's gotten into him. You'd better sit down. Oh, that's getting better. Where'd he go? Heaven only knows. Mad. That's what he is, Mr. Dollar. Mad. He's liable to do anything. I'm scared. I'm scared, stiff. I called Dr. Clayton who promised to notify the police. It was about a quarter to six when I got back to his office. A broad-shouldered man in a tweed suit was in the reception room. Hi, you, Dr. Clayton? No. Hey, uh, don't I know you? I was thinking the same about you. Wait, dollar? Yeah, Tom Bassman, Central Division. Oh, sure. How are you, Tom? Hi. Hey, you must be the one. What? This Dr. Clayton called downtown about a threat that his insurance company had advised him to report it. That's right. Where is he? We should be here, Tom. What's his nurse say? I rang the buzzer. No one around at all. What's this all about? My own name, Benjamin Harmon, threatened the doctor's life. I met him myself. He's carrying a gun and he looked dangerous to me. I just came from his house. He's still there? No. Have a better phone in and get a pickup out on him. When the doctor shows up, I'll get a complaint. Oh, hello. Hello. Hi, Mr. Dolly. Hello, Mr. Stevens. Dr. Clayton here? This is Sergeant Bassman. We want to see him ourselves. You're a police officer? That's right, Miss. I heard him talking to you on the phone. Is anything the matter? Just want to see him. Well, goodness, he sent me out to pick up these things. He was here when I left. Oh. What? Perhaps he had an emergency. Well, there's any way we can find out. Well, if he had one, it would be right here on the pad because I always have to know. That's funny. What? He's on an emergency call at 1213 Alessandro Street. Can I see that, please? Uh-huh. There's no name on this, Miss Stevens. Do you recognize the address at all? No, I don't. The doctor just wouldn't take a random emergency call unless it were very unusual. This might be unusual. Dollar, how bad off did you think Harmon was? Mad. Had a gun. Crack me. Honey rough. This is in the warehouse district. Think we better go down there? I think so. [MUSIC] Wait. What? 1213. Oh, it'd have to be that vacant lot over there. This one's 1240 and the rest belong to that warehouse. Yeah. Tom? Hm? A car. M.D. on the license plate? Yeah. Uh-huh. It might be Clayton's. Yeah. Oh, it's Clayton's car, all right. He must be around here somewhere looking for 1213. Yeah. Now let's have a peek. Tom, I see. He's had it. Is it Clayton? Yeah. That's him. Some emergency this was. Yeah. [MUSIC] We'll return to yours truly Johnny Dollar in just a moment. On weekends, it seems everybody takes his car out on the highways. Some drivers are less experienced than others. They either speed or poke along with a whole stream of cars behind them. Both types are a menace to safety. Whatever you do, be moderate, be obedient to all traffic laws. Be careful, use your head, and don't take chances. Now with our star John Lund, we bring to the second act of yours truly Johnny Dollar. [MUSIC] An hour of questioning in the neighborhood turned up two people who recalled hearing the shots. And one man remembered seeing a man who answered Benjamin Harmon's description, loitering in the vicinity of a nearby bar earlier in the evening. Obviously Dr. Clayton had been lured to his death by the murderer who had telephoned him, pretended to need a physician, waited till the victim appeared and then shot him down. Expense account item three, $11.65. A good dinner, three martinis, tip, and thinking it took chores. After which I stole over to the palroy building. Expense account item four, five dollars even. Bribe Watchman. I shouldn't be doing this, you know. Might lose my job over it. I appreciate it. But since you're from the insurance company, I guess you're all right. Just looking around is all. Too bad about the doctor. Nice fellow. Very. What do you think you'll find? A policeman been head almost an hour ago poking around. You know if they found anything? Sure. Or what? Doctors emergency kid. I heard him say he didn't take it with him when he went out on that emergency. Yeah, don't be drawn. The business about the emergency kid started me thinking. I opened Clayton's file drawer and skimmed through every patient's name from Abbot to Zabrowski. He'd been a thorough man, and from all evidence has operated an efficient medical office. However, he had no medical history in his files on Florence Harmon. There was nothing to indicate that she had ever been a patient of his. On the other hand, there was an entry a year before which showed that he had examined, treated, and discharged Benjamin Harmon as a patient. I think these two developments supplied me with all of the curiosity I needed for a while. Nurse Jane Steven's home address was duly noted on Dr. Clayton's phone book, Oakdale House, surprisingly enough on Oak Street. Special rights for nurses, room 210. Oh, Mr. Darling. How do you feel? Not too good, Mr. Darling. I just got home a little while ago. They kept me down there pretty long. Do you want to come in? Thanks. I don't want to keep you up. It isn't much of a place, is it? I mean, I haven't straightened it up for days, it seems. I'm sorry. Things like this aren't easy. I know. Don't apologize to me. To that, Mr. Darling. Have they caught Mr. Harmon yet? No, not yet. Mr. Steven's, you worked for Dr. Clayton a long while, didn't you? Five years. Then you should be able to tell me who he was going to marry. Marry? Well, I didn't know. I have no idea. He'd already made arrangements for a honeymoon. Honeymoon? Look, reservations on the yield of France for next April. A settlement is desk draw. Confirmed to Dr. and Mrs. James Clayton. Well? What difference does it make? I don't know. Seems strange that you've been with them for such a long time, and didn't know about this. I... Or did you? All right. What about Mrs. Harmon? Well... Look, Miss Steven's, things are wrong all the way down the line about your doctor's death, about what happened before it. It'll come out sooner or later. I suppose it will. It's awful to say this, Mr. Darling. But Mrs. Harmon was the only one Dr. Clayton saw socially. And she, of course, is married. Of course. And the good doctor advised her to get a divorce. He met her when Mr. Harmon was a patient of his? Yes, that's right. They became friendly. But Mrs. Harmon was never a patient? No, never, just a husband. What can you tell me about Mr. Harmon? Well, really, all I know is he came in to see Dr. Clayton a few times over a year ago, I guess. Then after... After he saw what was happening between Mrs. Harmon and Dr. Clayton, he stopped coming in. I sent a copy of his medical history to another doctor. But Dr. Clayton had been seeing Mrs. Harmon all this time. It's awful to say this now, Mr. Darling. Doctors dead. I'm no moralist. We're all human. It's happened before. Married people have been attracted by others. I'm tired, Mr. Darling. Sure. Do you have any idea why I was called in today? Not first. I didn't. I... Well, of course it happened. The police told me about Mr. Harmon's threats. But I don't understand what you're trying to do. The police want Mr. Harmon, and what does it all mean? It means the wrong man was killed. Please, Mr. Darling. I should have tumbled to it right away, but your husband fit the part too well. Now, look here. I've been through quite enough today with the police looking for Ben. I don't have... You and Clayton. I was going to be the star witness when the state tried him for shooting your husband. Whatever I said as a material witness would back up his self-defense plea and get him off on a justifiable homicide. Isn't that it? I tell you, I won't listen. And you and the doctor would sail to France and live happily ever after. What's the matter? Wouldn't your husband give you a divorce? You won't listen. Go ahead. If you say it's that way, Mr. Darling, and you know everything I know, you know everything, then it must be that way. Yeah, only it got followed up. Your husband did shoot your doctor boyfriend after all. Get out of here. Get out of my house. You can't prove anything. You're right, Mrs. Harmon. I can't prove anything. Not a thing. They catch your husband and they'll put him away for it. But you have something to live with for the rest of your life. Or maybe you didn't really love your doctor after all. Get out. Get out, leave me alone. Leave me alone. What? Well, that's it, Sergeant. I want to know if people can really get by with this kind of thing in our courts of law. Even when you pick up Benjamin Harmon, will he have any kind of defense? Oh, we'll get him, darling. The others, I can't answer. What you just told me is really a thing. I don't see how any lawyer can do much for a guy who threatens another man's life and finally guns him down, do you? Supposing I could prove that Harmon was being set up as a patsy, that the doctor was really supposed to gun him down and plead self-defense. Up to the judge in the jury. When we get Harmon, he'll be arraigned and then died at unfirst-degree murder charges. Don't worry about that. And if it goes that far, it generally means you'll get the works. After all, we're pretty sure he shot and killed the doctor. Hang up, dollar. Huh? You still there, dollar? Hang up or I'll blow your head off. Benjamin Harmon wasn't kidding. He was blazing mad. He had a gun, and I knew he wasn't afraid to use it. I was across the street when you left my place a little while ago. Fixing up another deal, were you? I don't know what you're talking about, Harmon. I followed you here so we could have this talk. And we're going to have it, you and I. You ought to put that gun away and let him take you. They'll shoot you down if they see you. Nobody's going to shoot me down, not yet. Now, where's your office? Hartford, Connecticut. I mean here. Where do you practice here? Come on. I don't practice anything here. My office is in Hartford. This apartment belongs to a friend of mine. I'm standing in for him here while he's out of town. Where's his office? New York mutual liability. I mean his law office. I want to get down there and see how much... Hold on now. I'm not a lawyer. My friend's not a lawyer. We're insurance investigators. Where's the office? I tell you, we... Listen. Clayton called me this morning and said a lawyer named dollar was on his way over to talk to me about the washing florants. You hadn't started swinging that gun butt around. I'd have told you why I was there. I think I know why Clayton called you and told you that, but I don't... You and he were trying to pull something to take my wife away from me. I know that much. You're wrong, Harmon. I didn't know anything about that. Nobody takes my way for me. That's the kind of temper that got you in all the trouble you're in. Look, you can shoot me here and I'll be number two, but they'll get you real easy here. You know I didn't kill Clayton. How do I know you didn't kill him? You threatened him. Half a dozen people heard you threatened him. I have an idea why you did it and you might have been right, but murder for any reason... Shut up! You're in on a somewhere. You know who did kill him and you're going to clear me or I'll whip it out of you, darling. I'll whip it out of you. All right. Here. Try this. Go on. I'm tired of fooling with you. I'll get out of your feet. Right. Well, you got one point in your favor. This gun hasn't been fired. Do you have another one? You're taking out the drink. Now, you have a chance to talk to me right now. I don't think the police will be interested in much you have to say. I wanted to kill Clayton, but I didn't. I didn't. Nobody will believe that. I know I've got a temper and I've tried to control it, but I didn't kill him. I'm an unfortunate. I want facts. Where were you when Clayton was shot? How do I know I didn't know what time he was shot? Say between five and six today. I was out getting mad. Cried. Where? Who saw you? No. After I have to admit, I was a sore. I jumped in the car and bought myself a jug. I know it sounds crazy, but I spent most of the time just sitting in the car down to the docks, just drinking and thinking. Didn't matter. I don't know what it was. I don't know when I walked over to this little phone Clayton. I told him I was on Alice Andro Street and he come on down. I wanted to have a showdown. You mean you wanted to come down so you could kill him? Maybe I did have it on my mind. I don't know. I waited an hour or so, but he never showed up. What I called back at his office, nobody answered. So I tried back in my car and that's what I heard about my being wanted for killing him. It was on the news cast. I didn't do a dollar. I swear I didn't. The others I knew about. I didn't kill them. What other is? Forest always had other friends. Yes, I don't love her anymore, but I don't know. Maybe I hated for all of it. When a man doesn't let part of his life walk away from it, I wouldn't give her a divorce. If I hadn't let her get away with it, it would have been too much for me to hold. Even though you didn't love her and you knew she didn't love you? Yes. That sounds stupid. Maybe. I loved her once. She loved me. The way two people only love at certain times. I don't know sense yet. I'm not well, darling. The clicking gave me a year. Now that after 18 months, finished anemia. The two of them could have waited at least so I was dead, couldn't I? I found some sleeping pills in your medicine cabinet and I fed him a couple with some hot cocoa. He dropped off to sleep in your bed while I made some phone calls confirming what he just told me. Expense account item five, taxi fare, four dollars and five cents back to Oak Street, to Oakdale House. Special rights for nurses. I thought you'd be back. I'm glad it's you. I think somehow you're the kind of man who understands things. I'll be a good listener. Go ahead. And I first started as his nurse. I fell in love with him. I guess it's an old story, terribly old and corny. But then he met her. I heard him tell you all those lies today about treating Mrs. Harmon. I was out in the hall. Didn't have any idea exactly what he intended to do until I heard him call Mr. Harmon right after you left. He told him you were a lawyer. He knew Harmon was upset enough to attack me. Doctor was very good about knowing what people would do. I was here when Mr. Harmon called him tonight. Doctor took the call and wrote it down on the pad. I saw him with the gun inside his coat and I knew he was going down there to shoot Mr. Harmon. So I followed him. He was walking around the dark looking for Mr. Harmon with the gun in his hand. Ran up to him and pleaded with him not to be crazy that she wasn't worth it. And he said he was going to kill me too. He struggled and the gun went off. I don't know how many times. Then I came back here and pretended I'd been down to the drugstore. I see. What's your first name? Jane. Jane. Dr. Clayton made all sorts of elaborate plans so he'd have a self-defense plea. But you don't have to go to all that trouble. You can prove self-defense. He had the gun. He was going to use it on you. I beg your pardon. I can help you Jane. Is it goes second degree or manslaughter suspended? You didn't mean to shoot him but he meant to shoot you. No. You're nice. But I can't get off. What? I guess they haven't found her yet. I killed Mrs. Harmon an hour ago. Expense account item six. Same as one transportation back to Hartford. I didn't spend any other money yet. I didn't meet your girl. I didn't see the musical. I didn't go anyplace. I just sat in your office and looked at the walls for the next three days. I'm leaving this where you'll see it when you come in tomorrow morning. Settle up and don't call me for a long time. A long, long time. If you call it all. Expense account total. Fifty six dollars and thirty five cents. Here's truly Johnny Dollar. Yours truly Johnny Dollar stars John Lund in the title role and is written by E. Jack Newman with music by Eddie Dunstetter. John Lund can currently be seen in the Universal International Picture just across the street. Featured in tonight's cast were Victor Perron, Virginia Greg, Joseph Currens, John McIntyre, and Jeanette Nolan. Yours truly Johnny Dollar is transcribed in Hollywood by Jaime Del Valle. Every Sunday CBS Radio's Bob Trout brings you a timely weekend roundup of world news. As a special eyewitness feature an overseas CBS radio news correspondent flies in to give you an up-to-the-minute account of developments on his beat. Don't miss Bob Trout's world news roundup Sundays on the CBS radio network. [Music] Well it sounds like the tenants hit your rental property sure know how to throw a great party. 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