Yours Truly Johnny Dollar
Johnny Dollar - Robert W Perry
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:
- 24 Jun 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
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No purchase necessary for your prohibited by law. 18 plus terms and conditions apply. See website for details. The Columbia Broadcasting System presents Yours Truly Johnny Dollar. The next half hour has its baggage packed to take a trip with America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator, Johnny Dollar. At insurance investigation, he is just an expert. At making out his expense account, he is an absolute genius. Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny Dollar. Two, home office, American Continental Life Insurance Company, Hartford, Connecticut. The following is an accounting of my expenditures, fulfilling your assignment as a bodyguard. The body being that of your late policy holder, Robert W. Perry. Expense account item one, fair on night train, Hartford to New York, $3.80. Expense account item two, a dollar rating, taxi to Lower Manhattan the following morning. Two offices, Perry and Van Bruten, importers, arriving as promised at exactly nine a.m. Yeah, my name is Johnny Dollar. I have an appointment with Mr. Perry for nine o'clock. Oh, yes, from the insurance company. Well, you're right on time. Well, he told me I'd better be. Mr. Perry just came in. He's alone and waiting for you. I'll buzz him that you're here. Thanks. What was left of your policy holder, Mr. Perry, was just sliding out of his swivel chair as I hit the room. The top of his desk had erupted, and splissor mahogany pointed their sharp fingers upward through lazy circles of smoke swirling toward the ceiling. The buzzer from his secretary's desk had been rigged to a booby trap. Oh, no, Mr. Perry. Stay away from him. There's nothing you can do for him. He's dead. What happened? What happened? What ever happened? Come on, will you? Let's look it back out of here. Hey, I wanna sit down. I'll get you a drink of water. There you are. I'll just drink this. What happened? - What happened? - What happened? - I told you. - I told you. - Has anybody heard? - There's a doctor in the third floor. Should I call him? - Never mind the doctor. Call the police. And nobody gets in here until they arrive. And the rest of you go on, beat it. Run along. And turn off that alarm. Okay, Miss. Now, just take it easy. - But he was all so sudden. What happened? - Well, that's not too hard to figure out. Somebody wanted to give your boss, Mr. Perry, a shortcut through the window. a shortcut through life so whoever it was figured out that a secretary would never buzzer boss unless he was at his desk they rigged up a bomb somewhere in his desk it would go off when you buzzed him wait a minute wait a minute don't get hysterical on me there's excitement enough around here and there'll be plenty more when the police get here keep cool but I did it you saw me do it look the way you put it I killed him by coming in here and giving you my name so you'd buzz him drop it will you sorry now what about yesterday was he here yes all day what time was it when you last used the buzzer right up to the last minute about five thirty who left the office first you or Perry mr. Perry he always leaves first and I lock up looks the things you should have used more locks last night somebody got in here to do some wiring forgot that fire alarm all that equipment and no fire look before the police arrived do you know why I was sent here yes mr. Perry recently felt that his life was in danger he thought that well with a hundred thousand dollar policy the insurance company would do everything they could to help keep him alive well we didn't have much of a chance to be what was he afraid of I don't know okay what were his other appointments for today only had to partner mr. Van Bruton at 11 and one at a time now Van Bruton anything special about their mean yes mr. Van Bruton arrived just yesterday from Holland you mean there was a branch of this firm in Holland yes mr. Perry was buying out Van Bruton's interest they had their final meeting at Van Bruton's hotel last night all Van Bruton was coming by this morning to pick up his money cash no cash here's check the bank is delivered here at 1030 now quick Perry's other appointment who was that Christine his wife oh yeah now Christine the beneficiary yes but she wouldn't have been the beneficiary in another two weeks they were getting a divorce thanks for the motive you don't like her I didn't mean it that way how about Perry did you like him okay well here's an easy one what's your name Susan Susan Gates how isn't that about him now okay Susan you'd better save your voice during the next few hours you're going to have a lot of talking to do oh here come the fireman and we haven't even got a child to ask them to save where's the fire I'm looking for a fire just stick around when the cops get here somebody'll get burned the fireman should have stuck around because the cops arrived in a blaze of glory it was a very high class investigation to lieutenant finally after about an hour the police photographer ran out of flash bulbs the office of a deceased ran out of fingerprints and the lieutenant ran out of questions so they on the scene phase of the investigation was closed at about five minutes of 11 I left the police to pack up their notebooks their clues the body and went into the outer office Susan looked like she could use a big broad shoulder to weep on but unfortunately I was wearing my light gray suit about then a dark blue suit and a deep green voice entered the room from the card I say there's some fella out here says he belongs here his name is Ben Bruton shall I let him mean oh what do you think his name is on the door you just open oh indeed now well my name happens to be Murphy and it's on beds all over the country but that don't mean I'm stuck with feathers does it as it'll teach you Johnny that I never crossed tongues with an Irishman okay sentiment officer yeah all right you can come here the policeman out there is a trouble here or I am Bremer van Bruton where's mr. Perry what he's waiting for me no no but my your point when he's not keeping any he's dead this is possible last night I saw him he was well what happened he was hit by a buzz bomb the bus bomb please I'm sorry I forgot other people aren't used to these things you mean that was foul play very foul please may I sit down my first visit in all this year since before the war it was to be so happy now tragedy like this he was a good man a good partner I understand that as of last night you were no longer partners yeah I'm glad you mentioned that I realized of course that it is in delicate to speak of such things as money at a time like this that is why I'm here to receive my payment oh just because Perry got his there's no reason for you not getting yours huh but you misunderstand me I am deeply great since the transaction was consummated what did that to do a delay would be a need this waste of money I have already paid for passage back to Amsterdam tomorrow thank you in all my years of business this is indeed the saddest moment yeah now those are very kind words Van Bruten and I believe them if your eyes would stop counting all the zeros on that check expense account item 3 90 cents phone call to your company life insurance company good morning well that's a matter of opinion this is Johnny dollar put me through to Mr. Gordon will you Mr. Gordon's office look honey this is Johnny dollar I want to speak to Gordon oh and why I'm telling him why I've got to tell him maybe you'd better sit in his lap with some smelling salts I'm not that type of the secretary besides he doesn't have a laugh hello dollar how are you making out I would about a hundred thousand dollars what's that yeah somebody term is to perry into a firecracker he's dead it's bad news it's a big policy yeah look what I want to know is shall I stay on the case certainly by all means by the way is there is a chance of proving suicide there's a non-payment clause to make this one a suicide that would have to be a center clause nobody could hate himself enough to do it this way only fair as an estranged wife she's the beneficiary but she wouldn't have been in a couple of weeks divorce coming up I'll start with her alright good luck but watch those expenses why couldn't I'm surprised I think an insurance man would be the first to want to see a fellow live a little expense account item free cab fare two dollars and eighty cents tip to driver one dollar Christine Perry's apartment was on Sutton place overlooking the river and from what the doorman told me all of the proprietors I took the elevator up to the 24th floor and there I discovered that our garden fresh widow was living high in more ways than one everything about the place was French the maid that led me into the living room that they call and a perfume which reminds you that breathing can be fun I looked up from enjoying my nose to see Mrs. Perry looking down hers Mr. dollar I was perry I believe we can dispense with any getting acquainted you're an insurance investigator interested in the death of my husband the naturally you're here because you've jumped to the conclusion that I killed him oh you're the one that's jumping to conclusions ladies and what do you want the policies in order the premium of the prepaid I'm not quite sure I know that you've got a great motive so far the only motive I found you haven't had much time to look at you okay this is my first stop maybe you can help me do you know anyone who would be happier with your husband out of the way I know very little about my husband's friend or for that matter his activity for the past six months that's when I left well that's not much help for either of us well without someone else to suspect I may just have to concentrate on you Mr. dollar I picked them in I want to concentrate on me well I hope you're as long on alibi's as you are short on your temper where were you last night with a friend Al Donovan for a while I think this my husband was and I've witnesses to prove who was with him anybody of the club the priest can tell you well save me a trip I can't afford the prices they get there certainly pleasure my husband was with his beautiful little secretary seeking peace well I wouldn't be more surprised if your late husband walked through the door and said that all right mr. that's enough yeah how much I'm a big guy baby six foot four and I've got big ears to me will this be mr. Donovan your companion of last evening I'm getting you out of here Christine I don't know what you'll say you lie to me how can I help if you lie to me you call me stupid the way you're playing this your alibi is up right into a cell I'm getting out of here she's right you are stupid darling she was doing just fine till you dropped in mr. you've been asking a lot of questions now I'll give you one answer all right Christine so much for the wise guy now about you and your alibi you wasn't with me at the club caprice last night and if it's always to prove your husband was there with his secretary who were you there with you told me you were going with your husband talking divorce remember when Al measured me for that swing I measured my chances with him to me he looked like one of the corporate assets of murder incorporated so I roll with a punch hit the floor and stayed there with my eyes closed and my ears open what I heard was Christine's alibi flying out the window mr. Donovan giving her a few loving cuffs and finally the pair of them flying out the door I allowed myself the luxury of a 22nd massage and the new lump on my jaw and then I got up and started out after them this case was becoming interesting in just a moment return to the second act of yours truly Johnny dollar but first this important message sixty million dollars is what the Red Cross needs to carry on its great work in 1949 if this seems like a lot just try to review briefly the various activities of the Red Cross it can't be done briefly red cross services extend into every area of our lives bringing care comfort and recreation to the men in the armed forces bringing first aid training nutritional programs nursing services blood banks to our own communities and all the time as these activities go on uninterrupted the Red Cross is holding itself ready to spring into instant action in case of disaster fire flood explosion any sort of catastrophe finds the Red Cross on the scene with food clothing and medical care 60 million isn't so much in the light of such activity we can make it with each of us contributing we're giving to our own safety security and peace of mind and to our neighbors too so let's give generously to our own Red Cross now back to the second act of yours truly Johnny dollar I hit the street just in time to see Darwin pushing Christine Perry into a cream colored convertible when they got rolling I piled into a cab and followed them and the chase was on at 57th and Broadway things got complicated my cab was three cars behind theirs when a red light flashed into a stop then the door of their convertible flew open Christine jumped out dashed across the street and down to the subway since Donovan didn't follow her I followed him when he finally pulled away stop he took two chances he parked in a no parking zone and walked straight into the building beside it a police station this is mr. Della lieutenant he's been waiting for you for some time now you can wait outside ok sir my name is Johnny Della lieutenant here are my credentials insurance yeah the Perry murder in particular may you come to the right place dollar a man named Donovan just walked in here and made a full confession he was that's right my clerk's just typing it up in the meantime the gentleman is down in the tank having a bite of lunch on the city he confessed does his story it up as far as I know I haven't heard too much about the case myself it's not in my precinct what did he use for a motive jealousy says he's in love wanted to marry Perry's wife did he say how he managed it yeah he stole a key to the office from the wife's apartment and at the building last night and wired a bomb to the buzzer system well guys did a lot of strange things the name of love yeah looks like done with it yeah yeah they killed a man or he's trying to cover up for someone who did well listen don't execute him for a couple of days hollows and I spent the rest of the afternoon downtown in the offices of Perry and Van Brouten importers the partners correspondence told me two things they had been extremely friendly and Van Brouten was extremely bald Perry had been sending him two pays from a famous Hollywood makeup firm at 4 30 I opened the drawer marked employment files they rocked me with two minor explosions of their own the folder marked Donovan Albert Jay told me that he'd been employed as Perry's bodyguard over a period of years and that he was canned the day before the murder before I received blast number two from the folder of Perry's secretary Susan Gates the office door opened behind me well mr. darling you're supplied with a search warrant just the one I was born with mrs. Perry the kind they say kills cats you know curiosity what are you looking for I found it how about you what are you doing here right I'm tired of dueling with you I'm here because I want it but I've got to talk to someone I called your hotel you wasn't there I tried to locate Susan but I couldn't so I thought maybe you'll be down here what's the basis of our sudden friendship you should know Al Donovan's confession the newspapers haven't already but there's not a word of truth and he didn't kill my husband how do you know that because it's impossible that's all yeah with a little hard for me to swallow to when the police told me about it but since then it's become a little more digestible what do you mean I just learned that he was your husband's bodyguard he was fired yesterday that same day your husband calls his insurance when he's screaming for another bodyguard now how would that head up for you a beef maybe Al Donovan's a fool never thinks just rushes in and says it does whatever's on his mind he told my husband if he didn't divorce me that so he threatened him well you came in here saying that diamonds confession was no good and you spend your time making it sound better and better what do you want anyway I can't help it I've got to tell you I know it doesn't sound like I'm trying to help Al but what can I do you really want me to answer that here if you want to help Al phone the police tell him Donovan made that phony confession to cover up for you simple not as simple as that you don't need the gun pristine hang up the phone sure I hope you don't mind my version being held for murder myself well that's a common aversion I'm a no hurry to see you behind bars but don't forget when the cops want to pick you up they'll do it now don't spoil the rest of the afternoon take that gun someplace else I've got things to do the first I imagine will be the call that I wouldn't necessarily if it'll make you feel any better we'll just put this phone out of order satisfy them of course not but don't get me wrong Mr. Dollar I wish you nothing but success in your investigation I puzzled over that exit line for a few seconds after she'd gone and then I went back to the company's employment file namely the application for employment as secretary of Susan Gates it informed me that during the war she had worked in a munitions plant there's specialty wiring bomb fuses when Miss Susan Gates reached home at 830 that evening she found a visitor me oh how did you get in here a professional secret are you scared me what do you want why did you come here I want to bring you the good news I heard on the radio that Al Donovan confessed to Perry's murder Al I can't believe it why not who do you like to the spot like Christine Alice covering up for I'd like to agree with you if it turns out that Christine wound up her husband's life with a bang the company that hired me saves a hundred thousand dollars I don't know she claims she has all kinds of alibis one of them is you me yeah did you see her at the Club Caprice last night yes I know who you were with your boss there's nothing wrong with that I'm not preaching a sermon I want to know who she was with I don't know man I'd never seen before Mr. Perry knew him but he wouldn't tell me why not I don't know he said I might get the wrong idea about what I don't know we didn't sit there and talk about it all night why should we sit here and talk about it all night all right all right when a census taker shows up and asked a lot of questions people answer them when the investigator tries to do his job they make the proverbial clam look like a blabber mouth look Mr. Don't believe me this has been a greater shock to me than to anyone else like shifting of course your late employer mr. Perry how long did you work for him four years now where'd you work before then what let me help you bombs wiring fuses remember all right I remember good then maybe you'll remember a little bit more let's go back to last night guy with pristine Perry who was he I tell you I don't know I don't know you don't know I mean I'll get that no I'll go you make sure you just don't keep going Susan when Susan snapped the spring lock to open the door the gun outside opened up the first slug quarter in the left shoulder spinning her out of the way of the rest of them it was getting him a knot and it's every time a buzzer went off things started booming Susan was brawled out in the floor in front of the door and to open it I had a mover by the time I did the hallway outside was empty okay take it easy it won't start hurting for a couple of minutes I'll have a doctor here by then he'll give us something just try and keep going here I'll throw my coat over you try not to move paint a room this rug never mind the rug but we want to worry about is who tried to ruin you whittle they do to me what will who do to you now they don't arrest people for getting shot you have any idea who it was that man in the office this morning picked up the check man Bruton no no he wasn't and he was a phony yes and you still gave him that check yes well I won't ask you why but apparently you gave him the money and then try to blackmail him is that right I wouldn't be a bit surprised who is this guy where can I find him come on don't pass out on me now his name quick was he live under his own name I don't blame him I could use a few moments of unconsciousness myself the Nelson Hotel didn't have a Dutch name on the register so I got a hold of the housekeeper and found out how many rooms his staff hadn't been able to make up all day because of do not disturb signs in their doors I want to calling it these particular rooms on the ninth floor I awakened one old maid on a seventh I startled a bunch of poker players who thought they were being raided on the fifth I blushed my way out of the bridal suite and on the fourth I struck the door of 427 and the jackpot who's there don't you see the sign I do not wish to be disturbed I'm sorry I must have the wrong room I started up the hall after the fire ax but when I got to it I changed my mind one of the few things I've learned about this guy van Sant was that he loved to murder people through doors so I decided against trying to chop his down then I remember the way those people came pouring out of those offices earlier in the day when they heard that fire alarm so I picked up the little red hammer next to the big red fire ax broke the little glass window pulled a little brass hook and set off a big brassy noise then I rushed back to 427 fire fire right here in my eyes sweetheart yo why you come here you wish you hadn't you remind a dresser you're you're through shooting guns for the day well you think van Sant you want to try some more you cannot make me stay here the fire we will all die you look good barbecue but I make a deal with you you talk if I like what I hear I'll show you how to get out here alive how do I know this well you don't think I'm gonna stay here in Friday yeah and if you don't start flapping that tongue in a hurry I'll probably just tie you to a chair and run first where's Van Bruten you will find him in the bedroom you better be alive he's out cold what's the matter with him he will be all right he is on the sedatives what did this identity switch start you better hurry up I smelled smoke I knew Van Bruten and Amsterdam and you'll have the sale of his interest and I knew that the girl in the office here had never seen Van Bruten what has to go now I don't get up I can feel it getting warm in here the firefighters you will be safe and don't be too sure they always start the top floor and work their way down come on I can hear those flames cracking you know the rest last night when the transaction was all finished with Barry I gave to Van Bruten some sedative and his cocoa you set up that bomb so hurry get it before you showed up to pick up the check yeah I told you that then it happened that girl didn't know I wasn't impostor I don't know how let me tell you she's been sending old Van Bruten in their two pays for the last four years gray ones my red-headed friend oh yeah let's get out of here no yeah out expense account item four a dollar forty night letter informing you the American Continental would have to meet payment of plane to mrs. Christine ferry innocent widow of the insured the only thing she was guilty of was trying to stay on the right side of a hot tempered boyfriend she lied about who she was with at the club caprice not to fix herself in alibi but to keep Al Donovan from learning that she'd been out with another guy that guy being the real mr. Van Bruten who had only taken her out to try to talk her into reconciling with his friend her husband item five sixty dollars silver chafing dish wedding present for Christine and a new husband Al Donovan that was the least she could do for the guy who had confessed to a murder he thought she had committed item six eight dollars flowers for Susan Gates prison hospital item seven fine for turning in false alarm one thousand dollars and no sense and that's what I think I'm beginning to get for getting into this racket no sense expense account total twelve hundred and sixty three dollars yours truly goni dollar in just a moment we'll tell you about next week's Johnny dollar adventure but first this reminder just a little earlier tonight on CBS Jack Benet turned traffic actor on the Ford theater but this Sunday he'll be back again on his own show with a special treat for the Jack Benny fans after the last broadcast on which the Ronald Coleman's appeared thousands of letters came in from fans asking the jack and bat Ronnie and Benita back again soon the walkie can wet did and Ronnie and Benita by popular demand returned to the Jack Benny program this Sunday in what should result in one of the most hilarious broadcasts of the year so be sure to listen to mr. and mrs. Ronald Coleman on the Jack Benny show which is heard on all CBS stations this Sunday listening again next week when CBS brings you yours truly Johnny dollar with Charles Russell as Johnny yours truly Johnny dollar is written by Paul Dudley and Gildown with music by Mark Warnell and is produced and directed by Richard Sandville for CBS the Columbia broadcasting system with the lucky land sluts you can get lucky just about anywhere this is your captain speaking you know we've got clear runway and the weather's fine but we're just going to circle up here a while and get lucky no no nothing like that it's just these cash prizes add up quick so I suggest you sit back keep your tray table upright and start getting lucky play for free at luckylandsluts.com are you feeling lucky no purchase necessary bgw grab void we're prohibited by law 18 plus terms and conditions apply what's the easiest choice you can make window instead of middle seat picking a vendor who sends a great gift basket outsourcing business tasks you hate what about selling with Shopify whether you're selling a little or a lot Shopify helps you do your thing however you teaching Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business from the launch your online shop stage to the first real-life store stage all the way to the did we just hit a million order stage Shopify is there to help you grow whether you're selling scented soap or offering outdoor outfits Shopify helps you sell wherever and whatever you're selling Shopify's got you covered sign up for a one dollar per month trial period at Shopify.com/try go to Shopify.com/try now to grow your business No matter what stage you're in, Shopify.com/try.