July 25, 2025 • 35 mins
Today's Mystery: Johnny goes to Florida to investigate a ranch, where a rancher claims the winter freeze cost him his entire herd of cattle.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: April 6, 1958
Originated from Hollywood
Starring: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar; Virginia Gregg; Marvin Miller; Herb Vigran; Jack Moyles; Vic PerrinWhen making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com
Become one of our Patreon Supporters at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Thank you to our Patreon Supporter of the Day: Rachel, Patreon supporter since June 2022.
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Original Radio Broadcast Date: April 6, 1958
Originated from Hollywood
Starring: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar; Virginia Gregg; Marvin Miller; Herb Vigran; Jack Moyles; Vic PerrinWhen making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com
Become one of our Patreon Supporters at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Thank you to our Patreon Supporter of the Day: Rachel, Patreon supporter since June 2022.
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're
going to bring you this week's episode of Yours Truly
Johnny Dollar. But first I want to encourage you, if
you're enjoying the podcast, to follow us using your favorite
(00:48):
podcast software. And remember, when making your travel plans, check
Johnny Dollar air dot com first. Johnny Dollar Air dot
Com is our price line affiliate link, so if you
click on that, you will get the same benefits of
going to priceline dot com, but part of your purchase
price supports the great Detectives of Old Time Radio at
(01:10):
no additional cost to you. So remember when making your
travel plans, check Johnny Dollar Air dot com first. Well, now,
from April to sixth, nineteen fifty eight, here is the
Eastern Western.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Matter from Hollywood.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
It's time now for.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Johnny Dillar.
Speaker 5 (01:33):
Earl Foreman, Johnny down in Serrisota.
Speaker 6 (01:35):
Don't tell me, Earl. The Florida weather is finally behaving itself.
The water and the Gulf is warmed up. So grab
my fishing clothes, tackle box, a couple of rods and reels.
Speaker 7 (01:43):
Maybe you better.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
Grab your levi's boats and saddle in a couple of
six guns instead.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
What is this a Western?
Speaker 5 (01:48):
It may be an Eastern Western before we're through. Listen,
Florida is the leading cattle state here in the Deep South.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
I had heard something to that effect.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
Okay, the freezing weather a short while back hid some.
Speaker 7 (01:58):
Of the ranch is pretty hard.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Say nothing of the tourist trade right.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
Ordinarily, the year round pasture age makes it unnecessary to
lay up a lot of hay and feed for the
winner that figures. But this year, thanks to the freeze,
the cattle we're so awakened by malnutrition and then slashing
around in soggy pasture landed well, at least a couple
of hundred thousand have died.
Speaker 6 (02:17):
What's your problem, Earland Outside of the high cause of steak.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
A rancher has just hit me with a big fat claim.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Ah how much seventy eight.
Speaker 5 (02:24):
Seven and fifty dollars says that he lost his entire herd.
Speaker 6 (02:28):
Well, I know a lot of them and lost quite
a few, but the entire herd? Yeah you coming, I
sure am.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Bob Bailey and The Exciting Adventures of the Man with
the Action Fact Expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator, or.
Speaker 6 (02:52):
Is truly Johnny Dollar expense account submitted by a special
investigator Johnny Dollar the Tri State Life at Casualty Company, Sarasota,
(03:14):
Florida office. Following is the acount of expenses incurred during
my investigation of the Eastern Western Matter.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Expense account.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
Adam one ninety four eighty plain for an incidental's Hertford,
Connecticut to Sarasota. As I expected, Earl Porman met me
the airport. We headed north on Route forty one. Thirteen
miles later at Braytonon we turned east on sixty four
after grabbing a late lunch. That's Adam two five seventy five. Then,
still traveling eastward, we crossed the Kissimee River onto a
narrow and improved road into the swampland. And it struck
(03:45):
me that what should have been lush green vegetation in
this low damp country was brown and lifeless.
Speaker 8 (03:50):
That's what the cold weather did, Johnny. All that grass
had good, passed your froze and rotted away.
Speaker 6 (03:55):
Now wonder that cattle haven't been eating well? But didn't
I read somewhere they were fed the rowined orange crops.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Yes, but that still didn't save a lot of the herds.
Losses have been pretty heavy.
Speaker 7 (04:04):
Huh.
Speaker 8 (04:04):
Yeah, But as I told you over the phone, Trimble
is the only one I know of who lost all
his steers.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
That the one who's made the insurance claim.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Yeah, Bart Trimble. His fence starts at the next turn.
Speaker 7 (04:13):
In the road.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Have you had many claims, Earn.
Speaker 8 (04:16):
Oh, a few a month or so ago, small ones.
Not many of these people insure their herds.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
There. That's where Trimble's place starts.
Speaker 7 (04:24):
You see it.
Speaker 6 (04:27):
I saw it all right, hundreds of acres of wet, brown,
dead looking pasture. I also saw the steers, hundreds of them,
their carcasses lying there, running in the sun.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Oh what was left of all the buzzets have done well?
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Five hundred and twenty five head, Johnny.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
But surely some of them must have survived.
Speaker 8 (04:47):
Not according to the claim I received. That's why I
called you immediately, Earl. You said the other claims were
filed a month.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Or so ago.
Speaker 8 (04:54):
I hoped you'd catch that. Why did Trimble wait so long?
That's another reason I called you.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Yeah, what you mean?
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Here's his gait. Let's see what he has to say.
Speaker 6 (05:05):
The Tremble place was unexpectedly new and tidy looking. The
main house was a concrete block, a fair all white
with a slab roof. Behind it was a varne in
the corral. The snack of bale hay was obviously for
the horses, and hardly big enough if he'd herd of steers.
A few chickens pecking around.
Speaker 9 (05:20):
Here and there, Love me tummy.
Speaker 6 (05:25):
The woman who opened the door was about forty tall
and nice looking, well made up, almost out of place
on a cattle ranch.
Speaker 9 (05:31):
Yes, oh, mister Poorman, how are you?
Speaker 4 (05:34):
And a voice was soft, gentle pleasant.
Speaker 9 (05:36):
I'll do, Missus Trimble, nice to see you, mister Porman.
Why don't you come in? I hear you say yes,
But he has a friend with him.
Speaker 8 (05:44):
Well, I won't kid you, mister Porman. I'm glad to
see you, hardie, and I hope you brought me a
nice bake insurance check. This is Johnny Dollar, mister, and
missus Trimble. He's with our company.
Speaker 9 (05:53):
Well, how do you do, mister Dollar? Won't you please
come in?
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Thank you? Sir, I think I've heard of you.
Speaker 9 (05:59):
Ah, sit down, won't you? Zeppa will be ready in
a little while, And of course you're going to stay, aren't.
Speaker 10 (06:04):
You, Johnny Dollar?
Speaker 9 (06:05):
Well, now that depends, of course you'll stay.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
I really should get back to Sarasota tonight.
Speaker 7 (06:09):
My wife.
Speaker 8 (06:10):
Wait a minute, Oh, I know you're the insurance investigator.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
That's right.
Speaker 8 (06:14):
And what's he doing here, Pullman? What's there to investigate?
You may be trying to say I killed off the
herd myself to collect the insurance. Mike said, nothing of
the sort. And what's to investigate? I told you I
don't like this, and I'm telling you right.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
To your face.
Speaker 9 (06:27):
You shouldn't talk like that.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
It's the truth. What do you think you're gonna do
around here?
Speaker 7 (06:31):
Dollar?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Bye?
Speaker 9 (06:32):
Please?
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Well, that depends. Mister Turmbule.
Speaker 8 (06:34):
Does he have to say it's okay Pullman before you
can pay my claim?
Speaker 7 (06:37):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (06:37):
He does.
Speaker 8 (06:38):
Well, believe me, if I'd known this was the kind
of out that I was dealing with paying premiums to. Okay,
all right, poke around as much as you want, stay around,
as long as you like. We'll bed you down, we'll
feed you, we'll show you what kind of people we are.
Just don't get in my way. I've got a lot
of work to do and don't tell me.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
I'm a crook. Now, be reasonable about this.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Me.
Speaker 8 (07:01):
I'm being reasonable. You're the one that, uh, what do
you want, Shorty? Well, you told me to tell you, boss,
Tell me why the truck has come to pick up
them hides and help them load them on the truck.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
You're selling the hides from those animals?
Speaker 7 (07:18):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Why not? Oh we could salvage that? Is anything wrong
with that?
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Nothing at all?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
All right?
Speaker 8 (07:25):
You want horses to snoop around? Help yourself. Saddles are
in the barn, but just stay out of my way.
I'm on, shorty, let's get.
Speaker 7 (07:32):
Out with the airs nice and trim your boss.
Speaker 9 (07:38):
I'm sorry, but it's been so upset over losing all
those steers.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Well, of course we can't blame him for that.
Speaker 9 (07:44):
He's been working so hard trying to save some of
the hides and sell the carcasses for fertilizer.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Yes, I know, with so.
Speaker 9 (07:50):
Many ranchers trying to do the same thing.
Speaker 6 (07:52):
Why did he wait so long before finding his claim,
missus Trimbley?
Speaker 9 (07:56):
Because he's been so busy, and because he hoped he
could say it's something from the heard.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
I guess because this lapse of time has given the
bodies a chance to decompose, what has given them, buzzies
and other scavengers, a chance to remove any evidence that
maybe those stairs were deliberately.
Speaker 9 (08:11):
Oh no, surely you don't think for a minute that
my husband would.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Where can I find the nearest veterinarian well that.
Speaker 9 (08:19):
We use is up and kissing me?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Okay, but mister Dowler, you don't.
Speaker 9 (08:24):
You can't possibly think.
Speaker 6 (08:25):
I'll let you know what I think after a good
cow doctor has a look at those animals, Act two
(08:46):
of yours, truly, Johnny Dollar in a moment from the
holes of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli is an
exciting beginning to a stirring song.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
It is an historic salutation to the efforts of.
Speaker 11 (08:59):
A valiant group of fighting men. Why is their history glorious?
What spurred them on? Patriotism and desire for excitement are
sometimes given for reasons, but these are not the answers.
The answer is these were men of vision, men who
understood our country's needs. Respect, honor, and prestige are things
(09:22):
that go hand in hand with the country's greatness. Major
Smedley deed Butler recognized this in the year nineteen fifteen.
At that time, our diplomatic negotiations with Haiti were disrupted
by Coco bandits, who perilously affected the lives of some
United States citizens in Haiti. A contingent of marines under
(09:43):
the command of Major Butler was sent in to bring
the bandits under control. Though they were holed up in
Fort Liberty, Major Butler found an opening in the wall
and led a terrifying charge through the breach that resulted
in very dangerous hand to hand combat for himself and
his men. Amid a furious onslaught of Cocker bandits and
(10:03):
a hail of enemy bullets. Major Butler succeeded in overcoming
the resistance and creating a peaceful atmosphere. His grateful country
awarded him the Medal of Honor for bravery, forceful leadership,
and action above and beyond the call of duty, the
second time he was awarded this high honor. Major Smedley
(10:24):
Butler had a code of conduct born of years of
devotion and service to the United States of America, and
now act too of yours, truly, Johnny Dollar, and the
Eastern Western Matter.
Speaker 12 (10:40):
At dinner that night, Bert Tremble had changed his tone
was very apologetic, almost too much so, and too nice.
Speaker 8 (10:52):
I didn't mean it, mister Dollar, what I said before,
at least not the way I said it. But this
whole thing has hit me pretty hard, losing over five
hundred steers and handful of cats.
Speaker 9 (11:04):
I told you by it. When they all went so
quickly that night, you should have been suspicious.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
What night, missus Tremble.
Speaker 9 (11:10):
It was the last big freeze.
Speaker 8 (11:11):
Yes, I got back here late. It went up to
Lake Wales trying to bake some feed, no luck. Then
it blew up cold. By the time I got back here,
got the hands rounded up. How many, mister Tremble, And
there were five of us, including Shorty Skinner.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
I've seen that Shorty somewhere before all.
Speaker 8 (11:30):
Anyhow, when we got to them, the cattle were all
bunched up at the north fence. We thought we'd drive
the strong ones back here where they'd have some shelter
and we could give them the hay we keep for
the horses. But they wouldn't move. Most of them couldn't move,
and it was dark and freezing wind was cutting across
the swamp, so all we could do was come back
(11:51):
here and pray. Next morning they were dead, all of them.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
I've put everything I.
Speaker 8 (11:59):
Had into this, every penny I save for my factory
work up North, Betty's money from nursing, even cashed in
my own life insurance policy. And now they're gone. So
if I got a little nasty, well, I guess a
man can take.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Only so much.
Speaker 9 (12:15):
It's been off hard for Bart the past three years,
and just when things were going.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Good, your hands bunk out in that building beside the barn.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Huh.
Speaker 8 (12:23):
Only Shorty skinned out all the steers we could.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
The other boys left. I still owe Shorty some wages.
Speaker 6 (12:29):
I'm going to ask a pretty blunt question, and I
want an a stance here. Has you ever thought of
giving up going somewhere else?
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Sure?
Speaker 8 (12:37):
Lots of times. For Betty's sake too, even thought of
going out to California. I see she has relatives out there,
all doing fine. They've kept after us to go out
there and crop farm with them.
Speaker 9 (12:51):
Maybe I should have, but we stayed, didn't we? Dear?
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Yes, I wouldn't give up.
Speaker 8 (12:57):
Even Betty reconciled herself to sticking it out.
Speaker 9 (13:00):
Only we've known that this was going to happen.
Speaker 12 (13:04):
Yeah, Yeah, we talked on for a couple of hours.
Speaker 6 (13:12):
We got nowhere and finally early and I plunked into
our beds in the guest room. Mine was beside the
open window. Now, when Earl Porman sleeps, he's dead to
the world, but he snores mightily. So after throwing a
couple of shoes at him, I gave up and managed
to drop off with a pillow wrapped around my head.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
That was a mistake, an almost deadly mistake.
Speaker 13 (13:37):
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, wake up, Wake up, Johnny, Johnny, you
hear me, Johnny, Uh, wake up, stand up.
Speaker 7 (13:50):
I'll help you.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Breathe deeply. You smell it.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Why did you chok?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Deep breath, deep breath?
Speaker 7 (13:55):
Come up?
Speaker 4 (13:56):
What of the chloroform?
Speaker 7 (13:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (13:59):
Yeah, on your pillow? Oh yeah, I threw it out
the window. Your pillow, It was saturated with chloroform.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Give me a hand, Earl. I'm busy.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Somebody came in that window. Pillow was over your head.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
You see her?
Speaker 3 (14:11):
No, no, but Johnny.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
Let me sit on again.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Ye by the window. I'll breathe deeply.
Speaker 8 (14:19):
I rolled out of bed in my sleep, that narrow bed,
or I'd never have wakened.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
I heard the door slam.
Speaker 8 (14:23):
Then I smelted, but oo, Johnny, I knew I'd seen
that Shorty Skinner somewhere. Yeah, it was on a road
gang over near Sarasota, a prison gang. Sure, I was
driving my brand new cat. As I passed him and
the rest of that glowering bunch, he let fly with
a handful of mud. Now, if you ask me, he's
the one who came in here and tried the chloroform.
But why That's what I'm going to find out right now.
Speaker 6 (14:43):
Oh wait, I'll be feeling okay in a minute, let
me handle it. By the time I was able to
navigate and get grasp, Missus Tremble call us for breakfast,
To say the Trembles were upset over what had happened
to me. He would be an understatement. Breakfast waited while
we all went out to the bunk house. Shorty was gone,
(15:08):
took what littlely owned with him too. As either of
you any idea why he'd attacked me, But heavens no.
Speaker 9 (15:15):
But I never did really trust that man. He was
such a sneaky looking like a little rat.
Speaker 8 (15:21):
Yet he was the only one who stayed when I
couldn't keep their wages up to date.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
Where would he ever get hold of chloroform.
Speaker 9 (15:26):
That's the part I don't understand from the locker.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Dear back in the barn.
Speaker 8 (15:31):
Huh, you know the stuff we got to put that old.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Sick mare out of the way.
Speaker 8 (15:35):
Yes, of course, I think why Shorty did this is
pretty obvious, Johnny.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Yeah, he was afraid you'd find out what and who
killed off this herd. But look, everybody, the note on
top of this bonk.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
Hey, let me see.
Speaker 6 (15:49):
What's it say, Johnny, I'm tired. I'm tired working for
no pay. I will leave you know where to send
my when you collect on that their insurance.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Shorty, Shorty, Shorty skin.
Speaker 9 (16:08):
A crazy fool, wanted his money.
Speaker 8 (16:11):
He knew I had none, but I could collect plenty
on the insurance if he poisoned my herd.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
Oh was it poison tremble? You didn't seem to think
so before, But now that you have somebody to pen
it on. Oh no, now you seem pretty sure of us.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Two dollars.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
No, Johnny, it must have been Shorty.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
Maybe maybe not.
Speaker 6 (16:28):
When the vet a rise, if he decides the herd
was poisoned, Okay, we'll take it from there.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Act three of yours, truly, Johnny Dollar in a moment.
Speaker 14 (16:42):
Our flag now numbers fifty stars, and behind each star
there stands yet another flag representing one of the fifty states.
Wyoming state flag pays homage to the monarch of the
Great Planes, the Bison, or Buffalo as we call him.
Set over the Bison the great Seal of Wyoming, almost
as a brand. The red in the flag's border represents
(17:05):
the Indians who knew and loved the country long before
white settlers arrived. It also represents the red blood of
the pioneers who gave their lives in reclaiming the soil.
The red, white, and blue border of the flag indicates
Wyoming's oneness with the Union. Wyoming's state flag, the flag
of the forty fourth state to enter the Union, was
(17:28):
adopted on January thirty first, nineteen seventeen, and now Act
three of Yours, Truly, Johnny Dollar and the Eastern Western Matter.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
The veterinarian arrived from Kissery.
Speaker 6 (17:43):
He bart tremble Ear a porman, and I rode out
on horseback to inspect the dead cattle. As I had anticipated,
the vet made it plain that the bodies were too
far decomposed for him to tell anything.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Until that is, he noticed a pale.
Speaker 6 (17:56):
Purplish line around the inside edge of a watering trough
at a fark corner of the fronce.
Speaker 10 (18:02):
Whoever used it didn't realize that I leave this telltale.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Ring around the trough.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Used what doctor?
Speaker 3 (18:08):
And let me scrape off a little? Make sure.
Speaker 8 (18:12):
You think it's a poison doctor.
Speaker 10 (18:14):
I can taste it. Is that getting enough to hurt me?
Oh well, no doubt about it. The north with cancer,
that's what killed the herd. And beyond the shadow of
the doll.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
That's not a very well known poison doctor.
Speaker 10 (18:27):
I know she used almost entirely and laboratory experimentation. I
remember it well from a college days. But out here,
who did this to me? Who did it? You don't know, Shorty?
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Who else?
Speaker 4 (18:40):
Mister Dollard Houck.
Speaker 6 (18:41):
I'm going back to the ranch house to a telephone.
I'll see you when you get back there. I called
the state police to get out on all points on
Shorty skin air. Then I started on the police and
the neighboring towns.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
The second call to headquarters at Lake Wales got me
unexpected results.
Speaker 7 (18:59):
Sure we got it right here in the clinks.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Oh what are you holding him on?
Speaker 7 (19:03):
He is vagrant see no visible means of support.
Speaker 10 (19:07):
Found him sleeping on a bench in the park about
nine point thirty last night, till we hauled him and lead.
Speaker 7 (19:12):
He put his eggs on a police is.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
What his eggs?
Speaker 7 (19:17):
You know?
Speaker 6 (19:18):
I certainly do, thanks very much. The others hadn't got
back from the past yet. Missus Tremble was in the
kitchen making lunch. Quietly as possible.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
I sneaked into their bedroom.
Speaker 6 (19:32):
Carefully hidden in the desk. I found a lot of
letters from the relatives in California, letters urging that they
give up the ranch, do something anything to get the
money out of it, and moved to California. Those letters
were addressed to only one of the Trembles. They were
addressed too. And then I saw it, neatly framed on
the wall, A diploma, A diploma from the famous Lipping Wall.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
School of.
Speaker 9 (19:53):
Why, mister Dallas, what are you doing.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Missus Tremble.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
I found out that Shorty skin or reserved times, at
least to the extent of working on a road gang.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
What for I don't know.
Speaker 9 (20:05):
Then he is a criminal. Then there's no question about
who poisoned the hurt.
Speaker 6 (20:09):
Oh you know about the Vets' findings that they were poisoned.
Speaker 9 (20:14):
Well, no, no, but I thought it was understood.
Speaker 6 (20:16):
A lot of things have been understood wrong things. Did
Shorty give you a home address when he came to
work here?
Speaker 9 (20:23):
Yes, yes he did. Do you think he'd go there after?
Speaker 4 (20:26):
I'd like to see it, please.
Speaker 9 (20:28):
It's here in this top drawer. Yes here.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
That's not his writing, No, that's mine. You see, Shorty
can't write. Oh, so he couldn't have written this note
you found in this bunk? But who but look at it?
Speaker 6 (20:47):
Doesn't that curly cue on the letter T look like
the one here when you wrote his address?
Speaker 8 (20:52):
And how about this CAPITALI heavens, mister dollar.
Speaker 6 (20:55):
Friends who wanted you to go to California, and you
wanted to go, But as Bart told us, you reconciled
yourself to staying here.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
Apparently I did.
Speaker 9 (21:03):
I did stay here even though I wasn't head.
Speaker 6 (21:05):
And the big freeze gave you a chance to kill
off the herd, collect a lot of insurance money, and
get away with it.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
You thought, mister, how did the method a little known
poison you'd learned about back in the Lipping Wall School
of Nurses. No, but you hadn't expected me here to investigate,
so you had to get rid of me.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
How as a nurse you knew.
Speaker 6 (21:23):
All about chlora look, mister Dowson, natural with me sleeping
with my head in the pillow, and you knew that
Earl was a sound sleeper. He's been here before. And
who get blamed Shorty because he'd left. Only Shorty had
left long before that. What he was picked up in
Lake Wales at nine point thirty last night?
Speaker 9 (21:40):
What no listen you to kill the herd?
Speaker 4 (21:44):
You tried to kill me?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Is that true?
Speaker 4 (21:47):
Betty?
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Tell me?
Speaker 10 (21:49):
Is it?
Speaker 9 (21:52):
Yes? Yes, it's true. You know how I hated this place,
this horrible, miserable cattle ranch, this living opnis god fortaken wilderness.
Well you wouldn't do anything about it, So I.
Speaker 6 (22:07):
Did, good Lord, I had them three fifty dollars to
a lawyer at the county seat who took my deposition.
It'll be used in the trial of Petty Trimble. As
(22:29):
for part Tremble, Well, I'm sorry, marmon expense account total
including transportation back to Hertford two hundred and seven dollars
even yours, truly, Johnny Dollar, Our star.
Speaker 11 (22:54):
Will return in just a moment. It doesn't take a
war to make a hero. Nor does it take a
situation filled with an onslaught of deadly enemy gun fire, bombs,
and mortars. It takes a man to make a hero,
and the man's qualities of greatness are based on his
code of conduct. It serves him in peace as well
(23:15):
as war. In August nineteen sixteen, when the United States
was still at peace with the rest of the world,
part of our fleet was anchored off Santo Domingo City.
Speaker 4 (23:24):
The U S. S.
Speaker 11 (23:25):
Memphis was in danger of total destruction from a hurricane.
Only the efficient operation of the engines and boilers could
get her out of the critical area. Lieutenant Claude A.
Jones was senior engineering officer aboard. In rapid succession, boilers
and steam pipes began bursting about him, scalding him with
clouds of steam. Thousands of tons of water came down
on him in complete darkness. Lieutenant Jones nobly remained at
(23:49):
his post as long as the engines would turn over.
His supreme unselfish heroism inspired the men with him. When
the boilers exploded, Jones with two men, rushed into the
firerooms and rescued the men trapped there. In the face
of death by drowning, burning, or suffocation from the scalding steam.
(24:10):
Lieutenant Claude Jones performed a heroic feet because he felt
was his duty to do what he did. He earned
the Medal of Honor because he had a code of
conduct that served him well. Now here is our star
to tell you about next week's story.
Speaker 4 (24:24):
Next week.
Speaker 6 (24:25):
One honest woman, two honest men, Yet one hundred thousand
dollars was gone fact.
Speaker 4 (24:34):
Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar?
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Yours Truly, starring Bob Bailey, originates in Hollywood and is
produced and directed by Jack Johnstone, who also wrote today's story.
Heard in our cast were Virginia, Greg Vic Perrin, Jack Moyles,
Marvin Miller, and Herb Bigrant. Be sure to join us
next week, same time and station, or another exciting story
(25:23):
of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. This is Dan cobberly speaking.
Speaker 6 (25:53):
This is the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Welcome back. One thing I don't think I've given Jack
Johnstone enough credit for, and I think this was part
of the success of the series and why it lasted
all the way until nineteen sixty two, was that his
scripts often tied into relatively recent events, which kept them
(26:48):
relatable to the contemporary audience. We heard that with the
Sulkoff Duo, where that story actually tied into a recent
rocket launch, and this ties into a story that was
very important for the audience of the time. It's something
(27:09):
you can do effectively. Most effective, line should say, with
radio drama, because you've got a relatively short lead time,
you don't have the demands of filming. And even when
you look at something like Law and Order in recent history,
with its stories written from the headlines, these headlines were
(27:32):
generally many many months old or even years old before
they became the subject of Law and Order episodes. And
while I won't say that no one else did that.
Particularly during the war, a lot of current events shaped
radio drama, But in the post war era, I don't
think anyone tapped into current events for their radio scraps
(27:58):
on the same level that Jack Johnstone dead. The fifty
seven fifty eight winter Florida snowstorms were really noteworthy, and
you can find a lot of information just playing out
on the internet. There are pictures of people building snowman
in Tallahassee. I even read one account of people sledding there,
(28:21):
although I have to wonder who brought a sled to
Tallahassee and how long had they been waiting to use it.
At any rate, it was a serious matter in other ways,
with school closures and the state's ag sector being hit.
News stories I found focused on vegetables and of course
the state's citrus crop. But this story highlights the diversity
(28:45):
of Florida's economy and I can imagine it having a
huge effect on the cattle industry. Now, I will say
Bart's initial approach to Johnny was ridiculously hostile. Essentially, it's
how dare you question the only ranswer is the entire
state of Florida to lose his whole herd? Good insurance
(29:05):
companies write checks and ask no questions. I mean, that's
just not reasonable. In terms of the actual suspect, I
think Johnstone did a good job casting suspicions on Shorty,
and we weren't focused on Betty at all as a suspect,
and I do think it may have been even more
(29:26):
successful at the time, since this isn't typically a crime
where a woman would be suspected. Of course, there were
things that pointed to her.
Speaker 9 (29:35):
A little The chloroform.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
The chloroform, I'm not certain is a great clue, because
a lot of people knew about chloroform, and it was
such a common plot point in so many mysteries, both
in books and on radio and on film that it
didn't really require medical training. Although I don't know if
(29:59):
the average person would think of a solution like that,
The fact that the poison was involved would also point
to someone more experienced in science than Shorty, who also
never really had a motive, which I think was also
one of her big problems with trying to get Shorty
as the person who would take the fall for killing Johnny,
(30:21):
Like why would he do that? Her clumsy attempts at
framing Shorty probably did her ran more than anything else.
Listener comments and feedback, and we have an email here
from Nancy who writes, I love every episode of Johnny Dollar,
but I have to say the boron one twelve episode
(30:41):
has me stomped. Other than as another Floyd's of London
episode with amusing characters in a weird situation, there doesn't
seem to be much of a mystery, and Louise is
so annoying. I guess they all can't be an episode
with Howard mcnuir. Speaking of Howard, it occurs to me
that there must be enough material available that a summer
(31:07):
series or a celebration of a landmark birthday would be possible.
I'd certainly listen to that. I've enjoyed the show for
many years, and just stop my contribution to Detective Sergeant
keep up the good work. Well, thank you so much, Nancy.
The bar in one twelve matter I think kind of
comes under that whole heading of currents event stories that
(31:29):
we were just discussing. In this case, it's tied into
the Cold War in terms of Howard mcneer. It's an
interesting idea I might consider for an Encourse week and
pick out some programs that mcneer appeared in or had
somewhat of a prominent role. The big challenge I had
(31:52):
to run into, of course, is that I was a
bit behind Andrew in getting good show notes together.
Speaker 7 (32:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
I think since the beginning has pretty much been using
cast lists in his show notes, and I pretty much
started that about a year ago. So I would have
to refresh my memory as well as refer to the
Radio Gold Index to find programs that mcneer had been
in in terms of something like a summer series. Is
(32:22):
that typically with those For example, when we did the
Summer of Jack Webb or we did the Jack Webb
Anniversary Show, we focused on programs in which Web had
either a very prominent or starring role. Mcneir as a
consummate character actor, it's a lot more tricky to track
(32:45):
down his stuff. I think I am fairly diversified in
the things that I listened to, but I've not come
on anthology programs where he plays the lead, nor have
I come on a lot where he is really given
a chance to shine or do something memorable. There are
(33:08):
probably like a few doc themed episodes of gun Smoke
that could be tossed in there, but I think it
would be a very labor intensive process to find programs
where he's really given something interesting and you're not just saying, Okay,
(33:31):
I'm throwing in this episode of Lux Radio Theater because
I want to throw it in, And Howard mcneir did
doubles for a couple of parts in this episode. So
that's the challenge. But I'm not opposed to it in principle,
and if there's more interest to it, I can think
about him. Maybe I'll figure out some way that I
(33:51):
could make it work. Thanks so much, appreciate the comment
and appreciate your support over these many years.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Nancy.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Well, now it's time to think our Patreon supporter of
the day, and I want to thank Rachel, Patreon supporter
since June twenty twenty two, currently supporting the podcast at
the Shawmas level of four dollars or more per month.
Thanks so much for your support. We'll be back next
Friday another episode of Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, But join
us back here tomorrow as we go to the great
(34:21):
adventurers of old time radio and Cloak and Dagger.
Speaker 15 (34:24):
Where what do you pass on your information too? I
don't pass it on to anyone.
Speaker 16 (34:28):
You are after the minutes of the meeting between General
Harris and the British How did you know that we
cooked it up just to flush you out? We figured
the comrades would go for the report. I told you
I'm not a communist, And why did you do it?
Speaker 7 (34:40):
They?
Speaker 3 (34:41):
They offered me money. Who's this day you keep referring to?
Speaker 16 (34:45):
Huh you claim it isn't this Charles Brisso Well, I
was lying. You've got your tenses mixed. You still are
listen only if you start telling the truth. Ho Are
you're protecting.
Speaker 15 (34:54):
No no one? I swear you married, Yes, But Madlene
knows nothing about this.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
I give you my word to.
Speaker 16 (34:59):
Come along with me because something smells around here and
I think it's your story.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
Now, come on, Steve, Let's not make this any tougher
than we.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
Have to stay away from me.
Speaker 16 (35:09):
Don't be a fool fell put away the gun.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
I said, stay away, so help me. I'll use it
if I have to know you won't.
Speaker 15 (35:14):
I'm one of you, wearing you. I've got everything to gain,
nothing to lose. You're the only one who knows about this.
I tell you what I'll do, Steve, get back. I
just wanted to show you that.
Speaker 7 (35:23):
I said get back. I want you. I tell you
I should.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Wearing wearing.
Speaker 1 (35:33):
I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime,
send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot neit,
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us
out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectives from Boise, Alaho.
This is your host, Adam graham Son and all
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're
going to bring you this week's episode of Yours Truly
Johnny Dollar. But first I want to encourage you, if
you're enjoying the podcast, to follow us using your favorite
(00:48):
podcast software. And remember, when making your travel plans, check
Johnny Dollar air dot com first. Johnny Dollar Air dot
Com is our price line affiliate link, so if you
click on that, you will get the same benefits of
going to priceline dot com, but part of your purchase
price supports the great Detectives of Old Time Radio at
(01:10):
no additional cost to you. So remember when making your
travel plans, check Johnny Dollar Air dot com first. Well, now,
from April to sixth, nineteen fifty eight, here is the
Eastern Western.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Matter from Hollywood.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
It's time now for.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Johnny Dillar.
Speaker 5 (01:33):
Earl Foreman, Johnny down in Serrisota.
Speaker 6 (01:35):
Don't tell me, Earl. The Florida weather is finally behaving itself.
The water and the Gulf is warmed up. So grab
my fishing clothes, tackle box, a couple of rods and reels.
Speaker 7 (01:43):
Maybe you better.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
Grab your levi's boats and saddle in a couple of
six guns instead.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
What is this a Western?
Speaker 5 (01:48):
It may be an Eastern Western before we're through. Listen,
Florida is the leading cattle state here in the Deep South.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
I had heard something to that effect.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
Okay, the freezing weather a short while back hid some.
Speaker 7 (01:58):
Of the ranch is pretty hard.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Say nothing of the tourist trade right.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
Ordinarily, the year round pasture age makes it unnecessary to
lay up a lot of hay and feed for the
winner that figures. But this year, thanks to the freeze,
the cattle we're so awakened by malnutrition and then slashing
around in soggy pasture landed well, at least a couple
of hundred thousand have died.
Speaker 6 (02:17):
What's your problem, Earland Outside of the high cause of steak.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
A rancher has just hit me with a big fat claim.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Ah how much seventy eight.
Speaker 5 (02:24):
Seven and fifty dollars says that he lost his entire herd.
Speaker 6 (02:28):
Well, I know a lot of them and lost quite
a few, but the entire herd? Yeah you coming, I
sure am.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Bob Bailey and The Exciting Adventures of the Man with
the Action Fact Expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator, or.
Speaker 6 (02:52):
Is truly Johnny Dollar expense account submitted by a special
investigator Johnny Dollar the Tri State Life at Casualty Company, Sarasota,
(03:14):
Florida office. Following is the acount of expenses incurred during
my investigation of the Eastern Western Matter.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Expense account.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
Adam one ninety four eighty plain for an incidental's Hertford,
Connecticut to Sarasota. As I expected, Earl Porman met me
the airport. We headed north on Route forty one. Thirteen
miles later at Braytonon we turned east on sixty four
after grabbing a late lunch. That's Adam two five seventy five. Then,
still traveling eastward, we crossed the Kissimee River onto a
narrow and improved road into the swampland. And it struck
(03:45):
me that what should have been lush green vegetation in
this low damp country was brown and lifeless.
Speaker 8 (03:50):
That's what the cold weather did, Johnny. All that grass
had good, passed your froze and rotted away.
Speaker 6 (03:55):
Now wonder that cattle haven't been eating well? But didn't
I read somewhere they were fed the rowined orange crops.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Yes, but that still didn't save a lot of the herds.
Losses have been pretty heavy.
Speaker 7 (04:04):
Huh.
Speaker 8 (04:04):
Yeah, But as I told you over the phone, Trimble
is the only one I know of who lost all
his steers.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
That the one who's made the insurance claim.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Yeah, Bart Trimble. His fence starts at the next turn.
Speaker 7 (04:13):
In the road.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Have you had many claims, Earn.
Speaker 8 (04:16):
Oh, a few a month or so ago, small ones.
Not many of these people insure their herds.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
There. That's where Trimble's place starts.
Speaker 7 (04:24):
You see it.
Speaker 6 (04:27):
I saw it all right, hundreds of acres of wet, brown,
dead looking pasture. I also saw the steers, hundreds of them,
their carcasses lying there, running in the sun.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Oh what was left of all the buzzets have done well?
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Five hundred and twenty five head, Johnny.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
But surely some of them must have survived.
Speaker 8 (04:47):
Not according to the claim I received. That's why I
called you immediately, Earl. You said the other claims were
filed a month.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Or so ago.
Speaker 8 (04:54):
I hoped you'd catch that. Why did Trimble wait so long?
That's another reason I called you.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Yeah, what you mean?
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Here's his gait. Let's see what he has to say.
Speaker 6 (05:05):
The Tremble place was unexpectedly new and tidy looking. The
main house was a concrete block, a fair all white
with a slab roof. Behind it was a varne in
the corral. The snack of bale hay was obviously for
the horses, and hardly big enough if he'd herd of steers.
A few chickens pecking around.
Speaker 9 (05:20):
Here and there, Love me tummy.
Speaker 6 (05:25):
The woman who opened the door was about forty tall
and nice looking, well made up, almost out of place
on a cattle ranch.
Speaker 9 (05:31):
Yes, oh, mister Poorman, how are you?
Speaker 4 (05:34):
And a voice was soft, gentle pleasant.
Speaker 9 (05:36):
I'll do, Missus Trimble, nice to see you, mister Porman.
Why don't you come in? I hear you say yes,
But he has a friend with him.
Speaker 8 (05:44):
Well, I won't kid you, mister Porman. I'm glad to
see you, hardie, and I hope you brought me a
nice bake insurance check. This is Johnny Dollar, mister, and
missus Trimble. He's with our company.
Speaker 9 (05:53):
Well, how do you do, mister Dollar? Won't you please
come in?
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Thank you? Sir, I think I've heard of you.
Speaker 9 (05:59):
Ah, sit down, won't you? Zeppa will be ready in
a little while, And of course you're going to stay, aren't.
Speaker 10 (06:04):
You, Johnny Dollar?
Speaker 9 (06:05):
Well, now that depends, of course you'll stay.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
I really should get back to Sarasota tonight.
Speaker 7 (06:09):
My wife.
Speaker 8 (06:10):
Wait a minute, Oh, I know you're the insurance investigator.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
That's right.
Speaker 8 (06:14):
And what's he doing here, Pullman? What's there to investigate?
You may be trying to say I killed off the
herd myself to collect the insurance. Mike said, nothing of
the sort. And what's to investigate? I told you I
don't like this, and I'm telling you right.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
To your face.
Speaker 9 (06:27):
You shouldn't talk like that.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
It's the truth. What do you think you're gonna do
around here?
Speaker 7 (06:31):
Dollar?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Bye?
Speaker 9 (06:32):
Please?
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Well, that depends. Mister Turmbule.
Speaker 8 (06:34):
Does he have to say it's okay Pullman before you
can pay my claim?
Speaker 7 (06:37):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (06:37):
He does.
Speaker 8 (06:38):
Well, believe me, if I'd known this was the kind
of out that I was dealing with paying premiums to. Okay,
all right, poke around as much as you want, stay around,
as long as you like. We'll bed you down, we'll
feed you, we'll show you what kind of people we are.
Just don't get in my way. I've got a lot
of work to do and don't tell me.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
I'm a crook. Now, be reasonable about this.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Me.
Speaker 8 (07:01):
I'm being reasonable. You're the one that, uh, what do
you want, Shorty? Well, you told me to tell you, boss,
Tell me why the truck has come to pick up
them hides and help them load them on the truck.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
You're selling the hides from those animals?
Speaker 7 (07:18):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Why not? Oh we could salvage that? Is anything wrong
with that?
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Nothing at all?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
All right?
Speaker 8 (07:25):
You want horses to snoop around? Help yourself. Saddles are
in the barn, but just stay out of my way.
I'm on, shorty, let's get.
Speaker 7 (07:32):
Out with the airs nice and trim your boss.
Speaker 9 (07:38):
I'm sorry, but it's been so upset over losing all
those steers.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Well, of course we can't blame him for that.
Speaker 9 (07:44):
He's been working so hard trying to save some of
the hides and sell the carcasses for fertilizer.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Yes, I know, with so.
Speaker 9 (07:50):
Many ranchers trying to do the same thing.
Speaker 6 (07:52):
Why did he wait so long before finding his claim,
missus Trimbley?
Speaker 9 (07:56):
Because he's been so busy, and because he hoped he
could say it's something from the heard.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
I guess because this lapse of time has given the
bodies a chance to decompose, what has given them, buzzies
and other scavengers, a chance to remove any evidence that
maybe those stairs were deliberately.
Speaker 9 (08:11):
Oh no, surely you don't think for a minute that
my husband would.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Where can I find the nearest veterinarian well that.
Speaker 9 (08:19):
We use is up and kissing me?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Okay, but mister Dowler, you don't.
Speaker 9 (08:24):
You can't possibly think.
Speaker 6 (08:25):
I'll let you know what I think after a good
cow doctor has a look at those animals, Act two
(08:46):
of yours, truly, Johnny Dollar in a moment from the
holes of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli is an
exciting beginning to a stirring song.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
It is an historic salutation to the efforts of.
Speaker 11 (08:59):
A valiant group of fighting men. Why is their history glorious?
What spurred them on? Patriotism and desire for excitement are
sometimes given for reasons, but these are not the answers.
The answer is these were men of vision, men who
understood our country's needs. Respect, honor, and prestige are things
(09:22):
that go hand in hand with the country's greatness. Major
Smedley deed Butler recognized this in the year nineteen fifteen.
At that time, our diplomatic negotiations with Haiti were disrupted
by Coco bandits, who perilously affected the lives of some
United States citizens in Haiti. A contingent of marines under
(09:43):
the command of Major Butler was sent in to bring
the bandits under control. Though they were holed up in
Fort Liberty, Major Butler found an opening in the wall
and led a terrifying charge through the breach that resulted
in very dangerous hand to hand combat for himself and
his men. Amid a furious onslaught of Cocker bandits and
(10:03):
a hail of enemy bullets. Major Butler succeeded in overcoming
the resistance and creating a peaceful atmosphere. His grateful country
awarded him the Medal of Honor for bravery, forceful leadership,
and action above and beyond the call of duty, the
second time he was awarded this high honor. Major Smedley
(10:24):
Butler had a code of conduct born of years of
devotion and service to the United States of America, and
now act too of yours, truly, Johnny Dollar, and the
Eastern Western Matter.
Speaker 12 (10:40):
At dinner that night, Bert Tremble had changed his tone
was very apologetic, almost too much so, and too nice.
Speaker 8 (10:52):
I didn't mean it, mister Dollar, what I said before,
at least not the way I said it. But this
whole thing has hit me pretty hard, losing over five
hundred steers and handful of cats.
Speaker 9 (11:04):
I told you by it. When they all went so
quickly that night, you should have been suspicious.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
What night, missus Tremble.
Speaker 9 (11:10):
It was the last big freeze.
Speaker 8 (11:11):
Yes, I got back here late. It went up to
Lake Wales trying to bake some feed, no luck. Then
it blew up cold. By the time I got back here,
got the hands rounded up. How many, mister Tremble, And
there were five of us, including Shorty Skinner.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
I've seen that Shorty somewhere before all.
Speaker 8 (11:30):
Anyhow, when we got to them, the cattle were all
bunched up at the north fence. We thought we'd drive
the strong ones back here where they'd have some shelter
and we could give them the hay we keep for
the horses. But they wouldn't move. Most of them couldn't move,
and it was dark and freezing wind was cutting across
the swamp, so all we could do was come back
(11:51):
here and pray. Next morning they were dead, all of them.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
I've put everything I.
Speaker 8 (11:59):
Had into this, every penny I save for my factory
work up North, Betty's money from nursing, even cashed in
my own life insurance policy. And now they're gone. So
if I got a little nasty, well, I guess a
man can take.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Only so much.
Speaker 9 (12:15):
It's been off hard for Bart the past three years,
and just when things were going.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Good, your hands bunk out in that building beside the barn.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Huh.
Speaker 8 (12:23):
Only Shorty skinned out all the steers we could.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
The other boys left. I still owe Shorty some wages.
Speaker 6 (12:29):
I'm going to ask a pretty blunt question, and I
want an a stance here. Has you ever thought of
giving up going somewhere else?
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Sure?
Speaker 8 (12:37):
Lots of times. For Betty's sake too, even thought of
going out to California. I see she has relatives out there,
all doing fine. They've kept after us to go out
there and crop farm with them.
Speaker 9 (12:51):
Maybe I should have, but we stayed, didn't we? Dear?
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Yes, I wouldn't give up.
Speaker 8 (12:57):
Even Betty reconciled herself to sticking it out.
Speaker 9 (13:00):
Only we've known that this was going to happen.
Speaker 12 (13:04):
Yeah, Yeah, we talked on for a couple of hours.
Speaker 6 (13:12):
We got nowhere and finally early and I plunked into
our beds in the guest room. Mine was beside the
open window. Now, when Earl Porman sleeps, he's dead to
the world, but he snores mightily. So after throwing a
couple of shoes at him, I gave up and managed
to drop off with a pillow wrapped around my head.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
That was a mistake, an almost deadly mistake.
Speaker 13 (13:37):
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, wake up, Wake up, Johnny, Johnny, you
hear me, Johnny, Uh, wake up, stand up.
Speaker 7 (13:50):
I'll help you.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Breathe deeply. You smell it.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Why did you chok?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Deep breath, deep breath?
Speaker 7 (13:55):
Come up?
Speaker 4 (13:56):
What of the chloroform?
Speaker 7 (13:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (13:59):
Yeah, on your pillow? Oh yeah, I threw it out
the window. Your pillow, It was saturated with chloroform.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Give me a hand, Earl. I'm busy.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Somebody came in that window. Pillow was over your head.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
You see her?
Speaker 3 (14:11):
No, no, but Johnny.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
Let me sit on again.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Ye by the window. I'll breathe deeply.
Speaker 8 (14:19):
I rolled out of bed in my sleep, that narrow bed,
or I'd never have wakened.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
I heard the door slam.
Speaker 8 (14:23):
Then I smelted, but oo, Johnny, I knew I'd seen
that Shorty Skinner somewhere. Yeah, it was on a road
gang over near Sarasota, a prison gang. Sure, I was
driving my brand new cat. As I passed him and
the rest of that glowering bunch, he let fly with
a handful of mud. Now, if you ask me, he's
the one who came in here and tried the chloroform.
But why That's what I'm going to find out right now.
Speaker 6 (14:43):
Oh wait, I'll be feeling okay in a minute, let
me handle it. By the time I was able to
navigate and get grasp, Missus Tremble call us for breakfast,
To say the Trembles were upset over what had happened
to me. He would be an understatement. Breakfast waited while
we all went out to the bunk house. Shorty was gone,
(15:08):
took what littlely owned with him too. As either of
you any idea why he'd attacked me, But heavens no.
Speaker 9 (15:15):
But I never did really trust that man. He was
such a sneaky looking like a little rat.
Speaker 8 (15:21):
Yet he was the only one who stayed when I
couldn't keep their wages up to date.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
Where would he ever get hold of chloroform.
Speaker 9 (15:26):
That's the part I don't understand from the locker.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Dear back in the barn.
Speaker 8 (15:31):
Huh, you know the stuff we got to put that old.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Sick mare out of the way.
Speaker 8 (15:35):
Yes, of course, I think why Shorty did this is
pretty obvious, Johnny.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Yeah, he was afraid you'd find out what and who
killed off this herd. But look, everybody, the note on
top of this bonk.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
Hey, let me see.
Speaker 6 (15:49):
What's it say, Johnny, I'm tired. I'm tired working for
no pay. I will leave you know where to send
my when you collect on that their insurance.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Shorty, Shorty, Shorty skin.
Speaker 9 (16:08):
A crazy fool, wanted his money.
Speaker 8 (16:11):
He knew I had none, but I could collect plenty
on the insurance if he poisoned my herd.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
Oh was it poison tremble? You didn't seem to think
so before, But now that you have somebody to pen
it on. Oh no, now you seem pretty sure of us.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Two dollars.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
No, Johnny, it must have been Shorty.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
Maybe maybe not.
Speaker 6 (16:28):
When the vet a rise, if he decides the herd
was poisoned, Okay, we'll take it from there.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Act three of yours, truly, Johnny Dollar in a moment.
Speaker 14 (16:42):
Our flag now numbers fifty stars, and behind each star
there stands yet another flag representing one of the fifty states.
Wyoming state flag pays homage to the monarch of the
Great Planes, the Bison, or Buffalo as we call him.
Set over the Bison the great Seal of Wyoming, almost
as a brand. The red in the flag's border represents
(17:05):
the Indians who knew and loved the country long before
white settlers arrived. It also represents the red blood of
the pioneers who gave their lives in reclaiming the soil.
The red, white, and blue border of the flag indicates
Wyoming's oneness with the Union. Wyoming's state flag, the flag
of the forty fourth state to enter the Union, was
(17:28):
adopted on January thirty first, nineteen seventeen, and now Act
three of Yours, Truly, Johnny Dollar and the Eastern Western Matter.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
The veterinarian arrived from Kissery.
Speaker 6 (17:43):
He bart tremble Ear a porman, and I rode out
on horseback to inspect the dead cattle. As I had anticipated,
the vet made it plain that the bodies were too
far decomposed for him to tell anything.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Until that is, he noticed a pale.
Speaker 6 (17:56):
Purplish line around the inside edge of a watering trough
at a fark corner of the fronce.
Speaker 10 (18:02):
Whoever used it didn't realize that I leave this telltale.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Ring around the trough.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Used what doctor?
Speaker 3 (18:08):
And let me scrape off a little? Make sure.
Speaker 8 (18:12):
You think it's a poison doctor.
Speaker 10 (18:14):
I can taste it. Is that getting enough to hurt me?
Oh well, no doubt about it. The north with cancer,
that's what killed the herd. And beyond the shadow of
the doll.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
That's not a very well known poison doctor.
Speaker 10 (18:27):
I know she used almost entirely and laboratory experimentation. I
remember it well from a college days. But out here,
who did this to me? Who did it? You don't know, Shorty?
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Who else?
Speaker 4 (18:40):
Mister Dollard Houck.
Speaker 6 (18:41):
I'm going back to the ranch house to a telephone.
I'll see you when you get back there. I called
the state police to get out on all points on
Shorty skin air. Then I started on the police and
the neighboring towns.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
The second call to headquarters at Lake Wales got me
unexpected results.
Speaker 7 (18:59):
Sure we got it right here in the clinks.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Oh what are you holding him on?
Speaker 7 (19:03):
He is vagrant see no visible means of support.
Speaker 10 (19:07):
Found him sleeping on a bench in the park about
nine point thirty last night, till we hauled him and lead.
Speaker 7 (19:12):
He put his eggs on a police is.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
What his eggs?
Speaker 7 (19:17):
You know?
Speaker 6 (19:18):
I certainly do, thanks very much. The others hadn't got
back from the past yet. Missus Tremble was in the
kitchen making lunch. Quietly as possible.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
I sneaked into their bedroom.
Speaker 6 (19:32):
Carefully hidden in the desk. I found a lot of
letters from the relatives in California, letters urging that they
give up the ranch, do something anything to get the
money out of it, and moved to California. Those letters
were addressed to only one of the Trembles. They were
addressed too. And then I saw it, neatly framed on
the wall, A diploma, A diploma from the famous Lipping Wall.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
School of.
Speaker 9 (19:53):
Why, mister Dallas, what are you doing.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Missus Tremble.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
I found out that Shorty skin or reserved times, at
least to the extent of working on a road gang.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
What for I don't know.
Speaker 9 (20:05):
Then he is a criminal. Then there's no question about
who poisoned the hurt.
Speaker 6 (20:09):
Oh you know about the Vets' findings that they were poisoned.
Speaker 9 (20:14):
Well, no, no, but I thought it was understood.
Speaker 6 (20:16):
A lot of things have been understood wrong things. Did
Shorty give you a home address when he came to
work here?
Speaker 9 (20:23):
Yes, yes he did. Do you think he'd go there after?
Speaker 4 (20:26):
I'd like to see it, please.
Speaker 9 (20:28):
It's here in this top drawer. Yes here.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
That's not his writing, No, that's mine. You see, Shorty
can't write. Oh, so he couldn't have written this note
you found in this bunk? But who but look at it?
Speaker 6 (20:47):
Doesn't that curly cue on the letter T look like
the one here when you wrote his address?
Speaker 8 (20:52):
And how about this CAPITALI heavens, mister dollar.
Speaker 6 (20:55):
Friends who wanted you to go to California, and you
wanted to go, But as Bart told us, you reconciled
yourself to staying here.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
Apparently I did.
Speaker 9 (21:03):
I did stay here even though I wasn't head.
Speaker 6 (21:05):
And the big freeze gave you a chance to kill
off the herd, collect a lot of insurance money, and
get away with it.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
You thought, mister, how did the method a little known
poison you'd learned about back in the Lipping Wall School
of Nurses. No, but you hadn't expected me here to investigate,
so you had to get rid of me.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
How as a nurse you knew.
Speaker 6 (21:23):
All about chlora look, mister Dowson, natural with me sleeping
with my head in the pillow, and you knew that
Earl was a sound sleeper. He's been here before. And
who get blamed Shorty because he'd left. Only Shorty had
left long before that. What he was picked up in
Lake Wales at nine point thirty last night?
Speaker 9 (21:40):
What no listen you to kill the herd?
Speaker 4 (21:44):
You tried to kill me?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Is that true?
Speaker 4 (21:47):
Betty?
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Tell me?
Speaker 10 (21:49):
Is it?
Speaker 9 (21:52):
Yes? Yes, it's true. You know how I hated this place,
this horrible, miserable cattle ranch, this living opnis god fortaken wilderness.
Well you wouldn't do anything about it, So I.
Speaker 6 (22:07):
Did, good Lord, I had them three fifty dollars to
a lawyer at the county seat who took my deposition.
It'll be used in the trial of Petty Trimble. As
(22:29):
for part Tremble, Well, I'm sorry, marmon expense account total
including transportation back to Hertford two hundred and seven dollars
even yours, truly, Johnny Dollar, Our star.
Speaker 11 (22:54):
Will return in just a moment. It doesn't take a
war to make a hero. Nor does it take a
situation filled with an onslaught of deadly enemy gun fire, bombs,
and mortars. It takes a man to make a hero,
and the man's qualities of greatness are based on his
code of conduct. It serves him in peace as well
(23:15):
as war. In August nineteen sixteen, when the United States
was still at peace with the rest of the world,
part of our fleet was anchored off Santo Domingo City.
Speaker 4 (23:24):
The U S. S.
Speaker 11 (23:25):
Memphis was in danger of total destruction from a hurricane.
Only the efficient operation of the engines and boilers could
get her out of the critical area. Lieutenant Claude A.
Jones was senior engineering officer aboard. In rapid succession, boilers
and steam pipes began bursting about him, scalding him with
clouds of steam. Thousands of tons of water came down
on him in complete darkness. Lieutenant Jones nobly remained at
(23:49):
his post as long as the engines would turn over.
His supreme unselfish heroism inspired the men with him. When
the boilers exploded, Jones with two men, rushed into the
firerooms and rescued the men trapped there. In the face
of death by drowning, burning, or suffocation from the scalding steam.
(24:10):
Lieutenant Claude Jones performed a heroic feet because he felt
was his duty to do what he did. He earned
the Medal of Honor because he had a code of
conduct that served him well. Now here is our star
to tell you about next week's story.
Speaker 4 (24:24):
Next week.
Speaker 6 (24:25):
One honest woman, two honest men, Yet one hundred thousand
dollars was gone fact.
Speaker 4 (24:34):
Join us, won't you? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar?
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Yours Truly, starring Bob Bailey, originates in Hollywood and is
produced and directed by Jack Johnstone, who also wrote today's story.
Heard in our cast were Virginia, Greg Vic Perrin, Jack Moyles,
Marvin Miller, and Herb Bigrant. Be sure to join us
next week, same time and station, or another exciting story
(25:23):
of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. This is Dan cobberly speaking.
Speaker 6 (25:53):
This is the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Welcome back. One thing I don't think I've given Jack
Johnstone enough credit for, and I think this was part
of the success of the series and why it lasted
all the way until nineteen sixty two, was that his
scripts often tied into relatively recent events, which kept them
(26:48):
relatable to the contemporary audience. We heard that with the
Sulkoff Duo, where that story actually tied into a recent
rocket launch, and this ties into a story that was
very important for the audience of the time. It's something
(27:09):
you can do effectively. Most effective, line should say, with
radio drama, because you've got a relatively short lead time,
you don't have the demands of filming. And even when
you look at something like Law and Order in recent history,
with its stories written from the headlines, these headlines were
(27:32):
generally many many months old or even years old before
they became the subject of Law and Order episodes. And
while I won't say that no one else did that.
Particularly during the war, a lot of current events shaped
radio drama, But in the post war era, I don't
think anyone tapped into current events for their radio scraps
(27:58):
on the same level that Jack Johnstone dead. The fifty
seven fifty eight winter Florida snowstorms were really noteworthy, and
you can find a lot of information just playing out
on the internet. There are pictures of people building snowman
in Tallahassee. I even read one account of people sledding there,
(28:21):
although I have to wonder who brought a sled to
Tallahassee and how long had they been waiting to use it.
At any rate, it was a serious matter in other ways,
with school closures and the state's ag sector being hit.
News stories I found focused on vegetables and of course
the state's citrus crop. But this story highlights the diversity
(28:45):
of Florida's economy and I can imagine it having a
huge effect on the cattle industry. Now, I will say
Bart's initial approach to Johnny was ridiculously hostile. Essentially, it's
how dare you question the only ranswer is the entire
state of Florida to lose his whole herd? Good insurance
(29:05):
companies write checks and ask no questions. I mean, that's
just not reasonable. In terms of the actual suspect, I
think Johnstone did a good job casting suspicions on Shorty,
and we weren't focused on Betty at all as a suspect,
and I do think it may have been even more
(29:26):
successful at the time, since this isn't typically a crime
where a woman would be suspected. Of course, there were
things that pointed to her.
Speaker 9 (29:35):
A little The chloroform.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
The chloroform, I'm not certain is a great clue, because
a lot of people knew about chloroform, and it was
such a common plot point in so many mysteries, both
in books and on radio and on film that it
didn't really require medical training. Although I don't know if
(29:59):
the average person would think of a solution like that,
The fact that the poison was involved would also point
to someone more experienced in science than Shorty, who also
never really had a motive, which I think was also
one of her big problems with trying to get Shorty
as the person who would take the fall for killing Johnny,
(30:21):
Like why would he do that? Her clumsy attempts at
framing Shorty probably did her ran more than anything else.
Listener comments and feedback, and we have an email here
from Nancy who writes, I love every episode of Johnny Dollar,
but I have to say the boron one twelve episode
(30:41):
has me stomped. Other than as another Floyd's of London
episode with amusing characters in a weird situation, there doesn't
seem to be much of a mystery, and Louise is
so annoying. I guess they all can't be an episode
with Howard mcnuir. Speaking of Howard, it occurs to me
that there must be enough material available that a summer
(31:07):
series or a celebration of a landmark birthday would be possible.
I'd certainly listen to that. I've enjoyed the show for
many years, and just stop my contribution to Detective Sergeant
keep up the good work. Well, thank you so much, Nancy.
The bar in one twelve matter I think kind of
comes under that whole heading of currents event stories that
(31:29):
we were just discussing. In this case, it's tied into
the Cold War in terms of Howard mcneer. It's an
interesting idea I might consider for an Encourse week and
pick out some programs that mcneer appeared in or had
somewhat of a prominent role. The big challenge I had
(31:52):
to run into, of course, is that I was a
bit behind Andrew in getting good show notes together.
Speaker 7 (32:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
I think since the beginning has pretty much been using
cast lists in his show notes, and I pretty much
started that about a year ago. So I would have
to refresh my memory as well as refer to the
Radio Gold Index to find programs that mcneer had been
in in terms of something like a summer series. Is
(32:22):
that typically with those For example, when we did the
Summer of Jack Webb or we did the Jack Webb
Anniversary Show, we focused on programs in which Web had
either a very prominent or starring role. Mcneir as a
consummate character actor, it's a lot more tricky to track
(32:45):
down his stuff. I think I am fairly diversified in
the things that I listened to, but I've not come
on anthology programs where he plays the lead, nor have
I come on a lot where he is really given
a chance to shine or do something memorable. There are
(33:08):
probably like a few doc themed episodes of gun Smoke
that could be tossed in there, but I think it
would be a very labor intensive process to find programs
where he's really given something interesting and you're not just saying, Okay,
(33:31):
I'm throwing in this episode of Lux Radio Theater because
I want to throw it in, And Howard mcneir did
doubles for a couple of parts in this episode. So
that's the challenge. But I'm not opposed to it in principle,
and if there's more interest to it, I can think
about him. Maybe I'll figure out some way that I
(33:51):
could make it work. Thanks so much, appreciate the comment
and appreciate your support over these many years.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Nancy.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Well, now it's time to think our Patreon supporter of
the day, and I want to thank Rachel, Patreon supporter
since June twenty twenty two, currently supporting the podcast at
the Shawmas level of four dollars or more per month.
Thanks so much for your support. We'll be back next
Friday another episode of Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, But join
us back here tomorrow as we go to the great
(34:21):
adventurers of old time radio and Cloak and Dagger.
Speaker 15 (34:24):
Where what do you pass on your information too? I
don't pass it on to anyone.
Speaker 16 (34:28):
You are after the minutes of the meeting between General
Harris and the British How did you know that we
cooked it up just to flush you out? We figured
the comrades would go for the report. I told you
I'm not a communist, And why did you do it?
Speaker 7 (34:40):
They?
Speaker 3 (34:41):
They offered me money. Who's this day you keep referring to?
Speaker 16 (34:45):
Huh you claim it isn't this Charles Brisso Well, I
was lying. You've got your tenses mixed. You still are
listen only if you start telling the truth. Ho Are
you're protecting.
Speaker 15 (34:54):
No no one? I swear you married, Yes, But Madlene
knows nothing about this.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
I give you my word to.
Speaker 16 (34:59):
Come along with me because something smells around here and
I think it's your story.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
Now, come on, Steve, Let's not make this any tougher
than we.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
Have to stay away from me.
Speaker 16 (35:09):
Don't be a fool fell put away the gun.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
I said, stay away, so help me. I'll use it
if I have to know you won't.
Speaker 15 (35:14):
I'm one of you, wearing you. I've got everything to gain,
nothing to lose. You're the only one who knows about this.
I tell you what I'll do, Steve, get back. I
just wanted to show you that.
Speaker 7 (35:23):
I said get back. I want you. I tell you
I should.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Wearing wearing.
Speaker 1 (35:33):
I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime,
send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot neit,
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us
out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectives from Boise, Alaho.
This is your host, Adam graham Son and all
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.