August 15, 2025 • 31 mins
Today's Mystery: Johnny is sent to investigate a series of thefts near a small South Carolina village that have endangered the peace between a colony of ex-mobsters and the locals.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: April 27, 1958
Originating from Hollywood
Starring: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar; Frank Nelson; Billy Halop; Jack Kruschen; Peter Leeds; Gil Stratton; Will Wright
When making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com
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Thank you to our Patreon Supporter of the Day: Katherine, Patreon supporter since June 2021
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: April 27, 1958
Originating from Hollywood
Starring: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar; Frank Nelson; Billy Halop; Jack Kruschen; Peter Leeds; Gil Stratton; Will Wright
When 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: Katherine, Patreon supporter since June 2021
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
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 do want to encourage you.
If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your
(00:51):
favorite podcast software. Also, as you're making your travel plans,
remember Johnny Dollar air dot com. Johnny dollar dot com
is our price line affiliate link, so when you purchase
through there, part of your purchase price benefits the great
detectives of Old time radio at no additional cost to you.
(01:11):
So remember when making your travel plans, check Johnny Dollar
air dot com. First now from April twenty seventh, nineteen
fifty eight, here is the village of Virtue Matter.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
From Hollywood. It's time now for.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Johnny Dollar in all Off, mister Dollar at Countinental Insurance.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Company in New York.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Oh, yes, mister Orloff. What can I do for you?
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Did you ever hear of a place called Fortune?
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Are you kidding? I'm very serious?
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Wait a minute, Virtue, South Carolina.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
That's right?
Speaker 3 (01:49):
You want me to go down there?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Yes, if you will?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Do you have a bulletproof vest and a couple of
extra handguns I can take along.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
One suggestion would be that you do not take along
any firearms after all exchange. Yeah, I see what you mean.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
All right?
Speaker 3 (02:07):
What do you want me to do?
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Our representative has his office in Georgetown. He give you
the whole story. His name is Joseph Pigatello.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Got Joseph Smoky Pigatello, the guy whose name was linked
murder Incorporated a few years back.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
Yes, Dollar, Joe Smoky Pigatello.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
You sure you want this assignment?
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Well, I'll tell you this, mister l Yes, if you
don't have to pay off on my insurance policy before
I'm through. Well, mister, this is gonna cost you off.
Wapping Big Expenser con Bob Bailey in The Exciting Adventures
(02:47):
of the Man with the Action Packed Expenser con America's
Fabulous Freelance Insurance Investigators, Truly Johnny Delleck. Expense account submitted
(03:10):
by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar to the Continental Insurance Company, Georgetown,
South Carolina office following has the account of expenses incurred
during my investigation of the Village of Virtue Matter Expense
account ADAM one forty seven dollars, even transportation and all
(03:31):
the incidentals I could think of Hartford, Connecticut to Georgetown,
South Carolina. It am to a dollar for a cab
to Continental's office on Screven Street.
Speaker 6 (03:40):
Hi dollar, I'm Joe Piggoteller, glad to see you sit on.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Thanks.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Now, look, Joe, before we go into this man, there's
something I'd like to know.
Speaker 6 (03:49):
Sure, I'll ask it.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Just what are you doing in the insurance business?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Look?
Speaker 6 (03:53):
You remember back in New York, just before Tom Dewey
took over his DA, the great holy Racketbuster.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, and I'm sure you Okay.
Speaker 6 (04:01):
Well, I was just a young punk then, but I
was a bright one, ambitious, you know, finished up my
high school, started taking law.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
You studied law? Why not?
Speaker 6 (04:10):
I could have cleaned up, you know, mouthpiece for some
of the mob, some of the boys I knocked around with,
But then Dewey came along broke up the rockets. So
I gave it up to do what y'all. Oh, you
know this and that Chicago for a while with some
of the boys. Al Capone left behind and down near
the border San Diego for a while.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Huddling narcotics across from Mexico.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
Then some of us tried to Las Vegas. We didn't
get anyone.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
What was that crack?
Speaker 6 (04:33):
Well, listen, I'm clean. Make it crack like that. You
can prove it. Okay, if you can't, don't say it.
You were telling me how you got into the insurance business,
all right, when I'm taking you on this case, don't
talk like that. Gent's idea with don't like it, and
don't forget whatever you think about them. You could also
be wrong, okay, y'all two kinds of wrong Dollar, just
(04:56):
playing wrong and dead wrong. You see what I mean?
Speaker 7 (05:00):
All right?
Speaker 6 (05:01):
As I was saying how I got in this insurance.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Record, as you were saying, well, some of the.
Speaker 6 (05:05):
Boys from New York and chicagoing around it pretty good.
Instead of blowing all that dough on booze and dames
and big times. They were smart. They least to old
plantation up in the valley north of here on a
PD River, the old Carroway Plantation. It's right next to
the town. I'll vite you great name for a hideout.
I'll say that I didn't say hideout, Dollar. It was
just a nice quiet place where they could live. It
(05:27):
up in a nice quiet way and at the same time,
they wouldn't have any cops around the neck.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
No police and virtue.
Speaker 6 (05:33):
Nobody but old Polly Carroway. Anyhow, after six eight months,
had taken an easy mint julips and hunting and fishing
instead of being on the lamb all the time. Well, Johnny,
you wouldn't believe it.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
What do you mean?
Speaker 6 (05:44):
Well, they all settled down there to spend the rest
of their life. They all went respectable, every last one
of them.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
You sure that?
Speaker 6 (05:52):
Who it's been twenty years now? Can you be any
more sure than that?
Speaker 3 (05:56):
I don't know what go on with what you were saying?
Speaker 6 (05:59):
All right, I got an idea. I signed up with
this little insurance company, and I went up to invite
you and made the pitch. They're all respectable. Now they
got to make like respectable people and cover themselves with
a lot of insurance.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
And it worked.
Speaker 6 (06:12):
Now, you remember Lefty Stimper, the.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Old time numbers came for Chicago.
Speaker 6 (06:16):
Right book, these slot machines everything, Oh pal of mine.
So when he told the rest he was buying insurance, well, Johnny,
I got policies on every one of them. The rest
of the town too, on their life, their homes, everything.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Okay, Now let's get to the point. What's happened up
there in virtue trouble? Johnny, old man carraway for me,
what kind of trouble?
Speaker 5 (06:35):
Now?
Speaker 6 (06:36):
Twenty years now, the boys and the people invite you
have been getting along fine. The boys been behaving themselves,
and the people in town are all nice people. Until
a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
What happened?
Speaker 6 (06:46):
Molly Magoon had himself a nice little fishing boat, had
it ever since he went straight moved in up there
twenty years ago. Now somebody stole it.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Well, why don't you just pay off his claim and
forget it?
Speaker 6 (06:56):
Listen? A couple of days after that, mister Avery that
runs the General's virtu had his boat stolen, so.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
You don't have to pay another claim. But small ones, Joe,
would you listen?
Speaker 6 (07:06):
Ever since then, on a day has gone by that
somebody hasn't had something stolen from him. Mostly the people
invite you boats, cars, money, financial, anything you can think of.
The people. Blame the boys, and the boys blame the people,
and Johnny, there's going to be a civil waran right
you unless somebody finds out who's doing this, And if
that happens, there's gonna be a lot of killing. And
(07:26):
well with alway insurance I've sold me and the company
are going to be in trouble.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Well, can't you get the state police to come in?
State police invite you? You said it's a real respectable community.
Speaker 6 (07:36):
Now, sure it is, But well, dragging of men might
really start things off. That's why I had to send
for you.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Look, why don't we go up there so I can
see for myself?
Speaker 6 (07:46):
Sure, Johnny, sure, but hey, or open your coat. I mean,
if you're gonna take along that lemon squeezer, we'll take
my advice. And don't you have a pretty sure by Joe,
Johnny bag and spot the shoulder, ho away. It's hooking
some of the boys up in the valley on the plantation,
and I don't want you to end up with a
slug between your eyes.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Real respectable people.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
Well shall we go on my cause outside.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Into the valley of Death road? The six hundred, at
least a couple of them. What are you talking about, nothing, Joel,
Let's go.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Fact two of yours, truly, Johnny Dollar.
Speaker 7 (08:26):
In a moment, our flag now numbers fifty stars, and
behind each star there stands yet another flag representing one
of the fifty states. Florida State flag bears the red
Cross of Saint Andrew in sympathy with the flag of
the Confederacy on a field of white. Centered over the
cross is the state seal within a golden circle. The sun,
(08:48):
an emblem of glory and splendor representing absolute authority, peers
over a highland. In the distance. Flowers, a symbol of
hope and joy, are scattered by an Indian maiden, incative
of the Indian influence within the state. Centered is the
Coco palm tree, an emblem of victory, justice, and royal honor.
(09:09):
Florida State flag, the flag of the twenty seventh state
to enter the Union, was adopted in nineteen hundred.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Now Act two of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar and the
Village of Virtue Matter. Joe Piccatello erstwhile gangster turned insurance agent,
led me on to his car. We headed north out
of Georgetown, South Carolina. After twenty miles or so, we
swung onto a side road paralleling the Peedee River, and
(09:38):
finally we came to the Old Caraway Plantation. Acres and
acres are huge old live oak trees festooned with Spanish
moss flowers, millions of them, Sadias iris roses rhododendron bushes,
a flame with color in the afternoon sun. Then at
the end of a broad tree lined path, the fine
old colonial mansion with its towering colors. The property faced
(10:01):
the curving, lasy yellow river. Lying across it was a
broad expanse of marshy grass, criss crossed here and there
by canals through which the slaves and olden times hauled
the rice crop to the river boats. Yeah, it was
a beautiful spot, a calm, quiet, peaceful spot. Currently, well
here we are, Johnny. Let's go in and see if
(10:21):
anybody pumps.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Hey, hey, hold it, hold at your pumps.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
It's me smoky.
Speaker 6 (10:28):
Oh god, oh well, put both guns away.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
You want to get in trouble, don't you guys know
lot better to come pasing in this way when all
loving know your color?
Speaker 6 (10:37):
Come on, Johnny, Sure, nice peaceful spot.
Speaker 8 (10:41):
Huh oh, don't you got with your smoky boys.
Speaker 6 (10:45):
This is Johnny Dolla. He's from the insurance company, Johnny.
This is Boulmagoon.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
Yeah. Hi.
Speaker 6 (10:52):
And this is Lefty s Temper Hi, Johnny Dollar. And
the shrimp there and Slippy Lakovich.
Speaker 8 (10:57):
Hi, Johnny, I'm please to rea. That's your way, Rippy,
What did you bring here? Smoking your tick or something? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
Dollar, what's the idea of packing a ride?
Speaker 6 (11:06):
All right, all right, let him go, you guy. Look,
he's on our side. He's up here to find the
stuff that's been stolen.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Yeah, we don't need no outside help. Oh you've found
who's behind the thefts, Lefty, No, if it's in your business,
my business, you're interrupting me.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Yeah, Dollar, shut up.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
I say we'll find out who's coming over here from
the fort you and taking our stuff ourselves, and when
we do, we'll eliminate it right back to the old days. Huh.
If we've got to to protect our rights by letting
me have my gun, well, yeah, a flippy.
Speaker 6 (11:45):
You wants this gun?
Speaker 8 (11:47):
You make a move the dollar and I'll flip yourself fast.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Or you mean like this.
Speaker 6 (11:57):
By Johnny?
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Yeah ship by.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Johnny. You're okay?
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Anybody else want to get swined?
Speaker 8 (12:06):
He cut me off of the good guy. Anybody, Well,
you ain't anymore.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I Lefty, I'll take my gun. Oh sure, yeah, yeah,
you're okay, Jenny. All right, now, let's get things straight.
I'm not the cops, but I'll drag him in if necessary. No, listen,
you listen. I'm gonna try to stop what's going on
around here, and if anyone of your interferes, I'll have
you locked up so fast. You want know what's happened
to you? Wait a minute and I'll listen to me,
(12:31):
will you dollar. I guess we're all kind of shaky,
you know. We well, we were sort of somewhat upset
by the events in the past couple of weeks or two,
you know what I mean. Lefty Joe told me that
if the burglaries, robberies, whatever they are, go want much longer,
(12:53):
there's not able to be a war between you and
the people of the town.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Oh he ain't worried.
Speaker 8 (12:56):
Now, we got enough Guncinamo stashed away around.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
And shut up, Golu.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Well yeah, yeah, sure, I'm sure you have. But if
you ever expect to make peace again with the townspeople,
if you expect to stay on here, we.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Got only fifteen years ago.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Okay, Look, all we got here is our honey rifles,
and we're shotguns and a couple of pistols in case
of snake, you know, while we're hunting the fish in
here to swamps. A lot of cotton mouse around here.
Speaker 6 (13:26):
You know that's the fact, Jenny.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
The point is I didn't come here without providing for
any and every exigency.
Speaker 6 (13:33):
What what what's that mean? What a dope?
Speaker 5 (13:37):
It means?
Speaker 3 (13:38):
If anything happens to him, we're dead. Ain't that excuse me?
Isn't that right? Dollar?
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Right?
Speaker 9 (13:46):
You see?
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Now, give me a hand. Cooperate with me, and maybe
we can clear this thing up. Don't And I have
only one alternative.
Speaker 6 (13:56):
What's that mean?
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Shut up? And that's to have you legally ousted from
here out of the state if necessary. Oh, our looked
Dollar will cooperate. I don't mind telling you. We love
this place. It's the only real home. We got Flippy
and Sadie, we got Bull and.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Mary and Me and Noora.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Maybe maybe we got records, all right, some of us
maybe did time for some of the little jobs we pulled.
Speaker 5 (14:20):
Huh.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
But we've been playing it straight since we come here,
all along the lines.
Speaker 6 (14:24):
Like I told you, Johnny, you're honest.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
That's the way we want to keep it. If the
people of Virtue will just leave us keep it that way.
And you know something, I don't get it don't get
we left either. Well, over twenty years, everything's been nice
and okay, huh, now they got to stop this. What
about the losses they've suffered.
Speaker 8 (14:45):
They asked me dollar their phone's to cover up for
Robin our stuff.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Nobody asked you. Oh, maybe they think the same way
about your losses.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Where's the owner of this place, Sir Caraway? Oh yeah,
he's over. Invite you at his office office. Sure, he's
a mayor and a police. All right, Joe and I
are going over to seam Johnny Smokey, Well you please
don't go.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
They see you.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Guys coming from here. They go to take a shot
at Carowa told me so. Yeah, sure we'll take that chance.
Come on, Joe, Well I'll tell you, Johnny tell me
along the way. Come on. The more I thought about
the whole thing is sillier at all? Seeing Yeah, it
was obvious that even after twenty years, Lefty and a
(15:30):
bull and Flippy might think of only one way to
settle their problems with a gun. And if the people
a Virtue were feeling the same way. What As Joe
and I walked along the main the only street of
the little town, there were those signs of hostility or
even suspicion.
Speaker 6 (15:45):
Tartlets now, look, Johnny, if those bums back at the
plantation of making this trouble, why why would they, Joe,
That's what I don't get. But why if they don't
like your interfering it, decide to knock you off.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
And I'll probably go to my grave on more and remembered.
Speaker 6 (16:00):
Yeah, but you're too a LESTI you'd provide it for
every exegen well, for if anything should happen to you.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Yeah, And he and the boys believed it.
Speaker 6 (16:08):
And if anything does, then yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
All I can hope is that they keep on believing.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Act free of yours truly, Johnny Dollar in a moment.
Speaker 10 (16:29):
Sometimes a quotation is a helpful thing because it points
out some wisdom that helps us to lead better lives.
Here's one that struck me as being very wise and true.
Doctor Samuel Johnson, that wise and witty man immortalized by
Buzzwell said, quote, it matters not how a man dies,
but how he lives unquote. A man's life may be
(16:52):
long or short, but the way he lives it is
the important thing. It's important no matter what he does,
that they have integrity, loyalty, and Honor and the sound
code of conduct. Enlisting at the age of seventeen with
his parents' permission, Corporal Charles L. Gilliland found himself soon
after his eighteenth birthday in a narrow defile in the
(17:15):
middle of the treacherous, rocky terrain of tongman Nie Courier.
At two thirty a m a moonlit morning of April
twenty fifth, nineteen fifty one, Corporal Gilliland's Army Unit, Company Eye,
seventh Infantry Regimental Combat Team of the third Division, became
the focal point of a murderous assault from Chinese communist forces.
(17:37):
The fighting became brutal and bloody. The brunt of the
attack was directed up the defile guarded by Gilliland with
his automatic rifle. A slashing barrage of small arms, automatic weapons,
motor and artillery fire was dropping the men all round him.
Gelilan faced the full force of the assault, and, advancing
against tremendous odds, poured a steady fire into the attacking
(17:59):
force uses and eventually halted them. For valiant and heroic conduct,
Corporal Charles Gilliland was awarded the Medal of Honor, although
in age he still may have been considered a boy.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
He had lived and died like a man. And now
Act three of yours, truly, Johnny Dollar, and the village
of Virtue matters. Joe Piccatello and I walked the main
(18:34):
street of Virtue of South Carolina, unmolested, virtually, unnoticed, and
we found the mayor, Parley Carroway, and a little shack
that served for an office.
Speaker 9 (18:41):
I'm all sure, the police chief, mister Dollar, don't you
forget that shirt?
Speaker 3 (18:45):
And you've found no clue as to who has been
committing the robberies, no.
Speaker 9 (18:49):
Sir, none whatsoever. But who else would do it? They
are all three of the next gangsters?
Speaker 6 (18:54):
Sure, ex gangsters.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Why mister Caraway, Why would these men suddenly want to
make trouble with their friends? You're townspeople.
Speaker 9 (19:01):
I don't know, I honestly don't know, unless, of course,
they think they can take over the way they used
to take over the gangs in the old age.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
After twenty years of a happy relationship.
Speaker 6 (19:13):
Mister Carroway, they never made a bit of trouble in
all that kind.
Speaker 8 (19:16):
I know it, I know it.
Speaker 9 (19:17):
But that remains that unless this trouble stops, after all,
Virtue was here long before they came. Unless it stops,
I say, I shall have to break their lease and
make them leave the plantation. That's too fine a property.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Too, mister Carraway. That plant tastes exactly what you'd call
a paying proposition for a long time, was it?
Speaker 9 (19:39):
Well it has been Shinsto's men leased it, or they
pay you pretty well for it, not to keep it
in good repair.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
That's a beautiful ring you're worrying.
Speaker 9 (19:50):
Eh oh oh, yes, to and a half carrot diamond sir?
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (19:56):
And is that your nice new car off front?
Speaker 9 (19:58):
It certainly is, Ain't it pretty?
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Got eight thousand dollars?
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Pretty?
Speaker 6 (20:03):
Didn't you have a new one last year too, mister Caroline, course,
I tried to have one every year.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
But now tell me one thing, mister Carowaine. Yes, if
you really think the robberies around here are going to
cause so much trouble, well I do.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I do.
Speaker 9 (20:15):
That's why I contacted mister Picotello.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Why haven't you called in the state police.
Speaker 9 (20:20):
Because I am the mayor of Virtue, I'm the police department,
and I can take care of these things myself. Now
that you gentlemen have witnessed the bad blood between these
gangsters and the people of the town. Well, I'm going
to throw them off that plantation.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
In spite of all the money they've been paying you.
Speaker 9 (20:37):
Yes, sir, and I'm sure you general will back me up.
And all the money.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Did you say? I have to keep your well dressed,
well fed and fancy card And I look here, shir
you realize how much that property will bring. One of
that depends how much have you been offered.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
I'll tell you how much.
Speaker 9 (20:53):
One hundred and twenty four thousand. How did you know?
Speaker 3 (20:56):
You just tell me. You also told me you've been
robbing the people of virtue and those men at the
plantation to stir a bad feeling, give you an excuse
to get them out.
Speaker 6 (21:06):
What Johnny, you're right now, just haro away.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
If I do call in the state police, it'll be
to have you locked up. And if Joe here has
any sense, he'll tell the insurance company to bring charges
of fraud against you.
Speaker 9 (21:17):
You said it, Oh, but the money you think of
all the money I could make.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Shell in the old play. Now, where's the stuff that's
been stolen?
Speaker 2 (21:23):
It hasn't been hard, it stored away, carefully, stored away.
Speaker 9 (21:27):
I was going to give it back when when those
men lift and I could sell the.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Play give them their stuff too, well, I'd make up
for it in cash, every cent of it at cashy is.
I'd say it was to break in the league, truly,
mister Dollard.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Why you listen? You owe money grubbing crook. You're in trouble.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
You you'll call him the state police?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
You bet, I will unless unless what first, you lay
off the plantation. You've leased it to those men, Let
them have it and return all the stuff you stole.
Oh but if they find out, do you figure how
to get it away from them, and I'll figure out
how to get it back. Discover it anything you like.
The point is that if you don't get it back,
I'll tell them where it is.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
And you know what that'll mean. Oh yes, I'll get
it back.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Also, respect that lease. I believe it has fifty more
years to run. I guess you would. Has I will, okay,
do all this and Joe and I will forget the
whole thing. But if you don't, and Joe will be
checking on you, Oh but.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
I will, I will, mister Dolla.
Speaker 9 (22:25):
I promise you, I'll get.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Come on, Joe, let's go back to the plantation and
have a drink with some respectable citizens. Yeah, this insurance
business really has some funny ones, and I guess it's
the funny ones that balance out the bed the tragic cases. Anyhow,
I like it. Expense account total including the trip back
(22:49):
to Hartford, call it one hundred bucks even. And in
view of our little secret Joe, well maybe you'd better
pay it out of petty cash. And listen, those pals
are yours. You better drop in on him now and
then to make sure they do stay on the straight
and narrow as well as that old coop carraway yours, Trulee,
Johnny Dollar.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Our star will return in just a moment.
Speaker 11 (23:26):
Our flag now numbers fifty stars, and behind each star
there stands yet another flag representing one of the fifty states.
Michigan state flag was born on February twenty second, eighteen
hundred and thirty seven because of the strategic role played
by Michigan in the War of eighteen twelve. The word
(23:46):
to a bar I will defend is prominent on the
blue flag of Michigan. Beneath it, a rising sun casts
its rays over a lake, and a man standing on
a peninsula with his right hand raised symbolizing peace, while
in his left hand he holds a gun, indicating that
although they love peace, the people of Michigan are ready
(24:08):
to defend their state and nation. Another motto, the state's
official one, is at the base of the flag see
querras peninsula emonam circumspeech. If you seek a pleasant peninsula,
look about you. Thus does Michigan's flag carry its own
invitation to visit one of America's scenic carriers. Michigan State Flag,
(24:34):
a flag of the twenty sixth state to enter the Union,
was adopted on August first, nineteen and eleven.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Now here's our star to tell you about next week
story Next week a strange series of fires, and believe me,
the reason for him is a strange one too. Join us,
won't you yours truly? Johnny doll yours truly? Johnny Dollars,
(25:07):
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 Frank Nelson, Tilly Hallot, Jack Kushan,
Peter Leeds, Gil Stratton, and Will Wright. Be sure to
join us next week, same time and station, or another
exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dollar.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
This is Dan cubberly speaking, this.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Is the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Welcome back, Welcome back. Well, the resolution to cases is
awfully easy when the first person you suspect did it
and they crumple like a cheap suit on you making
a guess, though it'll be fair. Johnny is actually quite
(26:46):
explicit that this is one of those lighthearted episodes, not
a serious tragedy as he often deals with, and therefore
it's more about the characters and the concepts. I would
probably categorize this as more mildly amusing than you know,
particularly great, but it does offer some key insights into
(27:09):
the characters, uh, you know, as well as Johnstone's overall philosophy.
Of course, Johnny settles for a modest expense account of
one hundred dollars. It speaks to Johnny's overall sense of
trying to do right and the greater good. Yeah, he
could have had the mayor brought up on charges, had
(27:30):
a whole bag to do, and you know, been able
to collect the promised fat expense account, but that would
have ended up bringing unwanted publicity to the insured. Require
the involvement of law enforcement and make things very complicated
and unpleasant for everyone involved. His overall goal in what
(27:52):
he did, both in terms of the resolution of the
case and the small fee paid for out of petty cash,
is the greater good. So he handled it in a
simple way that was meant to keep the peace and
ensure against future wrongdoing. The idea of the mobsters or
ex mobsters and their relation to virtue is a key
(28:15):
insight into Johnstone's overall philosophy. The one idea that comes
to in so many scripts is that people should be
able to decide who they want to be and to
change their lives and ought to be given open hearted
support and not condamned or judged for their worst mistakes
(28:37):
that can't be punished. You could hear that in the
assault cough stories. Even at an extreme level. Sackhoff did
some things to help the access, but he was cleared
of charges and wanted to come to this country, love
it and be a patriot. And to that Johnstone says, welcome.
So you were a mobster who broke laws, hurt people
(28:59):
and probably killed people, but weren't convicted of anything, or
you finished your sentence and you want to be a
decent member of a community and mind your own business.
Have at it now. Of course, Johnstone's philosophy operates on
some extreme edges which can make it hard in the
real world, and I'm not advocating for it. I'm just
(29:20):
kind of exploring what he is implying. The funny script
show is that he didn't really have patience for people
who wouldn't give others the grace to change, who made
habits of thumbing people's noses and their worst mistakes and
trying to make trouble for them. These are people who
are portrayed as misguided at best, or at worst trying
(29:43):
to pretend to be more crusaders on someone's past failure
in order to cover up or to deflect blame for
their current malicious activity. Well, now it is time to
think our Patreon support of the day. I want to
thank Catherine, Patreon supporter since June twenty twenty one, currently
(30:04):
supporting the podcast at the shawmus level of four dollars
or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Catherine,
and that will do it for today. If you're enjoying
the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software
and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever
you download it. From Next Friday, we'll be back with
another episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, But join us
(30:28):
back here tomorrow as we turn to the great adventurers
of old time radio and Cloak and Dagger.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
Where could you see a gentleman around here? About your guy?
What I do? You wouldn't be hunting the duke mantel.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
Would you?
Speaker 5 (30:47):
How would you know?
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (30:49):
You should know better? That's right. I don't believe it?
Why not? Nothing that is? Anybody's quite a blood. I
suppose I told you I was Nancy. I wanted to
shoot post about it. How can you have a nerve
to stand there and talk like that? I wouldn't be
so much, after all, you're a black man. Well didn't
(31:13):
you come here? Came here for only one reason, and that.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime,
send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net,
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us
out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectives From Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.
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 do want to encourage you.
If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your
(00:51):
favorite podcast software. Also, as you're making your travel plans,
remember Johnny Dollar air dot com. Johnny dollar dot com
is our price line affiliate link, so when you purchase
through there, part of your purchase price benefits the great
detectives of Old time radio at no additional cost to you.
(01:11):
So remember when making your travel plans, check Johnny Dollar
air dot com. First now from April twenty seventh, nineteen
fifty eight, here is the village of Virtue Matter.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
From Hollywood. It's time now for.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Johnny Dollar in all Off, mister Dollar at Countinental Insurance.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Company in New York.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Oh, yes, mister Orloff. What can I do for you?
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Did you ever hear of a place called Fortune?
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Are you kidding? I'm very serious?
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Wait a minute, Virtue, South Carolina.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
That's right?
Speaker 3 (01:49):
You want me to go down there?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Yes, if you will?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Do you have a bulletproof vest and a couple of
extra handguns I can take along.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
One suggestion would be that you do not take along
any firearms after all exchange. Yeah, I see what you mean.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
All right?
Speaker 3 (02:07):
What do you want me to do?
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Our representative has his office in Georgetown. He give you
the whole story. His name is Joseph Pigatello.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Got Joseph Smoky Pigatello, the guy whose name was linked
murder Incorporated a few years back.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
Yes, Dollar, Joe Smoky Pigatello.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
You sure you want this assignment?
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Well, I'll tell you this, mister l Yes, if you
don't have to pay off on my insurance policy before
I'm through. Well, mister, this is gonna cost you off.
Wapping Big Expenser con Bob Bailey in The Exciting Adventures
(02:47):
of the Man with the Action Packed Expenser con America's
Fabulous Freelance Insurance Investigators, Truly Johnny Delleck. Expense account submitted
(03:10):
by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar to the Continental Insurance Company, Georgetown,
South Carolina office following has the account of expenses incurred
during my investigation of the Village of Virtue Matter Expense
account ADAM one forty seven dollars, even transportation and all
(03:31):
the incidentals I could think of Hartford, Connecticut to Georgetown,
South Carolina. It am to a dollar for a cab
to Continental's office on Screven Street.
Speaker 6 (03:40):
Hi dollar, I'm Joe Piggoteller, glad to see you sit on.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Thanks.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Now, look, Joe, before we go into this man, there's
something I'd like to know.
Speaker 6 (03:49):
Sure, I'll ask it.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Just what are you doing in the insurance business?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Look?
Speaker 6 (03:53):
You remember back in New York, just before Tom Dewey
took over his DA, the great holy Racketbuster.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, and I'm sure you Okay.
Speaker 6 (04:01):
Well, I was just a young punk then, but I
was a bright one, ambitious, you know, finished up my
high school, started taking law.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
You studied law? Why not?
Speaker 6 (04:10):
I could have cleaned up, you know, mouthpiece for some
of the mob, some of the boys I knocked around with,
But then Dewey came along broke up the rockets. So
I gave it up to do what y'all. Oh, you
know this and that Chicago for a while with some
of the boys. Al Capone left behind and down near
the border San Diego for a while.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Huddling narcotics across from Mexico.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
Then some of us tried to Las Vegas. We didn't
get anyone.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
What was that crack?
Speaker 6 (04:33):
Well, listen, I'm clean. Make it crack like that. You
can prove it. Okay, if you can't, don't say it.
You were telling me how you got into the insurance business,
all right, when I'm taking you on this case, don't
talk like that. Gent's idea with don't like it, and
don't forget whatever you think about them. You could also
be wrong, okay, y'all two kinds of wrong Dollar, just
(04:56):
playing wrong and dead wrong. You see what I mean?
Speaker 7 (05:00):
All right?
Speaker 6 (05:01):
As I was saying how I got in this insurance.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Record, as you were saying, well, some of the.
Speaker 6 (05:05):
Boys from New York and chicagoing around it pretty good.
Instead of blowing all that dough on booze and dames
and big times. They were smart. They least to old
plantation up in the valley north of here on a
PD River, the old Carroway Plantation. It's right next to
the town. I'll vite you great name for a hideout.
I'll say that I didn't say hideout, Dollar. It was
just a nice quiet place where they could live. It
(05:27):
up in a nice quiet way and at the same time,
they wouldn't have any cops around the neck.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
No police and virtue.
Speaker 6 (05:33):
Nobody but old Polly Carroway. Anyhow, after six eight months,
had taken an easy mint julips and hunting and fishing
instead of being on the lamb all the time. Well, Johnny,
you wouldn't believe it.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
What do you mean?
Speaker 6 (05:44):
Well, they all settled down there to spend the rest
of their life. They all went respectable, every last one
of them.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
You sure that?
Speaker 6 (05:52):
Who it's been twenty years now? Can you be any
more sure than that?
Speaker 3 (05:56):
I don't know what go on with what you were saying?
Speaker 6 (05:59):
All right, I got an idea. I signed up with
this little insurance company, and I went up to invite
you and made the pitch. They're all respectable. Now they
got to make like respectable people and cover themselves with
a lot of insurance.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
And it worked.
Speaker 6 (06:12):
Now, you remember Lefty Stimper, the.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Old time numbers came for Chicago.
Speaker 6 (06:16):
Right book, these slot machines everything, Oh pal of mine.
So when he told the rest he was buying insurance, well, Johnny,
I got policies on every one of them. The rest
of the town too, on their life, their homes, everything.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Okay, Now let's get to the point. What's happened up
there in virtue trouble? Johnny, old man carraway for me,
what kind of trouble?
Speaker 5 (06:35):
Now?
Speaker 6 (06:36):
Twenty years now, the boys and the people invite you
have been getting along fine. The boys been behaving themselves,
and the people in town are all nice people. Until
a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
What happened?
Speaker 6 (06:46):
Molly Magoon had himself a nice little fishing boat, had
it ever since he went straight moved in up there
twenty years ago. Now somebody stole it.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Well, why don't you just pay off his claim and
forget it?
Speaker 6 (06:56):
Listen? A couple of days after that, mister Avery that
runs the General's virtu had his boat stolen, so.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
You don't have to pay another claim. But small ones, Joe,
would you listen?
Speaker 6 (07:06):
Ever since then, on a day has gone by that
somebody hasn't had something stolen from him. Mostly the people
invite you boats, cars, money, financial, anything you can think of.
The people. Blame the boys, and the boys blame the people,
and Johnny, there's going to be a civil waran right
you unless somebody finds out who's doing this, And if
that happens, there's gonna be a lot of killing. And
(07:26):
well with alway insurance I've sold me and the company
are going to be in trouble.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Well, can't you get the state police to come in?
State police invite you? You said it's a real respectable community.
Speaker 6 (07:36):
Now, sure it is, But well, dragging of men might
really start things off. That's why I had to send
for you.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Look, why don't we go up there so I can
see for myself?
Speaker 6 (07:46):
Sure, Johnny, sure, but hey, or open your coat. I mean,
if you're gonna take along that lemon squeezer, we'll take
my advice. And don't you have a pretty sure by Joe,
Johnny bag and spot the shoulder, ho away. It's hooking
some of the boys up in the valley on the plantation,
and I don't want you to end up with a
slug between your eyes.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Real respectable people.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
Well shall we go on my cause outside.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Into the valley of Death road? The six hundred, at
least a couple of them. What are you talking about, nothing, Joel,
Let's go.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Fact two of yours, truly, Johnny Dollar.
Speaker 7 (08:26):
In a moment, our flag now numbers fifty stars, and
behind each star there stands yet another flag representing one
of the fifty states. Florida State flag bears the red
Cross of Saint Andrew in sympathy with the flag of
the Confederacy on a field of white. Centered over the
cross is the state seal within a golden circle. The sun,
(08:48):
an emblem of glory and splendor representing absolute authority, peers
over a highland. In the distance. Flowers, a symbol of
hope and joy, are scattered by an Indian maiden, incative
of the Indian influence within the state. Centered is the
Coco palm tree, an emblem of victory, justice, and royal honor.
(09:09):
Florida State flag, the flag of the twenty seventh state
to enter the Union, was adopted in nineteen hundred.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Now Act two of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar and the
Village of Virtue Matter. Joe Piccatello erstwhile gangster turned insurance agent,
led me on to his car. We headed north out
of Georgetown, South Carolina. After twenty miles or so, we
swung onto a side road paralleling the Peedee River, and
(09:38):
finally we came to the Old Caraway Plantation. Acres and
acres are huge old live oak trees festooned with Spanish
moss flowers, millions of them, Sadias iris roses rhododendron bushes,
a flame with color in the afternoon sun. Then at
the end of a broad tree lined path, the fine
old colonial mansion with its towering colors. The property faced
(10:01):
the curving, lasy yellow river. Lying across it was a
broad expanse of marshy grass, criss crossed here and there
by canals through which the slaves and olden times hauled
the rice crop to the river boats. Yeah, it was
a beautiful spot, a calm, quiet, peaceful spot. Currently, well
here we are, Johnny. Let's go in and see if
(10:21):
anybody pumps.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Hey, hey, hold it, hold at your pumps.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
It's me smoky.
Speaker 6 (10:28):
Oh god, oh well, put both guns away.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
You want to get in trouble, don't you guys know
lot better to come pasing in this way when all
loving know your color?
Speaker 6 (10:37):
Come on, Johnny, Sure, nice peaceful spot.
Speaker 8 (10:41):
Huh oh, don't you got with your smoky boys.
Speaker 6 (10:45):
This is Johnny Dolla. He's from the insurance company, Johnny.
This is Boulmagoon.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
Yeah. Hi.
Speaker 6 (10:52):
And this is Lefty s Temper Hi, Johnny Dollar. And
the shrimp there and Slippy Lakovich.
Speaker 8 (10:57):
Hi, Johnny, I'm please to rea. That's your way, Rippy,
What did you bring here? Smoking your tick or something? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
Dollar, what's the idea of packing a ride?
Speaker 6 (11:06):
All right, all right, let him go, you guy. Look,
he's on our side. He's up here to find the
stuff that's been stolen.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Yeah, we don't need no outside help. Oh you've found
who's behind the thefts, Lefty, No, if it's in your business,
my business, you're interrupting me.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Yeah, Dollar, shut up.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
I say we'll find out who's coming over here from
the fort you and taking our stuff ourselves, and when
we do, we'll eliminate it right back to the old days. Huh.
If we've got to to protect our rights by letting
me have my gun, well, yeah, a flippy.
Speaker 6 (11:45):
You wants this gun?
Speaker 8 (11:47):
You make a move the dollar and I'll flip yourself fast.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Or you mean like this.
Speaker 6 (11:57):
By Johnny?
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Yeah ship by.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Johnny. You're okay?
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Anybody else want to get swined?
Speaker 8 (12:06):
He cut me off of the good guy. Anybody, Well,
you ain't anymore.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I Lefty, I'll take my gun. Oh sure, yeah, yeah,
you're okay, Jenny. All right, now, let's get things straight.
I'm not the cops, but I'll drag him in if necessary. No, listen,
you listen. I'm gonna try to stop what's going on
around here, and if anyone of your interferes, I'll have
you locked up so fast. You want know what's happened
to you? Wait a minute and I'll listen to me,
(12:31):
will you dollar. I guess we're all kind of shaky,
you know. We well, we were sort of somewhat upset
by the events in the past couple of weeks or two,
you know what I mean. Lefty Joe told me that
if the burglaries, robberies, whatever they are, go want much longer,
(12:53):
there's not able to be a war between you and
the people of the town.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Oh he ain't worried.
Speaker 8 (12:56):
Now, we got enough Guncinamo stashed away around.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
And shut up, Golu.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Well yeah, yeah, sure, I'm sure you have. But if
you ever expect to make peace again with the townspeople,
if you expect to stay on here, we.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Got only fifteen years ago.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Okay, Look, all we got here is our honey rifles,
and we're shotguns and a couple of pistols in case
of snake, you know, while we're hunting the fish in
here to swamps. A lot of cotton mouse around here.
Speaker 6 (13:26):
You know that's the fact, Jenny.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
The point is I didn't come here without providing for
any and every exigency.
Speaker 6 (13:33):
What what what's that mean? What a dope?
Speaker 5 (13:37):
It means?
Speaker 3 (13:38):
If anything happens to him, we're dead. Ain't that excuse me?
Isn't that right? Dollar?
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Right?
Speaker 9 (13:46):
You see?
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Now, give me a hand. Cooperate with me, and maybe
we can clear this thing up. Don't And I have
only one alternative.
Speaker 6 (13:56):
What's that mean?
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Shut up? And that's to have you legally ousted from
here out of the state if necessary. Oh, our looked
Dollar will cooperate. I don't mind telling you. We love
this place. It's the only real home. We got Flippy
and Sadie, we got Bull and.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Mary and Me and Noora.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Maybe maybe we got records, all right, some of us
maybe did time for some of the little jobs we pulled.
Speaker 5 (14:20):
Huh.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
But we've been playing it straight since we come here,
all along the lines.
Speaker 6 (14:24):
Like I told you, Johnny, you're honest.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
That's the way we want to keep it. If the
people of Virtue will just leave us keep it that way.
And you know something, I don't get it don't get
we left either. Well, over twenty years, everything's been nice
and okay, huh, now they got to stop this. What
about the losses they've suffered.
Speaker 8 (14:45):
They asked me dollar their phone's to cover up for
Robin our stuff.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Nobody asked you. Oh, maybe they think the same way
about your losses.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Where's the owner of this place, Sir Caraway? Oh yeah,
he's over. Invite you at his office office. Sure, he's
a mayor and a police. All right, Joe and I
are going over to seam Johnny Smokey, Well you please
don't go.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
They see you.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Guys coming from here. They go to take a shot
at Carowa told me so. Yeah, sure we'll take that chance.
Come on, Joe, Well I'll tell you, Johnny tell me
along the way. Come on. The more I thought about
the whole thing is sillier at all? Seeing Yeah, it
was obvious that even after twenty years, Lefty and a
(15:30):
bull and Flippy might think of only one way to
settle their problems with a gun. And if the people
a Virtue were feeling the same way. What As Joe
and I walked along the main the only street of
the little town, there were those signs of hostility or
even suspicion.
Speaker 6 (15:45):
Tartlets now, look, Johnny, if those bums back at the
plantation of making this trouble, why why would they, Joe,
That's what I don't get. But why if they don't
like your interfering it, decide to knock you off.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
And I'll probably go to my grave on more and remembered.
Speaker 6 (16:00):
Yeah, but you're too a LESTI you'd provide it for
every exegen well, for if anything should happen to you.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Yeah, And he and the boys believed it.
Speaker 6 (16:08):
And if anything does, then yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
All I can hope is that they keep on believing.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Act free of yours truly, Johnny Dollar in a moment.
Speaker 10 (16:29):
Sometimes a quotation is a helpful thing because it points
out some wisdom that helps us to lead better lives.
Here's one that struck me as being very wise and true.
Doctor Samuel Johnson, that wise and witty man immortalized by
Buzzwell said, quote, it matters not how a man dies,
but how he lives unquote. A man's life may be
(16:52):
long or short, but the way he lives it is
the important thing. It's important no matter what he does,
that they have integrity, loyalty, and Honor and the sound
code of conduct. Enlisting at the age of seventeen with
his parents' permission, Corporal Charles L. Gilliland found himself soon
after his eighteenth birthday in a narrow defile in the
(17:15):
middle of the treacherous, rocky terrain of tongman Nie Courier.
At two thirty a m a moonlit morning of April
twenty fifth, nineteen fifty one, Corporal Gilliland's Army Unit, Company Eye,
seventh Infantry Regimental Combat Team of the third Division, became
the focal point of a murderous assault from Chinese communist forces.
(17:37):
The fighting became brutal and bloody. The brunt of the
attack was directed up the defile guarded by Gilliland with
his automatic rifle. A slashing barrage of small arms, automatic weapons,
motor and artillery fire was dropping the men all round him.
Gelilan faced the full force of the assault, and, advancing
against tremendous odds, poured a steady fire into the attacking
(17:59):
force uses and eventually halted them. For valiant and heroic conduct,
Corporal Charles Gilliland was awarded the Medal of Honor, although
in age he still may have been considered a boy.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
He had lived and died like a man. And now
Act three of yours, truly, Johnny Dollar, and the village
of Virtue matters. Joe Piccatello and I walked the main
(18:34):
street of Virtue of South Carolina, unmolested, virtually, unnoticed, and
we found the mayor, Parley Carroway, and a little shack
that served for an office.
Speaker 9 (18:41):
I'm all sure, the police chief, mister Dollar, don't you
forget that shirt?
Speaker 3 (18:45):
And you've found no clue as to who has been
committing the robberies, no.
Speaker 9 (18:49):
Sir, none whatsoever. But who else would do it? They
are all three of the next gangsters?
Speaker 6 (18:54):
Sure, ex gangsters.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Why mister Caraway, Why would these men suddenly want to
make trouble with their friends? You're townspeople.
Speaker 9 (19:01):
I don't know, I honestly don't know, unless, of course,
they think they can take over the way they used
to take over the gangs in the old age.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
After twenty years of a happy relationship.
Speaker 6 (19:13):
Mister Carroway, they never made a bit of trouble in
all that kind.
Speaker 8 (19:16):
I know it, I know it.
Speaker 9 (19:17):
But that remains that unless this trouble stops, after all,
Virtue was here long before they came. Unless it stops,
I say, I shall have to break their lease and
make them leave the plantation. That's too fine a property.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Too, mister Carraway. That plant tastes exactly what you'd call
a paying proposition for a long time, was it?
Speaker 9 (19:39):
Well it has been Shinsto's men leased it, or they
pay you pretty well for it, not to keep it
in good repair.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
That's a beautiful ring you're worrying.
Speaker 9 (19:50):
Eh oh oh, yes, to and a half carrot diamond sir?
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (19:56):
And is that your nice new car off front?
Speaker 9 (19:58):
It certainly is, Ain't it pretty?
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Got eight thousand dollars?
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Pretty?
Speaker 6 (20:03):
Didn't you have a new one last year too, mister Caroline, course,
I tried to have one every year.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
But now tell me one thing, mister Carowaine. Yes, if
you really think the robberies around here are going to
cause so much trouble, well I do.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I do.
Speaker 9 (20:15):
That's why I contacted mister Picotello.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Why haven't you called in the state police.
Speaker 9 (20:20):
Because I am the mayor of Virtue, I'm the police department,
and I can take care of these things myself. Now
that you gentlemen have witnessed the bad blood between these
gangsters and the people of the town. Well, I'm going
to throw them off that plantation.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
In spite of all the money they've been paying you.
Speaker 9 (20:37):
Yes, sir, and I'm sure you general will back me up.
And all the money.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Did you say? I have to keep your well dressed,
well fed and fancy card And I look here, shir
you realize how much that property will bring. One of
that depends how much have you been offered.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
I'll tell you how much.
Speaker 9 (20:53):
One hundred and twenty four thousand. How did you know?
Speaker 3 (20:56):
You just tell me. You also told me you've been
robbing the people of virtue and those men at the
plantation to stir a bad feeling, give you an excuse
to get them out.
Speaker 6 (21:06):
What Johnny, you're right now, just haro away.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
If I do call in the state police, it'll be
to have you locked up. And if Joe here has
any sense, he'll tell the insurance company to bring charges
of fraud against you.
Speaker 9 (21:17):
You said it, Oh, but the money you think of
all the money I could make.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Shell in the old play. Now, where's the stuff that's
been stolen?
Speaker 2 (21:23):
It hasn't been hard, it stored away, carefully, stored away.
Speaker 9 (21:27):
I was going to give it back when when those
men lift and I could sell the.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Play give them their stuff too, well, I'd make up
for it in cash, every cent of it at cashy is.
I'd say it was to break in the league, truly,
mister Dollard.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Why you listen? You owe money grubbing crook. You're in trouble.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
You you'll call him the state police?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
You bet, I will unless unless what first, you lay
off the plantation. You've leased it to those men, Let
them have it and return all the stuff you stole.
Oh but if they find out, do you figure how
to get it away from them, and I'll figure out
how to get it back. Discover it anything you like.
The point is that if you don't get it back,
I'll tell them where it is.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
And you know what that'll mean. Oh yes, I'll get
it back.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Also, respect that lease. I believe it has fifty more
years to run. I guess you would. Has I will, okay,
do all this and Joe and I will forget the
whole thing. But if you don't, and Joe will be
checking on you, Oh but.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
I will, I will, mister Dolla.
Speaker 9 (22:25):
I promise you, I'll get.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Come on, Joe, let's go back to the plantation and
have a drink with some respectable citizens. Yeah, this insurance
business really has some funny ones, and I guess it's
the funny ones that balance out the bed the tragic cases. Anyhow,
I like it. Expense account total including the trip back
(22:49):
to Hartford, call it one hundred bucks even. And in
view of our little secret Joe, well maybe you'd better
pay it out of petty cash. And listen, those pals
are yours. You better drop in on him now and
then to make sure they do stay on the straight
and narrow as well as that old coop carraway yours, Trulee,
Johnny Dollar.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Our star will return in just a moment.
Speaker 11 (23:26):
Our flag now numbers fifty stars, and behind each star
there stands yet another flag representing one of the fifty states.
Michigan state flag was born on February twenty second, eighteen
hundred and thirty seven because of the strategic role played
by Michigan in the War of eighteen twelve. The word
(23:46):
to a bar I will defend is prominent on the
blue flag of Michigan. Beneath it, a rising sun casts
its rays over a lake, and a man standing on
a peninsula with his right hand raised symbolizing peace, while
in his left hand he holds a gun, indicating that
although they love peace, the people of Michigan are ready
(24:08):
to defend their state and nation. Another motto, the state's
official one, is at the base of the flag see
querras peninsula emonam circumspeech. If you seek a pleasant peninsula,
look about you. Thus does Michigan's flag carry its own
invitation to visit one of America's scenic carriers. Michigan State Flag,
(24:34):
a flag of the twenty sixth state to enter the Union,
was adopted on August first, nineteen and eleven.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Now here's our star to tell you about next week
story Next week a strange series of fires, and believe me,
the reason for him is a strange one too. Join us,
won't you yours truly? Johnny doll yours truly? Johnny Dollars,
(25:07):
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 Frank Nelson, Tilly Hallot, Jack Kushan,
Peter Leeds, Gil Stratton, and Will Wright. Be sure to
join us next week, same time and station, or another
exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dollar.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
This is Dan cubberly speaking, this.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Is the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Welcome back, Welcome back. Well, the resolution to cases is
awfully easy when the first person you suspect did it
and they crumple like a cheap suit on you making
a guess, though it'll be fair. Johnny is actually quite
(26:46):
explicit that this is one of those lighthearted episodes, not
a serious tragedy as he often deals with, and therefore
it's more about the characters and the concepts. I would
probably categorize this as more mildly amusing than you know,
particularly great, but it does offer some key insights into
(27:09):
the characters, uh, you know, as well as Johnstone's overall philosophy.
Of course, Johnny settles for a modest expense account of
one hundred dollars. It speaks to Johnny's overall sense of
trying to do right and the greater good. Yeah, he
could have had the mayor brought up on charges, had
(27:30):
a whole bag to do, and you know, been able
to collect the promised fat expense account, but that would
have ended up bringing unwanted publicity to the insured. Require
the involvement of law enforcement and make things very complicated
and unpleasant for everyone involved. His overall goal in what
(27:52):
he did, both in terms of the resolution of the
case and the small fee paid for out of petty cash,
is the greater good. So he handled it in a
simple way that was meant to keep the peace and
ensure against future wrongdoing. The idea of the mobsters or
ex mobsters and their relation to virtue is a key
(28:15):
insight into Johnstone's overall philosophy. The one idea that comes
to in so many scripts is that people should be
able to decide who they want to be and to
change their lives and ought to be given open hearted
support and not condamned or judged for their worst mistakes
(28:37):
that can't be punished. You could hear that in the
assault cough stories. Even at an extreme level. Sackhoff did
some things to help the access, but he was cleared
of charges and wanted to come to this country, love
it and be a patriot. And to that Johnstone says, welcome.
So you were a mobster who broke laws, hurt people
(28:59):
and probably killed people, but weren't convicted of anything, or
you finished your sentence and you want to be a
decent member of a community and mind your own business.
Have at it now. Of course, Johnstone's philosophy operates on
some extreme edges which can make it hard in the
real world, and I'm not advocating for it. I'm just
(29:20):
kind of exploring what he is implying. The funny script
show is that he didn't really have patience for people
who wouldn't give others the grace to change, who made
habits of thumbing people's noses and their worst mistakes and
trying to make trouble for them. These are people who
are portrayed as misguided at best, or at worst trying
(29:43):
to pretend to be more crusaders on someone's past failure
in order to cover up or to deflect blame for
their current malicious activity. Well, now it is time to
think our Patreon support of the day. I want to
thank Catherine, Patreon supporter since June twenty twenty one, currently
(30:04):
supporting the podcast at the shawmus level of four dollars
or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Catherine,
and that will do it for today. If you're enjoying
the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software
and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever
you download it. From Next Friday, we'll be back with
another episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, But join us
(30:28):
back here tomorrow as we turn to the great adventurers
of old time radio and Cloak and Dagger.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
Where could you see a gentleman around here? About your guy?
What I do? You wouldn't be hunting the duke mantel.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
Would you?
Speaker 5 (30:47):
How would you know?
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (30:49):
You should know better? That's right. I don't believe it?
Why not? Nothing that is? Anybody's quite a blood. I
suppose I told you I was Nancy. I wanted to
shoot post about it. How can you have a nerve
to stand there and talk like that? I wouldn't be
so much, after all, you're a black man. Well didn't
(31:13):
you come here? Came here for only one reason, and that.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime,
send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net,
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us
out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectives From Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.
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