July 26, 2025 • 29 mins
Follows the investigations of an insurance detective whose cases often involve intrigue and deception, blending elements of mystery and drama.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
It's time now for Edmund O'Brien now, Johnny Dollar Case.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Mister Dollar, Oh yes, missus Case, thank you for calling back.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Of course, do I understand that my husband's insurance company
sent you to.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Talk to me?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
That's right, missus Case.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
But who reported my husband's disappearance to them?
Speaker 1 (00:18):
They have to keep their eyes open, especially with the
holder of a policy the size of your husband's.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
You aren't keeping things from me, are you. Nothing has happened,
but I don't know about it.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I have no reason to hold anything back. Missus Kse.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Please tell me the truth. He hasn't been heard or anything.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
No, he hasn't been found yet. But I'd like to
talk to you to find out what I can do.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Edmund O'Brien, in a transcribed adventurer The Man with the
Action Packed Expenser cod America's Fabulous freelance insurance investigator.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
It is truly Johnny Dollar.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Expense account submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dallo to a
home office Tri State Insurance Group, Hartford, Connecticut. The following
is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the
Leland Case matter. Expense account item on twenty four dollars
and eighty cents transportation from Hertford to New York City.
I phoned missus leland Case as soon as I got in,
and when she returned the call, I made arrangements to
(01:24):
meet her at her I made arrangements to meet her
at her I phoned missus leland Case as soon as
I got in, and when she returned the call, I
made arrangements to meet her at her apartment. But before
I went over, I checked in with Missing Persons Bureau
to get what background they had.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
Mister, that's right, I'm sitting Dulco. Sorry to keep you waiting,
but I was busy on another file you were interested
in one in leland Case.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
That's the man, and I'd like to start from scratch.
All I know about him is that he carries too
much insurance to lead a peaceful life.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
That isn't the generality. Oh what is it? I wondered
if you knew he was married before?
Speaker 1 (02:04):
And according to the scandal sheets, he thought his first
wife tried to kill him, something about sleeping pills.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
And the fire.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
But there was no proof, so all he could do
is make a public statement and divorce.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
And no, we didn't know that. When did this happen
about five years ago. Where is his first wife? I
don't know, but I'll try to find out and let
us know. Here's what we have. Age forty seven, description, etc.
Occupation owner and manager of a statewide line of grocery
stores known as Case Incorporated. Reported missing by Missus Leland
Case day before yesterday. She said he'd been missing two
(02:36):
days and knew of no reason why he should leave
of his own volition. Knew of no enemies or any
reason for suicide.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
I've got fifty more just like it, I suppose you have.
Did he say it was going any place the last
time Missus Case saw him, Not that she remembers.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
He kissed a goodbye at ten thirty in the morning
and failed to pick her up at seven that night
to go to dinner at the home of mister Missus
Herbert Bennett.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
There isn't any luggage or missing clothes.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
Not unless he had some No one knew about his
office where he maintained a not unless he had some
No one knew about at his office where he maintained
a bachelor apartment.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Oh, there's that.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
Yeah, we haven't really gotten to work on him yet.
We've got sticklers and so on out on him, and
in a day or so we'll be able to spare
a man or two for personal work.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
This has been a busy year for us. I wonder
how that works. One year can be worse than another.
I'm not sure. I think it's the general condition of
the world myself. That is, for the ones who do
just drop out of sight. You know, people will put
up with a lot of boredom and unhappiness during normal times.
Only there's uneasiness and unrest. Their sense of values change,
(03:39):
their sense of moral responsibility. They say, if I put
up with this life along with everything else, let's have
a fling. More divorces this year and more marriages. Everybody
running to take a big jump someplaces, the whole world.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Yeah, I guess that's right. What about his current wife,
what's she like?
Speaker 5 (03:57):
I think she's a girl that would take a long
time to know. Was a lot younger, no more than
twenty six or seven. So the obvious reaction is to
daughter of sincerity about her rich older husband. She's doing
good looking, and I think she could tell a lot
of men anything and they believe her.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
It wouldn't interfere with your procedure. If I talked to her,
not at all. The more work I can get you
to do, the better. Well, okay, Sogan, thanks for the help.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
I'll see what she has to say. When I was
admitted to the case apartment, I understood what Sergeant Doco meant.
She was beautiful, and her outstanding feature was part of
her personality too, a pair of hazel eyes whose candid
stare never left.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Yours while you were talking to her.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
It was almost dark when I got there, and she
led me to an end of the living room where
a big window looked out at the lights that were
snapping on all of them.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Manhattaned.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
I know I.
Speaker 6 (04:51):
Should appreciate what the insurance company is doing, mister Dollar,
but sometimes I'm almost afraid of what will come to light.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
What do you mean, missus case.
Speaker 6 (05:00):
Lund's reasons for wanting to go away? I reported him
missing on an impulse, and I wish I hadn't not
for a while.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
At least then you aren't worried about him.
Speaker 6 (05:09):
I should have given him more time to explain it,
to write a phone. Maybe there's a very logical explanation,
but I'm mostly sorry because of the stories and the
newspapers I didn't read them. They make our life sound
so sordid, just because he's been married before, and because
he was called a playboy when he was younger. Ours
has been a very normal and happy marriage, not at
(05:31):
all what they made it seem.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
You must have been worried about him when you went
to the police.
Speaker 6 (05:35):
Yes, I was, but I'm inclined to let my imagination.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Get hold of me, imagination about why.
Speaker 6 (05:41):
But as being in an accident or being taken able
or something like that. When two days passed, I couldn't
stand it anymore and I called police.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Had you made any other inquiries, called anyone else? Yes?
I call our lawyer the next day, a day after
he didn't meet you for dinner.
Speaker 7 (05:56):
Yes.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
He told me he didn't have any idea why Leland
should do it like that, but he said not to worry. Then,
when another day passed, I called him again and he
said the same thing, not to worry, that he was
sure everything.
Speaker 7 (06:08):
Was all right.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
What's his name, this lawyer, Paul Frater. How old do
you know him personally?
Speaker 6 (06:13):
I mean, oh, hardly at all. He's been here at
the department a few times, but parties not talked to
him on the phone.
Speaker 7 (06:18):
But that's all, m what.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
About your husband's other business associates. Did you know any
of them?
Speaker 6 (06:24):
No? Not, Well, I've only been married to Leland for
a little over two years, and he's always said that
he wanted our life separated from his business life.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Mm eh, I think I know what you mean.
Speaker 6 (06:37):
You wonder if mister Freeter and the others would keep
things from me if Leland wanted them to.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Do you think they would? Yes, I do.
Speaker 6 (06:45):
I think mister Freder was. He kept telling me not
to go to the police and that everything was all right.
But then when I'd ask him how he knew.
Speaker 8 (06:51):
He wouldn't say what?
Speaker 6 (06:52):
Did he say that the publicity wouldn't be good. I
did anyway, because I felt that I couldn't believe anybody.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
I have an idea. You turned to the police and anger,
missus case.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
I told you I was.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Sorry that I did.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
You also told me that you were almost afraid of
what might come to light. Was there trouble between you
and your husband?
Speaker 6 (07:12):
Not that I know of. I mean, I love my husband,
and if his feelings toward me change, I wasn't.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Aware of it yet. You went to the police because
you were angry.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
No, I was worried and confused. I didn't know what
to do. Yes, I was angry because of the way
mister fraid to talk to me. I thought he was
lying to me. But if I hadn't talked to him,
I would have gone to the police anyway I think
any wife would. Yeah, Oh, I don't know what I thought.
I wish I hadn't And if there were a way
to stop it, I would.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
You really wanted start?
Speaker 6 (07:44):
No, he's been gone for five days and I want
to know where he is. I have a right to,
haven't I sure you think I'm cheap and mercenary.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Don't you that I married him for his money.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
And I want to hang on to her.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
I didn't say that, missus case you don't have to.
Speaker 6 (08:00):
Everybody thinks that, maybe even Leland sometimes because I'm young,
because of the way I look. I can tell by
the way his men friends act around me, in the
way their wives look at me. Nobody believes I love him.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
I wish I didn't.
Speaker 6 (08:17):
I wish I could turn into what people think I am.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Oh, I happy to see you again. I'll phone you tomorrow.
After I talked to Paul Freda.
Speaker 8 (08:35):
I'm sorry I had to keep you waiting.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Sorry, mister Freda.
Speaker 9 (08:38):
I seem to have lost an hour this morning that
I can't catch mister Dollar, wasn't he answering.
Speaker 8 (08:43):
From Tri State Insurance saddan?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Thanks all the world.
Speaker 8 (08:47):
Did your company get caught up in this farce?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
I think they have informers and the Bureau of Missing Person.
Speaker 8 (08:52):
Missing Persons rocked.
Speaker 9 (08:54):
As if it isn't bad enough to have a suspicious,
grasping rife dogging your every step.
Speaker 8 (08:58):
Now the insurance company is along.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
That's the picture so far. You know if mister case
is no.
Speaker 8 (09:04):
But if I did, I wouldn't tell you.
Speaker 9 (09:06):
All of us, all of his friends have been after
him to get away from everything here in the city
and take a complete rest.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
That's what you think he's doing.
Speaker 9 (09:12):
Of course it is, and you'd be doing the poor
chap of favor if you'd leave him alone.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
His wife said that she found you and asked if
you knew where he was, mister trader.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
She didn't say that you told her anything about arrest.
Speaker 9 (09:23):
I didn't tell her because she's one of the things
he's getting away from. When I do tell her the truth,
it'll be in the form of divorce papers.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
She didn't mention any divorce either. She said they were happy, Yes,
she would.
Speaker 9 (09:36):
The word happiness is just about the most indeterminate word
you'll ever find. If you take the trouble to analyze it,
ask ten people what is necessary to the state of happiness,
and you'll get ten answers.
Speaker 8 (09:46):
In short, she may have been happy, but he wasn't.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I take it you don't like her.
Speaker 8 (09:50):
I don't like leeches.
Speaker 9 (09:53):
Throughout his life, leling case has been the object of
scheming women. When he was young, there were scheming mothers,
and from then on the daughters.
Speaker 8 (10:00):
Without prompting.
Speaker 9 (10:02):
He married the first time against our advice, and it
ended in near tragedy. Then this brainless doll stocked him down,
and he did it again. We told him from the
beginning that she was a huntress. Well, it appears that
he's finally come to his senses. Were the we You
speak of his friends, his business associates.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
And though it's none of my business, do you base
your thinking on the theory that the girl.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Is too beautiful to be good? Or is there something definite?
Speaker 8 (10:29):
How long have you known her, mister dollar, I met
her yesterday.
Speaker 9 (10:32):
Then you'll admit that we know her better she's a
cheap beauty contest type from upstate with a high school education.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Okay, okay, what else is hear resting for work?
Speaker 9 (10:42):
He's been completely exhausted mentally for the past eight months.
Speaker 8 (10:46):
He had to stop or he'd have collapsed. He's no figurehead,
you know, he really heads that corporation.
Speaker 9 (10:52):
He carries more responsibility than a single mind is equipped
to carry.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Where would he go, then, mister Freda, you must have
an idea of Florida, the Caribbean, out west, someplace where.
Speaker 8 (11:02):
I really have no idea, mister Borl, I really don't.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
It must be quite a distance or he would have
read about his disappearance and at least phoned.
Speaker 8 (11:09):
Yes, that's true, possibly even Europe.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Well, the police are covering all the steamer and airlines.
Speaker 9 (11:15):
That's stupid, spiteful woman, the police. Is there no way
to stop this hidiocy?
Speaker 1 (11:21):
If you, as his lawyer, don't know, and I don't,
As long as his wife says he's missing, he is.
I talked with more of Leland Casey's friends and advisers
that day, and their statements were pretty much the same
as poor Freighters. I followed Case's last known movements from
(11:43):
his office to his club, where.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
He'd arrived at five pm for a steam bath. He'd
been seen.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Leaving there an hour or so later, and there the
trail ended. The witness couldn't remember whether he'd been carrying
anything like an overnight bag, and nobody knew how much
money he'd had with him. It was hard to tell
how much nationwide publicity the disappearance was getting, but in
New York and the neighboring states, the papers carried the
story in every edition. But that day and most of
the next passed before anything developed. I was just leaving
(12:09):
my hotel room. But then I when the phone rang.
It was Missus leland Case calling to say she had
to see me in her apartment as soon as possible.
Speaker 6 (12:20):
I had to call you. I wasn't supposed to, but
I didn't know what to do. So I wasn't supposed
to talk to anybody, but I had to.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
I couldn't stan. Come on, sit down and try to
make sense what happened.
Speaker 6 (12:33):
Then Lean's alive, But the Holy I've got to give
him some money.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
I'll wait a minute. When did this call come in
before I phoned you?
Speaker 6 (12:40):
About five minutes? I think I don't know how long before?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
What did he say exactly?
Speaker 6 (12:45):
He said?
Speaker 3 (12:46):
He told me Leland was alive and all right.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
He said he'd be safe if I turned ten thousand.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Dollars over to them.
Speaker 6 (12:52):
They'd let him go then, but if I talked to the.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Police, he'd be killed. How did you answer him? I
hardly remember. I went all the pieces. I just said, yeah,
I do anything.
Speaker 6 (13:01):
He wanted to know how fast I could get the money,
and I said I didn't know, and then he said,
if it wasn't by noon tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
To forget it. I can get it.
Speaker 6 (13:08):
There are some things in the safety deposit by Wait
a minute, and there's quite a bit in a checking account.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Wait a minute. Did he tell you where you were
going to hand over the money?
Speaker 3 (13:14):
No?
Speaker 6 (13:15):
Oh, he said someone would call me again when tomorrow
morning eleven thirty.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
He said, we have some time then try and figure
out what we're gonna do. Before I left it that night,
I felt I had convinced missus case on a few
salient points. For one, that we'd be working at cross
purposes with the police if we try to make the
contact without them, and therefore be hand in hand with
(13:40):
the criminals. For another, that if she were watched as
she probably would be, and acted as though she were
raising the ransom. I could line up the police without
any suspicion being cast on her.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
And finally that.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
By the record, kidnappers who received their extortion money according
to their ex And finally that by the record, kidnappers
who received their extortion money according to their exact demands
are the first ones to kill the kidnap victim, since
by that time he is the only evidence against them.
(14:11):
I alerted Sergeant Dulco that night and the next morning.
While missus Case was out getting what she could of
the ten thousand dollars, I went I alerted Sergeant Dulco
that night and the next morning. While missus Case was
out getting what she could of the ten thousand dollars,
I went to the apartment and waited for her.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
I was standing next to her.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
I was standing next to her at eleven thirty when
the phone rang, go ahead, I'll stand here, Go ahead,
I'll stand here.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Hold the receiver away from the.
Speaker 10 (14:50):
Other saw four.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
I alerted Sergeant Dulco that night and the next morning.
I alerted sergeant that night and the next morning, while
missus Case was out getting what she could of the
ten thousand dollars. I went to the apartment and waited
for her. I was standing next to her at eleven
thirty when the phone rang. Go ahead, I'll stand here,
(15:17):
hold the receiver away from your ear.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
I want to get what I can. I'm so scared.
Go ahead, don't try to be anything else.
Speaker 7 (15:27):
Hello, it's about your husband. Did you raise the money?
Speaker 6 (15:32):
Not all of it, but it's over eight thousand dollars.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
I couldn't do.
Speaker 6 (15:36):
What you wanted me to be careful, I couldn't get
the rest without answering questions. You didn't give me much time.
I can give you eighty six hundred dollars difference.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
It's such a little bit more.
Speaker 6 (15:47):
I could sell some of my things if you will
give me more time. It would take another day.
Speaker 11 (15:53):
You want to get out of this part of the country,
so we'll give you a break to get your mind back.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
How is he is He all right?
Speaker 7 (16:00):
He's okay, and he'll stay that way as long as
you do what we say.
Speaker 8 (16:03):
I will.
Speaker 6 (16:04):
What do you want me to do?
Speaker 7 (16:05):
Okay, I'll tell you and we'll get this up with
right now.
Speaker 11 (16:09):
You know what I'm fixing up that church on Park
Avenue yes.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Yes, I know what you mean.
Speaker 7 (16:14):
There's a bus stop right there.
Speaker 11 (16:15):
You'll be there at ten to twelve on a dot
and have the money inside a newspaper that's folded up.
Speaker 7 (16:20):
You got there.
Speaker 11 (16:21):
Yes, it'll only be a few minutes and somebody will
meet you. Well, you know you because we've been following
you all morning. You got the paper rolled up like
you're through reading and see. Yes, this person will come
up and say, are you through with that paper?
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Lady?
Speaker 7 (16:33):
I want to find out who won the game? Got that?
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Yes, I'll remember you.
Speaker 7 (16:37):
Just give him the paper and walk away. You got there?
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Yes, And my husband, when will you let him go?
Speaker 7 (16:44):
Just as soon as we get back to where he's
at and count the money? All right?
Speaker 6 (16:48):
There's nothing else I can do.
Speaker 7 (16:50):
That's right. And there's one last thing. Your phone's gonna
start ringing right after you hang up. Let it ring.
It's going to be me, so you won't call up.
I want you in front of your building in three minutes.
Don't stop the phone. You'll be followed from then on. Now,
let's get started so you get your man back.
Speaker 10 (17:05):
Huh huh, yeah you too, did you hear all?
Speaker 7 (17:10):
He said?
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Enough of it?
Speaker 1 (17:12):
They threw as a curve. It's not usually as simple
as this. I want have time to call the police.
Speaker 6 (17:17):
In what's gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
I'll do it.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
I can get started now, you've only you've only got
a few minutes.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
I'll leave the building by the other entrance and go
up Lexington. Come on, you'll be there. I'll try to
be by the time you get there.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Here's a newspaper. If you can still a little, do it.
But don't be late when you get there. Don't look
for me.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
I won't.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
It's stupid pulling a wide open daylight contact like this,
so stupid it's smart. By the time I'd elbowed and
pushed and run my way to the church corner, I
was so winded I thought everybody on the street could
hear me breathing. But I was there a little over
(17:56):
a minute before I saw her picking her way through
the crowd, face ashen gray, and the folded newspaper held
as though it were.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Something alive and dangerous. Move When she stopped, I moved
over as close.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
To her as I did, and I listened for the
words she was waiting for, and finally, out of Shopper's
chatter of Macy's.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
And Gimbals and so on. They came.
Speaker 7 (18:17):
You throw that paper, lady.
Speaker 8 (18:18):
I want to find out who won the game?
Speaker 12 (18:21):
Yes, yes, here, Hey, wait a minute, what do you want.
Speaker 5 (18:46):
I haven't talked to him yet, but I've got two
cars out checking the address he gave the booking sergeant.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
What name did he give? Lamson Eugene l We haven't
checked that out either.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
There must be at least two more to do all
the talk. There must be at least two more to
do all the tailing and covering he talked about the
phone was the call from the radio cars.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
Oh here he's in here. Oh it don't look like
you're going to enjoy a steak for a while. And
I can wait for a long time on a federal rap.
You think so, But I ain't wait. Where is Leland case?
Speaker 2 (19:18):
I got new Swae.
Speaker 13 (19:19):
I don't know where he is. I don't know that either.
I read about him in the paper and figured I
could nick the wife before they found him. Sure you
don't like that, Sure you got him, and that's what
are you going to get.
Speaker 8 (19:31):
I wouldn't call on that.
Speaker 5 (19:32):
Here's your head lamps, and you know how high kidnapping comes.
I've known people to get a break of the copper.
I don't know nothing about a kidnapping. I'm telling you
a stray.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
I mean he's dead.
Speaker 8 (19:41):
I mean what I said. I don't know nothing about it.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Or wasn't it with you? No, buddy, wasn't.
Speaker 8 (19:44):
Nothing with me.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
I did it alone. And you know where he is.
Speaker 8 (19:46):
I don't know where he is.
Speaker 13 (19:48):
I tell you, I read about him, figured I pay
to cash you.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
I ain't fooling up the kidnapp No, I don't know
what You're trying to pull lamps.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
And it's a little late to play stupid.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
You told the arresting officer that all you did was
ask a lady if she was through with her paper?
Why didn't you stick that story? I knew I couldn't.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Make it hold.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
And let's have the rest of it. Who contacted missus
case yesterday?
Speaker 2 (20:06):
I did? Who followed her this morning? I did?
Speaker 13 (20:08):
I read about her husband and cut her picture out
of the paper, went over her by her place and
stuck around there. I saw it, And yesterday I call
her on the phone, tor she could get her man
back or I don't know.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
I just told her that to see if it would work.
Almost did drop it lamps? And you phoned her this
morning at eleven thirty. I was there, sure, right there.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Who followed her from her apartment building to that Park
Avenue corner.
Speaker 13 (20:30):
I tell you I did all of that, but I
don't know nothing about no kidnapping.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Who stood by the telephone connected to the cases to
keep it busy?
Speaker 2 (20:37):
No body did. I phone her from just on a
block this morning, from a book.
Speaker 13 (20:42):
And when I told her I was going to call
back and for to leave it ring, I just left
the receiver.
Speaker 8 (20:45):
Hanging, went out the follower.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
I know a lot of you guys have got the
idea that if you take a story like this and
stick with it and swear to it and repeat it,
that there is nothing anybody can do to break it down.
Speaker 13 (20:55):
You can't break this one down because I ranked no other.
I don't know nothing about this guy, but what I
written the.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
Paper, Well, just let your soap for a while, lambson.
The FBI is on their way over. I understand they're
pretty good with stubborn guys like you.
Speaker 13 (21:08):
I'm telling you, I don't care who comes. That's a
straight story, and nobody can make me say nothing else.
Speaker 8 (21:13):
It was just an idea I had.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
I got it after I read about it in the paper,
that this guy's enough Lampson, we'll get back to you.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
You work on your story while you wait for it,
but I don't work on It's true, you had enough
dollar too much.
Speaker 8 (21:24):
It may sound crazy, maybe I am, but it's the truth.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
I just figured it might work.
Speaker 7 (21:28):
It almost did.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
I have the money right in my head.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I think it was then that we began to feel
that when and if we found Case, we'd find him dead.
I don't know about the sergeant, but I began to
feel responsible, as though he might have been killed because
we'd picked up Lampson and the accomplices.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
He wouldn't name, it known that things had gone wrong.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
We waited in Doco's office for the report from the
radio cars investigating Ramson's address. When we got it, the
picture was as blank as before he moved into the
place to weeks before. Nobody that was questioned knew where
he'd come or couldn't even happen. I think it was
then that we began to feel that when and if
we found Case, we'd find him dead.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
About the sergeant, but I began to feel responsible as
though he might have been killed because we'd picked up
Lamson and the accomplices he wouldn't name had known that things.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Had gone wrong.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
We waited in Doko's office the We waited in Doko's
office for the report from the radio cars investigating Lamson's address.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
When we got it, the picture was as blank as before.
He'd moved into the place two weeks before.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Nobody that was questioned knew where he'd come from or
anything about him. In the meantime, the experts had gone
to work on him, and by ten that night, when
I left for my hotel, he still hadn't changed his story.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
That's the way the day ended. Johnny Donna, Sergeant Ogo,
Oh yeah, good morning, Sergeant. Anything new.
Speaker 5 (23:05):
There was a message on my desk when I got
here to call a hospital up near White Plane.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Huh.
Speaker 5 (23:09):
I talked to a doctor who says, as a patient
up there, an answers cases description. What it seems to
be a semi religious place of some kind of the country,
sort of removed from reality. This man was brought there
by somebody who found him wandering on the road with
his clothes torn off and in pretty bad shape from feeding.
Speaker 7 (23:25):
He gave his name as White.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Huh, I don't get it. You're gonna follow it up?
Speaker 5 (23:29):
Yeah, I'm asking permission to the local authorities to come up.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
And I wondered if you'd like to go with me.
What about Lambson?
Speaker 5 (23:35):
He's asleep, so's everybody that questioned him. They worked all
night without getting him to change a word.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
All right, sergeant, let's go to White Planes. Then you
want me to camp over, will you pick me up?
The hospital had seen practiced really basic charity. Nobody who
came or was brought to the door was turned away.
According to the doctor, the patient called White was recovering
nicely from his physical symptoms, but his mental condition was
(24:02):
such that he refused to talk to anyone, refuse to
do anything but lie in his bed and stare at
the ceiling. We'd come armed with photographs of Leland Case,
so we knew that's who he was the moment we
walked into his room.
Speaker 5 (24:17):
Oh hell, almost Case, And we should have let people
know where you were. You've caused everybody a lot of worry.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
What name did you call me? Case? Leland Case isn't
your name.
Speaker 10 (24:30):
I don't know. I don't know who I am. I
think we do mister case leland Key.
Speaker 8 (24:37):
That's not a very nice name.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Why did you come here?
Speaker 5 (24:41):
We've been looking for you. You've been missing for over
a week. My name is Dolcohan. This is mister dollar Grad.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
We've found you, mister case leland Key. That name doesn't
mean anything mean. We have some photographs here. See if
you recognize that there's me, someone who looks very much
like me.
Speaker 10 (25:00):
I have no memory of anything before I was on
a train that I left in in the city White Plains.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Oh yes, yes, uh.
Speaker 10 (25:09):
I called myself mister White because I remembered that.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
You don't remember getting on the train. No.
Speaker 10 (25:15):
I remember getting off late at night and wondering why
I had come and where I should go.
Speaker 8 (25:22):
I remember walking down.
Speaker 10 (25:23):
Some railroad tracks because it seems so good to be
in the country at night. And then these men attacked me,
and I believe they took everything I had, if I
had anything, and someone brought me here.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Who is leaving cav.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
You are a pretty successful man in the state of
New York. You have money and a big thriving business.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
You have a wife. Oh yes, the girl in one
of the pictures, who this one? This girl is my wife? Yes?
Speaker 1 (25:53):
And You also had a doctor who told you that
if you didn't stop working so hard, you'd have a
mental breakdown.
Speaker 8 (25:58):
Well, this is off the cone.
Speaker 10 (26:00):
Hear you tell me that this stranger that I am,
this Leland case, this is no joke, isn't it.
Speaker 8 (26:08):
Are you sure that's who I am?
Speaker 2 (26:10):
Yeah, we're sure.
Speaker 5 (26:11):
As soon as you feel strong enough to go back
to New York because you can talk to people who
know you, your wife.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
The one is his name, Paul Freda mean anything to you?
He's a lawyer.
Speaker 10 (26:22):
Oh free, sir, I know it doesn't mean anything to me.
The doctor tells me I've recovered from my injuries. I
wonder when he would let me go.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
He told us that if your fault I get you
could leave today would be good for you.
Speaker 10 (26:34):
Well, my clothes wearable. I think I'd like to try
and get up.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
All the way back to New York, he asked questions
about the Leland case. All the way back to New York,
he asked questions about the Leland case.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
He'd forgotten.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
When we got there was early evening, and by arrangement
with Paul Freda. When we got there was early evening,
and by arrangement, Paul Frader was waiting with Missus Case
at the apartment. There were a few moments of strange
silence while he looked at them with no show of recognition.
Speaker 10 (27:07):
And you tell me that this is my way, Leland Darling,
and mister Fraser, why.
Speaker 8 (27:14):
I am your attorney. You would not have been my
father and son for a year. Well, I'm sorry, mister Fraser,
you don't remember.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
I'm afraid of Leland. Leland Darling.
Speaker 6 (27:25):
I'll take care of you.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
I'll make you remember.
Speaker 8 (27:28):
What about the business? That don't snap him back?
Speaker 10 (27:31):
These gentlemen have told me about the business, this huge,
complicated enterprise, when I can't believe that I, no matter
what my name is, ever controlled anything as.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
Large as that.
Speaker 8 (27:43):
Well you did, Leland. You're a genius, an organization.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
A genius. Well that sounds awfully dull.
Speaker 8 (27:50):
Leland. The company needs.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
You, ah, mister and missus Case and mister Freda. I
think the problem from here on is up to you.
Sergeant Tilco and I are on the way now.
Speaker 8 (28:00):
Well, we want to thank you for all what you've done.
Speaker 5 (28:03):
We're glad that it's turning up this way. Goodbye, all
of it, goodbye, mister.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Thank you, just so long as mister Case will be
all right now.
Speaker 10 (28:14):
I think I will, mister Dollar, Yes, I really think
I will.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
I couldn't tell because the light wasn't too good. But
I'm almost sure that Leland Case winked at me. If
he did, it means that his memory is no longer lost,
but just stashed away for the day he wants it.
And I have an idea that it won't be the
company that's there when it decides to find it. But
as I say, the light was bad, and I'm not sure.
(28:45):
Expense a count adam two same as item one, Item
three miscellaneous four hundred and forty six dollars and fifty
three cents. Expense account total four hundred ninety six dollars
and thirteen cents. Yours truly, Johnny Dallard.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
This is Dan kubberly inviting you to join us next
week at this time when Edmund O'Brien returns as yours truly,
Johnny Dala
It's time now for Edmund O'Brien now, Johnny Dollar Case.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Mister Dollar, Oh yes, missus Case, thank you for calling back.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Of course, do I understand that my husband's insurance company
sent you to.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Talk to me?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
That's right, missus Case.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
But who reported my husband's disappearance to them?
Speaker 1 (00:18):
They have to keep their eyes open, especially with the
holder of a policy the size of your husband's.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
You aren't keeping things from me, are you. Nothing has happened,
but I don't know about it.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I have no reason to hold anything back. Missus Kse.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Please tell me the truth. He hasn't been heard or anything.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
No, he hasn't been found yet. But I'd like to
talk to you to find out what I can do.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Edmund O'Brien, in a transcribed adventurer The Man with the
Action Packed Expenser cod America's Fabulous freelance insurance investigator.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
It is truly Johnny Dollar.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Expense account submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dallo to a
home office Tri State Insurance Group, Hartford, Connecticut. The following
is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the
Leland Case matter. Expense account item on twenty four dollars
and eighty cents transportation from Hertford to New York City.
I phoned missus leland Case as soon as I got in,
and when she returned the call, I made arrangements to
(01:24):
meet her at her I made arrangements to meet her
at her I phoned missus leland Case as soon as
I got in, and when she returned the call, I
made arrangements to meet her at her apartment. But before
I went over, I checked in with Missing Persons Bureau
to get what background they had.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
Mister, that's right, I'm sitting Dulco. Sorry to keep you waiting,
but I was busy on another file you were interested
in one in leland Case.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
That's the man, and I'd like to start from scratch.
All I know about him is that he carries too
much insurance to lead a peaceful life.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
That isn't the generality. Oh what is it? I wondered
if you knew he was married before?
Speaker 1 (02:04):
And according to the scandal sheets, he thought his first
wife tried to kill him, something about sleeping pills.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
And the fire.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
But there was no proof, so all he could do
is make a public statement and divorce.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
And no, we didn't know that. When did this happen
about five years ago. Where is his first wife? I
don't know, but I'll try to find out and let
us know. Here's what we have. Age forty seven, description, etc.
Occupation owner and manager of a statewide line of grocery
stores known as Case Incorporated. Reported missing by Missus Leland
Case day before yesterday. She said he'd been missing two
(02:36):
days and knew of no reason why he should leave
of his own volition. Knew of no enemies or any
reason for suicide.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
I've got fifty more just like it, I suppose you have.
Did he say it was going any place the last
time Missus Case saw him, Not that she remembers.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
He kissed a goodbye at ten thirty in the morning
and failed to pick her up at seven that night
to go to dinner at the home of mister Missus
Herbert Bennett.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
There isn't any luggage or missing clothes.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
Not unless he had some No one knew about his
office where he maintained a not unless he had some
No one knew about at his office where he maintained
a bachelor apartment.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Oh, there's that.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
Yeah, we haven't really gotten to work on him yet.
We've got sticklers and so on out on him, and
in a day or so we'll be able to spare
a man or two for personal work.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
This has been a busy year for us. I wonder
how that works. One year can be worse than another.
I'm not sure. I think it's the general condition of
the world myself. That is, for the ones who do
just drop out of sight. You know, people will put
up with a lot of boredom and unhappiness during normal times.
Only there's uneasiness and unrest. Their sense of values change,
(03:39):
their sense of moral responsibility. They say, if I put
up with this life along with everything else, let's have
a fling. More divorces this year and more marriages. Everybody
running to take a big jump someplaces, the whole world.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Yeah, I guess that's right. What about his current wife,
what's she like?
Speaker 5 (03:57):
I think she's a girl that would take a long
time to know. Was a lot younger, no more than
twenty six or seven. So the obvious reaction is to
daughter of sincerity about her rich older husband. She's doing
good looking, and I think she could tell a lot
of men anything and they believe her.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
It wouldn't interfere with your procedure. If I talked to her,
not at all. The more work I can get you
to do, the better. Well, okay, Sogan, thanks for the help.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
I'll see what she has to say. When I was
admitted to the case apartment, I understood what Sergeant Doco meant.
She was beautiful, and her outstanding feature was part of
her personality too, a pair of hazel eyes whose candid
stare never left.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Yours while you were talking to her.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
It was almost dark when I got there, and she
led me to an end of the living room where
a big window looked out at the lights that were
snapping on all of them.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Manhattaned.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
I know I.
Speaker 6 (04:51):
Should appreciate what the insurance company is doing, mister Dollar,
but sometimes I'm almost afraid of what will come to light.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
What do you mean, missus case.
Speaker 6 (05:00):
Lund's reasons for wanting to go away? I reported him
missing on an impulse, and I wish I hadn't not
for a while.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
At least then you aren't worried about him.
Speaker 6 (05:09):
I should have given him more time to explain it,
to write a phone. Maybe there's a very logical explanation,
but I'm mostly sorry because of the stories and the
newspapers I didn't read them. They make our life sound
so sordid, just because he's been married before, and because
he was called a playboy when he was younger. Ours
has been a very normal and happy marriage, not at
(05:31):
all what they made it seem.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
You must have been worried about him when you went
to the police.
Speaker 6 (05:35):
Yes, I was, but I'm inclined to let my imagination.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Get hold of me, imagination about why.
Speaker 6 (05:41):
But as being in an accident or being taken able
or something like that. When two days passed, I couldn't
stand it anymore and I called police.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Had you made any other inquiries, called anyone else? Yes?
I call our lawyer the next day, a day after
he didn't meet you for dinner.
Speaker 7 (05:56):
Yes.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
He told me he didn't have any idea why Leland
should do it like that, but he said not to worry. Then,
when another day passed, I called him again and he
said the same thing, not to worry, that he was
sure everything.
Speaker 7 (06:08):
Was all right.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
What's his name, this lawyer, Paul Frater. How old do
you know him personally?
Speaker 6 (06:13):
I mean, oh, hardly at all. He's been here at
the department a few times, but parties not talked to
him on the phone.
Speaker 7 (06:18):
But that's all, m what.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
About your husband's other business associates. Did you know any
of them?
Speaker 6 (06:24):
No? Not, Well, I've only been married to Leland for
a little over two years, and he's always said that
he wanted our life separated from his business life.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Mm eh, I think I know what you mean.
Speaker 6 (06:37):
You wonder if mister Freeter and the others would keep
things from me if Leland wanted them to.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Do you think they would? Yes, I do.
Speaker 6 (06:45):
I think mister Freder was. He kept telling me not
to go to the police and that everything was all right.
But then when I'd ask him how he knew.
Speaker 8 (06:51):
He wouldn't say what?
Speaker 6 (06:52):
Did he say that the publicity wouldn't be good. I
did anyway, because I felt that I couldn't believe anybody.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
I have an idea. You turned to the police and anger,
missus case.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
I told you I was.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Sorry that I did.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
You also told me that you were almost afraid of
what might come to light. Was there trouble between you
and your husband?
Speaker 6 (07:12):
Not that I know of. I mean, I love my husband,
and if his feelings toward me change, I wasn't.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Aware of it yet. You went to the police because
you were angry.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
No, I was worried and confused. I didn't know what
to do. Yes, I was angry because of the way
mister fraid to talk to me. I thought he was
lying to me. But if I hadn't talked to him,
I would have gone to the police anyway I think
any wife would. Yeah, Oh, I don't know what I thought.
I wish I hadn't And if there were a way
to stop it, I would.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
You really wanted start?
Speaker 6 (07:44):
No, he's been gone for five days and I want
to know where he is. I have a right to,
haven't I sure you think I'm cheap and mercenary.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Don't you that I married him for his money.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
And I want to hang on to her.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
I didn't say that, missus case you don't have to.
Speaker 6 (08:00):
Everybody thinks that, maybe even Leland sometimes because I'm young,
because of the way I look. I can tell by
the way his men friends act around me, in the
way their wives look at me. Nobody believes I love him.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
I wish I didn't.
Speaker 6 (08:17):
I wish I could turn into what people think I am.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Oh, I happy to see you again. I'll phone you tomorrow.
After I talked to Paul Freda.
Speaker 8 (08:35):
I'm sorry I had to keep you waiting.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Sorry, mister Freda.
Speaker 9 (08:38):
I seem to have lost an hour this morning that
I can't catch mister Dollar, wasn't he answering.
Speaker 8 (08:43):
From Tri State Insurance saddan?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Thanks all the world.
Speaker 8 (08:47):
Did your company get caught up in this farce?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
I think they have informers and the Bureau of Missing Person.
Speaker 8 (08:52):
Missing Persons rocked.
Speaker 9 (08:54):
As if it isn't bad enough to have a suspicious,
grasping rife dogging your every step.
Speaker 8 (08:58):
Now the insurance company is along.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
That's the picture so far. You know if mister case
is no.
Speaker 8 (09:04):
But if I did, I wouldn't tell you.
Speaker 9 (09:06):
All of us, all of his friends have been after
him to get away from everything here in the city
and take a complete rest.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
That's what you think he's doing.
Speaker 9 (09:12):
Of course it is, and you'd be doing the poor
chap of favor if you'd leave him alone.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
His wife said that she found you and asked if
you knew where he was, mister trader.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
She didn't say that you told her anything about arrest.
Speaker 9 (09:23):
I didn't tell her because she's one of the things
he's getting away from. When I do tell her the truth,
it'll be in the form of divorce papers.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
She didn't mention any divorce either. She said they were happy, Yes,
she would.
Speaker 9 (09:36):
The word happiness is just about the most indeterminate word
you'll ever find. If you take the trouble to analyze it,
ask ten people what is necessary to the state of happiness,
and you'll get ten answers.
Speaker 8 (09:46):
In short, she may have been happy, but he wasn't.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I take it you don't like her.
Speaker 8 (09:50):
I don't like leeches.
Speaker 9 (09:53):
Throughout his life, leling case has been the object of
scheming women. When he was young, there were scheming mothers,
and from then on the daughters.
Speaker 8 (10:00):
Without prompting.
Speaker 9 (10:02):
He married the first time against our advice, and it
ended in near tragedy. Then this brainless doll stocked him down,
and he did it again. We told him from the
beginning that she was a huntress. Well, it appears that
he's finally come to his senses. Were the we You
speak of his friends, his business associates.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
And though it's none of my business, do you base
your thinking on the theory that the girl.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Is too beautiful to be good? Or is there something definite?
Speaker 8 (10:29):
How long have you known her, mister dollar, I met
her yesterday.
Speaker 9 (10:32):
Then you'll admit that we know her better she's a
cheap beauty contest type from upstate with a high school education.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Okay, okay, what else is hear resting for work?
Speaker 9 (10:42):
He's been completely exhausted mentally for the past eight months.
Speaker 8 (10:46):
He had to stop or he'd have collapsed. He's no figurehead,
you know, he really heads that corporation.
Speaker 9 (10:52):
He carries more responsibility than a single mind is equipped
to carry.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Where would he go, then, mister Freda, you must have
an idea of Florida, the Caribbean, out west, someplace where.
Speaker 8 (11:02):
I really have no idea, mister Borl, I really don't.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
It must be quite a distance or he would have
read about his disappearance and at least phoned.
Speaker 8 (11:09):
Yes, that's true, possibly even Europe.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Well, the police are covering all the steamer and airlines.
Speaker 9 (11:15):
That's stupid, spiteful woman, the police. Is there no way
to stop this hidiocy?
Speaker 1 (11:21):
If you, as his lawyer, don't know, and I don't,
As long as his wife says he's missing, he is.
I talked with more of Leland Casey's friends and advisers
that day, and their statements were pretty much the same
as poor Freighters. I followed Case's last known movements from
(11:43):
his office to his club, where.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
He'd arrived at five pm for a steam bath. He'd
been seen.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Leaving there an hour or so later, and there the
trail ended. The witness couldn't remember whether he'd been carrying
anything like an overnight bag, and nobody knew how much
money he'd had with him. It was hard to tell
how much nationwide publicity the disappearance was getting, but in
New York and the neighboring states, the papers carried the
story in every edition. But that day and most of
the next passed before anything developed. I was just leaving
(12:09):
my hotel room. But then I when the phone rang.
It was Missus leland Case calling to say she had
to see me in her apartment as soon as possible.
Speaker 6 (12:20):
I had to call you. I wasn't supposed to, but
I didn't know what to do. So I wasn't supposed
to talk to anybody, but I had to.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
I couldn't stan. Come on, sit down and try to
make sense what happened.
Speaker 6 (12:33):
Then Lean's alive, But the Holy I've got to give
him some money.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
I'll wait a minute. When did this call come in
before I phoned you?
Speaker 6 (12:40):
About five minutes? I think I don't know how long before?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
What did he say exactly?
Speaker 6 (12:45):
He said?
Speaker 3 (12:46):
He told me Leland was alive and all right.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
He said he'd be safe if I turned ten thousand.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Dollars over to them.
Speaker 6 (12:52):
They'd let him go then, but if I talked to the.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Police, he'd be killed. How did you answer him? I
hardly remember. I went all the pieces. I just said, yeah,
I do anything.
Speaker 6 (13:01):
He wanted to know how fast I could get the money,
and I said I didn't know, and then he said,
if it wasn't by noon tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
To forget it. I can get it.
Speaker 6 (13:08):
There are some things in the safety deposit by Wait
a minute, and there's quite a bit in a checking account.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Wait a minute. Did he tell you where you were
going to hand over the money?
Speaker 3 (13:14):
No?
Speaker 6 (13:15):
Oh, he said someone would call me again when tomorrow
morning eleven thirty.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
He said, we have some time then try and figure
out what we're gonna do. Before I left it that night,
I felt I had convinced missus case on a few
salient points. For one, that we'd be working at cross
purposes with the police if we try to make the
contact without them, and therefore be hand in hand with
(13:40):
the criminals. For another, that if she were watched as
she probably would be, and acted as though she were
raising the ransom. I could line up the police without
any suspicion being cast on her.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
And finally that.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
By the record, kidnappers who received their extortion money according
to their ex And finally that by the record, kidnappers
who received their extortion money according to their exact demands
are the first ones to kill the kidnap victim, since
by that time he is the only evidence against them.
(14:11):
I alerted Sergeant Dulco that night and the next morning.
While missus Case was out getting what she could of
the ten thousand dollars, I went I alerted Sergeant Dulco
that night and the next morning. While missus Case was
out getting what she could of the ten thousand dollars,
I went to the apartment and waited for her.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
I was standing next to her.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
I was standing next to her at eleven thirty when
the phone rang, go ahead, I'll stand here, Go ahead,
I'll stand here.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Hold the receiver away from the.
Speaker 10 (14:50):
Other saw four.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
I alerted Sergeant Dulco that night and the next morning.
I alerted sergeant that night and the next morning, while
missus Case was out getting what she could of the
ten thousand dollars. I went to the apartment and waited
for her. I was standing next to her at eleven
thirty when the phone rang. Go ahead, I'll stand here,
(15:17):
hold the receiver away from your ear.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
I want to get what I can. I'm so scared.
Go ahead, don't try to be anything else.
Speaker 7 (15:27):
Hello, it's about your husband. Did you raise the money?
Speaker 6 (15:32):
Not all of it, but it's over eight thousand dollars.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
I couldn't do.
Speaker 6 (15:36):
What you wanted me to be careful, I couldn't get
the rest without answering questions. You didn't give me much time.
I can give you eighty six hundred dollars difference.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
It's such a little bit more.
Speaker 6 (15:47):
I could sell some of my things if you will
give me more time. It would take another day.
Speaker 11 (15:53):
You want to get out of this part of the country,
so we'll give you a break to get your mind back.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
How is he is He all right?
Speaker 7 (16:00):
He's okay, and he'll stay that way as long as
you do what we say.
Speaker 8 (16:03):
I will.
Speaker 6 (16:04):
What do you want me to do?
Speaker 7 (16:05):
Okay, I'll tell you and we'll get this up with
right now.
Speaker 11 (16:09):
You know what I'm fixing up that church on Park
Avenue yes.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Yes, I know what you mean.
Speaker 7 (16:14):
There's a bus stop right there.
Speaker 11 (16:15):
You'll be there at ten to twelve on a dot
and have the money inside a newspaper that's folded up.
Speaker 7 (16:20):
You got there.
Speaker 11 (16:21):
Yes, it'll only be a few minutes and somebody will
meet you. Well, you know you because we've been following
you all morning. You got the paper rolled up like
you're through reading and see. Yes, this person will come
up and say, are you through with that paper?
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Lady?
Speaker 7 (16:33):
I want to find out who won the game? Got that?
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Yes, I'll remember you.
Speaker 7 (16:37):
Just give him the paper and walk away. You got there?
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Yes, And my husband, when will you let him go?
Speaker 7 (16:44):
Just as soon as we get back to where he's
at and count the money? All right?
Speaker 6 (16:48):
There's nothing else I can do.
Speaker 7 (16:50):
That's right. And there's one last thing. Your phone's gonna
start ringing right after you hang up. Let it ring.
It's going to be me, so you won't call up.
I want you in front of your building in three minutes.
Don't stop the phone. You'll be followed from then on. Now,
let's get started so you get your man back.
Speaker 10 (17:05):
Huh huh, yeah you too, did you hear all?
Speaker 7 (17:10):
He said?
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Enough of it?
Speaker 1 (17:12):
They threw as a curve. It's not usually as simple
as this. I want have time to call the police.
Speaker 6 (17:17):
In what's gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
I'll do it.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
I can get started now, you've only you've only got
a few minutes.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
I'll leave the building by the other entrance and go
up Lexington. Come on, you'll be there. I'll try to
be by the time you get there.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Here's a newspaper. If you can still a little, do it.
But don't be late when you get there. Don't look
for me.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
I won't.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
It's stupid pulling a wide open daylight contact like this,
so stupid it's smart. By the time I'd elbowed and
pushed and run my way to the church corner, I
was so winded I thought everybody on the street could
hear me breathing. But I was there a little over
(17:56):
a minute before I saw her picking her way through
the crowd, face ashen gray, and the folded newspaper held
as though it were.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Something alive and dangerous. Move When she stopped, I moved
over as close.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
To her as I did, and I listened for the
words she was waiting for, and finally, out of Shopper's
chatter of Macy's.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
And Gimbals and so on. They came.
Speaker 7 (18:17):
You throw that paper, lady.
Speaker 8 (18:18):
I want to find out who won the game?
Speaker 12 (18:21):
Yes, yes, here, Hey, wait a minute, what do you want.
Speaker 5 (18:46):
I haven't talked to him yet, but I've got two
cars out checking the address he gave the booking sergeant.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
What name did he give? Lamson Eugene l We haven't
checked that out either.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
There must be at least two more to do all
the talk. There must be at least two more to
do all the tailing and covering he talked about the
phone was the call from the radio cars.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
Oh here he's in here. Oh it don't look like
you're going to enjoy a steak for a while. And
I can wait for a long time on a federal rap.
You think so, But I ain't wait. Where is Leland case?
Speaker 2 (19:18):
I got new Swae.
Speaker 13 (19:19):
I don't know where he is. I don't know that either.
I read about him in the paper and figured I
could nick the wife before they found him. Sure you
don't like that, Sure you got him, and that's what
are you going to get.
Speaker 8 (19:31):
I wouldn't call on that.
Speaker 5 (19:32):
Here's your head lamps, and you know how high kidnapping comes.
I've known people to get a break of the copper.
I don't know nothing about a kidnapping. I'm telling you
a stray.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
I mean he's dead.
Speaker 8 (19:41):
I mean what I said. I don't know nothing about it.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Or wasn't it with you? No, buddy, wasn't.
Speaker 8 (19:44):
Nothing with me.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
I did it alone. And you know where he is.
Speaker 8 (19:46):
I don't know where he is.
Speaker 13 (19:48):
I tell you, I read about him, figured I pay
to cash you.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
I ain't fooling up the kidnapp No, I don't know
what You're trying to pull lamps.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
And it's a little late to play stupid.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
You told the arresting officer that all you did was
ask a lady if she was through with her paper?
Why didn't you stick that story? I knew I couldn't.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Make it hold.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
And let's have the rest of it. Who contacted missus
case yesterday?
Speaker 2 (20:06):
I did? Who followed her this morning? I did?
Speaker 13 (20:08):
I read about her husband and cut her picture out
of the paper, went over her by her place and
stuck around there. I saw it, And yesterday I call
her on the phone, tor she could get her man
back or I don't know.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
I just told her that to see if it would work.
Almost did drop it lamps? And you phoned her this
morning at eleven thirty. I was there, sure, right there.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Who followed her from her apartment building to that Park
Avenue corner.
Speaker 13 (20:30):
I tell you I did all of that, but I
don't know nothing about no kidnapping.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Who stood by the telephone connected to the cases to
keep it busy?
Speaker 2 (20:37):
No body did. I phone her from just on a
block this morning, from a book.
Speaker 13 (20:42):
And when I told her I was going to call
back and for to leave it ring, I just left
the receiver.
Speaker 8 (20:45):
Hanging, went out the follower.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
I know a lot of you guys have got the
idea that if you take a story like this and
stick with it and swear to it and repeat it,
that there is nothing anybody can do to break it down.
Speaker 13 (20:55):
You can't break this one down because I ranked no other.
I don't know nothing about this guy, but what I
written the.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
Paper, Well, just let your soap for a while, lambson.
The FBI is on their way over. I understand they're
pretty good with stubborn guys like you.
Speaker 13 (21:08):
I'm telling you, I don't care who comes. That's a
straight story, and nobody can make me say nothing else.
Speaker 8 (21:13):
It was just an idea I had.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
I got it after I read about it in the paper,
that this guy's enough Lampson, we'll get back to you.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
You work on your story while you wait for it,
but I don't work on It's true, you had enough
dollar too much.
Speaker 8 (21:24):
It may sound crazy, maybe I am, but it's the truth.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
I just figured it might work.
Speaker 7 (21:28):
It almost did.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
I have the money right in my head.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I think it was then that we began to feel
that when and if we found Case, we'd find him dead.
I don't know about the sergeant, but I began to
feel responsible, as though he might have been killed because
we'd picked up Lampson and the accomplices.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
He wouldn't name, it known that things had gone wrong.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
We waited in Doco's office for the report from the
radio cars investigating Ramson's address. When we got it, the
picture was as blank as before he moved into the
place to weeks before. Nobody that was questioned knew where
he'd come or couldn't even happen. I think it was
then that we began to feel that when and if
we found Case, we'd find him dead.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
About the sergeant, but I began to feel responsible as
though he might have been killed because we'd picked up
Lamson and the accomplices he wouldn't name had known that things.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Had gone wrong.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
We waited in Doko's office the We waited in Doko's
office for the report from the radio cars investigating Lamson's address.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
When we got it, the picture was as blank as before.
He'd moved into the place two weeks before.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Nobody that was questioned knew where he'd come from or
anything about him. In the meantime, the experts had gone
to work on him, and by ten that night, when
I left for my hotel, he still hadn't changed his story.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
That's the way the day ended. Johnny Donna, Sergeant Ogo,
Oh yeah, good morning, Sergeant. Anything new.
Speaker 5 (23:05):
There was a message on my desk when I got
here to call a hospital up near White Plane.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Huh.
Speaker 5 (23:09):
I talked to a doctor who says, as a patient
up there, an answers cases description. What it seems to
be a semi religious place of some kind of the country,
sort of removed from reality. This man was brought there
by somebody who found him wandering on the road with
his clothes torn off and in pretty bad shape from feeding.
Speaker 7 (23:25):
He gave his name as White.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Huh, I don't get it. You're gonna follow it up?
Speaker 5 (23:29):
Yeah, I'm asking permission to the local authorities to come up.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
And I wondered if you'd like to go with me.
What about Lambson?
Speaker 5 (23:35):
He's asleep, so's everybody that questioned him. They worked all
night without getting him to change a word.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
All right, sergeant, let's go to White Planes. Then you
want me to camp over, will you pick me up?
The hospital had seen practiced really basic charity. Nobody who
came or was brought to the door was turned away.
According to the doctor, the patient called White was recovering
nicely from his physical symptoms, but his mental condition was
(24:02):
such that he refused to talk to anyone, refuse to
do anything but lie in his bed and stare at
the ceiling. We'd come armed with photographs of Leland Case,
so we knew that's who he was the moment we
walked into his room.
Speaker 5 (24:17):
Oh hell, almost Case, And we should have let people
know where you were. You've caused everybody a lot of worry.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
What name did you call me? Case? Leland Case isn't
your name.
Speaker 10 (24:30):
I don't know. I don't know who I am. I
think we do mister case leland Key.
Speaker 8 (24:37):
That's not a very nice name.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Why did you come here?
Speaker 5 (24:41):
We've been looking for you. You've been missing for over
a week. My name is Dolcohan. This is mister dollar Grad.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
We've found you, mister case leland Key. That name doesn't
mean anything mean. We have some photographs here. See if
you recognize that there's me, someone who looks very much
like me.
Speaker 10 (25:00):
I have no memory of anything before I was on
a train that I left in in the city White Plains.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Oh yes, yes, uh.
Speaker 10 (25:09):
I called myself mister White because I remembered that.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
You don't remember getting on the train. No.
Speaker 10 (25:15):
I remember getting off late at night and wondering why
I had come and where I should go.
Speaker 8 (25:22):
I remember walking down.
Speaker 10 (25:23):
Some railroad tracks because it seems so good to be
in the country at night. And then these men attacked me,
and I believe they took everything I had, if I
had anything, and someone brought me here.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Who is leaving cav.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
You are a pretty successful man in the state of
New York. You have money and a big thriving business.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
You have a wife. Oh yes, the girl in one
of the pictures, who this one? This girl is my wife? Yes?
Speaker 1 (25:53):
And You also had a doctor who told you that
if you didn't stop working so hard, you'd have a
mental breakdown.
Speaker 8 (25:58):
Well, this is off the cone.
Speaker 10 (26:00):
Hear you tell me that this stranger that I am,
this Leland case, this is no joke, isn't it.
Speaker 8 (26:08):
Are you sure that's who I am?
Speaker 2 (26:10):
Yeah, we're sure.
Speaker 5 (26:11):
As soon as you feel strong enough to go back
to New York because you can talk to people who
know you, your wife.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
The one is his name, Paul Freda mean anything to you?
He's a lawyer.
Speaker 10 (26:22):
Oh free, sir, I know it doesn't mean anything to me.
The doctor tells me I've recovered from my injuries. I
wonder when he would let me go.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
He told us that if your fault I get you
could leave today would be good for you.
Speaker 10 (26:34):
Well, my clothes wearable. I think I'd like to try
and get up.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
All the way back to New York, he asked questions
about the Leland case. All the way back to New York,
he asked questions about the Leland case.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
He'd forgotten.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
When we got there was early evening, and by arrangement
with Paul Freda. When we got there was early evening,
and by arrangement, Paul Frader was waiting with Missus Case
at the apartment. There were a few moments of strange
silence while he looked at them with no show of recognition.
Speaker 10 (27:07):
And you tell me that this is my way, Leland Darling,
and mister Fraser, why.
Speaker 8 (27:14):
I am your attorney. You would not have been my
father and son for a year. Well, I'm sorry, mister Fraser,
you don't remember.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
I'm afraid of Leland. Leland Darling.
Speaker 6 (27:25):
I'll take care of you.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
I'll make you remember.
Speaker 8 (27:28):
What about the business? That don't snap him back?
Speaker 10 (27:31):
These gentlemen have told me about the business, this huge,
complicated enterprise, when I can't believe that I, no matter
what my name is, ever controlled anything as.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
Large as that.
Speaker 8 (27:43):
Well you did, Leland. You're a genius, an organization.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
A genius. Well that sounds awfully dull.
Speaker 8 (27:50):
Leland. The company needs.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
You, ah, mister and missus Case and mister Freda. I
think the problem from here on is up to you.
Sergeant Tilco and I are on the way now.
Speaker 8 (28:00):
Well, we want to thank you for all what you've done.
Speaker 5 (28:03):
We're glad that it's turning up this way. Goodbye, all
of it, goodbye, mister.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Thank you, just so long as mister Case will be
all right now.
Speaker 10 (28:14):
I think I will, mister Dollar, Yes, I really think
I will.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
I couldn't tell because the light wasn't too good. But
I'm almost sure that Leland Case winked at me. If
he did, it means that his memory is no longer lost,
but just stashed away for the day he wants it.
And I have an idea that it won't be the
company that's there when it decides to find it. But
as I say, the light was bad, and I'm not sure.
(28:45):
Expense a count adam two same as item one, Item
three miscellaneous four hundred and forty six dollars and fifty
three cents. Expense account total four hundred ninety six dollars
and thirteen cents. Yours truly, Johnny Dallard.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
This is Dan kubberly inviting you to join us next
week at this time when Edmund O'Brien returns as yours truly,
Johnny Dala
Popular Podcasts
Fudd Around And Find Out
UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.