Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: Witness, Witness, Who's Got the Witness

In this case, most of the principles were out on bail. It put me out on a limb. This is another and the Adventures of America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator, Johnny Dollar, starring Charles Russell. At insurance investigation, Johnny Dollar is just an expert.

At making out his expense account, he's an absolute genius. expense accounts submitted by special investigator, Johnny Dollar. to Max Krause, Krause-Bale Bond and Insurance Agency, New York City, New York. The following is an accounting of my expenditures during my investigation of two of your clients, or witness, witness, who's got the witness?

Or, he said, give me liberty or give me death, and got both. Spencer, count out of one. One dollar, one cigar, to replace the asphyxiating stoke you were smoking when you arrived Unannounced at my Hartford apartment door My name is Max Krause here's my car Krause bail bond insurance agency state federal immigration all forms a shorty bonds and insurance

I got it. I got a job for you to the tuna saving me $50,000 Okay, okay, you can come in but you ought to tie up that cigar outside Yeah, better yet. Give it to me. Hey, hey, thanks Come on in.

Hey, what's the idea thrown out the window? That was an expensive cigar. Oh, can you think of a better way to get rid of us? It was killing me. There. Have one of these. Mm.

Oh, wow. Well, not to follow the interviews to we understand, but much blood. Forget it. They were a gift. Maybe I won't even charge you for it. If I go to work for you. Oh, shall we find out if I will or not?

Sit down. Um, what do you know about Leo Persina? Just what I read in the paper. I read in the paper. Did you put up his bail? I wish I had. The bonds I put up were for two prosecution witnesses.

Know what I mean? They took a run out, jumped from one of the bridges. Some of Leo's men put them out of the way. You get me? Vaguely. They're gone. Yeah, that's right. And unless I can prove they're dead or fine, then we understand before the trial, which is a week from today,

I forfeit the 50,000. 25 a piece, seem a problem. Yeah. Tell me something, Mr. Cross. Why don't you come to me? I'll tell you why. Do the police? These witnesses are only two names and a long list of missing persons.

You up with me? Uh-huh, yeah. Now, and as for private detectives, I could never be sure that one wouldn't make a deal with Pacino and make more money not finding them, then I'd be paying to find them, get the point.

Yeah. Well, what makes you think you can trust me? Oh, well, you were mentioned by one of the insurance companies I sell for. They tell me that you're straight, except for patting your expenses here and there.

Hey, now that's an insult. Ah, what's a little patting? Heh, heh. I used to do the same with my old man when I was in grade school, that kid stuff. You'll find out. Oh my God.

I said, uh, I'll find out what I can. Who are these law straight or stolen witnesses? Nippy Cochran is one. Real name is Glenn. You hear Glenn? Yeah. The other is Dan Patterson. I got the redresses next to Ken, you know what I mean?

What else you need? Uh, big fat retainer, about 2,500 bucks. Ah, that's pretty steep. I've only got a grand, wasn't it? It just so happens that I'm a grand person to do business with Mr. Krause.

I'll take the thousand. Item two. Three forty-five. Train fair, Hartford to New York. I win and I hit the big city at the same time. Four p.m. to be exact. So I set storm canvas and tagged cross town toward eighty-first between Madison and Fifth.

One of the bits of information that had come with that thousand dollar bit of paper was the fact that one of the missing witnesses, Nippie Cochran, and a sister, stage name Mona Doyle. She'd been born in Hell's Kitchen, and she'd worked out her own little recipe, consisting of brains, beauty, and cheesecake, to cook up her own version of Heaven on Earth,

including angels, Broadway type. Both two in front of her 81st Street Brownstone, a delivery boy was buzzing his way into the building, not wishing to argue with Mona over the intercom system on the buzzer panel.

I waited for the boy to come out. Caught in the door before it closed. Nice, bug. Put in and up to a second floor of office. The name is Dollar. You don't know me, but I have some news about your brother.

What's this news you have about Nippy? Oh, the guy who put up bail for a Max Krause. As hired an insurance investigator to look for. Oh, well, what am I supposed to do about that?

Ask me to sit down. I'm the investigator. What? You're off the clever, aren't you? and how I hire a couple of radio riders to work these things out for me. Well, please do sit down.

Why are you... Why did you do it this way? Didn't they got to let you in if I knew what you were? Well, lots of people are allergic to what I am. Well, I'm not.

It helps. Do you know where your brother is, Miss Doyle? No. No, could I fix you a drink? Does that mean that this is the end of our little discussion? Mr. Dollar, I don't know when that be is.

Believe that or not. I haven't seen much of him in the last few years. Because he doesn't approve of me and I don't approve of him. That doesn't make any difference. What does is that if I didn't know where you could find him, I wouldn't tell you.

I don't hate him enough to kill him that way. That way? Are you holding out for a choice? Hey. That was a nasty thing to say. Oh, that slap you, Hannah. You ought to make us even.

Don't you know what would happen if you found Nippy and brought him back? I've heard that Leo poor Cina has some quaint habits with people he doesn't want to run. Something about wrapping their feet in a concrete block and lowering them into any handy river?

But the law gave them protection until after the trial? What difference would that make? Even if Leo were convicted, don't you think he'd leave orders behind to take care of Nippin'? Well, that could probably be worked out too.

Well, look, I wasn't hired to worry about that. I was hired to find your brother so my client won't lose his money. Well... This is a lousy way for two people to meet, isn't it? I wish it were different.

What's that supposed to mean? I'd like to ask you again to have a drink with me. That wind has my nerves jumping. And you haven't helped. Be a good guy, or two? With what she had to back up the invitation, I defy any guy.

Good or bad. Take him up with anything but an acceptance. Unless he was crowded in 70, and had a car double parked outside, and was married to a suspicious wife who was waiting in the car.

car. So, I stay. And we learn to know one another. Twenty minutes later, we were close friends. I knew it had to end. And it did. The door buzzers sounded and moon about it over the little button that controlled the lock on the downstairs entrance. Don't be shocked, Johnny. I brush off a lot of my admirers this way. The only thing I admire about you

is the act you put on. It's a good one. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. There was one I can hardly wait. I'm all ears. He gave me everything I have without him. I have none of all this.

What is it? Nippy who's on his way up here? That isn't what I mean. All Nippy did was introduce me to Leo Porcina. That's who's on his way up. Oh, yeah. Well, blood may be thicker than water, but where you're concerned, it isn't thicker than champagne with Ermin on the side.

Hi, Leo. Come on in and see what's on. Johnny Dollar, an insurance investigator hired by Krause to find Nippy. my crowds define nippy. Yes, yes, yes. You got to say for you, sir. Matter Harry there said everything there is to say, except that I'm also looking for the other missing witness.

Dan Finesom. Yeah, yeah, I assume. Be apt this way to men interested in the same subject. The subject was more interesting before you came in. I'll ignore that. I'm not sure what I meant was that I, too, am quite anxious to find nippy and pettice.

Oh, can I make sure, drink, Leo? Oh, no. Leave us alone, Mona. going to bedroom and close the door please now man the man dollar how do you propose to go about finding the peanut products what would you suggest for seeing them dragging the rivers now see here there's no need to take such a pessimistic view

I realized that an unfriendly president doubt me with a reputation for violence I don't deserve it. I hope you aren't fucking to be canonized. St. Leo Porsina. Quite a sense of humor, darling. But my motives are honorable.

I'm not afraid of the testimony of those two men. I want the back because their disappearance makes it look bad for me. It's the kind of thing that sways public opinion. I believe that when I see the three of you enjoying a nice friendly game of billiards.

I have it your own way. I thought we could form a combination you and me to find the boys, but a combination is no good if I trust you and you don't trust me. I had dollar bullet through alone. And good luck to you.

Thanks, Leo. I've enjoyed your prank of lies, no end. So I put on my top coat, picked up my hat and left. He didn't shoot me while I was on the stairs, So by the time I felt the sidewalk underfoot, I also felt fairly safe.

But not for long. The chauffeur and alumisine parked at the curb, took off his uniform cap, and put on a hat with an eye-hiding brim. I looked up at the light of window of Mona Doyle's apartment, and so Leo's figure just slipping out of sight.

As I started down the street, the chauffeur was no longer a chauffeur. At a signal from Leo, he had turned into a man who was following me. I grabbed a cab on Madison, And by the time our zigzag trip to Patterson's address was over, I felt reasonably sure that I was no longer being followed.

The hall was like a mine shaft and smelled worse. Four doors down on the right, I found the number of Patterson's apartment. Come on in. The man who bid me enter was still wearing the hat with the eye-hiding brim.

But something new had been added to his right hand. 45 caliber. Leo Porcina's chauffeur hadn't followed me to Patterson's address. He beat me there. there. Close the door. I don't like to ask foolish questions, but what are you doing here? I live here. All right, dead. Patterson. Oh, great. I'm looking for you

and the way I do it is to try and get away from you. Take the little of your right hand. What do you want to talk to you? Sure, but not here. Let's go some place. For me that some place was out. But before I got there I had time to pass myself a question. What better place for a missing witness to hide than the employee

of the guy he was supposed to testify against than I found a hiding place on my own. It was nice and dark, but the only person I was hiding from was me. Johnny Dollar, America's fabulous insurance investigator. Fabulous indeed. In just a moment, we will return to the second Act of Johnny Dollar, but first, a battle to the finish, and no holds barred as far as words

and opinions are concerned. That's only one of the entertaining elements of people's platform, a Sunday daytime feature on most of these same CBS stations. Attack and defense and attack again. Politicians, labor leaders, statesmen, farm leaders, men and women from all walks of life find themselves going from the frying pan into the fire many times in each Sunday half-hour

session. enjoy people's platform every Sunday on CBS. Now with our star Charles Russell, we return to the second act of yours truly Johnny Dollar. When my brain started to trip back from unconsciousness, I thought at first I'd pass out in one of the tunnels.

The air, what there was of it, was thick with a smell of burnt gasoline. It was still dark and it seemed like cars were going to pass me without headlights. Well, I noticed that the tunnel was moving.

It took me a long time to figure out that man it wasn't a tunnel. It was a car and I was on the floor in the back seat with a blanket covering me. It took two hands and all my strength, but I managed to lift the blanket away from my face.

The first thing I saw was one of those old-fashioned speaking tubes that sometimes I use between a limousine's rear and driver's seat. It was hanging down, the mouthpiece, a few inches from my head. Well, what was coming out of it was not noise, but that smell of burned gasoline, carbon monoxide.

I didn't have to try them to know that all the doors were locked from the outside and that all the glass was unbreakable. From there, it took me only one short mental step to realize that speaking tube was connected to the exhaust pipe, and I was in the process of being executed in laughing Leo Porcina's private gas chamber.

There's nothing so exhilarating as being slapped in the face with death. I wrestled a handkerchief out of my breast pocket, twisted it up into a stopper, jammed it into the tube, and clamped my hand over the mouthpiece.

It didn't help the air, any, but at least it wasn't getting any worse. Then I settled back to wait, trying not to breathe. Shover, like man, executioner, Dan Patterson. Opened the rear door. When we came to a stop, we waited a few seconds for the wind to clear out the fumes, then reached

Then grab me under the shoulders and drag me out. I managed to stay limp until we got a few yards off the road into the brush. Then I dug my heels in on heels. It was surprise more than strength that toppled him, but it was no time for niceties.

I picked up a handy rock and bashed him worn on the head. Ooh! Come on Danny boy, get with us. He'll catch you at death of coal lying on his damp ground. What? Oh, dollar.

Yeah, dollar. Which probably makes you feel like two cents. Listen, I couldn't help what I did. But Leo is either doing what he tells you to or get it done to you. I'll say that catch for the jury, will you?

I want some answers. First, where are we? In New Jersey, about 40 minutes off in the city. Listen, give me a break. I'll help you all I can. I know how to break your head.

And save your time and effort. There's nothing enough shoulder holster your hand is moving for. I've got it. Now, do I use it or do you tell me where Nippy Cochran is? I don't know. I swear I don't. You've got to believe that.

If I knew I'd sell the information to Leo for plenty, he wants some bad. Yeah, Doreen boy. I'll just bet you would. Okay, get up. Wait, wait a minute. Wait, what are you gonna do?

I was hired to find you and I found you. And now I'm gonna put you away where you'll keep. Come on, get up. Listen, maybe I do know where Nippy is. Why don't you and me, Patterson?

I'll have to stop you. I didn't want to fire, but I had to. And fast in the darkness. Aim was next to impossible, but I shot low. I guess it takes more lead than I threw into him to kill a guy who's so full of metal poison.

Patterson was alive when I got to him and alive and crunches when I left him in the hands of the nearest police doctor. Store? One up. One witness found and one still missing. Spencer Count? Item 4. Fifty cents.

Toll paid to get Leo Corsina's lethal limousine across the George Washington Bridge and back into New York City. Expense account item five five cents phone calls soon after I got there. This is dollar. Let me speak to Leo Johnny Yeah, sorry to disappoint you, but I'm alive and almost well What nearly my casket together

Oh Well, if it's true, that's a switch all over the country defendants are knocking off witnesses But when I show up the witness knocks off the defendant I repeat if true part. Nithi came in with a knife.

You gotta help me. I don't know what to do. Well, it's generally a good idea to call the police. Did you? Are you crazy? Probably. Where is Leo's apartment? Do you have to go over there?

Why not? All right. Give me up here. She was asking me or telling me she was right. I must be crazy. I gave myself 10 to 1 odds that my journey would end in a trap.

But I've been wrong before. Leo Forsina was in his apartment all right, ungracefully spread out on the floor in front of a not quite clean white leather chair. There he is. What are you going to do?

Knife wound, left side of chest. No signs of struggle. Where were you? I was in the other room. You didn't see it happen? No, I hardly heard anything. I didn't hear anything coming. The radio was on me.

I heard a mumble of voices that didn't mean anything. Then Leo screamed nippy. I ran in and Leo was just falling and Nippy was watching him go down. I wish I knew whether you were bowling because you're grief-spreaking or because you're scared.

I wish I knew a lot of things about you. Come on. Let's go back to your place. And maybe I can find out. Here you are. Johnny Walker is for Johnny Domma. Oh, Clark. Would you also say it's Johnny on the spot?

I don't know why I thought I had the right to ask you to help me. Well, I didn't have anyone else to turn into. Oh, you ought to improve your dialogue. I'm not trying to be clever, Johnny. I'm petrified. Nippy knows I saw him.

I'm the only one that saw him. He could just stay with me until I could get out of town and kill it. I'm told this is clear. If I could keep my eyes closed, I'd say you weren't worth it.

What you're trying to tell me is that you're afraid Nippy will show up with his dandy little carving set and go to work on you. Is that it? It's an awful thing to say about my own brother.

That's right. I'm afraid he'll kill me. He hates me. He blamed me when Leo kicked him out of the combination. Was he right? Of course not. I couldn't make him believe me. He swore he'd pay us off. He did.

He sold the information that got Leo indicted and now he's killed him. You know, that's an interesting point. That he'd go to all the trouble to turn state's witness against Leo and then kill him.

Why would he do that? Dude, I don't know. What you started to say was to make a look as though you killed him, wasn't it? Yes. He'd do anything to hurt me. Johnny, if you only knew what...

Oh, that hole, that never mind the dust in my eyes, gorgeous. To frame you, Nippy would have to supply you with a motive. Unless you already had one kicking around someplace. And your silence says you probably have.

Johnny. Leo was nailed on tax evasion because it turned out that he had undeclared income deposited in various banks under various people's names. How much is in your account? Less not. Not very. It doesn't take a wizard to add two and two and come up with a motive.

With Leo out of the way, there's very little chance that you will be dragged into quarters and accomplice. And I'll mention it passing the bank balance you didn't deny having. I know it looks bad, Johnny.

Please, put your teeth. Well, why not? It's empty. I know it looks better. I'd be in big trouble if the police found out about the account. But do they have to? Johnny. According to all the rules, yeah.

I didn't kill him, Johnny. He's got a police. I'd like to. You've got to, darling. Don't you think it'd be worth it? There's the money. And there's me. Oh, Johnny. In this case, everything. I've been slugged and gassed. I had to shoot a man. I missed my dinner.

But the worst of all is you. You think because you've got your kind of hair and your kind of eyes and mouth and the rest of it. You're gonna hide all your lies and greedy ideas behind them. I put a leash on any man you see.

Well, that might work with a human being, but I'm not human. I'm an insurance investigator. What are you gonna do? I'm gonna turn you in for murder. That's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna bring her up for her. I don't get on this thing before I change my mind.

Mona didn't really turn on the tears until two men from homicide ticker and tucked her into a squad car and I didn't warm up to my story until the press arrived. In print in a very early morning edition that hit the stands at 12.01 a.m.

it looked even better than it sounded. Edlin insurance investigator records confession of murderous. Lead. Police late last night booked Mona Doyle for the murder of Leo Porcino, a racket boss. In an exclusive statement Johnny Dollar Hartford said he was able to record the voluntary confession of a shapely knife killer by means of a tape recorder and a microphone concealed beneath a sofa

thus lifting the suspicion from her brother Glen Nibi Cochran who has been sought for the slang. The wind was dying and so was I by the time I got back to my hotel after making one stop at an all-night drugstore for expense account item seven dollar 79 adhesive tape, which might be classified as an odd item, since I didn't, as yet, to have

any broken bones. In my hotel room I put the tape in the two telephone books, one classified, one general, to what I hope would be good use, slipped on a dressing gown, and sat down to wait. An hour and ten minutes later it turns out that I'd waited long enough.

Ummm, yeah, who is it? I can't say much for his originality. For the second, I'll slip on a robe. Okay, darling, get back in the room. This is hardly the way to deliver a telegram, isn't it?

I'm gonna miss each for you, all right? But it's not in the envelope. I'm Nippy Cochran. Well, hello, Nippy Cochran. I've been facing you cokes out of my sister in with the tapered recorder down, it's fully.

The police seem to like it. And that's like a Leo Portina. Oh, that's your story, and it could be funny. Look, I'll tell you why the police like Mona's better. Leo died from a knife wound in the left part of his chest.

There were no signs of a struggle. That means he was probably killed by somebody who just walked up to him and pushed someone he trusted a friend. That doesn't fit you, but it fits your sister.

I've got the answer to that. It says in the paper that confession of hers lifted the finger off me. At least I can do is take it off her. And you know how that's done.

It's a little late for guesswork. I'm not killing the same way with the same knife wife. She's alibi'd by the police. That'll clear. What's it gonna do to you? And if you get close to me, you can believe me.

There's gonna be signs of struggle this time. I don't have to get close to you. The knife came from the usual place. the usual place in his collar behind his head. His aim was perfect. I felt the shock just over my heart. But the telephone books I taped to my chest call his number. The knife bounced

off and Nippy stood there with his mouth hanging open. Then I found something to throw. Something I could aim just generally. A chair. He stumbled back from the impact. And before he could collect his wits or his balance, I don't have a barrage. I should have known. A bail bondsman doesn't know the right people

expense account item eight fifteen dollars dr. phae if it wasn't worth it to you it was worth it to me to get that adhesive tape off by using alcohol instead of violence uh... expense account item nine twenty eight fifty replacement of hotel room furniture broken in final brawl expense account item ten if you don't mind

three hundred and sixty seven dollars and twenty five cents. C enclosed bar, cafe, and theater receipts, buying my way back into the favor of the magnificent Mona. Oh, and you may ask me how I was clever enough to know that she was innocent all that time. I didn't. But I could hope, couldn't I? Expense account total

original retainer not returnable five hundred dollars and seventy one cents signed yours truly Johnny Walker I mean Johnny Dollar is produced and directed by Gordon T Hughes and stars Charles Russell script by Paul Dudley and Gil Dowd featured in the cast were Ed Mack Paul Dubov Sidney Miller Jim Nusser and Georgia Ellis the special music is written

and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. Be sure to be with us at the same time next week when another unusual expense account is handed in by yours truly Johnny Dollar. It's fascinating, it's challenging, it's something unusual in Radio Fair. Yes, that's what folks are saying about CBS's popular Sunday program, Invitation to Learning. You'll renew old acquaintances

and literature, you'll make some exciting new ones when you make a Sunday afternoon listening habit of CBS's invitation to learning. Remember the time every Sunday afternoon over most of these CBS stations. Stay tuned now for Von Monroe and his caravan.

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