The Blackmailing Accountant by The Chase

0:00RelicRadio.com presents stories of mystery and intrigue, espionage and suspense. Here tales of ticking time bombs mysterious crime scenes and cloak and dagger action. This is Relic Radio Thrillers. Welcome back to Relic Radio Thrillers. We're going to hear a story from the chase this week, series of 55 episodes, produced for NBC radio that aired from April of 1952 to June of 1953. Our story today is from May 17, 1953. It's titled The Blackmailing Accountant. The National Broadcasting Company invites you by transcription to join the chase.

1:18There is always the hunter and the hunter, the pursuer and the pursuit. It may be the voice of authority or a race with death and destruction the most relentless of the hunter. There are times when laughter is heard as counterpoint and moments when sheer terror is the theme. But always there is the chase. And what chase is more pressing than the well-known struggle to get ahead at any cost? Mr. Doyle? Yes. You understand that I can't prepare a proper defense unless you tell me everything. I understand. A lawyer who does not enjoy his clients fullest confidence. Mr. Johnson, I understand, believe me, just tell me what you need to know. Well, I won't hold anything back. All right. I want to know how you got involved in this thing.

2:20Oh, I don't mean the money angle. I can understand anyone wanting more money. But how? Well, I could small fry like me get tied up with a big man like Elliot Ponds. I guess that's it. You were just one of the accountants there, weren't you? Yes, just one of three. And then in the period of 18 months? I was vice president of the company. Yes. How did it happen? How? Or why, Mr. Doyle? Yes, that's better. Why? I wanted to get ahead. I could have ridded alone. I didn't have to do what I did. That is what I am trying to get at. I wish I could answer you, Mr. Johnson, why I did it. I guess there's one time for everybody when there's a chance to get ahead. The easy way. Yeah. Time when you've got a choice. Say where you are, 55 hundred a year for the rest of your life. Skimp, save, work, work your eyes out, or take what you want, like Elliot Ponds.

3:25That's it. Go ahead, please. Well, I got that chance 18 months ago. I was wrong to take it. I know that now. And I did fight it for a while. What a look too good, too easy. Every time I went over my account books, I realized I was on to something big. Keep saying to myself, go to the police. Tell them. The only honest thing to do. But I didn't go to the police. I went to Mr. Barnes's office instead. Uh, yes. Mr. Barnes, I'd like to talk to you for a few minutes. Please, I told you Secretary, it was a personal matter. Mr. Doyle, the question of raises is handled by Mr. Heller. The question of working conditions is handled by... I didn't come to talk about a raise, Mr. Barnes.

4:28Mr. Doyle, I'm doing a meeting in exactly five minutes. I came to talk about the Bridgetown Supply Company. What about the Bridgetown Supply? I know who owns that company, Mr. Barnes, and why it was organized. Who you? Yes, sir. I know that the company is only a front, an empty warehouse on River Street. I see. You want? I know that every contract we get from the government was padded up to 30%. Bridgetown Supply builds us from materials we never received. A half a million dollars worth in the last six months. Mr. Doyle. A half a million in the last six months and 300,000 the six months before that. And the company is owned by your brother-in-law, Charles Dodson. Mr. Doyle, I'm going to give you exactly ten seconds to get out of this office and I'm going to call Mr. Heller and tell him you're through as of now. Oh, I don't think you will, Mr. Barnes.

5:29I think you'll call Mr. Heller and tell him that I'm to be made chief accountant at a salary of 15,000 a year. Get out. No, sir. Who won't? I've taken all I'm going to take from you and the rest of the stuffed shirts in this organization. I've been here ten years, Mr. Barnes, with only one raise. I'm tired of chasing that part of gold at the end of the rainbow. I'm tired of being a clock-punching nobody. You're getting yours, Mr. Barnes. I want my cut. Miss Holly, make out Mr. Doyle's paycheck. I've got to the police if you force me to. The police. Never mind that, Miss Holly. I thought you'd be reasonable, Mr. Barnes. What proof have you got of all this? Bills of lading? I took the entire 1948 file and had it photostat it. I can prove that every building we put up for the government is only 80% equipped.

6:32The other 20, went into your pocket. You were. Want the job of chief accountant, Mr. Doyle? Yes. I believe that job pays ten thousand. Now it pays fifteen, Mr. Barnes. Mr. Halle's office, please. Fifteen. Yes, sir. Hello, Jim. You only come up to my office right away. Yes. Yes, it's important. Jim, we're going to make some changes in the accounting department to take place immediately. And they made me chief accountant, fifteen thousand a year. Sure. I was a crook now, just as much as Barnes and his brother-in-law. I was knee-deep in the whole crummy setup, but I didn't care. I was getting to be somebody, somebody important in the community.

7:36The Doyle's were going places. Well, I'll tell you one place they're not going and that's the country club. Daisy, I wish you'd try to understand. This is a matter of business. You keep your business down at the office, Elliot. I'll run our socialite the way I want. Daisy, I'm going to propose Doyle and his wife for membership in the club and we're taking them to the dance tomorrow night. Oh! Yes, we are. And they're having dinner at our table. Oh, how nice. Apollo darling, I want you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Doyle. Mrs. Doyle designs all her own clothes off of potato sacking. Isn't that just bad to you? That's enough, Daisy. Oh, no, it's not. If you think I'm going to make a fool of myself, promote some sleazy business scheme, you're wrong. You've always used my position, Elliot. This is one time I've got you, Jimmy. Elliot. You and your position. Elliot, you can't talk to me like that. What do you think makes your position? I do. My money. My sleazy business schemes. That's what puts you where you are. I've got a headache, Elliot. I'm going to lie down. You can lie down as soon as you call the club and made reservations.

8:38And if I refuse... And you'd better tell your brother Charlie to take a trip to South America. What? Doyle knows all about the bridge town supply company, Daisy. There's photos set to the files. He knows the tie up between Charlie and me. Elliot. That's why I made him chief accountant. He knows about Charlie. And me? You can send both of us to jail. But how? I don't know. I thought we had everything covered. Jim Hales says Doyle used to work late nights. I guess that's how he got to the files. Oh, Elliot. Elliot, that's all good. Yes, it's a mess, all right. But luckily Doyle won't talk as long as we play ball with him. Play ball? Uh-huh. You mean as long as you consent to blackmail? Call it whatever you want. Oh, isn't... Isn't there any other way... No. You're sure? Positive. Charlie and I have gone over it from every angle. All right, Elliot. We'll make the reservations for tomorrow night. Thanks, Daisy. I knew I could count on you when it came to a pinch.

9:44In six months after that, the treasure of the company left to take another job. And I forced bonds into giving me the position. Oh, I was riding high, all right. New house and crestwood park, catalact convertible, just like bonds who was driving. And my wife was taking golfing lessons at the country club. It was a perfect setup. And I thought it could go on like that forever. John Cooper inspection division. Yeah. And that's right. The Army specified copper leaders on that job and the contractor tried to put in galvanized iron. One of our inspectors caught it, so it's okay now. Yes. All right, I'll be in touch with you. Ask Sam Davidson to come in. Hello, Dave. Nice to see you again. Hi, Sam. How's the FBI at Washington?

10:45Just fine, sir. What's the job here? A little chisel. Did Mr. Andrews tell you anything about this? No. He just said to work with you. He did tell us it had to do with some construction work over at the Navy Air Base. That's right. The post-handry base. The Elliott Barnes organization has the contract to build the runways. One of our field men says the Navy is getting a short change down the deal. That's a pretty serious charge. Yes. The trouble is the job's already completed. Runways are down and would cost a fortune to tell them up and prove there were field man's respects. What's that say? Well, here are the contract specifications for the job. We can go through them later. The point is that these runways are built on wet ground. The contract calls for a complete drainage system underneath. We believe there's only about three quarters of that system was actually installed. But you can't prove it. No, the last big rain storm gave us the idea, but it might take six months or a year before the cement would begin to go and confirm our guess.

11:48But you've still got to investigate. Uh-huh. Any ideas? Well, I certainly wouldn't want to tell you your business. I'm not afraid to learn something new. This is only a suggestion. The way I take it would be from the supplier's angle. The contract called for a certain number of feet of grain tile. We find out if the tile actually arrived at the job. Well, it's only a suggestion. It's a done good one, sir. We'll get it two ways. On that job and inside the Elliott Barnes organization. That's the way I do it. Of course, it won't be easy getting inside the barn setup. You leave that to us. Okay, I will. We'll get in, don't worry. I bet you will, Pat. Once you do, I think you're going to one cover plenty. I hope so. I'm sure of it, Sam. We found out one thing in this department that's almost a rule. If a contractor chisels on one job, he's pretty sure to be trying it on another. And I know that Barnes was cheating on every contract,

12:48but it didn't make any difference. My chase was bright and I was getting my share. And one night after I've been treasurer for almost a year, I came home with the biggest news of all. That you knew about the fact that you were going to be a real man. I was going to be a real man. I was going to be a real man. That you, Matt? Wherever you've been, it's almost eight o'clock and dinner's practically spoiled. Is it? That's fine. Give dinner to the cat. We're going out. I'll miss you. The girl cooked your favorite dish out. What the hell? What does the world seem to matter with you? Nothing, Ella. Not a single solitary thing. Matt, you've been drinking. I have my dear two side cars with my employer and friend, Mr. Bond. Yeah. With my benefactor, Mr. Bond. And I'll have you know it's Elliot and Matt from here on in. Really, Matt?

13:48Yeah. And you're going to call Mrs. Bond's Daisy. No more of this formal stuff at the club. Oh, for goodness sake. When did all of this happen? I did it. Oh, you haven't heard the half of it. Here you are, my love. My new business card. What? My business card. Wait, what have I said? Oh, wait a minute. Outflow. Matt, wait a minute. I can't really... Ella. Mr. Matthew Evans Doyle. Why is... Why is President... Oh, Matt. I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. Oh, it's all right. You don't have to fall. I knew it would happen, but I just can't believe it. That's all. Well, it's true. It'll be all the trade papers tomorrow. Matthew Doyle, vice president. Oh, Matt, there's nobody but there's more.

14:49Oh, no. Wait, I mean, there's no use of going over there. You worked so hard, Matt. I knew they'd have to put you on top. Okay, I'm a great guy. Now let's go out to dinner. You are, Matt. The greatest guy I know. All right, Ella. Maybe I don't always tell you so much. Sure, you tell me all the time, and I don't deserve it. Yeah, use this. I'm very happy, Matt. Are you? Very. I'm Mrs. Matthew Doyle. Wife of the vice president. Yes. Yeah? You wouldn't be joking, would you? It is true. The truest thing you ever heard, Mrs. Doyle. And it's not over yet. I'm satisfied. Sure, you are, but not me. Took me a long time to find out how to get ahead in this game. But I've got the idea now. I'm going to the top of the pile, a very top of a land. Nobody can stop me, just you wait and see.

15:51And all this time, Mr. Doyle, Barnes organization continued its illegal padding government contract. Yeah, it did. And you knew about it? Yeah. I just know you're denying it when we get in court, is there? We'll talk about your defense later. You were made by the president, and then what happened? Well, everything went fine for a while. I worked harder than I'd ever worked before, but I didn't mind. Because I was somebody important. They were talking about me in the trade paper. I'd made such a sudden rise. And ever so often, I learned I even got in the social column. When it didn't last long, all of a sudden something happened that none of us could foresee.

16:52Right out of a sky, and in our laps, there was no way we could cover. You want to see me, Elliot? Yes. Good on. You know my brother, Lord Charlie, does he? Oh, sure. How are you, Charlie? Come on, Elliot, get this over. All right, Charlie. Matt, we've got bad news for all of us. I called you in here, so you'd know where you stand and what you're to do. What's the trouble, Elliot? You read about that Navy bomber that came in for belly landing at the Port Henry base yesterday. Yes, I did. My paper center was quite a job of piloting. Nobody heard was there? Nobody, but us. Huh? Nobody was hurt, but you and Elliot and me. Obama ripped open about 50 yards of the North runway, Matt. Just across the area where we were supposed to have put a drainway. The North runway.

17:52You have been Colin's chief of maintenance was in here just a few minutes ago. The Navy is starting to ask questions. Oh, well, what do we do, Elliot? We've got to do is find some way to explain the lack of a drainage system. Couldn't we blame it on one of our engineers, say that he read his specifications wrong? We're fool, we're dealing with the government. Maybe we better get out of the currently, Elliot. We want to South America or Mexico. Sit down, sit down, Matt, you're getting excited. Sure, I'm getting excited. Why wouldn't I be? Look, Elliot, why don't we burn up Charlie's warehouse? Have an accidental fire? And get rid of all the bills of lading for British town supply. Charlie, yes. I think Matt's too upset to talk right now. I'm not too upset. I'm just trying to find some way out instead of sitting here and doing nothing. All right, Matt, we'll talk later in the day when you've had a chance to think this over. I am thinking right now. I'm not going to raise your voice, please. It's unbecoming and an executive. We'll have another meeting at three, the certain on that. I told you he'd go off the handle.

18:54You were right. He scared to death. We've got to shut him up somehow, Elliot. The smart lawyer like Gordon, you and I could beat this thing. Well, a fight in full like Doyle tagging along. Yeah. I know, I know. We'd better work fast at it. Yes. I thought maybe we could take a chance on him, but I guess we'd better not. Of course, if he didn't skip out of the country, he might have been the whole thing on him. Oh, no, no, no, that isn't right. Well, I've got something in mind if we get on a tight corner, Charlie. It's pretty drastic. We'll take a lot of nerve. What? Charlie, if you got nerve, I'd only intend to spend the next ten years in jail. How far would you go to stay out as far as you will, Elliot? All right, just let it ride for the present. We may not have to do anything about Doyle, but if we do, I think I know how to handle it.

20:02And I couldn't sleep. I couldn't eat. There was no one to turn to. Elliot didn't seem to have any plan. And the Navy inspectors who were asking more and more questions. Then the whole thing collapsed all at once. The FBI came into the picture. Matt, this is Agent Sam Davidson of the FBI. I'm just going to do it. The government is making a check on our construction work at the air base. Mr. Davidson, I'm going to ask you a few questions, man. Oh, yes, yes. Of course. Anything I can do to help... We aren't the under arrest, are we? Matt, of course not. Oh, I'm sorry, all right. No one is under arrest. No charges have been made yet, Mr. Doyle. You don't have to answer anything you don't want to. Oh, just one thing, Matt. Mr. Davidson says that one of their agents has been working here in our office for the past few months. We know a good deal about this organization, Mr. Doyle. We tell you this so that you can avoid any replies that might be at variance with the fact.

21:05Oh, yes. Yes, I see. I'll talk to Mr. Doyle alone, Mr. Barnes. Oh, of course. Matt. Yes. You heard what Mr. Davidson said. No charges have been made yet. And I'm sure that none will be. The government is going to give us a clean bill when the investigation is over, Matt. So, don't be nervous about anything. Yes, so, I understand. Good. Well, I'll learn. I'll talk to you later. All right. Drop it in my office when you're through, Mr. Davidson. I will, Mr. Barnes. Uh, well, won't you sit down, Mr. Davidson? Thanks. No calls for the next hour, Mr. Rudby. I'm in a very important meeting. All right, Mr. Davidson. I'm ready. Hello? Hello, Charlie and I, Mr. Elliott. You better come over here right away to my house.

22:05Remember what I told you? Well, I think we're in that take corner right now. But, Elliott, how did you find out? How do I always find out? Money. His secretary wants a new fur coat. What she had to do was hold down the key on the intercom. Here's a transcript of the whole conversation. Very clever, Elliott. Thank you, Daisy. And so is Doyle. He's still trying to get ahead at any cost. Let's read that thing, Charlie. He's trying to make a deal with the government. He'll tell what he knows and return for immunity. He wouldn't dare. Oh, wouldn't he? I think he's going to give me, Elliott, but he's involved as much as you or Charlie. Of course he is, but we'd never be able to prove it. He'll accept a small portion of the guilt, sure. And he'll throw us to the world. What a sneaky little character. Can't do anything about it, Elliott.

23:05I think I can, Daisy. That's what Charlie is here for. What you're going to make a couple of high balls, well, Charlie and I, too. Of course, yes. A double for you and Charlie. Yes, thanks, Daisy. With water. I know, I know. Charlie, is your boat still in commission? I both. Yeah. Sure, it's over to your base, and I won't take it out of the water for another two weeks. Good. I'm going to invite Doyle on a fishing trip, will you and me? What a fishing trip. I'm going to tell him we all need a little vacation while this investigation is going on. Two or three days in the water, do us all good. He's another of us, not to go and you're a boat anytime. I don't understand, Elliott. You remember last week I asked you if you had nerve. Yes, I remember. Have you got nerve enough to let your boat catch on fire? Well, I've been down to the beach with Doyle Charlie. He can't swim more than ten yards.

24:05I know. I don't like it any more than you do, but what can we do? No, no, no, you come me out of this. This said you didn't want to spend ten years in jail, Charlie. I couldn't, Elliott. It's too cold. All right, then we just have to face the music. I'm going to blow up the whole story to the FBI. There must be some other way. Believe me, it's him or us, and we haven't got time to waste, Charlie. It's either him or us. Well, have you decided anything? I don't know, Daisy. Have we decided anything, Charlie? I don't know either, Elliott. I have to think it over. And when they invited me on the fishing trip, I decided I'd better go. Elliott said he wanted to talk over our plans for heading off the investigation. We'd be better off where no one could possibly hear us. We left the Westport Yard Basin on Friday afternoon,

25:07heading for the fishing grounds of Kay Carrington. Well, Elliott, I don't like this. I didn't ask if you liked it. Did you fix up the forward hole? Yes. You soaked the rigs and gasoline. Listen, Elliott. There must be some other way. There isn't. I've been like cutting this motor. Now, Charlie, I'm tired of watching you shake. Can you make it from here to the shore? Elliott, maybe if we told you. Maybe a fool, Charlie. Nobody left, I know what happened. The boat caught on fire, we tried to rescue, but we couldn't. It's the only way out. I know. Yes, for this, indeed. You've been blackmailing us for a year and a half. All right, all right, but I'm sick. Well, he's coming up. Okay. If you lose your nerve now. Don't do it, Elliott. I'm asking you for the last time. Right, given. What's happening? Are we dropping anchor here? Yes, we understand there are sea bass off these shores.

26:07Well, good. I'll break out the tackle. What kind of hook, Elliott? When I was a kid, we used to use the... What's the matter, Charlie? Do I look funny or something? Never mind the tackle. Matt, we won't need it. We won't need the tackle. All right. What I thought, Charlie. Yes, Matt? What's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong, Matt. You're wrong. You're just about the rottenest little carnival I've ever dealt with. Oh, come off, Elliott. What's the joke? This is a joke. This transcript of the conversation between you and that FBI man on Monday morning. What? You were going to make a deal with the government, weren't you? No, no, of course not. You're jumping to conclusion. Am I? I wasn't making a deal, Elliott. I was just trying to fix up something for all three of us. You were quite sure you were trying to fix up something. But you've got to believe me. I wouldn't turn states out. You were. You won't have a chance to. Elliott, Matt, we're having an accident.

27:08The boat is going to catch on fire. What? Charlie is going below to set it off in about one minute. A very unfortunate accident. It happens all the time at pleasure cruises like this. You can't swim. Can't you, Matt? You wouldn't go that far. You don't know me. That get rid of you was easily done with a sneak thief but broke into my house. All right, Charlie. Go ahead. Charlie, do what I say. No, Elliott. I'm not going to do it. Charlie. Not for you, you cheap chiseler. I'm not going to commit murder, that's all. All right, Charlie. I'll take care of it myself. I'm not going to let you well. You pick hand off and do it. No, I'm warning you, Charlie. No. All right, just stupid fool. I'll handle it myself. You understand? I'll do it myself. No. Matt, there's a gun in that locker. I'm not spending the rest of my life until you hear me. Matt, I got it, Charlie. You hear me? I got it, Charlie. You hear me, Charlie. I got it, Charlie. You hear me, Charlie? Elliott. Let him go, I'll shoot. Charlie, you Elliott. Let him go. Well, Elliott, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pull the trigger.

28:08It just went off. Your aim is as lousy as you want. Give me that, Matt. All right, Elliott. We'll head back to Westport. You'll make your big mistake, Charlie. I suppose I am. I'll give us all 10 years, Charlie. Maybe 20. That's better than the chair. Matt, take a wheel. Head back to Westport. All right, Charlie. All right, I've got the wheel. Yeah, Matt. You've got the wheel, all right. There, you wanted to get to the top. Here you are. Isn't it wonderful, Matt? Here you are. The wheel of the president's yacht. Here, ring us all in the prison. In the animal world, there is the hunter and the hunted. Found and fuck, fuck, and sparrow, chicken and worm. But who is the judge precisely which is the pursuer or the pursuant as we enter the chase?

29:20The chase was created for the National Broadcasting Company by Lawrence Cree. This script was written by Jack Fink. Heard in the cast were John McGovern, former graph, Sylvia Davis, Natalie Priest, William Keane and Louis Van Routon. The chase is directed and transcribed by Fred Way, Fred Collins speaking. Next week, a strange concoction known as Tiger Lily transforms a mouse into a lion on the chase. This afternoon, it's adventure with counterspie on NBC. You can find more from Relic Radio Thriller's The Chase and all of the other podcasts and a shout-out to the web site, RelicRadio.com.

30:20If you would like to help support this and all of that, you can donate through the website as well. Visit donate.relicradio.com or click on one of the support links in the show notes. You make all of this possible thanks again to those who have helped out. And thanks for joining me this week. I'll be back tomorrow with a horror and next Friday with our next episode of Relic Radio Thrillers.