The Isabel James Matter (The Kimball Matter)

Originally Aired: August 18, 1953Johnny Dollar #176, "The Isabel James Matter The Kimball Matter,"Johnny Dollar travels to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to investigate the murder of Isabel James, a woman insured by his company for ten thousand dollars. Upon arrival, he meets with Captain Clifford Kissig, who reveals a disturbing pattern: Isabel is the fourth victim in three weeks, all with their throats cut, apparently by a straight razor. The police are stumped, without witnesses or leads, and the city is gripped by fear of what appears to be a serial killer. Johnny visits the beneficiary, Isabel's uncle Morley Parrish, a weathered farmer living outside Dawson who offers more homemade whiskey than useful information about his estranged niece.The investigation takes a turn when Captain Kissig calls Johnny back to the station. Police have arrested a suspect named Alvin Story, who was caught following a young woman on the street. When she screamed, he fled, and officers later found him carrying a straight razor. While Story insists he was merely taking a walk, Kissig has a hunch they've found their killer. Johnny hurries to the station to question the suspect and determine whether this break in the case will finally stop the killing spree terrorizing Tulsa.