Authentic Police Cases #17 (1952)

In the wake of a suspiciously rapid five-alarm fire, a disbarred lawyer named Gus Frankel and his partner Shorty Delmont plot their next arson job, using a staged insurance claim as a cover. As the fire marshal questions the apparent victim, Chadwick, suspicion begins to rise—especially when the investigation reveals a hidden code and a network of carefully orchestrated alibis.

In the aftermath of World War II, a fugitive art forger known as Vogel flees across Europe with his partner, Jacob Wenzel, evading capture while manufacturing and selling forged masterpieces. As they cross into America, posing as German refugees, Vogel begins targeting wealthy collectors in New York, but his carefully planned scheme unravels when a client demands proof and sets a trap.

When jockey Willis rides Pink Dahlia to an improbable victory at the races, Agent Ted Hogan suspects foul play after a series of suspicious "fixes" and a missing stable boy. As the investigation unfolds, Hogan uncovers a deadly scheme involving a poisoned horse, a hidden electric trap, and a murder staged to look like an accident—leaving him racing against time to connect the dots before the next fix.

In the gritty world of 1952 crime, a trio of con artists known as the Angel Mob—posing as saviors of struggling businessmen—pull off a daring theft using forged bonds, only to be cornered by Inspector Parks and the F.B.I. after a meticulous trail of clues leads to their hidden stash. As the investigation unfolds, the criminals’ elaborate scheme unravels through forensic precision and sharp detective work, culminating in their arrest and the exposure of their nationwide operation.