Badge of Justice #22 (1955)

Crime Smasher is pulled into a web of deception when he’s led to confront Al Mone, only to discover the man is not the killer’s enemy—but his right-hand man. While tracking down leads on the elusive Public Enemy No. 1, Crime Smasher finds himself entangled in a series of bizarre cases, from a missing rabbit to three terrified old ladies threatened by their escaped brother, all while dodging ambushes and unraveling a conspiracy that turns every ally into a suspect.

In a locked garage, a woman is found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning, ruled a suicide by her distraught husband, Arnold Lee. District Attorney Frances Delaney, aided by Patrolman James Riley, begins to question the scene when inconsistencies arise—especially the garage door locked from the outside—and a jealous chauffeur with a motive comes into focus.

In a high-stakes chase that unfolds across a city’s streets and a river bridge, the elusive criminal Desarro—known as the "Houdini of Crime"—evades capture through a series of daring escapes, including a plunge into the river after a near-fatal fall. As police close in, Desarro’s desperate flight leads him to a barge, where he seeks refuge but is soon confronted by a lone man who may not be the savior he appears.

In this non-fiction feature from Badge of Justice #22, readers learn the forensic techniques used to identify and track criminals through physical evidence like tire tracks and footprints. By examining details such as tread patterns, weight impressions, and irregularities in tire surfaces, investigators can link vehicles and individuals to crime scenes. The story demonstrates how careful observation and scientific methods—like making plaster casts or using magnification—help solve cases without relying on guesswork.