THE BIG BORDER and THE BIG ROSE DRAGNET

Summary

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1001 Radio Crime Solvers — “THE BIG BORDER” & “THE BIG ROSE” (Dragnet)

Podcast: 1001 Radio Crime Solvers
Host: Jon Hagadorn
Episode Date: October 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This packed episode features two classic radio dramas from Dragnet:

1. “The Big Border” — A breathless manhunt for two armed prison escapees, Andy Powell and Bert Selby, which leads detectives Joe Friday and Ed Jacobs from Los Angeles into Mexico.
2. “The Big Rose” — A noir-tinged homicide investigation following the disappearance, and subsequent murder, of Rose Baker, a troubled woman whose complex relationships and broken family tie into her tragic demise.

These stories, rendered in Dragnet’s famously stoic, documentary style, plunge listeners into the step-by-step grind of real police work, cutting through red herrings and emotional cross-currents. Both cases show the costs of crime and human frailty—sometimes among the very people closest to us.

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1. "The Big Border"

Main Plot Summary

• Two convicts, Andrew A. Powell and Bertram O. Selby, escape from San Quentin prison.
• Detectives Joe Friday and Ed Jacobs are tasked with finding the escapees, who are described as armed, dangerous, and adamant they won’t be recaptured alive.
• The tale follows a tense, detailed investigation, involving interviews, police stakeouts, and ultimately a cross-border chase into Mexico.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Initial Lead: The Ex-Girlfriend (03:27–07:16)

• Friday and Jacobs question Ruth Thompson, Powell's ex-fiancée. She's frightened and reluctant, but provides a breakthrough:

"When Andy went out the door, it's the last thing he said. He said if the cops ever found him, there was gonna be a fight. Terrible look on his face."
— Ruth Thompson, (07:09)

• Powell and Selby robbed her for cash, clothes, and a revolver.

Crime Spree Across Town (08:34–15:54)

• The fugitives commit a string of robberies—pawn shop, dry goods store, theater, liquor store, nightclub—often violently.
• Witnesses consistently identify them, noting their recklessness and lack of disguise:

"You don't pick a joint where everybody knows you. I spotted Annie as soon as I saw him at the bar."
— Herman Saunders, 2050 Room manager (13:20)

"You think he'd have better sense?... No, he made a bigger one yesterday."
— Friday on Powell’s mistakes (14:41)

Tracing the Escape Route (17:31–20:12)

• Evidence suggests Powell and Selby have acquired a car and are heading for the Mexican border, potentially Tijuana or Mexicali.
• Police in San Diego spot a blue sedan containing rolls of dimes and quarters from a previous robbery.

The Cross-Border Pursuit (20:12–26:23)

• Friday, Jacobs, and Jess Gonzalez join San Diego PD and coordinate with Mexican authorities.
• Tireless, methodical checks in Tijuana, Tecate, and Ensenada eventually pay off:
  • Two suspects had registered in a hotel under aliases matching those used earlier in LA.
  • Detailed matter-of-fact tone as local commandant’s assistant recognizes them:

    "He says the two men were here last night, right here in the station. ... They came in to report a crime."
    — Ensenada police, (25:01)

• Powell and Selby are apprehended; Selby resists arrest and is sent for medical treatment.

Jurisdictional Twist & Resolution (26:23–29:21)

• Powell smugly insists US cops can’t touch him in Mexico:

"You can't touch us down here. No jurisdiction. We didn't arrest you, Powell. The Mexican officers did."
— Sergeant Ed Jacobs (26:37)

• Mexican officials arrange deportation—Powell and Selby are transferred to US authorities, tried, and given life sentences.

Closing the Case

"There's only one thing I know for sure, pal. Yeah, San Quentin. You got out and you're going back."
— Friday (27:45)

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Important Timestamps (Selected)

• 03:27 — Interview with Ruth Thompson; critical break in the case.
• 06:46 — Ruth reveals why she didn’t report Powell.
• 08:39–11:21 — Reports of multiple violent robberies.
• 13:00 — Interview with club manager Saunders; recognition of Powell.
• 15:54–16:21 — Reflection on the escapees' reckless choices.
• 17:31–18:08 — Car with robbery proceeds found in San Diego.
• 20:12 — Coordination with San Diego and Mexican police begins.
• 25:01 — Mexican police confirm suspects were in Ensenada.
• 26:23–26:57 — Capture and handling of extradition.

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2. "The Big Rose"

Main Plot Summary

• Homicide detectives Friday and Jacobs investigate the disappearance of Rose Baker, a 38-year-old woman with a troubled past, four neglected children, and a tangle of romantic and family relationships.
• Slowly, the missing person case becomes a murder investigation, centering on family money, resentments, and ultimately a shocking confession.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Establishing the Victim’s Background (32:50–34:28)

• Rose Baker is depicted as unstable, hard-drinking, and disinterested in her children.
• Last seen after visiting her sister, Bernice Marin, to collect half a $400 check.

Contradictory Stories and Suspects (34:28–41:25)

• Family members and acquaintances, including boyfriend Carl Shelton and coworker Mildred Dunn, offer conflicting accounts of Rose’s intentions and character.
• Investigation runs through ex-boyfriends, co-workers, and her sister’s home life.

The Clues Pile Up (43:30–44:42)

• Rose's purse is found in a vacant lot.
• Dialogue with her sister, Bernice, reveals strained relations and financial tensions:

"She wasn't even willing to pay for her own kids’ doctor bills. ... She wanted the money for herself."
— Bernice Marin (45:41)

The Body is Found; The Pressure Mounts (48:10–51:35)

• Rose Baker’s murdered body is discovered, shot three times.
• Carl Shelton contacts police, saying he knows who killed her.

Revealing the Truth (51:35–57:22)

• Eye-witnesses place Bernice Marin with Rose after midnight—the time when Bernice had denied seeing her.
• Confronted, Bernice breaks down and confesses, motivated by a weary sense of responsibility and anger:

"I couldn't stand anymore. We argued and I killed her."
— Bernice Marin (56:55)

"How do you tell four kids you killed their mother?"
— Bernice Marin (57:09)

Aftermath and Verdict (57:22–59:05)

• Bernice claims self-defense in court, stating Rose attacked her with a knife during a quarrel over money.
• She is found not guilty by a jury.
• Rose’s four children are taken into protective custody.

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Important Timestamps (Selected)

• 32:50–34:02 — Initial setup of Rose’s disappearance and family dynamics.
• 35:41–36:12 — Evidence of Rose’s chaotic relationships.
• 43:36 — Discovery of Rose’s purse; missing person becomes probable homicide.
• 48:12 — Police informed of the body’s location.
• 51:16–57:22 — Confrontation, confession, and emotional denouement with Bernice Marin.
• 59:05 — Court verdict and case closure.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the nature of the criminal mind:

  "Well, there's only one way I can figure it. They don't care, either one of them. They got their money, now a car. They both got guns. They're out to go as far as they can."
  — Joe Friday, summarizing the fugitives’ desperation (16:13)

• On bitter family ties:

  "It's not the kids I minded. They're wonderful. ... I love every one of them. ... Rose never gave me a dime to pay a bill for her own kids, too. She gave us nothing. And she tried to take everything."
  — Bernice Marin, explaining her breaking point (56:18)

• On the weight of guilt:

  "How do you tell four kids you killed their mother?"
  — Bernice Marin (57:09)

• Dragging irony:

  "No, he made a bigger one yesterday."
  — Friday regarding Powell's decision to break out of prison, highlighting both the crime and folly (14:49)

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Overall Tone & Takeaways

• Dragnet’s style is spare, unsentimental, and procedural. The dialogue is clipped, often resigned, and heavy with a sense of the everyday grind of police work.
• Themes of futility, poor choices, and human weakness run throughout both cases—be it the reckless, doomed escapees or the family destroyed by greed and exhaustion.
• Justice, such as it is, arrives, but never wipes away the damage done.

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Conclusion

Both stories encapsulate Dragnet’s enduring appeal: the plodding, tireless hunt for truth behind chaos, and the stoic bearing of those tasked with restoring order. The episode’s underlying message is clear: crime frequently wears familiar faces, and the answers—however painful—are found not by cleverness, but by dogged, methodical resolve.

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Transcript

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

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[Narrator]

The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

[Announcer]

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[Narrator]

You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a robbery detail. Two convicts escaped from the state penitentiary. They're heading for your city.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

They're armed.

[Narrator]

They've boasted they won't be taken alive. Your job.

[Officer Brian]

Get em.

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[Officer Brian]

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[Announcer]

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[Bernice Marin]

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[Narrator]

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[Announcer]

Dragnet the documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It was Wednesday, October 6th. It was cloudy in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of robbery detail. My partner's Ed Jacobs. The boss is Captain Didion. My name's Friday. We were on the way out from the office and it was 2:40pm when we got to Kesterson Boulevard, number 1256.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Sounds like she's having a party, huh?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. Try it again, huh? Maybe they can't hear it.

[Ruth Thompson]

Yes?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Police officers, ma'. Am. You Ruth Thompson?

[Ruth Thompson]

Yes, that's right. What is it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

My name's Friday. This is my partner, Sergeant Jacobs, Central Robbery. We'd like to talk to you a few minutes if we could.

[Ruth Thompson]

Well, I have a party going on right now. A few of my friends are over. What'd you want, Sergeant?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

About Nandy Powell, Ms. Thompson. I understand you know him.

[Ruth Thompson]

I did know him, yes. I haven't seen him for a long time. Three or four years, anyway.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Mind if we ask a few? Won't take long.

[Ruth Thompson]

All right. Come in, please.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thank you. We're sorry to disturb you, ma'. Am. It's pretty important, or we wouldn't hold you up.

[Bernice Marin]

It's all right.

[Ruth Thompson]

Down the hall here.

[Officer Brian]

All right.

[Ruth Thompson]

We can talk in the kitchen, if you don't mind. It's my girlfriend's birthday today. Thought it'd be nice to have a little party for her.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, I see.

[Ruth Thompson]

Chair there, if you like. Oh, here, let me wipe it off. We spilled a drink on it. Probably Danny spilling the drinks.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Suppose you know about andy Powell and Ms. Thompson, what happened this morning?

[Ruth Thompson]

What's that?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

About Andy Powell. You heard what happened this morning?

[Ruth Thompson]

Just what I read in the morning paper. They said he broke out of San Quentin, another man with him. True. Then he did break out.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Officer Brian]

Am.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's the information we have. There's an all points bulletin out on him.

[Ruth Thompson]

Well, I don't want to get involved in it. It's none of my business. Andy doesn't mean anything to me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, at the time he was sent up, you were engaged to Powell, is that right?

[Ruth Thompson]

Yes, but that was before he got into trouble, before he went to San Quentin. I saw him after the trial. I told him how I felt about it. I told him it wasn't any use.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Mean you called it off?

[Ruth Thompson]

That it wasn't much else to do. It was robbery. Five years to life. It wasn't the first time either. Andy knew it'd be a long time, so die. Really. I had to tell him. I had to call it off.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We understand you were on Powell's correspondence list while he was up at Quentin. You wrote to him, did you?

[Ruth Thompson]

Yes, the first couple of months. We haven't written lately, though. There wasn't any point to it. No point at all.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, when was the last time you heard from Powell, Ms. Thompson? Last time you wrote to him?

[Ruth Thompson]

Oh, eight or ten months. At least that. As I say, There wasn't much sensing going on, and he knew he was in there for a long time. He couldn't expect me to wait all that time. Matter of fact, he said he didn't expect it. He told me that you've been up.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

To Visit Powell recently, Ms. Thompson.

[Bernice Marin]

No.

[Ruth Thompson]

No, I haven't.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, then you haven't seen him since he went up to Quentin. You'll swear to that?

[Ruth Thompson]

Why do I have to swear to it? I already told you, Andy. Doesn't mean anything to me. Didn't make sense. It's all over. I'm not even a relative. Why do I have to swear to anything?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You haven't seen Powell since you went up to Quentin.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That right, Ms. Thompson? Is that right?

[Ruth Thompson]

What if I saw him or if I didn't see him? What difference does it make?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Make?

[Ruth Thompson]

It's none of my business.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Oh, did you see him, Ms. Thompson?

[Ruth Thompson]

What difference does it make? I don't have anything to do with him. He doesn't mean anything to me. I told you. Did you see him this morning?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

When?

[Ruth Thompson]

Late this morning. About 10:30.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Was he alone?

[Officer Brian]

No.

[Ruth Thompson]

Another man was with him.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Who was the other man?

[Officer Brian]

You recognize him?

[Ruth Thompson]

Bert Selby. It's the way he introduced him. He didn't try to hide it. Some fellow he broke out of jail with.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What they want, why were they here?

[Ruth Thompson]

Clothes, Money. Looked like the devil. Both of them. Terrible.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What'd you give him?

[Ruth Thompson]

They asked for him. Not that silly. Didn't trust me any more than they trust you. And he had a knife. I tried to tell him I didn't have any money. Didn't believe me. Came at me with that knife. I gave him the money.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How much?

[Ruth Thompson]

About 17, $18. Some loose change. They emptied my purse. They took it all.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Anything else?

[Ruth Thompson]

Clothes, a couple of suits. My father's. He died last year. They took his gun, too. Never thought Andy'd be that way. It was terrible.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

What kind of a gun was it, Ms. Thompson?

[Ruth Thompson]

Quote, revolver,38, I think. They took that and the clothes and the Money. It's about 10:30 this morning.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Malcolm. You didn't report that. You say you knew about the escape. You knew they were wanted, didn't you?

[Ruth Thompson]

Why should I? They warned me about it. They threatened me. Said they'd come back and get me if I told the police. Look, I don't want to get mixed up in this. I'm engaged to a nice fella. Now we want to get married. I don't want to get mixed up in this. Andy Powell's nothing to me.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Did you watch the two men when they left the house here? You noticed if they drove off in a car?

[Ruth Thompson]

No, I didn't. I just shut the door and prayed I was rid of them. Took my money, food, my dad's clothes. Don't make it any tougher, huh?

[Bernice Marin]

Please.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's not a question of that, ma'.

[Officer Brian]

Am.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We have to find him. We're gonna need all the cooperation we can get.

[Ruth Thompson]

I told you everything I could. Honestly. Said they'd come back and kill me if I even talked to you. I can't do anymore. I sure hope you don't find him.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

How's that?

[Ruth Thompson]

When Andy went out the door, it's the last thing he said. He said if the cops ever found him, there was gonna be a fight. Terrible look on his face.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Ruth Thompson]

He said you'd never take him alive.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The APB had come in a few minutes before 8 o' clock that morning. It was from the warden's office, San Quentin. The two suspects had been assigned to an early morning work detail at the penitentiary and they were first reported missing at the 7am Count number one. Suspect was Andrew A. Powell, WMA, 29 years, 5 foot 9, 175 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes, tan complexion. Suspect number two, Bertram O. Selby, WMA, 31 years, 5 foot 11, 160 pounds, blonde hair, gray eyes, tan complexion. Both of them had long criminal records. Both of them had been serving time for armed robbery. They'd used guns before. We figured if they had to, they'd use them again. Before we left Powell's ex girlfriend, Ruth Thompson, we called the office and arranged for a 24 hour stakeout on her home in case the escaped prisoners returned. We also made arrangements for a stakeout at the downtown restaurant where she was employed as cashier. We passed along the information which the Thompson girl had given us and a broadcast and an APB was gotten out on the suspects. 4:05pm Ed and I continued making the rounds of all the known friends and associates of the escaped prisoners. We failed to come up with any more leads. 5:50pm we went back to the city Hall.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Cloudin up again, huh? Over there in the east.

[Officer Brian]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Paper says rain tonight and tomorrow. We can sure use it.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

No, I can't.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's the matter?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Haven't had a chance to get the shoemakers yet? Here, look at that hole in my shoe. Been meaning to get them half sold. I keep forgetting.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Don't tell me that's the only pair of shoes you got.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

I got another pair at home. They're not Comfortable, though. Not broken in. What's the trouble with this job?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Announcer]

Shoes.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You get a new pair, start wearing them around. It happens every time, huh? No sooner you get the tops broken in, the soles wear out. It's a vicious circle here.

[Officer Brian]

Hi. What's your word?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, hi, Jess. Anything in the book for us? Do you know?

[Officer Brian]

I don't know. I don't think so. I'll check it. How'd you two make out? Any luck?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, not too bad, Jess. We know Powell and Selby were in town this morning. Good chance they're still here. Any kickback on that last?

[Officer Brian]

All points we got out, nothing so far. Gaffney and Ricketts are running down a couple of possibles right now. One of them might pan out.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Nothing in the book, Joe. We're clear.

[Officer Brian]

Just saying yet on this Powell and Selby thing. Got a couple of possibles we're checking on. Both calls came in the last hour. One was a holdup. Olympic near Vermont. Pawn shop there. Two men pulled it off. Slug the owner took clothes, money, 12 gauge shotgun.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How about descriptions on the men?

[Officer Brian]

Well, they seem to be fairly close. When I got over the phone, Gaffney and Ricketts are out talking to the victim. They took mugs of Powell and Selby along. Waiting for their call back now.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Said you had two calls. What was the other one? Two.

[Officer Brian]

Eleven and slugging out on Hollywood Boulevard just above Western. Couple of thieves knocked over a dry goods store. Some take clothes and money. Descriptions are pretty close there, too. Hollywood division's covering. Waiting for their call back. Does anyone smoke?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Laurel.

[Narrator]

Thanks.

[Officer Brian]

Thompson girl is the only one who had anything, huh? None of the others could help you out.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yeah, it's about the size of it. Apparently Powell doesn't have too many connections in town. Selby has even less. No more than a dozen names on that list were there, Joe. Friends, relatives.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

An even dozen. Couple of bars. Powell was known to hang out when he was in town. Check them out, too. Nothing.

[Officer Brian]

They sure made a beeline here after they broke Quentin. It's a good 500 mile stretch. They don't have the connections here to help them. Then what's the big attraction?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

They could have some help lined up we don't know about. Somebody to hide them out, keep them in groceries for a while.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's possible they're making a run for one of the border towns. Tijuana, Mexicali. Maybe Powell figured on more help from the Thompson girl. Clothes and money. Enough to get him and Selby over into Mexico.

[Bernice Marin]

Huh?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

She said all I got was $17. Had to cut corners to make it on that.

[Officer Brian]

Robbery. Gonzalez. Oh, yeah, Jack.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Are you sure?

[Officer Brian]

Okay, fine. Thanks. Bye. What do you got? Jack Ricketts. He and Gaffney just finished talking to the owner of the pawn shop that was held up. The one on Olympic Wall. They gave him a handful of mug shots to check. He tabbed two of them. Powell and Selby.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

6:30Pm A supplementary broadcast and an APB was gotten out on the two suspects. And the Record Bureau's photocopy room turned out 2,000 copies of Powell's and Selby's mug shot for distribution. At 9pm a theater on Western Avenue was robbed of $192. Powell and Selby were again identified as the hold up men. The robbery victim, the manager of the theater, said that both men were armed. One with a.38 revolver, the other with a sawed off shotgun. Neither the manager nor the two witnesses were able to tell us how the thieves got away from the scene of the crime, if they were on foot or if they had a car. 11:20pm A hotshot call came through on a hold up at a liquor store in Delicatessen down on South Central Avenue. For the third time that night, Powell and Selby were identified from their mug shots as the hold up men. They'd used the same weapons, the revolver that they'd taken from the Thompson Girls home and the shotgun that they picked up in the robbery of the Olympic Boulevard pawn shop. Again, the victims were unable to tell us how the suspects got away, whether on foot or by car. Midnight, 1am There were still no replies to supplementary broadcasts and bulletins which had been gotten out. 1:25am Another hotshot call came through, this time on a holdup and a slugging at the 2050 Room, a small nightclub on West Ninth Street. Ed and I handled the call. For the fourth time the bandits were identified as Powell and Selby. And for the fourth time, they'd made good their escape. We interviewed the manager of the 2050 Roma, Herman Saunders.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Quite a few people in here at the time of The hold up, Mr. Saunders.

[Officer Brian]

Yeah, good for Thursday night. 30 or 40. Anyway. I sure left in a hurry. This is the second time this year we've been knocked over. Insurance company isn't going to like it too much.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how much money did they take altogether?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You do?

[Officer Brian]

A little less than 600 from the cash register. Mostly currency, some rolls of dimes and quarters. Got another one and a half from my wallet. That's about it. They didn't take anything from the customers.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Are you sure about that identification? Are you? There's no chance of a mistake there.

[Officer Brian]

I'm positive. I know Andy Paul anywhere. I should know him. Like I told you, he worked for me a year and a half.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

I was here at 20.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

50.

[Officer Brian]

Yeah, he worked behind the bar. Good man, too. I don't get it at all.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You mean why I went bad?

[Officer Brian]

Well, yeah, that too. What I mean is, if you're going to hold up a place, you don't pick a joint where everybody knows you. I spotted Annie as soon as I saw him at the bar. So did a couple of the waiters.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He wasn't wearing any kind of a mask. He didn't make any attempt to disguise himself? No.

[Officer Brian]

Stood there big as life. Him and this other fellow didn't waste any time either. They pulled the guns, lined up everybody in the place and stood him against that wall over there. Real Wild west style. Took over the whole place. Acted real wild. Andy and this other fella must be crazy.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Nobody was hurt. Didn't slug anyone.

[Officer Brian]

I slapped a few of the customers around. I thought for a while they were really going to get rough. They had us lined up against the wall. Andy was acting tough. Had this knife with him. Good 4 inch blade. Went right down the line. Jabbing people where they're threatening him. Must be out of his mind.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You say he didn't take any money from the customers?

[Officer Brian]

Yeah, that's right. They worked it pretty fast. Emptied the cash register, then my wallet. Then they beat it. Never so glad to see anybody go in my life.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how'd they get away? Do you have any idea on that?

[Officer Brian]

Old guy who sells papers down the corner? He says he thinks he saw a car pull away right after the stick up. Said it was a blue sedan. Don't know how much stock you can put on it. The old man's eyes aren't what they used to be.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Do you know Paul pretty well when he was working here, Mr. Saunders, I mean. Do you know any of his friends, People he used to run with?

[Officer Brian]

No, I didn't know him that well. He worked for me, that's all. I still have his old address, the place he was living when he worked for me. I can get it if you want.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, if you would, please.

[Officer Brian]

Sure.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

No trouble.

[Officer Brian]

I just don't get it. Don't get it at all. Of all the joints in town he could have held up, he had to pick mine. The one place he'd be recognized. You think he'd have better sense? Wouldn't You.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You'd think so.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Officer Brian]

How do I ever hire a guy as dumb as that pa holding up the place he worked for. Biggest mistake he ever made.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, he made a bigger one yesterday.

[Officer Brian]

Yeah? What was that?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

When he broke prison. 205am Further investigation at the scene of the latest holdup failed to turn up any new leads. While Ed and I checked on Powell's former address, which we'd gotten from the owner of the 2050 room, Gonzalez, Ricketts and Gaffney continued checking the immediate neighborhood. In addition, a special detail from Metro Division was sent in to cover the entire area. The suspect's former address turned out to be a rooming house up on West Temple Street. The landlady remembered Andy Powell, but she had no forwarding address on him and she could tell us nothing about his former friends and associates. We checked back with Gonzales, Ricketts and Gaffney, and they told us that besides the old newspaper vendor, the counterman at the coffee shop near the 2050 room had also spotted a blue sedan leaving the vicinity of the nightclub shortly after the holdup. He was able to give him the make, the model and a partial license number. A supplementary. All points had been gotten out on it immediately and the information relayed to DMV. An auto theft detail. 3:10am Ed and I completed our assignment in the investigation and went back to the office to check for instructions from Captain Didion.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Can't see how we'd be much use out on the street the way things stand out, can you?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, I don't.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Everything's covered. I can think of supplementary oil points is out. Detail from Metro's working in the neighborhood.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's funny, isn't it?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

What's that?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

This Andy Powell going back to that place he used to work and holding it up. That doesn't make any sense at all, does it?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

That's for sure. Must have known somebody was gonna recognize him. Couldn't have been a coincidence.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, there's only one way I can figure it. They don't care, either one of them. They got their money, now a car. They both got guns. They're out to go as far as they can.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Oh, hi, Jess.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Hi.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You just get back in?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Officer Brian]

Hi, Joe. Right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You as tired as you sound?

[Officer Brian]

Worse. Fair piece of news, though.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah? What's that?

[Officer Brian]

Powell and Selby. They just found their hideout.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

After three hours of canvassing the general downtown area, particularly in the vicinity of the last holdup, a team of men working with a special detail from Metropolitan Division interviewed a desk clerk in a small Hotel on South Broadway who recognized the suspect's mug shots. The two of them had registered early the morning before under the names J.E. dennis and Harold Thompson. Both from Fresno, California. The hotel room was searched and two San Quentin inmate uniforms were found stuffed under the mattress of the bed. After the room was processed for fingerprints, there was no doubt that the recent occupancy were Powell and Selby. The clerk had no idea when they were supposed to return. The hotel was staked out immediately and the citywide search for the escaped prisoners went on the following day. Thursday, October 7, 11:30am still no sign of the suspects. No further reports or leads as to their whereabouts. The search went on. Ed and I signed back in at the office. Ten minutes later, a long distance phone call came in for us.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

When was that? Mortal. What's that? Yeah. Close enough. Right. We'll let you know.

[Announcer]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Bye. Mark, Gear down to San Diego.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, what do you want?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

One of their traffic officers was checking a car about 8 o'clock this morning. 586 parking blue sedan. Fits close to the description of the escape car.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's a pretty common model, isn't it? Did he say anything else?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Traffic man checked the inside of the car glove compartment. Found half dozen rolls of dimes and quarters. Same name stamped on all of them.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

20, 50 room.

[Announcer]

You are listening to Dragnet Authentic stories of your police force in action.

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[Sergeant Joe Friday]

October 7th, Thursday, 1:00pm after we got the report from Lieutenant Mort Gear that the escape car, along with a few dollars of the stolen money had been located in San Diego. That morning, Ed and I had a meeting with Captain Didion. Was beginning to look like our first hunch was right. Powell and Selby's 24 Hour Campaign of holdups in the Los Angeles area had netted them a fresh change of clothes and more than enough money to live on for a while. With the locating of the escape car in San Diego, it looked like the suspects were apparently taking the next logical step.

[Ruth Thompson]

Step?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

A fast move over the international border into Mexico. A distance of less than 20 miles from San Diego. Probably they figured once over the line, they had a good chance of losing themselves. 1:40pm On Captain Didion's orders, Jess Gonzalez, Ed and I got in the car and headed south for San Diego with a supply of mug shots of the escaped prisoners. We got there a few minutes after 4pm we went directly to the San Diego PD where we contacted Sergeant Tony McGuire. Robbery. Tough week, huh?

[Officer Brian]

Hear they've been driving you crazy up there?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Just about, Tony. Four robberies in 24 hours. Giving us a run.

[Officer Brian]

How about Mort Gear here around? Yeah, he just went down the hall.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Jess ought to be back in a minute.

[Officer Brian]

Why don't you fell sit down?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thanks very much. What's the latest, Tony? Anything since you picked up that blue sedan?

[Officer Brian]

No, not much.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Got the car in the impound.

[Officer Brian]

Had a duster for Prince. We made them all right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Both sets. Powell and Selby.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

No sign of them around town?

[Announcer]

No.

[Officer Brian]

I got it pretty well covered too. Not a trace.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

They're in a good spot to make it over into Mexico.

[Officer Brian]

Hate to disappoint you.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you mean? We think they already made it. At 6 o' clock that night, Gonzales, Ed and I, together with Lieutenant Gere, Tony McGuire and Sergeants Gayton and Schultz drove south from San Diego to the international line. We left mug shots of Powell and Selby with the immigration officers at the entry gate. Then we drove into the town of Tijuana, contacted the local commandant of police and he promised us full cooperation. He assigned a special detail of his men to work with us in covering the town. At 8pm the block by block canvas of the city began. Every back alley, every bar, every restaurant, every hotel, they were all checked. The tourist attractions, the souvenir stands, the nightclubs, the highlight pavilion. We went straight through on it. Eight o' clock that night until five o' clock the next morning. All it got us was sore feet and a mediocre lead from a native taxi driver. After being shown the mug shots, he told one of The Mexican officers in the detail that about noon that day he'd picked up two Americans resembling Powell and Selby and driven them to the town of Tecate, another Mexican tourist spot about 25 miles to the east. 10:30am we drove over and checked with the police at Tecati and they told us that two Americans had arrived in the town that morning. He invited Jess Gonzalez to go along with the three of his men to the hotel where the men were supposed to be staying. Ed and I waited in the office.

[Officer Brian]

Hi.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Hi, Jess. What do you got?

[Officer Brian]

Not much. Went over to the hotel. The two men weren't there. Desk clerk says I told him they were driving out to a little village about a mile from here. Police commandant asked me to come back here and wait. Said he and his men would drive out to the village and check the men out.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That seems a little funny, doesn't it?

[Officer Brian]

Well, he didn't invite me to come along. It's not a good idea to push him. I mean, after all, it's his jurisdiction.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

We're supposed to wait here till they get back.

[Officer Brian]

Yeah, I'm out to him now.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Si.

[Officer Brian]

Policia? Uh huh. Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Si, si.

[Officer Brian]

About half an hour.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

All right.

[Officer Brian]

Gracias.

[Announcer]

Goodbye.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Sick.

[Officer Brian]

The commandant, he and his men found the two Americans.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Officer Brian]

No go. They're not Paul and Selby.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Half an hour later, the police commandant of Tecati returned to the station along with his men and the two American tourists in question. One look at them and we knew we'd made the trip from Tijuana for nothing. Except for their build and the color of their hair, the two Americans bore little or no resemblance to Powell and Selby. 2:30pm we headed back for Tijuana and we checked in with Mort Gear and the rest of the men. While we'd been gone, they'd chased down half a dozen leads, but none of them had panned out. The rest of the afternoon we covered the racetrack at Agua Caliente and distributed mug shots of the suspects to all track police officers. The mutual windows were covered and also the foreign book. No luck. The six of us took time out for a bite of supper and we talked it over. Logically, the next place in line to cover was either the fishing town of Ensenada on the coast or the city of Mexicali further inland. We decided to try Ensenada first. 7:30 that night, we checked in at the Ensenada police station where we met with a local sub commandant, Pedro Martinez. Like the other commandants in Tijuana and Tecali. He offered full cooperation and gave us a special detail of men to aid in the search. We gave him a supply of mug shots of the two convicts to distribute among his men.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Here you are, sir. These are pictures. One of them, Andrew Powell. This one here is the other man, Bert Selby.

[Officer Brian]

All right. Thank you.

[Announcer]

Juan.

[Narrator]

Juan.

[Officer Brian]

See? See these pictures, Juan?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Criminals.

[Officer Brian]

They're for distribution to the men.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

One each?

[Officer Brian]

Si. Excuse me, officers.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. Sorry.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Go ahead.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Joe, what is it? It's got me. I don't know.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

See the look on his face when the chief showed him the mug shots?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He's got something on his mind. Just wait a minute.

[Officer Brian]

Officers. I hope you will excuse me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. Anything wrong?

[Officer Brian]

My assistant, Teniente San Felipe. He says he knows the pictures of these men.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Huh?

[Officer Brian]

How's that? He says he saw this man this morning here in Ensenada.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah? He sure about that, is he? Yes, sir.

[Officer Brian]

He says he's sure. He says the two men were here last night, right here in the station.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You mean your men booked him in? They committed some kind of crime?

[Officer Brian]

Oh, no, sir.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

They came in to report a crime. 8:20pm on further questioning, the assistant to the Ensenada commandant of police told us that the night before, two men answering Powell and Selby's description had come in to file a complaint at time the same Central Police Station. They charged that they'd had their pockets picked at a local bar while they were under the influence of alcohol. The two complainants who matched Powell's and Selby's descriptions perfectly, signed themselves J.E. dennis and Harold Thompson, both from Fresno, California. The same names and addresses that had been used by the occupants of the south side Los Angeles hotel room where the discarded prison uniforms had been found a day and a half before. After a brief talk with a police commandant, he dispatched a special detail to go out and pick up the two men registered as Dennis and Thompson at a motel near the south end of the city. At the commandant's request, we remained at the office. 9:00pm 9:30. The detail assigned to the job returned, but with only one of the suspects with him, Andrew Powell. While resisting arrest, the other suspect, identified as Selby, received a cut forehead and was being taken to a local clinic for treatment. The commandant briefed us on what had happened. Their rooms were searched. Officer Friday.

[Officer Brian]

Some money was found. Also two guns, a revolver and shotgun. Here they are.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right. Thanks very much, sir. Paul, how about it? You ready to cop out?

[Officer Brian]

What are you talking about, cop out? What'd you guys come all the way down here for anyway? You can't touch us.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

What makes you think we can't?

[Officer Brian]

You can't, that's all you know.

[Announcer]

Better.

[Officer Brian]

You can't arrest us down here. No jurisdiction. We didn't arrest you, Powell. The Mexican officers did. Okay, fine. Now, how do you expect to get us out of Mexico? Guess again, copper. You know you can't do it. You haven't got the right to.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Maybe you want to tell us where you have the loot. The money you took in those holdups.

[Officer Brian]

Why should I? Look, why don't you admit it? We got you beat. We got over the line. You can't touch us down here.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Don't bet on that, Mr. Commandant.

[Officer Brian]

Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You want to tell them how it stands?

[Officer Brian]

I will see that the general in charge of the Northern District is notified in the morning of your case.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He will see that you and your partner are deported.

[Officer Brian]

What are you trying to fool? You can't do that. You know it. It's illegal.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

So is robbery, pal. Come off.

[Officer Brian]

It doesn't make any difference. You can't touch us in Mexico. It's against the law. You can't touch us. A popular misconception, Mr. Powell. I'm afraid you have made a mistake.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

If you like, you can pass the word. How long would it be for us to receive the prisoners at the line, sir?

[Officer Brian]

I don't know. A long time. I think maybe as long as one o' clock tomorrow. You know you can't do this. You'll never get away with it. I know a lawyer in Tijuana. I'll get him to straighten it out. You understand, Sergeant, we can't hand this man over to you now.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

But if you will be at the.

[Officer Brian]

International border at one o' clock tomorrow.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I'm sure they'll be crossing over.

[Officer Brian]

You can't do this. It's illegal. You know you can't. We're gonna try wasting your time. Why don't you admit it? You can't arrest us. We got over the line. We got you beat. You can't arrest us and you know it. You know that, don't you?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

There's only one thing I know for sure, pal. Yeah, San Quentin. You got out and you're going back.

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent.

[Announcer]

On December 9, trial was held in Superior Court Department 87 City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial.

[Narrator]

Now, here is our star, Jack Webb.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thank you. George Feniman. Friends. Try a pack of Fatima's tomorrow. And compare them yourself. We're so sure that you'll enjoy Fatima's extra mild and soothing smoke. That will give you your money back if you don't enjoy Fatima more than the king size cigarettes you've been smoking. Now, in my opinion, nothing proves our confidence in Fatima more than that. So buy a pack tomorrow. I know you'll agree with me that Fatima is the best of all king size cigarettes. That in Fatima, the difference is quality.

[Announcer]

Andrew Powell and Bertram Selby were deported from Mexico as undesirable aliens and turned over to US authorities at the international border. They were immediately arrested by police officers on the American side and returned to Los Angeles for trial. They pled guilty to four counts of first degree robbery and received sentences as prescribed by law. First degree robbery is punishable by a prison term of from five years to life. After being returned to San Quentin, Powell and Selby were filed on tried and convicted of escape. Both of them are now serving life terms in Folsom State Penitentiary, Repressa, California.

[Narrator]

For their cooperation in preparing tonight's broadcast, Dragnet wishes to thank Chief of Police Adam E. Jansen and the San Diego Police Department.

[Announcer]

You have just heard Dragnet a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police W.H.

[Narrator]

Parker.

[Announcer]

Los Angeles Police Department Technical Advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Van Spracher. Heard tonight were Barney Phillips, Whit Connor, Herb Ellis. Script by Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schumann. Hell Gibney speaking.

[Narrator]

Fatima Cigarettes, Best of all. King Size Cigarettes has brought you Dragnet. Transcribed from Los Angeles.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now it's Counter Spy on NBC.

[Narrator]

The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

[Announcer]

Fatima Cigarettes, Best of all, King Size Cigarettes brings you Dragnet on both radio and television.

[Narrator]

You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a homicide detail. A 38 year old woman disappears. She leaves her sister and her four children behind. There's evidence of foul play. Your job. Find her.

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[Narrator]

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[Announcer]

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[Announcer]

Dragnet. The documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case. Transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It was Monday, June 3rd. It was overcast in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of homicide detail. My partner, Zed Jacobs. The boss is Thad Brown, Chief of detectives. My name's Friday. I was on the way back from communications and it was 8:15am when I got to room 42. Homicide.

[Officer Brian]

Joe, what's doing?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Hi, Brian. You seen Ed?

[Officer Brian]

Went down the hall a minute, said.

[Narrator]

He'D be right by.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, thank you. I don't see anything in the book. Nothing new, huh?

[Narrator]

Not much.

[Officer Brian]

Pretty slow. How's your mother, Joe?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Heard she wasn't feeling too ill. No, she's not, as a matter of fact. Doctor says it's anemia. It's gonna take a little time to get over it, I guess.

[Officer Brian]

I'm sorry to hear it. I gotta do some checking down at the Autodesk. If I get any calls, have him switch it down there, will you?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, I sure will, Brian.

[Officer Brian]

Thanks.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You betcha. Oh, excuse me, Ed.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Pardon me, Tom.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Hi, Ed. What'd they give you?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Missing report woman. How about the mail?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, there's nothing. That the missing report there?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yeah, it's all here. Some woman out on 64th Street. Name's Rose Baker. She's been gone about a week.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Last seen Tuesday, May 27, 10pm who's this that made the report? Carl Shelton. Who's he?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

It's her boyfriend. Ms. Baker's husband died about five years ago. She's been running around quite a bit since then. Had a lot of man trouble.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

She disappeared before then, huh?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yeah, half dozen times. Never been gone this long, though. Holmes took this report from shelton. He gathered. Ms. Baker's not too stable. She's known to drink quite a bit. Doesn't seem to care anything for her home or kids.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, I see it here. She has four children. They're living with her aunt, Mrs. Baker's sister. It's kind of a funny arrangement, isn't it?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yeah, Baker woman packed her bags and walked out of the house about a year ago. Her sister's been taking care of the kids ever since. Mother comes back for a visit once in a while.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

This address we've got on Mrs. Baker, it's the Same address as her boyfriend, Carl Shelton?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yeah, that's right. They both have apartments in the same building.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

This a recent picture, Ms. Baker?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Supposed to be, yeah. Nice looking woman, huh?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. Sister's listed here as the last person who saw her. Well, how's that? Baker woman still wasn't living at home, was she?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

According to the sister, Mrs. Baker came over to the house to see her the night she disappeared. Sometime around 8 o'.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Clock.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Two of them had some business to talk over. Seems the sister had a check for $400 she got from selling some furniture. Claimed the kids had been sick. She had doctor bills to pay.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You mean Mrs. Baker's sister took care of things? To that extent, apparently.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Anyway, after the sister got the check for selling the furniture, Ms. Baker wanted half the money. Sister said that's why she came to see her that night. Two of them got in the car and went out to find somebody to.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Cash a check for her.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Want a drink of water?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, no thanks, hon. Where do you get a $400 check cashed at 8 o' clock at night? Would you know?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Sister said Mrs. Baker knew somebody who'd cash it for him. Turned out the person couldn't cash it. Sister stopped at a bar for a glass of beer. Mrs. Baker took the car and went to look up somebody else she thought could cash it. That was it. Mrs. Baker hadn't been seen since.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Who was this somebody else?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

No idea. Sister claimed she doesn't know. Mrs. Baker didn't tell her.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Sounds like Mrs. Baker wanted the whole check. Wouldn't you say?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

That's what the sister figured. When Ms. Baker didn't come back, she finished the glass of beer, left the barn, started walking home. Two blocks from the house, she found her car parked. No sign of Ms. Baker. Car keys were in the glove compartment. So it's a sister's share of the money. $200 in cash.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how about the firm that issued the check? They get it back? Canceled?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yeah, a couple of days ago. Ms. Baker's endorsement on the back.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Sounds pretty wild, doesn't it?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Whole thing does. Talked a half dozen people who saw Ms. Baker that night. None of their stories jibe.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Pardon me?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Her boyfriend, Carl shelton. He claims Ms. Baker told him she was going out of town for a few days with a girlfriend.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

They check it out?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yeah. Girlfriend didn't know anything about it. Then they talked to a woman who works with Ms. Baker. She says, yeah, the Baker woman was planning a trip.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Ms. Baker mention anything about it to her sister? No.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Sister says Ms. Baker told her just the Opposite. Said she was getting out of her apartment into a new place. She was gonna spend the next couple of days moving. They checked the boyfriend, Shelton. She said if Ms. Baker was moving, was new to him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, either she's a liar or one of her friends are, huh?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

It's all bollocks up. No two stores anywhere near alike.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do they figure for a motive? They got a line on anybody who might have wandered out of the way.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Big field to pick from. She fought with Carl Shelton. She fought with his sister. Some of the people she worked with. She had three or four other men around town on the string, too. Any one of them could have wanted her out of the way.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All her relatives have been checked out. And all her friends. Places she'd be most likely to go.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

All checked. Not a trace of her.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Nothing. I guess we better start moving on it. A lot of ground to cover. See if we can't straighten out some of those stories.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

One thing. Sure, sure. Somebody's lying.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

8:35Am before we left the city hall, we checked with Sergeant Holmes and Missing Persons who'd taken the report on Rose Baker's disappearance. He had nothing to add to what was in the report and what he'd already told Ed. First on the interview list was the sister of the missing woman, Bernice Marin. She was employed as a saleswoman for a grocery supply firm. We called it the home where Ms. Marin lived with her father, four nieces and nephews. But there was no answer. The next door neighbor told us that Ms. Marin was working, that she usually didn't get home until 4:15 or 4:30 in the afternoon. In the meantime, we figured we might as well check the next name on the list. Mrs. Baker's boyfriend, Carl Shelton. We'd already checked him through R and I, and he had no record. We drove out to his address, a three story apartment house on 64th Street. Shelton's apartment was on the main floor rear. He answered the door in his bathroom. He told us that he was employed at one of the local oil refineries and that this particular week he was working the graveyard shift. Eleven at night until seven in the morning. He showed us back to a small kitchen at the rear of the apartment. While we questioned him, he fixed a percolator of coffee and put it on the stove.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You sure about Ms. Baker's plans? Are you? She never mentioned anything to you about moving out of the apartment house here?

[Officer Brian]

No, never. Somebody's handing you a line there. If Rosie was gonna move, she'd tell me about it. Just a minute. I gotta get that coffee. It looks about you fellas want some java? Got a whole pot full of you.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No. No, thank you. How long do you say you've known Ms. Baker?

[Officer Brian]

About a year, year and a half. We got along pretty good.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Good?

[Officer Brian]

Right from the start. Sure don't understand her taking off like this.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Ms. Baker ever talked to you much about the family? Her sister, four children, I mean, did she see them regularly? Seemed to get along with them all right.

[Announcer]

To you?

[Officer Brian]

I don't think I'd know that. Rosie never had much to say about him. The only thing I could gather was that she just got sick of the routine. You know, keeping up a house, doing the wash, mopping, Dustin, taking care of four kids. She just checked out, that's all. Let her sister Bernice, take over. If you ask me, she never should have had a family to begin with. Rosie isn't the kind. She's a party girl. Likes a good time. You know what I mean?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Something I don't understand, Shelton. You said a minute ago you couldn't figure out Ms. Baker's going off like this. When you filed a missing report on her, you said she was planning a trip out of town.

[Officer Brian]

Yeah, that's right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, isn't it possible she might have taken off without telling you?

[Officer Brian]

No, I don't think so. She'd have told me. She's planning a trip, all right. But she wasn't gonna leave till the next night. Wednesday night she's gonna pick up this girlfriend of hers, Iris, and the two of them were gonna take the bus down to Laguna for a couple days.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, it's our understanding this girlfriend, Iris, didn't know anything about the trip. Can you explain that? I don't know.

[Officer Brian]

I guess Rosie forgot to tell her. Can't figure these women sometimes. Maybe she was gonna phone her Wednesday morning. She knew Iris could get away almost anytime.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You think it's possible she might have gone down to Laguna by herself?

[Officer Brian]

No, that's not like Rosie. Besides, before I went in to report her missing, I called a couple of places down Laguna, where Rosie usually stops at. They hadn't seen her.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Possible she might have gone some other place?

[Officer Brian]

Not without telling me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No.

[Officer Brian]

Besides, she wouldn't go alone. I know that, sheldon.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We understand Mrs. Baker was friendly with two or three other men around town. You think it's possible she might have gone someplace with one of them, Sheldon?

[Officer Brian]

No. No, I can't buy that. If it was eight months ago, I'd say maybe, but not now.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Why not?

[Officer Brian]

We had it out. That's All. It was all settled. She wouldn't do anything like that again.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Pretty sure about that, are you?

[Officer Brian]

Yeah, positive. I don't get it at all. She wouldn't do that to me. Taking off, just packing up and leaving. Rosie wouldn't do that to me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, she's got four children. Yeah, she did it to them. We questioned Carl Shelton for another half hour. But he fail to come up with anything in the way of a definite lead. 10:40am we drove to the home of the missing woman's girlfriend, an Iris Kirby. Two things she was pretty definite about. She knew nothing about an out of town trip Mrs. Baker was supposed to have planned for the two of them. And secondly, she had no use for Carl Shelton. She told us that Shelton was her ex boyfriend and that she had introduced him to Rose Baker. And that shortly after that he dropped her. A few weeks later, Shelton began to keep steady Company with Mrs. Baker. Outside of her personal grievance against Shelton, Iris Kirby had nothing to offer in the way of a lead to the whereabouts of her friend. 11:30am we got in the car and headed for the factory in the south end of town where Rose Baker was employed. We stopped off on the way for lunch, a bowl of soup and a sandwich. Ed had a cheeseburger and a piece of pie. Before we left, we checked the office to see if there were any calls. Nothing. The place where Mrs. Baker worked was on Santa Fe Avenue. One story building covering almost half a block. They manufactured men's work clothes, shirts and overalls. We checked with a personnel office. We asked if Rose Baker had any friends that she worked with. We were told that there was a Mildred Dunn who was a fairly close friend of the Baker woman. Ed and I waited in the office while they sent down to the plant for Mildred Dunn.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Ms. Dunn?

[Bernice Marin]

That's right.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Police officers. My name's Jacobs. This is my partner, Sergeant Friday.

[Bernice Marin]

How do you do?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How are you? I'd like to ask you a few questions about Rose Baker, Mrs. Dunn understand you're a pretty close friend of hers.

[Bernice Marin]

Yes, that's right. I've known Rose ever since she came here. She worked on the machine next to me. She come home yet?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

No, not yet. You remember Ms. Baker saying anything to you about taking a trip Ms. Dunn mean just before she disappeared?

[Bernice Marin]

Yes, she did.

[Ruth Thompson]

She'd been looking forward to it. That's probably where she is, don't you think?

[Bernice Marin]

Off on her trip?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, we don't know, ma'.

[Officer Brian]

Am.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did she mention anything definite about the trip to you? Where she was going when she was leaving.

[Ruth Thompson]

Well, I think she was going to Laguna Beach.

[Bernice Marin]

It's hard to tell. She's always kidding around.

[Ruth Thompson]

Rose is.

[Bernice Marin]

Once she said she was going to fly to Switzerland for a vacation. Sam Moritz. She's always kidding around like that.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Oh, that's so.

[Bernice Marin]

Like once when she had a date with Fred, she said she was going to the Pump Room in Chicago. You know, just being funny.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I see. Who is this Fred? Mrs. Dunn.

[Bernice Marin]

Fell in the shipping department. Fred Lyons.

[Ruth Thompson]

Nice fella.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He and Mrs. Baker see much of each other?

[Ruth Thompson]

They used to, yes, quite a bit.

[Bernice Marin]

I don't know if they were serious about each other. I. I thought they were till the last month or so.

[Ruth Thompson]

Maybe they had a tip or something.

[Bernice Marin]

Maybe Rose got tired of him. I don't know.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

But you do think the two of them were serious at one time?

[Ruth Thompson]

Oh, yes.

[Bernice Marin]

It wasn't more than a month ago, and all of a sudden they weren't.

[Ruth Thompson]

Sweet on each other. At least Rose wasn't about him.

[Bernice Marin]

She told me that.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, I guess we better check on him. Ed, is this Fred Lyons working today? Do you know, ma'?

[Ruth Thompson]

Am?

[Bernice Marin]

Oh, no.

[Ruth Thompson]

He quit last Tuesday.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

1:15Pm we finished questioning Mildred Dunn and we went back to the personnel office to get Fred Lyons description and last known address. We checked out the address, but Lyons had moved out the previous Tuesday and left no forwarding address. We questioned the landlady, looked over his rooms, checked through the neighborhood and talked to everybody he knew. We found nothing to indicate that Lyons had anything directly to do with Rose Baker's disappearance. But we did find out that he knew Mrs. Baker and that he thought quite a bit of her. We went back to the office, got out a broadcast and an APB on Lyons.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Want to check the book, Joe? See if we got any late calls there.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, sure.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

I'll get it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Right.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Homicide.

[Officer Brian]

Jacobs? That's right.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Mm. Are they sure? What was that? All right. Thank you. Got some?

[Officer Brian]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Hollywood Division. Woman's purse found in a vacant lot out there. High school kid found it. A lot of identification inside.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Rose Baker.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

3:15Pm the purse was brought downtown to the crime lab for detailed examination. Brian and Barrett from Homicide went out to interview the boy who found the purse and to check the neighborhood where it was discovered. Meantime, Ed and I drove out to talk to the missing woman's sister, 36 years old, Bernice Marin. She and her sister's four children lived in a five room stucco house just off Exposition Boulevard. We got there shortly after Ms. Marin returned home from her job. Her two older nephews were out in front cutting the lawn. She showed us into a neatly kept living room where we interviewed her. She was a plain looking woman, brown hair, gray eyes. She showed little concern about her sister's disappearance.

[Bernice Marin]

I gave up trying to keep track of her a long time ago, Sergeant. I haven't any idea where she's gone. I used to worry about her. I don't anymore.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Well, how about that purse of hers that was found this afternoon, Ms. Marin? Wouldn't you say that makes it a little unusual this time?

[Bernice Marin]

I don't think so. She loses things all the time. I don't know what she does when she goes off on those things. I don't want to know. Gets drunk and does a lot of fooling around. I suppose she's lost two or three purses the same way.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What about last Tuesday, the night she disappeared? You notice if she'd been drinking then?

[Bernice Marin]

Yeah, I got the idea she'd had a couple of highballs before she came over. She wasn't drunk, but she wasn't feeling any pain. I say, would you excuse me? I want to yell at the kids out there.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Officer Brian]

Am.

[Bernice Marin]

Frank. Frank, that's enough of that playing around out there. Let's get started pushing that lawnmower, huh?

[Officer Brian]

Okay. Just try out a new system.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Almost half done now.

[Bernice Marin]

Better hurry it up. You still got the backyard to do, remember?

[Officer Brian]

Yeah, okay.

[Bernice Marin]

Only good thing that came out of that married. Sergeant. Those kids out there.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yes, ma'.

[Announcer]

Am.

[Bernice Marin]

There's two more besides Frank and Bobby. The girls? My nieces. One's nine, one's seven. Marvelous kids. Girls are just as pretty as pictures. I'm glad I have a chance to take care of them. I guess I just like kids. Can't understand it when people don't appreciate them. I don't have a family of my own.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

All right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

See, Ms. Marin, when you were with your sister last Tuesday night, you say she didn't mention anything at all about taking that trip out of town?

[Bernice Marin]

No, just the opposite. Like I told you, she said she was moving out of her apartment into a new place. That's why she needed the money.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Well, what's the story about this money your sister came to pick up, Ms. Marin? I don't think I quite got that clear.

[Bernice Marin]

Well, we had this baby grand piano my mother gave Rose and me just before she died. Kids have been sick the last couple of months, one thing and another. I needed a little money to catch up on some doctor bills, so I sold the piano. I needed to do it, but the bills had to be paid. Well, Rose found out about it somehow, and she wanted half of the money I got for the piano. She wanted the money for herself. Can you imagine that? She wasn't even willing to pay for her own kids doctor bills. It'd be different if I was charging her to take care of the kids. I just do it because I like them.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Mm, I see.

[Bernice Marin]

Well, anyway, she found out about it and I had to split the check with her. The whole thing was for $400.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

I understand your sister got the check cashed that night. That correct?

[Bernice Marin]

Yeah, that's right. It was 8 o' clock at night. But Rose said she knew somebody who'd cash it. She wanted the money that night. We save an argument. We got in the car and went to see this friend of hers, some bartender. He couldn't cash the thing, so Rose took the car and went out to look up another friend she thought would cash it. I didn't want to go chasing all over town with her, so I stayed at this bar and had a beer.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

And that's the last time you saw your sister, is it?

[Bernice Marin]

Yes. I waited a couple of hours and then I walked home. Two blocks from the house, I saw my car pulled up at the curb right on Exposition Boulevard. Car keys were in the glove compartment. $200 in cash right under them. No sign of Rose, though.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Well, what time was it when he got back to the house? You remember?

[Bernice Marin]

It was after 11. Close to 11:30, I think. I went right to bed.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

And since that time, you've had no indication where your sister might have gone? No phone calls, no letters? No word from one of her friends who might have seen her?

[Bernice Marin]

No, not a thing. She's in trouble. You can understand why. She's been coming for a long time. Last five years, going downhill all the time. She's no good, Sergeant. I don't know how it happened. Just no good at all.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Well, thank you very much, Ms. Marin.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thank you, ma'. Am.

[Bernice Marin]

Oh, not at all. No trouble. I guess I better get dinner started for the kids.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, if you hear anything about your sister, we'd appreciate it if you'd give us a call.

[Bernice Marin]

Yes, all right. It's gonna be the same old story, same thing all over again. You can bet on it, ma'.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Am.

[Bernice Marin]

She'll come back when the money's gone.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

5:15Pm Ed and I drove back downtown and went directly to the crime lab. The missing woman's purse, which had been found in the vacant lot out in Hollywood, had been examined thoroughly. They'd found nothing that had provide us with a new lead. We checked communications, but there was still no answer to the apb. We'd gotten out on Fred Lyons, the man who'd worked with Rose Baker and who dropped from site the same day she did. 5:30pm we got back to the squad room.

[Officer Brian]

Hi.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Hi, Brian. You just get back? Yeah.

[Officer Brian]

You get the word?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No. What's that?

[Officer Brian]

Mrs. Baker? They just found her body.

[Announcer]

You are listening to Dragnet Authentic stories of your police force in action.

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[Sergeant Joe Friday]

June 3. Monday, 6pm the body of 38 year old rose Baker had been been discovered in the Hollywood hills area. Approximately 3/4 of a mile from the intersection of Mulholland Drive and Oak Knoll Terrace. A dirt road branched off to the left of Mulholland and wound about 300 yards down the hill to a dead end stop. Just below the guardrail which circled the edge of the road there were two eucalyptus trees. They overlooked a deep ravine covered with scrub oak and patches of laurel. Halfway down one slope of the ravine they found the body of the missing woman. There were two bullet holes in the left side of the skull. There was another one at the base of the throat. In her clenched right hand there was a 50 cent piece. The immediate area surrounding the body had been roped off and Lt. Lee Jones and the crime lab crew were making their preliminary investigation. There was no sign of the murder weapon. The coroner arrived and when the preliminary investigation was completed, the body was taken downtown to the county morgue. All clothing and personal effects were Removed from the body and sent to the crime lab for detailed examination. Rose Baker's sister, Bernice Marin, was brought to the county morgue and identified the body. A few minutes after 10 o' clock that night, Ed and I got back to the office. I got it. Homicide Friday.

[Officer Brian]

Is this Sergeant Friday?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, sir, that's right.

[Officer Brian]

This is Carl Shelton, Sergeant. You were out to talk to me this morning. You remember?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah, Shelton.

[Officer Brian]

I heard about Rosie just a couple minutes ago. I gotta talk to you, Sergeant. There's something I gotta tell you.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Is that so? Do you wanna tell me now?

[Officer Brian]

I don't wanna tell you on the phone. I'll drive in to see you. I'll leave right now.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, yeah. All right. Do you mind telling me what it's about?

[Officer Brian]

Yeah, I know. Killed Rosie.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

1108Pm Carl Shelton arrived at the office. Ed and I took him down the hall to the interrogation room where he gave us his story. He told us, first of all that he was well acquainted with most of the regular customers at the tavern where Rose Baker and her sister had first stopped to cash the $400 check. He told us one of these people, Leroy Hansen, had contacted him after he read in the morning paper about mistake Mrs. Baker's murdered.

[Officer Brian]

I've known Leroy at least four or five years. Used to work with him. He wouldn't lie to me.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

What'd this fellow tell you? Shelton? That's Leroy Hanson.

[Officer Brian]

He said he got to the bar a little after midnight. It had to be at least that, because Leroy doesn't get off work till 11:30. Said he saw Rosie sitting in a car parked a couple doors down from the bar. There was a woman in the car with her. He described her just like Rosie's sister. They were having a beef.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

This friend of yours hear what Mrs. Baker and this woman were talking about?

[Officer Brian]

No, but he's smart enough to know a big argument when he sees one. He says they were really going to it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Is he sure about the time?

[Officer Brian]

He's gotta be. Leroy works at a sheet metal plant south of town. He gets off at 11:30. Takes him more than a half hour to get in. Why should he lie about it? He wasn't even gonna mention it till he found out she was dead.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

This woman he says Ms. Baker was with, she fits her sister's description. That close?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Exactly.

[Officer Brian]

And there was a guy with Leroy. He'll back it up. If the sister says she wasn't sitting in that car with Rosie outside that bar after midnight, she's a liar.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, she is if you can Prove your story.

[Officer Brian]

Here's the phone. You ask, Leroy.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

11:22Pm we put in calls to both of the men who were supposed to have seen Rose Baker and her sister Bernice sitting in a parked car outside the tavern six nights before. Both of them corroborated Carl Shelton's story down to the last detail. They were especially certain about the time Bernice Marin told us that on the night her sister Rose disappeared, she hadn't seen her after 9:15pm and that she had walked home and was in bed by 11:30. Both Leroy Hansen and his friend told us that they had seen Rose Baker and a woman answering her sister's description sitting together in a car parked outside the tavern. They were both certain at the time that it was well past midnight. We made a check on Leroy Hansen and his friend. As far as we were able to find out, there was no logical reason why they should lie about what they told us. Ed and I got in the car and drove out to the home of Bernice Marin, just off Exposition boulevard. It was 20 minutes past midnight. We rang the front doorbell and got her out of bed.

[Bernice Marin]

Oh, hello, officers. Didn't know who it was. Come in.

[Officer Brian]

Thank you, ma'.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Am.

[Bernice Marin]

Oh, you have to wait long before I answered? I sleep pretty sound.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Fred.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

We'll have to ask you to get dressed. Ms. Marin. I'd like to talk you downtown.

[Bernice Marin]

Why? What's the matter?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, some more questions we have to ask you, ma'.

[Officer Brian]

Am.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

A few more things we have to clear up about your sister. It's pretty important.

[Bernice Marin]

I've told you everything I know. I don't like to go out and leave the kids alone at night. What is it you want to ask me about?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, you told us the last time you saw your sister was about 9:15 last Tuesday night. Ms. Maren?

[Bernice Marin]

Yes, that's right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We've got a couple people who claim they saw you with your sister after midnight Tuesday. You were sitting with her in your car parked outside a tavern. You're having an argument with her. At least two people saw you. And they'll swear to that?

[Bernice Marin]

No, that couldn't be right.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

They claim it is.

[Bernice Marin]

They say it was after midnight. And they saw me with Rose?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, that's what they say.

[Bernice Marin]

And do you believe it? You believe it was me?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, we do.

[Bernice Marin]

You think I killed Rose? Is that it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, we think so. How about it, Miss Baron?

[Bernice Marin]

It'll take me a minute to get my clothes on. I want to talk to the oldest boy. My nephew Frank, but it'll be all right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, I'll have to go along with you.

[Bernice Marin]

All right. This way. Down the hall.

[Ruth Thompson]

All right.

[Bernice Marin]

In here. I don't want to wake the other kids. If I can help.

[Officer Brian]

All right.

[Bernice Marin]

Frank, wake up. Frank.

[Ruth Thompson]

Frankie.

[Officer Brian]

What do you want, Anthony?

[Bernice Marin]

I hate to wake you up. Frankie, I'm gonna have to go downtown tonight. I'm leaving now. In case I'm not here when you and the kids get up. I want you to take care of everything. All right, honey?

[Officer Brian]

Yeah, okay. What do you have to go downtown for?

[Bernice Marin]

Well, it's something about your mother, Frank. Might take a little time. You see the girls get off to school on time in the morning, won't you, Bobby, too. The sandwiches are all made. They're in the icebox. All you have to do is put them in a paper sack.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right?

[Officer Brian]

Yeah, okay. Why do you have to go now? Can't you wait until tomorrow?

[Bernice Marin]

No, I'm afraid not, honey. You take care of everything, huh? Make sure all the doors are locked. And don't forget to feed the dog.

[Officer Brian]

No, I won't forget. What's the matter? Is there anything wrong?

[Bernice Marin]

Of course not. Now, if something happens so I can't get back tomorrow, I'll call you on the phone, all right?

[Officer Brian]

Yeah, okay. You be sure and call, huh?

[Bernice Marin]

I'll call you, honey. Go to sleep now. It'll be all right. You get some sleep. Good night, Frankie.

[Officer Brian]

Yeah, okay. Good night.

[Bernice Marin]

I'm sorry to keep you waiting. I had to tell Frank what to do. The kids wouldn't understand. I mean, if they woke up and didn't find me here.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Ruth Thompson]

Am.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What'd you do with a murder gun, Ms. Marin?

[Bernice Marin]

Out in the garage. I'll show you. I had her four kids to raise. It's not easy. You know what it costs to feed them, put clothes on their back? It's not the kids I minded. They're wonderful. I love every one of them. I'm glad to get the chance to raise them. Never married myself. Never had any of my own. Hasn't been easy at all. Working all day, coming home and cooking for them. Doing the wash. Trying to keep the house clean. Rose never gave me a dime to pay a bill for her own kids, too. She gave us nothing. And she tried to take everything. Tried to bleed me for my last dollar. She cashed the check that night. Said she was gonna keep all the money. I couldn't stand anymore. We argued and I killed her.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, well, I'm sorry, ma'.

[Officer Brian]

Am.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We'll have to go?

[Ruth Thompson]

Yes.

[Bernice Marin]

All right. What'll I do, Sergeant? What'll I say?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I advise you to tell the truth. You'll get a fair trial.

[Bernice Marin]

I know that. It's not what I mean.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Bernice Marin]

Inside there. What am I going to say? How? Like split? Ma', am, the kids. How do you tell four kids you killed her mother?

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent.

[Announcer]

On October 3, trial was held in Superior Court Department 92, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial.

[Narrator]

Now here is our star, Jack Webb.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

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[Announcer]

When their aunt Bernice Alberta Marin was apprehended on suspicion of 187pc. The four Baker children were taken into protective custody by juvenile authorities. Bernice Marin was indicted for murder and entered a plea of self defense. She claimed that at the time of the murder, her sister attacked her with a knife. While they argued over the division of the $400 check. Bernice Marin was tried in Superior Court by a jury composed of nine men and three women. She was found not guilty. You have just heard Dragnet. A series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police W.H.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Parker.

[Announcer]

Los Angeles Police Department Technical Advisors. Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Vance Brasher. Heard tonight were Barney Phillips, Virginia Gregg, Vic Perrin. Script by Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.

[Narrator]

Fatima cigarettes. Best of all, King Size cigarettes has brought you Dragnet. Transcribed from Los Angeles.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Next, it's Counter Spy on NBC.