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:
- “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.
- “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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.