1001 Radio Crime Solvers – October 22, 2025

Episode: THE BIG HONEYMOON and THE BIG PHONE CALL (DRAGNET)

Brief Overview

In this episode, 1001 Radio Crime Solvers brings listeners a double-feature from the classic “Dragnet” radio series: “The Big Honeymoon” and “The Big Phone Call.” These dramatized cases from LAPD’s files illustrate the meticulous, sometimes relentless, nature of mid-century police investigations. The first half focuses on a "marriage racket" bunco artist preying on lonely women, while the second deals with a well-planned jewelry store robbery. Both stories highlight the drive for justice, the emotional toll of crime, and timeless human vulnerabilities.

THE BIG HONEYMOON (00:01–28:51)

Main Plot

Sergeants Joe Friday and Ed Jacobs investigate a case involving a woman who committed suicide after being swindled through a marriage scam by Charles R. Reynolds, a suave fortune hunter who has disappeared with her money. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that Reynolds—also known by multiple aliases—is a seasoned con man with other victims.

Key Discussion Points & Timeline

1. Introduction & Initial Interview (01:26–07:32)

• Friday and Jacobs meet with Ms. Wagner, the sister of the deceased, Dorothy Wagner.
• Ms. Wagner explains how Dorothy, a 42-year-old heiress, was taken in by Reynolds, who promised her love, marriage, and a world trip.
• Reynolds convinces Dorothy to exchange checks for $10,000 each—his turns out worthless, and he vanishes.
• Quote:

  “Might just as well have taken a gun and killed her. No difference.”
  — Ms. Wagner (01:58)

2. The Pattern of the Bunco Artist (07:44–13:40)

• The police see Reynolds’ crime as a classic "marriage racket" scam, preying on women’s desire for companionship.
• Investigation reveals Reynolds had multiple aliases, with similar scams in Chicago.
• Reynolds uses hotels and social introductions to identify victims.
• Quote:

  “Marriage racket’s as old as any con game on earth. And as con games go, it’s one of the lowest.” —Joe Friday (07:44)

3. Investigation & Legwork (13:38–16:00)

• Officers trace Reynolds' activities through contacts at hotels and restaurants.
• The headwaiter, Henry Kingsbury, admits tipping off Reynolds to wealthy, single women in exchange for cash.
• Kingsbury expresses regret but insists money was his only motivation.
• Quote:

  “He wanted us to roll out the red carpet for him that night.”
  — Henry Kingsbury (14:13)

4. Discovery of More Victims (16:07–19:09)

• Second victim, Hagar Lindstrom, recounts a near-identical experience to Dorothy’s: a whirlwind romance, quick marriage (this time in Mexico), and a lost $3,000 check.
• Lindstrom’s brother Lars was involved and also defrauded by Reynolds.
• Reynolds’s tactics: promise marriage and adventure, request a check, then vanish.

5. Closing in and Arrest (19:28–28:51)

• Investigators receive a tip about Reynolds’s local whereabouts via a friend of the Lindstroms. Eventually, they track him to a hotel under an alias but just miss him.
• Helen Stokes, a savvy bunco artist, is picked up and used as an informant to locate Reynolds.
• Through Stokes, Friday and Jacobs stake out Reynolds’s hideout, arrest him, and facilitate a lineup for victims to make positive identifications.
• Quotes:

  “You can't believe her, officer. She’s phony. She’s nothing but a con artist.”
  — Richland/Reynolds protesting Helen Stokes’s involvement (25:22)
  “Takes one to know.”
  — Ed Jacobs (25:27)

6. Resolution & Sentencing (28:51–end of segment)

• After the confrontation, Richland breaks down and makes flippant remarks about his crime and victims.
• The show concludes with the sentencing details:

  “Frank Richland was tried and convicted of two counts of grand theft and three counts of forgery of a fictitious name. After serving his term at San Quentin, California, he is to be released to Chicago authorities for prosecution.”
  — Joe Friday (28:51)

THE BIG PHONE CALL (32:23–58:23)

Main Plot

Sergeants Friday and Jacobs interrogate Ernest W. Garvey, a jeweler suspected of orchestrating a $20,000 diamond heist by hiring a young accomplice. As Garvey feigns ignorance and indignation, the detectives methodically present evidence gathered over months, including financials, tape recordings, and details of the scheme.

Key Discussion Points & Timeline

1. Confronting the Suspect (32:39–36:29)

• Friday and Jacobs call Garvey in for questioning, confronting him with accusations of organizing the robbery and profiting from the stolen jewels.
• Garvey responds with disbelief, indignation, and denial.
• Quote:

  “You engineer[ed] the whole thing. We know it and so do you.”
  — Ed Jacobs (34:21)

2. Presenting the Evidence: Financials & Tape Recordings (36:30–44:06)

• Detectives lay out Garvey’s recent expensive lifestyle and connect it to the proceeds of crime.
• Tape recordings, made covertly, provide evidence of Garvey’s dealings with accomplices (Tyson and fence Fred Lawrence).
• Garvey tries to bluff his way out, threatening lawsuits and claiming ignorance even when faced with direct conversation playbacks.
• Quote:

  “We’ve been recording every conversation that took place in your office for the last four months. Every word.”
  — Ed Jacobs (37:24)
  “I pay my taxes. I pay your salaries. … I helped you.”
  — Garvey’s weak diversion (43:32)

3. Breaking Down the Alibi (48:16–52:57)

• The detectives present detailed bank statements, bank loans, and expenses documenting Garvey’s inability to explain how he could afford his lifestyle.
• They counter his explanations, demonstrating discrepancies between income and expenditures.

4. Emotional Collapse & Confession (55:35–56:41)

• Garvey finally cracks under pressure, blaming his actions on his wife’s incessant demands for luxury and financial ambition.
• He confesses his orchestration of the robbery, involvement of Tyson and Lawrence, and expresses no remorse.
• Quote:

  “I’d have tried anything just to shut her up, get her off my back for a while.”
  — Garvey (55:58)

5. Case Resolution (57:20–58:23)

• The narrator summarizes the outcome: Garvey and Tyson are convicted of first-degree robbery, Lawrence of receiving stolen property, and all are sentenced as prescribed by law.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Marriage racket’s as old as any con game on earth. And as con games go, it’s one of the lowest."
  — Sergeant Friday (07:44)

• "How are you gonna warn a woman about a thief before her purse is gone?"
  — Sergeant Ed Jacobs (11:16)

• "You engineer[ed] the whole thing. We know it and so do you."
  — Ed Jacobs (34:21)

• "We’ve been recording every conversation… for the last four months. Every word."
  — Ed Jacobs (37:24)

• "I’d have tried anything just to shut her up, get her off my back for a while."
  — Ernest Garvey (55:58)

• "Takes one to know."
  — Ed Jacobs, regarding con artists (25:27)

Important Timestamps

• 01:26 – Interview with Ms. Wagner begins
• 07:44 – Joe Friday’s reflection on the “marriage racket”
• 13:38 – Kingsbury’s confession about participating in Reynolds’ schemes
• 16:07 – Interview with Hagar Lindstrom (second marriage scam victim)
• 24:55 – Stakeout and arrest of Reynolds/Richland
• 28:51 – Sentencing for Frank Richland/Reynolds
• 32:39 – Open of “The Big Phone Call” with Garvey’s interrogation
• 37:24, 41:12, 44:11 – Tape recordings played for Garvey
• 55:35 – Garvey’s emotional confession and collapse
• 58:23 – Summary of trial and sentences

Tone & Style

The episode retains Dragnet’s signature methodical, spare, and unsentimental tone. Dialogue is punchy and procedural, focusing on facts and causality. The detectives are persistent but not melodramatic, with occasional flashes of dry wit, especially when confronting suspects' bluffs.

Conclusion

This double-feature Dragnet episode offers a vivid snapshot of classic police procedural drama, showing both the emotional devastation wrought by crime (“The Big Honeymoon”) and the dogged, evidence-driven pursuit of justice (“The Big Phone Call”). In both cases, methodical investigation, witness cooperation, and sharp questioning lead to resolution, though never without a human cost.