THE BIG JOLT and THE BIG LIE

Summary

Podcast Summary: 1001 Radio Crime Solvers – "THE BIG JOLT and THE BIG LIE"

Episode Overview In this captivating episode of 1001 Radio Crime Solvers, host Jon Hagadorn delves into two engrossing crime stories from the golden age of radio detective shows. Titled "THE BIG JOLT and THE BIG LIE," the episode intertwines authentic police investigations reminiscent of classic Dragnet narratives. Set against the backdrop of mid-20th century Los Angeles, listeners are transported into the gritty world of Detective Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith as they unravel complex cases involving juvenile delinquency and familial deceit.

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Part 1: The High School Havoc – "THE BIG JOLT"

Incident at Adams High School The episode opens with Detective Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith assigned to the juvenile division of the Los Angeles Police Department. On [02:47], Friday recounts their dispatch to Adams High School chemistry class following a near-riot instigated by a student named Douglas Lambert.

Quotes:

• Joe Friday [02:47]: "It was a Wednesday, October 3rd. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of the Juvenile division."
• Frank Smith [03:24]: "Mm."

Escalation of Violence Frank Smith details the sequence of events that led to chaos in the classroom. A confrontation between Douglas Lambert and another student, Larry McLean, escalates from verbal disputes to physical violence, culminating in Lambert throwing a bottle of sulfuric acid that severely injures McLean. By [04:09], Frank describes the extent of the commotion and the immediate aftermath.

Quotes:

• Frank Smith [04:12]: "It was the Lambert boy. He came into class about five minutes late... then the fight seemed to stop."
• Joe Friday [05:14]: "Have you any idea what might have caused this change in the Lambert boy?"

Investigating the Juvenile Troublemaker As Friday and Smith question Douglas Lambert ([07:45]), they uncover alarming changes in his behavior—from a model student to the school's top troublemaker. Lambert hints at possible substance abuse, which leads the detectives to suspect external influences.

Quotes:

• Frank Smith [05:54]: "Well, I have my own suspicions, but he's only 15. It's hard to believe."
• Joe Friday [06:00]: "No. This won't work, boy. We'll find out. You know that."

Uncovering Sam's Club Further investigation reveals Lambert's involvement with an illicit establishment known as Sam's Club, where juveniles can access alcohol and drugs. Detective Friday meticulously gathers information about the club's operations, including the "five dollar bill" entry system and the key figures—Sam and Inez Bailey.

Quotes:

• Frank Smith [11:08]: "One of the kids at school told me about it. He took me there one night."
• Joe Friday [12:02]: "Do they allow girls in this place, too?"

Stakeout and Arrest Armed with intelligence, Friday and Smith conduct a stakeout at Sam's Club. Despite initial setbacks, they successfully install listening equipment and gather incriminating evidence of narcotics distribution. The climactic arrest of Sam and Inez Bailey at the next Saturday night party highlights the detectives' dedication and procedural rigor.

Quotes:

• Joe Friday [23:56]: "Now, look at here on the shoulders of these suits in the back. You see this dirt? Looks like it came down from that door to the attic."
• Frank Smith [26:00]: "Everything's fine until you do something wrong and we nail you right away."

Trial and Conviction The episode concludes the first case with the trial of Sam and Inez Bailey. Convicted under the Health and Safety Code for possession and sale of narcotics, as well as contributing to the delinquency of a minor, their sentencing underscores the legal system's stance on juvenile crime and substance abuse.

Quotes:

• Narrator [31:29]: "Samuel G. Bailey and Inez R. Bailey were filed on under the Health and safety code, section 11,500, possession and sale of narcotics and found guilty on one count."

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Part 2: Familial Deceit – "THE BIG LIE"

The Mysterious Death of Jeff Curtis Transitioning to the second case, Friday and Smith investigate the murder of Jeff Curtis, as reported by his distraught mother, Edith Curtis. Mrs. Curtis ([34:53]) describes finding her son dead after a heated argument, with a gunshot to the back of his skull.

Quotes:

• Mrs. Edith Curtis [35:03]: "He looked at it and said that it needed cleaning... then a shot."
• Joe Friday [35:11]: "What’d he have to do?"

Inconsistencies and Suspicion Detectives begin to notice discrepancies in Mrs. Curtis's account. For instance, the gun was found in the attic ([48:19]), contradicting her statement that nothing in the house was disturbed. These inconsistencies prompt further interrogation.

Quotes:

• Joe Friday [52:02]: "What do you think, Joe? I don't know.38 caliber."
• Mrs. Edith Curtis [52:12]: "I don't know what you're trying to get me to say."

Confrontation and Confession Through relentless questioning, Friday uncovers the truth. Faced with mounting evidence, Mrs. Curtis admits to unintentionally causing her son's death during an argument. Her emotional plea reveals the profound grief and desperation that led to the tragic outcome.

Quotes:

• Mrs. Edith Curtis [54:36]: "I did. I didn’t think I meant to do it. I think I just wanted to frighten him."
• Joe Friday [54:56]: "Yes, ma'am."

Trial and Sentencing The second case wraps up with Mrs. Curtis's trial, where she is convicted of first-degree murder. Her sentencing reflects the gravity of the crime, and the episode emphasizes the devastating impact of personal loss and familial conflict.

Quotes:

• Narrator [58:13]: "Edith A. Curtis was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree and was sentenced to the State Penitentiary for Women, Tehachapi, California."

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Insights and Conclusions

This episode underscores the complexity of human behavior and the multifaceted nature of crime. From the outward delinquency of a once-model student influenced by illicit establishments to the deeply personal tragedy of a mother's misguided attempt to keep her family together, "THE BIG JOLT and THE BIG LIE" offers a compelling exploration of crime, punishment, and the often blurred lines between right and wrong.

Notable Themes:

• Juvenile Delinquency: The first case highlights systemic issues related to youth and substance abuse, emphasizing the role of community and law enforcement in addressing such problems.
• Familial Conflict: The second story delves into the profound effects of personal loss and familial discord, illustrating how grief can lead to unintended and irreversible actions.
• Law Enforcement Dedication: Across both narratives, Detective Friday and Frank Smith exemplify the unwavering commitment and meticulousness required in police work to uncover the truth.

Final Reflection: Jon Hagadorn masterfully weaves these two distinct yet equally compelling stories, offering listeners a rich and engaging experience that not only entertains but also provokes thought about the underlying societal and personal factors contributing to crime.

Closing Remarks: As Friday aptly communicates, "You sit here and figure you're a big man, a real tough kid...[...] everything's fine until you do something wrong and we nail you right away" ([09:17]). This sentiment encapsulates the delicate balance between individual agency and societal responsibility, a recurring motif in classic detective storytelling.

Listeners are left with a profound appreciation for the intricate dance between justice and the human condition, hallmarks of the timeless detective genre.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Joe Friday]

It was Wednesday, October 3rd. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of Juvenile division. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Stein. My name's Friday. It was 1:47pm when we got to Adams High School chemistry class.

[Frank Smith]

You're the place for.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. This is my partner, Frank Smith. My name's Friday.

[Frank Smith]

I'm John Lane. This is my class.

[Joe Friday]

What little there is left of it.

[Frank Smith]

Have you seen Mr. Barlow?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. We talked to him when we came in. I think he's in the clinic now. He said you could give us a story. Is that right?

[Frank Smith]

It was the Lambert boy. He came into class about five minutes late. We're just starting the lecture on Analysis. I told Douglas to take his seat. He said something I couldn't hear, but he went back to his place and I went on with the lecture.

[Joe Friday]

Mm.

[Frank Smith]

I guess it was about 10 minutes later that the commotion started. The first thing I knew about it, Larry McLean started to yell at Lambert. Said something about keeping his mouth closed. Then Lambert said something about McLean minding his own business. I started off the platform to quiet things down. By the time I got to Douglas, he'd hit McLean. After that, it's all a little confused. Flying apparatus, chemicals being thrown all over.

[Joe Friday]

The place, glass breaking.

[Frank Smith]

The whole class seemed to explode.

[Joe Friday]

Were the other members of the class fighting, or was it just the two boys?

[Frank Smith]

Seemed like the whole class was fighting the time. It seemed like the whole school was in the room, all throwing things. Finally, I got the Lambert boy aside and then the fight seemed to stop. In the meantime, he'd thrown a bottle of sulfuric acid and McLean burned his face and his chest. The ambulance took him to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital. A nurse here gave him first aid.

[Joe Friday]

Well, do you have any idea what started the argument here?

[Frank Smith]

No, I'm not sure as I got it later. It seems that Douglas made some remark about a young girl working next to him. I didn't hear it, but I gather that it was a pretty filthy statement. McLean heard it and that's when he told Douglas to keep his mouth closed.

[Joe Friday]

Mm. Lambert is known as the sort of troublemaker, then, is he?

[Frank Smith]

Yes. And it's so hard to understand, sir? Well, up until just lately, I'd say the last two months or so, he was a model student. He had a straight A average.

[Joe Friday]

I wonder if we could see the boy.

[Frank Smith]

I guess so. There isn't anything much I can do here.

[Joe Friday]

Terrible.

[Frank Smith]

Be a couple of weeks before I can hold a class in here again. It's terrible.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Frank Smith]

The clinic's down here.

[Joe Friday]

Have you any idea what might have caused this change in the Lambert boy?

[Frank Smith]

Well, I have my own suspicions, but he's only 15. It's hard to believe.

[Joe Friday]

What's that, sir?

[Frank Smith]

When he came into class today, I think he was drunk.

[Joe Friday]

Oh? Why do you say that?

[Frank Smith]

I noticed that when he came into the room, he wasn't very steady on his feet. It'd have to be something like that to make him do this. Then, too, when I grabbed him, when they were fighting, I thought I smelled liquor on it. Oh, we go in here.

[Joe Friday]

Fine.

[Frank Smith]

Here's the boy. Douglas. Yes, sir? These men would like to talk to you. Yes, sir.

[Joe Friday]

They're from the police, Mr. Friday.

[Frank Smith]

And this is Mr. Smith.

[Joe Friday]

Hello. Thank you. Sit down, son.

[Frank Smith]

Yes, sir.

[Joe Friday]

How's Larry?

[Frank Smith]

I don't know. They took him to the hospital. If you don't mind, Mr. Friday, I'll check with the nurse, see how badly Larry was hurt.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. Go right ahead. Now, son, you want to tell us what this is all about?

[Frank Smith]

There's not much to tell. Larry and me got in a fight.

[Joe Friday]

What started the fight, son?

[Frank Smith]

I don't know. He just wanted to cause trouble. Him and me never have gotten along. Always had trouble.

[Joe Friday]

You've been drinking, Doug.

[Frank Smith]

Why do you ask that?

[Joe Friday]

Because I want to know. Have you been drinking? How about it, boy?

[Frank Smith]

No. Where would I get something to drink?

[Joe Friday]

Well, now, something's a little wrong here, son. According to what Mr. Lane tells us, looks like he might have been drunk when the fight started. He tells us that you said something to a young girl in the class. That's what started the whole thing.

[Frank Smith]

You know he's lying. Is he sure he's on Larry's side. The two of them are real thick.

[Joe Friday]

That's not what he told us, Doug. From what he said, he's pretty fond of you. Said he couldn't figure out what happened to you lately.

[Frank Smith]

Well, he's okay, but why does he say I was loaded? That's a stupid thing to say.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, especially if you weren't. I'll tell you what, Doug. Let's get a traffic investigation car over here and take a toxometer test, huh? Just a few.

[Frank Smith]

Why? What'll that prove?

[Joe Friday]

It'll straighten it out once and for all whether you're drunk or not. How about it, boy? Shall I call the car, Doug?

[Frank Smith]

No, you don't have to do that. I had a couple of drinks. Nothing serious, though. Just a couple of drinks. Nothing wrong with that, is there?

[Joe Friday]

Where'd you get the liquor, son?

[Frank Smith]

I don't remember.

[Joe Friday]

No. This won't work, boy. We'll find out. You know that.

[Frank Smith]

Well, I don't see what difference is going to make where I got it. I. I haven't drinking a couple of years. I know how to handle it. I know what I'm doing.

[Joe Friday]

Mr. Friday. Yes, sir. See you a minute, monsieur.

[Frank Smith]

What's going on? Something wrong with Larry?

[Joe Friday]

I don't know, son.

[Frank Smith]

I thought he was okay when they took him to the hospital. The nurse said she took care of it. They said he was gonna be okay.

[Joe Friday]

All right, boy, let's go.

[Frank Smith]

Where are you taking me?

[Joe Friday]

We want to talk to you downtown.

[Frank Smith]

Something has gone wrong, hasn't it? Something's wrong with Larry? He's dead.

[Joe Friday]

No, son, Larry's all right. He's burned, but he's gonna be all right.

[Frank Smith]

You're lying. I know you want to take me to jail.

[Joe Friday]

Well, it's not true, son. We just want to find out where you got the liquor.

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, well, I haven't done anything. A couple of drinks, that's all. What's the harm in that?

[Joe Friday]

Come on, son. You've got a lot to explain.

[Frank Smith]

Okay, Take me in. Put me in jail. I don't care what happens.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, you've already proved. At 2:26pm Frank and I talked to Charles Barlow, the vice principal of the school. He told us the same story that we'd gotten from John Lane. He said that until a few months before, Douglas Lambert had been a model student. He was above average in his classwork and took part in all school activities. Suddenly, and without apparent reason, he had become the number one troublemaker in his class. His attendance record became one of the worst, and his attitude toward his teachers was arrogant and discourteous. The principal told us the same attitude was being displayed by other students in the school. We notified Mrs. Lambert that we were taking him to Georgia Street Juvenile for questioning. We filled in Captain Stein on the developments. And then Frank and I questioned the Lambert boy. He was sullen and uncooperative.

[Frank Smith]

I don't know what you want with me. A little fight, that's all it was. Why are you guys trying to make something big out of it?

[Joe Friday]

You've already done that, Doug. Maybe you don't know what you've really done. Maybe we ought to fill you in on a few things that might not.

[Frank Smith]

Be such a bad idea. Tell me how I'm a criminal. Tell me I was a bad boy. Go ahead, tell me.

[Joe Friday]

I'll get smart, son.

[Frank Smith]

What do you want me to do? Sit here and listen to you guys yak at me? You expect me just to sit here and let you guys tie a wrap on me that I haven't got coming? You got one thing on me. I had a couple of drinks, that's all. A couple of drinks. No harm in that. I don't feel so good. Why don't you guys leave me alone? I got a headache.

[Joe Friday]

Larry McLean's got more than a headache. So?

[Frank Smith]

The kid shouldn't have started anything he couldn't finish. He wanted to be a big man in front of the class. He was. Now he's hurt and he's trying to blame me. It won't work, cop, and you know it.

[Joe Friday]

That's Enough of that.

[Frank Smith]

I'm a minor. You can't touch me.

[Narrator]

That's the trouble with you, kid.

[Joe Friday]

You think because you're under 18, the laws don't mean you.

[Frank Smith]

You can't trust me and you know it.

[Joe Friday]

Don't worry, Doug. Nobody's going to. But let me tell you a couple of things. You sit here and figure you're a big man, a real tough kid.

[Frank Smith]

You don't have to tell me.

[Joe Friday]

Well, I'm going to tell you. I'm getting sick and tired of having kids like you. Waltz around the streets, your minds and hands filthy, bragging about what big men you are. You do what you want. You don't care about what it means to the people around you. How you hurt them. Doesn't matter. Everything's fine until you do something wrong and we nail you right away. You start screaming minor that you're a juvenile, just a kid acting normal. You steal a car for a joyride, an officer starts after you. You don't care who gets in front of the car as long as you get away. You don't let anybody stand in your way. Men, women, kids. They're all the same to you. Run them down. Show them that you're just a healthy kid out for some fun. After all, you're just a kid. The laws weren't meant for you. You're different. Well, there's another kid lying in a hospital right now. He's got real trouble. He got in your way. He didn't feel that you had any special rights. Be a big man, Doug. You go tell him that you knew what you were doing when you threw that acid at him. You tell him that you were just having a little carefree fun. Tell him that you know how to handle liquor. Tell him that he's going to spend a long time with a plastic surgeon because you're just a kid. You tell him that his face is gonna be like that because you're just a normal, healthy, growing boy. I hope you're real proud of yourself. I hope you feel good. You've burned it right into your brain. There isn't any place you can go to get away from it. All right, boy. Let's go.

[Frank Smith]

Wait a minute, Mr. Brighty.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah?

[Frank Smith]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry I acted like that.

[Joe Friday]

All right. You want to try to make things right with Larry? You want to help us out on this thing?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, I guess so. Where do I start?

[Joe Friday]

Where'd you get the liquor?

[Frank Smith]

A place near school. Kids call it Sam's Club.

[Joe Friday]

What's the address?

[Frank Smith]

I don't know. I'll show you the place. Say it's a club, sort of. You have to know the ropes before you can get in the place.

[Joe Friday]

What do you mean, the ropes?

[Frank Smith]

Well, they only let kids in. You ring the bell to the house and then when they answer, you stand there with a five dollar bill in your hand. That way they know you're okay.

[Joe Friday]

Who is this Sam?

[Frank Smith]

I don't know his last name. The kids just call him Sam.

[Joe Friday]

He runs this place all by himself?

[Frank Smith]

No, there's his wifi, Nez. She's usually around.

[Joe Friday]

Just these two around the place, huh?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, that's all I know about it always seemed to me that Inez was really the brain. She was always telling Sam what to do.

[Joe Friday]

How'd you find out about this place, Doug?

[Frank Smith]

One of the kids at school told me about it. He took me there one night. Then after he introduced me to Sam and Inez, I started to go there by myself.

[Joe Friday]

What's it like inside? They have a bar or anything like that?

[Frank Smith]

Oh, yeah. You walk into the living room and there's a big bar along the right wall. All chrome and leopard skin, real nice. There's a few tables around and a record player.

[Joe Friday]

They sell anything else in this place besides liquor?

[Frank Smith]

I don't think I know what you mean.

[Joe Friday]

You know what we mean, Doug?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, I guess I do.

[Joe Friday]

Well, how about it?

[Frank Smith]

Well, yeah, you can buy tea if you want it.

[Joe Friday]

This five dollar routine, what happens to it?

[Frank Smith]

Well, drinks are six bits apiece. Sticks are a buck and a half. If you want to give them the five as you come in, you can have as much as you want. Otherwise, you pay for each thing as you get it.

[Joe Friday]

You ever smoke marijuana?

[Frank Smith]

Well, almost all the kids there do.

[Joe Friday]

How about you?

[Frank Smith]

If you don't, the other kids call you a coward.

[Joe Friday]

Well, you still haven't answered the question.

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, I've smoked it a couple of times.

[Joe Friday]

Can you give us the names of the other youngsters who go to this place?

[Frank Smith]

Wait a minute. I'll help all I can, but I'm not gonna be a squealer.

[Joe Friday]

I don't think it's squealing, Doug.

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, well, you don't have to give them names.

[Joe Friday]

Why not? Look at it this way. Boy, you got trouble because of this salmon Inez. Now, the same thing could happen to one of the other kids that go to this place. You want that to happen?

[Frank Smith]

No.

[Joe Friday]

Well, the best way to see that it doesn't is to tell us all you know about the place, isn't that right?

[Frank Smith]

I guess so. I'll give you the names.

[Joe Friday]

Do they allow girls in this place, too?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, as long as you know the five dollar bill gimmick, anybody can get in.

[Joe Friday]

They allow adults?

[Frank Smith]

No. If they figure you're over 18, they won't let you in. Especially at the Saturday night parties.

[Joe Friday]

What kind of those?

[Frank Smith]

Every Saturday night, Sam and Inez throw a party. For five bucks, you get all you want to drink and smoke. Sam told me once it's a good business. Makes for better customer relations.

[Joe Friday]

You ever see any other narcotics on the premises?

[Frank Smith]

I've never actually seen any myself. I've heard that if Sam or Inez know you real well, you can get a pop of heroin. But like I said, I've never seen him myself. Most of the kids that I know, the ones from school, just go there for drinks.

[Joe Friday]

Anything else you think we ought to know?

[Frank Smith]

No, nothing that I can think of.

[Joe Friday]

How about these two? Either of them drive a car?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. Sam has a little Nash Rambler. Dark green. Once in a while, when we stay over at lunchtime or when we're late getting home, he drives us home or back to school.

[Joe Friday]

All right. Doug. Your mother ought to be here by now. If we need your help in getting Sam and I Inez, we can count on it, huh?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. I'll help all I can.

[Joe Friday]

Okay, son. Let's go.

[Frank Smith]

Say, Sergeant.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah?

[Frank Smith]

I'm sure sorry about the way I acted. Really made a fool of myself. I hope you'll forgive me.

[Joe Friday]

That's all right.

[Frank Smith]

But you'd think there'd be an easier way, wouldn't you?

[Joe Friday]

What's that, son? To grow up. We checked the name Sam and Inez through R and I and came up with a Sam and Inez Bailey. Both of them had long records for contributing to the delinquency of miners. Both had served time in the county jail. Douglas Lambert was shown mug shots of the couple and identified them as the owners and operators of Sam's club. We checked with Captain Stein about picking them up, and it was agreed that the best way would be to catch them in the act of selling liquor and narcotics to juveniles. We talked to the Lambert boy, and he told us that it was the custom of the Baileys to hold a party every Saturday night. He told us that most of the youngsters who frequented the place would be there at that time. He put in a call to the house, but There was no answer. 6:15pm Frank and I drove out to the place. It was a small cottage on the back of the lot. The landlord Occupied the house in front. We rang the bell to the manager's house.

[Frank Smith]

Yeah?

[Joe Friday]

Mr. Halsey?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Police officer, sir. My name's Friday. This is my partner, Frank Smith.

[Frank Smith]

How do you do?

[Joe Friday]

I'm Staunton.

[Frank Smith]

Want to come in?

[Joe Friday]

Well, it might be better, sir. We'd like to talk to you about the Baileys.

[Frank Smith]

Worst tenants I ever had on you. They'd end up with the police.

[Joe Friday]

Why do you say that, sir?

[Frank Smith]

Well, I just do, that's all. They got a lease on the house, and if I could figure a way to get them out, I sure would. They're always causing trouble, all those kids.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. Do you have any idea where they are now?

[Frank Smith]

Why, you gonna arrest them? I hope so. Maybe I can break the lease that way.

[Joe Friday]

You know where they might be now, sir?

[Frank Smith]

No, I don't know. I shoved off this afternoon. They didn't say where they was going. They just left.

[Joe Friday]

Wonder if you could let us see their house, sir? Why? Well, we'd like to look it over. It's all right.

[Frank Smith]

Well, I don't know. What do you want them for?

[Joe Friday]

We think they're selling liquor to miners.

[Frank Smith]

Yes, they do a thing like that. The noise they made. Their neighbors on both sides have been screaming.

[Joe Friday]

Can you let us into their house?

[Frank Smith]

You just bet I can.

[Joe Friday]

We'll.

[Frank Smith]

I'll get the key here someplace. But in one of those little key rings. You know, the kind with a rabbit's foot.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Sorry to keep your officers waiting. I know. I'm always the way. If you want something, you can always lay your hand right on it. And then when you're looking for it. Oh, here it is. See that rabbit foot?

[Joe Friday]

Yes.

[Frank Smith]

Well, you can go out the back door this way.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Fine.

[Frank Smith]

Hello. What are you looking for? What do you figure you'll find back there?

[Joe Friday]

We're not sure, sir. Frank and Joe, you want to stay out here and let us know if they come back? Yeah. I'll wait in front of the house. All right.

[Frank Smith]

You know what's funny about them?

[Joe Friday]

What's that, sir?

[Frank Smith]

Well, when they first moved in, they said they wanted the locks on the door changed. I told them that it'd be okay, but they'd have to give me a key to the place. They hadn't quite a ruckus about it, but I stood my ground. They wasn't gonna buffalo me. No, sir. Here, I'll get the lock.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Frank Smith]

Okay. Smells like they haven't had a window open in a year. Sergeant.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Look what they've done to this Room. He built a bar and everything. You sure were right about him. I think I can break the lease on this. I'm pretty sure. It says in the contact that they can't do any building without my permission. I certainly didn't give them any okay on this.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. See this the dining room?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, yeah, that's it. Just pull those doors back. What's that smell, Sergeant?

[Joe Friday]

I'm not sure, but I think it might be narcotics. Drugs?

[Frank Smith]

I knew it. I knew it all along. Oh, just wait till he get back. I'm really going to tell him. I really am.

[Joe Friday]

Rather you didn't do that, sir.

[Frank Smith]

What?

[Joe Friday]

Rather you didn't let him know that we were in here. That you know anything about this.

[Frank Smith]

Well, why, you're gonna arrest him, aren't you? You're not gonna let them get away with this.

[Joe Friday]

No, sir. But we understand they've got a party planned here tomorrow night. If we wait until then, we can make a charge stick.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, you mean they're gonna have a drunken brawl? The kids here smoking marijuana, taking heroin and stuff like that?

[Joe Friday]

Well, we're not gonna let them go that far, sir. We're gonna need your cooperation here, Mr. Halsey.

[Frank Smith]

Well, what do you want me to do?

[Joe Friday]

Well, sir, we want to install listening equipment in here. We'd like to use your house.

[Frank Smith]

You mean you're going to bug the place?

[Joe Friday]

Well, yes sir. We like to put in microphones.

[Frank Smith]

Well, would it hurt the property? I mean, would you have to put nails in the walls, you know, stuff like that?

[Joe Friday]

No, sir, I don't think so.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, well, then you can do it. Yes, sir. I want to help, Sergeant. That's the problem with people nowadays, you know, they don't want to help you Just go right ahead and put your. Put your microphones in. Just as long as you don't have to nail anything in the walls.

[Joe Friday]

All right, sir. If we could go back to your house. I'd like to use the phone if it's all right. You bet.

[Frank Smith]

Closing that so they won't know anybody's been here, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Uh huh. Don't guess if I leave any fingerprints on the door, it'll hurt.

[Joe Friday]

No, sir, I don't think it will. No.

[Frank Smith]

Can't be too careful though.

[Joe Friday]

You.

[Frank Smith]

But then I guess you know all about things like that.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. I'll go around front and get my partner.

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, sure thing. You fellas all work in teams like this?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir, most of the time.

[Frank Smith]

Well, I never knew that before.

[Joe Friday]

Do you have any idea at all where the Baileys Might have gone. They give you any indication at all, sir? No.

[Frank Smith]

I saw them leave this afternoon. Just got in the car and left.

[Joe Friday]

Did they take any luggage with them? Suitcases would, you know?

[Frank Smith]

Not that I could see, no.

[Joe Friday]

You find anything? Yeah, the bars in the living room. Then what the Lambert kid said was true, huh? Looks that way.

[Frank Smith]

Tell them about the dope in the dining room. How you open the door and smell the fumes.

[Joe Friday]

Marijuana. It smells like that fine, isn't it? No, I didn't go over the place too good. And I thought if we were going to wire the place, we better get on it. Yeah. If we could just use your phone, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, yeah, you bet. Come on in. Right there on the table in the hall.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, thank you, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Isn't a toll call, is it?

[Joe Friday]

No, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Well, of course not to make any difference. Just thought I'd ask.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Frank Smith]

You figure this will get in one of those detective magazines?

[Joe Friday]

Well, I don't know, sir. We got nothing to do with that.

[Frank Smith]

Well, you know, of course, I didn't figure that you did. But if it. If it does, I hope they spell my name right. It's S. E. Yeah, Some people forget the E. You see. Spell it with just a Y.

[Joe Friday]

2838, please. Asdale, it's Joe Friday. Want to install a dictograph at 825 North Lucerne. Yeah, 825 North. Right away. Yeah. Well, you know better than I do. When you see the place, you can figure the house in the front of the lot. What? Oh, maybe 30, 35 yards. Yeah, okay. Right away. Yeah, good. We'll be in the house in front. Yeah. All right, we'll see you then. All set? Yeah. Asdale's coming right out. Good.

[Frank Smith]

Say, Sergeant.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir?

[Frank Smith]

I just happened to think of something might not mean anything.

[Joe Friday]

What's that, sir? The other day.

[Frank Smith]

I think it was Monday. Yes. Yes, I'm sure it was Monday because I. I just come back from the laundry. You know, I always pick up my stuff on Monday.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Well, when I came back, I met Mr. Bailey. He was putting around with a car.

[Joe Friday]

I asked him if he was going.

[Frank Smith]

To take a trip. He said no, but he said he might get out of town a little bit. Ask him if I knew anything about the roads.

[Joe Friday]

What roads, Mr. Halsey?

[Frank Smith]

Down to Mexico.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Dragnet. The authentic story of your police force in action. And now a report every smoker should hear. Nose, throat and accessory organs not adversely affected by smoking. Chesterfields. First such report ever published about any cigarette. And it applies only to Chesterfield. A responsible consulting organization has reported the results of a continuing study by a competent medical specialist and his staff on the effects of smoking Chesterfield cigarettes. A group of people from various walks of life was organized to smoke only Chesterfields for six months. This group of men and women smoked their normal amount of Chesterfields, 10 to 40 a day. 45% of the group have smoked Chesterfields continually from one to 30 years for an average of 10 years each. @ the beginning and at the end of the six months period, each smoker was given a thorough examination including X ray pictures by the medical specialist and his assistants. The examination covered the sinuses as well as the nose, ears and throat. The medical specialist, after a thorough examination of every member of the group, stated. It is my opinion that the ears, nose, throat and accessory organs of all participating subjects examined by me were not adversely affected in the six months period by smoking the cigarettes provided. Remember this Chesterfield report. It's the first such report ever published about any cigarette, nose, throat and accessory organs not adversely affected by smoking Chesterfield's. Buy Chesterfield. Either way you like them regular or king size Chesterfield gives you the best possible smoke. Much milder Chesterfield.

[Joe Friday]

The men from the crime lab arrived and installed the listening equipment. A stakeout was placed on the house, but the Baileys failed to return that night. At 8:46am Saturday morning, the men covering the house called to say that the Baileys had just driven in. Frank and I got in touch with Douglas Lambert and his parents. We're their permission. We laid out the plan for that night. It was agreed that the boy would arrive at the house at about 8:30pm when the other youngsters had been served drinks. He would give us a signal by starting in to cough. When we came into the house. He would try to secure as many of the drinks as possible for evidence. We told him that there would be officers all around the house and that at no time was he to place himself in jeopardy with Sam Inez or any of the other youngsters. 7:30pm Frank and I took up our positions in the back bedroom of the owner's house, turned on the dictograph and waited. The Baileys were discussing the party. Sam was talking about how he watered the whiskey. At 8:27pm four youngsters arrived. They rang the doorbell and when Sam opened the door, they displayed the required bill. He nodded and ushered them into the living room. They did a good job in there, didn't they? Yeah, they did really hear it. Lambert. Boy should be here pretty quick. Yeah, doesn't sound like they're starting anything in there yet, does it? No. How long do you figure we wait before we go in? Susie starts to cough. You check with the other men? Yeah. Turner and Brown are covering the back of the place. Lindsey and Carter and a couple policewomen are parked down the street. You can see the car down there. Yeah. Wait a minute, huh? Looks like the Lamborghinis coming up the walk. Yeah, it is. Sure hope everything goes all right. Let's turn it up a little more, huh? Is that better?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, I'll get it. Honey, change that record, will you? I heard it four times. Yeah? Oh, hi, Doug. Well, yeah, thanks, huh? Wasn't sure you'd be here tonight. What made you figure that? You know, I wouldn't miss one of these. I just figured you might have gotten.

[Joe Friday]

A little trouble with the other day.

[Frank Smith]

No, it's all right now. Yeah, we'll take it easy tonight, huh? Sure, Sam. Good night, Doug Lambert. Hi, Doug. You have any trouble with that McLean kid? No. I was telling Sam the cops talked.

[Joe Friday]

To me for a while.

[Frank Smith]

They didn't have anything with me, so they had to let me go.

[Joe Friday]

You didn't tell them anything about this place, did you?

[Frank Smith]

Of course not. You know I wouldn't do that. He wouldn't dine as I told you. Doug's all right. We could trust him. Well, things worry me. The cops get wise to this. Really got problems. Oh, honey, I tell you, it's okay. Don't worry about it. Come on, let's get on with the sociable.

[Joe Friday]

What do you have, Doug?

[Frank Smith]

Whiskey, I guess. Good deal.

[Joe Friday]

You want a stick?

[Frank Smith]

Got some fresh stuff in. Real good. Yeah, sure. Boy, you know, Doug, I like you.

[Joe Friday]

You're a good kid.

[Frank Smith]

Some of the other guys come in here. I guess Inez is right about them. They're jerks, but, well, I feel I can trust you.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, excuse me.

[Frank Smith]

Well, you gotta fix the other kids up okay With a fellow.

[Joe Friday]

Kid got.

[Frank Smith]

Something in your throat? I don't know.

[Joe Friday]

He just started to. Come on, Frank. Door's locked. Let's hit it. What's going on?

[Narrator]

Who are you guys?

[Joe Friday]

Police officers. You're under arrest.

[Frank Smith]

What for? What are you trying to pull?

[Narrator]

Hold it. Everybody right where you are.

[Frank Smith]

Did you hear it all, sergeant?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, Doug, we did hear.

[Frank Smith]

What? You in on this, Doug?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I told you not to trust any of them.

[Frank Smith]

I told you, but you wouldn't listen.

[Joe Friday]

You want to kill the phonograph, Frank? Where do you get the marijuana, Doug?

[Frank Smith]

Out of that drawer there in back of the bar there's nothing there.

[Joe Friday]

Right here, Doug.

[Frank Smith]

It was way in the back. Shut up, you.

[Joe Friday]

Al, what about these?

[Frank Smith]

Sam, I don't know what you're talking about. I never saw those before.

[Joe Friday]

All right, mister, let's go. I'll get Turner and Brown. They can take care of the kids. Right.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

You and your ideas. I told you we shouldn't have come back.

[Frank Smith]

I told you. Oh, knock it off. Shut your mouth, will ya?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I told you last night we should have kept driving.

[Frank Smith]

But, oh, no.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

You figure we got a sweet racket here. You don't want to change it. It's good you said.

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. How does it look? Now, look, I'm telling you.

[Joe Friday]

Take it easy. All right, let's go, huh?

[Frank Smith]

It's the way it is, Sergeant. Try to make a living for a woman, make things nice. The first time something goes wrong, she starts to squawk. Never failed. You're riding high. Everything's fine.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Him and his living. Always trying to build something up. Always trying to figure out a way.

[Joe Friday]

To beat the game.

[Frank Smith]

One big deal, one big thing to.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Set him up for good.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, well, I think he made it this time. Let's.

[Narrator]

The story you just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On January 14, trial was held in Department 89, Superior Court of the State of California in and for the county of Los Angeles. In a moment, the results of that trial. Now here is our star, Jack Webb.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you, friends. As you know, on Dragnet, we've always tried to emphasize the importance of facts. And when we talk to you about Chesterfield, we give you the facts. You heard the report George Feniman read earlier. Nose, throat and accessory organs not adversely affected by smoking Chesterfields. That's the first such report ever published about any cigarette. Remember that report and make Chesterfield your cigarette. Get em regular or king size Chesterfield, the best possible smoke, much milder.

[Narrator]

Samuel G. Bailey and Inez R. Bailey were filed on under the Health and safety code, section 11,500, possession and sale of narcotics and found guilty on one count. They were found guilty on two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Violation of section 11,500 of the Health and Safety Code is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period of not more than five years or imprisonment in the county jail. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than one year. The boy, Douglas Lambert, was made award of the juvenile court. Ladies and gentlemen, where the Community Chest is at work Red Feather services like youth programs and clinics, hospitals in the USO give direct help to two families out of five every year and indirectly. Everybody benefits because Community Chest services make America's cities and towns healthier, happier places to live. So give generously to your Community Chest pledge enough for all the community campaigns that are united under the Red Feather banner. 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. parker, Los Angeles Police Department Technical Advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Vance Brasher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Sam Edwards, Vic Rodman. Script by John Robinson, Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking tomorrow Sound off for Chesterfields either way you like them regular or King size Chesterfield gives you the best possible smoke. Much milder Chesterfield Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet. Transcribed from Los Angeles Sound off for Chesterfield Chesterfield first cigarette in America to give you premium quality in both regular and King size brings you Dragnet. Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a homicide detail. You get a call that a man has been murdered. His killer is unknown. Your job. Get him. Here's what the tobacco trade press has had to say about Chesterfields. US Tobacco Journal Boston, Massachusetts Chesterfield cigarettes in the new King Size is still maintaining large turnovers in this area. Dealers report that sales continue to climb on this size and it seems that volume on the regular size has climbed to new heights with its big brother and tobacco leaf Reports from Chicago. More calls for Chesterfield King size cigarettes than for most brands being marketed. Dealers all over the country tell us no product they ever handled has grown so fast in so short a time as King Size Chesterfield King Size cigarettes give you quantity, but only Chesterfield King Size gives you quantity plus quality. Premium quality Chesterfield King Size contains tobaccos of better quality and higher price than any other King size cigarette. In fact, the only difference between Chesterfield King Size and Chesterfield Regular is that the King Size is larger, contains more of these same tobaccos, enough to give you more than a one fifth longer smoke. So remember, Chesterfield is the only cigarette to give smokers premium quality in both regular and King size. Ask your dealer for Chesterfield.

[Joe Friday]

Either way you like them.

[Narrator]

Premium quality Chesterfields and much milder 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.

[Joe Friday]

Was Saturday, May 12th. Warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A homicide detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Lorman. My name's Friday. It was 8:04am When I got to Room 42, Homicide. That's you, Joe. Yeah. I'm sorry I'm late, Frank. I got held up in traffic. Okay, no problem. I'll sure be dead when they get that freeway finished, won't you? Around the end of the pass. This time in the morning you can't go more than 10 miles an hour. Yeah, cars really pilot around Franklin. Oh, boy. When we get through tonight, I'm going to go straight to business. I might not even stop to eat. All right. What's the matter? Have trouble getting sleep last night? Well, I wouldn't have had any trouble if I'd had the chance to do it. What do you mean? I'll get it. My brother in law. Oh, what'd he have to do with it? A couple of weeks ago he sent away for one of those courses in hypnotism at home. Book got to the house yesterday. Right away he's got a new career. Gonna go into the hypnotism business. All right. Yeah. Book tells how if you do it right, you can have full control over people. Make them do things. You want all that stuff. By the way, he's got a practice on somebody. We just finished dinner and I was all settled down to watch television. He comes in with this little book, little bitty mirror and a candle. And first thing, he lights the candle and tells me to look at it. Concentrate, you know. I told him to go take a run and jump. And right away Fay joins in and says I don't want him to get ahead. I said something about the fact that he could use one. And then it started. Ends up with me sitting there and him trying to control my will. Put it to work. I don't know. Waved his hand in front of me and flashed the mirror, mirror in my eyes. And I fell asleep. Yeah. And right away wakes me up. Wants to know how it felt. What it was like when he put me under. I told him he didn't. And I just went to sleep. So he kept trying to use what this book calls post hypnotic suggestion. You know, when I'm asleep, he says something I'm supposed to do when I wake up. Oh, yes. And he woke me up and waited for me to do it. What'd he want? You to do? I never found out. He just sat there and looked at me. Every time I'd doze off, he'd wake me up so I could do whatever it was he suggested. And around 1:30 this morning, he gave up. He said the book wasn't any good and he was going to get his money back. All the time Faye's sitting there just watching, miserable. If I'd known what it was he wanted me to do, I'd have done it to get him off my back. Never did find out what it was. This morning, would he? Say hello? Figured I wasn't cooperating, I guess I get it. Homicide. Friday. Yes, ma' am. Yes, ma' am, it is. Mm. Yes. What was that address again? Next, ma' am. We'll be right out. Something for us? Yeah. A woman out on Burn Street, 6425. Says her son's been murdered. Frank and I drove out to the house. It was a typical residential neighborhood. When we got there, a crowd had gathered around the front of the house. A radio car had arrived, and the officers had gotten the people back from the lawn in the entrance of the house. We went in and met the woman who had placed the call, a Mrs. Edith Curtis. She was a woman in her late 40s with graying hair. As we talked to her, she kept bringing a handkerchief in her hand.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Jeff was cleaning the gun. Middle of the week. He looked at it and said that it needed cleaning. He's always home on Saturday, so this morning he said he might as well get at it. After breakfast, he got out all the things he uses, put them on the table in there and started to clean the gun. I was in the bedroom tidying up the place. I heard these loud voices and then a shot. I went to the living room and I saw this man standing there. As soon as he saw me, he turned around and ran for the door. I yelled at him, but he didn't stop.

[Joe Friday]

What'd you do then, ma' am?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I went over to Jeff. He was just lying there, still and quiet. I could see where he'd been shot. I knew he was dead. And then I called you before you got here. The other men, the ones in the car, got here, but it was too late. My boy was dead. Terrible. Just terrible.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma' am. I'll go see if my partner's finished with a call. Mrs. Curtis, would you like us to call your family doctor?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

No. Very kind of you, but I'll be all right. This house has been full of tragedy last couple of years. Nothing but sadness. I'm used to it. I guess the good Lord makes you used to it if he didn't. I don't think a mother could go on, ma' am. My youngest daughter, Alice, two years ago this next month, the 24th, she killed herself, Sergeant. It almost killed me, too, losing her.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma' am.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

That's why I say I'm used to it. I got to the point after Alice was dead where I couldn't see any reason for going on. Then I figured that the good Lord must have wanted it this way. And I wasn't the one to say it was wrong. Alice was going to have enough trouble as it was.

[Joe Friday]

I don't think I understand Suicide, Sergeant.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

The one unforgivable sin.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma' am. Okay, Jones.

[Narrator]

I called him.

[Joe Friday]

Checked with the fellows in the car. They're looking around the neighborhood. Ms. Curtis?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Yes?

[Joe Friday]

Wonder if you could give us a description of the man you saw. We'd like to get out a call on him.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Of course. I saw him pretty good. Just standing there looking at me.

[Joe Friday]

Well, how old a man would you say he was?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Maybe 35 or 40. Not any older than that, I'm sure.

[Joe Friday]

How tall would you say he was?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Taller than you.

[Joe Friday]

About how much taller?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Oh, maybe a couple of inches.

[Joe Friday]

Well, I think I'm about six' one or two. Is that right?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Yes, I think that's pretty close about his weight.

[Joe Friday]

How heavy do you think he was?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I'm not very good at that. I guess about 180 around there.

[Joe Friday]

What about his clothes? What was he wearing? Could you remember?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

He had on one of those blue denim outfits. You know, the trousers and the jacket, light blue. And the coat had that dark blue trim knitted around the bottom and collar. Had on a white shirt, no tie. And a pair of those shoes with the real thick soles, that rubber.

[Joe Friday]

Anything unusual about him?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I don't think I know what you mean.

[Joe Friday]

Whether they have any marks or scars. Anything that might make it easier for us to identify them?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

No, not that I could see. But you won't have any trouble identifying him. I'll tell you if you have the right one or not.

[Joe Friday]

Did he have a car? Would you know that?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I don't think so. I didn't see one.

[Joe Friday]

All right. Thank you, ma' am. I'll call us in right away. Joe, get out the local and APB. Yeah. Ms. Curtis?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Yes?

[Joe Friday]

Could you tell us exactly what time the shooting took place?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Not exactly, but I'd say about a quarter to eight.

[Joe Friday]

Did this man say anything to you?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

No, not a word.

[Joe Friday]

You never saw him before. Maybe around the neighborhood, the stores, in the street, someplace.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

No, I never saw him. I know that. But if I see him again, I'll know him.

[Joe Friday]

All right. I'll be right back to you. Okay. I hope you won't take offense, ma' am.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

What's that, Sergeant?

[Joe Friday]

Well, you don't seem too greatly concerned about your son's death here.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I thought I'd explain that to you. I told you that I have to figure that it's the Lord's will. I might as well tell you, Sergeant. You'll probably find out anyway.

[Joe Friday]

What's that, ma' am?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Well, Jeff and I had a few arguments. Nothing serious, but we did have words.

[Joe Friday]

I beg your pardon, ma' am.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Well, I told you that my daughter took her own life.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

She lived with us here in this house. I thought it was a happy home. I found out it wasn't. I found out too. Well, you see, Alice. That's my daughter.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma' am.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

What she was going to marry. She'd met a young man who worked in an aircraft factory. She seemed to think he was very nice. I couldn't see much in him. I told her so. We had quite a few rows about it once when he was here. On that night, the row Alice's young man left. Made quite a fuss about my trying to run the children's lives. Told Alice that he'd marry her right away that night. But when they were married, he didn't want to have anything to do with Jeff or me.

[Joe Friday]

Well, did Jeff take any part in this quarrel?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

No, not yet. Finally, the young man stormed out of the house. Alice was in tears, Just seemed to go to pieces. That night, she took an overdose of sleeping pills. I'll never forget when I called her for breakfast. Terrible. That's not doing any good. I'm sorry, Sergeant.

[Joe Friday]

That's quite all right, ma' am. Now, you said you and your son had several arguments. Was it about this engagement thing?

[Frank Smith]

Yes.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

After Alice's funeral, Jeff seemed to sulk around the house. Then at night, he'd go out and drink quite a bit. He seemed to think that I'd caused Alice to do away with herself. I tried to tell him that I didn't, That I was just as sorry as he was. I told him how badly I felt. It didn't seem to do any good.

[Joe Friday]

Well, have you heard from Alice's fiance since that night?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

He was at the funeral.

[Joe Friday]

What's his name, Mrs. Cruz?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Deadly. Bruce Deadly.

[Joe Friday]

You know where we can get in touch with him?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I think Jeff had His address. I can look for it.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

But you don't think that Bruce had anything to do with this? I know it wasn't him. I know Bruce. I know what he looks like. It wasn't him in the living room.

[Joe Friday]

Well, we just want to talk to him, ma' am.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Of course, he might have hired someone else. No, I'm sure Bruce had nothing to do with it. Even with what he did. Say, ma' am, that night when they had the fight, Jeff told him that if he didn't get out, he'd throw him out. When he left, Bruce said that someday our meddling in other people's lives is going to backfire. That it might take some time, but that we'd be repaid. And that look in his eyes when he went to the door, Sergeant.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Maybe he did do it. He looked mad enough to kill us both.

[Joe Friday]

9:12Am the coroner arrived and removed the body. The men from the crime lab crew went over the place. A complete set of pictures was taken before the body was removed. Blatayton Prince went over the rifle on the table and the cleaning apparatus. Frank and I noticed that the tablecloth on the living room table had been on the floor when we got to the house. Mrs. Curtis had told us that her son had grabbed it as he fell to the floor. We talked with the neighbors. One of them, Mrs. Alvin Kemper, said that she had been watering the lawn between 7:30 and 8, but that she had seen no one enter or leave the Curtis house. She told us that she had heard frequent and loud arguments between Mrs. Curtis and her son. Frank and I drove out to the address of Bruce Dudley was a modern one room apartment on Riverside Drive in the San Fernando Valley. We rang the buzzer a second time and waited. Looks like he's not in. What time you got? 1217. He's probably gone out. Come on, we can check the manager. Yeah? Mr. Dudley? Yeah, what do you want? Well, police officers would like to talk to you. Okay, come on in. Just got up out late last night. I don't feel at all well. I.

[Frank Smith]

Move those clothes and sit down and.

[Joe Friday]

I'm going to put a pot of coffee on. Boy, I feel like a troop of midgets ran barefoot over my tongue. Yes, sir, go right ahead. What do you want to see me about? You know a Jeff Curtis? Yeah, I know him.

[Frank Smith]

Hey, what'd you say your names were?

[Joe Friday]

Well, my name's Friday. This is my partner, Frank Smith.

[Frank Smith]

You got any bad something to prove that you're cops?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. Here's my id? Uh huh.

[Frank Smith]

Sergeant Joseph Friday.

[Joe Friday]

Okay. Now what's this about Jeff? He's dead, Mr. Dudley. Dead? Yes, sir.

[Frank Smith]

How'd it happen? Accident?

[Joe Friday]

Well, we're not sure. He didn't kill himself, did he? Why'd he ask that?

[Frank Smith]

I just thought he might have.

[Joe Friday]

Sister killed herself.

[Frank Smith]

Thought he might have done the same thing.

[Joe Friday]

Do you know of any reason that he'd do something like that? No, not that I could name. I understand you and Mr. Curtis didn't get along too well. We got along all right. Oh, When Alice and I split up there with some words, nothing serious. Well, the way we get it, you were pretty sort of. Yeah, yeah. Understand you and he had quite an argument. He was ready to throw you out of the house. You've been talking to his mother. She's been throwing lies around again. Well, is it true? Did you and Curtis have an argument? Yeah, I got nothing to hide. You been out of the house this morning? No. Why? Have any way of proving you were here all morning?

[Frank Smith]

Just got up.

[Joe Friday]

You know that. You guys got me out of bed.

[Frank Smith]

What are you trying to prove?

[Joe Friday]

Just want to know if you can account for your time, that's all. You think I had something to do.

[Frank Smith]

With Jeff's death, is that it?

[Joe Friday]

We didn't say that. No, but you meant it. Excuse me, I got to get the coffee. You want some coffee? No, don't. Thanks. How about you? No. You don't mind if I have a cup, huh? I'll. Sir, Go right in. Thanks. Now let's face it. You guys really think I had anything.

[Frank Smith]

To do with what happened to Jeff?

[Joe Friday]

We're not paid to say what we think. We try to get the facts. Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Advised you I'd concentrate on Mrs. Curtis.

[Joe Friday]

I wouldn't put it past the old bat to kill her own son. Check around the bars in the neighborhood. Talk to his friends. They'll tell you his mother was scared to death that he'd marry one of these days, Walk out on her.

[Frank Smith]

Used to be on his back all.

[Joe Friday]

The time about the girls he went out with. I knew some of them. Alice and me used to double date with him once in a while. They ever have any arguments about this while you were around?

[Frank Smith]

A couple of times, yeah. If you don't believe me, why don't.

[Joe Friday]

You check with Harry?

[Frank Smith]

He'll tell you the same story. Lord knows he went through enough of it.

[Joe Friday]

Harry? Yeah, Jeff's brother. He got married, let's see, about five years ago.

[Frank Smith]

Moved out of the house, locked stock and baggage.

[Joe Friday]

He went through a thrash with his mother about it. He'll tell you about it. Used to come over to see Jeff.

[Frank Smith]

Once in a while after he got married. But the old lady caused so much trouble that they started to meet at a bar.

[Joe Friday]

Got to the point where Harry wouldn't.

[Frank Smith]

Go in the house. Check with him.

[Joe Friday]

He'll tell you. You know where we can get in touch with him? No, I haven't got the address. Look it up in the book. Harry Curtis. I think it's out on Selma. Someplace in Holland. All right, sir. Where do you work? Meyer Aircraft. I'm a tool maker. You work the day shift? Yeah, I'm off today.

[Frank Smith]

What's this for?

[Joe Friday]

Just wanted to know where we could reach you.

[Frank Smith]

You still think I had something to.

[Joe Friday]

Do with it, huh? No, we didn't say you did. Your name came up and we had to check it out. Yeah, well, there were a lot of.

[Frank Smith]

Times when Jeff and I didn't get along.

[Joe Friday]

I won't try to tell you that there weren't. I never do anything to hurt him. Got enough in his hands with that mother. Yeah, sure.

[Frank Smith]

One night we came home from a date. Alice, me, Jeff and his date were sitting around the kitchen having something to eat. Mother came in madder than a wet hen. Raised cane.

[Joe Friday]

Told Jeff to get the woman out of the house. Jeff told her he wouldn't have her talk to the girl like that. He thought quite a bit of her. The old biddy walked right over and slapped the girl across the face.

[Frank Smith]

Told her to leave Jeff alone.

[Joe Friday]

Said she'd rather see him dead than tied up with a girl like that. 2:40pm we drove back to the office. There'd been no replies on the local or the atv. We checked the names of Jeffrey Curtis and Bruce Dudley through R and I. There was no record on Curtis, but Dudley had been arrested twice for LAMC 4127C. Being drunk in a public place. He'd served sentences in the city jail on both charges. We checked with the coroner's office and they told us that Curtis had been killed by a.38 caliber bullet. It had been fired at close range into the back of his skull. The bullet was booked for evidence and we made out a dead body report. We put in a call to the brother's house, but we were told that he was out of the city and he wouldn't return until sometime that night. We left word for him to call our office as soon as he returned. We checked on the suicide story given us by Mrs. Curtis and found that an Alice Curtis had taken her Own life by an overdose of sleeping pills. Two years before. 5:20pm Frank and I drove out to talk to Mrs. Curtis again.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

You want to look at Jeff's room, don't you?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, Ms. Curtis.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

This way.

[Joe Friday]

When we were here this morning, you didn't say anything about your other son, Harry.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Well, you see, Officer, Harry doesn't care much for me. I know it's hard to believe that a boy would desert his own mother, but that's what Harry did. He got married. And right away his wife started to cause trouble between us.

[Joe Friday]

The rifle your son was cleaning this morning.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Oh, yes, Those men from the crime lab. I think they said they took it.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma' am. Did your son do much hunting?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Well, he used to. Used to do quite a bit. But before Harry got married, they used to be great pals. Mother couldn't ask for a better pair of sons. And when Harry left home, Jeff sort of gave it up. He cleaned the gun when he had to, but he didn't go after game anymore. Then Chu was afraid to leave me alone at night, ma' am. Well, we've had a lot of trouble with prowlers in the neighborhood. Had to call the police a couple of times. They didn't find anybody, though.

[Joe Friday]

These are son's clothes, ma' am.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Yes.

[Joe Friday]

This man you saw this morning, did you notice that he had a gun?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Yes, he did. It was a revolver. When I came into the room, it was still smoking.

[Joe Friday]

Did your son keep any other firearms in the house?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Oh, no, just the rifle. I wouldn't have any other guns in the place. I don't like them.

[Joe Friday]

You had me call to go up in the attic lately, Mrs. Curtis.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

What?

[Joe Friday]

The attic, ma' am. If either you or your son had any reason to go up there.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

No, I don't think we've been up there since we moved. Could I get you officers a cup of coffee or anything? I've got some nice fresh cake. Like a slice of that?

[Joe Friday]

No, ma' am. Thanks just the same. Oh, now, look at here. Now, look at here on the shoulders of these suits in the back. You see this dirt? Looks like it came down from that door to the attic. Let me get a chair and we'll have a look.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

What's this all about? I told you, we haven't used that attic. Don't you believe me?

[Joe Friday]

I'd just like to take a look, if you don't mind, ma' am.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Well, maybe I do mind.

[Joe Friday]

It's just gonna take a minute, ma' am.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I think you officers have sure got your nerves I tried to be nice to you. Help you out. Isn't enough that my boy's dead, now you have to come in here and tear my home apart.

[Joe Friday]

There's something up here, Frank. Out there. I can reach it. Yeah, here it is. Get my pencil. You ever seen this, Mrs. Curtis?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

No. I haven't got any idea how that gun got there. Doesn't belong to us.

[Joe Friday]

What do you think, Joe? I don't know.38 caliber.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Dragnet. The authentic story of your police force in action. And now a report every smoker should hear. Nose, throat and accessory organs not adversely affected by smoking Chesterfields. First such report published about any cigarette. A responsible consulting organization reports a study by a competent medical specialist and staff on the effects of smoking. Chester Church Fields. For six months, a group of men and women smoked only Chesterfield. 10 to 40 a day, their normal amount. 45% of the group would smoke Chesterfields from one to 30 years for an average of 10 years each. At the beginning and end of the six months, each smoker was given a thorough examination, including X rays and covering the sinuses, nose, ears and throat. After these examinations, the medical specialist stated. It is my opinion that the ears, nose, throat and accessory organs of all participating subjects examined by me were not adversely affected in the six month period by smoking the cigarettes provided. Remember this report and buy Chesterfield regular or King size premium quality Chesterfields and much milder.

[Joe Friday]

We took the gun back to the city hall. It was checked for fingerprints, but none were found. We checked with pawn shop records, but the gun had not been registered. By checking with the manufacturer, we got the retailer's name. It had been sold to the victim, Jeff Curtis. The gun was turned over to Russ Camp for the routine check through ballistics. I figured out. Right. Okay, this is end of the comparison. M. There we are. What's the matter now? Variations here. Got a make R? Yeah, a match. 11:46pm Harry Curtis called the office. He was surprised to hear of his brother's death, but said that he would be down to see us in the morning. Frank and I checked out and the next morning we drove out to the house on Burn street and picked up Mrs. Curtis. We talked to her in the interrogation room.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

This is perfectly ridiculous. I don't understand what you're trying to get me to say.

[Joe Friday]

Well, maybe if we lay it out for you, ma' am.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Yes, that might do it. At least it would be something.

[Joe Friday]

All right. When we walked into your house yesterday morning, you said that nothing in the house had been touched. That Everything was just as it was when your son was killed. Is that right?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Yes, I guess I said that.

[Joe Friday]

Like to have you be sure one way or the other, Ma' am. What?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I said that I hadn't touched anything. Nobody did.

[Joe Friday]

Would you tell us what your son was doing when you left the room?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I told you. He was cleaning the rice on the living room table. Yes, that's right.

[Joe Friday]

What did you say he did after he was shot?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I said he fell down.

[Joe Friday]

Did he touch anything as he fell? Brush up against anything?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Well, when he fell, he grabbed the tablecloth. Pulled it down with him?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma' am. Well, then maybe you can explain how it was that all the things he used to clean, the rifle and the gun itself were still on the table.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

What?

[Joe Friday]

How is it those things didn't come off the table when he pulled the cloth off?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I don't know what you're trying to get me to say.

[Joe Friday]

We'd like for you to tell us the truth.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I'm telling that.

[Joe Friday]

All right. Ma' am, when the crime lab went over your house, they found two places in the kitchen floor that had been filled in with plastic wood. The job didn't look very old.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Well, what's wrong with that? Jeff took good care of the house. He might have tried to plug up someplace where ants were getting in.

[Joe Friday]

When the men from the lab dug up the. They found two.38 caliber bullets underneath. They checked them with a bullet that killed your son. The bullets came from the same gun.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I don't know what you're talking about. What does all this show?

[Joe Friday]

You talked about the prowlers and you had trouble with them in the neighborhood.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

That's right.

[Joe Friday]

What action did you take to stop this?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

I called the police, had them come out and try to find the person who was causing the trouble.

[Joe Friday]

When did you call the police last?

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Three weeks ago.

[Joe Friday]

We've checked the reports, ma' am. There's no record of anyone having called the police. Least check prowlers in that neighborhood for the past six months.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Are you trying to make me out a liar? Is that what you're trying to do?

[Joe Friday]

We're trying to get the truth, Frank. Yeah, Joe? You want to check the odds and see if Mr. Curtis is here yet? Yeah, sure.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

You brought my son here?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma' am. We've got to get the truth to this.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Why did you have to get him involved in it?

[Joe Friday]

Well, as I said, ma' am, we're trying to find the facts.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

You don't believe what I've told you?

[Joe Friday]

Well, no, ma' am. You've made it a little difficult.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

How can you say that?

[Joe Friday]

Well, first you tell us that nothing was touched. Yet the physical setup doesn't make that possible. You deny knowing anything about the gun? When we find it. But we find two bullets that have been fired from the same gun embedded in the floor of the kitchen. You told us about prowlers in the neighborhood, but there's no police record of it. Your next door neighbor says she was out in front of her house all morning, but she didn't see anyone enter or leave your house. We find the murder gun up in the attic. You told us you saw the killer leave the house with a gun. Your son died instantly. Now, can you tell us who put the gun there? No, ma' am. There's too much here that doesn't. Jeff.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

They got you into this, didn't they? Harry?

[Frank Smith]

Yes, Mother.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

They're trying to tell you that I killed Jeff. They want me to tell them that I killed my own boy. Tell them. Tell them I wouldn't do a thing like that. Not my own boy.

[Joe Friday]

Afraid I can't, Mama.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

What do you mean, you can't?

[Joe Friday]

The officer just told me about it.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Well, who are you going to believe? The policeman or me? Your mother?

[Joe Friday]

You don't give me much choice.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

What?

[Joe Friday]

I love your mother. You gotta believe that I know that whatever you did, you thought was right. I know you didn't mean to hurt Jeff. I know that.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

And you think I killed him, too, don't you? Harry? Give me an answer. You think I killed Jeff, don't you?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma' am.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Well, I did. I didn't think I meant to do it. I think I just wanted to frighten him. He was running around so much. Those tramps. He was seeing terrible women. I had to keep him home. I had to keep him with me. He was all I had. I'm not young anymore, Harry. You went away then, Alice. Jeff was all I had. I didn't want him to leave. And he was going to. We had an argument. He was cleaning the gun. I got the revolver that way. I knew that I'd always have him with me, that he wouldn't leave. I pulled the trigger. Then I knew what I'd done. That Jeff was gone, too. I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't know. You've got to believe that, Officer.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma' am.

[Mrs. Edith Curtis]

Do you believe me that I just wanted my boy? I wanted to keep him. That's all any mother wants. I tried to keep my boy.

[Joe Friday]

Well, maybe that's what was wrong. What do you mean you tried too hard?

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On September 4, trial was held in Department 87, Superior Court of the State of California in and for the county of Los Angeles. In a moment, the results of that trial. Now here is our star, Jack Webb.

[Joe Friday]

Each of our Dragnet case histories is based entirely on facts taken from authentic police files. And everything we tell you about Chesterfield is based on facts too. Chesterfield, for example, was the first to name its ingredients. Chesterfield tells you what it's made of because you should know what gives you the best possible smoke. Now that brings me to the report that George Feniman and Hal Gibney read earlier. That too is based entirely on facts. Nose, throat and accessory organs not adversely affected by smoking. Chesterfield, first such report ever published about any cigarette. Remember this the next time you buy cigarettes and ask for Chesterfield. Regular or King size. Premium quality Chesterfield gives you the best possible smoke.

[Narrator]

Edith A. Curtis was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree and was sentenced to the State Penitentiary for Women, Tehachapi, California. While serving her sentence there, she died from natural causes. Murder in the first degree is punishable by by death or confinement in the state penitentiary for life. 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. parker, Los Angeles Police Department Technical Advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Vance, Bradley Racher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Herb Ellis, Helen Kleeb, Whit Connor, script by John Robinson, music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.

[Joe Friday]

Marketing is hard, but I'll tell you a little secret. It doesn't have to be. Let me point something out. You're listening to a podcast right now and it's great. You love the host. You seek it out and download it. You listen to it while driving, working out, cooking, even going to the bathroom. Podcasts are a pretty close companion. And this is a podcast ad. Did I get your attention? You can reach great listeners like yourself with podcast advertising from Libsyn Ads. Choose from hundreds of top podcasts offering host endorsements or run a pre produced ad like this one across thousands of shows. To reach your target audience in their favorite podcasts with Libsyn ads, go to Libsynads.com that's L, I B S Y N ads.com today.