THE BIG SHOCK and THE BIG OFFICE DRAGNET

Summary

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Episode Summary: THE BIG SHOCK & THE BIG OFFICE (Dragnet)

Podcast: 1001 Radio Crime Solvers
Host: Jon Hagadorn
Date: January 11, 2026

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Overview

This episode presents two classic Dragnet stories from the golden age of radio: "The Big Shock" and "The Big Office." Both cases explore the diligent, step-by-step police work of Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith. "The Big Shock" investigates a high-stakes narcotics robbery involving inside leads and persistent surveillance, while "The Big Office" takes listeners inside the non-stop operations of a police business office during a night filled with crimes both petty and grave.

The stories capture both the methodical approach and the human moments that defined Dragnet, using authentic dialogue, dry wit, and the understated camaraderie between Friday and Smith.

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Story 1: The Big Shock

(00:39 – 26:43)

Case Introduction

• Setting: Los Angeles, hot July night.
• Incident: A wholesale drug company is robbed of $4,000 in narcotics.
• Assignment: Friday and Smith must track down the stolen drugs and catch those responsible.
• Opening Premise:

  “$4,000 in narcotics has been taken. Your job: Find it.”
  — Joe Friday (00:59)

The Lead – Norman Keary

• Patrolmen find Norman Keary, sick in a parked car, with puncture marks and a morphine vial.
• The vial is traced to the stolen batch; Keary, evasive, only gives his name/address.

• “My name is Norman Keary. I live at 9672 Farnham Street. I'm not giving you the time till I talk to a lawyer.”
  — Norman Keary (05:00)

• Officers confirm there is little to pin directly on Keary beyond narcotics possession.

Pressure and Turnaround

• Keary is booked and released on bail. Narcotics division assigns officers to tail him.
• He returns, angry at being cut off from his supply by the real perpetrators, and decides to cooperate.
• Key quote revealing motivation:

  “All I want to see is for those guys to get theirs.”
  — Norman Keary (12:42)

The Informant Plan & Surveillance

• Keary proposes to "nail" the real criminals at a bar on Fifth Street, but the plan backfires when an undercover cop is spotted, blowing his cover.
• "Playing footsie with the cops, you're bound to get burned," Keary laments (14:25), abdicating from further involvement.
• Not deterred, Friday and Smith set up a clever extended surveillance using a hidden camera in a delivery truck to monitor the bar.

The Break & Bust

• After days of no progress, they spot suspect Olin Corbett meeting with a woman (Mrs. Beulah Pringle) for an apparent narcotics handoff (17:58).

• “At least we know one thing, huh? We got a contact.”
  — Joe Friday (18:14)

• Corbett is arrested; further surveillance ties Mrs. Pringle to repeated narcotics drops, but finding the cache is challenging.

Discovery & Confession

• Noting her visits to her children's school, detectives search the boys’ room and uncover the hidden drugs.
• Mrs. Pringle is confronted with the evidence:

  “Not much doubt then, is there?”
  — Beulah Pringle (23:46)

• On her motivation:

  “I got a good settlement… Maybe it gave me too much. I didn't have anything to look forward to...sounded like something to do. Something so I wouldn't be bored anymore.”
  — Beulah Pringle (24:04)

• Ends with an ironically comforting line:

  “You won't be bored.”
  — Joe Friday to Mrs. Pringle (25:05)

The Outcome

• All suspects are tried and convicted; the legal sentences are detailed by the narrator (25:19).

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Story 2: The Big Office

(from 53:31 onwards)

Opening Scene – Business as Usual

• The routine: The 24-hour business office handles a deluge of calls, paperwork, and walk-ins ranging from genuine emergencies to eccentric complaints.
• Typical interaction:

  “Standing around here making phone calls isn't finding my car.”
  — Miss Avis Bowen, aggravated citizen (58:07)

Nightly calls and Characters

• A missing car, a confused elderly man (Mr. McKinley Dunn), and a murder scene flow into the detectives' night.
• The approach is methodical but full of quiet humor and compassion:

  “We'll call Highland Park, have them pick him up. Tell his daughter to put a card in the wallet with all the information on it. Make it easier next time.”
  — Joe Friday (62:41)

Homicide Case:

• Incident: Shots fired, one Norman Mancrief dead. Multiple suspects.
• Frank and Joe calmly question inebriated witnesses.
• Harriet Purcell, the victim’s wife, provides a sarcastic, yet telling account:

  “Now look, I got enough trouble. Me and my old man's in jail. My face feels like it's coming off. I want to get home and get some sleep. If I knew anything, I'd have told you a long time ago. Now leave me alone.”
  — Harriet Purcell (66:33)

• Detective persistence leads to Harry Carnell, who was just collecting a debt at the wrong time.

• “Pretty lousy night. Missed my date, didn’t collect the money, end up in the can… Old Purcell always thought he was such a great card player…”
  — Harry Carnell (76:12)

Multiple Crimes, Routine, and Resolution

• The all-nighter features a stream of minor and major crimes: knifing, car theft accusation (later revealed to be a paperwork error), and even an animal control call involving a skunk.
• With understated wit:

  “Officer said we could use the skunk in the department. Says he'd qualify on the target range any day.”
  — Joe Friday (73:16)

Resolution and Reflections

• The murder case is solved with Fred Purcell found guilty of manslaughter, the car theft turns out to be legitimate, and the detectives hand off to the next shift.

• “You like to drive the business office for permanent duty? No, sir… Not busy enough.”
  — Frank Smith & Joe Friday (77:54)

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Notable Quotes

• On informant risks:
  “Playing footsie with the cops, you’re bound to get burned.”
  — Norman Keary (14:25)
• On the suspect’s fatal error:
  “He must have figured wrong someplace. Made a mistake somewhere.”
  — Joe Friday, on a suspect's accidental death (51:48)
• Detective camaraderie:
  “I just don’t know what to say, Frank… This isn’t my birthday, you know.”
  — Joe Friday (45:24)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:39 – Start of “The Big Shock” case introduction
• 05:00 – Norman Keary’s first direct interrogation
• 12:42 – Keary’s prior connections and motivation to help
• 14:25 – Surveillance plan goes awry; Keary backs out
• 17:58 – Surveillance captures major narcotics handoff
• 23:46 – Mrs. Pringle confronted with evidence
• 25:05 – Friday’s closing line to Pringle
• 26:43 – End of “The Big Shock” case, case outcomes
• 53:31 – Start of “The Big Office”: Inside police business office
• 58:07 – Miss Bowen's car report
• 62:41 – McKinley Dunn incident resolution
• 66:33 – Harriet Purcell’s statement on the shooting
• 73:16 – The skunk anecdote in the office
• 77:40 – Case wrap-up and verdicts

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Tone & Language

• Language: The dialogue is sharp, stoic, and authentic—delivering procedural lingo, wry humor, and deadpan exchanges between the detectives.
• Tone: Understated, methodical, never sensationalistic. Human moments are delivered without melodrama but retain genuine emotion (see Mrs. Pringle's quiet confession or Friday and Smith’s banter).

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Conclusion

This episode of Dragnet showcases both the painstaking work of high-profile crime-solving and the relentless, sometimes absurd routine of police work. Whether running a stakeout, coaxing confessions, or wrangling paperwork and public complaints, Joe Friday and Frank Smith bring persistence, integrity, and dry wit to every task—even, as Friday quips, when the only break in the action is chasing an escaped skunk. For listeners, it’s a compelling blend of classic crime storytelling and a window into the daily realities of mid-century policing.

Transcript

[Joe Friday]

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[Frank Smith]

Cost of optional benefits.

[Joe Friday]

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[Frank Smith]

Qualifying credit required.

[Narrator]

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. You're a detective sergeant.

[Joe Friday]

You're assigned a robbery detail. A wholesale drug company has been held up.

[Narrator]

$4,000 in narcotics has been taken.

[Joe Friday]

Your job. Find it.

[Narrator]

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]

It was Tuesday, July 10th. It was hot in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of robbery detail. My partner's Frank Smith, the boss of chief of Detective Stad Brown. My name's Friday. We're on our way out from the office. And it was 10:51pm when we got to Highland Park Division. The coffee room.

[Frank Smith]

Joe, Frank, over here.

[Joe Friday]

Hi, Luke. Hi, Roxy.

[Frank Smith]

Want a cup of coffee?

[Joe Friday]

Yes. I'll get it, Joe. Okay. How's it going, Luke? Pretty good.

[Frank Smith]

Kind of hot.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Makes me wish I built that patio out of that place.

[Joe Friday]

You got a diamond change, Joe? Yeah. Wait a minute. Here you go.

[Narrator]

Thanks.

[Joe Friday]

That was a half, you know. Bring me some change. Don't worry. Wait a minute. You want to take one of these cups, Joe? Yeah, I got it. How about you? You want some more, Luke?

[Frank Smith]

No, thanks.

[Narrator]

Okay.

[Joe Friday]

Well, what do you got for us, Luke?

[Frank Smith]

I gave you the call as soon as we got it. Way it bills is that. A patrolman picked him up over on Monte Vista.

[Joe Friday]

Uh huh.

[Frank Smith]

Spotted him in a parked car, checked on it and found the guy was pretty sick. First he thought it might be a 502, but after he got a good look, figured it was a heart attack. Fellow was out cold, couldn't tell anything. They called an ambulance and took the guy over to Lincoln Heights. Receiving gave him treatment there. Checking it out, they found several puncture marks on his arm. Thought he might be a diabetic. His appearance was shock. He checked on his personal effects and came up with this Mm.

[Joe Friday]

Drug vial. Mm. Let me see. Joe. Oh, yeah. Here you go.

[Frank Smith]

The label's all cut up, but there's enough left to tell the serial numbers. It's one of the vials taken from Arnold's morphine. That's right.

[Joe Friday]

What's his name?

[Frank Smith]

Norman Keary.

[Joe Friday]

What you got on him?

[Frank Smith]

Not much, according to R and I. He's been picked up a couple of times from Marks.

[Joe Friday]

He said anything to you? Not much.

[Frank Smith]

He's feeling pretty rocky. Still coming out of it. I haven't been able to get anything out of him.

[Joe Friday]

What's he say about the vial?

[Frank Smith]

Nothing.

[Joe Friday]

Acts like a war prisoner.

[Frank Smith]

All he says is his name.

[Joe Friday]

Gives his address, the checkout.

[Frank Smith]

Couple guys over there now. Figures you want a piece of it. Might be able to get something out of him.

[Joe Friday]

Well, I don't know. No reason for us to make it if you guys didn't. Maybe.

[Frank Smith]

Might give it a try.

[Joe Friday]

Okay. Finished? Yeah. Here, I'll take the cups. Okay. I have the change from that half. Wait a minute, buddy. I'll give it to you on the way back. Let's go. Okay.

[Frank Smith]

You want to check your gun?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. You want to give us a check for these, please?

[Narrator]

Oh, yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Has anybody talked to Curie?

[Frank Smith]

Not that I know of. He hadn't made any calls. No one's been here to see him.

[Joe Friday]

The morphine vial, the only thing he had on him?

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Turned his pockets, but it's all we could find. Fellas might do better in his room.

[Joe Friday]

Be a real break if it ends right here, won't it?

[Frank Smith]

That's for sure.

[Joe Friday]

There you go.

[Narrator]

Number six is a belly gun.

[Joe Friday]

All right. Thank you. No, that's mine.

[Frank Smith]

Here's yours.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, good. Here's your change. All right.

[Frank Smith]

Thank you.

[Joe Friday]

Anything on the car he was in? No.

[Frank Smith]

The officer that picked him up went over, but they didn't turn into anything.

[Joe Friday]

Is he the registered owner? Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

You want to talk to Cury again, huh? That's right. How long is he going to be here? We'll take him downtown in the morning.

[Narrator]

Right. I'll be out front when you're ready to leave.

[Joe Friday]

Okay.

[Frank Smith]

You back again?

[Narrator]

That's right.

[Frank Smith]

Brought some help, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Want to ask you some questions, fella.

[Frank Smith]

My name's Norman Curie. I live at 9672 Farnham Street. Yeah, I've heard. Then you've had it for me. I'm not giving you the time till I talk to a lawyer.

[Joe Friday]

Where'd you get the morphine vial?

[Frank Smith]

My name's Norman Keery. All right.

[Joe Friday]

We've been through all that.

[Frank Smith]

Not too far.

[Joe Friday]

Look, you're in for a lot more.

[Frank Smith]

Than a narco charge from where you sit.

[Joe Friday]

No matter how you see it. You got trouble curing.

[Frank Smith]

Go ahead, cop. I like stories. You're not doing yourself any good with this routine. You're not doing me any harm. I don't have to talk to you. Nothing in the book says I gotta give you fresh air. Now, all of you, get off my back. Come in here and try to nail anything more than narcotics on me. The guys in the coffee room will laugh you right out of the station. Once around, I'll give it to you again. My name is Norman Keary and I live at 9672 Farnum street and that's it. You're giving us no more. You've had it.

[Joe Friday]

All right, let's go.

[Frank Smith]

How long are you going to hold me here?

[Joe Friday]

You'll be moved in the morning.

[Frank Smith]

When do I call a lawyer? I'll leave word out front. Thanks.

[Narrator]

Keep.

[Joe Friday]

Jim.

[Frank Smith]

Wanna unlock it? You guys understand, huh?

[Joe Friday]

What?

[Frank Smith]

Hope you ain't sorry about what I said. Just that there isn't anything I can give you.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, sure.

[Frank Smith]

Just that nobody likes to be shoved around. Gets to the point where everybody's on your back, a guy don't like it. Yeah, Might not look like it, fella, but I ain't trying to be a big man.

[Joe Friday]

Well, I wouldn't worry about it, huh? You're not. The following morning, the suspect was removed to the main jail and booked in on suspicion of violation of the State Narcotics Act, a felony. It was photographed and fingerprinted. The combined efforts of the Narcotics Division and Robbery detail had been devoted to the apprehension of the thieves who'd stolen the drugs. The arrest of Kerry had been the first lead we'd gotten to the disposition of the stolen merchandise. But without his cooperation, there was little chance that we could get to the ringleaders. The next day, Frank and I checked with informants who might be able to supply us with any information. All of Kerry's known associates were interrogated. None of them helped us. We got word that Kerry had been released on bail at noon. Narcotics Division had assigned officers to follow him. And all of his actions were being observed. Everyone he met was being checked. On 5:10pm Wednesday afternoon, we got back to the City hall from a meeting with Captain Carl shy of Narcotics.

[Frank Smith]

I'll get the log we can check out.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. It's been a long day, hasn't it? Yeah, you can say that again. A lot of water. You Want to check the book? Yeah, Anything. Wait a minute. Yeah? Skipper wants to see us. He's in Thad Brown's office. Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Friday.

[Joe Friday]

Jerry. What do you want?

[Frank Smith]

I got something for you. All right. All right if I sit down?

[Joe Friday]

Sure, go ahead.

[Frank Smith]

It's a lousy deal, Friday.

[Joe Friday]

Lousy it is.

[Frank Smith]

Worst sit in the can trying to figure out some way to keep him clean. They pull a stunt like this on me?

[Joe Friday]

What are you talking about?

[Frank Smith]

Well, you took the supply away from me last night. I had to make another connection this morning. As soon as I got out, I went over to see him. He treated me like I just got into town. Lousy ain't worth it. You're gonna act like that, it's gonna cost him that.

[Joe Friday]

So?

[Frank Smith]

You better call that Lucarelli. Is that his name?

[Joe Friday]

That's right. Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Get him over here. He's going to want to hear it, too.

[Joe Friday]

Here. What?

[Frank Smith]

I'm going to give you a chapter and verse on the whole deal.

[Joe Friday]

Frank put in a call to Narcotics Division and asked Sergeant Roxy Lucarelli to come over to the office. It took him less than five minutes to get there. In the meantime, we briefly questioned Kerry and found that he wanted to cooperate fully in the apprehension of the gang. When Roxy got there, we. We started to get the full story.

[Frank Smith]

All right.

[Joe Friday]

What can you tell us about the robbery?

[Frank Smith]

Nothing. I didn't have any part of it.

[Joe Friday]

Where'd you get the M?

[Frank Smith]

Picked it up in the bar.

[Joe Friday]

You got the address?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, placed down on fifth.

[Joe Friday]

Who's your connection?

[Frank Smith]

Guy named Corbett.

[Joe Friday]

Got a first name for him? Olin. How's that go? O L a M?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. Yeah, I guess so.

[Joe Friday]

When did you make the buy?

[Frank Smith]

Yesterday afternoon.

[Joe Friday]

The whole vial? Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Did you scratch out the label?

[Joe Friday]

No.

[Frank Smith]

No, it was that way when I got it.

[Joe Friday]

Did you know the stuff was stolen?

[Frank Smith]

I put it down that I didn't ask for an original bill of sale.

[Joe Friday]

What about this Corbett? What do you know about him?

[Frank Smith]

Been hanging around the place a long time. I see him there all the time.

[Joe Friday]

Ever been in trouble?

[Frank Smith]

You mean with the cops?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. I don't know.

[Frank Smith]

I guess he'd been picked up a couple of times for possession.

[Joe Friday]

You ever done any time?

[Frank Smith]

Couple months in the county jail.

[Joe Friday]

Probation?

[Frank Smith]

I think so. I never got in a big conversation.

[Joe Friday]

With him about it.

[Frank Smith]

You know where he got this stuff? I can't pin it down for you. Got an idea? It must be the bar. A lot of places there you can get connection. You know who it could have been? No.

[Joe Friday]

Anybody around there got a lot of Money that they can't explain.

[Frank Smith]

Most of the customers will fit that.

[Joe Friday]

You want to give us a description of this carpet?

[Frank Smith]

What's that for?

[Joe Friday]

Like, check his record.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, well, let's see. I think he's about 45, maybe 46. Around in there someplace?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Guess he's about 160 pounds, 5ft 9, I think. Go ahead. Well, he's got kind of dark hair. Gray, you know, in here. You know, around the temples.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, like that. Anything else about him?

[Frank Smith]

Well, he's got a kind of limp. One leg is shorter than the other.

[Joe Friday]

You know which leg it is? No.

[Frank Smith]

No, I never paid any attention to it.

[Joe Friday]

Ring any bells for you, Rox?

[Frank Smith]

It might be. I think I know what he's talking about.

[Joe Friday]

I'll check on I, Joe. All right. How about it, Kerry? You know if any more of this stuff has been passed?

[Frank Smith]

Well, I can't say for sure. This is the first bunch of it I bought. Guess there's some more of it that's been pushed. Well, it sure jolted me. I'm not used to that drugstore stuff.

[Joe Friday]

You know anybody that's bought?

[Frank Smith]

No.

[Joe Friday]

How come the stuff you got wasn't cut? I don't know.

[Frank Smith]

I guess somebody goofed. Sure made me sick.

[Joe Friday]

What happened when you went back there today?

[Frank Smith]

Well, I walked into the place. I figured to get something up, you'd have thought I was a cop.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Frank Smith]

There wasn't anybody in the place that had anything to do with me. Ms. Corbett there? You mean this morning? Yeah. No, but at least I didn't see him.

[Joe Friday]

Hold on a minute. Robbery Friday. In just a minute. Murph Murphy? No, he's not here. Can I take a message? All right, I have it. I'll have him call as soon as he gets in. You're back. Did you hear anything about the robbery?

[Frank Smith]

No, I didn't. A couple of small type rumbles out, but nothing you can pin down.

[Joe Friday]

What'd they say?

[Frank Smith]

Just that there was a heist. No names used. Anything on who's responsible? I told you, it was just a small rumble. What do you figure about it, huh? You got any ideas who might have done it? Nothing you can take to court. I give you pretty short odds on Corbett, though.

[Joe Friday]

You got any close friends around the place?

[Frank Smith]

Oh, he knows everybody there.

[Joe Friday]

You spend more time with anybody special?

[Frank Smith]

No, he usually just comes in, sits around. He got a job? Not so it shows.

[Joe Friday]

Where does he live?

[Frank Smith]

He never told me. Why'd you come in here, Kerry, Huh?

[Joe Friday]

What are you trying to build with us?

[Frank Smith]

Nothing. I just Got real hacked this morning with the way those guys shoved me around. I want to see them get what they got coming. You don't want nothing for yourself, just to see him get paid.

[Joe Friday]

You got any ideas how we can do that? Yeah. All right, we're waiting.

[Frank Smith]

Let me nail them for you.

[Joe Friday]

Spell it out.

[Frank Smith]

Look, you can't get within 10ft of him. The whole bar's hinky. Now, let me go in and get him.

[Joe Friday]

We can't give you anything for it.

[Frank Smith]

I'm not asking for anything. You just let me go along with you guys. Let me go in and blow the whistle on those guys who pull the heist. Doesn't make a lot of sense, Kerry. You coming in here and wanting to help us. There's got to be something behind it. And what's it gonna cost you to find out? You're gonna have a tail on me from the time I walk out of here. It's not gonna do you any harm.

[Joe Friday]

To let me go. You're land yourself right in the middle of the tracks, you know.

[Frank Smith]

I know that. But it's worth it to see the expression on their faces when you kick the door in.

[Joe Friday]

All right. We'll have to check it with a skipper.

[Frank Smith]

Well, you go ahead, guys. Play it any way you want. Don't make a pound of me. If you want me on your side, I'm there. What happens if they find out? Send roses.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Curie, we'll buy a piece of it. But I'm gonna give you something going in.

[Frank Smith]

What's that?

[Joe Friday]

Gonna be a lot of men working on this. If one of them gets in trouble over you, you better start running. Cause there isn't gonna be a big enough handicap for you.

[Frank Smith]

I'm not asking for one, am I?

[Joe Friday]

If it works out, you'll get a piece of the credit. It'll go on the books that way. And that's all.

[Frank Smith]

Well, it doesn't matter to me at all. All I want to see is for those guys to get theirs.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Frank Smith]

Well, this time I thought they were friends of mine and they'd turn around and pull a stunt like this. It's pretty lousy. I want is a connection. They got this stuff that isn't going to cost them anything.

[Joe Friday]

You got it wrong there, fella.

[Frank Smith]

Huh?

[Joe Friday]

It's going to cost them. Frank came back from R and I with the information that the suspect, Olin Corbett, had a long record in Los Angeles listing arrest for narcotics, suspicion of burglary, suspicion of robbery and adw. While Kerry waited in the squad Room. Lucarelli, Frank and I talked with Captain Donahoe. We filled him in on what had happened and it was decided to accept Kerry's offer of help. The next morning, Thursday, July 12, we started the operation. An effort was made to find Olin Corbett. Without result, in order to make sure the safety of our informant was arranged for an officer from Narcotics division to be planted in the bar. One of the younger officers was chosen for the job. And at 10:05am he took up his position in the place. At 10:34am Frank and I, along with Lucarelli and Kerry got there. We parked down the street and let our contact out of the car. We walked down the block and entered the bar. Ten minutes later, he hurried back. Looks like something's wrong. Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

You want to open the door, Frank? Yeah. What are you guys trying to pull?

[Joe Friday]

What are you talking about?

[Frank Smith]

You ain't much better than they are. Lousy thing all the way around. One thing I figured sure was I'd be able to.

[Joe Friday]

All right, now calm down, Fury.

[Frank Smith]

Until it's the cop for in there.

[Joe Friday]

What cop? In the bar.

[Frank Smith]

Why is he there?

[Joe Friday]

What happened?

[Frank Smith]

Everybody knows who he is. There isn't anything going on. What's the matter? Don't you trust me? Is that it?

[Joe Friday]

We wanted to make sure you'd be able to walk out of the place, that's all.

[Frank Smith]

Didn't work out that way, guys. An airplane for keeps. The whole place is wide for sound.

[Joe Friday]

All right, we gotta go after him a different way.

[Frank Smith]

He's gonna have to do it without me. After day, I don't dare go into the place. They all figure I brought the fuzz in.

[Joe Friday]

You won't have to go back.

[Frank Smith]

Thanks a lot. It sure goes to show you.

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Frank Smith]

Play footsie with the cops, you're bound to get burned.

[Joe Friday]

We appreciate what you did.

[Frank Smith]

A lot of good that does. The word gets out I'm in big trouble. As soon as those guys find out I've been going with you, I've had it. Give me one good reason why you had to put the cop in there. What kind of insurance is that?

[Joe Friday]

Yours, huh? We're trying to keep you alive. We went back to the office and talked with Captain Donahoe. We told him what had happened. After conversations with Chief of Detective stad Brown and Captain Carl Shy, it was decided that the bar on Fifth street was important enough to warrant a 24 hour stakeout. The crime lab was contacted and we asked their aid in arranging the surveillance. Lieutenant Lee Jones suggested a camera mounted in a delivery truck. We got in touch with one of the larger truck rental services in the city, and we got permission to use their equipment. It was decided that a panel truck parked a short distance from the bar could be used to observe both the front and rear entrances. A small slot was cut in the side of the truck so that a 16 millimeter camera could be used. Frank and I spent an hour with Lieutenant Jones going over the workings of the camera. The following morning, we took up our positions outside the bar. For the next 12 hours, we took pictures of everybody entering and leaving the place. Men from narcotics division relieved us during the nighttime hours. For three days, the surveillance continued without result. Hundreds of feet of film were exposed and processed. Still, we were no closer to apprehending the suspects. During this time, we hadn't seen Olin Corbett, the man who'd sold the morphine to kerry. Thursday morning, July 17th, Frank and I took up our positions in the truck. You checked the camera this morning? No. Luke said we probably have to put in a new film magazine, didn't he? Yeah. Better take care of it. You know how to do this? Well, you were there when Lee explained it, weren't you? Yeah, but I kind of forgot. Well, that's good. Then I better know how, huh? Yeah. Here's a film. Let me take a look. Nothing to it. You just follow these lines here. Oh, yeah, that's right. You want to throw that little catch there. No, no, no. This one. This one. Oh, yeah. Okay. We go under that thing. You want to do it? No, go ahead. Joe, I think you're supposed to turn that little gizmo there. That one, to make sure you're threaded up. All right. You're wrong. The little knob right over there. You were wrong. Aren't you gonna turn it? I'm gonna turn it as soon as I get this threaded up. If you turn it now, you tear the film. Yeah, but you're supposed to turn it on. We turn it after we thread it up. Oh, all right. Well, I remember that you turned it. You know, you're a big help to me, Frank.

[Various Female Characters]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Boy, it's gonna be another hot one. Stopped in this truck, too. Yeah. Had Faye pack a different lunch today. Chopped egg sandwiches and potato salad. Want one? Little early, don't you think? Oh, it might be. Figured you might be a little hungry, though. No, not right now. Frank. Yeah? Wanna switch on the camera? Huh? Got something? Come here. Take a look. Now. Up this way. See him come up the street? No. Where? Right there. See? Huh? Just passing the bakery here. Oh, yeah, that looks Like Corbett to me. Yeah. All right. He's going into the bar. First time we've seen him alone. You better call Luke. Have him put a tail on the guy when he leaves. Yeah. Wait a minute. Huh? Corbett's coming out the side door. Yeah, he's going back to the Cadillac. You see that carpool in the alley? No. It must have been while we were loading the camera. Wait a minute. There's a woman behind the wheel. She's getting out. You getting everything there? Yeah, I think so. Well, you're not. Now, why'd you stop? Well, I just took my thumb off for a minute. I'll start again. Looks like she's giving Corbett something. Yeah, small package. We better have him picked up and see what it is. As soon as he leaves, I'll get in touch with Lou. Okay, cut the camera.

[Various Female Characters]

That's enough.

[Joe Friday]

You better get on it. He's shoving off. Car's leaving, too. You want to get the license number?

[Various Female Characters]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

It's 2 Victor 22876. Might be a break. Yeah. At least we know one thing, huh? We got a contact.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Dragnet. The authentic story of your police force in action.

[Joe Friday]

We got in touch with the narcotics office and made arrangements for Corbett to be taken into custody. The arrest itself was made in such a way as to appear routine. A check of DMV gave us the name of the owner of the black Cadillac that we'd seen behind the bar. The car was registered to a Mrs. Beulah Pringle. 5742 Los Feliz Boulevard. Legal? The same. We ran the name through R and I, but we found no criminal record for. The pictures we'd taken were processed and shown to the witnesses of the warehouse robbery. Two of them positively identified Corbett as the lookout man on the job. Frank and I, along with Roxy Lucarelli, talked to him at the main jail, but he refused to give us any information regarding the holdup. He was booked on charges of robbery. For the next week. A constant surveillance was kept on the Pringle woman. All of the people she came into contact with were checked on. We made several attempts to search her home, but there was always somebody there. On Tuesday, July 24, a week after we'd first observed her, she was seen at the bar again. This time, she passed a small package to one of the regulars of the place. He was taken into custody and found to have had a large quantity of pure morphine in his possession. But he refused to say where he'd gotten it. Without finding the cache of Narcotics. There was little reason to take the woman into custody. On Wednesday, July 25, we got word that she left her home. Frank and I drove out there and succeeded in making a complete search of the place, but we found nothing. A check of her car turned up none of the stolen narcotics. The surveillance continued. Another week passed. Wednesday, August 1st, she again made a meet and turned over a package of narcotics which we believe to have been taken in the robbery. After talking to the man we picked up, Frank and I met in the squadroom. He isn't going to give us anything? No. Well, we'll talk to DA's office in the morning, see what we can do. Got to be something about the Pringle woman that'll tell us where the narcotics are. Well, you've been over all the information. Have you spotted anything? No, but she's got to pick it up someplace.

[Narrator]

Where?

[Joe Friday]

I don't know. You got the list of places she goes to? Yeah, my locker. You want to get them? I'll check the book. Yeah. Where are they, Joe? Top shelf. There should be on the left side. Huh? Top shelf on the left side. Right in front of you. Oh, yeah, Here.

[Frank Smith]

I got.

[Joe Friday]

Anything on the book for us? No. Okay, let's go over these again. All right. Here's a report from Roxy. This woman's got regular appointments at the beauty shop. She has her hair fixed on Thursdays. It's her car service to the corner of Salomon, Harvard. Name of the market where she gets her groceries, her bank, kid who delivers the morning paper. They've all been checked down. What about a boyfriend? Checked him way back. There's nothing. You know anything about her kids? Two boys by a former marriage. Uh huh. One's 10, the other's 12. They stay at the school in the Valley. Address is on the report there. Oh, yeah, Here. She's the kid about every week. Mm. I'd even say she's an attentive mother. Maybe she's got another reason. What do you mean? A couple of days after she sees the kids, she makes a drop. The way it looks, doesn't it?

[Frank Smith]

Here.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Maybe she's got something besides kids over at that school. Frank and I made arrangements to search the room occupied by the Pringle youngsters. We drove out to the Valley and talked with the head of the school. Without telling him what we were looking for, Frank and I got into the room and began to go over it. Anything in the closet? Wait a minute. A couple suitcases here. Looks like they're full of clothes. Nothing in these Drawers. Hold it a minute, John. The suitcase here. Looks like a makeup kit. What's in it? I can't tell. It's locked. I see it. What? Take a look. You got anything I can use to open the case? I'll try this. Okay. Well, that does it. Yeah, Take a look. Want to take it back to town? You better. And have the serial numbers checked. Not much doubt, huh? No. Just about wraps it up, doesn't it? Let's bring a Pringle woman in and talk to her. See what she can come up with on this. The way Roxy puts it, she's a pretty good talker. She gonna have to be, isn't she? Frank and I left the school and drove back to the Los Feliz address. The black Cadillac was parked in the driveway. We told the maid who answered the door who we were and what we wanted. She showed us into the library of the house and asked us to wait while she went to get Mrs. Pringle. It's quite a pad, huh, Joe? Yeah, it's pretty big. Clay's been after me to get one of these. What's that? See, one of these three dimensional viewers, you know. Got little pictures in them. Play size are great for the kids. Got all kind of pictures. Yosemite, Yellowstone. Pretty interesting all in 3D too.

[Narrator]

Gentlemen.

[Various Female Characters]

Something you want to see me about?

[Joe Friday]

We're police officers, Ms. Pringle. Frank Smith. My name's Friday.

[Various Female Characters]

Yes, I know. What was it you wanted to see me about?

[Joe Friday]

You know a man named Olin Corbett?

[Various Female Characters]

Corbett? No, I don't think so.

[Joe Friday]

How about Peter Ulrich?

[Various Female Characters]

Nothing there either. You mind telling me what this is all about?

[Joe Friday]

Well, I think you know as well as we do, don't you?

[Various Female Characters]

This is some kind of a joke. I'm afraid I can't go along with it.

[Joe Friday]

No, ma'. Am. It's no joke.

[Various Female Characters]

You're trying to say something. Why not stop going in circles and come right to the point?

[Joe Friday]

All right. You're under arrest, Ms. Pringle.

[Various Female Characters]

For what?

[Joe Friday]

Robbery and narcotics.

[Various Female Characters]

Would you like to sit down?

[Joe Friday]

No, thanks. No?

[Various Female Characters]

Anything I can get for you? Drink, maybe?

[Joe Friday]

No.

[Various Female Characters]

You must have some kind of evidence to make a charge like this.

[Narrator]

We have.

[Various Female Characters]

Do you mind telling me what it is?

[Joe Friday]

We've got motion pictures of you meeting the men that I mentioned. Pictures of you passing the narcotics to them. We checked your children's school. We found that makeup kit.

[Various Female Characters]

Not much doubt then, is there?

[Joe Friday]

No, ma'.

[Narrator]

Am.

[Various Female Characters]

Nothing I can do?

[Joe Friday]

No. Get your coat.

[Various Female Characters]

I guess so.

[Joe Friday]

Ms. Pringle.

[Frank Smith]

What?

[Joe Friday]

This house and the car. You mind telling me why you went into a thing like this?

[Various Female Characters]

I guess it'd sound pretty silly to you right now. It's pretty wild to me.

[Joe Friday]

Well, listen, if you want to tell us.

[Various Female Characters]

I divorced my husband several years ago, Mr. Smith. I got a good settlement, a lot of alimony. Gave me just about everything I wanted. Maybe it gave me too much. I didn't have anything to look forward to. Nothing to act as a sort of challenge. You understand.

[Joe Friday]

I guess so.

[Various Female Characters]

I met a man. Nice enough guy. One thing led to another and he suggested the robbery sounded like something to do. Something so I wouldn't be bored anymore. That's why we did. Wasn't the money with me? I guess it was with him.

[Joe Friday]

You want to give us the name?

[Various Female Characters]

Yeah, might as well. It's all finished now anyway.

[Joe Friday]

All right. Want to get that coat now?

[Various Female Characters]

Yeah. How long will they send me to prison for?

[Joe Friday]

Well, we wouldn't know. That's up to the judge.

[Various Female Characters]

I hear the place is a lot better than they used to be. Lots of things to do, jobs so you can keep your mind occupied.

[Joe Friday]

That's right. You can be sure of one thing.

[Various Female Characters]

What's that?

[Joe Friday]

You won't be bored.

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard is true.

[Joe Friday]

The names were changed to protect the innocent.

[Narrator]

On December 18, trial was held in Department 97, Superior Court of the State of California in and for the county of Los Angeles. In a moment, the results of that trial. Norman Gerald Keary was tried and convicted of violation of the state Narcotic act of felony one count Olin Lambert Corbett Beulah Valerie Pringle and Peter Larson Ulrich were tried and found guilty of robbery in the first degree and violation of the State Narcotics Act, a felony. Robbery in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period of not less than five years. Violation of the State Narcotic act. A felony is punishable by imprisonment for a period of from five years to life in the state penitentiary. 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.

[Joe Friday]

Today we'll attempt a feat once thought impossible. Overcoming high interest credit card debt. It requires merely one thing. A SoFi personal loan. With it you could save big on interest charges by consolidating into one Low fixed rate monthly payment. Defy high interest debt with a SOFI personal loan. Visit sofi.com stunt to learn more. Loans originated by Sofi Bank NA member FDIC terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891. Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are.

[Narrator]

About to hear is true.

[Joe Friday]

The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

[Narrator]

Dragnet.

[Joe Friday]

You're a detective sergeant.

[Narrator]

You're assigned a burglary detail.

[Joe Friday]

For the past several weeks, a gang.

[Narrator]

Has been breaking into neighborhood stores.

[Joe Friday]

Routine investigation fails to turn up any kind of a lead. Your job, find one.

[Narrator]

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]

It was Tuesday, March 20th. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A burglary detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Bernard. My name's Friday. We're on our way out from the office. And it was 9:47am when we got to the third floor of the Verrel Arms Hotel. Room 314. Sure. Dark. I'm gonna try it again. Yeah? Sounds like somebody's moving around.

[Frank Smith]

Who is it?

[Joe Friday]

You Jed Nagel?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. Why?

[Joe Friday]

Police officers would like to talk to you.

[Frank Smith]

I ain't done nothing wrong. There's no reason to rouse me.

[Joe Friday]

You won't open the door?

[Frank Smith]

All right. Come on in. I just got up.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. You alone? Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

There's nobody else, Frank?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

That's the bathroom. I told you that there wasn't anybody else here.

[Joe Friday]

Well, you don't mind if we look around, do you?

[Frank Smith]

I do too.

[Narrator]

Mine.

[Frank Smith]

I don't like you cops coming around. You're going to ruin my reputation. People in the building going to think you're friends.

[Joe Friday]

Well, now I'll tell you. We won't tell them if you don't.

[Frank Smith]

What do you want, anyway?

[Joe Friday]

We got a report that you were down on East 5th last night. Is that right?

[Frank Smith]

Well, I don't know. All last night's kind of foggy. I don't remember where I was exactly.

[Joe Friday]

You remember being downtown?

[Frank Smith]

I told you I didn't.

[Joe Friday]

Why?

[Frank Smith]

What, are you trying to lay off on me now?

[Joe Friday]

Places come.

[Frank Smith]

I told you it was. Now, you want to fill me in on what this is all about?

[Joe Friday]

We'd like to know what you were doing downtown last night.

[Frank Smith]

Well, how do I know? I had it rough last night.

[Joe Friday]

Anybody else along with you?

[Frank Smith]

No, not that I remember.

[Joe Friday]

Remember being near the Palace Liquor Store?

[Frank Smith]

No, not right off. I might have checked in, though. I throw a lot of business their way. Why all the questions? Is there something wrong?

[Joe Friday]

We'd like to have you tell us.

[Frank Smith]

I'd like to help out, but there ain't nothing I can do.

[Joe Friday]

We got a field interrogation report that you were in the area. Police car stopped and shook you down. Isn't that right?

[Frank Smith]

Ain't nothing new. I'm always getting stumped.

[Joe Friday]

You ever been arrested?

[Frank Smith]

Couple of times.

[Joe Friday]

What charge? Drunk.

[Frank Smith]

At all?

[Joe Friday]

Yes.

[Frank Smith]

Never stood anything heavier than drunk.

[Joe Friday]

Ever do any big time? No.

[Frank Smith]

A couple of months. Cast a. Went up to, you know, take the cure.

[Joe Friday]

Didn't hold on, did it? No.

[Frank Smith]

No, Nevermind. You don't have to have an aspirin, do you?

[Joe Friday]

No, we don't.

[Frank Smith]

How about your friend here?

[Joe Friday]

He said we didn't.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, that's too bad. Sure could use one. Mind if I take a look in the bathroom? There might be something in there to take care of my head.

[Joe Friday]

Sure, go ahead. We checked your record before we came up here.

[Frank Smith]

That right?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Find out anything?

[Joe Friday]

Enough to know there's a warrant on you.

[Frank Smith]

For what?

[Joe Friday]

Seems you got two wives back in Texas. They're both looking for you. All right. Now, come on, get your clothes on. Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Do you want to tell me what this is really about?

[Joe Friday]

What?

[Frank Smith]

They didn't send two plain clothes cops down here to take me in on a bigamy charge. What's the real pitch?

[Joe Friday]

There was a burglary last night. Wondered if you had anything to do with it.

[Narrator]

Burglary?

[Frank Smith]

That's right. Not me. I haven't got the guts to get into something like that. That's what caused all the trouble with my women.

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Frank Smith]

Oh, them. All the time telling me I should get off the dime and do something. Morning, noon, night. All the time running off at the mouth about how I was lazy. I can't expect a man to take much of that.

[Joe Friday]

Come on, get your clothes on.

[Frank Smith]

You gotta send me back to Texas.

[Joe Friday]

We don't know what's going to happen. We just have to take you in.

[Frank Smith]

Gee, I sure hope I don't go back. Woman's nothing but problemist and nothing else.

[Joe Friday]

You remember it must not bother you much, huh? You married two of them. Jed Nagle was taken to the main jail and held for the Texas authorities. A check of his actions on the previous night showed that he couldn't have committed the burglary. 11:30am Frank and I checked by the office and then we went over to the crime lab. Ray Pinker was just finishing up his investigation.

[Frank Smith]

Morning, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Hi. How's it going, Ray?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, just Wrapping it up.

[Joe Friday]

You got anything for us?

[Frank Smith]

Same as you had on the last three jobs.

[Joe Friday]

Here.

[Frank Smith]

Pictures are there.

[Joe Friday]

Take a look.

[Frank Smith]

They're still a little damp.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. This is the entrance, huh?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. It went through the wall from the barbershop into the bar.

[Joe Friday]

How'd they get in there? Barbershop? Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Used a jimmy on the back window. Climbed in, went to work on the wall.

[Joe Friday]

Wonder why they didn't go right into the bar.

[Frank Smith]

Place is covered by an alarm system, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Here.

[Frank Smith]

This is the box inside?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Cause they turned it off after they got into the voice.

[Joe Friday]

You got any prints? No.

[Frank Smith]

Went over all the windows. Safe Bar itself didn't turn up anything it used.

[Joe Friday]

What about the men themselves? Can you guess? Anything on them?

[Frank Smith]

Must have been at least two of them. Might have been three.

[Joe Friday]

How'd you come up with that?

[Frank Smith]

Footprints.

[Joe Friday]

They kicked up a lot of plaster.

[Frank Smith]

When they went into the place. A lot of dust around. One of them wore a size 9 shoe, and the other had a size 7 and a half foot.

[Joe Friday]

Where'd you get the third man?

[Frank Smith]

A lot more of the smaller impressions. Either the little guy jumped around more, or else there was someone to help make the prints.

[Joe Friday]

Anything else, Ray? We got some good pictures of the.

[Frank Smith]

Jimmy marks in the barbershop. If you come up with a tool, we'll be able to match it for you.

[Joe Friday]

What about the safe, Ray?

[Frank Smith]

Punch job. No class.

[Joe Friday]

There anything on it?

[Frank Smith]

Mm.

[Joe Friday]

Mm.

[Frank Smith]

How much they take this time?

[Joe Friday]

Owner guesses at about 5,000. Wouldn't it, Frank? Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Gives them a total of what?

[Joe Friday]

Well, according to our figures, a little over 12 since they started working.

[Frank Smith]

Scoring good.

[Joe Friday]

Better than they think, huh? We've just about run out of leads, Frank. And I've been all over town trying to scratch something up. None of them work out.

[Frank Smith]

Gotta be one someplace.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, Skipper keeps telling us that. Corner pockets on his back.

[Frank Smith]

Bound to be.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I guess so. Doesn't make it any easier on us, though.

[Frank Smith]

You signed the application?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Well, thanks, Ray. Anything turns up, give us a call, will you? Sure, Joe.

[Frank Smith]

Isn't likely, though. You've had it. You going back to the office?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Stats office should have those cards for us by now. Okay.

[Frank Smith]

Hope they're pointing somewhere.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. You better get in the line, huh?

[Frank Smith]

Take it easy, Ray. Yeah. Drop around sometime. I'll pop for lunch.

[Joe Friday]

When we get this one cleaned up, we'll buy.

[Frank Smith]

You got a deal.

[Joe Friday]

My wife will go for that. Huh?

[Frank Smith]

She's been after me to lose some weight.

[Joe Friday]

Looks like it'll be a long diet. Frank and I went Back to City hall and checked with the stats office. In the runs they'd made, they came up with cards on seven men who were known to have used the same method of operation in committing burglaries. We checked the list through R and I. Three of the possibles were still serving sentences in San Quentin. One of them had died, and two were in Eastern jails. The seventh, Honoris Pauly, had a record listing four arrests and one conviction. His address was given as 4622 50th Street. We left the office and went out to check on him. The registered listed him as living in apartment 12. We walked upstairs. Should be on the laptop. Yeah. Yeah, here it is. Let me try it again. Yeah.

[Various Female Characters]

Just a minute.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah? Like to see Norris, Paulie. Where is he?

[Various Female Characters]

Don't see where that's any business of yours.

[Joe Friday]

Police officers.

[Various Female Characters]

What do you want to see Norris about?

[Joe Friday]

Better if we talk to him about that.

[Various Female Characters]

Sit yourself. Don't make any difference to me.

[Joe Friday]

You mind if we come in?

[Various Female Characters]

You can talk right out there in the hall.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Ms. Polly, open that door. Take a jump, Sadie.

[Frank Smith]

What's all the noise?

[Joe Friday]

Lady, either you open that door or we will. All right, get out of the way, lady. All right, Paulie, hold her right there.

[Various Female Characters]

You get out of here. You got no right to break in here like this.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, will you shut up, Sadie, I'm.

[Various Female Characters]

Trying to do you a favor. And look what thanks I get.

[Joe Friday]

Well, who asks you?

[Frank Smith]

Now, go on, get out of here.

[Various Female Characters]

This time I try to do anything for you.

[Narrator]

Let's talk.

[Frank Smith]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, sure.

[Frank Smith]

Bye. Real harpy. Always trying to take care of me. Real harpy.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Frank Smith]

You know, she means good, but she doesn't know how to carry it off. Always trying to protect me.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

What do you want to see me about?

[Joe Friday]

Want to ask you a couple of questions.

[Frank Smith]

Sure, I'll go along with you. No reason for me not to. What do you want to know?

[Joe Friday]

How come you're home?

[Frank Smith]

Where'd you expect to find me?

[Joe Friday]

You're on parole, aren't you?

[Frank Smith]

Well, you knew that before you asked the question.

[Joe Friday]

Supposed to have a job?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, I got one.

[Joe Friday]

How come you're not working today?

[Frank Smith]

I see what you're getting at. I got a cold. Kind of virus infection. Figured I'd take the day off, get it all cleared up. I was in bed when you got here. That's the reason you had all the trouble.

[Joe Friday]

Your employer know where you are?

[Frank Smith]

Well, sure. I called him and told him I'm not trying to pull any deals. I've been punching the clock since I got out. I want to keep it that way.

[Joe Friday]

Where do you work?

[Frank Smith]

Parking lot downtown. Not killing the world, but I'm paying the rent. I got no beef.

[Joe Friday]

How do you spend your off time? What do you mean? When you're not working, what do you do mostly?

[Frank Smith]

Sit around the house, watch the tv.

[Joe Friday]

You go out nights? No, not much.

[Frank Smith]

Maybe every couple weeks. Sadie. Me go down to the Mexican place on the corner. Have dinner, taking a show. That's about it.

[Joe Friday]

You been out this week?

[Frank Smith]

What night?

[Joe Friday]

Tell us about all of them, will you?

[Frank Smith]

No go. I've been home every night.

[Joe Friday]

Can you prove that? Well, do I have to? It'll make you look better.

[Frank Smith]

Well, ask Sadie.

[Joe Friday]

She'll tell you.

[Frank Smith]

We've been home together every night. Just sitting here watching the table.

[Joe Friday]

What time do you go to work?

[Frank Smith]

I check in about seven.

[Joe Friday]

When you quit? 4:30.

[Frank Smith]

Once in a while, if it's crowded, I stay over.

[Joe Friday]

You work late this week? No.

[Frank Smith]

You can check that with the boss. He'll tell you.

[Joe Friday]

All right, we will.

[Frank Smith]

Well, what's this all about, huh? You guys are after something, aren't you?

[Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Frank Smith]

Well, why don't you tell me what it is? I hear stuff once in a while. Might be able to help you out.

[Joe Friday]

You see the old crowd anymore?

[Frank Smith]

North? Once in a while. They walk down the street. They nod. I nod.

[Joe Friday]

Nothing more. Now, what are you after, Tunnel jobs?

[Frank Smith]

You figured I might have a piece of that action, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Matches the way you work.

[Frank Smith]

No, it doesn't fit. I told you, I've been with the bucket since I got out. Even with taxes, I make more.

[Joe Friday]

You heard anything about who's working?

[Frank Smith]

Doesn't go out of this room.

[Joe Friday]

We won't take it. Okay.

[Frank Smith]

The boys found out I was giving you information. My insurance premiums sure go up real fast.

[Joe Friday]

Well, don't you worry about it. Now, what do you know?

[Frank Smith]

Where's the round? There's two guys.

[Joe Friday]

We had that going in.

[Frank Smith]

They pulled three jobs.

[Joe Friday]

Well, they made it four.

[Frank Smith]

I don't know about the other one.

[Joe Friday]

It'll be in the papers. You got a name? No.

[Frank Smith]

Just heard that they were working.

[Joe Friday]

Where'd you hear?

[Frank Smith]

A fellow down on Seventh. He sells papers down there. We have a cup of coffee once in a while. He told me.

[Joe Friday]

You know where we can get in touch with him?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, but it'd be better if you didn't, though. It'll lead right back to me. Sadie. Hey, wait a minute, honey. Where you going with the suitcase?

[Various Female Characters]

I'm Leaving you.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, come on, isn't anything serious.

[Various Female Characters]

You don't ever talk to me. Father do you a favor and you take their side. I've had it from you, bum.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, come on, Sadie, don't be sore.

[Various Female Characters]

Take your hand off of me.

[Frank Smith]

Baby, please don't be sore.

[Various Female Characters]

I'm gonna tell you once. Take your hand off of me.

[Frank Smith]

Look, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, Kate. What you going hit me for?

[Joe Friday]

Because you're a bum.

[Various Female Characters]

Don't go trying to get me to come back to you. I'm true this time.

[Joe Friday]

It's too bad, Paulie.

[Frank Smith]

No, it isn't, H. I've been trying to figure some way to get her to walk out since I got out of jail. Never been able to do it. I sure ain't sorry. I ought to buy you guys a drink for taking care of it for me. Only one thing that worries me is her big mouth. She's always talking. She might have heard me say I'd.

[Joe Friday]

Give you a hand.

[Frank Smith]

She blabs that around, I'm in real trouble.

[Joe Friday]

You didn't give us any name.

[Frank Smith]

That doesn't make any difference.

[Joe Friday]

She gets to talk and she'll have.

[Frank Smith]

Me telling you the name of every hoodlum in town. Whether that gets around, I'm a gone duck.

[Joe Friday]

I gotta get after her.

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, Sadie and her big mouse. You're gonna get me in trouble.

[Joe Friday]

Makes you even then, doesn't it, huh? Yours kept you out of it. Before we left the apartment, we checked Paulie's story and verified the fact that he was not implicated in the burglary. We drove down to the corner of 7th and Wild. We found the newsman Norris Pauley had told us about. We talked to him for about 15 minutes before we were able to convince him that he wouldn't get into trouble by giving us the information that he had. He told us what he knew about the tunnel burglaries. He was unable to give us a name of the suspect that he had in mind. But he did give us a description and the nickname Kiko. With this information, we returned to the city hall and checked the moniker file. There were several Kiko's listed, but only two that matched the description. The first one checked out clean. The second, of Franklin James Zwig, WMA, 33 years old, had done time in the state penitentiary as a cat burglar. We contacted the state authority and found that Zwig was on active parole. From them we got his address. We went out to see him. It was a small, one story modern house built in the early 30s. The chrome railing up the front stairs was rusty. And the paint on the front of the building was peeling. We rang the bell and waited. Yep. Your name's Wig? Yeah, that's right. Police officers. This is Sergeant Joe Friday. My name's Smith.

[Frank Smith]

What do you want me to do?

[Joe Friday]

Why don't you ask us in?

[Frank Smith]

So I was saying to you, I don't want to get the carpets dirty.

[Joe Friday]

Let's talk. Out. Come on, mister, get your coat.

[Narrator]

What for?

[Joe Friday]

I want to talk to you. About what? We'll tell you about it downtown.

[Frank Smith]

You make a charge or I ain't leaving the house.

[Joe Friday]

All right. Suspicion of Burgary.

[Frank Smith]

You going to drag that up again?

[Joe Friday]

We don't make the rules.

[Frank Smith]

Your time, once in your life, and the cops never get off your back.

[Joe Friday]

He should have thought of that going in.

[Frank Smith]

What good would it do you? Cops never learn.

[Joe Friday]

Well, you're not much of an example, are you?

[Frank Smith]

What's that mean?

[Joe Friday]

You're probably going back for another course. Before we took the suspect downtown, we made a thorough search of his home. We found nothing to tie him in with the burglary. He was taken to the squadron and questioned for over an hour. During that time, he'd say nothing. He was booked in at the main jail and Frank and I checked out of the office the next day, Wednesday, March 21st. We had him brought from his cell. We talked to him in the interrogation room in the main jail.

[Frank Smith]

How long you guys think you're gonna be able to hold me?

[Joe Friday]

Depends on when you decide to talk.

[Frank Smith]

Tell you what, cop, I'll make a deal with you.

[Joe Friday]

No deals. What do you mean? We don't want you. We want the guy who engineered the burglaries.

[Frank Smith]

Well, then why don't you let me go now?

[Joe Friday]

Want to make sure the story gets a play in the papers.

[Frank Smith]

Well, what's that gonna prove?

[Joe Friday]

Your friend will get worried. He'll figure you're gonna talk.

[Frank Smith]

Look, if I was mixed up in anything, I'm not, one way or the other. But if I was, why should he get worried?

[Joe Friday]

Words out that he's the brains.

[Frank Smith]

Where's that from? All over town. It's not true the way we got it.

[Joe Friday]

Stories around you went along for the ride. Other fella did all the brain work.

[Frank Smith]

Who said that?

[Joe Friday]

Everybody we've talked to.

[Frank Smith]

Well, then if everybody's talking about him, why ain't he here instead of me?

[Joe Friday]

Because he's a smart one of the pair. Somebody's got a fall, might as well be you.

[Frank Smith]

If he can pick up another partner, you tell me. The real scamp.

[Joe Friday]

That's the way we get it.

[Frank Smith]

Not true.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, he only got your word for that. All I know is, if I ever get in trouble, I'd want to make sure I had a pigeon waiting to take the beef.

[Frank Smith]

You're here, he's out.

[Joe Friday]

Now you tell me who's smart.

[Frank Smith]

How'd you get to me?

[Joe Friday]

Was in the books.

[Frank Smith]

Not like this.

[Joe Friday]

I fell for cat burglary.

[Frank Smith]

Nothing to do with tunnel jobs. Somebody had to blow the whistle.

[Joe Friday]

That so?

[Frank Smith]

Sure. You had no call to pick me up. Just right out of left field, you walk in. Who did it?

[Joe Friday]

Who made the call?

[Frank Smith]

Somebody did, huh? Somebody pointed me out. Come on. I know who it was. You ain't gonna get him in trouble telling me. Somebody told you, didn't they?

[Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Frank Smith]

It all fits real good. Well, I tell you, this cop, I ain't that dumb. A lot of things I've done that I don't want anybody to know about. But I never blew the whistle on a friend. That's one thing I didn't do. All that stuff about him being the brains. It's a lot of coconuts. He can't get into a phone booth without help. I figured the whole deal. It was me who said we'd had it and ought to stop. He wanted to keep going. That's why I left.

[Joe Friday]

When was this?

[Frank Smith]

Night before last. After we got through. He was sore because there was only a little over $4,000 in the box. We heard there was around 10.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Said he wanted to make a big.

[Joe Friday]

Score before we quit.

[Frank Smith]

Said to go together on one more. Told me what he wanted to do. I wanted no part of it.

[Joe Friday]

The guy's off his rocker. I left. What's he got in mind?

[Frank Smith]

You know, wants to tunnel into a bank.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action.

[Joe Friday]

We continue to talk to Franklin Zwig. From him, we got a complete description of the second suspect and the name Lester Crow. We checked the name through R and I, and we came up with a record for him. Listed were several arrests for purse snatching and suspicion of assault. In spite of the arrest, Kroll hadn't served any time in jail. We showed the mug shot in the package to Zwig, and we got a positive identification. We asked the suspect in custody where Crow lived. He gave us an address on South Figueroa. But when we checked there, we found that Crowell had left without giving a forwarding address. We talked to all of the people listed in his packages. Having known the suspect, none of them could or would tell us where the man was. We questioned Franklin's wig further, but he was unable to tell us what bank Crowell had in mind. We contacted Vernon of the bank of America, Frank Stumpf of the Security first national, and other special agents of Southern California banks. They, in turn, notified the branch managers to be on the lookout for evidence of Kroll working in their neighborhoods. Special MO Bulletins were put out to all officers in the city giving particulars on the methods the suspect was known to use. In addition to these, local broadcasts and APBs were gotten out on all suspects. For a week, the search dragged on. During that time, there were no further reports of attempted tunnelings and no sign of Lester Crow. Friday, March 30, 8:01am I checked into the office. Frank was waiting for me. Morning, old buddy. Hi, Frank. Beautiful day, huh? No, it's a little cold out. Yeah, but it doesn't make any difference to you, huh, old buddy? No. No, it doesn't. You feel any different?

[Frank Smith]

Hmm?

[Joe Friday]

You feel any different today than you did yesterday? Are you all right? Never felt better. How about you, old buddy? Yeah, I'm fine. Hey, just a minute. I know what's wrong. You do, huh?

[Various Female Characters]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

You didn't think I'd forget, did you? Listen, I don't even know what you're talking about. Ah, come on, old buddy. Just a minute. I'll get it. Got it right over here. Right up on the top shelf. I brought it in myself. There you are, Joe. Wrapped it myself through. Looks pretty good, huh? Yeah, I guess it does. I didn't have nothing to put on the top, so I found a couple of Christmas tree ornaments, put them on with a ribbon. That's nice. Come on, dig down in there. Well, what is it? Go ahead, open it up. Got him. Yesterday after lunch. Thought I wasn't ever gonna get you out of the way. Remember when I told you I was going out to buy a new hat? Remember? You know, Frank, I think maybe you made a little mistake. Oh, just take the top right off the box, Joe. Open it right up. All right. There. What do you think? Well, they're very nice, Frank.

[Narrator]

You bet.

[Joe Friday]

Police line slippers. Got a pair myself. Greatest thing in the world, a cold morning. Keep your feet warm, Joe. Police is warm, you know. Yeah, I got a pair myself.

[Narrator]

See the card?

[Joe Friday]

There's a card there. Open it up. Go on, read it. Go ahead. Out loud? Sure. This is the day that comes once a year the day your face does shine A happy Day for one and all. Because today you're nine. Doesn't match too good, I guess. It's all I had at the shoe store. Happy birthday, Joe. You know, I just don't know what to say, Frank. Well, I know how you feel, old buddy. I understand you're all kind of choked up, huh? Mm, Yes, I am. This isn't my birthday, you know. Oh, you choked up, huh? This is not my birthday, Frank.

[Narrator]

Well, that's the 30th, isn't it? March 30th.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. My birthday's August 30th. Now, wait a minute, buddy. It can't be. I got it right here in my little book. Wait a minute.

[Various Female Characters]

See?

[Joe Friday]

See right here. March 30th, Joe's birthday. I wrote that myself. You know my handwriting. March 30th. Yeah, you got the date right. But it's not mine. You kidding me, Frank? I know my own birthday, huh? It's funny. Must be somebody who do I know named Joe? I get it, Joe. Burglary, Friday. Yes, sir. August 30th. That's right. Where is that? I see. All right, sir, we'll be right out. Yes, sir, right away. Come on, old buddy. We got one to Roll on, huh? August 3rd, huh? I say we gotta roll. Let's go. Barry, over at the Street Department, we got a call this morning. Yeah? Looks like somebody's trying to dig a tunnel in the storm. Frank and I left the office and we drove over to the corner of Silver Lake Boulevard and McCollum Street. We met with Barry Falcon of the Street Department. He led us to a manhole in the middle of the intersection. He told us that there'd been numerous complaints from citizens in the area, that the COVID on the outlet kept rattling. When the Street Department checked it, they found that the cushioning material around the metal plate had been removed. It was replaced. But the next day there were several more calls. When the neighbors were questioned, they told of a man who arrived in the pickup truck about 2:30 in the morning. He'd lift the COVID and enter the storm drain before the daylight hours. He'd leave and he'd drive away. From the description they gave, it was possible that the repairman was from the Street Maintenance Department. But a check of their record showed that no crews were working in that area. After talking with Falcon, Frank and I climbed down the ladder into the drain. We walked about 20ft up the tunnel and we found the reason that we'd been called.

[Narrator]

Barry.

[Joe Friday]

Tell you what's over us. Well, near as we can figure it's the vault in the bank and sure is a kid. Take a look over here. Got all the equipment, lamps, couple of drills. Yeah, he's not gonna be able to use them unless he ties into an electric line someplace. I probably figured he'd run into one. What's that over there in the corner? We'll take a look. Can you see it?

[Narrator]

No.

[Joe Friday]

Better leave it alone. What do you got? He's got it all figured. What do you mean? Bottle over there? Yeah, looks like nitroglycerin. The people in the immediate vicinity were shown the mud shots of Lester Crow, who was positively identified as the man who had worked in the storm drain. We asked about the truck, but none of the people could give us a good description of it. The employees in the bank were cautioned and Frank and I arranged for a 24 hour surveillance to be set up on the storm drain outlet. Two days passed without activity. And then on Monday, April 3rd, we waited in our car down the street from the intersection. 2:20am Another cup of coffee, Joe? Yeah, wouldn't be bad. Boy, sure gets cold this time in the morning. Say, I finally figured it out. What do you mean? Who Joe was. What's that? Here. God's hot. Yeah, thank you. Joe. You know the name of my book? The birthday? Oh, yeah, yeah. It's our mailman. It's our mailman. It was his birthday. Oh, I got him one of those cards that says we're sorry we forgot. You know the kind. We gave him the card and the card and the cigarettes. Old Joe sure got a kick out of it. Sure gets cold this time of the morning. Take a look. Yeah, I see it parking there. You see his face? But from here, will he gets on. Look at that. Even got a hook for the manhole cover. How do you like that? Watch it now. He's going under the light. It's him. All right. Let's let him get down in the storm drain. That way we'll be able to get him while he's working. Right. Let him get in there. Okay. Okay, let's go. You want to give me a hand with a cover? Yeah. Let's go. All right.

[Frank Smith]

Okay.

[Joe Friday]

Hold it up a minute. Give him a chance to get to work. Yeah. All right. Okay, let's go. Come on.

[Frank Smith]

All right.

[Joe Friday]

Sure. Not wasting any time. Probably figures on making a break this morning. Uh huh. Take it. Easy enough. Right. You seem good now. Sure going after him. All right. Come on, let's take him. All right. Come on. How about it? He's dead. Look at that. See up there. He ran into one of the power lines. Into the bank? Yeah. He almost made it, Joe. Couple of more inches, he'd have gotten in. He must have figured wrong someplace. Made a mistake somewhere. Yeah, when he bought that drill.

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard is true.

[Joe Friday]

The names were changed to protect the innocent.

[Narrator]

On August 16, trial was held in Department 97, Superior Court of the State of California in and for the county of Los Angeles. In a moment, the results of that trial. Franklin James Wig was tried and convicted of burglary in the second degree, three counts, and received sentence as prescribed by law. Burglary in the second degree is punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less than 1 nor more than 15 years in the state penitentiary. At a coroner's inquest, the death of Lester Bruce Kroll was found to be accidental, occurring while in the commission of a felony. 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 apartment. Ladies and gentlemen, the story you're about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Dragnet.

[Joe Friday]

You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to the business office. Past records show that you can expect 170 crimes to occur in the city during the next 24 hours. You don't know where, you don't know when. Your job. Handle them.

[Narrator]

Dragman. 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]

It was Saturday, July 10th. It was hot in Los Angeles. We've been assigned to the business office. Morning watch. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Gilbert. My name's Friday. I was on my way back from the coffee room and it was 12:10am when I got back to room 21, the business office. Well, fine.

[Frank Smith]

What?

[Joe Friday]

Hey, who you talking to, buddy?

[Frank Smith]

Oh, hi, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Hi.

[Frank Smith]

Hey, try to stay around, will you?

[Joe Friday]

I've been here 20 minutes. I've had 29 phone calls and written three reports. Okay. I brought you some coffee back. Oh, thanks. Hey, how you feeling? Any better? Oh, a little bit. I don't know what it is. I ache all over. I think I'm coming down with a cold. That's too bad. A lot of that going around. Yeah. Where's Skipper? He ran over the Crime lab one talked to. How about the pool cards? You check them?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, the books are someplace.

[Joe Friday]

There it is. Right on that paper there. No, over there. There? Oh, yeah. Five of them out. Checks in the book. Yes, ma'. Am. Something we do for you?

[Various Female Characters]

You a detective?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, that's right.

[Various Female Characters]

All right, young man, my car's been stolen.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Various Female Characters]

I told one of the officers on the corner about it, but he said it might work faster if I came up here.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, that's right.

[Various Female Characters]

The car is stolen. All you've got to do is go out and find it. Just find my car.

[Joe Friday]

What kind of a car is it?

[Various Female Characters]

Well, it was a brand new Chevrolet.

[Joe Friday]

That's 1954.

[Various Female Characters]

That's right. BEL Air with the windows that fold down.

[Joe Friday]

All right. Now, we'll need to know some more things here before we can start looking for it.

[Narrator]

Yes?

[Various Female Characters]

What's that?

[Joe Friday]

Your name?

[Various Female Characters]

Avis Bowen.

[Joe Friday]

That's a V. I, S. Well, that's right.

[Various Female Characters]

There's no other way to spell it. Avis Bowen?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am. Do you have a middle initial?

[Various Female Characters]

Ah. Hope you're not going to ask me what it stands for.

[Joe Friday]

No, that won't be necessary.

[Various Female Characters]

There isn't anybody that knows what my middle name is.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am. All we want is the initial.

[Various Female Characters]

Well, that's all you're going to get.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Mrs. Bowen.

[Various Female Characters]

It's Miss.

[Joe Friday]

What's the license number?

[Various Female Characters]

Oh, now, I think it's 1U44441.

[Joe Friday]

All right. Wait just a moment, please.

[Various Female Characters]

Who are you calling now?

[Joe Friday]

Dmv.

[Various Female Characters]

Who's that?

[Joe Friday]

Department of Motor Vehicles.

[Various Female Characters]

Oh, my. All this going on, it's a wonder you ever catch anybody.

[Joe Friday]

Hi, Harry. This Friday over at the business office. California license one union 44441. That's right.

[Various Female Characters]

Tell them it's a Bel Air with the windows that fold down by themselves.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am. I'll do it. Doesn't it? Well, hold on here. You sure about that license number?

[Various Female Characters]

What do you mean?

[Joe Friday]

Well, it kind of looks like you made a little mistake, Ms. Bowen.

[Various Female Characters]

I did not. The car stolen.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, we understand that, but you gave us the wrong license number.

[Various Female Characters]

1U4 4441. I remember it because of all the fours.

[Joe Friday]

Harry, I'll call you back. Ms. Bowen, that number is registered to a 1940 Studebaker.

[Various Female Characters]

My license number?

[Joe Friday]

Well, I don't know. But the one you gave me. Yes, ma'. Am.

[Various Female Characters]

19 and 54 Chevrolet Bel Air. Windows that fold down by themselves.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Various Female Characters]

Am I understand there must be several hundred cars that look like that. You've seen them before. Well, you act like you've never seen a car like that. There are lots of them around. Mine's light blue with a gold on top.

[Joe Friday]

We still need the license number. Do you think you have it at home?

[Various Female Characters]

Yes, I guess so.

[Joe Friday]

All right, fine. If you'll phone it into us, we can still.

[Various Female Characters]

Well, how do you expect me to get there, ma'?

[Frank Smith]

Am?

[Joe Friday]

Home.

[Various Female Characters]

How do you expect me to get there?

[Joe Friday]

We'll have a car drop you off.

[Various Female Characters]

Well, it's about time I was getting some kind of service around here.

[Frank Smith]

Yes, ma'.

[Narrator]

Am.

[Various Female Characters]

Think I'll write a letter to the papers about this.

[Joe Friday]

All right, ma'. Am.

[Various Female Characters]

The whole thing, Right down to that TMV or whatever it is. Expose the whole mess. Oh, you're gonna be mighty sorry you ever opened this can of beans.

[Joe Friday]

We're doing the best we can, ma'. Am.

[Various Female Characters]

Well, that's not very much. Standing around here making phone calls isn't finding my car.

[Joe Friday]

Well, you said it yourself, didn't you?

[Frank Smith]

What's that?

[Joe Friday]

There must be several hundred cars like yours here in the city.

[Various Female Characters]

Yes.

[Joe Friday]

Well, without the right license number, how are we gonna find it?

[Various Female Characters]

You ought to be ashamed of yourself, ma'.

[Narrator]

Am.

[Various Female Characters]

You're nothing but a fake.

[Joe Friday]

I beg your pardon?

[Various Female Characters]

You ain't no detective.

[Joe Friday]

The business office, room 21. It's open 24 hours a day, but it's after the detention division closes that it begins to work. While patrol units in the city function normally, the men in the business office give advice on booking procedure, policy matters and other police business. They issue pool cars and riot guns. And in the event of an emergency, they act as advisors in an overall plan for the dispersal of policemen. The captain on duty is, in effect, the acting chief of police. On the average weeknight, the activities are slow and routine. But over the weekend, the men involved can expect to handle several hundred phone calls from the thousands put through the complaint board. These calls deal with every crime in the municipal and penal code. In addition to this, they handle the citizen traffic through the city Hall. Next door is a report room where statements are taken and forwarded to the captains of the detective divisions for appropriate action. Frank and I checked in at 12 midnight and for the following half hour we did business as usual. At 12:41am we got a hotshot call reporting the sound of shots in the 4200 block on Albany Street. At 1243, the call was changed to a shooting and ambulance Follow up at 12:45, the Hotshot phone rang again. That's shooting. Yeah, it's a homicide now. Gonna call a unit. Better have him check it. Yeah, Same address as the shots. Couple of houses. This Friday, business office. Will you put out a call to 1K5? Have him cover the shooting and ambulance follow up at 4289. That's 4289 Albany. You got it? Right. Thank you. Looks like a good one, huh? Yeah. Turns out we'll get Geezy out of bed. That'll make him happy. It'll end up in their laps.

[Frank Smith]

Hi, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Bob. What do you got?

[Frank Smith]

You want to sit down there, Pop?

[Joe Friday]

Let me see.

[Frank Smith]

I don't know. We found in front of one of the burlesque houses. I mean, place was closed. He was just standing out there looking at the pictures.

[Joe Friday]

You got a name on it? Mm.

[Narrator]

Mm.

[Frank Smith]

Haven't been able to get him to say anything. You want to give it a try?

[Joe Friday]

All right. Go and tell us who you are, old fella. Come on. We want to help you, but there's not much we can do if you won't tell us your name.

[Frank Smith]

Doing about as good as we did.

[Joe Friday]

Don't.

[Frank Smith]

Guy look pretty wobbly when we stopped. What do you want to do?

[Joe Friday]

Well, we have to take him over to Georgia Street. Wait a minute. You got a wallet? All right, let me look at it, will you? Maybe there's something in here that'll help us. Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

And the money?

[Joe Friday]

No. A few cards here. Nothing with a name on it. What's that one there? Something written on the back. Looks like a phone number. That's what it is. You want to call and see if they know who he is? Yeah. Give it a try.

[Frank Smith]

Need to sit still.

[Joe Friday]

Right there. Hello? This Officer Frank Smith, Los Angeles Police Department. No, there was nothing wrong. We have a man here in the office. He's carrying a card with his phone on it. Wonder if you can tell us who he is. Yes, ma'. Am. Well, he looks to be in his late 70s. We've got white hair. That's right. Always wearing a brown wool sweater, black pants and a black top hat.

[Frank Smith]

That's right.

[Joe Friday]

You want to give me that again? Mm, no, he's all right. Yeah, that's right. We'll have him brought home right away.

[Frank Smith]

Yes, ma'.

[Joe Friday]

Am. Thank you. Now we got it. His name's McKinley Dunn. He lives out on Vincent Avenue in Highland Park.

[Frank Smith]

Talked to his daughter.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah? She says I got into an argument after breakfast. McKinley here just got up and walked.

[Frank Smith]

Out of the house.

[Joe Friday]

She hasn't seen him since. Pretty worried about him.

[Frank Smith]

Figures.

[Joe Friday]

Says he's always kind of independent. Well, better run him home.

[Frank Smith]

You want us take over?

[Joe Friday]

No, we can't have you out of service that long. I'll call Highland park, have them pick him up. You want to take him over to York Boulevard, make the transfer thereabout.

[Frank Smith]

Sure thing, boys. Thank you.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Mr. Dunn. Here you are. I'll put this back in your pocket.

[Frank Smith]

Come on, sir. We'll take you home. Thanks, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

It's no trouble. Bob, tell the boys from Highland park to have his daughter put a card in the wallet with all the information on it. When you make it easier next time. Sure. That car's not gonna do any good, Joe. Car's not gonna help. Daughter says she always puts one in. As soon as the old man gets out of the house, he tears it up. I got it. Business office Friday. Uh huh. Photographer get there? How many? You get the story? Yeah, we'll bring him in. Do what you can. All right, we'll see you then. Sam and one K5 on the shooting? Yeah, they got two suspects in custody. They're bringing them both in. Huh. Third man left the scene. Sam says the accidental death possibility is out now. Yeah, it's a clean case of murder. Ten minutes later, the officers in Unit 1K5 arrived with the two suspects. They were identified as Fred and Harriet Purcell. The names were run through R and I, but no record was found on either one of them. It was obvious that the the two people had been drinking heavily. The husband was taken to the report room while Frank and I questioned the woman.

[Various Female Characters]

I don't remember too good. Everything seemed to happen so fast. Just all of a sudden there was this kind of noise and Norman was dead.

[Joe Friday]

Norman? Is that the victim? Yeah.

[Various Female Characters]

Norman Mancrief.

[Joe Friday]

You must know who had the gun.

[Various Female Characters]

I've been saying that to myself, but it doesn't do anything. I guess I had too much to drink.

[Joe Friday]

Who else was in the apartment with you?

[Various Female Characters]

You mean besides Fred and me?

[Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Various Female Characters]

There's just the three of us. That's all.

[Joe Friday]

We got a report there was another man present.

[Various Female Characters]

Well, then you know more than me.

[Joe Friday]

All right, you want to give us the whole story?

[Various Female Characters]

The beginning When?

[Joe Friday]

From the start. Okay.

[Various Female Characters]

I had a toothpull this morning. I guess that's what caused all our trouble.

[Joe Friday]

How's that?

[Various Female Characters]

My tooth. It was impacted. I had it full and a dentist gave me a shot of Novocaine. You pull it through? A gangster? I. I got home and the hurricane started to wear off. The whole side of my face started to hurt terrible. Yeah, Well, I told Fred about was terrible pain. I tried to tell him how much it hurts. He's a quad. Told me to have a drink and forget it. And it wasn't long before we were having a beef.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, Fred.

[Various Female Characters]

He isn't very bright at times, you know. Think I thought I'd have a little sympathy for his wife at a time like that.

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Various Female Characters]

Not old Fred. He's a quad. Told me to pour myself a little drinky and shut up.

[Joe Friday]

Was Man Creek there at the time? Yeah.

[Various Female Characters]

Him and Fred had been playing pinochle when I came home. I guess they'd been at it all afternoon. Norman was on my side. Made Fred mad. Time we got to fighting pretty good. Norman was right with me.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Various Female Characters]

Telling Freddie ought to be quiet. I think Fred was sore about being beat at Pinnacle.

[Joe Friday]

He was.

[Various Female Characters]

Thinks he's frigate Fire. Not long after that, there was a shot and Norman was dead.

[Joe Friday]

Were you in the room at the time?

[Various Female Characters]

No.

[Joe Friday]

Where were you?

[Various Female Characters]

Out in the kitchen. I went out to get some more ice.

[Joe Friday]

Who was in the room when you left?

[Various Female Characters]

Just Fred, Norman.

[Joe Friday]

No one else?

[Various Female Characters]

If there was, I'd have told you.

[Joe Friday]

Just a minute. I'll get it. This is office Friday. No, ma'.

[Frank Smith]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

No, ma'. Am. You'll have to call in tomorrow.

[Frank Smith]

Yes, ma'.

[Joe Friday]

Am. That's right. What's going here? You know Mrs. Regmond?

[Frank Smith]

Who?

[Joe Friday]

Leo Regmond.

[Various Female Characters]

Yeah, what about her?

[Joe Friday]

She told the investigating officers there was another man in the apartment. Said that he left right after she heard the shots.

[Various Female Characters]

She would always gotta know where it doesn't belong.

[Joe Friday]

Well, she's pretty certain about what she saw.

[Various Female Characters]

Then ask. She saw the man. Let her tell you who he was.

[Joe Friday]

I don't think it'd be better if you did.

[Various Female Characters]

Then it ain't gonna be good, because I don't know.

[Joe Friday]

Did you hear anybody come into the place when you were in the kitchen?

[Frank Smith]

Nope.

[Joe Friday]

Pretty sure of that, huh?

[Various Female Characters]

Now look, I got enough trouble. Me and my old man's in jail. My face feels like it's coming off. I want to get home and get some sleep. If I knew anything, I'd have told you a long time ago. Now leave me alone.

[Joe Friday]

What did you do after you heard the shot?

[Various Female Characters]

Went in to see what it was.

[Joe Friday]

Mm.

[Various Female Characters]

That's all. Just opened the door and looked. Norman was lying there on the floor.

[Joe Friday]

Where's your husband?

[Various Female Characters]

Just standing there looking at Norman.

[Joe Friday]

What was? The gun?

[Various Female Characters]

Fred had it Whose gun is it? I don't know.

[Joe Friday]

You never saw it before?

[Various Female Characters]

I don't like guns. I don't like to have them around. Don't look at them when they are. I never saw it before. You talked to Fred yet?

[Joe Friday]

No, not yet.

[Various Female Characters]

Well, he'll tell you the same story. Same way I told him new slaves. No need to even talk to him.

[Joe Friday]

Is that right?

[Frank Smith]

Sure.

[Various Female Characters]

You already got it the way I told you. What more you want?

[Joe Friday]

Just one thing I can think of.

[Various Female Characters]

Yeah?

[Joe Friday]

The truth.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Dragnet. The authentic story of your police force in action.

[Joe Friday]

Frank and I attempted to talk to the husband, Fed Purcell. He was too drunk to be coherent. We made arrangements for some hot coffee to be brought in. His wife was taken to the interrogation room to wait until we could fill out the reports. At 4:20am we got another hotshot call regarding a cutting on South 5th Street Street. The investigating officers found the knifing had resulted from a quarrel between a man and his common law wife. The woman was in critical condition. She was removed to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital and the husband was booked in at the main jail on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. We notified Chief of Detectives Thad Brown and Captain Lorman of the shooting and the cutting. During the next hour, there were two armed robbery reports, several burglaries and numerous fights. 5:31am Frank went down the hall and brought back two beef and cheese sandwiches and some coffee. At 5:46, we got a call from the men in unit 1K5 telling us that they were on the way into the office with a gun that had been used in the killing of Norman Mancrief. Ten minutes later, two uniformed officers brought in a pair of possible car thieves. One of them was held in the hall while Frank and I talked to the driver of the car, a Melville Hulbert, age 19. Where'd you get the car?

[Frank Smith]

I bought it.

[Joe Friday]

Where? Well, from a lady.

[Frank Smith]

She put an ad in the paper. Said she had this year sharp 52 fault for some.

[Joe Friday]

You remember what paper?

[Frank Smith]

Well, no, sir. I think it was one of them morning ones.

[Joe Friday]

When did you buy the car?

[Frank Smith]

I don't know.

[Joe Friday]

Well, you must have some idea. Oh.

[Frank Smith]

Reckon maybe it was in January. Yeah, around there in January.

[Joe Friday]

Let me take a look at your driver's license, will you?

[Frank Smith]

Yes, sir.

[Joe Friday]

There you are. Take it out of the wallet, will you?

[Frank Smith]

Oh, yes, sir. Here it is.

[Joe Friday]

This your present address, sir. You still live here on Echo Park Boulevard?

[Frank Smith]

No, sir, I moved. I got me placed over on Olympic.

[Joe Friday]

How long you lived there?

[Frank Smith]

You mean on Olympic, sir?

[Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Frank Smith]

I know. Reckon maybe a couple months.

[Joe Friday]

Don't you know for sure?

[Frank Smith]

Well, see, I got this here bad memory. I think it's been a couple months.

[Joe Friday]

You live with your family?

[Frank Smith]

No, sir. They down south.

[Joe Friday]

Where's that?

[Frank Smith]

New Orleans.

[Joe Friday]

They know you're out here?

[Frank Smith]

Yes, sir.

[Joe Friday]

When did you come to California? August, last year.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, yeah. Last year.

[Joe Friday]

You got a job?

[Frank Smith]

Aircraft factory out in the valley.

[Joe Friday]

It's kind of long drive to work for you, isn't it?

[Frank Smith]

Yes, sir, but I got a good deal on the place I live at, see?

[Joe Friday]

How come you haven't reported the change of address to the Department of Motor Vehicles?

[Frank Smith]

Reckon I just forgot I got this year. Bad memory, you know.

[Joe Friday]

When you bought the car, did you finance it, sir? You buy it on time, you pay cash for it?

[Frank Smith]

The cash.

[Joe Friday]

You got the pay slip then, haven't you?

[Frank Smith]

Lady sold it to me. Signed it.

[Joe Friday]

Where is it?

[Frank Smith]

I don't know, sir.

[Joe Friday]

Didn't she give it to you?

[Frank Smith]

No, sir. She just told me she was going to send it to Sacramento someplace.

[Joe Friday]

Did you get any kind of a receipt for your money?

[Frank Smith]

Yes, sir.

[Joe Friday]

Well, where is it?

[Frank Smith]

In my wallet.

[Joe Friday]

Let's see.

[Frank Smith]

Yes, sir, I got it right here someplace. Pretty funny about this.

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Frank Smith]

I wouldn't steal no car. It's pretty funny. You think I did all right.

[Joe Friday]

Now, how about that receipt? Have you found it yet?

[Frank Smith]

Yes, sir. Now, here it is.

[Joe Friday]

Who wrote this?

[Frank Smith]

Lady sold me the car.

[Joe Friday]

That's her name. Here.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, yeah, I guess so. She wrote it.

[Joe Friday]

When did you say you bought the car?

[Frank Smith]

Around January, I guess.

[Joe Friday]

This year, huh?

[Frank Smith]

Yes, sir.

[Joe Friday]

You sure you couldn't be wrong about the date?

[Frank Smith]

Well, now, I don't know.

[Narrator]

Maybe.

[Joe Friday]

Where'd you meet the woman who wrote this receipt?

[Frank Smith]

At her place.

[Joe Friday]

Where's that?

[Frank Smith]

Out in Westwood. I think that's what you call it. Apartment out there.

[Joe Friday]

You remember the address?

[Frank Smith]

No, sir.

[Joe Friday]

Haven't got any idea at all where it is, huh?

[Frank Smith]

Well, I was up on Wiltshire. I know that apartment on the second floor. I think it was number B or something like that.

[Various Female Characters]

I don't know.

[Joe Friday]

Right. Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Okay. Now, what'd you make all that big deal about when I bought the car?

[Joe Friday]

Date on the bill of sale is a year ago.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, somebody must have made a mistake.

[Joe Friday]

Now, we knew that when you walked in. We're trying to find out who. What do you got, anything? Yeah, checks out names in the book.

[Frank Smith]

Less apartment B. Yeah, now, that could be it. I know. That was on the second Floor looks right out on Wilshire Boulevard.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Mel, you go over there and sit down. We'll be right with you.

[Frank Smith]

It's gonna be okay.

[Joe Friday]

We'll see.

[Frank Smith]

Now, look, I didn't steal that car, mister. I should have told him about how I moved, but I did not steal the car.

[Joe Friday]

All right, you go there and sit down, will you?

[Frank Smith]

Yes.

[Joe Friday]

What do you think? I don't know. Seems to check out. Date on the bill of sale. Could be a mistake. Woman might have just written the wrong year. Yeah, it's pretty close to first, if it happened. Like to give the kid his first felony booking, don't you? Yeah. What do you want to do? Well, let's hold him over till we can check with the woman. Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Officers gonna be all right?

[Joe Friday]

We'll see.

[Frank Smith]

You ain't gonna send me?

[Joe Friday]

No, not yet. You can wait down the hall, will you now?

[Frank Smith]

Long as you know I did not steal a car.

[Joe Friday]

We'll check with a woman first thing in the morning. I want to tell you one thing, though.

[Frank Smith]

Yes, sir?

[Joe Friday]

We're going to give you a break by not booking you right now. Don't make us sorry about it.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, no, sir. Thank you.

[Joe Friday]

All right, go on, get out of here.

[Frank Smith]

Where's Jimmy?

[Joe Friday]

He's down the hall. The officer there will take you.

[Frank Smith]

Yes, sir. Officers.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Various Female Characters]

Thank you again, you hear?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. You take care of that bad memory, will you? I got headquarters, Smith. Oh, yeah? Yeah. What's the address? No, he's not here. Just a second, I'll check. Policeman out in Hollywood wants permission to kill a skunk.

[Frank Smith]

What?

[Joe Friday]

Wants to kill a skunk caught in a trap. I guess it's all right if it's the only way they can get rid of it. Well, the way he puts it, it is all right.

[Frank Smith]

Go ahead.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. What's that? I don't know. You better check with the watch commander. Yes. Okay. Good night. We got an injured animal report. Turns out the people out there had trouble with skunks. Got a permit for the traps and caught one tonight. Once they had it, they didn't know how to get rid of it. I better make a report on it. Must have been pretty funny. Officer said we could use the skunk in the department. What was that? Officer said we could use the skunk in the department. Says he'd qualify on the target range any day. I get it. Headquarters, Friday. No, no. We got the word. Where you been? Check out with a lamp. All right. Norway, 1K5. Yeah, they just picked up a third person in the shoot. Three minutes later. The officers in unit 1K5 brought in a tired looking man in his late 20s. His name was Harry Carnell. He'd been drinking, but he seemed to be in complete control of his faculties. He ran his name through R and I, but we found no record on him. The officers also brought in the murder weapon, a.32 caliber automatic. The check of gun records gave us the name of the store where it had been bought and the name of the owner. According to the registration, it belonged to Fred Purcell. The crime lab reported that there were no fingerprints on the weapon. We tried once more to talk to Purcell, but again we were unable to. We asked Harry Carnell, the latest suspect, to tell us the story of the shooting.

[Frank Smith]

I went up to the place to collect some money. Mancrifoed me.

[Joe Friday]

What happened when you got to the apartment?

[Frank Smith]

Knocked on the door and Purcell let me in.

[Joe Friday]

Who was in the room?

[Frank Smith]

Just him and Mancrief.

[Joe Friday]

That's all? Yeah. All right, Go ahead.

[Frank Smith]

I came in, said I had to have the loot and Mancraft told me he was Stony Bill. He said to check him out. Purcell got on his back, said he was always Welch. And then the beef started.

[Joe Friday]

You mean between them, huh?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. They were both pretty gassed when I got there.

[Joe Friday]

You have anything to drink with him? No.

[Frank Smith]

No, I had a date, sir.

[Joe Friday]

That's what I needed the money for. I got a girl with a pretty big appetite.

[Frank Smith]

I was broke and I figured I'd tap Mancrif for what he owed me.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Frank Smith]

Anyway, these two got in a big beef. Purcell told Mancreef to get out.

[Narrator]

He wouldn't go.

[Frank Smith]

So Purcell ran over to a desk there in the room and hauled out this big gun star to blaze away.

[Joe Friday]

How many shots did he fire? One.

[Frank Smith]

Well, one's all I remember. Might have been more, but I didn't spend a lot of time counting.

[Joe Friday]

Just one, huh? Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

A guy sets a clay pigeon on your head, you ain't gonna stand there.

[Joe Friday]

What happened then?

[Frank Smith]

Purcell pointed the gun at me, Said I should get out too. I didn't feel like telling him he was wrong.

[Joe Friday]

During the time you were there, did you see anybody else at all? No.

[Frank Smith]

Fred's wife was around someplace, I guess.

[Joe Friday]

Why'd he say that?

[Frank Smith]

Well, they started yelling at each other. I heard man creep say they bothered Harriet. That's Fred's wife. Harriet.

[Joe Friday]

I took off like a big bird. Where'd you go?

[Frank Smith]

My place. Had a couple of belts and then walked by the apartment to see what was going on. No broad there started yelling about how I was the guy who ran out of the place after the shooting. Next thing I know, I got the collar on.

[Joe Friday]

Here I am. What was Purcell doing when you last saw him?

[Frank Smith]

Standing over Mancrif, holding the gun. Looking like a cover on a pulp magazine.

[Joe Friday]

You willing to sign a statement on what you just told us?

[Narrator]

Sure.

[Frank Smith]

I got no part in this action. Just went to collect a bet at the wrong time, that's all. Pretty lousy night. Missed my date, didn't collect the money, end up in the can. It's pretty lousy. But I'm not the only one, though.

[Joe Friday]

Old Purcell always thought he was such.

[Frank Smith]

A great card player. He's a real fish. He lost six bucks tonight.

[Joe Friday]

You're part right, huh? He lost more than that, didn't he? Perry Carnell was taken to the report room where he made a full statement. At 7:03am Lt. Ray Geese from Homicide Division came in and took over the investigation. Fred Purcell was questioned and he made a voluntary statement that he'd shot and killed Norman Mankrit. He couldn't remember why he'd done it. He was removed to the main jail and booked in on a charge of violation of section 192pc manslaughter. His wife and Carnell were released from custody. We made out reports to all divisions for the follow ups on crimes committed during the night. At 8:02am the men on the day watch came in and relieved us. It's gonna be a nice day. Yeah. A few clouds up there might keep the heat down. Yeah. Let's go. You want to stop for breakfast? Well, I guess we might as well. Yeah. What do you think, Joe? You like to drive the business office for permanent duty? No, sir. Not me, I guess. Okay, once in a while. I don't think I'd like it steady though, huh? Not busy enough. The story you have just heard is true. The names were change to protect the innocent.

[Narrator]

On November 18, trial was held in Department 98, Superior Court of the State of California in and for the county of Los Angeles. In a moment, the results of that trial. Further investigation proved that the purchase of the automobile by Melville Hulbert was legal and no further charges were were made. Frederick Neil Purcell was tried and found guilty of manslaughter and received punishment as prescribed by law. Manslaughter is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period not to exceed 10 years. 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.

[Joe Friday]

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[Frank Smith]

Cost of optional benefits, plan features and.

[Joe Friday]

Taxes and fees vary. Savings with three plus lines include third line free via monthly bill credits. Credit stop if you cancel any lines.

[Frank Smith]

Qualifying credit required.

[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.