THE BIG SOUR and THE BIG SEPTEMBER MAN

Summary

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1001 Radio Crime Solvers

Host: Jon Hagadorn
Episode: "The Big Sour" and "The Big September Man"
Date: August 9, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of 1001 Radio Crime Solvers brings listeners two classic episodes from the legendary radio series Dragnet: "The Big Sour" and "The Big September Man". The episodes showcase the gritty, procedural detective work of Sgt. Joe Friday and his colleagues as they unravel cases ranging from a brutal home-invasion robbery to a series of murders linked by a psychologically complex suspect.
The tone is serious, methodical, and as always in Dragnet, unsentimental, focusing on police process, witness interviews, and eventually, the dogged pursuit of justice.

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I. "The Big Sour" (00:07–24:10)

Main Theme

A violent home invasion leaves an elderly man tortured and his valuables stolen. Sgt. Friday and his partner must piece together scant clues to identify and apprehend two ruthless robbers.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. The Crime and Initial Investigation

• The crime occurs late at night: two armed men break into Wendell and Katherine McClung's modest home, savagely beat both victims, and steal several pieces of jewelry (00:07–03:01).
  • The detectives are disturbed by the level of violence:
    "It's hard to imagine somebody that cold-blooded. 71 year old man, soles of his feet, a massive burns. Wonder his heart stood up through the beating I gave him." – Joe Friday (02:05)
• Initial leads are minimal. The robbers seem to have had an inside tip on where valuables were hidden (02:35).

B. Witness Interviews & Descriptions

• Mrs. McClung, disoriented after her glasses are broken during the attack, can offer little in the way of physical description. She recalls one attacker named "Sam" and the other speaking with a Midwestern or Texan accent (04:57).
  • "One's name was Sam. The other one had sort of an accent of some kind. Maybe from the Midwest or maybe Texas. One of those funny people." – Mrs. McClung (04:57)
• The attackers were fairly well-dressed in dark suits.

C. The Young Witness

• A magazine delivery boy, Bill Newsome, is tracked down and gives a crucial piece of information about a suspicious new dark blue 1950 Hudson sedan near the scene (09:02–11:25).
  • "What I noticed… it was a new car, almost a brand new car. But it looked like the license plates on it were kind of old." – Bill Newsome (10:00)
• He recalls seeing two men in dark suits hurriedly leaving near the McClungs’ home.

D. Valuable Physical Evidence

• Bartender at a local restaurant remembers serving two men matching the suspects’ description imported Dutch beer the night of the crime (12:29–13:16).
  • "They had suits on, dark suits. One had on a gray hat… they were on the young side... not more than 28, 30. One of them talked like a Midwesterner, I think." – Bartender (12:36)

E. Break in the Case: Fingerprints

• Police recover fingerprints from the beer bottles the suspects handled (14:47–15:26).
• The prints match Henry Vincent Moss and Ernest Robert Windsor, both with prior records for robbery and burglary (15:48).
  • "Found two sets. They made both of them." – Johnny Powers (15:22)

F. Closing In on the Suspects

• Windsor is traced to his aunt’s home. She tries to deflect suspicion, expressing misplaced faith in her nephew's goodness (17:07–19:54).
  • "Ever since he's come here from Arkansas, it's been nothing but police chasing after him. Can't you give Ernie a chance?" – Mrs. Marie Rolfe (18:49)
• Windsor is found and arrested, but he refuses to talk. Time passes before a break comes with Moss attempting to pawn a ring taken in the robbery (21:57).

G. Confessions and Consequences

• Moss is arrested too, proves cooperative, and a full confession and the stolen jewelry are recovered (22:08–23:53).
  • "All I wanted was a loot. He (Windsor) just lost his head… that part I didn't like." – Moss (23:31)
• Justice is swift: both are convicted and sentenced to state prison (24:15).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On police work and justice:
  "Let's do them a favor. Let's show them what it costs." – Joe Friday (03:04)
• On facing consequences:
  "You put your order in a long time ago, mister... that's when you ordered jail food." – Jess Gonzalez to Moss, refusing his last meal request (23:55)

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Important Timestamps

• [00:07] – Opening; the crime is outlined
• [04:57] – Mrs. McClung’s recollection of attacker details
• [10:00] – Bill Newsome describes suspicious car
• [15:22] – Fingerprint match announcement
• [19:54] – Aunt confesses Windsor’s whereabouts
• [22:08] – Moss tries to pawn ring; stakeout and arrest
• [24:15] – Trial and sentencing details

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II. "The Big September Man" (25:29–50:25)

Main Theme

A talented secretary is found brutally murdered in her office. The only clue: a steel pipe wrapped in paper. The case soon links to previous murders and a cunning, disturbed perpetrator with a penchant for violence every September.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. Discovery and Initial Suspect

• The victim, Adele Pryor, is found beaten to death in her office; the murder weapon is identified, but prints belong only to the victim (27:46–28:01).
• Questioning leads to Robert French, a down-on-his-luck barroom acquaintance found nearby, apparently despondent and possibly suicidal (29:00–32:10).

B. French's Alibi and Character

• French denies involvement, insists he was only there to borrow money and left before the murder, describing another man in the reception area when he departed (33:00–34:02).
• French’s character witnesses paint him as a sad, lonely figure with a severe drinking problem but not a violent one (35:58).

C. Second Suspect: William Tanner

• Investigators chase down leads on the "tall man" seen at the office; stats office flags William Tanner, who matches the description and has a violent past (37:15).
• Further inquiry reveals a connection to previous unsolved murder, the Donaldson case, and a history of strange behavior, especially after his mother's death (39:11–40:14).
  • "After she died, he drank quite a bit for a while. Then he tried women, lots of them. After that, he turned to religion... He's an odd guy." – Martin Tanner, brother (39:45)

D. Tanner’s Psychological Profile

• Now religiously obsessed, Tanner speaks only in biblical terms, with obsession bordering on delusion (43:23–47:04).
  • “For know this and understand that no unclean person or covetous one has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God... That’s the everlasting word, Sergeant. The holy book.” – William Tanner (43:44)
• He avoids direct answers, pontificates on sin, and refuses to take blame until pressed.

E. Confession and Pattern

• Under questioning, Tanner finally confesses to killing Adele “because she was a sinner,” and also to prior murders and an attempted bombing (48:28–49:30).
  • "In the name of God and in the name of our Lord, Amen. I killed her." – William Tanner (48:31)
• He fixates on September as the time for his violent crimes.
  • "September's always been the time, that's all. Last four years. Every September. I don't know what it is. Seems to be the best time to get rid of 'em." – Tanner (49:48)
• French is cleared; evidence, including blood stains, corroborates Tanner’s confession.

F. Resolution

• Tanner is declared sane, tried, convicted, and ultimately executed (50:38–50:49).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tanner’s religious mania:
  • “It’s a terrible thing, all this sin around us… There is not one just man… The venom of asps is beneath their lips… There is no fear of God before their eyes.” – William Tanner (47:35)
• On sin and justice:
  • “Maybe you better check the book, Tanner. You’re way ahead of her.” – Joe Friday (50:12)
  • “What kind of sin's worse than murder?” – Joe Friday (50:15)
• Tanner explaining his September cycle:
  • "I don't know really, September’s always been the time.… Seems to be the best time to get rid of 'em. Yeah. September. It’s always September.” – William Tanner (49:48)

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Important Timestamps

• [27:00] – Murder’s discovery and first suspect, Robert French
• [33:00] – French describes another man at the office
• [37:15] – Discovery of William Tanner as a suspect
• [40:14] – Martin Tanner’s psychological insights on brother
• [43:23] – Confrontation/interview with William Tanner
• [48:31] – Confession: "I killed her."
• [49:48] – Tanner reveals September killing pattern
• [50:38] – Final resolution: trial, verdict, and execution

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Final Thoughts

Both cases exemplify the unglamorous, painstaking investigative style that made Dragnet legendary: careful interviews, attention to small details, and dogged police work. They also reveal the range of criminal motives, from greed and brutality to deep psychological disturbance. The performances and dialog — especially by the disturbed Tanner — are chillingly effective, using period language and a matter-of-fact tone that keeps the drama grounded and impactful.

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For more golden age radio detective stories, visit www.1001storiespodcast.com

Transcript

[Joe Friday]

The story you're about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a robbery detail. Two armed bandits invade the home of an elderly couple in your city. The aging husband is tortured unmercifully before he reveals the hiding place of his valuables. The two thieves make good their escape. Your job. Get him,

[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, beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

[Joe Friday]

It was Saturday, October 3rd. It was hot in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of robbery detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Harry Diddy and captain of robbery. My name's Friday. It was 11:38pm when I got to Georgia Street. Receiving hospital, room five, treatment room.

[Ben Romero]

Joe, hi.

[Joe Friday]

How's it going, Ben?

[Jess Gonzalez]

We're not gonna be able to talk to him anymore tonight. Doctor said maybe late tomorrow morning.

[Joe Friday]

How's the old man making out?

[Jess Gonzalez]

He's resting a lot better. Doctor gave him a sedative. Old fella sure had a rough time.

[Joe Friday]

Well, how about since I've been gone? Did he tell you anything else?

[Jess Gonzalez]

No, just kept repeating the same thing. Two guys forced their way into his house, beat his wife, tortured him, took all their jewelry. That's about it.

[Joe Friday]

Well, I put in a call to the office. I got a broadcast out on the information that we have. There's not much to go on.

[Jess Gonzalez]

We should be able to pick up a little something more tomorrow. Doc said it's been a long time since he's seen anything like this. Where they worked old man over.

[Joe Friday]

What'd they do to the fellow's hands anyway? The doctor able to tell.

[Jess Gonzalez]

He thinks they used a hat pin on him, something like that. It's sharp and thin. At least a dozen wounds in both hands. He's pretty badly burned too. Yeah, it's hard to imagine somebody that cold blooded. 71 year old man, soles of his feet, a massive burns. Wonder his heart stood up through the beating I gave him.

[Joe Friday]

Has he got a weak heart?

[Jess Gonzalez]

He's had a little trouble.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Terrific shock going through something like this. It is, eh?

[Joe Friday]

Well, maybe we better check back at their house, huh? See how the old fellow's wife is doing, huh?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Yeah, right. How's it shape up for you?

[Joe Friday]

Well, there's not an awful lot to go on yet. Wasn't a shot in the dark. I think we can count on that. Whoever the thieves were, they had some kind of an inside tip. The old man and his wife, well, they don't put up much of an appearance. You wouldn't be apt to figure that they had 3 or 4,000 in jewelry put away at home, would you?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Maybe his wife might have some ideas. Yours a lousy shame. Yeah, you might halfway understand that. They just held him up. But working them over the way they

[Joe Friday]

did, there's no sense to it at all.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Trying to show off what a couple of rough bums they are. Maybe that's it, Ellen.

[Joe Friday]

Let's do them a favor. Let's show them what it costs. Ben and I got in the car and drove back to the Westlake park area to the home of the robbery victims. 71 year old Wendell McClung and his wife Katherine McClung. It was a one story wooden frame building, gray shingled. A typical modest four room bungalow. The men from unit 31R who'd answered the robbery call were still there standing by. Another pair of men from robbery detail, Powers and Gonzalez were checking the neighborhood for possible leads on the suspects. Inside the house, Ben And I found Mrs. McClung propped up in an easy chair in the living room. She was a small, chubby woman, gray haired, looked to be in her 50s. We assured her her husband's condition wasn't critical. Outside of a small bruise on her forehead and a case of nervous upset, she seemed to be all right. In recounting the story of the holdup, Mrs. McClung told us the two bandits rang the and forced their way into the house at gunpoint shortly before 8 o' clock that night.

[Jess Gonzalez]

How about the color of their hair, ma'? Am? Their weight and height?

[Mrs. McClung]

No, I hardly saw a thing. Just that one look at them when they first pushed their way in.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Well, how was that, Davey? Blindfold you?

[Mrs. McClung]

Yes, they might just as well have. You see, when they started to hit Wendell, my husband. Wendell. Knock him down. I went after them and one of them slapped me right across my face and knocked my glasses off.

[Joe Friday]

I see.

[Mrs. McClung]

I reached out to find them, but before I did, I guess one of those gangsters stepped on them. $35 glasses broke both of the lenses. Just ruined the frames. Look at that. Of course, I can't see a thing without them. That's why I say I might as well have been blindfolded.

[Jess Gonzalez]

And you didn't have a chance to notice what kind of clothes they had on and what they looked like at all.

[Mrs. McClung]

They weren't shabby, I know that. Pretty well dressed, if memory serves. Both of them in dark suits. If only they wouldn't have broken my glasses.

[Joe Friday]

How about their voices, Ms. McClung? Anything unusual about the way they talked? Anything that they might have said, Ms. McClung?

[Mrs. McClung]

No, I was just thinking. One's name was Sam. I remember that. The other one had sort of an accent of some kind. Maybe from the Midwest or maybe Texas. One of those funny people.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Funny people? How do you mean, ma'?

[Bartender]

Am?

[Mrs. McClung]

Well, you know, something like a cowboy or a farmer. That funny kind of talk.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Mercy.

[Mrs. McClung]

I guess I really should be inside fixing you men a cup of tea. Maybe if you'd just help me up.

[Jess Gonzalez]

That's all right, ma'. Am.

[Joe Friday]

You just sit there.

[Mrs. McClung]

When my sister Dolly gets here, it shouldn't be too long. I'll have her fix something.

[Joe Friday]

There's no need to bother, ma'.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

We'd like to have you tell us this, if he can. Did your husband do anything at all to provoke the two men? I mean, did he call out for help or try to get to a phone, anything like that?

[Mrs. McClung]

It was the jewelry we had, Wendell and I. Just those few pieces. The two men seemed to know all about it. Just as if they had a list of the things.

[Bill Newsome]

That's him.

[Mrs. McClung]

Yes. When they first came in, they took my engagement ring and old brooch that belonged to my mother I was wearing. Then they got Wendell in that chair over there and tried to make him tell where our other things were.

[Joe Friday]

Well, now, is it pretty common knowledge around the neighborhood here that you and your husband own expensive jewelry, ma'?

[Mrs. McClung]

Am? No, I don't think so. What the men seemed most interested in was Wendell's ring. His diamond signet ring. It was a beautiful thing for a carrot.

[Ben Romero]

Yes, ma'.

[William Tanner]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

We've got a description on that. That was when they tried to force your husband to tell him where it was hidden.

[Robert French]

Is that right?

[Mrs. McClung]

I never thought anybody'd be that cruel, officer. Downright cruel. They burned his hands and his feet. Kept hitting him in the face with their fists. It was just terrible. Poor Wendell. They finally had to tell them.

[Jess Gonzalez]

I see.

[Mrs. McClung]

They went and found the things, and then they came back in here and ripped out the phone. Warned us not to move, and then they left. I just broke down and cried, officer, to see poor Wendell there, the way they abused him.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am. We understand.

[Mrs. McClung]

You're sure he's gonna be all right? What did the doctor say?

[Joe Friday]

Oh, he said there's no danger, ma'.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

Mr. McClung's resting comfortably now.

[Mrs. McClung]

Well, that must be my sister's.

[Joe Friday]

You wanna stay right here with Ms. McClung? Ben, I'll get that. Yeah, right.

[Johnny Powers]

Hi, Joe. Hi, Jess.

[Joe Friday]

You and Powers do any good?

[Johnny Powers]

I've been checking through the neighborhood three, four blocks around. Not an awful lot. A lot of people know the McClungs. Few of them know about their having jewelry. None of them saw anything unusual going on tonight.

[Joe Friday]

The thieves used a car, we know that. Didn't anybody at all spot it?

[Johnny Powers]

I'm not sure, but there's one possibility. Some of the neighbors said a young kid was peddling magazines down this block tonight. Just about the same time as a robbery.

[Joe Friday]

He might have spotted something. That's fine. Where is the boy? Where's he live?

[Johnny Powers]

That's what we asked the neighbors. Yeah. Nobody knows.

[Joe Friday]

A supplementary broadcast and an APB was gotten out containing what description we had on the two hold up men. Plus descriptions of each article of jewelry taken from Mr. And Mrs. McClung the following morning. Along with Jess Gonzalez and Johnny Powers, we continued canvassing the immediate neighborhood of the holdup. The only thing we got was a fair description of the boy who'd been selling magazines the night before in the vicinity of the McClung house. And also the names of the magazines he was peddling. Monday morning, 9am we got in touch with a local distributor for the publications. Got a list of five boys who sold for them in that general area and started checking them out. Third on the list was a Bill Newsome, a sophomore student at a nearby parochial high school. He lived a half a dozen blocks from the McClungs. We checked at his house, but his mother told us he wasn't at home.

[Mrs. McClung]

I'm sure Billy won't be long.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Thank you, ma'.

[Mrs. McClung]

Am. Right in here, Officer.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Just go ahead.

[Mrs. McClung]

Thank you. Sit down, won't you?

[Joe Friday]

Thank you very much.

[Mrs. McClung]

Must be him now. Billy in here?

[Bill Newsome]

Yeah, Ma.

[Mrs. McClung]

Come in here, Bill. Two police officers to see you. Bill, this is Sergeant Friday and Sergeant Romero. My son, Bill.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

Would you excuse me?

[Mrs. McClung]

I'm going to have to start fixing dinner. You go right ahead and have your talk with Bill. I'll be out in the kitchen.

[Joe Friday]

All right, ma'.

[Bartender]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you very much.

[Mrs. McClung]

You speak right up now, Bill. Try and help the officers all you can.

[Bill Newsome]

How can I help you? What's it all about?

[Jess Gonzalez]

We understand you have a magazine route in the neighborhood.

[Johnny Powers]

Bill.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Your mother tells us you were out selling this last Saturday night.

[Bill Newsome]

Yes, sir, that's right. Thursdays and Saturdays. They're my regular nights. I don't really sell, though.

[Joe Friday]

How do you mean, son?

[Bill Newsome]

Well, you see, I line up all my customers ahead of time. I got a regular list of people. They buy from me every week. I don't do any door to door selling that way. It's not much good. I see.

[Joe Friday]

Do you have a regular customer on your list by the name of McClung? Bill, that's McClung.

[Bill Newsome]

Yeah, Mr. McClung. Once a month he takes a gardening magazine. Comes out the last week in every month.

[Joe Friday]

Were you over near the McClung's place Saturday night, remember?

[Bill Newsome]

Yeah, I was. I went right by it. I've got customers all along that block there. Say, this wouldn't be about that robbery?

[Jess Gonzalez]

That's right, Bill.

[Bill Newsome]

You heard about it after church Sunday. A couple of kids who go to the same school I do. They live right around the McClungs. They heard about it.

[Jess Gonzalez]

What time was it when you went by there Saturday night? You remember?

[Bill Newsome]

Oh, about a couple of minutes after nine, I guess. Maybe a quarter after. When I heard about the robbery on Sunday, I thought maybe I ought to tell somebody about it. I wasn't sure about it, though. You know, I didn't want to be a pest.

[Joe Friday]

What do you mean, son? You weren't sure about what?

[Bill Newsome]

This dark blue sedan I saw parked on the street there, just a couple of houses down from the McClung's place. The reason I even noticed it was because it was a new car, almost a brand new car. But it looked like the license plates on it were kind of old.

[Joe Friday]

What else?

[Bill Newsome]

Well, I delivered some magazines to Mrs. Brubaker and I got my money for them. And then coming down the stairs, I saw these two men. I'm not sure they came out of Mr. McClung's house. It was dark, you know, but I thought that's where they came from. Anyway, they went down the street, got in the car and took off. Seemed to be in a hurry.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Well, what did the two men look like, Bill? Do you have any idea?

[Bill Newsome]

No, I didn't see them too well. Wasn't too close to him. I was about from. Oh, here across the street from them.

[Jess Gonzalez]

How about their clothes? You notice them at all?

[Bill Newsome]

Yeah, they had suits on. Dark suits. I know that.

[Joe Friday]

How would you describe their build, son? Medium, tall, fat, skinny? What would you say?

[Bill Newsome]

Why, I think I'd say medium. Yeah, both of them medium.

[Joe Friday]

Now, about that car, Bill. You said it was a dark blue sedan, new model. And the license plates look kind of old. Is that right?

[Bill Newsome]

Yeah, that's right. That's how I first noticed it. Parked down by the restaurant.

[Mrs. McClung]

How's that?

[Bill Newsome]

About 7:15 when I started my route down on South Benson, I saw the same car parked outside the restaurant down there. Forget the name of the place now. It just opened about a month ago.

[Jess Gonzalez]

You sure it was the same car?

[Bill Newsome]

Oh yeah, yeah, I'm pretty sure. That's why I noticed it again when I saw it up by McClung's place. I thought it looked kind of terrible. Brand new car like that with old license plates.

[Joe Friday]

By any chance, son, do you remember the license number on those plates?

[Bill Newsome]

No sir, I didn't notice it at all. I'll tell you what though. If I see that car again, I'll be sure and get the number for you.

[Joe Friday]

Before we left the home of 16 year old Bill Newsome, we got a complete description of the car which he'd seen parked near the McClung's home on the night of the robbery. He told us it was a 1950 Hudson four door sedan, dark blue, white, sidewall tires. We relayed the information downtown to robbery detail. After we left the boy's house, we drove to the vicinity of the restaurant on South Benson where the Newsome boy had first spotted the Hudson sedan. After making the rounds of several bars and coffee counters in the area, we started checking at the restaurant. It was newly opened, just as the boy described it, full of glass, brick and fancy modern stonework. The main bar was situated just off the lobby, set apart from the main dining room. We interviewed the head bartender and he thought he remembered serving two customers answering the general description of the hold up men on the previous Saturday night.

[Bartender]

Not a bad looking pair. They're in a little early, around 7:15, 7:30. They seem to be all right.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Do you remember what they looked like at all?

[Bartender]

No, I didn't notice them that much.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Officer, can you give us some general idea?

[Bartender]

They're on the young side, I guess. Not more than 28, 30. One of them talked like a Midwesterner, I think. You know, maybe Arkansas, Texas, someplace like that.

[Joe Friday]

Could you give us any idea what they were wearing? Would you remember them?

[Bartender]

They had suits on, dark suits. One had on a gray hat, about all I remember. The reason I can place them at all is because Saturday was a pretty slow night at the bar. It's a new place here, you know. It takes a little time to cultivate a trade.

[Joe Friday]

Well, did these two men stop for dinner here? Do you remember that?

[Bartender]

No. No, they sat right here at the Bar and had a couple of beers and then they left. No dinner.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Did you wait on them, sir?

[Bartender]

Yes, sir, I did. I served them both a bottle of beer. Imported Dutch beer.

[Joe Friday]

You serve quite a bit of that imported beer, do you?

[Bartender]

No, not here. No, it's mostly cocktail trade. These two colors are the only ones I remember asking for.

[Joe Friday]

Do you remember if the two men handled the beer bottles at all?

[Ben Romero]

If they handled them?

[Joe Friday]

Well, I mean, did you quarter?

[Bartender]

I filled up their glasses and set the bottle down.

[Joe Friday]

I guess they did handle them.

[Ben Romero]

They emptied the bottle.

[Joe Friday]

I see.

[Bartender]

They'd almost have to, wouldn't it?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Would you still have those two bottles on hand?

[William Tanner]

No.

[Bartender]

Let's see. Yeah, I guess they would. They don't pick up the empties till

[William Tanner]

sometime around the middle of a week.

[Joe Friday]

We'd like to take a look at them, if you don't mind.

[Bartender]

Oh, sure thing. You guys just want to follow me down to bar here? It's in the storeroom. Just in fact.

[Johnny Powers]

All right.

[Bartender]

It's right back here, Officer.

[Joe Friday]

Fine.

[Bartender]

Let's see. Yeah, yeah, they're right over here. There you go. Holland labeled only ones in the whole case. The same two I served those fellas.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I see.

[Bartender]

What do you think? Fingerprints?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Maybe.

[Bartender]

And as soon as you get the fingerprints, you can pick them up, can't you?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Yeah, when we find the men they belong to.

[Joe Friday]

Monday, 6pm we called Layton Fingerprints and they came out to check the evidence. First, they obtained a set of the bartender's fingerprints to serve as a basis for comparison. Then they dusted each of the empty beer bottles carefully. After the various sets of prints were lifted off the bottles, the men went back to the office to run the sets through, classify their findings, and then turn them over to R and I for further checking. While they worked on it, Ben and I ducked out and had a sandwich and a bowl of soup for dinner. 7:25pm we got back to the City Hall.

[Jess Gonzalez]

I sure am getting tired of the kind of food that guy serves, Joe. It seems to get worse every time I go in there.

[Joe Friday]

Wasn't very good, was it?

[Jess Gonzalez]

I'm willing to bet I know his formula for the soup. Two gallons of hot water and one bullion cube. Well, I've gone and done it before. I may still do it again.

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Bring my dinner from home in a paper sack. Pack a thermos full of hot coffee. Be a better deal than cross the street. I don't know about that.

[Joe Friday]

Do you remember the last time you had your wife fix you up a thermos full of coffee.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Yeah, I almost forgot. Wasn't any better than the stuff across the street.

[Ben Romero]

Hi.

[Johnny Powers]

Where you two been?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Hi, Jess. Getting something to eat.

[Johnny Powers]

Leighton Prince called just a minute ago. Told him I'd give you the message.

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Johnny Powers]

Well, the Prince, they lifted off those beer bottles. Checked them through the record bureau.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Johnny Powers]

Found two sets. They made both of them.

[Joe Friday]

October 5, Saturday, 7:40pm the two sets of fingerprints which had been lifted from the empty beer bottles were checked through R and I and identified as those belonging to two known criminals. The first was Henry Vincent Moss, WMA, 29 years old. He'd served two terms in the county jail for burglary and grand theft auto and one term in San Quentin for robbery. The second was ERNEST Robert Windsor, WMA, 28 years old. His home was listed as Little Rock, Arkansas, where he'd twice been convicted on charges of first degree burglary and served time at the Arkansas State Penitentiary. We pulled the packages on both of the men, checked the last known addresses, but failed to locate either of them. To double check their identification, we showed mug shots of Windsor and Moss to the robbery and torture victims, Mr. And Mrs. McClung. They gave positive identification of both men. So did the bartender at the restaurant where they'd stopped for the beer. We got out a broadcast and an all points bulletin on them immediately. We began the routine legwork, checking with all the friends, relatives and associates who were listed on the mama sheet in each suspect's package. As usual, it was a long, monotonous haul. One of the persons listed as fairly close to Ernest Windsor was an aunt of his, Mrs. Marie Rolfe, whom we located at her home in the Echo Park District.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

No, I haven't seen Ernest in almost a year. Sergeant. What is it you want him for?

[Jess Gonzalez]

I'd like to talk to you about it a few minutes, Mrs. Rolfe, if you don't mind.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

I don't know how I can help you. You can come in for a minute if you want. I've got to go out and do some errands pretty soon, though.

[Jess Gonzalez]

That's all right, ma'.

[Ben Romero]

Am.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Thank you.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

Right in here. Sit down if you want.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you very much.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

I've got finished taking care of my little children here. Giving them nice, clean cages.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Good thing is they all canaries, ma'?

[Mrs. McClung]

Am.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

Oh, yes. Oscar and Ethel, that's these two here. They're both genuine rollers. Their grand folks came from Germany. Beautiful singers. Wonderful company.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Robert French]

Am.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

My others are pretty, too. They're only choppers, though.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Ma'?

[Mrs. McClung]

Am. Choppers.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

They're different than rollers. They sing much louder. Maybe not as nicely, but I don't like to play favorites.

[Mrs. McClung]

I like all of them.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

You have birds, Sergeant?

[Jess Gonzalez]

No, ma'.

[Ben Romero]

Am.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

You should. I think everybody should have a canary in the house. Cheerful, you know. Wonderful company. Don't know what I'd do without mine.

[Joe Friday]

About your nephew Ernest, Ms. Rolfe, have you any idea at all how we could contact him?

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

As I say, it's been almost a year since I last heard from him. What would this be about, Sergeant?

[Joe Friday]

Just a routine investigation, ma'. Am. We understand that you're quite close with your nephew, that he lived with you for a time.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

Yes, that's right, he did. When you come right down to it, Ernie's a good boy. He kept bad company. That's what I always said. Got him in trouble two or three times. I suppose you know that.

[Joe Friday]

You live alone here in the house, do you, Ms. Ralph?

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

Yes, that's right, Sergeant. See, I'm a widow. Husband's gone a good many years now.

[Joe Friday]

You don't take in boarders or anyone like that?

[Mrs. McClung]

Oh, no.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

Just me and my pets here. They're company enough.

[Joe Friday]

I wonder if you'd explain that laundry piled up in the bed there in the next room, ma'.

[Mrs. McClung]

Am. What's that?

[Joe Friday]

The men's shirts, stockings, the underwear. They're right there in the bed there.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

Well, I usually try to keep things in better order than that. Just some laundry I do, Sergeant. Little odd jobs for some of the bachelor men in the neighborhood. I do it as a favor for them.

[Jess Gonzalez]

You're sure about that, Ms. Ra?

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

Well, what do you want Ernest for? Why do you have to chase after him all the time? Persecute him?

[Jess Gonzalez]

We're not persecuting him.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

Ever since he's come here from Arkansas, it's been nothing but police chasing after him. Can't you give Ernie a chance? All he wants is a chance. He told me so himself.

[Joe Friday]

We've checked through his record, Mrs. Rolfe. He's had all the chances in the world, and nobody's persecuting him.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

Why are you chasing him again? Hunting him down? Why don't you leave him alone for a spell? Give him a chance to get a job, do something. Why are you chasing him?

[Joe Friday]

This is a robbery charge, Ms. Rolfe. He's been positively identified. He and Henry Moss forced their way into an old couple's home a few weeks back. They tortured the old man and they beat him till he was unconscious. That's what we want Ernie for.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

How'd you know it was Ernie? He could have made a mistake.

[Jess Gonzalez]

No mistake, ma'. Am. The victims identified his picture. There wasn't a doubt in their mind. And where is he?

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

You sure that's the truth? You sure it's Ernie again?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Yes, ma'.

[Johnny Powers]

Am.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Again. You can have all the proof you need.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

The last time he told me, he swore in the memory of his own mother. He swore he wouldn't do anything wrong again. I guess I just don't know. Ernest.

[Joe Friday]

Where is he?

[Mrs. McClung]

Ma'?

[Ben Romero]

Am?

[Joe Friday]

You want to tell us?

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

It's the last time, Sergeant. I'm sorry. Ernest had his last time.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

Am.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

He's sleeping the room over the garage. You'll find him there.

[Joe Friday]

Ernest Windsor was apprehended and placed under arrest. His room was searched as well as the entire home of his aunt, Mrs. Marie Rolfe. We failed to find a trace of any of the jewelry stolen from Mr. And Mrs. McClung. After we made arrangements for a stakeout on the house, Windsor was taken downtown to the interrogation room where Jess, Gonzalez, Ben and I questioned him for five hours. He refused to tell us anything. At a special show up, he was positively identified as one of the hold up men by the two victims. Windsor was booked at the main jail on suspicion of 211pc. The investigation went on. Every possible lead on the other suspect, Henry Moss, was checked out. We got nowhere. It was obvious that either Moss was in possession of all the jewelry stolen from the McClungs, or it had been hidden away someplace known only to Windsor and Moss. From time to time, we had Windsor taken from his jail cell for questioning. It wasn't hard to tell. He was bothered with the possibility that perhaps Moss had run off with the entire loot and was enjoying himself while Windsor spent his time in jail. We worked hard on that particular angle while we questioned him. But Windsor still refused to break to give us any kind of a lead on Moss. A month passed. Wednesday, November 8th.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Sure working out into a dull routine. A full month. We got exactly what we started with.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, if we can only get Windsor to break it, it'd sure do a lot toward wrapping this thing up, wouldn't it?

[Jess Gonzalez]

I don't know what he figures he's gonna gain, but keep him quiet.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Gonzalez and Johnny Powers said they were checking out a tip from some informant this morning. Supposed to know where Henry Moss is.

[Joe Friday]

Wonder if they found any luck. They ought to be back by now.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Yeah, go ahead. Hey, Jess.

[Johnny Powers]

Oh, hi.

[Joe Friday]

How about it? Did you do any good this morning?

[Johnny Powers]

Oh, not A bit. Informant didn't even show up. Johnny's gonna meet him this afternoon. Doesn't look to be very much. How about you fellas?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Same. Jess, we're going as slow as you are.

[Joe Friday]

I get it. Robbery, Friday?

[William Tanner]

Yeah.

[Robert French]

George.

[Joe Friday]

Third and Maine.

[Robert French]

You sure?

[Ben Romero]

Huh?

[Mrs. McClung]

Right.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, right away. Maybe we got a break.

[Jess Gonzalez]

What is it?

[Joe Friday]

Henry Moss. He tried to hock a ring at a pawn shop, third in Maine, about 20 minutes ago.

[Johnny Powers]

He make it?

[Joe Friday]

Well, the pawn broker stalled him. He didn't know for sure that the guy was hot.

[Jess Gonzalez]

How's it stand?

[Joe Friday]

Moss said he'd come back to close the deal.

[Jess Gonzalez]

When?

[Joe Friday]

Half an hour, 11:55am A special detail of men, including Gonzalez and Powers, Ben and myself were sent to cover the pawn shop near 3rd and Main. Gonzales and Power staked out in stores adjoining the place. Ben and I were stationed inside the pawn shop. Another team of men covered the rear exit. We waited. The suspect, Henry Moss, failed to show at the appointed time. We kept waiting. 1pm 1:30. No sign of him. At 1:45pm A young looking dark haired man in a neat gray suit entered the shop and approached the manager at the rear counter. There wasn't any mistaking him. Henry Moss. He surrendered himself without even protesting. We took him to the City hall, to the interrogation room where we started to question him. Meantime, Gonzales and Powers located the apartment where the suspect had been staying. His rooms and personal belongings were searched and every piece of the missing jewelry recovered. Surprisingly enough, in contrast to his partner, Ernie Windsor, Moss was cooperative, even obliging. We had a stenographer take his full statement. Then we got ready to move him over to the main jail for booking.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Just a couple of questions before we leave, Moss.

[Ben Romero]

Sure, Sergeant, go ahead.

[Jess Gonzalez]

We've had you in here before. How come all the cooperation this time?

[Ben Romero]

Why not? I had it figured before time. If you got me, you'd have everything you need on me. Wouldn't do much good putting in a beef, would it?

[Joe Friday]

Whose idea was it to start with Moss? The hold up deal. Yours. Or was it Windsor's?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Both of us, I guess.

[Ben Romero]

I didn't want to get rough with the old man. I mean, the way Ernie did. That part I didn't like. All I wanted was a loot.

[Joe Friday]

He just lost his head.

[Johnny Powers]

Too bad.

[Jess Gonzalez]

All right, you ready to go?

[Ben Romero]

Anytime, Sergeant. Hey, I wonder if I could ask a favor.

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Ben Romero]

Well, it's gonna get a little tough in there in that jail. Wonder if we couldn't stop for a good steak and some French fries first, huh? Maybe some good restaurant around here.

[Joe Friday]

No, it won't work, Moss.

[Ben Romero]

You know I wouldn't try anything.

[Jess Gonzalez]

You put your order in a long time ago, mister. What do you mean? When you worked over that old couple.

[Mrs. McClung]

Yeah.

[Jess Gonzalez]

That's when you ordered jail food.

[Joe Friday]

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

[Narrator]

On March 2, trial was held in Superior Court Department 88, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Ernest Windsor and Henry Moss were tried and convicted on one count of first degree robbery and one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm. Both men are now serving their terms in the state penitentiary. First degree robbery is punishable by imprisonment for no less than one nor more than ten 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]

The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a homicide detail. An attractive blonde secretary is found beaten to death in a downtown office building. You've only one lead to start with. A length of steel pipe wrapped in heavy paper. There's no trace of the killer. Your job. Get him,

[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 Wednesday, September 28th. It was hot in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of homicide detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Thad Brown, Chief of Detectives. My name's Friday. I was on the way back from the crime lab and it was 11:48pm when I got to room 42, homicide. Romero.

[Johnny Powers]

Ben.

[Joe Friday]

Hey, Romero.

[Johnny Powers]

Not here.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Giovri.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah, Lope.

[Johnny Powers]

How are you?

[Joe Friday]

You seen Romero around the last half hour? Supposed to meet him here.

[Johnny Powers]

He's come and gone. Still around the building, though. Got a call.

[Joe Friday]

What was it about? Do you know?

[Robert French]

Yeah.

[Johnny Powers]

I was on that killing tonight. Call came from one of the cruiser cars checking the neighborhood down where it happened.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah? Did they find something?

[Johnny Powers]

Picked up a guy about three blocks from the murder scene. Acting suspicious men in the cruiser car. Figured maybe you'd want to talk to him.

[Joe Friday]

They're bringing the man in now.

[Johnny Powers]

Yeah. You've been over checking with the Crime lab?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, there's not much. Murder weapon's about all we got so far. It's a piece of pipe with heavy manila paper wrapped around it.

[William Tanner]

Uh huh.

[Johnny Powers]

Light prints do any good?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, they lifted a lot of fingerprints. They all belong to the victim. None of them are foreign.

[William Tanner]

Hey, you got a toothpick, Joe?

[Johnny Powers]

And corn on the Cobner?

[Joe Friday]

No, I haven't. Why don't you try the top drawer over there and Mike Pena's? He usually has some.

Thanks.

[Johnny Powers]

I understand it wasn't much to look at. The killing, I mean.

[Joe Friday]

It was a pretty vicious thing. The girl took a terrible beating.

[Johnny Powers]

Who found the body?

[Joe Friday]

One of the scrub women in the building. It was an office up on the 9th floor. Import export company. Victim was a secretary there. She's a pretty girl.

[Johnny Powers]

Mm. She dead long?

[Joe Friday]

Must have happened around 7 o' clock tonight. That's my figure. It's just a guess.

[Johnny Powers]

Uh huh. What's the girl's name? Been identified yet?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, Adele Pryor. Her boss is out of town. She's working in the office alone. Was no one suspicious seen entering or leaving the office around the time of the murder? There's no one we know of. Anyway.

[Johnny Powers]

It's gonna take a lot of checking. Any idea what the motive could have been?

[Joe Friday]

Well, it wasn't robbery. They didn't keep any cash in the office. As far as we know, the girl wasn't carrying much money. We'll start making the rounds in the morning, checking with her friends, see what we can pick up.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Joe Friday, you around?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I'm right here. Back here, Ben.

[Mrs. McClung]

Oh.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Oh, hi, Joe.

[Johnny Powers]

Lope.

[Ben Romero]

Hi.

[Johnny Powers]

They bring the guy in, Ben? Mm.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Welpy. Briefly about it, Jill.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. A cruiser car picked up a suspicious looking guy near the murder scene. Is that about the size of it?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Little more than that. They found the man beating his head against a brick wall in the back alley about two blocks from the office building where we found the body. Guy had been drinking heavily and when they picked him up, he's pretty far gone. Kept mumbling something about how he didn't deserve to live, how he's a murderer. Killer not too coherent.

[Johnny Powers]

They asked him about the dead girl, Adele Pryor.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Yeah, but the stuff he said didn't make much sense. He sobered up a little since he picked him up. We might as well see what we can get out of him before we book him in, huh? Got him in the interrogation room now.

[Johnny Powers]

Okay.

[Joe Friday]

Give it a try anyway. Any calls come in, you know where to find us.

[Johnny Powers]

Lopey.

[Narrator]

Yeah, sure.

[Johnny Powers]

Right Sir.

[Joe Friday]

Thanks a lot.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Did you check with the crime lab, Joe? Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

About all we're sure of is the murder weapon. No prints, no other physical evidence.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Maybe it won't matter. Got half an idea we might have the killer now.

[Joe Friday]

The guy they picked up. How'd he figure?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Just a hunch. I don't think he's as drunk as he pretends.

[Joe Friday]

Well, we're gonna have to place him a lot closer to the murder scene than two blocks away. You can't prove a thing the way it stands.

[Jess Gonzalez]

I was downstairs when they brought the man in. I talked to him while they were bringing up the interrogation room.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Told me he knows the dead girl all right. Said he was with her an hour before she died.

[Joe Friday]

Shortly before 8 o' clock that night, a scrub woman in a downtown office building near the intersection of 8th and South Grand Avenue entered an office on the 9th floor of the building to do her usual cleaning chores. Lying face down behind a desk in the small office, she found the body of 28 year old Secretary Adele Pryor, beaten to death. When we arrived at the scene, routine investigation began, but almost immediately we found ourselves down a blind alley. Repeated questioning of all persons in or about the office building failed to turn up anything in the way of leads. Thorough investigation of the murder scene by the crime lab crew met with the same kind of luck. They knew they had the murder weapon. That was all. The deputy coroner arrived and removed the body to the morgue for posting. At 10 o' clock that night, three hours after the approximate time of the prior girl's death, officers in a cruiser car patrolling the area found a drunken man butting his head against a cement wall and muttering incoherently about a murder. He was picked up and taken immediately to the interrogation room where Ben and I questioned him. We'd talked to him a full hour before he began to make sense. He gave his name as Robert French, age 34, an unemployed electrical engineer. While we questioned him, two men from Homicide were sent to check the hotel room where French told us he was staying.

[William Tanner]

I don't know.

[Robert French]

I guess I had three or four drinks at Dusty's place and I went down the street to the Blue Canary, had some more drinks there. I don't remember what happened after that. I wasn't feeling so good.

[Jess Gonzalez]

You say you were drinking at Dusty's place around 7pm Is that right, Frank?

[Robert French]

Suppose so. I wasn't watching the clock. I guess it was around 7.

[Joe Friday]

Well, did you talk to anybody while you were in the bar?

[Robert French]

No, just the bartender. His Name's Sarge. I don't know his last name. He'll tell you. I was there.

[Joe Friday]

What time was it when you got to Dusty's place, French?

[Robert French]

I couldn't tell you for sure. About 6:30, maybe. Sarge could probably tell you. The bartender.

[Jess Gonzalez]

When you were coming up in the elevator, you told us you knew Adele Pryor.

[Robert French]

Yeah, I knew her. Used to work for her husband. Her ex husband, I mean. They've been divorced seven, eight years now.

[Johnny Powers]

Mm.

[Jess Gonzalez]

You said you saw Adele Pryor in her office late this afternoon, French. What was the reason for the visit?

[Robert French]

I borrowed a couple of dollars from her. She was always pretty good that way. Nice kid. Don't know why anybody'd want to kill her like that.

[Joe Friday]

Well, how about the show that you were putting on out in the street tonight, French? Beating your head against that wall? What was that all about?

[Robert French]

Drunk. Really drunk. Felt so low I wanted to kill myself. Just lay down and die.

[Joe Friday]

How's that? You remorseful? Felt sorry for something you'd done?

[Robert French]

I don't know. I don't think of any special reason for it.

[William Tanner]

When I get.

[Robert French]

I just keep thinking I want to die. Haven't got the nerve for it, though. I know that. Like my old man always used to tell me. Haven't got the nerve to do anything right. Just wasn't born that way, I guess.

[William Tanner]

That's it.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Do you use narcotics wrench?

[Johnny Powers]

No.

[Robert French]

I haven't even got the nerve for that booze, that's all. It's good enough for me, see?

[Joe Friday]

You think we could go out for

[Robert French]

a cup of coffee? Maybe I could use it.

[Joe Friday]

We'll have some brought up, huh? Ben, do you mind going down the hall and check with. Ask him to have some coffee brought up, huh?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Yeah, okay.

[Joe Friday]

And see if those two men will check back in yet, will you?

[Ben Romero]

Right.

[Robert French]

Appreciate it, Sergeant. Sure gonna be mean when all this booze wears off.

[Joe Friday]

I'd like to ask you a little more about the Prior girl, French. Just how well did you know her?

[Robert French]

Not too well, I guess. I used to see her maybe once a month.

[Mrs. Marie Rolfe]

Mm.

[Joe Friday]

Up there at her office?

[Robert French]

Yeah, that's right. She was a nice girl. Whenever I was broke, I could always depend on her for a couple of bucks. I liked her. Nice person.

[Joe Friday]

Did you ever go out with her?

[Jess Gonzalez]

No.

[Robert French]

No, never did. No romance stuff? I didn't like her that way.

[William Tanner]

She was just a good person.

[Robert French]

We got along okay.

[Joe Friday]

You want a cigarette?

[Robert French]

No. No, thanks. Mouth's full of cotton already.

[Joe Friday]

How about this business of Adele Pryor lending you money she think quite a bit of you?

[Robert French]

Oh, I did her a couple of favors once when I was working for her husband. She was still married to him. She was going out with a guy she liked on the side. She was out with this guy once and I saw him together. She asked me not to say anything, so I didn't. Before she got a divorce, I used to cover up for her all the time. She never forgot it, I guess.

[Mrs. McClung]

Uh huh.

[Joe Friday]

How about when you saw her in her office tonight? Franshi seemed all right to you?

[Robert French]

Yeah, same as ever. I asked her if she could lend me a five and she did. I left. It was about a quarter after six, I guess.

[Joe Friday]

Anyone else in the office when you left?

[Robert French]

Yeah, was a guy waiting in the little reception room there. Didn't know who he was.

[Joe Friday]

You remember what he looked like?

[Robert French]

Oh, tall fella, about my size. My age.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Joe, can I see you man?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Dorothy and Brian have checked in and just got back from going over French's hotel room.

[Joe Friday]

Did they find anything?

[Jess Gonzalez]

White shirt, a pair of brown shoes, pair of dark trousers.

[Joe Friday]

What about them?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Blood stains on all of them.

[Joe Friday]

The stained pieces of clothing found in the suspect's hotel room were delivered to Lieutenant Lee Jones at the crime lab for detailed examination. Coffee was brought in and Ben and I continued to question French until about 4am he denied any knowledge or complicity in the killing of 28 year old Adele Pryor. He told us the blood stained clothing in his hotel room was the result of an accident he'd been in two weeks before when he'd been drinking heavily. He was checked through R and I while we talked to him, but he had no previous criminal records. French kept insisting that we check on the tall dark haired man who'd been waiting in the reception room of the prior girl's office the night before when French left her. We gave the description of the suspect along with the MO to the stats office, requesting them to furnish us with any information regarding any assaults or any solved or unsolved murder. At 4:15am we booked in Robert French at the main jail on suspicion of 187pc murder. The next morning at 10am, the legwork began. Lopez and Doherty from Homicide started checking on the background an alibi of the suspect, Robert French. It didn't hold much water. None of the people at either of the bars where French said he'd been drinking at the time of the murder could definitely vouch for his presence. But they all volunteered the information that no matter how much he drank, French was never violent toward other People only himself. Lopez and Doherty continued investigating the suspect while Ben and I checked on the background of the victim, adele Pryor. At 8:25pm we got back to the

[Bill Newsome]

HI.

[Johnny Powers]

Been waiting for you two.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Loping. You and Doherty do any good?

[Johnny Powers]

Nothing to celebrate over. Long day, Tired feet.

[Joe Friday]

What'd you find out, Lopey? Anything new at all?

[Johnny Powers]

Oh, maybe French is our man. Can't prove it by me. Every place we checked, everybody we talked to, same answer. Yeah, he's a smart guy with a good education. He's on the bottle and he's out of work. Everybody seems to like him. He gets drunk, but he never bothers anybody. That's about the worst anybody can say about him. Drinks too much.

[Joe Friday]

Well, how about his being friends with the dead girl? You dig up anything there?

[Johnny Powers]

Yeah. It only proves he was telling you the truth, though. As far as we could find out, there was nothing going between the two of them. Everything we got only verifies what he told you. He had no interest in the girl except a bar offer when he was broke.

[Joe Friday]

You got in touch with the girl's ex husband, did you?

[Johnny Powers]

Yeah, he couldn't add anything. All clear there. Hey, by the way, Lee Jones called from the crime lab just before he came in.

[Jess Gonzalez]

What do you have?

[Johnny Powers]

Lopez finished testing the blood stains on those clothes they found in French's hotel room. None of the stains on them match the victim's blood type. It's another dead end.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, sure. Hard to figure. You got anything else, Lopey?

[Johnny Powers]

Oh, yeah, you're good. Linked a report for you from the stats office.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you.

[Johnny Powers]

You asked to make a run for you last night.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I did.

[Jess Gonzalez]

What's it look like?

[Joe Friday]

Just a minute. Yeah, that doesn't help much. Looks like more legwork.

[Johnny Powers]

What's that, Joe?

[Joe Friday]

Well, French told us when he left Adele Pryor last night, there was a man in the reception room waiting to see her. He gave us the guy's description, and the stats office made a run on it for us. This is the best one they got.

[Johnny Powers]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Guy's name is William Tanner, WMA, 33 years old, 6 foot 1, 195 pounds, dark hair, dark complexion.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Fits the description French gave us of the guy.

[Joe Friday]

The rest of it's a lot closer to home.

[Johnny Powers]

How do you mean?

[Joe Friday]

William Tanner was a prominent suspect in the Donaldson murder last September. Testimony of friends and relatives subsequently cleared him. Donaldson's murder is still unsolved.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Well, what's the point?

[Joe Friday]

Well, the same thing that killed Donaldson killed Adele Pryor. What do you mean, piece of steel pipe wrapped in paper. To the working detective assigned to examine a criminal case, the element of coincidence, when it occurs, generally serves to complicate any investigation toward the solution of the crime. Coincidence may mean a lot or it may mean nothing. In any event, it can't be dismissed. This time we had two examples of coincidence to deal with. A girl had been beaten to death in an office building within two blocks of the murder scene. We found a man fairly well acquainted with the victim who admitted seeing the girl within an hour of her death. Primary investigation uncovered some facts which tended to incriminate the man, some facts which tended to prove him innocent. Was his presence in the immediate neighborhood of the killing only coincidental? Or was he there at the particular time for the purpose the of of murder? We didn't know. By the same token, a man by the name of William Tanner was suspected one year before of beating an elderly woman to death with an identical murder weapon. A length of steel pipe wrapped in paper. This same person, William Tanner, matched the description of a man reportedly seen entering Adele Pryor's office shortly before she was murdered. Tanner also had a criminal record of one conviction for assault. Maybe it was a lead. Maybe it was nothing. It had to be checked out. We showed Tanner's mug shot to our first murder suspect, Robert French, but he failed to identify it. We went to William Tanner's last known address, but he'd moved. We checked with his next of kin, his brother, Martin Tanner. He was with the city fire department. We found him on duty at the neighborhood fire station on Norwich Avenue.

[Ben Romero]

No, I'm afraid not, sergeant. I haven't seen my brother Bill in three weeks. Now, if he's not at his apartment. Apartment? I couldn't tell you where to find.

[Jess Gonzalez]

We tried the last address we had on him. He wasn't there. 8625 Norman Road.

[Johnny Powers]

Oh, no, no.

[Ben Romero]

He moved out of there six, seven months ago. I got his new address in my locker. I can give it to you if you want.

[Joe Friday]

We'd appreciate it. Yeah, okay.

[Ben Romero]

Back this way and then upstairs.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Ben Romero]

What's it about, sergeant? My brother in some kind of trouble again, I guess, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Oh, it's just a routine check.

[Jess Gonzalez]

You sound like you almost expect your brother to be in trouble, Tanner.

[Ben Romero]

To tell you the truth, I guess I do. I don't know what. Excuse me, Ma. No, it's not our call.

[Joe Friday]

Well, how would you mean that, Tanner? What's happened to your brother?

[Ben Romero]

Well, to tell you the truth, I don't know. Bill and I used to live together with our mother. Ma died about two years ago. I don't think Bill ever really got over it. He was a lot closer to Ma than I was.

[Jess Gonzalez]

I see.

[Ben Romero]

After she died, he drank quite a bit for a while. Then he tried women, lots of them. After that, he turned to religion. We thought that had helped. Would have, too, except that he's an odd guy. Even finds ways of distorting the Bible. I guess he's still pretty religious. He goes to all the revivals, the tent meetings, all that kind of thing.

[Joe Friday]

Do you know any of his women friends?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, I do. Two or three of them.

[Joe Friday]

How about the name Adele Pryor? That mean anything to you?

[Ben Romero]

Would she be kind of a pretty girl, blonde hair, nice clothes?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's right.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Have you met her?

[Johnny Powers]

Tanner?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah. Bill had me meet her once. He seemed to like her quite a bit.

[Johnny Powers]

Why?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Was he pretty serious about her, or would you know that?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, he was serious about her, all right. He told me that. I don't think it worked both ways, though. Looked to me like she was playing the field. Bill took it way too serious.

[Joe Friday]

How do you mean?

[Ben Romero]

Well, they went together steady for a while, and then they broke it up. She did?

[Joe Friday]

I mean, how'd your brother take that?

[William Tanner]

Not so good.

[Ben Romero]

I remember the night, about a month ago. Never saw Bill like that before. Real bad shape. Wasn't drinking either.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Is that so?

[Ben Romero]

Never saw a Bill like that in my life.

[Joe Friday]

Like what? Tanner.

[Ben Romero]

Off his head, he could have gone out and killed a girl.

[Joe Friday]

Before we left the fire station, we got William Tanner's new address from his brother, Martin. It was the same address as that of the murdered girl, Adele Pryor. An apartment house close by the intersection of Wilshire and La Brea. Tanner's apartment was on the third floor, just down the hall from the Pryor girl's apartment. But Tanner wasn't there. The apartment manager told us he'd moved out the night before without leaving a forwarding address. Ben put in a call to the suspect's place of business, an industrial chemical company where Tanner was employed as assistant office manager.

[Jess Gonzalez]

What was the reason? Oh, I see. Huh?

[Johnny Powers]

Yeah.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Well, all right. Thanks very much. We'll be checking with you later.

[Ben Romero]

Bye.

[Joe Friday]

What'd they say?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Tanner left yesterday. Quit without giving any notice. Told him he had a better job lined up.

[Joe Friday]

Where?

[Jess Gonzalez]

South America.

[Joe Friday]

Saturday, October 1, 8am we got out a broadcast and an APB on murder suspect William Tanner. We checked with a local US State Department office, but they had no record of granting a passport recently to a William Tanner. To travel in a South American country. We talked to the various consulates in the city representing South American nations, But none of them had issued a visa to a William Tanner recently or anyone answering his description. Together with Brian and Lopez from homicide, Ben and I continued the search for the missing suspect. The deeper we checked into his background, the more we became convinced that, mentally, Tanner was far from normal. Most of the people who knew the suspect told us the same story his brother had given us. In recent months, Tanner had taken strongly to religion. He attended revival meetings and similar religious exercises every night in the week. He talked nothing but repentance. He quoted the scriptures constantly. He adopted the habit of carrying a bible with him wherever he went, reading from it aloud every chance he got. He kept urging his friends to join him in being saved. On Monday, October 3rd, we began a check of the various revival halls. On Wednesday, October 5th, we found him. He was attending a gospel revival in a meeting hall in the south end of the city. He told us he had a room in a small hotel directly above the meeting hall, but he seemed reluctant to take us up there. While Lopez and Brian got a pass key from the manager and went up to check the room, Ben and I questioned Tanner downstairs in the lobby of the meeting hall.

[William Tanner]

I'm sorry to hear about Dell.

[Jess Gonzalez]

What happened to her.

[William Tanner]

It's a terrible thing, isn't it?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Yes, sir. We understand you knew Adele pryor Fairly well, Mr. Tanner. Is that correct?

[William Tanner]

Yes, that's correct. I liked her quite a bit at one time. We used to see a lot of each other. I was engaged to her, you know.

[Joe Friday]

Well, how is it you never married, Tanner? Did she break off the engagement?

[Robert French]

No.

[William Tanner]

No, I was lucky. I found out in time. I broke off at first.

[Joe Friday]

How do you mean you found out in time? What'd you find out?

[William Tanner]

I found the truth, sergeant. The everlasting word. For know this and understand that no unclean person or covetous one has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. For these have given themselves up in despair to sensuality, greedily practicing every kind of uncleanness. Do not then become partakers with them. That's the everlasting word, sergeant. The holy book. Yes, sir.

[Jess Gonzalez]

I'm not quite sure of.

[William Tanner]

Open your eyes and ears to the everlasting word and you will know and understand all things. It's very simple, officer. I don't want to say anything uncharitable about her. Adele wasn't for me. I'm glad I found out in time, that's all.

[Robert French]

Mm.

[Jess Gonzalez]

When's the last time you saw her, Tanner. Do you remember?

[William Tanner]

No, I don't. Not exactly. I think I saw her a week or so before it happened. Before they found her dead.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Where was that that you saw her?

[William Tanner]

How's that?

[Jess Gonzalez]

I say, where was it the last time you saw her?

[William Tanner]

On the street. It was downtown somewhere. I passed her on the street.

[Joe Friday]

You used to live in the same apartment house she did, isn't that right? Just down the hall from her?

[William Tanner]

Yes, sir, I did. Why?

[Joe Friday]

And for a full week, you didn't happen to see the Prior girl around the apartment building at all?

[William Tanner]

No, that's right. When I broke off with Adele, that was it. I had no reason to see her anymore.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Well, it's not too clear, Tanner. It doesn't jibe with what we've been told about you and the Prior girl.

[William Tanner]

Well, Eliza, of course. I suppose you know that Adele was a beautiful girl. Very beautiful. A lot of men she knew were jealous of.

[Joe Friday]

Well, the way we understand it, Tanner, you never did break off with Ms. Pryor. You were going around with her, and you were seen with her right up to the.

[William Tanner]

Well, that's certainly a lie, and I can prove that. As soon as I found out about Adele. That was weeks before she was killed. As soon as I found out that was the end, I broke off with her right away.

[Joe Friday]

Like to know what you're referring to, Tanner. You found out what?

[William Tanner]

Adele. Adele. She was one of those, huh? I'm sorry. She was a sinner. I almost went out of my mind when I found out she knew it was wrong. She must have known it was right there in the book for anybody to read. Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts.

[Joe Friday]

Now, look, Tanner, what are you trying to tell us?

[William Tanner]

It was terrible. She sinned all the time. She committed terrible sins. Will you come into this side room over here? I can tell you all about her. I'd just as soon not talk about it here.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Sure. Go ahead.

[William Tanner]

Get in here.

[Mrs. McClung]

All right.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Just one question before you get started, Tanner.

[Johnny Powers]

Yes?

[Jess Gonzalez]

Did you ever visit Adele Pryder, place of business downtown at her office?

[William Tanner]

No, I never did.

[Joe Friday]

Why did you visit Adele Pryor at her office the day she was killed?

[William Tanner]

The Lord is my witness, Sergeant. I have nothing to fear. Why should you ask me that question?

[Joe Friday]

We have a report that you were seen going into the office less than an hour before the Pryor girl was murdered. I'd like to have you clarify that for us, if you would.

[William Tanner]

Certainly. It's a lie.

[Jess Gonzalez]

And you're sure you weren't in that office with her just before she died?

[William Tanner]

Well, let me tell you about her sins. There was never anything as evil as this, Sergeant.

[Joe Friday]

Is that right?

[William Tanner]

Yes. It was a terrible shock. I liked Adele. I think I loved her. We'd been going out for two months. Sometimes I'd take her here so that she could learn about the everlasting words. So that she could know about the terrible sins some people commit. Drinking and parties and carryings on things no one should do. Especially girls like Adele. Beautiful girl.

[Joe Friday]

How can you be sure she was doing anything wrong, Tanner? Do you have any real proof of that?

[William Tanner]

Everything, Sergeant. I knew, just knowing that she was sinning against the Lord.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Did you know any of the other men she went out with?

[William Tanner]

They were sinful. I knew that they only liked Adele because she was beautiful.

[Joe Friday]

Did you know any of the men, Tanner? Did you know for a fact that there was anything wrong?

[William Tanner]

I knew everything, Sergeant. She was a beautiful girl. And I thought she was a woman of the Lord. And I wanted her for my wife. But she gave in to sin.

[Joe Friday]

Now, I guess that's her business, Tanner. How she lived. We're trying to find out how she died.

[William Tanner]

Well, just let me tell you about it. I'd lie there in the dark in my room upstairs. And I'd wait to hear her come in down the hall. It was always late. 2 and 3 o' clock in the morning. I'd hear her come in.

[Jess Gonzalez]

You still haven't told us, Tanner. What about the men she went out with, this Prior girl?

[William Tanner]

Slaves of the devil, every one of them. I thought I'd go out of my mind.

[Joe Friday]

All right, now, come on. You want to tell us, mister? How about it? Is that what made you do it?

[William Tanner]

No. Wait a minute. You don't want to wait to listen. You say, made me do it. Made me do what?

[Joe Friday]

I think you know what we mean, Tanner. You want to tell us now?

[William Tanner]

It's a terrible thing, all this sin around us. It's a grave thing. The whole world. There is not one just man. There is none who understands. There is none who seeks after God. There is none who does good. No, not even one. Their throat is an open sepulchre. With their tongues they have dealt deceitfully. The venom of asps is beneath their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Destruction and misery are in their ways. And the path of peace they have not known. There's no fear of God before their eyes. No fear of God.

[Jess Gonzalez]

Yes, sir. We still like an answer to our question. Maybe we could talk a little better downtown.

[William Tanner]

The wisdom and the knowledge is here and now. I knew Adele and her terrible sins. They had to be paid for. Adele had to pay for every one of them.

[Joe Friday]

You want to get to the point, mister? Now what is it? What are you trying to tell us?

[William Tanner]

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the charity of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

[Ben Romero]

Amen.

[William Tanner]

So she sinned and so she died.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[William Tanner]

In the name of God and in the name of our Lord, Amen. I killed her.

[Joe Friday]

William Harold Tanner was brought downtown immediately, where he volunteered a complete statement admitting full guilt for the murder of Adele Pryor. Blood stained clothing found in his room corroborated his story. It was obvious that the man was mentally unbalanced. He gave us the details of how he murdered Adele Pryor. Because she spurned his attentions. We began questioning him about the Donaldsons, which had taken place more than a year before and which was still unsolved. The victim, 64 year old Louise Donaldson, had met death in the same manner as Adele Pryor.

[William Tanner]

No, I didn't know the old lady. But she had money. I'd been told that I was broke and I needed the cash, so I thought it'd be a good thing.

[Jess Gonzalez]

This was in September, a year ago, that you murdered her?

[William Tanner]

Yes, sir. September.

[Ben Romero]

All right.

[William Tanner]

She was all alone. She didn't have anybody. She was sick. I probably did her a favor.

[Joe Friday]

Your package here says that you figured in the investigation on the plot to blow up the Rexmoor Hotel about three years ago. Homemade bomb planted in the basement.

[William Tanner]

Yes, that was mine. Three years ago, in September. You never could have traced it. Too bad the bomb didn't go off. I hated those hotel people.

[Johnny Powers]

Is that right?

[Jess Gonzalez]

What was the matter?

[William Tanner]

I worked at that hotel once, you know. Worked hard, too. One Saturday, they held up my paycheck. I didn't get it till next Tuesday. Never forgot that. September.

[Joe Friday]

September. Now what's that got to do with it?

[William Tanner]

I don't know, really. September's always been the time, that's all. I work into some kind of trouble. Last four years. Every September. I don't know what it is. Seems to be the best time to get rid of him. Yeah. September. It's always September.

[Mrs. McClung]

Mm.

[William Tanner]

I didn't really want to kill Adele. There wasn't anything else I could do. She was a sinner.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[William Tanner]

Drinking, running around. She committed sins all the time. Worst kind of sin was terrible, let me tell you.

[Joe Friday]

Maybe you better check the book, Tanner. You're way ahead of her.

[William Tanner]

What do you mean?

[Joe Friday]

What kind of sin's worse than murder?

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

[Narrator]

On January 10, trial was held in Superior Court Department 87, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that

[Joe Friday]

trial,

[Narrator]

Further investigation proved beyond the doubt that William Tanner, besides murdering Adele Pryor, had also taken the life of 64 year old Louise Donaldson the year before. And that he was responsible for the attempted bombing of the Rexmoor Hotel the year before that. After examination by three psychiatrists appointed by the state. The suspect was found to be sane at the time of the murders. Tanner was convicted of first degree murder and received the death penalty. He was executed in the lethal gas chamber at the State Penitentiary, San Quentin, California. 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.