THE BIG TRUNK and THE BIG CUT DRAGNET

Summary

1001 Radio Crime Solvers: THE BIG TRUNK and THE BIG CUT (Dragnet) Episode Date: January 7, 2026
Host: Jon Hagadorn

---

Episode Overview

This episode of “1001 Radio Crime Solvers” features back-to-back classic Dragnet radio stories: “The Big Trunk” and “The Big Cut.” Both are procedurals told in the signature, sober Dragnet style, following Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith as they investigate crimes in postwar Los Angeles. The first story, "The Big Trunk," centers on the mysterious disappearance—and murder—of a woman named Josephine Allen. The second, "The Big Cut," is a jewelry-store burglary case cracked through patient detective work and forensic clues.

Listeners experience two intricate cases that showcase the doggedness of radio’s quintessential detectives, methods of mid-century police investigation, and multiple twists involving suspects, evidence, and old-fashioned interrogation.

---

Case One: The Big Trunk (00:00 – 24:37)

Main Investigation

• Opening Scene:

  • Joe Friday and Frank Smith are called to the home of Mrs. Harrison, who reports her neighbor, Josephine Allen, missing (02:00).
  • The detectives establish Josephine recently divorced and had numerous male acquaintances, including David Lansing, who wanted to marry her.
  • Mrs. Harrison hints at ongoing jealousy and “fights so loud I could hear them all the way over here” between Josephine and Lansing (04:43).

• The Crime Scene:

  • Detectives find Josephine’s house undisturbed—meals set for two, food untouched, no signs of a struggle (05:21).
  • In the garage, they discover a trunk prepared for shipping, labeled to David Lansing. Inside: Josephine’s body (06:14).
  • Quote: “We know where she is. Yeah. Let’s find out who put her there.” (06:31)

• Suspect Tracing:

  • Lansing’s arrest record and potential motive are established; he’s not home but identified by his landlady and tracked via his roommate (07:00–09:04).
  • Roommate Mark Gilson describes Lansing’s jealousy, drinking, and mental state: “It takes him a while to make up his mind about what to do. But once he decides, there’s not anything to stop him.” (09:00)

• Evidence Review:

  • Handwriting samples are taken since the label on the trunk is a key clue (10:15).
  • Rope knots on the trunk are of the type “generally used by seamen” (10:38).

• Detective Work and False Leads:

  • Dody Fredericks, Lansing’s ex, reveals Lansing borrowed $30 and claimed he was leaving for San Francisco after Josephine’s disappearance (11:26–13:07).
  • Coroner confirms time of death was Friday night.
  • Lansing is found, arrested for drunk, and interrogated. He vehemently denies involvement (15:00–16:00).
  • Handwriting analysis exonerates him: “Kind of looks like we might have the wrong man.” (16:23)

• The Real Killer—Jordan Allen:

  • Josephine’s ex-husband, Jordan Allen, marine background, is interviewed. Under pressure, he confesses:
    • He hoped for reconciliation, but when Josephine confirmed her intent to marry Lansing, “There wasn’t anything else I could do.”
    • He admits mailing the trunk to Lansing to “get rid of it or have him take the rap for it.” (23:00–24:20)
  • Quote:
    • Allen: “The big thing is that you know I really loved her. You gotta believe that I did love her.”
    • Friday: “Yeah, you had a funny way of showing it, didn’t you?” (24:27)

• Case Resolution:

  • Jordan Allen is tried and convicted of second-degree murder.
  • Narrator: “On November 18, trial was held... Jordan Keith Allen was tried and convicted of murder in the second degree... punished by imprisonment from five years to life.”

---

Case Two: The Big Cut (24:37 – End)

Main Investigation

• Burglary Discovery:

  • A jewelry store, owned by Ray Hemp, is broken into through a hole in the wall from the adjacent barber shop. Nearly all valuables taken (24:37–25:30).
  • Key forensic clue: stocking footprint with blood, suggesting the thief worked barefoot and cut his foot on a broken skylight (27:00–28:30).
    • Quote: “Looks like it could be blood. Possibly. Might have cut his foot. What do you think?”
  • Crime lab says socks from suspect would tie in with blood and plaster.

• Initial Leads and Informants:

  • Sgt. Friday and Smith get a tip from Frederick Garth, a small-time crook recently arrested, about a man selling a stolen watch (31:00–32:10).
  • Victor Gordon, ex-con, admits to buying the watch but claims innocence about the theft. A gun found in his room gets him booked for another violation (33:10).
  • Gordon says he got the watch from “Kermit,” whose description leads detectives to Kermit Wayne.

• The Break in the Case:

  • Wayne is identified by his girlfriend and tracked via his car.
  • On surveillance, Wayne is picked up limping (a cut on his foot), matching the blood evidence at the scene (38:00–39:00).
  • In his girlfriend’s apartment, detectives find a suitcase full of stolen jewelry (40:00).

• Interrogation and Forensic Tie-In:

  • Despite initial denials, Wayne is confronted with evidence: blood in his socks, debris in his pants, photos from the scene.
  • Quote: “Sound like we’re bluffing? You want to tell us about it now?” (41:35)
  • Wayne finally confesses.

• Case Resolution:

  • Kermit J. Wayne is convicted of first-degree burglary: “punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period of not less than five years.”
  • Victor Gordon found guilty of dangerous weapons law violation.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• About Motive and Love:

  • Allen: “Long as she’s gone... Big thing is that you know that I really loved her.” (24:20)
  • Friday (dryly): “Yeah, you had a funny way of showing it, didn’t you?”

• On Detective Work:

  • Gilson: “Takes him a while to make up his mind... but he’s always right. No, not always.”
  • Friday: “Looks like he missed this time.” (09:10)

• On Lucky Breaks:

  • Frank Smith (philosophizing while on stakeout): “Clocks that are broke—twice a day, they’re right. How’d you like to be right only twice a day?” (36:40)
  • Friday: “Wouldn’t be so good if you worked in a chicken hatchery, though.”

• Police Philosophy:

  • Friday, to suspect Wayne: “There’s something you should have learned real young. You wouldn’t be worrying about the breaks now.”
  • Wayne: “What’s that?”
  • Friday: “The Eighth Commandment.” (41:40) (Thou shalt not steal.)

---

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• Start of Case One (The Big Trunk): 00:00

  • Harrison interview: 02:00–04:45
  • Discovery of trunk: 05:21–06:30
  • Lansing interrogation: 15:00–16:30
  • Jordan Allen’s confession: 23:00–24:20

• Start of Case Two (The Big Cut): 24:37

  • Burglary discovered: 24:40
  • Evidence collection (footprint/blood): 27:00–28:30
  • Interview with informant Garth: 31:00–32:10
  • Arrest of Wayne: 38:00–39:00
  • Confession confrontation: 41:00–41:40

---

Tone and Style

Dragnet’s tone is measured, restrained, and by-the-book:

• Dialogue is clipped and matter-of-fact.
• Expository narration by Friday is unwaveringly calm and clinical.
• The show avoids melodrama, emphasizing logical deduction, witness interviews, and physical evidence.
• Dark humor and low-key philosophy surface in Smith’s asides.

---

Conclusion

This episode exemplifies the “just the facts” police drama of Dragnet—painstaking, methodical, and unglamorized. Both cases are resolved through careful evidence-gathering, unwavering pursuit, and logical deduction, supported by the iconic calm of Sgt. Friday and the soft wit of Frank Smith. The Dragnet template endures as a touchstone of the detective genre, with stories rooted in the real police files, offering satisfying closure for even the toughest cases.

For listeners who appreciate golden-age detective radio, this double-feature Dragnet delivers two tightly conducted mysteries, sharp dialogue, and the enduring appeal of "just the facts, ma'am."

Transcript

[A]

Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T Mobile and US Cellular are joining forces. Switch to T Mobile and save up to 20% versus Verizon by getting built in benefits they leave out. Check the math@t mobile.com switch and now T mobile is in US cellular stores. Savings versus Comparable Verizon plans plus the cost of optional benefits. Plan features and taxes and fees vary. Savings with three plus lines include third line free via monthly bill credits. Credit stop if you cancel any lines. Qualifying credit required. Ladies and gentlemen, the story you're about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Dragnet, You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a homicide detail. An attractive divorce disappears from her home. There's no lead to her whereabouts. There's evidence of foul play. Your job, find her. 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. Was Tuesday, June 10th. Was mild in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A homicide detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Lorman. My name's Friday. We're on our way out from the office and it was 11:15am when we got to 2962 Reservoir Street. Front door.

[B]

You the policeman?

[A]

Yes, ma'. Am. Ms. Harrison?

[B]

That's right. Come on in.

[A]

Thank you. My partner, Frank Smith. My name's Friday. How are you, ma'? Am?

[B]

I was expecting you.

[A]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[B]

Other officers said there'd be somebody here from the detectives to see me. You meant from the detective.

[A]

That's right, Ms. Harrison.

[B]

I got some coffee on if you'd like a cup while we talk.

[A]

No, thank. No, thank you, ma'. Am.

[B]

Okay. You want to sit down there and we can get started on this?

[A]

All right.

[B]

I made some little notes this morning after the other policeman left. I thought it might help me to remember. They didn't find anything when they went to Josephine's house, did they?

[A]

No, they haven't. Wonder if you'd tell us what you know about her disappearance.

[B]

I'd be glad to. Last time I saw her was Friday the 6th. Last Friday.

[A]

Where was that?

[B]

Out in her yard. She was hanging up clothes and we got to talking. You know, about neighborhood stuff.

[A]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[B]

We talked for a little while. Her hanging up clothes and I was working around the yard.

[A]

Did There seem to be anything wrong then?

[B]

Well, what do you mean?

[A]

Well, did she seem upset about anything?

[B]

Not that she told me about. We were pretty close. She told me just about everything. Happened to her.

[A]

Mm.

[B]

When her and Jordan were still married, we used to get together all the time. Have a little barbecue, maybe take in the Drive in movie.

[A]

That's her husband? Yeah.

[B]

Jordan Allen.

[A]

She's divorced then?

[B]

Yeah. I got the interlocutory about six months ago. Not final yet.

[A]

Where's Mr. Allen now?

[B]

The last I heard, he was working down San Diego.

[A]

Do you know where we might get in touch with him?

[B]

Not right off. Must be some letters over to Josephine's, though. He was always writing it.

[A]

Was there any trouble between them?

[B]

They got a divorce.

[A]

Well, that's not what I mean. I mean after, did they have any arguments, any disagreements?

[B]

Off and on. Jordan wanted to get back together again. Always asking her to call off the decree.

[A]

Did he see her often?

[B]

I don't think they got together in the last couple of months. Josephine got some phone calls from him, though.

[A]

From San Diego?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Did Mrs. Allen say anything to you about taking vacation, anything like that?

[B]

No. If she'd had anything like that in mind, she'd have told me. We were pretty close.

[A]

Did you have any men friends that you know of?

[B]

Oh, she's a handsome woman, Mr. Friday. She had a lot of them.

[A]

Well, did she see any one person more than the others?

[B]

Would you know David Lansing? They used to go out quite a bit. I think David wanted to marry her since his divorce was final.

[A]

Has he been around lately, would you know?

[B]

Not since Josephine disappeared.

[A]

How about before that?

[B]

I had a date with her the very night before. Went out to dinner and then went dancing.

[A]

Any trouble between them would you know?

[B]

I don't want to get mixed up in anything, Mr. Friday. You can understand that, can't you?

[A]

Yes, ma', am, we can. But if you know anything about Mrs. Allen's disappearance, we'll have to ask that you tell us.

[B]

It's just that I don't want David to find out about it.

[A]

Well, he won't hear it from us.

[B]

That's a promise.

[A]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[B]

How about you?

[A]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[B]

Well, then, if you asked me, I'd say that David had something to do with Josephine's being gone.

[A]

Why do you say that?

[B]

Cause they were always fighting. I could hear them all the way over here.

[A]

What'd they argue about?

[B]

Do you know David wanted to marry her and she wouldn't tell him. Whether she would or not until after the Divorce was final, way she put it. Until she got the papers, she was still a married woman.

[A]

Lansing didn't like that, huh?

[B]

Oh, no, not a bit. About 10 days ago, I was over there. My TV was on the Blank, and I went over to see one of my favorites. David was there. And it wasn't no time before they was at it, yelling and screaming. Kind of made me embarrassed. That's when he said it.

[A]

What was that?

[B]

Said for Josephine to get rid of Jordan or David would get rid of her.

[A]

We continued to question the Harrison woman about Mrs. Allen. She could give us no reason for her disappearance. Fang and I left and went next door. We checked through the house. It was exactly the way the two uniformed officers had found it that morning. The shades on all of the windows were drawn. None of the furniture seemed to be disturbed. There was no sign of a struggle. On the dining room table, there was a setting for two people. Silverware, napkins, glasses, they're all ready to be used. On the plates themselves was a complete meal. None of the food had been touched. We looked for Mrs. Allen's luggage. There was no way of being sure, but apparently none of her things had been taken. We went on through the house and out into the backyard. There was no sign of anything wrong out there either. Sure doesn't figure, does it? Well, table all set. Food none of it touched. Well, there's an answer someplace. Yeah. Let's check the garage. All right, I get it. Oh, no. Sign here. No. You want to check the stuff at the back? Yeah. Trunk. Here. Look at this. Looks like stains of some kind. Better take a look, huh? The way it's wrapped up, they're gonna mail it. Labels and everything. Here, you got anything to cut this with? There might be something. Here. Here. We try this? Oh, thanks. Keep those nuts. Yeah. Here, give me a hand with a lock, will you? Yeah. It's coming out. There we are. All right. We know where she is. Yeah. Let's find out who put her there. The crew from the crime lab was called and they came out to go over the house in the garage. Frank and I called the office and told him what we'd found. We checked the labels on the trunk. They were addressed to a David Lansing on Rowena Avenue out in Glendale. We went back to the woman who put in the original call. From her, we got a complete description of Lansing, and we called it into the office. We found that he had an arrest record listing several drunk charges and two major 4, 15 fights. While the men from the crime lab continued their investigation on the scene. Frank and I drove over to see Lansing. He wasn't home. We talked to his landlady, but she told us that she hadn't seen him in several days. She was unable to tell us where he was employed. We checked his room. We questioned her about his car. She gave us the name and business address of his roommate. We drove over to see him. He worked in a large television store on Pico Boulevard. Yes sir. Something I can do for you? Like to see Mark Gilson. That's me. Police officers. Mr. Gilson, this is my partner, Frank Smith. My name's Friday. How are you? What can I do for you? We'd like to ask you a couple questions about David Lansing. Dave in trouble again? Do you know where he is? No, I haven't seen him for a couple of days. Have no idea where you can find him? Well, if I had, you'd sure get it. Say, can you tell me what this is all about? Be better if we talk to Lansing about it. Yeah, if he's in a beef again, I'd just as soon stay out of it. Won't make me unhappy. When'd you see him last? The day. That's it. Let me see. I guess it was Friday night. He said anything to you that might give us a lead as to where we can find him? No. I was home when he came in. He was pretty bugged about something. You know what it was only a couple things ever got Dave upset. His boss or his girl. Do you know his girl? No, never met her. Dave was all the time talking about how we were going to get together some night, have dinner, take in a few places where he never quite got around to it though. Uh huh. Did he ever say anything about her? No, not much. He's pretty crazy about her. Wanted to marry her just as soon as her divorce was final. What was he mad about when you saw him last? You know. Well, I guess it was Josephine. That's his girl. Yeah, we know he was sore about her. She's got this husband down south someplace. I don't know either San Pedro or San Diego, somewhere down there. Yeah, he was trying to get Josephine to come back to him. Call off the divorce. He's always calling about it. Trying to see her. Made Dave sore, way he put it. He and Joe had gotten into a beef about it that day. That was Friday? Yeah. Yeah. He had a couple of drinks before he got home and while he was there and we were talking, he had a couple more. Got pretty mean. Is that right? Oh yeah. Dave doesn't Drink too good. All he needs is a couple. He thinks he can lick the world. He gets pretty mean. I don't like to have him around when he's loaded. You give any idea where he was going? No, I left him at the apartment. What time was that? Oh, I don't know. About. About 6:30. Around in there. I had a date with a girl. She lives out in the Santa Monica Canyon. Takes about an hour to drive out there. I left about 6:30 because I met this girl at 7:30. Lansing was still in the apartment, huh? Yeah. He's just sitting there pulling the booze away. I told him, take it easy, slow down. He said for me not to worry. Said he had to decide on something. I figured it was about Josephine. You know, Dave really loved that girl. All this stuff with her ex husband was just eating at him. I guess he was just trying to figure out what to do. Bill, it's a funny thing about Dave. Takes him a while to make up his mind about what to do. But once he decides, there's not anything to stop him. That's all. Oh yeah. Takes him a while, but he's always right. No, not always. What do you mean? Looks like he missed this time. Frank and I went back to the office. We got out a local broadcast and an APB on David Lansing. Along with the information on his automobile. We made arrangements for a stakeout to be placed on his home. A call was put through to the firm who employed him, but they told us that he hadn't shown up for work that week. Frank and I went back to the crime lab and we met with Lieutenant Lee Jones. He went over the physical evidence found at the murder scene. The trunk itself had been checked over, as well as the ropes it was tied with and the mailing label. There was nothing about the trunk to tell where it might have come from. The rope was of a common variety that could be purchased anywhere. The knots, however, were of a type generally used by seamen to secure heavy articles. We made arrangements to obtain samples of Lansing's handwriting for comparison with the writing on the label. The evidence was marked and booked. The next morning, Frank and I met with Captain Lohrman. We went over what we had. Was decided that in David Lansing we had a prime suspect. After we left the City hall, we started to check out the people listed in Lansing's package as friends or acquaintances. First one we talked to was a Miss Dodie Fredericks.

[B]

Honey, he's a bum.

[A]

How long have you known him?

[B]

About 10 years. We went together. Even thought about getting Married. It was all a big deal. Right now I don't much care if I never see him again.

[A]

I wanted to see him last.

[B]

Let's see, I guess it was Saturday. Yeah, Saturday night.

[A]

What was last week?

[B]

That's right. He came in the place. We talked.

[A]

What place?

[B]

Bar over on 6th. I worked there as a sort of hostess.

[A]

What'd Lansing say when you saw him?

[B]

Not much. I did most of talking, just like usual. Just came in, sat in a booth. Always sits in a booth. Ordered a drink and we talk. It's kind of slow, so we just sat and talked. What'd you talk about in the old days? I'm not gonna give you a line. I was in love with Dave.

[A]

Always was.

[B]

Right from the first time I saw him, I wanted to marry him. Everything was going good until he met this Allen broad.

[A]

All right.

[B]

All of a sudden he figures I ain't good enough for him or something like that. Anyway, he drops me right in the middle of the street, takes off.

[A]

You say anything about Mrs. Allen Saturday night?

[B]

Honey, he don't talk much else. All the time it's what she said or what she did all the time. That way you'd think she was a Taj Mahal or something. The way he talked about her.

[A]

And what'd he say Saturday night?

[B]

Just about old Josephine. I tell you, I'm so sick of that name, I could scream. Big deal with them, too. He's always around her. But when he's got a problem, who do you think he comes running to?

[A]

We wouldn't know. I'll tell you.

[B]

Me, she gives him the bad time and he comes to me to get over it. Always been like that. Meet some girl and right away it's the real thing. Always ends up the same way. He comes back, thinks he's a real big man. All the time with the chicks. One of these days I'm gonna tell him that. Tell him to leave me alone. Gonna tell him as soon as he comes back.

[A]

What do you mean, about when he comes back? Do you know where he is? No.

[B]

But when he was in here Saturday, he was broke. Borrowed 30 bucks from me.

[A]

Yeah?

[B]

Said he had to leave town.

[A]

We continued to talk to Dody Fredericks. We got as much information as we could from her. She told us that Lansing had said he was going to San Francisco. We asked her if he had any friends in the Bay City. She supplied us a list of names. We went back to the office and got in touch with the authorities in San Francisco. And asked them to check on the suspect for Us. We put in a call to the coroner's office. The body had been posted and the time of death was set at some time Friday night. We checked out the rest of Lansing's friends and associates without result. We requestioned the suspect's roommate and we went over his apartment again. But we failed to turn up any evidence that might aid us in taking him into custody. Two days passed. Saturday, June 14th. Frank and I checked in for work. How's it going, John? All right. Say, you got a date tonight? What was that? I say, you got a date tonight? What do you mean? Well, I just wondered if maybe you'd like to drop over for dinner, you know, kind of sit around, talk. Well, I didn't have anything planned. Good. When it's all set, I'll give Faye a call. Okay, I get it. Homicide. Friday. Yeah. When'd you get him? Be right over. Right. Come on, we gotta get over the Main Jail. What's the matter? They found Lansing. We went over to main Jail and picked up David Lansing. He'd been arrested that morning and booked for drunk. Violation of section 4127A of the Los Angeles Municipal Code. As soon as the officers at the jail had made sure of his identity, they called us. He was taken back to the City hall to handwriting. An exemplar of his handwriting was taken for comparison with the printing on the label found on the trunk. Frank and I took the suspect back to the interrogation room for questioning. He was fairly sober, but he complained of a bad headache. Frank went down the hall and brought back some coffee. We told Lansing of Josephine Allen's death. It didn't seem to make any difference to him. It's hot. Get it down. It'll help you if anything. It'll do me any good. I just gotta wait it out. All right, Lansing, you want to tell us why you did it? You want to tell us why you killed Josephine Allen? I'd like to help you out. There's only one problem. I didn't do it. Well, the evidence doesn't point that way. You better take another look. Are you in the service, Lansing? No, I got deferred. Bad ear. Ever do any work in the merchant marine? No. I get sick on the boats at MacArthur Park. Never did any sea duty, huh? No. I'm the kind of fellow that can only take a shower. Yeah. Note for you, Franny. Thank you, Frank. Dad, want to step out here? You got note here from Don Meyers. Yeah. They check the exemplars of Lansing against the label on the trunk? Yeah. No match at all. Kind of looks like we might have the wrong man. You are listening to Dragnet. The authentic story of your police force in action. The information from Handwriting Division on the results of the comparison made it possible that we had the wrong suspect in custody. The main two pieces of physical evidence we had were the knots used in tying the rope around the trunk and the label on both counts. Apparently, David Lansing was out. We set out for more coffee for the suspect. We continued to question him. Look, I'll spell it out for you. I didn't have anything to do with killing her. You saw her Friday, didn't you? Yeah, but that don't mean I killed her. Well, tell us what happened when you saw her. From where? From when she opened the door. I went over to see her about 7:30 Friday night. Yeah. I went over to try to talk some sense into her. Were you two having trouble? Yeah. About what? The same thing all the time. I loved her. I loved her a lot. I wanted to marry the girl. All the time his ex husband's hanging around trying to get her to come back. I had a belly full. I wanted to get things straightened out, so I went to see her. I didn't call and tell her she was pretty hacked about it. Said I should have called. She got real sore. I asked her what was wrong. She never acted like that before. I wanted to know what the beef was. All right. So she filled me in on how Jordan was coming up from San Diego. They had some things to talk about. Big deal. All the time they were talking, him trying to get her to come back. Got to the point where I didn't know where I stood. She told me to come in, but she said I couldn't stay long because she was expecting Jordan. Said he was coming up for dinner. I told her I wanted to marry her. I told her to make up her mind once and for all not to keep me on the string anymore. What'd she say? Told me to call her Saturday morning. Said she'd have something to tell me then. Go ahead. The way she put it, things were gonna work out. After we talked for a little bit, I left. She told me she didn't want me there when the ex got to the place. What time did you leave? I don't know. Well, you must have some kind of an idea. Maybe 7:30 or 8 around in there. I'm not sure. I was pretty sore when I walked out. I didn't pay a lot of attention. Where'd you go then? I went home for a while. I sat around then I went over to see a guy I know. Runs a little club on Alvarado. We sat there until the place closed, and after that I went home with him. Why didn't you go on to your place? No reason. He lived pretty close. We spent the night there. Why'd you stop going to work? What? We checked with the place where you work. They say I haven't been to work this week. I guess that's because I couldn't get in touch with Josephine. How do you mean that? I tried to call a Saturday morning. I didn't get any answers. So I figured that Jordan had talked her into coming back. Just went out on a run. Did you try to see her? Hmm? Well, did you go over to the house and try to see her? Yeah, I went over Saturday night. There wasn't any answer. Shades were all pulled down. I figured sure she'd left town. What'd you do? Went down to a bar on 6th. Saw a girl I know. We talked. I guess I got pretty loaded. Next couple of days are kind of foggy. You ever met Jordan Allen? Yeah, once. Put it down that we didn't get along too good. You know anything about him? What do you mean? What kind of business is he in? I think it's some kind of photography thing. He sells cameras or something like that. You know anything about his background? Not much. I only met the guy once. We didn't get along too good then. Near as I can remember. From what Josephine told me, he worked on a boat. Merchant marine, for about six years. You sure about that? It's what I heard. Take it from there. All right, we'll do that. It's gonna make a difference what might to you. How do you figure? You're lucky. You get seasick. The suspect was returned to the main jail where he was held a hanser on the drug charge. We got in touch with Sergeant Tony Maguire down in San Diego and asked him to check on the victim's husband. Frank and I met with chief of Detective Thad Brown and Captain Lorman. We laid out the information we'd been able to come up with. They agreed that we should drive to the Southland city and talk to Jordan Allen. We checked out a trip car and we drove down to talk to him. We found him at his home, a small clapboard house on B Street. From the way he looked, he'd been in bed when we rang the bell. Come on in. What do you want to see me about? Like to ask you a few questions. About what? When's the last time you Saw your wife. Why? We'd like to have an answer. I don't know. Maybe a couple weeks ago. Bring it down to a day, will you? Why? Pretty important to you. Why to me? You lay it out any way you want, mister. We asked it simple. You can give us the same kind of an answer. Now, look, you come in here, you're not from Dago. You got no right asking me anything. Local authorities know we're here. If you want us to ask them to ask the questions, it can be fixed up. How about it, Alan? Go ahead. When'd you see your wife last? Must have been a couple weeks ago. I can't come up with a date for you. What do you do for a living? Sell photographic materials. What kind of a job did you have before that? First mate on a ship. How long did you hold down that job? Six and a half years. How'd you and your wife get along? We were divorced. We understand you saw her quite a bit, though. Once in a while, yeah. Not too often. When we got it, you were trying to get her to call off the divorce. You've been listening to a lot of people with big mouths. You seem to talk pretty straight, mister. Well, you go and ask them the questions. All right, Allen, get your clothes on. What for? If you don't want to talk here, we can make it downtown. Well, what do you want to know? You account for your time last week. What day? I'll start with Monday. Worked. What'd you do at night? Took in a movie. Can you prove that? Yeah, I took a girl I know. Works in one of the Photoshops here in town. Checked with her. What about Tuesday? Worked during the day. Stayed home Tuesday night. You got any way to back that up? No, I was alone. Go ahead. Wednesday, I had to go out of town. Took a run over to Riverside. Didn't get back till about 1:30 in the morning. Yeah, you prove that. I can give you the names of the people I was with. You can call them if you have to. All right. There's some way to get away from it. At your appreciate. I don't like to have them brought into it. Well, it's a business thing. The old man buys a lot of stuff from me. I don't want to ruin the contact. What about Friday night? Friday night I was home all night. Didn't feel too good, so I was here all night. Anybody to vouch for you? No. I called a couple of people, but there wasn't anybody here. Saturday night I went out with the same girl I dated Monday. You want to tell me what this is all about? We think you know. Now, how would I know? You guys coming here cause a lot of trouble. How am I supposed to know what it's all about? All right, Alan, we'll lay it out for you. Your wife's dead. Josephine. That's right. When did it happen? Last week. You think I had something to do with it? Everything We've got points that way. Well, how do you figure that? Why'd I want to kill her? What reason would I have? We want you to tell us. Well, I haven't any. Now, come on, fellas, tell me the truth. This is a joke, huh? How much did Jeff give you to pull a gas? No joke. Look, I don't know what he gave you, but I'll double it. You just tell me the bit and I'll double your money. I'd like to get back at Jeff. It's no joke, Alan. All the evidence we've got points out that you killed your wife. Now we just want to know why. You mean you really got a case you can take to court? We're gonna try. How about it? You want to tell us, Alan? I got scared. That's the only way you'd have known I got scared. Go ahead. I saw her Friday night. She said she'd have dinner with me. Said we'd have some stuff to talk about. I went up to have dinner with her. Yeah. She told me she made up her mind. Said she didn't want to get back together this past six months. I figured it'd work out all the time. I kept calling her, asking her to take me back all the time. I would have done anything in the world she asked me to do. She had just taken me back. None of it worked. We sat there, had a couple of drinks, and then she went out in the kitchen and got dinner ready all the time. I figured sure she was gonna say we were going back together. I went out in the kitchen with her and we talked. Well, she put the stuff on the plates and then she told me she was gonna marry this David Lansing. I tried to talk her out of it. I told her it wouldn't work. She just wouldn't listen. Tried to tell her how she was making a mistake, but she wouldn't listen. She kept telling me to sit down, eat my dinner. Just kept telling me that I just couldn't take any more of it. I couldn't see her going to anybody else. You can see that yourself. There wasn't anything else I could do. You can see that, can't you? Why'd you put Lansing's name on that truck? That's where I thought I was smart. I figured I'd have it sent to his place and then pick it up and get rid of it. If I couldn't do that, then he'd get the blame for it. Either way, it would have worked out for me. All right. You want to get dressed? Are you going to take me back to L. A?

[B]

That's right.

[A]

I don't much care anymore. Long as she's gone, there isn't much. Big thing is that you know that I really loved her. Yeah, sure. You gotta believe that I did love her. It's important that you believe me. I loved her. It was just one thing. Yeah, you had a funny way of showing it, didn't you? The story you have just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On November 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. Jordan Keith Allen was tried and convicted of murder in the second degree, one count and received sentence as prescribed by law. Murder in the second degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period of from five years to life. You have just heard Dragnet a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police W.H. parker, Los Angeles Police Department. Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Dragnet brought to you by Chesterfield, America's most popular two way cigarette. Chesterfield King size at the new low price and Chesterfield regular. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a burglary detail. A jewelry store has been robbed. Merchandise amounting to $5,000 has been stolen. The thief made good his escape. Your job find. This is George Feniman. In choosing your cigarette, be sure to remember this. You will like Chesterfield best because only Chesterfield has the right combination of the world's best tobaccos. Tobaccos that are highest in quality, low in nicotine. Best for you. You and I smoke for relaxation, for comfort, for satisfaction. And in the whole wide world, no cigarette satisfies like a Chesterfield. Get a carton of Chesterfield today. Chesterfield regular, Chesterfield King size. Both at the same price in most places. In regular or king size. You can get them either way. The best smoke ever made's the Chesterfield you buy today. Smokers coast to coast are changing. It's a cinch to do. Here's all you have to say to get the one that's best for you. Chesterfields for me. Chesterfields for me. You just say it's Chesterfields for me. 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. It was Sunday, September 8th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A burglary detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is chief of Detective Stad Brown. My name's Friday. We were on our way out to the scene and it was 10:18am when we got to 6247 28th Street. The jewelry store. I'll be right there. Yes, sir. It's not a very big place. Probably more room behind that partition there. Yeah, I'm coming. You the police? Yes, sir, that's right. This is my partner, Frank Smith. My name's Friday. I'm glad to meet you. How you do, sir? My name's Hemp. Ray Hemp. This is my store. Yes, sir. Sorry I kept you waiting. I was back in the kitchen making some tea. I was a little nervous, you know. Thought it might help you gentlemen care for some? No, sir. No, thanks, sir. When did you discover the theft? Well, I got back to the store about 40 minutes ago, so what had happened. And I called the police right away. Is everything like you found it? Yes, sir. These cases open? That's right. I haven't touched anything in here. Didn't want a chance messing anything up. Yes, sir. Didn't leave very much, huh? Couple of watch bands is about all. Really cleaned out the place. Now, about the watches. What kind were they? Mostly wrist models. A couple of pocket size, all different brands. But I just got a bunch of long jeans in. Took every one of them. Cleaned me out. Can you tell us how they got into the store? Yes, I'll show you how. They chopped a hole right through the wall. All right, sir. Right through the wall in the back. Came right through. You can see there. Goes right into the storeroom of the barbershop next door. Sure made a mess of the place. Plaster all over the floor. Yes, sir. Pretty much ruined the wall, too. Yeah. Wanted to make sure they'd have enough room. See that hole must be about three feet across you. You can see there right into the storeroom. Yes, sir. I better check over there. Oh, I forgot to tell you. The back Door to the barbershop is open. Before you officers arrived, I checked out in the alley, and I saw it wide open. I guess that's how they got in. Who owns the barbershop? Mr. Hemp. Ed Justin. Had the place over 15 years. You know where he lives? Yes. He isn't home, though. As soon as I saw that hole, I tried to call him. You can give us his address and phone number, can you? Yes. We'll want to talk to him. I've got one of his cards up front. All right, sir. We'll check next door. Look at that hole. Must be a good three feet across, wouldn't you say? Yes, sir. Here, let me get that door for you. Look at that. What's that size of that door? Heavy. Double locked. Burglar alarm system out in front on the skylight up there doesn't stop him. Yes, sir. Well, we'll check next door. Seems like kind of a nice little guy, huh? Yeah. Wonder why the thief didn't close the door when he finished. Probably nothing left to steal. Take a look at the door here. It doesn't look like it was forced. Uh, Justin might have left it unlocked. Boy, they sure made a mess in here, too. Looks like they had a head start. This place must use a lot of hair oil. Yeah, only that's liquid soap there. Oh, yeah. Doesn't look like there's any tools around. How you doing? Take a look. Wanted to find something. Come here. What? In the dust here. Can you see it? Yeah. Any impressions? Huh. Looks like a stocking foot, huh? Yeah. The guy must have worked with his shoes off. That's the way I'd call him. You notice right here? Where? In the middle of the print, the stains? Yeah. Looks like it could be blood. Possibly. Might have cut his foot. What do you think? Let's call the crime lab, have him send the crew out to go over both places. Yeah. Joe. Ma'. Am? Take a look at the skylight up there. Mm. It's broken. You better check the roof, huh? All right. Sure looks like hair. Tawny. Yeah, it's green. Yeah. There's the drain pipe there. Might have used that to get up. We'll have the crew check it. Let's go back in. Yeah. Mr. Hamp? Yes? Find out anything? Well, we're not sure yet, sir. I wonder if you could tell us, Is there some way to get to the roof of the building here? Oh, yes, yes. Come on, I'll show you. There. There, you see up in the corner? Trapdoor hinged. Swings right up. Been a while since I've used it. You have something we can use to get up there? No, I've got a ladder. I'll get it. All right, sir. Want me to give you a hand with that? Oh, I can get it all right. Here, you better let me help you with that. I'll swing my end over and you can walk it right up under the trap door. All right. Be careful now. All right. How's that? That's fine. That'll get it. Want to steady the ladder, Frank? Yeah. Can you get it? No. This bolt stuck. Just a minute. It's probably rusty. I told you I didn't use it very often. Yes. Okay. That's got it. Okay, now hang on, will you, while I boost myself up. I got it. Okay. All right. You want to come up, Frank? Yeah. All right. Let me give you a hand. Yeah. Wait till I get my foot on the ledge. All right. Come on. Okay. You gotta lose some weight. Let's take a look at that skylight, huh? Yeah. I'm glad we didn't hit this tar roof at noon. And it's still plenty warm there. You can see all the hemps placed through this one. Good spot to case it from, isn't it? Yeah. Let's check that broken skylight. Yeah. Take a look. Yeah. More smears. There's not much doubt about these. Looks like blood all right, doesn't it? Maybe they did case the stars from here. Could have cut his foot on a piece of glass, couldn't he? That figures. Still, not much to go on. Yeah, it'd take a pretty big cut to make these smears. Well, that'd be something in our favor. How do you mean? It won't heal overnight. The crime lab crew arrived and started their investigation. Photographs were taken of the interiors of both stores and samples of the plaster and lath materials were held as evidence. Latent fingerprints went over both the jewelry store and the barber shop. Frank and I checked with the people in the neighborhood, but none of them could recall seeing any automobiles or strangers loitering in the vicinity. At 7:20pm the barber, Ed Justin, returned. We questioned him. He said he didn't recall locking the back door to the shop. And he said it was more than possible that he did leave it open. We got a complete list of the stolen merchandise from Ray Hemp, along with the case and movement numbers of the watches. These were distributed to pawn shops throughout the city. Frank and I went back to the city hall and had the stats office start a run on the M.O. used in the burglary. 9:47pm Lt. Lee Jones from the crime lab called to say that they'd finished their examination of the physical evidence. He told us that the stains we'd found were blood and that he'd have the grouping test finished for us in the morning. He went on to say that the suspect should have particles of plaster dust and other debris in his clothing. Also, if we were able to find the socks that the thief had worn, the pattern of the material would identify them. At 10:15pm Frank and I finished the log and we checked out of the office. The next morning, we started to run down the list that the Stats office had furnished us. It took two full days to question all of the men named. At the end of that time, we had what we'd started with. Nothing. We talked to informants. None of them could tell us anything. Wednesday, 11:40am Frank and I checked into the office. Yes, I better check the book, huh? Yeah. What do you got? A call from Lucarelli over at Narcotics. Yeah? Says they picked up a guy this morning. Luke talked to him, figured maybe we'd want to see him. He say why? Well, he didn't spell it out. He saw our teletype on the jewelry store thing. Yeah, it's about some watches. We put in a call to Sergeant Roxy Lucarelli at Narcotics Division. Five minutes later, the suspect was brought to our office. He was identified as Frederick Gabriel Garth. He had a record listing several arrests for burglary and narcotics. He'd served one term at the county jail on the narcotics charge. He was brought into the interrogation room where Frank and I questioned him. What are you giving me trouble for? I'm clean. They found nothing on me. Is that so? Sure, the marks are old. Been a long time since I had a fix. Well, what do you want from me? Information. On what? You've been around a while, haven't you, Gareth? Sure. I'm a native son. And he must have a lot of friends. A couple. Any of them selling wristwatches? What do you mean? Well, you don't need a drawing for this now. Any of your friends selling watches cheap? No. You sure about that? What are you trying to build? The way it came to us. You can steer us to a cheap watch? Well, you got it all wrong. I don't even own a watch. If I could buy one cheap, I'd have one. Is that right? Well, sure. I always wanted a good one. You know anybody who can lead us to a good buy? Well, what's in it for me? What do you got now? Nothing. Well, you're gonna leave the Same way. No reason for me to give you a hand then, is there? Then put it down that we're gonna have you in here again. The way you act now will go on the books. How about it, Gareth? Who's gonna know? You, Smith and me. For real. Won't do us any good to spread it around town, will it? Okay. I met a guy last night, showed me a watch he bought for $5. What'd it look like? Gold. Pretty good watch. This fellow friend of yours? I know him, that's all. He got a name? Yeah. Victor Gordon. Where'd you see him? Hot dog stand. Where's that? Out on Western. Western's along street, corner of St. Andrews. What does Gordon do for a living? I don't know. I just see him around the hot dog stand once in a while. You live around there? Yeah, I got a room near 39th and Western. I don't know the number. It's a big green place. Got those kind of plastic shingles on the roof. Red ones. Can you show it to us? Yeah. A friend of mine has a car. We drove him home a couple of times. Did you get a good look at the watch last night? Yeah. What kind was it? Longines. You're pretty sure about that, are you sure? I looked at it pretty good. He took it off his wrist, asked me if I thought it was worth five bucks. I told him it was, at least I'd pay that for. It was a real beauty, all right. Can you give us a description of this Gordon fellow? Yeah, we want you to show us where he lives. Well, I've ridden this far. No reason to get off now. You got any more on him, you're gonna find out anyway. Yeah. This Gordon, he's an ex convict. We checked the name and description of Victor Gordon through R and I. We found that he'd served one term for armed robbery in an Eastern penitentiary and was not on parole at the time. A check of the ex convict registration gave us his present address. We also found that he was employed at the Belden Aircraft Corporation in San Fernando. We took Fred Garth out to the address on Western Avenue to verify it for us. He pointed out the house and asked that we drop him off near a streetcar line. After that, Frank and I returned to the rooming house. We went up to the third floor. We knocked on the door to Gordon's room and he asked us in. I know what you're climbing on me for. Wilder questions. You ask him to get answers, don't you? We'd like a few. Look, you tell Me what all this is about. Maybe it'll shake up my memory. All right, the way we heard it, you were wearing a new watch last night. Well, you got it wrong. Is that so? Yeah. I haven't got a watch. We got it different. Look here. You see one? If I had a watch, I'd be wearing it, wouldn't I? You had one last night, mister. Well, you're crazy. I haven't got a watch. We heard different. Somebody lied to you. I showed you. I'm not wearing one. You don't mind if we look around the place? Go ahead. You won't find anything. All right. I'll check the closet. Joe. Okay. You're wasting your time. You're not gonna find anything. Well, then you haven't got anything to worry about, have you? Go ahead and mess up my room. Tear it apart. You're not gonna find anything. Why don't you just simmer down there? I just don't want to have to put all that stuff back. Joe. Yeah? What do you got? Take a look. Found one of the shoes there.38 Colt. Yeah. How about it? You satisfied now? This gun yours, Gordon? Never saw it before. Found it in your closet. Isn't mine. Won't hold. You want to tell us about it? All right, so you found a gun. Is something wrong? You got a short memory, haven't you? Maybe I got it wrong. I thought you guys were looking for a watch. There's a law that says an ex con can't have a gun. You ought to know that. How about it, Gordon? All right, get your coat. Gonna take me downtown? You called it. What charge? We'll let you know when we write it up. It's a bad beef. Oh, yeah, sure. Well, it is. I don't know what you're after, but I had no piece of it. You wanna get the watch? It's in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. All right. If you sit still, I'll get it. I bought it. I paid five bucks. We'll get to that. How about it, Joe? Yeah. You got a pen knife? Yeah. Give it here. I'll open. All right. You want to give me the number? I'll check it against the list. Yeah. Wait a minute. Kind of hard to see. It's 16758. I think the next one's a nine. Let me see, then. Yeah, that's a nine. Is it on the list? Wait a minute. Look, I didn't steal it. I was wrong about the gun, but I didn't steal the watch. Look, just sit still. How about it? No, it's not. Here. Wait a minute. Try the other side. Mm. Gordon, you're in trouble. Yeah, I know. The gun. No, that's only half of it. This watch. Yeah. It's listed as stolen. You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action. There are more than 60 million cigarette smokers in America who smoke many brands. In choosing your cigarette, be sure to remember this. You will like Chesterfield best because only Chesterfield has the right combination of the world's best tobaccos. Tobaccos that are highest in quality, low in nicotine. Best for you. You and I smoke for relaxation, for comfort, for satisfaction. And in the whole wide world, no cigarette satisfies like a Chesterfield. You smoke with the greatest possible pleasure when your cigarette is Chesterfield. The right combination of the world's best tobaccos. Yes. These six words, highest in quality, low in nicotine, mean Chesterfield is best for you. Buy them King size. Get a carton of Chesterfield today. Chesterfield, regular, Chesterfield, King size. Both at the same price in most places. The suspect was taken downtown in question. He continued to deny any part in the thefts. We put in a call to the place where he worked and we verified that he'd been there on the night of the burglary. After a half hour of questioning, Victor Gordon told us about the man he'd bought the watch from. He said he didn't know his full name, that he knew him only as Kermit. He went on to say that his girlfriend had been with him when he bought the watch and could verify the story. We contacted the girl, Celia Kirk, and we talked to her. She told us the same story we'd gotten from Gordon. She volunteered the information that Kermit lived in the 3800 block on Gramercy Place. She also told us that his girlfriend lived in the 2900 block on Ninth Avenue. We got a complete description of the man and we checked it through R and I. We came up with a package for a Kermit J. Wayne. When the mug shot was shown to Gordon and Celia Kirk, we got a positive identification. Wayne's arrest record went back to the time he was 15. He was listed as an expert safe burger and had used a tunneling M.O. on several occasions. Gordon was booked in at the main jail on a charge of violation of the Dangerous Weapons control Law of 1923, Section 2, 5:40pm Frank and I left the office and drove out to the address on Gramercy Place. Wayne lived on the second floor rear. It wasn't there. In the company of the landlord, we Went through his room. Pretty dirty. You want to check the dresser? I'll get the trunk. Yeah. Hey, Joe, look. I guess everybody's got this calendar, huh? Yeah, it's real popular. Good. Hey, look at this. Did you turn something? Yeah. Drawer full of dirty T shirts. You gotta put them someplace. Whoa. I'd have gloves for this job. How you doing with the trunk? There's nothing much in it. More of those calendars. Wayne must be a fine arts patron. Dirty shirts in this one? I don't know. Maybe the guy hasn't heard of laundries. What do you think? Well, the trunk checks out. Well, how do you like that? I should have known. Dirty socks. Whole drawer full of them. Well, he's neat anyhow, huh? I'll check the closet. A lot of hangers. Not many clothes. Maybe the guy's broke, but that's no reason to be so dirty. How about that bundle there? I haven't looked at it yet. Wait a minute. It might be his. Clean shirts. No pair of pants. Figures they're dirty, too. Wait a minute. Something in the pocket here. Pair of socks. That makes you wrong. What? If he was so neat, they'd be with the others. Maybe he had a reason for keeping him here. Why? Take a look. He had a reason. Blood on this one. We checked out the rest of Wayne's room, but we turned up nothing to further tie him in with the burglary. We got a description of his car from the landlord, and before we left, we made arrangements for a stakeout to be set up on his room. We took the pair of pants and the blood stained socks down to the crime lab for examination. 8:20pm Frank and I drove over to Ninth street to try to find Kermit, Wayne's girlfriend. We checked the 2900 block and we found a car that matched the description of the one owned by the suspect. We checked the white slip and found the car was registered to Wayne. Frank pulled two of the leads to the spark plugs and we went back to our car to wait for Wayne to show up. The night dragged on. 4:29am it's been almost eight hours, huh? Yeah. Something had happened. Don't you put in with you, Joe? Hmm? Did you ever notice around the city all the clocks that are stopped? No, I can't say that I have. You know, on business. Places, storefronts, walls all over. Well, what brought that on? Oh, just thinking a little while ago, you know, some smart fella did a lot of work fixing them all. The clocks that don't run. Mm. They're only right two times a day. What? Clocks that are broke twice a day, they're right. How'd you like to be right only twice a day? Some fellows would be all right. Like who? Guys that bet on the horses. Oh yeah, probably would. Never thought of that. Wouldn't be so good if you worked in a chicken hatchery, though. Where? Chicken hatchery. What do you mean? Well, those guys up there, they look at baby chicks, they're a day or so old and they tell what they're gonna be. You know, men or women. What? Well, they're gonna be roosters or hens. Oh, yeah. Pretty good money in it. Well, that's a new one on me. Yeah, but you gotta be right. None of this twice a day stuff. You know, say a guy bought a hundred little baby chicks expecting to get, you know, 98 hens and two roosters. Uh huh. And he finds out he got just the opposite. 98 roosters and two hens. How do you think he'd feel? Disappointed. You bet he wouldn't. That guy'd be looking for a new job too. Well, maybe he could fix those clocks, huh? Sure be a lot of money in it for somebody, huh? Cross the street. Yeah, I see him talking to somebody inside there. I can't see him too good. It's about the right height though. Yeah, he's coming this way now. Notice the walk. Checks out all the way. Yeah, that's him all right. Wait till he gets in the car. All right, let's go. Right. Hey. Hey, fella. You Kermit Wayne? Hey, what is this? Police officers. Are you Kermit Wayne? Yeah, why? Get out of the car. Come on. Keep those hands where you can see them. Why you want to talk to me? Come on, get out. Just put it down the way you walk, huh? This don't make sense. Does to us. What do you mean? You're limp. The suspect was taken down to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital. An examination showed that he had a bad cut on his right foot. We contacted the office and another team of men were sent out to the apartment of Wayne's girlfriend to go over the police place. Frank and I took the suspect back to the office. 8:25am don't guess we can expect much from Wayne's girlfriend. If she's anything like him. No, he's a clam, that's for sure. We're gonna need something strong to open him up. Right. Eight. Yeah. Mac. What'd you do out there? Think maybe we got something for you. Yeah. Where is the guy? The next office Here. You taking a trip, Mac? Uh, suitcase is for. Watches, rings. Wayne's girlfriend didn't know it, but she was in the jewelry business. Look at this. All on jeans. How about serial numbers? Haven't checked them yet. Soon as we found this, we came right over. All right, we'll run them. Did you have any trouble? Not really. She was pretty cooperative. Didn't see what was going on. We told her Wayne was in custody. Gave her a big story. Tells easier than it was. How'd you locate the stuff? When we told her about Wayne, she remembered the suitcase he wanted her to keep for him. He told her it was some war souvenirs. Didn't like to leave him in his room. Real surprised when she saw the contents. Then she got mad. Said he'd always promised to buy her a good watch. Never had. She can start looking for a new Santa Claus, huh? Yeah. Wayne won't be shopping for some time. We checked the serial numbers on the watches, and we found that they were the ones taken in the burglary of the jewelry store. All of the other merchandise matched the description that we'd gotten from Ray Hemp. 9:18am all right, you want to tell us how you cut your foot? I'm giving you nothing. You did it on the skylight over the barbershop, didn't you? You tell me. I don't know. Maybe I cut at the beach. We don't think so. I want to see a lawyer. I'll talk to him, but I got nothing for you guys. All right. We got something here we want you to see. Way. How about it, Wayne? Look familiar? Who you kidding? Bunch of watches. I seen watches before. Wasn't. These are a little different. Look at the suitcase. That ring any bells? Don't mean nothing to me. You guys are trying to trap me. I know how you are. It won't work this time. I learned all about you cops a long time ago. I get it. Burglary, Friday. Yeah, right. Both of them, huh? Oh, good. Okay, we'll check with you. Want to give us a story now, Wayne? I'll talk to a lawyer. That phone call there, it just called the third strike on you, mister. More blood. All right, I'll give it to you straight. When you went into that jewelry store, you cut your foot, you left blood smears all over the place. You gotta stay away from comic books. We got pictures of the smears. Our crime lab matched them up with a pair of socks that we found in your room. The pants we found are loaded with debris that you picked up when you went through that wall. And we can prove it came from the same place. Sound like we're bluffing. You want to tell us about it now? Don't think you're so smart. You ain't. You just got the brakes, that's all. Just the brakes, that's all? Yeah. You cops ain't smart. I learned it real young. Once in a while, the brakes fall on your side. Something else you should have learned real young. You wouldn't be worrying about the brakes now. What's that? The Eighth Commandment. The story you've just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On January 16, 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. Now, here is our star, Jack Webb. Thank you, George Feniman. You know, almost 100 years ago, Charles Kingsley wrote this about tobacco. He said, tobacco is a lone man's companion. It's like a bachelor's friend, a chilly man's fire. Well, I like to think these words describe what Chesterfield means to millions of smokers today. The right combination of the world's best tobaccos. The best cigarette ever made. Chesterfield. Highest in quality, low in nicotine. Best for you. Kermit J. Wayne was tried and convicted of burglary in the first degree. Victor Cavell Gordon was found guilty of violation of the Dangerous Weapons Control act and received sentence as prescribed by law. Burglary in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period of not less than five years. Violation of the Dangerous Weapons Control act is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than one year or a fine of $500 or both such fine and imprisonment. Ladies and gentlemen, the Dragnet feature motion picture will soon be showing at your local theater. It's in color and widescreen. We hope you'll go see it. We hope you'll like it. You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police W.H. parker. Los Angeles Police Department Technical Advisors. Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Van Spreescher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Jonathan Hole, Herb Ellis. Script by John Robinson, Earl Schlage. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking. Watch an entirely different Dragnet case history each week on your local NBC television station. Please check your newspapers for the day and time Chesterfield has brought you. Dragnet. Transcribed from Los Angeles. Be sure to listen to Dragnet at the same new time next week. Like them filtered like em King size. Then for you, this is it. King size L and M filters at the same low price as L and M regular. Both have the miracle tip for the effective filtration you need. Yes, it's the filter that counts and L and M has the best. You get much more flavor, much less nicotine, a light and mild smoke. Buy L and M filters. Just what the doctor ordered. It's America's highest quality and best filter chip cigarette. Buy a carton King size or regular, both at the same low price. Lux Radio Theater presents Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T Mobile and US Cellular are joining forces. Switch to T Mobile and save up to 20% versus Verizon by getting built in benefits they leave out. Check the math@t mobile.com switch and now T mobile is in US cellular stores. Savings versus Comparable Verizon plans plus the cost of optional benefits, plan features and taxes and fees vary. Savings with three plus lines include third line free via monthly bill credits Credit stop if you cancel any lines. Qualifying credit report 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 with 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.