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Introducing Family freedom from T Mobile. We'll pay off four phones up to $3200 and give you four free phones, all on America's largest 5G network. Visit t mobile.com familyfreedom up to $800 per line via virtual prepaid card. Typically takes 15 days. Free phone via 24 monthly bill credits with finance agreement. Example Apple iPhone 16, 128 gigs $829.99 eligible trade in. Example iPhone 11 Pro for well qualified credits end and balance due if you pay off early or cancel contact us Busters Gangbusters Presented in cooperation with police and federal law enforcement departments throughout the United States. The only national program that brings you authentic police case histories. The assault against Alcatraz. 7th circle of hell. Where 200 devilish minds seethe with but a single thought. Where a lifetime is not too long to plot, but at which honest men can look and safely say, leave every hope behind ye who enter here. Now tonight's Gangbusters case, a special presentation inside facts dramatized for the first time on the Battle of Alcatraz. Just one week ago, the law abiding citizens of America, slowly recovering from four long years of war, were shocked to hear of a new battle on a 12 acre island in San Francisco Bay. The Battle of Alcatraz. Alcatraz, so named in 1775 by the Spanish settlers of California. Isla de Alcatrazas, the Island of the Pelicans, a heap of rocks jutting up into the Golden Gate, a mile and a half northeast of San Francisco's famous waterfront district. For nearly 100 years, the island of the Pelicans has been a prison. First as disciplinary barracks for military offenders of the United States army for the last 13 years, the place of confinement selected by the United States Department of Justice for discipline, segregation, punishment of the most desperate and hopelessly incorrigible criminals. For 280 convicts, the rock is the last stop before hell. Last week, there was trouble on the rock. Five dead, 16 wounded. Was the revolt of the nation's most desperate criminal spontaneous? Was it the result of a moment's opportunity? Or was it the result of years of meticulous planning? Four years ago, in the summer of 1942, at another federal penitentiary on McNeil island in the state of Washington, a veteran convict, a notorious dealer in accurate grapevine information, walked up to a guard who was on duty in the prison kitchen. You better get back to slicing those apples, Tom. Yeah, sure, but. Can I say a word to you, mister? Okay, what is it? Hey, look, I got the Dope? You're up for a transfer to Alcatraz. You're gonna be a guard on the Rock. So what? You headed for trouble? What gives you that idea? I wouldn't be telling you, except you've been a pretty square guy with Escarnest. Maybe I can do you a favor. Don't take the job on the Rock, mister. No. Why not? Don't take it, that's all. There'll be a big break. There may be a long time coming, but when it does, it'll be a regular massacre. A massacre? Don't make me laugh. A massacre on the rock? Impossible. Alcatraz is escape proof. Silence at all times in the cell house. Cell bars of tool proof alloys. Photoelectric cells that detect even the smallest pin. Machine guns. Concrete walls. A 20 foot cyclone fence topped with barbed wire. Then the water. A mile of treacherous tidal currents. You see, Alcatraz is escape proof. What makes you think so? Bud, let me tell you something. That corn up at McNeil island has the right dope. He ought to get a knife between the ribs for cracking his yacht. Shut up, will you? I'm telling this guy something. Okay, okay. You see, this big building is right next to the water. We figure once we get out and take care of the tower guards, we'll have our pick of the boats at the dock. Oh, you're wasting your time. No one escapes from Alcatraz. You couldn't even begin wasting our time, huh? We got lots of it to waste. What's time? And where could we begin? Show em the handkerchief. Yeah, yeah, here it is. See that handkerchief, that little rag? That's what we'll use to crack out of Alcatraz. That's what'll whip your machine guns and the steel bars and the electric eyes. We'll tie a knot in the handkerchief. We use it to reach through the bars and pick up a pair of pliers from a workman's kit. Oh, it'll take time, lots of time. But we got plenty of time with the pliers. We loosen some plumbing. And when we get ready to use the pipes, we put them all together with the pliers. And we got a nice little gadget that spreads bars like they was paper. Also a nice little gadget to bump some guards over the skull. Okay, so here's how we got it figured. You see, this big cell house has four cell blocks, A, B, C and D, running the whole length of the building. Now, the only guy with guns is a guard that walks in what they call a gun gallery. And this gun Gallery runs across the end of the cell house. It's really a catwalk stuck on the end of the building but separated from the cell tears by iron bars. This guard walks back and forth in the gun gallery looking things over. We take care of this guard sitting pretty. Don't forget about the gun. Yeah, yeah. This gu is always carrying a rifle, a sweet little.45 automatic. A Bernie Coy and another co got the job sweeping up the corridors between the cell block and the gun gallery. Once in a while, Coy manages to climb up and give the bars to the gun gallery a little spread so they can squeeze through. And the idea is, get the guns and stick up the floor guards who got no guns, and it's all set. I guess it's around two in the afternoon that they're gonna squeeze through and lay for this guard. It was a tight squeeze. Cory, I didn't think you'd make it. I did, didn't I? Boy, have I been waiting for this. As soon as the guard passes, I'll grab him, slug him and I'll grab his guns. Shh. He's coming now. Hey, slug him. Right. I'll get the cell block keys and let you other guys out. Got him? Got the keys? I got the keys. Get his guns too. I'm gonna make it. All right. I'll let Fred send you other guys out. Oh, gee. Come over here. Come on over here. Shut up, you guys. Shut up. Okay, we'll get the key to the outside door. Tell me how crutch of the thing's cooked. I say. All right. We counted on Ms. God having a key to let us outside the cell house. Okay, he didn't. But we got his guns and we got a fighting chance. Well, I ain't giving up. Me neither. Okay. Fine with you. How do we wake it? All right, make some noise. Seeing the other guards will come running, they won't expect nothing. Yeah, one of them ought to have me outside. Keys. A dozen or more dangerous criminals now have the appetizer to their meal of freedom. They are out of their cells and armed. But without the keys to the outside door, their chances of full freedom are hopeless. And they know it. In the meantime, the 4 o' clock shift of guards is in a locker room in the same building adjacent to the troubled Celsius, changing into their uniforms, about to go on duty. These relief guards who carry no guns have no idea that a score or more desperate convicts are free and armed on the other side of a heavy steel door. Hold it, fellas. Quiet. Just a minute. What's up, Harry? Shh. Hear that noise? Through the door. Yeah. From the cell blocks. Yep. Come on, let's have a look. All right, I'll get the door. Hey, it's quieted down. Yeah. Come on. Come on. Hey, look, this first cell, it's empty. Watch it. They're loose. Right into this cell. Oh, they got me again. All right, the rest of you at that. Open that cell door, Cory. Okay. See if those guards got the keys. How you guys start searching them. They all look dead. Let's search them. If we're getting out, we need those keys. Hey, there's one still kicking. Let me add in. Hey, you. Give me the keys to the outside. I have no keys. Oh, you haven't? Hup. That's for not having a key. Keys. And this is for nothing. Hey, Chr. Yeah? The other guys ain't got no keys either, huh? Looks like what? Cook guys. Maybe we better call it quits. Well, what do the rest of you guys say? No quits. Okay? We fight it out. We can't get out one way. We'll take the other. Right along with you. Quad up Boy Thompson? Who else? Help me. Okay, think this out a little. From the warden, United States Penitentiary, Alcantaras island. To the United States Navy, Coast Guard and San Francisco Police Department. Serious trouble is broken out. Convicts are armed and at large in the cell house. I have issued a riot call and placed armed guards at strategic locations. Most of our officers are imprisoned in the cell house. 3:18pm At a commandant San Francisco Naval Base. Subject Alcatraz riot 1 dispatch immediately 1 company US Marines to assist warden, United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island. Two, assign all available patrol craft to surround and maintain constant vigilance Alcatraz Island. Signed, Commandant, 12th Naval District. All Thursday night, May 2nd. The traces of the attackers and the ping of bullets of the besieged streak the sky over the Golden Gate. The battle rages without letup. Residents of San Francisco line the waterfront to see firsthand what they had heard in the special broadcasts and in the papers. People throng in fascination for death is the label on each of the bullets which line the sky in blood red. On the great Golden Gate Bridge, a sailor and his girl edged to the railings. What are those red streaks? Fireworks. Those are the bullets, baby. Tracer bullets. Gee, there are a lot of them. I don't understand it. If they haven't got a chance, what are those convicts fighting for? I don't know, baby. They probably figure they'll get electrocuted or something anyhow. So maybe they'd rather do it this way. I wonder who they are. Not very nice to know, I guarantee you that. You know, I feel kind of sorry for them. Well, anyway, all those tracer bullets and everything. It's pretty. Yes, young lady, very pretty. And who are the men? Those prisoners of other men, decent men. Who are those convicts trying to blast their way to a freedom that could mean nothing but more violence and more bloodshed? Those men for whom you feel kind of sorry. Listen. Joseph Paul Kretzer, murderer. They also rob banks. 15 or 16. I forget which. Myron Edgar Thompson. I killed a cop. Morris Franklin, Hobbit. Me. I shot a cop, too. Kidnapped another one. Bernard Paul Coy. I'm on the ruck for robbing a bank. This is my fourth time over. Lawrence Carnes, murderer, kidnapper. Sam Shockley, kidnapper, bank robber, escape artist. Those are six of the men, six of the ringleaders. Six desperate killers. In a moment, you'll learn how they came to be inmates of the Rock. Now back to Gangbusters and tonight's special dramatization of the Battle of Alcatraz. The list of 280 Alcatraz convicts recalls murder, bank robbery, kidnapping. With each name high up the list. And the murderer of Alcatraz guard William H. Miller stands. Joseph Paul Kretzer, Alcatraz. Number 548. Wanted on warrants charging more than a dozen bank robberies. Kretzer and a woman companion sped through the streets of Michigan City, Indiana, on the early morning of June 7, 1939. Aren't you gonna make a run for it? Me? Run from the cops? You're not gonna let him take you. Watch. Give me that gun. I get it. Here he comes. Let's go. Bang. Right. Do you think you killed him? I don't know and I don't care. Every cop we meet is going to learn the same thing. Joe Crutches one guy. They're never going to stop. The Federal Bureau of Investigation traced Kretzer through acquaintances of this gun model to an apartment on Chicago's north side and arrested him. He was sent to McNeil Island Penitentiary for 25 years. A year or so later, he escaped, but was recaptured with his accomplice. Cretzer was in the anteroom of federal court in Tacoma awaiting trial for escape. Be here for us in a minute, Kyle. Yeah, Catcher. Look, I ain't going back to no solitary. No. There'll be two of them. You take one, and I'll take the other. Go for the guns. Look, Crutcher, that's suicide. So what? It's better than rotting away the rest of your life. Okay, I'm with you. You're all right. Let's go. Okay, okay. Don't rush it now. What are you getting? They got no guns. All right, let's go. Right there. And his companion got only to the end of the corridor. There they were subdued by other federal officers. The United States Marshal, struck down by Kretzer, was killed by a blow to the head. Thus, Joseph Paul Kretzer came to Alcatraz for life for murder. Bernard Paul Coy, number 415. I'm Coy. I'm a bank robber who didn't like being caught. They sent me to Leavenworth for 25 years. They expected me to sit down and wait. Those 25 years, I showed those guys I was too tough for Leavenworth. Thus, Bernard Paul Coy came to Alcatraz. Marvin Franklin Hubbard, number 645. I'm Hubbard. I broke out of prison three times in Oklahoma and Idaho. The last time, a cop tried to stop us near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Instead of the cop taking us in, we took the cop along. Then we ran into a bunch of cops. I shot one, but they nabbed us. Thus, Marvin Franklin Hubbard came to Alcatraz. Myron Edgar Thompson. Number 729. I'm Thompson. I killed a cop, I kidnapped three people, and I broke out of jail eight times. You ever hear of Blackie Thompson? Well, he was a Texas bad man. He was my brother. See? The cops at Amarillo got him. I hate Amarillo cops. Yes. Myron Thompson claimed Blackie Thompson as his brother and swore vengeance on the Amarillo police. About a year ago, shortly after his last jailbreak, Thompson and a companion were driving toward Amarillo. See that curve right ahead there? Yeah. What about it, Thompson? Right there is where my brother, Blackie Thompson, was killed. By the Amarillo cops. Yeah. Yeah. He shot the tires off his car. He jumped out, but the cops mowed him down. Had 30 slugs in him laying right there. I hate caps, but I hate Amarillo caps most. And one of them's in for the surprise of his life. Hey, that man standing by our car, Thompson, he's a cop. All right, now, I'm a really cop. Just keep going and walk right up to him. Just a moment, you two. Boy, you speaking to us? You strangers here in Amarilla, aren't you? All right. Sure. This your car? Well, we borrowed it from a friend. It's got stolen plates on it. Oh, yes. Turn around. I got no gun. We'll see about that you see? I told you. Yeah. You'll have to go up to headquarters anyway, answer a few questions. Okay, anything you say. Headquarters? Only up about three blocks. Amarillo seems to be a pretty good little town. Yeah, there's nice folks in this town. This is a pistol in your ribs, copper. Where'd you get that gut? I got it, that's all. And I hate Amarillo cops. I got the wheel. Good. I'll sell him out, Cotton. Look, you dumped him right in front of the police station. Hey, I thought he searched you. Hey, he did. He didn't find that pistol. Come on, give her the gas. Yeah, well, kills Blackie and I kill Amarillo cop. A short time later, Myron Edgar Thompson kidnapped a young woman and two servants and transported them across the New Mexico state line where he was apprehended. Thus, Myron Edgar Thompson came to Alcatraz. Those are the ringleaders, the desperate criminals who control most of the inside of Alcatraz's impregnable cell house. Armed with a variety of weapons. 200 odd prisoners not participating in the revolt are herded into the prison yard under the guard of the machine guns. Of the United States Marines, Navy and Coast Guard boats patrol the island. Join the Navy, see the world. Yeah, and look at us. We circle Alcatran so many times, I'm dizzy already. You'd think those cons would have better sense. They know they ain't got a chance. Yeah. They remind me of the Japs, in a way. Yeah. Oh, there they go again. Boy, look at them traces. Take my word for it. I'm glad I'm not up on that rock. I had enough people shooting at me the last four years. Thursday night, 7:35pm Prisoners continue to hold possession. Two guards wounded in attempt to storm stronghold. Friday, 4:35am Special load of fragmentation bombs and other modern warfare equipment arrives in Alcatraz Island. From Benais Arsenal. Guards launch vigorous assault. By mid morning on Friday, the entrenched convicts are still holding out. The order is given to drill holes in the roof of the cell house. Over. Cell block D. Built as escape proof, but conversely proving attack proof. Through the roof, Alcatraz guards and Pacific veterans of the United States Marine Corps drop hand. Grenad. Getting pretty hot, boys. I told you we shouldn't go through. Yeah. This is better than the electric chair. You can say that again, Kritzer. Hey, outside the window. Got the feed on him. Good shot. Hey, that grenade was close. Too close. The battle continues with varying intensity all Friday night. But Saturday morning dawns quietly Over Alcatraz, the lull continues. It is deathly still. Shortly after noon Saturday, May 4, it is decided to storm the bastion. Armed guards, some flown in from Leavenworth and McNeil Island. Volunteers from San Quentin approach a steel door. None knows what inferno awaits him on the other side of that steel door. All right, open it up. All right. And they start shooting. Men jump for cover. Let's go. Guns ready. There's one flop. He's not moving. I'll crawl up to him. It's Pretzer. He's dead. There's two more dead. Hey, guards. We surrender. We give up. We give up. Quiet, all of you. All right, March out of here with your hands over your head. And every year tries a trick. You'll get shot. Now come out. Thus ends the Battle of Alcatraz. Casualties? Five dead, 16 seriously wounded. The dead, William H. Miller, guard. Lieutenant Harold P. Stites. Guard Joseph Paul Krupsy, convict. Bernard Paul Coy, convict. Marvin Franklin Herbert, convict. At least three other convicts face execution on charges of murder. A week later, Alcatraz island, an establishment of the United States government for the confinement and punishment of the most dangerous criminals with no attempt at rehabilitation is quiet and anytime, anywhere. When you were buying a fountain pen or when you were buying ink, always look for the name Waterman. Gangbusters is a Phillips H. Lord production. This is abc, the American Broadcasting Company, a broadcast. Hi, I'm Chris Gethard and I'm very excited to tell you about Beautiful Anonymous, a podcast where I talk to random people on the phone. I tweet out a phone number. Thousands of people try to call. Talk to one of them. They stay anonymous. I can't hang up. That's all the rules. I never know what's gonna happen. We get serious ones. I've talked with meth dealers on their way to prison. I've talked to people who survived mass shootings. Crazy funny ones. I talked to a guy with a goose slap. Somebody who dresses up as a pirate on the weekends. I never know what's gonna happen. It's a great show. Subscribe today. Beautiful Anonymous, the only national program that brings you authentic political police case. And now, Gangbusters. Gangbusters. Presented in cooperation with police and federal law enforcement departments throughout the United States. The only national program that brings you authentic police case histories. Now to Gangbusters and facts that show the operation of our law enforcement officials in their war against the underworld. Gangbusters has asked the Honorable Saul S. Sherison, Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to Narrate tonight's case. The inside facts in the case of the kidnapped paymaster. Mr. Sherison, before you begin, I think the Gangbusters audience would like to know that you brought to the studio a man who played a very important part in tonight's case. That's right, Don Gardner. He's right over there and we'll hear from him later. Right now, I think we ought to get on with the report. All right, Mr. Sherison. The main events in this case occurred right here in New York City, isn't that right? In the section of New York City known as the Bronx almost a year ago, Don. On a Saturday afternoon, the stores in the Fordham Road district were crowded with shoppers. At one particular shoe store, a young woman customer was trying to get fitted. While her companion sat next to her. The troubled clerk was on his way with still another pair of shoes to show his hard to please customer. Just look what he's bringing over this time. For crying out loud, Terry, you gonna buy a pair of shoes or aren't you? If I see something that shit. Yeah. Here. Madam is a style that's very smart. Pumps I asked you for. Do these look like pumps? As I told you, madam, pumps have gone out. They're not wearing pumps this year. If the lady wants pumps, get her pumps. Yeah, get me pumps. I'll take one more look. Excuse me, please. I'll be right back. How do you like the nerve of him, huh? You're not exactly the easiest one in the world to please. If I want pumps, Mac, I want pumps. That's the price you gotta pay for keeping me slaving away in that shop. Look, Terry, I don't want to hear no more about it. You stay on the job there until the time is right. And when's the time going to be right? Meanwhile, I'm breaking my back running a drill press at 40 bucks a week. Who needs it? You keep running that drill press until I'm set. I need another guy or two. Who are you looking for? Dillinger? Shut up. Ain't four months long enough to find somebody? I wish you'd get your shoes and get out of here. Let me take my time, Mac. I'm the one that's got to wear them, and I. Well, how do you like that, Bud? Here comes that Charlie McCarthy of yours, Bud. Where? He's coming. He'd find you in Times Square on New Year's Eve. Hiya, Terry. Mac. I said you went shopping. You've come to carry the bundles. What do you want, Bud? I Gotta see you, boss. I'm in a little jam. A cop or a dame? Way off, will you, Terry? What kind of a jam? Where's that monkey with the pumps? I need about 300 bucks quick. 300 bucks? Well, 280 to be exact. Must be a dame. Crying out loud. Why? I owe it to a guy. Stole him. You can give it to him after we pull off the big deal. Hank, I gotta pay him off tonight. If I don't pay him, I'll get my head beat in. Who's got this dough coming anyway? Johnny J. Johnny J. Yeah. Don't you have no more sense than to borrow dough from a rotten loan shark? I needed it. Horses aren't at Belmont. We're hungry. So what? How much did you borrow? Two bills. What's the 80 for? That's interest. Interest's only 5% a week, you idiot. Where do you have to meet that cigar smoking chiseler? At some bar tonight. Okay. He'll be met by the two of us. Where's that guy with my pumps? You don't need any shoes. Let's get out of here. Hey, wait a minute. Come on, let's get out of this joint before I run you out in your bare feet. Okay, okay. But why get sore at me? I didn't borrow no dough from Johnny J. Let's go, my son, let's go. I'm coming. Don't rush me. Hello, Johnny. I was up at the bar. Told you this booth. Sit down. Got a match? Yeah. Someplace? Yeah. Thanks. Well, give me my dough. I'll buy you a drink. Look, Johnny, I haven't got it. That's what I want to get paid. You rotten welcher. Wait a minute, Johnny. Wait nothing. Told you what had happened. Ever see a guy get his face burnt with a lit cigar? He'll get your dough. I bet on tonight. There's a guy here. Does he get the dough? Yeah, he's got it. Wouldn't you say so? Let's go get him. We don't have to. Here he comes. Oh, Johnny. How long's it been? This the guy? That's him. Sit down, Mac. You come taking care of the kids troubles, Macintyre? I look after my boys. Okay, bud, scram. Hey, wait a minute. If I don't get my dough, I want his hide. Get out of here, bud. You want? Yeah, so long. I'll be so. Hey, wait a minute. Come here. Sit still, Johnny. He only listens to me. You got a lot of nerve, Mac. One more thing, Johnny. You can stay, but that cigar's gotta go. Oh, yeah. Give me a match. He said. Put the cigar away or I'll shove it down your throat. Well, as long as you ain't got no match. How much did the kid take from you? Comes to 280. I didn't ask what it comes to. What did he take? Took 200. But I'm entitled to my interest. Here's your 200. Now look, Mac, I'm in business. I got a. You've got to nothing. You don't want the 200, give it back. What he call that Johnny put in your pocket? Yeah, I guess it is. What do you have to drink? Nothing. I'll see you again sometime. Hey, Mac. What? Don't get the wrong idea, Bob. Mike, I'm still as tough as I used to be. Be as tough as you like. I'm a three time loser, Mac. Once more they put me away for good. I don't want that. But remember, I can only be pushed so far. Johnny, have you got any idea why I laid out two bills to get this bird out of Soak? Didn't think it was out of the goodness of your heart. He's got a trick, Johnny. He can take the door lock right off a car without leaving a scratch. So what do you want me to give him, a medal? We take it to a guy and an hour later we got a key that fits the ignition and the door. Sweet. Awful sweet. But it takes too many cars to drive. Build up a nice score. I want it quicker and I'm gonna get it quicker. Huh, Johnny, I got a deal in the works that I'll have to have a bushel basket to carry away the dough. Yeah, that. Throw the book at me this time, Mac. Told you I was a three time loser. I'm not interested in anything except staying out in the street. This will be as soft as frozen custard. Worth it. Can you count up to 100,000? I tried hard enough. Wanna hear about it? Can't put me back in for listening. This is a big foundry over in Jersey. I planted my girl in there. The payroll runs 50 to 100 grand every week. They pay off in cash. Payroll's got guts, Mac. Look at a yard of more guts they got. Look, I've had my girl in that shop for four months. I know that place inside and out. Thursday nights the payroll lays in the safe with nobody around but an old creepy one. Watchman. What about the safe? I don't think that'd be so creepy. That's where the gimmick comes in. The paymaster lives right here in the Bronx. We grab him at his house, take him back to Jersey. He opens up the safe. That's all there is to it. It's gonna take a lot of doing for a lot of dough. I can stand a lot of doing. Okay, Mac. Figure me in it. Didn't you ask me for a match before? Yeah. Yeah, I did. Here, go ahead. Light up that big black cigar. I love him. Thanks. Waiter. Waiter. Another round of drinks here. Make it snappy. So, Don, the criminal David McIntyre had completed his organization, which he intended to use in robbing the payroll. He had everything worked out nicely except a few details like a set of stolen tires and an unexpected doorbell. It was such clues as these that set the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the right trail Then. In the meantime, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was looking into the interstate car thefts in which McIntyre and young Bud Aldridge were previously involved. These cars were being stolen in Bronx and Westchester counties, New York, then taken to Connecticut and New Jersey, where the accessories were stripped and sold. Special Agents Haynes and Martin were at the New York field office discussing the case. Well, Haynes, looks like those car thieves are gonna be harder to catch than ever now. They just quit. At least while they were operating, we had a chance to get them with their goods. I don't know. I don't think they pulled out of it permanently, Martin. Maybe they got something else to do for a few days. Maybe they took a vacation. They've sure been doing well enough to take a vacation. You'd think after all this time we'd at least be able to get a line on them. We'll get our line on them. All we have to do is keep checking those junk shops and secondhand parts places. We'll find where they're selling the stuff. That's all the line we need. Well, I'd better get going. Jersey City? Yeah. I'm going to do a little hunting. Maybe I can turn up something over there. He's going to pull into that parking space down the block, Mac. Okay, double park right here. I'll keep you. Lights up. Yeah. Make sure. Well set, Johnny. You kidding? Let's go. When you see his car, pull out, Bud. Get right behind us and stay there. I know, I know. Come on. Right with you. On the sidewalk. Let's go. Good break. Good break. Nobody's out tonight. Let's do it fast and quiet. Never seen a faster gay. Here he comes. On your toes, huh? Stop here. Pardon me, mister. Yes? Got a match? Yes, I think so. Those cigars of his keep Going out, He runs himself and everybody else out of matches. Oh, some cigars are like that. Your sights. And don't move. Hey, walk back to your car. Listen here, you walk, he said. Okay? Okay, but be careful with that gun. Reach in your pocket and give me the keys to your car. All right. What do you want from me? I don't carry much money. Give me the car keys. Yeah. Get here. Yeah, pal, open up. Get in. Siegel, get. Where you taking me, you think? Get in, please. Come on, get in. In back. In the back. Okay, in back. Climb it back with him. Right. I don't understand all this. What do you want from me? Explain it to him, Cal. You're going back to your office, you're gonna open that safe, and you're gonna hand over tomorrow's payroll. Just like that. But I don't know the combination. Now, tell me what you know. But I don't. Honest. Kid's right behind us, boss. Good. I told you, I don't know the combination. Listen, friend. See this cigar? How hot it gets when it's lit? I don't know how many thousands of degrees hot. Please. Let me ask. Anyway, it gets awful hot. You open that. Safer. You get the end of the circle. The guy right in your eye. Let me out. I want to get out. Please. Shut him up. I can't open the safe. I can't. Okay, wise guy, stay shut. I'll knock him on. Not yet. I want him sitting up when we cross the bridge. Okay, okay. No sense getting those pops at the toll gate suspicious. Keep him up and keep him quiet. Get my treatment later if we have to. So don't. The two criminals and their victim, Mr. Julius Siegel, drove towards the George Washington Toll Bridge across the Hudson river in Siegel's car. With the third criminal, Bud Aldridge, following in their own car. Within a few minutes, they round the approaches to the bridge and nearing the toll gate. All right, Siegel, sit up straight. I will, but don't hit me again. We're going to stop at the that toll gig. We're gonna pay the guy, and you're gonna keep your mouth shut, you got it? Don't worry, I won't say anything. Better not if you don't want the cigar. Remember, on your toes, pal. A toll gig. Hey, 50 cents, right? 50 cents. Adamoto died. I know. It won't kick over. Yeah, shit. Sir. I will. I will. What's the matter, mister, you got trouble? Yeah, Officer. She won't kick over. Maybe you're out of gas. Nah, there's plenty of gas, Officer. It'll be all right. You'll have to get it out of here. Those cars want to get through. I'll give it another try. She's catching feet of gas. Let's go. Who'd have figured one like that? So there's a trick to starting at some type of. Take it easy with him. Gotta open that safe. Okay, okay. I'm only playing. The kid still behind me? Yeah, he's following us. Don't worry. Go ahead. Get that a plan. I'm gonna see what a payroll looks like. Special Agent Haynes, this is Martin. I'm glad I caught you at the office. Yes, I had to finish up something. What's up, Martin? I found a fence over here in Jersey City. Haynes. I think he's the one who's been buying the accessories of those stolen Bronx and Westchester cars. Huh? What does he have to say? Nothing. That's the point. We found two radios and three sets of tires. He says he bought them in good faith. Says he doesn't know the fellows who sold them. What's the name of this fence? Denver. Joe Denver. He's got a long record for receiving never a conviction. All right, how about bring him into New York? I'd like to talk to him. Right. We'll be there in an hour. Oh, and say, Haynes, will you call up my wife? Tell her I won't be home tonight? But I'm telling you, I don't know the combination. Did you hear him, boss? He says he don't know the combination. I heard him. We know different. We know you open that safe every morning and close it every night. That's not true. Honest. It is true. Huh? Hey, boss, give me a match. Why don't you carry your own matches? I'm driving. Catch. Thanks. Make it snappy. The plants in the next block. What are you gonna do? I am gonna light my cigar, that's all. Just light my cigar. Good cigar, ain't it? I wouldn't told you how hot they get. Now, you gonna open that safe? You wouldn't like it in the eye, would you? Okay, I'll open the safe. Ah, you're acting smart. What are you, cats? Not your dough ice guy. Okay, hold on. We're turning in. There's a kid right behind us. Good. Sit up, Siegel. Feel like we tell you. You won't get hurt bad. All right. I'll do anything. Come on, let's go. Okay, Seagull, move. Go on, get out. All right, I'm going. There's the kid. All right, Siegel, walk right up to the office. Door just like it worked here. Which he does. Which he does. Get going. Yeah. I thought you were goners on the bridge doing your job. All right, I'll pick some. There's your key, Seagull. Open up the front door. But. But what? Move. Can't move. You're going to open up that front door to the office and walk right to the safe. You understand? But if I open the door, the burglar alarm will ring. Is this another star? Like the combination? No, I'm telling the truth. The burglar alarm will ring. You're lying, Seagull. There's no alarm on that door. I know. Listen, you think we ought to take the chance? There's no alarm on that door. He just wants to wise up the watchman. Let me tell you something, Siegel. I know this place inside and out. I know how we'll handle that watchman once we're inside. Now open up the door. Cigar? A cigar. Okay, quick now. Holy giant spark. He was right. Get him in the car. Fist. Come on. Get to the car. Get to the car. All right, all right. I'm going to. You gonna let me out here, are you? Please. Yes, Siegel, we're gonna let you out. See what he's got on him? You ought to get something out of this job. I'll still there. You all right? I don't have much. It's his wallet. What's in it? Five, six. Six bucks. Gosh, all this trouble for six bucks. Six bucks. Okay, he's out. Take your gun and shoot him once through the head. Shoot him? They was looking for the chair. How can they tag us for it if he's dead? I'll tell you how to. Some people are Big Ma's. That's her. Who you talking about? Not you. Who can tell about the kid or even the dame? Yeah, who can tell? All right, just work him over good. I want a head start in the cops. I'll work him over good. Don't worry. Ever see a guy get pistol whipped? Gun's good for more than one thing. Dirty rot. He won't wake up for a week. I just sent Joe Denver back to the detention cell. Haynes. We'll file charges in the morning, huh? First thing. You know, Martin, I never seen it fail. When these guys think you got something on them, they'll sing their heads off. Looking for a break? What a business. It's not such a bad business. Joe Denver sings, we clear up a string of auto thefts. Not so fast. We still gotta pick up McIntyre and this young sidekick of his. Well, the information says they're probably still living at that address in the Bronx and running with this Johnny Jay. They oughtn't to be so hard to trace from there. We'll see about that. Excuse me. Sure. Hello? Special Agent Haynes. Haines. This Crawford over at the Richfield, New Jersey Police. Oh, yes, Crawford. How are you? We've got the victim of a robbery up here. Huh? They held him up in front of his home in the Bronx and brought him over here to Jersey to open up the safe. That's kidnapping. Yeah, they carried him over the state line. That makes it your beef, doesn't it? It sure does. The Lindbergh Law. What have you got to go on, Crawford? Well, the victim, Siegel got the license number of their car, but that's not going to be much help. Stolen last week in Westchester County. Westchester? Well, tie in with anything it could. We're working on a Westchester case right now. Stolen cars. Where is this victim? He's still here at our station. Doctor says he can go home after he rests up a bit. Well, keep him there a while. We'll be right over. Okay. I'll be looking for you. So long. What is it, Haynes? Come on, Martin, we're going over to Jersey. I'll tell you all about it in the. Wait. I'm ready. Oh, you don't happen to have a picture of McIntyre on you, do you? Yes, I do. Good. Let's go. Six bucks. Six lousy bucks. I spent four months laving at that drill press for six rotten bucks. I'm sick of hearing about it, Terry. If you found out about that burglar alarm, everything had been fine. So just shut that big yap of yours. What am I supposed to know about burglar alarms? And watch out what you're calling him think yapping. Oh, Bud. Oh, kid Brains himself. Come on in, bud. Gotta pick up them cars and then we better move them, Mac. It's a long drive. I see the small time stuff's good enough for you now. Gas mate was always good enough. You're looking for a crack in the head, Terry. Yeah. From who? Let's go, bud. Sure, I'm ready an hour. If you think I'm going back to work on that drill press, you've got another thing coming. Who's asking you to go back? Do what you like. Six bucks. Six lousy bucks. Come here, Terry. Why? Come here, I said. I want to kiss you goodbye. No. Stop it. Now get your guts packed and get out of here. Come on, buddy. Cheer up, will you, Mac? Ah, let me along, will you? All right, so we got a bad break. Things didn't work out, right? Now we know we should stick to this hot car, right, Bud? I'll tell you what to stick to. Just watch where you're driving. You got a red light. I see it, I see it. We got a good thing. There's a million dames like Terry. A million for crying at a sewer. Shut up. All right. I just. Look at that car. That crazy driver's gonna clip us. Hey, Mac. What? Maybe it's cops. Cops? What cops? Let's give him a piece of our mind, right? If you say so. What's the matter? Don't you guys know how to drive? All right, get him up. YouTube. FBI. Not me. You know it. A little bit of just keeping your hands up. What's the idea? We ain't done nothing. We've got a warrant charging you with kidnapping. Kidnapping? Yes. You should always stop to think of the state line. Come on. Your friend Johnny J's been keeping a cell warm for you. He wants company. Okay, okay, I'm going. You don't have to push that, Don. Was how the arrest was made. David McIntyre and Johnny Jay were sentenced to 20 years each, and Bud Aldridge was given six years. They are now serving their terms at various federal penitentiaries for abducting Mr. Julius Siegel and carrying him across a state line. Well, Mr. Siegel certainly had a rough time of it. You know, Don, that for every crime, there must be a victim as well as a criminal. And I brought Mr. Siegel to the studio tonight. Well, so I see, Mr. Sherison, he had an experience that any one of us may be called on to face any day. We're glad to have you on gangbusters, Mr. Siegel. And I'm glad to be here, Don. But I must say that in all my years of listening to Gangbusters, I never dreamed that one day I'd be a part of your program. And a very important part, too, I suppose, that all of us think of crimes like kidnapping in terms of someone else. It must have been some sensation when you realized that this time you were the victim. Well, Don, from the first, I knew those boys meant business. But it wasn't until they were ready to leave me on, to leave me later on, that I started saying my final prayers. Well, just what happened? Well, when they got ready to go, one yelled to the other, kill him and dump him. But then he came back to me and said, we decided not to kill you. We're going to knock you out. That's when they really gave you a going over. That's right, Don. But to tell you the truth, the beating wasn't nearly as bad as the mental torture. At first I thought it was just another stick up. But when my face hit the floor of the car, well, it seemed as though a million things flashed through my mind. Just what kind of things do you mean? Well, maybe these thugs had gotten to my wife and children also. Even if they hadn't, I thought I'd never live to see them again. And then there was that one voice that kept yelling, if he opens his mouth, kill him. I can still hear it to this day. That certainly must have been a grueling experience. Believe me, Don, it was. All I can say is it's great to be alive. Well, thank you, Mr. Julius Siegel, and you, Mr. Sol S. Sherison, for coming here tonight and being our guests. And on Gangbusters, leading roles were played by Ken lynch and Joe Julian. Don Gardner speaking. Gangbusters is a Phillips H. Lord production. Introducing Family freedom from T Mobile. We'll pay off four phones up to 3, 200 and give you four free phones, all on America's largest 5G network. Visit t mobile.com family freedom. Up to $800 per line via virtual prepaid card. Typically takes 15 days. Free phone via 24 monthly bill credits with finance agreement. Example Apple iPhone 16, 128 gigs $829.99 eligible trade in. Example iPhone 11 Pro for well qualified credits end and balance due. If you pay off early or cancel contact us.
Episode: THE CASE OF THE ALCATRAZ PRISON RIOT, THE KIDNAPPED PAYMASTER – GANGBUSTERS
Date: November 9, 2025
In this episode, listeners are treated to two gripping, vintage radio crime dramatizations:
The show preserves the classic language and gritty, immersive tone of mid-century radio, bringing to life true crime histories, the criminals’ mindsets, and the challenges faced by law enforcement.
This episode of 1001 Radio Crime Solvers delivers classic true crime drama in the evocative, hard-edged style of 1940s radio. It artfully combines pulse-pounding reenactment with humanizing details—especially through the real-life victim’s account—while providing a vivid window into the criminal justice system and the indelible legacy of Alcatraz.
For more immersive old-time crime drama, visit 1001storiespodcast.com.