Dragnet: The Big Beer 08/16/1955

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Dragnet – "The Big Beer" (08/16/1955)

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode Title: Dragnet: The Big Beer
Original Air Date: August 16, 1955
Podcast Release Date: May 19, 2026
Host: Choice Classic Radio

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Dragnet" showcases an authentic homicide investigation set in 1950s Los Angeles. Detective Sergeants Friday and Smith are assigned to solve the murder of a night watchman, Clyde Matic, found stabbed in a downtown appliance store. With little initial evidence, no apparent motive, and no obvious suspects, the detectives meticulously gather facts, interview witnesses, and follow forensic leads, unraveling a tangled web of workplace relationships and secrets. The procedural dramatization immerses listeners in classic police work, period dialogue, and atmosphere.

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Key Discussion Points & Case Progression

1. Discovery of the Crime

• Setting: Bentley Appliance Company, Los Angeles
• Victim: Clyde Matic, store night watchman
• Initial Discovery: Body found by building superintendent Curtis Hallman (~7:30 am)
• Evidence at Scene: No apparent motive, no signs of struggle or theft; victim well-liked (04:01)

2. Interviews & Early Suspicions

• Ralph Bentley (store owner): Cooperative; confirms victim's background and housing on store premises (06:02)
• Curtis Hallman (superintendent): Denies involvement, visibly upset:
  "I didn't do it. You gotta believe that. I didn't have anything to do with it." (04:28)
• Search of Victim’s Room:
  • Evidence of a party: 14 empty beer bottles, glasses with lipstick marks (08:14)
  • Manager shocked by evidence of women in room (08:48)

3. Exploring Victim’s Relationships

• Coworkers interviewed: Widely described Matic as quiet and friendless outside work (09:43)
• Cora Lask (secretary): Offers insight into Matic’s occasional lunch dates; mentions possible romantic interest, Bessie Rowan (11:08, 11:17)
• Bessie Rowan: Notably absent from work the morning after the murder, prompting suspicion

4. Following the Evidence

• Mystery Caller: A red-haired woman asks for the victim at the store’s number, traced to a downtown phone booth (13:12, 13:27)
• Crime Lab: Key findings include:
  • Partial fingerprints on beer glasses
  • Imitation stone earring found in couch
  • Bright red human hair on victim’s jacket:
    "Whoever they belong to shouldn’t be too hard to spot." (15:36, 15:42)

5. Focus on Bessie Rowan

• Further questioning: Description of her hair, recent dye-job gone wrong, strawberry blonde to vivid red (16:13, 16:41)
• Detective follow-up at home: Found intoxicated, admits to knowing of Matic’s death, reluctantly confirms last seeing him the night of the murder but denies involvement (18:48, 19:01)
• Fingerprint Evidence: Her prints match those on glasses at the murder scene (21:03)
• Alibi Weakness:
  "I always thought you had to prove I was guilty. They done away with that?" – Bessie Rowan (19:46)

6. Tracking Another Female Suspect

• Victim’s Mention of Another Woman: Matic allegedly troubled by a persistent, heavy-drinking female caller – described as a "real lush" and frequent beer drinker (22:23, 22:49)
• Neighborhood Canvassing: Liquor store and bar checks reveal a local woman named "Gladys," known for drinking large quantities of beer, described as loud and problematic; address obtained (23:23, 23:46)

7. Confrontation and Confession

• Gladys Marcum Matic: Revealed as the victim’s estranged wife
• Admission:
  "Yeah. He wanted a divorce. I wouldn't give it to him. Wanted to marry some floozy where he worked. Tried to convince him he was wrong… I told him if he tried to leave me, he'd be sorry." – Gladys Matic (24:42)
• Motivation: Jealousy and refusal to grant divorce; threat realized

8. Resolution

• Arrest and Conviction:
  • Gladys Marcum Matic tried and convicted of second-degree murder
  • Sentenced to five years to life (25:16)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent." – (00:21)
• On the crime scene:
  "Beer bottles all over the place... This place is filthy." – Ralph Bentley (08:14)
• Lipstick clue:
  "Yeah. Lipstick." – Det. Friday (08:34)
• Red hair as a clue:
  "Her hair? Yeah, real red. About the brightest red I've ever seen. Had to come from a bottle. Never saw any natural hair that color." – Clerk at department store (13:26)
• Bessie Rowan’s attitude:
  "You ain't gonna believe me anyway. That I didn't kill Clyde." (17:31)
• Gladys Matic’s confession:
  "Yeah. He wanted a divorce. I wouldn't give it to him... I told him if he tried to leave me, he'd be sorry." (24:42)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Scene set-up and case assignment: (00:21–01:29)
• Discovery and early investigation: (01:29–04:41)
• Victim’s room search and beer bottle clue: (07:24–08:48)
• Coworker and suspect interviews: (09:43–11:46)
• Lab findings and red hair evidence: (14:10–15:42)
• Bessie Rowan's interrogation: (17:06–21:31)
• Key witness and suspect identified at local bar: (23:23–23:55)
• Perpetrator’s confession: (24:21–24:42)
• Case resolution and sentencing: (25:16)

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Episode Tone and Style

“Dragnet” is known for its factual, deadpan delivery, mirroring the real files from which the stories are drawn. Dialogue is crisp, procedural, and loaded with 1950s police jargon and dry wit. The methodical progression, reliance on small clues, and succinct interrogations capture the quiet tension and sometimes bleak humor of classic detective fiction.

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Final Thoughts

This episode typifies the best of mid-century radio crime drama: a tightly structured mystery unraveled through forensic work, witness interviews, and the relentless patience of law enforcement. The ordinary settings, understated performances, and careful detail transport listeners into a world where justice depends on catching the smallest detail—like the distinctive shade of a suspect’s dyed hair.

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Transcript

[A]

Welcome to Choice classic radio where we bring to you the greatest old time radio shows like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube and thank you for [e-mail].

[B]

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a homicide detail. A night watchman has been stabbed to death in a downtown appliance store. There's no apparent motive for the killing, no lead to the suspect. Your job, find him.

[C]

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.

[D]

It was Monday, August 8th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A homicide detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Lohrman. My name's Frank. We were on the way out from the office and it was 8:26am when we got to the corner of 7th and Ducommens Streets. Bentley Appliance Company.

[E]

Sure. Big place.

[F]

There's somebody coming.

[E]

Mm, yeah. What do you want?

[D]

Police officers.

[E]

Oh yeah, just a minute. Come on in.

[F]

Thank you. Thanks a lot.

[E]

I guess it'd be a good idea if I lock the door again, huh?

[D]

If you'd like to. Yes sir.

[E]

Good idea. There now it's all secure. My name's Ralph Bentley. I'm the one who put in the call.

[D]

This is Frank Smith. My name's Friday.

[F]

I do how you do, sir.

[D]

Where's the body?

[E]

Oh, back here in the stock room.

[F]

Who found him, Ms. Bentley?

[E]

Our building superintendent. Curtis Allman.

[D]

Is he here now?

[E]

Yeah, he's upstairs.

[D]

All right.

[E]

I suppose you'll want to talk to him.

[D]

Yes, we will.

[E]

I'll get it.

[D]

Go ahead.

[E]

Oh, thanks. Oh, over here. It's behind these packing cases.

[D]

Uh huh.

[E]

We can see there he was stabbed. Yeah, I sure amassing.

[F]

Yeah. What's his name? Mr. Bentley.

[G]

Hmm?

[F]

The victim's name?

[E]

Oh, Clyde Matic.

[F]

M a T I c K I

[D]

K, no C. What time was the body discovered?

[E]

It must have been about 7:30. That's when Holman comes to work.

[F]

Did he find it right away?

[E]

I don't know. I haven't been able to get him to say much. When I came in, he was just standing here looking at the body. He was kind of numb, you know

[D]

what time did you get here?

[E]

Must have been about 7:45. That's when I called you, wasn't it?

[D]

Yes, sir. About that time.

[E]

Yeah, that's when it was. 7:45.

[D]

How long has this mattock worked for you?

[E]

Oh, three years, almost four.

[D]

Has anything in here been disturbed?

[E]

Not that I know of. I don't think Holman touched anything. I couldn't talk to him very much, but I'm pretty sure he knows enough to leave things alone. I sure can't understand it.

[D]

What's that?

[E]

Well, take a look around. It doesn't look like there's a fight. That look like it to you?

[D]

No.

[E]

Well, that's it.

[D]

What do you mean?

[E]

Well, it stands to reason. It was somebody he knew, some stranger. There'd be signs. He wouldn't just let somebody come up and stab him in the back, now, would he?

[D]

Doesn't seem likely, does it?

[E]

Well, in the three years he's been with us, I've never heard anyone say an unkind thing about Mattock. Not one man didn't have an enemy in the world.

[D]

Well, that doesn't mean much.

[E]

Hmm.

[D]

One of his friends didn't like him. 8:30am we put in a call to the crime lab and asked them to come out and go over the scene. The manager led us upstairs to the main offices and we met the building superintendent, Curtis Hallman. He was a small man in his early 50s.

[G]

I don't care how it looks, Mr. Friday. I didn't do it. You got to believe that. I didn't have anything to do with it.

[E]

Now, nobody says you did, Hallman. The officers just want to ask you some questions.

[G]

Well, I don't want them to think I killed him. I don't want them to think that.

[D]

What time did you find the body?

[G]

I guess must have been around 7:30 someplace around in there. You see, I just come in, locked the door after me, and then I was gonna come up here and change my clothes.

[F]

Yeah.

[G]

I got my own closet down there in the hall. My own closet?

[D]

Yes, sir.

[G]

I was coming back, going upstairs, and I saw him just laying there. Right away, I knew he was dead. Didn't have to have nobody tell me that I knew he was dead.

[D]

What'd you do?

[G]

Nothing. Couldn't.

[D]

What's that?

[G]

Couldn't do nothing. First time I ever saw a dead man. I don't know. Just stood there and looked. First time?

[C]

Yeah.

[E]

That's where he was when I came in.

[G]

Yeah, I was just there. You see, I didn't kill him. Wasn't Me. Somebody did it, but it wasn't me.

[E]

All right, Almond. All right.

[G]

Now we's friends, Clyde and me. Friends.

[E]

I. I guess I should have told you. He doesn't mean any harm.

[D]

I mistake.

[G]

Played cribbage once in a while. In the morning. Me and Clyde played cribbage.

[D]

Was there anybody else in the store when you got here, Holman?

[G]

Huh? You talking to me?

[D]

Yes, sir. Did you see anybody else in the place when you got here?

[H]

No.

[G]

Just me and Clyde. Only he was dead.

[D]

How'd you get in?

[G]

Got a key. See? Right here. My own key.

[F]

How many keys are there, Mr. Bentley?

[E]

Oh, there's three out.

[G]

I got one.

[E]

Holman has one. Matic had the other one.

[D]

Have you contacted his family?

[E]

Hasn't got one. Far as we know, he hasn't got any people.

[D]

You can give us his address, though, can't you?

[E]

Well, sure. No trouble at all. He lives upstairs.

[D]

What?

[E]

Part of the deal? We worked out when he started. A little room on the third floor. He gets that and a salary.

[G]

Real nice way he fixed it up. All painted bookshelves. A lot of books all over the place. Books.

[D]

Wonder if we could see it.

[E]

Certainly.

[G]

You like it? Real nice room. Nicer than mine. Wish I had it.

[E]

We can go down this way.

[G]

Want me to go up with you?

[D]

Yes, sir, if you'd like to, sure.

[G]

I like Clyde's room.

[E]

It'd be faster if we take the stairs.

[D]

All right.

[E]

Uh, here we are. Go ahead.

[G]

I guess Clyde had about every book printed. Great one for reading.

[E]

That so?

[G]

Oh, yeah. All time had his space in the book. All time reading smart. Knew all kinds of things. Just asked quite a question and he knew the answer. I was all time telling him he should go on the quiz shows he'd won them all. Knew the names of all the presidents when they was elected. All about them.

[D]

Is that right?

[E]

It's right down this way.

[G]

I used to sit there and look through the books. Didn't make much sense to me, but Clyde sure liked them.

[E]

All right, Holman. I'm sure the officers know what you mean.

[G]

Just try and tell them, that's all. Tell them about Clyde.

[D]

Sure.

[E]

Oh, this is it. It's a lock.

[D]

Do you have a key?

[E]

No, I don't.

[G]

I got one. Got on the ring. You want me to open the door?

[D]

If you would.

[G]

Yeah, sure thing. Glad to help you, eh? Find the right one.

[D]

Now, here, you drop this.

[E]

Why do you have a key to the room?

[G]

Clyde gave it to me. Said it was all right for me to have it. In case I want to clean up, he let me do that. Clean up.

[E]

All right. Well, do you have the key?

[D]

Eh?

[G]

Yeah. Here it is. There you are.

[E]

Hey, sure looks like there was a party in here. Well, certainly didn't have any idea things like this went on. Why, just look at this room. Beer bottles all over the place. Glasses, empty bottle. This place is filthy.

[G]

How's you gonna clean it up, Mr. Bentley? Honest, I was right. After I finished with the rest of the building, I was gonna clean it up.

[D]

14.

[E]

14 beer bottles. All of em empty. Boy, I don't see how a man could drink that much beer.

[D]

Looks like he had some help, huh?

[F]

What do you got?

[D]

Hey, look at these glasses. Yeah.

[E]

Lipsticks.

[D]

Don't touch him.

[E]

I'm sorry. Boy, that really does it. That's the capper, sir. Well, when he took the job, I made it perfectly clear. No mistake about it. None at all.

[D]

What do you mean?

[E]

Beer drinking. I don't mind. He's got that right. But I told him there wasn't supposed to be any women up here. He knew it. Doesn't look good. Place of business just doesn't look good. Yeah, I told him if he broke the rule once, just once, he'd be sorry about it. That's what I told him.

[D]

He's got no quarrel about it now, huh? He's sorry. The crime lab arrived and started to go over the room. After photographs had been taken, the body was removed to the county morgue. Apparently the victim had died of internal hemorrhage caused by three deep stab wounds in the back. It been dead about 36 hours. From questioning the other employees of the store, we were able to find out a little about the victim's background. All of them knew him as a quiet man who kept pretty much to himself. We asked about the women friends. They couldn't help us there either. The questioning continued.

[I]

As far as I know, there wasn't anybody.

[D]

He ever mentioned any friends to you?

[I]

No, we didn't talk much. I didn't see him a lot. You know, he'd be in the halls

[J]

or something like that. But we didn't talk much.

[D]

Is there anything more you can tell us that might help?

[I]

I don't think so. If I think of anything, I'll let you know.

[D]

All right. Thank you very much.

[I]

Is that all?

[D]

Yes, ma'.

[I]

Am.

[F]

Well, sure getting us nowhere.

[D]

Yeah, let's have the next one, huh? All right.

[F]

You come in now with Lask. Yes, It's Cora Lask, is that right?

[J]

That's right.

[F]

My name's Smith, this is Sergeant Friday.

[J]

I do.

[D]

How are you? Like to sit down?

[J]

Thank you. Guess it's about Mr. Maddox, huh?

[D]

That's right.

[J]

Awful thing to have happen. I work in the office, almost right under his room. Kind of gives me the creeps to think about it. A little creepy.

[D]

Did you know him very well?

[J]

Yeah, I guess you could say I did. I went to lunch with him a couple of times. Even had a couple of dates. Not flower type dates, though.

[D]

How's that?

[J]

He didn't bring flowers.

[D]

Oh, I see.

[J]

He met after work and went to dinner. Nothing serious.

[F]

Do you know any of his other friends?

[J]

Just about everybody in the place. Wasn't anybody that Wasn't friends with Mr. Maddock? Everybody liked him.

[D]

Was there anybody special?

[J]

You mean like a girlfriend?

[D]

That's right.

[J]

I don't know. Maybe it was Bessie.

[F]

Who's that?

[J]

Ms. Bessie Rowan. Her and Mr. Maddock were pretty friendly. You asked me, I'd say might even have been serious.

[F]

So you work here?

[J]

Yeah, stockroom clerk, head of the department.

[F]

I see.

[J]

Pretty important job. Got charge of all the ordering.

[F]

Yeah.

[D]

You ever been in Mr. Maddox's room?

[J]

I know you're just trying to do what you think is right, Mr. Friday, but I don't like what you're getting.

[D]

No offense, Ms. Last. Just a routine question.

[J]

Well, the answer's no. I told you, I just went out with him a couple of times, that's all.

[D]

I see.

[I]

You remember that?

[D]

Yes, ma'.

[E]

Am.

[F]

Is Ms. Rowan here this morning?

[J]

No, she isn't.

[I]

It's a funny thing, too.

[F]

What do you mean?

[J]

It's not like her to miss a day's work. Long as I've been here, she never done it before. Always here, always on time. That's why it's so funny. She called this morning and said she wouldn't be able to make it.

[D]

She say why?

[I]

Not really.

[J]

Kind of talked around it, you know. Matter of fact, I didn't think she had a real reason for not coming in.

[D]

How was that?

[J]

The way she acted. Say, you don't think it had anything to do with Mr. Maddock, do you?

[D]

I wouldn't know.

[J]

I bet that's it. She knows something. That's why she's not come in. That's the reason.

[D]

It's possible.

[J]

More than that. She knows something. I'll bet you on it. Bet you anything.

[D]

That wouldn't be too fair. We'd like to see you win. We checked all of the employees of the store through R and I, except for two drunk arrests for the janitor, Curtis Hallman. There was no record on any of them. We tried to contact Bessie Rowan at her home, but she wasn't there. The neighbors were unable to tell us anything that might aid us in finding her. We asked them to notify us in the event she returned. At 12:46pm an unidentified woman called the Bentley Appliance Company and asked for the victim. She was told that he was out and was asked to leave a phone number where she could be contacted. Frank and I checked with the phone company and found that the number was assigned to a public phone booth in a downtown department store. We drove over to the place and talked with one of the clerks.

[K]

Yes, it seems to me there was a woman by the phone booth.

[D]

Can you give us a description of her?

[K]

Not a very good one, I'm afraid.

[D]

Mm.

[F]

Well, anything you can tell us might help.

[K]

See, there is one thing, though.

[D]

What's that?

[K]

Might not mean anything.

[D]

What is it, ma'?

[J]

Am?

[K]

Her hair?

[I]

Yeah, Real red.

[K]

About the brightest red I've ever seen. Had to come from a bottle. Never saw any natural hair that color.

[D]

All right.

[I]

That help you any?

[D]

Well, we don't know yet.

[K]

I didn't think it would. Just something you remember. Something kind of outstanding.

[D]

Mm.

[K]

I just thought of it. Figured it might be a way for you to remember if it's the one you're looking for.

[D]

Well, if it is, we've got another way. 4:35pm Frank and I went back to the city hall and checked into the office. There was a note in the book for us to get in touch with Sergeant J. Allen at the crime lab. He just finished his preliminary examination of physical evidence and wanted to go over his findings with us.

[E]

Back here.

[D]

Joe.

[F]

Frank. Yeah.

[D]

Well, how'd you do?

[L]

Not bad. Here, take a look.

[D]

Yeah.

[L]

These are the beer bottles we found in the room. 14 of them. They're clean. Able to lift three good prints from one of the glasses.

[D]

Enough for identification.

[L]

You come up with a finger?

[F]

Not enough for classification?

[D]

No. Anything else?

[L]

Oh, it went over the room with a vacuum cleaner. Found this in the couch. Earring, imitation stone mountings.

[H]

Gold filled.

[L]

Nothing else on it.

[F]

Any way of checking where it was bought? Jay?

[L]

That'll be pretty hard. Costume jewelry. A lot of places make it even more in that cellar.

[D]

Yeah.

[L]

Found this handkerchief on the floor under the couch.

[D]

No monogram. Any laundry marks? No.

[L]

Went over it with ultraviolet. There's nothing there.

[G]

Is that it?

[L]

Well, lipstick marks and the glasses. We lifted them. Might be able to use them in identification.

[D]

Yeah.

[L]

You come up with a motive yet?

[D]

No, no. As near as we can tell, there wasn't anything stolen from the store. The victim had $36 in cash on him. Expensive watch, ring. None of it was touched. You got any more force, Jay?

[L]

Well, couldn't find the murder weapon. Wasn't in the room. We checked the rest of the place. Couldn't turn it.

[F]

Any idea what it might have been, Jay?

[L]

A sharp instrument. Probably a pocket knife. Three inch blade. Oh, one more thing. Not sure about it then.

[D]

Yeah.

[L]

Here, I'll get him. Take a look.

[D]

What do you got there?

[E]

Hair.

[L]

Found them on the victim's jacket. No way of telling how long they'd been there.

[D]

Human?

[L]

Yeah. Whoever they belong to shouldn't be too hard to spot.

[D]

What do you mean? Bright red. We left the crime lab and drove over to the Bentley Appliance company. We went up to the second floor and talked with the secretary again. Cora Lask.

[M]

Sure.

[J]

I can give you a description of Bessie. No trouble at all.

[D]

Have you heard from her today?

[J]

Not since this morning. I told you about that. You know, how she wouldn't be in. Yeah, that's the only time.

[D]

Now, about the description. What color hair does she have?

[J]

It's a blonde color.

[D]

Dark or light?

[J]

Kind of in between. I guess that's the reason she fixes it up.

[D]

How do you mean?

[J]

Touch up? Usually a sort of strawberry blonde, I guess you call it.

[D]

Uh huh.

[J]

Last time she did it, I guess it was a week ago. She had an accident? Yeah, with the dye. She did something wrong? Sure looked funny.

[D]

How do you mean?

[J]

It turned out wrong? Embarrassed her all over the place. Everybody was making cracks about it. She said she was gonna redo it first chance she had. Yeah, I kind of laughed myself. It was pretty hard to imagine.

[D]

What's that?

[J]

That color red.

[D]

We returned to the office and filled out the reports. At 6:18pm we got a call from one of the suspect's neighbors telling us that she'd returned home. We drove out to talk to her.

[I]

Yeah?

[D]

Bessie Rowan?

[J]

That's right.

[I]

Who are you?

[D]

Police officer. Like to talk to you.

[I]

Well, I haven't got anything to say to you. Not gonna do me much good though, is it?

[D]

Huh? Is it?

[I]

You're gonna take me down to the pokey anyway, aren't you?

[J]

Aren't you gonna.

[D]

Might be better if we talk to you inside.

[I]

Oh, well then come on in. Make no difference where we talk. Not a bit. You ain't gonna believe me anyway.

[D]

About what?

[I]

That I didn't kill Clyde. You ain't gonna believe me, are you?

[D]

Why don't you tell us?

[I]

All right, I will. What do you think of that, huh? What do you think of that?

[D]

You alone here?

[I]

No. I got three of our friends hiding in the closet. They usually don't come out this early, though. Wait until it gets dark. That's when they like it, when it's dark. You want me to tell you now, huh? Do you?

[D]

About what?

[I]

About Clyde. How he's dead. You want me to?

[D]

Why don't you try?

[I]

No matter what I say, you're going to believe what you want to. So it probably be easier if I went along with you, wouldn't it, huh?

[D]

Might be.

[I]

Okay, then. I killed him.

[D]

6:23pm we continued to talk to Bessie Rowan. Frank went out to the kitchen and made a pot of coffee. After we'd gotten several cups down Ms. Rowan, she sobered up and was able to answer our questions.

[I]

I didn't mean it. I wasn't feeling very good. I guess that's why I said it.

[D]

Did you see him Saturday night?

[I]

Yeah.

[E]

Where?

[I]

After work. Met him. We went to the place on the corner. Had a couple of drinks and then I came home.

[F]

Ever been to his room?

[I]

Went to me at the company.

[F]

Yeah?

[I]

Guess it wouldn't do any good to lie about it. Yeah, I've been there.

[D]

When?

[I]

I don't know. I guess the last time was a week ago. Somewhere in there. I had a couple of drinks.

[D]

How'd you and Mattock get along?

[I]

All right. We didn't set the world on fire.

[F]

How'd you know he was dead?

[J]

Heard it.

[F]

Where?

[I]

I'd rather not say. Like somebody in trouble.

[D]

You got a good sized piece of that right now, why don't you tell us?

[I]

Friend of mine I called this morning.

[D]

That's how you found out?

[I]

Yeah. I guess his friend wasn't supposed to say anything. Soon as she did, she told me not to say anything.

[F]

What time did you see Matt at last?

[I]

I guess it was about 7:30. Right after we came out of the bar. He walked me back to the parking lot and I came home.

[F]

Anybody vouch for that?

[J]

No.

[D]

You can prove it then, though?

[I]

Maybe they changed the laws, huh?

[D]

What do you mean by that?

[I]

I always thought you had to prove I was guilty. They done away with that?

[D]

No.

[I]

Then start proving.

[D]

All right, get a coat and we'll go downtown.

[I]

You gonna book me?

[D]

We'll see.

[I]

Gotta make a charge, don't you?

[D]

If you want it that way.

[I]

Never mind. I'll get a jacket.

[F]

Where is it?

[I]

Bedroom closet.

[F]

You want to show me?

[I]

You don't trust anybody do you?

[F]

Let's get the coat lady.

[I]

That's the one.

[E]

Okay.

[I]

Here you are, Gentleman would hold it?

[F]

Yeah.

[D]

All set?

[I]

Yeah, I guess so. We turn off the coffee?

[F]

Yeah, I think so.

[I]

You better be sure. I'm not going to come home and have to clean a burned coffee pot.

[D]

Don't worry about it, huh? You might not be coming home. The woman was taken down to of the City Hall. Her fingerprints were taken and we checked her name and description through R and I once more. But we failed to come up with a record for her. 8:15pm While I talked to her in the squadroom, Frank went down the hall.

[I]

When are you gonna let me go home?

[D]

Soon as you tell us the truth.

[I]

I've told you everything I know. It's all you're gonna get, Joe.

[F]

Now, here it is.

[J]

What's that?

[I]

The solution to the case.

[D]

It might be. It's a report from Leighton Prince.

[I]

Yeah?

[D]

Your fingerprints match with the ones we found on some glasses in his room.

[I]

What does that mean?

[D]

You were in his room.

[I]

I've already admitted that.

[D]

They told us you weren't there Saturday.

[I]

So he's a sloppy housekeeper now.

[D]

We talked to the janitor. He cleaned the room Saturday morning. The glasses weren't there then.

[F]

How about it, Ms. Rowland?

[D]

Make it easier if you give us a statement. Come on.

[M]

All right.

[I]

I was there. But I didn't kill him. And that's the truth.

[D]

Go ahead.

[I]

After we left the bar, he asked me to come up and have a nightcap. I did.

[D]

Yeah.

[I]

We had some stuff to talk over.

[D]

What?

[I]

We wanted to get married. We talked about it before. There was something hanging him up. I don't know what it was. I told him we couldn't go on like that anymore. It had to be either one way or the other. Either we'd get married or else we'd call the whole thing off.

[D]

Yeah.

[I]

He asked for a couple of days. Said he'd clean up whatever the trouble was by then. Yeah, I told him to go ahead.

[J]

That's all.

[I]

Had a couple of drinks and then I left and I came straight home.

[D]

What time did you get there?

[I]

About 10, maybe 10:30.

[D]

Why'd you lie to us?

[I]

I don't know. I was drunk. You saw that. I got scared. Figured sure you'd think I did it.

[D]

Did Matic have any other girlfriends?

[I]

I don't know. We didn't talk about it.

[D]

Did he mention anybody else?

[I]

Yeah, I guess a couple of times. He talked about some girl that was giving him trouble. Called him at work, you know. And he's back. Told me he was trying to get rid of her.

[D]

Possible she might have been the reason you couldn't get married.

[I]

Yeah, might be.

[F]

You know anything about her?

[J]

No.

[I]

He didn't talk much about her. A couple of times he'd be hacked because she called the store, made a big scene. Said she was usually gassed. She was a real lush, way he put it. Drunk most of the time. Funny, though. She didn't go for hard booze, just drank beer.

[D]

On the chance that the empty beer bottles we'd found in the victim's room had been bought in the neighborhood, we began an immediate canvass of the liquor stores in the area. We gave the dealers a description of Clyde Matic. And we also asked if a woman had purchased 14 bottles of beer in the first five stores. We drew a blank. But the clerk in the sixth told us that he had made such a sale on Saturday night to a woman. He was unable to tell us who she was, but he did say that he'd seen her several times in the neighborhood bars. We started to check them. Several bartenders knew the woman but were unable to tell us her name or where we could find her. At 12:20, we stopped at a place called the Pink Pigeon.

[H]

Yeah, I know her. In here all the time.

[D]

She's a beer drinker. You know her name?

[H]

Let me think. Yeah, Gladys something. I don't think I ever heard the last part. Wouldn't make me unhappy if she didn't come back.

[F]

What do you mean?

[H]

Well, she's all the time tanked, loud, dirty mouth. Chick like that doesn't do the place any good.

[D]

You know where we can get in touch with her?

[H]

What's the matter? She done something?

[D]

We'd like to talk to her.

[E]

Well, sure.

[H]

I didn't mean to stick my nose in where it don't belong.

[D]

That's all right. You know where we can find her?

[H]

I don't know. I guess her place be as good as any.

[D]

Well, where's that?

[H]

Couple of blocks up. It's a brown house, second from the corner. You can't miss it. Just like her. A real mess. There's weeds all around. It's a brown house, all right.

[D]

Thank you.

[H]

I'm glad to help out. I've been saying for a long time she was gonna end up in real trouble. Been saying that for a long time. I've been telling everybody. They didn't believe me.

[D]

Well, they will. We left the bar and drove over to the house the bartender had described. There was a light on in the front room when we got there, the name on the mailbox read Mrs. Clyde Matic.

[J]

Yes.

[D]

You Ms. Matic?

[M]

That's right. Who are you?

[D]

Police officer.

[M]

Come on in. I've been expecting you. Wait a minute. I'll get a coat.

[D]

That's all right. I'll get.

[M]

Kind of surprised me.

[D]

How's that?

[M]

I kind of figured you'd find me before this. Didn't think it'd take this long.

[D]

Did you kill him?

[M]

Yeah. He wanted a divorce. I wouldn't give it to him. Wanted to marry some floozy where he worked. It wouldn't give me a chance to work things out. I tried to convince him he was wrong.

[J]

I told him if he tried to

[M]

leave me, he'd be sorry. I tried to convince him.

[I]

Wouldn't believe me.

[D]

Or maybe he does now. Let's go.

[B]

The story you've just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent.

[N]

On December 16, trial was held in Department 97, Superior Court of the State of California. In and for the county of Los Angeles. In a moment, the results of that trial. Gladys Marcum Matic was tried and convicted of murder in the second degree. And received punishment as prescribed by law. Murder in the second degree is punishable by imprisonment for a period of from five years to life in the state penitentiary. You have just heard, Dragnet. A series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police W.H. parker, Los Angeles Police Department.