Dragnet: The Big Close 09/20/1955

Summary

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: Dragnet – “The Big Close” (09/20/1955)
Release Date: June 16, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of Dragnet centers on Detective Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith as they investigate the discovery of a man’s body found in a Los Angeles motel room. The man has no clear identification and the circumstances point away from suicide, leading the detectives on a step-by-step pursuit to uncover the truth behind his mysterious death. The investigation soon entangles elements of deception, jealousy, and narcotics, delivering the classic Dragnet blend of police procedural and hard-boiled detective drama.

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Key Points and Discussion Breakdown

1. Discovery of the Body [02:22–06:00]

• Scene: Joe Friday returns from the main jail and receives a homicide call regarding a body found at a Sepulveda motel.
• Initial Details: Victim registered as Tom Rustad from Phoenix; found dead in his room (Cabin #18), by a motel employee who secured the scene.
• Crime Scene Notes:
  • The room shows signs of being ransacked.
  • No murder weapon or identification; money and papers are missing.
  • "Suicide sure isn't going to help. I wish there was some way to change it. Well, there is, but that wouldn't help much either. What do you mean? He's dead, isn't he? Yeah. But he had help." — Motel Owner & Joe Friday [04:15]

2. First Steps in the Investigation [06:00–09:00]

• Victim's Profile: Paid in large bills, apparently well-off, no clear personal connections at the motel.
• Evidence: Unstamped letter found addressed to June Roselle in Reno, indicating a trip later in the month.
• Leads:
  • Victim's suits tailor-made in Reno.
  • Radiograms sent to Phoenix and Reno for background checks.

3. Victim’s True Identity and Background [09:00–11:00, 15:09–16:25]

• Phoenix & Reno Replies: No records for Tom Rustad; ultimately, Reno authorities identify him as Thomas Roselle, a man with prior arrests related to bunco, grand theft, forgery, and more recently, narcotics.
• Key Quote:
  “Jack Ricketts down in Communications...They got a record on him. Real name’s Thomas Roselle. That’s the name on the letter?” — Friday [15:09]

4. Tracing the Victim's Circle [09:00–15:00]

• Cab Company: Cab drivers recall Rustad as a “big tipper” with multiple rides around town and frequent rides with a woman named Marsha.

• Interview with Marsha Lovequist [11:53–14:45]:

  • Relationship: She met Rustad at a cocktail party, started dating him but didn’t know his profession. They argued about her plans to travel for work.
  • Jealousy and Motivation: Rustad was possessive, suspecting infidelity with a photographer which caused tension.
  • Marsha refers detectives to the photographer, who could be a potential lead or suspect.

  Notable Quote:
  “He got real mad. Said he didn’t want me running around like that anymore… I told him he didn’t have any right to tell me what to do. That we weren’t married, you know.” — Marsha Lovequist [13:51]

5. The Love Triangle Angle [16:25–19:00]

• Interview with the Photographer:
  • Not involved romantically with Marsha; only professional relationship.
  • Rustad confronted him about the suspected affair; there was a heated argument but no violence.
  • Photographer claims after their talk, Rustad left by cab.

6. The Missing Link: Wallace Olney [19:00–23:00]

• Final Cab Lead: Another cab driver recalls picking up Rustad and leaving him at the Roland Arms Hotel to visit guest Wallace Olney.

• Hotel Records: Rustad called on Olney, and they left together after 30 minutes.

• Confronting Olney in his room [20:43–24:00]:

  • At first evasive, Olney eventually confesses to the murder after a short, tense standoff.
  • Incriminating evidence: .25 caliber gun, $2,700 cash, and heroin found in his closet.

  Notable Exchange:
  “All right, you're under arrest. Charge? Suspicion of murder. I'll take the closet, save you the trouble. I killed him.” — Olney & Friday [21:59]

7. Olney’s Confession and Case Wrap-Up [23:00–24:36]

• Motive: Olney and Roselle were narcotics partners from Reno.
• Betrayal: Olney believed Roselle lied about drug sales, suspected him of squandering proceeds and cheating him out of a heroin deal.
• Arrest and Outcome: Wallace Hamilton Olney is booked and later convicted of second-degree murder, receiving a sentence of five years to life.

8. Denouement and Reflections [24:36–END]

• Poignant Ending: Olney expresses regret for Roselle’s wife, noting her love for her husband despite his betrayals.

  • “Nice kid like that and he's running around with another broad. Boy, he was a real bum the way she loved him. And doing a thing like that.” — Olney [24:36]

• Case Outcome:
  “Wallace Hamilton Olney was tried and convicted of murder in the second degree and received sentence 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.” [24:41]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Investigation Routine:
  “Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.” — Narrator [00:50]
• Jaded Perspective:
  “After you're dead, you're famous. When it's too late to enjoy it.” — Cab Driver [19:37]
• Jealous Motive Laid Bare:
  “I know the other guy killed him.” — Marsha Lovequist [14:57]

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Important Timestamps

• 02:22 – Investigation begins at the motel
• 04:15 – Motel owner suspects foul play
• 11:53 – Interview with Marsha Lovequist
• 13:51 – Marsha reveals the jealous argument
• 15:09 – True identity of the victim is found
• 20:43 – Detectives confront Wallace Olney
• 21:59 – Olney’s near-immediate confession
• 23:20 – Olney describes the motive and drug deal betrayal
• 24:36 – Olney’s regretful reflection on Roselle's wife
• 24:41 – Case verdict and sentence summarized

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Summary

Through methodical police work, Sergeant Friday and Frank Smith untangle a web of false identity, romance, and organized crime that begins with a body in a motel and ends with justice served. The classic Dragnet style remains spare and relentless, revealing the machinery of mid-century police work and the human frailties at the heart of every case. This episode is a quintessential example of Golden Age radio detective drama—highlighting not only the procedural aspects of crime-solving, but also the very real consequences of greed, jealousy, and betrayal.

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For fans of true police procedurals and noir detective tales, “The Big Close” is a tightly woven, richly detailed episode that stands the test of time.

Transcript

[A]

Yo, T. Mac. What's your Wingstop Mount Rushmore flavor lineup, cuz? Oh, that's easy. I got lemon, pepper, mango habanero, garlic parm and hot honey. Ooh, no notes. What about you, man? Next question. Join Club Wingstop. Today members eat first and earn points on every wing. Let's go.

[B]

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]. 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. You get a call telling you that the body of a man has been found in a motel room. There's no lead to his true identity. Your job. Check it out. 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 Tuesday, July 19th. It was hot in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of homicide detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Lorman. My name's Friday. I was on my way back from the main jail and it was 5:27pm when I got to room 42. I ought to go. He's willing to make a statement. He copied the whole thing. It's gonna save us some time. Yeah. Gonna save a lot more if he's gone with us last week, though. Yeah. What do you got? Paperwork. Wanna give me a hand? Yeah. Here. Okay. How's the family? Pretty good. Faye thinks he's got appendicitis. Hey. Think he has a panicitis. Woke me up at 2:30 this morning. Got a pain in her side. Sure it was appendicit? I told her to call a doctor. No, she didn't think it was that bad not to call a doctor. Just enough to keep me awake worrying about it this morning. The whole thing's gone, though. No trouble. Says it was probably heartburn. Why don't you give her a couple of your peptopals? Oh, Joe, that's very funny. Funny. Homicide. Friday. Yeah, that's right. What's that? What's that address? All right, we'll be right out. No, no, not any nice goodbye work. Work made at a motel out in Sepulveda. Found a body in one of the cabins? Yeah. Thinks it's a su. Frank and I left the office and drove out to the address with a modern motel set back from the highway. There were 14 cabins surrounding a swimming pool on the lot. We met with a woman who'd placed the call and the owner of the place. Right over there, number 18. Anything been touched in the room?

[C]

No, sir. Since I saw him, I knew what had happened. I locked the door and called you.

[B]

What's his name? Registered as Tom Rustad in Phoenix. How long have you been here? About 10 days. I'd have to check the card to be sure we alone

[C]

here.

[B]

I got the key. Go ahead. You touched the body at all?

[C]

I should say not. I worked around motels for a long time, so nothing bothers me. I tell you, though, this almost did like they scared me half to death.

[B]

Yes, ma'. Am. Better call the lab. Ask him to come out, huh? Yeah. Be all right if I use the phone in the office? Well, sure. You go right ahead. It's on the desk, back of the counter. Thing like this, it isn't going to do the place any good. I hope it can be played down in the paper. He says this is the first kind of trouble we've had. Suicide sure isn't going to help. I wish there was some way to change it. Well, there is, but that wouldn't help much either. What do you mean? He's dead, isn't he? Yeah. But he had help. 603pm the crew from the crime lab arrived and started their investigation. Apparently the victim had been killed with a small caliber gun. However, a search of the room failed to turn it up. The coroner's office was notified. They came out to check the body and go through his effects. 6:18pm Frank and I talked with a motel owner in this cabin. Now, here's the registration card. You can see there where he signed it. Were you driving a car, do you know? Oh, I never saw one. How'd he get here? You mean when he checked in? Yeah, by cab. He tell you why he was in town? No, he never mentioned it. Did he work? I don't know. When he checked in, did he say how long he'd be staying? No, he said it might be a week, 10 days. How about visitors? You have any? I've seen. What about phone calls? Yeah, I made some. Do you have a record of them? No. Usually we do. All the calls go through the board, but he used the phone booth outside a couple times. I was out by the pool at night. You know, I'd be out There. And I'd see him in the booth couple of times. He'd talk for quite a while. But you haven't got any idea who he was calling? No dime called him. What's that cost him? A dime? I heard the bell ring when he dropped him on. We all do. He got any mail? No. He paid for his room in advance. Yeah, the first time he gave me the money for a week. And just a few days ago, he paid for another week. How'd he pay it? What do you mean? Well, by check or cash. Oh, cash. What size bill do you remember? I never saw him use anything smaller than 50. Sure seemed to have a lot of them. Guess maybe a couple thousand dollars. Did he always carry that kind of money with him? I wouldn't know about that. I guess he must have kept something smaller, though. Isn't everybody can change a 50? Not everybody. You gonna let his people know? What's that? Well, he must have some people over in Phoenix. They should know about him being dead. Yeah. Sure. Don't feel it's my place to Tom. No, sir. We'll take care of it. Okay. Gonna be a shock to him, a guy his age. Probably got a wife and family. Not gonna do him any good. That works both ways. End it didn't do much for him. And going over the place, the crime lab found the room had been ransacked. Although none of the possessions of the victim had been taken, there was no money in the room and no personal identification could be found. Place has gone over for fingerprints. Several clean sets were lifted, but they belonged to the dead man. No other usable physical evidence was recovered. The coroner's office checked through the victim's luggage. In one of the suitcases, they found an unstamped letter addressed to a June Roselle in Reno, Nevada. Its contents explained that the victim expected to be in that city at the end of the month. There was no way of establishing a relationship between the two people. The coroner sealed the motel room and Frank and I returned to the office. We sent a radiogram to the authorities in Phoenix asking for all information on Tom Rustach. The following morning, Wednesday, June 20, we got their answers. There it is, Joe. Kenny. Yeah. Take a look. Yeah. Boy, it's gonna make it rougher. Yeah. I never heard of him. In the hope of getting an identification of the victim, his fingerprint classification and description was sent to George Breton up at CII Sacramento, FBI headquarters in Washington, and to the police departments in the seven Western states. A close check of his clothing revealed that Tom Roustad's suits were tailor made and had been made in Reno. We contacted the authorities there and asked them to check on the tailor shops in the area. We also asked that they check out the woman Rustad had written to. While we waited for the answer, we contacted the cab company that had serviced the area around the motel. We asked them to go over their way bills and report all trips from the motel and all trips to the address. Two hours later we got the list and started to check out the drivers. Sure, I remember the guy. A couple more like him, I could buy my own cab company. What do you mean? He's a big tipper. Never had anything less than a half a saw buck down at the stand. Got to be a real battle who's going to pick him up. You know the Loop? Yeah. Where do you usually take him? Different places, restaurants, shows. Different places. Did he ever tell you what he was doing in town? Oh, we talk, you know, long drive downtown, get kind of dull. A couple of times he rode in the front seat with me. Guess maybe the company wouldn't like it, but that's the way he wanted it. What'd you talk about? Weather, fishing. Lots of things. Yeah, mostly about girls though. He thought he was quite a ladies man. The way he dressed, all that money, he should have been. You ever see any of his friends? Listen, how come you're asking all these questions? It's place matter. I knew that when I got the word from the front office. He told me to ride with you all the way. Well, what's the beef? You happy Rusev or something? Investigation. Now. What about his friends? Well, she wouldn't want him to find out about the whole deal. Probably wouldn't call me anymore. What's that? Marcia. Who? I don't know her last name. Some bimbo. Luce Daddy ever meet her? Not swamp. What's that? Leave. Why? She was in the cab, you know. I'd pick him up here, drive over to her place and take the two of them down to a restaurant. So real Butte was a tall, brown, gorgeous blue. Dad was pretty friendly with her, was he? Yeah, I guess so. Way he talked, he liked her a lot. You got her address? Yeah, I suppose, huh? Well, you guys rousers can lead right back to me. Cause a lot of trouble. He's a funny guy. Talk about a lot of things. But he don't like to have you ask questions, Especially about himself. Got real touchy when I talk about where he was from, what he did for a living. Yeah, that's why it's important you don't get me in trouble with him. I can use those tips. Well, don't count on them anymore. They won't be coming. We got the address of the woman the driver knew was Marsha. We called the office to check on the wires we'd sent. There's been no answer to any of them. 1:30pm we drove over to see the woman. Place was a new apartment building on Wilshire Boulevard. On the mailbox, we found the name Marsha Lovequist and the information that she occupied. Apartment 14. We went up and rang the bell.

[A]

Yo, T. Mac. What's your Wingstop Mount Rushmore flavor lineup, cuz? Oh, that's easy. I got lemon pepper, mango habanero, garlic parm and. Hi, honey. Ooh, no notes. What about you, man? Next question. Join Club Wingstop today. Members eat first and earn points on every wing. Let's go.

[B]

Doesn't look like she's home. Let's check with a man. All right? Sure. Pretty cool, isn't it, Joe? Yeah. You know, you ought to get a place out here. It'd be great for you. A wood, huh? Sure. Nice apartment, pool. Get some fun. Yeah, I got a lot of time for that once in a while. It wouldn't cost for much. Be nice. Me and Fake come over and see you. And bring the kids. You bet. Well, you wouldn't want to be a hog about the pool, would you? Not me, Faith. You feel that way, just forget the whole thing. That's what I was planning. You just forget it. Here's the manager.

[C]

Can I help you?

[B]

Wonder if you could tell us where you find this love Twist.

[C]

Marcus?

[B]

Yes, that's right.

[C]

Oh, saw a few minutes ago. Oh, yes, there she is. Over by the pool. See? With the straw hat?

[B]

Oh, yeah. Thanks very much.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Thank you. Ma'. Am. Ms. Lumplist?

[C]

Yes?

[B]

The police officers like to ask you a few questions.

[C]

Police? I don't know what I could tell you, but go ahead.

[B]

Sorry if we sit down.

[C]

Sure. Pull up a couple of tools.

[B]

Thank you. Thank you. I'll get them. Thank you. This Frank Smith? My name's Friday.

[C]

How do you do?

[B]

That's fine.

[C]

Now, what'd you want to see me about?

[B]

You know a man named Rustad?

[C]

Yeah. Why?

[B]

What can you tell us about him?

[C]

In trouble?

[B]

No, we're just checking.

[C]

Oh. Oh. What do you want to know?

[B]

You know where he's from?

[C]

You mean his hometown?

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Someplace up north. I don't think he ever says.

[B]

How'd you happen to meet him?

[C]

Cocktail party. Hotel downtown. There's a convention. My agent got me A job at the Host at R. I'm a model. Do some work in TV and get a little luck to take what you can get. Yeah, Tom was there and we got to talking. Went out to dinner quite a bit after that.

[B]

Did he tell you what he did for a living?

[C]

No, I don't think so. I know him. A nice thing. Talked like one.

[B]

What about this convention? You know what it was for?

[C]

Oh, stand it. But he didn't have anything to do with that. He was just there. Tell me. He was sitting at the bar and one of the guys asked him to come up and have a cup of drinks. That's all.

[B]

He wasn't a dentist, though. Do you have any friends here in town? Would you know?

[C]

Yeah, I don't. Listen, why don't you ask him? He'd go along. He's a nice guy. He'd be able to answer these questions a lot better than me.

[B]

Well, we're checking everybody who knew him.

[C]

Oh, I see. Oh, nice guy. Had a lot of fun.

[B]

Why did you see him last?

[C]

Missed party yesterday. We had dinner to the guys. Came by for a nightcap and then he called a cab and went home.

[B]

Did you hear from him yesterday?

[C]

No, didn't really expect to.

[B]

Why?

[C]

Well, you see, we had kind of a fight. Nothing serious. I didn't figure I'd hear from him till maybe today. You know, we both got over the mad.

[B]

Can you tell us what the argument was about?

[C]

More of the same to you. I'd rather not.

[B]

It was pretty important that we know.

[C]

Well, I guess you can't do any harm. Things just getting too serious, that's all, ma'.

[B]

Am.

[C]

Too serious. Told him I had to go out of town on a modeling job. Santa Barbara. Be gone a couple days. And he got real mad. Said he didn't want me running around like that anymore. He is aggressive. I told him he didn't have any right to tell me what to do. That we weren't married, you know. Well, mad got loud. Him telling me I wasn't going to Santa Barber and me saying he couldn't stop me. He finally called again and went home.

[B]

What time was that?

[C]

I guess about 3:30. Might have been four, no later.

[B]

All right. Thank you very much. If you could think of anything else, we'd appreciate a call.

[C]

Sure.

[B]

Leave you one of our cards. Ask for either one of you. Yes, ma'. Am.

[C]

Hey, I'll tell you who you ought to talk to.

[B]

Who's that?

[C]

We ought to see him anyway. I haven't heard anything, but Tom might have Gone. Over there.

[B]

Who?

[C]

This photographer I was going to Santa Barbara with. Tom might have gone over to see him.

[B]

Can you give us his address?

[C]

Yeah, I've got it upstairs.

[B]

Did Roostad know this photographer?

[C]

Well, I never met. He knew about him, though.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

That's why I might be able to tell you something.

[B]

No.

[C]

Well, Tom thought there was something between us, this other fella and me. Of course, I told him it was silly. It didn't make any difference, though. Real jealous, possessive. Said him and the other fellow were going to tangle someday. I hope not.

[B]

What?

[C]

I know the other guy killed him.

[B]

We got the name and address of the photographer and then we drove back to City Hall. We made a check to R and I, but we found no record on him. 3:06pm well, looks like we might have a lead. I hope it turns out, don't you? Homicide. Friday. Yeah. Yeah, Jack, now, we've been waiting for it. Can you give it to me on the phone? We'll pick up the copy later. Okay, go ahead. How do you spell that? R, O, S, S, E, L, L, E. Yeah. All right. As soon as it comes in, yeah, we'd appreciate a call on it. Right. Okay. Jack Ricketts down in Communications. Yeah. Got a cellar type from Reno. About Rooster? Yeah, they got a record on him. Real name's Thomas Roselle. That's the name on the letter? Yeah, they ran it down. Or they got on. Been arrested for bunco, grand theft, money forgery. Haven't been able to make any of them stick from what they say. A couple of months ago he went into a new line. They figured that's what he's pitching now. What's that? Narcotics. What about this Roselle woman? She your sister? No, his wife. Huh. Married? Got three kids. Her up there and this marshy woman here. And he's swinging real wide. They come up with anything more? Possible motive, maybe. Yeah, When Roselle left town, they got a rumble. He was coming down here on business. Had 12 ounces of heroin to PED. We put in a call to Narcotics Division and talked to Captain Walter. He told us they didn't have anything on Roselle, but they'd heard about a new supply of high grade heroin being moved into town. We told him what we'd farm and then we drove out to talk to the photographer the victim's girlfriend had mentioned. Well, I'm sorry, fellas. I haven't got any idea what you're talking about. Have you seen Tom Roost, dad? Or Roselle? Sure. I didn't say I hadn't But I didn't have anything to do with killing him. How'd you know he was dead? It's all over the afternoon papers. Don't you boys read your own publicity? When did you see him? First day? Yeah, night before last. Monday? Yeah, I guess so. Really? Tuesday morning. What time? About 4:15. Yeah, that's it. 4:15. I remember because he woke me up. I looked at the car. What do you want? I had some wild idea there was something going between me and Marcia. Was it? Well, I don't see if there's any of your business, but it doesn't matter to me, so I'll tell you. No, I wouldn't. He's a model. I'm a photographer. She worked for me. I paid her 25 bucks an hour. That's all I want. Yep. I ain't gonna tell you. It wouldn't have been nice, but it just didn't happen. I don't believe in romance around the office. Doesn't do anything that cause trouble. Well, what happened when Rusdad came in? Oh, made a lot of accusations. I told him they weren't true. Said he had a filthy mind. Told him to get out. Did he go? No, I tried. Little muscle. I bellowed him a couple times and then ended it. Bought him a drink to show him there were any hard feelings. And a couple more. Yep. Kicked it around a while and then he left. What'd you talk about? Look at my suspect that way. On my back. We're talking to everybody who knew him. When he crossed my name off the list, I bellowed him. I saw him shoot him. All right. Did he call a cab from here when he left? No. He was going to and he decided to walk. Did you see him leave? Certainly. I locked the door after. Watched him walk outside from the window there. Must have changed his mind about the cab, though. Plants. Cab must change his mind. I thought he said he didn't take one. I said he didn't call her. Picked him up. They drove off. You didn't get the number of the cab, did you? Look, a guy woke me up at 4 o' clock in the morning. Came in here, wanted to start a beef. I finally got rid of him. I'm a 9 to 6 boy. I haven't got time to stand around windows and get cab numbers for you cops. I went back to sleep. All right. That's where Anything comes up, give us a call, will you? Yeah, sure. Take this card, will you? Oh, look, I'm sorry if I sounded off. Just that I don't want to get Mixed up in it. You can understand that, can't you? Sure. No hard feelings? No. I'll be honest with you. I didn't like Roostat. I didn't like him an inch, but I didn't hate him. Not enough to kill him. Somebody did. We contacted the cab company again and asked them to check the way bills from Nestler's address they came up with one trip on Tuesday morning. The dispatcher gave us the driver's name and told us where we could find him. Yeah, I remember. The guy looked like he had a beef with somebody. You know, real cut up. Where'd you take him? I think with a hotel downtown. Remember the name? I dropped him off at the corner of Margot. He went into a hotel or seen a. The rule in arms, I think it was.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah, that's the place all right. Thanks a lot. I'm glad to help out. Say, this fella, he the same one who was killed yesterday? That's right. Well, I sure seen a lot of him. Newspapers, television. A lot of him. Always works that way, don't it? What do you mean? After you're dead, you're famous. When it's too late to enjoy it. Frank and I drove down to the Roland Arms Hotel. We talked with a clerk who had been on duty Tuesday morning. He remembered a man answering the victim's description and told us he'd inquired about a guest named Wallace Olney. Because of Rue Stad's insistence, the clerk had put through a call to Olney and the guest said to let the victim come upstairs. He went on to say that about 30 minutes later, both men had left the hotel together. 9:40pm we went up to Wallace Olney's room. Here it is, darling. Yeah, yeah. Walla Pauli drank Police officer. I'd like to talk to you.

[C]

Sure.

[B]

Come on. This is Frank Smith. My name's Friday. All right. That's all right. Like a drink? I'm just gonna fix myself once. No, thanks. Always like a drink before dinner. Sharpens up the old appetite. Yeah. Mind if we look around? No, go ahead. You look for anything special and I'd be able to help. No, it's all right. I text positive. Well, maybe you better tell me what this is all about, huh? You know a man named Tom Roostad or Roselle? Why? You know him? Yeah, I met him. Arms clean Joe. I don't know about the clothing. What about Roostad? When did you see him last? I don't know. A few days ago. Want to pin it down for us? Monday? Yeah. Monday. That's the last time you saw him? Yeah, we had a couple drinks in the bar at the corner. I haven't seen him since. We got two people who say you did. All right, well, then go talk to them. Leave me alone. You ever been arrested? Why? Have you? Yeah. What be. I don't think I'm gonna answer that. You don't have to. We'll find out. Nico, where you from? Ottawa. Nama City, Frisco, Vegas. Casey all around. How about Reno? Yeah, me too. Now we admit Ruth. Dad, look. What are you guys after? You got the answer to that. Why not save some time? I got a lot of time. Probably. Well, let's be honest with each other, huh? Go ahead. Why don't you guys lay out what you got and I'll tell you how close you are. That'd be kind of silly, wouldn't it? Why? Like playing checkers with yourself? Nothing I can do. Then how about the closet? Look, you make a pinch. I got no choice. If you're wrong, I'll own city hall. I don't think we are. And be my guest. All right, you're under arrest. Charge? Suspicion of murder. I'll take the closet, save you the trouble. I killed him. The search of the closet turned up a driver's license and other identification for Thomas Roselle. We also found a.25 caliber gun, $2,700 in cash, and a quantity of heroin. The suspect was taken to city hall for questioning. We ran his name through R and I and found that he had several arrests in the state of California for violation of the State Narcotics Act. 12:16am we got the full story. We were in business up north. Reno? Yeah. We made a lucky buy, came down here to sell it. I gave him some connections where he could dump it. Go ahead. Been down here a couple days. He sent a wire telling me the merchandise wasn't moving. I knew it was a lie right away.

[C]

I knew.

[B]

It's good stuff like that, it has to be a market. Then I got the word. What do you mean? A friend of mine, he called, told me about Tom and his Marsha doll, how they were running around. Yeah, this guy told me Tom was going great with the eight. Said he dropped about seven grand of it already. As soon as I heard that, I got on my horse, made it down here. What happened? Couldn't find out where he was staying. Didn't have a trace. What about the motel? Well, I didn't know about that. As far as I knew, he was supposed to be here. That's the way we arranged it. Yeah. I sent out word I wanted to see him for him to get in touch right away. He did try to give me the same line about how he couldn't sell there wasn't the market for it. I told him we better call the whole deal off. Just give me the stuff back. We call the whole deal off. Took some talk and then we headed for his place. That's the motel? Yeah. How'd you get there? My car. What happened then? Oh, when I saw how much he had left, I told him he was lying. I called him a dirty tape and we had a fight. Nice shot. You willing to give us a statement? Sure, why not? I'll get another. His wife know you? I guess so. That's too bad. I know her. She's a real nice kid. She's really in love with that town. Guess she took it pretty hard. I wouldn't know. Well, knowing her, she would. Nice kid like that and he's running around with another broad. Boy, he was a real bum the way she loved him. And doing a thing like that.

[C]

There.

[B]

Why don't you take another look? What? What'd you do to her? The story you just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On November 19, trial was held in Department 99, Superior Court of the State of California in and for the county of Los Angeles. In a moment, the results of that TR. Wallace Hamilton Olney was tried and convicted of murder in the second degree and received sentence 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. Foreign. You have just heard Dragmen. 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 Vance Fraser. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Dick Perrin, Helen Cleave, Lillian Byers, Stacy Harris. Script by John Robinson. 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.