Dragnet: The Big Convertible 06/28/1955

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Choice Classic Radio Detectives

Episode: Dragnet – "The Big Convertible" (06/28/1955)

Release Date: April 7, 2026

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Overview

This episode of Dragnet, titled "The Big Convertible," follows Sergeant Joe Friday and Detective Frank Smith as they track down a check forger whose crimes have rattled Los Angeles for six weeks. With little more than a description of the suspect and his female accomplice, the detectives unravel a steadily increasing number of payroll check forgeries using methodical police work and sharp deduction. The case takes unexpected turns, leading to a rented car, multiple false leads, and a tangled web of personal motives and betrayals.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Forgeries Emerge

• Initial Setup (00:21–01:53)
  • The team is briefed: 24 (soon 25) forged payroll checks have hit various businesses and shops across LA.
  • The forger uses a consistent method (MO), sometimes accompanied by a woman said to be his wife, and good forged IDs.
  • Captain Welsh summarizes the citywide panic:

    “Fact is, factories raisin’ cain ‘cause their employees can’t cash legitimate payroll checks. Merchants scared to death of being stuck with a phony.” (01:31–01:41)

2. Interviewing Victims and Following Leads

• Interview with Alvin Driscoll, Latest Victim (03:44–05:58)
  • Driscoll describes selling sports shirts to the suspect, who paid with a forged check and produced convincing identification.
  • Driscoll notes:

    “He had a whole wallet full [of ID]…driver’s license, union card, whole wallet full. …Wasn’t any way of my knowing it was phony.” (04:40–05:04)

  • A key clue emerges: Driscoll notes the suspect left in a brand-new Ford convertible, jotting down the license plate.

3. Tracing the Vehicle & Unraveling the Mystery

• Leads on the License Plate (06:32–08:11)

  • DMV trace leads detectives to a six-year-old Buick, not a new Ford, owned by Philip Myson.
  • Myson's estranged wife is interviewed; she denies her husband’s involvement and provides his photo.

    “You don’t think he pulled a job or something? …You really picked the wrong guy.” (11:26–11:38)

• License Plate Breakthrough (12:24–12:44)

  • After experimenting with variations on the plate number, detectives discover the vehicle is registered to a car rental agency.

4. Car Rental Agency – The Real Break

• Interview with Clifford P. Adams, Agency Owner (13:00–14:54)
  • The new Ford convertible was rented by “Gerald Waters,” often with a blonde woman presumed to be his wife.
  • Waters recently turned in the car and received a ride to Union Station, claiming to be leaving town.

5. The Suspect's Real Identity

• National Manhunt and Identification (15:00–15:47)
  • Springfield, Illinois PD confirm “Waters” is actually wanted for similar crimes in Illinois, real name Fred H. Joyce.
  • Joyce’s mug shot is positively ID'd by several LA victims.

6. The Sting Operation

• Setting the Trap (15:57–17:08)

  • Joyce (as Waters) tries to rent another car. Detectives arrange a sting at the Crest Plaza hotel bar.

• The Arrest (17:43–19:41)

  • Joe and Frank await Joyce; with help from the bartender, they spot him and make a calm but decisive arrest as he arrives with his accomplice.
  • Memorable moment: The bartender’s dry wit about “swilling coffee” versus booze sales while oblivious to the sting operation.

7. The Interrogation and Confession

• Fred Joyce's Story (19:45–22:38)
  • Joyce tries to negotiate his wife's release, confessing to the forgeries to protect her.
  • He reveals financial difficulties led him to crime:

    “Old things started right after Myra and I were married. I was making pretty good money. …Just all of a sudden, the bottom seemed to drop out…. I had to do something.” (21:03–21:23)

  • The police reveal Myra, his wife, is hardly an innocent bystander and has a criminal past herself, to Joyce’s shock:

    “That’s a lie. …It doesn’t really make any difference if she did. …Everybody’s a sucker. …Those guys that cash the checks from me? Suckers, every one of them.” (22:14–22:56)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Captain Welsh on the forger's impact:

  “24 bum checks, huh? That’s wrong. …It’s 25 now.” (02:27–02:30)

• Alvin Driscoll’s sardonic take on victimhood:

  “Well, I’m still out $100, ain’t it?” (05:07)

• Ms. Philip Myson on her estranged husband:

  “Character like my husband, he’s apt to try anything. …Giving me a shirt with some other dame’s lipstick on the collar. …I should have throttled him with it.” (10:03–10:24)

• Joe Friday’s dry humor during the cigarette exchange:

  “I wouldn’t be asking if I wasn’t [out].” (07:11)

• Fred Joyce's cynical confession:

  “Everybody’s a sucker. Everybody in the world is going to fall for a con game. Sooner or later, everybody. …Those guys that cash the checks from me? Suckers, every one of them.” (22:44–22:56)

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Important Timestamps

• 01:31 – Captain Welsh describes citywide alarm from the forgeries.
• 03:44 – Detectives interview latest victim, Alvin Driscoll.
• 05:23 – The crucial clue is revealed: a Ford convertible.
• 08:48 – Interview with Ms. Philip Myson about the license plate.
• 12:39 – Detectives discover the convertible is from a rental agency.
• 14:42 – The suspect’s local and home addresses surface.
• 15:00 – Suspect identified as Fred Joyce, wanted in Illinois.
• 17:43 – The detectives stakeout and arrest Joyce at the hotel bar.
• 21:02 – Joyce’s confession and motives exposed.
• 22:56 – Joyce’s bitter pronouncement: “Everybody’s a sucker.”
• 23:13 – Court official announces trial verdict and sentencing.

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Tone and Style

• The episode maintains Dragnet’s distinctive clipped, laconic delivery ("Just the facts, ma’am"), interspersed with dry humor and the weary professionalism of LA’s finest.
• Dialogue is efficient, hard-boiled, and reveals character through small details and deadpan humor.

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Conclusion

“The Big Convertible” tells a classic tale of dogged police work, the pitfalls of easy money, and the inexorable grind of justice. Even as the detectives untangle lies and false leads, they expose not just the mechanics of crime, but also the emotional vulnerabilities and self-deceptions that drive people to desperation. The episode encapsulates Dragnet’s enduring appeal: methodical investigation, dry wit, and a measured, realistic look at human flaws.

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Transcript

[Narrator/Announcer]

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]

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Dragnet.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

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 forgery detail. For the past six weeks, a man has been passing phony payroll checks in your city. You've got a description but no positive identification. The check forgeries. Continue your job, Stoughton.

[Detective Frank Smith]

It was Tuesday. May 17th. Was windy in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of forgery detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Welsh. My name's Friday. We're on our way back from lunch and it was 1:13pm when we got to room 29. Forgery? Yes, ma', am, that's right.

[Captain Welsh]

I see. Hold on a minute, will you please?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Hey, Joe.

[Detective Officer]

Yeah?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Skipper wants to talk to you and Smith.

[Captain Welsh]

Right.

[Detective Officer]

Thanks.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, just one thing, ma'. Am, could you tell me what kind of an account it is?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, yes, ma', am, I understand that.

[Captain Welsh]

Is it a bank account?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, in that case, your husband's got a perfect.

[Detective Officer]

Hi, Sciver.

[Detective Frank Smith]

You want to see us?

[Captain Welsh]

Yeah, sit down. I guess you know what's on my mind.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Oh, we got a pretty good idea.

[Detective Officer]

Yell, Corner packet.

[Captain Welsh]

Had me in this morning. Been getting beefs from all over town now. Factories raising cain because their employees can't cash legitimate payroll checks. Merchants scared to death of being stuck with a foamy. Making any headway on this guy?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Not much.

[Captain Welsh]

Well, just where do we stand? Lay it out.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, he passed another one last Tuesday. A tailor shop on South Jefferson.

[Captain Welsh]

How many does that make?

[Detective Officer]

Well, 24 that we know of.

[Captain Welsh]

All in the last six weeks, give

[Detective Frank Smith]

or take a couple of days.

[Captain Welsh]

You sure they're from the same guy?

[Detective Officer]

Same mos, same description.

[Detective Frank Smith]

A couple times he had a woman with him, said she was his wife. We sent out circulars on them both.

[Captain Welsh]

Got any results?

[Detective Frank Smith]

One or two leads. They didn't pan out.

[Captain Welsh]

What about your informants?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Nothing.

[Captain Welsh]

They holding out?

[Detective Frank Smith]

I don't think so. I don't think they know him.

[Captain Welsh]

Captain Welch? Yeah. Yeah, they're here. Uh huh. I see you. Okay, give me the address. Yeah, yeah, I got it. Don't worry, I'll tell him. 24 bum checks, huh?

[Detective Officer]

That's right, Skipper.

[Captain Welsh]

That's wrong.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Huh?

[Captain Welsh]

It's 25 now.

[Detective Frank Smith]

On April 6, we'd received the first report in this series. Of checks. A grocery store on the corner of Oakwood and Third had cashed what appeared to be a payroll check from the Jeffers Carner Aircraft Company. It was marked payable to Russell J. Foreman. In our investigation, Frank and I had learned that the check was fictitious and that the company had never employed anybody by that name. We had also learned that bonafide Jeffers Carner checks were printed in a different manner and in a different color. During the next five weeks, we'd received additional reports of Ford's payroll checks supposedly issued by various Los Angeles manufacturers. In each case, the suspect had had what seemed to be good identification, either a driver's license or an employment ID card from the company named on the check. The suspect had never used the same name or the same plant twice, but descriptions given by victims that indicated that the forgeries were all the work of one man. On three occasions, he'd been accompanied by a woman who had been introduced as his wife. Victims had been unable to make an identification. From our mug books, descriptions of both suspects and their MO had been checked for the stats office and had been sent to CIA up in Sacramento, a local and an APB had been gotten out. The 25th victim was Alvin Driscoll, owner, men's clothing store on South Maryland Avenue. Frank and I interviewed him at his shop. He told us that the forged check which he had cashed appeared to be from the Elderdale Oil Refinery.

[Alvin Driscoll]

I come into the store, bought a couple items, give me his payroll check to pay for all there was to it.

[Detective Frank Smith]

That was last Friday?

[Alvin Driscoll]

Friday morning long about 9:30am what was

[Detective Frank Smith]

it he bought, Mr. Driscoll?

[Alvin Driscoll]

Sports shirts.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Mac.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Count over there. Marked down to 298. Some of them was as high as $5 last year. They're real goodbyes. Yeah. Medium. That was his size.

[Detective Officer]

What else can you tell us about this man?

[Detective Frank Smith]

How's that?

[Detective Officer]

What'd he look like?

[Alvin Driscoll]

Well, like I said, he takes a medium shirt. That make him old? Pretty average. About 170, I judge. Black hair, a little bit of gray in it. Pleasant face. Ordinary fellow.

[Detective Frank Smith]

How was he dressed?

[Alvin Driscoll]

Suit, shirt, button down collar. This is a charcoal brown, about the shade of that one on the rack

[Detective Officer]

over there, down at the end. See it?

[Alvin Driscoll]

Mm.

[Detective Officer]

When he gave me the check, did you ask for any identification?

[Alvin Driscoll]

Well, I didn't have to ask. He just handed it over. He had a whole wallet full. Driver's license, union card, whole wallet full.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, that may have been forged, too.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Well, it looked genuine to me.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes, sir.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Wasn't any way of my Knowing it was phony. I done just what I was supposed to. Everything. Make sure you get identification of your cash check. Mm, that's what the bank says. It's what you police fellows say too, isn't it?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes, sir. Mm.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Well, I'm still out $100, ain't it?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Looks that way, doesn't it?

[Detective Officer]

Mr. Driscoll, is there anything you can tell us about this man?

[Alvin Driscoll]

Well, no, no, nothing that comes to mind.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Did he have a car? Do you know that?

[Alvin Driscoll]

Yeah, I know.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, did he?

[Alvin Driscoll]

Brand new Ford convertible. You know, one of them two tone models. Probably wasn't even broke in yet. But that sure don't keep him from gunning it when he went barreling out of here.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Are you certain about this? About what? Well, that he was driving a new Ford convertible.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Well, I guess I know one when I see one. I'm considering buying a new Ford myself. Not like that snazzy roadster he had. The sedan maybe had me a demonstration drive a couple of weeks ago.

[Detective Frank Smith]

I see.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Oh, my. Now I'll probably have to make out if I old punk another year thanks to his bum.

[Captain Welsh]

Check.

[Detective Officer]

Oh, sir, did you happen to notice

[Detective Frank Smith]

the license number on the convertible? Yes, yes, I noticed it.

[Detective Officer]

Well, do you happen to know if it was a California player or an out of state?

[Detective Frank Smith]

It's California. Do you remember the number?

[Alvin Driscoll]

Now, what do you fellows think I am anyway? You expect me to memorize a whole string of figures like that when I only seen them once? I ain't no quiz kid.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes, sir.

[Alvin Driscoll]

When you're my age, you can't keep every little thing in your head, you know.

[Detective Officer]

Yes, sir.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Would it really make any difference if you want to have that license number?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, yes, sir, it might.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Then I guess it's a good thing

[Detective Frank Smith]

I jotted it down. The victim, Alvin Driscoll, checked his files and showed us a carbon copy of the sales slip for the items which the suspected purchased. On it he had noted the license number R1V1 5347. 3:38pm Frank and I went back to the office and asked DMV to run down the number for us.

[Alvin Driscoll]

That's right.

[Detective Officer]

5, 3, 4, 7. Will you call us back?

[Captain Welsh]

Okay. Thanks.

[Detective Officer]

It'll be a minute or two, Joe. Looks like we might be getting our first break.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah. You got a cigarette?

[Captain Welsh]

Yeah.

[Detective Officer]

You're all out.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, I wouldn't be asking if I wasn't.

[Detective Officer]

Oh, okay. I didn't mean anything, Joe. There you go. No, go ahead, keep them. I got another pack.

[Detective Frank Smith]

That's all Right. I'll get some more.

[Detective Officer]

I told you to keep them, Joe. There's only a couple left.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Matter of fact, there's only one. Oh, thanks anyway.

[Detective Officer]

Sorry. Marjorie Smith. Wait a minute. Okay, go ahead. Myson. My S O, N. I got it. 11 7.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Huh?

[Detective Officer]

You sure?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah.

[Detective Officer]

I see. Okay, thanks. Well, DMV came up with a car to match that plate. There's one thing wrong. It isn't a brand new Ford, though.

[Detective Frank Smith]

A six year old bu. The Department of Motor Vehicles had reported that the car bearing license number R1V1 5347 was registered in the name of Philip B. Mason at 117 South Helen Avenue. Records showed that the car in question was a Buick sedan which had been manufactured six years earlier. We ran Myson's name through R and I. They had nothing on it. We also ran the license number through our auto records to check to see if it was a stolen plate or a hot car. The report was negative. 409:00pm Frank and I drove out to the Helen Avenue address. It was a small one story bungalow with rain streaked stucco walls. Try it again.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Yeah. Who is it?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Police officers. Well, you're Ms. Philip Myson?

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Yeah.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Ms. Frank Smith. My name's Friday.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

All right, your name's Friday. His name's Smith. My name's Myson. Where's that go?

[Detective Frank Smith]

We'd like to talk to you for a minute, Ms. Mason.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

You mean you want to come inside?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, it might be a little easier to talk there.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Nobody's stopping me.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes, ma'.

[Captain Welsh]

Am.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

You want to sit down, you have to clear off a space. I'm not much of a housekeeper.

[Detective Officer]

Sorry.

[Detective Frank Smith]

We can stand.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Suit yourself.

[Detective Officer]

Ms. Micen. Is your husband home?

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Phil?

[Detective Officer]

Yes, ma'.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Am.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Mm. Mm.

[Detective Officer]

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

[Ms. Philip Myson]

No.

[Detective Frank Smith]

You must have some idea.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

I haven't seen him since last March.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Oh. What kind of a car is he driving?

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Ask him does he ever own a

[Detective Frank Smith]

Buick sedan, license number R1V15347?

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Why?

[Detective Frank Smith]

We'd like to know where the car is now.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

It's out in the garage. And that's where it's staying. You can tell that lousy crumb. If he thinks he's gonna take the car away from me, he's got another thing coming.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Your husband isn't trying to take your car?

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Yeah. What are you doing here?

[Detective Frank Smith]

I check the license plate, that's all.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

You sure that's all you want? Just to check the license, that's all. Wait a minute. I'll get you the garage key.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Thank you.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Sorry if I gave you a rough time, but you can't blame me. Character like my husband, he's apt to try anything.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes, ma'.

[Detective Officer]

Am.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Well, here you are. You sure you lock it up when you're done?

[Detective Officer]

Yes, ma'. Am. I'll take a look at it. Joe.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Right.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

I might have known it was too good to last, ma'. Am. Not hearing from Phil for over two months.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Is he still in Los Angeles? Would you know?

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Not if he's got good sense.

[Detective Frank Smith]

What do you mean?

[Ms. Philip Myson]

He's smart. He'll stay as far away from me as he can. He's just plain lucky I didn't kill him. Giving me a shirt with some other dame's lipstick on the collar. Expecting me to wash it out. I should have throttled him with it.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes, ma'.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Am.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Do you have a picture of your husband, Ms. Mason?

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Why?

[Detective Frank Smith]

We'd like to know what he looks like.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Like a bum, that's what. You have a picture Snapshot? Maybe.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Would you see if he can find one for us?

[Ms. Philip Myson]

All right. Just looking at him will probably spoil my supper. Now, here's something. I'm married to a face like that and I have to worry about other women.

[Detective Frank Smith]

All right if we borrow this for a couple of days?

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Do me a favor. Keep it.

[Detective Officer]

Joe.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Excuse me, Ms. Mason?

[Captain Welsh]

Yeah?

[Detective Officer]

That's the right license plate for wrong car.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Buick sedan.

[Detective Officer]

Just like BMV had at 6 years old.

[Detective Frank Smith]

I'm Kane.

[Detective Officer]

Here's your key, ma'. Am.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

You locked up tight?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes, ma'.

[Captain Welsh]

Am.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Sorry if we bothered you.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Forget it. Hey, wait a minute.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes?

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Not that I give a darn, but how about telling me why you're so interested in Phil?

[Detective Frank Smith]

It was just a police matter.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

You don't think he pulled a job or something?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Why should we think that?

[Ms. Philip Myson]

You shouldn't. You do. You're way off base. You really picked the wrong guy.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes, ma'.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

Am. Take it from me, if a jerk like Phil ever got out of line once, just once, you boys wouldn't have to go looking for him. Oh, no. You'd catch him red handed.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Frank and I left the Myson home and contacted Alvin Driscoll. He confirmed his description of the suspect's car. But he admitted he might have been mistaken about the license number. We showed him Myson's photograph, and he was certain that Meson was not the man who had passed the forged check. The next day, May 18, we showed the Myson photo to several of the other victims. They all agreed that he was not the forger. 11:17am we went over to DMV and began to try variations of the license number Mr. Driscoll had given us to see if we could come up with a late model Ford convert. 12:32pm how you doing? Well, I turned up a couple of Fords. No convertible.

[Detective Officer]

I've switched the last two numbers every way I can think of. What are you working on now?

[Detective Frank Smith]

V15.

[Detective Officer]

Okay, I'll try the five. Three five.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Wait a minute.

[Captain Welsh]

Huh.

[Detective Frank Smith]

New Ford. Only one digit off.

[Detective Officer]

Convertible.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah.

[Detective Officer]

Sounds like it might be it.

[Detective Frank Smith]

It's pretty hard to tell.

[Detective Officer]

Yeah. What do you mean?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Belongs to a car rental agency. DMV records showed that a vehicle similar to the one we were looking for was registered to the C.P. adams Auto Rental Agency on South 6th Street. 2:17pm Frank and I went over there and talked to the owner, Clifford P. Adams.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Would you give me that number again, please?

[Detective Frank Smith]

It's R1V 35347.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, I got it now. Just give me a moment to check our records.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now, we have a stock of over 50 cards. It's a little difficult to remember all the license numbers.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes, sir, it would be.

[Captain Welsh]

Here we are.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It seems you're quite correct. That's one of our automobiles.

[Detective Frank Smith]

A new Ford. Can you tell us what model it is? It's a convertible. Yellow and black.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Most of our cars are convertibles. When people come to Southern California, that's

[Detective Frank Smith]

what they all want. Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Anything else I can do for you?

[Alvin Driscoll]

Yeah.

[Detective Officer]

Is that car rented right now?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, I couldn't say offhand. Would you like me to find out?

[Detective Officer]

If you will, please.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Be glad to. Be glad to. It's a different file, that's all.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

I see.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Let's see. Oh, yes. This is it. No, no, that car's in the shop today. Grease job, oil change, regular checkout.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Do you have the names of the people who've rented it lately?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Right here on the card. Any particular date?

[Detective Frank Smith]

How about last week? Thursday?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thursday. That would be Mr.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Waters.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Mr. Gerald Waters. He used the car all last week, just turned it back yesterday.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Your regular customer?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He's rented from us several times, as I recall, on and off during the last month or so.

[Detective Officer]

Can you tell us what he looks like?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Actually, I've only seen him once or twice. He's a youngish man, about 40, tall, black hair, a little gray at the temples.

[Detective Frank Smith]

How about his wife? Did you ever meet her?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, she picked up car for months.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Would you describe her, please?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I think she was blonde, nice looking, probably in her 30s. That's about all I can remember.

[Detective Officer]

Do you have their address, Mr. Adams?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, yes.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Yes.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We try to get all the information we can about our clients, but afraid it's in the different files.

[Detective Officer]

All right, take your time.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Someday we'll have to work out a more efficient system for all these records.

[Captain Welsh]

Thompson, Tucker, Virgil Waters.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, yeah. Yes, this is it. Home address, Springfield, Illinois.

[Detective Frank Smith]

What about here in town?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, we have that too. The Haven House Motel on Sunset Boulevard.

[Detective Frank Smith]

I see.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

But I'm afraid you won't be able

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

to reach them there.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Oh, when Mr.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Waters turned in the car yesterday, he asked us to drive him and his wife to Union Station.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, he said they were leaving town.

[Detective Frank Smith]

We got a sample of the suspect's handwriting and we asked Mr. Adams to get in touch with us if he heard from Gerald Waters again. We sent a teletype to Springfield, Illinois, requesting any information they might have about Gerald Waters. The next day, May 19, the Springfield PD replied that a man answering Waters description was wanted for a series of Illinois check forgeries. They also said his true name was Fred H. Joyce. They said that they were forwarding a mug shot. Air mail, special delivery. The mug arrived on Friday, May 20th. We showed it to four of the check victims and they all positively identified the photograph. 3:36pm Frank and I drove over to the Adams Car Rental Agency to confirm the identification.

[Detective Officer]

Hi, Mr. Adams.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Well, well, well.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

This is quite a coincidence, sir. You're coming here today. I just called you a little while ago.

[Detective Frank Smith]

We didn't get any message.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, I didn't leave any message. I wasn't sure it was important.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, what was it you wanted? About Mr.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Waters? You told me to let you know if I heard from him again.

[Detective Frank Smith]

That's right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, I did.

[Detective Frank Smith]

What's that?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He wants to rent another car.

[Detective Frank Smith]

We showed Mr. Adams a mug shot of Fred Joyce and he stated positively that Joyce and Gerald Waters were the same man. He also told us that Waters had called the car rental agency about 11 o' clock that morning to make arrangements for renting a new convertible. Joyce had asked him to have the car ready at 5:30 and he said he would pick it up. Frank and I waited in Adam's office. 5:28pm Wanna go ahead and answer?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

CP Adams Car Rentals.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Who?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, yes, just a minute. It's him.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Mr.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Waters.

[Captain Welsh]

Or whatever his real name is.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Let's find out what he wants.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, Mr. Waters? Oh, yes, it's all ready. I thought you were gonna pick it up. Oh, well, I. I don't know. Hold on a second. He says he's tied up, but he can't get away. Wants us to deliver the car.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Ask him where he's falling from.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where are you, Mr.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Waters?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I say. Well, I don't know. I'm a little shorthanded today. I'll have to check

[Captain Welsh]

somewhere in Wilshire.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Where does he want you to send the car?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where do you want the car delivered, Mr. Wallace?

[Captain Welsh]

Mm.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The Crest Plaza. How soon? I guess we could make it by then.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Don't you need me to? All right, Mr.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Waters. We'll do our best. Thank you very much. You'll be in the bar of the Crest Plaza Hotel at 6:30 just off the lot.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Right. Thanks a lot.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, about the car. I wouldn't want it damaged.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Don't worry, Mr. Adams. You don't need to send it. What? We'll take care of his transportation. We went over to the Crest Plaza hotel. It was 6:28pm when we arrived. There were two entrances to the bar. Frank went in through the lobby and I used the street door. Yes, sir. What can I do for you? Got any hot coffee? Yeah, black, please. Is that all you want? Yeah, that's all. Not very busy tonight, are you?

[Alvin Driscoll]

That place livens up later on.

[Detective Frank Smith]

All right.

[Detective Officer]

Evening.

[Court Official]

Hi.

[Detective Frank Smith]

You two guys together? That's right. He wants coffee too, huh?

[Detective Officer]

Yeah, black.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Figures.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Okay.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Sports. I'll get it. You see him?

[Captain Welsh]

No.

[Detective Frank Smith]

He's probably not here yet.

[Detective Officer]

Here you are.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Thank you.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Hey, don't mention it. That'll be 20 cents.

[Alvin Driscoll]

All right.

[Detective Frank Smith]

There you are. You sure you don't want anything in the drink? No. Well, would you mind finishing the coffee

[Detective Officer]

over in a booth?

[Detective Frank Smith]

What do you mean? Well, it's not good for business.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Why?

[Detective Frank Smith]

We sell booze, not coffee. Other customers come see you sitting here swilling coffee, so I'll give them ideas. Thing like that catches on, the place will go broke. We're police officers.

[Detective Officer]

What?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Police officers. What are you doing here? Something wrong? Couple of questions we want to ask.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Yeah? About what?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Take a look at this picture. Like you to tell us if you know him. Wait a minute. Let me get some light. Yeah? Yeah. I've seen this guy around. Does he live here in a hotel?

[Alvin Driscoll]

I don't think so.

[Detective Frank Smith]

He comes in once in a while, though.

[Alvin Driscoll]

Usually drags a blonde around with him.

[Captain Welsh]

Mm.

[Detective Frank Smith]

You guys been looking for him long?

[Detective Officer]

Quite a while.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah. He must be looking the wrong places. What do you mean? He just walked through the door. That's him. Let's go.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

How about Guy Martini? Eh, couple of them will sit pretty good before dinner, huh?

[Alvin Driscoll]

Yeah.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Something you want?

[Detective Frank Smith]

You Gerald Waters?

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

What?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Gerald Waters, Is that you?

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

You from the Carlisle?

[Detective Frank Smith]

You come up with the first answer, mister. How about the name?

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Yeah, I'm Waters.

[Detective Officer]

Where's the car?

[Detective Frank Smith]

You won't need it. Police officers. You're under arrest.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

What are you talking about?

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

You keep out of this, honey.

[Detective Frank Smith]

All right. Come on, Waters. I'm thinking.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

You better take it easy. You're liable to find out you're rousing the wrong guy.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, I'll tell you, I'm gonna run that risk. Get up.

[Detective Officer]

Okay, okay.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Keep your hands on the table.

[Ms. Philip Myson]

I don't know what this is all about, but I know you haven't done anything wrong. Joe, whatever happens, I'll stick by you. I'll get a lawyer. I'll raise the money somehow. Whatever happens, I'm never gonna leave you. Jerry.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Don't worry about it, lady. What?

[Narrator/Storyteller]

You're coming along.

[Detective Frank Smith]

We took the two suspects into custody and drove them down to the City Hall. 7:08pm we turned the female suspect over to a policewoman to be searched. And we brought Joyce into the squadron for interrogation.

[Detective Officer]

All right, Joyce. Take everything out of your pockets.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

My name's Waters. You know that.

[Detective Officer]

We know. It's Joyce, too. Go on. Empty.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Lay this stuff on the table before these keys fit lockers where I forget. Sure.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Listen, while you're holding my wife, she hasn't done anything. If you think you can frame me, go ahead and try it. But turn her loose.

[Detective Frank Smith]

That's not up to us.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Why not?

[Detective Frank Smith]

She's been with you too often.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

What do you mean?

[Detective Frank Smith]

When you were passing those phony checks.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Phony checks? Is that what you think I've done?

[Detective Frank Smith]

There are about 25 people who say it was you.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

They're wrong, that's all. Dead wrong.

[Detective Frank Smith]

They don't think so.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Are you willing to go to court?

[Detective Frank Smith]

I better shut up. Ever been in Illinois, Joyce? What? Springfield.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

What do you know about that?

[Detective Frank Smith]

You're in the upper brackets. Joyce. We got the whole story.

[Detective Officer]

Come on, Joyce. It'll make it easier all around.

[Detective Frank Smith]

How about it?

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Where's Myra?

[Detective Frank Smith]

She's all right.

[Detective Officer]

Where is she?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Right down the hall. I'll tell you what.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

We can get together on this thing. We can come to an agreement.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Go ahead.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

What if I admit the whole deal, tell you all about it? What about Myra? Will you let her go?

[Detective Frank Smith]

It depends.

[Alvin Driscoll]

On what?

[Detective Frank Smith]

How clean she is.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Well, she'll stand any kind of a look. She's never been in any trouble and

[Detective Frank Smith]

she hasn't got anything to worry about.

[Detective Officer]

Go ahead with the Story.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Okay, I'll get on your side. I'm the guy you're looking for.

[Detective Frank Smith]

We knew that going in.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Old things started right after Meyer and I were married. I was making pretty good money. Enough to give her the things she wanted. You know, she's a pretty girl. Woman like that's gotta have nice things. I don't know how it happened. Just all of a sudden, the bottom seemed to drop out of the whole company.

[Detective Officer]

You mean your business?

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Yeah. Whole thing just seemed to explode. No matter what I did, it was wrong. Nothing worked. Couldn't let Myra know about it.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

They just couldn't.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

I tried to borrow the money, talk to all my friends. Tried to get them to stake me again. All I could see of them was their backs. I had to do something.

[Detective Officer]

So you started hanging paper?

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

It was the only way. The only one.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Do you have any more checks?

[Detective Officer]

Yeah.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Keys there. They're for a locker downtown. You find all the stuff there.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Okay.

[Detective Officer]

All right.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Now, how about it?

[Detective Frank Smith]

What?

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

You let Myra go. She didn't know anything about it. Not a thing. She didn't have anything to do with

[Detective Frank Smith]

it, I swear to you.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Not gonna hold her, are you?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Now that I've told you the truth. Forgery. Friday. Yeah.

[Captain Welsh]

Mm.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Where? Okay. Thank you. They just checked your wife's prints, Joyce.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Why'd they do that? You're not gonna hold her. You gave me your word. You don't want her for anything.

[Detective Frank Smith]

A couple of other states do.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

What?

[Detective Frank Smith]

You aren't the only husband she's had. And you aren't the first forger she's worked with either. What kind of a double cross is this? No double cross. She's got a record as long as your arm.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

That's a lie.

[Detective Frank Smith]

A dirty, lousy lie. Take it, he dumbs Eyes.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Still a lie.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Figure it out for yourself. Take a good look.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

What do you mean?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Did your wife know anything about the checks?

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Sure, after we got going. Wasn't any way to keep it away from her.

[Detective Officer]

How about when you started? She know then? No.

[Detective Frank Smith]

You sound pretty sure.

[Detective Officer]

Maybe you talked it over with her, huh?

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

I don't know.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Maybe she might have helped you out a little then, huh?

[Detective Officer]

Maybe some of the operation was her idea.

[Detective Frank Smith]

How about it, Joyce?

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

I don't know. I don't much care anymore. Maybe it was her idea. Maybe she did play me for a sucker.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Sure sounds that way to us.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

It doesn't really make any difference if she did. Take a look around, you cop. Everybody's a sucker. Everybody in the world is going to fall for a con game. Sooner or later, everybody. Those guys that cash the checks from me? Suckers, every one of them.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Just like me.

[Fred H. Joyce / Gerald Waters]

Look at all the money. They're out.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, there's a big difference, huh? That's all.

[Captain Welsh]

They're out.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

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

[Court Official]

On August 17, trial was held in Department 98, Superior Court of the State of California. In and for the county of Los Angeles. Frederick R. Joyce, alias Gerald Waters, was tried and convicted of forgery. Five counts. Forgery is punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less than 1 nor more than 14 years on each count.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You have just heard Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action. And starring Jack Webb, a presentation of the United States Armed Forces Radio.