Dragnet: The Big Cup 03/09/1954

Summary

Podcast Summary: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Dragnet: The Big Cup

Episode Title: Dragnet: The Big Cup
Host/Author: Choice Classic Radio
Release Date: March 25, 2025
Originally Aired: March 9, 1954

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1. Introduction

Choice Classic Radio presents an enthralling episode of Dragnet: The Big Cup, immersing listeners in a gripping true-crime narrative set in the bustling city of Los Angeles. Hosted by Choice Classic Radio, this episode delves into the meticulous investigation led by Detectives Joe Friday and Frank Smith as they unravel the mystery behind the brutal murder of Ethel Lawrence.

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2. The Crime Scene Investigation

The story unfolds on Tuesday, June 10th, when Detectives Joe Friday and Frank Smith are dispatched to the serene neighborhood of Green Oak Drive. The warm Los Angeles evening belies the gruesome discovery awaiting them.

• Joe Friday [03:08]: "It was Tuesday, June 10th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of homicide detail."

Upon arriving at 9782 Green Oak Drive, they find the brutally beaten body of an elderly woman, later identified as Ethel Lawrence, with no immediate signs pointing to the perpetrator.

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3. Interview with Neighbor Frank Smith

Frank Smith, Ethel's neighbor, becomes a crucial witness. His account provides the detectives with the initial leads.

• Frank Smith [04:28]: "I was out in the front watering the lawn... All of a sudden I hear Nero making all the fuss."

Frank describes hearing his dog, Nero, incessantly howling, prompting him to investigate the unfolding chaos around Ethel's home.

• Frank Smith [05:24]: "When I knocked on the door... little old Nero sitting right beside her, just going crazy."

Frank's testimony reveals the disorder in Ethel's house, suggesting a possible robbery gone wrong, though Frank remains skeptical of this motive.

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4. Focus on Bernard Lawrence

Ethel's estranged husband, Bernard Lawrence, surfaces as a primary suspect. The detectives uncover a tumultuous relationship marked by divorce and hefty alimony payments.

• Frank Smith [09:26]: "They had some pretty big arguments. Barney was pretty mad at the judgment he got the alimony he had to pay Ethel $150 a month."

Interrogations with Arnold Norton, Bernard's employer, shed light on Bernard's strained personal life and possible motives rooted in financial distress and marital discord.

• Arnold Norton [14:08]: "Barney was happier than he's been in some time. Just seemed like all his troubles were gone."

Despite mounting suspicions, Bernard maintains a calm demeanor, complicating the detectives' quest for concrete evidence.

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5. Stakeout and Search

Detectives Friday and Smith initiate a stakeout at Bernard's residence to monitor his movements. Despite deploying various strategies, including checking train reservations and setting up surveillance at key transport hubs, Bernard remains elusive.

• Joe Friday [19:40]: "We also set up stakeouts on the depots and on the airline terminals."

The investigation uncovers fingerprints and a shoe impression at the crime scene, but these prove inconclusive without Bernard's presence at the time of the murder.

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6. Arrest and Release of Bernard Lawrence

After thorough investigation and unsuccessful attempts to locate Bernard, the detectives apprehend him. However, lacking irrefutable evidence of his presence during the crime, Bernard is released on bond.

• Bernard Lawrence [23:03]: "You know something?... I got a few things for you, too, before I leave."

Bernard's nonchalant attitude and resolute denial further perplex the case, leaving Detectives Friday and Smith searching for alternative leads.

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7. The Twist: Merle Patrick Hewitt

In a dramatic turn of events, Detective Hewitt emerges as a pivotal character. During an interview with Mr. Hewitt, he abruptly collapses, revealing a startling confession.

• Bernard Lawrence as Hewitt [26:55]: "There's nothing you can do now. I know this is wrong. Taking poison. I killed the old lady. I killed her."

Hewitt's admission not only exonerates Bernard but also uncovers the true perpetrator behind Ethel's tragic demise.

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8. Resolution

With Hewitt's self-inflicted poison death confirmed as a suicide, the investigation concludes that he was the actual murderer. Bernard Lawrence is officially cleared of all charges, restoring his reputation and bringing closure to the case.

• Narrator [27:37]: "At the inquest it was ruled that the suspect, Merle Patrick Hewitt died of self-administered poison. And his death was listed as a suicide. The victim's husband, Bernard Jerome Lawrence, was released from custody."

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9. Conclusion

Dragnet: The Big Cup masterfully illustrates the intricate dance between law enforcement and criminal investigation. Through diligent police work and unexpected revelations, Detectives Joe Friday and Frank Smith bring justice to Ethel Lawrence's untimely death. This episode not only captivates with its suspenseful narrative but also underscores the importance of perseverance and keen investigative skills in solving complex crimes.

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Notable Quotes

• Frank Smith [05:15]: "Come on in, everybody. Might as well have a convention all the people coming in."
• Bernard Lawrence as Hewitt [26:05]: "I've always wanted to hit a cop."
• Joe Friday [23:02]: "You keep your nose out of this, cop."

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Additional Information

Throughout the episode, interspersed advertisements for Chesterfield cigarettes and Podbean’s AI-powered podcast platform provide a nostalgic glimpse into the era's commercial landscape. These segments, while non-essential to the narrative, contribute to the authentic old-time radio experience that Choice Classic Radio strives to deliver.

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Tune in Next Time: Join Choice Classic Radio for another captivating episode of classic detectives from the Golden Age of Radio. Subscribe on Facebook and YouTube, and support the show at [e-mail].

Transcript

[Joe Friday]

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[Frank Smith]

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[Joe Friday]

Launch your podcast on Podbean today.

[Frank Smith]

My school uses Podbean.

[Joe Friday]

My church too. I love it. I really do.

[Earl Brudig]

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].

[Narrator]

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

[Chesterfield Advertiser]

Dragnet is brought to you by Chesterfield. Made by Liggett and Myers, first major tobacco company to bring you a complete line of quality cigarettes.

[Narrator]

You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a homicide detail. A howling dog causes a man to check his neighbor's house. He finds the brutally beaten body of an elderly woman. She's been killed by person or persons unknown. Your job, investigate. Today, friends, you hear these three words everywhere. Chesterfield's for me. The chesterfield you smoke today is the best cigarette ever made. Best for you because chesterfield gives you proof of highest quality, low nicotine. The taste you want, the mildness you want. Chesterfield is best for you because it's tested and approved by 30 years of scientific tobacco research. Chesterfield is best for you because it has an established good record with smokers proven by test after test. Yes, friends, the chesterfield you smoke today is the best cigarette ever made. For the taste you want, the mildness you want. Join the thousands. Now changing to Chesterfield. Always say, chesterfield's for me.

[Chesterfield Advertiser]

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.

[Joe Friday]

It was Tuesday, June 10th. It was warm 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 in from the alley and it was 7:26pm when I got to 9782 Green Oak Drive, front door.

[Earl Brudig]

Did you find anything?

[Joe Friday]

No. No sign of anybody out back. Did you call the crime lab?

[Earl Brudig]

Yeah, I talked to Lee's on the way.

[Joe Friday]

That's good.

[Earl Brudig]

Call Hollywood Division 2. They're gonna send out Some more men to help us.

[Joe Friday]

Well, it's an outside chance we might come up with something.

[Earl Brudig]

Yeah, whoever did it sure must have been Wild Joe. I don't think I ever saw a killing as brutal as this one.

[Joe Friday]

That's pretty rough.

[Earl Brudig]

Must have hit her a couple of dozen times.

[Joe Friday]

Look at there.

[Earl Brudig]

See? Wristwatch is broken. Looks like she might have raised her arm to try and stop some of the blows.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, Crystal smashed up pretty bad. It's hard to read. Looks like 304, doesn't it?

[Earl Brudig]

Uh huh.

[Joe Friday]

Must have been the time for what?

[Earl Brudig]

The neighbor says that'd have to be this afternoon.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Did you find anything that looks like the murder weapon?

[Earl Brudig]

Nothing out in the open. Thought it'd be better if the crime lab checked the place first.

[Joe Friday]

How about the other rooms? They as bad as the one out front?

[Earl Brudig]

Yeah, stuff's all scattered around. Drawers pulled out, contents thrown all over. Whoever it was sure wanted us to think it was robbery.

[Joe Friday]

Well, let's check the neighbor.

[Earl Brudig]

Yeah, he's cross street. Said he wanted to go home and take something to help quiet him down. Must have been quite a shock to the old guy.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. You want to tell Brian and Phillips where we'll be? Yeah. Phillips is out and back. I saw him when I came in.

[Earl Brudig]

I'll talk to Brian.

[Bernard Lawrence]

All right.

[Joe Friday]

Ask him to let us know when Lee gets here, will you? Yeah. All right.

[Frank Smith]

Come on in.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you. Mr. Brody?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah? Over here. Want to turn the lights on? Just sitting here having a drink. Trying to calm down a little.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Switch is there on the wall. Sort of behind the whatnot. That kind of feel around.

[Joe Friday]

That's what I found.

[Frank Smith]

It turned out the lights to help my head. Oh, me, oh my. I got an awful headache. You don't happen to have a couple of aspirin on you, do you?

[Joe Friday]

No, sir. I'm sorry, I don't.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, well, I guess it don't mind much. I guess this will do just as good.

[Joe Friday]

What if you tell me just what happened here.

[Frank Smith]

Well, I'm glad to. I want to help all I can. Sure. I like to see you get the guy. What did this, Ethel?

[Joe Friday]

Well, why do you think I was a man?

[Frank Smith]

Huh?

[Joe Friday]

Well, you said guy. What makes you think it was a man?

[Frank Smith]

Well, I didn't mean it like, you know, not special. But come right down to it, almost got to be a man. You can't imagine a woman doing a thing like that. Least no woman I ever knew has got to be a man. Come on in, everybody. Come in. Might as well have a convention all the people coming in.

[Joe Friday]

It's my partner, Mr. Bruding.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, another policeman, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Earl Brudig]

What's that, Joe? They're gonna call us when the crime lab crew gets here.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Earl Brudig]

How are you, Mr. Bruding?

[Frank Smith]

People all over the place. I never saw a crowd come so fast. It's when the sirens come in, seemed like they were attached to mushrooms just sprung up out of the ground. Oh, yeah, I'm fine, fine. Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Wonder if you'd mind leaving that alone until we ask you a few questions.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, you mean before I have another drink?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir, if you would.

[Frank Smith]

Why, of course. Glad to oblige. I'll wait. I mean, you don't have to worry about me though. Not old Earl Brudig. I'll hold my liquor. Just bet old Earl's a regular tanker. Don't ever show on old Earl.

[Joe Friday]

Well, if you just tell us about finding the body.

[Frank Smith]

Well, I was out in the front watering the lawn. Always do it at the same time, you see. The hot sun burns it up. You don't water, you know. You've got to do that.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Well, that's what I was doing. Watering the lawn.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. Do you want to go on?

[Frank Smith]

Sure you fellas don't want a little snort, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Good.

[Earl Brudig]

No thanks, Mr. Trudy.

[Joe Friday]

No thanks.

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, well, all of a sudden I hear Nero making all the fuss.

[Joe Friday]

Who's that?

[Frank Smith]

That's a silly name, isn't it?

[Joe Friday]

Who is it?

[Frank Smith]

Little bitty old peak, she called it Nero. Always seem to me that if you're gonna call a dog Nero, it should be a big dog. Yes, Nero's the dog.

[Joe Friday]

What happened then?

[Frank Smith]

Well, sir, first off, I didn't pay much attention to it. Just kept right on watering the lawn. And old Nero kept it up. Kept right on yelling and howling. Finally I figured there must be something wrong. Yes, sir, there must be with all that going on. So I turned off the water and wandered over. You know, check up.

[Narrator]

Yes, sir.

[Earl Brudig]

Mr. Bruding, about what time was this?

[Frank Smith]

I thought it was funny, death not coming out, making Nero shut up. Oh, it was about 6:00. Yeah, about 6:00.

[Joe Friday]

Did you see anyone around the house when you went over?

[Frank Smith]

Not a soul. No, sir, there's nobody. So I went around back to the patio, you know. Well, there wasn't anybody there either. And I knocked at the door. All this time, little old Nero is still raising. Old Ned ain't stopped to breathe hardly.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Well, sir, when I knocked on the door, things swung right open. Wasn't locked, you know. So I called Ethel. I called a couple of times. I didn't get no answer. I couldn't see nothing. So door open was only kind of little service ports. I didn't see a thing, answer. Then I went in, walked right into the kitchen. There she was, lying on the floor, stuff scattered all over, and little Nero sitting right beside her, just going crazy.

[Earl Brudig]

You called the police right away, didn't you?

[Frank Smith]

Well, I run out of the house, over to my place and called the operator. I dialed over and told him to send a policeman right away. Yeah, right away I called him.

[Joe Friday]

Had you seen Ms. Lawrence at all today?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, I saw her this noontime. She was out to get the mail and we said hello, you know, just as cheerful like. Like that.

[Earl Brudig]

What time did you say hello?

[Frank Smith]

I picked up the mail, went right back into the house just like she. Didn't have no idea what was going to happen. Oh, about 1:30, mail comes in.

[Joe Friday]

Did you see anyone around her house this afternoon?

[Frank Smith]

Nobody. No. No. Oh, well, of course, now, I. I was out in the back most of the afternoon, you see, you see, out there working the flowers. So I. I can't. Right. I'll say that. There wasn't anybody over there.

[Joe Friday]

I see. Do you know where we can get in touch with Mr. Lawrence?

[Frank Smith]

He works in the garage down on Pico, I think. I got to name the place around someplace. I used to take my car down to him before him and Mrs. Lawrence got a divorce.

[Joe Friday]

How long have they been divorced?

[Frank Smith]

About three years, I guess. Well, I'm not really sure about that.

[Earl Brudig]

How they get along. Do you know Any trouble between them?

[Frank Smith]

I guess there's some who'd say that he was right. I made a practice not to get involved in those things. Religion, politics and marriage troubles. I don't get meddled up in them. Oh, they fought all the time. Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Has Mr. Lawrence been at his wife's house lately?

[Frank Smith]

Not that I've seen. I guess they. Oh, see each other. But I understand what Ethel said. It was at the lawyers. She used to try to tell me about it, but I just wouldn't listen. I don't believe in it. Religion, politics, marriage stuff and all those things, et cetera, et cetera.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Alimony. They was always fighting about alimony. Always.

[Joe Friday]

Do you know what the disagreements were about besides alimony?

[Frank Smith]

I'll tell you, mister. You better talk to Mr. Lawrence about that. He's the one to set you right on it. I go telling you and I'm liable to say something wrong, you see, and that wouldn't Be right. Or would it? You better talk to him. You talk to him.

[Joe Friday]

All right, sir, if you'll just give us the address, please.

[Frank Smith]

Sure, sure. I'll take a look at my checkbook, see if I can find it. You. You talk to him. He don't give you all the scoop, and maybe I can help you out a little.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Mr. Bruddick. Thank you.

[Frank Smith]

Any more questions you gotta ask me right now?

[Joe Friday]

Well, if you don't feel well, sir, we can talk to you later.

[Frank Smith]

That I don't feel good. Just that I like another little snort. You know, kind of pick me up a little butt in soul together. Awful thing. Oh, just awful thing.

[Joe Friday]

Well, there may be some more things we'll want to check with you later tonight.

[Frank Smith]

Little old snort ain't gonna do no harm. One thing everybody says old Earl can hold his liquor. Everybody says that. You can ask them.

[Joe Friday]

Everybody.

[Frank Smith]

Hardly a day goes by somebody don't say that.

[Joe Friday]

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[Frank Smith]

Thousands of businesses and enterprises trust Podbean to launch their podcasts.

[Joe Friday]

Use Podbean to record your podcast. Use PodBean AI to optimize your podcast. Use PodBean AI to turn your blog into a podcast. Use Podbean to distribute your podcast everywhere. Launch your podcast on Podbean today. Well, if you'll get Mr. Lawrence's address for us, please.

[Frank Smith]

Right away. Right away, sir. Wonder how you're gonna take all this. All them years of battling, screaming at each other. Now they're over. He ain't gonna have no more trouble because of her.

[Joe Friday]

No, that's not quite right, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Huh.

[Joe Friday]

He's liable to have a lot more. Earl Brudig looked through his desk and he found a canceled check bearing the address of the garage where the victim's husband was employed. While he was looking for the check stub, Frank and I interrogated him further on the relations between Ethel Lawrence and her husband. He refused to tell us any more than he had, explaining that if the answers we got from the husband weren't adequate, we could come back and see him. 6:48pm we returned to the victim's house and we talked with Lieutenant Lee Jones. He told us that the crew from the crime lab had been unable to find the murder weapon, but that they had been able to lift several good fingerprints from the kitchen. We went on to say that these had been checked with those of the victim and they were not the same little other physical evidence was found in the house. However. An impression of a shoe had been found in the soft earth at the and a plaster cast had been made of it. We asked Lieutenant Jones to take the fingerprints of the neighbor who had found the body and check them with the impressions left in the victim's house. 9:46pm the coroner arrived and removed the body and attached the paper seal to the front door. Frank and I went back to the office and checked the name of the victim and her husband through the record bureau. We found that Bernard Lawrence had been arrested four years previously on a wife beating charge, but that he'd been released when his wife refused to prosecute. We checked the name Earl Brudig. He had no record. 10:54pm we drove over to the garage where the victim's husband was employed. The place was closed, but there was a card on the door giving an emergency address. Frank and I drove out to the house, a low, rambling, ranch style building. The garage owner, Arnold Norton, met us at the door.

[Bernard Lawrence]

Yeah?

[Joe Friday]

Mr. Norton?

[Arnold Norton]

That's right. What can I do for you?

[Joe Friday]

Police officers. We'd like to talk to you.

[Arnold Norton]

Yeah, I guess it's okay. I don't know what it's about, but I guess it's okay. What do you want?

[Joe Friday]

Might be better if we talked inside.

[Arnold Norton]

You mind if I see your identification?

[Joe Friday]

No, sir. Here's my ID card. This is my partner, Frank Smith. My name's Friday.

[Arnold Norton]

Uh huh.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Arnold Norton]

Come in.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you.

[Earl Brudig]

Thank you.

[Arnold Norton]

Just a minute. I'll Turn off the TV.

[Joe Friday]

We don't like to bother you, Mr. Norton. Shouldn't take us too long.

[Arnold Norton]

Doesn't matter. It's just a fight movie. I've seen it before. I get a kick out of seeing him again. What is it you want to know?

[Joe Friday]

You have an employee named Bernard Lawrence working for you? Yeah.

[Arnold Norton]

Barney's been with me for about seven years.

[Narrator]

Why?

[Joe Friday]

You have a home address for him?

[Arnold Norton]

I suppose so. Look, can you tell me what this is all about?

[Joe Friday]

Just a routine investigation. We'd like to talk to him.

[Arnold Norton]

I'll write out the address for you.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Earl Brudig]

You ever hear about Lawrence and his wife having any quarrels or disagreements?

[Arnold Norton]

I'm not quite sure how I should answer that.

[Earl Brudig]

What do you mean?

[Arnold Norton]

I don't know why you're asking the question. It's a little rough to ask me to comment on the way Barney gets along with his wife. I don't want to lay anything on him.

[Joe Friday]

You've known him for quite a while, have you?

[Arnold Norton]

Yeah. I told You? He's been with me for seven years. Best carburetor man I've got.

[Joe Friday]

You must have heard him discussing his home life at one time or another, haven't you?

[Arnold Norton]

I went through the same thing before, you know. I got myself right in the middle before. I don't want it to happen again.

[Joe Friday]

I don't understand when they got the divorce.

[Arnold Norton]

All the time lawyers coming around asking questions, trying to get me to take sides. I'm not gonna do it. If Barney's trying to bring the thing up again, he should be the one to tell me, not have you fellas come around and do it. I'm not gonna get in the middle again. I've known both of them for a long time. I think a lot of them. Ethel and Barney and me have been pretty close in the years, but I've had it all. The questions about how much Barney makes, what were his working hours, who'd he see, did he run around with any girls? No, I'm not gonna answer any more questions.

[Joe Friday]

This isn't a civil matter, Mr. Norton.

[Arnold Norton]

This has nothing to do with divorce?

[Joe Friday]

No sir.

[Arnold Norton]

I'm not gonna be called as a witness?

[Joe Friday]

We can't say to that, sir.

[Arnold Norton]

Uh huh. Way you fellas are going about this routine thing makes me think that it's a lot more important than just a traffic ticket or anything like that.

[Joe Friday]

Well, it is.

[Earl Brudig]

Did you see Lawrence today?

[Arnold Norton]

You mean at the garage?

[Earl Brudig]

Yes, sir.

[Arnold Norton]

Yeah, he came to work at 8, just like he always does.

[Joe Friday]

He was there all day, eight to.

[Arnold Norton]

Five, that's what he works.

[Joe Friday]

Does he have occasion to leave the garage at all during the day?

[Arnold Norton]

I don't understand what you mean.

[Joe Friday]

Well, does he have to leave to go pick up parts, anything like that?

[Arnold Norton]

Yeah, once in a while he does. We got a fellow who does that kind of thing. But when he's out on the call and Barney needs something fast, he maybe runs down the street and gets it.

[Joe Friday]

Did he leave the garage this afternoon?

[Arnold Norton]

Yeah, he had to go down and pick up some rebuilds.

[Joe Friday]

You know what time he left?

[Arnold Norton]

It'd be hard to pin it down to an exact time. I don't much keep tabs on Barney. He comes and goes as he pleases.

[Joe Friday]

Pretty important that we get an idea of when he was gone.

[Arnold Norton]

Well, I can check it with the other boys in the shop. I should be able to find out when he left. I know he got back about 4:30 though.

[Joe Friday]

You're pretty sure about the time?

[Arnold Norton]

Yeah, he came back and did a job on a rush. One that we Had. And then he took off at 5.

[Earl Brudig]

How was he acting when he came back?

[Arnold Norton]

What do you mean?

[Earl Brudig]

Did he seem upset about anything?

[Arnold Norton]

No, not particularly. He seemed pretty happy, though. Kept talking about what a beautiful day it was and how good he felt. You know, come right down to it, Barney was happier than he's been in some time. Just seemed like all his troubles were gone.

[Joe Friday]

We know how you feel about this, Mr. Norton, but it's pretty important. Did you ever hear Mr. Lawrence threaten his wife?

[Arnold Norton]

I'm going to have to take your word for it being pretty important, Mr. Friday. I've got no way of knowing. But if you guys get me in the middle of anything, I'm going to be pretty sore about it.

[Joe Friday]

Don't worry about that.

[Arnold Norton]

Well, then, to answer your question, Barney and Ethel didn't get along very well. I guess you knew that, divorce and all, Ethel accusing Barney of running around. They had some pretty big arguments. Barney was pretty mad at the judgment he got the alimony he had to pay Ethel 150amonth. Made him pretty sore. But the judge said to pay it or go to jail. Ethel would just as soon see him in jail. Barney used to talk to me about it. We'd stop down the street and have a beer. When we closed up the shop, Barney would say there was only two ways he could get out of the alimony payments. Well, one was if Ethel got married again. And Barney always said she was so mean that no sane man would have her.

[Joe Friday]

What about the other way?

[Arnold Norton]

That was for her to die, I guess. That was about the only threat he ever made. So I could hear it.

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Arnold Norton]

That he wouldn't mind helping her out.

[Joe Friday]

11:47Pm we drove over to the address we'd gotten for Bernard Lawrence. It was a modern apartment building in the Wilshire district. We rang the bell to his apartment, but we got no answer. Frank and I talked to the manager of the building and he let us into the suspect's apartment. In a preliminary search of the place, we found nothing to tie the man in with his wife's death. However, from the clothes and the other personal effects in the place, we were reasonably sure that he'd returned to the apartment. The manager told us that Lawrence had come home after work, changed his clothes and left. So saying that he'd return later, we put in a call to the office and we told them where we were, and we made arrangements to be relieved the next morning in the event the suspect hadn't returned. Frank and I settled down in our car, which was Parked across the street from the apartment to wait for Lawrence. At 1:30, Frank went down to the corner and called Faye to tell her he'd be a little late. He brought back a carton of hot coffee and some sandwiches. The stakeout continued. 2:30. Still no sign of the suspect. 3:34. At 5:30am the landlord came to the porch of the apartment house and yelled at us, indicating he wanted to tell us something. Frank went over to see him while I waited in the car. A couple of minutes later, Frank came running back.

[Earl Brudig]

Joe. Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Earl Brudig]

Manager just got a call from Lawrence.

[Joe Friday]

What about?

[Earl Brudig]

Lawrence wanted to have his stuff packed and sent down to the depot.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Earl Brudig]

Said he's leaving town.

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[Joe Friday]

5:42Am we called the business office and had arrangements made to check the reservation lists on trains going east. We also set up stakeouts on the depots and on the airline terminals. In the event the suspect changed his mind about taking the train. Two officers came out and relieved us at the apartment. The manager of the apartment was instructed to notify the officers on stakeout in the event he heard from Lawrence. 6:12am Frank and I drove back downtown. We went to the business office and got out a local and an APB on the suspect. We checked out of the office to go home and change our clothes and at 8:46am we met back in the squadroom.

[Earl Brudig]

You made it fast, huh, Joe?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Carton of coffee there if you want some.

[Earl Brudig]

No, thanks. I got something to eat on the way in. Any word?

[Joe Friday]

No, not yet. Lawrence still hasn't showed up at the apartment. There's nothing from the depot. Steakhouse.

[Earl Brudig]

Oh, man, I'd sure like to get some sleep.

[Joe Friday]

Well, I'm with you there.

[Earl Brudig]

You know Faye? Sure sore.

[Joe Friday]

What about last night?

[Earl Brudig]

Yeah, had it all planned. We were going to a movie tonight. Always plans. It on my day off, you know, we have dinner and go down to the neighborhood. Kind of nice. She looks forward to it.

[Joe Friday]

What's that got to do with last night?

[Earl Brudig]

Well, this is my day off, right?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's what it says on the schedule.

[Earl Brudig]

And I'm working, Right. Yeah, well, I worked all last night, too, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Earl Brudig]

Gonna be no movie tonight?

[Joe Friday]

No folly.

[Earl Brudig]

Well, I'm gonna sleep soon as I get home. Gonna climb right into the shower, dry off into bed. Gonna sleep the clock around, that's why.

[Joe Friday]

Mm. We gotta talk to Skipper this morning.

[Earl Brudig]

Is he in yet?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, he's down Chief Brown's office. Mm.

[Earl Brudig]

You fill him in?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, a little bit. He goes along with us.

[Earl Brudig]

Mm.

[Joe Friday]

Well, let's check R and I. I want to look at that arrest report on Lawrence, see if any of his friends are listed. We might be able to get a lead on him. Better find out if he made that call he was supposed to have made when he was gone from work, huh?

[Earl Brudig]

Yeah. The way it looks, he's still in town.

[Joe Friday]

Well, that doesn't do us a lot of good unless we know where.

[Earl Brudig]

Well, we can go out and talk to the fellow that found the body. He might be able to come up with something better.

[Joe Friday]

Put a stake out on the garage where Lawrence worked, too. He might show up there.

[Earl Brudig]

Right. I'll get Norton on the phone, tell him. Let us know if he hears anything.

[Joe Friday]

Right.

[Earl Brudig]

You know, the whole thing looks pretty clean. All we got to do is put Lawrence at his wife's house this afternoon. We got it made.

[Joe Friday]

He's the only one in trouble.

[Earl Brudig]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

We gotta find him before we can put him there. After putting in the call to the garage where the suspect was employed and arranging for a stakeout on the place, Frank and I checked the arrest record that had been made out four years previously and obtained a list of his friends and relatives. We contacted each one of them, but they could give us no information on Lawrence. That morning, we met with Captain Lorman and we went over the evidence with him. The fingerprints found at the scene of the murder had been eliminated when they were compared with those of the neighbor, Earl Brudy. Other physical evidence netted us nothing. The murder weapons still had not been found. The only piece of evidence that we had to attempt to identify the killer was the plaster cast of the footprint found by the side of the house. However, Lee Jones said that it would be of little use other than to identify the size of the shoe. It was a size 10 with a leather sole and a leather heel. There were no Distinguishing marks on the impression. Two days went by and we still hadn't found Lawrence. We talked to the men he worked with, but none of them could supply us with any information as to his possible whereabouts. We checked the bars he was known to frequent without results. Apparently, the suspect had disappeared without a trace on Saturday, June 14, three days after the murder. Frank and I got back to the office after lunch.

[Earl Brudig]

You want to check the book?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Bernard Lawrence]

Where can I find Joe Friday?

[Joe Friday]

I'm him.

[Bernard Lawrence]

I'm Barney Lawrence.

[Joe Friday]

We've been looking for you.

[Bernard Lawrence]

I want you to get off my back. Leave me alone.

[Joe Friday]

Do you mind telling us where you've been for the past three days?

[Bernard Lawrence]

That's none of your business. The only reason I'm here now is I want to tell you to stop going around asking a lot of questions, causing me embarrassment.

[Joe Friday]

What do you mean by that?

[Bernard Lawrence]

You know what I mean. I don't mind telling you, I'm pretty sore about the things you said behind my back. You probably didn't think I'd find out about them, but I did, and I'm telling you to stop.

[Earl Brudig]

You ought to take it easy, Lawrence.

[Bernard Lawrence]

You keep your nose out of this, cop. I'm talking to him. I got a few things for you, too, before I leave.

[Earl Brudig]

Yeah? I don't think you're gonna leave.

[Bernard Lawrence]

What's that supposed to mean?

[Joe Friday]

Just what it sounded like. You're under arrest.

[Bernard Lawrence]

For what?

[Joe Friday]

Suspicion of murder.

[Bernard Lawrence]

You figured I killed Ethel.

[Joe Friday]

You look good for it.

[Bernard Lawrence]

Then you better get a pair of glasses, cop. I'm walking out of here. And if you're smart, you won't try to stop me.

[Joe Friday]

I wouldn't try it. Lawrence. Lawrence. Now, hold it. If you haven't done anything wrong, you got nothing to worry about. Now, come on back here.

[Bernard Lawrence]

You know something?

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Bernard Lawrence]

I've always wanted to hit a cop. Come on, Lawrence.

[Joe Friday]

On your feet.

[Bernard Lawrence]

Keep your hands off me, cop. Just keep your hands off me.

[Joe Friday]

All right, now sit down right here. Sit down. We're investigating a murder. Someone beat your wife to death. We're trying to find who did it.

[Bernard Lawrence]

Well, it wasn't me.

[Joe Friday]

You got a funny way of showing it. The suspect was booked in at the main jail on suspicion of murder. Lawrence put in a call to his lawyer and arrangements were made to have him released on bond. Frank and I attempted to interrogate him before he was booked, but he refused to answer any questions we put to him. The following morning, we met with he and his lawyer again. We ran into the same stubborn silence at 11:30am we met with Captain Lorman and Chief of Detective Stad Brown. We laid out the evidence we had. From all appearances, we had the guilty man in custody. But it might be difficult to prove in a court of law. The one thing we'd been unable to establish was Lawrence's presence in the house at the time of the murder. It was decided that without being able to prove this, we would have little chance of getting a complaint from the District Attorney's office. Frank and I started requesting the neighbors. None of them could tell us any more than they already had. We requestioned the man who'd found the body, Earl Brudig. He came up with the additional information that there had been a crew of carpenters working on a house the day of the killing. The building was located next door to him, directly across the street from the place where the murder had been committed. We questioned the carpenters. None of them could tell us anything. However, there was one man who had been working on the construction that we were unable to reach. It took us several days before we were able to find him. On Wednesday, June 18, we got to his house at 7:30am Just before he left for work. He asked us to talk to him in the kitchen of his home.

[Bernard Lawrence]

I was just having breakfast. Fix you guys something to eat.

[Joe Friday]

No, thanks, Mr. Hewitt. We don't want to take up much of your time here.

[Bernard Lawrence]

Oh, don't worry about that. What's this about anyway?

[Joe Friday]

We understand that you were working on a job on Green oak Drive on the 10th of June. Is that right?

[Bernard Lawrence]

Let me think.

[Earl Brudig]

Yeah.

[Bernard Lawrence]

Yeah. 9700 block. Yeah, I was there.

[Earl Brudig]

Why? You worked there all day, did you?

[Bernard Lawrence]

That's right. Left the place around 5:30. Say, this about that woman that was murdered?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Bernard Lawrence]

You got the fella did it?

[Joe Friday]

Well, we think we know where he is.

[Bernard Lawrence]

You guys like a cup of coffee?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, fine. We'll join you.

[Earl Brudig]

Yeah, thanks.

[Bernard Lawrence]

Either of you use sugar?

[Joe Friday]

No. No, thanks.

[Earl Brudig]

No, thanks, sir.

[Bernard Lawrence]

Don't see how you can drink coffee without it. Always use two spoons myself. That's good. Well, say, if you know who did the killing, how come he isn't in jail?

[Joe Friday]

We need a little more evidence before we can take him to court.

[Bernard Lawrence]

That's why you're talking to me, huh?

[Joe Friday]

That's right. Couple things you might be able to straighten us out on.

[Bernard Lawrence]

Why me?

[Joe Friday]

Well, we've talked to the other men in the crew. Seems like you're the only one left.

[Bernard Lawrence]

Comes right back to me, huh?

[Earl Brudig]

That's right.

[Bernard Lawrence]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

What's the matter, Hewitt?

[Bernard Lawrence]

Gotta Sit down.

[Joe Friday]

Wait a minute. What's wrong, Hewitt? What's the matter? You sick?

[Bernard Lawrence]

Poison. Poison. And the sugar? I've been expecting.

[Joe Friday]

Frank, get an ambulance, quick.

[Earl Brudig]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

What kind of poison, Hewitt? What kind?

[Bernard Lawrence]

There's nothing you can do now. I know this is wrong. Taking poison. I killed the old lady. I killed her.

[Earl Brudig]

Ambulance on the way, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

No hurry. He's dead.

[Narrator]

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

[Chesterfield Advertiser]

On June 23, an inquest was held in offices of the coroner in and for the county of Los Angeles. In a moment, the results of that inquest.

[Narrator]

Now here is our star, Jack Webb.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you. Earlier, George Feniman told you exactly why the Chesterfield you smoked today is the best cigarette ever made. And best for you. Now the rest is up to you. Get a carton or two for yourself. Smoke them and you'll say as we do, it's Chesterfield's for me.

[Chesterfield Advertiser]

At the inquest it was ruled that the suspect, Merle Patrick Hewitt died of self administered poison. And his death was listed as a suicide. The victim's husband, Bernard Jerome Lawrence, was released from custody.

[Narrator]

Ladies and gentlemen, we'd like to thank the editors of Time magazine for their cover story of Jack Webb and Dragnet. That's Time magazine on your newsstands this Thursday.

[Chesterfield Advertiser]

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.

[Frank Smith]

Parker.

[Chesterfield Advertiser]

Los Angeles Police Department Technical Advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Vance Brasher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Vic Rodman, Jack Cruchen. Script by John Robinson. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.

[Narrator]

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 Filter tip Smokers. This is it. L and M filters. The one filter tip cigarette with plenty of good taste, much more flavor, much less nicotine. The right length for effective filtration only the L and M filter contains the miracle product alpha cellulose. The purest material for filtering cigarette smoke. Yes, this is it. As Ann Sheridan puts it, L and M filters are just what the doctor ordered. Buy L and M filters the light and mild smoke. Here, Rocky Fortune following John Cameron Swayze and the news on the NBC radio network.