Dragnet: The Big Key 10/26/1954

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Dragnet: The Big Key (10/26/1954)

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: Dragnet: The Big Key
Host: Choice Classic Radio
Date Aired: October 21, 2025
Original Broadcast: October 26, 1954

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Overview

This episode of Dragnet follows Detective Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith as they investigate a string of drugstore robberies in Los Angeles. The case intensifies when an unidentified bandit escalates his crimes from theft to violence, severely injuring a store owner. The story, presented in the authentic, staccato Dragnet style, details the detectives’ methodical approach to finding the criminal, capturing the tension, persistence, and realism that made Dragnet a classic in radio crime drama.

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Key Discussion Points & Case Progression

1. Background on the Crime Spree

• Twelve Drugstores Robbed: An unidentified man has robbed twelve drugstores over five weeks, consistently targeting money and narcotics. There are no initial leads.
• Detectives on the Case: Sergeant Joe Friday and Frank Smith are assigned the case. Their boss, Chief of Detective Thad Brown, keeps the pressure on for results.
• Opening Investigation, Interview with Harry Tishner:
  • [01:45] Joe and Frank talk to Harry Tishner, a druggist robbed earlier that morning.
  • Tishner describes the robber handing him a written note and remaining silent throughout the crime.
  • Unique behavior: The robber takes off his gloves to grab some licorice whips, potentially leaving fingerprints.

“He’s very neat... I’ll say one thing for the guy.”
— Harry Tishner, [04:00]

2. Initial Forensics & Challenges

• [07:30] Latent fingerprints are lifted from the candy jar, but they are only partial and not enough for a positive ID.
• Suspect Description: White male, 35-38, 5’10”, 175 lbs, no visible marks or scars.
• No Distribution of Narcotics: The team suspects the robber is using the drugs himself, as none hit the streets.

3. Crime Escalates: Violent Attack

• [08:48] Captain Donahoe meets with Friday and Smith. Pressure mounts as media and superiors want answers.
• The robber is now considered armed and increasingly dangerous; his next act nearly kills a store owner.
• [12:19] The team interviews Calvin Webster, a witness to the savage beating of George Raylor, another druggist.
  • Webster relates how Raylor was attacked after resisting and shouts for help.
  • The environment of fear and randomness created by the robber’s unpredictability is palpable.

“He’s mean. Real mean. Doing a thing like that to Mr. Raylor.”
— Calvin Webster, [15:39]

4. Investigation Intensifies

• City-wide Effort: The detectives coordinate a rolling stakeout, with support from Metro Division units, covering targeted areas.
• The team fields numerous calls and tips but finds the suspect elusive—several days pass with no results.

5. Near Miss and False Leads

• [17:12] Responding to an officer-down call, Friday and Smith witness another robbery gone bad, but the injured suspect is not their man—victims don’t recognize him, and the modus operandi does not fit.

6. Break in the Case: Domestic Disturbance

• [20:55] A tip emerges from a domestic dispute: A woman claims she could send her husband to San Quentin because he's a “lousy hold up man.”
• Interview with Mrs. Kearney:
  • She initially downplays the comment as anger over infidelity, but provides details about her husband, Keith J. Kearney.
  • Joe spots a crucial clue: plastic keytag with a stolen car’s license number, tying Keith to a getaway car used in the heists.

“Keith’s a professional avoider. He doesn’t like anything steady. Beginning to look like he means me too.”
— Mrs. Kearney, [22:54]

7. Apprehension and Climax

• Surveillance: Detectives stake out the Kearney house.
• [24:16] Keith J. Kearney arrives, attempts to flee and pulls a weapon, but is shot and subdued by the police. He is gravely wounded but survives.

“Now throw down that gun. ... He’ll be all right. Don’t lie to me. Poor Keith. You didn’t give him a chance.”
— Mrs. Kearney & Joe Friday, [25:35]

8. Resolution

• Keith J. Kearney is tried and convicted on nine counts of first-degree robbery and sentenced as prescribed by law: not less than five years.

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Memorable Quotes

• On Robbery M.O.:
  “It was a note, huh? … Just pushed the note across the counter. I didn’t have to have anybody push me off a cliff to know what was going on.”
  — Harry Tishner, [03:05]

• On the Suspect’s Violence:
  "He’s mean. Real mean. Doing a thing like that to Mr. Railer."
  — Calvin Webster, [15:39]

• On Law & Order:
  "An officer needs help. Of all the calls in the book, this is the one that no officer wants to get. ... By showing that they have no respect for the competence of an armed, professional officer, they have also shown that they will not consider for an instant the life of an unarmed citizen."
  — Joe Friday, [17:35]

• On the Suspect’s Lifestyle:
  “Keith’s a professional avoider. He doesn’t like anything steady. Beginning to look like he means me too.”
  — Mrs. Kearney, [22:54]

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Key Timestamps

• [01:44] Arrival at Tishner’s Drugstore, initial victim interview
• [07:30] Fingerprint evidence discussion
• [08:48] Briefing with Captain Donahoe
• [12:19] Interview with Calvin Webster after the assault on Raylor
• [17:12] Response to officer-down and mistaken suspect identity
• [20:55] Domestic dispute tip from Mrs. Kearney
• [24:16] Confrontation and arrest of Keith Kearney
• [25:33-26:11] Aftermath, Mrs. Kearney’s reaction; legal wrap-up

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Tone & Style

• The dialogue maintains Dragnet’s hallmark terse, methodical, and dry style, focusing on factual recounting and plausible police routines.
• Characters, from weary witnesses to stoic cops, are rendered with dry wit, flashes of gallows humor, and a penchant for quotidian details.
• The script’s structure moves briskly, with carefully observed procedures punctuated by emotional, sometimes wry, asides.

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Conclusion

The Big Key offers a classic Dragnet episode, showcasing detective work grounded in patience, forensic detail, and procedural integrity. The story escalates from routine robberies to violence, culminating in a stakeout and tense confrontation. Ultimately, the episode underscores the dangers police and citizens face when lawlessness is unchecked, and the slow, persistent grind required to bring criminals to justice in 1950s Los Angeles.

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Transcript

[Joe Friday]

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[Frank Smith]

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

[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. 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. Dragnets, you're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a robbery detail. In the past five weeks, an unidentified hold up man has robbed 12 drugstores. He's taken money and narcotics. There's no lead to who he is or where he is. Your job. Find him. It was Tuesday, March 16th. Warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A robbery detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is chief of Detective Thad Brown. My name's Friday. We're on our way out from the office and it was 9:36am when we got to the corner of Boulard Boulevard in Westmoreland. Petitioner drugstore in the back. Now.

[Frank Smith]

Something you want?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. We'd like to see Harry Tishner.

[Frank Smith]

Hey, I'm him.

[Joe Friday]

Police officers. This is Frank Smith. My name's Friday. How you do, sir?

[Frank Smith]

About the robbery, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Would you like to tell us what happened? I was robbed. We'd just like you to tell us how.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, now I'm with you. Yeah, I'm right with you. Let's go back and sit down, get to telling the story and time just melts away.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Might as well be comfortable while we all fall out.

[Joe Friday]

I see this all right here.

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. Like a phosphate or something?

[Joe Friday]

No, sir. No, no, thank you. Okay.

[Frank Smith]

And let's quit all this fooling around and get out of business. Want me to tell you about the hold up?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir, we'd like that.

[Frank Smith]

Good, good. That's just what I'm going to do.

[Joe Friday]

Go ahead.

[Frank Smith]

Aren't you going to take anything down right?

[Joe Friday]

Well, yes sir, as soon as you tell us a story. Now if you'd like to start in.

[Frank Smith]

Well, came in about eight.

[Joe Friday]

That was this morning? Yes.

[Frank Smith]

Just walked right in the door, came back to the prescription counter and stood there. Had this little piece of paper in his hand. I figured it was from a Doctor, you know, prescribed medicine?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Wasn't.

[Joe Friday]

Well, go ahead. What was it?

[Frank Smith]

Note written on there like this. This is a stick up. Don't make any noise.

[Joe Friday]

Was a note, huh?

[Frank Smith]

Just pushed the note across the counter. I didn't have to have anybody push me off a cliff to know what was going on.

[Joe Friday]

No, sir.

[Frank Smith]

I was being robbed.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. Do you want to? Go ahead.

[Frank Smith]

Well, after he showed me the note, he kind of pushed me back into the little room at the rear of the store in a kind of store place.

[Joe Friday]

Now, did he say anything to you at all?

[Frank Smith]

Not a word. Just pointed with that gun for me to get into the back room. I went.

[Joe Friday]

I see. What happened then?

[Frank Smith]

He pushed me down to the floor and then tied my hands and feet.

[Joe Friday]

What do you use?

[Frank Smith]

You mean the tie me up?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. Rope. Oh. Well, did he bring it into the store with him?

[Frank Smith]

No, sir. He picked it up in household on his way back to the prescription counter.

[Joe Friday]

I see. Go ahead, please.

[Frank Smith]

Soon as we got the storeroom, he took off the label and then undid the rope, he made a loop and put it around my feet. Next thing I knew, I was all crust up like a rolled roast ready for the oven.

[Joe Friday]

I see.

[Frank Smith]

I'll say one thing for the guy, though.

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Frank Smith]

He's very neat. I Good enough?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Other officers, the ones in the black and white car, you know? Yes, sir, them.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, what about them?

[Frank Smith]

Oh, yeah. Well, they took the ropes with them. They said something about taking them to a laboratory. Well, you can see if you want to. It's very neat. Yes, sir.

[Joe Friday]

What happened after the bandit tied you up?

[Frank Smith]

Robbed me.

[Joe Friday]

You personally?

[Frank Smith]

Yes, personally and otherwise.

[Joe Friday]

Well, sir, would you please tell us?

[Frank Smith]

Well, first off, he went to the safe and took the tin box out. Opened her right up and took the money.

[Joe Friday]

Is that all he stole from the cash box?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. I had some government bonds in there, but he didn't take those. Guess he knew they wouldn't do him any good.

[Joe Friday]

I see.

[Frank Smith]

He didn't take them. Took the money, but didn't take the government bonds.

[Joe Friday]

According to what you told the officers this morning, the thief took a supply of narcotics too. Is that correct?

[Frank Smith]

Yes, he got them from the safe, too.

[Joe Friday]

Well, now, after he finished with his safe, what happened?

[Frank Smith]

He left. He walked out of the place. He just ambled right out.

[Joe Friday]

During the time he was in the store, he didn't say anything at all. Is that right? Did anybody else come in while he was here?

[Frank Smith]

You mean like a customer? Yes.

[Joe Friday]

No.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, excuse me.

[Joe Friday]

That Might be our office. Mr. Tishner. We left this number.

[Frank Smith]

Okay. If it is, I'll tell you.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you.

[Frank Smith]

Kishner Drugs? Uh huh.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Mrs. Cantworthy, huh? No, shouldn't be, huh? No, I can't do that. If you have your doctor call me, I'll make it up and send it over. Yeah. No, no, not without a prescription, huh? Okay, well, I'll call you when it's ready then. And you can send Lanny over. Right. My Ms. Kent Worthy, huh? Oh, well, if that's the way you feel, I won't. Oh, sure.

[Joe Friday]

Okay.

[Frank Smith]

Goodbye. Yeah, I can't imagine why she'd sing a thing like that. Just no reason at all. Sir, this is Cackworthy told me when her son comes over to get the prescription, not to give him any candy.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, I see.

[Frank Smith]

I usually throw in a liquor swifter, though.

[Joe Friday]

Mm.

[Frank Smith]

Don't want me to do it. It's too bad.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. Wonder if we could go ahead with the description?

[Frank Smith]

Sure, I guess so.

[Joe Friday]

Well, now, from what you told the investigating officers, the man's about 35 to 38. Is that right? Light in color, 5ft 10, 175 pounds. No visible marks or scars.

[Frank Smith]

Is that right? Yeah, I guess that's pretty close.

[Joe Friday]

Well, if there's anything different, we'd appreciate you telling us now.

[Frank Smith]

No, not with you. Because I can't understand why Ms. Can't Worthy say a thing like that. That penny lick, the schwip little penny thing.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir, we understand.

[Frank Smith]

Like that couldn't hurt anybody. Yes, sir.

[Joe Friday]

Would you be able to identify the holed up man if you saw him again?

[Frank Smith]

Oh, yeah, no trouble. I'd know him. He'd never say a thing like that. Sir, the fellow who robbed me.

[Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Frank Smith]

Oh, on the way out, the way I was laying, I saw him stop right up there with a can in magazines. Stopped dead in his tracks. He went over and helped himself. Took the top off and helped himself a handful. Sure must like him.

[Joe Friday]

What was that, sir?

[Frank Smith]

Licorice whips. Just reached into the jar and took a handful.

[Joe Friday]

After that he left. Is that right?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, as soon as he put his gloves back on.

[Joe Friday]

What was that?

[Frank Smith]

Couldn't work the top of the jar with the gloves, so he took them off. Now, used his bare hands.

[Joe Friday]

10:02Am Frank put in a call to Harlan's stall and Layton. Fingerprints. We asked him to come out and go over the glass candy jar. While we waited for him, Frank and I checked the list of stolen narcotics with the druggist, Harry Tishner. We also made arrangements for him to come downtown and look through the mug books. When the glass candy jar was checked, Harlan Stahl was able to come up with two partial prints. They were enough for comparison, but not for identification. 11:15am Frank and I left the store and spent the rest of the afternoon checking out the list of names we'd gotten from the stats office. Several of the possibles look good, but after each one of them was investigated, we still didn't have a suspect in custody. Wednesday morning, March 17, at 8:06am Frank and I met in the squadron. Morning, Joe. Hi. Tried to call you this morning. Thought maybe you'd want to stop and have some breakfast. No, I left the house early. Did you check the book? Yeah. Anything? Skipper wants to talk to us. I figured that'd happen. Is he in now? Yeah. Come on, let's get it over with. Come in. Yeah, that's right. No, not yet. I'm gonna try and line it up this afternoon. Yeah, I'll call you back. Here. They're here right now.

[Frank Smith]

Bye.

[Joe Friday]

You wanna see us, captain? Yeah, come in.

[Frank Smith]

Sit down.

[Joe Friday]

Going in. I won't tell you who's on my back about this thing. And you don't give me any excuses. Right. Where are you? Still in front of the first store. That's how long ago? It's been five weeks. What do you know about him? WMA description. Clothes match on all the jobs. Close enough so we know it's the same guy. Okay, what else? He uses a stolen car to get to the store. He drives it away, isn't too careful to hide the license plate. We've been able to come up with three out of the five. Check the cars out? Yeah. Clean. Not a print on them. Nothing else? Picked up something yesterday. Should help when we nail him. What's that? Oh, Stahl listed a couple of partials from a candy jar. Gonna be enough for comparison. Can't make the suspect on him. No, it's not enough to classify. What about the narcotics he's taking? You show up any place? No, not that we can find. We've been down all the alleys. There's nothing there. Talk to Lucarelli. Hop squad's got nothing on it. If none of it's showing up, then it could mean he's using the stuff himself. That's what we got figured. How about the stats office? We spend much more time down there. They're gonna put us to work with the machines.

[Frank Smith]

Performance.

[Joe Friday]

Well, they've given us smiles, that's about all. You think they're Holy. No. Come over here and take a look at the map. Podbean, your message amplified. Ready to share your message with the world. Start your podcast journey with podbean. Podbean, the AI powered all in one podcast platform.

[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. When he's picking the places, he set up a pretty definite operating schedule here. Venice Boulevard, Kingsley Drive, Western Adams, Washington. The rest of them. They're all grouping this area. Yeah, you got to figure he's going to keep working the vicinity until he hits them all. Then maybe he'll move on to something else. Might help if we could come up with a reason that he's working there. Anything you can come up with has got to help. Yeah, we know. If it's true that he's been using the narcotics himself, it's just a matter of time before we hand this one over to Homicide. He's gonna walk into a store, somebody's gonna give him trouble. If he's on the needle, he isn't gonna take it. Yeah, so it adds up to a big stop. The past. Well, if we work the area, it's gonna take a lot of men, you know? We'll get him. I've talked to Stoner. He's taking care of all the help you need from here. There'll be four teams available. You can call Metro Division for whatever else you need. All right, we'll set it up for tonight, then check with Communications. Make sure you got the three ways working right. This guy's been pressing his luck for a long time. Yeah, I'm bound to run short on it sometime. Robbery Duno. Yeah, Gwen. Okay, we'll take care of him. Looks like he just got partners. What do you mean? Your boy just made it. 13 Drugstore out on Pico. Yeah, they don't expect the victim to live. Frank and I left the office and drove over to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital. We talked with the officer on duty. He told us that the victim's name was George Raylor. He owned a small neighborhood drugstore at the corner of Pico Boulevard and Vineyard Avenue. He went on to say that he didn't have all of the particulars of the beating, but that it had occurred during the commission of a robbery. We talked to Dr. Sebastian. He told us that the Elderly man was suffering from a fractured skull, broken ribs and possible internal injuries. He added that from Raylor's appearance, it looked as if he'd been beaten about the head and shoulders with a heavy instrument and then kicked in the chest. We left word to call as soon as he could be questioned. Then we drove over to the store on Pico.

[Frank Smith]

Yes, there's something I can do for you police officers. Well, how's Mr. Rail? Are you seen him?

[Joe Friday]

No, we haven't yet.

[Frank Smith]

You heard anything? Is he gonna be all right?

[Joe Friday]

Well, we don't know that yet.

[Frank Smith]

I sure hope so. The guy who hit him sure did a job. Just beat him something awful.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, we know.

[Frank Smith]

Not enough just hitting him. But then he knocked him down and stomped him. Awful.

[Joe Friday]

You hear when it happened?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, I saw the whole thing.

[Joe Friday]

You want to tell us what happened?

[Frank Smith]

You mean for the investigation? That's right. Okay.

[Joe Friday]

You want to give us your name first?

[Frank Smith]

Calvin Webster.

[Joe Friday]

You work here in the store, do you, son?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, that's right. Sort of a general left hand.

[Joe Friday]

What was that?

[Frank Smith]

Well, you see, Mrs. Raylor's right hand, I'm the left. Yeah, she wasn't here today. And Don having her hair fixed. Probably just as good.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Webster, you want to tell us?

[Frank Smith]

Well, saw came in about 8:30, right after we opened. He came in and went back to the prescription counter. I was going back to tell him that Mr. Raylor would be right out. And then he was.

[Joe Friday]

Railer?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, he was back checking the stock on vitamin pills. We do a big business in him. I have to have a pretty careful watch on the supply. Wouldn't want to get caught short.

[Joe Friday]

All right, go ahead.

[Frank Smith]

Well, the fellow, the hold up man, you know.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Frank Smith]

We took this little piece of paper out of his coat. I figured it was a prescription. Looked like it. Well, it wasn't. It turned out to be the note where he said he wanted the money.

[Joe Friday]

Did you see the note?

[Frank Smith]

Well, not so as I can read it. First, I knew there was something wrong when Mr. Railer started to yell at the guy. Told him to get out of the store. Ran around the car and tried to grab him.

[Joe Friday]

Mm.

[Frank Smith]

Yelling all the time for me to call the police. Call the cops? Call the cops like that. He yelled at me.

[Joe Friday]

What'd you do?

[Frank Smith]

I looked to see if I had a dime.

[Joe Friday]

What?

[Frank Smith]

Well, you see, in the past, Mr. Raylor's had trouble with people making phone calls on a private phone. So he had one of those little lock things put on it. You can answer incoming calls, but you can't phone out.

[Joe Friday]

I see.

[Frank Smith]

So I needed a dime to call the cops. Yeah, well, I didn't have one. Only 75 cents for my lunch. A half and a quarter.

[Joe Friday]

I see.

[Frank Smith]

Well, all this time Mr. Railer's yelling. He's yelling and the robber's hitting him. And I didn't know what to do. I thought about running back and trying to help. But Mr. Railer don't like for nobody to do something different than what he says. Yeah, he told me to phone.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, sure.

[Frank Smith]

Well, then all of a sudden, bang. The fella hit Mr. Railer with a gun. Took it right out of his pocket and hit him on the head. Next thing, Mr. Railer's on the floor, this fella's stomping him. Why couldn't you stand by no more? So I went back to help. Too late.

[Joe Friday]

What was that?

[Frank Smith]

It was too late. Mr. Raylor was on the floor and this guy was pointing a gun at me and was leaving the store. I didn't see how it'd help any to try and stop him.

[Joe Friday]

Was there anybody else in the store at the time?

[Frank Smith]

No, just Mr. Raylor and me. We just opened up. Still kind of getting ready for the day.

[Joe Friday]

Did you get a good look at this guy?

[Frank Smith]

Oh, yeah, I saw him. Good.

[Joe Friday]

All right. Then you'll be able to give us a description?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, I'll tell you how he looked.

[Joe Friday]

Did you see if he drove a car?

[Frank Smith]

I guess so.

[Joe Friday]

Don't you know for sure?

[Frank Smith]

Well, no. I didn't go out after him. I figured that it'd take somebody a lot bigger than me to stop him. Besides, I had to take care of Mr. Raylor.

[Joe Friday]

I see. Did you see the gun he was using?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. I got a real good look at it when he was sitting in the bars.

[Joe Friday]

That's fine. What kind of a gun was it?

[Frank Smith]

A pistol. You know, like you see in the movies.

[Joe Friday]

Now look, son. Was it a revolver or an automatic?

[Frank Smith]

I think it was a revolver. Had a barrel on it, short, about that long.

[Joe Friday]

Uh huh. We'd like you to come downtown and look at some pictures, if you would.

[Frank Smith]

At the City Hall?

[Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Frank Smith]

I'll be glad to help out as soon as Mrs. Raylor comes back.

[Joe Friday]

I'll go with you. All right, Fine.

[Frank Smith]

I can't leave the store alone, you know.

[Joe Friday]

Uh huh. You want to give us the description of the man now?

[Frank Smith]

You bet.

[Joe Friday]

Sure.

[Frank Smith]

If you catch the fella, so do we. This is the same guy I've been reading about in the papers?

[Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Frank Smith]

He's mean. Real mean. Doing a thing like that to Mr. Railer.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, we know.

[Frank Smith]

Been getting away with it for a long time, hasn't he? Like a guy running up a big bill.

[Joe Friday]

That's right. He'll pay it. As soon as someone arrived to take care of the drugstore, we took Calvin Webster down to the City Hall. He was shown all of the mug books and pictures of recent parolees. It was unable to make an identification. We had him return to his home. And then Frank and I checked with Dr. Sebastian over Georgia Street Receiving Hospital. He told us that the latest victim had been transferred to the county hospital and was out of the critical stage. He went on to say, however, that it would be several hours before we'd be able to talk to him. We checked with Captain Donahoe and Lieutenant Stoner. We also contacted officers from Metropolitan Division and made arrangements for the additional cars that we'd need in setting up the rolling stakeout. That night at 7:30pm the plan was put into operation. 10 undercover cars maintained a watch on the drugstores in the area. All suspicious vehicles were checked on. All pedestrians loitering in the vicinity were interrogated. Our suspect remained free. Three days went by without result. The bandit had stopped his operations. On Sunday, March 21, Frank and I were driving up Western Avenue just north of Pico. What do you think? I don't know. Maybe after he had that trouble with Railer, he decided to call it quits. Doesn't figure, huh? Guy that's had the break sea has not gonna let something like a beating stop him. Well, hope you're right.

[Ms. Kearney]

All units on frequency 1, standby. All units on frequency 1, standby.

[Joe Friday]

Might be a good one. Yeah.

[Ms. Kearney]

Standby 1J14. All units in the vicinity of 1947 Wilton Place. 1947 Wilson Place. An officer needs help. Code 3. All units in the vicinity of 1942 Wilton Place. An officer needs help.

[Frank Smith]

Code 3.

[Joe Friday]

You got the lamp? Yeah. Here you are.

[Frank Smith]

Think it might be our boy?

[Joe Friday]

We'll know in a minute. An officer needs help. Of all the calls in the book, this is the one that no officer wants to get. Not because of an outdone sense of loyalty to a fellow police officer, but because it means that somebody has decided that lawful authority has no meaning for them. Such a person is an extreme menace to every citizen in the city. By showing that they have no respect for the competence of an armed, professional officer, they have also shown that they will not consider for an instant the life of an unarmed citizen. By the time we arrived at the scene? There were 14 police units in attendance. From one of the officers, we got the story.

[Frank Smith]

You know, was working the street. Saw this young guy run out of liquor store. Stopped to see what was going on.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Told the fella to stop.

[Joe Friday]

Didn't make any difference. Kept going, huh?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. Officer in the car told him to stop, read, shoot. And the suspect turned around and fired the policeman.

[Joe Friday]

How is he? Flesh wound. What about the suspect?

[Frank Smith]

Well, he didn't get the chance to.

[Joe Friday]

Fire more than twice. That him over there? Yeah. Anything from the owner of the liquor store?

[Frank Smith]

Well, just that the suspect tried to hold him up. He walked in, showed him a note. The owner went along with it, handed over the money, and then the suspect left. That's it?

[Joe Friday]

Better take a look. Yeah. Well, it might be a break. It's a hard way to get it. Yeah, I'll take a look. How about it? I can't tell for sure. Huh. Description doesn't match too good. Yeah. No, I don't think it's our suspect. You are listening to Dragnet. The authentic story of your police force in action. The wounded police officer was taken to George Street Receiving Hospital for treatment. The suspect was removed to the county morgue. Pictures were taken, and when they were shown to the victims of the drugstore bandit, they all said he was not the man we were after. The rolling stakeout continued without result. During the next week, we answered several 211 calls in drugstores. But the ammo the thief used eliminated him as our suspect. Thursday, March 25th. Frank and I checked into the squadroom. How's it going, Joe? Kind of tired. Yeah, we'll get this one wrapped up and I'm going to try to take a few days off. Robbery Friday? Yes, that's right. No, we're handling. But when was that? All right. Would you like to give me that address? All right. Yes, I have it. We'll check it out. Might be something. Yeah, thanks for letting us know. Right. What was that? No, if it turns out, we'll let you know. Right. Thanks again. Bye. What do you got? Call from a radio unit out in Hollywood. Yeah, they answered a 4:15 this morning. Woman and her husband were having a brawl. Man had left when the officers got there. The woman refused to make a complaint. She placed the original call? No, it came from one of the neighbors when the officers were leaving. The woman said she'd handle a beef herself. Said she'd take care of her husband. Called him a lousy hold up man. Yeah, she made the statement she could put him in San Quentin. Inside of five minutes. Well, if he's the guy we're looking for, I don't think we can do it that fast. No, we can sure try. We left the office and drove out to the address I'd gotten on the phone. It was a small one story house set well back on the lot. When we got there, the lights were on. Frank and I went up the front door and rang the bell.

[Ms. Kearney]

Yeah?

[Joe Friday]

Ms. Kearney?

[Ms. Kearney]

That's right.

[Joe Friday]

Police officers like to talk to you.

[Ms. Kearney]

What about?

[Joe Friday]

Might be better if we talked inside.

[Ms. Kearney]

All right.

[Joe Friday]

My partner, Frank Smith. My name's Friday. How you do, Fry?

[Ms. Kearney]

You alone here in the house, Mr. Baby and me.

[Joe Friday]

See? Where's your husband?

[Ms. Kearney]

Look, before I start telling you a lot, why don't you let me know what this is all about?

[Joe Friday]

We got a report from a radio car that there was a disturbance here this morning. Is that right?

[Ms. Kearney]

Wasn't anything. Me and Keith had a beef. Not even worth calling the cops about.

[Joe Friday]

The officer said you made the remark that your husband was a hold up man. That you could send him to prison. Is that right?

[Ms. Kearney]

They talk a lot, don't they?

[Joe Friday]

They listen more. Lady, you want to tell us what you meant?

[Ms. Kearney]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Well, go ahead.

[Ms. Kearney]

You go back and tell the little boys in the play suits they're wrong on this one.

[Joe Friday]

That so?

[Ms. Kearney]

Yeah. Cause I meant nothing. Nothing at all.

[Joe Friday]

Pretty serious thing to say without reason though, isn't it?

[Ms. Kearney]

Morning. I had a reason, March.

[Joe Friday]

You want to tell us what it was?

[Ms. Kearney]

I don't see why not. You cops start nosing around, you'll find out anyway. I got trouble with my old man.

[Joe Friday]

What kind of trouble?

[Ms. Kearney]

He's out with other women. Didn't come home last night. We had a beef about it. The cops were called and they used their big ears. You guys made the trip out here for nothing. Now beat it. Now look what you've done. He's playing fine and you come in. He now raised a big stink. You got him all upset.

[Joe Friday]

I'll get him. Hey, here you are, fella.

[Frank Smith]

Hey, no reason to cry.

[Joe Friday]

What's your husband's full name?

[Ms. Kearney]

Keith J. Kearney.

[Joe Friday]

How long you lived in Los Angeles?

[Ms. Kearney]

A little over six weeks.

[Joe Friday]

Where you from?

[Ms. Kearney]

Idaho.

[Joe Friday]

Your husband ever been in trouble with the police before?

[Ms. Kearney]

Keith's got a hard time not being in trouble with anybody.

[Joe Friday]

Has he ever been arrested?

[Ms. Kearney]

I don't know.

[Joe Friday]

How long you been married?

[Ms. Kearney]

Seven years.

[Joe Friday]

And you don't know if he's ever been arrested?

[Ms. Kearney]

No, I don't.

[Joe Friday]

You got a picture of your husband?

[Ms. Kearney]

You mean that you can have.

[Joe Friday]

We'd like to take a look at it.

[Frank Smith]

Yeah.

[Ms. Kearney]

Out of luck. I haven't got one.

[Joe Friday]

Does he work?

[Ms. Kearney]

Not if he can help it.

[Joe Friday]

Doesn't hold a job of any kind?

[Ms. Kearney]

No. Keith's a professional avoider. He doesn't like anything steady. Beginning to look like he means me too.

[Joe Friday]

What's he do with his time?

[Ms. Kearney]

Nothing. Just lives it.

[Joe Friday]

Is he here in the evening?

[Ms. Kearney]

If he was, it wouldn't have been the beef this morning and you wouldn't be asking a lot of questions. I don't know what you're trying to get me to say, but I can't go along with you. You got a problem with Keith, then talk to him. Leave me out of it.

[Joe Friday]

I'll get it. You know where your husband is now?

[Ms. Kearney]

No.

[Joe Friday]

You don't have any idea?

[Ms. Kearney]

Not the least.

[Joe Friday]

There you are, little fella. Here's your keys. The husband drive a car?

[Ms. Kearney]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

What kind is it?

[Ms. Kearney]

41 Plymouths.

[Joe Friday]

When do you expect your husband back?

[Ms. Kearney]

When he walks in the door.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Ms. Kearney. I think that'll do it. Sorry if we cause you any trouble.

[Ms. Kearney]

You have and you're not.

[Joe Friday]

All right. Let's go, Frank. Good night. Good night.

[Ms. Kearney]

Good night.

[Joe Friday]

Better check on the husband, huh? Yeah. Wait a minute. Get a good look at those keys that the baby was playing with? No. Why? Plastic tag on them. Had a license number? Yeah. One of the stolen cars used in a drugstore. Hold up. Frank and I went back to the car and drove around the block, parking up the street from the Kearney residence. We called the name of the man and his wife into R and I, but there was no record on either one of them. Because of the remark made by his wife and the finding of the car keys it was decided to stake out on the house and wait for the husband to return. 7:30pm 8:39pm the lights in the house went out, but there was still no sign of Keith Kearney. 10, 10:30. We called the ops and told them we'd wait it out. 10:45pm Joe. Yeah? You see what kind it is? Looks like a plumber now. Checks out, huh? Yeah. Let's take him. All right, Kearney, hold it up. Give it up, Kearney. Keep away from me, cop. He's trying to make his house. Yeah, Kearney, you're not gonna make the front porch. Don't give your family any more trouble they got. Now throw down that gun. All right, let's give it back to her. He's down, Joe.

[Ms. Kearney]

Come on.

[Joe Friday]

Kearney.

[Frank Smith]

Kearney.

[Joe Friday]

Careful. Come on, Kearney. Throw that gun away. You hear me? Looks like he's hurt bad. Yeah. How about it? He'll live. Call an ambulance. Right. You kill him?

[Ms. Kearney]

Did you kill him?

[Joe Friday]

No, ma'. Am.

[Ms. Kearney]

He's dead. You killed him.

[Joe Friday]

He'll be all right. Don't lie to me.

[Ms. Kearney]

Poor Keith. You didn't give him a chance.

[Joe Friday]

Not fair. He didn't even have a chance. You saw it all, lady. Yeah, and it wasn't even a fair fight. Never is when you pull a gun. Keith Jarris Kearney was tried and convicted on nine counts of robbery in the first degree and received sentence as prescribed by law. Robbery in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less than five years. Dragnet is a presentation of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service.

[Ms. Kearney]

Sam Ra Ram. Sam.