Dragnet: The Big Little Jesus 12/21/1954

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: Dragnet – “The Big Little Jesus” (12/21/1954)

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Host: Choice Classic Radio
Episode: Dragnet: The Big Little Jesus
Original Air Date: December 21, 1954
Podcast Publication Date: December 9, 2025

---

Episode Overview

This holiday episode of Dragnet, “The Big Little Jesus,” delivers a poignant Christmas-themed detective story. Set on Christmas Eve in Los Angeles, Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith are tasked with finding a stolen statue of the infant Jesus from the Nativity scene at the city’s oldest mission church. The case gently weaves themes of faith, community, and innocence, all while embodying the methodical, realistic policing style for which Dragnet is renowned.

---

Key Discussion Points and Story Progression

1. Setup: Christmas Eve at the Police Station

• [01:48–02:24] Joe Friday and Frank Smith exchange light banter about late holiday tasks, family traditions, and gift choices, creating a relatable context and setting the tone of the season.
• Notable Quote:
  • Frank: “You ought to get married, Joe. Yeah, it's the only system. Faye does all that stuff for me. Laundry, meals, cards.” (02:24)

2. The Case Unfolds: The Stolen Statue

• [04:10–05:25] The detectives receive a call from Father Xavier Rojas at the Old Mission Church, reporting the theft of the infant Jesus statue.
• [05:25–08:14]
  • Father Rojas explains the sentimental value of the statue, especially for the community’s children.
  • The detectives compassionately acknowledge the emotional impact of the theft.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Father Rojas: “We could get a new one, but it wouldn't be the same… It's the only Jesus they know.” (07:36)
  • “It would be like changing the evening star.” (07:44)

3. Investigation: Searching for Leads

• [08:22–11:48]
  • Friday and Smith question altar boys, visit religious stores, and canvass the neighborhood, but encounter little helpful information and some gentle skepticism.
  • The storekeeper, Mr. Flavin, is especially entertaining and philosophical about the unlikelihood of someone selling a stolen religious artifact.
• Notable Quote:
  • Mr. Flavin: “If a man was to steal a statue, he'd be crazy or something like that. The only place he'd want to go is where crazy people are.” (11:33)

4. Altar Boy’s Testimony: A Mysterious Man and a Bundle

• [12:29–14:08]
  • Altar boy Joseph Heffernan recalls seeing a man with a mismatched suit leaving the church with a bundle the size of the statue, pointing the detectives toward Claude Stroop, a man who once worked at a local paint shop.

5. Tracking the Suspect: The Golden Dream Hotel

• [14:23–17:01]
  • The detectives visit Stroop’s residence, a modest men’s hotel. The clerk and residents imbue the investigation with pathos, discussing their Christmas program and Stroop’s troubled past.
• Notable Moment:
  • The old men rehearse Christmas carols, highlighting the emotional gravity of the season for those with little else.

6. Interrogation and a Dead End

• [19:43–22:19]
  • Claude Stroop is taken to the station, but proves evasive.
  • Ultimately, he is innocent—the bundle he carried contained only clothes, not the missing statue.

7. Resolution: An Unexpected Culprit and a Christmas Promise

• [23:16–25:17]
  • As Friday is about to give up hope, a small boy, Paquito Mendoza, enters the church, pulling a red wagon with the statue inside.
  • The boy had prayed to the infant Jesus for a red wagon and, upon receiving it thanks to repaired toys donated by firefighters, gave the statue the “first ride” as he promised in prayer.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Father Rojas (explaining): “He promised that if he got the wagon, the child Jesus would have the first ride in it.” (25:01)
  • Paquito (worried): “He wants to know if the devil will come and take him to hell.” (25:10)
  • Joe Friday (reassuring): “That's your department, Father.” (25:13)

8. Touching Finale: Community, Forgiveness, and Innocence

• [25:39–27:02]
  • The boy replaces the statue in the Nativity scene. The detectives marvel at the simplicity and sincerity of faith renewed.
  • The episode closes with quiet acknowledgment of charity and the struggles of the poor within the parish.
• Notable Reflection:
  • “Frank and I could have been wrong, but the small plaster statue seemed to approve.” (25:39)

---

Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• Father Rojas pleads for the statue’s return:
  • “It would be like changing the evening star.” (07:56)
• Mr. Flavin on faith and religious goods:
  • “They have them so they can have them.” (11:25)
• The Christmas carolers at the Golden Dream Hotel:
  • “Good King Wes has lost. Look down on the face of Steven.” (15:57)
• Discovery of the innocent boy, Paquito:
  • “He promised that if he got the wagon, the child Jesus would have the first ride in it.” (25:01)
• Final reassurance about forgiveness:
  • “That's your department, Father.” (25:13)

---

Structured Timeline of Critical Segments

• [01:27–04:10] — Case is introduced; the church’s need is explained.
• [05:25–08:14] — Emotional stakes for the parish are set.
• [12:29–14:08] — The altar boy’s key testimony.
• [14:23–17:01] — Hotel inquiry and caroling scene.
• [19:43–22:19] — Suspect interrogated and cleared.
• [23:16–25:17] — The child’s confession and the true, heartwarming solution.
• [25:39–26:43] — The statue is returned, restoring faith and joy.

---

Tone and Storytelling Style

The episode is delivered in the signature Dragnet style—efficient, terse, and duty-bound—yet this holiday tale gently shifts from routine police work to a moving meditation on faith, community, and the innocence of children. The dialogue remains true to the down-to-earth language of 1950s Los Angeles, with occasional moments of dry humor and deep empathy.

---

Conclusion

“The Big Little Jesus” stands out as a touching holiday classic in the Dragnet canon, balancing the rigors of police work with the softer values of hope, forgiveness, and simple faith. The final scenes, as a child’s misunderstanding brings the lost statue home, offer a quiet, profound commentary on the spirit of Christmas.

---

Transcript

[Shopify Announcer]

When it's time to scale your business, it's time for Shopify. Get everything you need to grow the way you want. Like all the way.

Stack more sales with the best converting checkout on the planet. Track your cha chings from every channel right in one spot. And turn real time reporting into big time opportunities. Take your business to a whole new level. Switch to Shopify. Start your free trial today.

[Choice Classic Radio Host]

Welcome to Choice Classic Radio, where we bring to you the greatest old time radio shows.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Like us on Facebook, subscribe to us.

[Choice Classic Radio Host]

On YouTube and thank you for [e-mail].

[Narrator]

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true.

[Dragnet Narrator]

Dragnet.

[Narrator]

You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to burglary division. You get a call that an important piece of religious art has been stolen from the oldest church in Los Angeles. There's no lead to its whereabouts.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Your job. Find it.

[Mr. Flavin]

Dragnet.

[Dragnet Narrator]

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. From official police files, from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It was Wednesday, December 24th. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of Burglary division. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Bernard. My name's Friday. I'd gone across the street to buy stamps for some Christmas cards I was sending out. It was 9:15am when I got back to room 45. Burglary.

I sat down at a table in the squadroom and I started to address the cards when Frank walked in carrying a stack of Christmas boxes.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Hi, Joe. All right. Christmas cards, huh? Little late, aren't you?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, I was gonna send them out Monday, but we had that stake out.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

You ought to get married, Joe. Yeah, it's the only system. Faye does all that stuff for me. Laundry, meals, cards.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Only system might help.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Brought in your present. Wanna open it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now? No, I'll wait.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

I always opened a couple a day before.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Why?

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Well, put you in the spirit ahead of time. I opened Phil's this morning.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Who's he?

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Ray's brother in Denver. Gave me a magazine. One of those funny ones.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you mean, a comic book?

[Announcer/Interviewer]

No, one of those funny ones. You know.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, I don't, Frank.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Well, some of the pages have holes in them. You look through and there's a picture on the next page.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah, I've seen those on the news stand.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

They have cloth pasted in.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Cloth? In the ads.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

If you want to buy a suit, they have a sample right there.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You mean you can feel it?

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Reach right out and feel it. There was one for $200.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The suit.

[Narrator]

Sure.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Cloth comes from Scotland.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's it made out of? Solid gold?

[Announcer/Interviewer]

No, they got a special kind of goat over there. It's real smooth.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Not a goat, Frank. A sheep.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Well, a special kind of sheep then. Because a suit cost $200.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You gonna get one?

[Announcer/Interviewer]

I told Faye. She said where the sample. Anything doing?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Fanning and Prior were in on that market. Hold up.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

They come up with anything?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Pound of air, nothing else.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

I hope it stays quiet. I got more shopping to do.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I finished.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

What'd you get, Ann?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Stationary set. Some paper and envelopes. Leather binding.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Joe, you'll never learn.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's the matter?

[Announcer/Interviewer]

No woman wants a stationary set. Get her something personal.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, it's got her initials on it.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

No, no. You want something more sentimental, romantic.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What'd you get, Faye?

[Announcer/Interviewer]

It's different in her case.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What'd you get, Faye?

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Sewing machine.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's romantic.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Well, there's no way.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Why don't you buy her a catcher's m?

Burglary, Friday. Yes, that's right. You have the right department.

All right, Father, we'll be right down. No, you can tell us about it there.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Goodbye.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The old mission church.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

They've had a theft collection money.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Statue of the child Jesus.

Frank and I checked out of the office and rode over to the church at the corner of Sunset Boulevard in Maine.

The old Mission Plaza Church, founded 1781, the year Los Angeles became a pueblo. The outside was typical early Spanish design, complete with mission arches, was made of adobe and painted white. They called it the Queen of the Angels. The padres from down in Mexico built it. The devout Mexicans in town still attended services there. 1005am Frank and I crossed through the courtyard. Used to be the old stable, but the Spanish priest changed all that. When it became a mission, stonemasons paved the stable floor and made it a courtyard. They planted grapevines, trees and flowers. A young priest crossed the courtyard to meet us. He'd been sitting on a stone bench reading his morning prayers, as priests had done here for 172 years. We asked for Father Xavier Rojas, who communicated with us. We were told he was inside.

We entered a side door. The church seemed to glow with the hundreds of votive candles flickering on both sides of the altar and at the shrines throughout. The church was empty except for a few people praying. Surrounding the main order were Several old oil paintings and gold frames. The air was heavy with a scent of Advent flowers. We found Father Rojas up near the sanctuary looking at the Nativity scene. He told us about the crib. It was a $70 duplication of the scene at Bethlehem. The parishioners had taken up a collection for it 31 years ago. It was put up every year on December 22 and taken down after the holy season. It was beautiful, except that one of the shepherds had lost an arm. The sheep was and cracked and the infant Jesus was missing. Father Rojas led us back into the sacristy.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

I'm sorry to bother you, man.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

All right, Father.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

Especially now, the holiday season.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We cash our checks. Father, you want to tell us what.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Happened or what you think happened?

[Father Xavier Rojas]

I discovered the statue was missing right after the six o' clock Mass.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

You say for six?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

I started over to the rectory and stopped by the crib.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Was the statue there before Mass?

[Father Xavier Rojas]

I don't know, but it was there last night.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How late is the church open all night. You leave it wide open so any thief can walk in.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

Particularly thief Sergeant.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You say it was there last night, father? How late?

[Father Xavier Rojas]

10 or 11 o'.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Clock.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

We had confessions.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

No one saw it after that.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

One of the altar boys, he says it may have been there. He thinks it was.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did he see it?

[Father Xavier Rojas]

He's not sure.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's his name?

[Narrator]

Pardon me.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

Here's the schedule. You'll find the names for every mass there.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Was there a big crowd at the six o' clock mass, Father?

[Father Xavier Rojas]

Not too many. Seven's the big one. People on their way to work.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did anyone stay after Mass? Did you notice?

[Father Xavier Rojas]

Not especially. I came back here, took off the vestments, I suppose. It was 10 or 15 minutes before I went back into church.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It was empty then.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

No people were coming in for the seven o'.

[Narrator]

Clock.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Are these the Alder boys? James Corneen and Joseph Heffernan.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

Joe's the one who mentioned it might have been there.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did you check with the other priests.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

Father, before I called you? None of them knows anything about it.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Just for a check on the pawn shops.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

How much the statue worth in money?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's the point? In pawn shops, Father, only a few dollars.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

We could get a new one, but it wouldn't be the same. We've had children in the parish. They've grown up and married. It's the only Jesus they know.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We understand.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

And we've had children who died. It was the only Jesus they knew. So many of the people who come here are simple people. They wouldn't understand, Sergeant. It would be like changing the evening star.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We'll do our best, Father.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

That's why it would mean so much to have it back for the first mass on Christmas.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's not very long, father.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Less than 24 hours.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

If anything turns up here, you know where to get in touch with us. Yes.

Sad, isn't it? How's that?

[Father Xavier Rojas]

In so short a time, men learned to steal.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, but consider us, Father. Us. If some of them didn't, you and I'd be out of work.

10:50Am we notified pawn shop detail. Frank and I checked out the two Aller boys. The first one, James Corneen, said he knew nothing about the missing statue.

The second one, Joseph Heffernan, was not at home. His father said he had a part time job, but he'd have him get in touch with us right after lunch.

By 11:30am we'd run out of book. Procedure. We had a man to find. Our only clue, he'd been to church. 11:33am.

We checked the phone books for the names of religious stores in the area. Two of them were closed. We tried the third. When we got there, the only person in the store was an elderly man sitting by a table. In front of him was a large, beautifully carved chess set.

We're police officers.

My name's Friday. This is my partner, Frank Smith.

[Mr. Flavin]

Great to see you. Caught me in the middle of a big chess match.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Where's your partner?

[Mr. Flavin]

Up in San Jose. We've been playing for years.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Same match?

[Mr. Flavin]

No, just two or three months on this one. What I meant was we've been playing different matches for years.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I see.

[Mr. Flavin]

You know, we do it through the mail. I send him a move, he sends me one.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Must keep you on your toes.

[Mr. Flavin]

Except during the holidays. Mail gets all fiddled up. That's no good.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Guess not.

[Mr. Flavin]

Slows things down. That's no good. I like to catch him off guard.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You, Mr. Flavin?

[Mr. Flavin]

How do you know? We never met.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Your name's on the window out front, Mr. Flavin.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

We checked the other two religious stores in this neighborhood.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

They're closed.

[Mr. Flavin]

It's the best one anyway. 50% European items.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We're checking the stores around the mission church.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

For what?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Statue of the child Jesus. Do you have one we could look at?

[Narrator]

Sure.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, sir. A larger one.

[Mr. Flavin]

You don't want a larger one unless it's for the church. That's why you want a larger one.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Could we see it, please?

[Choice Classic Radio Host]

Tired of juggling sales tools or spending hours on prospecting just to Book a few meetings. Meet Apollo, the go to market platform for finding leads, connecting with buyers and closing deals all in one place. Apollo gives you access to over 210 million contacts and AI that handles all your busy work, finding leads, drafting emails and even prioritizing your day. So stop paying for five different sales tools when one does it all. Visit Apollo I.O. and sign up free today.

[Mr. Flavin]

It's not my due to butt in, but unless you live in a big place, this will make your living room all the kilter.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. Do most of the people who go to the mission church trade here? Good.

[Mr. Flavin]

Many of them special to kids.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Why? Kids more religious.

[Mr. Flavin]

Check on yourself. See if kids aren't more religious than you might be. So that's what's wrong with the world. Oh, I don't mean you're wrong with it. Everybody.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. What if we could stick to the point, Mr. Flavin?

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Sure.

[Mr. Flavin]

A lot of people from the mission church come in here.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Do people ever come in and sell back a religious article like a prayer book or rosaries? Yes, sir.

[Mr. Flavin]

Secondhand, you mean?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Mr. Flavin]

Not since I ever been around.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's silly.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Why?

[Mr. Flavin]

People don't have religious articles so they.

[Dragnet Narrator]

Can get rid of them.

[Mr. Flavin]

They have them so they can have them.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

But if a man had a statue and wanted to sell it, he'd come to a place like this.

[Mr. Flavin]

Sure, but he wouldn't want to sell it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He would if it was stolen.

[Mr. Flavin]

No, sir. If a man was to steal a statue, he'd be crazy or something like that. The only place he'd want to go is where crazy people are.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You may be right, Mr. Fland.

[Mr. Flavin]

I don't know what you fellas are looking for, but if it's somebody who stole a statue, he's crazy and you won't find him. You won't find him as long as you live or in a million years.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That should cover it.

We checked religious stores out as far as Van Ness. We asked the same questions. The owners gave us the same answers. But none of them were as encouraging as Mr. Flavin.

Frank and I had lunch and reported back to the Office. It was 1:30pm when we started into the squadroom. The captain was just coming out.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

I just checked for you in a.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Lunchroom and we've been out on that theft at the mission. May get some action on the Patterson case. They locate him? They think he's on the bus from Sacramento. Well, that means the Bakersfield police. We wait and see.

[Drew Heffernan]

One of you fell Sergeant Friday.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

He is.

[Drew Heffernan]

I'm Drew Heffernan. My father said you wanted to see me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Sit down, son. You didn't have to come in.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

A phone call would have worked.

[Drew Heffernan]

My father said to get on over. He says that any kid that uses phones is lazy.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

We want to ask you about this morning.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You serve six o' clock mass?

[Drew Heffernan]

Yes, sir. I'm senior boy, so I get the six.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

You're senior and you take the early trick?

[Drew Heffernan]

Yes, sir. That way if you receive communion, you get to have breakfast sooner.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Father Rojas says you think the statue was there before mass.

[Drew Heffernan]

I didn't look, but I have a feeling it was there.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

A feeling?

[Drew Heffernan]

You know how you have a feeling about something but you're not sure.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did you stay around long after mass?

[Drew Heffernan]

I put out the candles and hung up my surplus.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How long would that take?

[Drew Heffernan]

About five minutes, maybe.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did any of the people at mass stay on?

[Drew Heffernan]

Some moms do, especially ladies.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh.

[Drew Heffernan]

Maybe they don't finish in time. Where else they start new prayers? I don't know.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

When you left, there were still some women there?

[Drew Heffernan]

No, sir. That was that first. After I went back to the sacristy, there was only this one man.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What man?

[Drew Heffernan]

He comes at six o' clock all the time.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Do you know his name?

[Drew Heffernan]

No, sir. But he works down in Olive. You know, paint shop with the paint signs.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Could you describe him?

[Drew Heffernan]

Sort of medium. Wearing a suit that didn't match.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Didn't match?

[Drew Heffernan]

You know, different pants than coat.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

How about his age?

[Drew Heffernan]

Oh, he's pretty old.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Take a guess.

[Drew Heffernan]

About 40 maybe. There's nothing particular about him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Then why'd you notice him?

[Drew Heffernan]

I seen him before. In the bundle, I guess.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The bundle out in front.

[Drew Heffernan]

I saw him when he was coming out. He had this bundle and he almost dropped it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How large a bundle?

[Drew Heffernan]

It's hard to say.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Come on, son. Was it large or small? The size of the statue.

[Drew Heffernan]

About that big. Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We located the sign shop. The suspect didn't work there anymore. But we discovered his name was Claude Stroop. We found out where he lived.

2:25Pm we arrived. There was a hotel for men. Mostly old men. Mostly down and outers. Was called the Golden Dream.

Police officers. We're looking for Flawed Stroop.

[Narrator]

Hope Claude didn't get in any trouble.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

So do we. Is he in?

[Announcer/Interviewer]

No.

[Mr. Flavin]

He's got room 307.

[Hotel Clerk]

You can check if you like.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

He'll take your word.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Were you on this morning? Huh? Yeah.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

The early shift.

[Hotel Clerk]

Well, we don't have shifts. My uncle owns the place. On the shift.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did Stroop spend last night Here.

[Hotel Clerk]

Came in about 11.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

When did he leave this morning?

[Hotel Clerk]

Round six, maybe before. To come back after 8 o' clock or so.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Then left.

[Hotel Clerk]

Supposed to be back at 10. And pulls this trick.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What trick?

[Hotel Clerk]

Our program. He knows the other fellas need him.

[Mr. Flavin]

Program?

[Hotel Clerk]

Here at the hotel? Every Christmas we have a program. Put up a tree and sing. They're mostly old fellas. Singing like that makes them remember back when they were kids. Then Jimmy Finn comes on.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Jimmy Finn?

[Hotel Clerk]

He shares number 409. His family once had a lot of money, so he tells the fellas about it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Stories about Christmas. How they had this big log.

[Hotel Clerk]

And his grandfather used to start it up. And after dinner, everybody turned over his plate. And there underneath was a twenty dollar gold piece. Brand new one.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

When Stroop came in this morning, did he have a bundle?

[Hotel Clerk]

I didn't see him come in.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

You said you saw him.

[Hotel Clerk]

I saw him go out after, but not come in.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

When was that? 8.

[Narrator]

If you want to look for a.

[Hotel Clerk]

Bundle, I could give you his key.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We don't have a warrant.

[Hotel Clerk]

It's all right. I know about police. It's all right with me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's not with us.

[Hotel Clerk]

I didn't mean that. I just meant it was all right with me.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Good King Wes has lost. Look down on the face of Steven.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

There were three old men. You couldn't tell how much better they would have been. With Stroop singing the fourth part. But somehow you didn't care. This was Christmas at the Golden Dream and it sounded fine.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Though the cross was cruel when the poor man came in sight Gathering winter fuel.

[Hotel Clerk]

This is the last rehearsal. I got most of the songs down pat.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Sounds pretty good.

[Hotel Clerk]

That's why it's a shame Claude isn't here. He's tenor and they need him to make it sound just right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Does Stroop have a job?

[Mr. Flavin]

No, sir.

[Hotel Clerk]

He used to have jobs. Not much lately, though.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He say where he was going?

[Hotel Clerk]

No. He should have. The fellas need him.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

When he comes in, will you call us?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Sure.

[Hotel Clerk]

And not say anything to him?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Hotel Clerk]

I hope it's nothing serious.

[Narrator]

For Claude fellas, troubles ought to be over. Troubles?

[Hotel Clerk]

Way back it wouldn't count now.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Tell us anyway.

[Hotel Clerk]

I don't know much about it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

As much as you know. Now come on.

[Hotel Clerk]

Well, something back where he used to live. He robbed somebody or something.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What else?

[Hotel Clerk]

That's all. Was a long time ago. Way far back. But he forgot it all. The robin and everything.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, not quite. He remembered it this morning.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

God rest ye Mary, gentleman let nothing you Dismay. For Jesus Christ our Savior was born upon this day.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We went back to the office and ran Stroop's name through R and I. If he'd been booked anywhere, we had no record of it. At least not under that name. 4:15pm Pawn shop detail reported back. No object resembling the statue of the child Jesus had been turned in. 4:18pm I hung up the phone. Patterson's on that Sacramento bus.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

I thought Bakersfield had it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

They were supposed to confirm.

[Narrator]

They did.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Hopworth Station. What about Banning and Pryor?

[Announcer/Interviewer]

They're still out.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, they'll be back soon. When's the bus arrive?

[Mr. Flavin]

6 o'.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Clock. There's plenty of time for him to make it. There's more time for you.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

We're still in that theft.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Can it wait? No. What is it?

[Father Xavier Rojas]

10.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

$15 statue. When's the price? Determine a case. I realize it's a church statue, but that doesn't give it priority.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

It's important to them, Captain. Joe and I promise to get it back.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you got on it? Nothing much. And why are you so big? Harder.

Burglary. Friday. When? No, don't say anything. No. Right. Claude Stroop. He just walked into the hotel. He's our suspect. Nobody's late to him. No, you'll keep. You can run him down tomorrow. It'll be too late then.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

I need it for the first mass in the morning, Skipper. It's kind of a big thing for them.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I'm sorry. I can't juggle details around. So you can get a statue back at this time later on. We'll do our best. Yes, sir. You better get over the station. Yes, sir. Will you call Father Rojas over at the mission?

[Narrator]

Why?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Tell him we're too busy to work on that statue.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

But we'll do it later. Tomorrow or when we get a chance.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Why can't you call him? Well, we better get over at the station.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

If Patterson's on that bus, we don't.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Want to miss him.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

All right, I'll call him.

Friday.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

I can send Fanning and Priority. Might as well stay on that other thing. Whatever you say, Captain.

[Dragnet Narrator]

You are listening to Dragnet. The authentic story of your police force in action.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

4:43Pm we arrived at the Golden Dream Hotel. The desk clerk was right. Claude Stroop looked like a man who'd had his troubles at bargain rates. Your name Claude Stroop? Yes, sir. Police officers. We'd like to talk to you.

[Narrator]

I didn't do anything against the law. Honest, I didn't do anything against it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You haven't been accused.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Want to take you downtown.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We'd like to talk to you.

[Narrator]

No, sir. I'm not going.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I'm not going anywhere.

[Narrator]

I'm not going to talk to anybody.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You're half wrong already.

5:15Pm we returned stroop for interrogation. He kept his word. He refused to talk.

6:05Pm Frank called Faye, told her he'd be a little late. Stroop didn't move for a whole hour. He sat and stared, but he didn't talk.

6:40Pm we got a final report from pawn shop detail. The shops were closed. There was no statute. Stroop still hadn't talked.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Don't you ever want to go home, Stroop?

[Narrator]

If I was to talk, you wouldn't let me go.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Depends on what you'd say.

[Narrator]

I'd say it wrong and I wouldn't get home.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You won't this way either.

[Narrator]

I'd like to go. You can bet on that. This is the seventh year we had the program and I never missed a one. Not a single one.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Why don't you tell us what happened, Stroop?

[Narrator]

How would I know you'd let me go?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You wouldn't.

[Narrator]

I might as well, anyway.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right. What happened from Mass on?

[Narrator]

Well, there was Mass. I came out and started down toward the hotel.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Back up.

[Narrator]

I left my stuff at the hotel and then I picked up George's car. I didn't steal it. He said I could have it anytime I wanted. Only this time I didn't ask him.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

I took it and started off.

[Narrator]

Well, I should ask, but I just didn't. I went over to Grand Avenue for the Christmas bulbs for this fella sells in second hand. It was coming out of the lot.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

But I did it.

[Narrator]

Yeah, the bumper must have caught. The other car didn't leave too big a dent. But there was this long scratch. I got out and tried to wipe it off with my handkerchief. You know, spit on it, like. Only didn't do no good. I didn't think anybody saw. I don't know how you fellows found out about it.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

I'll check auto records.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Right.

Stroop, we didn't bring you down here to talk about that.

[Narrator]

You didn't?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No. There's a statue missing from the church. A statue of the child Jesus. You mean.

[Narrator]

I took it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You took a bundle out of church? Yes, sir.

[Narrator]

That was my other pants. For the program tonight. I had a place sewed up and there was a button on it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You can check.

[Narrator]

But I wouldn't take a statue.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I don't Think you would either.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

He's clear at Auto Records.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Juan.

[Narrator]

Hope for the program, you mean.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's all right. Good night. Strooping.

Night.

[Narrator]

Merry christmas.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

OR2.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, I don't know. We could stay and work on it tonight.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Wouldn't do any good. We won't find it.

I don't think so. No. He was kidding. The priest built his hopes up.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Might as well go tell him now.

Merry christmas.

7:27Pm we found Father Rojas. Frank told him how it was that we couldn't get the statue back by morning but that we'd keep trying during the week. He said he understood. We told him we had to get on. As Frank and I started to leave, the doors at the main entrance to the church opened.

It was a good 200ft away. It was hard to be sure, but it looked like a small boy drawing a bright red wagon behind him.

When he got closer, you could see he was no bigger than a pint of milk. It was a luminous eyed little Mexican boy with a face as young as yesterday.

The priest seemed to know him.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

Paquito.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

In the back of the wagon was the missing statue of the child Jesus. He picked it up gently and walked up to the priest.

[Drew Heffernan]

Father Rojas.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He just stood there looking up at Father Rojas.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

Paco Mendoza, a boy from the parish.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Ask him where he found it.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

He didn't find it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He took it. Why.

You?

[Drew Heffernan]

Prometheus.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

He says all through the years he's prayed for a red wagon. This year he prayed to the child Jesus. He promised that if he got the wagon, the child Jesus would have the.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

First ride in it.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

He wants to know if the devil will come and take him to hell.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's your department, Father.

Noel. Diablo.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

This is a mapaquito mucho.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We crossed over to the sanctuary. With the help of Father Rojas. The young boy replaced the infant Jesus in its rightful place. The crib in the nativity scene. Frank and I could have been wrong, but the small plaster statue seemed to approve.

Mary, Joseph, the wise men, Gaspar, Melchior, Balthazar, the old shepherd, the young shepherd, the peasant. They all seem to approve.

[Father Xavier Rojas]

Well, ver to Casa Paquito.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Priest told the boy to go home. He took hold of his wagon, started the long walk out of the church.

There wasn't much we could say. There wasn't much to say. We just stood there and watched him go halfway up. He turned to look back and he went on out.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

I don't understand how he got that wagon today. Don't kids wait for Santa Claus anymore? It isn't from Santa Claus. The fireman Fix old toys and give.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Them to new children. Paquito's family? They're poor.

[Announcer/Interviewer]

Are they?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Father.

[Drew Heffernan]

Sam.

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard is true. The names and locations were changed.

[Dragnet Narrator]

You have just heard. Dragnet A series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police. W.H. parker, Los Angeles Police Department.

[Drew Heffernan]

Foreign.

[Choice Classic Radio Host]

Tired of juggling sales tools or spending hours on prospecting just to book a few meetings? Meet Apollo, the go to market platform for finding leads, connecting with buyers and closing deals all in one place. Apollo gives you access to over 210 million contacts and AI that handles all your busy work finding leads, drafting emails, and even prioritizing your day. So stop paying for five different sales tools when one does it all. Visit Apollo I.O. and sign up free today.