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Narrator/Announcer
Welcome to Choice Classic Radio where we
Frank Smith
bring to you the greatest old time radio shows like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube and thank you
Narrator/Announcer
for donating@ChoiceClassicRadio.com Chesterfield brings you Dragnet. Put a smile in your smoking by Chesterfield. Smoother, cooler, best for you. Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a robbery detail. You get a telephone call from a woman who wants to see you. She says it's about her husband. She's afraid he's going to pull a hold up your job. Check it out.
Joe Friday
Listen.
Narrator/Announcer
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Narrator/Intro Voice
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 Wednesday, May 18. It was cool in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of robbery detail. My partner is Frank Smith. The boss is chief of Detective Stad Brown. My name's Friday. I was on my way into the office and it was 7:49am when I got to room 27. A robbery.
Bartender
Morning, Joe.
Joe Friday
Hi, Bob. Well?
Frank Smith
Well, what?
Joe Friday
Good morning, Frank.
Frank Smith
Oh, hi.
Joe Friday
What's eating you? Nothing. Are you mad about something?
Frank Smith
What would I be mad about?
Joe Friday
I don't know. But you didn't say good morning.
Frank Smith
I'm just not going over there anymore, that's all. Over where? The Talbots.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Who?
Frank Smith
The Talbots, you know. Live down the street, sells real estate. We bought our house from it.
Joe Friday
I see.
Frank Smith
We got to be friends. At least his wife and Faye are friends. I never cared for him much myself.
Joe Friday
Mm. What happened?
Frank Smith
Hm?
Joe Friday
Between you and him? Did you have a fight?
Frank Smith
I don't fight with people, Joe. You know that.
Joe Friday
Oh, that's right. I forgot.
Frank Smith
I just found him out, that's all. Just found him out. The kind of a guy he really is.
Joe Friday
Is that right?
Frank Smith
Yeah, they use signals. What signals?
Joe Friday
Him and his wife.
Frank Smith
Can you imagine that? They use them.
Joe Friday
What kind of signals?
Frank Smith
Different ones for different words.
Joe Friday
What do you mean?
Frank Smith
Well, they play charades.
Joe Friday
Oh, I see.
Frank Smith
Yeah.
Joe Friday
Well, that's too bad.
Frank Smith
Had us over their place last night. Some other couples, too. About eight or ten of us in all. Yeah, ten. Five on each side.
Joe Friday
Each side, huh?
Frank Smith
Yeah, for the charade games. You played it, haven't you?
Joe Friday
Yeah, when I was about 10 years old, we used to play it.
Frank Smith
Well, now, look, buddy, it's no kids game, not the way they play.
Joe Friday
Is that right?
Frank Smith
They give you stuff to act out. Titles and quotations. You've never even heard of half of them. And to top it off, they got signals.
Joe Friday
Yeah.
Frank Smith
Noun, verb, little word, big word, person's name, letters, the Alphabet. They got signals for all of them. You can spell something out. What's the point of the game? Well.
Joe Friday
Beat you pretty bad, didn't they?
Frank Smith
Huh?
Joe Friday
Last night in the game, you lost.
Frank Smith
That hasn't got anything to do with the joke.
Joe Friday
No, I don't.
Frank Smith
Doesn't matter who wins or loses. It's the principle of the thing. That's all it is, signals.
Joe Friday
Yeah, I get it.
Frank Smith
And they Use them.
Joe Friday
Robbery. Friday? Yes, ma'. Am. Well, I don't know. What seems to be the trouble. I see. Yes, I guess we could. Where is that? Are they open this early? All right. Yes, ma'. Am. We'll be there. Goodbye. Lady wants to talk to us. Says she'll meet us at a bar out on Melrose.
Frank Smith
What's it all about?
Joe Friday
Her husband? Yeah, he bought a gun. Frank and I drove over to a small bar on the corner of Melrose and 8th. It was 8:23am when we got there.
Bartender
Morning, gents.
Frank Smith
Morning. Hello.
Joe Friday
What'll it be?
Bartender
Little eye opener?
Joe Friday
Just coffee.
Bartender
How about you?
Frank Smith
I'll have a cup too, please.
Bartender
The plate isn't ready yet. I just finished putting it on.
Joe Friday
That's all right. We're in no hurry.
Bartender
There's a cafe right around the corner. They're open now.
Joe Friday
Well, we'll wait.
Bartender
Suit yourself. I guess you guys aren't like me.
Joe Friday
How's that?
Bartender
When I want my morning coffee, I want it right now. I don't even know I'm awake until after I've had a couple of cups.
Joe Friday
Jon, if we take a booth?
Bartender
Sure. First one's all cleaned up. I haven't had time to get to the others yet. All right.
Frank Smith
Thank you. Looks like we got here first, huh?
Joe Friday
Yeah.
Frank Smith
Did she give you a name?
Joe Friday
Hmm?
Frank Smith
Did she tell you her name?
Joe Friday
No, I said she didn't want to talk over the phone. Oh.
Frank Smith
Joe.
Joe Friday
Bill.
Bartender
Hi, Sally.
Mrs. Frazee
Hi. Give me a shot, will you?
Joe Friday
Sure.
Bartender
Scotch?
Mrs. Frazee
Yeah.
Narrator/Announcer
Water back okay.
Mrs. Frazee
Go ahead, mister. Take a good look.
Joe Friday
I was waiting for somebody. I guess I made a mistake.
Mrs. Frazee
Yeah, you sure did.
Joe Friday
I'm sorry.
Mrs. Frazee
Little later on I might be interested. But not at 8:30am getting worse all the time, ain't it, Gal? Can't even have a morning pick me up without some guy starting to move in on her. Well, he's looking at you, Mike.
Bartender
Donna Hatch.
Mrs. Frazee
Put on the tab?
Bartender
Yeah, sure.
Mrs. Frazee
See you around.
Bartender
Hey, your coffee's about ready.
Joe Friday
All right. Thank you.
Bartender
Want cream and sugar?
Frank Smith
No, black.
Bartender
How about you?
Frank Smith
Same.
Bartender
Coming up. Don't pay no attention to Sally. Yeah, she must have got out on the wrong side of the bed today.
Joe Friday
Mm.
Bartender
Usually she's real friendly. You know what I mean?
Joe Friday
Yeah.
Bartender
So just don't take it personal, huh?
Joe Friday
That's all right. Forget it.
Bartender
Too bad you guys came in so early. Long toward evening, we get a lot of action here.
Joe Friday
We're meeting somebody.
Bartender
Okay. Just telling you, that's all.
Frank Smith
Mm.
Narrator/Announcer
Phew.
Joe Friday
Gosh.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Whew.
Joe Friday
Yeah. Boy, that's hot.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
All Right.
Frank Smith
I think I burnt my tongue.
Joe Friday
That's too bad.
Bartender
Tomcat Bar, Mike speaking.
Frank Smith
Who?
Bartender
Well, I don't know. Yeah, yeah, okay, sure. Hey, one of you guys got a name? Sounds unlike Friday.
Joe Friday
That's right.
Bartender
While you're being stood up.
Frank Smith
Huh?
Bartender
She said to tell you not to wait.
Joe Friday
Frank and I left the Tomcat Bar and we went back to the office. 10:17am an informant called with a tip about a grocery store holdup that had taken place the previous Monday. We interrogated a possible suspect, but his alibi checked out the next day. Thursday, May 18, 9:43am Again.
Frank Smith
Property.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Smith.
Frank Smith
Who? Oh, yeah, Smith. Josh for you.
Joe Friday
Okay.
Frank Smith
Friday.
Joe Friday
Yeah, yeah, I remember. Well, we were there. Why don't you give me your name this time? No, I'm sorry. We'll have to have your name. Flint. F L I N T. All right. Now look, Ms. Flint, if this some kind of a gang, all right, if you're sure this time. Right. All right. Goodbye. The woman again? Woman who called yesterday morning.
Frank Smith
Oh, yeah. What you want now?
Joe Friday
Same thing. Meet us at the bar. And then.
Frank Smith
She's on the level?
Joe Friday
I don't know. It sounds like it this time.
Frank Smith
Why didn't she show up yesterday then?
Joe Friday
Says she tried, but she just couldn't.
Frank Smith
Why not?
Joe Friday
Said something about loving her husband.
Frank Smith
Yeah?
Joe Friday
When the chips were down, she couldn't bring herself to turn him into us.
Frank Smith
Yeah, but she will now, huh?
Joe Friday
Says she has to. She can't wait any longer.
Frank Smith
Why?
Joe Friday
Says it might be too late. 10:16am Frank and I left the office and drove out to the bar. When we got there, there was only one customer in the place. A small dark haired woman sitting in the corner booth.
Bartender
Hi.
Joe Friday
How are you today?
Bartender
Well, the big off again.
Frank Smith
Yeah.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
You okay?
Bartender
What do you want?
Joe Friday
Well, we'll let you know. Hmm. That woman over there in the corner.
Bartender
Yeah?
Joe Friday
Do you know who she is?
Bartender
Uh, don't think she'd been in before.
Joe Friday
All right. Thank you.
Bartender
Say, that reminds me.
Joe Friday
Yeah?
Bartender
Sally was around last night, asked about you.
Joe Friday
Yeah?
Bartender
Guess she had a change of heart. She's a pretty good kid.
Joe Friday
Yeah. Miss Flint? Are you Miss Flint?
Mrs. Frazee
Yes.
Joe Friday
Well, my name's Friday. This is my partner, Frank Smith.
Frank Smith
Can we sit down, ma'?
Joe Friday
Am?
Mrs. Frazee
I guess so.
Bartender
You guys want your coffee over there?
Joe Friday
Yeah, it'll be fine.
Bartender
How about the lady?
Joe Friday
Would you like something, ma'? Am?
Mrs. Frazee
I'd like a drink.
Joe Friday
All right.
Mrs. Frazee
I'm gonna need it.
Joe Friday
What'll it be?
Mrs. Frazee
I don't care. Bourbon, I guess. Bourbon and ginger ale.
Joe Friday
Lady wants a bourbon and Ginger ale.
Bartender
All right.
Mrs. Frazee
Does he know?
Joe Friday
Ma'?
Mrs. Frazee
Am? The bartender. Does he know your cops?
Joe Friday
No, I don't think so. We haven't told him.
Mrs. Frazee
If anybody finds out, I talk to you. If Rod ever finds out. I guess that just about washes up.
Joe Friday
Rod's your husband, is that right?
Mrs. Frazee
Yeah.
Joe Friday
Rodney Flint. Well, is that his name?
Mrs. Frazee
Not really. Not his real name.
Joe Friday
What is it then?
Mrs. Frazee
I don't know if I'm doing the right thing. I just don't know.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Mm.
Mrs. Frazee
He'd never understand. He'd say I was double crossing him. Maybe I am. Maybe I.
Bartender
Here you are. Two coffees and bourbon and ginger.
Joe Friday
What do we owe you?
Bartender
That's a buck even.
Joe Friday
There you go.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Okay. Thank you.
Mrs. Frazee
Four years I've been thinking about it. Living with it. Four years I've been trying to make up my mind whether I should go to the police or not.
Joe Friday
Yes, ma'.
Narrator/Announcer
Am.
Mrs. Frazee
But things seem to be working out. He was doing so well. Making good money. He's changed too. Honest he has.
Joe Friday
Well, I suppose you give us the whole story.
Mrs. Frazee
You married, Sergeant?
Joe Friday
No, ma'.
Narrator/Announcer
Am.
Mrs. Frazee
What about you?
Frank Smith
Yeah, I'm married.
Mrs. Frazee
Tell me something, mister. And you tell me the truth.
Frank Smith
What's that?
Mrs. Frazee
Suppose your wife got you in trouble. Suppose she squealed on you. What would you think of her?
Frank Smith
Well, I guess it would depend on why she did it.
Mrs. Frazee
Oh, I've got a reason. Best reason in the world. I'm in love with him.
Frank Smith
Yes, ma'.
Narrator/Announcer
Am.
Mrs. Frazee
If I wasn't, I'd just walk out. If I didn't love him, I'd have walked out years ago.
Joe Friday
Now, when you called us yesterday, you said your husband had bought a gun.
Mrs. Frazee
Yeah, that's right.
Frank Smith
Do you know what he wants with it?
Mrs. Frazee
No, not for sure.
Frank Smith
You got a pretty good idea though, haven't you?
Joe Friday
Has your husband ever done any time, Ms. Flynn?
Mrs. Frazee
Yes.
Joe Friday
What for?
Mrs. Frazee
He stole a car.
Joe Friday
Anything else?
Mrs. Frazee
Robbery. Supermarket back east.
Frank Smith
Whereabouts?
Mrs. Frazee
Michigan. Used to live in Detroit.
Joe Friday
How much time did he do?
Mrs. Frazee
Seven years.
Joe Friday
Did he come out free?
Mrs. Frazee
I don't know what you mean.
Joe Friday
I'm sorry. Afterwards. Was he on parole? Did he have to report to a parole officer?
Mrs. Frazee
Oh, yes.
Joe Friday
For how long?
Mrs. Frazee
It was supposed to be 10 years.
Joe Friday
When did he get out of prison?
Mrs. Frazee
Five years ago.
Joe Friday
When did you come to California?
Mrs. Frazee
About a year later.
Joe Friday
Did he have permission to leave the State of Michigan?
Mrs. Frazee
No.
Joe Friday
What made him leave then?
Mrs. Frazee
He just came home one day. Said he couldn't take it any longer. Said he was going to LA and that it was up to me whether I came with him. Or not.
Frank Smith
Do you know if he's wanted for anything else beside violation of parole?
Mrs. Frazee
I don't think so.
Joe Friday
You know, you still haven't told us his real name.
Mrs. Frazee
Frazee. Ralph Frazee.
Joe Friday
All right, then, it's Mrs. Frazee, huh? What about the gun?
Mrs. Frazee
Well, like I said, everything was going along pretty well. He's got a good job and he's had three or four raises.
Joe Friday
Where does he work?
Mrs. Frazee
Oil refinery. Pacific Crest Oil Company.
Joe Friday
I see.
Mrs. Frazee
He likes the work. They like him. But the longer we live out here, the better things are. Well, that just makes him more scared.
Frank Smith
What's he scared of?
Mrs. Frazee
Oh, that somebody will find out who he really is. And then he'll have to go back to prison. If he just sees a cop, he goes all to pieces. He's sure they've finally caught up with him. Just a traffic cop even. It gets worse all the time. Jumpy and nervous and. Well, scared that's the only word for it. He's been drinking a lot more, too. Nearly every night. Then just last week, he ran into a guy that used to be a
Joe Friday
friend of his back in Detroit.
Mrs. Frazee
Yeah, this fellow knows all about him. That he's been in prison. And Rod's afraid. I mean Ralph. I've called him Rod so long, I keep forgetting that it isn't his real name.
Joe Friday
Sure.
Mrs. Frazee
Anyway, he's afraid this guy will say something to somebody that'll all come out. It's just driving him crazy. So he bought a gun.
Joe Friday
They say. Why?
Mrs. Frazee
He was pretty drunk night before last. That's when he brought it home. He mumbled something. If he was gonna go back to prison anyway, might as well make it worth their while.
Mood.com Advertiser
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Joe Friday
Mm.
Mrs. Frazee
Maybe he's planning another robbery. I don't know. I don't really think he would. But with all this drinking and being so darned upset, well, I don't know what he might do.
Frank Smith
Where's the gun now, Ms. Frazee?
Mrs. Frazee
At home. He hid it in the stove, in the pan, under the broiler. At least that's where he put it last night after.
Joe Friday
After what?
Mrs. Frazee
Well, you see, he was carrying on, doing a lot of talking. And he was holding the gun at the same time, waving it around, telling me how easy it'd be to go out and rob somebody. Said that way he could get enough money for us to leave the country and go to Mexico, maybe where they'd never find us. Right in the middle of everything, the pistol went off.
Joe Friday
I see.
Mrs. Frazee
It was just an accident. He wasn't pointing at anything. The bullet only went into the ceiling. I'm sure he didn't mean to pull the trigger.
Joe Friday
Yes, ma'.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Am.
Mrs. Frazee
But when he heard the shot, he acted like he was going out of his mind. He was sure the neighbors had heard it too, and that they'd report it to the police.
Joe Friday
What'd he do then?
Mrs. Frazee
He dug the bullet out of the ceiling, got rid of it. After that, he just waited. Now, that proves he's changed, doesn't it? That he really isn't a criminal anymore.
Joe Friday
How do you mean that?
Mrs. Frazee
Well, he didn't run away.
Joe Friday
Yeah.
Mrs. Frazee
He stayed there all night long, waiting. And he didn't keep the gun. He put it in the oven. He didn't have it on him. So there wouldn't have been any trouble, even if the police did come. See, I kept praying that they would. Over and over. I prayed you'd come, find out who he is. He's gotta go back to prison and finish out his sentence. I'm sure of that now. If he doesn't, I just don't know what'll happen to him.
Joe Friday
What about you, Ms. Frazee?
Mrs. Frazee
Me?
Joe Friday
While he's in prison, What'll you do?
Mrs. Frazee
Oh, I can work. I did before. I'll manage.
Joe Friday
Mm.
Frank Smith
Ms. Frazee, what time does your husband come home from work?
Mrs. Frazee
It's later and later since he started drinking. Nine o', clock, maybe even 10. He's never there for supper anymore.
Joe Friday
Is there someplace else you can go this evening? Over to a neighbor's, maybe?
Mrs. Frazee
I suppose so. Why?
Joe Friday
Well, it might be better if you weren't there when we pick him up.
Mrs. Frazee
But you can't. I mean, well, not so soon. Not tonight. Does it have to be tonight?
Joe Friday
Yes, ma', am, it does.
Mrs. Frazee
You know it was me that had something to do with it. He's bound to know.
Joe Friday
We'll keep you out of it if we can.
Mrs. Frazee
What are you gonna tell him? What kind of an excuse will you use?
Joe Friday
Let's see what kind he has.
Narrator/Announcer
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Joe Friday
Frank and I continued to talk to Mrs. Frazee. She agreed to be out of the house during the evening. She also gave us a description of her husband. She said he was WMA, 38 years old, 5 11, and he weighed about 170. She told us he had black hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion. 11:27am we went back to the office. We ran the names Rodney Flint and Ralph Frazee through R and I. They had nothing on Flint. Under Frazee we found a want from the State of Michigan for a violation of parole. The dates given on the want checked with what Mrs. Frazee had told us. We contacted the Pacific Crest Oil Refinery. And without stating that we were from the police department, we learned that a man named Rodney Flint had been employed there for the last three years. They said he was a steady, dependable worker. 6:32pm we drove out to the address Mrs. Frazee had given us. It was a modest one story home just off Santa Monica Boulevard. We parked across the street and waited for Frazee to return from work. 7:05pm we saw Mrs. Frazee go into a neighbor's home three doors west. Frank and I continued to wait. 8:46pm Joe.
Frank Smith
Across the street.
Joe Friday
He's turned into the driveway. Just give him a minute. Let him get inside. All right, now. The lights are on now. Let's go.
Frank Smith
All right. See the bell over there?
Joe Friday
Oh,
Frank Smith
He's coming. Yeah?
Joe Friday
We'd like to talk to you for a minute.
Frank Smith
What about?
Joe Friday
We're police officers.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Right.
Joe Friday
Police. This is Frank Smith. My name's Friday.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Hi. I. I didn't send for no cops.
Joe Friday
It's all right if we come in?
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
What do you Want?
Joe Friday
Just want to talk to you, that's all.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
You can do your talking out here.
Frank Smith
Be easier if we were inside.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
I ain't got all night.
Joe Friday
Neither have we. This won't take very long.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Okay, come on.
Frank Smith
All right, stand right there.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Hey.
Mrs. Frazee
What?
Frank Smith
Stand still.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
What is all this?
Frank Smith
He's clean, Joe.
Joe Friday
What's your name? Come on, give us your name.
Frank Smith
Flint.
Joe Friday
First name, too.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Rod. Rodney.
Frank Smith
You alone?
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Yeah.
Joe Friday
You live alone?
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
My wife saw it. She left me a note. Said she's going over the neighbors babysit for.
Joe Friday
Were you home last night? Yeah, I was home all night.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
From about 10 o' clock on, did
Joe Friday
you hear a gun go off?
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
What?
Joe Friday
A gun. Did you hear one go off?
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Of course not.
Joe Friday
Well, somebody did. And they reported it. Said it sounded like it came from this house.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Last night, you said?
Frank Smith
That's right, Flynn.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Boy, what a police force. You cops ought to be real proud of yourself.
Joe Friday
Yeah.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Is this all you gotta do? Check up on some characters? Been hearing things.
Joe Friday
There wasn't any shot, huh?
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
I didn't hear.
Joe Friday
I see.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Kind of late to be asking, ain't it?
Joe Friday
We just got around to it.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Took a whole day, huh? Suppose you need a cop. What are you supposed to do? Make an appointment ahead of time?
Frank Smith
Are you sure about this, huh, Flynn?
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
About what?
Frank Smith
You didn't hear any gunfire?
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
I didn't hear nothing. There's a lot of traffic down the boulevard. Maybe a car was backfiring. Maybe that's what it was.
Joe Friday
Do you own a gun? You're sure about that?
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Well, I'd know if I had a gun, wouldn't I?
Joe Friday
Sorry. If we look around?
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
What for?
Joe Friday
Want to give your place the once over?
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
No, it's not okay. Oh, I ain't gonna have you busting in here. Now, come on. Go on, beat it, huh?
Joe Friday
We can get a search warrant and come back.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Now, you listen to me and you listen good, huh? This isn't skid row, mister. This is my home.
Bartender
I own it.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
And you're not messing around a Main street bum either. I got a good job for a big company. They pay a lot of taxes. And this, they pay a lot of your salary?
Frank Smith
Yeah.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
My boss, a pretty important guy. He's got friends. So now you just take your little badges and move on.
Joe Friday
All right, Flint, if that's the way you want it.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
That's the way I want it.
Joe Friday
Just give us one more thing. What are you afraid of?
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
I'm not afraid of anything. You guys especially.
Joe Friday
You're not very anxious for us to look around. There must be a reason for that.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Well, okay, okay, go ahead and search. It's no skin off of my nose.
Joe Friday
All right, thanks.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Bad chance. You'd have a fine and something even if it was here. Dumb cops. It took you a whole day to get here. A whole day to answer one lousy crackpot call.
Joe Friday
Well, don't forget it got answered. Frank and I began a routine search of the house. While Frank went through the two bedrooms, I took the living room and dining area. We found nothing suspicious. 9:42pm we'd finished with the front part of the home and we went into the kitchen. The suspect followed us.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Okay if I fix myself a drink while you're messing the joint up?
Joe Friday
That's up to you.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
You guys want one?
Bartender
What a blast.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
You want one?
Joe Friday
No, thanks.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
What about you?
Frank Smith
No, thanks.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
You don't drink, huh? Not hurting my feelings.
Frank Smith
I'll check the service ports, Joe.
Joe Friday
All right.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
You know, my wife's going to raise Kane when she sees what you guys have done to the house.
Joe Friday
Well, being as careful as we can, Flint.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Yeah, sure. Well, now, come on. How about winding it up, huh?
Joe Friday
Just a couple of minutes.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Oh, you boys really believe in wasting time, don't you? What do they do, pay you by the hour?
Frank Smith
There's nothing out there, John.
Joe Friday
I guess that takes care of it. Yeah.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
All right, come on. I'll be glad to show you to the door.
Joe Friday
We'll find our way. Just a minute. Did you check the stove? Huh? The stove?
Frank Smith
No, I thought you did.
Joe Friday
All right.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
All right, now what?
Joe Friday
We forgot something.
Bartender
Yeah,
Frank Smith
it looks empty.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
What's with you? You think I'm cooking a gun?
Bartender
Yeah.
Frank Smith
It's okay, Joe. All right, as soon as I get this pan back.
Joe Friday
Hey, watch it there.
Narrator/Announcer
Grab him, Joe.
Joe Friday
Wait a minute, Quint. You're not going anywhere.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
What? I don't know what this is all about. I. I never saw that gun before in my whole life. Yeah, I don't even know how it got.
Joe Friday
Well, let's talk about it downtown, huh? Come on.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Look, wait a minute now. You can't haul me in like this. What have I done? You gotta have a charge. I. I know the law. You gotta charge me with something. You won't find any.
Joe Friday
We found a gun. We drove the suspect down to the city hall, rolled his prints and booked him in on suspicion of robbery. 1106pm we brought him into the squadron for questioning.
Frank Smith
All right, sit down over there.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
What kind of a frame is this? Come on. How about let me in on it, huh? Who'd I rob?
Joe Friday
Forget about our robbery charge. I Guess we made a mistake.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Well, that's what I've been telling you.
Joe Friday
Eh? We had to check the gun. We had to be sure.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
All right. So now you know.
Joe Friday
Yeah.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Okay. No hard feelings.
Joe Friday
Sit down, Frazier.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
What?
Joe Friday
You heard me. Sit down. Maybe we were wrong about the robbery charge, but we came up with something else. A want from Michigan. Violation of parole.
Frank Smith
What about it, Frazee?
Joe Friday
Well,
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
what do you want to know? You've got it. The whole story.
Joe Friday
Why'd you leave Michigan? Why'd you jump parole?
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Oh, what difference does it make?
Joe Friday
Suppose you tell us about it.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
I didn't have no choice. Yeah, I used to play around with some pretty rough boys. I got out of the joint. They're still in Detroit. Look me up. Ah, you guys will think I'm con on you, but. Well, look, I wanted to go straight. They had different ideas.
Joe Friday
Yeah.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
So we came out here, Dorothy and me. She's my wife.
Frank Smith
I see.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
You can check on me. I've been clean ever since. Ask the company. Talk to anybody about me, they'll tell you I'm clean.
Joe Friday
Ma'.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Am. That gonna help back in Michigan?
Joe Friday
No, that's not up to us.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Sure. I thought that was why they sent you to jail, so you'd learn something. So when you come out, you won't do it again.
Joe Friday
That's part of it.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Well, I learned. What good did it do me?
Joe Friday
Maybe you didn't learn enough, huh? There's a law against the next convict having a gun.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Are you gonna stick me with that one, too, huh?
Joe Friday
That's not up to us either.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
I was the gunman, the headman to that gun. You'd never found me.
Joe Friday
It might have taken a little longer, that's all.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Sure, that's what did it. I don't know why it went off the other night. I thought the safety was on. Just my luck. I never had a decent break in my whole life. Not one.
Joe Friday
Mm.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Well, is there any more you guys want?
Joe Friday
No, I guess not. Not now, anyway.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
It's all right if I call my wife?
Joe Friday
Yeah, we'll fix it for you.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
Wonder how she's gonna take it.
Joe Friday
I don't know.
Rodney Flint / Ralph Frazee
I guess she'll stick by me. She always has. Through all the rotten breaks, no matter what. Yeah, she'll stick.
Joe Friday
Well, you must have had one good break then, huh?
Frank Smith
Huh?
Joe Friday
When you married her.
Narrator/Announcer
The story you've just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent.
Narrator/Intro Voice
On Thursday, May 25, the meeting was held in the district attorney's office in and for the county of Los Angeles. State of California. In a moment, the results of that meeting.
Narrator/Announcer
Now, here is our star, Jack Webb.
Joe Friday
Thank you, George Veniman. Friends, discover for yourself what modern science can do to increase your cigarette enjoyment. Remember accurate puts a smile in your smoking. Enjoy a smoothness and coolness never possible before. Chesterfield, best for you.
Narrator/Intro Voice
In the interest of justice and because of the suspect's good behavior record in Los Angeles, it was decided not to press charges against him for possessing a gun. Ralph Putnam Frazee, alias Rodney Flint, was turned over to Michigan authorities to serve out his previous sentence. He has since been released and has returned to his former employment in Los Angeles. 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 Technical Advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynne, Sergeant Van Spreicher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Stacy Harris, Herb Ellis, Vivi Janis. Script by Frank Burt, Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.
Narrator/Announcer
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 this is it.
Mrs. Frazee
L M filters.
Narrator/Announcer
It stands out from all the rest.
Mrs. Frazee
Miracle tip. Much more flavor. L M's got everything.
Joe Friday
It's the best.
Narrator/Announcer
Yes, L and M's got everything. Superior taste, superior tobaccos, superior filter. It's the. The Miracle tip, pure and white by L and M. America's best filter tip cigarette. Hear Dragnet next week, same time, same station. Tonight hear a special broadcast the Atom Menace and Promise on most NBC radio stations.
Date Aired: May 12, 2026
Show: Choice Classic Radio Detectives
Episode: Dragnet – "The Big Missus" (Original airdate: August 9, 1955)
Duration: ~30 minutes (content timestamps referenced below)
This classic episode of Dragnet follows detectives Joe Friday and Frank Smith as they're drawn into the troubled marriage of Dorothy Frazee (alias "Miss Flint") and her husband, Rodney Flint, whose real name is Ralph Frazee. Mrs. Frazee fears her husband is on the verge of committing a serious crime. Plagued by his criminal past and in fear of being sent back to prison, her husband has purchased a firearm, raising suspicions that he may be planning a robbery. The detectives must determine her husband's intentions, piecing together a situation torn between loyalty, fear, and the shadow of past crimes.
Meeting at Tomcat Bar
Second Attempt to Meet
In a tense dialogue, Mrs. Frazee explains her husband's background:
Quote:
“Suppose your wife got you in trouble. Suppose she squealed on you. What would you think of her?” – Mrs. Frazee questioning Frank Smith’s perspective (12:27)
She reveals the gun’s location–in a pan under the broiler—and relates the accidental firing of the weapon, escalating her fear.
Background Check and Stakeout
Interview and Search (21:00–25:39)
Frazee (as "Rodney Flint") is defensive and tries to stonewall the detectives, denying gun ownership and trying to prevent a search.
Quote:
“Now, you listen to me and you listen good. This isn't skid row, mister. This is my home. And you're not messing around a Main street bum either.” – Ralph Frazee (23:15)
With subtle pressure, the detectives search the house, eventually finding the gun hidden in the kitchen stove, confirming Mrs. Frazee's account.
Frazee attempts to talk his way out:
“I never saw that gun before in my whole life.” (25:33)
At headquarters, Frazee admits to jumping parole but insists he’s gone straight, kept clean, and only ran to escape criminal acquaintances.
He laments the seeming futility of his efforts to reform.
Quote:
“I thought that was why they sent you to jail, so you'd learn something. So when you come out, you won't do it again.” – Ralph Frazee (27:17)
Friday reminds him of the law against ex-convicts owning firearms.
Frazee’s one acknowledged “break” in life, per Joe Friday’s closing remark, is his wife’s loyalty.
Outcome
Quote:
“Well, you must have had one good break then, huh? When you married her.” – Joe Friday (28:11)
On Loyalty vs. Duty:
“Oh, I've got a reason. Best reason in the world. I'm in love with him.” – Mrs. Frazee (12:35)
On Fear and Change:
“He's just driving him crazy. So he bought a gun.” – Mrs. Frazee, summarizing her husband’s descent (14:56)
Joe Friday’s Stoic Insight:
“Maybe you didn't learn enough, huh? There's a law against the next convict having a gun.” (27:26)
True to Dragnet’s classic, no-nonsense style, the episode maintains a cool, procedural tone punctuated by real human anguish and moral ambiguity. Dialogue is terse, realistic, and at times emotionally charged, especially as Mrs. Frazee struggles with her decision and Frazee expresses the despair of a man caught between past and future.
"The Big Missus" is an archetypal Dragnet story, weaving in themes of love, redemption, and the inescapability of the law. The detectives’ restrained compassion highlights the show’s era-defining realism. What stands out most is the tragic sympathy for a couple burdened by past mistakes, and the complexity of doing what’s right—both for society and for those we love.
For the full Dragnet experience, listen to the authentic performances, period dialogue, and atmospheric details captured in this classic episode.