Dragnet: The Big Rod 03/16/1954

Summary

Summary of "Dragnet: The Big Rod" Episode

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Podcast Information:

• Title: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
• Episode: Dragnet: The Big Rod
• Host/Author: Choice Classic Radio
• Release Date: April 1, 2025

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1. Case Introduction [02:51]

The episode "Dragnet: The Big Rod" opens with Detective Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith being assigned to a critical case: a hit-and-run felony. On Tuesday, April 7th, around 8:40 am, a young woman named Helen Chapman is violently struck by a vehicle that flees the scene, leaving her in critical condition. The detectives are tasked with identifying and apprehending the perpetrator.

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2. Interview with Witness Ms. Hunter [03:16 - 07:00]

Upon arriving at 1784 Byram Street, Friday and Smith meet Ms. Hunter, a key witness to the accident. They conduct a thorough interview to gather essential details about the incident.

Notable Quotes:

• Ms. Hunter [04:19]: "I think the kid deliberately hit the girl."
• Ms. Hunter [04:25]: "He must have seen her. She was right under the light. Didn't even make an attempt to stop. None at all."

Ms. Hunter describes the vehicle as a "hot rod" with "two exhaust pipes, kind of beat up," suggesting that the driver may have had malicious intent. She emphasizes the recklessness of the driver, noting the absence of any attempt to halt after the collision.

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3. Hospital Visit and Emotional Confrontation [07:07 - 15:27]

Detectives Friday and Smith visit Georgia Street Receiving Hospital to speak with Dr. Sebastian, who is treating Helen Chapman. There, they encounter Carl Chapman, Helen's distraught husband. Carl is overwhelmed with frustration over the lack of information regarding his wife's condition and the ongoing investigation.

Notable Quotes:

• Carl Chapman [10:13]: "If she dies, if that kid killed her, I'll find him. I... I'll kill him."
• Frank Smith [11:37]: "Where you taking me? I ain't done nothing."

Carl's emotional state highlights the personal toll of the crime, fueling the detectives' determination to solve the case.

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4. Investigating the Hot Rod Connection [11:29 - 14:04]

Friday and Smith consult with the National Hot Rod Association to identify potential suspects within hot rod clubs that use distinctive license plates. They learn about the "Square Wheel Club," whose members possess unique plates that match the description provided by Ms. Hunter.

Notable Quotes:

• Square Wheel Club President [13:47]: "Kids build rods because they want the cars to run better or want something different than you can buy in a showroom."
• Frank Smith [14:05]: "It's not one of ours."

The detectives narrow their search to members of the Square Wheel Club, suspecting that the perpetrator may be affiliated with this group.

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5. Confrontation with Square Wheel Club Membership [14:05 - 15:27]

The detectives visit the Square Wheel Club's headquarters, where they meet the club president. Despite initial resistance, the president denies involvement, asserting that their members maintain a clean driving record and adhere to safety standards.

Notable Quotes:

• Square Wheel Club President [14:17]: "We've had a couple of [license plates] stolen from members."
• Frank Smith [15:27]: "Don’t try to take care of it yourselves."

The president's denial leads Friday and Smith to continue their investigation, confident that the truth will emerge through diligent police work.

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6. Tracking Down the Suspect [15:27 - 22:00]

With the information gathered, Friday and Smith intensify their efforts to locate Jack Moore, the suspected driver. They conduct stakeouts, search through records, and follow leads to narrow down Moore's whereabouts.

Notable Quotes:

• Joe Friday [16:59]: "It's pretty cold, though."
• Frank Smith [22:17]: "What's he done?"

Their persistence pays off when they finally locate Moore at a bar on West 7th Street, driven by the evidence linking him to the crime scene.

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7. The Arrest of Jack Moore [22:00 - 25:27]

The detectives confront Moore at his residence. After a tense exchange, Moore is apprehended without significant resistance. However, Frank Smith's frustration becomes evident as he expresses his anger towards Moore.

Notable Quotes:

• Frank Smith [25:19]: "You killed a human being, boy."
• Joe Friday [25:10]: "A woman who didn't even know you. She never saw you until it was too late."

Frank's raw emotion underscores the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the human impact of Moore's actions.

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8. Interrogation and Emotional Breakdown [25:27 - 28:02]

During the interrogation, Carl Chapman confronts the detectives about Moore's arrest. His grief and anger are palpable as he pleads with the officers to allow him to express his anguish directly to the perpetrator.

Notable Quotes:

• Carl Chapman [26:07]: "You killed her. They got laws to save people like you. But none for her. None for her and the baby."
• Frank Smith [27:35]: "You threw a ton and a half of metal at a 120-pound woman."

The emotional intensity of the scene highlights the personal losses suffered by victims' families and the relentless pursuit of justice by law enforcement.

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9. Trial and Conclusion [28:11 - 28:55]

The episode concludes with the legal aftermath of the case. Jack Carlisle Moore is tried and found guilty of manslaughter, receiving a sentence of up to 10 years in the state penitentiary. The narrative reinforces the authenticity of the story, drawing from official police files and real-life procedures.

Notable Quote:

• Narrator [28:55]: "Jack Carlisle Moore was tried and found guilty of manslaughter, one count and received sentence as prescribed by law."

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Conclusion

"Dragnet: The Big Rod" offers a compelling and realistic portrayal of police work during the Golden Age of Radio. Through meticulous investigation, emotional confrontations, and the relentless pursuit of justice, Detectives Joe Friday and Frank Smith navigate the complexities of solving a tragic hit-and-run case. The episode emphasizes the dedication of law enforcement and the profound impact of crime on individuals and communities.

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Notable Quotes Recap:

• Ms. Hunter [04:19]: "I think the kid deliberately hit the girl."
• Carl Chapman [10:13]: "If she dies, if that kid killed her, I'll find him. I... I'll kill him."
• Frank Smith [27:35]: "You threw a ton and a half of metal at a 120-pound woman."
• Narrator [28:55]: "Jack Carlisle Moore was tried and found guilty of manslaughter."

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This detailed summary encapsulates the key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions of the "Dragnet: The Big Rod" episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the podcast.

Transcript

[Joe Friday]

Your message amplified. Ready to share your message with the world? Start your podcast journey with Podbean. Podbean. Podbean. 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]

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].

[Narrator]

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Dragnet is brought to you by Chesterfield. Made by Liggett and Myers, first major tobacco company to bring you a complete line of quality cigarettes. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to hit and run felony detail. A young woman has been run down and seriously injured. The driver of the car has fled from the scene. Your job, find him. Today, friends, you hear these three words everywhere. Chesterfield's for me. The chesterfield you smoke today is the best cigarette ever made. Best for you because chesterfield gives you proof of highest quality, low nicotine. The taste you want, the mildness you want. Chester Chesterfield is best for you because it's tested and approved by 30 years of scientific tobacco research. Chesterfield is best for you because it has an established good record with smokers proven by test after test. Yes, friends, the chesterfield you smoke today is the best cigarette ever made. For the taste you want. The mildness you want. Join the thousands. Now changing to chesterfield. Always say, chesterfield's for me. Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles police department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

[Joe Friday]

It was Tuesday, April 7th. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A traffic bureau hit and run felony detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Calfie. My name's Friday. We were on our way out from the office and it was 8:40am when we got to 1784 Byram street, front door. Better try it again, huh? Yeah. Lemon. Sounded like somebody coming.

[Ms. Hunter]

Yeah. Something you want, Ms. Hunter? That's right.

[Joe Friday]

Police officers. We like to talk to you.

[Ms. Hunter]

Oh, about the thing last night, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'am, that's right.

[Ms. Hunter]

Well, come on in. I Can't stand around for long. I'm gonna be late for work as it is. Come on.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you. This is my partner, Frank Smith. My name's Friday. How do you do?

[Ms. Hunter]

Hi. Sit down there. I gotta get ready to leave. There's some coffee there in the carafe if you want.

[Joe Friday]

No, thank you. No, ma'am.

[Narrator]

Thank you.

[Ms. Hunter]

Would you mind pouring me a cup? You'll find everything right there on the table. Two sugars.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Ms. Hunter]

What do you want to know about last night. I told the officers who were there all I know.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'am, we know. We read their report. We'd like to go over it with you, if it's all right.

[Ms. Hunter]

Seems like a waste of time to me. Spend a little more of it trying to catch the kid that hit the girl. It'd be better all the way around.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'am. There's your coffee.

[Ms. Hunter]

Oh, thank you. Ooh. Still warm. Either one of you got a cigarette?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'am. Here you are. There's light.

[Ms. Hunter]

Thanks. What do you want to go over?

[Joe Friday]

Well, according to what you said to the officers last night, you saw the accident. Is that right?

[Ms. Hunter]

I saw it, yeah. But I don't think it was an accident. If you ask me, I think the kid deliberately hit the girl. Deliberately?

[Joe Friday]

Now, why did he say that?

[Ms. Hunter]

Well, just the way it looked, that's all. Kind of feeling way. Came barreling around the corner. He must have seen her. She was right under the light. Didn't even make an attempt to stop. None at all. I saw the girl step off the curb right under the light. He had to see her. Had to. Anyway, she stepped off the curb and started to cross the street. Harry and me saw her. She started to cross, and then all of a sudden, this kid in the hot rod was coming right at her. Was there anything she could do?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'am.

[Ms. Hunter]

She kind of looked up at the car. And then? Well, like she was gonna run, but she didn't have time. The car hit her and knocked her down.

[Joe Friday]

Did you get a good look at the car?

[Ms. Hunter]

You mean the one that hit her?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'am.

[Ms. Hunter]

You bet I did. Passed right under the light. Got a real good look at it.

[Frank Smith]

Mm.

[Joe Friday]

I wonder if you'd describe it for us.

[Ms. Hunter]

I told the cops all about it last night. Seems like that'd be enough. Why do I have to go through it again?

[Joe Friday]

Well, it might be something you didn't think of last night, Ms. Hunter. Something you might have forgotten.

[Ms. Hunter]

Isn't likely. But if you gotta have it, I guess that's the Way it's gotta be. Hope we can get it over with fast enough. I gotta get down to the corner so I won't miss my bus.

[Joe Friday]

Well, if it'd help, we can drive you to work. You can give us the information on the way.

[Ms. Hunter]

Well, that'll be fine. Wait a minute. I'll get my coat. How'd it look when you came in, ma'am? Did it look like it was gonna rain?

[Joe Friday]

No. It's pretty cold, though.

[Ms. Hunter]

Paper said it might rain today. Well, better take an umbrella.

[Joe Friday]

What kind of a car was it, Ms. Hunter?

[Ms. Hunter]

A hot rod. You know the kind. Real low. Two exhaust pipes, kind of beat up.

[Joe Friday]

What kind of a car was it? The brand name?

[Ms. Hunter]

I guess it was a Ford. Looked like one. Hard to tell. It was kind of banged up. You know, I don't know why the police allow cars like that on the streets anyway. It couldn't be very safe.

[Joe Friday]

Can you tell us what year?

[Ms. Hunter]

Well, I'm not real good at that, but I'd say maybe a 1940. Might have been 1941.

[Joe Friday]

It was a pre war car, though.

[Ms. Hunter]

Oh, yeah, I'm sure of that.

[Joe Friday]

Like to get in, man?

[Ms. Hunter]

Okay, thanks.

[Joe Friday]

Where can we drop you, man?

[Ms. Hunter]

Near first and Broadway will be fine. Just on the corner there.

[Joe Friday]

Okay. Ms. Hunter, was there anything about the car that'd make it easier to identify?

[Ms. Hunter]

Not especially. Black Ford, all beat up. I'm sure I'd know it if I saw it again any place.

[Joe Friday]

Did you get a good look at the driver of the car?

[Ms. Hunter]

No, not too good. All I could see was that he was a kid, you know, maybe 19, 20 years old. You'd like to see you get that kid. Is the girl all right? She looked pretty bad last night.

[Joe Friday]

Well, she's still in a critical condition. Doctors aren't sure yet whether she'll be all right.

[Ms. Hunter]

Sure hope she is. Have you talked to her?

[Joe Friday]

No, we haven't. Not yet.

[Ms. Hunter]

Just a terrible thing, kids like that running around in hot rods, barreling around the city. Person's not safe on the streets anymore.

[Narrator]

Just because a car's got twin tailpipes, Ms. Hunter, doesn't have to be a hot rod.

[Ms. Hunter]

Well, this one was. Even had the little sort of license plate hanging down from the back bumper.

[Joe Friday]

You mean a state license plate?

[Ms. Hunter]

No, one of those with a club name on it. You know the kind.

[Joe Friday]

There's not a notation of that on the report that we remember.

[Ms. Hunter]

Guess I forgot all the excitement at all. Must have forgot.

[Joe Friday]

Well, did you see the name on that plate?

[Ms. Hunter]

Yeah. Not real good, but I Saw it.

[Joe Friday]

Think you can remember it?

[Ms. Hunter]

Not all of it. The last part was wheels. Something. Wheels too.

[Joe Friday]

You're pretty sure of that, are you?

[Ms. Hunter]

Yeah, wheels. That's the word I saw. Didn't remember it last night. Guess it didn't seem important then. Must be a lot of cars that have those plates on them all over town.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, we know.

[Ms. Hunter]

Don't seem like it's gonna help much. A lot of cars with those plates on them. Lots of them.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'am.

[Ms. Hunter]

Even if you do find the kid with one of them, how are you gonna know if he's the right one?

[Joe Friday]

Well, it's not gonna be too hard, huh? His car will. According to the report, an automobile driven by one male occupant had struck a woman while she crossed the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Connecticut street the night before. When the ambulance arrived at the scene, the victim, who was identified as Mrs. Helen Chapman, was unconscious and was removed to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital for emergency treatment. Members of the crime lab had arrived at the scene and gathered what physical evidence they could find. All citizens in the vicinity were interrogated and their statements were taken. Photographs of the coroner were made and held for evidence. Because of the hit and run aspect of the case, Frank and I had been assigned to investigate it. At 1:14pm we drove over to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital to talk to the attending physician, Dr. Sebastian. He said the patient's condition was so critical that she couldn't be moved to her own hospital. He told us that the victim hadn't recovered consciousness to the point where she could be questioned. He went on to tell us that she'd been administered serum albumin to counteract shock. He listed her injuries for us. Compound fractures of the femur, rib fractures and associated internal injuries including a punctured lung and brain concussion. Was not expected that she'd live. Frank and I left the doctor and walked down the hall. In the waiting room, we met a tall, thin man who looked as if he hadn't slept in several days. On the floor in front of him was a small pile of half smoked cigarettes. He identified himself as the victim's husband, Carl Chapman.

[Frank Smith]

I don't know. I came home from work.

[Joe Friday]

They told me about it.

[Frank Smith]

I didn't even know.

[Joe Friday]

Didn't they try to call you at work? No.

[Frank Smith]

I guess they called the house. There wasn't anybody home. I just walked up the door and there was a note telling me to call her. Didn't even know about Helen.

[Joe Friday]

I see you like a cigarette, Chapman?

[Frank Smith]

Thanks. You talked to the doctor?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. We Just did.

[Frank Smith]

Is there anything new? Is she gonna be all right?

[Joe Friday]

Well, I don't know yet. You can ask the doctor yourself.

[Frank Smith]

Why don't anybody tell me anything? All the time I ask how my wife is, they tell me to ask the doctor. Why won't they tell me?

[Joe Friday]

I don't know, sir.

[Frank Smith]

Can't even find out if she needs anything. It won't let me see her. Anybody who'll tell me what's really happening in there? It's been over 10 hours. Nobody will tell me what's going on.

[Joe Friday]

Well, best thing, try to sit down and take it easy, Mr. Chapman.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, that's great to say. Just sit down. Easy to say. It's not your wife who's in there. It isn't someone you love. Why are you here anyway? Why aren't you out trying to get the rotten little punk that did it? Why don't you look for him?

[Joe Friday]

We'll get to him, sir.

[Frank Smith]

When? After Helen's dead? Is that gonna be when you start looking?

[Joe Friday]

We're looking for him now. We came over in the hopes that we could talk to your wife. We thought she might be able to give us some information.

[Frank Smith]

What in God's name do you want from her? The name and address of the kid. I ran it down. Does she have to get out of bed and go find him for you? It's your job. Yours. All this talk about the police department being so good. But what are you doing? You're standing around here with your toe in the dirt waiting for my wife to come to enough to point the kid out.

[Narrator]

All right, sir.

[Joe Friday]

Now, take it easy.

[Frank Smith]

Take it easy, nothing. You listen to me, both of you. You listen. If she dies, if that kid killed her, I'll find him. I don't know how, but I will. I'm gonna do the same thing to him with my hands that he did with his car. I'll find him. I swear I'll find him. And I'm gonna kill him with my hands. I'm gonna kill him.

[Joe Friday]

Mr. Chapman?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah? May I see you for a moment? Yeah. Would you excuse us for a minute, Sergeant?

[Joe Friday]

Sure, doctor. We'll wait out in. It's a rough one, isn't it? Yeah. Wonder what's going on in there. I don't know. Better call the skipper. Tell him about that plate on the car. Get a broadcast out on it. Check the phone book for the address on the National Hot Rod Association. Better talk with them, huh? They might have something for us on the club. Right.

[Frank Smith]

You better start, cop. You better find him. Fast, because I'm looking too. You ought to go home and get some sleep, Mr. Chapman. You're all worn out. I'm not gonna get any sleep until.

[Joe Friday]

I catch that kick.

[Frank Smith]

I catch her, kid.

[Joe Friday]

How is the girl?

[Frank Smith]

She's dead. Both of them are.

[Joe Friday]

Both of them?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. She's gonna have a baby in a couple of months.

[Joe Friday]

3:15Pm Frank and I drove out to the offices of the National Hot Rod association on Hollywood Boulevard. We met with Bud Coons and Wally Parks. They checked their records for clubs with the last name Wheels. There were three in their files. Two were in the eastern part of the United States. And one was listed as having headquarters in Alhambra, California. We obtained the name and address of the president of the club and we drove out to see him. We found him in the garage behind the house working on a 1941 Ford. We introduced ourselves and he asked us to sit down.

[Frank Smith]

What do you want to see me about?

[Joe Friday]

We understand that you're the president of the Square Wheel. Is that right?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, that's right. Why?

[Joe Friday]

How many members do you have in the club?

[Frank Smith]

18. 18 actives? There's a couple of guys in the service. What's this all about anyway? How come the questions?

[Joe Friday]

All your members have the metal plates with the club name on their car?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. Get them when they pay the initiation fee. Why?

[Joe Friday]

Anybody else have them?

[Frank Smith]

Not legally.

[Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Frank Smith]

Well, a couple of them out been stolen from members.

[Joe Friday]

Any of the fellas in the club.

[Narrator]

Drive a black pre war Ford?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, I guess we got about five of them. I got one myself as a matter of fact. Listen, why can't you tell me what this is all about? Figure if I knew what you wanted, I could help you out.

[Joe Friday]

A woman was run down by a hot rod last night. One of the witnesses saw a plate on the car that might have been from your club.

[Frank Smith]

No kidding?

[Joe Friday]

It's the way we get it.

[Frank Smith]

What'd it look like?

[Joe Friday]

Well, they say it had twin pipes, pretty well beat up. White sidewall tires.

[Frank Smith]

It's not one of ours.

[Joe Friday]

Then it's not pretty sure.

[Narrator]

What about the plate?

[Frank Smith]

I told you, we've had a couple of them stolen. Must have been one of them.

[Joe Friday]

Well, how come you're so sure it wasn't one of your members?

[Frank Smith]

Oh, I know the cars in the club. There isn't a yo yo in the bunch.

[Joe Friday]

What's a yo yo?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah, you know, a shot rod junkie.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, I see.

[Frank Smith]

I don't know. Seems like every time there's any trouble with a car over Five years old. It's a hot rod. Sure. Not fair.

[Joe Friday]

That's so.

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. Come here, I'll show you. Now take a look at that. I've been working on it for three years. Got over 1,200 bucks in it. Take a look at it.

[Joe Friday]

It's a lot of motor. Yeah, it's a good car, but what's it prove?

[Frank Smith]

The car that ran that woman down wasn't a hot rod.

[Joe Friday]

How do you figure that?

[Frank Smith]

You said it was a wreck, didn't you?

[Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Frank Smith]

We haven't got a wreck that's allowed on the streets in this club. I don't know a legal club that has a Yo yo in it. We got a safety check every month. Any car that isn't safe has to be fixed or the guy's out. A lot of clubs operate that way.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, we know.

[Frank Smith]

Kids build rods for two reasons. Because they want the cars to run better be more efficient, or else they want something a little different than you can buy in a showroom.

[Joe Friday]

All this sounds good, but a woman was killed last night by a kid driving a hopped up car of some kind.

[Frank Smith]

Maybe it had twin pipes and a loud muffler. But I'll give you odds from here to Bonneville that it wasn't a hot rod. I know how you guys feel. We're always getting it. Every kid behind the wheel in a secondhand car is a potential killer. The way the paper's picture is, we just roam around looking for somebody to run over. That's not true. You check the records, I think you'll find that the ratio between tickets given out to members of hot rod clubs, members of the NHRA and any other group of drivers will make the hot rodders look pretty good. There hasn't been a ticket in our club in the last year and a half. The one before that was for overtime parking. I'm sorry, fellas. That car last night wasn't one of our guys. And you can bet he wasn't a hot rodder either.

[Joe Friday]

You got any way of knowing who could have gotten the plaque?

[Frank Smith]

Well, not right off, but we'll find him.

[Joe Friday]

How?

[Frank Smith]

There's only so many streets in Los Angeles. We'll find him. Guys like that make things rough on the clean drivers in this town. We'll find him for you.

[Joe Friday]

Well, we'll appreciate any help you can give us on this, but it's police business. If you find him, give us a call right away.

[Frank Smith]

Don't worry, we will. How do I get in touch with you?

[Joe Friday]

I'll leave you one of our cards. Anytime. You call us.

[Frank Smith]

All right. I'll get on the phone and get the fellas rounded up.

[Joe Friday]

If you turn anything, call us right away. Don't try to take care of it yourselves.

[Frank Smith]

Only one thing we're interested in.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, what's that?

[Frank Smith]

Proving to you it wasn't one of us. That's what's important. Showing you we're on your side.

[Joe Friday]

Well, that shouldn't be too hard, huh? There's a lot of room. We got the names and addresses of the members of the Square Wheel Club, and we talked to them. We checked their cars, and each of them volunteered to assist us in attempting to locate the hit and run vehicle. 6:40pm Frank and I got back to the office during the afternoon. The broadcast on the car had gone over the state wire, and every police officer in the state of California was looking for the hit and run car. When we checked with communications, there'd been no replies to our broadcast. 7:15pm we put in a call to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital and we talked again to Dr. Sebastian. He told us that the victim's husband, Carl Chapman, had been placed under the care of his family doctor and had been given sedatives to make him sleep. While I checked with Lt. Wolfram on the developments, Frank went over to the crime lab and talked with Lt. Lee Jones. 8:47pm we met back in the squadroom. Any word yet? No. Got a call from Al Gibbs. Hot Rod Club? Yeah. He says all the clubs in the area are looking for the car. They divided the city up in sections. Members are checking all the streets. No luck though, huh? No, nothing. Well, they turned a couple of cars, but they don't check out. How'd you do? Pretty good. Got the report here. Had a couple sandwiches sent in. Got you Swiss on rye. Good. In the bag there. Where's coffee? Right there. Carton? Oh, 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. The lab sure did a good job on this stuff. Here. Here's a scene. Victim was found 10ft, 4 inches from the northeast corner, 4ft 8 inches from the north pedestrian crosswalk and put it about here, wouldn't it? Yeah. They found particles of broken glass. Checked on them at the lighthouse. Lenses from 1940 Ford. Here's a picture, huh? Yeah. In the gutter of the southwest corner, they found this. There's a bumper guard. Yeah, I looked at it. It's new. Any brand names? Yeah, but it's not gonna help much. Distributed all over the country. Well, how about skid marks? Any sign of them? No, not that they could find. Either the kid didn't have time to use them or else he didn't want to. They came up with this, though. Come here. What's that? Well, some marks from a tire. Lee says he thinks they were made when the kid dug out the getaway. Spun the back wheels. Sure indicate that he didn't mean to stop at any time, huh? Well, that's the way Lee's got it figure. Well, it isn't much to go on, is it? They've come easier. Well, let's go out and check the neighborhood again. We might still be able to turn up a decent description. We start checking the garages in the morning. Try to turn a car with a broken headlight and a missing bumper guard. Okay. Better call communications. Get out of supplemental on the tires. Yeah, I'll take care of it. Hi, guys. Getting around. Felony Friday. Yeah, that's right. Anybody there? No. No. Keep it under surveillance. We'll be right out. Yeah. Don't burn it. Right. Bye. What do you got? It's beginning to go our way maybe, huh? They found the car.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action. Chesterfield's for me. You hear it everywhere. Tonight we hear from America's number one band leader, Ray Anthony, who with his attractive wife Dee, plays college dates from coast to coast in cigarettes.

[Joe Friday]

The young crowd really goes for Chesterfield's. I've noticed that wherever we played. And I guess it's one of the reasons Chesterfield is America's most popular two way cigarette. Of course, D and I are Chesterfield smokers too. We know they're best for us.

[Narrator]

Chesterfield's for me. You hear it everywhere. The Chesterfield you smoke today is the best cigarette ever made. For the taste you want, the mildness you want. Join the thousands. Now changing to Chesterfield.

[Joe Friday]

During a routine patrol of the streets in East Los Angeles, A radio unit had come across a car parked at the curb on Vancouver Avenue. They'd stopped to investigate and found that it matched the description that we'd sent out on the phone. I'd instructed the officer not to search the car, but merely to keep it under surveillance and check and hold anyone who approached it. Frank and I notified the crime lab of the find, and then we left the office and drove out to the location. We talked to the officers in the police car, and they told us that they hadn't seen anyone near the vehicle. We checked the registration and found that the registered owner was a Jack Moore. The white slip gave us an address in Hollywood. While the crime lab went over the car, we drove out to Moore's address to talk to him. He lived in a large house built in the mid-20s as a private residence. It had been converted into a boarding house. Frank covered the rear entrance. I rang the front doorbell.

[Ms. Hunter]

Yeah?

[Frank Smith]

What do you want waking me up this time of night?

[Joe Friday]

Police officers. You have a tenant here named Jack Moore. What about it? We'd like to talk to him.

[Frank Smith]

Too late, Mac. He ain't here.

[Joe Friday]

Where is he?

[Frank Smith]

I don't know. He moved out this afternoon. He didn't say where he was going.

[Joe Friday]

A thorough search was made of the suspect's room. The manager told us that Moore had come home that morning, packed his belongings and left the house. We called the crime lab and Lt. Lee Jones told us that they'd established that Moore's car was the one that had run down the Chapman girl. We talked to the other people in the rooming house. None of them could tell us where Moore might have gone. We put in a call to auto Records, but the car was not listed as being stolen. Frank called his name into R and I, but we found that he had no felony record from the occupants of the rooming house. We found that the suspect had no relatives in this state and no close friends that they could recall. Leighton Prince came out and went over the room, and in going over it, we found a waste basket Moore had used to dispose of articles that he didn't want. In the basket, we found several match folders from a bar out on West 7th Street. We put in a call to the bar, but we found that it was closed. From the manager of the rooming house, we got a good description of the suspect along with the information that he received no mail and that he was apparently unemployed. A stakeout was set up on the house, and at 3:36am Frank and I checked out of the office and went home for the night. The next day, Wednesday, April 8, we contacted DMV and asked that they give us all information on the car. 9:15am we drove over to the bar on West 7th Street.

[Frank Smith]

Not open yet. Don't open until 10.

[Joe Friday]

Police officers like some information?

[Frank Smith]

License is back there on the wall in plain sight. There's nothing going on here.

[Joe Friday]

You have a customer in here named Jack Moore.

[Frank Smith]

We just opened the doors. We got no say about who comes in. As long as they don't cause trouble, we don't either.

[Joe Friday]

This guy's about 20 or 21. 5, 8, 5 10, 165 pounds, blonde. Name's Moore. Jack Moore.

[Frank Smith]

What's he done?

[Joe Friday]

We want to talk to him.

[Frank Smith]

About what?

[Joe Friday]

Police business. Have you seen him?

[Frank Smith]

Nothing that's going to get the bar in trouble.

[Joe Friday]

That's a simple question, mister. Have you seen him?

[Frank Smith]

Maybe. Yeah. You tell me what it's all about and I might be able to help you out.

[Joe Friday]

They're running out of time. Have you seen Jack Moore?

[Narrator]

Yep.

[Joe Friday]

When?

[Frank Smith]

Last night.

[Joe Friday]

Here?

[Frank Smith]

Yeah. He was in. Got liquored up. I tossed him out when we closed.

[Joe Friday]

Where is he now?

[Frank Smith]

You better ask him.

[Joe Friday]

I'm going to tell you once more. If you know where he is, you're going to save yourself a lot of time by cooperating with us.

[Frank Smith]

I run a clean place here. I don't want any trouble with the cops. My license is on the wall. I got no choice. Of the customers who come in here. I don't want to get mixed up in any.

[Joe Friday]

We're not calling it that way.

[Frank Smith]

That's the way it is. This is a clean place.

[Joe Friday]

That's not what the book says. You've been tabbed a couple of times for serving minors. You run B girls. You haven't served straight liquor in here for a couple of years. Now, if we have to get the information from you downtown, that's the way it's going to be. Get your coat.

[Frank Smith]

Oh, now, look, fellas, I was just trying to take care of myself.

[Joe Friday]

You did get your coat.

[Frank Smith]

Isn't there some way we can work this thing out? I don't want any trouble.

[Joe Friday]

Where's Jack Moore?

[Frank Smith]

I try to run a clean place a couple of times. I've been.

[Joe Friday]

We've been over all that before. Now, where is he?

[Frank Smith]

I got him up at my place.

[Joe Friday]

You there now?

[Frank Smith]

I guess so. He got pretty loaded last night. Told me he didn't have any place to pad down. I took him home.

[Joe Friday]

What's the address?

[Frank Smith]

1862 and a half, Woodworth Court, room 14.

[Joe Friday]

All right, let's go.

[Narrator]

Yeah, and don't try to call him.

[Frank Smith]

I got no phone in the room. He's done anything. I had no part in it. Just trying to help a friend out, that's all. Just help a friend Out?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, sure.

[Frank Smith]

You tell him that. Oh, he got me in trouble all because I tried to help him out. You just tell him.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, we will.

[Frank Smith]

And tell him not to come around here anymore. Tell him to keep out. Tell him that, will you? For me? Tell him not to come back.

[Joe Friday]

Don't you worry about it. He won't be back. We called the office and another team of detectives came out to the bar to keep the bartender under surveillance in the event that he might try to contact the suspect. It took five and a half minutes to drive to the Woodward street address. It was a large building located at the end of a blind Street. Room 14 was on the third floor in the front of the building. Frank and I approached the room and we listened. There was no sound from inside. You want to try the dark? Yeah. Sunlight? Yeah. There he is. On the bed. Yeah. Looks like the right guy. Let's wake him up. Come on. Come on, Moore, wake up. Come on.

[Frank Smith]

Let me alone, Charlie.

[Joe Friday]

Come on, get up. Lord, get up.

[Frank Smith]

Don't let me alone. I told you. Charlie. Let me. Who you guys? What are you doing?

[Joe Friday]

Police officers. You're under arrest. Wait a minute.

[Frank Smith]

Art, hurry up.

[Joe Friday]

Come on. Stand still. All right, all right.

[Frank Smith]

I quit. I quit.

[Joe Friday]

You want to shake him, Frank?

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

He'S clean.

[Frank Smith]

Where you taking me? I ain't done nothing. You got no reason to push me around like this.

[Joe Friday]

All right, let's go.

[Narrator]

Where?

[Frank Smith]

Where you gonna take me?

[Joe Friday]

Downtown. For what? Manslaughter?

[Frank Smith]

I didn't do it.

[Joe Friday]

I didn't.

[Frank Smith]

You got the wrong guy. You got the wrong one. I didn't do it.

[Joe Friday]

All right, come on, let's move.

[Frank Smith]

But you got the wrong one. I do it. I didn't know what you wanted. That's why I run.

[Ms. Hunter]

I didn't know what you wanted.

[Joe Friday]

Well, you do now. So let's go. The suspect was taken to the squadron where he was questioned. He refused to admit any part in the crime. He was confronted with the physical evidence and with the ownership of the hit run vehicle. The witness to the crime came to the office and said that Jack Moore was the man that she'd seen at the wheel of the car when Helen Chapman had been run down. Throughout the interrogation, the suspect refused to say anything. At 1:47pm the door to the squadroom opened and Carl Chapman came in.

[Frank Smith]

Where is he? I know he's here. I want to see him.

[Joe Friday]

All right, take it easy.

[Frank Smith]

I heard you caught him. I want to see him. I want to tell him. Is that the kid? Are you the one? You the One who killed Helen.

[Narrator]

Well?

[Joe Friday]

Answer me. All right, take it easy, Chapman.

[Frank Smith]

Is he the one?

[Joe Friday]

The evidence points that way, yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Please, I want you to do something for me.

[Joe Friday]

What's that? Go away.

[Frank Smith]

Out of here, please.

[Joe Friday]

We can't do that, Chapman. He's in custody.

[Frank Smith]

Please. Please, leave me alone with him.

[Joe Friday]

Come on, Chapman. You better wait outside.

[Frank Smith]

Now, just a minute. Listen to me, kid. When they put you in that cell, you get down on your knees and thank God that they found you before I did. You understand? You thank him. And every day you live, you thank him. You do that because I would have killed you.

[Joe Friday]

Take it easy, Chapman.

[Frank Smith]

My wife's dead because of him. You hear that? You killed her. They got laws to save people like you. But none for her. None for her and the baby. They didn't have any laws. None for them.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Chaplain. Come on. Take it easy, Frank. Come on. Sir. Yeah.

[Frank Smith]

Pretty upset, ain't he?

[Joe Friday]

I want you to remember something, kid. In the years I've been in this department, I've seen some bad ones. Real bad. Teenage kids that didn't know any better. Scraped up off the pavement, sent home to their parents. Drunks who were too loaded to know what went on. There's been a lot of them go through here, but you finish way ahead of the field.

[Frank Smith]

Boy, you talk good. I bet you're on a lecture team around here.

[Joe Friday]

I'm getting fed up with you kids roaming the streets in death traps. Now, I don't care about you. You want to wrap yourself around a post, you go ahead. We'll try and stop you. But don't you take somebody else with you. Every year the number gets bigger. More people killed. It isn't the honest drivers that do it. It's people like you who don't care for anybody else. Now, we've tried about everything in the books to make you understand. Doesn't look like any of them did any good, does it?

[Frank Smith]

I'm a bad one, ain't I?

[Joe Friday]

You killed a human being, boy. A woman who didn't even know you. She never saw you until it was too late. You threw a ton and a half of metal at 120 pound woman. And then you ran away and left her in the gutter to die. You wrecked the family. You tore it right down the middle and rolled over it. You've ruined the lives of all the people around that woman. You gave a group of decent kids a bad time because you stole their name. Now, you get on your feet, young fella, and you keep that smart mouth of yours. Closed. Do you understand?

[Frank Smith]

Can I ask you something?

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Frank Smith]

Hit and run. How much will I get?

[Joe Friday]

I don't know, but it won't be enough.

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On October 14, trial was held in Department 97, Superior Court of the State of California. In and for the county of Los Angeles. In a moment, the results of that trial. Now here is our star, Jack Webb.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you, George Veniman. Thousands of smokers all across the country are now changing to Chesterfield. We'd like you to give them a try too. I know you'll like them. Because the Chesterfield you smoke today is the best cigarette ever made. For the taste you want and the mildness you want. Smoke America's most popular two way cigarette. Regular or king size Chesterfield.

[Narrator]

Jack Carlisle Moore was tried and found guilty of manslaughter, one count and received sentence as prescribed by law. Manslaughter is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period not to exceed 10 years. 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 Vance Brasher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Joyce McCluskey, Harry Barnes, Martell McParrin. Script by John Robinson. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking. Watch an entirely different Dragnet case history each week on your local NBC television station. Please check your newspapers for the day and time Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet. Transcribed from Los Angeles Filter tip Smokers this is it. L and M filters. The only filter tip cigarette with plenty of good taste, the right length for effective filtration and just the right filter. Only the L and M filter contains the miracle product alpha cellulose. You get much more flavor, much less nicotine. This is it. As Bennett Cerf puts it, L and M filters are just what the doctor ordered. Buy L and M filters, America's highest quality and best filter tip cigarettes. Here, Rocky Fortune, following John Cameron Swayze and the news on the NBC radio Network.