Dragnet: The Big Rush 07/05/1955

Summary

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Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Dragnet: "The Big Rush" (07/05/1955)

Episode Air Date: April 14, 2026
Podcast Host: Choice Classic Radio
Featured Show: Dragnet
Title/Date: “The Big Rush”, originally broadcast July 5, 1955

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Episode Overview

In this gripping episode of Dragnet, Detective Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith investigate a series of bold armed robberies targeting taverns and small restaurants across Los Angeles. The robbers, described as a tall man and a heavyset accomplice, have left a trail of frightened business owners and, following a heated holdup, a wounded police officer. The detectives follow leads from victims, informants, and their own police resources, culminating in a tense stakeout and ultimate capture of the culprits. The story, “The Big Rush,” exemplifies Dragnet's signature procedural realism and understated dialogue.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

The Crime Spree Begins

• Setting the Stage: The narrator opens with the facts: a series of tavern robberies have gone unsolved for a week, and Friday and Smith are tasked with stopping the perpetrators (00:21-00:53).
• First Interview – Nick Thomas (bar owner):
  • Describes the robbery around 11:30 p.m. — one tall man, one heavyset man; methodical, said little, took only the till.
  • Humorously debates the worthlessness of a disliked newscaster and complains, “He's the kind of guy where if some old man spit in the sidewalk, he could build it up so we should evacuate the whole city.” (02:31, Nick Thomas)
  • Realizes he never actually saw a weapon, prompting Friday to ask, “Not for real?” (04:13, Friday)
  • Nick frets he may have handed over the money for nothing if no gun was present, reflecting on the psychological intimidation used by criminals (04:24).

Tracking the Pattern

• Detectives Correlate Cases: At the station, Friday and Smith review similar recent crimes—same suspect descriptions and methods, but no hard evidence (05:07).
• Second Victim Interview – Hector Pip (restaurant owner):
  • Reports being robbed, suspects are “just two fellas. One tall, thin, other one fat.” (08:22, Pip)
  • Notes the only weapons were his own, stolen during the hold-up: a .38 revolver and a .25 automatic (09:02).
  • Provides a quirky detail: the suspects used his name “Lard,” leading to a humorous aside about dieting pills: “Just makes me feel like I had a sponge.” (08:35, Pip)

Lead from an Informant

• The Informant, Angie:
  • In a memorable, laid-back hotel room scene, Angie—while enjoying a cold beer—relays that the robbers are St. Louis transplants known only by street names: Ronnie (the tall one) and Whale (the heavyset one).
  • Quote on criminal nicknames: “Step on somebody’s toes, you find their foot in your face.” (11:16, Angie)

Identifying the Suspects

• Interdepartmental Cooperation: LAPD contacts St. Louis PD, learning the suspects are Arnold Saba (Ronnie) and Gerard Llewellyn (Whale). Their mugshots are on the way (12:52–13:26).

The Case Escalates: Shooting at Greentree Cafe

• A Cop Shot: During a subsequent robbery, Officer Abner, attempting to intervene, is shot by both robbers (15:01, Jaggers).
  • On Abner’s courage: “He was standing right by the door. Told them to put down the guns. He didn’t budge none. Held his ground for sure.” (14:29, Jaggers)

Pursuit and Stakeout

• Link to Georgia Wells: Bartender Jaggers saw the pair with regular patron Georgia Wells; detectives visit her apartment (16:46–18:30).
• Georgia’s Reluctance: She initially withholds information, fearing trouble, but ultimately agrees to help set up the suspects' capture: “He’ll be here in 40 minutes.” (18:30, Georgia Wells)

Arrest and Interrogation

• The Take-Down: Saba arrives at the apartment, is caught with the stolen weapon, but denies everything, accusing police of planting evidence (19:36–20:00).
• Classic Denial: “You got nothing to hold me on? Nothing.” (21:05, Saba)
• When confronted with Whale’s confession: Saba attempts to lash out but is subdued (22:11, 22:23).

Conclusion and Sentencing

• Epilogue: Both suspects are convicted on six counts of first-degree robbery and sentenced as prescribed by law (23:05–23:28).
  • Narrator: “Robbery in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period of not less than five years on each count.” (23:25)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nick Thomas on not seeing a weapon:
  “He just had his hand in his pocket like this. I didn’t actually see the gun.”
  – Nick Thomas, 04:13

• Nick Thomas questioning the police:
  “Well, why don’t you know? It’s your job, isn’t it? Knowing things like that. Bunch of crooks running around, you don’t even know if they got a gun.”
  – Nick Thomas, 04:24

• Informant Angie on criminal life:
  “Step on somebody’s toes, you find their foot in your face.”
  – Angie, 11:16

• Alvin Jaggers on Officer Abner’s courage:
  “He didn’t budge none. Held his ground for sure.”
  – Jaggers, 14:29

• Georgia Wells, world-weary:
  “You go out with a guy, nothing serious, few laughs, and you end up in trouble.”
  – Georgia Wells, 18:56

• Ronald Saba’s denial:
  “You got nothing to hold me on? Nothing.”
  – Saba, 21:05

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• [00:21] – Case introduction by narrator
• [01:17] – Sergeant Friday & Frank Smith begin their investigation
• [01:46–04:46] – Interview with Nick Thomas, victim
• [05:07] – Detectives discuss patterns at HQ
• [06:20–09:03] – Interview with Hector Pip, victim of latest robbery
• [10:00–11:24] – Informant Angie gives tip about “Ronnie” and “Whale”
• [12:52] – St. Louis PD identifies suspects as Saba and Llewellyn
• [13:26–15:43] – Officer shot during robbery at Greentree Cafe
• [16:46–18:30] – Confrontation and reluctant assistance from Georgia Wells
• [19:36–20:00] – Arrest of Saba at Georgia’s apartment
• [21:05–21:40] – Saba’s denial and confrontation post-arrest
• [22:12–22:43] – Saba blames Whale as both are taken to jail
• [23:25–23:28] – Sentencing and epilogue

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Tone and Style

The episode unfolds with Dragnet's trademark realism—tight, laconic dialogue, dry humor from witnesses, and measured but relentless police work. Joe Friday’s tone is respectful, skeptical, and persistent, often deadpan in the face of witness quirks or suspect bluster. The suspects’ bravado and victims’ folksy laments provide both intensity and levity in equal measure.

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In Summary

This episode of Dragnet masterfully dramatizes the painstaking, collaborative efforts necessary to solve a spree of armed robberies. Through colorful interviews, detective work, informant tips, a dramatic assault on a police officer, and the reluctant aid of a witness, Friday and Smith methodically untangle the web, ultimately delivering justice. The vivid personalities encountered—by turns comedic, tragic, and gritty—make “The Big Rush” an excellent showcase of classic radio detective drama at its best.

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Transcript

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

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] Dragnet.

[Narrator]

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. Two men have been terrorizing the tavern keepers in your city. In spite of your efforts, they continue to run free your job.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Stop them. 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. Case transcribed 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 Tuesday, June 14th. It was hot in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A robbery detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss. Achieve. Detectives Thad Brown. My name's Friday. We're on our way out from the office and it was 11:13am when we got to the corner of 7th street and Sunset Boulevard. Black Dog Bar and Grill in the back. Yeah, Hi. How are you? Well, what'll it be? Police officers. Oh, cops, huh?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

That's right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

This is Frank Smith. My name's Friday. How are you? Nick Thomas. I guess about last night, huh? That's right. We'd like to go over a couple things with you. Sure.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Can I get you anything?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

You mind if I have a cup of coffee while we talk?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, go ahead. Okay.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Sure. Surprised me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Last night. I sure wasn't expecting it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

You know, you read about things like that happening, but you just never figure

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

them happening to you. Of course, you've been in the business as long as I have, you ought to expect it. At least that's the way I figure it. Yeah. Well, okay. What do you want to know? Well, according to what you told the officers last night, the men came in the place about 11:30. Is that right? That's right.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

11:30.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You sure about the time?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Oh, yeah. You see, I always looked at that newscaster.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

11:15, 11:30.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

He went off the air and they

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

just put up the card where it

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

tells what station it is, and this guy walked right in.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, I can't stand him myself. What?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

The newscaster.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I can't stand him.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Me and the missus have gotten some real bad beefs about him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Is that right? Oh, yeah, she digs him, but I can't stand him myself.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

He's a real no good. He's the kind of a guy where if some old man spit in the sidewalk, he could build it up so we should evacuate the whole city. You know what I mean?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, I think so.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Well, he's like that. He's a real no good.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Wonder if you check this description of the two men who held you up. Sure.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Those two guys. Any place ever saw him again, I'd sure know them.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's them.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

The tall one and the fat one. That's them. I know them any place.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What'd they say to you?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Oh, hardly nothing at all. Just walked up to the bar, leaned over and told me to hand over the money.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I see. Do you remember the exact words?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

You mean the way they said it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Let me see. I think it was.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Okay, Mac, this is Stick up.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Do like we tell you. You won't get hurt like that.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He talk.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Just give us the money. Don't make any noise.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, I did. Walked right back to the register, opened

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

it up and handed over the loot.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What happened then?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Told me to keep quiet and then they walked out of the place.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Anybody else in here?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Oh, there's a couple of people up in front.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did the thieves bother them?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

No, they were just after the money in the register. Other couple didn't even know there was anybody here until it was all over.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Let me see. There were a couple of kids. What's that? Kids.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

You know what I mean. Like young and real in love. Roof could have fallen in, they wouldn't have known it. Yeah, cops talked to him last night, but they couldn't tell him nothing.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You say you'd know these men if you saw them again, huh?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

You just get all the money you

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

can on that one. Did you see if they had a car? Who? The men who held you up. Oh, no, they didn't have one.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Well, I didn't see it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Is there anything about them that you can tell us?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

No, just a couple of guys. One tall, the other one fat.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did you see if they had a gun?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

You think I'd have handed over the money if they didn't?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What kind of a weapon was it?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

It was a gun. The kind with bullets. You pull the trigger, it goes bang like that.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It was a gun. I know, but was it a revolver or an automatic?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Well, I don't know. I guess it was. Well, come to think of it, I guess. Hey, you know, you're right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

I didn't see it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Hmm.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Not even a peek? Guy had his hand in his pockets like this, you know. Like this?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

I didn't actually see the gun, though.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Not for real?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

He just had it in his pocket?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Are you figuring he was just playing a joke on me?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Funny that he really didn't have a gun at all?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, we wouldn't know.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Why not.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Well, why don't you know? It's your job, isn't it? Knowing things like that. Bunch of crooks running around, you don't even know if they got a gun. The fine line of cops you guys are. Hey, I might have just given him that money for nothing. If he didn't have a gun, there was no reason to hand it over. No reason at all. I should have found out, that's what.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Huh?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Do you mean I made a grab at the guy. Probably didn't have nothing in the pocket but just his hand or something like that. Yeah, if he didn't have one. If I was right, I could have told you guys.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What if it was the other way, huh? What if you're wrong? From the method of operation and the description of the suspects, we knew that they were the same two men who had staged six robberies in the past week. We showed the latest victim the mug shots from the packages that the stats office had turned for us. He pointed out three of the pictures and said they look something like the hold up men. But he was unwilling to make even a tentative identification. 11:56am we returned to the office and put in a call to Leighton Prince. They hadn't been able to turn anything of value. A canvas of the area around the bar had netted nothing. The case stood where it had seven days before when the robbery was first reported. 1:15pm well, it doesn't seem to be a directional trend. No hitting all over, I think. Anything from Barrett? List of names came in this morning. We've already checked most of them out. We could use a few more leads. I'd settle for one. Ben, you seen the Skipper? Yeah, I was in earlier. I don't think he's in the office now. Wonder when he's gonna climb on it. I don't know. I've been expecting a Joe.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Better off, Ralph.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I haven't seen him. Why? Well, he said he might be able to help us turn something. Said he had an informant down on LA Street. Hot sh. Let's go. Same two? Yeah. They hit again. Frank and I left the office and drove out to the scene of the latest robbery. It was a small restaurant located on South Spring. By the time we got There a radio car had arrived and the officer was checking the area.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

You're the cops, are you? Are you more cops?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Well, that's what I thought. Other fella, he left. He said he was going to look for the crooks. He just went up the street.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You want to tell us what happened?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Held up, that's what. Held up.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, we understand. Did the officer get a description of the thieves?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Sure. Got it first thing. Said something about doing a broadcast or something. I'm not sure what he meant, but that's what he said all right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You want to give us your name?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Hector. Pip.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Pip. Pip, like Cullen. Dog Wrote a story about them pips. Seeds. No. Yep. Picked a pip.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

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

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Sure thing. Now, what do you all know?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, would you tell us what happened, please, sir?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Better get on the ball. Can't stand around and waste time. Better get the fellows. What did it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Mm.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Came in right through that door. Came in and told me it was a stick up. That is just as plain as anything. Stick up?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Mm.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Sent me to hand over the money in the cash register. Over.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How much was it?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Well, I'm not sure. Must have been about 60, $70. I'm not sure.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did you see him when they left?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Why, certainly. Couldn't very well miss him. Small place. Just stood here and watched him go. Watched my money go right out the door.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. What I meant was, did you see him get in the car?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

No, I didn't. No, I sure didn't. Just stood here and watched him go, but I didn't see no car.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Is there anybody else in the place?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Oh, there was one fellow.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where's he?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

He left. All excitement got into gear and he left. Chintzy, too. Chintzy?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Owed me for a piece of cream pie and a cup of coffee.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Have you seen him before? No.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

On your face. He ain't from around here. Brand new.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did you hear either of the two men use a name of any kind?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

I sure did.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. You want to tell us? I have to. We'd like you to, if you will. Lard? That's what he said. Lar. Which one?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

The tall one. Like a fence picket.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He's the one. He called the other one Lard. No, but you said he used the name.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Sure, but he was talking to me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. Well, look, is there anything else you can tell us about the men that might make it easier to identify him?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

No, just two fellas. One tall, thin, other one fat. Didn't have no reason to call me lard. I've been on a diet for a couple of weeks. Eating those pills that swell up in your stomach? Well, I guess they work for some people. Just make me feel as though I had a sponge.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Was there anything outstanding about the men?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

No, not that comes to mind, no.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

They have a gun.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Not right off.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Didn't have one when they come in, of course. I. I didn't know that. No, sir, I didn't have any idea.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Got him now, though. Stole them with the money. What.38 revolver and the.25 automatic.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Took him. Frank and I took the latest victim to the city hall. While he started to check the mug books, we ran the serial numbers of the guns through the record section. We found that they were both registered to Hector Pip. At 3:46pm Frank came back to the office from the mud room back here. How's it going, Long? He still hasn't found anything. What's he checking now? Coming out, folks. Got four or five more to go through. You show them the pictures of the staff's office? Turn.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Nothing. Hi.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

How's Ben?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Hi, Walt. Mug. I'm looking for you. Yeah, Talked to a fellow down on Main this morning. Says he knows the guys you're looking for. We made arrangements for somebody to stay with the victim and then Frank and I left the City Hall. Sergeant Walt Bitteroff drove us over to talk to his informant. We found him in a cheap hotel on Wall Street.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

All right, Walt, come on in.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thanks, Angie. You get it?

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Here you are. They cool? Right out of the icebox. Thanks. These are the two guys I told you about, Angie.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Oh, yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Hey, you want some cold beer? No, no, thanks a lot. How about you, Will? You don't mind if I have one? Go ahead.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Oh, I must have had a good time last night.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Eyes feel like they're three feet apart. Nothing like a cold beer. Next morning, my girlfriend gave me some new glasses.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Like in a beer commercial? Yeah. Nice.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Sure looks good, doesn't it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, yes, sir.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

That's what I needed.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Funny. What funny about beer. Always tastes good, but a glass like this makes it taste better. Ambrosia.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Pure ambrosia.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. I wonder if we can get down to business, Angie.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Ah, sure, sure.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now I get my head back. What can I do for you? Said you had some information on the two guys who were pulling these bar holdups? Yeah, yeah, that's right. I'd like you to tell Friday and Smith hereby that cops. That's right. You're after the fellows, huh? Mm. Walt tell you anything about setup? What do you mean? Well, anything you get, it didn't come from me. Yeah, they know that, Angie. Well, I gotta make sure I remember something that helps you out, I forget it right away, you talk to me five minutes from now. I don't remember. Deal. All right. What about the guys? Heavy got in town a couple of months ago. Where they from? St. Louis. You got the names? Yeah, part of them. What do you mean?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Well, just what they're called.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's all I got. That'll do. Don't pay to ask too many questions, you know. Yeah. Step on somebody's toes and you find their foot in your face. What about the names? Well, the tall one's called Ronnie. Fat guy's tag. Whale. Is that what everybody calls them? All I heard. You know where they live? Nope. Where'd you meet them? I move around, run into them a couple of bars. Seen them once or twice. How do you know they're the ones we're after? Just figures, that's all. Got a big role, talk loud. Way they look, just figures. You know where we can pick them up? Haven't got any idea. They drive in the car? Not that I've seen. Anything else you can tell us about them? You've had it. Have either one of them fallen? Well, we never spent an evening talking about it, but it figures they did. Back east, maybe. Yeah, I guess so. I heard the whales say this was the first time they'd been on the coast. All right, Angie, if there's nothing else. There isn't. If you hear anything, Angie, we'd appreciate a call. Works out, I'll let you know. I'm not going to put anything in writing. Those jokers hear about it, and I'd have to dig a hole. Okay.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Thanks for coming by, Walt.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. Glad to have met you guys.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

See you again, huh?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, sure. Thanks for the beer, Walt. It's okay.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Sure made the difference.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

First got up, I felt like a gang of midgets have been playing soccer in my mouth. Rough last night. Gotta make a few calls around, find out, huh?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

What kind of time I had.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We returned to the office and sent a radiogram to the St. Louis Police Department requesting all information on anyone in their files who used the nicknames Ronnie or Whale. We checked the two names through our moniker file without result. The next day, Wednesday, June 15th at 5:26pm we got word from the East. Here it is, John St. Louis. Yeah, looks like they turned them. Let me see. Arnold Saba and Gerard Llewellyn. How about mugs? They're sending standups right away. Should be here in the morning then, shouldn't they? Yeah. All right. When? I'll get it.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

What is it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Robbery out on the Olympics. Sounds like Ronnie and the Whale.

[Narrator]

How long ago?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Just left the place. Shot it up pretty bad. Anybody hurt? Yeah, policemen got in their way. The Green Tree Cafe was located at the corner of Olympic Boulevard and Estrada Street. By the time we got there, an ambulance had arrived and the wounded officer had been removed to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital. A felony car from Central Division had arrived at the scene and had started to search for the officer's assailants. We got the story from the bartender, Alvin Jaggers.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Well, two guys come in like I told you. Walked right in. Told me it was a holdup.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How'd the policeman get shot on the way out?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

It happened after I give the guys the money. Started to leave. Abner saw him try to stop him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You know the officer, do you?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Yeah, he comes in once in a while. Him and his wife come in for steak sandwiches.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Was his wife with him tonight?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Yeah, I think she went up the hospital with him. I think that's where she went. Anyhow, when Abner saw these two fellers, you know, with a hold up man. Yeah, when he saw him, he told him, put down the guns.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where was he standing?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

You mean Abner?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Oh, he's up there by the door. Him and missus was in the front booth and the guys went right by him when they come in. He was standing right by the door. Told him to put down the guns and give up.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, now, did he have his gun out of the holster? Yeah.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

You know, he had a kind of aim like this here. I reckon he was afraid of the people in the place, you know, if he had to shoot or something. And these two fellas stopped by when they saw him dead in their steps. Told Abner to get out of the way. Yeah, he didn't budge none. Held his ground for sure. Him right there and them here, See? Now, the tall one, he yelled that they was going to leave and Abner shouldn't try to stop him. And they started to walk outside and Abner brought the gun up so as he could shoot at him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Didn't make it, though. Shot him dead center, right here in the chest. After that, they run out the place, took off down the street.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did the officer shoot at him at all?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Didn't have no chance. Guess he was finished before he started.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, did the men get into a

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

car well, if they did, I didn't see him. Too much going on.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did either one of these men use a name while they were in here?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

How you mean?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, did they call each other by name?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Now, let me think about that for a minute. Yeah, I think they did.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What was it, do you remember?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Well, after the shooting at Tall One, he turned the other fella and he said, come on. Well, let's get out of here.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Which one of them did the actual shooting?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

I couldn't tell you that.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Well, both of them shot about the same time. Wasn't more than a half a second difference. Bang, bang, real fast. Both about the same time. I don't know if they both hit Abner, but they both shot at the same time.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Have you seen these men around before?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

You know, matter of fact, I have.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

They been in here?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Yeah, must have been three, four weeks ago. Come in with Georgia. I guess that's pretty good friends.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Who's she?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Regular customer. Spent a lot of time in here. Drink spangers.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Rough, you know. We can get in touch with her.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Shouldn't be too hard. She lives down next block.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We left the bar and walked to the entrance of the apartment hotel down the street. According to the building register, Georgia Wells occupied apartment 314. We rang the buzzer, and after a few moments, we were admitted to the building. The elevator wasn't working, so we walked up three flights. Oh, man. I guess I'm getting old. Makes you wonder how far you'd get without all the modern conveniences. Mistress is in here. Yeah. Better try it again. Yeah?

[Georgia Wells]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Georgia Wells?

[Georgia Wells]

That's right. I know you.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

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

[Georgia Wells]

What about?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Might be better if we came inside.

[Georgia Wells]

Sure. Come on in. Nothing here to hide. Come on,

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

look around. Frank? Yeah.

[Georgia Wells]

What's he looking for?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Just want to check the place.

[Georgia Wells]

I'm gonna find anything here? I got no beef with the cops. Never been in any trouble before. I want to keep it that way.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, Clean Joe.

[Georgia Wells]

You're gonna tell me what this is all about.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You know a couple of men named Ronald Sava and Gerard Llewellyn?

[Georgia Wells]

Why you asking?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You know.

[Georgia Wells]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You know where they are?

[Georgia Wells]

No. Look, maybe if you tell me why you're looking for the boys, I can help you out.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's a police matter.

[Georgia Wells]

You go find them yourself.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

When did you see him last?

[Georgia Wells]

Couple of days ago.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where?

[Georgia Wells]

Bar over on six.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You know where they live?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Lot?

[Georgia Wells]

Mister, I don't carry no water for him, but I'm not gonna blow the whistle. Until I know what the beef is, it's pretty serious.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

And you're not doing yourself any good acting like this. You know where we can find him?

[Georgia Wells]

Look, I'm gonna level with you. I know the boys. Sure, they're a lot of laughs. Good fenders. That's all it is with us.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We got it that you're pretty good friends.

[Georgia Wells]

You've been talking to the landlady. She's all the time sticking her nose in where it don't belong.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That so?

[Georgia Wells]

Yeah. She's hacked at me anyway. Go out of her way to make trouble. All the time, she'll go out of her way.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Why'd she do that?

[Georgia Wells]

She don't like me, that's why. She got no reason. She just don't like me. All the time yelling about how I'm using too much laundry, how I let the water run too long. Beefing about how I'm not supposed to do no cooking in the place. Pot of coffee, and she's ready to take it in front of the U.N. mm. I told the truth. Poison me. But not a couple of times. Dinner, drinks, maybe a show. That's all. Nothing serious between us. Matter of fact, they both leave me cold, romantic.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, then you shouldn't worry about telling us where to find them.

[Georgia Wells]

I just don't want to get mixed up in nothing. That's all there is to it. I want to get dragged into something I didn't build. You can see that, can't you? Huh? You can see that.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where do we find them?

[Georgia Wells]

He'll be here in 40 minutes.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We put in a call to the office and told him where we were. We got out a local broadcast and an all points bulletin asking two suspects be picked up. 5:52pm we settle down to wait for the men.

[Georgia Wells]

What am I supposed to do when they get here?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Just keep out of the way.

[Georgia Wells]

Ain't gonna be no shooting, is there?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Not unless they start it.

[Georgia Wells]

You just don't know anymore.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Georgia Wells]

You go out with a guy, nothing serious, few laughs, and you end up in trouble.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

They ever tell you what they did for a living?

[Georgia Wells]

Ronnie mentioned something about starting a car agency. He had some deal back east where he could get the cars cheap. Then he figured on having them driven out here and selling them. Told me how him and the way I was gonna clean up. That it was the sweetest deal they ever come across. Real sweet, they said.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Joe, you better get in the other room. Ms. Wells?

[Georgia Wells]

Yeah, sure. Please. No, she won't.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Go on. Go ahead.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Hi, honey.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Hi, Mr. Holder, right there.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Who's this? Come on.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Turn on. What?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Turn on.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Put your hands up on that wall here, Joe. 38. Where'd you get this? Sabbath?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

This gun, where'd it come from?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

I never saw it before.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It was in your coat.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Well, then, you creeps put it there. It ain't mine.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where's Llewellyn? Oh, Gerard Llewellyn.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

I never heard of it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, put your hands down.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

I turn around now? Yeah. You guys gonna tell me what this is all about?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You know more than we do.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Well, I ain't gonna argue about that.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where's the Whale?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

You guys been on the spike? I don't know what you're talking about.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Goodbye. Want to call downtown? Get somebody out here? We'll take them in. Yeah,

[Georgia Wells]

I got you, huh?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

You lousy bum. You think on it.

[Georgia Wells]

I have nothing to do.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, take it easy.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

She told you, didn't she? Didn't she tell you where to get us?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Doesn't make any difference.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

It does to me. She ever wanted was a good time. All the time wanting to go to the best places. All the time in the expensive clothes. You bum. That's all she is.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, that's enough of that.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

You're not kidding, or me if I never saw her again. Be the best thing.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, then you're going to be happy, huh? That's the way it'll be. Another team of men came out from the office and took over the stakeout on the apartment. Frank and I drove Ronald Saba down to the City Hall. We put in a call to the Receiving Hospital and found that the wounded officer would recover. 6:57pm we started to lay out the evidence for the suspect. We checked the gun through our record section. It's the one you stole from Hector Pip yesterday.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Mistake someplace.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, but we didn't make it.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

You got nothing to hold me on? Nothing.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Four of the victims have seen your picture. They're willing to swear that you're one of the men who held him up.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Bunch of creeps. That's all they are. The whole slew of them.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Sure. Come on. Where do we pick up your partner?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

I keep telling you guys, I haven't got any partner. I don't know what you're talking about.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Want to explain the gun?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

I don't have to. I never saw that gun before. You guys turned it on me. That's what you say. Well, I say it ain't mine. You planted it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What about the victims?

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

They made A mistake. It's happened before lots of times. You read about it all the time. Where some joker gets up in court, swears he knows some fellow guy ends up spending a couple of years for something he didn't do all the time. There's stories like that in the paper all the time.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, you sit there and think you're clean. We got it figured different.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

I don't care how you got it figured. I'm telling the story the way it happened. Now, you keep talking about this fellow Whale or whatever it is. I don't know. I never heard of him. All these jobs you say I did, I don't know anything about them either.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I'll get it. Oh, yeah. Well. Just got a call from D. Lightner.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Yeah?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Picked up the line. Yeah, he copped out. Gave him the whole story. We're bringing him in now.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Okay.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, you just heard it Sabbath. How about it? You want to make a statement now? Might go easier if you tell us.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Get.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Grab him.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Come on.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Sit down there.

[Georgia Wells]

Come on. Let me out of here. Let me out.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Now.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

On your feet. Get up.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Lousy fat slob. He just kept his mouth shut, that's all. Just kept his big, fat mouth shut. We've been all right. Him and his big mouth.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now let's go.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Him and his big fat mouth, right into the joint. That's where he's put us. Right into the joint.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

His idea, the whole thing. He's as full of hot air as he is. Well, I hope he's happy. Look what he did. He got me a ticket. Right into the joint. No, huh?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You paid your own way.

[Narrator]

The story you've just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On October 18, trial was held in Department 94, Superior Court of the State of California. In and for the county of Los Angeles. Ronald Evans Saba and Gerard Stephen Llewellyn were tried and convicted of robbery in the first degree, six counts, and received sentence as prescribed by law. Robbery in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period of not less than five years on each count.

[Various Characters (Victims, Informants, Suspects)]

Dragnet.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The story of your police force in action is a presentation of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service.