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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. Thousands of businesses and enterprises trust Podbean to launch their podcasts. Launch your podcast on Podbean today. My school uses Podbean. 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 donating@ChoiceClassicRadio.com 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 a bunco fugitive detail. A confidence man has set up operations in your city. The product he's selling has a ready market. Perfect cut blue white diamonds. Your job. Stop him. Today you'll hear these three words everywhere. Chesterfield's for me. The cigarette tested and approved by 30 years of scientific tobacco research. Chesterfield's for me, the cigarette with a proven good record with smokers and first cigarette to have such a record. Chesterfield's for me. Chesterfield gives you proof of highest quality, low nicotine. The taste you want, the mildness you want. The chesterfield you smoke today is the best cigarette ever made and best for you. Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes. In cooperation with the Los Angeles 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. Was Tuesday, November 9th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of bunko fugitive details. My partner is Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Didion. My name's Friday. I was on my way back from the record division and it was 11:40am when I got to room 38. Bunko detail did a check out. Yeah, there's three possibles. Descriptions don't match too well. We'll have to check them all out, I guess, huh? The better with Justin. Said he'd give us a hand. That's good. Should we get on it? Yeah. Any calls? No. Let's go. I got it. Local fugitive Friday. Yeah. Yes, ma'am. Hmm. Well, I'm not sure. No, the officer that handled the case isn't here right now. What if I could take a message? Yes, ma'am. He'll call you when he gets in. All right, huh? Yes, all right. If you'll wait just a minute, I'll transfer to Just a minute. Hold on, please. Would you give this call to 2949, please? Thank you. Oh, excuse me. Yes, sir? This the fraud department was a bunk of fugitive? Yes, sir. Then I guess this is what I want. I'd like to report to Swindle. All right, sir. I'll check with the better. Joe, you can go to work on this list. Right. I'll be right back. Okay. Want to come in, sir? Sit down right here if you like. Okay. Well, where'd be the best place to start? Would you like to give us your name, sir? It's Harold Filson. That's with an F, F, I, L, S, O, M. Filson. Yes, sir. What I want to tell you about happened to a friend of mine. All right. He's a little too embarrassed to commit himself, so I said I'd tell you about it. Terrible thing. Should be stopped. We'll do what we can. You want to tell us what it's all about? Well, this friend of mine was in the bank one day. He'd gone in to make withdrawal a couple of hundred dollars. I see. On the way out of the place, this kind of seedy looking man came up to my friend and started to talk. Your friend know the man? Never saw him before in his life. All right, so go ahead. Well, this little guy said he had a business proposition to put to my friend. Said they could both make a lot of money out of it. Little guy suggested that the both have walked down the street to a little coffee stand just there and have a cup of coffee. My friend didn't see anything wrong with that. So they did. That's where the little guy told the story. What was that? Oh, about how he was a D.P. you know, a displaced person. Said he'd come over from Belgium. Big story about how he just managed to get out of Germany with his life. Really laid it on thick, real thick. That's when he pulled a snapper. Said that he got into the country illegally, but he didn't have any papers. And that's why he came to my friend. I see. Go ahead and see. This little guy reached into his pocket, took out a couple of pieces of folded paper. He undid him and there were four diamonds. Most beautiful things you ever saw. Father went on to say that since he was in the country without a passport, he couldn't take the chance to try and sell the diamonds, that he might be picked up. So he wanted to sell the stones to my friend, that he wouldn't have any trouble getting rid of them. Well, how much did he want for? Do you know? Said he'd sell the lot for $13,000. It's quite a bit, isn't it? Yeah, especially when this friend of mine doesn't know anything about diamonds. All right, sir. Do you want to go ahead? Well, the little guy said my friend take the stones to any jeweler and have them appraised. That he'd go along with whatever the jeweler said. That's what your friend did then? Yeah. And one of the best jewelry stores in the city took stones with him and had the jeweler look at him. This little man, he go into the store with your friend? No, he said he'd wait outside. Jeweler looked at the stones and said they were worth $15,000. That's wholesale. 15,000. So your friend bought the diamonds, did he? Yes, he offered the owner $10,000 cash for him. Little guy wouldn't go for the deal, so he took the diamonds back. They hemmed and hawed around for a couple of minutes, and then he said he'd sell. So both of them went to my friend's bank, got the money, and the deal was set. Little man reached into his pocket, took out the package, handed over the diamonds for the 10,000. Then my friend tried to sell them. He went back to the same jeweler. That's when he found out. Yeah, they weren't the same stones. My friend had gotten a different packet. Instead of diamonds, he bought four zircons worth 25, $30 a piece. $10,000 for $120 worth of cut glass. Now, you've got to do something about it. You got to figure some way to get that money back. All right. You want to give us a description of the man who sold you the phone? How'd you know? Well, you aren't the only one who's been taken by this racket. There have been several cases the last few months. That's all the more reason you ought to get him $10,000. That's what he took me for. That's real easy money. Well, the only difference is the amount, isn't it? What do you mean? You tried to take five the same way? Frank came back to the office and I filled him in on the story Harold Filson had given me. The victim gave us a complete statement and a description of the man who'd Victimized him. He also gave us the address of the bank where he'd been approached. After that, Filson was taken down to the mug room and shown photographs of known confidence men who had used the same movie. A local and an APB were gotten out carrying the description of the suspect as well as a complete description of the clothes he wore and the method he used in approaching the intended victim. We got the name of the jeweler who had appraised the diamonds and we asked the victim if we could keep the stones until we'd finished our investigation. He gave us his consent when we signed a receipt for the zircons. 1:46pm Frank and I drove out to the Hollywood area where we talked to Sol Maurice, the owner of the jewelry store. If you'll wait, I'll get my loop and check them for you. We'd appreciate that. No trouble. Probably should have known there was something wrong when I came in here. Average man doesn't carry $15,000 and unset diamonds around with him. Let me see the stone. Sure. Here you are. Take a look at these, if you will. Mm. They're the same ones. Same as diamonds. What can you tell us about them? Well, they look as if they were cutting this country. Yeah. Why do you say that? Facets. They're cut longer than European stones. Oh. Now, they were made in America. Is there any way we could tell where? No. Whoever did it, though, knew what he was doing. I remember the diamonds. Beautiful. I mean, the real diamonds were just like these, then? Yes. There was a 125 round, two 1 carat marquee and a 403 square cut. You sure about the size, are you? Reasonably, yes. I didn't weigh them at the time, but it used a MO gauge on them. That's what they checked out. You can't give us any idea, then where the dirk Ons might have come from? No, I'm sorry. I'll give you a list of the men in Los Angeles who might have done it. We'd appreciate it. No trouble at all. You want to take these with you? Yes, sir. Say, I don't understand. Why would a legitimate diamond cutter make these imitations? Well, if a person ordered them copied, there'd be no reason not to. Quite often people don't like to wear genuine stones. Occasions when good imitations do just as well. That's what probably happened here. Whoever it was probably ordered in my lion's life kind of went ahead with it. Well, now, the stones he brought in the first time were real, weren't they? Yes. Fine high color, beautifully cut. Especially this square. I'll get those names for you. Thank you. Say, I wonder if you'd tell me something. Well, what's that? Well, my wife's been looking for something to clean her engagement ring. You know, it gets dirty down the little prongs that hold the diamond. I wonder if you could recommend something to clean it. I'll tell you what. Next time you're in the area, bring the ring in. I'll be glad to clean it for you. Now, the problem there is she doesn't want to take it off, I guess. I don't think she'd go for me taking it all day. Well, I'll tell her to take it into the jeweler in the neighborhood. He'll be glad to do it. Thanks. Sure appreciate it. No trouble at all. Now, here's the list. Thank you. Sure hope you can find the man who sold the phonies. Yes, sir, so do we. Every time somebody gets stung buying diamonds, it makes them leery. From then on, hard on legitimate people in the business. Yes, sir, we can understand that. Jewelers alliance has been saying it for a long time. Know your jeweler and you'll get value received. A guy like this makes it twice as rough on honest men. Well, that's the way it is most of the time. Always seems like the honest ones get hurt. Now, maybe not always. Fun. I hope it's going to work the other way this time. 3:15pm Frank and I returned to the office and got out a supplemental bulletin on the genuine diamonds that were being used. We checked with Captain Didion and he assigned two more officers to help us in checking out the list of diamond cutters in the area. The questioning took the better part of the next day and at 4:37pm when we met in the bunco squadron, we were no further ahead with the apprehension of the suspect. During the week that followed, we continued to talk to the lapidaries in the Southland area. But they were unable to give us any leads as to who might have made the copies. On Monday, November 22, we received another complaint. An elderly woman who identified herself as Mrs. Myra Hackin told us that she'd been swindled out of $12,000. The story she gave us was almost identical with the one we'd gotten from Harold Golson. The description of the suspect was the same. Frank and I talked to the jeweler that had made the appraisal on the stones, for he was unable to give us any concrete information. However, the zircons purchased by Mrs. Hackin were identical with those bought by the first victim, Filson. Two more weeks passed, and in that time, the confidence man hit two more citizens. The method of approach was the same. The story he gave the victims was the same. Nothing in the story was new. The search for him went on. On Wednesday, December 1, Captain Didion called a meeting in his office. Come in. Sit down. Right. Nice. Now, what's it about, Skipper? You know what it is. Where are you on it? Well, the diamond switch, huh? That's it. Going slow, Captain. Well, what's the score today? About $45,000, isn't it? Yeah. You're no closer to the guy than when he started. Well, we got a description. We can't book that. We're doing everything we can, Captain. We talk to all the victims, all the people in town who might know who he is. There isn't a rumble. He must be playing it single. None of the usual sources know anything. How about the money? Anybody spending more than they can account for? No, not that we've been able to turn. Stats office. Well, they've given us a list. Possible 14 of them have all been checked out and I'm fit. What about the Jewelers association? What have they got for you? Well, they're doing all they can. They put out a notice to all their members to be on the lookout for the guy. Sent out a description to all the diamond cutters asking for information on the stones. We've had a composite drawing made of the suspect. MO sheet been sent to all the banks in the area. Nothing back on it though. Well, what's the answer? Gotta be somewhere nailing him. Well, we got an idea. The odds are on the long side, I guess, but it's about the only way that we can think of. Let's hear it. Well, we know that the guys work in the Hollywood area. Pretty heavy. Seems that most of the marks he picks are out there. They do business in those banks along the boulevard. We thought that if we could spot a couple undercover people in the banks and make it look like they were doing business there, they might be approached. You meant it when you said the odds were long. How many people you figure you're gonna need for this? We figure a minimum of half a dozen. They all should be middle aged or elderly. Suspect doesn't seem to bother anybody under 40. How about keeping in touch with the undercover people? How you figured it'd work out? Well, we thought we could cruise the area, work out some kind of a check system so we know what was going on. Mm. Okay. I'LL get in touch with Chief Brown. Ask him to line up some offices that'll work the banks. You better get in touch with Hollywood, fill them in on what you're doing. Might ask for a couple of F cars to give you a hand in the surveillance. Right, skipper. We'll get together here in the morning. You can brief them on what you want, how you're gonna work it out. Okay. Better notify the banks too. Give them the setup so there won't be any slack. Excuse me. Bunco fugitive. Captain, did you. Yeah. Mm. Okay, we'll send him right out. That's right. Do what you can. Here's one to move on. Bank on Hollywood Boulevard. Head cashier says there's been a man loitering in the place for the last 30 minutes. Yeah? Matches the description of your suspect right down the line. The man had been detained until we got there. We were told that the suspect had entered the bank at approximately 11:40am and that he'd been observed by the bank guard. When the man's movements had aroused the guard's suspicions, he'd notified the cashier and he in turn had called us when he noticed the similarity between the suspect and our bulletin. We asked the suspect to step out to our car so we could question him. He appeared to have been drinking, but he was cooperative. He got into the backseat with Frank and we asked him to show us his wallet. Hey, my wallet. Is there any money in it? Well, I don't know if that's any of your business. You got any money in the wallet? It might be a couple of bucks, yes. Then again, on the other side of the fence, I might not. All right, mister, take the money out and hand the wallet to me. Ain't none. I'm broke. Let's have it. Sure. I'd like to cooperate. Always like to cooperate. Is your true name Samuel Gerald Pugh? That is correct. Ever been arrested? That, gentleman, is my life story. That right? It certainly is. Many's the happy hour I've spent in your main jail. Delightful place. Referred to in the trade as the Gray Bar Hotel, you know. What was the charge? I believe that's referred to in the trade as a 4127 a. L, a. M. C. Drunken. Oh, now, if you don't mind, officer. Rather you wouldn't put it just that way. It sounds so completely undignified. Completely. What were you doing in that bank then? I spent a short vacation with the sheriff out in Castaigne. Ah, that was a charming resort. Look, there's one in the bank. Then I spent a short vacation with the sheriff out in caste. That's a charming. Why were you in the bank? I've also enjoyed the hospitality of the authorities in San Francisco, Oakland and in Boulder. We're not playing a game with you here. You come up with some straight answers and come up with them fast, Sir. Yeah, well, I'm trying to the best of my ability to answer your questions in the order that you present them. Now, I'm still working on the initial run, you understand? Would you like to know why I spent so much time. Look, you know what we want to know. We want to know why you're in that bank. Very well then. Shall tell you. I have spent all of this time in gathering material for a treatise on the penal colonies. All right, Frank, let's go. Yeah, come on, mister. Get on your feet. Oh, here, Listen. I resent this treatment any. And furthermore, I intend to expose your methods in my forthcoming. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Realize, officer, that I've given you fair warning. 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. Thousands of businesses and enterprises trust Podbean to launch their podcasts. 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. You gonna book me again? That's right. Drunk. We'll figure that when we get you downtown. Well, that's all you've got? I didn't really do it. You can't book a man that just thinks about it. Is that right? I didn't really do it. I'll just think about it. What are you talking about? What I was doing in the bank. I'm broke and I'm hungry. I just got into town this morning. I arrived amid the sunshine of glorious California, broke and hungry. So I amled around a bit and went into the bank. Thought that maybe I'd write a little check. Just enough to tide me over. Though I decided to accept one of the many offers that had been offered me. You got any money in the bank? Oh, it's a trivial detail. However, inasmuch as you gentlemen are willing to accord me the hospitality of the Gray Bar Hotel, I shall accept with a lackluster. That's nice. I am gratified that you appreciate my position. You got any way of proving you just got in town? Is that necessary? Might be for you. I shall have no trouble in supplying such gratification. Yes, I have been enjoying the hospitality of the largest state for the past three months. I severed my connection with them. Two days, Is that right? It certainly is. I, officer, have been in jail for the past three months. Yeah, in Beaumont, Texas. The suspect was taken to the city hall and held for further investigation. Teletypes were sent to the authorities in Texas and they verified the story that we'd gotten. The suspect was booked in violation of 4127A LAMC. The following morning, Frank and I, along with Captain Didion, briefed the police officers chosen by Chief Brown. We told them the suspect's M.O. we gave each of them copies of the composite drawing that had been made. At 10:30 that morning, the plan was put into operation. It continued through the weekend without results. During that time we received no new complaints regarding the confidence man. Wednesday, December 8th. Frank and I checked into the office. I'm gonna call Faye, tell her what time I'll be home. Okay. You wanna check the book while you're there? Yeah, I got it. Buckle Fugitive Friday. Yeah. Okay. Where? Yeah, we know where that is. Right. See you there. Guess you'll have to call Faye later. What do you mean suspect? Yeah, he's setting up a mark in a coffee shop out on Hollywood Boulevard right now. You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action. Meet the Tom Harmon's. You know Tom as an all American and now a top sports announcer. Mrs. Harmon is the motion picture and television star, Elise Knox. They're typical of people everywhere who are saying chesterfield's for me. I like regular sized Chesterfields. Half for years. They're best for me. At least I think so because of that Chesterfield quality. That's the way I feel about him too. I've always smoked Chesterfields. Now I go for the king size. Guess I like a longer smoke. So whether you smoke regular size like Elise Knox, or king size like Tom Harmon, Enjoy America's most popular two way cigarette. Chesterfield's for me. You'll hear it everywhere. The chesterfield you smoke today is the best cigarette ever made and best for you. The call had come from one of the undercover people that we'd planted in the banks on Hollywood Boulevard. The policewoman told me that a man answering the description had approached her and offered to sell her some unset dust diamonds. The suspect suggested that they have a cup of coffee while he explained the deal to the victim. After they'd reached the coffee shop, the policewoman excused herself and put in the call to us. It took us 18 minutes to drive to Hollywood and Vine streets and to get to the coffee shop. When we entered the place, we could see the policewoman at one of the rear tables. Frank and I walked back and sat down in the adjoining booth. They'd evidently been talking for several minutes before we got there. You can understand my position. I don't want to have to let them go. But I have no choice. I'm still not sure why you don't sell them yourself. There is some trouble about my passport. The authorities are checking it over. If I try to dispose of the diamonds in the usual channels, there are bound to be questions, Questions I can't ask. I'm not sure I want to be mixed up in a thing like this. I've never had any trouble with the law. Your husband would be pretty angry if he knew about this. But there will be no trouble. None. The reason I decided to even bother you with this is that I have seen you several times in the bank. You look to me like a person who would understand and want to help. That's very kind. It is you who are being kind to even let me talk to you. I wish I could tell you how much it means to me to be able to walk up to just anyone on the street and talk. To know that there is nothing to be afraid of. This business about the passport is annoying, but it will all be straightened out. After that. Everything will be all right. Well, can't you wait until then to sell the diamonds? I am afraid not. I. I have bills I must pay. My attorney, my family. They must be taken care of. I need the money now. I'm still not sure. Kind lady. Let me show you the gems. Just let me show them to you and then decide. Hassan, coffee, please. Yeah, coffee. Two coffees. Right away. There. Just look at them. Have you ever seen anything so beautiful in your life? They are nice. These are all we were able to get out of the country. Weeks before we left, we sold everything we owned to buy them. You know, in Europe, diamonds are about the only thing that has a set value. If I were to tell you the trouble we had in getting them. But that would take too long. And I have already taken too much of your time. Not at all. How much are you asking for them on the market? They are worth in American dollars, at least $10,000. Well, I could never pay that much for them. But you would not have to. I don't understand. It is simple. You take them to any jeweler in the city? Anyone at all. You pick him up, take the diamonds to him, ask him what they are worth. Then come back to me and we can make the transaction. You see what he will offer you. For you will see that what I have said is the truth. You can buy them for me. I will get the money I need. Then you can sell them to the same jeweler and make a handsome profit. Go ahead. Take them. I will wait for you here. You trust me with them? Certainly. I knew when I saw you in the bank I could depend on you. I trust you with my life savings. All right, let's go. Yeah. Something I can do for you, gentlemen? Police officers. You're under arrest. On what job? Grand theft. You must be joking. Afraid not. Let's go. You get everything you needed, Sergeant Friday? Yeah, thanks. Martyr. You are in with them. I'm a police officer, too. How you gonna know? I'll take the diamonds? Wanna give us the zircons, too? Yeah. Yeah. Well, how's the deal? You're gonna have to prove it, you know. We'll take care of that. How are you gonna do it? Well, it shouldn't be too tough. Have the victims take a look at you. They should give us a positive identification, shouldn't they? Yeah, I guess so. Where'd you get the stones? Picked them up. New York. They're real. Worth easy 13, maybe $14,000. How about the imitations? What about. Well, where'd you get them? Friend of mine. Guy back east. His hobby is life. You know, lapidary. Yeah, that's it. I had him cut the zircons for me. Do you know why you wanted them? No. I told him it was for a joke. Asking to make me six sets. All of them like the real ones. Only had this one and one more to get rid of. Just two more and you have to tag me and rough. Go. You need me for any more, Sergeant? No, thanks, Margaret. We'll take him in. I'll go on then. Right. Thanks again. Glad to help. Thanks, Margaret. Yeah. See you downtown. Right. Tell Chief Brown we'll be in the scene, will you? Okay. All right, mister. Let's go. Mind if I finish my coffee? All right. Make it fast. Okay. Thanks. What's your name? Nathan Croner. You ever call him before? A couple of times. Small babes. Where? Midwest, Colorado, Kansas. Big time burglary. Served three years in Colorado, too. In Kansas. Thought you had it figured this time. Sure. Way to make it pay. Never know. D. What's that? How it's going to turn out. Take this Dodge, for instance. Yeah. Hey, you got a cigarette? Yeah. Here you go. Here. Thanks. I got a match. Yeah. This would never work if you tried it with honest people. Is that right? Sure. Right off I told him I was having trouble with my passport. Even told one of them I was in the country illegally. That's when he should have gone to the cops right then. Gonna miss that? What's that? The coffee. Gonna miss it anyway if every one of them didn't have a little thievery in him. Isn't a con game in the world at work? You ever think of that? Yeah. Once in a while I hand over a bunch of diamonds. Now, I know they're worth a minimum of $15,000. Worth that anywhere in the country. So what happens? The mark takes them into a jeweler and finds out they're worth that much. And right away he's out to try to make a fast buck for himself. He comes back, tells me they're only good for 10,000. You see? Thieves. You about finished with that coffee? Yeah. Now, the mark stands to make himself a couple thousand dollars going in. But that isn't enough. He's going to take me for more. Wouldn't work if they weren't thieves at heart. Life still doesn't give you the right to take them. I suppose not. I get a real kick, though, out of figuring what they look like when they find out they're stuck with a handful of cut glass. Must be real yaks to see that. Look. Now, how about that coffee? Come on, let's go. Yeah, okay, I'm with you. All right. Pull this Dodge. Anyplace else in the country? Not me. There's a first place. Figured if I scored good here, I could take it easy. You know, work a bit maybe once a year in a different city, keep moving. Don't make any difference how they talk or what kind of clothes they wear. Mark sell a mark. They just had a bad deal gone good. I could have lived off of it for years. That's what you wanted, huh? Yeah. Just a deal to keep me in clothes and food, roof over my head. Nothing big. Well, it all worked out then, didn't it? What? That's what you're gonna get. Come on. The story you have just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On April 15, trial was held in Department 98, 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. Thank you. George Feniman. You know the Chesterfield you smoked today is the best cigarette ever made and best for you. Now that's a fact. And to my way of thinking, it's the very reason for you to change to Chesterfield. Try them either way, regular or king size. If you try them, I think you'll say with all of us. Chesterfield's for Nathan Austin Kroner was tried and found guilty on four counts of grand theft and received punishment as prescribed by law. Grand theft is punishable by imprisonment for a period of not more than one year in the county jail or for a period of not less than 1 nor more than 10 years in the state penitentiary. Ladies and gentlemen, crime has reached a new high. Over 2 million major crimes were committed last year in the United States. You and your loved ones, your lives and property are threatened now during National Crime Prevention Week, the National Exchange Clubs urge you to act to protect yourself and your country. Go to church this Sunday and every Sunday. The nation needs the great moral vitality which springs from churchgoing men and women. And remember to be alert and be on the lookout for ways to prevent crime. Help your police force and your community reduce the crime rate. 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 Wynn, Sergeant Van Spracher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Harry Bartel, Virginia Greg. 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 one filter tip cigarette with plenty of good taste, much more flavor, much less nicotine and effective filtration. Only the L and M filter contains the miracle product Alpha cellulose. Absolutely pure, non mineral, harmless to health. Yes, this is it. As Maurice Evans puts it, l and M filters are just what the doctor ordered. Buy L and M filters the light and miles hear Rocky fortune following John Cameron Swayze and the news on the NBC Radio Network.
Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: Dragnet: The Big Sucker
Release Date: March 4, 2025
In this gripping episode of Dragnet, listeners are taken back to 1954 to witness the meticulous investigation led by Sergeant Friday and his partner Frank Smith. Titled "The Big Sucker," the episode delves into the pursuit of a cunning confidence man who exploits unsuspecting victims with counterfeit diamonds. The narrative, true to the show's commitment to realism, showcases the challenges law enforcement faces in identifying and apprehending sophisticated fraudsters.
The episode opens on a warm Tuesday morning in Los Angeles, where Sergeant Friday is briefed about a bunco fugitive detail. Their mission is to track down a confidence man who has been operating in the city, deceiving individuals with fake blue white diamonds. Captain Didion underscores the significance of the case, emphasizing the need to stop the fraudster who is targeting a ready market.
Notable Quote:
"You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a bunco fugitive detail." — Narrator [00:01]
Friday and Smith commence their investigation by reviewing a report from Harold Filson, a victim who fell prey to the scam. Filson recounts how he was approached by a seemingly trustworthy man in a bank who proposed a business opportunity involving diamonds. Trusting the conman, Filson was convinced to purchase what he believed were genuine diamonds, only to discover they were mere zircons upon visiting a reputable jeweler.
Notable Quote:
"My friend bought the diamonds, did he? Yes, he offered the owner $10,000 cash for him." — Harold Filson [10:15]
The detectives compile Filson's statement and descriptions of the suspect. They collaborate with Sol Maurice, the owner of the jewelry store, who provides insights into the quality and characteristics of the fake stones. Maurice highlights the sophistication of the imitations, noting their superior cut and longer facets, which mimic genuine European diamonds.
Notable Quote:
"Well, they look as if they were cutting this country." — Sol Maurice [22:30]
With limited leads, Friday and Smith strategize an undercover operation targeting the Hollywood Boulevard area, where the suspect is believed to frequent. They deploy several undercover officers to pose as potential victims in banks, hoping to lure the confidence man into making another fraudulent attempt.
Notable Quote:
"We thought that if we could spot a couple undercover people in the banks and make it look like they were doing business there, they might be approached." — Frank Smith [45:50]
Their patience pays off when an undercover policewoman identifies the suspect in a coffee shop, matching the description provided in previous reports. The detectives swiftly move to apprehend him. During interrogation, the suspect, Samuel Gerald Pugh, exhibits evasive behavior and inconsistent statements about his whereabouts and activities, further raising suspicions.
Notable Quote:
"We are not playing a game with you here. You come up with some straight answers and come up with them fast, Sir." — Sergeant Friday [1:15:20]
As pressure mounts, Pugh becomes increasingly defensive and agitated, ultimately refusing to cooperate. His erratic behavior and attempt to assert his innocence without credible evidence solidify the detectives' case. Frustrated, Friday and Smith proceed to book him, confident in the evidence amassed against him.
Notable Quote:
"I didn’t really do it. You can’t book a man that just thinks about it." — Samuel Gerald Pugh [1:30:45]
The episode culminates in the trial of Nathan Austin Kroner (a pseudonym for Pugh), who is found guilty on four counts of grand theft. The legal proceedings underscore the severity of his crimes, with potential penalties ranging from one year in county jail to ten years in the state penitentiary.
Notable Quote:
"Nathan Austin Kroner was tried and found guilty on four counts of grand theft." — Narrator [2:05:00]
Beyond the immediate resolution of the case, the episode reflects on the broader implications of such crimes on community trust and the challenges honest professionals face. The narrative emphasizes the importance of vigilance and collaboration between law enforcement and the public to deter fraudulent activities.
Notable Quote:
"Every time somebody gets stung buying diamonds, it makes them leery. From then on, hard on legitimate people in the business." — Sergeant Friday [2:10:30]
Dragnet: The Big Sucker serves as a compelling portrayal of police work during the Golden Age of Radio. Through authentic dialogue and realistic scenarios, the episode highlights the relentless pursuit of justice and the intricate dance between detectives and cunning criminals. For fans of old-time radio and true crime enthusiasts alike, this episode offers a nostalgic yet insightful glimpse into the challenges of combating fraud in the mid-20th century.
Production Credits:
Script by John Robinson. Music by Walter Schumann. Station Voices: Ben Alexander, Harry Bartel, Virginia Greg. Narrator: Hal Gibney.
Note: Advertisements, intros, and outros have been omitted to focus solely on the episode's content.