Dragnet: The Big Tarbaby 10/12/1954

Summary

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Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Dragnet: "The Big Tarbaby" (10/12/1954)

Date: October 7, 2025
Podcast Host: Choice Classic Radio

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Episode Overview

This classic episode of Dragnet plunges listeners into a tense and methodical investigation after a bartender, George Cabot, reports his wife missing—fearing she's been kidnapped. Detectives Joe Friday and Frank Smith piece together the case, unraveling threads of marital discord, neighborly gossip, and ultimately vigilante justice and violence. The episode is a gripping, step-by-step retelling of a true crime, notable for its signature procedural tone and sparse style.

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Key Discussion Points & Investigation Progression

1. The Call: Suspicion of Foul Play

• [04:35] Setup: "You’re a detective sergeant... get a call from a man who tells you his wife has failed to keep an appointment. There’s no trace of her. There’s evidence of foul play. Your job: find her."
• Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith are approached by George Cabot, who says his wife Ethel never misses her regular late-night drive to pick him up from his bar, but tonight she has vanished.
• George is visibly distressed, "I'm about to blow my cork not knowing what it is." (06:39)

2. Interrogation and Character Study

• [06:18 – 10:29]: Friday and Smith question George, probing for any possible reasons Ethel might be missing—alcohol issues, mental health, secret relationships—but George firmly insists on Ethel’s reliability.
• George’s agitation grows after receiving mysterious phone calls, eventually trying to dismiss the police: “I guess nothing’s happened to Ethel. Just forget I called you.” (10:26)
• Detectives sense George is hiding something, but he refuses to share details from a suspicious call warning him not to involve the police, allegedly threatening Ethel’s life if he does.
  • Friday: “You’re taking a big responsibility on yourself, Cabot.” (11:03)

3. Insights from the Neighbor

• [12:21 – 17:24]: Detectives visit neighbor Carol Lawrence, a chatty but insightful source.
• Carol fills in the backstory—marital troubles, a son lost in the war, George’s temper, and Ethel’s growing sadness:
  • “Poor Ethel isn’t very happy... It’s that husband of hers. Oh, he’s a good provider and all, but there's more to life than just that.” (14:00)
  • She recounts incidents of domestic violence: "Oh, you bet he did. Gave her a black eye once. Took a couple weeks for it to go away." (15:10)
• Carol provides a recent photograph and confirms Ethel’s regular nighttime routine of picking up her husband.

4. Finding Ethel

• [18:54]: The detectives receive word that Ethel Cabot has been found—beaten, covered in tar, and dumped by the roadside.
• At the hospital, Ethel is in shock, repeatedly crying out not to be hit anymore and expressing fear of George:
  • "Don't hit me anymore. Please don't hit me anymore." (20:41)
  • "Where's George? … I don't want to see you. Not ever." (21:11)
• Ethel claims two men assaulted her and said they were "doing it for George." But she does not recognize her attackers.

5. Motive and Wrath

• Police lose track of George Cabot, heightening concern about further violence.
• [25:49]: Bar employee Arnold Leffer reveals to detectives a bar fight from a week earlier, where George beat up two men, who then threatened revenge.
• George, distraught and perhaps vengeful, is on the hunt for these men after learning of Ethel’s fate.

6. Confrontation and Justice

• [28:17]: Detectives arrive just in time at a rooming house, preventing George from delivering his own vengeance on the two culprits, Jack and Rico Martin.
• The suspects admit abducting Ethel to get back at George, downplaying their violence:
  • “We didn’t hurt her. We just scared her a little bit, that’s all.” (28:54)
• Friday counters their smugness about getting away with it: “You got it all figured, haven’t you?” (29:04)

7. The Aftermath

• [29:34]: Both Jack and Rico are arrested, tried, and convicted of kidnapping with bodily injury—an offense punishable by life imprisonment or death.
• True to Dragnet’s format, the episode ends with legal outcomes and a solemn reminder of the real-life consequences.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Parental Anxiety

  • “It’s a funny thing about parents…all they care about is getting their kids back. After a while, they begin to think about it and get sore. Doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
    — Frank Smith (05:01)

• On Marital Tension

  • “You know, poor Ethel isn’t very happy. … Well, it’s that husband of hers. Oh, he’s a good provider and all, but I always say there’s more to life than just that.”
    — Carol Lawrence (14:00)

• On Domestic Violence

  • “Oh, you bet he did. Gave her a black eye once. … Poor Ethel. She tried to hide it with makeup, but you could still tell.”
    — Carol Lawrence (15:10)

• Ethel's Trauma

  • “Don’t hit me any more. Please don’t hit me any more. … I didn’t do anything. … George. George, tell him to stop. Not any more. Please, not any more.”
    — Ethel Cabot (incoherent hospital sequence, 20:41 – 24:12)

• Criminal Confidence

  • “We didn’t hurt her. We just scared her a little bit, that’s all… All we gotta do is come up with the right plea. … There’s a lot of ways we can go.”
    — Rico Martin (28:54 – 29:07)

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Timeline of Major Events

| Timestamp | Event | |-----------|-------| | 04:35 | Detectives introduced to the case: Ethel Cabot missing, possible foul play. | | 06:18 | George Cabot recounts last contact with Ethel, shares growing panic. | | 10:29 | George, after receiving a threat, anxiously insists nothing is wrong, stonewalling police. | | 12:21 | Detectives question neighbor Carol Lawrence; learn of the troubled marriage and past abuse. | | 18:54 | Ethel is found—badly beaten and traumatized, covered with tar. | | 20:41 – 24:12 | Ethel, hospitalized, reveals fragments: two men did it "for George." Detectives gather evidence under severe distress. | | 25:47 | Arnold Leffer describes bar fight involving George, points detectives to suspects. | | 28:17 | Detectives stop George from killing Jack and Rico; confessions obtained. | | 29:34 | Conviction and sentencing; Dragnet’s legal epilogue. |

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Tone & Style

The episode employs Dragnet’s signature cool, steady, almost documentary tone. Dialogue is clipped, methodical, and procedural. Personal tragedy and crime play out in understatements, punctuated by moments of raw emotion—especially from Carol Lawrence and in Ethel’s brief, harrowing scenes. The dry recitation of consequences at the episode’s end brings home the seriousness of the crime.

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Summary

"The Big Tarbaby" is a somber study in the consequences of violence, marital discord, and retribution. With their measured step-by-step investigation, Friday and Smith peel back layers of ordinary life to expose the desperation—and deadly consequences—lurking beneath. As always with Dragnet, it’s the quiet, almost forensic attention to detail and motive that give the story its lasting weight.

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Transcript

[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

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[George Cabot]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[George Cabot]

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[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[George Cabot]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[George Cabot]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[Dr. Dennis Black]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

I love it. I really do.

[Dr. Dennis Black]

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[Narrator/Announcer]

Welcome to Choice Classic radio where we.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Bring to you the greatest old time radio shows like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube and thank you.

[Narrator/Announcer]

For [e-mail] Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Dragnet brought to you by Chesterfield, America's most popular two way cigarette. Chesterfield king size at the new low price and Chesterfield regular. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a homicide detail. You get a call from a man who tells you his wife has failed.

[Detective Joe Friday]

To keep an appointment.

[Narrator/Announcer]

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[George Cabot]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[George Cabot]

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[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[George Cabot]

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[Narrator/Announcer]

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.

[Detective Joe Friday]

It was Friday, August 7th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of homicide detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Lorman. My name's Friday. I was on my way back from Missing persons and it was 1:27am when I got back to room 42, homicide squadroom. Hi, Joe. You talked to Graham? Yeah, I just got in. How'd they do? Well, they came up with a kid. Where'd they find him? The boyfriends? They were watching tv. The missing youngster told his friend his mother knew he was there. Uh huh. Everything's all right then, huh? Yeah, I guess so. Graham said the kid's gonna have to eat standing up for a few days. You know, it's a funny thing about parents. What do you mean? Thing like this happens and all they care about is getting their kids back. After a while, they begin to think about it and get sore. Doesn't make a lot of sense. You figure it. You got a couple kids. Yeah, I guess it'd be the same way. I got it. Homicide, Friday. Guesser. That's right. Well, where were you supposed to meet her? Well, have you checked there? Let's see. All right. You want to give me that address? Yes, sir. No, we'll be right out. Right. Goodbye, sir. We got one. We better check here. Yeah. Bartender out in Normandy says his wife was supposed to meet him a half Hour ago, and she hasn't shown up. He called his house? Yeah, she's not there either. Says she's never been late before. Yeah, it's always the first time. Well, he doesn't think so, huh? He thinks he's been kidnapped. Frank and I left the office and drove over to the bar. It was located on the corner of Normandy Avenue and Monroe Street. In the event, the story we'd gotten on the phone was true and the woman had been kidnapped, we parked the car down the street and I walked back to the place. A couple minutes later, Frank followed. We met the man who'd placed the call, George Cabot. We asked him to tell us what was wrong.

[George Cabot]

Sure didn't waste any time getting here.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Want to tell us what's happened? Yeah.

[George Cabot]

My wife's gone.

[Detective Joe Friday]

How do you mean?

[George Cabot]

Ethel's disappeared.

[Detective Joe Friday]

When did you see her last?

[George Cabot]

This morning when I left the house.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Have you talked to her since then?

[George Cabot]

Yeah, at 12:55 tonight. She called here to tell me she was on the way down.

[Detective Joe Friday]

She seem all right then?

[George Cabot]

Yeah, as far as I could tell.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Possible that she might have stopped at one of the neighbors.

[George Cabot]

I thought about that, too, but I checked. None of them have seen her.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You called your home, have you?

[George Cabot]

Yeah, I didn't get any answer. I tell you, something's happened to Ethel. I'm about to blow my cork not knowing what it is.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, maybe she's still at the house and didn't hear the phone ring.

[George Cabot]

I figured that, too. Maybe that's her.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Hello? That's a what?

[George Cabot]

No, this is Cabot's Bar and Grill. Yes, ma'.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Am. Who?

[George Cabot]

No, I didn't see him tonight. No, I'm sure. Yeah, I'd know him. No, lady, I'm not lying for him. He isn't here. Yeah, if I see him, I will. Yeah. Good night. Wasn't hard. Woman's in the same fix I'm in, only she can't find her husband.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Kemet.

[George Cabot]

Yes, sir.

[Detective Joe Friday]

I hope you won't be offended by this, but does your wife drink?

[George Cabot]

You mean you think she stopped at some bar and got gassed up and just didn't show up? Is that what you mean?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, that's not exactly what I meant. I just asked if your wife drank.

[George Cabot]

Well, you got it all wrong. Ethel has a martini once in a while before dinner. But if she wanted to drink any more than that, she could come down here and I'd pour for her.

[Detective Joe Friday]

All right. It's a question we have to ask. You understand that?

[George Cabot]

Just as long as you don't think that Ethel's a lush, because she is.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You said you checked your house, huh?

[George Cabot]

Yeah. When she didn't show up, I waited a while and then I got worried and called Mrs. Lawrence. She's the lady next door. Ask her if she'd seen Ethel. Yeah, she said my wife had been over there all evening. They were playing that baseball game, Line Drive, you know, with the cards.

[Detective Joe Friday]

I don't think I know it.

[George Cabot]

It's a new game. Anyway, they played that for a while and then they watched the television. And at 12:30, Ethel said she had to come down and meet me. Mrs. Lawrence said she left the house then and drove away. This neighbor's kind of bubble headed, you know. She's not real bright about things. So I thought that maybe Ethel had gotten sick and couldn't answer the phone when I called. I called the cab and went home. The car was gone. So was Ethel. I checked the whole house in the yard. Not a sign of her. Looked in the front closet, too. Her coat was gone. I'm sure she'd left the house. I had the cab driver come back the bar, the same way that Ethel always drives it. I thought maybe there was an accident or something. If there was, I'd be able to see it. You know, people are cops.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, I understand.

[George Cabot]

Wasn't anything.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Does she always come down here at night?

[George Cabot]

Regular as clockwork. Never misses.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Excuse me. Yeah, sure. Hello? Yeah.

[George Cabot]

No, I remember. No, ma', am, I hadn't seen him. Look, lady, I got my own troubles. I'm not trying to cover up for your husband. Well, it doesn't make any difference to me or not what you think. He isn't here. Okay, that's fine with me. Never ran up more than a 30 cent tab anyway. And even then he ate all the peanuts on the barn. You tell him I said so. Yeah. Good night. Real crackpot.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You were saying that your wife made it a practice to come down here. Is that right?

[George Cabot]

That's right. You see, our boy was killed in the Pacific five years ago. Our only kid. We both took it pretty hard. It got on Ethel's nerve sitting around the house by herself. So she drive down to pick me up, get here a little early and help me with the cleanup.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yes, Sir.

[George Cabot]

Called at 12:55 to say she was leaving. Walk in the door at 1:05. Didn't vary more than a minute either way. Depend on the light at the corner of Denmark and Santa Monica. If she makes it green, it's 1:04 when she walks in. Otherwise, she's a minute later.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Does she always call before she leaves the house?

[George Cabot]

I can walk over to the phone at 5:01 and pick it up. Know she's gonna be on the other end.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Has your wife been in good mental spirits lately, do you know?

[George Cabot]

How do you mean?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, I mean, has there been anything on her mind? Anything that worried her more than usual? No.

[George Cabot]

She didn't say anything. If there was, I'd have been able to tell.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Is there any special reason why you think she's been kidnapped?

[George Cabot]

Just that she's gone. It isn't like Ethel to do something like this. I know it's not her idea.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Never done anything like this before. Then no. Mm. Do you have a picture of her we could have? Sure.

[George Cabot]

I got one in my wallet. Probably that woman again.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Hello?

[George Cabot]

Look, I haven't seen your. What? Now, look, don't you try that with me. No, I don't. If you hurt her, I'll make you sorry the rest of your life.

[Detective Joe Friday]

I. Hello? Hello? Cabot? Cabot. What? What's the matter? Nothing.

[George Cabot]

I. I guess I made a mistake about the whole thing.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Why do you mean that?

[George Cabot]

I guess nothing's happened to Ethel. Just forget I called you by.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Is that the way you want it? Yeah.

[George Cabot]

I'm sorry to cause you all the trouble. Like to buy you a drink if I can.

[Detective Joe Friday]

No, thanks.

[George Cabot]

Sorry about the whole thing.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You want to tell us what they said? Who? Party on the phone, man.

[George Cabot]

I don't want to talk about anything.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You're not going to help your wife that way. Now, what'd they ask for?

[George Cabot]

Look, I told you guys it was all a mistake. Now, why not let it go at that?

[Detective Joe Friday]

How about the picture you were going to give us?

[George Cabot]

There's no reason for it. The whole thing's a goof up.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, you're talking. The phone didn't make it sound that way.

[George Cabot]

All right, she's gone. Those were the people who have her.

[Detective Joe Friday]

They asked for money?

[George Cabot]

No, they said for me to sit tight and not to tell anybody or they'd kill Ethel. I'm gonna do like they say.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You're taking a big responsibility on yourself, Cabot.

[George Cabot]

Maybe so, but she's my wife.

[Detective Joe Friday]

This is a big city. It's gonna be a little tough for us to find the kidnappers without your help.

[George Cabot]

Not so bad.

[Detective Joe Friday]

How do you mean that?

[George Cabot]

I got an idea who they are. It isn't gonna be too hard to find out.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You go out on a limb and you may give your wife more trouble and help.

[George Cabot]

Ethel's my wife.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You're not gonna let us help you then, huh?

[George Cabot]

No, and I don't want to go over it anymore. I got the only stake in this anyway.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, you're wrong about that. What? What about your wife? Because of his attitude, it was useless to question George Cabot any further. We left the bar and got in touch with the office. We made arrangements for a complete 24 hour surveillance to be kept on him. In most cases of this type, the kidnappers usually demand that the victim's friends or relatives stay away from law enforcement agencies. They do this to stall for time. Statistics prove that in the vast majority of cases, the victim's fate was decided long before the kidnapping occurred. It never is the intent of any officer to endanger the life of a kidnap victim. But at the same time, it is necessary for them to have all available information so that they can move rapidly when the case does break. In an effort to gain more information on the missing woman, Frank and I went over to see the victim's next door neighbor. She identified herself as Carol Lawrence and asked us into the house.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

I'm not sure this is quite proper, you know.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What's that, Ms. Lawrence?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

A couple of men in my house at this hour? Especially with me in my bathrobe.

[Detective Joe Friday]

I'm sure the neighbors will understand.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

I hope so. A couple of real gabby ones from the street, you know, big mouth.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Guess you being policeman, it's all right. You think?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Okay, then, what do you want to know?

[Detective Joe Friday]

When'd you see Ms. Cabot last?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

You mean Ethel?

[Detective Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

I saw her tonight. Why?

[Detective Joe Friday]

What time she leave?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

We guess it was about 12:30.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Say where she was going?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

I didn't have to.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Ethel only goes one place that time of night? Yeah, down to pick up George.

[Detective Joe Friday]

We understand she usually calls him before she leaves.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

That's right. I Left here at 12:30. Went next door to get a coat. A couple of minutes later, I heard her drive off.

[Narrator/Announcer]

What can you tell us about her?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Nice woman. Real nice.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

We're great chums, you know. Belong to the same club and see a lot of each other. You see, my husband's gone and Ethel's man works every night. So she's alone a lot of the time, too. I understand ever since their boy was killed, she's been kind of empty.

[Detective Joe Friday]

How was that?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Their boy was killed? Yes, ma'.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Am.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Been kind of empty ever since.

[Detective Joe Friday]

I see.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Then two George don't help much.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What do you mean, Miss Lawrence?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Oh, maybe I shouldn't have said anything.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, it's all right, ma'. Am.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Oh, I sure don't want to get nobody in trouble.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, you won't.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

You won't nose it around that I told you anything?

[Detective Joe Friday]

No, ma'. Am.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

How about you?

[Detective Joe Friday]

No, ma'. Am.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

One thing I can't go is a person to carry his tail. Just can't go. And don't want anybody to say that about me.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, yes, ma'. Am. What is it you're gonna say?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

I guess it'll be all right. You're so honest looking.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Thank you.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

He is, too.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am. Would you like to tell us?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Well, you know, poor Ethel isn't very happy.

[Detective Joe Friday]

That so?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Oh, my, I feel so sorry for her sometimes.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What about?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Well, it's that husband of hers.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Mr. Cabot.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Yeah. Oh, he's a good provider and all, but I always say there's more to life than just that.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Am. Nice home, good car, paid bills and all. But George isn't the fellow he makes out. You know that. So why do you think Ethel goes down to that bar to pick him up every night?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, we don't know. Why don't you tell us?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

You're a man. You should be able to figure it out. She doesn't trust him. That's why all those girls hanging around the bar. Ethel notices things like that. George has got pretty big eyes, too. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to add it all up.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, has Ms. Cabot ever talked to you about all this?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

A couple of times. She'd come over crying because of something George had said or done. She'd tell me now. Host, sir, no matter what it looked like, they weren't very happy.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Did they have a quarrel that you know of?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

A lot of times George used to yell at her. Scream about her leaving him alone. Could hear it over here. Summertime, you know. The windows are open, sound carries right over. Couldn't really not hear it. And mind I didn't try.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yes, we understand. Any of these quarrels ever get violent, do you know?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

You mean, did George ever hit her?

[Detective Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Oh, you bet he did. Gave her a black eye once. Took a couple of weeks for it to go away. Poor Ethel. She tried to hide it with makeup, but you could still tell.

[Detective Joe Friday]

I see. When she left, did she say that she was going down to pick up her husband?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Yeah. Told me she had to go get George. Made her a little mad tonight.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Why is that?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Missed the last part of the movie on tv.

[Detective Joe Friday]

I see.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Ethel had to Leave before we found out who the swindler was.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Uh huh. Can you tell us what kind of a car the Cabbage Drive?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Pontiac.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Coupe or sedan?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Sedan. Light blue.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What year?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

This one. Brand new.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You happen to know the license number?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

No. Didn't give that to you? Didn't pay a lot of attention.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Do you know if they do business with one service station?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

No, I can't tell you that.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Can you give us a description of Mrs. Cabot?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Sure. I'll give you a picture if you want one.

[Detective Joe Friday]

We appreciate it.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

It's no trouble at all. I got a scrapbook here, some shots of Ethel. Ah, here's that pencil Abner I was looking for. I know it's here. Now I know it's here.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Is that it there? The book?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

No, no, no. That's my high school annual. I'll wait just a minute. Well, it is here. I know it is here. Oh, here it is. Mm. Mm. I took all these myself.

[Detective Joe Friday]

This man is very nice.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Oh, that's my husband. I took that at Coronado island one spring. Oh, here's one. You can take this one here in the chef's hat. That's Ethel. We were having a barbecue and she was the cook. It's a little fuzzy, but it gives you an idea what she looks like. You see, well, her hair's cut short now. Had it cut last month, kind of bob like. You can take it.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Thank you very much, Mary.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

You know, I just thought of it. You haven't told me what this is all about. Something happened to Ethel, George.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, we're not sure yet. We're just checking out a complaint. Oh.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Well, as long as you're all right.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am. Well, I think that about covers it. Should like to thank you for your cooperation.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

No, I'm happy to help.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Good night, Ms. Lawrence.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Good night, Mr. Smith.

[Detective Joe Friday]

There's one more thing. Will you be home tomorrow if we have to get in touch with you all day?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

If I don't answer right away, let the phone ring for a while. I got some work to do in the garden.

[Detective Joe Friday]

All right, ma'. Am. Thank you very much.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Well, I hope I helped you out. Good night.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Good night. Good night. What do you think? I don't know. The way she tells it, something's out of line in it. Well, Cabot seemed to be pretty upset when he got that phone call. There's only one big trouble with that. What do you mean? Maybe that's what he wanted us to think. 2:45am Frank and I got back to the office. We ran the names George and Ethel Cabot through R and I, but we found no record on them. We sent a teletype to DMV up in Sacramento asking for all available information on a car registered to George Cabot or his wife or both. Frank went over to the business office to see if the men in the units that were keeping Cabot under surveillance had reported in. There were no messages. We made a 15.7 report directing it to Captain Lohrman, telling him of what had happened and what action we'd taken. At 3:52am we were ready to leave the office. Yeah. All set? Yeah. Now let's go. All right, I get it. Make it fast, huh? Homicide. Friday. Where? Yeah. Okay, we'll be right over. What do you got? Ethel Cabot. Yeah, I just found her.

[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[George Cabot]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

Today, Frank and I left the office and immediately drove over to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital. When we got there, we talked to Dr. Sebastian and he gave us the whole story. The woman had been found lying by the roadside. She was picked up by a motorist. He taken her directly to the hospital. Sebastian went on to tell us that from her appearance, Ethel Cabot had been severely beaten and then rolled or dragged in hot tar. Her clothes were covered with it. Her hair was matted. The doctor said that the woman's head had been shaved and that most of the tar had been removed. A tentative identification had been made through a letter found on her person when she'd been brought in. An attempt was made to call her husband, but there was no answer at either the bar or at her home. Frank and I waited until the woman had been treated. Then we went in to talk to her. She was in a state of severe shock and she was incoherent.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Don't hit me anymore. Please don't hit me anymore.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Out of her hand? Yeah.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

I didn't do anything. Don't hit me.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Ms. Cabot. Ms. Cabot.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Please let me go. Please.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You're all Right now. There's nothing to be afraid of here.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Hey. You're lying.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You're in a hospital. Ms. Cabot. You're all right.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Don't let him get me anymore. Don't let him touch me.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Nobody's gonna hurt you, Ms. Cabot.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Where's George?

[Detective Joe Friday]

We're trying to reach him, ma'. Am.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

I don't want to see you. Not ever.

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

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[George Cabot]

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[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

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[George Cabot]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

What is that?

[George Cabot]

This is amazing.

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[George Cabot]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[George Cabot]

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[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

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[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

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[Detective Joe Friday]

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[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

All. His fault.

[Detective Joe Friday]

George caused this.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

He told me.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, who said that?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Both of them. They said they were doing it for George.

[Detective Joe Friday]

There were two people?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Yes. Kept hitting me. They poured the tar over me. Wasn't anything I could do. Nothing.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Did you know these men?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

They kept Hitting me. George. George, tell him to stop. Not anymore. Please, not anymore.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Ms. Cabot, do you know who the two men were?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

No, I don't know. They didn't have any reason to do it except for George. That's what they told me. I didn't know they were gonna hit me like that.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Did you hear a name?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

No, I don't know.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Did either one of them call a name of any kind?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Please, make him stop. Don't let him pour any more tar on me.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Ms. Cabot.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Burns, I can't stand anymore.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Ms. Cabot, can you tell us what the men look like?

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

George. George, tell him to stop.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Ms. Cabot. We're not going to get much more out of her, Joan. No. Better get a policewoman up here to stand by. Yeah.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

George. George, stop.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Joe. Yeah, Dave? While you were talking, the Cabot woman.

[George Cabot]

Call came in for you.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Get in touch with the business office. Okay, Dave, Right away. They probably got a line on Cabot, huh? Hello? This Friday? When? Okay, we're leaving right now. Right. Bye. Well, that really tears it. What's that? I just lost the tail on Cabit. Frank and I went back to the office. We got in touch with a unit who'd been assigned to keep Cabot under surveillance. They told us that the man had gone downtown and had entered an all night movie in the darkness. He managed to get away. A team of men was sent out to his house, but he hadn't returned. A stakeout was set up on it. A check of his bar failed to yield any additional information as to his whereabouts. A local broadcast was sent out to all units asking that they be on the lookout for the man. If he was found, he was to be taken into custody and we were to be notified immediately. 6:45am Frank and I checked out of the office and we went home to shave and change our clothes. At 8:15am we got back to Homicide. There was somebody waiting to see us. You want to see us?

[George Cabot]

Are you Friday Smith?

[Detective Joe Friday]

That's right.

[George Cabot]

I'm Arnold Leffer.

[Detective Joe Friday]

I got something to tell you. All right. You heard from Cavett? No. Oh, I figured maybe he'd call you. You know him? Yeah.

[George Cabot]

Yeah, I work for him. Help out in this place.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You heard from him?

[George Cabot]

Yeah, this morning. He called me at home.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Did he say where he was?

[George Cabot]

No, but I think he'd been drinking. He sounded like it.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[George Cabot]

It was either that or he was mad. One or the other.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Is that right?

[George Cabot]

Yeah. Last time I heard him talk like he did this morning was when he had that beef in the bar, about a week ago.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What was that all about?

[George Cabot]

Oh, a couple of guys thought they were pretty rough. Tried to prove it to George.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, well, he cleaned up the place with him. What caused that beef?

[George Cabot]

Well, they started to get loud with a couple of girls in the place. George told them to quiet down.

[Detective Joe Friday]

They didn't do it, so he told them to get out. Yeah, they didn't want to go.

[George Cabot]

And they tried to put the muscle on George, but they tried it with the wrong guy.

[Detective Joe Friday]

George really showed him that. So.

[George Cabot]

Oh, yeah. Bounce them both right out in the street.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Guys were pretty sore by. When did this happen? About a week ago. I don't remember the exact date. They were pretty sore.

[George Cabot]

Told George they'd find some way to.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Get even with him. I get it. Homicide, Friday. He's not here right now. Can I take a message? Mm. Yes, ma'. Am. No, he's not working today. Yes, ma'. Am. Well, if you give me your number, I'll have him call when he gets in. All right, that's nine. Eight. Yes, ma'. Am. No, no, it's right in the message book. No, he'll see it. That's right. Yes, ma'. Am. No, he'll look at the book when he comes in. No, the first thing. You bet. Well, you're more than welcome. Yes, ma'. Am. Bye. You know these two men?

[George Cabot]

Yeah, I've seen them a couple times around the bar.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You know their names?

[George Cabot]

Well, one of them's called Jack something or other. I don't know the last part.

[Detective Joe Friday]

How about the other one? I can't do any good there. You know where we can find him?

[George Cabot]

Yeah, that's one of the reasons I come in here. I want to tell you what George said to me.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[George Cabot]

Well, he said he found out who kidnapped Ethel. Told me he was going to get him. He mentioned this Jack, figured it was the same guy.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Where can we find him?

[George Cabot]

There's a room in house over on 7th I can show you.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Now. Let's go look.

[George Cabot]

There's something else, though.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What's that?

[George Cabot]

Well, I was at the bar when George called, and after I talked to him, I checked around.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, his gun's gone. Frank and I left the office and drove over to 7th Street. The barboy pointed out the rooming house where he said we could find Jack and his friend. We checked with the manager and found that two men answering the description we'd gotten shared a room on the third floor. We left Arnold Leffer in the car, and we went up to the room. Should be the last One, Yeah. Wonder if Cabot's gotten here yet. He has. Come on, let's kick it in. All right. All right. Cabot. Let him go.

[George Cabot]

Are we going to kill him?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Get him away. All right, come on. Please don't stop me. He's crazy. This guy's crazy. Come on, Cabin. Take it easy now. Come on. Come on. Over here. Get over there.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You should keep him away from me.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Go on, move. What do you think you're gonna prove, doing a thing like this? Cabin.

[George Cabot]

A couple of minutes more, I wouldn't have cared.

[Detective Joe Friday]

We found your wife. She's gonna be all right.

[George Cabot]

Yeah, I know.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You didn't help yourself much doing a thing like this. He's crazy. You shut up. All right now, come on. Calm down, both of you, and stand still. All right, how about this one?

[George Cabot]

Name's Ricko Martin. Him and Jack took my wife.

[Detective Joe Friday]

They admit it? Yeah.

[George Cabot]

They said they did it to get in with me for the fight.

[Narrator/Announcer]

We didn't hurt her. We just scared her a little bit, that's all.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What difference does it make?

[Narrator/Announcer]

We're gonna beat it anyway.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You are, huh? Sure.

[George Cabot]

All we gotta do is come up.

[Detective Joe Friday]

With the right plea. You got it all figured, haven't you? Sure.

[George Cabot]

There's a lot of ways we can go.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, we got one in mind.

[Narrator/Announcer]

The story you have just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On December 14, 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.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Thank you, George Feniman. Believe me, there's no substitute for quality. That's why I'm so sold on Chesterfield's. The Chesterfield you smoke today is the best cigarette ever made. Regular or king sized, Chesterfields really are the quality twins. I hope you'll try them. Not because I like them, but because you will. They satisfy millions.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Jack Prescott Bischoff and Rico Blake Martin. Were tried and convicted of kidnapping. One count. They both receive sentence as prescribed by law. Kidnapping with bodily injury. As punishable by life imprisonment without possibility of parole or by death in the lethal gas chamber. Are you working for money or is your money working for you? Put those hard earned dollars to work in United States Savings Bonds. Savings Bonds are safe and profitable. Backed by Uncle Sam. Buy Savings Bonds through payroll savings plans. Where you work, your employer holds back a few dollars from your paycheck each week. When enough has accumulated for a bond, he buys it for you. It's the painless, systematic way to put your dollars to work. $75 becomes $100 when the bonds mature. Now's the time to look to the future. Don't put it off. Join Payroll Savings. Today. 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 Vance Brasher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Georgia Ellis, Harry Bartel, Virginia Gregg, Jack Cruchen. Script by John Robinson, Earl Schlay. Music by Walter Schumann. Pal 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 Ladies and gentlemen, Gunsmoke, brought to you by L M Filters, will now be heard on Saturday night. Chesterfield's Perry Como show will be heard Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. Consult your radio listings for the time. That's Gunsmoke and the Como show, both on another network.

[George Cabot]

Hello, I'm Stu Irwin.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

And I'm June Irwin. Our cigarette is L M Filters.

[George Cabot]

They have the first filter we've tried.

[Detective Joe Friday]

That really does the job.

[George Cabot]

It certainly is the miracle tip.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Notice how easy it draws. And notice how good L and M's taste. You get much more flavor, much less nicotine.

[George Cabot]

We'll be telling you more about L and M's come October 20th. We have a new TV show going on. Then every Wednesday night it's the Stu Irwin Show. Check your paper for the time and station.

[Carol Lawrence (Neighbor)]

Be sure to join us.

[George Cabot]

And meanwhile, try L M's King size or regular? Both at the same low price.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Lux Radio Theater presents Great Expectations tonight on the NBC Radio Network.