Dragnet: The Big Trunk 09/07/1954

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Dragnet: The Big Trunk

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode Airdate: September 9, 2025 (originally aired 09/07/1954)
Host: Choice Classic Radio

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Episode Overview

This classic Dragnet episode, “The Big Trunk,” follows detective sergeants Joe Friday and Frank Smith as they investigate the mysterious disappearance of Josephine Allen, an attractive divorcee. With only scant evidence hinting at foul play and a cast of conflicted relationships, the detectives must sift through misleading clues, heated emotions, and dead-ends to expose a killer. The story embodies Dragnet’s hallmark of procedural realism and understated tension.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Progression

1. Initial Disappearance & Neighborhood Inquiry

[02:41-05:44]

• Detectives Friday and Smith visit Mrs. Harrison, neighbor and close friend of the missing Josephine Allen.
• Mrs. Harrison recounts her last interactions with Josephine (Friday, June 6), the state of Josephine’s relationships post-divorce, and tension with both her ex-husband, Jordan Allen, and current boyfriend, David Lansing.
• Notable: Mrs. Harrison expresses suspicion about Lansing due to frequent loud arguments:
  • Quote: "If you asked me, I'd say that David had something to do with Josephine's being gone." — Mrs. Harrison [04:58]

2. Crime Scene Discovery

[05:44-07:44]

• Friday and Smith search Josephine’s house and yard.
• No signs of forced entry, no luggage missing; an undisturbed meal for two is found on the dining table.
• In the garage, they discover a trunk with suspicious stains. Upon opening, they find Josephine’s body inside.
  • Quote: "I know where she is. Yeah, let's find out who put her there." — Friday [07:33]

3. Suspect Profiles & Evidence Building

[07:44-11:49]

• The trunk was addressed to David Lansing, making him a prime suspect.
• Lansing’s background includes multiple arrests (mostly for drunkenness and fighting).
• Interviews with Lansing’s roommate and friend, Mark Gilson, provide further context: Lansing was deeply upset over Josephine’s interactions with her ex-husband and was last seen very agitated on Friday, drinking heavily.
  • Quote: "Dave doesn't drink too good. All he needs is a couple. He thinks he can lick the world." — Mark Gilson [10:43]
• The trunk’s rope uses seaman’s knots; Lansing does not have nautical experience.

4. Alternative Leads & Further Investigation

[11:49-14:23]

• Miss Dodie Fredericks, former girlfriend, describes Lansing as obsessed with Josephine but offers him an alibi and claims he left town for San Francisco after borrowing money.
  • Quote: "Always ends up the same way. He comes back. Thinks he's a real big man. All the time with the chicks." — Dodie Fredericks [13:56]

5. Break in the Case: Evidence Doesn’t Fit Lansing

[14:23-17:23]

• Lansing is arrested on a drunk charge but denies knowledge of the murder.
• Handwriting tests show a mismatch between Lansing’s writing and the trunk's shipping label.
  • Quote: "Note here from Don Meyer... They checked the exemplars of Lansing against the label on the trunk. Yeah, no match at all. Kind of looks like we might have the wrong man." — Friday and Frank [17:18]
• Lansing reveals Josephine told him Friday night she was expecting Jordan Allen for dinner and had decided not to reconcile with Lansing.

6. Focus Shifts to Jordan Allen

[17:23-21:45]

• Detectives travel to San Diego to interview Jordan Allen.
• Allen stonewalls but eventually describes his last encounter with Josephine: she invited him for dinner, breaking the news she wouldn’t get back together and intended to marry Lansing. Allen describes his overwhelming jealousy and heartbreak.
  • Quote: “All the time, I figured, sure she was gonna say we were going back together… She told me she was gonna marry this David Lansing… I just couldn’t take any more of it.” — Jordan Allen [23:12]

7. Allen’s Confession and Motive

[21:45-25:37]

• Allen admits to killing Josephine in a fit of despair and jealousy when she told him her intentions.
• He attempted to frame Lansing by putting his name on the trunk and using shipping techniques from his former seaman days.
  • Quote: "That's where I thought I was smart... I figured I'd have it sent to his place and then pick it up and get rid of it. If I couldn't do that, then he'd get the blame for it." — Jordan Allen [24:37]
• Friday responds:
  • Quote: "You had a funny way of showing it, didn't you?" — Friday [25:37]

8. Resolution

[25:37-End]

• Concluding narration: Jordan Allen is tried and convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to five years to life.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mrs. Harrison’s early suspicion:
  "If you asked me, I'd say that David had something to do with Josephine's being gone." [04:58]
• Crime scene realism:
  "Table all set… Food, none of it touched. Well, there's an answer someplace." — Friday [07:01]
• Mark Gilson, on Lansing’s volatility:
  "Dave doesn't drink too good. All he needs is a couple. He thinks he can lick the world." [10:43]
• Dodie's resigned bitterness:
  "Always ends up the same way. He comes back. Thinks he's a real big man. All the time with the chicks." [13:56]
• Friday to Allen, on ‘love’:
  "You had a funny way of showing it, didn't you?" [25:37]

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Timeline of Important Segments

• [02:41] Detectives arrive at Mrs. Harrison’s; learn about Josephine’s relationships
• [05:44] Trunk with Josephine’s body discovered in garage
• [07:44] Focus on David Lansing as initial suspect
• [10:43] Lansing’s roommate describes his anger and drinking
• [13:12] Dodie Fredericks’ testimony and alibi details
• [14:23] Lansing arrested and questioned; evidence points away from him
• [17:18] Handwriting analysis clears Lansing
• [21:45] Detective interview and confession from Jordan Allen
• [25:37] Allen’s conviction and episode resolution

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Episode Tone & Style

“Dragnet: The Big Trunk” maintains the series’ trademark crisp, procedural style: terse police dialogue, detailed step-by-step investigation, and an understated moral stance. The episode eschews melodrama in favor of realism, focusing on the tragic consequences of human jealousy and misunderstanding.

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This summary provides a comprehensive yet accessible recount of the events, key evidence, and character motivations in this classic Dragnet episode, capturing both its structure and human drama for listeners new and old.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[B]

I really do.

[A]

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] Ladies and gentlemen, the story you're about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Dragnet, you're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a homicide detail. An attractive divorcee disappears from her home. There's no lead to her whereabouts. There's evidence of foul play. Your job, find her. 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. Was Tuesday, June 10. Was mild in Los Angeles. We were working today. Watch out. A homicide detail. My partner is Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Lorman. My name's Friday. We're on our way out from the office and it was 11:15am when we got to 2962 Reservoir street, front door.

[B]

You're the policeman?

[A]

Yes, ma'. Am. Ms. Harrison?

[B]

That's right. Come on in.

[A]

My partner, Frank Smith. My name's Friday. How are you, ma'? Am?

[B]

I was expecting you.

[A]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[B]

Other officers said there'd be somebody here from the detectives to see me. You men from the detective?

[A]

That's right, Ms. Harrison.

[B]

I got some coffee on if you'd like a cup while we talk.

[A]

No, thank. No, thank you.

[B]

Okay. You want to sit down there? We can get started on this.

[A]

All right.

[B]

I made some little notes this morning after the other policeman left. I thought it might help me to remember. They didn't find anything when they went to Josephine's house, did they?

[A]

No, they haven't. Wonder if you'd tell us what you know about her disappearance.

[B]

I'd be glad to? Last time I saw her was Friday the 6th. Last Friday.

[A]

Where was that?

[B]

Out in her yard. She was hanging up clothes and we got to talking, you know, about neighborhood stuff.

[A]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[B]

We talked for a little while. Her hanging up clothes, and I was working around the yard.

[A]

Did there seem to be anything wrong then?

[B]

Well, what do you mean?

[A]

Well, did she seem upset about anything?

[B]

Not that she told me about. We were pretty close. She told me just about everything. Happened to her.

[A]

Mm.

[B]

When her and Jordan were still married, we used to get together all the time. Have a little barbecue, maybe take in the drive in movie.

[A]

That's her husband?

[B]

Yeah. Jordan Allen.

[A]

She's divorced, then?

[B]

Yeah, I got the interlocutory about six months ago. Not final yet.

[A]

Where's Mr. Allen now?

[B]

Well, the last I heard, he was working down San Diego.

[A]

Do you know where we might get in touch with him?

[B]

Not right off. Must be some letters over to Josephine's, though. He was always writing it.

[A]

Was there any trouble between them?

[B]

They got a divorce.

[A]

Well, that's not what I mean. I mean after. Did they have any arguments, any disagreements?

[B]

Off and on. Jordan wanted to get back together again. Always asking her to call off the decree.

[A]

Did he see her often?

[B]

I don't think they got together in the last couple of months, no. Josephine got some phone calls from him, though.

[A]

From San Diego?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Did Mrs. Allen say anything to you about taking vacation, anything like that?

[B]

No, she'd had anything like that in mind, she'd have told me. We were pretty close.

[A]

Did you have any men friends that you know of?

[B]

Oh, she's a handsome woman, Mr. Friday. She had a lot of them.

[A]

Well, did she see any one person more than the others?

[B]

Would you know David Lansing? They used to go out quite a bit, I think. David wanted to marry her, so his divorce was final.

[A]

Has he been around lately? Would you know?

[B]

Not since Josephine disappeared.

[A]

How about before that?

[B]

I had a date with her the very night before. Went out to dinner and then went dancing.

[A]

Any trouble between them would you know.

[B]

I don't want to get mixed up in anything, Mr. Friday. You can understand that, can't you?

[A]

Yes, ma', am, we can. But if you know anything about Mrs. Allen's disappearance, we'll have to ask that you tell us.

[B]

It's just that I don't want David to find out about it.

[A]

Well, he won't hear it from us.

[B]

That's a promise.

[A]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[B]

How about you?

[A]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[B]

Well, then, if you asked me, I'd say that David had Something to do with Josephine's being gone.

[A]

Why do you say that?

[B]

Cause they were always fighting. I could hear them all the way over here.

[A]

What'd they argue about? You know?

[B]

David wanted to marry her. And she wouldn't tell him. Whether she would or not until after the divorce was final. Way she put it, until she got the papers, she was still a married woman.

[A]

Lansing didn't like that, huh?

[B]

Oh, no, not a bit. Ten days ago, I was over there. My TV was on the blank, and I went over to see one of my favorites. David was there, and it wasn't no time before they was at it, yelling and screaming. Kind of made me embarrassed. That's when he said it.

[A]

What was that?

[B]

Said for Josephine to get rid of Jordan or David would get rid of her.

[A]

We continued to question the Harrison woman about Mrs. Allen. She could give us no reason for her disappearance. Fang and I left and went next door. We checked through the house. It was exactly the way the two uniformed officers had found it that morning. The shades on all of the windows were drawn. None of the furniture seemed to be disturbed. There was no sign of a struggle. On the dining room table, there was a setting for two people. Silverware, napkins, glasses, they're all ready to be used. On the plates themselves was a complete meal. None of the food had been touched. We looked for Mrs. Allen's luggage, was no way of being sure, but apparently none of her things had been taken. We went on through the house and out into the backyard. There was no sign of anything wrong out there either. Sure doesn't figure. Doesn't. Well, table all set. Food, none of it touched. Well, there's an answer someplace. Yeah, let's check the garage. All right, I get it. Well, no sign here. No, I want to check the stuff at the back. Yeah. Trunk. Here. Look at this. Looks like stains of some kind. Better take a look, huh? The way it's wrapped up, they're gonna mail it. Labels and everything. Here, you got anything to cut this with? Might be something here. Here, we try this? Oh, thank you. Keep those knives. Yeah. Here, give me a hand with a lot, will you? Yeah. It's coming out. There we are. All right. I know where she is. Yeah, let's find out who put her there. The crew from the crime lab was called, and they came out to go over the house in the garage. Frank and I called the office and told them what we'd found. We checked the labels on the trunk. They were addressed to a David Lansing on Rowena Avenue out in Glendale. We went Back to the woman who put in the original call. From her, we got a complete description of Lansing and we called it into the office. We found that he had an arrest record listing several drunk charges and two major 415s fights. While the men from the crime lab continued their investigation on the scene, Frank and I drove over to see Lansing. He wasn't home. We talked to his landlady, but she told us that she hadn't seen him in several days. She was unable to tell us where he was employed. We checked his room, we questioned her about his car. She gave us the name and business address of his roommate. We drove over to see him. He worked in a large television store on Pico Boulevard. Yes sir. Something I can do for you? Like to see Mark Gilson. That's me. Police officers. Mr. Gilson, this is my partner, Frank Smith. My name's Friday. Now I. What can I do for you? We'd like to ask you a couple questions about David Lansing. Dave in trouble again? Do you know where he is? No, I haven't seen him for a couple of days. I have no idea where you can find him. Well, if I had, you'd sure get it. Say, can you tell me what this is all about? Be better if we talk to Lansing about it. Yeah, if he's in a beef again, I'd just as soon stay out of it. Won't make me unhappy. When'd you see him last? The day. That's it. Let me see. I guess it was Friday night. He said anything to you that might give us a lead as to where we can find him? No. I was home when he came in. He was pretty bugged about something. You know what it was? Only a couple things ever got Dave upset. His boss or his girl? Do you know his girl? No, never met her. Dave was all the time talking about how we were going to get together some night, have dinner, take in a few places where he never quite got around to it though. Uh huh. You ever say anything about her? No, not much. He's pretty crazy about her. Wanted to marry her just as soon as her divorce was final. What was he mad about when you saw him last? You know. Well, I guess it was Josephine. That's his girl. Yeah, we know he was sore about her. She's got this husband down south someplace. I don't know either San Pedro or San Diego somewhere down there. Yeah. He was trying to get Josephine to come back to him. Call off the divorce. He's always calling about it. Trying to see her. Made Dave sore way he put it he and Joe had gotten into a beef about it that day. That was Friday. Yeah. Yeah. He had a couple of drinks before he got home. And while he was there and we were talking, he had a couple more. Got pretty mean. Is that right? Oh yeah. Dave doesn't drink too good. All he needs is a couple. He thinks he can lick the world. He gets pretty mean. I don't like to have him around when he's loaded. You give any idea where he was going? No, I left him at the apartment. What time is that? I don't know, about 6:30. Around in there. I had a date with a girl. She lives out in the Santa Monica Canyon. Takes about an hour to drive out there. I left about 6:30 because I met this girl at 7:30. Lansing was still in the apartment, huh? Yeah. He's just sitting there pouring the booze away. I told him take it easy, slow down. He said for me not to worry. Said he had to decide on something. I figured it was about Joseph. You know, Dave really loved that girl. All this stuff with her ex husband was just eating at him. I guess he was just trying to figure out what to do. It's a funny thing about Dave. Takes him a while to make up his mind about what to do. But once he decides there's anything can stop him. That's all. Oh yeah. Takes him a while, but he's always right. No, not always. What do you mean? Looks like he missed this time. Frank and I went back to the office. We got out a local broadcast and an APB on David Lansing. Along with the information on his automobile. We made arrangements for a stakeout to be placed on his home. A call was put through to the firm who employed him, but they told us that he hadn't shown up for work that week. Frank and I went back to the crime lab. We met with Lieutenant Lee Jones. He went over the physical evidence found at the murder scene. The trunk itself had been checked over as well as the ropes it was tied with and the mailing label. There was nothing about the trunk to tell where it might have come from. The rope was of a common variety that could be purchased anywhere. The knots, however, were of a type generally used by seamen to secure heavy articles. We made arrangements to obtain samples of Lansing's handwriting for comparison with the writing on the label. The evidence was marked in book. The next morning Frank and I met with Captain Lohrman. We went over what we had. Was decided that in David Lansing we had a prime suspect. After we left the City hall we started to check out the people listed in Lansing's package as friends or acquaintances. First one we talked to was a Miss Dodie Fredericks.

[B]

Honey, he's a bum.

[A]

How long have you known him?

[B]

About 10 years. We went together, even thought about getting married. It was all a big deal. Right now I don't much care if I never see him again.

[A]

I wanted to see him last.

[B]

Let's see. I guess it was Saturday. Yeah, Saturday night.

[A]

What was last week?

[B]

That's right. He came in the place, we talked.

[A]

What place?

[B]

Borrow, on six. I worked there as a sort of hostess.

[A]

What'd Lansing say when you saw him?

[B]

Not much. I did most of the talking, just like usual. Just came in, sat in a booth. Always sits in a booth. Ordered a drink and we talk. It's kind of slow, so we just sat and talked.

[A]

What'd you talk about?

[B]

The old days.

[A]

Ever wonder what life is like with a phantom screen?

[B]

It's magic.

[A]

It is. Oh, wow. Wow, wow.

[B]

Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow.

[A]

What is that? This is amazing. Retractable screens for your home make life better. Visit phantomscreens.com 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.

[B]

I'm not gonna give you a line. I was in love with Dave.

[A]

Always was.

[B]

Right from the first time I saw him, I wanted to marry him. Everything was going good until he missed his Allen Broad. All of a sudden, he figures I ain't good enough for him, or something like that. Anyway, he drops me right in the middle of the street, takes off.

[A]

You say anything about Mrs. Allen Saturday night?

[B]

Honey, he don't talk much else. All the time. It's what she said or what she did all the time. That way you'd think she was a Taj Mahal or something, the way he talked about her and.

[A]

But what'd he say Saturday night?

[B]

Just about old Josephine. I tell you, I'm so sick of that name, I could scream Big deal with them, too. He's always around her. But when he's got a problem, who do you think he comes running to?

[A]

We wouldn't know.

[B]

I'll tell you.

[A]

Me.

[B]

She gives him the bad time. And he comes to me to get over it. Always been like that. Meet some girl and right away it's the real thing. Always ends up the same way. He comes back. Thinks he's a real big man. All the time with the chicks. One of these days I'm gonna tell him that. Tell him to leave me alone. Gonna tell him as soon as he comes back.

[A]

What do you mean? Hmm? About when he comes back. Do you know where he is? No.

[B]

But when he was in here Saturday, he was broke. Borrowed 30 bucks from me.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Said he had to le.

[A]

We continued to talk to Dodie Fredericks. We got as much information as we could from her. She told us that Lansing had said he was going to San Francisco. We asked her if he had any friends in the Bay City. She supplied us a list of names. We went back to the office and got in touch with the authorities in San Francisco and asked them to check on the suspect for us. We put in a call to the coroner's office. The body had been posted and the time of death was set at some time Friday night. We checked out the rest of Lansing's friends and associates without result. We requestioned the suspect's roommate and we went over his apartment again. But we failed to turn up any evidence that might aid us in taking him into custody. Two days passed. Saturday, June 14th. Frank and I checked in for work. How's it going, Joe? All right. Say, you got a date tonight? What was that? I say, you got a date tonight? What do you mean? Well, I just wondered if maybe you'd like to drop over for dinner. You know, kind of sit around, talk. Well, I didn't have anything planned. Good. When it's all set, I'll give Fay a call. Okay, I get it. Homicide, Friday. Yeah. When did you get them? Be right over. Right. Come on, we gotta get over the main jail. What's the matter? They found Lansing. We went over to the main jail and picked up David Lansing. He'd been arrested that morning and booked for drunk violation of section 4127A of the Los Angeles Municipal Code. As soon as the officers at the jail had made sure of his identity, they called us. He was taken back to the city hall to handwriting. An exemplar of his handwriting was taken for comparison with the printing on the label found on the trunk. Frank and I took the suspect back to the interrogation room for questioning. He was fairly sober, but he complained of a bad headache. Frank went down the hall and brought back some coffee. We told Lansing of Josephine Allen's death, it didn't seem to make any difference to him. It's hot. You get it down, it'll help you in anything. It'll do me any good. I just gotta wait it out. All right, Lansing, you want to tell us why you did it? You want to tell us why you killed Josephine Allen? I'd like to help you out. There's only one problem. I didn't do it. Only evidence doesn't point that way. You better take another look. Were you in the service, Lansing? No. I got deferred. Bad ear. Ever do any work in the Merchant Marine? No. I get sick on the boats at MacArthur Park. Never did any sea duty, huh? No. I'm the kind of fella that can only take a shower. Note for you, Franny. Thank you, Frank. Dad, want to step out here? Mm. What do you got? Note here from Don Meyer. Yeah? They checked the exemplars of Lansing against the label on the trunk. Yeah, no match at all. Kind of looks like we might have the wrong man. You are listening to Dragnet. The authentic story of your police force in action. The information from Handwriting Division on the results of the comparison made it possible that we had the wrong suspect in custody. The main two pieces of physical evidence we had were the knots used in tying the rope around the trunk and the label on both counts. Apparently, David Lansing was out. We set out for more coffee for the suspect. We continued to question him. Look, I'll spell it out for you. I didn't have anything to do with killing her. You saw her Friday, didn't you? Yeah, but that don't mean I killed her. Well, tell us what happened when you saw her. From where? From when she opened the door. I went over to see her about 7:30 Friday night. Yeah, I went over to try to talk some sense into her. Were you two having trouble? Yeah. About what? The same thing all the time. I loved her. I loved her a lot. I wanted to marry the girl all the time. His ex husband's hanging around trying to get her to come back. I had a belly full and I wanted to get things straightened out, so I went to see her. I didn't call and tell her she was pretty hacked about it. Said I should have called. She got real sore. I asked her what was wrong. She never acted like that before. I wanted to know what the beef was, Louis. So she filled me in on how Jordan was coming up from San Diego. They had some things to talk about. Big deal. All the time they were talking him trying to get her to Come back. Got to the point where I didn't know where I stood. She told me to come in, but she said I couldn't stay long because she was expecting Jordan. Said he was coming up for dinner. I told her I wanted to marry. I told her to make up a mind once and for all not to keep me on the string anymore. What'd she say? Told me to call her Saturday morning. Said she'd have something to tell me then. Go ahead. The way she put it, things were gonna work out. After we talked for a little bit, I left. She told me she didn't want me there when the ex got to the place. What time did you leave? I don't know. Well, you must have some kind of an idea. Maybe 7:30 or 8. Around an air. I'm not sure. I was pretty sore when I walked out. I didn't pay a lot of attention. Where'd you go then? I went home for a while. I sat around. Then I went over to see a guy I know. Runs a little club on Alvarado. We sat there until the place closed. And after that? I went home with him. Why didn't you go into your place? No reason. He lived pretty close. We spent the night there. Why'd you stop going to work? What? We checked with the place where you work to say I haven't been to work this week. I guess that's because I couldn't get in touch with Josephine. How do you mean? Lynn. I tried to call her Saturday morning. I didn't get any answers, so I figured that Jordan had talked her into coming back. I just went out on a run. Did you try to see her? Mm. What, did you go over to the house and try to see her? Yeah. I went over Saturday night. There wasn't any answer. Shades were all pulled down. I figured, sure, she left town. What'd you do? Went down to a bar on 6th. Saw a girl I know. We talked. I guess I got pretty loaded. Next couple of days are kind of foggy. You ever met Jordan Allen? Yeah, once. Put it down that we didn't get along too good. You know anything about him? What do you mean? What kind of business are you in? I think it's some kind of photography thing. He sells cameras or something like that. You know anything about his background? Not much. I only met the guy once. We didn't get along too good then. Near as I can remember. From what Josephine told me, he worked on a boat. Merchant marine, for about six years. You sure about that? It's what I heard. Take it from there. All right, we'll do that. It's gonna make a difference. It might to you. How do you figure? You're lucky. You get seasick. The suspect was returned to the main jail where he was held a answer on the drug charge. We got in touch with Sergeant Tony McGuire down in San Diego. And asked him to check on the victim's husband. Frank and I met with Chief Detective Stat Brown and Captain Warman. We laid out the information we'd been able to come up with. They agreed that we should drive to the Southland City and talk to Jordan Allen. We checked out a trip car and we drove down to talk to him. We found him at his home, a small clapboard house on B Street. From the way he looked, he'd been in bed when we rang the bell. Come on in. What do you want to see me about? Like to ask you a few questions. About what? When's the last time you saw your wife? Why? We'd like to have an answer. I don't know. Maybe a couple weeks ago. Bring it down to a day, will you? Why? Pretty important to you? Why to me? You lay it out any way you want, mister. We asked it simple. You can give us the same kind of an answer now. Look, you come in here, you're knocked from dago. You got no right asking me anything. Local authorities know we're here. If you want us to ask them to ask the questions, it can be fixed up. How about it, Alan? Go ahead. When'd you see your wife last? Must have been a couple weeks ago. I can't come up with a date for you. What do you do for a living? Sell photographic materials. What kind of a job did you have before that? First mate on a ship. How long did you hold down that job? Six and a half years. How'd you and your wife get along? We were divorced. We understand you saw her quite a bit once in a while. Yeah, not too often. When we got it, you were trying to get her to call off the divorce. You've been listening to a lot of people with big mouths. You seem to talk pretty straight, mister. Well, you go and ask them the questions. All right, Alan, get your clothes on. What for? You don't want to talk here. We can make it downtown. Well, what do you want to know? You account for your time last week. What day? Start with Monday. Worked. What'd you do at night? Took in a movie. Can you prove that? Yeah. I took a girl I know. Works in one of the Photoshops here in town. Check with her what about Tuesday? I worked during the day. Stayed home Tuesday night. You got any way to back that up? No, I was alone. Go ahead. Wednesday I had to go out of town. Took a run over to Riverside. Didn't get back till about 1:30 in the morning. Yeah, you prove that, I can give you the names of the people I was with. You can call them if you have to. There's some way to get away from it. I sure appreciate. I don't like to have them brought into it. Well, it's a business thing. The old man buys a lot of stuff from me. I don't want to ruin the contact. What about Friday night? Friday night I was home all night. Didn't feel too good, so I was here all night. Anybody to vouch for you? No. I called a couple of people, but there wasn't anybody here. Saturday night I went out with the same girl I dated Monday. Look, you want to tell me what this is all about? You think you know? Now, how would I know? You guys come in here, cause a lot of trouble. How am I supposed to know what it's all about? All right, Alan. We'll lay it out for you. Your wife's dead. Josephine. That's right. When did it happen? Last week. You think I had something to do with it? Everything we've got points that way. Well, how do you figure that? Why'd I want to kill her? What reason would I have? We want you to tell us. Well, I haven't any. Now, come on, fellas, tell me the truth. This is a joke, huh? How much did Jeff give you to pull a gas? No joke. Look, I don't know what he gave you, but I'll double it. You just tell me the bit and I'll double your money. I'd like to get back at Jack. It's no joke, Alan. All the evidence we've got points out that you killed your wife. Now we just want to know why. You mean you really got a case you can take to court? We're gonna try. How about it? You want to tell us, Alan? I got scared. That's the only way you'd have known I got scared. Go ahead. I saw her Friday night. She said she'd have dinner with me. Said we'd have some stuff to talk about. I went up to have dinner with her. Yeah? She told me she made up her mind. Said she didn't want to get back together this past six months. I figured it'd work out all the time. I kept calling her, asking her to take me back. All the time would have done anything in the world she asked me to do. She had just taken me back. None of it worked. We sat there, had a couple of drinks, and then she went out in the kitchen and got dinner ready. All the time, I figured, sure she was gonna say we were going back together. Go ahead. I went out in the kitchen with her and we talked. Well, she put the stuff on the plates and then she told me she was gonna marry this David Lansing. I tried to talk her out of it. I told her it wouldn't work. She just wouldn't listen. Tried to tell her how she was making a mistake, but she wouldn't listen. She kept telling me to sit down, eat my dinner. Just kept telling me that I just couldn't take any more of it. I couldn't see her going to anybody else. You can see that yourself. There wasn't anything else I could do. You can that, can't you? Why'd you put Lansing's name on that trunk? Well, that's where I thought I was smart. I figured I'd have it sent to his place and then pick it up and get rid of it. If I couldn't do that, then he'd get the blame for it. Either way, it would have worked out for me. All right. You want to get dressed? Are you going to take me back to la?

[B]

That's right.

[A]

I don't much care anymore. Long as she's gone, there isn't much. Big thing is that you know that I really loved her. Yeah, sure. You got to believe that I did love her. It's important that you believe me. I loved her. Just one thing. Yeah. You had a funny way of showing it, didn't you? The story you've just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On November 18, trial was held in Department 97, Superior Court of the State of California in and for the county of Los Angeles. In a moment, the results of that trial. Jordan Keith Allen was tried and convicted of murder in the second degree, one count and received sentence as prescribed by law. Murder in the second degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period of from five years to life. 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.