BONUS - Five Favorites: Dragnet

Summary

Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

BONUS - Five Favorites: Dragnet

Host: Mean Streets Podcasts
Date: April 8, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this bonus installment of Down These Mean Streets, the host shares their five favorite classic radio episodes of Dragnet, honoring Jack Webb’s monumental impact on crime drama. This curated selection highlights the series’ storytelling range, memorable investigations, and the performances that shaped the police procedural genre on radio and television. The host offers historical context, cast insights, and commentary on Dragnet's signature style, making this episode a must-hear for fans and newcomers to old-time radio mysteries.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Dragnet’s Legacy and Jack Webb’s Influence

• Jack Webb is celebrated not just for Dragnet, but for other radio projects (Pat Novak, Jeff Regan, Pete Kelly’s Blues).
• Dragnet defined the modern police procedural—strained dialogue, true-to-life stories, and relentless focus on authenticity.

“Webb starred in hundreds of radio episodes, two TV shows and a feature film as the dogged LA detective in the show that birthed the modern police procedural.” (Joe Friday, 00:55)

2. Five Signature Dragnet Episodes: Summaries & Highlights

(1) The Big Bomb (Aired: July 13, 1950)

• Premise: A man, Vernon Carney, threatens to blow up city hall unless his brother is released from jail.

• Notable elements: Tense, minute-by-minute ticking clock; psychological negotiation; exploration of fear and duty.

• Memorable Quote:

  “What do you say to a man with a bomb?” (Joe Friday, 09:34)

• Cast: Joe Friday (Jack Webb), Ben Romero (Barton Yarborough).

• Notable Moment: Ben Romero’s choice to risk his life despite having a family, debating with Friday about who should confront the bomber (08:04–08:22).

• Resolution: The bomb is safely disposed of and it’s revealed it would have taken a hard pull to detonate. Carney is found mentally incompetent.

• Notable Quote (After bomb disposal):

  “You know, I gave it a good chance, Lee ... It was all there. Look. At least a dozen sticks of dynamite.” (Joe Friday & Jack Webb, 31:09–31:28)

(2) The Big Saint (Aired: April 26, 1951)

• Premise: Friday and Romero investigate a car theft ring linked to a salvage lot.
• Key details: Realistic police legwork, focus on car theft MOs.
• Notable Exchanges: Extensive squadroom dialogue reflecting Dragnet’s layered explanatory style. Real-life police procedure emphasized.
• Notable Moment: The methodical tracking of a 1949 Cadillac’s engine number that cracks the case.

(3) The Big Bunko (Aired: April 17, 1952)

• Premise: Friday and his interim partner, Officer Bill Lockwood (Martin Milner), pursue a skilled conman running fraudulent business opportunities.
• Notable Moment: Transition of partnership after Ben Romero’s death, exploring the mentorship dynamic within the department (67:00–68:39).
• Quote:

  “I remember when I first started. It didn’t come much greener than me. ... He never mentioned it once. I never forgot that. He’s a good cop.” (Joe Friday, 67:03)

(4) The Big Bull (Aired: September 14, 1952)

• Premise: Friday works with Officer Frank Smith (here played by Herb Ellis); Smith’s family is threatened by a criminal under investigation, raising the stakes.
• Key Themes: Personal risk, the impact of a cop’s job on family, and threat escalation.
• Notable Dialogue:

  “Why me, Joe? Bull Bentley’s brushed up against a hundred different cops… why me?” (Frank Smith, 103:34)

• Resolution: Emotional tension and determination to balance duty and family.

(5) The Big Little Mother (Aired: October 6, 1953)

• Premise: Friday and Frank Smith pursue a serial shoplifter, known as "the Little Mother," who forges department store charge slips to buy children’s clothes.

• Depth: Compassionate approach; delves into the suspect’s desperate family circumstances.

• Memorable Investigative Quote:

  “There’s just no way to go—all the people we’ve talked to, all we got for it is a file drawer all to ourselves…” (Jack Webb as Frank Smith, 135:09)

• Emotional Resolution: The reveal of the shoplifter’s motives—the struggle to provide for her children under a frugal, absent husband—brings closure not just to the case but to a fractured family (144:44–149:16).

• Quote:

  "It’s a funny thing to say, Mr. Friday, but it’s true. The best thing that ever happened to us: my getting arrested." (Mrs. Nelson, 149:07)

3. Dragnet’s Realism and Character Depth

• The podcast highlights how Dragnet’s realistic dialogue, understated performances, and attention to both procedural detail and emotional undercurrents set it apart.
• Episodes oscillate between high-tension crime and nuanced human drama.

“His folksy Texas drawl was a perfect counterpart to Webb’s clipped staccato delivery, and Romero’s family man character played well off of Friday’s confirmed bachelor.” (Joe Friday, 01:12)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On risking one’s life:

  “Every time we kick in a door, we never know what’s on the other side. — That’s what makes it different. This time, we do.”
  (Ben Romero & Joe Friday, 08:12–08:22)

• On police legacy:

  “The minute you pass that exam, you had to make book that something like this could contaminate you just as surely as if you weren’t a cop. ... For every attempted crime, God only knows how many innocent people are thrown into the balance… That’s the way it is, Frank.”
  (Joe Friday, 104:00)

• On empathy for criminals:

  “This is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever served … She’s just got to have a reason for what she’s doing.”
  (Mrs. Allen, 130:41)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro & Context: Start–01:15
• #1: The Big Bomb: 04:04–33:35
• #2: The Big Saint: 33:49–62:35
• #3: The Big Bunko: 63:24–92:08
• #4: The Big Bull: 93:03–121:31
• #5: The Big Little Mother: 122:46–150:46

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Style and Tone

• The host mirrors Dragnet's famous “just the facts” tone, framing the stories with respect for their dry, straightforward narration.
• Occasional asides offer warmth and appreciation for the actors’ chemistry, the suspenseful plotting, and the show’s understated but powerful poignancy.

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Conclusion

Mean Streets Podcasts’ detailed commentary and Jack Webb’s enduring performances make this bonus episode a rich journey through Dragnet’s radio golden age. The thoughtfully chosen episodes illustrate the development of American police drama—balancing suspense, procedure, and humanity.

“For now, sit back and enjoy my five favorite episodes of Dragnet.” (Host, 03:59)

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Perfect for fans of classic radio, detective fiction, or newcomers intrigued by the genre’s roots and Dragnet’s still-influential approach to crime storytelling.

Transcript

[Jack Webb]

Get this and get it straight.

[Announcer]

Crime is a sucker's road and those

[Jack Webb]

who travel it wind up in the gut of the prison of the grave. The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

[Announcer]

The Adventures of Sam Spade Detective the

[Jack Webb]

Adventures of the Saint starring Vincent Price. Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action packed expense account, America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar.

[Joe Friday]

Hello and welcome to a bonus episode of down these Mean Streets. It's another installment where I share my five favorite episodes of a classic radio detective series. And for this go round, we're continuing our month long salute to Jack Webb with my five favorite episodes of Dragnet. Now, Webb had other radio shows, Pat Novak, Jeff Regan, Pete Kelly's Blues. But his name will forever be synonymous with Dragnet and the character of Sergeant Joe Friday. Webb starred in hundreds of radio episodes, two TV shows and a feature film as the dogged LA detective in the show that birthed the modern police procedural. Today we'll hear my five favorite episodes shows that offer an example of the diverse range of stories Dragnet could tell, beginning with the big bomb from July 13, 1950. A man threatens to destroy city hall with a homemade bomb unless his brother is released from jail. Then we'll Hear the Big Saint from April 26, 1951, where Friday investigates a car theft ring linked to a salvage lot. Now, in these first two shows, Friday's partner is Sergeant Ben Romero, played by Barton Yarborough. His folksy Texas drawl was a perfect counterpart to Webb's clipped staccato delivery. And Romero's family man character played well off of Friday's confirmed bachelor. Unfortunately, Yarbrough died tragically young in December 1951, and the character of Romero passed away in a memorable episode, a rare emotional installment of Dragnet. In our third show today, we meet one of Friday's interim partners, Officer Bill Lockwood, played by future Adam 12 TV star Martin Milner. He stars in the big bunko from April 17, 1952, the hunt for a Conman. Friday's second longtime partner was Officer Frank Smith, and he'd be played for several years on radio and TV by Ben Alexander. But when the character was first introduced, he was played by other actors. And that's the case in our fourth show, the Big Bull, from September 14, 1952, where Smith is played by Herb Ellis. Smith and his family are front and center here as the crook the cops are chasing starts making threatening phone calls to Smith's wife and finally, we'll hear Jack Webb and Ben Alexander pursue a serial shoplifter in the Big little mother from October 6, 1953. I'll be back on Sunday with more Jack Webb. But for now, sit back and enjoy my five favorite episodes of Dragnet.

[Jack Webb]

Ladies and gentlemen, this true story concerns the heart of a great city. It took 58 minutes to resolve the question of its safety or its total destruction. This is the story of those 58 minutes. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

[Announcer]

Fatima Cigarettes. Best of all long cigarettes brings you dream.

[Jack Webb]

If you want a long cigarette, Smoke the best of all long cigarettes. Smoke extra mild Fatima. Yes, Fatima is the king size cigarette which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos. Superbly blended to make it extra mild. To give Fatima a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. That's why Fatima has more than doubled its smokers coast to coast. Enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself. Best of all, long cigarettes. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.

[Announcer]

Dragnet. The documented drama of an actual crime. While the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department. You will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

[Joe Friday]

It was Tuesday, November 15th. Was raining in Los Angeles. We were off duty, reporting in on an emergency call. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Lynn White, Deputy Chief of Police. My name's Friday. It was 8:25am when I walked into the main street entrance of the City Hall.

[Jack Webb]

On Friday?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's right.

[Jack Webb]

You have to take this elevator start. It's the only one to serve.

[Joe Friday]

Right. Thank you. Yep.

[Jack Webb]

I'm gonna run you up to 16. Chief's waiting for you up there.

[Joe Friday]

Well, what's the pitch? Only one elevator here in service out of ten. The place looks deserted. What's going on?

[Jack Webb]

Nobody in the building, Sergeant. All the office people have been sent home. Lots of trouble.

[Joe Friday]

Somebody declare a holiday?

[Jack Webb]

No joke, Sergeant. Big trouble.

[Joe Friday]

You convinced me. What is it?

[Jack Webb]

Here we are.

[Joe Friday]

16th floor. Okay.

[Jack Webb]

Over here, Freddy. Right. Hi, Gail.

[Joe Friday]

Hello, Ben.

[Jack Webb]

Made good time.

[Joe Friday]

I came as soon as I got the call. Lynn.

[Jack Webb]

Sorry to have to bring you back in. You worked last night, didn't you?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Midnight to 8 this morning.

[Jack Webb]

It's all right. Come on. Move Wonders. It's Skipper. Wild A hush, hush. Where do we get inside? In here.

[Joe Friday]

Okay, number one.

[Jack Webb]

Let's keep our voices Down.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Jack Webb]

I'll make it as brief as I can. Every night counts. What time you got Friday, 8:33. All right, here it is. 55 minutes ago, a man walked into this building with a homemade bomb under his arm. We don't release his brother from the county jail by 9 o' clock this morning, he says he'll pull the trigger on the bomb and blow up the whole building. He's kidding, Skipper.

[Joe Friday]

Who is the guy?

[Jack Webb]

Name's Vernon Carney. Here's his package. He and his brother have been in and out of jail since 1937. Small town thieves.

[Joe Friday]

FBI kickback here. We had him once before. Both of them.

[Jack Webb]

Brother's name is Elwood. Serving a year for car stripping. And this two bit thief is sitting here in the city hall with a bomb on his lap? That's right. Our next room.

[Joe Friday]

What kind of a bomb is it, Lynn? You think he's bluffing?

[Jack Webb]

Could be bluffing. The crime lab says no. Lee Jones from the lab.

[Joe Friday]

Get a look at it.

[Jack Webb]

He's been in here twice. One end of the box is glass. Says he can't see much without a closer look. But you can't get near the guy. All right.

[Joe Friday]

What do you want us to do?

[Jack Webb]

It's a volunteer job. I can take it or leave it. I won't order you to do it. How do you want to handle it? You sure you want a piece of this Romero? No.

[Joe Friday]

No, he doesn't. He's got a family. Can you get me another single, man? We'll give it a try.

[Jack Webb]

Wait a minute, Joe. What makes this job so different? Every time we kick in a door, we never know what's on the other side.

[Joe Friday]

That's what makes it different. This time we do.

[Jack Webb]

No, you're not gonna cut me out. Not the only time. I know what I'm getting into. All right. Chandler's tried Hannah and Davis, Watson, they've all tried. This guy Carney knows what he's doing. He's no pushover. But somebody's got to get that bomb away from it. Ciao, baby.

[Joe Friday]

Now, I looked at my watch. It was 8:36. We left Chief White and started down the hall. If Kearney was gonna make good his threat to blow up the building by 9 o', clock, we had exactly 24 minutes to talk him out of it. Ben and I figured we'd better look him over first and then work out some kind of a plan. Maybe just talking to him would do it. Vernon Carney was sitting in a straight back chair against the far wall, facing the door. It was seated between two windows that looked out over the city. In the center of the right wall was a connecting door leading to the office where Chief Briefness. The door was locked on both sides. Just off the center and favoring the left of the room was a small filing table. It was a Dictaphone. On it, in the near left corner, shielded by a white screen, was a small wash basin. Vernon Carney sat erect, holding a black box on his lap. He held his right hand inside one end of the box. Ben and I walked into the room. What do you say to a man with a bomb?

[Jack Webb]

That's close enough.

[Joe Friday]

Cigarette, Kearney?

[Jack Webb]

I'm not smoking right now. What are you trying to prove? You know what I want. We're not gonna let your brother out of jail. You've got until 9 o' clock to change your mind. According to that clock up there in the ward, you got 24 minutes.

[Joe Friday]

If we go, you're going with us, Carney.

[Jack Webb]

Don't think much of a brain to figure that one out, copper. What made you think you could get away with this? I haven't yet. It ain't 9 o' clock unless that clock's slow. I haven't checked it against my pocket watch lately. That's the one that's running this show.

[Joe Friday]

Have you giving any thought to all the innocent people that are gonna go up with that thing of yours?

[Jack Webb]

My brother's innocent. I want him out of jail.

[Joe Friday]

The court says he's guilty. He'll get out when he serves his time.

[Jack Webb]

That's where you're wrong, copper. He gets out at 9 o' clock this morning.

[Joe Friday]

All right. Come on, Connie. Get your hand out of that box. Put the box on the table.

[Jack Webb]

You think I'm bluffing, don't you? I'm gonna let you get within five feet of me before I make a liar out of you.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Carney. I guess you mean business.

[Jack Webb]

You can take three more steps and find out for sure. Suppose we did let your brother out. We'd just come out and pick him up again, you along with him. If you could find us. Let's get this straight. If we let your brother Elwood out, how do we know you'll keep your promise? What promise? I haven't made any promises. You just get Elwood down here first, then we'll talk about it.

[Joe Friday]

Look, there's just one thing I can't figure, Kearney now.

[Jack Webb]

What's that?

[Joe Friday]

If we don't let your brother out, you say you'll pull the trigger on that bomb. What are you gonna prove by then?

[Jack Webb]

8:37. Now you got 23 minutes left.

[Joe Friday]

No, I wish you'd answer that one for me. Why do you want to kill a lot of innocent people?

[Jack Webb]

Don't try to con me, copper. I know they cleared everybody out of this building 45 minutes ago. I know they cleaned out the whole block. They got it roped off. Where'd you get your information? I got a couple of windows here to look out of. Don't you think it's about time you send somebody over to get Elwood? What's to stop us from leaving the building along with the other few officers and let you sit here and touch off that bone? Go ahead. Won't be a long wait without you. Who you trying to kid? You'd let me blow up $10 million worth of taxpayers money? No, you're gonna let Elwood out. You'll wait till the last minute to do it, but you let him out.

[Joe Friday]

All right, let's go. Lynn, listen.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah?

[Joe Friday]

I'm still not convinced that Kearney can back up what he says.

[Jack Webb]

Why don't you take the box away from him? Yeah, now we're in a spot. Let's face it. How about us getting him first? How you gonna handle it? I'm not top man on the pistol range, but I could wing him. Then he hands the box to you. Or maybe he falls and his reflex action pulls the trigger. Okay, I don't wang him. I'll stop him for keeping.

[Joe Friday]

You just can't walk in there and shoot him down. Why not?

[Jack Webb]

You do the same thing with any armed gremlin.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, but you warn him first. I'll warn him. And after you shoot him, you find out it's a harmless gadget. Couldn't have gone off in a million years.

[Jack Webb]

No, a gun's not the answer. We can't shoot him until we're positive. If we'd be positive by 9 o'. Clock. But then there might not be anybody around us yet. We've located Connie's apartment. There's a detail out there checking it now. But Shelley and Morris.

[Joe Friday]

Have you got any ideas at all? Anything we could try?

[Jack Webb]

That's why I called you in. None of us have gotten any farther than you did just now.

[Joe Friday]

There's just one thing I want to know for sure.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah? Friday is it or isn't it? We all want to know either way. We got to get that box away from him. I get it. White speaking. Yeah, did. Now stay out there. I'll call you. That was Pacelli. They just found 28 sticks of dynamite in Kearney's apartment.

[Announcer]

You are listening to Dragnet, the case history of a police investigation presented in the public interest by Fatima Cigarettes.

[Jack Webb]

If you smoke a long cigarette, it will be in your interest to listen to a typical case history of a Fatima smoker recorded last week in New York.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Hi there. My name is Bab Beckwith. Bab that's short for Bethany Ann Beckwith. I live in New York City and I'm a fashion stylist. The other day at a showing of the new fall styles, I ran out of cigarettes. A friend of mine designer introduced me to the new long Fatima. I really wish someone had told me about them sooner. Fatimas are a lot milder than the cigarettes I've been smoking. And they have a delightful flavor too. I'm very glad to recommend them to you because I know from experience it's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.

[Jack Webb]

And more and more smokers every day are finding that out. Actual figures show extra mild Fatima has more than doubled its smokers coast to coast.

[Announcer]

So enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself.

[Jack Webb]

The king size cigarette which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos superbly blended. To make it extra mild, you will

[Announcer]

prefer Fatima's much different, much better flavor. You will agree it's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.

[Jack Webb]

The best of all long cigarettes.

[Joe Friday]

We knew now Carney wasn't cute. We could see into the bomb through the glass window in one end. There was dynamite inside and there was dynamite in Carney's room. We didn't know if he had the nerve to pull the trigger. We didn't know if it'd go off when he did. But with only minutes remaining, nobody wanted to take the chance. From here on in, all of us agreed that Vernon Carney sat in the next room holding in his two hands a force powerful enough to destroy us all. I looked at my watch. It was 20 minutes till 9.

[Jack Webb]

How do we get it away from.

[Joe Friday]

I got an idea. It might work. Well, Carney's sitting against the far wall between two windows. Now they're both open.

[Jack Webb]

That's right.

[Joe Friday]

If we could get a man through one of those windows, we might get Carney from behind.

[Jack Webb]

How are you gonna get him?

[Joe Friday]

Well, whoever gets through the window could slug him.

[Jack Webb]

What do you do then?

[Joe Friday]

Somebody grabs the box. The crime lab can tell us what to do with it.

[Jack Webb]

Then how do we get a man through one of those windows? We're on the 16th floor.

[Joe Friday]

Well, there's some kind of a ledge that Runs around the building on each story.

[Jack Webb]

Isn't there wide enough for a man to walk on? Take a look.

[Joe Friday]

Let's see.

[Jack Webb]

Looks pretty narrow, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Good. 18 inches. Could be done.

[Jack Webb]

Too risky. It's been raining out. That light is slippery. Strong wind out there, Joe. Tear them in right off the building.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I guess you're right.

[Jack Webb]

They're still away. How about a letter 16 floor, Skipper? Well, there might be a way the fire department would know that. I'll get Battalion Chief Erickson.

[Joe Friday]

There's Lee Jones in the building?

[Jack Webb]

No, he's over at the crime lab. I'll get him up here too. I don't know. Friday, maybe. It'll work.

[Joe Friday]

It's got to, Lynn.

[Jack Webb]

All right. Now look, it's going to take a couple of minutes to set this up. We've got to know what Connie's doing every second of that time. How about the Dictaphone? On the table in there. Good. Get it on without him seeing you. We'll try. That Dictaphone in there is connected to this one in here. This room is 1614. You got that?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

All right, push down key 1614 on that machine in there. Leave it down. Get the receiver off the hook and leave it off. Leave the receiver off? That's right. You know, if it isn't off the hook, we won't be able to hear a thing in here.

[Joe Friday]

Right. Come on. Ben

[Jack Webb]

Glenn White speaking. Give me Chief Erickson. Where's my brother?

[Joe Friday]

Still in his cell.

[Jack Webb]

You coppers are long run talk, short on time. Yeah, we know. I'm telling you for your own good, you better get Elwood over here.

[Joe Friday]

Connie, I'll bet if we get your brother on the phone here, he'll. He'll tell you that he doesn't want any part of this.

[Jack Webb]

You mean Elwood doesn't want to get out. Since when? Sure, he wants out, but not your way.

[Joe Friday]

He's only got a year to serve. Why don't you leave him alone?

[Jack Webb]

I told Al. I told him I'd get him out. He didn't think I could do it, but I'm doing it.

[Joe Friday]

I'll make you a bet, Carney. You let us get your brother on the phone, he won't walk out of here with you.

[Jack Webb]

Get him on the phone.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Jack Webb]

Where are you going? Phone's over here.

[Joe Friday]

Have to use the dictaphone. I gotta get an okay from the chief. Elwood's still a prisoner.

[Jack Webb]

What's the matter with the phone? No operators. You know the building's been cleared. That's right. I almost forgot. Okay. You can use the Dictaphone this Friday, Chief.

[Joe Friday]

Connie wants to talk to his brother now. I know. You'll have to send somebody over. Have him put the call on the extension. Wait a minute. What's that extension number then?

[Jack Webb]

2351.

[Joe Friday]

2351, Lynn.

[Jack Webb]

Right.

[Joe Friday]

It'll take a minute. All right.

[Jack Webb]

I kind of like to talk to Al. Been a couple of months since I seen him. We've always been together, me and Al, most of the time. Joe, let's go in and see if we can't hurry that call. That's a good idea. Boy, it's 16 minutes to 9.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

Hey, cop.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah?

[Jack Webb]

You got to hang up the Dictaphone, didn't you?

[Joe Friday]

I put the receiver back on the dictum. Ben and I had failed to make good on the first step of the plan. When we got outside the door, we briefed Davis and Watson. They went in to sit with Carney. It would be their job to keep us posted on Carney's movements. The dictaphone was out. Went back into the office next door. Chief Sam Erickson of the fire Department and Lt. Lee Jones from the crime lab were already there.

[Jack Webb]

Would have been a help. We haven't got time to cry over it. Carney's wide awake, Skipper. He doesn't miss a thing. White told us a plan Friday. We can't run a ladder up from

[Joe Friday]

the straight too high, huh, Chief?

[Jack Webb]

Best we've got is a 100 foot aerial. You figure 12 foot to the story. That'll take you up 96ft. Eight floors. We got the latest equipment. What's that idea you had, Jones? Sam, can you get a hold of a pump here in a hurry? Sure. We got a lot of scaling ladders. But you got nothing up there to hook them on.

[Joe Friday]

You figure on dropping down from the floor above?

[Jack Webb]

That's right. And I figure a pump here would do it. Sure it would. You could make it fast. The windowsill up there. But you got a foot and a half ledge in the way. No. You wants a lifeline, you mean? Nor a man on a rope, Chief? Yeah, that's the quickest and the quietest. Could you rig it so one of my boys could do it? Sure. Lynn. What's the risk? None. If you work it right. We'll strap on a life belt. Give the man heavy leather gloves. Two of my men will lower him down. Pick your lightest man. What do you think, Lee? That's it.

[Joe Friday]

What do we do with the bomb when we get it?

[Jack Webb]

I figure that box Connie's holding is about a foot square. Here's what I'll do. I'll get you a bucket with a foot and a half mouth and we'll be full of water. Yeah, I'll have it right outside the door to that office. When you get that box, place it in the water. We'll get the bucket out of the building as fast as we can. Once we get the bomb underwater, we're in the clear. I can't promise you that, but it's the safest way to handle it under the circumstances. All right, that's it. Sam, you take care of your end right away. I'll get a detail to give me a hand out in the street and we'll take the bomb to a safe area and decommission it. Let's move on it. All right, then. Which part do you want, the rope or the bomb?

[Joe Friday]

You call it.

[Jack Webb]

Fire Chief Erickson said the lightest man on a rope, that's me, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

All right. I'll get the bomb out of the building.

[Jack Webb]

Okay, that's the routine. Carry this with you. A man that comes down that rope has one chance to make good. Slug him and make it count. There's no second try.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

And Joe, when you grab that box, you've got to get it away from Carney before he can squeeze the trigger. Then you got to get it down the street.

[Joe Friday]

The elevator.

[Jack Webb]

You know how to operate it?

[Joe Friday]

Well, it's pretty simple, but I'll double check with the operator.

[Jack Webb]

You better do it right now. Okay.

[Joe Friday]

Say, we better get Connie's brother on the phone for him. He's got.

[Jack Webb]

That might be a pretty good idea. All right, Romero, that's the outside phone. Get the city jail. Right, Skipper. Get going, Friday.

[Joe Friday]

Hey, you, elevator man.

[Jack Webb]

Yes, Sergeant.

[Joe Friday]

I want to see if I know how to work this thing of yours.

[Jack Webb]

You taking over the elevator?

[Joe Friday]

In a couple of minutes. You want to check me out?

[Jack Webb]

Nothing to it, Sergeant. Here's a control. You push this lever right to go up, left to go down. You see this little trigger on the underside of the handle? Yeah. That's a safety lock. Be sure you squeeze it. You can't move the lever.

[Joe Friday]

It's all right if I try it?

[Jack Webb]

Okay. Where'll I turn off the master switch? All right, that's it. Right to go up, left to go down. All right.

[Joe Friday]

Now, how do you operate the doors?

[Jack Webb]

Automatic. They work off the control lever. When the control lever is locked, the up or down position, the doors will close.

[Joe Friday]

I got it.

[Jack Webb]

Now, in case they jam this red

[Joe Friday]

emergency Button up here?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah. Yeah, push it. If that doesn't close, then we call a repairman.

[Joe Friday]

Okay, I think I got it. You want to turn that switch back on?

[Jack Webb]

All right. You're sure now? I have my orders to get out of the building. I'll just leave the elevator right here and take the stairs down. All right.

[Joe Friday]

Thanks a lot, Sergeant.

[Jack Webb]

Just curious. You're going to take the bomb down this car?

[Joe Friday]

We're going to try.

[Jack Webb]

You won't have any trouble. We haven't had an elevator failure in 18 months.

[Joe Friday]

The elevator man turned and went down the stairs. I started down the corridor and met Ben outside the office. He told me that Lee Jones and Chief Erickson were on their way up in the freight elevator at the rear of the building with the necessary equipment. The two fire department volunteers were with him. The phone call had been put through the city jail and in a minute Elwood Carney would be ready at the other end of the line. We went in to tell Kearney.

[Jack Webb]

I told him over at the jail to put the call through on extension 2351.

[Joe Friday]

When's it coming through?

[Jack Webb]

Right now. You got Elwood with you? No.

[Joe Friday]

We told you we'd get him on the phone for you. Call will be through in a minute.

[Jack Webb]

A minute's a long time, cop. You only got 12 of them left.

[Joe Friday]

Elwood's gonna talk you out of this.

[Jack Webb]

Oh, sure, sure. Everybody's gonna talk me out of this. First it was them other two cops, the little porky guy, another monkey. Then you and this Dixie dough head here. Now, it's over. Now, come off. And will you get my brother over here? That's him.

[Joe Friday]

Now.

[Jack Webb]

It's your brother. Connie, I guess they put you just gonna get the phone. You want to talk to your brother, don't you? I'll take care of the phone. We'll just disconnect it for a little. Now, get this straight, copper. I'm through with this stinking, rotten lion. I want Elwood here, and I want him now. I bring him here before I blow you all to pieces. Who threw that phone out in the hall? I did. You want me to go out there and pick it up? Honey, that's not gonna get you any place. Are you the big boss around here? Maybe. Audio launch. I answered. All right, big boy, I got a piece of advice for you. You take your rookie cops here and get it through their thick heads. I mean what I say. I want my brother over here in this room. And you got just 11 minutes to get it done. Now, you tell him that, will you. All right, Granny, it's your show. All right. We got to work fast now. Jones, everything set for you? Got the bucket with the water? Right here. Cars waiting down the street. Right. Erickson, Your boys ready upstairs waiting. We all know what to do.

[Joe Friday]

I'll need somebody to give me a hand with Kearney when he falls.

[Jack Webb]

I'll be in there with you, Friday. Ready to go upstairs, Chief? Anytime. One thing you ought to know. What's that? Wind's getting stronger. About 20 mile an hour out there right now. Not gonna allow society. No, but it's going to increase the sway. You got to allow for. How do you mean? Wind's coming from the south. We'll lower you just to the right of the window. If I figure right, the wind will do the rest. Bigger risk, but we don't control the weather.

[Joe Friday]

How you gonna do it, Ben?

[Jack Webb]

Soon as I get in position, I'll reach in through the window on his right and I'll use the Billy. Try to catch him on the right side of the head. One good hit should put him away.

[Joe Friday]

Make it two and be sure, huh? All right. You ready, Gene?

[Jack Webb]

Let's go. What's the time, Friday? 8:50. Shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes for Romero to get down to that window. Unless the wind gives him trouble. Jones, there's no use you sticking around. I'll give Friday a hand. That's my job. We gotta keep you alive to decommission the bomb. Bomb. Joe. See you downstairs.

[Joe Friday]

You ready, Lynn?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah. Scared, Friday?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

Makes us even. Come on,

[Joe Friday]

Lynn. White and I went into the next room with Vernon Kearney. Ben was going to make a try from the window on Kearney's right. Somehow he had to keep his attention on us and away from that window. If anything went wrong and Kearney got out of position, the plan would fail. If Chief Erickson didn't estimate the force of the wind correctly, the plan would fail. I looked at my watch. It was eight minutes to nine.

[Jack Webb]

Carney, anything we can say that'll make you change your mind? I've asked you a hundred times. Now I'm ordering you. You're going to get to a phone and have somebody send Elwood over here right now. I'm through waiting. Now move.

[Joe Friday]

You ripped the phone out, Carl.

[Jack Webb]

Well, then find another one. I told you, I'm sick of your two bit stolen. We've got until 9 o' clock to make up our mind about this. You had until nine you wouldn't do

[Joe Friday]

what I told you.

[Jack Webb]

Now I'm cutting you short. You guys got exactly one minute to get a phone in this room where I can hear you. Call a jail and have him send Elwood over here.

[Joe Friday]

You said nine, Carney.

[Jack Webb]

All right, Joe. We'll give him what he wants. David, unlock the connecting door to this office.

[Joe Friday]

Forget the phone.

[Jack Webb]

Link a cord reach.

[Joe Friday]

Just a minute. Yeah?

[Jack Webb]

Your brother's a prisoner. He's in our custody and he's under our protection. We can't place his life in jeopardy. Leave that up to Al. Kenworthy. This is Lynn White. We want Elwood Carney over here at City Hall. His brother wants to see him. Explain the situation. If he wants to come, get him over here. Leave it up to him. Room 1614. You'll have to use the freight elevator. And tell him to hurry. Yeah, tell him to hurry. Now, that's the only smart thing you've done today. Why don't you go next door and figure out another angle?

[Joe Friday]

We'll wait for Elwood, too.

[Jack Webb]

You don't think I'd let you get out now, do you? We're all gonna wait right here for my brother in case he don't show up. Going to see me pull the plug. Now, sit down. Not so close. Right where you are. Sit down. It's a loud clock, ain't it? It's windy. It's getting cold in here. Maybe I had to close the window.

[Joe Friday]

Turn on the heat.

[Jack Webb]

Stay port. Cop. What side? What's going on?

[Joe Friday]

Get the wind.

[Jack Webb]

There's somebody out there. I can see his feet. You stupid cunts. Pull him up. Get back there. You pull him up. Heidi, tell him to pull him up. Pull him up.

[Joe Friday]

All right, sonny, you win.

[Jack Webb]

You bet I win. You dumb coppers. You didn't think I'd miss a trick like that. Now, we'll just close the windows, boys. There's one and locked. Here's your brother, Connie. Yeah. Hi, Al. Hi, Vern.

[Joe Friday]

I did it.

[Jack Webb]

I told you. I told you I'd do it, didn't I? That's far enough for the rest of you. Al, you come on over here.

[Joe Friday]

Crazy, Vern. You crazy?

[Jack Webb]

That's what they've been trying to tell me. We're going home, Al.

[Joe Friday]

How you gonna do it? There's a million cops outside. People all over town heard about this. They're holding the crowd back.

[Jack Webb]

They ain't gonna stop us now.

[Joe Friday]

You'll never make it, either one of you.

[Jack Webb]

I got in this far, didn't I? Will make it, Vern.

[Joe Friday]

Do you think we could do it?

[Jack Webb]

You?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

They're Gonna get a car ready for us. A fast one. Have it in front of the building. Move. All right, Fighty, do what he tells you.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Jack Webb]

Oland. Yeah. If you ain't back by 9 o', clock, the deal still holds. I told them I'd pull the pin at 9. Now, if they didn't let you out, you ain't fooling. Ivern. That gadget really blow four miles high.

[Joe Friday]

They won't let you pull it. We're getting out.

[Jack Webb]

All right, copper. Get the car. You got four minutes.

[Joe Friday]

Hey, Ben. Ben. What happened?

[Jack Webb]

He spotted me.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. No time to explain now. Listen, we gotta work fast.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

We had to bring Carney's brother over from the jail.

[Jack Webb]

How much time we got?

[Joe Friday]

Less than four minutes.

[Jack Webb]

How about the ledge?

[Joe Friday]

Think you can do it? Strong winds. You'll have to hang on like a fly. I don't know.

[Jack Webb]

I can give it a try.

[Joe Friday]

Okay. Same plan. Every second counts. Now I can't brief Lynn. He's in the room with a guy. It's up to you and me.

[Jack Webb]

I'll get on the ledge from one of these offices. I hope I'll make you.

[Joe Friday]

If you don't, we'll know you'll try it. Now. Hurry. Hey, Ben, wait a minute.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah?

[Joe Friday]

I forgot the windows. The one on his right, he locked it. You'll have to crawl around the one on the left. You got it? Right.

[Jack Webb]

He. Carl.

[Joe Friday]

Be ready in two minutes out front.

[Jack Webb]

Fine. Elle and I just sit here and wait. It's going to be good being back together, huh? We always were real good together, Vern. Well, that's the way brothers ought to be together all the time. If Vern, I'd feel better with the gun. We don't need no gun. We got the bomb.

[Joe Friday]

Need a gun when we get out, when we get on the road.

[Jack Webb]

Okay. Take your pick. They all got him. You give him yours?

[Joe Friday]

I'm not carrying a gun. I left it in the other room.

[Jack Webb]

A cop without a gun.

[Joe Friday]

Who's getting who? I left it in the other room.

[Jack Webb]

Risk the big boy, Al. He's got one. It's about time for that car, ain't it? It's two minutes to nine.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, this feels like it. Right on his hips.

[Jack Webb]

Grab him, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

I got him.

[Jack Webb]

Get the box. Leave that guy alone.

[Joe Friday]

I got him, Ben. I gotta get his hand out of it.

[Jack Webb]

Run, Joe. Get in the water.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Run.

[Joe Friday]

In a fast elevator, 16 floors isn't very much. But I never shared an elevator with a live bomb. Seemed like hours between floors. I kept watching the bucket. The Bomb was completely underwater. A small stream of bubbles was hissing to the surface. I waited. Main floor. Picked up the bucket and ran for the street. I missed the first step.

[Jack Webb]

I fell forward.

[Joe Friday]

The bucket spun out of my hand. I sprawled flat in the sidewalk. I waited for the explosion.

[Jack Webb]

It didn't go off Friday.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I gave it a good chance, Lee.

[Jack Webb]

It was all there. Look. At least a dozen sticks of dynamite. Snider, bring that over here. Here you are, Lieutenant.

[Joe Friday]

Thanks.

[Jack Webb]

Here's why it didn't go off.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

Had it rigged for a hard trigger pull. Would have taken a good yank to set this one off. All right, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Hi, Ben. Clumsy.

[Jack Webb]

The story you have just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent.

[Announcer]

On February 15, trial was held in Superior Court Department 87, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial.

[Jack Webb]

It's amazing how many long cigarette smokers are changing to extra mild Fatima. Here is the actual report from coast to coast. Extra mild Fatima has more than doubled its smokers.

[Announcer]

Yes, more and more smokers every day are discovering that Fatima is the king size cigarette that is extra mild.

[Jack Webb]

Extra mild because it contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos. Superbly blended to make it extra mild to give it a much different, much better flavor and aroma.

[Announcer]

Enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself. Best of all, long cigarettes.

[Jack Webb]

It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.

[Announcer]

Vernon Carney was examined by five different psychiatrists appointed by the Superior Court and found to be mentally incompetent. He is now confined in the state mental institution for the criminally insane. Elwood Carney is now serving the balance of his sentence with no time off for good behavior.

[Jack Webb]

Fatima cigarettes. Best of all, long cigarettes has brought you Dragnet. Transcribed from Los Angeles Next, Sarah's private caper with comedian Sarah Berner on NBC. The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

[Announcer]

Fatima cigarettes. Best of all, long cigarettes brings you Dragnet.

[Jack Webb]

You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to auto theft detail. A well organized ring of car thieves begins operations in your city. It's one of the most puzzling cases you've ever encountered. Your job, break it. You'll be amazed when you compare Fatima with other long cigarettes.

[Announcer]

You'll find they now cost the same. But in Fatima, the difference is quality.

[Jack Webb]

You see, Fatima is the quality king size cigarette because it contains the finest domestic and Turkish tobaccos. Superbly blended. And Fatima is extra mild with a much Different. Much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette.

[Announcer]

So compare Fatima yourself. Fatima's now cost the same as other long cigarettes.

[Jack Webb]

But your first puff will tell you ah, that's different. Yes, in Fatima the difference is quality. Ask your dealer for Fatima, the quality king size cigarette. Best of all, long cigarettes. Start enjoying Fatima tomorrow,

[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.

[Joe Friday]

It was Monday, May 11. It was fair in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of auto theft detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Stilson. My name's Friday was 8:35am when I got to room 40. Auto Theft Division Captain's office.

[Jack Webb]

Morning.

[Joe Friday]

Friday morning.

[Jack Webb]

Hi, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Ben.

[Jack Webb]

Want to sit down?

[Joe Friday]

Thank you.

[Jack Webb]

I was just telling Romero here I'm briefing all the men in the bureau on this thing. That's the reason I called you two in. Yeah, I got some figures here I want to go over with you.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Jack Webb]

As you know, the percentage of all auto theft return is 96 to 98% on the average. That's normally. Yeah. In checking the monthly averages the past four months that percentage has dropped to the low 80s. Quite a drop. Corner pocket thinks so too. They want some action on it.

[Joe Friday]

Well, we've been working on it.

[Jack Webb]

Absolutely no pattern to the thefts. Time, location. The method makes it impossible to stake out on it. Yeah, those are some of the reasons our percentage is taking such a dive. I know the problems, we all do. But we gotta break this thing soon. Well, it figures.

[Joe Friday]

We're dealing with a well organized bunch. They know what they're doing.

[Jack Webb]

Cross checking all the reports. It seems to boil down to this in general. Appears that all the outstanding thefts are GM cars. Cads, Pontiac, Chevys, Oldsmobiles. All late models. All seem to be in good condition. Low mileage cars.

[Joe Friday]

Well, in addition to the regular broadcast and teletypes, we got out a special bulletin on this, didn't we? That's right.

[Jack Webb]

All the thefts were listed licensed, make, model and color. Been sent to all major cities and border patrol stations. Nothing so far. I was checking through the salvage reports. Salvage by. Do you have the last two months escape from March and April? Yeah, right here. I noticed the same thing. That outfit down in San Pedro Street. Yeah, let me see. Oh yeah, this is A composite on the report for the past two months. That's right. This one here. Herman Salvage. 2716 West San Pedro. They seem to deal a little heavy on General Motors car, don't they? Yeah, they do. I've been watching the buys on this place for the past few weeks now. Wanted to make sure it wasn't coincidence.

[Joe Friday]

Well, looks like a good place to run down anyway.

[Jack Webb]

You two want to check it out?

[Joe Friday]

All right, fine. 2716 West San Pedro.

[Jack Webb]

That's it. Outfit appears to be okay. Never been out of line. Seems funny they should deal with the top avian GM cars, doesn't it? Right when our recovery percentage takes a dive. Yeah. Do you have the last salvage report there?

[Joe Friday]

Cabin? Yeah, the last one.

[Jack Webb]

Here you are. Thank you. Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Here's one for Herman's 1949 Cadillac. A little further down Herman's again. 47 Olds. Yeah, there's five GM buys on the list. Herman got four out of five of them.

[Jack Webb]

Let's find out why.

[Joe Friday]

From the time an automobile is first manufactured and sold. A constant and complete complete record is maintained on that automobile. His certificate of ownership, the pink slip in the state of California. His certificate of registration, the white slip. These two slips of paper contain the information necessary for the positive identification of your car. Fact that every motorist knows. There are many agencies that work for the protection and security of your automobile. One of these is the National Auto Theft Bureau. A kind of nationwide clearinghouse. Acting upon information supplied by the vehicle. Various insurance companies and other allied agencies. This bureau forwards all facts and figures concerning the disposition of motor vehicles on a nationwide basis. Reports are made available to all law enforcement agencies. One of the pieces of information put out by the National Auto Theft Bureau is the salvage report. Listing all sales and purchases of automobiles that for one reason or another may have been relegated to the junkyard or to the salvage company. Fact that many motorists may not know. 9:14am Ben and I checked through the police commission and found that the owner of Herman Salvage was a Herman Lester. He had been in business at the same location for six years and appeared to be a reputable businessman. We drove down to 2716 West San Pedro to check it out. Was an average looking garage with a connecting salvage yard filled with several hundred smashed up cars of all makes and models. It was 9:32am when we walked into of the garage.

[Jack Webb]

There's a fella there in a white shirt.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I see him.

[Jack Webb]

Can I help you gentlemen? Yes, sir. Police officers. Auto theft detail. Oh, yes. I don't believe I know you fellas. My name's Lester. This is Sergeant Friday. My name's Romero. How you do? How are you?

[Joe Friday]

Are you the owner here?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, that's right. Whatever happened to Mac and Donovan? Used to drop in once, twice a month. Haven't seen him for two, three weeks now.

[Joe Friday]

Well, they're a little busy on a special assignment.

[Jack Webb]

Oh, I see.

[Joe Friday]

Art, if we look around here.

[Jack Webb]

Oh, you bet. Make yourselves right at home. Anything special? No, just looking. Okay.

[Joe Friday]

Notice you've been pretty busy, huh?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, had a pretty good month. Salvage racket's gonna get sour again. Looks like with the Korean war and all the cutbacks.

[Joe Friday]

Doesn't seem to have hit you so far.

[Jack Webb]

Well, no, not so far. Looks like it may tighten up anytime. I noticed from our salvage report. You've been doing a big business in GM merchandise. Yeah, we have. You know, they're starting to build tanks back there now. We wanted to make sure we wouldn't run short on parts.

[Joe Friday]

You get a lot of call for GM parts, do you?

[Jack Webb]

Oh, yeah, we sure do. Everybody in town knows if they need something for a Caddy or a Buick or any of those cars. This the place to come. We kind of built up a reputation specializing in GM used parts. I see. Mind if we check your last few? By fin, you have 49 Cadillac, 47 Old Pontiac, 48, 1949 Chevrolet. Wonder if we might see those. Yes, sir. Right out in the yard back this way. All four of them are really bad up. Bad shape. Just breaks your heart to see beautiful merchandise like that all smashed up. I don't know what people are thinking of, the way they drive. Yeah, you take a new Caddy, one of those new convertibles. Really beautiful merchandise. Somebody takes one out, rolls it, we pick it up and tow it down here. Beautiful car like that all rolled up in a ball. Georgia Street. Receiving Hospital probably picked up the rear. Yeah, I'm really shame. Here we go. There's a Caddy. Oh, yeah. The old and the Pontiac are in that row there. See him? Yeah. And that's Chevrolet, wasn't it?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. 1949.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. There she is over there. Third car down. Maroon.

[Joe Friday]

Maroon one?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Down there.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah. It's like the graveyard, doesn't it? Sure does. What do you do with all these cars, strip them down for parts. Well, at least the four you're checking now. Yeah, they're all total wrecks. Nothing much be done with them except for parts.

[Joe Friday]

How about that Cadillac down there? The sedan? That one over there? Can't you fix that one up? That doesn't look beyond repair from here.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Oh.

[Jack Webb]

Step around the other side here. You can't see from where you're standing here. The right side's all stove in. By the time you figure replacing those side panels and fenders trim, we couldn't come out on it.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I see now. Well, I don't know too much about it, but it looked good from over there.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, that's what we get all the time. People want us to pay top prices for stuff we can't get our money out of. If we could repair them, fix them up and resell them as a complete automobile, there'd be a lot of money in this business. You do that with some of them, don't you? Oh, very few of them, I'll tell you. That's what we look for, but we don't always get lucky. I see. Say, how'd you boys like to see some really beautiful merchandise? What's that? Well, come on back in the shop. All right. Kind of a hobby of mine. M. Here's what keeps us busy. Plates and pink slips on the way up to Sacramento for cancellation. Yeah. Over this way. Here we are. Take a look at this baby. Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Hot rod, huh?

[Jack Webb]

No, not exactly. We don't go in for that kid stuff racing around town.

[Joe Friday]

Well, sure looks like one.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, but it's a little better than most of the kids can throw together. What'll it do? We clocked her up at Muroc at 112 last weekend. You know, they've been coming in here from all over town to see this car. That so? Yeah. You ever get up to Muroc Dry Lake? No, I never do.

[Joe Friday]

But that's the place for it, running around town. And those things can cause a lot of accidents.

[Jack Webb]

Those drag races the kids have. Yeah, we don't go in for that stuff. This is strictly scientific as far as I'm concerned. I like to build them up, see, we can make them do. Cost a lot of money, don't they? Got $5,400 in this one Right now I'm putting more into it. Mallory ignition, milled heads, twin Wakefields. Let me start it up for you. Okay. 120 horses under there. Yeah, sounds good. Listen at that. Beautiful, isn't it? Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Power here.

[Jack Webb]

Go in. Got to see it up at the lake. You really go al fast. This all made up out of salvage cars, Every bit of it. Buy a few things new, but most of it's right out of wrecks like those outside.

[Joe Friday]

There takes a lot of talent to build up something like this scrap Done it?

[Jack Webb]

No, not really. After you've been at it long as I have, it's not too tough. The trick is to get more speed out of them than anyone else can. Yeah. You did a good job on this car. Right. Well, if you put your mind to it, you can do a lot with a wrecked car.

[Joe Friday]

Before we left Herman Salvage, we checked all four of the GM cars that were listed on the salvage report. We made a careful check on all of the cars in the yard and in the garage, paying special attention to the few cars that were in the process of being rebuilt by Herman Lester's mechanics. We went over his records, carefully checking the disposition of all of his buys for the past several months. Everything was in perfect order. We found that in the past three weeks, Lester had taken in 10 cars. Eight of them had been stripped down for parts, and two of them had been rebuilt and resold. The investigation showed that four of those cars were giving cars. And the two that were resold were both General Motors. 11:28am Ben and I drove back to the office and asked Mac and Donovan if they'd check through the two resale cars to make sure everything was in order. As the reports indicated, we checked through on the remaining eight cars that were listed by Herman. Lester is broken down for parts. According to dmv, all plates and pink slips had been returned to them for cancellation.

[Jack Webb]

11:50am well, that's it, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

Eight of the cars check out. Two of those were GMs.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Well, that leaves just the two that Mac and Donovan are checking, huh?

[Jack Webb]

I don't know. Everything down there looked all right. Succinct. Lester wasn't holding back anything. Far as I could tell, it's cooperative. Everything in order.

[Joe Friday]

If those two that Mac and Donovan are working on check out, I gotta.

[Jack Webb]

I'd say. Well, seems to me Lester told us everything. Everything we asked him anyway. I don't think he held back.

[Joe Friday]

If he did, I got an idea who might be able to tell us. Somebody's been left out in the cold here.

[Jack Webb]

What are you getting at?

[Joe Friday]

Well, now, if Herman's been able to buy up all those GM cars, what have the other salvage dealers been doing about him?

[Jack Webb]

It's a thought.

[Joe Friday]

Let's check his competition. 12:40pm we drove back down to West San Pedro Street. We picked out a group of salvage companies in the immediate neighborhood close to Herman's. 3209 West San Pedro John's Wrecking Yard. We introduced ourselves and started to talk with the owner of John Bacon. A routine check was Made of his establishment. And as far as we could tell, everything appeared to be okay.

[Jack Webb]

And that's all you made, huh? Just that one buy? That's it. 1946 Ford. We're dying a slow death.

[Joe Friday]

Business pretty bad, huh?

[Jack Webb]

Never seen it worse, at least as far as we're concerned. How do you account for that, Mr. Bacon? Oh, everything, I guess. Business bad all over at the moment. Scrap metal situations in. In a state of flux at the present time. In looking around, Mr. Bacon, we noticed you don't have much in the way of General Motors does. Is that because of GM going into war production? Any cutback would eventually affect you fellas, wouldn't it? No, no, not at all. Cutback would, sure, but there's no tremendous curtailment right at the present time. They're still turning out a lot of automobiles back then.

[Joe Friday]

Well, then what's your problem?

[Jack Webb]

We're being outbid right up and down the line by the same outfit. Who's that? A company by the name of Herman Salvage. Just up the street. There's go out to buy a piece of merchandise. Their boys just won't let us get near it. They pay more than you do, huh? More than we can, Sergeant. I honestly don't see how they're coming out on some of their deals.

[Joe Friday]

It's that much out of line, huh?

[Jack Webb]

Certainly is. You know, whenever there's anything available, all the salvage companies get their bid in. Well, Herman simply outbids all of us.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, it makes it kind of rough.

[Jack Webb]

I'm not the only one. Pete Larkin up the street. Old man Henry next door. All of us. I don't know what we can do about it. Herman seems to be doing all right, no matter what he pays for his cars. Mm. None of us can figure it out. Just judge him from the number of cars he outbids us on and the number he rebuilds. I just can't see how he's coming out. But he is, huh? Figure he's laying odds on a big shortage. That's what all of us think.

[Joe Friday]

He's laying in a stockpile. Is that the idea?

[Jack Webb]

Sure. What else could it be?

[Joe Friday]

We continued our check on all salvage dealers, both in the neighborhood of Herman Lester's place and throughout the city. Seemed to be a fact well known to most dealers that Herman was outbidding all of them on any and all GM automobiles. The only possible explanation was that he must be trying to lay in a large stockpile of this particular make of car. 3:35pm we received word from Sergeants Mack and Donovan that they had checked out the two remaining cars listed in Herman's books. The resales. Ben was right. They checked out with no discrepancy. During the next 10 days, the investigation continued. The theft of late model GM cars continued with few recoveries. Suspects were arrested and questioned. We could find no connection that might lead us to an organized ring of car thieves. That might be responsible for the lack of GM car recoveries. The salvage reports showed no change in Herman's buying technique. Apparently, he was still dealing heavy on the one particular make of car. Thursday, May 25th. We received a teletype from DMV listing all the salvage by transfers. In making our usual daily check of this teletype, we noticed a 1949 Cadillac engine number 598-77415. It had been resold from salvage to a used car lot.

[Jack Webb]

That's the place right up the block. Yeah, I see. Same CAD we so And Herman Salvage Yard.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. It's funny, isn't it? The one in particular that I asked him about.

[Jack Webb]

You remember? Yeah, I remember. You thought it could be fixed up. He said no.

[Joe Friday]

It's only been a little over two weeks ago, hasn't it?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, I try.

[Joe Friday]

Well, still doesn't prove anything.

[Jack Webb]

Here we are. Jake's. This is the place. Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

There's a cat in the front line right down there, huh?

[Jack Webb]

Mm. I don't see anyone around, do you?

[Joe Friday]

No, I don't. Well, I guess it's hard to check the engine number anyway. Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

I'll get the hood release.

[Joe Friday]

Right.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

There we go. Yeah. The engines had a good steam cleaning. Let's see. Five, nine eight seven seven four one five.

[Jack Webb]

That's it. Herman sure did a nice job on it, didn't he?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Almost looks too good, doesn't it? Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

Just a minute.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

Body serial doesn't match. Doesn't correspond with the engine model.

[Joe Friday]

It's a 49 body. Could be a late 49, but it's a definite switch, isn't it?

[Jack Webb]

It sure is. That's funny.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Look at this. Right side here. This was the bad side, wasn't it?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, that's right.

[Joe Friday]

Does it look like it's been rolled out to you?

[Jack Webb]

No. There's no feathering. No orange peel. Either that's the best repaint job I've ever seen. Or it's never been in an accident.

[Joe Friday]

I'll take a look underneath. Okay. Wanna move your feet there?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah. All right.

[Joe Friday]

Anything? No, nothing. There's not a seam or a joint under there. No welding marks of any kind. This Car has never been in a smash up.

[Jack Webb]

The engine number checks, the body doesn't.

[Joe Friday]

And this is the one Herman couldn't fix up.

[Jack Webb]

That's what he said. Maybe he changed his mind.

[Joe Friday]

Or he lied. Foreign.

[Announcer]

You are listening to Dragnet from beginning to end. Dragnet is the authentic story of your police force in action.

[Jack Webb]

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[Jack Webb]

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[Announcer]

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[Jack Webb]

Yes, in Fatima, the difference is quality. Insist on Fatima. Start enjoying the quality king size cigarette Fatima. Best of all, long cigarettes.

[Joe Friday]

1949 Cadillac engine number 598. In checking out this automobile, Ben and I had found that the engine number corresponded with the salvage report concerning Herman Lester's place. The one big item that did not jibe was the fact that the engine was now mounted in a different body than when the car left the factory. A fact that had to be accounted for in complete detail. When we had checked this automobile on 11 May at Herman Salvage Yard. Both engine and body numbers correspond with. In taking a close look at the car, it was obvious that the body had not been repaired in any way. It was clear that this particular car had not been in any kind of collision. We went back to the rear of the lot and asked one of the salesmen not to sell the car without informing us. When we got back to the office, we started rechecking all of the auto theft reports. We found five stolen Cadillacs, but all the body styles and models were different with the exception of one. A 1949 Cadillac sedan reported stolen on May 14. It was registered in the name of William Brownell. We checked his home and found that he was at work. He was a superintendent for the North American Van Lines. We drove over and picked him up and took him to Jake Hughes Car Lot on Vermont Avenue.

[Jack Webb]

This is the car, Mr. Brownell. Well, it's just like Mine, but I don't think it's the one. Are you sure? For one thing, it's a different color. My car was maroon.

[Joe Friday]

You want to step over here, Mr. Brownell?

[Jack Webb]

Sure.

[Joe Friday]

Now, if you'll look very closely here on the door edging and on the jamb right here. See, this is the one place sometimes they miss with a spray gun if they're going to repaint.

[Jack Webb]

Oh, yeah. There's a faint trace of red under the blue paint there. Looks like it could be maroon, doesn't it? Oh, does it? There. This car's been repainted. It was maroon. Well, mine didn't have these kind of seat covers. Let's see. Same kind of upholstery I had, though. Underneath here. I don't know, Mr. Brownell. There must be something other than the color in the upholstery that you'd know your own car by. Never gave it much thought.

[Joe Friday]

Well, there's usually some little identifying mark of some kind. I know that on my car. The lens on the right headlight got broken. And I had to replace it with one that didn't match.

[Jack Webb]

Something like that, sir? Let me see. Could I look inside there a minute? Sure. Right here under the speedometer. There was a thumbprint pressed in at the factory. It's pretty deep. No, it's not there now.

[Joe Friday]

And don't forget that the car's been repainted. It might have been covered up.

[Jack Webb]

No, this was cleared down to the metal. Apparently when they were installing the instruments at the factory. The panel wasn't dry yet. Not there now. And they couldn't have covered it up unless they made a special point of it.

[Joe Friday]

Well, sometimes that's done. Car thieves are kind of clever.

[Jack Webb]

I'm sorry, gentlemen. I don't think this is my car. Don't think I don't wish it was, but it's not. Can you think of just one other thing? Maybe just one mark of identification is all we need.

[Joe Friday]

No.

[Jack Webb]

Even these tires aren't mine. I had white sidewalk. Could have been switched. They were pretty new.

[Joe Friday]

Wait a minute.

[Jack Webb]

I think I remember something. No, there's no rip up there.

[Joe Friday]

What's that, sir?

[Jack Webb]

I just thought of something. The boys down at the office gave me a St. Christopher medal. You know, the large metal kind you're supposed to bolt to your dashboard?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Jack Webb]

I didn't want to put it on, so I carried it around with me in the car. There was a rip up there in the inner lining of the top. But you see, there's no rip in this one.

[Joe Friday]

Let Me see. How about it, Ben?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, yeah, I can feel it.

[Joe Friday]

Does it feel like a metal?

[Jack Webb]

Let me get my pocket knife on it.

[Joe Friday]

Okay.

[Jack Webb]

What do you think they replaced the cloth?

[Joe Friday]

I don't know.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah. Yeah, here it is.

[Joe Friday]

This it, Mr. Brown?

[Jack Webb]

That's it. Look on the back there. My name's engraved on it.

[Joe Friday]

See? Yes, sir.

[Jack Webb]

I sure didn't think this was my car. I never would have known it. That's what the guys figure who stole it.

[Joe Friday]

The 1949 Cadillac was taken to the police garage and a complete and thorough check was made. The car, with the exception of the engine, was positively identified as the property of William Brownell. This definitely implicated Herman Lester and showed his salvage operations to be illegitimate. He had obviously been buying one particular makeup salvage automobile, outbidding all his competitors to do so. When he would buy a piece of wrecked equipment, an exact duplicate would be stolen to match it. He would then dispose of the engine from the stolen vehicle and replace it with a salvage engine. With this system of operation, Herman Salvage had been enjoying a lucrative business which accounted for a great percentage of the stolen cars that we hadn't been able to recover. 7:25pm May 25, we drove out to pick up Herman Lesker. His home address was listed as 8625 Wonderland Drive. It was up in the Laurel Canyon district, a heavily wooded section of Los Angeles.

[Jack Webb]

Pretty nice place up in there.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, what you can see of it through the trees now. Let's go.

[Jack Webb]

Look at that, Jill.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

Looks like a 50 o's everything there but the engine. No plates.

[Joe Friday]

I didn't notice that from the street, did you?

[Jack Webb]

Never could have seen it from down there.

[Joe Friday]

Looks like a garage back up in there, doesn't it?

[Jack Webb]

Perfect spot. Can't see any of this from the street with all those trees. Pretty fancy layout for a home garage. Good size.

[Joe Friday]

Somebody's working up in there.

[Jack Webb]

Come on. Hi there. Brings you fellas right up here. Want to have a little talk with you. Oh, you bet. Come on in the house. Have a cold beer, huh?

[Joe Friday]

No, this will be all right.

[Jack Webb]

Joe, you got a hot seat?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, right here.

[Jack Webb]

Kind of caught me by surprise here. Working out in the garage. Yeah, that figures. Lester, these plates are from a stolen car. You sure that's right?

[Joe Friday]

You remember a 49 Cadillac? We looked that down at your back place a couple of weeks ago.

[Jack Webb]

I'm not sure. 49 cat.

[Joe Friday]

That's right. Whatever became of that car?

[Jack Webb]

Oh, now I remember. Yeah, I sold that car to Jake's over in Vermont. Thought you Told us you couldn't fix it up. I don't remember. You sure you don't mean some other car now?

[Joe Friday]

No, it's the same one. You know the one we mean. How about it?

[Jack Webb]

How about what? That was a stolen car, Lester, and you know it. That's a stolen car out there in the yard, isn't it?

[Joe Friday]

Watch that hoist, B.

[Jack Webb]

There he goes, Joe. All right, Lester, hold it. Stop it. Stop, Joe. All right, come on.

[Joe Friday]

Stop it, Lester.

[Jack Webb]

All right. I'll get the cuffs, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Come on, get up.

[Jack Webb]

On your feet. All right, come on. On your feet.

[Joe Friday]

Stand still.

[Jack Webb]

Rough one, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

Come on, Lester, let's go. How'd you find out who tipped you off?

[Joe Friday]

St. Christopher.

[Jack Webb]

The story you've just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent.

[Announcer]

On August 15, trial was held in Superior Court Department 82, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial.

[Jack Webb]

And now, here is our star, Jack Webb.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you, friends. One of the first things a detective learns is that you can't rely on snap judgments or first appearances. You get all the evidence first, and then you arrive at a decision that's just as true when it comes to choosing a king size cigarette. Place a Fatima alongside any other king size cigarette, side by side. They'll look identical when you smoke them. You'll find a world of difference. You'll find, as I have in Fatima, the difference is.

[Jack Webb]

Is quality.

[Joe Friday]

Quality that gives you extra mildness, a much better flavor and aroma. If you haven't smoked Fatima's yet, buy a pack tomorrow and see if you don't agree. In Fatima, the difference is quality.

[Announcer]

Herman W. Lester was tried and convicted on three counts of grand theft auto and two counts of grand theft money. All sentences to run consecutively. Grand theft auto is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 1 to 5 years. Grand theft money by a term of 1 to 10 years. The suspect was also filed on by federal authorities for violation of the Dior Act. 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.

[Jack Webb]

Police Department. Fatima cigarettes. Best of all, long cigarettes has brought you Dragnet portions transcribed from Los Angeles. Stay tuned for counterspy next. Over many NBC stations, The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

[Announcer]

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[Jack Webb]

You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a bunco Detail. An experienced confidence man has set up operations in your city. From his first two victims, he gets more than $8,000. You've got one good lead on the suspect. His method of operation, your job. Get him.

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[Jack Webb]

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[Jack Webb]

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[Jack Webb]

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[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.

[Joe Friday]

It was Tuesday, December 9th. It was windy in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of Bunco detail. My partner's Ed Jacobs. The boss is Captain Steve. My name's Friday. I was on the way into the office and it was 7:50am when I got to room 38. Bunco detail.

[Jack Webb]

Morning, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Hi, Charlie. How'd you make out yesterday? Nothing. No luck at all, huh?

[Jack Webb]

Nothing that's gonna help as much. Got the same description on the guy. Used the Same name, same M.O. didn't get anything we don't already know about him. How about you? Your luck any better?

[Joe Friday]

No, about the same. Checked out the building where the suspect rented office space. He moved out three days ago. No forwarding address. Checked the hotel he was supposed to be stopping at didn't pan out.

[Jack Webb]

Give him time, he'll stick his neck out again.

[Joe Friday]

Well, it doesn't guarantee we'll reach him. Too late to start when the complaints come in. We're gonna have to dig up a faster way of getting to him.

[Jack Webb]

Hey, you got a match?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, sure, Charlie. Here you are.

[Jack Webb]

Thanks, Ben. Oh, by the way, what's this I hear about your partner? What? Ed Jacobs understands you're losing him.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah? Temporarily, anyway.

[Jack Webb]

What's the deal?

[Joe Friday]

Well, he's going on a loan out up at the academy. Gonna be an instructor up there. Two months anyway, maybe more.

[Jack Webb]

When does this happen?

[Joe Friday]

Tomorrow, the 10th.

[Jack Webb]

What are you gonna do for a partner? You and Ken gonna work together?

[Joe Friday]

No. The captain's bringing in a New man, Young fella. He's been working in the business office.

[Jack Webb]

You mean the big Irish kid? Works the early morning?

[Joe Friday]

No, no, this boy's been working days. His name's Bill Lockwood. I asked for him as soon as I found out I was gonna lose Ed. Bill? You know him Well, a little bit. Yeah. You remember Ben Romero?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Yeah, sure.

[Joe Friday]

Well, Lockwood's a nephew of Ben's sister's boy. Tall, red hair.

[Jack Webb]

Oh, yeah, I've seen him around. Seems to be a nice enough kid. A good record, is he?

[Joe Friday]

Well, the captain thinks so. Figures he ought to work in pretty well.

[Jack Webb]

Oh, by the way, have you seen Ben's wife lately?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I did a couple weeks ago. Seems to be doing all right. Still misses Ben, of course.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, I imagine.

[Joe Friday]

The little boy's sure getting big. Looks a lot like his dad too.

[Jack Webb]

Miss him quite a bit yourself, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, Charlie, I guess I do.

[Jack Webb]

Well, I better get on my horse. I got some checking to do. I hope the Lockwood boy works out for you.

[Joe Friday]

Well, I think you'll do all right.

[Jack Webb]

Can't say I'd be crazy about the idea myself. How you mean breaking in a new man? No detective experience. When I go out to pick up a thief, I like to figure I've got some good backing. I mean, a partner I'm used to. Tough enough watching out for yourself, let alone a green youngster.

[Joe Friday]

Well, somebody had to do it for us. That's the way it goes.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, I suppose.

[Joe Friday]

I remember when I first started. It didn't come much greener than me. Partner did all the work, took all the chances. Helped me every foot of the way. He never mentioned it once. I never forgot that he's a good cop.

[Jack Webb]

What was his name?

[Joe Friday]

Ben Romero. In our particular setup, before a man's eligible to apply for duty in the Detective Bureau, he has to have a minimum of 5 years experience at as a police officer, either assigned to radio patrol, traffic duty or some other general assignment. After the initial five years of service, the men go through a screening process to determine which department and which job they'll fit into best. Some position that they seem to show a natural aptitude for. If a man applies for duty in a division of the Detective Bureau and if he's accepted, he's assigned a partner to work with the day he goes on the job. Generally, a working detective with some experience. In the case of Ben's nephew, Bill Lockwood, he put in his first five years working Wilshire Traffic and also doing radio patrol in Holland Beck and 77th Street. Divisions. After spending another 11 months in our business office, Captain Steed put in a request for him and he was transferred. When I heard Ed Jacobs was going to be loaned to the police academy as an instructor, I talked to Captain Steed about Lockwood and he assigned him as my new partner. The changeover happened in the of one of the toughest investigations we'd had in months. A bunco artist who was working hard at the business opportunities racket. The following morning, December 10, Bill Lockwood reported in for work and we drove out to check a potential lead on the suspect. On the way, I laid out the case for him.

[Jack Webb]

Nothing on the man in R and I, huh? No record at all?

[Joe Friday]

No, not as far as we know. Bill checked Brereton up at Sacramento cii. Nothing doing there. He couldn't help us.

[Jack Webb]

What have you been going on?

[Joe Friday]

His description? Yeah, that and his M.O. and his name. He uses a different alias on each job. Russell Preston. That was the last name he used.

[Jack Webb]

I see. He usually starts by putting a want ad in the paper, is that it?

[Joe Friday]

Well, he rents himself an office first. Usually pretty expensive when well furnished. Then he hires a good looking secretary, has her put a want ad in the daily papers for him and he's in business. How do the ads read?

[Jack Webb]

The usual.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, typical thing you see in the daily paper. Business opportunity for people with vision. Good investment, high profit supply. Now you know. Then he gives his address and phone number. There's nothing clever about it, but people still go for it.

[Jack Webb]

He give him any replies, do you know?

[Joe Friday]

Well, we figure he got between 20 and 30 on that last deal he pulled. Seems all he has to do is land one victim out of the bunch with enough money and he's got it made. Took his first victim here for 5,000, second one for 3,200. Both elderly women took him for their last dollar.

[Jack Webb]

About the way he sets up the deal with these different businessmen. Joe, I don't think I got it quite straight.

[Joe Friday]

How do you mean?

[Jack Webb]

Well, say the owner of that manufacturing plant, this Russell Preston, lined up. You say Preston went to the plant, introduced himself as a business advisor, told the owner of the plant he had some people with money to invest. He convinced the owner it was legitimate.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's right.

[Jack Webb]

And Preston had his two victims shown through the plant and convinced him they ought to invest their money in the business.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's it.

[Jack Webb]

Do you mean to say the plant owners were acting in good faith?

[Joe Friday]

Well, they were all checked out, Bill. Everything about them. They all have good business reputations. They didn't know any more about the deal. And the victims they needed more capital for, and they figured this was it.

[Jack Webb]

This Preston or whatever his name is. Sure must have a line that won't stop.

[Joe Friday]

He's got everything that goes with it. Nice clothes, well mannered, good looking. He doesn't try to high pressure anybody. Tells them if they have confidence in him, he'd be glad to invest their money. If they hedge at all. He shows them right through the office.

[Jack Webb]

Pretty good pitch. Once they're sold on him, he's got them over a barrel.

[Joe Friday]

It's about the size of it, yeah.

[Jack Webb]

Honey, there's no record on him. Sure sounds like he's had a lot of experience.

[Joe Friday]

What are the other names he's used?

[Jack Webb]

You're remember.

[Joe Friday]

Well, just two of them we know of. Russell R. Preston and George A. Fairchild.

[Jack Webb]

I guess the newspapers have been checked out, huh? The ones he ran the what ends in.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, we've all been talked to. All their personnel have been notified to watch for ads of that type. Be one way to get a lead on him if he tries again.

[Jack Webb]

What about the buildings where he rented office space? Couldn't the people there help any?

[Joe Friday]

Well, they confirmed his description. We picked up samples of his handwriting. That's about it. He only rented the offices long enough to cover his deal. About two weeks. See what hundred block is this? Bill, can you see over there?

[Jack Webb]

Let's see. Yeah, 1700.

[Joe Friday]

We want the next one.

[Jack Webb]

1811. Who's this woman we're gonna talk to? Vivian Castle. That right?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. I'm not sure if she's the right girl or not. Got the lead from an employment agency. Chance she might be the girl Preston hired to be a secretary. I don't know. Oh, good.

[Jack Webb]

Parking place up there ahead, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's good. You pull up anywhere along here? It's fine.

[Jack Webb]

Two doors down. Joe, real estate office. 1811.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I see it. Good morning.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Good morning. Can I help you?

[Joe Friday]

Police officers, ma'. Am. We'd like to talk to a Ms. Castle. Vivian Castle.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Hi, I'm Vivian Castle.

[Joe Friday]

Here's our identification. This is my partner, Officer Lockwood. My name's Friday.

[Jack Webb]

How do you do?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

How do you do? What is it you want, officers?

[Joe Friday]

We'd like to find out if you know a George Fairchild, man.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Fairchild? No, I don't know anyone by that name.

[Jack Webb]

How about a Russell Preston, miss? That mean anything to you?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Well, I used to work for Mr. Preston. Russell Preston.

[Joe Friday]

About how long ago was that?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

A month, month and a half ago.

[Joe Friday]

Mm. Where does he have his offices?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

He did have them on South grand, near 8th. The old Belmont Harris Building.

[Jack Webb]

Why?

[Joe Friday]

Would you mind describing Mr. Preston for us, ma'?

[Jack Webb]

Am?

[Joe Friday]

Just a general description of him.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

He's about 40, 45 years old. Brown hair, a little gray. Nice build. Seemed to be very nice man at first. Always dressed so nice. Just wore a dark blue suit. Seemed to be very nice.

[Jack Webb]

Checks out so far, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Would you mind telling me what it's about?

[Joe Friday]

We'd like to locate Mr. Preston, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

You any idea where he is now?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I wish I did. I'd call the State Labor Commission. He seemed like such a nice man. I've never been so disappointed in my life.

[Joe Friday]

How do you mean, Ms. Castle?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

He owes me two weeks pay, $65 a week. Hired me as a private secretary. Good jobs aren't hard to get now, either. He can't say he was giving me a break when he hired me. Are you from the Labor Commission?

[Joe Friday]

No, ma', am, we're not. Could you tell us how long you worked for this Mr. Preston?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Just three weeks. He said I was going to get paid every Friday. Gave me the money for the first week and that's all. Kept waiting for my pay. But he kept putting me off. Last week and a half, he didn't even show up at the office. I was there all alone, eight hours a day. Finally, the building manager shut up and told me it was all over. Mr. Preston closed the office. Didn't even have the decency to come in and say thank you, goodbye. I just left.

[Jack Webb]

And you have no idea at all where Mr. Preston is now?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

No, sir. I wish I did.

[Jack Webb]

Were there any office files, mail files, any way to get a possible line on him?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

As far as I know, I didn't keep any files for him. Matter of fact, I didn't do any work at all. Just a showpiece, I guess. That's all he kept me there for. There's no reason why he shouldn't pay me there. Are you sure you're not from the Labor Commission?

[Joe Friday]

Did Mr. Preston ever have you place any want ads in the daily papers, Ms. Castle?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Yeah, he did a couple of times. Ads for business opportunities, you know, he was in the investment business. Helped people invest their money.

[Joe Friday]

Would you happen to know anyone who invested money with him? I mean, would you know them by name?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

No, not by name. Quite a few people came through the office. I know a few of them made deals with Mr. Preston. I wouldn't remember their names, though.

[Jack Webb]

And you don't know any friends he might have had in town? Any of his businesses?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

No, sir, not a one. I didn't know he had any associates.

[Joe Friday]

How about where he was staying, Ms. Castle? You must have known that.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Now, the first week I was there, I did. It's the only week I got paid for. He was staying at a small hotel on South Flower. Moved the next week, though. I don't know where he went after that. Neither does the hotel. I asked him.

[Joe Friday]

Well, during the time you worked for him, ma', am, did you ever have anything to do with Mr. Preston socially, I mean? Was it part of your job to go out to dinner with him, things like that?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I did once or twice when he asked me. I didn't think it was part of my job, though. Mr. Preston didn't mention it either. Once we went out to dinner, just the two of us. Another time we went out with my girlfriend, Norma. I had a terrible time. Mr. Preston was awful.

[Joe Friday]

How do you mean, miss?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Well, he drank too much and was throwing his weight around. You know, the boss. And he kept making a play for my girlfriend, Norma. I think he liked her quite a bit. Sure. It was embarrassing, though. Look, would you mind telling me what's the matter? Is Mr. Preston in trouble with the police?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, I'm afraid so. He's cheated some people out of quite a bit of money. It's not. Not the first time either.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

What was it? What'd he do?

[Joe Friday]

Confidence game. Selling interest in the company he had no connection with.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

That isn't the limit. I guess it's my own fault. I should have known better. It's happened before. Well, they hire you, they give you a beautiful office, nice soft chair to sit on. They never give you any work to do. Don't have to lift a finger. I finally got the drift. Yeah, those are the kind you have to watch out for.

[Joe Friday]

Bill Lockwood and I continued questioning the former secretary of Russell Preston, alias George Fairchild. But she was unable to come up with any kind of a definite lead as to the suspect's whereabouts. We left our card with a girl and she promised to contact us in the event she came across any information regarding Preston. For the rest of the day, we ran down three more possible leads. They came from an informant, a head waiter in a second rate nightclub. A small time grifter with an axe to grind. And they all figured they had the right answer, where to find Preston. We. We checked out the three locations they gave us. A motel out near Santa Monica, a rooming house in Hollywood, a cocktail lounge in Highland Park. Not one of the three paid off. Russell Preston, alias George Fairchild, wasn't known at any of the places, either by name, dress or physical description. During the next three weeks, along with Sergeants Charlie Riblett and Ken Scarce of Bunco Detail, Bill Lockwood and I ran down every possible lead on the suspect. Hotels, the want ad departments of the daily papers, managers of downtown office buildings, secretarial employment agencies, small businesses, advertising stock for sale. They got us nothing, despite all the precautions and all the legwork. On January 6th, we got a call from a Mrs. Marie Barrett in the Westlake park area. She owned and managed a toy shop just off Wilshire Boulevard. Bill Lockwood and I drove out to talk to her.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Yes, they told me it was the opportunity of a lifetime. A big opportunity. Just can't believe. Can't understand it. Why, he even took me out and showed me the factory. Him and the man around the place they're making plastics. Showed me the whole plant.

[Jack Webb]

Say, the plant was out in Glendale, ma'.

[Joe Friday]

Am. Where?

[Jack Webb]

Bounce.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

It was right along San Fernando Road. Maybe a mile or two before you get to the airport. They showed me through the whole plant.

[Joe Friday]

Who showed you through?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Ms. Barrett, owner of the place in this, Mr. Fairchild. Big place, making plastics of all kinds. Can't say I wasn't impressed.

[Jack Webb]

What was Mr. Fairchild's first name, do you remember?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

George. George Fairchild and Associates. That was the name on the door of the office when I went up to see him. Of course, I really didn't have a notion to invest any money when I first went up. It was a newspaper ad, you know, And I answered. Lots of. Kind of a hobby with me.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

So I went up to see him and we talked. And as I say, I wasn't thinking of investing any money. But Mr. Fairchild seemed like such a nice man. Seemed to have a good business head on his shoulders. Well, ended up with me putting my whole savings account into the plastics plant. $6,400, every penny of it. I haven't heard from Mr. Fairchild since. I just don't know what to think. I can't understand it.

[Joe Friday]

Do you have any idea where to contact this Fairchild now? Any address, telephone number?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Well, I called his office. It's in the Oxford Exchange Building. There's no answer, though. They say it's disconnected. I've been trying for a week to contact Mr. Fairchild. I mean, $6,400. I just don't know what to do with all my savings.

[Jack Webb]

I don't know what to do. Oh, you.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Excuse me, please. Customer can't afford to miss the sale now.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

You go right ahead.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Ellen, will you help this lady?

[Jack Webb]

Looks like he scored again, huh?

[Joe Friday]

I wouldn't doubt it. She seems to do a fair business here, huh? I mean, after Christmas and all.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, I suppose. Of course, the women go for it. You hang up a sale sign. You can't beat them off with a club.

[Joe Friday]

That's right. See this gadget here?

[Jack Webb]

Pretty clever, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Miniature Sherman tank. What's it do?

[Jack Webb]

Watch.

[Joe Friday]

Well, how about that?

[Jack Webb]

Pretty cute, isn't it? Cannons on the sides, bark's coming out. My nephew got one for Christmas. I got a lot of power. Treads will climb over just about anything. Uh huh.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Sorry to keep you waiting, officers. Customers have to be 10 to you.

[Joe Friday]

Surely we understand. Now, about this money you gave Fairchild and his Barrett. The $6,400. How'd you work that? I mean, did you give him a check or how'd you do it?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Yes, I gave him a check. It was cashed the same day I gave it to him. I found that out from the bank.

[Jack Webb]

What was it you were supposed to get for your money, ma'? Am?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Interest in the plastics company. 1/5 interest. Seemed like such a good idea at the time.

[Joe Friday]

Did you ever discuss the deal with the owners of the plastics company? I mean, when Mr. Fairchild wasn't around?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

No, I guess I never did. Mr. Fairchild didn't think it was a good idea. Said he wanted me to get the most for my money. Said he was afraid if the company owners talked to him alone, they might argue me into taking less profit. Didn't want me to talk to him at all. Fusion Drown.

[Joe Friday]

And you weren't suspicious of him at all, huh?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Mr. Fairchild? Oh, very nice man. There are a few things he did that made me a little uncertain. But he always explained everything to me. Always had a good reason for.

[Joe Friday]

For everything he did.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Nice man. Clean cut, well dressed, beautiful manners. Never take him for anything but a gentleman. You'll see what I mean. What do you mean?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Am. Just a perfect gentleman. I don't know what to think. I can't call him a crook. He just isn't that kind.

[Joe Friday]

Well, he took your money, Ms. Barrett.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Yes.

[Joe Friday]

What else would you call him? 2:18pm when we got through interviewing the latest victim, Marie Barrett, Bill Lockwood and I drove out to the plastic company on San Fernando Road, where we talked to the owner and manager. The story was pretty much the same. The suspect, using the name of George Fairchild, had called on them three weeks before, introducing himself as an investment counselor. He told them he had clients with money to invest in a growing industry such as theirs. And they went for the story. They told us Fairchild had come back two or three times with different persons whom he introduced as his clients. They'd been shown through the plastics plant and given a sales talk. That's about all the company owners could tell us. When we got back to the office, we checked their names through the regular business channels and found out they were reputable businessmen. There was nothing to indicate that they had anything to do with the Suspect's bunco operations. 4:30pm hey, Joe. Yeah, Bill?

[Jack Webb]

Girl out here to see us, the

[Joe Friday]

one who used to be Preston's secretary, Vivian Castle. Oh, yeah? She say what she wanted?

[Jack Webb]

No.

[Joe Friday]

Seems a little anxious.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Officer, I'm glad I found you in.

[Joe Friday]

How are you, Ms. Castle?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I'm all right. I was going to, but I couldn't remember your number. Lost the card you gave me, so I decided to come down. You remember talking to me, don't you? About Mr. Preston, my old boss?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am. Have you heard from him?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Well, no, I haven't. But you remember me telling you about my girlfriend, Norma?

[Jack Webb]

Mm.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I mean, the time Mr. Preston took me out, Norma and her boyfriend were with us.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

And the way Mr. Preston kept making a play for Norma. Well, I saw Norma at lunchtime today. First time in weeks.

[Jack Webb]

Mm.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

She told me she got a call from Mr. Preston. I told her I'd tell you all about it. She's got a date with him.

[Joe Friday]

When?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Dinner, Friday night.

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[Jack Webb]

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[Jack Webb]

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[Joe Friday]

Wednesday, January 6, 4:50pm we called Vivian Castle's girlfriend Norma Cummings. And then we drove out to talk to her. The Cummings girl told us that Russell Preston had telephoned that morning and made the date with her for Friday night at 6. He said they were to have dinner at a nightclub out in the Wilshire district. He also mentioned to her that he was staying in a hotel, but she didn't know the name of the location. We made arrangements for a stakeout at Norma Cummings apartment. The girl agreed to cooperate with us. Thursday, January 7th. We checked with the personnel at the different restaurants, bars and nightclubs which Preston and the Cummings girl were to visit. Some of them remembered Preston, but as far as they knew, he hadn't been back. We left our cards with each one of them and we asked him to contact us if he should return. Just after lunch on Friday, we got a phone call from Norma Cummings.

[Jack Webb]

When was that, Miss? Uh huh. Did you find out where he was? I see. Mm. Will you be there for the rest of the day? All right, fine. Yeah, we'll call you back.

[Joe Friday]

Goodbye. Yeah?

[Jack Webb]

Cummings girl?

[Joe Friday]

She's at work.

[Jack Webb]

She just had a phone call from Preston. She tried to find out where he was. No go.

[Joe Friday]

What do you have to say?

[Jack Webb]

That dinner date he had with her tonight.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah?

[Jack Webb]

He called it off.

[Joe Friday]

Later that afternoon we went out and talked to the Cummings girl. She told us Preston explained on the phone that he had to cancel a date that night because of some business deal that had come up. He told her he'd get in touch with her over the weekend. He didn't. By Thursday of the following week, she still hadn't heard from him. Two days later, on a Saturday afternoon, we got a call from one of the cocktail lounge's priorities. Preston had visited. The bartender remembered us being in there to inquire about the suspect and he'd saved our card. He said Preston was there now with another man drinking at the bar. We asked the bartender to try and delay the suspect as long as possible. Then we got in the car and drove to the location. It was too late. The bartender explained that he tried to delay the man that he thought was Preston, but he didn't have much luck. The suspect had left a few minutes after the bartender had called us. He'd been drinking heavily. The man Preston had been with was still there. He was sitting at an old upright piano in the back of the place, trying to pick out a tune with one finger. Bill and I went back and talked to him. He gave his name as Fred Sandel.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, that's right. I was drinking with a fellow. Why? What's the matter, Officer?

[Joe Friday]

Did you ever see the man before?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, once or twice in here. Uh, the place up the Street, 780club. I had a couple of drinks with him in there.

[Joe Friday]

You know his name?

[Jack Webb]

Well, what's the angle? You want him for something?

[Joe Friday]

It's just a routine check. We'd like to talk to him.

[Jack Webb]

Well, I don't know. I might know his name. Yeah, well, what's the angle on the thing? You want him for something big?

[Joe Friday]

We want to talk to him, that's all.

[Jack Webb]

Would he pull a high? Something like that? Hey, he didn't look like that kind of guy. Lousy thing. I never could get that right. How about it? You say you might know the man's name.

[Joe Friday]

What was it?

[Jack Webb]

Well, I don't know. I'm not sure if I'm the one that I'll tell you.

[Joe Friday]

How do you mean?

[Jack Webb]

Well, I don't want to get anybody in trouble. I want to give out names. What's the angle on him? You want him for something big?

[Joe Friday]

It's big enough. Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

Oh, well, his name's Preston. I think that's the name he gave me. Anyway, I see him around bars in the neighborhood every once in a while.

[Joe Friday]

How much you know about him?

[Jack Webb]

Well, not much. I had a few drinks with him now and then. Talked a little bit. That's about all. What did you say your name was, sir? Sandel. Fred Sandel. What's the angle on this Preston?

[Joe Friday]

We want to get in touch with him. You know where he lives?

[Jack Webb]

I don't know. I might. You want him for something big, isn't that right?

[Joe Friday]

Well, what's the difference? We want him.

[Jack Webb]

Well, could be a lot of difference. I. I mean, what's the angle? If it's important to you and I helped you, you'd probably want to do the right thing, huh?

[Joe Friday]

I don't know if I got you right.

[Jack Webb]

Well, I mean, if you. If you really want the guy, you know, if it's important to you and I helped you reach him, you'd want to make it square with me, wouldn't you? Huh? Not that I'm asked for payoff. You understand that?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, we understand. Where's Preston live?

[Jack Webb]

Well, I didn't say I knew where the guy lives. I didn't say that.

[Joe Friday]

Do you know where he lives?

[Jack Webb]

Well, I'm not sure. I might. I. I don't know if. I'll tell you, though. I don't.

[Joe Friday]

All right. You want to stand by here, Bill? I better check in.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, fine. Okay.

[Joe Friday]

City Hall, 26, 25 please.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

26 25.

[Jack Webb]

Record Bureau, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, John, this is Joe Friday. Bunko. Yeah, Friday. Like to check on a suspect, John. He gives the name of Fred Sandell. He's a WMA, about 45, 5 foot 10, 160, 70 pounds. Brown hair, brown eyes, ruddy complexion, small scar just below the left ear.

[Announcer]

Okay.

[Jack Webb]

Want me to call you back on that?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, would you, please? I'm at dunkirk 35016.

[Jack Webb]

Right.

[Announcer]

I'll call you.

[Joe Friday]

Thanks. Oh, say, John, could you switch me over to Bunco, please? I'm calling from outside.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, sure. Hang on.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you.

[Jack Webb]

Yes, would you switch this call over the Bunco detail, please?

[Joe Friday]

Bunko, Riblett, Joe. Freddy, Charlie. Anything doing?

[Jack Webb]

Oh, yeah, Joe, Quite a bit. That suspect of yours, Russell Preston.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Mm.

[Jack Webb]

He's been picked up.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah? How'd that happen?

[Jack Webb]

A radio car picked him up. 8th in South Grand. Drunk charge. I understand. He was pretty well plastered. Wandering around in the middle of the street. Had quite a bit of money on him. They brought him into Robbery for questioning.

[Joe Friday]

Are you sure he's Preston?

[Jack Webb]

The description checks. Couple of sets of identification on him, too. One for Russell Preston, one for George Fairchild.

[Joe Friday]

Where they got him now?

[Jack Webb]

Next door interrogation room. Ken's scarce talking to him. He's copping out of two of the jobs he pulled.

[Joe Friday]

Okay, Charlie. Thanks a lot. We'll be right in.

[Jack Webb]

Right, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

All right. Bye, Bill. See you a minute?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

You might as well check in. Preston's been picked up, huh?

[Jack Webb]

When?

[Joe Friday]

Probably just after he left this bar. Radio car spotted him, pulled him in.

[Jack Webb]

How about that? Yeah, you work two months on a case, and just when we start to get close, somebody else up picks.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's right. It's not very exciting, is it?

[Jack Webb]

You know, I was just thinking, Officer. I don't want to be a hardhead about this thing, you know, I. I mean, if you want this guy present, I'd be glad. I'd help you find him. I don't want to be a hardhead.

[Joe Friday]

Excuse me a minute. Yeah? John Hunter. Friday. Where I could be.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

All right.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah, John, I got a make

[Jack Webb]

on that name you asked for. Fred Sandel. There's a want on him. Grand theft auto. Got a pretty long record.

[Joe Friday]

You want me to read it off? No, that's all right, John.

[Jack Webb]

Right. Bye.

[Joe Friday]

Right. Thank you.

[Jack Webb]

What do you say, Sergeant? Suppose we sit down and have a drink and talk things over, and I'll show you where I think this person hangs out. I mean, if we make the. Make the right deal.

[Joe Friday]

Well, it's already been Made you want to grab your top coat there. We'd like to talk to you downtown.

[Jack Webb]

Me? What for? What are you talking about?

[Joe Friday]

Grand theft auto. They want you, mister.

[Jack Webb]

Wait a minute. You made a mistake. You didn't come in here looking for me. You're not even assigned to my case. This ain't fair. Get your code. Let's go. Yeah, but this ain't fair. You come in here looking for Preston. You didn't want me.

[Joe Friday]

We do now.

[Jack Webb]

Well, what kind of a deal do you call that? You're looking for Preston, you pick me up. What's the angle?

[Joe Friday]

There's no angle. Some days you gotta settle for less. That's all. Come on, let's go.

[Jack Webb]

The story you have just heard. The names were changed to protect the innocent.

[Announcer]

On April 5, trial was held in Superior Court Department 89, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial.

[Jack Webb]

Now, here is our star, Jack Webb.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you, George Feniman. Friends, I sincerely hope you'll remember tomorrow what we've told you about Fatima tonight. You remember we said that Fatima is the best of all king size cigarettes? Well, we'd like you to try a pack and prove that to your own satisfaction. You'll find Fatima gives you an extra mild and soothing smoke. Plus the added protection of Fatima quality. Remember this. Fatima gives you more for your money. When you buy cigarettes, look for the bright, sunny yellow pack. And buy Fatima. I know you'll like them.

[Announcer]

Russell R. Preston, alias George Fairchild, alias Robert Fairchild, was tried and convicted on three counts of grand theft. Fred Sandel was tried and convicted of grand theft. One count. Both men received sentences as prescribed by law. They are now serving their terms in the state penitentiary, San Quentin, California. Grand theft is punishable by imprisonment for not less than 1 nor more than 10 years. You have just heard Dragons. 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 Martin Milner, Marion Richmond, Vic Rodman. Script by Jim Mosey. Music by Walter Schuman. Hal Gibney speaking.

[Jack Webb]

Fatima cigarettes. Best of all, King Size Cigarettes has brought you Dragnet. Transcribed from Los Angeles. Now it's counter spy on NBC.

[Announcer]

Sound off for Chesterfield. Chesterfield, first cigarette in America to give you premium quality and both regular and king size brings you.

[Jack Webb]

You drag me. Ladies and gentlemen, the story you're about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a Detective Sergeant. You're assigned a robbery deed detail. You've just rounded up a vicious gang of thieves. The heavy man is still at large. Your job.

[Joe Friday]

Get him.

[Jack Webb]

Hello, this is George Feniman. I want to talk to you about the cigarette that's really on the move. The one everyone's talking about and trying. Chesterfield. First cigarette in America to give you premium quality in both regular and king size. Chesterfield King size is exactly the same quality and exactly the same blend of tobacco as Chesterfield. Regular size there is absolutely no difference. Except that king size Chesterfield is larger, contains considerably more of the same tobaccos.

[Joe Friday]

So much more.

[Jack Webb]

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[Announcer]

Dragnet. The documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department.

[Jack Webb]

Department.

[Announcer]

You will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case. Transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

[Joe Friday]

It was Tuesday, March 6th. It was windy in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A robbery detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Did. My name's Friday. It was 2:46pm When I got to room 27. A robbery,

[Jack Webb]

Frank? Yeah, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

How about those subpoenas?

[Jack Webb]

Took them down the warrant office. They're gonna serve. Oh, fine.

[Joe Friday]

All the follow ups made packages in order. That about wraps it up then.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, all with Bentley.

[Joe Friday]

Nothing for Mac yet?

[Jack Webb]

No, he said he'd call as soon as he heard anything.

[Joe Friday]

Be happy when we get him, won't you? He's probably the worst of the lot.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, not quite. What Mac said. He's in real trouble now. Broke. None of his friends will have any to do with him. We'll turn them.

[Joe Friday]

I don't think I'll ever understand a guy like Bentley. What makes a man want to beat somebody just for the sake of beating them?

[Jack Webb]

Figure that we'll have it made.

[Joe Friday]

32 robberies and just about every one. Bentley's got to work over at least one of the victims. He's pretty vicious.

[Jack Webb]

Now we get him this time, he's through. Probably knows it too. He went. Mac bows the whistle. Probably gonna be rough to take, don't you, Johnny? How you feel about it? But I'm happy it's over. And let's face it we were lucky on this one. The guys were gun happy. Taking any longer to get them have killed somebody? Sure, maybe so. Boy, my next day off, I'm gonna do nothing but sit, not make a move. My feet are killing me.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, we have a lot of leg work on this one.

[Jack Webb]

Not just this one, Joe. All of them. I was reading in the magazine the other day about a new kind of arch support. I gotta get me a pair of them.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

According to the ad, these are gonna be just a ticket. Some new kind of rubber. Soft when they mold it to your feet. Place back in Wisconsin. How they do it?

[Joe Friday]

They got a place here in la?

[Jack Webb]

No, just the home office. Just a small place, I guess. According to the ad, the whole process pretty new.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Well, how do you get this? What is it, a mold?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah. You stand on a piece of paper, hold a bucket of water in each hand. You know, you put all your weight on your feet. Yeah. And you draw the outline of your foot on the paper. They make the arch thing up from there.

[Joe Friday]

If you're holding a bucket of water in each hand. Is that right?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Well, how do you use the pencil?

[Jack Webb]

What?

[Joe Friday]

Well, a bucket of water in each hand. How are you gonna draw?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, I'll get it.

[Joe Friday]

Robbery Friday. Oh, hi, fa. Yeah, he's here. Oh, hi. The kids. Oh, yeah, sure, I'll put him right on. Frank, it's for you. Your wife seems upset.

[Jack Webb]

Thanks, Joe. Hello, honey. Yeah, Hi, Camber. What's up? Well, can't you tell me now? Well, why not? All right, honey, I'll be right there. Don't worry now. Goodbye.

[Joe Friday]

What's the matter? Something wrong?

[Jack Webb]

I don't know. Know if they wants me to come right home. Says something's going on.

[Joe Friday]

Couldn't you tell you about on the phone?

[Jack Webb]

No, I said something about the phone being tapped.

[Joe Friday]

We went down to the carpool and started over for Frank's house. For the past three months, we'd been working on a case involving a gang that had been operating in the city. During that time, they'd committed 32 armed robberies, and in most instances, they'd beaten their victims for no apparent reason. Their ruthless attitude was the most outstanding single point of their M.O. we'd successfully rounded up all members of the gang, with one exception. Leroy Bentley, alias the Bull Bentley, was the known heavy man of the gang. In order to successfully prosecute and apprehend any criminal or criminals, the police officer requires the fullest measure of cooperation and assistance that he can obtain from many people. The private citizen and his Own associates as well. From the ranks of the private citizen comes one important aid, the informant. The working detective knows that in many cases, his most valuable assistance can often come from his informant. In this particular case, we'd received information that would lead us to Bull Bentley. Within a matter of days, 3:22pm we arrived at Frank's home.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I'm glad you're home, honey. I'm awfully worried. No joke.

[Jack Webb]

What's the trouble now? What this all about? This phone being tapped?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Well, that's what he said.

[Jack Webb]

Who?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

The man who called.

[Jack Webb]

Honey, can you tell me what this is all about?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I got a phone call just before I called you. It was a man, said his name was Bull Bensler or Benby. I didn't get it. He said that you thought you were a smart cop, but if you didn't lay off him, he was going to take care of you where it had hurt the most. He threatened the children and me too. Frank, I don't know what to do.

[Jack Webb]

Go on.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Said the phone was tapped and we were being watched. Said to tell you he wasn't kidding. He didn't have anything to lose. He sounded real mean. I'm frightened. Do you know this man, Frank?

[Jack Webb]

Oh, he is, yeah. We have a warrant for his arrest.

[Joe Friday]

Fay, where are the kids?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

With Stacy's in her room playing. I called the school for Mike. The teacher said she dismissed the class. She should be home by now. Frank, I don't know. I'm worried about him.

[Jack Webb]

All right, lock the doors. Don't open for anybody. Joe and I will go out and see if we can find Mike, all right?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I'm worried sick about him. Should have been home 20 minutes ago.

[Jack Webb]

All right, we're gonna call the captain, Frank.

[Joe Friday]

Ask him to send a couple of men out, huh?

[Jack Webb]

Thanks, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Don't worry about it. Faye, 2511, please. Yeah, robbery. Oh, Glenn. Captain there. It's Friday. I'd like to talk to him. Skipper, this Friday I'm out at Frank's house. Frank Smith? Yeah. Bull Bentley called his wife, threatened her and the kids if he didn't lay off. No. Said if he didn't lay off. Well, could you send a couple of men out to stand by? Fine. Mike isn't home from school yet. And Frank, that's his little boy. Frank and I are going out to look for him. Yeah, I said he'd be watching the house. Who? Yes.

[Jack Webb]

Well, all right.

[Joe Friday]

We'll be in as soon as we find a boy.

[Jack Webb]

Rice, give her.

[Joe Friday]

O' Donnell and Stewart from the office will be out. Faye, they'll park the car down the street, watch for him and let him in, won't you?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

All right, Joe. What about it, Frank? You gonna lay off this guy? You want me to please find little Mike?

[Joe Friday]

All right, honey, we'll find him.

[Jack Webb]

Lock the door and don't open it for anyone but o' Donnell and Stuart when they get here.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

All right, dear.

[Jack Webb]

Now, don't worry, huh, honey? We'll find him.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah. Let's go.

[Joe Friday]

Joe.

[Jack Webb]

What do you think?

[Joe Friday]

I don't know.

[Jack Webb]

Tell you one thing.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah?

[Jack Webb]

I'm scared.

[Joe Friday]

There are two types of criminals that can be counted on to be dangerous. The youngster who becomes easily panicked at the scene of a crime and the older criminal who will do anything rather than go back to the penitentiary. Bull Bentley was one of these. We knew that he was more than capable of carrying out his threat. His record was one of armed robbery, vicious beatings and kidnapping. At this particular time, he was wanted for murder. In the state of Colorado. The average criminal will blame anyone but himself for his predicament, usually the police officer. And this was so in Bentley's case. He apparently thought that by getting us off the his trail, he could go free. Frank and I searched the area around the house. We found his little boy in a vacant lot two blocks from school, playing with a group of youngsters. We put him in the car and returned him to his home. Stuart and o' Donnell were at Frank's house and said they'd stay there until they were relieved. 4:36pm Frank and I checked back into the office.

[Jack Webb]

Smith.

[Joe Friday]

Friday.

[Jack Webb]

In here.

[Joe Friday]

Right.

[Jack Webb]

Come on in. Find the boy? Yes.

[Joe Friday]

Playing with some of the kids in the neighborhood.

[Jack Webb]

All right. Now, what's this all about?

[Joe Friday]

Well, this bunch we just cleaned up.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah?

[Joe Friday]

Bull Bentley called Frank's wife and told her that if Frank didn't lay off of him, he was going to get to him through his family.

[Jack Webb]

What do you plan to do?

[Joe Friday]

Oh, no choice. Get him before he can do anything, I guess. Frank?

[Jack Webb]

Yes, Kip? You like to be taken off this assignment? No, no, it's a personal matter. It's up to you. Let's see that your house is covered when you're not home. You keeping the boy away from school? Yeah, Captain. Till this thing's over. You got any ideas where you can pick Bentley up?

[Joe Friday]

We've covered all the places he's known to hang out.

[Jack Webb]

Want any help? No, not right now. Just find him fast. You know, he's in town. Figure he's gonna stay here? Well, we don't think he's got much choice. We figure he's broke, he's hot. None of his friends will take a chance on putting him up. He's gonna need money. Better cover the bus depots, train depots. Alert the airport detail. Get a couple of hundred mugs printed up on them. Distribute them to the beat men and radio cars. Contact Captain Hamilton, Intelligence. He might be able to come up with something.

[Joe Friday]

Our informant said he could turn Bentley for us in a week.

[Jack Webb]

Week's a long time, Jim. I know you've covered all his hangouts.

[Joe Friday]

All of them. Nobody's seen him in a couple of days. Just seem to drop out of sight.

[Jack Webb]

Big town, a lot of people. Sometimes you don't realize how big till you start looking for one man. Want to get in touch with the boys in the press room, Give them the story. See if they'll carry Bull's picture. See Jack Ricketts. He'll put the picture on suspects wanted. We'll get shot on it right now. You got a silent number, haven't you, Frank? Yeah, it's unlisted. I'd Bentley get it? It had to come from somewhere. Joe and I were talking about that. You know pretty much who we give the numbers out to? About the only one we can figure this. Be in a position to give it to. Bentley's Harry McLeod. Your informant? Yeah. How long since you've heard from this McLeod?

[Joe Friday]

Couple of days.

[Jack Webb]

Figure maybe he'd cross you throw in with Bentley?

[Joe Friday]

It's possible. I don't think so, though. He's leveled with us so far.

[Jack Webb]

Number had to come from someplace.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, well, it sure makes it look like McLeod, doesn't it?

[Jack Webb]

I don't think Mac would give the number away on his own. Both could get it. We got 32 people to prove it.

[Joe Friday]

Well, we better get on this thing. Come on, Frank.

[Jack Webb]

Right. Check you later, Skipper. Joe, I don't know what I'm gonna do.

[Joe Friday]

Well, don't worry. We'll get to him.

[Jack Webb]

I mean, this two bit thief calling Faye, threatening her.

[Joe Friday]

Try to take it easy. I know how you feel.

[Jack Webb]

Why me, Joe? Bull, Bentley's brushed up against a hundred different cops in his day.

[Joe Friday]

Why me? Law of averages, I guess. You were handy.

[Jack Webb]

I knew just what to do.

[Joe Friday]

Skipper gave you a choice. If you'd like to go home, nobody'd blame you.

[Jack Webb]

You don't know what it is, Joe. You don't have a family. Something like this can split you in two. Half of you wants to be on the job, the other half is pulling you toward home. Joe, if that cheap punk steps to my front porch, I'm gonna lean on him hard.

[Joe Friday]

Look, Frank, this isn't gonna get us any place. Let's get over to the photo lab and get this thing moving, huh?

[Jack Webb]

I could just figure it. 4,000 guys in the department and Bentley has to pick me. Joe, why me?

[Joe Friday]

All right, look, Frank, I could try to spell it for you a hundred ways, and we still wouldn't come out with any kind of a total. I know what you must be going through, and I'm sorry it's gotta be you. I'm sorry it has to be any cop. You're right about me not having a family, but it's squeezing me just as hard as it is you. You and I both knew when we filled out those application blanks what we were taking on the job. Frank, maybe I never told you before. Maybe you've been through this, too. I don't know. There isn't a day goes by that I'm on the job here that I don't run into something that breaks my heart. Why did Ed Wilson have to get shot down when he and his partner tried to take that guy out of that rooming house over on 8th Street? Why did Olson and his partner have to end up in the PNF ward last week? Why do you have to run the gamut of every human emotion, class of people on earth? Porter, Rich, it's all the same. Somebody picks up a gun to knock over the corner gas station, everything hangs in the balance. The minute that thief slips a cartridge into his gun, the gas station attendant, his family, his kids, and every relative he's got slides right onto the short end. Everybody seems to think that wherever crime is concerned, they never get any closer to it than the front page of the morning paper. I know you know this, Frank. For every attempted crime, God only knows how many innocent people are thrown into the balance even before the crime's been committed. That's the way it is, Frank. I'm not trying to tell you anything you don't know. But the minute you pass that exam, you had to make book that something like this could contaminate you just as surely as if you weren't a cop. I guess it's almost a legacy. Nobody's found a vaccine for crime. Nobody's immune. It's worse with you and me because we know better than to think we can't be touched. We know we can. We invite it every time we roll on a call, every time we pick somebody up, every time a guy gets out of line, the Job. Frank, I didn't mean to give you an academy lecture, but if it's any comfort, I'm with you. I know just how you feel, and so do 4,000 other guys right down here. Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

I guess maybe we better get moving, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Come on. We took the mug shot of Bentley to the photo lab and asked them to run off 200 copies. We checked with the reporters in the press room and they promised us full cooperation. Jack Ricketts told us that he'd put the picture on the air. The next day, Frank called home and found that there'd been no further calls from Bentley. 6:17pm we started to look for Harry McLeod, our informant. We checked his hotel, but the clerk told us he hadn't been in all afternoon. We started checking his known hangout in fear of burning McLeod. We were unable to ask for him by name, which made it necessary for us to canvas each individual place. 9:12:28pm we located McLeod in a small bar that was known to be frequented by thieves. We walked over to the bar and sat down next to him. We ordered a drink at the first opportunity without arousing Suspicion. We told McLeod we wanted to talk to him and that we'd meet him down the street two blocks west. We left the bar, got in the car and drove to the meeting place. Twenty minutes later, McLeod arrived, got in the back seat and we drove away.

[Jack Webb]

Want to get the radio, Joe? Yeah. What's the matter with you guys? It's. Told you. I got in touch with you. I had something for you. You trying to get me burned?

[Joe Friday]

Take it easy, Mac. There's a couple of things we want to know.

[Jack Webb]

I'm on your side. You guys know that. I've always leveled with you. Have my. Yeah. Well, then, what's this bit? You walk into that joint, you know what goes on in there, and you pull me out. Good chance. Somebody could have seen you, you know.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, we know, man. Have you seen Bentley?

[Jack Webb]

No. I told you I'd let you know when I turned him.

[Joe Friday]

Now, don't snow us, Mac. This is important. Have you seen him?

[Jack Webb]

If I saw him, I'd have called you. You know that, don't you? I'd have called you guys. I told you once I'd finger him for you. I haven't called. I haven't seen him. Him. It's that simple. What's a big rush about getting Bentley anyway? He ain't going nowhere.

[Joe Friday]

Now, look, Mac, we got a personal interest in this thing. This isn't just robbery. Bull's been calling Frank's wife saying he was going to kill her and the kid. You know he'd do it. Now, how about it?

[Jack Webb]

I didn't know it was like that. Bull's mean enough to do it.

[Joe Friday]

Well, that's how it is Now. I'll ask you once more. Have you seen him?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

When?

[Jack Webb]

Day before yesterday. Sunday morning. Saw him down Marty's.

[Joe Friday]

How come you didn't call us?

[Jack Webb]

I couldn't, honestly couldn't. He came in and asked me for some dough. I told him I didn't have any. I tried to stall him till I could get to a phone. Yeah?

[Joe Friday]

Didn't work.

[Jack Webb]

He wouldn't wait. Got mad when I couldn't help him out.

[Joe Friday]

You say anything about a meat?

[Jack Webb]

Just said he'd get in touch with me. Yeah, he's real sore when I couldn't let him have any dough. But I told him, I said, look, boy, you know I want to help, but I just haven't got it. That's what I said. Yeah. Wasn't Kitten, either. Things been pretty rough. So you guys couldn't see your way clear, could you, Sabuk? You tied me over.

[Joe Friday]

No, you got me at the wrong time, Mac. I'm tapped.

[Jack Webb]

How about you, Smith? Well, if you gotta have it, I got 10 bucks I've been saving for a purse. I sure appreciate it. You guys know that.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, we know. You got any idea how Bull might have gotten Frank's home phone?

[Jack Webb]

No, not the slightest.

[Joe Friday]

You sure you didn't give it to him?

[Jack Webb]

Joe, you've known me for a lot of years. Would I do a thing like that after the way you guys treated me?

[Joe Friday]

That's what we're trying to find out, Mac.

[Jack Webb]

I should get a little insulted at that. You guys figuring out about.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, now, come off it, Mac. Did you give him the number?

[Jack Webb]

No, I swear to you, I didn't.

[Joe Friday]

All right. You got any ideas where Bull might be hiding?

[Jack Webb]

Not in particular. Check the usual places? Yeah, we look through them all and you know as much as I do. He did say he looked me up in a couple of days.

[Joe Friday]

You see where he was going when he left you?

[Jack Webb]

No. Just walked out of Marty's. I saw a friend of his yesterday, though.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah?

[Jack Webb]

Guy said he'd seen Bull Sunday night.

[Joe Friday]

Say what?

[Jack Webb]

He wanted money. Said he'd try to tap him for some dough to get out of town.

[Joe Friday]

His friend help him?

[Jack Webb]

He didn't give him any money. He gave him something else, though. Yeah, he gave him a guy.

[Announcer]

You are listening to Dragnet. Authentic stories of your police force in action.

[Jack Webb]

Chesterfield is the first and only cigarette in America to give you premium quality in both regular and king size Justice. Chesterfield is the first and only cigarette to tell you what it's made of. Yes, Chesterfield names all its ingredients so you'll know what gives you the best possible smoke. The world's best tobaccos pre tested by laboratory instruments for the most desirable smoking qualities. Pure costly moistening agents. Costly glycerol and pure sugars which are natural to tobacco. And cigarette paper of the highest purity. The best that money can buy. That's what's in your Chesterfield. Ingredients that give you the best possible smoke. Much milder with an extraordinarily good taste and as confirmed by a well known research organization, no unpleasant aftertaste. So sound off for Chesterfield. Either way you like them regular or king size, Chesterfield gives you the best possible smoke.

[Joe Friday]

Before we left Mac, he furnished us with the name of the man who'd given the gun to Bull Bentley. We recognized the name Dave Slater as a small time hoodlum who'd do anything to make a dollar as long as he himself was reasonably safe in doing it. Mac told us of several places where we might find him. The most likely place was a pool room on North Main Street. Slater had numerous arrests, most of them for being drunk and for acting as a lookout for gambling games. He was a type of thief that can be found in every large city. Always on the fringe of criminal operations but never directly involved in the crime itself. We checked several of the places Mac told us about. But we couldn't come up with Slater. We checked the pool room. The manager was evasive and at first appeared reluctant to talk. We informed him that we knew Slater would be back and that we'd wait for him. The manager asked us to come to the back room with him. He told us that Slater had said that he was going down to the all night hamburger stand on the corner to get something to eat. We found Slater sitting at the counter.

[Jack Webb]

Call this thing a hamburger? All I can say is a bun. I'd be ashamed to sell a thing like this. Lousy deal. 35 cents for nothing.

[Joe Friday]

Slater.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah? Well, something you want?

[Joe Friday]

Police Officer Slater. We want to talk to you.

[Jack Webb]

What about?

[Joe Friday]

Little Bentley.

[Jack Webb]

Bentley never heard of.

[Joe Friday]

We got information.

[Jack Webb]

You do know him pretty well. Yeah. You tell your pigeon he's lying. I never heard of the guy. Let me finish eating.

[Joe Friday]

We want to talk to you, Slater. You want to make it here? Would you rather go downtown?

[Jack Webb]

Can't you see I'm eating? Now let me finish. I got nothing to tell you I don't know any Bull Bentley. Now lay off, huh? Come on, you can think better than any empty stomach stater. Let's go.

[Joe Friday]

Frank and I took Slater out of the restaurant and put him in the car. Once he was in custody, his attitude changed completely. He said he wanted to help us, but that he didn't know Bull Bentley. 1044. We got back to the city hall.

[Jack Webb]

Want to stop by the office? Joe, call Homeheart.

[Joe Friday]

I'll be in the interrogation room. You telescope. Yeah, in here.

[Jack Webb]

Later. Yeah, sit down. Sure. Look, I told you I want to help you guys out, but I'm just. I don't know anything.

[Joe Friday]

If I did, I'd let you know.

[Jack Webb]

All right, come off.

[Joe Friday]

It's later. Where's Bentley?

[Jack Webb]

Look, I keep telling you, I don't know any Bentley.

[Joe Friday]

Where you living now?

[Jack Webb]

Solly Hotel, West Phil.

[Joe Friday]

How long you been there?

[Jack Webb]

A couple of days.

[Joe Friday]

You working now?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, a little odd job now and then, you know, nothing steady.

[Joe Friday]

What do you call an odd job? Slater?

[Jack Webb]

Oh, you know, sweep out the pool room, rack the balls for him. Yeah, sure.

[Joe Friday]

Now, look, we've known you for eight years. You never worked a day in that time. Now, how about Bentley? We got a personal interest in him. We want him. We want him bad.

[Jack Webb]

Look, I tell you, I don't know any Bentley.

[Joe Friday]

Anything new?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, Joe, he called a couple more times tonight. Last time at 10:30. Scared Fay half to death. Said he knew Mike was home. He knew we were looking for him. That if we don't stop, it'll get to the. Said it didn't matter how many cops we had around the house, he'd get to him. Face almost hysterical. O' Donnell called the doctor.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Jack Webb]

How about Slater? He come up with anything?

[Joe Friday]

No. Still says he doesn't know him.

[Jack Webb]

Doesn't know him, huh? Listen, punk, Let you and me get straightened out. What happens to me is one thing. What happens to my family is another. They don't pay me enough money to jeopardize my family. Now, you get this straight. When punks like you and your trigger happy friends can threaten my family, then something's got to give and it's not gonna be me. Yeah, but I told you. Look, wipe that silly grin off your face. Face later. You feel nice and safe there, don't you? You know, as long as you're in custody, we got to take care of you. Well, maybe you'd like to know that If I have to, I'll take this badge off and walk up one side of you and down the other. Now, I want to know where Bentley is, and I want to know now. We're not stumbling around in the dark. We know you gave him a gun. Let me tell you this, mister. Mark it down. If anything happens to my wife or my kids. You can't run fast enough to get away, because I'll nail you hard.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Jack Webb]

He's getting pretty tough, isn't he?

[Joe Friday]

Just telling you how you stand. Now, come on, where's Bentley?

[Jack Webb]

I told you, I don't know Bentley.

[Joe Friday]

All right, let's get everything out of your pockets. Get it on the table.

[Jack Webb]

There's nothing much.

[Joe Friday]

Change.

[Jack Webb]

Keys and a nail file, address book, my handkerchief, comb, wallet, cigarettes, matches. That's all.

[Joe Friday]

You want to shake him down, Frank?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah. I told you, that's all. Now, what are you looking for? Now push your luck, Slater.

[Joe Friday]

It's clean. Joe, how much money you got in your wallet?

[Jack Webb]

I don't know. Double sawbuck maybe.

[Joe Friday]

It's a funny thing. You guys never work, but you always got money. All right, take the money out and count it, Slater.

[Jack Webb]

Why? What's that gonna prove?

[Joe Friday]

Take it out and count it.

[Jack Webb]

All right. 10, 20, 25, 26, 27, 37. Another five, 42 bucks. I didn't know I had that much.

[Joe Friday]

All right, put the money in your pocket.

[Jack Webb]

That all the money in your wallet? Yeah, that's it. Let's see the wallet here. There's nothing in it. A couple of cards, that's all. Yeah. Let's see here. A couple of pawn tickets, picture. Who's the girl? Babe I met in Dago. You don't know her? She's not in the rackets. Married now. I haven't seen her in a year. Then why are you carrying her picture? I always kind of liked her. She had class. Real nice broad. You said you didn't know her. Bull Bentley? That's what he said. How about Leroy Bentley? No. You know anybody at all named Bentley? Look, I told you, I don't know any Bentley. How many times do I have to tell you? You know anybody by the name of Bull? I don't know anybody named Bull. I don't know anybody named Bentley. Yeah, Take a look, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Now, maybe you can explain this then.

[Jack Webb]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

What's that bar tab in your wallet named Bull written on it? How about it, Slater?

[Jack Webb]

Who's Bull? I don't remember that. Probably something I picked up a long time ago.

[Joe Friday]

I don't remember. Tabs dated March 4th, day before yesterday. Your memory must be getting pretty bad, huh?

[Jack Webb]

I got nothing to say.

[Joe Friday]

Well, Frank, you want to check the business office and see who this number is listed to?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, Joe, right away. All right, fine.

[Joe Friday]

I'm going to tell you something, boy. This is a rotten deal. The law protects people like you. You're lying. We know it. And you know it, too. You know Bentley. You know where he is. What's more, we know you gave him a gun Sunday night to say date on that tab. I'll tell you what we're gonna do, Slater. You're a real wise guy. You talk fast. We're gonna get Bull. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow, but we'll get him. When we do, we're gonna tell him that you blew the whistle on him. We're gonna put him in the same cell with you. I'd like to hear you talk your way out of that.

[Jack Webb]

Well, you wouldn't do that.

[Joe Friday]

Don't make book on it.

[Jack Webb]

Look, he's a mean guy. He'll kill me.

[Joe Friday]

Thought you didn't know him.

[Jack Webb]

All right, so I know. But you wouldn't do that, would you? Put me in with him.

[Joe Friday]

Where is he, Slater?

[Jack Webb]

You gonna tell him I turned him in?

[Joe Friday]

We're making no deals. Where is he?

[Jack Webb]

I don't know where he is now.

[Joe Friday]

You know where he'll be?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah. I was supposed to meet him there tonight at the bar down in West 7th. He's got a friend, works there, feeds him.

[Joe Friday]

He'll be there. Tonight, huh?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah. Said if I'd meet him, he'd pay me for the gun. 75 bucks.

[Joe Friday]

What kind of gun is it?

[Jack Webb]

A.38. A good one, too. Worth more than 75 bucks. But I needed the money.

[Joe Friday]

Where'd you get the gun?

[Jack Webb]

Well, you'll find out anyway. I might as well tell you. Prowled a car found under the seat. I found out later it belonged to a guy in the vice squad. Probably real sorry about it. Could be Joe Barn, West 7. A place called the Hamilton Inn. Yeah, that's it.

[Joe Friday]

He'll be there. All right, Slater, let's go.

[Jack Webb]

Where you taking me?

[Joe Friday]

You're going to jail.

[Jack Webb]

You can't win. I should have known you. Hey, do me a favor, huh?

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Jack Webb]

Talk to the jailer. Make him give me a cell. By myself.

[Joe Friday]

We handcuffs later to a chair in the robbery office until we got back to booking. 12:32am Frank and I left the city hall for the Hamilton inn on West 7th Street. Slater had told us that he was to meet bull Bentley between 1 and 1:30. When we got there, there were a half a dozen people in the place. We checked the bar and the men's restroom, but Bentley wasn't around. We went back to the car, drove down the street to a closed service station and parked where we could keep both doors of the restaurant under surveillance. 12:51am 115 we waited. 135.

[Jack Webb]

Joe, that him?

[Joe Friday]

I don't know. It might be. Let's take a look. All right. You want to take the side door? I'll try the front.

[Jack Webb]

Right. I don't see him. Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Wait a minute. That him going in the phone booth back there?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah. Come on.

[Joe Friday]

I get him?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah. Watch it, joe. Watch it. All right, Frank, I'll shake him down. Who told you? Who? Blow the whistle. That bum, McLeod. It was him. He was the only one who knew. He gave you my telephone number. Yeah, he did. And he runs to you and cops out. Should have known better. I give him 20 bucks for it.

[Joe Friday]

Well, that figures.

[Jack Webb]

What do you mean?

[Joe Friday]

We gave him 10. Not to.

[Jack Webb]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent.

[Announcer]

On June 12, the hearing was held in the District Attorney's office. In a moment, the results of that hearing.

[Jack Webb]

Now, here is our star, Jack Webb. Thank you.

[Joe Friday]

George Feniman. Friends, I'd like to talk to you about something that's important to every one of you. Now, for the first time, you can get a premium quality cigarette. In either regular or king size. Of course, that's Chesterfield. Both regular and king size Chesterfields are made of the proven ingredients that give you the best possible smoke. Both are much milder, with an extraordinarily good taste. No unpleasant aftertaste. Yes, there's no difference between the two, except king size. Chesterfield is larger, contains so much more of the same tobaccos. It gives you a 21% longer smoke, yet it costs very little more. So remember, either way you like them regular or king size. Chesterfield gives you the best possible smoke.

[Announcer]

Leroy W. Bentley was released to the Colorado authorities for prosecution on a charge of murder. A hold was placed on him for the State of California in the event he is paroled. He was convicted and is now serving a life sentence in the Colorado State Penitentiary without possibility of parole. Although David R. Slater was guilty of aiding and abetting a felony, a complaint could not be issued due to the fact it could not be proved that Slater knew Bentley was an ex convict when he gave him the gun. He was filed on for petty theft in Division 7. He pled guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in the county jail. 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 Brazier. Heard tonight were Herb Ellis, June Whitley, Jack Crucian. Script by John Robinson, Music by Walter Schumann, Hal Gibney speaker.

[Jack Webb]

These great programs sound off for Chesterfield. Radio, Dragnet, the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis show, and every weekday, Arthur Godfrey time on television. Dragnet gangbusters Arthur Godfrey and his friends and the Perry Como Show.

[Announcer]

Tomorrow you'll want to sound off for Chesterfield because either way you like them. Regular or king size Chesterfield gives you the best, best possible smoke.

[Jack Webb]

Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet. Transcribed from Los Angeles. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.

[Announcer]

Sound off for Chesterfield. Chesterfield low in nicotine, highest in quality, best for you. Chesterfield brings you Dragnet.

[Jack Webb]

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a forgery detail. For the past six years, a forger has been working in your city. The victims described the suspect as a woman. Her M.O. is simple, but it continues to work. Your job stopper. Smokers by the thousands are now changing to Chesterfield. No wonder more and more smokers are learning this fact for themselves. Chesterfield low in nicotine, highest in quality. A published fact proved by chemical analyses of the country's six leading cigarette brands. Chesterfield the only cigarette ever with a record like this. Regular or king size, Chesterfield is best for you,

[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.

[Joe Friday]

Was Friday, September 18th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of forgeries detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Welsh. My name's Friday. We were on our way out from the office and it was 10:42am when we got to the ninth floor of the Beckworth Department Store. The credit manager's office. Yes, we'd like to see Mr. Donaldson, please.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

May I say who's calling?

[Joe Friday]

Sergeant Friday, Los Angeles Police Department.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Oh, yes, he's expecting you. Just a moment.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you.

[Jack Webb]

Yes?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

The gentlemen from the police department are here, Mr. Donaldson.

[Jack Webb]

Send them in, please.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Yes, sir. You want to go right in? That's the door.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you very much.

[Jack Webb]

Come on in, gentlemen.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you. Mr. Donaldson.

[Jack Webb]

Yes?

[Joe Friday]

I'm Sergeant Friday. This is my partner, Frank Smith.

[Jack Webb]

How do you do? How you do, sir? Sit down.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you very much, sir. Do you want to tell us what

[Jack Webb]

this is all about? Well, it's the little mother again. I've got the receipts here on the desk. Is Sergeant Ferguson still working on this case? Yes, sir. I talked to him the last time we were stuck. Usual type of things, charge? Yes. Children's shoes, dresses, sweaters. Same as always.

[Joe Friday]

I see. Now, I wonder if I could have those slips, Mr. Donaldson.

[Jack Webb]

Sure. Here you are.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you.

[Jack Webb]

All made out the same day, August 22nd?

[Joe Friday]

Yes.

[Jack Webb]

Our experience is that she usually comes in on a Saturday. Seems that the store is more crowded then. And the girls don't take any more time to verify the accounts than they have to. Can I see those, Joe?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Here you are. What if we could talk to the sales girl who waited on her?

[Jack Webb]

Sure. I'll have her set up.

[Joe Friday]

Fine.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Yes, sir.

[Jack Webb]

Ms. Firestone, would you please have Mrs. Allen set up?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Yes, sir.

[Jack Webb]

I notice here the only items you charge not for children, is a woman's slip. Yes, we've had a couple of them in the past. Pieces of women's clothing. I talked to Sergeant Ferguson about it when he was here.

[Joe Friday]

Did you get the bulletin we sent out this month?

[Jack Webb]

Beg pardon?

[Joe Friday]

The bulletin giving the woman's description, samples of her handwriting. Did you get it?

[Jack Webb]

Yes, sir, we did. You've got to understand, Sergeant, this is one of the biggest stores in the city. We do a lot of business. It'll be almost impossible to alert all of the salesgirls to watch for the woman.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir, we understand that, but was the description sent to the children's department?

[Jack Webb]

It was. It didn't do any good, though. If the woman charged large amounts, it might be easier. But look at the sales slips yourself. $4 shoes, $3 dresses. Nothing to make a charge like that stand out. We make sure that there's an account in the name and then let it go. Don't you use the charge a plate system? Yes, we do. But if a customer wants to charge an item and hasn't got the plate, we usually just verify the account and let them sign the sale slip.

[Joe Friday]

How about identification?

[Jack Webb]

Well, normally we do ask for it. As I said, these sales are such small amounts, and the woman comes in when the store is crowded. The girls just call the credit department. Let us sign the receipt.

[Joe Friday]

I see.

[Jack Webb]

Excuse me. Yes, sir? Yes?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Mrs. Allen's here.

[Jack Webb]

Oh, all right. Just a moment.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Yes, sir.

[Jack Webb]

Woman who waited on her is out in the Office. Do you want to talk to her in here?

[Joe Friday]

Well, we don't want to take up any more of your time, sir. We can see her out there. All right.

[Jack Webb]

Is there anything else you need? I'll be here.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Jack Webb]

Oh, Officer.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir?

[Jack Webb]

You know, I feel a little funny about this thing. Why is that, sir? Well, the thing she's charged. What's that thing she's taken? They're almost all kids clothes. Doesn't seem to be interested in anything else. Total amounts of the articles she's taken don't add up to much. It's the principle of the thing more than the value. It just seems that the only thing she's interested in is the child. It feels a little funny to call the police about a person like that.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, sure, we understand we've got a

[Jack Webb]

lot of this going on, but the others, they. They take things for themselves. Luxuries, you know, expensive items. But she doesn't. Just for the kids. She doesn't seem to be at all interested in herself.

[Joe Friday]

Well, we are.

[Jack Webb]

Yes, well, I suppose so. Well, I'll be here if you need anything more.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you, Mr. Donaldson. Thanks very much. We'll be in touch.

[Jack Webb]

You'll bring the sale slips back, won't you? Yes, sir.

[Joe Friday]

As soon as we've had the chance to photograph them.

[Jack Webb]

Well, I hope you can do something about it.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir, so do we. Thank you very much.

[Jack Webb]

Anything you need, you let me know.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. Thank you.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Just a moment. Mrs. Allen? Yes? These are the police officers.

[Joe Friday]

How you doing, ma'?

[Jack Webb]

Am?

[Joe Friday]

I'm Sergeant Friday. This is my partner, Frank Smith.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Hello.

[Jack Webb]

How you doing, Ms. Allen? You want to sit down over here, please?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Yes. All right. I feel just terrible about this, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

All this forgery thing.

[Joe Friday]

Now, you waited on the woman, didn't you?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Yes. At least in the little girl's department.

[Joe Friday]

Uh huh. What if you could describe her for us?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Well, she was a little woman. I'd say a 10.

[Joe Friday]

How's that again, ma'?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Am? A size 10. Oh, five. One about 105 pounds. Cute as a button.

[Joe Friday]

Did she have the children with her?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

No, no, she didn't. I thought it was a little funny at the time, but as I say, we were so busy with the school rush that afternoon that none of us girls had a chance to really think about anything.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am. What color hair did she have?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Kind of sandy color. Guess you'd call it a blonde. Wore it up in a bun, you know, back here, you know.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Am. The other girls noticed it long Looked nice. Different than all the other shorthair cuts. Kind of old fashioned and homey.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

How was she dressed?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Not very well. Had a little blue hat, dark coat, cloth coat. Collar came up like this. You know, slash pockets. Nice, but not expensive.

[Joe Friday]

I say, ma', am, now, would you

[Jack Webb]

know her if you saw her again?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Oh, my, yes. Sure would.

[Joe Friday]

Well, we'd like you to come over to our office and look at some pictures, if you would.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

All right. I'll have to talk to the floor manager.

[Jack Webb]

We'll take care of that, Mrs. Allen.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

All right. You think that you might have a picture of her?

[Joe Friday]

We don't know.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I kind of hope not, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I hope you don't have a picture. I guess it's a little sinful to even think of it. But she had a reason for what she did, I'm sure of it.

[Joe Friday]

Why do you say that, Mrs. Allen?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Officer, I've been selling for a long time. I met a lot of people in that time, nice ones and nasty ones. And believe me, this is one of the sweetest people, people I've ever served. I understand that you call her the little mother. Is that right?

[Joe Friday]

Well, we don't, ma'. Am. That's what the newspapers call her.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Well, it fits her to a T. Right to a T. Where she bustled around those dresses, looking, testing. She was just like a mother hen, trying to find something for her brood. Little doll, cute as a button. She just got to have a reason for what she's doing.

[Jack Webb]

Sergeant Friday.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, Mr. Donaldson?

[Jack Webb]

I'm glad I caught you. I think we've got it, sir. The little mother is downstairs now.

[Joe Friday]

For the last six years, the same woman had been operating in the downtown department stores. During that period, she'd forged a total of $1,300 worth of merchandise that we knew of. Because of her M.O. there was no way of telling how much more had gone undetected. The operation was a simple one. She'd enter a store, go to one of the departments. There she'd pick up articles of apparel, mostly for children, and then ask to charge them. She'd explain that she'd forgotten her charger plate, and after the account had been verified, she'd sign the charge slip. These slips would be put in the mail to the people who maintained the account, and it wouldn't be until they noticed a discrepancy that we'd be notified. Usually a month would pass between the time the clothing was taken and we were told of it. In the six years that the little mother, as the newspapers had dubbed her had been operating. Almost every team of detectives in the forgery detail had worked on the case. Statements from sales girls who'd waited on her were taken. Photo stats of the sales slips were made. Witnesses were interrogated. And then when the sum total of actual physical evidence was weighed and sifted, there was no lead to the identity of the forger. The police department had gotten out printed bulletins and copies of composite drawings of the suspect. And these had been distributed to all department stores in the area. But because of the suspect's appearance and the way she operated, none of the victims became suspicious in time to notify us. The Department Stores Protective League was working with us, but they met with the same dead ends that we'd found. Meanwhile, the evidence continued to pile up. The operation continued to work. When the manager of Beckworth's Department Store told us that the suspect was in the store. Frank and I were able to come up with the first concrete lead we'd had since we'd been working on the case in the company of the manager and the saleswoman, Mrs. Myra Allen. Frank and I went down to the boys department where the suspect was reported to be.

[Jack Webb]

Down this way.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Jack Webb]

Girl said she was over by Boy's Suits.

[Joe Friday]

I hope they were able to hold her.

[Jack Webb]

Just a minute.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Jack Webb]

I know I don't have to tell you gentlemen about the store's liability in a situation like this.

[Joe Friday]

No, sir.

[Jack Webb]

Now, I'm sure it's her. But it could be very embarrassing and expensive to the store if we made a mistake.

[Joe Friday]

All right, sir. We understand.

[Jack Webb]

Good.

[Joe Friday]

Over here.

[Jack Webb]

All right.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Mr. Donaldson. Mr. Donaldson.

[Jack Webb]

Yes, Ms. Franklin. Where is she?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

It's not my fault. You've got to believe that.

[Joe Friday]

What's the matter, miss? Don't tell me.

[Jack Webb]

You stopped the wrong person. You caused trouble with an innocent party and she could sue the store.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I'm sorry, Mr. Donald.

[Joe Friday]

Where is the woman, miss?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

That's what I'm trying to tell you.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Am. She wouldn't wait.

[Joe Friday]

A quick search at the immediate vicinity in the store failed to turn up the suspect. The department store security staff was notified and a watch was put on all of the doors. The credit department was notified and they took action. We checked with the elevator operators. We found one that told us she'd seen a woman who answered the description get in her car. She explained that the woman seemed to be in a hurry and had left the elevator as soon as it had reached the main floor. A further check of the store netted us nothing. The suspected Escaped. In the downtown crowds, it would have been almost impossible to try to find her on the streets. However, an additional broadcast carrying a complete description of the clothing she was wearing was gotten out to all cars in the area. The first good chance was gone. We had to go back to the legwork and the waiting. Three months passed. During that time, Frank and I cleaned up a series of counterfeit payroll check cashings. Another 30 days went by without activity for the little mother. There were four new sales slips added to the file. But when the leads resulting from these were checked out, we were no closer to her than we'd been six years before. Thursday, December 17, 12:55pm I checked into the office.

[Jack Webb]

Joe, that you?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. What do you got?

[Jack Webb]

I'll just talk to Skipper.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah?

[Jack Webb]

Got a couple of more beeps about the little mother.

[Joe Friday]

When'd they come in? This morning.

[Jack Webb]

Where are they? Don Meyers got him.

[Joe Friday]

He's checking the handwriting. Well, how about the name she used? Wait a minute.

[Jack Webb]

I got them here in my book. There they are.

[Joe Friday]

Mrs. Norris Farrow.

[Jack Webb]

Mrs. James Slagle, I guess it is.

[Joe Friday]

And Mrs. Ross Nieman.

[Jack Webb]

I called the stores and got the

[Joe Friday]

information on these people. Did you talk to them?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Asked all the routine stuff. None of them can think of any friends who match the description. How about the things she charged? Anything there?

[Jack Webb]

No usual items. See? Two pair of Levi's for kids. One child's cotton dress.

[Joe Friday]

There is one thing different. What's that?

[Jack Webb]

I checked the sizes of the clothes.

[Joe Friday]

Last bunch of sales slips we had,

[Jack Webb]

the dresses were for a 10 year old. This time she bought them for a 12 year old. Kids are getting bigger, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

That's a big help. All we gotta do is look for a couple of kids that are growing. Well, I was just trying to help, Joe. No, I mean there just doesn't seem to be anywhere to go all the time. We put in all the people we've talked to. All we got for it is a file drawer. All to ourself on the thing again. Forgery Friday.

[Jack Webb]

Who? Yes, ma'. Am. Mm.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, I remember. Where is she now? I see. Yeah, we can be right over. Yes, ma'. Am. Bye Bye. Well, we got it. What do you mean? That was Mrs. Allen, remember? The sales lady over at Beckworth's? Oh, yeah, I think I do. What'd she have to say? Told me she's having lunch in the restaurant at the corner of Jackson on Hill. Yeah, our suspect's sitting next to her. 102:00pm we checked out of the office and dropped Drove over to the restaurant. It was located at the rear of a large drugstore. When we came into the place, Mrs. Allen met us at the entrance. She took us back down the counter and pointed out a small woman sitting on the last stool.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

That's her.

[Joe Friday]

You sure, ma'?

[Jack Webb]

Am?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I'm positive. That's her, all right.

[Joe Friday]

Let's go. Yes. You want to wait here, Ms. Allen?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Certainly. Something you gentlemen want?

[Joe Friday]

We're police officers, ma'. Am. We'd like to talk to you.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Police?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

You want to step over there to talk? Might be better.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Well, if you want to say anything to me, you can say it right here. I haven't done anything wrong.

[Joe Friday]

What if we could see your identification? Why your identification, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

Could we see it?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

All right. Just a minute. I've got my purse getting terrible. I don't know what you officers are trying to find out, but I'm going to tell you right now. If you can't prove you've got a reason for making me do this, you're in trouble.

[Joe Friday]

We're not making you do anything, ma'. Am. We don't want to cause you any embarrassment.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I want to tell you that my husband knows people in this town. When he hears about this. Oh, here you are. Here's my driver's license.

[Joe Friday]

Would you take it out of your wallet, please?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Here.

[Joe Friday]

Mrs. Evelyn Nelson.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

That's who I am.

[Joe Friday]

This your present address?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

No, it isn't. We moved a few months ago, but I haven't had a chance to have it changed. Is that all you want?

[Joe Friday]

No, Ms. Nelson, it isn't. I wonder if we could talk to you in our office.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Why? I always thought you had to arrest people before you could order them around.

[Joe Friday]

We're asking you to come over the city hall with us, if you will, ma'. Am. There are a few things we'd like to check out.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

What things?

[Joe Friday]

Wonder if I can see what you've got in the bags here.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

What are you looking for?

[Joe Friday]

Do you mind if we took a look?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Well, there's just some clothes for my children. Nothing in there to interest you.

[Joe Friday]

Well, then it wouldn't hurt if we looked, would it?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Go ahead. You won't find anything.

[Joe Friday]

You want to take a couple of these, Frank?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, I got it.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Well, what about it? Did you find anything wrong? Maybe a gun?

[Joe Friday]

No, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

But I wonder if you could explain this.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

What's that?

[Joe Friday]

This charge slip here, signed by Mrs. Ross Neiman.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Well, certainly. That was probably in the bag when I bought the things. I don't know anything about it.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Ms. Nelson. Afraid we're have to ask you to come with us.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

On what charge?

[Joe Friday]

Suspicion of forgery.

[Announcer]

You are listening to Dragnet. The authentic story of your police force in action. At cigarette dealers, in vending machines,

[Joe Friday]

At

[Announcer]

supermarkets and stores, coast to coast.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Chesterfield, please.

[Jack Webb]

Smokers by the thousands. Yes, smokers by the thousands are now changing to Chesterfield. The only cigarette ever to give you

[Announcer]

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[Jack Webb]

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[Announcer]

No adverse effects to the nose, throat and sinuses from smoking Chesterfield.

[Jack Webb]

A responsible independent research laboratory supervises this continuing program. Chesterfield, the only cigarette ever with a record like this. Chesterfield. Best for you.

[Joe Friday]

We returned the suspect to the city hall for questioning. While Frank checked her name through the files. I tried to get her to talk for 20 minutes. Her attitude was one of surprise and she answered the questions I put to her with indignance. Finally, she lapsed into silence and wouldn't reply at all to further interrogation. Frank came back from R and I with the information that there was no arrest record for Mrs. Nelson. We put out calls to the salesgirls who had waited on the little mother in the past and asked them to come down to the office to see if they could identify the suspect.

[Jack Webb]

Yes, ma'. Am. Room 29. Yeah, come right in. The First street entrance. Turn left into the police department.

[Joe Friday]

That's right, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am. There's an arch there. Go right through it straight down the hall to the right. Well, it's the only way you can go. It's on the left as you go down the hall. That's right, 29. If you ask Sergeant Friday or Officer Smith.

[Joe Friday]

No, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

Smith. It's all right, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am. We'll expect you. Goodbye. I'll call the next one.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. You know, you'd save yourself and us a lot of trouble if you'd tell us the truth, Mrs. Nelson. Mrs. Nelson.

[Jack Webb]

Hello. May I speak with Ms. Brundage, please?

[Joe Friday]

And Children's Wear. Yes, ma'. Am, I will

[Guest/Supporting Character]

hang up the phone.

[Jack Webb]

Beg your pardon?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

You don't have to go through this anymore.

[Joe Friday]

All right, ma'.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Am.

[Jack Webb]

You wanna tell us about it?

[Joe Friday]

Ms. Nelson?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I only did it for them, the kids. I didn't want to. How do you think I felt when I knew I was stealing. How do you think I felt?

[Joe Friday]

You want to go in?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

My husband Paul's a good man. What he's done, he thinks is right. I can't quarrel with him. But he doesn't know. He doesn't understand. It isn't that he doesn't love the kids. He does. He really does. It's just that he doesn't understand. You can see that, can't you? He doesn't understand about them. Do either of you have a handkerchief? I came away this morning without one.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

Here you are.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Thanks.

[Joe Friday]

Wanna go ahead? Please.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

All his life he's worked. Put in long hours without a thought of what he was doing to himself. Every nickel, every nickel he made was put away so he'd be able to feel secure. So he wouldn't have to worry about anything. It was all right when we first got married. I could understand it, but I went along with what he thought. But the last few years, it's gotten to be an obsession with him. The almighty dollar. That's all that seems important to him.

[Joe Friday]

What kind of work does your husband do, Mrs. Nelson?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

He owns a grocery store. Small place, but it does good. Makes a good living. Only we aren't living, we're existing. He gives me $10 a week to run the house and buy clothes for the kids. I've tried. Lord knows I've tried. Budget meals, cheap cuts of meat, day old bread. Any way you spend it, no matter how you figure, $10 just doesn't go very far.

[Joe Friday]

Now, Mrs. Nelson, didn't you talk to your husband about it? Didn't you ask him for additional money for the expenses?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Yes, I'd ask him and he'd tell me that I had to make do all the time, make do just a little longer, until he had the money in the bank. Then we'd be all right. Only the more it went on, the worse it got. It didn't seem to make any difference how much money we had. How the total in the passbook went up. He wasn't satisfied. Had to be a little more. A little more. I guess I'm feeling sorry for myself. But you see, he could afford to buy the kids decent clothes. At least that you agree with me, don't you?

[Joe Friday]

Well, that's hard to say, ma'.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Am. Not for me. I'll never forget the day when my boy came home crying, been fighting. One of the other boys at school had said something about the patches on his clothes. Just a little kid, that's all. He was ridiculed by his friends. That's when I made up my mind to do something about it.

[Joe Friday]

Does your husband know anything about your activities?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

No, nothing.

[Jack Webb]

How'd you explain the new clothes for

[Joe Friday]

the youngster to him?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I didn't have to last year. He's been working so hard at the store, I hardly ever see him. The kids don't hardly know him. He even spends Sunday at the store.

[Jack Webb]

Store?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Dressing the windows.

[Joe Friday]

You mean he spends all his time there?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Every minute he's not asleep, he let one clerk he had go so he could save the money. Always save the money. It doesn't make any difference who gets hurt. Get that dollar and put it away. That's what counts. Put the dollar away. You know something, Officer?

[Joe Friday]

What's that, Ms. Nelson?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Yes? I haven't been able to sit down and talk to my husband for six weeks. Six weeks? He gets home at 12:30, 1:00 clock in the morning. He's up and gone at 6:30. Kids are always asking when Daddy's coming home. How do you answer him? How do you make him understand? I can't. I've tried the only way I know how. And I did it so wrong.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Ms. Nelson. We'll try to work it out.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Can I use your phone? I've got to tell the children what to do about dinner.

[Joe Friday]

I'll call for you if you like, ma'. Am. What's the number?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Hollywood, nine eight, eight, four.

[Joe Friday]

Where's your husband now, Ms. Nelson?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

the store, I guess. You're gonna call him?

[Joe Friday]

I think we should, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am. Let him know what's happened?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

I guess so. Somebody's gotta take.

[Joe Friday]

Hello? I'm calling for Mrs. Nelson. I wonder if I could speak to her son. Mrs. Sgt. Friday, Los Angeles Police Department. Who? Yes? No, she's down here now. Room 29. All right, fine.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Was that my boy? I wanted to talk to him.

[Joe Friday]

No, ma', am, that was your husband. He's on his way down here. 2:14pm Paul Nelson walked into the office. Frank and I took him and his wife to the interrogation room. She'd asked us while we waited for him if we'd let her talk to him for a few minutes alone. We stayed out in the hall, and after a brief wait, Paul Nelson opened the door and asked us to come into the room. His wife had evidently told him the full story because he was visibly shaken. He walked over to his wife and sat down beside her.

[Jack Webb]

Well, I guess I've really done it, haven't I?

[Joe Friday]

What do you mean, sir?

[Jack Webb]

I've really ruined everything. My home, my Kids, everything. All the time it was happening. I never knew it, never had an idea.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Don't blame yourself too much, Paul.

[Jack Webb]

But I should have known. I should have seen it myself. Even when you tried to tell me. I was too busy to see it. Too wrapped up with the business.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

It wasn't for me, Paul. It was for the children.

[Jack Webb]

It doesn't make any difference who it was for. I'm the one who caused it. I'm the one who's my fault. I'm sorry, Evelyn. How can I ever make it up to you?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Don't think about that now, Paul. It won't do any good. What's been done can't be changed.

[Jack Webb]

How about it, Officer?

[Joe Friday]

Sir?

[Jack Webb]

What happens now?

[Joe Friday]

Well, your wife is going to be given a preliminary hearing. She'll have the chance to plead guilty. If she does, the court will decide what to do.

[Jack Webb]

What's the punishment for what she's done?

[Joe Friday]

Well, According to Section 473 of the Penal code, it's impossible. Imprisonment in the state penitentiary for one to 14 years or for not more than a year in the county jail.

[Jack Webb]

Is there any way out of it?

[Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Jack Webb]

Any way of getting Evelyn out of it. If I went to the judge and told him why she did it, if I told him it was my fault, would that make a difference?

[Joe Friday]

I don't know. I'd be up to the court.

[Jack Webb]

But I could try.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Jack Webb]

If I paid the money back for all the things she's taken, I can afford it. I could go to the stores and pay them. Maybe they'd feel different then, huh? I could make it up to him. Everything would be all right.

[Joe Friday]

Well, it's been going on for six years. Years, you know.

[Jack Webb]

But if I did pay the stores back, it'd make it up to him, wouldn't it?

[Joe Friday]

Maybe. But how about your wife?

[Jack Webb]

What?

[Joe Friday]

How are you gonna make it up to her? 4:30pm the suspect was released on a rip. The next afternoon, Frank and I met with Mr. And Mrs. Nelson and their attorney. We talked over the case. Seemed that the husband's change of heart was permanent. He swore that he'd never give his wife cause for unhappiness again. Two weeks later, in Department 89 of the Superior Court, Mrs. Nelson entered a plea of guilty to 14 counts of forgery. When the court reviewed the circumstances and was informed that Mr. Nelson intended to make full restitution, the probation board recommended that Mrs. Nelson be placed on probation for three years. After the hearing, Frank and I had a brief talk with the couple. They Thanked us for our consideration and understanding. Apparently, the cause of trouble between the Nelsons had been erased. Another two weeks went by. January 12th, 22nd. Frank and I got back from lunch and we checked into the office.

[Jack Webb]

Here they are, dear.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Mr. Friday, Mr. Smith, Ms. Nelson.

[Joe Friday]

Mr. Nelson, how are you?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Just fine, Sergeant. How are you two?

[Joe Friday]

Fine, thank you very much, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

What can we do for you?

[Jack Webb]

That's what we want to do for you, sir.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

You got the boxes, honey?

[Jack Webb]

Yeah, here they are.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

It's not much, but we thought that you'd like them. Made them ourselves to say thanks.

[Jack Webb]

Look at that, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

That's not necessary, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

You didn't have to do that.

[Jack Webb]

No, no, we wanted to. Toll House Cookies. He made a box for each of you.

[Joe Friday]

Real good. Lots of chocolate. Well, that's very nice of you.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

We just hope you'll enjoy him.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, I'm sure we will. Yes, ma'.

[Jack Webb]

Am.

[Joe Friday]

How are things going with you?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

Oh, just fine. Paul and I have gotten everything straightened out. I help him out at the store now. That way he's got more time to spend with the kids. Things just couldn't be much better.

[Joe Friday]

Well, we're glad to hear that.

[Guest/Supporting Character]

It's a funny thing to say, Mr. Friday, but it's true. The best thing that ever happened to us.

[Joe Friday]

What's that, Ms. Nelson?

[Guest/Supporting Character]

My getting arrested.

[Jack Webb]

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

[Announcer]

On January 8, a meeting was held in the county Probationer's office. In and for the county of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that meeting.

[Jack Webb]

Now, here is our star, Jack Webb.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you, George Feniman. Friends, we've been getting letters from people all over the country telling us that they've switched to Chesterfield. Just as I've been telling you, thousands of smokers are changing to Chesterfield. Because only Chesterfield gives proof of low nicotine, highest quality. That's why I recommend you try them today. Regular or king size? You'll find Chesterfield best for.

[Announcer]

At the end of three years, Mrs. Evelyn Margaret Nelson had fulfilled the requirements of her probation. And the case was officially marked closed. 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 Spreesher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Vic Rodman, Joyce McCluskey. Script by John Robinson. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.

[Jack Webb]

Watch an entirely new Dragnet case history. Each week on your local NBC television station. Please check your newspaper for the day

[Joe Friday]

and time

[Jack Webb]

Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet. Transcribed from Los Angeles have you tried new cork tipped Fatima? It's the smooth smoke. Here's why. New Fatima tips of perfect cork king size for longer filtering and Fatima quality for a much better flavor and aroma. Remember, Fatima has the tip for your lips. Try new Fatima. See how smooth it is. Fatima is made by the makers of Chesterfield, Liggett and Myers, one of tobacco's most respected names. This is the NBC radio network. Now here is our star, Vincent Price. Ladies and gentlemen. In a prejudice filled America, no one would be secure in his job, his business, his church or his home home. Yet racial and religious antagonisms are exploited daily by quacks and adventurers whose followers make up the irresponsible lunatic fringe of American life. Refuse to listen to or spread rumors against any race or religion. Help to stamp out prejudice in our country. Let's judge our neighbors by the character of their lives alone and not on the basis of their religion or origin.