← Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)
Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)
Episode 618 - Jailbreak! (Boston Blackie, Richard Diamond, The Saint, & Dragnet)
02:01:32
Sound the alarm! We've got fugitives on the lam in these radio mysteries - each with an escape from jail at the center of the story. A convict Boston Blackie put behind bars is out and making his way to Blackie's door in a syndicated mystery, and...
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Narrator
Get this and get it straight. Crime is a sucker's road and those 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. The Adventures of Sam Spade Detective the 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 Doll. Hello and welcome to down these Mean Streets and more Old Time Radio detectives and crime fighters. This week's episode is on the run. I've collected four Old Time Radio mysteries, each involving escapes from jail and the efforts of our heroes to track down the men on the lamb from the law. First up is Richard Kalmer, starring in a syndicated mystery as Boston Blackie. As the episode opens, a convict named Mike Harlan has just escaped from prison and he's making a beeline for the home of the man who put him behind bars. That man is none other than our reformed jewel thief turned detective, Boston Blackie. Next, Dick Powell stars as Richard diamond, private detective in an episode known as the Ralph Baxter Case. It first aired on NBC on April 26, 1950, when bodies of known gangsters and their associates start turning up. Diamond suspects the culprit is the titular Mr. Baxter, who recently decided to end his prison term slightly ahead of schedule. Now there's an interesting casting note for this episode. Usually on Richard Diamond, Wilms Herbert was heard as the dim witted Sergeant Otis Ludlum. But in this episode, Otis is absent and Wilms Herbert makes his one and only appearance as the meticulous Sergeant Andre Klum, practically the polar opposite of Otis when it comes to law enforcement officers. Now, I have no idea if the intention was to create a new foil for diamond, one who could clash with the detective in a different manner. But after this show, Sergeant Klum disappeared and Sergeant Otis was back on the radio beat. Whatever the reason for the character shift, it was a chance for Wilms Herbert to show off his versatility as he gives a completely different voice and personality to Andre Klum. Then it's An Adventure of the Saint, starring Vincent Price as Simon Templer. Originally aired on NBC on November 19, 1950. It's one of my favorite episodes. A show known as no Hiding Place. The Saint is summoned to the state prison by a young convict who's afraid for his life. But he can't wait around for the Saint to arrive and he breaks out. Now Simon has to find the kid before the police and whoever was gunning for him in the big house can track him down. And finally, Jack Webb is Sergeant Joe Friday with Barton Yarborough as sergeant Ben Romero in the Big Break From Dragnet. Originally aired on NBC on December 14, 1950. It opens with the cops taking a suspect into custody, but he's soon on the loose again after making a daring escape from jail. We've got fugitives on the loose and we'll conduct a hard target search of every outhouse, farmhouse and henhouse right after these messages. Your best bet for hot breakfast is Quaker Oats. The giant of the cereals is Quaker Oats. Delicious, nutritious, makes you feel ambitious. The giant of the cereals is Quaker Oats. Yes, if you want to be a star in sports and school activities, make your hot cereal Quaker Oats. Cause Quaker Oats helps grow the stars of the future. You get more growth, more endurance from Oatmeal than from any other whole grain cereal. Remember, Quaker and Mother's Oats are the same. Since Thursday will be St Patrick's Day, you've no doubt been getting your share of Killarney on today's radio programs. I had thought of describing how your friends would turn green with envy when you power your car with Signal gasoline because today's Signal drives the pings and sluggishness out of a motor like St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. Or I thought of reminding you that your wallet would feel lucky as a four leaf clover because of signals. Good mileage. But sure, in Begora when you buy gasoline, there's really just one thing that matters. You want to be sure that you're getting the tops in quality, the gasoline that helps your motor operate at top efficiency. And that's something you can determine with your own speedometer. After all, when your motor runs more efficiently, you not only enjoy quicker starting, faster pickup and smoother knock free power, but also more mileage. Good reason why we're so proud of Signal's famous mileage and why we say to be sure of the tops in gasoline quality. There are just two things to remember. One, it takes extra quality to go farther. And two, Signal is the famous go farther gasoline. To make every day more enjoyable, treat yourself often to refreshing, delicious Wrigley Spearmint Chewing Gum. Here's a taste treat you can enjoy indoors, outdoors, at work or at play. The cool, long lasting mint flavor refreshes you. The smooth, steady chewing helps keep you fresh and alert. Adds enjoyment to whatever you're doing. Wrigley's Spearmint Chewing Gum Healthful, refreshing, delicious. I dedicate this Program to the fight against crime. Not merely crimes of violence and crimes of dishonesty, but crimes of intolerance, discrimination and bad citizenship. Crimes against America. Now listen, you guys in the prison laundry, see, right through that door is the prison arsenal. All that stands between us and the arsenal is that guard and that door. Stop talking too much and let's get going. Shut up. And the rest of you guys stop staring at me. The guard's looking this way and we're sunk if he thinks we're talking. Now get this. Red is at the dryer by the door. As soon as the guard's back is turned, he's gonna let him have it at the handle off the drying machine. Smith, you get the keys off the guard, open the door and we'll be on our way in 10 seconds. Now we've got Red. Red, get the guard. Come on, come on. Get that door open. Smith, get it open. It's open, but it's half the alarm. Come on, let's get to the arsenal before the guards can get to us. Come on, we're getting out of here now. We're getting out of this jail. Come on. You're the boat gun. Then they go out the side door at the arsenal. They must have killed the guards there. I hope not. I'm gonn him have it. Hold it. We got him ducking into cell block A. Good. We get them bottled in there, they'll never get out. Yeah. Hey, Harry, look. There goes one of them over the east wall. It's Mike Harden, I think. Come on, let's go after him. Never mind. The guards in the east wall will take care of him. We can stay here. Get it in. Hey, there's a phone. Get it, will you? Car six. Six what? Okay, thanks. Who was that? John? They should call Harry. We got him bottled up in blockade. Everything's under control. But that guy going over to east wall got away. He did, eh? Who was it? Did they know? Yeah, it was Mike Harlan, Harry. One of the guys that was a guest of ours thanked a Boston. And now on to Dick Kalmer as Boston Blackie. Enemy to those who make him an enemy. Friend to those who have no friend. Police headquarters, Faraday speaking. Inspector Faraday, I think I might know something you'd like to know. Yeah? Who's this? That ain't important. But my information is what's important about it. Mike Harlan busted out of prison yesterday, didn't he? And you're looking for him, ain't you? Yeah, sure, I'm looking for him. Well, I think I Know where you can grab him? Yeah. Where? Boston. Blackie sent him to jail, didn't he? Yeah. Yeah. So what now? I figure that's where Mike Harlan is heading to settle a little score as soon as the heat on him dies down. What makes you think so? A couple of minutes ago, I saw him hiding in an alley two blocks from where Blackie lives. Yeah, well, why are you telling me this? I don't like Harlem. Yeah, well, if. Hello? Hello? He would hang up. Rollins. Rollins. Yeah, inspector? Get me a squad car, quick. We're getting out to Boston Blackies fast. Mikey. Mikey, open up. I tell you, Inspector, there's nobody in there. Maybe nobody alive. Come on, come on. We're gonna break down the door. Okay. All right. Come on. Shove again. Shove. One more ought to do it, Inspector. Okay, together now. Hard, Dennis. Come on, Ronald. Come on. Where, Inspector, there's nobody in here. I got eyes. Maybe Blackie's in another room. Maybe. Come on, let's try this room in here. Okay, but I hope we're not too late. So do I. Blankie, are you in here, Blankie? Hello, Inspector. You know Mike Harlan here. Harlan. Inspector Harlan's got a gun on him. All right, Harlan, grab that gun before I drop you. Drop it. Okay, copper. Drop that gun, I said. How's that, copper suit you? Okay? Yeah. Now, don't move. Get his gun, Rollins. I've got him covered. Go ahead and play, children. I'm enjoying this. No, keep him covered, Rollins, while I get his gun. There. Proud of yourself? My copy? Yeah, sure. I'd probably get a tin whistle for this. It was so hard to do. Take him in, Rollins. Get him out of here. All right. Too bad I didn't get to finish the job, Lucky. But I may be back. So long. Goodbye, Harlan. Too bad you couldn't stay longer. Well, Paraday. Well, Blackie, what do you want me to do, Pardee? Kiss your hand? No, but you might say thanks. Thanks to a telephone tip from one of Harlan's old enemies. I just got here in time to keep Harlan from killing you. Oh, that's right, you did. What do you mean, that's right, I did. Didn't I bust in here and catch him holding a gun on you? Yes, you did, Paraday, and thanks a lot. All right, I'll do the same for you sometime. And thanks for getting here so fast. Harlan wasn't here five minutes before you broke in. Look, I didn't come up here to save your life. I came up here to capture an escaped criminal. Too bad I had to do Both at the same time. Hey, how did he happen to get a gun on you, eh? Jealous, Faraday? You should be. Come to think of it, you've never been able to get anything on me. Well, Mary, Faraday is now under the impression he saved my life. Though I guess I do owe him something at that. So do I, Blackie, and for the same reason. Weren't you wondering why I was a little late calling for you? Oh, at first I thought you had trouble getting this cab, but after all, you were only an hour late. That's practically on time for you. You didn't really mind, did you? I didn't, but the doorman did. I was outside so long and made 35 cents on tips opening taxi doors. I'd want my cut, but I'm too pleased with the way you look tonight. I do not look any differently tonight. Maybe it's that dress you're wearing. New, isn't it? Not particularly. I got it this afternoon. It's all of five hours old. Doesn't look its age, does it? Well, it's just my size, so there isn't room for a wrinkle. Tell me why you're wearing an evening gown, Mary. Listen, my Blackie, and you shall hear. This afternoon you called to say you were taking me to a very lovely place to. It is. Now, tonight I am dressed appropriately for the very lovely place. The place isn't that lovely. Well, thank you. You're being extra special sweet tonight, darling. You wouldn't have a reason? An extra special reason, by any chance? Oh, Mary, how can you even think such a thing? Oh, that's all I wanted to know. All right, out with it. The deal to drive uptown for dinner is all off, huh? Oh, I'd say it was, well, postponed temporarily. You know, that's what I like about her plans. Subject to change without notice. Too bad this dress isn't. The dress is very attractive, Mary. Well, in as much as it's becoming increasingly apparent that I am due for a disappointment, you'll have to do better than that. Try again. Very well. The dress is. Oh, it isn't that good. On the contrary. What there is of it is terrific. Well, then you should have made the whistle shorter. Like this. And now I hate to be inquisitive, but where are we going? To a place downtown known as the Traveler's Barn. The Traveler's Barn? What's that? Believe me, it's all to your credit that you don't know it's a combination place, joint and dive. But I've got to go There tonight. Oh, all right, darling. Only I won't say I'm not disappointed. In fact, there's only one thing that could possibly make this situation worse. What's that? If you were going to the traveler's barn to meet another girl. Funny you should mention that, Mary. That's exactly why I'm going there. To meet another girl. You know something, Blackie? If you didn't tell me, if I kept my eyes closed and if I couldn't smell anything, and if I couldn't hear anything, I'd swear we were at the Carton instead of the traveler's barn. Mary, I think you're a snob. The traveler's barn has only the finest red and white checkered tablecloths. Too bad. I don't feel like playing. Playing checkers? I wouldn't want to play anything with the mob in here. Take a look. Well, to tell you the truth, I'll be happy if they stop looking at me. Darling, must we stay here? This place gives me the creeps. We won't have to stay much longer. I pointed out the girl I came down to see, didn't I? Yeah, she's very attractive too. Uh huh. And you'd see how young she was if she'd scraped some of that warp out off her face. Anyhow, I can't go over to see her until that character there leaves. I'll put a whammy on him right now. Whammy? Whammy. How long do your whammies take before they work? It all depends on how much on the job my private genie is. Plus right now I think he's probably out to dinner. Just my luck. Well, at least you're feeling better. That's something, I suppose. But. Hey, wait a minute. Suppose the young lady you came down here to see won't talk to you. Have you ever known a girl who wouldn't for the sake of your conceit? No answer to that one. But you say you want her to do something for you. What if she won't? Have you ever known a girl who wouldn't? Present company accepted. Don't answer that. Hey. Hey. The whammy's working. What do you know? That man just left the girl's table. Wonderful. I hope your genie had a fine meal. Thank him for me when you talk to him again. Okay, I will. Now you go over there and show me how good you are. Right. Excuse me, please. I'll excuse you. But if coming down here doesn't do you any good, I'll never forgive you. I'll Remember that. Hello. Are you Gladys Holland? Could be, Handsome. Mind if I sit down? I don't, but Joe might. Only he doesn't happen to be around right now. I imagine that's an invitation. And if it is, it's accepted. Thanks. Hey, haven't I seen you somewhere before? Now, that's a purely masculine line, Ms. Harlan, you know. I beg your pardon, miss, but haven't I seen you somewhere before? The Riviera, perhaps, or Biarritz, or Cannes? I have seen you somewhere. And I've heard you talk, too. Is that important? It could be. Just in case. Well, just in case I ever wanted to get in touch with you. What about this Joe fellow, The one who might object to my sitting here with you if he happened to be around right now. He's still head man. You're not that good, handsome. Not this fast, you're not. Who are you? Boston Blackie, boss. So that's why you look familiar. I should have remembered your face. I've hated it long enough. I've got to talk to you. Sure, sure. But I don't have to listen. You sent my old man to the pen, Blackie. Feed it now, before you give this place a bad name. Well, what's keeping you here? If you remember me, Gladys, you also remember that I pretty nearly always do the things I set out to do. Sure, I remember that. You set out to send my father to jail, and you did. What do you want from me? Congratulations. If I hadn't sent him their Gladys, someone else would have. Yeah, well, I. Everything okay here? Yeah, Joe, I can handle myself. Okay, Dal, I want to see you in my office as soon as you through. Yeah, Joe, right away. Look, Gladys, I want to talk to you. Go ahead, make with a monologue. All right. Will you do something for me? Sure, if it's kill you for sending my old man to jail. Look, forget about your father for a minute. I happen to know you're heading for jail yourself if you don't get out of this gang you're running around with. I don't know what you're talking about. But I do, and I want to do something about it. You do, huh? What do you want to do, send me to jail, too? Get lost, you. And I guarantee no one will ever go looking for you. Now back to Boston Blackie. Mike Harlan, sent to jail by Blackie, makes a successful prison break and heads straight for Blackie's apartment. Inspector Faraday gets a tip that Harlan is at Blackie's and gets there just in time to find Harlan. Holding a gun on Blackie, Harlan is returned to jail. And that night Blackie takes Mary to a waterfront dive, the Traveler's Barn, to see Gladys, Mike Harlan's daughter, who has joined an underworld gang. He tries to get her to do something for him, but she won't even speak to him. As we return to our story, Blackie is in Mary's apartment trying to find a way to talk further to the escaped convict's daughter. Blackie, why do you even bother thinking about Gladys after the way she treated you? Because she's not half as tough as she pretends to be. She's just in with a bad lot and thinks it's smart to do the things they do. Has she been with them long? No. That's why I've got to stop her before it's too late. Yes, but look, darling, how do you even know she's mixed up with a gang? Is it obvious? Yeah, I suppose it is. So you better tell me. Not now. But I happen to know that Joe character and his gang are about to pull something soon. If I only knew what it was and where. Why don't you call Gladys up and ask her a good idea. Hey, wait a minute. What? What are we laughing at? That's a good idea. Get the phone book. Look up Gladys Hall. Oh, well, all right. But I don't get it. How are you going to get her to talk to you like this? Is everything okay here, D? Who are you imitating now, Joe? The owner of the barn and obviously also Gladys, Boss. Oh, here it is. Oh, I see what you're going to do. Let's just hope she's home and this works. Got a number? Mm. Ha. 12,138. And kindly forget it immediately after you die of too. Now I wonder why you said that Blackie, that Joe person has a little black mustache. Why don't you wear a mustache when you talk to her? Aren't you a big elf? There goes my fingers are crossed. Really? On my side. Cross my heart. Your fingers and your heart. Kind of a double cross, isn't it? Hello. Hey, darl, is everything okay? Oh, it's you, Joe. Sure. Why yes. Well, I was just wondering, see you. Sure you get your instructions okay? Why sure, Joe. Hey, I'm glad you're sure, but I ain't. See, I'm nervous about you. Well, I'll tell you what I'm supposed to do then. Hey, maybe you better. Well, I'm supposed to get the car at 8 o'clock tomorrow night and drive it to the Cross Creek road and Highway 17. Yeah. Then I'm supposed to park it on a little side road off to the left. You and the boys will be on the other side of the road. There'll be a barricade across the road. And I'm just supposed to sit there until the armored truck comes along? Yeah. As soon as I see the lights of the armored truck, I'm supposed to start my engine and keep it running till you and the guy get through with the truck. Satisfied? I know what I'm supposed to do. You're a good dog, Laddis, but just a place safe. Keep away from me and the gang till tomorrow night. See? See you then. Document. Okay, Joe. Night. Night. Did it work, Mary? The accent must have been perfect. I should have been an actor. Well, all I can say is, if you were one, you'd be a good actor. Thanks, pal. Now, I've got to make some plans to interfere with the plans of a gang of bad actors. Tomorrow night, take Dirty Joe. What time's the armored truck supposed to mall? Right about now, Tony. Just keep your shirt on. It'll be long on schedule. The boys are spread out alongside the road. Gladys got you with the car. Okay. It's parked over there on the tree. Yeah. Now, Gladys is a good dom. I'm glad she's in with us. Taking an awful chance letting her in on a bigger hole like this on a vice job, ain't you, Joe? Yeah, but we had to have somebody to get the car all set to drive. This job is taking all of the boys, so we need us in. Well, here's hoping she. Hey, look, Joe here comes here on the truck. Good. As soon as it rounds the curve in front of us, the driver will see the barricade, will have to slow down or maybe stop, huh? Yeah. Then we run up on it, toss the nitro under it, and boom. She split open like a ripe watermelon. The truck's here, boss. The driver seen the barricade slowing down. Okay, let's go. Throw the nitro under the truck, Tony. Toss it, quick. There it goes. That a boy. That'll do it. I did it. She split wide open. Come on. All right, grab the Doe out of the back, you guys, and beat it to the car. Come on, hurry it up. Okay, we got the dough, Joe. We got it. All right, come on, let's go. Over this way. That blast must have knocked off the guards. They ain't firing at us. Hurry it up with you. Over here. Our car's waiting. Okay, darl, get set to step on it. Okay, I'm all set. Everything go all right, Joe? Perfect. Perfect. You got nerve, kids. Ain't jittery or nothing. Yeah, it was a cinch, Gladys. Me and the gang got all the dope. All right, piling of you guys. Let's go. Okay. Step on it, Gladys. Okay. Get back to town fast, Al. I can't wait to count this stuff. Sure, Joe. We did it, huh? Oh, it's a cinch. Sure was not to do it. I did all right on my first job, Joe. You work great, Dal. Great. Hey, Joe, look at the road ahead of us. It's barricaded. The place is full of cops. Cops? A hundred of them. Joe, what do we do? Drive right through the barricade. Ah, turn back. We'll beat it the other way. We can't force our barricade in that busted up armored truck. It's blocking the road behind us. Yeah, you're right. Oh, Joe, what are we gonna do? There ain't nothing we can do, doll. Slow down and stop. We're giving ourselves up. I want to live a little while longer, even if it is in jail. All right, quiet, everybody. Quiet. This is a police lineup, not affordable show. And I want quiet. They're ready with the prisoners, Inspector Faraday. All right, start with the first one. Lane Peterson. Nine arrests, no convictions. Wanted for robbery, murder. A guard in that armored truck was killed. All right, O'Day, what have you got to say for yourself? I ain't talking parody. You will later. Okay, step down, o'day. Let's have the next one. That is Harlan. No aliases, no arrests, no convictions. Wanted for robbery and murder. All right, Ms. Harlan, what have you got to say for yourself? I don't have anything to say. You know you're gonna face a murder charge for what you've done, don't you? I know it. But you can't prove it. What do you mean I can't prove it? You're guilty and you know it. Now, why don't you play it smart and admit it? Why should I? Because I'll prove it anyhow. That'll go easy on you if you talk. All right, I admit it. What do you admit? I admit everything. I drove the car for the game, but I didn't know anyone was gonna be killed. Honestly, I didn't. That doesn't make any difference. A guard in that armored truck was killed. And if you drove the car for this gang, you're just as guilty as if you killed that guard with your own hand. No, I didn't. I didn't okay, step down. Come here. Come here. Ms. Honan, I want you in my office. Rollins, bring her over here, will you? Sure, Inspector. Here she is. Thanks, Rollins. I'll take her in my office. You take over here. Sure, Inspector. All right, the rest. What are you gonna do with me? Plenty. All right, go on. Go on, get in there. What place is this? What happens to me now? Maybe a lot is going to happen here, Ms. Harlan. That depends mostly on you. What do you mean? You'll find out. Sit down. I said, sit down. All right. That's better. Well, you're in sort of a jam, aren't you? Yes. Yes, I guess I am. What do you mean, you guess you are? I mean, I know I am. Well, I didn't know it was going to be like this at all. I thought it'd be smart to join Joe's gang. I thought it'd be clever. But I know it wasn't now. Oh, you do, eh? Yes, and I should have known it before. I should have learned a lesson from what happened to my father. That's right. Look at him. He's in jail. And why? Because he was smart and thought he could get away with it. Well, he didn't get away with it. I didn't either. I know it now. But a little too late, huh? Yeah, a little too late. Inspector, I guess I've got worse coming to me than came to my father. Oh, if I could only go back 24 hours and know what I know now, I wouldn't be in this mess. No, you wouldn't. And as a matter of fact, Ms. Holland, thanks to one man, you want in a mess, not in the mitt. What'd you ring that buzzer for? I'll answer that last question, Gladys. It rang for me. Blackie. Yes? Boss is. Blackie, you seem almost glad to see me. Oh, I am, Blackie. I'm afraid it's too late. Oh, I don't think so, Gladys. You heard the inspector say you aren't in a mess. But I am. I was mixed up in that robbery and a guard was killed. You weren't mixed up in anything and a guard wasn't killed. In fact, there were no guards in that armored truck. The driver set the wheel and jumped 50 yards before the barricade. That they weren't. No, Ms. Harmon, you and your pals didn't steal anything either. That armored truck was empty. Empty? Yes. What? Your pal store was bags of slugs and a box filled with dirt. But. But how did. It's all very simple, Gladys. After you told me all about your pardon. Hold up. I. I told you about my pardon? Yes. When I called and asked you to run through the instructions, you thought I was Joe. And I said, hey, Dal, I want you to run through the instructions. See? It was you. Yes. And after that, I went to the armored truck company, told them what I was. Well, what was going to happen? Faraday and I framed this whole thing together. Well, they. Then. Then Joe and the gang haven't been arrested either. Oh, yes, Ms. Harlan. They're under arrest. I've been looking for him and that gang for a long time. For other things. They're going to jail. Where am I going? Out of here, Gladys. Straight out of here, if you know what I mean. Blackie, why did you want to help Gladys Harlan? Well, Mary, remember when I told you that Faraday caught my calling her father in my apartment with a gun on me? Mm. Well, he wasn't pointing that gun at me to kill me, but so that when Faraday broke in, I wouldn't be accused of harboring an escaped convict. He wasn't going to kill you. Well, then what was he doing in your apartment? Well, he heard through the prison grapevine that his daughter was getting mixed up with a gang. Oh, and he wanted to keep her from joining it. Yes. He even had to come up to prison to see him, but she wouldn't listen to him. Gee, you'd think she would have, though, wouldn't you? The father was in jail because he was caught by the police. Yes, but she told him she was too smart to be caught. That's when he decided to come to see me. Oh, and I know why he didn't go to the police. Because all they do is send her to prison. Yes, and he didn't want that. So he broke jail and came to see me, hoping that I could do something with her. Well, that covers everything I get. And so does that lovely evening wrap you're wearing. Why, thank you, sir. You'll sure be an attraction tonight. Think so? Look what I'm wearing underneath. Good night. A checkered skirt and a striped sweater. Where do you think you're on your way to? To the Traveler's Barn, of course. Mary, we're going to the Carlton Plaza. And I said you'd be an attraction. Wow. At the Carlton Plaza in this outfit? Blackie, I won't be an attraction. I'll be a sensation. The National Broadcasting Company presents Dick Powell as Richard diamond, private detective. Diamond Detective Agency. A corpse in every plot. Oh, Rick, that's awful. I know, Helen, but My sense of humor is out of gas. Ah. What's the matter? No business. Not for a week. If a client walked in now, I'd probably swear it was an hallucination and referred to Bellevue. Walt's been trying to get you. He called here about five minutes ago, said it was important. I just got in the office. I'll give him a call. Am I going to see you tonight? You know it. Me and my empty wallet will be glad to stop over for dinner. Well, I'll have Francis fix something healthy. Tell him to cook some money. I'll see you around 7 then. Don't forget to call Walt. Bye. Bye. Lieutenant Levinson, Homicide. Oh, you want to talk to me, Fatty? Rick, how many people call you fatty? Where the devil have you been? I called you at your apartment all morning. Helen just told me I slept late. Well, why didn't you answer your phone? Rent was due. Could have been a trap. Can you come down here? Well, if it's important, I can come down. But if a potential client gives up because he can't find me, I may have a crying jag all over your office. I'll stock up on hankies. I wouldn't ask you, Rick, but it is important. Very well. Don't sound like the last course of gloomy Sunday. I'll be there. Relax. I knew Walt was on the level because every time he thought something was important, he came on in a higher register and began to sound like a harp. Well, I closed the office, set the bear trap in front of the door in case of a client left to box lunch. I might be gone for a good while this time. And if I caught something, there was no sense in that. It starved. The fifth Frizz Inc. Was 20 blocks away. So being a practical man who always regards that lonely feeling in his pocket as the sure makings of a pedestrian, I insulted a few well meaning cab drivers. And 30 minutes later I limped into the squadroom of the Fifth Precinct Police Station. Yes? Is there something I can do for you? In my business, you have to be conditioned to anything. Nothing should surprise you. But in my business, like any other, there's always a first time for everything. And it looked like this was it. For over a year I had been walking leisurely into the squadroom of the 5th Precinct and smiling inside when I spotted a cop with a battering ram for a head and landing barges for feet. He was always the best straight man I'd ever run across. And his name was Sergeant Otis Loveloon. But this day, dear old Otis was Not to be found. Instead, sitting at his desk, looking up at me through a pair of thick horn rim glasses was something else. It pulled out a clean white handkerchief, removed the glasses, clouded them up with a quick breath that filled the room with the essence of sen. Sen. And said, well, where's Otis? You mean Sergeant Love Loon? He's been transferred. He's been what? Transferred. Who are you? Sergeant Andre Klum. Is there something I can do for you? Andre Klum. Sgt. Andre Klum. Sgt. Andre klum. Just one moment. Yeah? Where do you think you're going? Look, sonny, I'm going in to see the lieutenant. You'll have to wait until I find out if he can can see you. Oh, he'll see me. He just called me. May I have your name, please? What citation? Mr. Or Mrs. Hey, this may not be so bad after all. No, no. We're gonna have fun, Andre. Are we? Yes, indeed. Now, call in to the lieutenant and tell him Mr. Diamond is coming in to see him. Yeah, the gentleman you were expecting, Mr. Diamond. He's getting introductions now. Send him in. Yes, sir. The lieutenant will see you, Mr. Diamond. Thank you, Sergeant Klum. And something else, Mr. Diamond. Yes? Sergeant Loveloon warned me about you. And I can assure you right now that I have no intention of becoming the brunt of your obvious crude comedy. Sergeant Klum. I don't think there's much you can do about it. Oh, Walt. I want to go on record right now as saying don't I know what is that out there? The commissioner says he's one of the most valuable men on the force. But how could you put him in a cop's uniform? It's like dressing Rasputin and the Mother Hubbard. I miss Otis as much as you do, but strictly off the record, Sergeant Klum has relatives. I thought so. I'm scratching all the way in here. Otis moved over to the 11th Precinct. Who's he working for now? Lieutenant Crawford. They've had a suicide watch on him all night. What's this Andre Klum supposed to be so good at? He's only been with us for a couple days. I don't know. Well, if I keep thinking about him, I may have to be dipped in hot tar. You better tell me what you want to see me about. You may not like it, Rick. This is new. Remember Ralph Baxter? Sure. I sent him up while I was still on the force. Yeah, well, you worked on that case for over a year, didn't you? You were in charge of the department. You know darn well I Did Rick. You knew Baxter's habits better than anyone on the force. Oh, now, Walt, Walt, what's it all about? Is Baxter loose? Very loose. Busted out at 8:00 this morning along with seven other guys. Oh. All got away clean, every one of them. One of the best planned breaks I've ever heard about. Well, if Baxter was in on it, it had to be. He's a smart boy, Walt. One of the smartest. The commissioner says we've got to pick him up before he does any damage. Just like that, huh? Just like that. I need someone who knows him so well, he might have a chance of nailing him before the trouble breaks loose. And you know Baxter and trouble? How come you're in on this, Walt? Somebody already get killed? Truck driver. Oh. Baxter's an unhappy boy. He kills to make up for it. Really does a fancy job. You want to help me out? You're in trouble if they don't nail Baxter in a hurry. The commissioner is relying on me. Okay. Then it's got to be official in case you have to make an arrest. Oh, now, wait a minute. Got to swear you in as a deputy. Look, Rick, we've got to. I don't really care how you bring Baxter in and who gets the credit. But what would the commissioners say if. Yeah, I know, I know, I know. I'm sorry, Walt. Every time I used to put on that badge, a book of rules and regulations went with it. I do it my way or not at all. But. But. Now, don't start running your motor. I don't want the credit. The department can have it. Besides, it's 20 to 1 in any man's book that I'll never even get close to Baxter. And you stand more chance than anyone else. Okay. Then you still don't have to worry about the credit. It's 50 to 1 that the newspapers will read. Private detective found with his head Missing. Okay, Rick. Your way. Andre. Yes, Lieutenant. Andre. Yeah, some name. I beg your pardon? Bring in all the information on Baxter and the seven other men who were in on the break. Yes, sir. Andre. Andre Klum. Yeah. Here you are, Lieutenant. You want to look over this stuff, Rick? Yeah. I want to know how. How the brake was pulled off. Maybe if we can get a line on who helped them, we can get it. Baxter. That way. A truck was used, a Ford pickup that hauled garbage regularly. The large garbage cans were placed on the truck and taken off to a dump. The seven men in Baxter hid in the cans and were covered up with garbage. The men in the prison Kitchen have all been questioned, but none will admit a thing. Well, thank you, Sergeant. Maybe you can tell us what happened after that, Sergeant. Several miles outside of the prison, the men got out of the cans. One man climbed up into the cab of the truck and ordered the driver to stop. He shot the driver and the men climbed off the truck, rolled it over a 44 foot hill. 44ft? 44ft 9 inches at the first point of impact. Where the truck went over the hill, of course, varies at other spots, of course. Two cars were waiting for the eight men. Tire tracks were found and casts made. A report on These casts should be in at any minute. Synchronize your watches then, Rick. Tell me, Sergeant Klum, have you any idea who might have been driving the two cars? No. Turning your migs in your ray gun? You're through. Very amusing. Now, please, Rake, for the sake of my psychiatrist, don't start on Clum like you did on Otis. Might be a woman Clum driving one of the cars. Oh, Baxter was a known woman hater. You don't say. I suppose the other seven guys got together with him and formed a club. Four of the seven men were known to have had women friends at one time or another. But only one woman remained loyal after the men were sent to prison. How do you know that? I remember things. He remembers things. Oh, she visited the prison many times to see Tony Lugetti, one of the escapees. Maybe you can remember the dates. The first time was right after Tony was sent up. November. All right, all right. What's the girl's name and where does she live? Jean Lawrence. 1782 East 12th Street, Apartment C. No, B. Butterfingers. I'll take this list of histories on the seven guys. You gonna check on the girl? Yes, and thank you, Sergeant Andre Klum. You've been a brick. I left Clum polishing his glasses, Walt looking sick. Dean Lawrence did live at 1782 East 12th, apartment B. So I looked up the landlady. A nice old reproduction of Worcester's mother with a hangover. Mrs. Shook by name. She was a little unhappy that I'd bothered her. But I finally sold her on the idea that she could shave anytime. And aided by my best smile and the promise of a fast fifth, I finally got her to open the door to apartment B. There you are, lover. But I can tell you right now, Jeannie ain't in. What's in this room? Bedroom. She didn't come home all day yesterday or last night. She didn't, huh? You know, I shouldn't Be showing you around like this. Except that you look like a real nice. And you're thirsty. Oh, go on. You see anyone else hanging around, say, in the last week? Yeah, come to think of it, about a week ago, some dark fella started coming over to see Genie. Used too much hair oil. Greasy type. Think you'd recognize him? You bring me that present, lover boy, and I could recognize a clove of garlic in an onion warehouse. I'd make book on it. May I use the phone? Go right ahead, lover. Oh, by the by. Hundred proof, huh? 100 proof. Homicide. Lieutenant Levinson. Walt, this is Rick. I'm up at the girl's apartment. Not here, but the landlady says she can identify some guy who's been hanging around here for the last week. So look up. Hold it a minute, Rick. Something coming over the hot shot. Okay. Oh, Bottle and Bond. Is that right, dear? Oh, lovely, lovely, lovely. Rick. Yeah? Get that landlady in here. Then meet me out at the end of river Street, Pier 14. Something up? Sus came up. Someone didn't want it to, but she hit bottom. The bricks in the sack must have torn it open. What? A dock worker spotted her floating near one of the pier pilings. Gene Lawrence? Yeah. I'll see you over there. Something happened to little Genie I could hear. Found her floating in the river. Oh. Well, if we're going down to the station, can we stop off and get that present? Yeah. Bottled in Bond. You promised. I grabbed a cab and took Mother McCrae over to the 5th Precinct. Making one stop on the way for the promised present. I turned her over to the desk sergeant and took off for Pier 14 at the end of River Street. When I got there, I spotted the Homicide prowl car and Walt standing near the ambulance. On the wooden floor of the pier, covered with a sheet, was the dead body of Gene Lawrence. The coroner had just finished his examination. Well, give me a full report soon as I get up the lab, Lieutenant. This is a rush coroner. It always is. Oh, hello, Rick. How are you, Charlie? Shot twice, then thrown in the drink. Yeah, nice, nice. Anything else? Book of matches in a coat pocket. Probably don't mean a thing. Lieutenant, we just got a report from the precinct. Hello, Diamond. Good afternoon, Cloom. You're looking fine. Oh, you'll be kissing each other on the cheek in a minute. What about that report, Sergeant? The landlady diamond brought in 22 minutes ago has just identified a picture in the morgue as a man who had been visiting Gene Lawrence for the past week. Anyone we know? William Nash. Alias William Barnes, alias Bootleg. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 5ft 11, black hair, brown eyes, slight scar. Oh, oh. Hold it. What about his record? Nine arrests, two convictions. Robbery and assault in the cafe. Business now@red.in yes, sir. Matches you found on the girl, Walt. Yeah. Red Dot Inn. Let's take a run over there. Yes, Jess, what'll it be? William Nash. You around? No police. He still ain't around. He got an office? Well, I. He got an office? Yeah. Where is it? Top of those stairs, down the hall, last door. Go around to the back of the bar cloom. Yes, sir. Hey, now, wait a minute. You ain't supposed to come back here. See that? He doesn't have any way to let Mr. Nash know we're coming up. Just go ahead and tend your box. You guys want to get me in trouble? Not unless Nash is really in his office. Then you don't have to worry about trouble. You're in it. Let's go, Rick. Down the hall. He said. Last door we both go. Yep. Fire escape down there. This way. Sergeant Clum covers him. Can Clum shoot? I forgot to ask him. You get on there by the fire escape in case he gets past me. Who is it? Fire department. What? Yeah. We received a report that your cafe isn't properly equipped in case of fire. Are you nuts? I just had no extinguisher. William Nash? Yeah. Now. What the. Let's go, huh? You heard him. Hey, what is this? Police. Let's go. He's clean, all right. Copy. You want to haul me in? What's the charge? Murder. Murder? Now, listen. Start walking. Who's murdered? Gene Lawrence? Down the steps. I don't know any Gene Lawrence. Sure, sure. Everything all right, Lieutenant, Go upstairs and watch this guy's office. Yes, sir. You need a warrant for this, you know. I'll get one. I tell you, I don't know any Gene Lawrence, my friend. I know a little old lady who thinks you wear too much hair oil. She's going to make a very big liar out of you. NBC is bringing you Richard diamond, private detective starring Dick Powell. All right, Sergeant, get the lineup going. Yes, sir. Henry Phipps. Henry Phipps, alias Henry. I ain't never seen a lineup before, lover. The man you identified earlier from the picture. See if you can pick him out. George Chalmers. No, ain't him. Chalmers. It is George Lippert. It is Geo. The Lip charge. Ain't him, neither. William Nash. William. That's him. All right. Hold him. You sure that's a man who was calling on Gene Lawrence? Yep, that's him. Why don't he use Bay Rum on his hair? Nash. Yeah. Yes, Lieutenant. Yeah, Lieutenant. You know Ms. Jean Lawrence. I told you I don't, Lieutenant. He sure is a lousy liar. All right, run him off. Step down. He killed Genie. We don't know. Yes, sir. He sure should use Bay Rum. Well, Walt and I and a couple of the boys took Nash downstairs and worked on it for about a half an hour before I got tired and decided to see what I could turn up myself. Nash still wouldn't admit he knew the dead girl. And we still weren't any closer to finding Ralph Baxter. I was pretty sure that Nash was connected with Baxter in some way, or he would have admitted knowing the girl and denied the killing. So I went back to the red dot end with a warrant to search Nash's office. Sergeant Andre Klum was guarding the door in the best prescribed manner. Legs spread, arms folded, back straight against the door. Door. You're flat. What? Oh. Oh, Diamond, I have absolutely no excuse. I. I'll understand if you report me to the lieutenant. No one could get by, could they? Not without waking me. Then you did what you told to. You guarded the place. But there is no excuse for falling asleep on duty unless you get tired. Now, forget it. I got a warrant here. Let's give this officer going over. And that's exactly what we did. We took the place apart piece by piece. And I have to go on record by saying that Klum really knew his business. He didn't miss a thing. This might be important, Diamond. What is it? Bills to William Nash from the garage. Let me see. Nick's Garage, 13th street, thousand mile service on both cars. 1490 parking space rental on both cars. $25. Two car cars may not mean a thing. I'll check it anyway. Two cars we used in the escape. Diamond. Now, don't get excited. You stay here. I'll call you from the garage. I left Clum and went over to Nick's garage, looked up the owner and he showed me the two cars. Both sedans, 48 Chrysler and a new Hudson. Nick told me that both cars had been taken out the night before and returned early that morning. He said that Nash had driven one and the girl the other. So I put in a call to the red dot in and Sergeant Clune. Yes? The lab has two good casts of the tire prints. Well, put in a call to the lieutenant and tell him to get right down here with him. I hope you'll forgive me being a little premature, but you already told him to come Down. Yes. Tell me, Sergeant, you don't know anything about the 5th at Hialeah, do you? One by. Step up in one. Goodbye, Sergeant. Hello, Rick. Well, this is Nick Miller. Runs the garage. Hi, Lieutenant. Hello. How about the cars? This one and that one. Hold this cast. I'll try the other one. Okay. Fit. No, those tread prints on that can't. Supposed to fit the treads on one of these cars. You hope so. How about that one, Wal? Like a glove. Try your cast on that car. Uh, fits this one. Walt. Rick, both of the cars were used in the getaway. What happens now? Go back to headquarters and tell Nash we got him dead to rights. We'll sweat him till he cracks. I got a better idea. Turn him loose. What? Nash knows that it's only a matter of time until we turn up his evidence anyway. And he knows something else. He knows Ralph Baxter. He knows if he spills anything, Baxter will kill him. Sure. But we'll promise him protection against Baxter. Baxter would get him if it took 10 years. Not if we get Baxter first. Nash probably knows where he's hiding out. Walt, even if Nash knows where Baxter is, he'd be a long time telling you. In the meantime, Baxter can cause a lot of trouble. All right, so I let Nash go. So what? Get ahold of the newspapers. Tell him to run a story that you've picked up Nash for questioning in the prison break, but that you had to release him because of insufficient evidence. You think Baxter will go after him? Well, he'd at least send some of his boys. I think the girl was knocked off because she got out of line. You can bet that Baxter won't want Nash around for a witness. Okay. Gee, you're kind of making Mr. Nash a sit and duck, ain't you? Oh, I guess you'd say that, Mr. Miller. Now, why don't you come on down to the station with us and answer a few routine questions? Hey, I don't know nothing about this. That's what Mr. Nash said. But you can see what a lie he turned out to be. We went back to the precinct. The garage owner was held for questioning. In the meantime, two men were sent to the home of William Nash and the phone tapped. Two other men took their places on a stakeout at the red dot end. Another pair at the garage. The garage owner was cleared of any suspicion and told to go back to work, but warned not to say anything. About 4 in the afternoon, a call came over the hotshot at the 5th Precinct. My name is Barton. I've just been robbed where are you calling from? I own the Rome Jewelry Store. Three men came in and tied us all up. They stole over $100,000 in gems. Is anyone hurt? My clerk. He's still unconscious. All right. What's the address? Corner of Wilmot and 21st Street. It looked like just a routine robbery at the time, so the robbery detail took over. Walt released Nash and called the papers. Around 4:30, Walt got a call from robbery. Levinson, Jennings, Walt, those guys that held up the jewelry store over on Wilmot Street. The owner just identified one of the hold up men. Tony Lugetti. Oh, thanks, Rick. Tony Leggetti, one of the guys that busted out with Baxter, has been identified as one of the hold up men in the jewelry store. Now it starts. The gang had gotten away clean. No trace except a cab driver who spotted a green sedan in front of the jewelry store. Three men in it. We waited. Levinson, Sullivan. Nash just got a phone call. Man said he wanted to see him for the payoff. Said to meet him at the place Nash left the house. Fisher's telling him. Right. Nash just left the house. Got a call. Let's go. We piled into the squad car and headed across town in the direction of Nash's house. A newsboy on the corner yelled the planted news of Nash's arrest. And the car radio told us what Nash was doing. Suspect just went into garage. We're parked across the street. Instructions? I'm about two blocks away. If he gets in his car, let me know. He's coming out, turning north on Chestnut. See him? There he is. Walt. We've got him. Jennings. We'll tail him. We followed Nash until he hit the outskirts of town. He drove for another good half hour, then pulled into a roadside eating place with a motel off to the left. This looks like it. Yeah. Drive past. We'll swing back. Nash is going into the diner. We'll walk up. Attention all units. I'm at a roadside diner. The Stop A While motel. Near it. Suspect just went into diner. All units, proceed with caution. A whole bunch might be in that motel. Hope the boys get here before things start popping. You said it. We can't go in. Hey, there's Nash at the counter. See anyone else? Not from here. Let's walk over to the other side. Hey, Walt. What? Over there with the gas pump. Green sedan. Think it might be the robbery car. Nobody in it. Look. Two guys coming out of the restroom. Yeah, One of them Tony Lugetti. Baxter's boys. I got a hunch Baxter's around. I got Tony's going in the diner. He's going in to pick up Nash. Probably gonna take him for a ride. Let's take this guy before Lughetti comes out. He hears us. He's turning around. Police. He's going for a gun. You knocked him cold. Nice tackle. Rick Vassar, 28. Here's his gun. I'll dump him in the car. Here come some of the boys. I'll wave them off. You get in the back of the car. Okay, I'll get in with you. I wonder where Baxter is. Can you look out that back window without being seen? Yeah. Yeah. Two more prowl cars pulled up. The boys in the diner don't spot them. Nothing yet. No. No. Here they come. Getty and Nash? Yeah. Holy cow. The whole bunch. There's Baxter with them. Yeah. And 1, 2, 3, 5 others. They've spotted the cars. They're headed to this car. You go out that side. I'll go out this. You're boxed up. Baxter. Look out. Rick. Two. Two of them down. Baxter's heading around back. Rick, don't go after Malone. You crazy? Now he tells me. Stop. Baxter. You get him, Rick? Yeah, but just barely. That was my last shot. How was the dinner? Oh, if I'd eaten anymore, I'd. I'd need a new belt. You gotta tell me what you do, why you were so late. Went for a long walk in the park. Oh, that's what I love about you. Gone all day. Come in smelling like a shooting gallery until you tell me you went for a walk in the park. Oh, no, I get it. Yes. Oh, Rick, you gonna give me a routine, or do you want to hear about Baxter? Oh, Harold. Apple knocker's tired. Let's have it. Getty's dying in the hospital. Two of the other boys died on the way. They got Caillou tackled, His singing all over the place. And Baxter will have a quiet funeral tomorrow. The others we got locked up. Your boys all right? One of them got it in the leg. Otherwise okay. You were right about the girl. Baxter killed her because he was afraid she'd talk. Seems she had a beef and walked out. Baxter got worried. Nash was to get his tonight, just like you figured. Okay, Walt. Thanks. I'll talk to you tomorrow. And thanks, Rick. Sure. Well, well. Wanting to know if his boys were all right. Now, Rick, you've been doing something exciting, and I want to know about it. Honest, baby. The park's very dull in the afternoon. Want to go stir up some action in it now? Good mood, Rick. Why do you lie to me? Oh, all right. Come on. Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. We're forgetting something. I gotta sing a song first. Oh, Rick, now that you've brought it up, I want to go to the park. Well, this will only take a few seconds. You just her up and hold. Well, well, well, look who's here. I haven't seen you in many a year. If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake. Bake the cake, bake the cake. If I knew you were coming I'd have baked the cake. How'd you do? How'd you do? How'd you do? Had you dropped me a letter I'd have hired a brand grandest band in the land. Had you dropped me a letter I'd have hired a band and spread the welcome mat for you. Now I don't know where you came from. Cause I don't know where you've been. But it really doesn't matter. Grab a chair and fill your platter and dig, dig, dig right in. If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake, Hired a band. Goodness sake. If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake. How'd you do her? How'd you do? How'd you do? Now I don't know where you came from. Cause I don't know where you've been. But it really doesn't matter. Grab a chair and fill your platter and dig, dig, dig right in. If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake, hired a band, Goodness sake. If I knew you were coming, I'd have baked a cake. How'd you do? How'd you do? How'd you do? Oh, how'd you do? How you do? How do you do? Well, still puckered. Think you can hold it till we get to the pie? You see, if you're patient, I always make it up to you. You have just heard Richard diamond, private detective starring Dick Powell. Lt. Levinson was played by Ed Begley. Also in the cast were Virginia Del Valle and Wilms Herbert. Music was under the direction of Frank Worth. Tonight's show was written by Blake Edwards. And the entire production was under the direction of Jack Johnstone. Dick Powell currently may be seen in the motion picture version of the best selling novel, Mrs. Mike. Richard Diamond's private detective will next be heard two weeks from tonight. Check your local newspaper for the time of broadcast. Listen next week at this hour for Dangerous Assignments. Starring Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell. Soldier of Fortune. Remember, at this time next week, it's Dangerous Assignment on NBC. This is Eddie King inviting you to be with us two weeks from tonight, when we will again bring you Dick Powell as Richard diamond, private detective for all the family. Try Father Knows Best tomorrow on NBC. The Adventures of the Saint, starring Vincent Price. The Saint. Based on characters created by Leslie Charteris and known to millions from books, magazines and motion pictures, the Robin Hood of modern crime now comes transcribed to radio, starring Hollywood's brilliant and talented actor, Vincent Price as the Saint. Right in here now. Thank you. Come in. Mr. Templar. Oh, Warden, how are you? Just as gloomy as ever. Sit down. I haven't seen you for a long time. I do my best to keep out of jail. And you do your best to get a lot of people in. What can I do for you? And I wanted permission to see one of your prisoners. Oh, is Tommy Patrick? Can't be done. Even for you. Patrick's in the prison hospital. No visitors allowed there. I see. You know Tommy? He did some work for me years ago, Warden, that's all. I didn't even know he was here in prison until I got his letter. Letter? I wonder how he got a letter out of here. I don't know. He couldn't very well have put it in the mailbox at the corner. Mind if I take a look at it? Oh, of course not. Here it is. Dear Mr. Templar, maybe I got no right to ask your help, but I need it bad. They're trying to kill me, but I don't know why. Tommy Patchak. Hmm. You know, I've got a hunch Tommy's telling the truth. Am I right, Warden? Yes, you are. Patrick's been here three years. He's due out next spring. In three years, there've been five attempts on his life by other prisoners. The latest was just a day or so ago. Was he hurt seriously? Knifed, but not seriously. We don't know who did it, and Patrick's too scared to tell. Most likely we'll never know. Borden, haven't you any way of protecting this man? Protect him? Look, Templar, this prison was built for 1200 men. I've got 4000. The guards are overworked and underpaid. The food's bad, there's no recreation facility, and every year society sends me a thousand more men and says, keep them in your crown crowded cage for a few years and send them back good citizens. Protect Patrick. Why, I can't even. Hey, what's that? There's been a break. Hello, Evans. Where is it? How many? I see. Be right over. What is it, Warden? Your friend Patrick Kempler. He couldn't wait for you. He's gone. Read all about the prison break. Patchak still at large. Read all about it. Extra. Taxi. Hey, taxi. Well, good afternoon, Louie. Afternoon, Mr. Templar. Ain't it a heavenly day? Yes, Lou, it is. Where to, Mr. Templer? 312 Main Street, Louie. Gotcha. You read about that prison break last night, Mr. Templer? Say, this pat check rolled out in the laundry truck. You think they'll catch him? No. Sooner or later, Louie, they always do. You know something? I kind of hope they don't. In my. In my sub unconscious, that is. Why is that, Mr. Templer? The universal guilt feeling. Louie, whenever there's a man in hiding, that man might be you or me. Yeah, yeah. Fruit, huh, Louie? It's Freud. That's what I said, Siegfried. Fruit. You know something more, Mr. Templer? I kind of felt this way when that leopard escaped last spring, remember? Then he come back to his cage all by himself. It was kind of sad. An allegory, Louie? No, no, no. It was a leopard. You think Patrick will come back to the cage, Mr. Templer? Well, I'm afraid that for him there is no hiding place. Hey, isn't this Main Street, Louis? Oh, yeah, sure, yeah. 3:12. Anybody we know? I got a tip that Tommy Patrick used to live here. Perhaps if I can help him, then you and I won't feel so guilty. Wait for me, Louis, huh? Sure. I'll be darned. What's the matter? I've been to this house before. You got friends in the strangest places. Yeah, as I remember, the landlady was one of the most charming, cultivated damsels I ever had the pleasure of meeting. Some guy's got all the luck. You sure you don't want me to come with you? No, thanks, Louie. I want her all to myself. Yeah? What do you want? Dear heart and gentle person, don't you remember me? My memory ain't so good. Well, I'm a friend of Tommy Patrick. Oh, you are? Know who I am? Shirley Temple. You're a cop, that's what. Cops have been thicker than flies around here last night and today, both flies. Well, for here, that's pretty thick. I run a respectable rumenhouse. And every time a cop comes to the front door, five more rumors go out the back. Oh, rumors are flying. Worse for business than the bubonic plague. I hate cops. What do you want, cop? I'm not a policeman. I'm trying to help Tommy if I can. If you know anything, I got a very poor memory. Well, now, here would A Treasury note. Refresh it any. I got a memory like an elephant. Come on in. Thank you. Now, about Tommy Patrick. Well, say, you sure you're not a cop? Quite sure. Well, I ain't looking for Tommy to come here, but he's got a sister, Nancy. I didn't know that. The cops don't either. They were raised separate, and Tommy didn't want her brought into his trouble. Any idea where I could find her? I got a very poor memory. Here we are. Thanks. She works at the Voodoo Room. Cigarette girl. Voodoo Room. That's Charlie Farelli's place, isn't it? Yeah, sure it is. Say, you positive you're not a cop? Madam, I might as well confess. I am a personal emissary of J. Edgar Hoover. Yeah, huh? Well, that's good enough for me. Finest president we ever had. Thank you and goodbye. Barbara Fritchie. Bartender. Who do you think you're talking to? Well, you're standing behind the bar. I presumed you were the Barten. Well, I'm nuts. Joe is. I'm a big shot around here. Oh, I beg your pardon. I'll wait for Joe the small shot. He'll have a long wait. He went out to get a drink, which means he won't be back for several drinks. What'll it be? Scotch over ice, please. Coming up. Yeah. Thank you. Nancy around? Nancy around? Who wants to know? A guy wears a necktie, drinks scotch in the afternoon. Thinks all the girls should fall down dying dead when he waves his little finger. Look, all I asked was, is. Nancy, a man drinks scotch in the afternoon. Thinks he's got a right to. Real big operator here drinks scotch in the afternoon. Please. You talk too much. And you don't say anything. Just go polish your glasses. Okay? Okay. Real big pinstripe, white shirt, necktie type operator. Well, you want to see me? What about? I was down at the state prison last night. I had a letter from a man who wanted to see me, but he couldn't wait. Tommy? Yes? I'm Simon Templer. I used to know your brother. What do you want? I want to help if I can. You're the saint, aren't you? Yes. I remember. Tommy talked about you. Could you come to my place later? I live at the Sheldon. It's the back apartment on the second floor. What time? Around 11. I'll take off early tonight. I'll be there. Nancy, do you think there's any chance Tommy might come? I don't. Excuse me, but I got a message to deliver. Mac. Well, what is it, Jack? Mr. Farrelli just said that he wants to see you in his office. Keep out of this, Frank. Farrelli doesn't even know he's here. I said that Mr. Farelli wants to see Mr. Man of distinction here. And if I have to persuade him, then I'll persuade him. Now stop flexing your muscles, Frank. You need your strength for the cocktail hour. I said that Mr. Farelli wants to see you. But an unattractive gun matches your face. Listen, Max, please, Mr. Temple. Lead on, Jack. Now you lead. I'll be right behind you. Just to make sure that you get there. You stay here, Nancy. So, big deal, this guy, Scotch in the afternoon. Thinks right away all the girls should fall down dying dead. One of you guy to see you, Mr. Pirelli. He was bashful, so I brought him. Oh, come in, come in. Mr. Diamond Templar. Yeah. Welcome to the Voodoo Room, Mr. Templar. Let us see more of you. Cigar? Thank you. That's our own brand. And a violet perfume for the lady of your choice. Voodoo. From the Voodoo Room. That's a little trick I picked up from Sherman Billingsley. Thank you. And where did you pick up this little trick? Mr. Fry. Right. Yes, well, he's rather class conscious, but a hard worker. He was asking about Tommy Patrick, Mr. Farelli. I heard him. Indeed. Well, you're a friend of Tommy's, Mr. Templer. Possibly, possibly. And you might possibly be in touch with him soon? I couldn't say. You couldn't say, but you could tell us the basis of your interest in Tommy? I could, but I see no reason to. You see no reason to? Mr. Templar, showing interest in other people's affairs is not always healthy. And some people know this instinctively and others have to be taught. Teach him, Frank. Sure not such a big operator now. That's enough, Frank. That's enough. I'm out the back way. Well, okay. Mr. Farelli. Hey, Mr. Farrelli, I think I broke the bottle of poison you gave him. I heard something cracked. Well, let's look on the bright side, Frank. Might have been a rib. Yeah, might. Yeah. Save something, right? Drinking scotch in the afternoon with a necktie. Louie. Hey. Hey, Mr. Templer. What happened? Here, wait, I'll help you into the cab. Oh, gee, what happened? Mr. Templar, you look horrible. You sure smell pretty. But that's a doubtful consolation. I. I tangled with Mr. Charlie Forelli. Yeah? How does he look? Huh? Not a scratch. Oh, that Farrell is bad medicine. Stuff away from him, Mr. Templar, the less you know about his business, the better. Maybe, but after you take me home for repairs, you can take me to the morgue. The morgue. I hope and trust a round trip. The newspaper morgue. Oh, I'm gonna do some checking on Frilly. I begin to detect quite an odor about this whole business. So do I. I hardly trust myself in the same camp with you. You got it. Mr. Templar, you said see as the. So I sent home. Yes, sir. Hello, Sam. Well, Simon Templar, the Robin Hood of modern crime. How are things in Sherwood Forest? Everybody's getting ready for television. Come on in, come on in, sit down and let's chew the fat. You know anything bad about anybody? Yes, that's why I'm here. Wonder if I could look at your files on Charlie Farrelli's here. Oh, no need to get dusty. I'll tell you all you want to know. Farelli came to this country around 25 years ago. Probably from Sicily. Nobody knows for sure. Made big dough in prohibition days. Liquor bought a nightclub. Might be leveling now and might not. Big connections, underworld and otherwise. Police never pinned anything on it. They never will. It's a class operator. Thanks, Sam. How's your memory on Tommy Patrick? Oh, had to pull the file on him today after his break last night. Yeah, sent up three years ago for attempted robbery. He and his buddy tried to hold up a liquor store. His partner was killed. Nick Pantel? Yeah, Pantel, I think that was his name. Tommy was shot but recovered. He claimed it was a frame. Now, why would anyone want to frame him? Well, he didn't know. I guess that's why nobody believed him. I see. Well, thanks, Sam. Oh, anytime, Saint. That's an interesting egg on your forehead. You walk into a dog? No, someone slugged me. Oh, now why would anybody want to slug you? I don't know. I guess that's why nobody believes me. Yeah, well, stuff happens. Stuff happens. Good night, Sam. Who is it? Simon Templer. Nancy, come in quickly. Is anybody watching the house? I don't know. I don't think so, but I'm not sure. Oh, Mr. Templer, your face. You should see the rest of me. Well, I mean, I. What happened to Frank beach up? Well, he beat me up some, but I'm the durable type. Pre war construction. Oh, I despise him. He's always hanging around as if he owns hate him. I guess I'm afraid of him too. And what about for Ellie? I don't know. You know, I get the feeling he's watching me all the time. I almost feel sometimes like that's why he's hired me, so he could watch me. Does he know Tommy Patrick's Your brother? I don't know, but he knows everything. Maybe he does. What's Tommy done? Why? Why is somebody trying to have him killed? What's he done? Come on, Nancy. Here's a shoulder to cry on. I'm sorry. I'm not the crying type. It's just knowing that kid's out there somewhere, cold and scared, hunted and alone. Well, maybe he won't be alone if we can reach him. Or if he can reach us. Does he know where you live? Yeah, but how can he get. Shh. Someone out there? The door. Who? You'll soon find out. Frank. Hey, you're quite an accomplished man, Frank. You tend bar, beat up the customers, listen at keyholes. What else do you do? I take guys I find in my girl's room and I throw them downstairs. Frank, get out. Did you forget your blackjack, Frank? You might need it. Big lady killing operator, eh? Well, come on. Let's see how you bounce. Don't be Frank. Hey, sense still templa. This is for the egg on the head, Frankie. And this is just because I don't like you here. I hope your neighbors don't object to noisy parties. Nancy, come here. Mr. Templar, you hurt? No, I'm not hurt, but I don't think I'll have Frankie mix me any more drinks. You were pretty terrific. Was I? Oh, well, no, I. Well, you know best. Good night, Nancy. You're leaving? Oh, no, indeed. Frankie might be back. I'll sit up and you take the bedroom. Now get some rest. Did you sleep at all last night? No, I kept waiting for Tom. Yeah. Get some rest. I'll stretch out on the couch. But if. If Tommy comes, I'll awaken you. All right, Mr. Temple. Nancy. Yes, Mr. Temple? If I'm going to spend the night on your couch, you'd better call me Simon. Hey, Nancy. Yes, Simon? Mmm. Do I smell coffee and bacon, Nancy? Men have married for such an aroma. Breakfast will be ready in a minute. Did you get any sleep? Yeah, I did. Finally. Simon. I wonder if they picked up Tommy yet. No, they didn't. I went out this morning around 6 and bought a paper. Here, let me see. Police. Narrow trap around Patrick. Escape bandit still at large. Oh, Simon, what's that? It's your brother. He's on the fire escape. Oh, Tommy. Tommy, come on now. Let me help you. Tommy. There you go. I made it, sis. Come on now. Take it easy. Tommy, come here. Sit down over here. Yeah, yeah. Come on now. That's it. Don't talk. I'll get you breakfast and then Put you to bed. You're all right now. Down. Loose. Did anyone see you come in? Look, I don't know. I had a breakout saying they'd kill me. They killed. I know, I know. Now, pull yourself together. We haven't got much time. Who's trying to kill you? I think Farelli. Why? Why? I. I don't know. I don't know. But you must. Can't you let him alone? I can't. Frank Farelli, the police, some of them or all of them will be here at any minute. Don't take me back. They'll kill me. Look, we've got to find out why. Tommy. Nancy, hand him some coffee. All right, Run away. Thanks. Now, you say Farelli is trying to have you killed. That means you know something. Or he thinks you do. What is it? I don't know. I don't know. Don't you think I've been trying to figure it out for three years? Please, let him alone. I can't. You say the holdup was a frame, Right? We didn't even have guns. Nick and I just went in for some beer and the owner started shooting at us. He got Nick and he went to get me, too. When I came through, there was a gun planted on me. One on Nick, too. Did Nick know? For Ellie. Well, can't I rest for a while? No, you've got to answer me. Yeah. Yeah, Nick knew Farelli. I think he knew him in Sicily. But he never said. He was lazy, but he was a good guy. He didn't work or how did he get along? I got the idea Farelli gave him money. I don't know why. You were his friend. Yeah. Now we live in the same room and house on Third. And I know where it is. You know, I was there yesterday and met your charming landlady. Did Nick ever tell you anything about Farelli? About anything at all? Candace, he's exhausted. Look, would you rather see him exhausted or dead? Tell me, Tommy, did Nick ever tell you anything about Farelli? Yes. No one. Just if anything ever happened to him, to Nick, I was to look for the ace in the hole. Did you? No. No, you couldn't. You were shot and railroaded into prison. What happened to Nick's things? Do you know? They were sold. I guess he kept everything he had in an old trunk. An old trunk? Any chance it might still be at the rooming house? Maybe. I don't know. Tommy. Look, is there any way we can get into that house without being seen? The police are watching it. I don't know. Oh, yeah. Got to know. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I do. Yes. Through the backyard, next door, then through the garage. Come on, Nancy, we're taking him out of here. You can't move him now, Simon. We'll move him if we have to carry him. If we leave him here, Forelli will kill him. Come on. If that trunk is still there, we've got a ch. Louie, listen very carefully. Go ahead, Mr. Temple. It's your nickel. Are you feeling particularly reckless today? Wait. What do you mean? How would you like to take somebody for a ride? Well, Mr. Templar, there ain't nothing I wouldn't do for you. You know that. But. But take somebody forever. My wife wouldn't like that. You haven't got a wife. Yeah, but if I had one, she wouldn't like it. No, honest, Mr. Temple, I never bumped off nobody my whole life. I know that. That and I wouldn't expect you to start now. I just want you to take somebody for a ride in your cab. Oh, yeah. That somebody is somebody the police want. I don't want them to find him just yet. Gotcha. Well, look, don't hit any bumps. He's in pretty bad condition. Don't worry, Mr. Templar. He'll think he's in a baby buggy. Louie, I like you. Oh, the Temple. I bet you say that to all the cab drivers. Stand right behind this door, Nancy, until I. Hey, what are you doing sneaking in the back way? This is a respectable room in the house. Or it would be if I had respectable rumors. Look, Mother, I haven't much time. Do you remember Nick Pantel? Nick? Sure I do. Was shot three years ago. Dead now. Yes, I know. Did he leave a trunk here? I got a very bad memory here. Well, I sold the trunk. What? Lease the stuff in it. I had a perfect right. He didn't give me my two weeks notice before leaving. Is the trunk still here? It's down in the cellar. This door here. Oh, thank you. That's okay. I won't mention it to anybody. Won't even mention the Tommy Patchek sisters standing right in my hall behind the door. Of course, the cops would be kind of interested because they're looking for a brother. But just the same, you've got a perfect right to call the police if you want to. Oh, not me. I hate cops. Of course, if they was to ask me. I got such a good memory here. Thanks. It's going back on me again. Wait a minute, Nancy, till I get the light. You see it? I think so. There's only one trunk here. Looks like farelli covered this angle years ago. Huh. The lining's ripped up. So is the bottom. No use then. Perhaps. But perhaps. Nick Pantel read Pose the purloined letter. Yep. See this way, Bill. On the trunk. Yeah. I'm gonna see if it comes off. How's that prove that? The best hiding place is sometimes the most obvious. Look. There's a newspaper clipping on the other side. It's in Italian. Can you translate it, son? No, but I'll find someone who can. And when I. Save yourself the trouble, Mr. Templar. Son. Hello, Farrelli. Hi, Mac. Hi. I'll take that clipping. Keep him Cupid, Frank. Thank you. Yeah. What do you propose to do now? What do I propose to do now? What would you do? Nothing. You're licked. For Elli, you can destroy that clipping. But I can guess what it says. You committed a crime in Sicily years ago and had to flee the country. Probably. You killed a man. Nick Pantel knew it and was blackmailing you. You had him killed. Then you tried to have Tommy killed at the same time. Just because he might know. Just because he might. No. And if I committed this crime, Mr. Templer, why didn't they extradite me? Because Mussolini was making the trains run on time and accepting bribes whenever they came along. Since then you haven't been too sure, Farelli. Everything is for sale, Mr. Templer. You've got the money. Where's Tommy, Nancy? She doesn't know, Frelli. Do you? I think I'll just let you brood about that one. What do you think we should do, Frank? Well. Well, it looks like him or you, Mr. Farrelli. How about the girl, Frank? I don't know her, Frank. You heard what he said, kid. Well, Frank. No, it won't work, Farelli. It won't work. Well, difference of opinion is what makes horse races. Hey, get back, you. I dropped a gun. There's enough holes in the floor already. There's cops all over the house and outside. Who called them? I did, Mother. And you hated cops. I did. But I remembered there was a reward out for Tommy and I figured Nancy knew where he was. Hurt me to go back on my principles, but I forced myself. Hey, what do we do, boss? Mr. Frelli's a sensible man, Frank. He'll go back to the old country. That's better than facing a murder rap here, isn't it? Yes, yes, much better. Put up the gun, Frank. Will not be for right. Give me that, Frankie. Give me that before I break your martini arm. There. Very impetuous young man, Frank. We Might have killed you. Yeah, but he didn't. Shall we go, Farelli? Yes, we'll go. But it's only a question of time for me, Mr. Templar. I'll be back. In any sensible society, money can buy anything. And when we return to, shall I say, sensible basis, I'll be back. And if you come back, I won't be here. No. In the meantime, I'll read up on pole. He might have saved me a lot of trouble at dummy patch. You're going to full pardon, Mr. Templar. Gee, that swerve. Yeah, Tommy deserved a few good breaks, Louie. Yeah. There's just two things about that case that bothers me, Mr. Templin. Oh, what are they, Louie? You think a guy like Forelli could ever come back to this country like he said? He'll be trying, Louis. So it's up to you and me. Yeah? Yeah. And what's the other thing? Well, you know that day you had me drive Tommy Patrick all over town, this cab when the cops was looking for him? Yeah. Well, all he talked about was his sister. What a wonderful girl she was and how pretty. Yes. Well, he was saying how hard she worked all her life now. Regular she was. And how pretty. Yeah. And I just wondered, that's all. You know, if a girl was that pretty. Louie, The Voodoo Club is under new management. New owner, new bartender, but the same cigarette girl. Yeah. Let's drive over there. You seem to be out of cigarettes. You've been listening to another transcribed Adventure of the Saint. The Robin Hood of modern crime. Now here is our star, Vincent Price. Ladies and gentlemen, in tonight's cast, you heard Peggy Weber as the landlady and Sheldon Leonard as Frank. Victor Rodman was Forelli, Peter Leed, Sam. Dick Krena played Tommy. Fred she the warden. Larry Dobkin plays Louie. This is Vincent Price inviting you to join us again next week at this same time for another exciting adventure of the Saint. Good night. Script of the Saint was written by Dick Cow. The Saint, based on characters created by Leslie Charteris, is a James L. Safier production and is directed by Helen Mack. Vincent Price is now starring in the Winslow Boy at the Las Palmas Theater here in Hollywood. Your announcer is Don Stanley. Three chimes mean good times on NBC. Tonight, it's the big show. Once again there'll be music with Meredith Wilson, Mindy Carson, Perry Coma and many more. Comedy with Bob Hope, Jimmy Durant and Eddie Cantor. Drama with Jose Ferrer. In fact, it has everything, including Tallulah. And tonight, Theater Guild on the Air presents another outstanding drama Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, starring Frederick March and Barbara Bel Ges. So remember, visit the big show today on NBC. The story you're about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. Fatima cigarettes. Best of all, long cigarettes brings you Dragnet. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to robbery detailed. You've been tracking a hold of men for months. You finally get a line on where he's hiding. You know he's dangerous, well armed. Your job, get him. You'll be amazed when you compare Fatima with other long cigarettes. You'll find they now cost the same. But in Fatima, the difference is quality. You see, Fatima is the quality king size cigarette because it contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobacco. Superbly blended. And Fatima is extra mild with a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. So try comparing Fatima yourself. Fatima's now cost the same as other long cigarettes. 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, 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. It was Wednesday, March 18. It was cold in Los Angeles. We're working the night watch out of robbery detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Ed Walker. My name's Friday. It was 9:48pm when I got to room 27. A robbery detail. Joe. Hi. You ready to go? Yeah. We're going to hustle. Here's your top code, Joe. Oh, thank you, Ben. Where's Tom? We can pick him up down the hall. He's checking out some tear gas shelves might need him. How about the address? You confirm it? 2100 Buchanan Avenue. It's a corner house, skipper. You know what to expect when you get out there. Don't take any chances. He's alone in the house. That right? Supposed to be, yeah. That won't give you my of a break. How do you mean? He's heavy on guns. Two revolvers and a hunting rifle. Yeah, he's not shy about using them. Don't forget it. Right, Ed. Slats. Ben, let's go. Okay. It's been a long haul. Yeah, I hope this washes it up. Hunting rifle, couple of revolvers what do you think, Joe? 18 robberies in three months. You know the guy as well as I do. Yeah. What's your guess? His name was Hoffman, George R. In our files, his criminal record dated back to high school days. Petty theft, grand theft auto, burglary, armed robbery. His record included two terms at Preston Reformatory and one at San Quentin. Hoffman's latest campaign was a three month run of armed robberies. We tried everything we knew to stop him, but it wasn't enough. We'd fail to get a line on him until we. One of Captain Walker's informants came up with a tip that Hoffman had been hiding out for the past month in a small bungalow on the corner of Buchanan Avenue and Selma Street. According to the information, the suspect had a good supply of food, ammunition and three guns. 10:15pm Together with Sergeants Tom Gaffney and Slats Henry, Ben and I parked our car down the street and started toward the house. It was foggy. The street was poorly lighted. As we approached the house, we could see a light burning in one of the rooms at the rear of the bungalow. The light in the back room. Joy just went out. Yeah. Slats, you and Tom want to cover the back. Right. Let's go. Tom. Be careful. Yeah. All right, Ben. Easy, huh? Wait a minute, Joe. Huh? Curtains in that corner room. I thought I saw him move. Come on, Ben. The front door. Come on. Come on. Get it. Yeah. Come on. Hit it again. Yeah. All right. Come on. They got it blocked or something. Something piled against. Come on. Once more. There we are. Wipes the furniture. John? Yeah? That front room's clear. Go in the back. Come on. Went outside window. Where'd he go? Across the street. Got him pinned down behind that car there. He's in the car. All right. Let's go for the tires. All right, Hoffman, give it up. Cover this end, Slats. Right. Ben. That hedge across the street. You see it? Yeah. Okay, let's run for it. Come on. You okay, Joe? Yeah. Huffman, you haven't got a chance. Throw out your guns. Okay, Ben, give it back to him. All right. All right, I'm coming out. Throw out your guns. Throw them in the street. Here they are. All right, get out of the car. Hands behind your head. Come on. All right. All right. Hands behind your back. Now. Slats. Yeah. You want to get our car? Right, Joe? Who told you? Who gave you the tip? Does it matter? I made it easy enough for you. Lousy car wouldn't start. I'd be three miles away if it would have started. Better Call the tow truck, Hun. Joe, Let me give it a look, huh? Lousy luck, that's all it is. What was wrong with you, Joe? I tried it. It wouldn't start for me. You should have turned on the ignition. George Hoffman was taken downtown and booked on suspicion of robbery at a special show up. He was identified by more than a dozen of his robbery victims. Between his arraignments and his preliminary hearings, we worked together with the district attorney's office in lining up witnesses and preparing the evidence against the suspect. We figured we had an airtight case. Hoffman's trial in Superior Court was set for May 14th. Hi, Joe. Hi, Slats. What's doing? It's still a raining Hoffman. Yeah, this trial's coming up. Hey, what happened to your eye? Yeah, how about that? I'll never live with that down. Yeah. Come here. Let's see this. Real black guy I ever had. Had them bruised plenty. They hurt, you know. Yeah? How'd that happen? Well, every week, Gaffney and I go up to the neighborhood boys club after work to help coach the kids at sports, you know. Mm. Well, last week we had boxing lessons. I was coaching this one youngster. He turned out to be a lot quicker than I thought. You're really connected. I guess everybody in the building's heard the story, huh? Yeah, just about. Gaffney took care of that. Captain called me in this morning, asked me if I wanted to file assault charges against the kid. Some joke. Never fails. You still coaching the kids up there? Ah, this week kids are supposed to get lessons in wrestling. I'm not taking any chances. Yeah, they've been watching television for months. I'll see you later. Yeah, okay. Oh, nice. Lance. Hi, Ben. How you doing? Pretty good. Put your coat on, Joe. Yeah. What's the matter? George Hoffman. Yeah. Just broke jail. The morning of his escape, Hoffman was scheduled to appear in Superior Court for arraignment. According to routine, he was taken from his county jail cell on the 12th floor of the hall of justice and escorted to the jail shower room on the 4th, 14th floor. There he was to take a bath, change to his civilian clothes for his appearance in court. While he was in the shower room, he turned on the hot water faucets, filling the room with steam to hide his actions from the guard. He succeeded in forcing his way out through one of the windows, climbed up one story to the roof. Realizing that he couldn't escape down through the building, he lowered himself over the ledge of the roof and using the narrow crevices between the bricks to hold On? He climbed seven stories down the outside of the building. At the eighth floor, he found an open window and got inside. He slugged the bailiff who tried to stop him and then ran down the remaining flights of stairs into the street and disappeared in the crowd. Twenty minutes later, he robbed a dentist's office at 3rd and Los Angeles streets and got away. Police and sheriff's deputies covered the city for him. Ben and I were among them. 11:55pm we checked back in with Captain Ed Walker. 48. There isn't a class. You want to cut that speaker, Ben? Yeah. Nothing. Not a trace of them. You must have a good friend someplace in town. Everything's covered. His friends, relatives, his hideout, everyone he knows, every place he's ever been. We've plugged every loophole we can think of. The depots, terminals, the airports. Still no trace of it. I don't know. It sure is a strange one. No stranger than climbing down the side of a building. Did you check that story out, Ed? It's the truth. Apparently, Hoffman planned the thing out pretty carefully. How do you mean? The sheriff's men talked to some of the prisoners in the jail. They said Hoffman was practicing for it since the day we put him in there. Work out five to six hours every night, building up his hands and fingers. How'd he do that? Use the upper bunk in his cell. Hang from the edge of it with the tips of his fingers. He'd do it for hours, pulling his body up and down. Made little grooves in the wall, dug his fingertips into him. Prisoners say he got so he could hold himself up like that 10 minutes at a stretch. That's pretty amazing. How about the bailiff? He slugged, he'll be all right. Couple of bad bumps on the head, that's all. Robbery Walker? Oh, yeah. Little John. I sent him out about 10 minutes ago to relieve you. Yeah, they ought to be there pretty soon. Right. How about our schedule, Ed? As far as I know, we're going all night on this thing. Sheriff's office is the same. Mm. You two were relieved at 11:30. Better check back about 5:30am okay. Right. That's a hot shot. I got it. What is it? Drugstore. Hold up. They think it's Hoffman. The scene of the holdup was the Rex Lake Pharmacy on the corner of Pico Boulevard and Pine Lake Street. The victim, a Mr. Clarence Gehringer, told us that the holdup man had entered through a rear door, slugged him and escaped on foot with his overcoat and about $150 in cash. We showed him a number of mug shots. He identified George Hoffman as the Bandit. A special detail of men were ordered on a thorough search of the general area around the drugstore. No sign of the suspect. The citywide dragnet continued all that night and into the next day. No developments. The search went on. A week passed. Two weeks. At 10pm on the day Hoffman was scheduled to be tried in Superior Court, he beat up and robbed a 40 year old liquor salesman in the Highland park area. Again, he made good his escape. Routine investigation failed to turn up a single lead. June 8th, the suspect was still at large. The legwork continued. 8:17. Is that the address you got? Yeah, he said it was near the corner. Oh yeah, yeah, there it is. The Townsend Hobby Shop. Yeah. Let's go in. Joe. Look at the electric trains. Look at that one. Beautiful layout, huh? I guess that's all they handle in here. Electric trains, huh? Must be money in it. Look at those signals there and switches. They're all automatic. Wonder if my boy's old enough for a train year. That must be the manager over there. Come on. Say excuse me, sir. Just a moon. Please. Be right with you. Got to check this transformer. All right. Uhhuh. Automatic coupling on the tanker car looked out and killed her. My mistake. Now, let's see. Yeah, she's a dandy, isn't she? Oh, yeah. I'm sorry gentlemen. Have to keep up our maintenance on the rolling stock. What can I do for you? Police officers. We're looking for Mr. Townsend. Oh, yes, I'm Roy Townsend. You're the sergeant I talked with on the phone. Yes, sir, that's right. This is my partner, Sergeant Romero. Hi. Ms. Townsend, you mentioned that you might have some information for us. Yes, as a matter of fact, I may have. About that fellow who climbed out and escaped. Oh, it was in all the papers. George Hoffman. Hoffman. Hoffman, that's it. I'm a pretty good one for faces. I think I might have seen him last night. Where was that? On my way home from the meeting. I belong to a model train club. Don't get enough of it here every day. Yes, sir. We'd like to know about this man that you saw. As I say, I saw him going into the Autocor just down the street from where mother and I live. It was pretty late, after midnight. Where do you live, Mr. Townsend? Over by Pasadena. Royal Oaks Avenue. I know Mrs. Cox at the auto court very well. I see. Well, this man that you saw last night, you sure it was Hoffman? I saw his picture in the paper when he climbed down and escaped. I don't say I'm positive it was him, but I'm good on faces. Well, I wonder if you'd mind checking through these pictures. Not at all. Yeah, this one. He's the one I saw. Am I right? That's Hoffman. Do you happen to know if he's staying there at that auto court? Oh, yes. He's been there for a month. Say, sergeant, if you find out it really is this hoffman, don't tell Mrs. Cox at the auto court. It'll just break her heart. Oh, is that so? She's sort of an amateur detective. She thinks she knows faces better than I do. After we left the train shop, we called the office and filled them in. Captain Walker called Pasadena and notified them. Then we drove out to the office where the suspect was reportedly seen. Yes? You want something? Yeah. Are you Mrs. Cox? Yes. I'm the manager here. If you want lodgings, we're filled up. You might try the Golden Eagle, straight down the street there. Police officers. Ms. Cox, do you have Mr. Hoffman staying here? Hoffman? No, I don't got a Hoffmeyer, though. You sure? That's not it. Well, would you look at this picture, ma'am? Recognize? Yes, but his name's not Hoffman. It's Kane, number 23. He's not in, though. Left this morning. Was that so? Yes. Won't be back for another hour. You are listening to Dragnet for the solution to an actual case from official police files. Now, here's a real solution to many of your Christmas shopping problems. If your friends smoke long cigarettes, give the best of long cigarettes. Give king size Fatima. You see, Fatimas now cost the same as other long cigarettes. But in Fatima, the difference is quality. Quality of tobaccos. The finest Turkish and domestic varieties, extra mild and superbly blended to give smokers a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. Quality of manufacture. Smooth, plump cigarettes rolled in the finest paper money can buy. Quality even to the appearance of the distinctive royal blue Fatima gift carton. Christmas wrapped and carefully sealed to ensure Fatima's rich, fresh, extra mild flavor. Remember, Fatima's now cost the same as other long cigarettes. But in Fatima, the difference is quality. So this Christmas, give your friends the best. Give Fatima the quality king size cigarette. Best of all long cigarettes. Before going on stakeout at the autocort where George Hoffman was registered, Ben put in a call to the office. The owner of the court, Mrs. Cox, gave us a pass key to cottage number 23, where the suspect was staying. We advised her to say nothing to Hoffman. When he returned, we went to cottage 23 and waited. An hour passed. Hoffman failed to show. Another hour went by. Still no sign of him. Well, what do you think? You got me. I don't know. More than an hour overdue. No chance he could have been tipped? Well, I don't see how. Mrs. Cox is the only one who knows we're here. There's no reason for her to warn him. I don't know. His things are all here. His clothes. We've had longer waits than this. Relax, huh? Yeah. Wait a minute. Can you see who it is? Man coming from next door. Yo. Okay, I'll cover you. Open it. Oh, your new telephone directory. Oh, yeah. Thanks. Anything wrong? No, there's nothing wrong. Thanks. New phone book. Yeah. We waited another hour. George Hoffman still had failed to appear at 4 that afternoon. We checked with the office. No word. At 5:30 we were still waiting. I was just thinking, Joe. Yeah? That fellow Townsend in the train shop. That sure must be a dandy hobby electric train. Yeah. It runs in the money though, doesn't it? Well, I think I'll talk to the wife about it. Their education, you know. My boy sure get a kick out of having his own train. He's pretty young, isn't he? Three years old. I could show him how to work it. Put things together for him, I guess. Right? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Lightning. When? Okay. Thanks. What's doing, Skipper? Just got a call from Pasadena. Yeah? They picked up Hoffman 10 minutes ago. The suspect, George Hoffman, was taken back to Los Angeles and lodged in county jail. This time there was no escape. At his Superior court trial on August 16, he was convicted on several counts of armed robbery, robbery and sentenced to the state penitentiary from August to January of the following year. The months went fast. We washed up a string of liquor store holdups just before Christmas. Got two days off. My Uncle George and Aunt Allen came down from Renton, Washington to visit with my mother during the holidays. In January, Ben was off work for a week with a bad dose of flu. Another five months went by. Toward the end of June we got word that George Hoffman was no longer at the State bank penitentiary after serving 11 months. The former hold up man had been paroled into the army with a provision that he serve overseas. Another three weeks passed. July 12th. Tuesday. Ben and I had lunch at Coken's Cafe and checked back in at the office. I wish Coke and would change his menus a little oftener. Fried beans and pastrami sandwiches. Seems to have the same thing every time. You sure dug into them. I got the idea that you like them. Like them? All right. I just eat too much, that's all. Three sandwiches, two plates of beans. No wonder I never eat dinner. Dan. Joe. Yeah. You two back from lunch? I want to grab a sandwich. Yeah, go ahead. Slat, so we can cover. Okay, thanks. Chair. There's somebody waiting in the next room for you, wants to see you. Okay. See you later. Right. Want to see who it is, Joe? Yeah. All right, fine. Yes, sir. My name's Friday. You want to see me? Yeah, that's right, sergeant. Remember me? George Hoffman. Oh, yeah, Hoffman. The army uniform there. I didn't recognize you. Yeah, I thought I might fool you. I guess you heard about me. Good break, huh? I'm glad you feel that way. How you doing with the army, huh? Pretty good. I like it. That's fine. Just thought I'd drop up and see you fellas. You still that partner you had? What's his name? Rodriguez? Romero. Yeah. Yeah, we still work together. Yeah, Romero. I knew it was some kind of name like that. Yeah. Well, come on in, Hoffman. Oh, thanks. Hey, Ben. George. Hoffman here. He stopped in to see us. Oh, yeah? Hi. Been a long time, Hoffman. How are you? Pretty good, sergeant. Thanks. Just thought I'd stop by, you know, show there's no hard feelings. Oh, sure thing. You got any idea when you're going overseas? Boys in my outfit figure day after tomorrow. That's kind of one reason why I dropped in to see you. Well, how's that? Well, I know it's pretty nervy, but I got lots of that. You see, a bunch of us are on leave till tomorrow noon. Figured we'd go out tonight. And I'm a little short. You know how the army pays. Okay. Well, how about a couple of bucks, George? Will that do you any good? Yeah, sure as swell of you, sergeant, Believe me. I'll see you get it back. Here's a couple more. Hoffman might help out. Well, it's no use telling you how much I appreciate it. I give you my word, I won't forget it. I'm gonna pay this money back to you. Don't forget it, George. We're glad to help you out. Well, thanks again for the touch, huh? Sure nice of you. Okay, now, drop a card if you get a chance. Like to hear how you're doing over there. Sure thing. See you later, huh? Right. Good luck to you, boy. Well, looks like a turn for the better anyway, huh? But it was my last two bucks, doggone it. It never failed. Well, we had to give him something. Yeah, but what Do I do for lunch money? Tomorrow, 2pm we drove out to the Wilshire district to interview a robbery victim. We brought him back downtown and took his statement. 4:30pm we checked back in with Captain Walker. Hi, Skipper. Henry says that ex con George Hoffman was in today. Yeah. Talked to him? Yeah, that's right, Ed. Why? Have a Look. Thanks. The MPs left about 20 minutes ago. Swell. Your two bucks went for nothing. Ben. Hoffman's wanted, huh? Broke out of Army Prison, 10 o'clock this morning. Together with the army authorities, local officers joined in the citywide service search for George Hoffman. At 10 o'clock that night, a food market on Santa Fe in Reallo was robbed and the proprietor beaten from our mug shots. The victim identified Hoffman as the hold up man. Shortly after midnight, a drugstore on Crenshaw was held up. Hoffman was again tabbed as the suspect. The next two days the search was intensified. No leads. Two more days went by. Late Saturday morning we got a hurry up call from the detail on duty at the Union Station. Hoffman had been reported in the vicinity. Ben and I drove down to the depot to check with the officer in charge. Slats. Henry. Spot him, Joe? No. Let's have a look back where the ticket counters, huh? Yeah. There he is. Over by the phone booth. Come on. Hi. Slash. All right. Looks pretty good. What's the story? One of the news boys up the street gave us a tip. About an hour ago, a guy gave him a dollar to come down here and buy a ticket for him. Ticket to Phoenix? Yeah. Kid came in, bought the ticket, went back up the street and gave it to the man. We showed the kid a bunch of mug shots. He picked out Huffman's man. He's not wearing his army uniform, huh? No. Brown suit, dark blue overcoat, no hat. That's what the kid told us. Any idea which train he was taking for Phoenix? Not exactly. He asked when the first train for Phoenix was. Newsboy told him 3:35, 10 minutes to 12. Now. You got enough men to handle it, Slats? Everything's covered. Only one thing lacking. Yeah? Hoffman. While the stakeout continued on the Union Station, Ben and I, together with Gaffney and Henry from Robbery, covered the bars, restaurants and hotels in the immediate area for a sign of the suspect. 2:30pm what do you think? We better head back down for the station, see what's doing, huh? Okay. I'd like to have a dime for every mile we have logged on this case. Yeah, Joe H. Have a look. Where? Across the street. Dark blue overcoat, same build. As Hoffman. I'll bet on him. Come on. He spotted us. Yeah, that's Hoffman. Come on, pick it up. I lost him, Joe. Where'd he go? Turn down first street. Come on, hurry up. Across the street. Ben, watch the traffic. Where'd he go? I see him. That antique store on the corner. He ran in there. Come on. Yep, there he is. All right, Hoffman. Out of the way, mister. All right. Hold it right there, Hoffman. I'm coming out. Move. Watch it, Joe. I said I'm coming on. You hear me? You're going the hard way, George. Come on, drop it. Drop it. All right, Hoffman. All right, on your feet. Come on, get up. I get your hands behind you. Sure. What goods are gonna do here? All right, mister, let's go. What goods are gonna do? I already proved it. I can break jail anytime. I proved it twice. You're going right back in again. What's that? Proof. The story you have just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. On October 8, 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. Now here is our star, Jack Webb. Thank you to get year round. Thanks for the gift you give this Christmas. Give Fatimas to every long cigarette smoker on your list. Their first pack of extra mild Fatimas will have them convinced like I am that in Fatima the difference is quality and Christmas. Fatimas come in a distinctive royal blue slip over jacket that makes a perfect gift. Just as is. Remember, Fatimas now cost the same as other long cigarettes. But in Fatima the difference is quality. Give Fatima's the quality king size cigarette to every long cigarette smoker. George R. Hoffman was tried and convicted on several counts of robbery and received a life sentence as a hardened criminal. After serving 10 months of his sentence, Hoffman attempted an escape and failed. A few weeks later he took his own life in his prison cell by hanging. Ladies and gentlemen, next week in answer to your requests, Dragnet will repeat A Gun for Christmas. The actual case history broadcast last year during the yuletide season. That's next Thursday, December 21st. You have just heard Dragnet a series of authentic cases from a official files. Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the office of Chief of Police W.H. parker, Los Angeles Police Department. This is Bob Hope. Can we steal a second Chesterfield? Chesterfield always win first place. That milder mild tobacco never leaves an aftertaste. So open a pack, give them a smell, then you smoke them. Don't forget to give Crosby for Christmas. I mean the Chesterfield Christmas carton with Bing as Papa Santa Claus. See you Tuesday. Fatima Cigarettes the best of all Long Cigarettes has brought you Dragnet. Portions transcribed from Los Angeles we the People is next with more good times on NBC. We just heard Boston Blackie, Richard diamond, the Saint and Dragnet that will do it for this week's show. Thanks so much for joining me. I hope you'll be back next week for more Old Time Radio mystery. And you'll tune in throughout the month for our new bonus series where I spotlight each of the five part serialized stories of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. You can also check out Stars on Suspense, my other Old Time Radio podcast. New episodes of that show are out on Thursdays. If you like what you're hearing, don't be as if you like what you're hearing. Don't be a stranger, stranger. You can rate and review the show in Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. And if you'd like to lend support to the show, which is always appreciated, you can visit buymeacoffee.com meansts OTR. I'll be back next time with more Old Time Radio Crime Fighters. But until then, good night and happy listening. Now here is our star, Vincent Price. 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