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Calling All Cars 34-03-21 ep017 The Dillinger Case
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Calling All Cars 34-03-21 ep017 The Dillinger Case
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Chief James E. Davis
Tucson Police Department. Calling all cars. Attention all cars. Watch for all automobiles bearing Florida license plates have just received ship that the Billinger gang has arrived. Died in Tucson. Take no chances, boys. They are armed and dangerous. That's all. Ladies and gentlemen. The exacting and often hazardous duties of your police and firemen demand that the automotive equipment they use deliver sparkling dependable performance. When life or death may be a matter of a split second, their gasoline must be good. Instant starting, unlimited power, quick getaway night and day. That's why we are so proud to say that more police cars, ambulance, fire engines and motorcycles in Southern California and Arizona are powered with Rio Grandev tracks than all other brands combined. Remember, this gasoline is exactly the same as that which you can buy at any Rio Grande service station. Nothing is added. If you are now a user of Rio Grande cracks with tetra Ethel then you know what cracked performance means. If you are not, then try a tank full tomorrow and enjoy the smooth, effortless 100% performance required by police and fire departments. Reorgandic cracked with cetrantle Cost you no more. And now, ladies and gentlemen, Chief James E. Davis of the Los Angeles Police Department. Good evening, friends. The members of your police department are second to none in the world in handling a revolver. They are trained to shoot with the maximum amount of accuracy because we want the world to know that Los Angeles is a hot spot for desperate criminals. Tonight we bring you the story of John Dillinger, America's number one criminal who roams at large in the Middle West. It is just such desperados as Dillinger that we are prepared to meet. I have selected this story because it illustrates a timely warning to the citizens of this country that they must have trained law enforcement officers, honest and fearless and that they, the citizens, must support their police. I asked Chief Wallard of Tucson, Arizona to come here as my guest because his work in capturing John Dillinger and his gang is an outstanding example of police diligence and alertness. Chief Wallard, will you address the radio listeners? Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I feel highly honored that Chief Davis has selected as one of his cases to be dramatized on this splendid program the activities of the men of the Tucson police force in capturing the notorious Dillinger gang. And I also feel it's an honor that Chief Davis has asked me to appear on this program with him. However, I am acting only as a representative of those fine boys who work with me. Although I had my part in directing their activities, too much praise cannot be given to the intelligence and bravery of those police Officers who did their duty unflinchingly when asked to track down the ruthless and lawless band of men we have to deal with. It is peace officers like these boys of mine and like these officers of Chief Davis that make Los Angeles and Keystone such pleasant places for you citizens to live in. I won't take any further time to tell you about the capture of the Dillinger mob. You're about to hear the story just as it occurred. As I know that you're eager for the play to begin, I'll turn the microphone over to Frederick Lindley who will carry on with the story. Thank you. September 26, 1933. Under a hail of machine gun bullets, Pierpont and Russell Cross, accompanied by seven other convicts successfully escaped from the Indiana State penitentiary. As the 10 desperate criminals disappear into the mists of early morning, all Indiana awakens to a reign of terror. Two days later in Lima, Ohio. Are you the sheriff? Yes. Your hole and John Dun are here. Yes. Well, we come to get him. Who are you? Officers from Michigan City, Indiana. He's wanted there. You'll have to show me your credentials. Here's our credential, Heller. Let's pull out the Middle West. Hysterical fear mounts. Not since the days when Jesse James rode the prairies have respectable citizens lived in such mortals dread of a rift as outlaw Gillinger is Ruth. Indianapolis $21,000 taken from the Massachusetts Habnobite. New Carlisle, Ohio stand in take $53,000 in the new Carlisle bank in daring Daylight Robbery Herald Pennsylvania hold up an apparel bank lost $24,000. Daleville, Indiana holds up a loss of $3,500. Montpellier, Indiana $12,000 haul from the Montana bank receive Wisconsin Old up American bank and trust company lost $27,000. Green Castle, Indiana $74,000 back robbery East Chicago hold up in the First National Bank $20,000 stolen. One policeman murdered. Such is the list of crimes attributed to the Dillinger mobile. Federal authorities combined 40 with state and local peace officers. Roads are blocked. The militia called out. Then, as suddenly as it began, the reign of terror ends. Peace once more is restored in the Middle West. The shattered nerves of farmer, merchant and banker gradually returned to normal. Dillinger seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth. A pale desert moon casts its transparent coverlet over the jagged crest of Mount Lemmon. From a sandy wash a coyote howls at the silent Sahara that broods above him thrusting its spiny arms towards a star speckled delvet dome. Overhead, across this scene of beautiful desolation comes a discordant Note a tinny popular song played by a three piece orchestra in a desert roadhouse. The place is a few miles from Tucson, Arizona. It is the night of January 24, 1934. Bad sound surpr. You know, to find a night spot like this out in the middle of the desert. Yeah, it's all right. But I'll sure be glad to get into that sales meeting in la. You know, I get the jitters out in this country. Why, you liable to wake up any morning with a. With a rattlesnake in bed with you. Oh, I listen a lot of bun while the Ramones take sleep in the winter. Winter? How would a rattlesnake know this was winter? Wick freestiff collars today while I was making my call. If this is winter, then LA is in the Arctic Circle. Well, you don't need to worry about the snakes, Harry. Just have another shot of this. Not a bad. It's not a bad idea at all. Well, he used to bigger. Yeah, at least better than last year. Pardon me, boys. Can I buy you a little drink? Why sure, that's fine. What do you have? Well, give me another highball, eh, what about your turn here, make my mistake. Hey, bartender. Two eyeballs and one straight. Yes, sir. Pardon me for butting in like this with. I'm a stringer in town. I'm all alone. I started wanted company. Jerry. Quite sure. That's all right. Glad to have you. Thanks. You look like a couple of all right mugs to me. Geez, what a crummy joint this is. Look at that thing they call an orchestra. Why, if there's spots back in chi you can. You ever been in Chi? If I had a business deserve. Well, I've got one of the. That's a great sound. But they really do sing. Salamine's got a record back there and he's making a million. That's the sort of racket to be in something honest where you scare the dough out of the suckers. I don't like bump off very much. Beef's bad wherever it's supposed. Say, would you listen to that he. This fell. He's a tough guy. He's probably handling a line of kids shoes out of Minneapolis. Yeah, what's the problem? I watch. What was that you were saying? My father me was disagree that you're right. We don't care much to the bump off jobs ourselves. Yes. What's your racket? Soup. Yes, sure. I'm a banker myself. I don't like to work with troops. Takes too much time to get into the safe, set the fuse. I just walk in and stick them up. It's quicker and cleaner. Unless you have to turn the heat on somebody. Yeah, that's right. But you get more out of way, maybe. Nice. Have another drink. By the time the desert moon has set, the two salesman and their new friend have exchanged many confidences. On the way into Tucson, Clark, the man who prefers picking up banks to blowing them up discovers that they are all staying at the Congress Hotel. He invites the salesman to his room for a nightcap. Sure. Things got a little hot back here, so I came out of here with a couple of pals until it cooled off. Figuring out any stick upside here? No. Are you maybe damn fool to try it? Yeah. Why? There are only two roads out of Arizona and every Indian woodpecker knows the country better than you do. We can never make a getaway. Maybe you're right. Hey, I got some new equipment here. Like to see it? Just a minute before I open up this. Look at that. That's a real thing, isn't is? Here's a new super caliber machine gun, fixed.35.1. Gee, that's. That's quite a weapon, isn't it? Okay, it is. This baby's dynamite rip a hole in you big enough to drive a truck. Well, I think we better be getting to bed. It's pretty late. Hurry. Charlie will be here soon. Who's Charlie? He's my partner. You ought to see him handle a saw. Yeah. No, thanks. I. I think we better get to bed. Glad to met you, pal. Yeah, sure, sure. I'll be an honest. Listen, Listen, Harry, that guy's a real thing. He ain't kidding. You're telling me. You better report him to the police. Well, let's not be in too big a hurry. After all, he hasn't done anything to us. Maybe some kind of a big gangster, the police. Yeah, maybe. But let's not be too hasty. We can talk about it tomorrow. All right. Early the following morning, while the guests in the hotel are still asleep, fire is discovered in the dining room looking upward from the heating plant in the basement. The telephone operator on duty calls the fire department. And then, with heavy smoke swirling along her switchboard, she takes to her home. No, no. This is the operator downstairs. The hotel's on fire. Get out at once. Hello? Yes. That smoke you smell. The hotel's on fire. Hotel's on fire. Get out. Not all of them. I can't get anyone. Now, through the efforts of the brave telephone girl and the dining room manager who discovered the fire. All the guests are safely removed from the hotel. Every piece of fire equipment. Dupan responds to the call. And thousands of citizens on their way to work press against the hastily rigged guard rope. Inside the line, his partner watched the building burn. Get those tomcats out of that room. You're telling me on how if that ammunition never starts popping, it's the payoff. Yeah, but if you think I'm going to pay you, screw it. Wait a minute. I got an idea. Those bags all locked? Yeah. Okay, I'll get one of the firemen. Hey, buddy, I got a couple of bags up there in the room that got to get out. They got valuable papers in them. Well, I can't get them for you now. I got other. Wait a minute. That ladder over there is up against the window in my room. All you got to do is go up there, get the stuff and come down. There's 10 bucks in it for you. Well, okay. I'll see what I can do. Right. The firemen retrieve Clark and Makeley's arsenal. And in the confusion of reclaiming possessions after the fire has been put out, the two bandits get some of the clothing of the salesman. Quark and Makeley rent a house on Second Avenue. And the salesman placed Clark there after they had regained their property. Clark questions them. Say, boys, in my mind we had quite a little talk the other night before the fire. Why, yes. We had some drinks and talked a while. What did I say? Oh, nothing much. We just talked. Listen, boys, get this straight. I don't remember what I said, but whatever it is, it'll be healthier for you to forget it. Get me? Why? Why, you are. But there was nothing said he. Don't come up on me. Just get this straight. I'm a winter visitor out here for a vacation and nothing more. Get it? Frightened by the threat behind Clark's statement, the salesman reports the incident to Patrolman Terry Leslie, who relays the information to the chief. Wallard calls Traffic Captain J. Smith and Detective Dallas Ford into his office and explains the tip to them. From the description Leslie got. And I think these men are members of that dilling journey. The description tell us of the seculars. He's out here from Indiana. Now, here's the address. 927 N. Second Ave.I want you to stake out the joint. Don't go into the house. These men are heavily armed. Wait until they come out and pick them up away from the house. And if you have to shoot, shoot to kill the officers take out the Second Avenue house and after a little wait maitley leaves the house and drives downtown in a car bearing a Florida license. He is arrested with a companion who gives her name as Bernice Thompson. As they are purchasing a radio, indignant, maitley is brought before the chief. Look here, Chief. Listen. Outrage. Here's my card. I'm J.C. davies. I'm in business down in Florida. I came over here to your city to spend the winter my first week in town. I've been picked up by your men. I demand that you release me at once. I'm very sorry, Mr. Davies. Possibly it's a case of mistaken identity. Well, indeed it is. Why, I. I have all sorts of identifications. Well, naturally, Mr. Davies, you won't object to having your fingerprints taken so we can clear up this unfortunate matter. That isn't necessary, Chief. If you'll just send one of your men over to my house. Why, I'll make my identity known in no time. Yes, but Mr. Davies, if you plan to spend the winter with us here, and you resemble so closely the man we're looking for, your fingerprints would give you a clean bill of health, so to speak, and you wouldn't be annoyed anymore. It isn't necessary, Chief. I can identify myself. Well, now, Makely, you won't have to try because we're fingerprinting you right now. JC James fingerprints establish him beyond a shadow of a doubt as the wanted mate. Realizing now that he's on the trail of the Dillinger mob, Pete Wallard sends officers Ford, Foreman and Ironman to watch for the other men in the Second street house. They wait for several hours talking to the house, and no one appears. Say, I'm getting tired of this waiting around. I got a hunter in there and I'm gonna find out for sure. Better go through. Shit. These guys are no gas station bandits. They mean business. I got a plan I think will work. Look, I'm gonna ask for a long. That's the name this other guy goes by. I'll tell him I'm a special delivery messenger. Now, you guys keep your eyes on me, and if I get in, you follow right after me. You're taking a big chance, J. Yeah, I know it, Frank, but I don't hacker to sit out here all day doing nothing. Well, okay. You'll be right behind you. All right. Here goes. What is it? If Mr. A. Long lives in here? Yes? I've got a special delivery letter for him. Oh, well, give it to me, I'll do it. No, I have to deliver it to him in person. Well, you can't. Don't close that door on me. Say, get your foot out of that door. Open up. Come on, boy. Pull him out to keep the other guys out. I'll take care of you. Got it by the hammer. He can't use it. Didn't know you were meeting such a big guy, Digit Hopper. I'll finish you off as soon as I get over to that bed where I left the gas. Thanks, Alex. I guess that sickle weapon will keep him quiet for a while. I'm afraid not, lady. He's just sleeping for a while. But you nearly put my finger up when you slam that door on it. Well, I wish I'd taken your head off. Well, that's no way to talk, sister, cuz it won't do a bit of good. You're coming along at the station house. But that's just pain. D, still unconscious, is taken to the police station where his shoes are dressed. And he is identified by Mark Robins, identification expert of the Tucson Police Department. Shortly after Clark is taken to his cell, motorcycle patrolman Earl Nolan brings the chief a piece of information. What is it, Nolan? Hey, the car these guys drove had a Florida license plate, didn't it? That's right. It was a 1934 model. Listen, Chief, the other night I was talking to a guy who was driving a brand new sedan that had a Florida plate. Where was it? At a tourist camp on 6th Avenue. Well, get right out there right away and see if you can find. Accompanied by officers Jay Smith, Frank Hyman and Kenneth Mulaney. No one races to the tourist camp. Just as the car bearing the Florida plate loaded with luggage is leaving the place, the police car pulls up alongside of it. All right, pull over, buddy. What's the trouble? Oh, no trouble. I'm sorry to have to bother you, but I'll have to ask you to come to the police station with me. What for? I haven't done anything. No, I know you haven't, but. Well, it's the Chief's orders that all out of state licenses have to be checked. Oh, I see. He's pretty cranky about it, so you better come along with me. Well, can't you catch a place here? Oh, I'm sorry. The chief's orders to bring in all out of state cars. Totally formality. It won't take you 10 minutes. Very well then. Want to hop in the back and ride with me? All right. Sure. Unsuspecting here pumps the third of the gang. Allows himself to be let into Chief Waller's office. Just inside the door he sees Clark and Mapl's luggage. 1. He's got a gun all my time, but I got a hammer lock on him and it's pointing into his own rib. Off the rest of your cell. Yes, sir. Here's the other one, sir. Hello? Yes, sir. Okay, now give me that gun. Don't have to break my wrist. Say, look here, you got the wrong guy. Yeah, we've heard that already today. And I don't think there's much doubt about who you are. Okay, there's your glasses on the floor. Oh, you can have him. What the hell good are they to me now? Once more, Chief Wallace places the stake out on the second Avenue house. This time he sends officers Milo, Walker, Mulaney and James Helen. They have orders to arrest anyone who enters the place. Mulaney hides at one side of the house with a sawed off shotgun. Walker, armed with a submachine gun, is behind two subs at the other side. Helen waits in a parked car some distance away. In the early evening, just as the dusk is deepening into night, a car pulls up across the street from the house. As the outfit of the car gets out, Heron follows him across the street. The detective is five steps behind Gillinger when the bandit stopped in his tracks at the sight of blood with its all normal is taken out. Terrence steps up to him as Dillinger wheels around. Hands in his coat pockets. Put your hands up, Dillinger. What is it they stick up? No, it's an arrest. Now put him up. Sweeping the trigger. An arrest? What for? What's the turn? Here's to do some justice of these for the time being. Walker. Mulaney, how about that girl in the car over there? No, you don't. Dilling. Feel that little rib? Got a thank you, Fancy. I'll let you have it now if you don't mind, I'll relieve you of your guns. Two of them, huh? One on each side. And now if you lower your hand. All right, all right. Come on now. Cut out the politeness, put the bracelets on and let's get down to your lousy jail. I won't be there very long anyway. But there isn't a jail in this country strong enough to hold me overnight. The names of the brave officers of the P are household words the nation over as the news of the capture of the Gimmick gang is flagged to a relieved nation securely locked in the Pima County Jail or command. Criminals threaten and snarl at their capture as Chief Willard and Sheriff Belton place an extra armed guard of 20 men around the courthouse by Rail and by plane officials rushed Kingston from Wisconsin and Indiana, each state eager to expedite the men for crimes in their territory. After days of legal complications, Willinger is jerseyed away by planes at Crown Point, Indiana to answer for the murder of the patrolman in the East, Chicago Holder. A day later, the other three bandits leave by plane for the east to face trial in limo Ohio for the murder of Sheriff Farben. Ohio justice is swift. Harry Pierpont and Charles Makeley have already received mandatory death sentences for the murder of sheriff's father. And Clark is soon to be tried. But Dillinger has made good his boat. Equipped with a wooden revolver of his own fabrication, Dillinger a fortnight ago bluffed his way out of the Lake county jail in Crown Point, Indiana. Once more the man hunted on. Once more the roads throughout the Middle west are blockaded by questioning officers. Once more peaceable citizens shake with terror. Once more the crag goes up. Dillinger is loose. Yes, Dillinger is once more loose. But he will not be at liberty long. Any man who elects to declare his own personal war against society as all society against him. There has never been a man since time began who could get away with that sort of attitude. Long Dillinger has asked for it. And the next time he runs up against a police officer, it may not be as humane a chap as Jimmy Herron. He may not get a chance to put his hands up. The officer may shoot first and talk afterwards, which in the case of men like this cylinder is the most efficient way to operate. Ladies and gentlemen, Rio Grande cracked gasoline with tetraethyl is made by a modern nuts of the minute refining method, the cracking process. That is where it gets its name by subjecting the crude oil to terrific heat and pressure. The result is a gasoline that averages 10 points higher in natural anti knock than gasolines which are not cracked. Also, tetraethyl lead has long been one of the many advantages of Rio Grande cracks. We suggest that you give Rio Grande a test. Try one tank. For we believe that once you have experienced the flashing performance of this great gasoline, you'll never again be satisfied with gasoline made by old S and method. You be the judge. Tucson Police Department. Calling all cars. Attention all cars. In reference to broadcast 17, three of the suspects referred to in this broadcast are now in custody. But Dillinger is loose. Watch your step, boy. That's all, Sam. This is Frederick Lindsley bidding you good night for the real gun, the oil company.