Dragnet: The Big Building (EP4788)

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: Dragnet: The Big Building (EP4788)
Date: August 28, 2025
Host: Adam Graham

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Episode Overview

This episode features a classic Dragnet case titled "The Big Building" (original airdate: June 14, 1951). Host Adam Graham introduces the radio drama and provides thoughtful commentary afterward. The story follows Sergeants Joe Friday and Ben Romero as they investigate the mysterious disappearance of a wealthy society woman, Louise Marston. The drama explores themes of family conflict, the lure of wealth, and the tragic consequences of obsession—set against the clinical realism that made Dragnet famous.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Case Introduction & Initial Investigation

• Setting: Los Angeles, foggy Monday, February 8th.
• Incident: Louise Marston, a wealthy society woman, has been missing for two months before her husband, Dr. Robert Marston, finally reports it.
• Primary Investigators: Sergeants Joe Friday and Ben Romero.

"You’re a detective sergeant. You’re assigned to homicide detail... A wealthy society woman in your city vanishes. Two months pass before her disappearance is reported to the police. There’s suspicion of foul play. Your job: investigate." – Narrator (01:44)

Highlights:

• Dr. Marston appears agitated but cooperative, claiming repeated arguments led his wife to leave for New York.
• He continues to receive letters from her, all postmarked New York, but lacking return addresses.
• Their son, Stanley, stopped getting letters at the same time as Dr. Marston—raising suspicions.

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2. The Money Motive & Family Tensions

• Dr. Marston's Theory: Attributes the disappearance to a family money dispute, particularly involving Louise’s stepfather, William House.
• Assets: Louise had just been given $80,000 in bonds.
• Eyewitness Account: Marston’s secretary, Lenore Dexter, claims to have seen Louise and her stepfather at the airport the night after the disappearance.

"Just that. There’s only one reason for Louise disappearing the way she has. Money." – Dr. Robert Marston (07:20)

Marston’s Emotional Stake:

• Expresses longing for his wife, connecting her absence to his dream project—a new professional building to be named after him.

"Nothing’s very great unless there’s somebody to share it with." – Dr. Robert Marston (10:49)

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3. Competing Suspicions: Step-father’s Accusations

• William House’s Entrance: He is direct, hostile toward Marston, and suspects Marston of murder.
• Denies Airport Meeting: Asserts Lenore Dexter’s story is a fabrication.
• House’s Motive: Paints Marston as a fortune hunter obsessed with the building and money.

"I think he’s murdered Louise. I think he killed her and buried her somewhere. That’s my honest opinion." – William House (12:43)

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4. Handwriting Analysis & Stalled Investigation

• Official Analysis: Letters and bond receipt confirmed as genuine handwriting from Louise.
• Stalemate: Both men continue accusing each other; police cannot find Louise in New York.
• Weeks Pass: Case goes cold—no leads until a small but significant breakthrough.

"Our handwriting man’s checking over the letters and the bond receipt." – Sergeant Joe Friday (13:46)

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5. Breakthrough: The Diamond Ring

• Housemaid’s Observation: During a dinner party at Dr. Marston’s, Lenore Dexter is seen wearing a large diamond ring—apparently the same worn by the missing Louise.

"Maid got a good look at the ring. Says it’s the same one Mrs. Marston was wearing the night she disappeared." – Sergeant Ben Romero (16:46)

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6. Cracks in the Alibi: Lenore Dexter’s Confession

• Lenore Dexter Admits: Dr. Marston coached her to lie about seeing Louise and her stepfather at the airport.
• Motivation: Claims she was doing Marston “a favor”; he framed it as a harmless joke, but later frightened her into silence.

"He told me what to say. He said to do it as a favor for him." – Lenore Dexter (19:54)

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7. The Architect’s Revelations & the New York Letters

• Architect Harold Whitmore: Discloses Marston gave him a stack of pre-written, sealed letters to have mailed from New York as a “practical joke.”
• Links the Timeline: The cement work in the Malibu house basement took place shortly after Louise’s disappearance.

"The doctor gave me a bunch of letters... said he was playing some kind of practical joke on his wife and son." – Architect Harold Whitmore (21:09)

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8. Climactic Resolution: The Basement Discovery

• Police Take Marston to Malibu Cottage: Cement floor is ripped up; they search for Louise’s remains.
• Marston’s Breakdown & Confession:
  • He orchestrated the cover-up, forged the narrative of Louise heading to New York.
  • Admits to killing her after an argument over the building project.

"They’ve found her, you know that. Louise. Right where I buried her. What do you want me to say?" – Dr. Robert Marston (24:53)
"You wouldn’t understand, Sergeant. The only thing I ever wanted in my life, she wouldn’t let me have it. The building… Something that would last. Make people remember." – Dr. Robert Marston (25:00; 25:52)

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9. Aftermath & Consequences

• Trial Outcome: Dr. Robert Marston is charged with first-degree murder but takes his own life in his jail cell before the case concludes.

"Ten days after his trial opened... the suspect took his own life in his jail cell by hanging." – Narrator (26:29)

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Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• "Nothing’s very great unless there’s somebody to share it with."
  – Dr. Robert Marston (10:49)

• "I think he’s murdered Louise. I think he killed her and buried her somewhere. That’s my honest opinion."
  – William House (12:43)

• "He told me what to say. He said to do it as a favor for him."
  – Lenore Dexter (19:54)

• "They’ve found her, you know that. Louise. Right where I buried her. What do you want me to say?"
  – Dr. Robert Marston (24:53)

• "The only thing I ever wanted in my life, she wouldn’t let me have it. The building... something that would last. Make people remember."
  – Dr. Robert Marston (25:00; 25:52)

• "Well, you made it, Doctor. Why worry? You don’t need a building. They’ll remember you."
  – Sergeant Joe Friday (26:11)

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Host Commentary & Listener Feedback

Adam Graham’s Reflections (27:31)

• Remark on Practical Jokes: Finds the extent to which accomplices became involved in the “practical joke”—a murder plot—unusually far-reaching for today.
• Listener Comment: Mechanic 6682 quips, "I guess psychopaths with money need to see their names on buildings."
• Historical Clothing Trivia: Responds to a listener’s question about Dragnet characters and Clipper Craft suits, using it as a springboard for fun period research.

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Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• Opening Recap of the Case: (01:28–03:00)
• Interview with Dr. Marston: (02:51–11:02)
• Hostile Step-father Interview: (12:04–15:00)
• Forensic Handwriting Results: (15:00–15:20)
• Break in the Case (diamond ring): (16:29–17:02)
• Secretary's Confession: (18:09–19:59)
• Architect's Testimony: (21:02–22:19)
• Confrontation in the Basement & Confession: (23:43–25:52)
• Aftermath (Trial and Suicide): (26:29)
• Host's Humorous Wrap-Up: (27:31–end)

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Conclusion

The Big Building is a textbook Dragnet mystery: realistic, methodical, and tragic. The Marston case—driven by ego, money, and disappointment—uncovers how desperate ambition can unravel a life and destroy those close to it. The investigation, full of misdirection and subtle deceit, is punctuated by memorable lines and a haunting final confession. Adam Graham’s commentary highlights both the human drama and the period flavor that makes old-time radio so captivating for modern listeners.

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Summary prepared by The Great Detectives Podcast Summarizer – For mystery fans and classic radio sleuths alike!

Transcript

[Sam]

Sam.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnet. But first, I do want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show on a one time basis. Support.greatdetives.net I want to thank Gene for supporting the program. That way you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month at patreon.greatdetectives.net well, now, from June 14, 1951, here is the big.

[Narrator]

The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You're assigned a homicide detail.

[Narrator]

A wealthy society woman in your city vanishes. Two months pass before her disappearance is.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Reported to the police.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

There's suspicion of foul play.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Your job, investigate.

[Narrator]

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 story of your police force in action.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Was Monday, February 8th. Was foggy in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of homicide detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Thad Brown, Chief of Detectives. My name's Friday. We were on the way out from the office and it was 11:23am when we got to the ninth floor of the Medical Dental Building, room 912.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Dr. Marston?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Yes, what is it?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Police officers, doctor. Like to talk to you.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Oh, yes, I'm sorry. Daydreaming, I guess. I didn't hear you come in.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, my name's Friday, Doctor. This is my partner, Sergeant Romero.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

How are you, nephew?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

How do you do, gentlemen?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How are you, sir? It's about the missing person's report on your wife. You filed it yesterday.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Yes, that's right, Sergeant. Certainly glad you came. Like to have this whole thing straightened out as quickly as possible. I want my wife back with me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, we'll do everything we can, doctor. There's a few things we'd like to have you straighten out for us, if you will.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

I thought I made it pretty clear in that report I filed yesterday. What is it you have a question about?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I've got a copy of the report right here says your wife disappeared December 9th. That's a little over two months ago, Doctor.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Yes, that's correct. December 9th. Sunday night. We were out having dinner. We had a little argument and Louise left. I didn't hear from her until the following Friday. That's when she wrote me the first letter. It was from New York.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Weren't you a little alarmed to find out your wife had left you and gone east?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Well, I wasn't too happy about it, but we'd had a few arguments before. Always figured it did both of us good if Louise got away for a little while. No, I wasn't particularly worried. She has friends in New York. Would you care for a cigarette?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Not right now, thank you, Doctor.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Light for you. Thank you.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I understand your wife didn't stay with her friends this trip, Doctor.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

No, apparently she didn't. However, I wasn't too concerned. She wrote me letters twice a week. And then she wrote Stanley, that's our son, he's in military school. Louise wrote to him regularly, too.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

And the last letter you got from your wife was about two weeks ago?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Yes, sir, exactly two weeks ago. Had the same postmark on in New York.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, have you any idea at all where she was staying back there?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

That's a strange part of it, Sergeant. Louise didn't put a return address on any of the letters. I inquired of some of our friends back there, but none of them had seen her. Or I suppose she was staying at a hotel. I don't know which one, though.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

About those letters, Doctor. Now, you're sure that they're in your wife's handwriting? You don't think they could be forgeries, do you?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

It's possible, but I don't think so, Sergeant. I know my wife's handwriting.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Do you have all the letters with you, sir?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Yes. I'll have my secretary get them before you leave. She's out to lunch now. Oh, excuse me, please. Go right ahead. Yes? Dr. Marston for Ms. Taylor. Oh, yes, I'm glad you reminded me. Thank you. I'm sorry, officers. There's a denture I have to have ready for one of my patients by this afternoon. Would you mind if I go ahead and work on it while we talk here?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, it's perfectly all right, doctor. You go right ahead.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Do you mind stepping in the lab back here? All right, fine. Go ahead. Ma', am. I'm sorry to interrupt everything like this. I do have to have this denture ready, though. Williams Denture.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Doctor, you say the night your wife, Louise, disappeared, the two of you had an argument?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Yes, that's correct. We were having dinner out at our country club, and I guess Louise had too many cocktails. She gets in a nasty mood when she drinks too much. I asked her to stop drinking, she flared up and walked out of the place.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did anyone besides yourself see her leave?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Oh, yes. Two or three couples friends of ours. When I found out Louise had gone off to New York, I thought, well, it was her way of teaching me a lesson. I wasn't too disturbed about it until the letters stopped coming.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how about your son, Stanley? Do you know if he's still getting the letters from his mother?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

No, he's not. I telephoned him up at his school. He stopped getting letters about the same time I did. Let's see, where did I put that casting ring?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, yes.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Here we are.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Then. As far as you know, Doctor, no one at all has actually seen your wife since that night at the country club when she walked out and left?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Mm, that's correct. As I say, if I hadn't been getting those letters from her every week from New York, I would have called the police in long ago. Would you excuse me, please? Oh. Oh, yeah. Quite a bit of oxide in this gold crown I've cast here. A little bit of acid should take care of that.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, what's your theory on all this, Doctor? Your wife leaves suddenly and she goes to New York. She corresponds with you and your son, and then her letters stop coming. What do you think might have happened?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Frankly, Sergeant, the whole thing's a terrible family mix up. Get this crown here out of the acid. Aha.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Well, how do you mean, Doctor? A family mix?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Just that there's only one reason for Louise disappearing. The way she has. Money. Money. That stepfather of hers. Say, would you switch on that small motor there, Sergeant? I've got to polish up this crown, get it in shape.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Oh, yeah, sure.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Thank you.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, what do you mean, Doctor? How does your wife's stepfather fit into all this?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Money, man, it's about the size of it. I don't know if you're aware of it, but my wife Louise was left a considerable amount of money by her, and, uh. Huh? Well, it was a fortune, as a matter of fact. Louise's stepfather has always been trying to get his hands on it. Excuse me again. Sure, go ahead.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, and you think your wife's stepfather is responsible for her disappearance, is that right?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

No, I'm not making any direct accusations, Sergeant. Two days ago, or two days before Louise disappeared, I had $80,000 in bonds signed over to her, checked around since she's been gone, haven't been able to locate the bonds anywhere.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You think she had the bonds with her when she left?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Guess. I'm sure. Pardon me just a moment. Yeah, it's brilliant. Uh huh. That's a fine cast with sharp margins on it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, now, the $80,000 worth of bonds, Doctor, do you have any way of proving that you gave those to your wife?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Oh, certainly I have. My wife signed a receipt for them. You're welcome to check it over if you like. Mm.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Just how do you think your wife's stepfather figures in there? Is there any indication he might have made a move to get the bond?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Enough to satisfy me? Yes. My secretary told me about it. Lenore Dexter. That's the girl in the reception room.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, Helen.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

The night after my wife left me at the country club. That'd be December 10th. Ms. Dexter was at the airport waiting for her friend to arrive on a plane. While she was waiting, she saw my wife and her stepfather cross through the waiting room and go out toward the main gate.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Your secretary sure it was really your wife and her stepfather?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

That's what she told me. You're certainly welcome to talk to her yourself if you like. Yes.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

And, well, besides the bonds, do you know of anything else of value that your wife had with her when she left?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

No, I don't think so. She had her fur coat on. Of course. It was expensive. She was wearing a diamond ring. Anniversary gift from Elard. Solitaire worth quite a bit of money. You can get the description from the jeweler. I'll give you his name.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, Doctor. Your wife's stepfather. We'd like to have his name and address too.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Surely. I'll have my secretary check on both of them right now. All right, fine. Sergeant, you've got to find Louise. I've got to have her back with me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, we'll do everything we can, Doctor. We promise you that.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

I know my wife wouldn't stay away of her own free will. Not this long. Not at a time like this.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

How do you mean, sir?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Let me show you. Here it is. This is the final drawing the architect made for us. What do you think of it? It's very nice.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Certainly is.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

It's gotta be our own building. 12 stories. Finest in the city. Robert A. Marston Building for professional men. Louise and I have looked forward to it for a long time.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I understand.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

We settled on the final plans a week before she disappeared. Contractors will start construction in a few weeks. Now there's supposed to be a great day in our lives laying the cornerstone.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, I understand.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Great day, Robert A. Marston Building. It's a funny thing, isn't it, officers? How's that? Nothing's very great unless there's somebody to share it with.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Before we left the office of Dr. Robert Marston, we talked about with his secretary, Ms. Lenore Dexter. She confirmed the doctor's statement that on the night after Louise Marston had disappeared from the country club, she had seen both Mrs. Marston and her stepfather at the city's international airport. She said she did not follow them. She had no idea of their destination. Dr. Marston gave us the letters his wife had written him during her absence and also his wife's signed receipt for the $80,000 with a bond. Each of the letters was postmarked New York, and the dates on them ranged from December 15th to March 24th. Ben and I drove back to the office and put in a call to the home of the missing woman's stepfather, a Mr. William House. Then we went down the hall to the office of Don Meyer, our handwriting expert. We gave him the letters, which supposedly had been written by Mrs. Marston from New York, along with a signed receipt for the bonds and various other exemplars of her handwriting, which we had obtained from her bank. 2:50pm, the missing woman's stepfather, William House, arrived at the office. He was a tall, graying man, dignified, well dressed.

[William House]

It's about time the police started looking into this thing. How long does a person have to be missing before there's an investigation?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

The missing report was only filed yesterday, Mr. House. If you knew your stepdaughter was gone, why didn't you report it?

[William House]

I've had private detectives working on this for a month. Had them checking everything about the case.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How much luck have they had?

[William House]

Frankly, not much. I still got him working on it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, getting back to what we have on hand, Mr. House, how about this statement of Dr. Marston's secretary? She says that she saw you with Mrs. Marston at the international airport the night after she disappeared.

[William House]

It's a lie. I haven't been near that airport in six months. It's a lie and I can prove it. I don't know what Marston's up to, but he isn't going to get away with it.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

What do you mean by that?

[William House]

I think he's murdered Louise. I think he killed her and buried her somewhere. That's my honest opinion.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You sound sure of it.

[William House]

I am sure of it. I knew Marston for what he was the day I met him. He's a Fortune hunter, pure and simple. He's after Louise's money and nothing's going to stop him. Nothing has stopped him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, I was under the impression that Dr. Marston was wealthy before he married your stepdaughter. Isn't that right, sir?

[William House]

Certainly not. He was just another poor dentist with a lot of big ideas. All this talk about putting up a building, naming it after himself, while Louise fought him on that constantly. He's some kind of crazy egotist.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

What about the $80,000 in bonds he says he signed over to Mrs. Marston?

[William House]

If he told you that, he's a bigger liar than I thought.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, he gave us a receipt for the bonds. It was signed by his wife. Can you account for that?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Frankly, no.

[William House]

Either he got her signature on it by some kind of trick, or he forged it. I'm sure he never had that much money. Those bonds belong to Louise.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

What about the letters Dr. Marston got from his Wyatt? You think they were forged, too?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

I.

[William House]

And I'm positive they were. Don't you see, Officer? It's the perfect cover up for him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, one way or the other, it's not going to take us long to find out the truth. Our handwriting man's checking over the letters and the bond receipt. Now, can you fill us in at all on Dr. Marston's background, Mr. House?

[William House]

Only since he's been connected with the family since he married Louise. Say, would you give me a cigarette, please? I went off and left mine at home.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Oh, sure.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Here you are. Thank you. Thank you.

[William House]

I can't tell you how I feel about it, Officer. I'm afraid of that man. I'm deathly afraid of him. I know he's done something terrible to Louise.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how can you be so sure of it, Mr. House? You must have some basis for your opinion.

[William House]

I just know, that's all, Sergeant. If Louise had just disappeared and there wasn't any question of money involved, I wouldn't be so anxious about it. But $80,000 worth of bonds, That'll be enough to tempt Marston to murder his own mother. You don't know him like I do.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Well, what do you know about him, sir? There must be something concrete.

[William House]

I can tell you this much, Officer. Marston's a man who is capable of murder. Now, I'm a sensible man. I don't walk up and down the street looking for murderers. But I know when we've got one in the family. That much you've got to believe. You will believe it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Excuse me just a minute. I'll get that Homicide, Friday. Yeah, Don.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Alright.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All of them. Right. Thank you, Don. Well, that was our handwriting man. Mr. House?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He just finished checking the writing in those letters and on the receipt for the bonds.

[William House]

What'd he say? Forgeries?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, sir. They're genuine. Every one of them. As soon as William House left the office, Ben and I began an immediate check of his whereabouts. The night after his stepdaughter, Louise Marston, had disappeared. We talked to his friends and associates, members of the staff at the club where he lived. We found a dozen people who backed up House's claim that he was nowhere in the vicinity of the airport. The night after Mrs. Marston dropped from sight, we went back and talked with Dr. Marston's secretary, Lenore Dexter. She still insisted that she had actually seen House at the airport with the missing woman. Dr. Marston and the stepfather continued to accuse each other of murder. At our request, repeated efforts were made by the New York police to locate Mrs. Marston. No luck. We checked and rechecked with the maid at the home of the missing woman. All she could tell us was that Louise Marston never returned home after leaving the country club. And also that she'd been wearing a fur coat and an expensive diamond solitaire ring. A week passed and then two weeks. We stayed on it, but there wasn't much progress. The case of Louise Marston came to a virtual standstill. Wednesday, February 24 hi, Joe. Good morning. Anything new?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, I think we gotta break the Marston case.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, what do you got made out.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Of Dr. Marston's home? She called first thing this morning. Said Dr. Marston had a little dinner party out there last night.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What about it?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

One of the people there was Marston's secretary. That Lenore Dexter.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

She was wearing a large diamond ring.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Maid got a good look at the ring. Says it's the same one Mrs. Marston was wearing the night she disappeared.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Dragnet Authentic Cases from official police files.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Wednesday, February 24, 9:15am Ben and I drove out to the home of Dr. Robert Marston and talked to the maid. She told us that on the previous evening the doctor had had a small dinner party and that one of the guests was the doctor's secretary, Lenore Dexter. The maid told us that she'd gotten a close look at the diamond ring that Ms. Dexter was wearing and that she was sure it was the same ring that the doctor's wife, Louise Marston, had been wearing the night she disappeared. 10:20am we left the Marston house and headed downtown. To the doctor's office in the medical dental building. The office was closed. Closed and locked. We got back in the car and drove out Sunset Boulevard to Lenore Dexter's home address. We found the secretary having breakfast alone in her two room apartment. She explained that on Wednesdays, the doctor never opened his office before noon. We questioned her about the dinner party at the doctor's home the night before. We asked her about the diamond ring that she wore at the party. She became confused and hesitant.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

What about it, Ms. Dexter? Was that your diamond ring you were wearing at the dinner party?

[Lenore Dexter]

No, Sergeant, it wasn't. I guess it belongs to Dr. Marston. Either him or his wife.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, did he give it to you as a present?

[Lenore Dexter]

No. You see, I guess the doctor had a few cocktails before dinner. Maybe one too many. He went upstairs and came down with a ring. He insisted I wear it. He was very insistent.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Mm.

[Lenore Dexter]

I didn't want to make a scene, so I put the ring on. I gave it back to the doctor just before we left the house. My boyfriend was with me at the party, and we had a terrible argument over it. He's very jealous.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Tell me, Ms. Dexter, did Dr. Marston have any special reason for wanting you.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

To wear the ring?

[Lenore Dexter]

No. Just that he liked me and that I was pretty and I ought to have pretty things. My boyfriend didn't like him at all.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Had you ever seen that particular diamond ring, Ms. Dexter? I mean, before last night?

[Lenore Dexter]

I don't know, Sergeant. I think so. I'm not sure.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Where do you think you saw the.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Ring before, Mrs. Marston?

[Lenore Dexter]

I think I saw her wearing it once.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Was she wearing it the night you were supposed to have seen her at the airport?

[Lenore Dexter]

I don't know what you mean. I didn't notice the ring, But I saw Mrs. Marston at the airport.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I'd like to have you think this thing out for yourself, Miss Dexter. Mrs. Marston's been gone for almost three months now, and there's a strong possibility that she might have been murdered. You can make up your own mind about it, Miss. If you're not involved in that disappearance, I'd advise you to tell us the truth. It might save you a lot of trouble, Ms. Dexter.

[Lenore Dexter]

You mean about my seeing Mr. House at the airport with the doctor's wife the night after she disappeared?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, that's right. You sure that's the truth?

[Lenore Dexter]

I didn't want to get involved, Sergeant. I didn't want any part of it.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You mean you didn't see Mrs. Marston, her stepfather, at the airport that night that you made it all up.

[Lenore Dexter]

I didn't make it up, Sergeant. I swear I didn't. He told me what to say. He said to do it as a favor for him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Who's that, miss?

[Lenore Dexter]

Dr. Marston.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We continued to question the secretary, Lenore Dexter. She confessed that Dr. Marston had directed her to tell the story about seeing Louise Marston and her stepfather, William House, at the international airport. It was all a complete lie. She said that Marston explained that the whole thing was just a practical joke, that it didn't mean anything. When Mrs. Marston was officially reported missing, she thought of going to the police. But Marston had frightened her out of taking any such action. The only other suspicious thing she could recall about Mrs. Marston's disappearance was a conversation between the doctor and his architect, Mr. Harold Whitmore. He was the architect who had planned and designed the projected Robert A. Marston building for professional men. Well, the secretary told us the doctor's conversation with the architect had taken place about a month before Mrs. Marston's disappearance, and that she'd heard the doctor mentioned to the architect something about New York and a packet of letters. Lenore Dexter was taken downtown where she gave us a complete signed statement. Ben and I got in the car and drove to the offices of architect Harold Whitmore over on South Hope Street. He was a tall, florid faced man, very cooperative.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Yeah, I remember that conversation with Dr. Marston. He gave me a bunch of letters, at least a couple of dozen anyway. They were addressed to the doctor and his little boy, Stanley.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

What did he want you to do with the letters, Mr. Whitmore?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

He asked me if I had any friends in New York, and I said I did. Then he said he was playing some kind of practical joke on his wife and son. He gave me the letters and asked me if I'd send them to a friend in New York and have him mail them back one at a time.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You agreed to do that?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, that's right.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

The letters were all sealed and stamped, all in order, the way they were supposed to be mailed. I just sent them back to this friend of mine, Bob Rogers, in New York. Forgot all about it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Mr. Whitmore, how long have you known Dr. Marston?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Very long? No, not too long. Only in a business way. He wants to put up this office building of his, and I'm handling the job for him. He's sure nuts on the subject. Can't wait till we start construction on the job. I think his life depended on it.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You know, Much about his personal life. When'd you first meet him?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Let's see. I think it was around October of last year. He and Mrs. Marston were building a summer place down at Malibu, and I helped out with the plans. The doctor was always hanging around there, helping out with the work whenever he could.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's the only previous contact that you had with him, huh?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

That's about all, yeah. Building the beach house. Dr. Marston thought he had some new ideas about building a new type basement in the place. That so?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Not a bad job on a cellar for an amateur. Used enough cement on it to sink a battleship.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Just a second. Mr. Whitmore, did Dr. Marston cement in the basement while the house was being built?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Is that. No, no. About a couple of months later. Around the middle of December, I think.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Do you remember the date exactly when he did the cement work?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Not exactly. About 12th or 13th of December, I think. Yeah. Right after his wife disappeared.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Wednesday, February 24, 1:30pm Ben and I picked up Dr. Robert Marston and brought him downtown to the office. We questioned him for an hour and informed him of the evidence against him. Despite the statement of architect Harold Whitmore, the doctor insisted he was innocent of any crime connected with the disappearance of his wife. We contacted the New York Police Department and asked them to check on architect Whitmore's friend, Robert E. Rogers. A special detail of men was dispatched to the summer home at Malibu to see what they could find. Half an hour later, Dr. Robert Marston was placed in a car and Ben and I drove him to the Malibu home. We continued questioning him during the drive, but he refused to make a statement of any kind. On our arrival at the beach cottage, we found Marston's young son, Stanley, together with a maid and the family butler. We took Dr. Marston downstairs to the basement. The man had a large section of the cement flooring ripped up. They were digging in the room. Up above, we could hear young Stanley Marston playing on a toy harmonica.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

I'd like to know something, Sergeant, just for my information. Yes, sir. Why do you think I'd kill my wife? Why do you think I'd do such a thing?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

We're not sure yet. If you did kill her.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

And why do you have these men doing this, digging up the whole basement? Why do you think I killed her? You won't find anything. You might as well tell them to stop now. They won't find anything. I explained everything to you. Why can't you take my word for it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, you still haven't explained about Those letters, why you had them sent to New York, why you had the mail back here one at a time.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Got nothing to do with it. Why can't you believe me?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Your wife didn't disappear without a reason, doctor. And we'd like to know what the reason is.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

I told you. I told you a dozen times over. You know what happened? We were at the country club, Louise and I. She was drinking. A lot of toys her to lay off. We had an argument. She walked out. That's all. She walked out. I didn't see her anymore.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yes, sir. We'll have it all worked out. Don't worry about it.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Why can't that maid look after the boy up there making all that noise? Why can't you take him out somewhere? Down to the beach? Yeah. See you a minute.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Oh, yeah.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Right, Sergeant. What do you want me to say?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

They've found her, you know that Louise. Right where I buried her. What do you want me to say?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, that's up to you.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Yes. You wouldn't understand, would you, Sergeant? The only thing I ever wanted in my life, she wouldn't let me have it. The building. Robert A. Marston Building for professional men.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You mean your wife wouldn't give you the money for it? That's why you quarreled, Is that it?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

I tried to tell her. One fight after another. She didn't know how much it meant to me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

And that's why you killed her, huh?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

I followed her outside the country club that night. Drove her to my office. She was pretty drunk. Mm. We pretended she was on a trip to New York. I had her write the letters, had her sign the receipt for the bonds. Wasn't hard to do.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How'd you kill her?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Put my hands around her throat. Didn't stop until she was dead. Joe.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, man. Hey, Fonder.

[William House]

You ready to go, Doctor?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

All right. It was a dream of a lifetime, sergeant. I almost had it. The Robert A. Marston building. Finest in the city. Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You want to come upstairs, doctor? We'll get you coat.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

You'll try to understand, won't you? I wanted something that'd last. My own building, my name on it. Something you'd remember. Yeah. That's the reason I killed Louise. She didn't want me to have it. My own building. Something that would last. Make the people remember.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, you made it, Doctor. Why worry? You don't need a building. They'll remember you.

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard was true.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Only the names were changed to protect the innocent.

[Narrator]

On June 3, trial was held in Superior Court Department 87, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Robert Alexander Marston was charged with murder in the first degree. Ten days after his trial opened in Superior Court, the suspect took his own life in his jail cell by hanging. You have just heard Dragnet a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police W.H. parker, Los Angeles Police Department.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Stay tuned for counterspy next over most NBC stations.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back a good episode and as this isn't Broadway's My Bait, Herb Butterfield wasn't the murderer. I do wonder if people are a little less game today in helping with practical jokes because the secretary, the architect and the architect's friend all got involved in a murder plot that way. There's a lesson in that. Alright, well, listener comments and feedback and we got a recent comment regarding this story and its first plane many years back. Mechanic 6682 writes, I guess psychopaths with money need to see their names on buildings. And then kind of an interesting one that sent me down a fun rabbit trail. And this comes from one of our compilations which had some of our season four episodes in it which featured the clipperCraft run of Sherlock Holmes. Ryan Surrounds I wonder if Friday and Romero ever shopped Clipper Craft clothes. Well, I kind of wondered whether based on the ads they were in east coast only brand, but that doesn't appear to be the case. So they might have, particularly given the price point of the suits and how thrifty that you had to be on the lapd. But they would not have been the target audience. Clipper craft in the 1950s pitched their suits to college men, which neither Friday and Romero were There's a really fascinating article about how Clipper Kraft appealed very specifically to Ivy League college men and they had a lot of interesting things, including ads with men with tigers heads wearing the suits. They even had a Mr. Keen suit, but it was not named after the famous investigator, the tracer of lost persons. And I will try to remember to add a link to the article on ivy-style.com from 2019. Great little blog entry there. So much fun stuff. All right, well now it is time to thank our Patreon support and I want to thank Rosa, patreon Supporter since January 2020, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thank you so much for your support, Rosa. And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And if you're enjoying the podcast on YouTube, be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and mark the notification bell. We will be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet, but join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Dollar.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Where Braid?

[Sam]

I can't help you much, Johnny. Joe Wentworth apparently told you all there is to tell about it.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

You were out looking for a taxi at the time Wentworth got slugged.

[Sam]

That's right. I feel sorry for Joe. That was a lot of diamond to lose.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Ah, must be quite a stone.

[Sam]

Don't you go for those? I don't know. I guess some people really have a thing about diamonds.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

But not you, huh?

[Sam]

All right. Just happens there are a couple of things I prefer.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Like what?

[Sam]

Like money and mink.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

But now, according to your fiance, you.

[Sam]

Were just a minute. According to my what?

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Your fiance, Wentworth.

[Sam]

Donny. That may be his idea, but it's not mine.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Or you're not engaged.

[Sam]

Joe's been very nice to me and I like him, but we're just friends, so far as I'm concerned.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Oh, yeah?

[Sam]

I'm afraid I'm not the engaged type, Johnny. I've tried it once or twice, but it didn't work. Seems to interfere with my hobby.

[Dr. Robert Marston]

Your hobby?

[Sam]

Yes. Having fun.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box Thirteenreatetectives.net Follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com greatdetectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.