Dragnet: The Big Children (EP4670)

Summary

Summary of "Dragnet: The Big Children" (EP4670) – Released April 5, 2025

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio, hosted by Adam Graham, presents episode EP4670 titled "Dragnet: The Big Children." This episode delves into a poignant and unsettling case from the Golden Age of Radio, showcasing the meticulous investigation led by Detective Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero.

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Introduction

In this episode, listeners are transported back to February 1, 1951, with Joe Friday setting the scene in an overcast Los Angeles. Assigned to the juvenile bureau, Friday and Romero are tasked with investigating a disturbing complaint about two children—an 8-year-old boy and his 5-year-old sister—begging for food in a wealthy Bel Air neighborhood.

The Case Unfolds

Initial Investigation

• Location and Context: Friday and Romero arrive at a lavish two-story colonial mansion on Sunset Boulevard, incongruent with the reported presence of malnourished children. They meet Ms. Jeanette Bajan, the laundress and cook, who provides crucial information about the children, revealing that the parents have been absent for several days.

• Interview with Richard Kessler: The detectives speak with Richard, the older Kessler child, who appears polite but evasive. He mentions his mother's frequent absences and alludes to her relationship with a man named Larry. Richard's demeanor raises suspicions about the true state of his household.

Discovery of Johnny Kessler's Condition

• Johnny's Critical State: The youngest child, Johnny, a 22-month-old, is found severely malnourished and suffering from a basal skull fracture, leading to his hospitalization and subsequent death. This tragic revelation intensifies the investigation, shifting focus onto potential negligence or foul play within the household.

• Interrogation Insights: Under questioning, Richard admits his mother's alcoholism and the instability caused by her boyfriends. This confession hints at possible motives behind Johnny's death, whether accidental or deliberate.

Breakthroughs in the Investigation

Identifying Larry Bartel

• Tracing Bartel's Whereabouts: Through diligent efforts, Friday and Romero locate Larry Bartel, the mother's boyfriend, at a local club. Bartel admits to disciplinary actions against Johnny, explaining that a harsh scolding may have led to the boy's fatal injury.

• Confrontation and Confession: Bartel's interactions reveal a dismissive attitude towards the children's welfare. His reluctance to take responsibility and inconsistent alibis raise further doubts about his involvement in Johnny's death.

Final Evidence and Arrest

• Hotel Room Evidence: A blood-stained coat linked to the Kessler family is traced to a downtown hotel, connecting Bartel to the scene. This evidence solidifies the suspicion surrounding Bartel's role in the tragedy.

• Confronting Ms. Jean Kessler: The detectives locate Ms. Kessler, who is visibly distressed and intoxicated. Her emotional state and admission of over-dependence on Bartel provide a humanizing yet tragic perspective on the case.

Conclusion of the Case

Mrs. Jean Kessler is ultimately charged and convicted of manslaughter, receiving a one-year jail sentence and losing custody of her children. The episode underscores the devastating impact of neglect and substance abuse on a family.

Key Quote:

Joe Friday: "We were still without a lead as to the whereabouts of the missing mother... On Saturday morning, the body was posted to the county morgue." [15:29]

Host Commentary

After the episode, Adam Graham offers insightful reflections:

• Emotional Impact: Graham highlights the heartbreaking nature of the case, emphasizing that such tragedies are not confined to impoverished areas but can occur in affluent neighborhoods as well.

• Character Naming Controversy: He notes an unusual aspect of the episode—the character Larry Bartel shares a name closely resembling real actor Harry Bartel. Graham speculates on potential objections from the actual Harry Bartel, especially given the negative portrayal, contrasting it with the TV version where the character was renamed Larry Carpenter.

• Cultural Significance: Graham discusses the cultural impact of Dragnet, mentioning its success in winning awards and elevating Jack Webb's career. He underscores how listener feedback was pivotal in shaping the show's direction, with Webb valuing each listener's input as if it represented a hundred voices.

Notable Quotes from Commentary:

Adam Graham: "Dragnet and Jack Webb were part of that [parity with CBS], as not only did Dragnet win the award for Best mystery program, but Jack Webb was given the award for Most Promising Star of Tomorrow." [25:55]

Adam Graham: "He took it very seriously. And there is a degree to which the way that listeners and later viewers responded helped to shape the way that he made the show." [26:00]

Conclusion

This episode of The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio masterfully blends authentic radio drama with thoughtful analysis. "Dragnet: The Big Children" not only presents a compelling mystery but also invites listeners to reflect on broader societal issues and the enduring legacy of classic radio programs.

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Listener Engagement: Adam Graham encourages listeners to engage by sending comments to Box [e-mail], following on Twitter @RadioDetectives, and checking out their Instagram page. He also thanks Patreon supporters, highlighting the community's role in sustaining the podcast.

Closing Remarks: Graham signs off by teasing the next episode of Dragnet and upcoming shows like The Adventures of the Falcon, maintaining the engaging and informative tone that characterizes The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio.

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For more episodes and detective dramas from the Golden Age of Radio, subscribe to The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio on your favorite podcast platform.

Transcript

[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, to 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 by mailing a donation to any Adam Graham, P.O. box 15913. That's P.O. box 159 13, Boise, ID 83715. And you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month at patreon.greatdetectives.net and I want to go ahead and thank Gina for upgrading her from the rookie level of $2 or more per month to to the psalmist level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much, Gina. And now, from February 1, 1951, here is the big children.

[Narrator]

Ladies and gentlemen is proud to bring you its prize winning radio program. Winner of the Motion Picture Herald FAME Award. The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innoc. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to juvenile bureau. You receive a complaint about an 8 year old boy and his sister. A neighbor reports they've been going from door to door begging for food. Supposedly the children are from well to do parents. Your job, investigate Dragnet the documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

[Joe Friday]

It was Tuesday, April 27. It was overcast in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of juvenile bureau. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Kinsling. My name's Friday. I was on the way back from communications. It was 4:38pm when I got to 1335 Georgia street, second floor, room 14.

[Ben Romero]

Hi, Joe. Been waiting long? I was just checking with records.

[Joe Friday]

No, I just got here.

[Ben Romero]

What's this thing all about?

[Joe Friday]

Well, just what I told you on the phone. Seven year old boy and his sister covering the neighborhood, begging food. You ready to go?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah. Let me put this away first. Kid's supposed to be from a wealthy family, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Wealthy enough to live in the best part of Bel Air. Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

Doesn't make much sense? Must be some kind of a gag, huh?

[Joe Friday]

No, not according to the neighbor who called in.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, she says the kids are half starved.

[Joe Friday]

Ben and I got in the car and drove out Sunset Boulevard to the Bel Air district. We pulled up in front of a large two story home. Near the corner of Brookline Avenue and nice. Knightsbridge Drive was a white frame colonial mansion set back in the middle of well landscaped lawns and gardens. The other homes in the neighborhood were just as large. $50,000 and up was the last place in the city that you'd expect to find neighborhood children begging food. 5:20pm we went around to the rear entrance of the colonial mansion. As we'd been instructed on the phone. We located the woman who'd called in the complaint, a Ms. Jeanette Bajan. She was employed as laundress and cook by the owners of the house. She was busy fixing dinner.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

They're from next door, officer. The children, As I explained on the phone. A boy about seven years, a girl five years old, I guess.

[Ben Romero]

Which side do they live on, Ms. Bajan? The house on the corner?

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

No, the other side. Up here. The brown and white house just up the street, next door.

[Joe Friday]

Are the children there now? Do you know that?

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

No, but they were here this afternoon again here to the back door, asking for something to eat. I do not understand it. Something must be wrong.

[Joe Friday]

Well, have they been around often, Ms. Baja?

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

Oh, two or three days, maybe four days. At first I thought they were fooling, but they were not. I gave them some cookies, sandwiches. They were very hungry. They ate them like they were starving. The little girl saved her cookies. She took them with her.

[Ben Romero]

How about their parents? Are they at home?

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

Excuse me. There, that's better. No, I haven't seen the mother the last few days. I understand they are divorced. The mother, she lives there with the children. The father, I don't know.

[Joe Friday]

Well, what's their name? Do you know?

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

Kessler, Madame, the woman I work for. She says there are three children in the Kessler family. But I don't know. I have only seen the two, the boy and the girl. I would go over and see what is wrong, but I do not know the Kessler. It is not my place. That's why I called you, officer.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Ms. Bajan. Well, thank you very much.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

Not at all, officer. You understand I do not mind giving the children food. I think only something is wrong if they do not get it at home.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you very much for notifying us. We're going to check into it.

[Ben Romero]

I'm just a little curious, Ms. Baja. What's that you making?

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

This Napoleon.

[Ben Romero]

How's that?

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

Napoleon. You know, Napoleon pastry.

[Ben Romero]

Oh. Oh, yeah, sure smells good. Well, thanks again.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

Oh, certainly, Officer. If there is anything I can do, you will let me know?

[Ben Romero]

Yes, ma'am, we will. Goodbye.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

Goodbye.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you very much.

[Ben Romero]

Isn't it a beautiful place?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

Those Swedish women make pretty good cooks, don't they?

[Joe Friday]

I don't know. She sounded French to me.

[Ben Romero]

Huh? Maybe so. Most good at cooking anyhow. Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

That brown and white house next door, that must be it, huh?

[Ben Romero]

That name Kessler. They fairly prominent around town society?

[Joe Friday]

I don't know. There's quite a few of them. Could be any way you look at it. It's hard to figure, isn't it?

[Ben Romero]

Kids have been at it for four days. If it's on the level, they really must be in a bind.

[Joe Friday]

Garage door is open back there. No sign of a car.

[Ben Romero]

Kids, Bicycles, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Let's try at the front door, huh? Guess you better try it again, huh?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Richard Kessler]

Yes, sir.

[Joe Friday]

Hello, son. Your name's Kessler, that right?

[Richard Kessler]

Yes, I'm Richard. My mother's not home right now. Maybe you can come back tomorrow.

[Joe Friday]

We're police officers. Richard, if you're not busy, we'd like to talk to you for a minute. Is that all right?

[Richard Kessler]

Yes, sir, that'd be all right. Would you come in, please?

[Ben Romero]

Thank you.

[Joe Friday]

Richard Kessler was a blond haired, wiry boy, polite, well mannered. He told us that he was 8 years old and that he attended the neighborhood grammar school. He showed us back to the kitchen where he was warming a can of soup that he'd borrowed from a neighbor. It was a large house, richly furnished, but it hadn't been cleaned for weeks. Dust was piled up thick on the furniture, and children's books and toys were scattered around the rooms, along with scraps of dried bread, half eaten. The house was cold and musty. On a small bar in the dining room there were three half filled cocktail glasses, a plate full of cigarette butts. Evidently they'd been standing there for days. On the sink in the kitchen, there were a few pieces of stale bread and an open bottle of milk that had turned sour. Next to it were a half a dozen empty whiskey bottles. The Kessler boy was well dressed, except for the shirt that he had on. Looked as if he'd been wearing it for a week.

[Richard Kessler]

What did you want to talk to me about, officers? I haven't done anything wrong.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, we know that, son. We'd just like to find out how you've been Getting along?

[Richard Kessler]

I've been getting along all right. Two A's and four B's on my report card last month.

[Joe Friday]

Mm. Where's your sister, Dick?

[Richard Kessler]

Judy. She's down the street. She'll be back in a minute.

[Joe Friday]

How about your mother? Where's she?

[Richard Kessler]

She's out, too. She'll be back.

[Ben Romero]

When do you expect her, son?

[Richard Kessler]

Pretty soon. She's coming back pretty soon.

[Joe Friday]

Your sister Judy, she's younger than you are, isn't she, dad?

[Richard Kessler]

Yes. Judy's only six. I'm eight.

[Joe Friday]

Any other grown ups live here with you besides your mother?

[Richard Kessler]

No. Mom takes care of us. She'll be back pretty soon.

[Joe Friday]

We'd like to have you tell us the truth now, Dick. How long has she been gone?

[Richard Kessler]

I don't know. It's probably important. Taking her a long time. You can come back tomorrow. She'll probably be here then.

[Ben Romero]

When is the last time you saw us, huh, son? How about then?

[Richard Kessler]

A couple of days ago.

[Ben Romero]

This is Tuesday. You mean she left the house Sunday?

[Richard Kessler]

No, before that. Last Friday night. She went out. Said she'd be back. I don't know.

[Joe Friday]

Did your mother say where she was going, Dick?

[Richard Kessler]

No. Her boyfriend was here. Larry. I don't know his last name. Mom went out with him to a party, I think. I don't know where. She'll be back. All right.

[Ben Romero]

Did you leave anyone to take care of? No.

[Richard Kessler]

We can take care of ourselves. Nobody'd fix the cooking, though. I don't know how yet. I'd better look at the soap on the stove.

[Ben Romero]

I'll take care of it, Sonia. Go ahead. Sit down.

[Joe Friday]

Has your mother ever left you like this before, son?

[Richard Kessler]

Maybe once or twice. She never stayed away this long, though. I don't know.

[Joe Friday]

What's the matter, Dick?

[Richard Kessler]

Well, it's Johnny, Officer. My little brother. He hasn't eaten much for a while. Must be hungry by now. I was fixing the soup for him.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, well, where's Johnny?

[Richard Kessler]

He's upstairs in the nursery. He's been sick with a bad cold. Mom knew Johnny was sick. That's why I wondered. She hasn't come back yet. I don't think Johnny's feeling good.

[Joe Friday]

Do you want to take us up to see him, son?

[Richard Kessler]

Yeah, all right, if you want.

[Joe Friday]

Ben, you want to come out?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

How long has Johnny had this cold, Dick?

[Richard Kessler]

A couple of days before Friday, before Mom left.

[Ben Romero]

How old is he?

[Richard Kessler]

Johnny's just a little kid. He won't be two years old until July. I've been wondering about him. Coughed a lot at first. Been giving him Milk and cookies. That's what Judy and I had. I don't know.

[Ben Romero]

Has a doctor been to see Johnny?

[Richard Kessler]

Well, no. I thought of calling him, but I didn't know the doctor's name. I was waiting till mom got home. This is Johnny's room here in the crib. Officer. That's my brother Johnny.

[Ben Romero]

Pretty cold in here.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Let's have a look. Hi there, young fella.

[Richard Kessler]

Hi, Johnny. You hungry now?

[Ben Romero]

Yo, look at his eyes.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. You want to get to a phone, doctor and ambulance? Tell him to hurry. Right.

[Richard Kessler]

What's the matter, Officer? What about Johnny's eyes?

[Joe Friday]

It'll be all right, Dick.

[Richard Kessler]

Oh, he's been acting awful quiet, though. Hardly moved around at all. Most of the time he's jumping up and down his crib like anything.

[Joe Friday]

Has anyone at all been in here to see him since Friday?

[Richard Kessler]

Yes, sir. My sister Judy and I, we change his diapers and give him something to eat.

[Joe Friday]

I see.

[Richard Kessler]

Gee, I sure wish mom would get home. I'd like to talk to her.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, so would I. 5:48pm we put in a call to the office for a policewoman. Then we got in touch with Lt. Lee Jones at the crime lab and he sent out a man to photograph the condition of the Kessler home and the children. The doctor and the ambulance arrived and little Johnny Kessler was taken to the General Hospital in critical condition. The 22 month old boy was in a coma. Richard Kessler and his sister Judy were taken to Georgia Street Juvenile Bureau and then transferred to juvenile hall and placed under Protective Custody, Section 700, Sub B, Welfare and institution code. The two of them were given a bath and something to eat. Judy Kessler was interrogated separately by a policewoman. Ben and I talked to the boy, Richard. After a few minutes, he broke down and admitted that his mother had gone off and left the three children alone on at least a half a dozen occasions. He told us his parents were divorced. He rarely saw his father, but his mother had had two or three boyfriends at the house during the past year. He also told us his mother drank quite a bit.

[Richard Kessler]

But she's never been gone this long before. Sergeant, Maybe she's out somewhere and has no way to get home.

[Ben Romero]

We'll find her, all right, son. Don't you worry about it.

[Joe Friday]

This boyfriend of your mother's, Dick, his first name was Larry. Is that all you can tell us?

[Richard Kessler]

Yes, sir. I don't know his last name. Are you gonna keep us here all night? Judy and me?

[Ben Romero]

Just for a day or so. They'll take good Care of you, son.

[Richard Kessler]

Where'd you take Judy?

[Joe Friday]

Well, she's just next door, Dick. You can see her in just a minute now.

[Richard Kessler]

And how about Johnny? I always take care of him. He's pretty fussy around strangers.

[Joe Friday]

Well, they've got him over at the hospital, Dick. They're going to take good care of him now, you can count on that.

[Richard Kessler]

I don't know, Officer. I better see him. He might get awful fussy.

[Joe Friday]

All right, we'll fix that up for you.

[Ben Romero]

Do you have any relatives in Los Angeles, son? Aunts, uncles, anyone like that?

[Richard Kessler]

No, just my father. But I don't know where he lives. We had a nurse who used to take care of us, Mrs. McIntosh. She was swell. My mom fired her, though.

[Joe Friday]

Oh? How'd that happen? Do you know?

[Richard Kessler]

No, I'm not quite sure. Maybe my mom was drinking. Mrs. McIntosh got mad at her, had a big fight, and mom fired her.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, now, this Mrs. McIntosh, you know where we can find her?

[Richard Kessler]

No, sir, I don't.

[Joe Friday]

How about some of the other boyfriends that your mother had, Dick? Do you remember any of their names?

[Richard Kessler]

No. One of them was George something. I don't remember the other one.

[Ben Romero]

Joe, see you a minute?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Mac, you want to stay with the boy, huh? Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

Hospital call. It's a lousy thing.

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Ben Romero]

The Kessler boy. Little Johnny?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, he just died. John Albert Kessler. White male American, age 22 months. All the pertinent facts and data would be listed on the crime report. And if and when the case was closed, the report would be filed away. Wouldn't be any different from a thousand other dead body reports. Same size, same color, same number, up in the left hand corner. In the course of 10 or 20 years on the job, a police officer sees a lot of them. Most of them he forgets. A few of them he never forgets. The next morning, the body was posted to the county morgue. It was found that the youngster had been suffering from malnutrition, but the cause of death was listed as a basal skull fracture. Homicide detail was notified. The search for the mother, Mrs. Jean Kessler, went on. We talked to her neighbors, all of her friends that we could locate. We checked out an address book that was found in Mrs. Kessler's effects at her home. We got out of broadcast in an APB. No luck. Thursday, April 29th.

[Ben Romero]

How about the youngster's brother and sister, Ben? You think it could have happened that way? How do you mean?

[Joe Friday]

Well, they were taking care of the little fella.

[Ben Romero]

They might have had an accident with him.

[Joe Friday]

They're afraid to own up to it.

[Ben Romero]

I don't think so, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Well, that's not very likely, Mac. We talked to him quite a bit last night. Couple of pretty honest kids. Pretty sure that they wouldn't lie about something like that. Where does that leave it?

[Larry Bartel]

The mother?

[Ben Romero]

Good possibility. We know Mrs. Kessler drinks quite a bit. She could have lost patience with her little boy. More chance of an accident there.

[Joe Friday]

I get it. Fueling on Friday. Yeah. Burke, where's that? Uh huh. Right. Thanks.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah?

[Joe Friday]

Woman answering Ms. Kessler's description checked in at a hotel down on South Hope last night. Still registered. She checked out early this morning. They found a woman's sport coat in the room.

[Ben Romero]

What about it?

[Joe Friday]

Blood stains on it.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Dragnet for the step by step solution to tonight's authentic case history.

[Joe Friday]

Friday, April 30th. We were still without a lead as to the whereabouts of the missing mother, Mrs. Jean Kessler. The blood stained coat which had been found in the South Hope Street Hotel was shown to Mrs. Kessler's friends and to her children, Richard and Judy. They identified it as belonging to the missing woman. Routine investigation of the hotel room failed to uncover any further leads. We got out of supplementary APB and then we started rechecking with the Kessler woman's friends and acquaintances. Nothing. We rechecked a dozen taverns and cocktail lounges that she'd been known to frequent. No sign of her, no sign of her boyfriend. In rechecking her personal effects, we found a canceled check payable to their former nurse, Mrs. McIntosh. The endorsement carried her address. We checked it out. She'd moved. We traced her to the forwarding address there. We were told that she had a new job as a nurse maid with a wealthy family living in the Los Feliz district. We called there and talked to Mrs. McIntosh. And she told us that she was just leaving the house with the three children for an outing at the park and the zoo. We made arrangements to meet with her out there. 1:30pm Ben and I located her at the head of the path leading through the main part of the Griffith Park Zoo.

[Mrs. McIntosh]

I read about it in the paper. Sergeant. About Johnny. I didn't know you wanted to talk to me. I would have called in if I did.

[Ben Romero]

We're still trying to locate the mother. Mrs. McIntosh, can you help us out there at all?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

No, I don't know. If you asked at those places she used to go to all the time, where she used to drink.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'am, we have. They Couldn't help us. Did you know any of Ms. Kessler's boyfriends? The ones that had come to the house?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

Yes, I knew all of them. Donald, don't you wander off now. Same for you, Patsy. You stay close.

[Joe Friday]

The boy, Richard, he was telling us about one of the boyfriends, man, a fellow named Larry.

[Mrs. McIntosh]

Oh, yes, Donald. You heard what I said. You stay close. Yes, I knew Larry.

[Ben Romero]

You remember what his last name was now?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

Yes, Bartell. Some kind of an actor in the movies, I think.

[Ben Romero]

Larry Bartel. You know where he lives?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

No, I think he had an apartment in Hollywood. I wouldn't know the address.

[Joe Friday]

What kind of a man was this Bartell? I mean, his temperament and things like that?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

Well, I think he was kind of lazy. I think Mrs. Kessler was giving him money.

[Joe Friday]

Did the two of them ever argue or have any fights?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

All the time. He had a terrible temper.

[Joe Friday]

Did you ever strike Ms. Kessler?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

Yes, I saw it happen several times. Not too close to the cage. Donald, back a little.

[Ben Romero]

How did this Bartelle act toward the children, Mrs. McIntyre?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

Indifferent. I guess they annoyed him sometimes.

[Joe Friday]

Well, that was after that. You had the argument with Ms. Kessler?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

Yes. It was about her drinking and the boyfriends and all the rest. I just got sick of it and I told her what I thought. She didn't want to admit she was getting old, not caring for the children, pretending she was still in her 20s.

[Joe Friday]

Well, do you have any idea where we might locate the father?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

Well, they're divorced, you know, he's a head salesman for a lumber concern downtown. He inherited most of his money. I have the name of the company at home. You can have it if you like.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'am. We'd appreciate that.

[Mrs. McIntosh]

You know, it's the children I feel sorry for.

[Ben Romero]

Yes, ma'am.

[Mrs. McIntosh]

Three beautiful children and that poor little Johnny. I just can't understand it.

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

How could anyone desert a helpless baby like that?

[Joe Friday]

Well, ask his mother. Friday, 5pm Mrs. McIntosh called us at the office and gave us the business address of the missing woman's ex husband, Richard Lane Kessler. We called there, but they told us Kessler was away on a week's vacation. They had no idea where to contact him, but he was expected back in a few days. We called central casting and asked them to check their talent list for a bit player by the name of Larry Bartel. They had no such name listed. Saturday, 8am The Kessler children, Richard and Judy, remained in the custody of juvenile authorities. The search for their mother continued all day Saturday. Ben and I Ran down what few leads we had. They went nowhere. Checks of the morgue, the city hospitals and the drunk tank at the main jail still failed to turn up the missing woman. We checked again at the different drinking places she used to patronize. No one had seen her. 5:30pm we went back to the office.

[Ben Romero]

A lot of mileage today and there's.

[Joe Friday]

Not much to show for it.

[Ben Romero]

Not gonna be much fun for those Kessler kids this Sunday. Why?

[Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Ben Romero]

First Sunday in May, huh? It's Mother's Day.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah.

[Ben Romero]

Hi, Mac. Hi.

[Larry Bartel]

Got a piece of news for you.

[Joe Friday]

Yep?

[Ben Romero]

The Kessler woman's boyfriend, Larry Bartel.

[Joe Friday]

What about him? He's been located. When he'd seen his name mentioned the previous night in the newspaper stories concerning the case, Larry Bartel had contacted the office to let us know that he didn't consider himself a fugitive. At least that was his story. He called just a few minutes before we got back to the office. He left word that he could be found at a Wilshire address all day Sunday. In the meantime, he'd be at the Spotlight Club. It was a club for theatrical people located in West Hollywood. 6:25pm Ben and I located him at the club back in the billiards room. He was tall, dark haired, dressed expensively.

[Larry Bartel]

Told the cop when I called in, you weren't supposed supposed to contact me here unless it was important.

[Ben Romero]

That little Kessler boy's dead, Bartel. We think that's pretty important.

[Larry Bartel]

I didn't know anything about that. You didn't have to interrupt me. That's an important man I was playing with. Now, what do you want to know?

[Joe Friday]

Where's Ms. Kessler?

[Larry Bartel]

Why ask me? I don't know.

[Joe Friday]

You're a pretty good friend of hers. You were the last person seen with her.

[Larry Bartel]

It was a week ago. We went out to a party last Friday night. I haven't seen her since. The following Monday. Yeah, last Monday. I'm through with her anyway.

[Ben Romero]

What do you mean?

[Larry Bartel]

I just got sick of her, that's all. Pawing all over me, asking me to marry her. I just got sick of her. It wasn't worth it.

[Ben Romero]

You accepted money from her just to tide me over?

[Larry Bartel]

She had plenty of it.

[Narrator]

Why not?

[Joe Friday]

Where'd you last see her?

[Larry Bartel]

Keep your voices down. I wouldn't like this stuff to get around the club.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Larry Bartel]

There's a hotel downtown on South Flower. I can give you the address.

[Joe Friday]

Were you at another hotel with Ms. Kessler last week?

[Larry Bartel]

Yeah. Yeah, on South Hope. Around 9th Street, I think. Oh, that's where you found a coat, huh?

[Ben Romero]

You've got an explanation for that blood stain? Sure.

[Larry Bartel]

Crazy dame. Told her I saw her. Then she tried to hit me with a bottle, cut herself. Boy, I tell you, this wasn't worth it. That's all.

[Joe Friday]

I guess you can prove everything you're telling us, huh?

[Larry Bartel]

Of course I can prove it. It's the truth.

[Ben Romero]

And what about the little boy? How'd that happen?

[Larry Bartel]

I didn't have anything to do with it. It wasn't my fault.

[Joe Friday]

Well, how'd it happen?

[Larry Bartel]

Well, it was that Friday night just before we left the house. The old lady and I were downstairs having a few drinks. She put the little kid to bed, but he wouldn't stay there. He kept getting up out of bed and running downstairs crying.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, go on.

[Larry Bartel]

I actually finally took the kid, gave him a good spank and threw him back in bed. I think he hit his head in one of the posts of the crib.

[Joe Friday]

Why didn't you do something about it?

[Larry Bartel]

Well, I told her, but she said it was nothing.

[Ben Romero]

Didn't matter.

[Larry Bartel]

Got our coats and left. That's all. Kids are all right. When we left.

[Ben Romero]

You mean all the times you and Mrs. Kessler went out? You knew those children were being left all alone in that house.

[Larry Bartel]

Oh, what of it? She's the mother, not me. Now, look, I gotta get back. I kept that game waiting.

[Joe Friday]

Just a minute. It's gonna wait a little longer. Come on, Larry. Bartel was taken downtown and held for questioning on suspicion of 702 WIC, contributing to negligence of minors. He gave us the address of the hotel where he'd last seen Mrs. Kessler. Ben and I checked it out. It was a typical, cheap downtown hotel with a bar opening off the lobby. The desk clerk told us A woman answering Mrs. Kessler's description was registered in a room on the second floor. They had an old fashioned player piano going full volume in the bar. The sound followed us up the stairs.

[Ben Romero]

Tenants here sure must like their music.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's it there, isn't it? 216?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

You better try it.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, let's have a look.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

Who's there? Who is it?

[Joe Friday]

You Mrs. Jean Kessler?

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

What is it? Who are you?

[Joe Friday]

Police officers would like to talk to you.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

I haven't done anything. What do you want with me?

[Ben Romero]

I want to talk to you about your children, Ms. Kessler.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

But I didn't do anything. Johnny was sick, that's all. I didn't do anything.

[Ben Romero]

That's not what Bartell says.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

Larry, have you seen him? Is he coming Back to me.

[Joe Friday]

You better get up, lady. Get your coat.

[Mrs. McIntosh]

I gotta have Larry back.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

He's everything to me. I love him. Is he coming back?

[Joe Friday]

You've been gone over a week. Aren't you a little worried about your children?

[Ben Romero]

They're all right.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

I'm too young to spend my life on children. I need Larry. Where is he?

[Joe Friday]

See if you can find her coat, will you? Ben? Yeah?

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

I've been drinking. Offices. I felt terrible.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

I need Larry so bad. He's young, like me. I love him. I gave him all my love. Gave him every bit of it.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, you gave him too much.

[Ben Romero]

What?

[Joe Friday]

You didn't have any left for your kids.

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. On July 2, 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. Now, here is our star, Jack Webb.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to take a moment to thank all of you for your very fine response to our program, Dragnet. Since the first show went on the air about a year and a half ago, your cards and letters have been a constant source of encouragement and guidance in the field of radio presentations. We felt that we were attempting something a little different. We were not altogether sure that it would meet with your approval. Possibly. We were sure that our approach to this type of presentation was a sound one. But the final approval had to rest with you. If we may judge by your response, you've placed Dragnet high among the programs that you enjoy most. For this, we're indeed grateful. We've tried to bring you, first of all, an adult program worthy of the 30 minutes that you spend with us each week. We've tried to bring you an honest and authoritative report on the work of your police force. We've tried to bring before you documented police cases that were informative as well as entertaining. In forthcoming weeks, we sincerely hope that Dragnet remains one of your favorite shows. Your letters have been read by all members of the Dragnet production staff. So if you like to listen to Dragnet, it's because you, our listeners, have helped to guide us in presenting the kind of entertainment that you want for this. Our thanks.

[Narrator]

Mrs. Jean Kessler was filed on and found guilty in Superior Court, charge of manslaughter. She was sentenced to one year in the county jail and deprived of the custody of her children. 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.

[Joe Friday]

Now stay tuned for Counter Spy. Then it's Screen Director's Playhouse on End.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. A really heartbreaking situation which is far too real. And it illustrates the mistake of thinking these things can only happen in poor neighborhoods. And, of course, both the mother and her boyfriend are very heartless, but these sort of people are out there. The one odd note about this episode is perhaps the most inappropriate case of naming a character after a living person that you'll find. Because Larry Bartel, the character, is clearly named after the real actor and frequent Dragnet guest star, Harry Bartel, who I never had the pleasure of meeting, but by all accounts was a fine gentleman and nothing like the charact in this story. I wonder if he called Jack Webb up about this, because I think in most cases, actors were fine with a character being named after them. You want to name a room clerk or doorman or some random police officer after an actor, they wouldn't take offense. But if you want to name a character who is selfishly indifferent to the suffering and the fate of a baby and who is also a lazy actor whose name is only one letter different from yours, I think most people would pick up the phone if they found out about it. Whether Bartel called Webb or even knew about it, I don't know. But in the TV version, the character was renamed Larry Carpenter. So apparently someone saw the need to make a change. Webb's statement on the receipt of the award was very classy and very heartfelt. It showed how Dragnet had really made a major impact. And certainly it had been a boon to NBC after the talent raids. CBS had dominated them in the 1949 poll, but this poll for 1950 found NBC polling even with CBS. And Dragnet and Jack Webb were part of that, as not only did Dragnet win the award for Best mystery program, but Jack Webb was given the award for Most Promising Star of Tomorrow. And so it illustrates what type of cultural juggernaut Dragnet was and certainly what it meant for Jack Webb. At the time this was aired, he was 20 months removed from launching a program that was sustaining over NBC so that he could pay the bills with a baby on the way. And his career had absolutely skyrocketed. So I think Webb meant every word of that, and certainly listener feedback was very important to him. One thing I remember reading in Michael Hayd's great biography of Webb, My Name's Friday, is that he tended to consider that each person who sent a letter Into Dragnet represented 100 people who thought the same way, but didn't think to mail it. So he took it very seriously. And there is a degree to which the way that listeners and later viewers responded helped to shape the way that he made the show. All right, well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to go ahead and thank Debra. Debra has been one of our patreon supporters since October 2024, currently supporting the podcast at the Seamus level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Deborah, and that will actually do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite pod software and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back next Saturday with another episode of Dragnet, but join us back here on Monday for the Adventures of the Falcon, where.

[Mrs. McIntosh]

So you are Johnny Stone.

[Narrator]

That's right.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

Well, this is a great.

[Ben Romero]

Hey, what's the idea?

[Narrator]

I wouldn't do that again.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

Why would you beat me up, too?

[Larry Bartel]

Look, sis.

[Joe Friday]

Who are you?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

Lisa$ oh, you recognize the name? I believe my husband works for you.

[Joe Friday]

You got your tenses wrong. He did work for me.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

How could you do such a thing?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

How could you hit a man half.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

Your size just because he stood up to you?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

But you're not used to that, are you, Mr. Stone?

[Ben Romero]

What?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

You're used to people falling all over themselves to cooperate in your crooked deals.

[Ben Romero]

Is that what you think?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

That's what I know. But you don't frighten me. I've met men like you before. Bullies who always pick on someone weaker.

[Ben Romero]

Listen, sister.

[Narrator]

Shut up, Steve.

[Joe Friday]

Anything else you care to say?

[Mrs. McIntosh]

No, I think I've said enough. You just keep away from Paul.

[Ms. Jeanette Bajan]

You are never to go near him again.

[Mrs. McIntosh]

You understand?

[Joe Friday]

I understand.

[Ben Romero]

Are you going crazy or something, Johnny?

[Larry Bartel]

How could you take that?

[Joe Friday]

Especially that slap in the puss.

[Larry Bartel]

Forget it. Forget it. I wouldn't believe it if I didn't.

[Ben Romero]

See it with my own eyes.

[Joe Friday]

That Paul must have really sold her.

[Ben Romero]

A bill of goods. Guess she must trust him.

[Joe Friday]

Kind of nice, isn't it, Steve?

[Ben Romero]

Huh?

[Joe Friday]

Being able to believe what someone tells you.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to Box 13@Great Detectives.net follow us on Twitter @Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com Great Detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham. Son in awe.