← The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas
The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas
Dragnet: The Big Grandma (EP4568)
00:40:59
Today's Mystery: Joe Friday and Ben Romero are assigned to investigate the case of a motherly lady who has written more than a thousand bad checks over nine years. Original Radio Broadcast Date: October 19, 1950 Originating from Hollywood Starring:...
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- [00:01]
Host
All right, we're all set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe, and paired all those weird shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses. And I plugged in the Bartesian. Bartesian. It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails, plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites, too. I just got it for 50 off. So how about a Cosmopolitan or a mistletoe margarita? I'm thirsty. Watch. I just pop in a capsule, choose my strength and wow. Beginning to feel more seasonal in here already. If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a Bartesian, because Bartesian crafts every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 seconds. And I just got it for $50 off. Tis the season to be jollier. Add some holiday flavor to every celebration with the sleek, sophisticated home cocktail maker Bartesian. Pick up your phone and shake it to get $50 off any cocktail maker. Yes, you heard me.
- [00:57]
Narrator
Sh.
- [00:58]
Host
Phone and get $50 off. Don't delay. Lights are going up. Snow is falling down. There's a feeling of goodwill around town. It could only mean one thing. McRib is here. People throwing parties. Ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing. McRib is here at participating McDonald's for a limited time.
- [01:59]
Narrator
Welcome to the Great detectives of Old Time Radio. 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 enjoy the podcast, to follow us using your favorite podcast software. 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 check to Adam Graham, POX 15913. That's POX 15913, Boise, ID 83715. And you can become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month at patreon.greatdetectives.net now from October 19, 1950, here's the big grandma.
- [02:55]
Host
The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to Prot the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. They're assigned a forgery detail. An accomplished check forger resumes operations in your city. The suspect's described as a middle aged woman. She's written more than $20,000 in bad checks. Your job. Get her. In a moment. An authentic case from official files. 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. From official police files, from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in actual. It was Monday, April 17. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of forgery detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Elliot. My name's Friday. I was on the way back into work and it was 7:53am when I got to room 29. Forgery detail. Morning, Joe. Hi. How'd the weekend go? Oh, pretty slow. Stayed home, did some gardening. How about that new lawn you put in? How's it doing? We want a lawn, we're gonna have to move. What's the matter now? Damn old thing. Gophers. Must be hundreds of them. So many holes at the top of the lawn. Looks like an old punch board. Oh, that's too bad. Can't you try some kind of poison on them? How about those new things they got out? What do they call them? Gopher bombs. I use them, but it doesn't. They eat anything. Joe. Ben. Yeah, Ferguson? Good morning, Cape. Okay. What's up, Fergie? You ain't gonna like it. Hmm. Skipper'll brief you. Morning, Skipper. Hi. Have a seat. Yeah, thanks. You two finished up with the Benson case yesterday, that right? Yeah. It's all washed up. We're clear. Good. Then you can start on this one right away. You'll work with Frank Besser and Ferguson here. What is it, Grandma? I had a hunch. Jill. What have we done to deserve this? It's nothing any of us have done. It's what we haven't done. Now what? Her. Stopped once and for all. Are we any closer to her than we have been? Ferguson? Just about same, Joe. That's why I'm putting two more of you on it. How well do you know the case? Just what we've heard around the office. Same here. I could stand some briefing. Ferguson. Well, you must have heard how she operates three months out of the year. April, October and December. That's all. She never been known to change that schedule. Not as far as I know. She's been doing it the same for nine years. All the funny checks she cashes. Her personal checks? That's right. She never writes them less than two dollars and never more than 100. Nine years. She been going that long? Nine and a half. It'll be an even 10 this October. Want to check them out on the Totals, Ferguson. Mm. Up to and including the first of this month, she's cashed 1,273 checks. Totals a little over $22,000. Anything special about the way she writes the checks? Nothing but the signatures. There's an alias list down there that'll knock your eye out. More than 200 different names. Her description, still the same. About 50 years old, kind of plump, nice face. A few minor changes. Last year she had gray hair, dressed very plain. This year she dyed her hair black. Dresses a little more expensively. Nine years. That's a long streak of luck for any paper hanger. That's just it. This old gal's not just an ordinary paper hanger. She's no amateur, don't get me wrong. But she doesn't operate like any check forger I've ever known. She contradicts part of her MO Part of it she doesn't. She takes chances an ordinary paper hanger would never take, and she gets away with them. Take a look at just one of these exhibits. Yeah, this one here. 28 checks passed on the same chain of grocery stores. Same company. She passed them all in one month? No, that's just the point. Two years ago, she passed 14 of them. Spread them out over a period of a month. Last year, she passed another batch of 14, all within three days. One year she used a different name on each check. On this batch, she used the same name. Well, does she have any identification when she passes these checks? Always. Phony driver's license, Social Security cards or works. And she's got that sweet grandmother smile of hers. Clerks rarely turn her down when she shows up with a check. You can get used to different descriptions of her, too. Give a file a look? Hardly. Three of the check victims can get together on what she looks like. Exactly. Well, where are they getting stung most? Downtown or out in the neighborhoods. The neighborhoods? Anywhere from the beach area to the Valley. This whole file, Skipper, that's not just her work, is it? Every last bit of it. We can't fit it in a six foot shelf. In nine years, I've had five teams of men work this thing. None of them reached her. You and Friday make the sixth. It's April 17th. How's she doing so far this month? Fergie Cash. $624 in checks we know of since the first of the month. Same general description, same general M.O. no fresh leads. She's been operating nine years, Joe. Yeah, just as good as ever. To the working detective, there's no tougher job than tracking a lawbreaker. Who's half professional and half amateur. You can expect a criminal who's entirely professional to react generally the same in a given set of circumstances. And the same with the amateur. But take the two, the professional and the amateur. And intermingle their possible and probable reactions. You'll likely have a sound reason why and how an elderly woman could victimize merchants with $20,000 in bad checks over a period of nine years. Being caught. Grandma, as she'd come to be known, worked only three months out of each year. April, October and December. Her apparent fine sense of timing and her knowledge of psychology Was far and away superior to that of the ordinary paper hanger. If the file on Grandma was any indication, she apparently had been born to be a successful check forger. After Ben and I spent three days on the case with Sergeants Ferguson and Besser. We were almost convinced that there was only one way we could reach the suspect. She had to make a mistake. Berging. How'd you do? Pretty sour. Four checks in two days. What'd you fellows get? Two. Don Meyer checked the signatures. They're all hers. Here's our list, if you're interested. Meat market, Autumn Pico, $25. Grocery in West Hollywood, $48. Two department stores downtown. Hundred bucks apiece. How do they describe the woman? Same old yarn. She was a nice, charming little lady, about 55 or 60. Small, dark hair, graying dark eyes, nice smile. Clerk told me she reminded him of his mother. Yes. How'd you make out on those two of yours? All about the same. Even a story about her looking like somebody's mother. One thing's sure. Her timing's just as good as it was nine years ago. Downtown Merchants Association's screaming again. They're looking for action. So are we. Did you talk to Captain today? Yeah. He's looking for action too. I don't know what we can do unless we get some kind of cooperation from the merchants. Every time the old gal pushes a bum check, it's three or four days before it gets to the bank and we hear about it. Trail's pretty cold by then. Yeah. Joe and I were talking just before you came in, Fergie. We can't expect too much to happen the way we're going. Any ideas? More men and more stakeouts. The captain says he'll buy that. That's about all we can do. Another 10 days in April will be over. Graham, I'll be through pushing checks till October again. I don't know, Jill. Her formula's too perfect for me. There's gotta Be a flaw in it someplace. Yeah. You got out a bulletin of that revised description of her for you. Yeah, it's all taken care of. Special notices were mailed out to merchants too. Again, forgery. Romero has it. Is that that's all? Yeah, right away. Thank you. Supermarket on Temple Street. Grandma hit him with two checks. Any lead clerk says she remind him of his money. A week passed, the number of stakeouts on business places throughout the was doubled. The MO and description of the suspect was circulated among the merchants in the downtown and suburban shopping centers. Clerks were especially warned to be on the lookout for the precautions went for nothing. Grandma's checks kept showing up at the rate of two and three a day. On April 27, she passed a check for $50 at the delicatessen on Hollywood Boulevard. We drove out to interview the owner. Mr. Hammerston, do you have one of those circulars we send out on this woman? Well, I'm ashamed to say it, sergeant, but I have hanging right back there in the storeroom. The thing of it is, I never connected the two. The woman and the notice. It's the way she looks at you, you know, like you'd be a healed, even questioner. How was she dressed the last time she was in? Do you remember that? Well, she had kind of a plain black coat on. Say, would you excuse me a minute? I don't like to keep customers waiting. Yes. How are you, Mrs. Lyons? Need some cold meat for kids lunches. What do you got? Nice and fresh. See right there in the case. That cheese is very fresh. Good for the kiddies. Pimento loaf's nice too. Oh, kids don't like either one. Fussy. You better give me 35 cents for that small baloney, would you? Yes, ma'am. Well, kids are so fussy nowadays. Ought to be in Europe. That's what I tell them. They know what it is to go hungry. Oh, he better give me a couple of those large kosher pickles too. Husband's crazy for him. Yes, ma'am. And a loaf of the rye, too. Would you know seeds? Yes, ma'am. How are the kitties doing in school, Mrs. Lyon? Mother's fine. Fine. Maryland's in the school pageant next month. She's gonna be the queen. Oh, that's nice. Well, I don't know how nice it is. More work, that's all. I have to make her costume. There you are, Mrs. Lyons. Put it on the bill. Yeah. Would you do that? I'll see you the 15th of the month. Yes, ma'am. Goodbye. Goodbye. Sorry to keep you waiting. Officer. I see. Now, where was I when we asked you how the woman was dressed? Oh, yeah. Had a black coat on. I told you that. Yes, sir. Very plain looking clothes, like any other housewife. Print dress. Some kind of a scarf around the neck. That's about all I noticed. How about that description of her in the bulletin we sent you? That fit her pretty well. Yeah, I guess so. She didn't exactly seem plump to me, though. Kind of a nice figure for a woman of her age. Do you know if any of your customers were acquainted with her? I wouldn't know that. She acted as though she knew some of them. But now that this has happened, I can see she was just putting on. She was a great disappointment to me. She is to a lot of people. I used to josh with her all the time. I'm a widower, you know. Thought once or twice I might even date her up. That's him. Yeah, she seemed like a real good sport. Joshing all the time. Fine personality. Just as homey as you please. Well, that fits in with the other descriptions. Are you ever going to catch somebody like that? Two days later, on April 30, right on schedule, the flow of bogus checks in Grandma's handwriting suddenly stopped. If she continued to work with the same timetable she'd been using for the last nine years, she wouldn't start operations again until the first of October. During the next five months that followed, from May to the end of September, Besser, Ferguson, Ben and I handled the usual run of check cases at the same time. We used up every spare hour we had making preparations for the suspect's next appearance. Every businessman throughout the city who might be a possible victim was alert. A revised description of the suspect together with her MO Was printed up and given wide distribution. Every possible precaution was taken. October came. Grandma started on the 10th year of her forgery career without a hitch. On October 1, she cast a check for $75 at a large downtown women's shop. As soon as we got the report, we went to the department where the check had been received. A fashion show was in progress. The newest shade for evening wear. You will notice the pencil slim skirt and the doll with three quarter sleeves. Excuse me, are you Mr. Montrose? Yes, what is it? Police officer, sir. Forgery detail. Oh, yes, that check. I wonder if you could hold on for just a moment. Yes, it Mrs. Janice Borgneck. She wears a gown of striking originality with rich and simple lines. A black dinner dress, the satin skirt with Kanye points. A sculptured silk and latex sweater. Top with an oval neckline punctuated with bald fringe. Hey, Joe, what kind of outfit is that that the model's wearing? I don't know how much to it. All right, Officers, would you like to step this way, please? Okay. This is my office here. Well, I don't know what I can do for you gentlemen. The check was passed. Very unfortunate occurrence. You okayed the check for cashing, is that correct? Yes, the salesgirl handled the transaction. She showed me the check. I knew the signature, so I okayed it. Mary Walker. Yes, that's how this check was signed. What kind of identification did the woman have? Her charge account plate. You know, the small metal card, charger plates, we call them. I recognized Afton's signature immediately. You know this Mary Walker pretty well. She's one of our best customers. You are listening to Dragnet authentic stories of your police force in action. Friday, October 4, 2pm before we left the store, we found that another worthless check bearing the signature Mary Walker had been cashed in a different department of the store the same day. The woman had used the same means of identification. A metal charge account plate stamped with the name Mary Walker. We took the two checks back to the office and had Don Meyer in handwriting compare the signatures. Wasn't any doubt in his mind. The writing on both checks was Grandma's. Well, it was only a hunch, but it was beginning to look as though the suspect had finally done what we'd been waiting nine years for to do. She'd made a mistake. Ben and I drove out to an address in the Wilshire district to interview Mrs. Mary Walker. She fit the same general description of the suspect, but she denied writing either one of the checks which bore her signature. It's out of the question, Sergeant. I couldn't have written the checks. I haven't even been in the city for the past five days. Then the signatures on these two checks here, Mrs. Walker, they're not yours? It looks like my handwriting, but it's not. I didn't write those checks. They're forgeries. Yes, ma'am. You do have a charge account at the store, don't you, ma'am? Oh, yes. I've had an account there for years. Nothing like this has ever happened. Though. You have one of those charge account plates? Well, yes, I did have one. You lent it to someone in your family? No, as a matter of fact, I lost it. I meant to report it to the store, but it slipped my mind. Do you have any idea where and when you might have lost it? Well, I think it was last Sunday night? I'm not sure. Oh, well, just a minute. I know who would remember a Nestle. But she was there. I'm sure she'll remember. Who's she? Miss Girlfriend of mine. She lives in the neighborhood. Hello, Inez. Mary Walker. Inez. Oh, just fine. And you? Oh, good. Say, Inez, which night was it we went to the Boosters Club meeting Sunday? Yes. I thought that it was. Oh, nothing to some silly misunderstanding. Well, all right, Inez. Thanks for remembering for me. Yes. Goodbye. It was Sunday night, Sergeant. Inez Lambert and I went to the neighborhood Boosters Club meeting. I'm sure that's where I must have lost it. You think the charge account plate fell out of your purse, isn't it then? Either that or it was taken. Why do you say that, ma'am? Well, it's a serious thing. I didn't want to mention it. What's that? I left my purse on the chair next to me a part of the evening. When I got home, I thought I was missing a five dollar bill for my change purse. I didn't notice at the time my charger plate was gone. Do you remember who was at that meeting, Ms. Walker? Oh, 40 or 50 people at least. How many women would you say? A dozen or so, I suppose. I am not accusing anybody of robbery, Sergeant. I know it's a serious charge to make. Do you know if one of the club officers might have taken a list of those present? Oh, they didn't have to. We do the same thing at every meeting. What's that mean? We all sign the attendance book when we leave. 3pm Ben and I contacted the secretary of the neighborhood Boosters Club. He gave us a list of those present at the Sunday night meeting of the club. As Mary Walker had told us, each person present had signed his or her name and address in the attendance book. We took the record downtown with us and had Don Meyer compare each signature on the list with samples of Grandma's handwriting. Number 32 on the list, fellas. That's it. Positive. Me, no doubt in my mind that's Grandma's handwriting. How'd she sign it? Mrs. Inez Lambert. We went down the hall to R and I and had him check the name Inez Lambert through the files. She had no criminal record. Together with Besser and Ferguson, Ben and I spent the next day and a half trailing Ins Lambert. Wherever she went, she fitted the description of the suspect perfectly. We questioned her friends and her neighbors. We dug back into every corner of her life for the past 10 years. The results were pretty Amazing. We found that she was highly respected by everybody she knew. She was active in a dozen civic and church organizations. Her reputation was spotless. There was only one hitch. Mrs. Lambert's hobby was charities. By checking back, we found that during the past 10 years. She donated an average of $3,000 annually to various charitable organizations. Her husband's total annual income was $7,000. From her bank, we obtained specimens of Inez Lambert's handwriting. That matched almost perfectly with every signature in the Grandma file. Monday, October 7th. Ben and I called on Mrs. Lambert. Oh, yes, Officers. Won't you come in? Mary Walker was telling me about you. Come in, please. Thank you, ma'am. Mary told me about the things missing from her purse at the meeting. Is that what you're inquiring about? Yes, ma'am. We've got a few other questions to ask you besides that. Well, you sort of caught me at a bad time. Just getting ready to put some baking in the oven for dinner tonight. Would you mind very much if we talked back in the kitchen? I've got to get this done. No, not at all, ma'am. It's back this way. Oh, there goes my cream sauce again. Boiled over. Just take a chair there, Officers. I'll be right with you. Thank you. This cream sauce is so temperamental. Can't take your eye off it for a minute. There. Shouldn't boil over. Now, would either of you officers care for a cup of cocoa? Chili out today? Well, no, thank you, ma'am. We only have a few questions for you. It won't take long. Yes, all right. Would you mind holding this bowl? Just a minute, Sergeant. Oh. Oh, yes. I just have to get this in the oven for dinner. My husband's favorite dessert. It's called pinch pie. It's kind of a meringue tart. Let me see. Take two eggs, I guess. There we are. Get these egg whites beaten up nice and light. That cup of sugar on the sink. Sergeant, would you be so kind? Yeah, all right. There's your sugar, ma'am. Thank you. Now, what is it you wanted to know? Mrs. Walker had her charge account plate stolen that night at the Boosters Club meeting. Somebody's been using it to cash bad checks in her name. Is that so? Mary didn't tell me that the same person who's using that charger plate. Has been cashing bad checks all over the city. Been doing it for some time. Oh, my. Well, I don't think I can help you, Sergeant. I went to that meeting with Mary. She says somebody must have been in her Purse, But I didn't see them. Do you have that charge account plate, Mrs. Lambert? Me? Oh, no. I have my own. Now, let me see. Teaspoon vanilla, teaspoon vinegar, teaspoon water. Combine in a small pitcher or cup. We've got good reason to believe you have that charge account plate, ma'am. Did you take it from Mrs. Walker? That's a silly thing for you to say, Sergeant. I told you I have my own charge plate and never borrow anyone else's. No reason to add a few drops of combined liquid constantly. Did you cash two checks last week and sign them with Mrs. Walker's name? Of course not. Why should I do such a thing? Mary Walker's one of my best friends. I wouldn't do that to her. Even as a joke. Our handwriting man compared the signatures on those two checks, Mrs. Lambert. Both of them match your handwriting. When all the ingredients have been added, continue to beat the meringue for several minutes. Oh, I'm sorry. What was that you said, Sergeant? I said that the signatures on those two Ford's checks, our handwriting man compared them with specimens of your signature. They both match. Well, then your handwriting man certainly made a mistake. There's a large white platter up in that cupboard there. Would you reach it for me, please? All right. There you are, ma'am. Thank you. Now, you deny that you wrote those two forged checks last week? You deny that you've written in cash about 1500 worthless checks in the last nine years? Of course I deny it. You're sure you haven't made a mistake? We're sure, ma'am. I'm sorry. You'll have to come downtown with us for questioning. What's that? Oh, my. It's. It's the cream sauce again. Sergeant, I can't leave the house now, right in the middle of getting dinner ready. My husband would be furious. If you want to talk, couldn't we do it later on? I'm sorry, ma'am. Afraid not. But you certainly can't accuse me of doing anything wrong. The folks at the church will vouch for me. We've got just as many people who say you've cheated them. People who cash those checks for you? Quite a few of them, ma'am. Nine years worth. But that silly nine years cashing checks. I'm sure you must mean somebody else, Sergeant. I got to get this platter. Green heat meringue upon lightly greased platter. Here, look. We have a record downtown on every single check that you passed since you started. Ma'am, We've got Specimens of your handwriting and people to identify you. We know what your income is. We know how much that you've given to charities. Money's got to come from someplace. Is that what the checks were for? Excuse me. I've got to get this meringue in the oven. 275 degrees. Yeah. Robert put in enough vanilla. You want to tell us about. I never thought about anyone finding out. I guess I should have expected it, shouldn't I? Yes, ma'am. It was all for charity. There were so many of them. Orphanages, Old People's Home, Christmas Poor Fund. And then the Overseas Relief Charities. They all need money. Somebody has to take care of them. Your husband knew nothing about this for 10 years. Nothing at all. They were my charities. I had to have money for them. I took money from people who had it and gave it to those who didn't. What do you think, Sergeant? Was I wrong? Do you think the good Lord will say I was wrong? I wouldn't know, ma'am. Sergeant, I only wanted to help the poor, like he did. I came to help the poor. Well, there's a big difference, ma'am. Yes? He didn't use a checkbook. The story you have just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. On December 18, trial was held in Superior Court Department 91. City and county of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Now, here is our star, Jack Webb. Thank you. The efficiency of any local police department depends on the quality of its personnel. Each and every man is carefully selected and thoroughly trained. In uniform or plain clothes. Your police officer knows his job. Inez Lorraine Lambert entered a plea of guilty to two counts of forgery. And the remaining charges were set off calendar. She was sentenced by the court for the term prescribed by law. 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. This is Robert Young. Hear we the People, next on NBC. All right, we're all set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe. And paired all those weird shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses. And I plugged in the Partisan. Partisan? It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails. Plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites, too. I just got it for 50 off, so how about a clasmopolitan or a mistletoe margarita? I'm thirsty. Watch. I just pop in a capsule, choose my strength and wow. It's beginning to feel more seasonal in here already. If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a Bartesian, because Bartesian crafts every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 and I just got it for $50 off. Tis the season to be jollier. Add some holiday flavor to every celebration with the sleek, sophisticated home cocktail maker Bartesian. Pick up your phone and shake it to get $50 off any cocktail maker. Yes, you heard me. Shake your phone and get $50 off. Don't delay.
- [30:30]
Narrator
Welcome back. A great case and I think it showcases the strength of Dragnet in being able to really bring out the dramatic elements in dealing with cases that don't involve violent crime. And the idea that the combination of the pro and amateur together posed this challenge for the police that went on for nine years is really fascinating. Of course, as in many of Dragnet cases, it came down to her making a mistake, just like Friday thought. And that mistake was a purely amateur one, taking the charger plate of someone you knew and doing it at a meeting where everyone had to sign in. But you have to say that she really remained dedicated to her character and to really leaning into that reputation and appearance right up till the end. I mean, how unflappable she was while being questioned was just fascinating. I found myself thinking how would Poirot react if somebody was this calm and cool while he laid out the case for why they were guilty? I have some new thoughts on her question at the end regarding the rottenness of her action. Her point that she was doing it for charity and the quasi religious justification for it have been something I thought about over the years. Obviously there's points about the overall morality of stealing and you can also explain from a Christian perspective how this is not an appropriate way to do charity. To me, what really impressed me this time is that there's harm beyond whatever money she stole from the merchant and whether it's a question of whether the merchant could eat it or not. She just seemed to assume just because the merchant cashed a check they had money to burn. Obviously not the case. But that's not even the biggest long term thing because we live in a low trust society and part of the reason for that is that there have been people who have been dishonest and manipulated others for some sort of stated good in you could come up with all kinds of examples, some of them controversial. I won't give specifics here, but in most cases these good means are either secondary or just lies people tell themselves to justify doing the wrong things they want to do. And as a result of that, our ability to trust each other has been undermined. And so when she's committing this crime using people's trust and respect for older motherly women and being this masterful manipulator, she is really doing far more damage than just taking people's money. I remember the shopkeeper talking about being disappointed she didn't just cheat him, she undermined his trust in his fellow man. And that sort of thing does far more damage than we might credit. I think the way that we've gotten to where we are with our lack of trust in society isn't one big things, but a lot of little things that have happened that have been in the news that have happened to people individually. It's death by a thousand paper cuts. And this is the type of action that in a small way contributed to that. I will also say that the actress was magnificent in this role. I've heard this episode multiple times. I've seen the TV episode as well. And there was still a small voice in my head that was like, are we sure they got the right woman here? You also have to admire the sound effects work on Dragnet. It does have me a bit spoiled. You know, I listen to other programs and they say, you know, we're at a location like we're going down to a bowling alley, we're going to a bar, we're going to a casino. And they don't do any sound effect works to make you feel like you're listening to something happening in a bar or casino or it is just very bare minimum. In Dragnet, you actually get to hear people order groceries and you get a fashion show. And the ordering groceries part was interesting. For the throwaway line about her picky children. It does suggest that the parents of those of us who grew up in the 80s and told us about children in Africa may have ripped off their own parents line, but just changed it from war torn Europe. It does seem like we are progressively getting more picky about food. Maybe that's for better or for worse. Palmetto loaf is still around. I hadn't noticed it, but it apparently it's hiding somewhere in the deli case. I just hadn't seen. But head cheese seems to be a bit more of a specialty item here in the US for those who like it, you know, you can find somewhere, but it is not likely to end up in any kids lunches. All right, well, now we turn to listener comments and feedback and we have a comment from Spotify regarding The big pair, the Lion's Eye wrote, what do you get for a wedding present when you leave it to a man to pick it out? An antique apple peeler. Now there, I'd never thought of it as just a man issue, that that was what Ben Romero picked out. I'd like to think that even without the benefits of modern wedding registries, that there were men who were more aware than Sergeant Romero about what you actually needed to set up housekeeping. And like I said, it's a bit surprising that they end up doing that because he is actually a married man. Though I don't know, maybe there were more guys who, even if they're married, they didn't really understand what went into setting up the house. I'd at least use the phone, a friend and, you know, call your wife. But be that as it may, then we have a comment on YouTube. This one's not regarding Dragnet. It's actually regarding our 4350th episode special, which is the Hollywood Star Playhouse presentation of Hotspot. And usually I don't read out comments regarding episodes that old just because either, you know, you have new people in the audience or we all can't retain all the details of all the episodes we played. But this one was kind of an interesting comment and struck me as relevant to Dragnet, so I'll go ahead and read it. Mechanic 6682 writes. Hey, Adam, I've been listening to about 750 of these stories, and I can't recall a single time a suspect ever asked for a lawyer. It's not believable that a big Hollywood agent would be interrogated and harassed by cops and never call a lawyer. Same with all the suspects on Mr. Chameleon and most other shows. I know that these were before Miranda, but rich people and most criminals knew of their right. Thank you so much. And that is a good point. I would say that there are mentions of bringing in a lawyer or a lawyer being called in that happen every now and again, but it's surprisingly infrequent. It's part of the dramatic style, and honestly, lawyers got too involved. It would be kind of hard to get many of these episodes done in half an hour. One of the big episodes where a lawyer got involved in a case quite a bit was the Dragnet episode Eric Kelby, where in fact, Friday and Romero set out to try to find some way to question this guy apart from his lawyer, who would get him to clam up and he wouldn't provide any information. But thanks so much for the observation. And then we have a comment from say, Software. And this one is on bulldog drumming. Hey, Adam. A few weeks ago someone commented how bad the English accents of the two bulldog, drum and star sound. In reality, there are other examples of Americans with bad English accents that are even worse. The earliest example I know about is the movie Hell's Angels, which was produced by Howard Hughes in 1930. Although it was a story about the British Royal Air Force during World War War 1, Hughes hired all American actors who didn't even attempt to affect an English accent. The worst one of the bunch was Gene Harlow. The movie isn't all that bad, but it is marred by having American actors who didn't even attempt to speak with the proper accents. Fast forward to the 1960s and we have Dick Van Dyke trying to speak with a Cockney accent in the movie Mary Poppins. He was a total failure at getting that accent right and was roundly criticized for it. The third and final example I know of about is Kevin Costner's version of Robin Hood. I never saw that movie, but apparently Costner's English accent was so bad that Mel Brooks had the Robin Hood character. Men in tights say something to the effect, unlike other Robin Hoods, I can speak with a proper English accent. Of course, he was referring to Costner. So compared with these three examples, I'll just say that the English accents of the Bulldog Drummond stars are actually pretty good. Fair point. And probably part of the reason why I didn't really complain about the accents myself. I think that the way they did it was fine for the time and there were far worse accents. And I would say that would go on both sides of the Atlantic. There were some pretty really rubbish British playing American people in various British productions probably into the 1990s. Thanks so much. Appreciate the comments. Say soft. And now it is time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day and I want to thank David. David's been one of our patreon supporters since January 2019, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thank you so much for your support, David, and that will actually 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. All those great things that makes YouTube channels grow. We'll be back next Saturday with another episode of Dragnet and on Tuesday we'll be bringing you Operation Danger Sunday. Of course, we will have our Sunday encore. But then our regular lineup returns on Monday with the Adventures of the Falcon.
- [42:08]
Host
Where I offer to give you a lift to headquarters. Yes, wearing. So you could pump me about the Everheart case. Well, a lot of good it did me. I told you all we know wearing. Which adds up to a big fat zero. You haven't any more on the missing patient than I have. If there is a missing patient. There is, sergeant. You know there is. Oh, no, no, no. Wary. Just because you stuck your neck out, don't expect me to follow. Look, I said I'd find that character for a Corbett, and I will. More power to you. After all, There are only 10 million people in New York. That's right. So why couldn't at least one of them have seen this guy? Still assuming there is such a guy. Oh, why couldn't he have left a clue? Why isn't there something one measly lead to his identity? Why can't I keep my big mouth shut? That wearing is the question. Promising Mrs. Eberhardt I'd find the guy when there's not a single thing to go on. Oh, don't worry. Just leave it to me. Everything is going to be all right. You know something, Corbett? I must be nuts wearing for the first time in my life, I'm inclined to agree with you.
- [43:09]
Narrator
I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to Box13REAT detectives.net follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com Great detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.
- [43:29]
Host
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