Dragnet: The Big Imposter (EP4783)

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: Dragnet: The Big Imposter (EP4783)
Host: Adam Graham
Original Broadcast: August 21, 2025 (podcast); original radio episode from June 7, 1951
Series: Dragnet
Main Cast: Jack Webb (Joe Friday), Ben Alexander (Ben Romero)
Main Theme: A missing child case turns into a confounding story of mistaken identity and the emotional toll of unresolved loss.

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Episode Overview

This Dragnet episode, “The Big Imposter,” dives into the mysterious disappearance of a 10-year-old boy, Jimmy Sherman, and the emotional rollercoaster that ensues when a child—believed to be Jimmy—is found months later. As the police piece together the truth, the episode explores themes of identity, grief, the reliability of memory, and the dangers of assuming without verifying.

Adam Graham provides insightful commentary at the end, emphasizing how this real-life-inspired case is one that would seem far-fetched were it not drawn from true events, and reflecting on the psychological impact the ordeal had on all involved.

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Key Discussion Points & Episode Flow

1. Case Introduction & Initial Search (02:31–09:09)

• Setup:
  Joe Friday and Ben Romero are assigned to the case of Jimmy Sherman, a 10-year-old who disappeared from his grandfather’s home.
• Key Facts:
  • Jimmy’s only family is his ailing grandfather (arthritis, uses a wheelchair).
  • No apparent reason for Jimmy to run away.
  • Community search parties and police canvassing yield no immediate clues.
  • The only potential lead: blue jeans found near a reservoir, but unidentified.
• Emotional Tone:
  The grandfather is plagued by premonitions of tragedy, telling officers,
  "Maybe you'll just say I'm old and I've got funny ideas. But I got a feeling, Sergeant, something's happened to Jimmy." (06:13 – Joe Friday as Mr. Sherman)

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2. Following Leads: False Tips & Neighborhood Tensions (10:18–13:21)

• Sightings & Suspicions:
  • Neighbor Frank Grady points fingers at another local, Mr. Gilby, based mainly on personal dislike.
• Police Method:
  Friday and Romero systematically vet these tips—confirming Gilby has an alibi, highlighting the perils of bias and community suspicion in high-stress cases.
• Notable Quote:
  "Spiteful small minded neighbors trying to use a tragic situation to work out their jealousies and prejudice..." (12:21 – Joe Friday narration)

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3. Weeks Turn into Months: Despair & Diminished Hope (13:21–15:19)

• Timeline:
  Search drags on for months across several states. Multiple false leads and mistaken-identity reports add to the agony.
• Noteworthy Moment:
  The show’s understated realism:
  "These are the days when I wish I had a little swimming pool in my backyard. Sure, it’d be nice to go home to."
  The banter offers a brief respite from the persistent tension.

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4. A Joyful Reunion? Something Feels Off (15:19–19:59)

• Jimmy Found?:
  • After nine months, a boy matching Jimmy's description is found in Ohio and sent home.
  • Initial emotional reunion: the grandfather weeps, but soon doubts set in.
• Grandfather’s Suspicion:
  "That boy out there, Sergeant, I'm not sure he's really my grandson." (17:09 – Mr. Sherman)
• Investigation:
  Friends and neighbors mostly confirm the boy’s identity, though some note subtle differences.
• Medical Detail:
  The new “Jimmy” has an appendix scar—not consistent with the grandfather’s account.

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5. The Unraveling: Questioning "Jimmy" (21:24–25:32)

• Confrontation:
  • The boy matches Jimmy’s knowledge and habits, but his story begins to fall apart under cross-examination.
  • Key giveaway:
    "No, Jimmy Sherman never had his appendix out, son. But you did. And you've got a scar to prove it, haven't you?" (23:44 – Ben Romero)
• Confession:
  The boy reveals his real name: Donald Rush. He’d run away from home, fit Jimmy’s APB, and, after reading all the news clippings and details provided (in good faith) by authorities, adopted Jimmy’s identity.

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6. Aftermath & Case Resolution (25:32–29:03)

• Emotional Fallout:
  Mr. Sherman is crestfallen; Donald Rush expresses remorse: "I didn't want to make him cry like that, Sergeant. Honest, I'm sorry. Couldn't you just let me stay here with him?" (27:21 – Donald Rush)
• Final Revelations:
  • Donald returns to his real family in Ohio.
  • Four months later, Jimmy Sherman's body is found; he was murdered by a local farmer, who is apprehended, tried, and executed.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On mistaken identity and hope:
  "Thought I had a peek. Thought I had him." (27:04 – Mr. Sherman, on realizing the truth)
• On grief and the unknowable:
  "You're not the boy he's looking for." (27:36 – Ben Romero)
• Concise summation of the episode’s emotional undertone:
  Adam Graham: "...one of those stories which is stranger than fiction. If you were telling this story…people would say yeah, this is really far fetched. That would never really happen. But given Dragnet's based on a true story setup, you've got to treat it as credible." (29:58)

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Adam Graham’s Closing Commentary (29:58–33:51)

• Reflection on Realism:
  Highlights how the story would seem unbelievable if not based on true events.
• Empathy for the Imposter:
  Wonders about Donald’s situation and motivations for not wanting to go home, raising possible issues that might be explored more thoroughly today.
• Listener Feedback:
  Responds to fan interest about Joe Friday’s war service (The Big Escape and other episodes), illustrating the depth of engagement among OTR fans.

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Episode Timeline (Key Segments)

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:31–09:09 | Case setup: interview with Mrs. Keller and Mr. Sherman | | 10:18–13:21 | False tips: neighborhood suspicion and dead ends | | 15:19–17:09 | Jimmy "found" in Ohio; grandfather doubts identity | | 19:59–21:24 | Interviews with Mrs. Keller and neighborhood on identity | | 21:24–25:32 | Interview and confession of Donald Rush | | 25:32–29:03 | Confession aftermath; final outcome on the real Jimmy | | 29:58–33:51 | Adam Graham’s commentary & response to listener questions |

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Tone and Style

The episode maintains Dragnet’s signature sober, matter-of-fact delivery, underscored by emotional resonance—particularly in Mr. Sherman’s grief and the subtle concern for the well-being of the imposter boy. Adam Graham’s closing commentary is warm, reflective, and encourages curiosity about both the show’s content and the broader history of the characters and the series.

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Summary Takeaways

• Classic Dragnet:
  Adherence to authenticity, methodical police work—even in the face of heartbreak and public confusion.
• Central Mystery:
  Not just “where is Jimmy?” but “who is this child?” and “how do you really know someone you love?”
• Human Element:
  The show’s true heart is in the pain of loss, the hope for answers, and the enduring trauma of unresolved cases.
• Final Resolution:
  The case’s conclusion is as somber as its premise—reminding listeners of both the limitations and hard necessities of real police work.

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For OTR fans, detective genre enthusiasts, or listeners curious about true crime's early days, this episode is a memorable, deeply human entry—made all the more poignant by knowing it’s grounded in fact, not fiction.

Transcript

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[Ben Romero]

Foreign.

[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. You 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 us by mailing a donation to Adam Graham, P.O. box 15913. That's P.O. box 15913, Boise, ID 83715. And you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. You can now from June 7, 1951, here is the big imposter.

[Joe Friday]

The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to missing persons detail. A 10 year old boy disappears from his home in a remote section of the city. Two nights and two days pass. There's not a trace of the boy. Your job? Find him. 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.

[Ben Romero]

Was Wednesday, August 4th. It was hot in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of Juvenile Bureau. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Inspector Bowling. My name's Friday we were on the way out from the office and it was 2:25pm when we got to Bowers Avenue, number 1218.

[Mrs. Keller]

Yes?

[Ben Romero]

Police officers, ma'.

[Joe Friday]

Am.

[Ben Romero]

We'd like to see Mr. Sherman.

[Mrs. Keller]

Oh, certainly, officers. Won't you come in?

[Joe Friday]

Thank you.

[Ben Romero]

Thank you very much.

[Mrs. Keller]

I'm Mrs. Keller from next door. I saw you around here yesterday.

[Ben Romero]

Yes, ma'.

[Joe Friday]

Am.

[Mrs. Keller]

Came over this morning to look after poor Mr. Sherman.

[Ben Romero]

Yes, ma'. Am. Well, how's he feeling today?

[Mrs. Keller]

Not too well. Fixed him some nice chicken broth for lunch and then I helped him in his wheelchair and took him out in the backyard, out in the sun. Good hot sun is wonderful for his legs. He has arthritis, you know.

[Ben Romero]

Yes, so we understand. Wonder if we could talk to him, Ms. Keller?

[Mrs. Keller]

Well, yes, I guess if you have to. He's still out in the back sleeping in his chair last time I looked. Seems ashamed to disturb him.

[Joe Friday]

Well, he called us at the office, said he wanted to see us as soon as we could make it out here.

[Mrs. Keller]

Was it about his grandson, Jimmy? They found him yet?

[Joe Friday]

No, ma'. Am. Searching parties combing the area, there's still no trace of the boy.

[Ben Romero]

Did any of the other officers who were out here covering the neighborhood talk to you, Ms. Keller?

[Mrs. Keller]

Oh, yes, there was, Mr. Lorman. Detective Lorman.

[Ben Romero]

Yes, ma'.

[Joe Friday]

Am.

[Mrs. Keller]

I told him everything I knew about Jimmy's disappearance. It was right after dinner hour On Monday, about 6:30 last time I saw Jimmy.

[Ben Romero]

I see.

[Mrs. Keller]

I came out the side door to empty the garbage and I saw Jimmy hiking up the side of the hill there. Justin back the house all by himself. Nice boy.

[Joe Friday]

As far as you know, Mrs. Killer, Jimmy is Mr. Sherman's only living relative?

[Mrs. Keller]

That's right. His only relative. His only grandchild. Jimmy's mother and father were killed in an auto wreck. That was three or four years ago. Sherman's had a terrible lot of tragedy. Jimmy and his grandfather, they're the only ones left.

[Ben Romero]

You can't think of any reason why the boy would want to leave his grandfather, Ken?

[Mrs. Keller]

None at all. Mr. Sherman's a wonderful man. Jimmy loved him. I knew that.

[Joe Friday]

Mrs. Keller. Mrs. Keller?

[Mrs. Keller]

Sherman is awake. We can go through the house out the back here.

[Ben Romero]

All right, ma'.

[Joe Friday]

Am.

[Mrs. Keller]

This way.

[Ben Romero]

Thank you. Go ahead, ma'.

[Joe Friday]

Am. Yeah, yeah.

[Ben Romero]

Okay.

[Mrs. Keller]

Visitors for you, Mr. Chairman. How you feeling?

[Joe Friday]

All right, I suppose. Hello, Sergeant.

[Ben Romero]

How are you, Mr. Sherman?

[Joe Friday]

What about the boy? Have you found him yet?

[Ben Romero]

Well, nothing yet, Mr. Sherman. We've added more men to the searching party. We're doing everything we can.

[Joe Friday]

Gone two nights and two days. Tell me the truth, Sergeant. What's happened to the boy?

[Ben Romero]

Right now, we don't know any more about it than you do, sir. But that's no reason to give up hope.

[Joe Friday]

You told us yourself yesterday that Jimmy's been missing once before. Turned out all right that time. He wasn't gone for two nights and two days. Maybe you'll just say I'm old and I've got funny ideas. But I got a feeling, Sergeant, something's happened to Jimmy. Something's happened and I can't do anything about it.

[Mrs. Keller]

You just put those thoughts out of your head, Mr. Sherman. They're gonna find Jimmy. It's gonna be all right. Why don't you pull up those lawn chairs there, Sergeant? I'm gonna go in the house and fix some cold lemonade for you men.

[Joe Friday]

Well, thank you, ma'. Am.

[Ben Romero]

We got your phone message at the office, Mr. Sherman. Anything special you wanted to talk to us about?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, there was something when you were talking to me yesterday.

[Ben Romero]

Yes, sir.

[Joe Friday]

I told you that Jimmy had on a brown jacket when he disappeared Monday night. Yeah, I was wrong, Sergeant. We found the jacket in his room. All he was wearing was a pair of blue jeans and his white sweatshirt. Do you think that might help any?

[Ben Romero]

Yes, sir, it might. We'll send out a supplementary description of his clothes and we'll see that everybody's notified.

[Joe Friday]

Just wish I could be out there with a searching party. Arthritis is pretty bad today. Caught me at a terrible time. Don't know what I'd do if anything happened. Little boy, I know we've asked you this before, Mr. Sherman. But can you think of any reason at all why your grandson would want to leave home? No, sir. No reason at all. Those two collie pups over there in the pen. Jimmy just bought them last week with his own money saved up to get him.

[Ben Romero]

I see.

[Joe Friday]

The boy's crazy about dogs. That's why I say just wouldn't pick up and leave everything. Boy and me got along fine. No reason for it. Sergeant, something's happened to the boy. I just got a feeling.

[Mrs. Keller]

Officer.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Ben Romero]

Am.

[Mrs. Keller]

A telephone call for either one of you.

[Ben Romero]

I get it, Ben. I'll be right back.

[Joe Friday]

All right.

[Mrs. Keller]

Man said it was your office calling.

[Ben Romero]

Thank you, Ms. Keller. Where's the phone?

[Mrs. Keller]

Telephone? Straight back there in the hall.

[Ben Romero]

Thank you very much, very much. Friday talking.

[Joe Friday]

This is Bowling Joe. Just heard from the search party up in the hills.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, did they find something?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, in the Allegiance park area by the upper reservoir. Found a pair of kids, trousers Right by the edge of the water.

[Ben Romero]

What kind of trousers?

[Joe Friday]

Blue jeans. Nothing in the pockets. They'll start dragging for a body as soon as they get the equipment. Check it out with a grandfather, huh? See if the boy was in the habit of hiking up there around the reservoir.

[Ben Romero]

Right. We'll call in just before we leave here.

[Joe Friday]

Right, Joe?

[Ben Romero]

Right. Bye.

[Mrs. Keller]

Well, there's your lemonade, Sergeant. Just poured it for you nice and cold.

[Ben Romero]

Thank you, ma'.

[Joe Friday]

Am. What was it, Sergeant? Something about the boy?

[Ben Romero]

Well, nothing definite, no, sir. Just a report on the search party. They're still up in the Elysian park area.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, I see.

[Ben Romero]

Did your grandson Jimmy do much hiking in that neighborhood up there, Mr. Sherman?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, I think he did. Likes to hike up there around the reservoir. Why?

[Ben Romero]

The Name on the 316Report missing juvenile read James Philip Sherman, WMA, 10 years old. He lived with his 68 year old grandfather, Oscar Sherman, in a small cottage in a sparsely populated section of the city. Shortly after 6pm on Monday, the boy went outside to play. When darkness fell and he failed to return home, his crippled grandfather went out to look for him. Half an hour later, the neighbors joined in in the search. No sign of the boy. At 10pm Juvenile Bureau was notified. And throughout the night, squads of men on foot and cruiser cars canvassed the area. A local broadcast and an all points bulletin was gotten out on the boy. Neither the grandfather or the neighbors could find any reason for his disappearance. After almost 48 hours of continuous searching, the only lead we had was the pair of trousers found on the edge of the upper reservoir in Elysian Park. They were shown to the grandfather, but he failed to give positive identification. Dragging operations at the reservoir began immediately. Meantime, Ben and I, together with Lorman and Lopez from Homicide checked out every possible lead on the missing youngster. One of the tips came from a Frank Grady, an unemployed carpenter who lived five blocks from the Sherman home.

[Joe Friday]

I don't know how much this may be worth to you, Sergeant. I don't want to get anybody into trouble, but I figured this is a pretty important thing. What is it you want to tell us, Mr. Grady? Well, as I say, I don't want to get anybody in any trouble, but have you checked over everybody in this neighborhood? I think we've talked to just about everybody in the area, don't you, Joe?

[Ben Romero]

Well, either us or the man from Homicide. Why do you ask, Grady?

[Joe Friday]

Well, there's a guy who lives down the street there, right down the corner from this house. Old guy by the name of Gilby.

[Ben Romero]

What about him?

[Joe Friday]

As I say, I don't want to cause any trouble. But maybe you ought to double check him. One thing, he's an ex convict. I know that. Another thing, he hates everybody in the neighborhood. Hates the kids too. Wouldn't be surprised if he was your man. Why do you say that, Grady? Does he have any special reason for disliking the Sherman boy? Old man Gilby wouldn't need a reason. A real queer one. Say, I got a couple cans of cold beer in the ice box. Can I fix you fathers up? No, thank you just the same.

[Ben Romero]

What makes you think this Gilby had anything to do with the boy's disappearance, Mr. Gray?

[Joe Friday]

Well, number one, I saw old man Gilby out walking Monday night. When the Sherman kid disappeared. Yep. Saw him walking along the road up there. The same one that goes up by the reservoir. And I watched him. It was dark by the time he got back to his house. I'd check on him again if I were you. As far as you know, has Gilby ever been in trouble for bothering the kids in the neighborhood? Sergeant, he bothers everybody in the neighborhood. Real queer. Lives by himself. Always complaining about something. Frankly, I think he's your man. I think he took that kid and he did something to him.

[Ben Romero]

Do you have anything at all to back up your opinion?

[Joe Friday]

You dig around, you'll find something on him. He's no good, no better on it. I've had a couple of run ins with him myself. He just isn't any good, that's all.

[Ben Romero]

Well, all right, Grady. Thanks for the tip. Be sure and double check on the man.

[Joe Friday]

You won't tell him where you got the tip though, huh? Like I say, I've had run ins with him before. It might cause trouble.

[Ben Romero]

No, he won't know where we got it. Thanks again.

[Joe Friday]

Okay, Sergeant. It's a pretty important thing. I didn't want to make anybody look bad. But the old man's just no good. You understand that, don't you?

[Ben Romero]

Sure, Grady, we understand. As a matter of routine, we double checked on Grady's neighbor, Mr. Harold Gilby. We found out that he had no jail record and that he had been at work on Monday from 3 to 11pm he could have had no direct connection with the Sherman boys disappearance. No more than Grady himself could have had. The so called tip he'd offered us was like a hundred other phony leads in a hundred other cases. Spiteful small minded neighbors trying to use a tragic situation to work out their jealousies and prejudice on somebody that they didn't get along with. In the neighborhood, the search continued. So did the hot weather. Friday, August 6th. No sign of the missing boy. The temperature climbed into the mid-90s. Dragging operations at the reservoir went on. Saturday, August 7th. More legwork, more hot weather. By noontime, Ben and I had run down the last lead we had on 10 year old Jimmy Sherman. Went nowhere. 1pm we headed back for the office to check with Inspector Bowling.

[Joe Friday]

These are the days when I wish I had a little swimming pool in my backyard. Sure, it'd be nice to go home to.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, well, save your money.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, it doesn't cost so much. No. I read in a magazine where a fellow built his own pool for $95.37.

[Ben Romero]

It can't be much of a pool, can it?

[Joe Friday]

Oh, yes. Good size. Of course, he did all his own labor, had all his friends in to help out.

[Ben Romero]

He must have had a lot of friends, didn't he?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, he did. After he finished the pool. Righty. Ben. Oh, hi, Skipper. How'd you two make out? Anything?

[Ben Romero]

No, no luck at all.

[Joe Friday]

It makes it unanimous. Did you hear about the old man? The boy's grandfather? No, what happened? I guess the strain got too much for him. He collapsed. They're moving him to a hospital. Oh, that's too bad.

[Ben Romero]

Our men still up there dragging.

[Joe Friday]

That reservoir finished this morning? Nothing.

[Ben Romero]

How about the search party? Nothing there either, I suppose.

[Joe Friday]

No, not a trace of the boy. It's a blind alley all the way around. How about the apb? The radiogram had three replies so far. None of them panned out. You know, grab it. Juvenile Bureau of Bowling there for it? Uh huh. No good, huh?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Check you later. I heard it once, I heard it 50 times. No trace of the boy. Got me, Skipper. Something real weird about the whole thing.

[Ben Romero]

Well, now look. We know he didn't just disappear into thin air. Kids gone. There's a good reason for it. There's gotta be an answer somewhere.

[Joe Friday]

That's right. You'll find it.

[Ben Romero]

Another week passed, and then a month, two months. We were no farther along than the day we started on the case. In November, we had a teletype from Chief Earl o' Clair of the Phoenix, Arizona Police Department. Reportedly, the Sherman boy had been seen in Phoenix. Was another false alarm. The Christmas holidays wore on into a new year. February came and went. Then March, April. Tuesday, May 3, 1:40pm Ben and I got a call to check in with Inspector Bolling.

[Joe Friday]

This telegram just came in from Dayton, Ohio. Have a look.

[Ben Romero]

Thank you.

[Joe Friday]

Let's see. Joe.

[Ben Romero]

What is it, Jimmy Sherman they found him. Nine months had gone by, almost to the day, since the Sherman boy had disappeared. The grandfather was contacted immediately when he was told his grandson had been found and that he was safe. The old man was unable to answer. He broke down and wept. In our communications with the Dayton, Ohio police, they told us that the boy had been found wandering along a highway just outside that city and that he'd appeared to be in a kind of a dazed condition. The boy told the Dayton officers that he'd been kidnapped a short distance from his home in Los Angeles by a man in a blue sedan. He gave them detailed descriptions of both the man and the car. He told him that for the past nine months, a man had held him prisoner, driving from state to state, never letting the boy out of his sight. He said the kidnapper told him on several occasions that he was holding him for ransom and that he was waiting to get money from his grandfather. On May 8, the youngster was returned to Los Angeles and reunited with his grandfather. On May 10, we got a call from the grandfather that he wanted to talk to us. Ben and I drove out to see him.

[Joe Friday]

Come right in, officers. Glad to see you.

[Ben Romero]

How are you, sir?

[Joe Friday]

Hi, Mr. Chairman. Sorry to cause you all this trouble, chasing you out here like this.

[Ben Romero]

Not at all, sir. What is it that you want to see us about?

[Joe Friday]

Well, I'm not really sure about it, Sergeant. That's the whole thing of it. I don't know if it's me or what it is. Well, what's bothering you, Mr. Sherman? It's the boy, Jimmy. I don't know what to think.

[Ben Romero]

Well, how do you mean, sir? He's all right, isn't he? We saw him as we drove up, playing out in the backyard. And the doctor checked him over.

[Joe Friday]

No, it's. It's not that. The boy's healthy enough. Nothing wrong with him.

[Ben Romero]

Well, then, what is it?

[Joe Friday]

Sir, maybe it sounds a little weird to you, but I'm just not sure.

[Ben Romero]

You're not sure what?

[Joe Friday]

That boy out there, Sergeant, I'm not sure he's really my grandson. You are in the communications division of a metropolitan police department. The teletype.

[Ben Romero]

Room.

[Joe Friday]

43, Los 5295-1203-APB. WMA. 155 foot 6, dark hair, dark eyes, wearing gray suit, no hat. Suspect is wearing glasses, heavy build, 22 years. Suspect is armed with blue steel revolver. Any information forward? You have just heard a teletype description of a suspect. This information will apply to many, but careful screening will eliminate all but one.

[Ben Romero]

Tuesday, May 10, 2pm when the aging grandfather, Oscar Sherman, told us that he wasn't sure whether the recovery was really his grandson, Ben and I didn't know what to think. Our first reaction was that the shock of recovering the boy after he'd almost been given up for lost had been too much for the old man. Mr. Sherman admitted that there was no physical difference in the boy as far as he could see. But he still insisted that there was something wrong. The boy seemed different somehow. To satisfy the grandfather, Ben and I talked to the boy. But he failed to give us any reason to believe that he was not Jimmy Sherman.

[Joe Friday]

We.

[Ben Romero]

We checked with the boy's friends, all the people in the neighborhood who'd known Jimmy over a period of years. They confirmed our opinion. A few thought that the youngster had changed a little, but no one had any serious doubts about it. The boy was really Jimmy Sherman. So the matter was dropped. Thursday, May 12th. Ben and I had lunch, and then we checked back in at the office.

[Joe Friday]

Joe, want to grab that?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, I'll get it. JUVENILE BUREAU Friday Sergeant, this is Mr. Sherman talking. Yes, sir.

[Joe Friday]

Sherman.

[Ben Romero]

Yes, sir.

[Joe Friday]

How are you? I want you to come out and take this boy. Sergeant, he's not my grandson. I'm sure of it.

[Ben Romero]

Well, how do you mean, sir?

[Joe Friday]

This boy's got a scar on his side. He's had his appendix out.

[Ben Romero]

Yes, sir.

[Joe Friday]

My grandson never had an operation in his life.

[Ben Romero]

Before we left the office, Ben and I briefed Inspector Bolling on the phone call from the grandfather. Then we drove back to the Sherman house. While Oscar Sherman didn't claim that he knew his grandson's complete medical history, he was certain that the boy had not had his appendix out and that he had not had an operation. He told us that his neighbor, Mrs. Keller, could substantiate that. That she had known Jimmy since he was a baby. We put in a call to the Sherman's family doctor. He wasn't in. We left a message and then we went next door to see Mrs. Keller. We found her in the kitchen washing dishes.

[Mrs. Keller]

I just got a couple more to rinse. Can you wait a minute?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, Coretta, of course we can.

[Mrs. Keller]

Now, to tell you the truth, Sergeant, I just don't know what to think about Mr. Sherman. Maybe the whole thing was too much for him. His mind's going back on.

[Joe Friday]

Look, to your knowledge, Mrs. Keller, was the boy ever operated on?

[Mrs. Keller]

No, not as far as I know. But it's possible he did have an operation. I didn't hear about it, Sergeant. As far as I'm concerned that boy is Jimmy Sherman. I don't know what his grandfather's up to with all that silly talk.

[Ben Romero]

Well, if it's not really the boy, we won't have too much trouble finding the truth.

[Mrs. Keller]

There's no question in my mind. Of course it's Jimmy. Why, when he was over here the other day, he talked about the party I gave for him one Halloween. He even remembered the children who were there.

[Ben Romero]

Are the other neighbors as sure about the boy as you are?

[Mrs. Keller]

Just about. Ms. Foster down the street. Jimmy was in to see her yesterday. Talked about some changes she'd made in her living room. Asked her about some relatives she'd has living out of town. Come to think about it, Jimmy even remarked on that new trailer Rose I planted out in front. Besides as the boys dogs. Why, they knew that youngster the minute he set foot in the yard.

[Ben Romero]

Yes, ma'.

[Joe Friday]

Am.

[Ben Romero]

Well, thank you very much, Mrs. Keller. If we have any more questions, we'll contact you. That all right?

[Mrs. Keller]

All right, Sergeant. Couldn't fix you a cup of coffee, could I?

[Joe Friday]

Oh, no, thanks, Jim.

[Ben Romero]

I'm taking time now.

[Mrs. Keller]

Poor old Mr. Sherman. I don't know what to make of it. So mixed up.

[Ben Romero]

Yes, ma', am, so are we. We left the neighbor, Mrs. Keller, and went back next door to the Sherman house. The grandfather told us that the family doctor hadn't returned our call yet. At 3.30pm the boy came home from school, changed his clothes and went out into the backyard to play. We figured we had nothing to lose. And talking to the boy again, we found him in the small workshop at the rear of the garage where he was sawing on a of piece. Piece of plywood with a hacksaw. We talked to him for about 20 minutes. Was no different than the first time we interviewed him. He was relaxed and talkative.

[Donald Rush]

Say, would you hand me that hammer there, officer?

[Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah. Here you go. Thanks.

[Donald Rush]

Boy, if I ever get this thing finished, it's gonna be the best coaster around here. These are the wheels I'm gonna put on it. Pretty good, aren't they?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, they look fine. Son, do you like building things? Coasters and things like that?

[Donald Rush]

Oh, yeah, I like it all right.

[Ben Romero]

It's fun.

[Joe Friday]

Your granddad says you've changed quite a bit since you got back. Jim says you didn't like working around the shop here before.

[Donald Rush]

Well, I guess I don't really. You know, once in a while I like to come out and fool around.

[Joe Friday]

Mm. Have you seen Mr. Barlow down the street since you been back?

[Donald Rush]

Mr. Barlow? No, I went down to see him, but he wasn't home. Maybe I'll go down and see him tomorrow.

[Ben Romero]

His name isn't Barlow, is it, Ben? I thought it was Robinson.

[Donald Rush]

Oh, yeah, that's right, Mr. Robinson. Sometimes I forget.

[Ben Romero]

How do you and your grandfather get along, Jim? All right?

[Mrs. Keller]

Sure.

[Donald Rush]

Every once in a while. Looks kind of funny at me.

[Joe Friday]

I don't know.

[Donald Rush]

I guess he's still worried about that man taking me away, you know and all.

[Ben Romero]

Uh huh. How you been feeling lately, Jim? Okay.

[Donald Rush]

Sure, I feel fine. Hardly ever get sick. That's good.

[Ben Romero]

You ever been in the hospital, son?

[Joe Friday]

Uh huh.

[Donald Rush]

Just once. Had my appendix out. I hate hospitals. Can I have that can of nails there, please?

[Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Here you are.

[Donald Rush]

Gotta make this good and strong, you know.

[Ben Romero]

Like to ask you a question, son.

[Donald Rush]

Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

What's your real name?

[Donald Rush]

I'm Jimmy Sherman, you know that.

[Ben Romero]

No. I'd like to have the truth, son.

[Joe Friday]

Who are you?

[Donald Rush]

You must be fooling officers. You know who I am. Jimmy Sherman.

[Ben Romero]

No, Jimmy Sherman never had his appendix out, son. But you did. And you've got a scar to prove it, haven't you?

[Donald Rush]

Sure, I had my appendix out. Ask my grandpa. He'll tell you.

[Joe Friday]

I'm afraid he won't, son. He says he's not your grandfather. He says you don't belong here. His grandson never had an operation in his life.

[Ben Romero]

How about it, son? You want to tell us about it?

[Donald Rush]

Oh, Grandpa isn't feeling well. He doesn't know what he's saying.

[Ben Romero]

Well, he knows you're not his grandson. Now come on. What about it, son?

[Donald Rush]

All right. I'm not Jimmy Sherman.

[Ben Romero]

He told us his real name was Donald Rush. He said he'd run away from his home in Springfield, Ohio, two weeks before. He said that he'd been picked up by the police on a highway just on the outskirts of Dayton, Ohio. On returning the boy to the station, the police officers saw that he fitted the description of the missing California boy perfectly. Was almost as if the two were identical twins. Under the impression that the youngster was suffering from shock or amnesia, the police officers told him all about his home and his friends in California. They gave Donald Rush all the information that they had on the missing Sherman boy. All the newspapers, stories, pictures, the dozens of teletypes and circulars which had been sent across the country in an effort to locate the missing youngster. On his way out to California on the train, the Rush boy was given dozens of newspapers to read which contained thousands of words concerning the disappearance of Jimmy Sherman. So by the time he got to Los Angeles, Donald Rush knew everything he had to know about the boy he was impersonating. We questioned the Ohio youngster further. Besides an exceptionally high iq, he. He admitted to having an almost photographic memory. We took him in the house to face the grandfather of the boy that he'd been impersonating the boy who was still missing.

[Joe Friday]

Mr. Sherman? Yes, sir. Sit down, won't you? The boy here has a confession for you. He wants to tell you himself, I think. I know I was right all along, wasn't I such.

[Donald Rush]

I didn't mean anything by it, mister. I just thought it'd be fun to make out like somebody else for a while.

[Joe Friday]

You wouldn't know the difference, would you? Say?

[Ben Romero]

No, sir. I'm afraid I wouldn't. That picture over there on the mantel and the boy here may look exactly alike to me.

[Joe Friday]

There's only one thing I'd like to know, son.

[Donald Rush]

Yeah?

[Joe Friday]

Why'd you do it? Why'd you try and fool me?

[Donald Rush]

I don't know, mister. I ran away from home and the cops picked me up near Dayton. They thought my name was Jimmy Sherman. They said I was a missing kid from California.

[Ben Romero]

Why didn't you straighten them out right then, son?

[Donald Rush]

I was kind of afraid if I told them what my real name was, they would have sent me back home. So I just let them think I was really Jimmy Sherman. They seemed to be pretty sure I was.

[Joe Friday]

How long did you think you could keep it up, son? Pretending you were somebody else?

[Donald Rush]

I don't know. Guess I never thought much about that. I got here and everybody was nice to me. I just didn't think about anybody finding out. Honest, mister, I didn't mean to do anything wrong. I didn't mean to hurt anybody.

[Joe Friday]

And you never saw my grandson. You never saw Jimmy?

[Donald Rush]

No, sir. I just got on the train. They brought me out here.

[Joe Friday]

You don't know where he is. You don't know how he is.

[Ben Romero]

All right, try to take it easy, Mr. Sherman.

[Joe Friday]

Why would you do it, boy? You're a stranger. Why would you try to fool me about Jimmy?

[Donald Rush]

I'm sorry, mister. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it.

[Joe Friday]

Thought I had a peck. Thought I had him.

[Ben Romero]

Come on, Ben. Let's go, son.

[Donald Rush]

I didn't want to make him cry like that, Sergeant. Honest, I'm sorry. Couldn't you just let me stay here with him?

[Ben Romero]

No, I'm afraid not, son.

[Donald Rush]

I won't do anything wrong. Don't you think I could just stay here with him? I'll go right back in there now and tell him I'm sorry.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, I'm sorry too youngster. But you're not the boy he's looking for.

[Joe Friday]

The story you have just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. On Wednesday, May 20, a meeting was held at the Juvenile Bureau, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of the that meeting Donald Rush, who impersonated missing 10 year old Jimmy Sherman, was returned to the custody of his parents at their home in Springfield, Ohio. Four months later, the body of Jimmy Sherman was discovered buried on a farm on the outskirts of Riverside, California. The boy had been murdered. His killer, a farmer in the neighborhood, was subsequently apprehended and brought to traffic trial. He was found guilty of murder in the first degree and was executed at the State Penitentiary, San Quentin, California. 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. Stay tuned for counterspy next over most NBC stations.

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. This is one of those stories which is stranger than fiction. If you were telling this story on another detective show about a 10 year old boy who was able to impersonate another 10 year old boy on newspaper accounts and mistaken identity, people would say yeah, this is really far fetched. That would never really happen. But given Dragnet's based on a true story setup, you've got to treat it as credible. I did find myself wondering about this imposter kid's home life. He clearly did not want to go home. Now of course sometimes kids do that for perfectly normal, reasonable reasons, but sometimes there's more going on there and I wonder whether that would have been interrogated more if this sort of thing were to happen today. Alright, well, listener comments and feedback and have a comment From Alfred on YouTube Looking for a Joe Friday fanfiction of the Warriors. Thanks for the comment. Now we do know from the episode the Big Escape that Joe Friday did serve in World War II, and that episode also introduced us to one of his war buddies. But after that we don't have any information of what went on. Now, I'm not aware of anyone having taken up to write this, and I am aware of Dragnet fanfiction. And while it's not inherently interesting, it could be interesting depending on what people people were able to come up with. You know, Joe Friday was one of those war veterans who just didn't talk about it. And there were a lot of men who served in war who were like that. My wife's grandfather was one of those. So there'd be a lot of room to speculate. Your only limitations really in writing something like that, if you were wanting to be consistent at all, is you'd have to listen to the Big Escape and stay within the confines of the limited information that is revealed about Joe's war service in that episode, because I think that's the only one it's talked about. Now, if you wanted to take an Old Time Radio episode and treat it as fan fiction about Joe Friday's war service, you could take the episode Operation Fleur de Lis, where the character played by Jack Webb is not giving his real name because he's afraid of what might happen to him. That character is pretty different from Joe Friday, but the events of that story could be seen as so traumatically transformative that they led to changes in personality. I think that might be The World War II Old Time Radio episode with Jack Webb. Of course it was broadcast after the war, but thanks for the comment and I do want to go ahead and thank Kelly patreon, supporter since July 2017, currently supporting the podcast at the shamus level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Kelly, and that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please please follow us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet, but join us back here tomorrow. For yours truly, Johnny dollar Ware.

[Joe Friday]

Stick your nose up in the air and take a deep one, Johnny.

[Ben Romero]

You smell it?

[Joe Friday]

Well, it's not Kerosene Hall. I don't think it's gasoline either. No, but it's something highly inflammable. The boys of that chemical truck could get it out. Might learn something first. These stores always stock a lot of cleaning fluid, stuff like that. Most of them are not inflammable. Well, how about Johnny look out.

[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 at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram instagram.com greatdetectives From Boise, Idaho, this is your host Adam Graham signing off.

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[Joe Friday]

This is the story of the wad. As a maintenance engineer, he hears things differently. To the untrained ear, everything on his shop floor might sound fine, but he.

[Ben Romero]

Can hear gears grinding or a belt slipping.

[Joe Friday]

So he steps in to fix the problem at hand before it gets out of hand. And he knows Granger's got the right product he needs to get the job done, which is music to his ears. Call clay granger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.