The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio — Dragnet: "The Big In-Laws" (EP4834) Podcast Host: Adam Graham | Episode Date: October 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features an original broadcast of Dragnet from August 23, 1951, titled "The Big In-Laws.” Detectives Friday and Romero investigate a coordinated string of hijackings targeting merchandise-laden trucks in Los Angeles. The case takes a personal turn, as the pressures of family life and "in-laws" factor into both the detectives’ lives and the motivations of the criminals they pursue. After the dramatization, host Adam Graham provides commentary, context, and listener feedback.

Key Discussion Points and Segments

1. Opening & Premise (01:58–03:00)

• The narrator introduces the episode as an actual case from LAPD files.
• Main case: A series of sophisticated truck hijackings—with thieves making the cargo and drivers disappear without a trace. Detectives must “stop them.”

  “The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.” (01:58, Narrator)

2. The Home Front: Romero's In-Law Woes (03:19–04:11)

• Romero arrives at work stressed about his house being overrun by his in-laws, highlighting the ongoing theme of domestic pressure.

  “Did you have an argument with your wife in-laws? They're visiting again. Six of them.” (03:39, Ben Romero)

3. The Hijacking Investigation (04:12–08:33)

• Friday and Romero interview Frank Burroughs, a truck driver who was hijacked. He describes being forced by the hijackers to wear blackout goggles and then being transferred between vehicles. Suspicion initially falls on Burroughs due to a past hijacking arrest, but his alibi clears.

  "Well, it's their cargo. A whole load of whiskey. If somebody hijacks it, I figured the company ought to be the first to know." (07:10, Frank Burroughs)

4. Pattern Revealed / Another Hijacking (08:33–10:49)

• The detectives brief their captain, noting the sophistication of the gang and the lack of evidence.
• A new hijacking is reported—this time, the cargo is toothbrushes, not liquor, deepening the mystery.

5. The Breakthrough: Eyewitness Leads (10:49–15:43)

• At a golf practice range near the scene, Fred Garrison and his son Dave offer key observations. Dave jots the first three numbers of a suspicious sedan’s license plate: 7T7.
• The detectives request DMV records matching the partial plate, eventually narrowing it down to 23 local cars.

6. Closing In On a Suspect (15:43–17:51)

• At the address of a Walter R. Perry, detectives find a gray sedan and blacked-out goggles matching those used in the crimes.
• Perry's wife, Leona, and mother-in-law are interviewed, revealing that he’s often away at odd hours, allegedly as a jewelry salesman.

7. Family Turmoil & Motivations (19:12–22:28)

• A heated exchange between Leona and her mother (Mrs. Burt) exposes longstanding tensions and dissatisfaction, hinting at Perry's personal grievances.

8. Evidence & Arrests (22:28–23:34)

• Search of Perry’s property uncovers hijacked goods. Two accomplices are found and arrested with further stolen merchandise in their possession.

9. The Emotional Wrap-Up (23:34–27:12)

• After Perry is apprehended, an interrogation reveals his motivation: years of humiliation and pressure from his wife’s mother.

  “Nobody in the world could make me go for a hijack deal. But she could. ... I went out to get enough money to rub in her face. Enough to make her choke on me. You can hate somebody for that.” (25:07, Walter Perry)

• The confrontation between Perry, Leona, and her mother is deeply emotional, ending in mutual frustration and unresolved resentment.

10. Epilogue & Sentencing (27:12–28:01)

• The narrator states Perry was convicted of first-degree robbery and sentenced to five years to life; his accomplices received similar sentences.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Domestic Strain:

  “Kids screaming, dog tearing up the front room. No privacy. I don’t know what I’m gonna do.” (03:53, Ben Romero)

• Suspect’s Frustration:

  “You asked me a lot of questions. How about it? Can I ask you one? ... Why do you think I did it? Why I got mixed up in this?” (25:02, Walter Perry)

• Mother-in-law’s Judgment:

  “That husband of Leo’s has done something and these policemen are after him. ... I should have left and taken you with me the day it started. Walter’s a truck driver. It’s all you’ll ever be.” (20:20–20:43, Mrs. Burt)

• On Perspective:

  “I just thinking about it. ... Those in laws of mine. ... Guess I hadn't got it half bad.” (27:01, Ben Romero)

Host Commentary & Listener Feedback

Adam Graham's Reflections (29:08–32:19)

• Adam Graham notes the episode’s intertwining of family drama and crime, relating the domestic scenes to contemporary reality TV or talk show schadenfreude:

  "Romero's reacting to other people's family troubles the same way that people in the 90s did when they watched those sort of daytime talk shows." (29:35, Adam Graham)

• Graham sympathizes somewhat with Perry’s predicament but strongly rejects the notion that family pressure is justification for crime:

  “Lots of people have overbearing, nagging mother-in-laws ... but most of these guys don’t start hijacking liquor.” (30:10, Adam Graham)

• He draws a contrast with other detective dramas, noting that Dragnet focuses on realism and justice, not poetic retribution against difficult in-laws.

Listener Comments

• Highlights positive feedback from listeners on previous Dragnet episodes and clarity on available Philip Marlowe content.

Patreon Shout-Out

• Thanks Alan, Patreon supporter since February 2024.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening/Case Setup: 01:58
• Romero’s In-Law Troubles: 03:19
• Hijacking Victim Interview: 04:12
• Eyewitness Leads: 10:49
• Goggles Found, Perry’s House: 15:43
• Family Discussion/Confrontation: 19:12–22:28
• Warehouse Evidence Found: 22:28
• Interrogation and Confession: 25:02
• Sentencing/Epilogue: 27:12
• Host Commentary Begins: 29:08

Final Thoughts

“The Big In-Laws” represents classic Dragnet storytelling—with a methodical investigation, human-scale motivations, and insight into the personal toll of work and family. The episode’s title refers cleverly to both the detectives’ and the criminal’s family problems, blending domestic humor and crime drama for a uniquely memorable installment.

For more episodes and archive access, visit The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio