Dragnet: The Big New Years (EP4706)

Summary

Summary of "Dragnet: The Big New Years" (EP4706) – The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode Overview In this gripping episode of Dragnet, titled "The Big New Years," listeners are transported back to the bustling streets of Los Angeles on New Year's Eve. Sergeant Joe Friday and Officer Ben Romero navigate the chaos of the holiday to solve a heinous crime that disrupts the festivities. This authentic case, meticulously documented from official police files, highlights the relentless determination of law enforcement in the face of danger.

Plot Summary The story unfolds on New Year's Eve, a night synonymous with celebration but fraught with potential peril. Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner, Officer Ben Romero, are assigned to the homicide detail amidst thousands of revelers downtown. As they patrol the crowded streets, they handle typical New Year's disturbances—street fights, drunken driving, and noise complaints.

At [06:10], the tranquility of the night is shattered when a call comes in: Officer Jack Connolly has been shot outside the 228 Club. Rushing to the scene, Friday and Romero find Connolly dead, the victim of a brutal attack. Witnesses describe a suspect in a dark suit and hat fleeing the area, but leads are scarce.

Determined to find the killer, Friday and Romero interview patrons and employees of the 228 Club, where owner Ralph Stevens denies any knowledge of the shooter being a patron. Frustration mounts as the investigation stalls, prompting a visit to Connolly's home. There, they encounter his distraught wife, Betty, who remains unaware of her husband's fate.

As the night progresses, a breakthrough arrives when a taxi driver mentions seeing a suspicious man near the 228 Club shortly before the shooting. This leads Friday and Romero to delve into the suspect's background, uncovering connections to narcotics and past criminal activity. Their relentless pursuit eventually points to Harry Talmage, a known drug user with a history of petty theft.

Through meticulous detective work, including checking hotel records and following leads on drug peddlers, Friday and Romero track Talmage to a rundown apartment. A tense confrontation ensues, resulting in Talmage's arrest and confession to Officer Connolly's manslaughter.

Key Characters

• Sergeant Joe Friday: The seasoned detective driven to uphold justice.
• Officer Ben Romero: Friday's reliable and dedicated partner.
• Sergeant Barney Luciek: A fellow officer assisting in the investigation.
• Ralph Stevens: Owner of the 228 Club, whose cooperation proves pivotal.
• Harry Talmage: The suspect whose troubled past leads to the resolution of the case.
• Betty Connolly: The grieving wife of the slain Officer Jack Connolly.

Investigation Highlights

• Initial Response: Friday and Romero's rapid response to Officer Connolly's shooting sets the tone for the investigation. ([05:03])
• Witness Interviews: Gathering testimonies from the crowd and employees at the 228 Club provides crucial descriptions of the suspect. ([07:02])
• Tracking Leads: Utilizing hotel records and narcotics databases, the detectives piece together Talmage's movements and associations. ([17:35])
• Stakeouts and Confrontations: Persistent surveillance and strategic questioning of key individuals lead to Talmage's eventual capture. ([26:18])

Resolution After a relentless pursuit, Sergeant Friday and Officer Romero successfully apprehend Harry Talmage at his apartment on West Hoover Street. Talmage confesses to the manslaughter of Officer Connolly, leading to his trial and subsequent sentencing to six years in the state penitentiary. This resolution underscores the unwavering commitment of law enforcement to seek justice, even amidst personal and professional challenges.

Host's Commentary and Listener Feedback Host Adam Graham provides insightful reflections on the episode, emphasizing the emotional toll on police officers during high-stakes investigations. He highlights the bartender Ralph Stevens as the "second most loathsome character" due to his reluctance to cooperate, which complicates the detectives' efforts.

Graham engages with listener feedback, addressing comments about the episode's ending and its portrayal of crime over decades. He debates the notion that crime has remained unchanged, suggesting that while certain crimes have become rarer, new forms of predatory behavior have emerged, balancing the scale of societal safety.

Notable Quotes

• Sergeant Joe Friday at [02:58]: “It was New Year's Eve. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of Homicide. Special duty.”

• Sergeant Barney Luciek at [10:30]: “I thought he wanted a cab, so I opened the door for him. He just looked at me and said, never mind, or something like that. And then he took off down the street.”

• Sergeant Joe Friday at [16:37]: “Why I killed him.”

• Harry Talmage at [22:57]: “I want him to show up at these meetings, hear the sermons. It could change everything, Sergeant. Could give him a new life, new soul.”

• Adam Graham in Commentary: “It's more helps us emphasize with the police officers and their struggles, which can often turn deadly.”

Conclusion "The Big New Years" is a compelling installment of Dragnet that encapsulates the intensity and procedural rigor of police work during one of the most tumultuous nights of the year. Through authentic dialogue and a well-crafted narrative, the episode offers listeners a window into the challenges faced by law enforcement officers, highlighting themes of justice, perseverance, and the human cost of solving crime.

For those new to The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio, this episode serves as a quintessential example of the Golden Age of Radio detective dramas, blending suspenseful storytelling with character-driven investigation.

Transcript

[Sam]

You can make a difference in someone's.

[Unknown]

Life, including your own, with a job in home care.

[Sam]

These jobs offer flexible schedules, health care, retirement options, and free training. They also provide paid time off and opportunities for overtime. Visit oregonhomecarejobs.com to learn more and apply. That's oregonhomecarejobs.com Sam.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnet. But first, I do want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show by mailing a donation to Adam Graham, P.O. box 15913. That's P.O. box 15913, Boise, Idaho, 83715. You can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.greatdetactives.net now, from March 8, 1951, here is the Big New Year's.

[Unknown]

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed. To protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a homicide detail. It's New Year's Eve in your city and you're on special duty. Thousands of people crowd downtown streets. One of them is a killer. Your job. Find them.

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. Punishment Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

[Joe Friday]

It was New Year's Eve. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of Homicide. Special duty. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Thad Brown, Chief of Detectives. My name's Friday. I was on the way back from dinner and it was 8:35pm when I got to room 42. Homicide.

[Ben Romero]

Joe. Hi, Barney. How is it outside? It's cold.

[Joe Friday]

Not keeping people at home, though. You check the crowds? Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

Been watching her from the window here. Seems bigger than last New Year's. Crazy.

[Joe Friday]

You're on with Ben and me tonight. Is that right?

[Ben Romero]

Uh huh. Thought I was gonna have it off. Wife had a little house party planned and everything.

[Joe Friday]

Well, that's too bad. Maybe next time, huh?

[Ben Romero]

That's what I said last New Year's. Guess we better start moving.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Where's Ben?

[Ben Romero]

He went down the hall a minute.

[Barney Luciek]

Said he'd be right back.

[Ben Romero]

I better take my top coat, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I would if I were you. Nothing forced in the book, is there? Barney, I almost forgot.

[Ben Romero]

Jack Conley called. Having a little party out at his house. Want you, Romero, to drop around when you get off. Said he'd call back. Hi, Joe. Hi.

[Joe Friday]

Everybody ready?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah. Let me grab my overcoat. All right. I just tagged by communications. Switchboards lit up like a Christmas tree. Just like last year. They're starting off strong. Calls coming in with a dozen. I'd like to see it just once. People celebrating New Year's without tearing up half the town.

[Joe Friday]

I get it. Homicide, Friday. Oh, yeah, Jack. Yeah. Well, Barney just mentioned it. Well, we'll try and make it. You know how things are tonight. Yeah, we'll try. Sure. Thanks a lot. With Jack Conley, Ben on his way home. He wants us to drop by his place if we get off early tonight.

[Ben Romero]

Not much chance of that. You ready?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I am. You, buddy? Let's go.

[Ben Romero]

I guess you can't tell we might get a break, huh? The crowds are starting in pretty early. Good chance they'll break and go home right after midnight. That should get us off early.

[Joe Friday]

That was the idea last year, wasn't it, Ben?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah. What time did you get off?

[Joe Friday]

6Am together with Sergeant Barney Luciek, Ben and I left the City hall and started to cruise at the southern end of the central area. As any police officer can tell you, New Year's Eve for him is one of the hardest working nights in the year. This one was no different for us. Within an hour, we had more than a half a dozen calls to check out. Street fights, drunken driving, disturbing the peace. The usual complaints that you'd expect to get when a community of 3 million celebrates New Year's Eve. 9:43pm we were cruising in the area of Alameda and Macy Street.

[Unknown]

Unit 72R at Wilshire in Geneva at 3:11. At 3:11 in KMA 367. Roger, 72R. Unit 112 at 83 Naylor Avenue. See the man, keep the peace. KMA 360.

[Ben Romero]

No stopping him, huh? It's a big nine. Smoke, Joe?

[Joe Friday]

No. No, thanks.

[Unknown]

Attention all units. All units in the vicinity at East Main and Darwin. And Officer?

[Joe Friday]

Municipality. That looks like we got one, huh?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

All units in the vicinity at East Main and Darwin. An officer needs help.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, we better handle it.

[Ben Romero]

All right. The next one to the left. Ben. We can go out, darling. Yeah, I better call him.

[Joe Friday]

80K to Control One Eight. Okay to Control One.

[Ben Romero]

What's the matter?

[Joe Friday]

I guess they're busy. 80K to Control One Eight okay to Control One.

[Unknown]

Standby, 80K. Attention all units. All units in the vicinity. The call to East Main and Darwin is now a shooting.

[Joe Friday]

I guess you better push it then.

[Ben Romero]

Got it down to the floor.

[Unknown]

All units in the vicinity, the call to East Main and Darwin is now a shooting. The call is now code three, KMA 367.

[Ben Romero]

That's it coming up then, East Main.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, there's a crowd there on the corner. I guess you better pull up here, huh? All right, come on.

[Ben Romero]

Over by light pole. Ben. Joe. Man lying on the sidewalk.

[Joe Friday]

You want to check the crowd, Barney?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, okay. Let us through here, please.

[Joe Friday]

Can we get through?

[Ben Romero]

Excuse me.

[Barney Luciek]

Look, would you please get back?

[Ben Romero]

Move back, please. All right, come on.

[Joe Friday]

I wonder if you'd just move along.

[Ben Romero]

Just move along.

[Joe Friday]

Move along. Give us a little room to work.

[Ben Romero]

Thank you.

[Joe Friday]

Please. Ben.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, Joe. Have a look here, huh? No.

[Joe Friday]

That's Jack Conley, man. He's dead. His full name was John Patrick Connolly. Serial number 367 was one of the veteran officers in Central Homicide. He lay face down on the pavement, one of his legs straddling a curbstone. He'd been shot twice at the base of his skull. There were four more bullet wounds in his back. Ben got to a phone, called Homicide and told them what had happened. Two dozen cruiser cars and more than a half a hundred men were immediately dispatched to the scene of the killing. They circled the area for a dozen blocks around and started a door to door search for the killer. Suspicious looking pedestrians were stopped at every street corner and questioned. 10:30pm the ambulance arrived and Jack Conley's body was taken to the morgue along with Thaxter and Bryant from Homicide. Barney Luciek. Ben and I continued checking in the immediate vicinity of the killing. We found no one who'd admit that they actually saw the shooting. Half a dozen people in the crowd told us that they heard the shots and they saw Connolly fall to the pavement. They'd also seen a man standing behind Connolly turn and run down the street right after the shooting. No one had followed him. The man was described as medium build, wearing a dark suit and a dark hat. That's all it could tell us. 11:25pm Ben and I met Barney Luciek back at the car.

[Barney Luciek]

Anything checked out?

[Ben Romero]

Every store in the neighborhood that's open. Not much. How about you?

[Joe Friday]

Well, it's the same. Pretty thin.

[Ben Romero]

Brian and Thaxter turned up a newsboy down the street. He told him he saw the guy in the dark suit running down the street. Man thought he saw the guy come out of this bar here. We heard that, too, Barney. We talked to the bartender. He doesn't recall the man. I must say, I almost forgot. I checked with the office. Mrs. Conley's been calling in. Wants to know where her husband is. I asked Personnel to hold off notifying her.

[Joe Friday]

Something bu fellas would want to tell her.

[Ben Romero]

You knew Connolly pretty well, didn't you?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Long time.

[Ben Romero]

Family man.

[Joe Friday]

Three kids.

[Ben Romero]

Few fellas that want to tell her. I'll call Personnel back.

[Joe Friday]

They can do it. No, it's all right. No. Tell her. 11:40pm Ben and I got in the car and headed out for the home of the slain officer, Jack Conley. The house was on Ralston Avenue, just a few blocks from where Ben lived. We parked the car and started up the front walk. The lights were burning in the living room.

[Ben Romero]

How's it go?

[Joe Friday]

What?

[Ben Romero]

I said it's a lousy job.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Better try it again, huh?

[Ben Romero]

I heard it. Somebody's coming.

[Sam]

Hi, Joe. Ben.

[Ben Romero]

Hello, buddy.

[Sam]

I'm sure glad you could make it. Everybody's here. Come in. Come in.

[Ben Romero]

Okay. Thank you.

[Sam]

I'm still waiting for that wandering husband of mine. If he's not here by midnight, he's going to be in the doghouse for sure. Here, let me take your coat.

[Joe Friday]

No, Betty, that's all right. I wonder if we could go back into the kitchen. We'd like to talk to you.

[Ben Romero]

You stay long?

[Joe Friday]

No, not too long.

[Sam]

Oh, that's too bad. Well, come on back in the kitchen. I'll get you something. Maybe you can drop back later on. Jack should be here by then. You better be. Come on in by the One of you seen Jack?

[Ben Romero]

That's what we wanted to talk to you about, Betty.

[Sam]

What?

[Joe Friday]

You want to sit down? B.

[Sam]

What is it, Jeff?

[Ben Romero]

Tell me.

[Joe Friday]

Well, he had an accident.

[Sam]

Where is he? I want to go see him. How bad an accident?

[Ben Romero]

Pretty bad.

[Sam]

I want to go see him, Joe. If he's hurt, I want to see him. Couldn't be that bad, could it?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sam]

Oh, please, Joe. Please, not dad. Tell me, Joe. Please.

[Joe Friday]

I'm sorry, Betty.

[Sam]

Dear God. Oh, God.

[Ben Romero]

Why don't you give me a hand here, Jill?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. She's white as a sheep.

[Ben Romero]

Be worse when she comes through. We better get a hold of the family doctor.

[Joe Friday]

No, we're going to have to wait. We'll never get through now, huh? Phone lines are probably jammed. It's midnight.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Happy New Year. 12:30am we finally got a hold of the Connolly's family doctor and he told us that he'd be over as quickly as possible. Some of Ben Connolly's relatives at the party said that they'd look after things until the doctor arrived. Ben and I left the house and drove back to the scene of the murder. The house to house check of the entire area was still going on. There was no trace of the killer. 1:30am A low fog moved in over the city. Traffic began to thin out. A little street crowds disappeared. 2:00am the search went on. A little before 2:30, a patrolman on foot located a taxi cab driver in the neighborhood who claimed that he'd seen a man answering the killer's description. Just after the shooting, Ben and I went down the street to talk to the the driver. He sat behind the wheel of his cab. It was especially equipped with shortwave radio to handle calls directly from the taxi company's dispatch office.

[Barney Luciek]

I pass it on for whatever it's worth, Officer, it happened just a minute or two before I picked up my last bear.

[Ben Romero]

What time was that? Do you remember?

[Barney Luciek]

I'm remembering too, and I got it right here on the way, Bill. Yeah, yeah, here we go. 9:48pm I was parked just where I am now. Same old stand. I picked up a fare, drove them to North Main and Sotello, and I came back here. My cab broke down. Lousy distributor. I've been waiting for the repair truck ever since.

[Joe Friday]

Well, just what was it that happened before you picked up that fare here? Was it 9:48, is that right? Yeah.

[Barney Luciek]

9:48. Yeah, well, I was gonna say it was just a minute or two before that. I was parked right here. This guy comes running down the street through the crowd. He was really running too.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Barney Luciek]

He's almost past me when he stopped all of a sudden, turned around and looked at me. I thought he wanted a cab, so I opened the door for him. He just looked at me and said, never mind, or something like that. And then he took off down the street. Maybe he was just a little goofed up, I don't know.

[Ben Romero]

Can you remember what he looked like?

[Barney Luciek]

Oh, about your build, I guess. Medium. Had a hat on. Dark hat, dark suit.

[Joe Friday]

Did you get a look at his face?

[Barney Luciek]

Yeah, he's about 28 or 30. Dark complexion.

[Ben Romero]

Anything else we remember about?

[Barney Luciek]

No, not for sure. He looked like a hundred other moochees down around this neighborhood. Just listen to those Calls come in, huh? New Year's Eve, and I draw a lame cab.

[Joe Friday]

Well, there's nothing else that you remember about this man that you think might help us?

[Barney Luciek]

No, you got it all, Sergeant. Just act a little queer, that's all. Goofed up, probably.

[Joe Friday]

Did you see which way he went when he took off?

[Barney Luciek]

Right down the street that way. Lost himself in the crowd. I couldn't be bothered.

[Ben Romero]

Mm. How about when he came running down the street towards you? Did you happen to notice where he was coming from?

[Barney Luciek]

Matter of fact, yeah. That was just after I heard those gunshots. Of course, I didn't know there were gunshots then. Yeah, Looked to me like he came out of that joint up there, right near where the cop was shot.

[Joe Friday]

Which joint was that?

[Barney Luciek]

The228. That bar up there.

[Joe Friday]

Well, it wasn't much, but it was the only lead we had to go on. Seven persons in the vicinity at the time of the shooting had volunteered the information that the killer had been a recent customer at the 228 Club, the neighborhood tavern. The owner and bartender of the club, a Ralph Stevens, had been questioned twice that night by different officers, and he twice denied that there was any possibility that the killer could have been a patron of his bar. Stevens denial didn't make any more sense than the killing itself. We made arrangements to have the cab driver we interviewed come down to the City hall to check through our mug books for the suspect. By 10am the next morning, the body of the slain homicide officer, Jack Connolly, had been posted. Four bullets were taken from his back, two from the base of his skull. Russ Camp ran the slugs through ballistics, where they were identified as having been fired from a.38 caliber Colt special revolver. 11am we drove back to the 228 Club, where we talked to some of the customers who'd been there the night before. Three of them told us that they'd seen a man answering the general description of the killer in the bar shortly before the shooting. Ben and I went back to the stock room at the rear of the bar and talked to the owner, Ralph Stevens.

[Ben Romero]

Look, how long does this thing have.

[Joe Friday]

To go on, anyway? I told you everything I knew last night.

[Ben Romero]

We know that, Steven. Doesn't seem to jive with what the rest of the witnesses saw, though.

[Joe Friday]

Maybe you better take it up with them. I don't know anything about it.

[Ben Romero]

I got work to do.

[Joe Friday]

And you're on my way there.

[Ben Romero]

Excuse me.

[Joe Friday]

How come you're so sure that the man we want wasn't in your place last night? I'm not on trial here. You asked me what I know and I told you.

[Ben Romero]

You don't mind?

[Joe Friday]

I got work to do. You mind moving over there? We'd appreciate it if you'd cooperate.

[Ben Romero]

All right. If you want to know the truth.

[Joe Friday]

You'Re not good for my business here. Cops never are coming around asking questions. Customers don't like it. It's no good for business. No good at all. A cop was killed last night right outside your front door. And a half a dozen people say that the guy who did it was in here drinking.

[Ben Romero]

I run this place.

[Joe Friday]

It's mine. I say the man wasn't in here.

[Ben Romero]

Still like to know how you're so sure.

[Joe Friday]

I'm getting a little tired of this. I don't have an office down at the City hall to lounge around in.

[Ben Romero]

I got work to do.

[Joe Friday]

How about leaving, huh? You want to get your coat? We can talk to you downtown. Come on. Not before I call my lawyer.

[Ben Romero]

Go ahead and call him. Where's your coat?

[Joe Friday]

Why do we have to have trouble? I haven't got any beasts with you.

[Ben Romero]

No trouble, Stevens. We have to get to the bottom of it, that's all. Like to have you cooperate, maybe.

[Joe Friday]

The guy was in here last night. He came in a couple of times, that's all. I didn't want it to get out. Bad for business, those things. Can't afford it. Keeps customers away. Then the man was in here last night, is that right? I wasn't trying to cover it for him. Hardly know him. I just didn't want it to get out. I got a right to protect my business.

[Ben Romero]

Who is the man?

[Joe Friday]

Harry Talman. She's a hop head. If he did it, it probably wasn't his fault. How do you mean? He was hyped up last night. Uses heroin. He probably didn't mean to shoot. Where do we find him? I wouldn't know if this is right. Old address.

[Ben Romero]

What is it? Fairview hotel.

[Joe Friday]

Try there. 11:35am New Year's Day. We got in touch with Barney Luciek and Tom Bryan from Homicide. And they drove downtown to check at the Fairview Hotel for the suspect. Ben and I finished questioning the owner of the 228 Club. And we went back to the office. 11:58am Barney Luciek and Brian got back.

[Ben Romero]

Barney, what have you got? Fairview Hotel in South Grand. Was that the one?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Did you find it okay?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah. Talked to desk clerk.

[Joe Friday]

Tell him he's registered there.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, he was. Checked out two months ago. No leads.

[Unknown]

You are listening to dragnet a series of authentic case histories documented from official files.

[Joe Friday]

1Pm New Year's Day. After we found that the suspect, Harry Talmage, had checked out of the Fairview Hotel months before, Ben and I went back to the office and ran his name through R and I. The information given us by Ralph Stevens, the owner of the 228Club, was apparently correct. The record on Talmead showed that he was a confirmed user of narcotics. He served two brief terms for illegal possession of narcotics and another short term in the county jail for petty theft. We got out a broadcast and an APB on Talmead. We checked out all his known friends and relatives, the places that he frequented, hotels, boarding houses that he'd stayed at. No leads. With the help of Lt. Walters and narcotics detail, we finally found the trail most likely to lead us to the suspect. The peddlers who were suspected of supplying Talmage with narcotics, they were kept under a 24 hour watch. Three days passed. No results. January 4, 9am Ben and I went to the funeral and burial services for the murdered officer, Jack Conley. 11:00am we got back to the office.

[Ben Romero]

Don't know why, Joe. I guess don't cotton to funerals. Not a cop sp Anyway.

[Joe Friday]

I don't blame you. His wife looked a lot better, didn't she?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, she did bang up good, considering. Merl. Joe. Hi, Barney.

[Joe Friday]

I'll say, Barney.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, Young fellow, you told me about him. He phoned you, Ben. Oh, is that right? You give him the information? Yeah. He wanted to know all about taking the police department examination.

[Joe Friday]

Now, who's that?

[Ben Romero]

One of my neighbor boys. Nice kid. Wants to get on the force. I told him to apply at Room 5, City hall any weekday to make his application in at it. I'm fine, Barney, thanks.

[Joe Friday]

Well, they got the recruiting campaign going now.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, all this month. Taking applications from all over the country.

[Joe Friday]

I'll get it. Homicide, Friday. Oh, yeah, Wallers.

[Ben Romero]

Just a minute.

[Joe Friday]

Okay. A, L, D S O N Donaldson. Okay, fine. Thanks a lot. Lou Walters, Narcotics. Might be something.

[Ben Romero]

What's that?

[Joe Friday]

Well, he got a line on one of the mules who used to push heroin to Talmage. Guy by the name of Donaldson. He's been sounded out. He's ready to talk to us.

[Ben Romero]

This Donaldson was close to Delmadge.

[Joe Friday]

Well, supposedly, yeah.

[Ben Romero]

You know where Talmadge is?

[Joe Friday]

Well, let's ask him. Ben and I left the office and drove to the address on South Alameda where Donaldson, a friend of the murder suspect, was supposed to be staying. Turned out to be a cheap hotel in the Skid row district was next to one of the rescue missions down there. We finally located Donaldson across the street. He was standing on the sidewalk along with four or five other men. They were listening to a small Salvation army band playing outside one of the beer joints.

[Harry Talmage]

I hardly miss any of these sidewalk meetings, Sergeant. Like them. Band music, even listen to the sermons. Do me a lot of good.

[Ben Romero]

Understand you're not pushing junk anymore, Donathon. Is that right?

[Harry Talmage]

You want to call me Big, Sergeant? Name's really John, but everybody calls me Big.

[Ben Romero]

All right.

[Harry Talmage]

No, I haven't been pushing junk, not for months, all through with it.

[Joe Friday]

Well, when's the last time that you saw Harry? Tell me.

[Harry Talmage]

A couple weeks ago. I'm not much for Harry anymore. Like I say, I've been regular at these sidewalk meetings. Hearing the sermon. Changes the way a fellow does things, you know?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Harry Talmage]

Man's gotta turn good sometime during his life. Not getting any younger. 58. I figure it's time I start living by the word. Say, that's nice music, isn't it?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Do you have any idea where we might find Talmy Janell?

[Harry Talmage]

I might have a few ideas on it. I don't know. Say, I guess neither one of you fellas you smell. No, no, don't bother you, does it?

[Ben Romero]

No, go ahead.

[Harry Talmage]

I know the last boarding house Harry stayed at, if that'll help. Any place on 12th Street. I can give you the address.

[Joe Friday]

Well, is he still there, do you know?

[Harry Talmage]

I don't think he is, no. Matter of fact, I'm sure he's not. Wish Harry'd come around and see me. Like to get him interested in these sidewalk meetings. Getting listening to the sermons might help him. Did an awful lot for me.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. Will you say that you saw Talmadge about two weeks ago?

[Harry Talmage]

Well, not quite two weeks ago. It was a day after Christmas. Came down to my hotel and wanted some money. I couldn't give him any. That's when he told me he was moving. Going to some rooming house up around the City hall section up there.

[Ben Romero]

Did he mention any address?

[Harry Talmage]

Not that I recollect, no. That sure is nice music, isn't it?

[Joe Friday]

Well, how about some of his other friends, Biggs? You think they might be able to help us?

[Harry Talmage]

Well, Duke might help you. Harry and old Duke are still great friends. Duke sees them more than I do.

[Ben Romero]

Where do we find Duke?

[Harry Talmage]

Well, you know the penny arcade down in South Maine? Right down from the train depot there? Yeah, that's where Duke works. He's a janitor there. I've Been trying to get Duke to come to the sidewalk meetings too. He sure could stand it, old Duke.

[Joe Friday]

Well, thanks very much, Biggs.

[Harry Talmage]

Not at all, Sergeant. Always glad to help out. Now, look at that now. All out of snow. Say, you couldn't see your way clear, could you?

[Ben Romero]

There you go, Big.

[Harry Talmage]

That's sure Christian. Love you, Sergeant. I'll handle this. Just like a personal loan.

[Ben Romero]

That's all right, Biggs. Don't say anything about us talking to you though, huh? Not to anyone.

[Harry Talmage]

No, sir, I won't. You can trust me. Say, when you see Harry, give him a message, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Well, what's that?

[Harry Talmage]

You tell him to come and see me. I want him to show up at these meetings, hear the sermons. It could change everything, Sergeant. Could give him a new life, new soul. Brand new soul for Harry. Think of that.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I could use 1. 3pm Tuesday, January 4th. We drove down to the Penny arcade on South Main. Harry Talmage's friend Duke wasn't there. The manager of the place gave us his home address and we checked it out. Duke wasn't there either. We staked out at the place for the rest of the afternoon. Duke failed to show. At 6 o' clock that night, Barney Luciek and Brian from Homicide came out and relieved us. Ben and I had dinner at Johnny Copen's and then we went back to the office. 7:20pm.

[Ben Romero]

Wanna grab that, Joe? Yeah, I got it.

[Joe Friday]

Homicide. Friday, Ms. Lucheck.

[Ben Romero]

Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah.

[Ben Romero]

Barney Thomas's friend just showed up here. We're talking to him now.

[Joe Friday]

Will he tell you anything?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, he's got a pencil.

[Barney Luciek]

Better write this down.

[Joe Friday]

All right. Wait a minute. Just a second. All right, go ahead.

[Ben Romero]

1727 West Hoover, apartment three, it was.

[Joe Friday]

1727 West Hoover. Is that right? Yeah, apartment three. What's the pitch?

[Barney Luciek]

All right, tell me.

[Ben Romero]

Duke says he's there now.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Barney. Thanks. Bye.

[Ben Romero]

Lucheck?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

What's he got?

[Joe Friday]

Harry Talmage supposed to be at this address. Ben and I got in the car and drove out to the West Hoover street address where we met Luciek and Brian. 1727 was a small two story apartment house, Spanish stucco in style. Apartment three was at the rear of the first floor. All right, little chick, you want to pick up Brian? And you cover the back.

[Ben Romero]

All right, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Come on. Ben, what's going on? Yes, up the stairs, huh?

[Ben Romero]

Number three.

[Joe Friday]

Okay, I'll come.

[Ben Romero]

No sound inside. Doors open?

[Joe Friday]

No. Let's have a look.

[Ben Romero]

No, it's empty.

[Joe Friday]

Want to try the bedroom? I'll check the kitchen.

[Ben Romero]

Joe. Joe.

[Joe Friday]

In Here. All right, Tommy. Watch then.

[Ben Romero]

Got a gun, Joe?

[Harry Talmage]

Grab it.

[Joe Friday]

All right. You're like cop. Come on, drop it.

[Ben Romero]

Stop it.

[Harry Talmage]

My arm.

[Ben Romero]

I got it, Joe.

[Joe Friday]

All right, come on. On your feet. All right, Gammon, back here. All right, come on.

[Ben Romero]

Hold still.38 revolver, Joe. Cold special. All right.

[Joe Friday]

How about it, Talmage?

[Ben Romero]

It's mine.

[Barney Luciek]

What of it?

[Ben Romero]

Where's your coat? I don't know.

[Joe Friday]

Why'd you kill him?

[Ben Romero]

Cause I wanted to, that's all.

[Barney Luciek]

He was a cop.

[Ben Romero]

Is that your only reason? I told you he was a cop. What's the difference?

[Joe Friday]

A big difference, mister.

[Ben Romero]

Why I killed him.

[Barney Luciek]

It's just one cop less. What's the difference?

[Joe Friday]

Ask his family. They'll tell you.

[Unknown]

The story you've just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent.

On March 26, trial was held in Superior Court Department 86, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Harold Wesley Talmage was found guilty of manslaughter by jury trial and was sentenced to the state penitentiary. He was paroled after serving six years in prison. 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]

Stay tuned for counterspy More Good Mystery on NBC.

[Unknown]

You can make a difference in someone's life, including your own, with a job in home care. These jobs offer flexible schedules, health care, retirement options and free training. They also provide paid time off and opportunities for overtime. Visit oregonhomecarejobs.com to learn more and apply. That's oregonhomecarejobs.com.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. A good look at New Year's from the perspective of police officers for whom it's a very dangerous and challenging holidays. It's one of those episodes which isn't going to have a PSA effect. No one's going to listen to that whose tendency is to get drunk or high and ruin their lives and say, maybe I won't do that. But it more helps us emphasize with the police officers and their struggles, which can often turn deadly. I will say that the close second for the most loathsome character in this story is the bartender. He's literally willing to withhold information. The police need to find a killer to protect his reputation. The ironic thing is that from all accounts, if you're the type of person who goes to his bar, you probably aren't going to be too rattled by it. At least according to him, the killer was a fairly obvious narcotics user. So Nobody who went there would have been surprised that things turned out as they did. Well, now we turn to listener comments and feedback and we go to YouTube where Prince Adam comments regarding the big couple. That's how it ends. Well, yeah, I'm not certain I understand the objection to the ending of that one. Both the husband and wife were caught and after trial they were sentenced to prison. That's a pretty standard Dragnet ending. So yeah, I'm not certain I understand the problem with that one. There are a few Dragnet endings which are anticlimactic or puzzling, but 99 plus percent of the time it's pretty well established how those things end. Then we have a comment on YouTube. A listener writes, sadly, nothing much has changed in 75 or so years. And I guess, particularly in regards to the big crime, my answer on whether things have gotten better or worse is generally yes. And so I would disagree and say that things have gotten better and worse. And you can think of a whole lot of things when it comes to the crimes in that episode where we've gotten better with some of our awareness. And the type of crime committed in that episode is, is quite rare relatively. But at the same time, there are so many other forms and methods being taken by predatory people today that arguably it's gotten much worse. So while I might disagree on the exact formulation in the net, the commenter may be right. All right, well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to go ahead and thank Stephanie, currently supporting the podcast at the shamus level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Stephanie. Well, that will do it for this week and next week we will not have new episodes because of a recording break. However, we will be bringing you some great programs from our archives. Our regular programming resumes on Memorial Day with the Adventures of the Falcon. Be sure and watch both video theater Coming up the weekend of Memorial Day and then coming May 28, it is our summer series which I'm really excited about on the Amazing World of Radio. We will be bringing you the Summer of Robert Louis Stevenson featuring classic stories like the strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Treasure island, and so much more. And you can join us for the Summer of Robert Louis Stevenson starting on May 28th at amazing.greatdetactives.net or on our YouTube channel. In the meantime, send your comments to box13reatdetectives.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.