Dragnet: The Big Story Man (EP4889)

Summary

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The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: Dragnet: The Big Story Man (EP4889)
Air Date: January 15, 2026
Host: Adam Graham

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Episode Overview

In this episode of The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio, Adam Graham presents a classic episode of Dragnet from October 18, 1951: "The Big Story Man." The drama follows Sergeants Joe Friday and Ben Romero as they attempt to solve a string of safe burglaries targeting Los Angeles churches. The detectives apprehend three suspects, but struggle to secure convictions—particularly with Charles Bryson, a career criminal who proves slippery in court. This episode illustrates the painstaking work involved in both gathering and presenting scientific evidence, as well as the challenges law enforcement face when the legal system protects defendants’ rights.

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Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

1. Opening the Case: The Church Burglaries

[03:01–05:15]

• Joe Friday and Ben Romero are assigned to investigate a series of safe burglaries at city churches.
• The detectives apprehend three men—Charles Bryson, Tony Miller, and Henderson—all with criminal records.
• Initial interrogations reveal Bryson is evasive, denying involvement and spinning a story about trying to reform Miller, his sister’s fiancé.

Quote:

“You lied to us once already tonight.” —Joe Friday to Charles Bryson [05:15]

Bryson insists:

“I haven’t got anything to hide. I just don’t want to involve a lot of innocent people, that’s all.” —Bryson [05:55]

2. The “Story Man” Defense

[06:03–08:21]

• Bryson tells a rehearsed tale, claiming he was at the church to stop Miller and Henderson, not participate.
• Detectives doubt his account, noting inconsistencies and Bryson’s criminal past.

Quote:

“I think you’re a liar.” —Joe Friday [08:21]

3. Building the Case with Forensics

[09:24–12:55]

• Crime Lab Technician Lee Jones reviews the physical evidence: burglary tools, paint transfer, and shoe prints.
• Detailed tool marks and paint samples conclusively match the tools to six church burglaries.
• Footprints and shoe pattern analysis further strengthen the case.

Quote:

“There aren’t two identical pinch bars in the world that could leave the same exact markings…” —Lee Jones [10:09]

Lee emphasizes the uniqueness of physical evidence:

“If you can place an object at the scene of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt, then don’t go thrashing around looking for an object that’s an exact duplicate…there are no two things in this world exactly and identically alike.” —Lee Jones [11:43]

4. Trial and Legal Obstacles

[12:17–13:51]

• Despite strong evidence, the prosecution cannot reveal Bryson’s criminal record in court.
• Miller and Henderson are convicted; Bryson’s plausible demeanor and rehearsed story persuade the jury to acquit.
• The detectives are frustrated to see “the worst of the three criminals go free.”

Quote:

“The biggest obstacle…was that the prosecution…could not call to the attention of the jury Bryson’s previous criminal record…To them…he was presented as a private citizen with as much integrity…and as clean of any previous guilt as you or your neighbor.” —Narrator [13:46]

5. A New Crime Spree

[15:19–17:26]

• Months later, similar burglaries plague chain stores in LA; the M.O. matches Bryson.
• Suspicion grows, but there’s no proof Bryson is back in town.

Quote:

“The only known burglars in our records who operate like Bryson are either in jail or out of town or they’re dead…Bryson’s the only strong lead we got.” —Ben Romero [17:16]

6. Mail Watch and a Break in the Case

[18:01–19:57]

• Detectives request a mail watch at the post office, catching a letter from Bryson (using an alias) addressed to his imprisoned former accomplice.
• Bryson is eventually spotted collecting mail, confirming his return to LA.

7. Surveillance and Innovative Forensics

[20:45–23:16]

• Bryson is placed under 24/7 surveillance but commits no crimes for a week.
• Lee Jones introduces anthracene powder—a colorless substance that only glows under ultraviolet light—to invisibly mark Bryson’s tools and clothing.

Quote:

“Crooks and chorus girls have one thing in common. Yeah, they show up better when you put them under the right kind of lights.” —Lee Jones [23:01]

8. Sting Operation and Arrest

[23:53–28:31]

• Bryson is briefly arrested for speeding; detectives use the opportunity to locate and treat his burglary tools with anthracene.
• When a drugstore is hit, evidence at the scene glows under UV light, matching Bryson’s tools and footprints.
• Detectives catch Bryson red-handed; the powder reveals incriminating traces all over him.

Quote:

“Lit up like a Christmas tree, Joe—it’s all over him, head to foot.” —Ben Romero [27:26]

Bryson, defeated:

“What am I gonna say happened this time?” —Bryson [28:09]

Friday, unsympathetic:

“What are you gonna say to the jury this time?” —Joe Friday [28:21]

9. Case Resolution

[28:31–END]

• Bryson is convicted as a habitual criminal, sentenced to life in the state penitentiary.

Quote:

“He was sentenced to spend the rest of his natural life in the state penitentiary.” —Narrator [29:40]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lee Jones on the power of physical evidence:
  “Any microscope will tell you there are no two things in this world exactly and identically alike. I don’t care if it’s a pair of shoes, a gun, a crowbar, or your two front teeth.” [11:43]
• Bryson’s slippery persona convincing the jury:
  “Bryson had a good personality and a fast line of talk. It wasn’t hard to see how he could convince a jury that he was only an innocent bystander.” —Joe Friday [13:46]
• Dramatic forensic reveal:
  “Lit up like a Christmas tree, Joe—it’s all over him, head to foot.” —Ben Romero [27:26]

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Host Adam Graham’s Commentary

[30:48–40:49]

• Adam draws parallels between this story and other Dragnet episodes—recurring narrative devices and real-life similarities among cases.
• Discusses Jack Webb’s creative frustrations in the 1950s with finding fresh plots after hundreds of episodes.
• Explains the use of a repertory cast in old radio, highlighting the talents of actors like Virginia Gregg, not as a cost-saving measure, but for reliability and excellence.
• Fields listener comments, noting audience appreciation for both the stories and cast performances in radio/TV detective drama.

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Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Time | |-------------------------------------------|------------| | Dragnet episode begins | 03:01 | | Interrogating Bryson | 04:22–08:21| | At the Crime Lab: Building the Case | 09:24–12:55| | The Trial and Bryson’s Acquittal | 13:32–13:51| | New Burglaries and Mail Watch | 15:19–19:57| | Surveillance and Use of Anthracene | 20:45–23:16| | Burglary, Arrest, and Forensic Reveal | 25:07–28:31| | Case Outcome and Sentencing | 28:31–29:40| | Adam Graham’s Commentary | 30:48–40:49|

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Conclusion

This classic Dragnet episode dramatically demonstrates both the doggedness of police work and the frustrating realities of the legal system, where a “story man” criminal can exploit jury sympathies and procedural rules to escape justice—at least temporarily. Ultimately, careful surveillance and innovative forensic techniques restore equilibrium. Adam Graham’s thoughtful commentary connects the episode’s themes to the broader history of radio drama and audience expectations, while also recognizing the routine similarities in real criminal investigations depicted over Dragnet’s many years.

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Transcript

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[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 are 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 and you can support the show on a one time basis by mailing a donation to Adam Graham, P.O. box 15913. That's P.O. box 15913, Boise, ID 83715. And I want to thank Laura and Kenneth and Carl and Carolyn for sending donations. That way you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. Going to patreon.greatdetectives.net and I want to thank Denise for upgrading her support to the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month from the shamus level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Denise. But now, from October 18, 1951, here is the big story, man.

[Narrator]

The story you're about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a burglary detail. A dozen churches in your city are victimized by a team of experienced safe burglars. You track the suspects for weeks. You finally appreciate three men. Your job.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Convict them.

[Narrator]

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.

[Detective Joe Friday]

It was Sunday, March 5th. It was cloudy in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A burglary detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Wisdom. My name's Friday. I was on the way back from the Record Bureau and it was 11:30pm when I got to room 25A, the interrogation room. Excuse me, Ben.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Joe, got a minute?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah, sure.

[Charles Bryson]

Wait here.

[Narrator]

Bryson.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Back in a minute, all right? Yeah.

[Charles Bryson]

Let's go out in the hall, huh? Mm.

[Detective Joe Friday]

How you doing with Bryson? Did he tell you anything?

[Detective Ben Romero]

No, I won't admit a thing. How about the other two men?

[Detective Joe Friday]

No, nothing. They're sitting tight, waiting for their lawyer to show up. Had all three of them check through R&I. Bryson's a two time loser. Burglary GTA. His two partners serve time for robbery.

[Detective Ben Romero]

We shouldn't have too much trouble putting them away. We got a good enough collection of physical evidence.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, maybe.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Heard from the crime lab yet?

[Detective Joe Friday]

No, not yet. I'd feel a lot better about it if we'd get Bison the cop out.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Let's try him again, huh?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, might as well.

[Charles Bryson]

Nothing else.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Go ahead.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Keep your seat. Bryson, got a few more questions for you.

[Charles Bryson]

Oh, excuse me. I thought you had it all squared away by now. I thought you're gonna say I could leave by now.

[Detective Joe Friday]

No, afraid not. Bryson, you haven't even given us a story yet.

[Charles Bryson]

Well, I told you I didn't have anything to do with it. It seems pretty obvious I didn't. I thought you'd take my word for it.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Can you think of any reason why we should? You lied to us once already tonight.

[Charles Bryson]

I didn't lie to you. I told you the truth. I. I didn't break into that church. I didn't have anything to do with it.

[Detective Ben Romero]

On the way in here, we asked you if you'd ever been arrested with told us. No. Our Record Bureau says you're a two time loser.

[Charles Bryson]

I'm sorry about that, Sergeant. I really am. When you picked me up, I guess I got a little nervous. I didn't mean to lie to you. I was just a little mixed up.

[Detective Joe Friday]

I guess you've had a little time to settle down. You ought to be able to tell us your story. Now just relax and take your time, huh? Rising.

[Charles Bryson]

Well, what did the Other two fellows tell you? Miller and Henderson.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, what difference did that make to you?

[Charles Bryson]

Well, it might make a lot of difference.

[Detective Joe Friday]

No, you just tell us your story. That's all we ask. What were you doing at the scene of the burglary? What business did you have there if you weren't mixed up in it? You got nothing to hide?

[Charles Bryson]

I haven't got anything to hide. I just don't want to involve a lot of innocent people, that's all.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Anything you tell us is going to help you, you know that. All right, how about it?

[Charles Bryson]

All right, sir. It's strictly confidential. One of those other fellas you picked up tonight, the dark head fella, his name's Miller, Tony Miller. He's engaged to marry my sister.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, well, what's that got to do with him?

[Charles Bryson]

Now, please, give me a chance.

[Detective Joe Friday]

All right.

[Charles Bryson]

I'd like to lay it all out. Go ahead. Well, ever since my sister got engaged to Mill, I've been worried about it. I never liked him to begin with. Lately, I've been keeping an eye on Miller. Him and that friend of his. Henderson?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Charles Bryson]

I knew they were up to something. And then I read in the paper about that string of church burglaries that guys breaking into churches and opening up the saves. Well, I had an idea as Miller and his friend.

[Detective Ben Romero]

How do you mean, Bryson? What made you think it was him?

[Charles Bryson]

I had an idea, that's all. I couldn't prove anything. It was just a hunch.

[Detective Ben Romero]

You must have had some reason to suspect them.

[Charles Bryson]

Nothing definite.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

No.

[Charles Bryson]

I just knew something was wrong, that they were up to something. Well, then, early tonight, I saw a friend of Tony Miller's at one of.

[Detective Joe Friday]

The bars in the neighborhood.

[Charles Bryson]

I talked to him a while and he finally told me that Miller and Henderson were out working a deal. Said they were gonna break into a church over on Eat street and knock over the city.

[Detective Joe Friday]

How come this friend of Miller's let you in on it?

[Charles Bryson]

Well, I guess he thought I was a pretty close friend of Tony's. He knew Tony was gonna marry my sister. Anyway, when I found out about it, I got over to that church as fast as I could. I wanted to find Miller and Henderson and try and talk him out of it. I didn't want any guy who was gonna marry my sister getting into trouble like that. You know, maybe going to jail for burglary.

[Detective Joe Friday]

No, Miller's been in jail before. I suppose you knew that.

[Charles Bryson]

Yeah, I knew it, but that was before he was engaged to my sister.

[Detective Ben Romero]

You met Miller and Henderson outside the church? No.

[Charles Bryson]

I was too late. They'd already broken into the place. So I went around the back of the church and I saw one of the stained glass windows was broken where they'd gotten in. I climbed up on the sill there and I could see him working inside some kind of a small back room. They're working on the safe.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Both of them?

[Charles Bryson]

Miller and Henderson.

[Detective Joe Friday]

That's all. What'd you do then?

[Charles Bryson]

Why, I tried to talk them out of it. They wouldn't listen.

[Detective Joe Friday]

I suppose you can prove your story. I mean, that friend you met in the bar, the one who tipped you.

[Charles Bryson]

Off about the burglary.

[Detective Joe Friday]

I guess he'd be willing to back up your story.

[Charles Bryson]

Well, I'm not sure, Sergeant. He might lie. He might not want to get involved.

[Detective Ben Romero]

How about Miller and Henderson? They'll back it up, won't they? If you weren't involved in the deal, there wouldn't be any reason for him to implicate you. Wouldn't?

[Charles Bryson]

Well, sure they would. Tony. Miller thinks it's my fault he's in jail. He hates me. You can't take his word for anything. Probably the first thing he'd do is lie about it. And Henderson, too.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, and who you got to corroborate your story?

[Charles Bryson]

Well, maybe nobody, but it's the truth. I swear to you, it's the truth. I'll tell the same thing in court if I have to. They gotta believe me.

[Detective Ben Romero]

You're asking a lot, Lesnie.

[Charles Bryson]

That's the way it happens, so help me.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Charles Bryson]

Now tell me the truth, Sergeant. You know I didn't have a hand in it. If it goes to court, they couldn't convict me, could they? Come on, what do you think?

[Detective Joe Friday]

I think you're a liar. To the working detective, the one logical way to appraise a known criminal is by his record. You estimate him the same way you check a particular make of automobile, a racehorse or a radio set by past performance. By refusing to buy his trumped up story, we didn't figure that we were doing the suspect, Charles Bryson, an injustice. Bryson was 37 years old. He'd spent 13 of those 37 years in prison, either the county jail or the state penitentiary. His criminal record dated back to the time he was 20 years old. Besides serving numerous shorter terms for lesser offenses in the county jail, Bryson had spent two terms in the state penitentiary for burglary. Despite the efforts of the probation officers, the adult authority and the rehabilitation officials to help him, he seemed content to go along in his criminal career. In this particular case, the series of Church burglaries. We had good reason to believe that Bryson and his two accomplices, Miller and Henderson, were the guilty men. All three of them were booked at the main jail on suspicion of 459pc. The next morning, Ben and I checked in at the crime lab.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Lee Jones, you around? Yeah, I'm here.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Come on back.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, how about that? They gave the place a new coat of paint.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah, sure needed it.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Good morning, fellas.

[Detective Ben Romero]

How you doing?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Lee, that set of burglary tools those thieves were using in that church last night. Just finished checking them over. Might have two or three things for you.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What do you got, Lee?

[Charles Bryson]

Have a look over here.

[Narrator]

All right.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Fine set of tools. I take it the thieves had a lot of practice.

[Detective Joe Friday]

All three of them had records. How about some of the other physical evidence?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

You got one thing at a time, Joe. First of all, these tools here. Small sledge, these three jimmies, pinch bar and a screwdriver. I think we can tie them in with at least six of those church burglaries. I think we can do it for certain.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Good enough for three convictions?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

I think so, if the jury's listening.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, how you got it worked out, Lee? Tool markings?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

That's part of it, yeah. Why don't you take a look at this pinch bar here? They did a lot of their work with this. I guess I don't have to tell you there aren't two identical pinch bars in the world that could leave the same exact markings on a piece of woodwork or on a safe. There aren't a pair of tools in the world that leave the same markings on anything.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, we know. But can you show a jury positively that the thieves used this pinch bar here on six of the jobs they pulled?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

That's the idea. I compared specimen markings of every one of these tools against the markings made at the point of entry on six of the churches these thieves broke into. In every case, the markings match perfectly. These are the tools that made them.

[Detective Joe Friday]

No doubt about it.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

The screwdriver, this set of window jimmies, and the pinch bar.

[Detective Ben Romero]

It sure won't hurt our case any. Get anything else, Link?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

I examined the end of the pinch bar under the microscope, checked the screwdriver and Jimmy's tool. The tips of each one of them are contaminated with particles of paint. Different kinds of paint. I've already compared these paint transfers with samples of paint taken from the exterior of those churches that were broken into. Each one of them, they match all the way. The color of the paint, the age, degree of oxidation, the Lead content compares perfectly. Now, come over here.

[Charles Bryson]

Something else.

[Detective Ben Romero]

What you got there?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

These are the shoes the two men you found inside the church were wearing. These are the foot impressions the boys from Layton Prince lifted off the floor in front of the safe inside the church.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Oh, I see.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

The linoleum on that church floor showed up the dust impressions of the feet Pretty good.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Did you make the prints?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

The boy from Leighton Prince did, yeah. Good impressions.

[Narrator]

See here?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

General size of the shoe. The make heel impressions. The wear pattern on the sole here. The whole general characteristics of both pair of shoes matches up to a T.

[Detective Joe Friday]

How much is that going to mean to a jury, Lee?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Well, it'll mean a lot. It's the truth. It's the same thing I've been telling you. It's the same thing I'd like to tell every cop in the department. If you can place an object at the scene of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt, then don't go thrashing around looking for an object that's an exact duplicate. Don't play hawkshaw. Any microscope will tell you there are no two things in this world exactly and identically alike. I don't care if it's a pair of shoes, a gun, a crowbar, or your two front teeth. Now, that's the way it lines up to me. Think you're gonna have trouble?

[Detective Ben Romero]

I don't know, Lee. We shouldn't have.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

You got the three of them right at the scene of the crime. That ought to be enough for the court.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, I hope so.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

You don't sound sure.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, Lee, there's only one time I'm sure about thieves like Bryson. Yeah, when they check him in at San Quentin. Two days later, Charles Bryson and his two accomplices, Henderson and Miller, were arraigned in municipal court and a date set for their preliminary hearing. Four days later, the preliminary hearing was held, and the three of them were bound over for arraignment in Superior Court. In the weeks that followed before their arraignment and Superior Court trial, Ben and I worked along with the District Attorney's office, preparing the case against the three men, taking statements, running down additional evidence, checking and rechecking, piecing together the facts which we hoped would earn a conviction for each of the criminals. We weren't positive that had happened. The strongest part of our case was going to come out of the crime lab. The testimony of Lee Jones. And we knew as well as Lee did that, generally speaking, juries are not too much in sympathy with scientific fact when it has to do with physical evidence. Generally, they don't follow technical cases too well. We also knew that the three defendants had a good lawyer, a clever one. Getting convictions wasn't going to be easy. The trial opened in Superior Court June 2nd. Ben and I testified when we were called on. On the morning of June 9, the jury retired to deliberate. Late that afternoon, we got a call from the hall of Justice. Yes?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Mitty.

[Charles Bryson]

Mm.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Charles Bryson]

Both of them, huh? I see.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Huh.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Well, that's life, I guess.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Thanks. Jury's back, Joe.

[Detective Ben Romero]

They came up with a verdict.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What's the story?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Henderson and Miller. They found them both guilty. First degree burglary.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah. What about Bryson?

[Detective Ben Romero]

They let him go.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, maybe it was no great shock to us, but after the time and effort we put in on the case, it was a disappointment. The worst of the three criminals had been set free. At the trial, Bryson had taken the stand and told the court the same cock and bull story he told Ben and I. That he'd gone to the church, the scene of the burglary, to plead with Henderson and Miller not to commit the crime. Bryson had a good personality and a fast line of talk. It wasn't hard to see how he could convince a jury that he was only an innocent bystander. The biggest obstacle that stood in the way of convicting Bryson was that the prosecution, the district attorney, according to law, could not call to the attention of the jury Bryson's previous criminal record, especially his two prior convictions for burglary. To them, because of the limitations of the law, he was presented as a private citizen with as much integrity and as clean of any previous guilt as you or your neighbor. Henderson and Miller were committed to the state penitentiary to serve sentences as prescribed by law. And Charles Bryson, shortly after the trial, left the city. Two months passed. Saturday, August 8th, I started on my vacation. Two weeks later, on August 22nd, I checked back in for work. Hi, Joe. It's good to see you.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Hi, Jim.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What's been doing? Oh, not too much.

[Charles Bryson]

How'd the vacation go?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Oh, pretty good, thanks. Mother and I went up north to visit some relatives up in Marin County. It was a nice trip for her. She hadn't been feeling too well, you know.

[Charles Bryson]

Oh, it's too bad. Get any fishing done?

[Narrator]

A little.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Detective Joe Friday]

That's sure beautiful. Country up there has been around? No, no, he took off today.

[Charles Bryson]

He's been putting in some full days.

[Detective Joe Friday]

While you've been gone.

[Charles Bryson]

Oh, that's so.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Anything special doing? Oh, nothing too big. String of chain store burglaries south end of town. I've been working along with Ben. Yeah. Giving you much trouble? It's been going a couple of weeks. Not getting any better. I begin to feel the pressure a little. How's it stand? Any leads on a suspect? Just one.

[Charles Bryson]

Yeah.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Guy by the name of Charles Bryson. When our suspect, Charles Bryson left Los Angeles after his trial some three months before, we had reports that he was headed east for the city of Memphis, Tennessee. In subsequent weeks, we had word that he was also seen in St. Louis, Missouri, where police officers had him under surveillance as a possible suspect in a robbery there honor about August 10th, the St. Louis police lost track of Bryson. A week later, the newest series of burglaries began throughout Los angeles. The thief's M.O. matched that of Bryson down to the last detail. The places burglarized were chain stores, supermarkets. Generally, the method of entry was the same. Prying open a back window with a pinch bar or similar tool. The manner in which the safes were opened in various business places, that matched too. So did five sets of foot impressions found at the scene of five different burglaries, each of them made by a man wearing tennis shoes. The operation corresponded exactly to the way Bryson worked. But there was one big hitch in the investigation. Nobody could be sure Bryson was back in town. No one had seen him. No one had heard from him. Monday, August 24, 8am Got us running.

[Detective Ben Romero]

In circles so far, Joe. I can't figure it. I bet lunch money is Bryson, but we can't even start to prove.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, how about the people in town Bryson runs? They all been checked out?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Everyone we know about? Yeah, his friends, relatives, all his known hangouts. We've been over it every inch of the way. If anybody knows they're not sane, there's.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

No trace of them.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's a possibility. Maybe we're wrong. Go ahead.

[Detective Ben Romero]

What do you mean, maybe we're wrong?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, the only lead we've got is the M.O. bryson isn't the only thief who operates that way. It could be another man using the same system.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah, we thought about that.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You ran a check through the stats office?

[Charles Bryson]

Yeah.

[Detective Ben Romero]

The only known burglars in our records who operate like Bryson are either in jail or out of town or they're dead. We checked it through a couple of times. Keeps coming out the same way. Bryson's the only strong lead we got.

[Detective Joe Friday]

I get it. Burglary, Friday. Yes, sir. You know, sir, Sergeant Tabor's out right now. Is there any message? Well, I guess about 10 minutes. Yes, sir. Right, I'll tell him. Thank you. You're sure that the MO on all these jobs matches Bryson, huh?

[Detective Ben Romero]

All the way. That's what's got me stumped. If the guy is pulling these jobs and he is in town, somebody should have spotted him. These changed stores he's hitting. We've had stakeouts on him for 10 days. I've got every informant we know watching for Bryson and not a sign.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Hi.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Oh, hi.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Tabor call came in for you a minute ago. Jim said they'd call back.

[Charles Bryson]

Oh, thanks.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Got this teletype this morning, Ben.

[Charles Bryson]

It's from San Quentin.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Might be a line on Bryson.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Let me see.

[Detective Joe Friday]

It's an answer on that mail watch.

[Charles Bryson]

We asked him for.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Uh huh. What angle's this?

[Charles Bryson]

Ben?

[Detective Ben Romero]

You remember the two partners Bryson's had on the church burglaries? Miller and Henderson? Two they sent up to San Quentin.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah. You asked Quentin for a mail watch on both of them, did you?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Y figured there was a chance Bryson might write to him. Looks like it got us a lead.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, what do they got there?

[Detective Ben Romero]

It's from the warden's office. And so it says, regarding your request on information concerning Charles Bryson, on August 22nd, Anthony Miller, our number, 172156J, received letter from person signing himself George Cameron. Contents of letter, suspicious.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Cameron.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Does that mean anything to you?

[Charles Bryson]

Just checked Bryson's package again, down to.

[Detective Joe Friday]

R and I. Cameron was his mother's maiden name. Lessons used it as an alias before quite a few times. How about the return address on the letter?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Penn, Los Angeles, Main Post Office, general delivery.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Monday, 10am we alerted the post office detail and arranged for a mail watch on all incoming letters through General Delivery addressed to Charles Bryson, George Cameron, or to another of the suspect's known aliases. A week passed. No sign of Bryson. No trace of any of his correspondence through General Delivery. Another week went by, two more chains to our burglaries. The MO in each case was the same. It matched closely to Bryson's known working habits. But despite our precautions and the close check we maintained on his friends and his known hangouts, the suspect still remained unseen and unheard from. On September 9, an informant of Ben's called us at the office and told us he thought he'd seen Bryson the night before.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah, Maddie, where was that? Yeah, right, we'll check it. Thank you. Bye. Bryson's supposed to have been seen there, Vermont, in Beverly Boulevard last night, drinking in a bar out there.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Is he pretty sure it was Bryson?

[Detective Ben Romero]

He thinks so, yeah. Got the name of the place here. We can check with the bartender, see if he can identify Bryson's mug shot. Right.

[Detective Joe Friday]

I'll get my top coat, huh? All right, I get it. Burglary, Friday. Yes, sir. When was that? Yeah, go ahead. I got it. Yes, sir, right away. Post office detail. Bryson called for mail at the general delivery half an hour ago.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Where is he? They follow him.

[Detective Joe Friday]

280 Glenmore, apartment 6. He's there now.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Dragnet authentic stories of your police force in action.

[Detective Joe Friday]

September 9, Tuesday, 11:30am the burglary suspect, Charles Bryson, was placed under surveillance at the apartment where he'd gone immediately after calling for his mail. At the general delivery window in the main post office, three teams of men were assigned the job of following Bryson alternately. 24 hours a day. We waited for a chance to get into his apartment and search it while it was empty. But it never occurred. Somebody was always there. Either Bryson or a tall, dark haired woman, his common law wife. During the week that followed, the suspect was watched everywhere he went. He attempted no burglaries. On the eighth day, the stakeout was removed. Three nights later, two burglaries were committed. Both jobs bore the marks of the suspect's M.O. but we couldn't prove a thing against him. We knew the setup we had was going nowhere. If we wanted to get Bryson red handed, if we wanted a case against him that'd stand up in any court, we had to find a new approach. Lee Jones came up with an idea.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Here's a jar of the stuff right here. The technical name for its anthracene. I guess you heard of it.

[Detective Ben Romero]

I think I've heard you mention the name, Lee.

[Detective Joe Friday]

That's about some kind of luminous powder, isn't it?

[Narrator]

It glows in the dark?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

No, not exactly. Here, take a look at some.

[Detective Joe Friday]

There, you see?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Colorless, odorless. No smell at all to it. It's a coal tarp product. We call it crystalline hydrocarbon.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Mm, I see.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Now, here's the point of the thing. When you take this anthocene powder and rub it into the surf, it's completely invisible to the naked eye. Never know it's there. Here, let me show you.

[Detective Joe Friday]

How about my coat sleeves?

[Detective Ben Romero]

That'll do.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Dust of powder all over it. Some in your hand, too. Rub it in like so. Now, can you see or feel any of the powder where I put it on?

[Detective Joe Friday]

No, nothing there.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Now, let me switch on this lamp here. This is an ultraviolet light. Now watch when I turn it on your arm where we rub down the powder.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Look at your hand, Joe, like it's lighting up.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, my coat sleeve, too. It's glowing.

[Charles Bryson]

How about it?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Will this stuff rub off, Lee?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Try it.

[Detective Ben Romero]

You're spreading it all over yourself. Everything you touch. Anything harmful in it? Lee? No.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Now watch when I turn the lamp off. You see?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Gone.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Never even know you had it on. Only time it shows up is under ultraviolet light.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, does it stay on you indefinitely, Lee?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Oh, no. The maximum is generally about, oh, say, 24 hours.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You guarantee it'll work?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Well, all physics, Joe, under the proper conditions. It's got to. It's just what I tell my classes up at the academy. Crooks and chorus girls have one thing in common. Yeah, they show up better when you put them under the right kind of lights.

[Detective Joe Friday]

When we left Lee Jones at the crime lab, we figured we had the potential solution in our hands. But there was still a lot to be done before we could go into any court of law with a case that we were positive was strong enough to convict. Charles Bryson. Number one, we had to get into his apartment when it was unoccupied, find the set of burglary tools he was using, and douse them thoroughly with anthracine. The same for the clothes he worked in. Number two, we had to get Bryson into custody within 24 hours after he moved on a burglary job or the anthracine wouldn't work. Number three, we had to find the loot taken in the burglary in his possession. Ten days passed before we got a chance to make good on the first step.

[Detective Ben Romero]

I get it, Joe.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Right.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Burglary. Merrill. Yeah, Jim. Mm. Good.

[Narrator]

Fine.

[Detective Joe Friday]

We'll be right out.

[Narrator]

Good break.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Jill on Bryson.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Detective Ben Romero]

They hauled him in on a traffic warrant. Speeding. Booking him into the main jail right now. Good chance to go through his apartment.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What about his wife? She's still up there, isn't she?

[Detective Ben Romero]

She's on her way to put up bail for him. Yeah. Apartment's empty.

[Detective Joe Friday]

By the time Bryson was bailed out, Ben and I, along with Jim Taber and Lee Jones, had combed through Bryson's apartment and finally uncovered a set of burglary tools and work clothes, carefully hidden beneath the floorboards, under a kitchen cabinet below the sink. Lee Jones contaminated each of the tools with the invisible anthracene powder and also the work clothes. We checked the apartment for any possible loot taken in the burglaries, but we found nothing. We put everything back exactly the way we found it, and then we left and went back to the office. We stood by until 4am waiting for a call that had indicated that Bryson might be out on another burglary job. Nothing happened the next night. Up until 10 o', clock, it was the same routine. At a few minutes past 10, we got a 459 call on a chain drugstore out on Alvarado Street. Lee Jones had his portable ultraviolet light all ready to go. Ben and I picked him up at the crime lab and the three of us drove to the scene of the burglary.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Straight back here, Lee, Can I help.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

You with the lights? I can handle it.

[Charles Bryson]

Thanks.

[Detective Ben Romero]

There's the window they figure he got in. Safe's there in the corner.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, there's not too much of it left. You all set, Lee?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

You got the extension card for the light? Romero?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah, right here. I'm just plugging it in. Yeah, okay.

[Charles Bryson]

All set.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

All right. Switch it on, will you?

[Narrator]

Right.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Well, yeah, seems like it.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Where he got in the window there. Joe, look at that.

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

Anthecy tracks all over. Foot impressions there. Tool marks on the safe. Blood prints on the floor, on the wall.

[Detective Ben Romero]

No question, he left plenty of trail.

[Detective Joe Friday]

All right, let's get him. Lee. Jones put in a call to the crime lab and ordered a photographer out to take pictures at the scene of the burglary. Lee and the photographer would stay at the scene to gather physical evidence and take pictures of the anthracine prints and mark for presentation in court. 10:52pm Jones packed up the ultraviolet lamp and Ben and I took it along with us. We drove directly to Bryson's apartment. Nobody was there?

[Lee Jones (Crime Lab Technician)]

No.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Nobody in the bedroom either. How about that?

[Detective Joe Friday]

I don't know. I don't get it. Bryson's had plenty of time to get back here. Over an hour.

[Detective Ben Romero]

What about his wife? The only time we know she left was when she had to go bail him out on that traffic warrant.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Doesn't look like they pulled out, does it? There's a closet full of clothes in there. A lot of their personal things around.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah, sure. Looks like they were expecting to come back. We might check with the apartment house manager. He could tell us if they gave notice to move.

[Detective Joe Friday]

If.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Let's see here.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What do you got?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Note here on the desk. See, he says, charlie, I'm sorry, but I told you, it just doesn't work out with us. When you read this, I'll be on my way east. I don't want to be mean with you. I just think it'll work better if we forget each other, that's all. Thanks for everything. So long. Signed, Ruth.

[Detective Joe Friday]

She doesn't like him much either.

[Detective Ben Romero]

No.

[Charles Bryson]

Wait a minute.

[Narrator]

What are you doing here?

[Charles Bryson]

Police officers.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Bryson might Talk to you for a minute.

[Charles Bryson]

Oh, I know who you are. I remember.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What do you want, Ben? You want to plug in that light?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah, it's outlet right over here.

[Charles Bryson]

What is all this? You said you wanted to talk to me. What's it all about?

[Detective Joe Friday]

You all set, Ben?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Just a minute.

[Narrator]

All right.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Okay, turn it on.

[Charles Bryson]

What are you doing? What are you trying to do to me?

[Detective Joe Friday]

You've done it all to yourself, mister.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Lit up like a Christmas tree. Joe, it's all over him. Head to foot.

[Charles Bryson]

I claws and hands.

[Narrator]

What is it?

[Charles Bryson]

There's light glowing all over them. What are you doing?

[Detective Joe Friday]

It's a chemical, Bryson. Harmless. Same stuff you left all over the drugstore tonight. Pack up, Ben. Come on, let's go. Bryson.

[Charles Bryson]

Wait a minute. I don't understand. What's this whole thing all about?

[Detective Joe Friday]

You'll understand it.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Here.

[Detective Joe Friday]

There's a note for you.

[Charles Bryson]

Oh, Thanks, Rarity.

[Detective Ben Romero]

All set, Jill.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Let's go, mister.

[Charles Bryson]

I guess I didn't know her. Mr. Tramp. I guess I should have been smart about it.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah, I guess so. Come on.

[Charles Bryson]

How could I know? She said she was in love with me. I believed it. What am I gonna say when they ask me? All our friends are all gonna ask me. They'll say, what happened to Ruth? I'd say, what happened this time? What am I gonna say happened this time?

[Detective Joe Friday]

What are you gonna say to the jury this time?

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On December 10, 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. Charles Lang Bryson was tried and convicted on three counts of first degree burglary. This is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for not less than five years. However, due to his previous convictions on this and other felony counts, Bryson was judged an habitual criminal. He was sentenced to spend the rest of his natural life in the state penitentiary. 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. Fatima Cigarette cigarettes. Best of all, King size cigarettes has brought you Dragnet. Transcribed from Los Angeles.

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. If you're a long time listener of the podcast, this story may sound somewhat familiar. There are quite a few points of similarity. There's a burglar who is caught but found not guilty despite physical evidence. You have Leigh Jones coming up with a plan where light can be used to reveal particles that the burglar collected. But on the other hand, there are lots of things that are different in this episode. The burglar had accomplices that were convicted. The burglar told a story that got him off the hook. The burglar in the big lamp was married. Burglar in this story had a common law wife who left him as the concluding note to the episode. So what's the deal? Are we getting the same story told twice? Probably not. This is probably a case of the fact that a lot of criminals are caught in very similar manners in real life. And that's one of the big challenges with Dragnet and part of what led to Web getting burned out out on the series. In the 1950s, he actually wanted to call it quits after Dragnet had released its 100th TV episode. He felt, and I think with some justification, that having done 300 radio episodes and having brought a hundred Dragnet TV episodes to television, that he had covered every kind of case that the police commonly handled, NBC took the principled philosophical position that Dragnet should continue to run as long as viewers continued to watch it, and Dragnet should only be canceled at the point where it had become so tired and worn out that people became tired of it, which it took until 1959 and more than 250 odd episodes have been produced, plus the 300 over rad. And in some ways, it may make more difference to the creative person who is doing it than it would the casual viewer or listener in the 1950s. In this world without reruns, where everything just went out once and that was considered to be the end of it, hardly anybody was looking over and saying, hey, didn't they do a case like that about two years ago? But if you're the person who's the creative mind behind the series, the director, star and showrunner like Jack Webb was that you somehow shifted from creating one of the most innovative programs where you were constantly experimenting and finding new ways to do things, to doing shows that really feel like you've done them a hundred times before. But audiences continued to enjoy Dragnet for the most part, until the final season where creative exhaustion just kind of became apparent in the series, at which point it really did need to go away for a few years until coming back in the 60s with some fresh issues to address and some fresh things to say. Well, now we turn to listener comments and feedback. And we start with Denise, who writes over on Patreon. Adam, I joined in March and I appreciate your work so much that I just increased my levels of support. Happy holidays to you and your family. Well, thank you very much. And Carolyn and Carl sent a lovely card along with their donation. This one was of a bobcat at Yellowstone National Park. I've got to get over to Yellowstone one of these days. But a beautiful card. And they write, thank you so much for what you do with Old Time radio. It brings back such memories. I remember my mother listening to soap operas on the radio. We wish you and your family the very best of the holiday season. Merry Christmas. Well, thank you so much. Appreciate that. Nice card. Then we have some comments regarding a big shop left. And we start with mechanic 66 writes, you'd think with such a successful show like this, they could afford other actresses instead of having Virginia Gregg play every female role. Not saying she wasn't up to it, but it was obvious it was her. Well, I appreciate the comment. I don't think that the decision to have Virginia Gregg play so much parts was a matter of budget any more than the decision to keep having Herb Butterfield and Stacy Harris back all the time was a matter of budget. There's a little bit of an artistic choice that's involved in this when you decide to do something that's got a bit of a rep company feel and certainly over radio Dragnet does have that feel. You don't have many modern programs that do that quite a bit. The main one that comes to mind, and at this point it's 25 years old, is a Nero Wolf mystery. They had their main recurring cast for Nero Wolf, Archie Goodwin, Inspector Kramer, Fritz Saul Panzer, and a few other characters. And then they'd have about a dozen or so actors who would rotate in and play different parts, murderers, suspects, victims, supporting characters, etc. Who were there for just a story. The situation, though, was very common in the golden age of radio, particularly on the west coast, were performers like Virginia Gregg, Peggy Weber, Stacy Harris, Wally Mayer, Herb Vigren, Cathy Lewis. And performers like them fill the airwaves, often playing thousands of different parts. I don't think you hear quite that same level from New York, although there's certainly a lot of parts for Ralph Bell and Larry Haines and Jan Minor, but they were the backbone of the radio industry and they got used a lot because they were consistently good at what they did. And probably part of what made the radio industry work like that was that it was particularly at the beginning live, and if you were going to have good live drama, you needed solid performers who could be trusted to get it right every time. So it's not a budget issue. And I would say in addition to that, Webb also just had people he liked to work with and who he could trust and rely upon, and those were the type of people that he chose to have involved in his production time after time, Harrison wrote, I would have loved to have seen this as a TV episode where Greg just showed up in every scene as every female charact, kind of like a detective version of a rich little special. Harrison also writes Dragnet, starring Virginia Gregg and featuring Jack Webb as Joe Friday. She had to have had even more lines to read than even Barton Yorbaugh. I was thrown off by the end line too, but I suppose if you wanted to be generous, Friday could have meant that her husband would be by her side once he discovered the pain she was going through and give her the attention she needed. And I would certainly say that the line was not meant to come off the way that it did, which was why it was changed when it came to television. Over on YouTube, James writes, I like how this one kept the mystery alive until nearly the end. I couldn't help but wonder if the original suspect was using a disguise to unburden it herself of the stolen merchandise after being questioned by Friday and Romero. As always, thank you for providing these and for your knowledgeable commentary. Thanks so much James. And then Frankie just writes good story. Well, thanks so much. Appreciate you taking the time to comment over there on YouTube. Well, now it's time to thank our Patreon Supporter of the Day and I want to thank James, patreon Supporter since April 2016, currently supporting the podcast at the Shamas level of 4 doll or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, James, and that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, 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.

[Private Detective]

Where you know it's going to take a lot of money to defend him and with him and the clink, she's the Logical one to raise it with the diamonds. The real diamonds? That's my guess.

[Charles Bryson]

Very well then.

[Private Detective]

I'll go over to police headquarters right away. Charge her with fraud, you know, because of the diamonds themselves and see that she is held until she tells us where we can recover them. Hadn't you better get evidence of fraud first? Mere fact that she substituted paste for the real diamonds in that jewelry, darling. Well, a lot of people do that. Never wear the real stuff in public unless they have a lot of guards around. Well, even so, I have no hands. You've got to prove that she's actually got rid of the real ones. Or tries to. You see, I don't think she's had a chance to yet.

[Narrator]

Why not?

[Private Detective]

No, no. Listen. I'm running up a nice fat item for you on my expense account. What kind of an item? Well, so far it only amounts to a hundred and one hundred and fifty dollars. What for fee to a private detective agency. Somebody to tailor 24 hours a day in the hope of finding out what she's doing with the genuine stones. More important, to find out how she'll try to dispose of.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box13greatdetectives.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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If you're the purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant, you know having a trusted partner makes all the difference. That's why, hands down, you count on Grainger for auto reordering. With on time restocks, your team will have the cut resistant gloves they need at the start of their shift and you can end your day knowing they've got safety well in hand. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.