
Todays Mystery: A missing housewife vanishes without taking any clothes, money, or luggage, and detectives quickly begin to suspect her tight-fisted husband may know more than he admits. As Sergeant Friday investigates, the woman’s troubled teenage...
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TikTok Narrator
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Detective Joe Friday
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Johnny Dollar
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. And 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. Or by becoming one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month at patreon.greatetectives.net and I want to welcome our latest Patreon supporter. Thank you to Ben, a Patreon supporter supporting us at the Showmas level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Ben. But now, from February 28, 1952, here
TikTok Narrator
is the big plant craving something specific. From global flavors to viral snacks, TikTok has it all. If you can dream it, you can make it right at home. Find your next favorite dish on TikTok.
Narrator
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. A 39 year old housewife disappears. Suddenly, there's no explanation for it. Five days later, evidence of possible foul play is uncovered. Your job, investigate.
Dragnet Announcer
Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles 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 Wednesday, September 15th. It was hot in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out, a homicide. My partner, Zed Jacobs, the boss of Thad Brown, chief of detectives. My name's Friday. I was on the way back from lunch and it was 12:56pm when I got to room 42. Homicide.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Hi, Joe. Waiting for you.
Detective Joe Friday
Hi, Ed. Al here. You got something for us, huh? Mm.
Detective Al Bargetti
Here's the report right here. Gardener by the name Of Abbott Called in day before yesterday. Chester Abbott said his wife disappeared from their home out in the Valley Thursday night. He says he thinks she left him.
Detective Joe Friday
Happens every day.
Detective Al Bargetti
Not this way, it doesn't. Walsh and I went out to talk to the man yesterday. His story doesn't make too much sense. I mean, Al, none of his wife's clothes are missing, none of her luggage. She even left her pocketbook behind full of money. We found out from the neighbors the missing woman has a 17 year old boy by a former marriage.
Detective Joe Friday
Does that mean anything?
Detective Al Bargetti
He's an only child. Mother dotes on the kid. She didn't even say goodbye to him.
Detective Joe Friday
Well, how'd this Chester Abbott impression?
Detective Al Bargetti
Pretty grouchy. With Walsh and me, no cooperation.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Wants to find his wife, doesn't he?
Detective Al Bargetti
I don't know. I'm not sure. He's no help, I can tell you that much.
Detective Joe Friday
Could I see that report, Al?
Detective Al Bargetti
Yeah. Here you are.
Detective Joe Friday
Thank you. Florence TRUMBULL Abbott, age 39.
Detective Al Bargetti
Abbott's your second husband? First one died a little after the boy was born.
Detective Joe Friday
Disappeared Thursday night. From the home. 546 Belasco Road, between 7 and 8 o'. Clock. Well, when did Abbott call in to notify you?
Detective Al Bargetti
Monday afternoon. Told us he thought his wife might have been spending the weekend with her sister. When he found out she wasn't, he called us.
Detective Ed Jacobs
You meet the boy when you were out there?
Detective Al Bargetti
Yeah. That's another thing.
Detective Joe Friday
How do you mean?
Detective Al Bargetti
The kid came riding up on a bike and we were talking to one of the neighbors. We tried to talk to him, but the old man came out and hustled the boy into the house. Then he started chewing us out.
Detective Joe Friday
What's his trouble?
Detective Al Bargetti
He told us it was our job to find his wife, not to go prying into his stepson's affairs.
Detective Ed Jacobs
That's a new slap.
Detective Joe Friday
Well, how about the woman's friends and relatives? They've been checked out yet? Out?
Detective Al Bargetti
Walsh is on it now. Don't think he's had much luck contacting him so far. I'll tell you the truth, I don't like the looks of it.
Detective Joe Friday
Mrs. Abbott have any other relatives here? I mean, besides a sister and two aunts?
Detective Al Bargetti
Yeah, I got the list right over here. Sure wish we had a chance to
Detective Joe Friday
talk to that boy.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Notice anything else out of the way about Mr. Abbott, Alice?
Detective Al Bargetti
Well, I don't know. Here's that list, Joe.
Detective Joe Friday
Oh, thank you.
Detective Al Bargetti
Abbott was upset, all right. I don't know, though. He didn't exactly strike me as reacting the way a normal man reacts when his wife's disappeared.
Detective Joe Friday
Well, how about a copy of this report? You got one to spare?
Detective Al Bargetti
Yeah, sure. Just a minute. You know Missing Person's Bar Getty? That's right. This is Barghetti speaking. Who's that? Oh, yeah, yeah. Sure. About what? All right. Good. 4:00'? Clock. Fine. All right, son. Goodbye. That was the boy I was telling you about. Mr. Abbott. Stepped son.
Detective Ed Jacobs
What do you want?
Detective Al Bargetti
He wants to talk to us.
Detective Joe Friday
Sounded worried about his mother.
Detective Al Bargetti
He thinks something's happened to her
Detective Joe Friday
in police work. Missing Persons detail is not a department separate in itself. It's organized as a part of Homicide Division. When the possibility of homicide arises in the course of handling a case, Missing Persons immediately turns the matter over to homicide officers for investigation. When we got the call from the Abbott boy, we automatically took over. According to Al Barghetty, the boy said he suspected his stepfather and he didn't want him to know of any meeting between him and police officers. At 3:15, Ed and I left the office and drove to the meeting place designated by the boy. The Dairyland Fountain and Coffee Shop near the corner of Fairfax and Hollywood Boulevard. We got there at 3:50pm at eight minutes past five, the Abbott boy still had not arrived. We waited another 15 minutes and then we left and drove out to the valley and pulled up in front of the main gate to the Abbott nursery on Belasco Road. The house itself was set well back on the property which covered about five acres of ground. The entire nursery was surrounded by a six foot chain link fence. And it looked like every available foot of ground inside was planted with some kind of flower or shrubbery. Mr. Abbott met us at the gate. He had three full grown mastiffs with him. He held him on a chain.
Chester Abbott
Yes? What do you want?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Police officers. You Chester Abbott?
Chester Abbott
That's right. What do you want?
Detective Joe Friday
Well, if you can get those dogs quiet for a few minutes, I'd like to ask you some questions.
Chester Abbott
Pretty busy now. Can't you come back tomorrow?
Detective Joe Friday
No, it's important. Abbott. We'd like to talk to you now.
Chester Abbott
All right, if you have to. Red tie me. Get down there, you two.
Adam Graham
Joe.
Chester Abbott
Quiet, I say quiet. All right, now what do you want?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Mind if we come inside, sir?
Chester Abbott
These watchdogs of mine are pretty vicious. We can talk here at the gate.
Detective Joe Friday
All right. We've been assigned to look into your wife's disappearance. Abbott. This is my partner, sergeant Jacobs. My name's Friday.
Chester Abbott
Find out anything about my wife yet?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Nothing definite, no. Thought maybe you could help us. Mind telling us exactly what happened? The night she disappeared.
Chester Abbott
What do you mean? What happened?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Well, when did you see her last? When'd you first notice she was gone?
Chester Abbott
We had dinner Thursday night, about 7 o'. Clock. Then I laid down for a nap. Florence went out on the front porch for some air. I woke up a little. 4, 8 o'.
Detective Joe Friday
Clock.
Chester Abbott
Went outside to look for her. She was gone.
Detective Joe Friday
No one saw her leave, Mr. Abbott?
Chester Abbott
Not that I know of. Maybe one of our neighbors. You can ask them. They seem to know everybody's business.
Detective Joe Friday
How about your stepson? Wasn't he home Thursday night?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Bruce?
Chester Abbott
No, he went out to a show with some other kids.
Detective Ed Jacobs
When did he get back in the show, you remember?
Chester Abbott
About 10 o', clock, I think. Why?
Detective Joe Friday
Where's the boy now, Abbott?
Chester Abbott
Who are you looking for? My wife or stepson. Both of them.
Detective Joe Friday
Where is he?
Chester Abbott
Gone. I took him over to my sister's in Alhambra. He'd been feeling bad since his mother disappeared. Figured the change would do him good.
Detective Ed Jacobs
When did you take him over to your sister's?
Chester Abbott
This afternoon. What's that got to do with it?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Like to talk to him.
Chester Abbott
No, you can't. You won't allow it. The boy's too upset right now and I can't allow it.
Detective Joe Friday
I'm afraid you're going to have to allow it, Abbott.
Chester Abbott
Listen, mister, you can get off this property right now if you're gonna get frightened with me. No cops giving me any sass. Get down there, honey. Quiet.
Detective Joe Friday
Nobody's giving you sass. We wanna talk to your stepson, that's all. He might be able to give us a lead on the whereabouts of your wife.
Chester Abbott
I say you can't see the boy. You've been looking for Florence for a week and you haven't found a thing. I'll get somebody else to look for her. It's my business anyway. Nobody else's.
Detective Ed Jacobs
It's our business if anything happened to her.
Chester Abbott
What are you talking about?
Detective Al Bargetti
Better get your coat.
Detective Joe Friday
Abbott. Like to talk you downtown.
Chester Abbott
Come through that gate and I'll let these dogs go.
Detective Joe Friday
We'd hate to shoot em, mister.
Chester Abbott
What are you trying to prove anyhow? What do I have to go downtown for?
Detective Joe Friday
I'll tell you when we get there. Now get your coat. Chester Rabbit turned, made his way up the path and into the house. A few minutes later, he came out, closed the gate behind him and got into our car. On the way back downtown, he talked pleasantly about the weather, the nursery business and his dogs. When we got to the office, we found out the reason for his sudden Change in temperament. His lawyer was waiting for us at the door. We tried to interrogate Abbott, but the lawyer objected to just about every question we asked. Was hopeless, and we knew it. And so did the lawyer. We released Abbott, but not before we got the name and address of his sister in Alhambra, where the stepson, Bruce, was supposedly staying. After Abbott and his lawyer left, Ed and I signed out of the office and drove to Alhambra to check on the boy.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Barghetti sure had this one pegged.
Detective Al Bargetti
Real sleeper.
Detective Joe Friday
Yeah. Like to know how the stepson missed that date with us this afternoon.
Detective Ed Jacobs
The boy called us from the house. Stepfather could overheard him.
Detective Joe Friday
That's possible. Sister's house ought to be along this block, shouldn't it?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Mm, let's see. 1408, oh6. Yeah, yeah, there it is. Great. Cottage 1402.
Detective Joe Friday
Okay, let's pull up here. Right. Nice looking place.
Detective Al Bargetti
Well kept.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Nice neighborhood. Wonder how the lot prices run out here.
Detective Joe Friday
I don't know.
Johnny Dollar
I'll get the bell.
Helen Abbott
Yes, what is it?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Police officers, ma'.
Dragnet Announcer
Am.
Detective Ed Jacobs
You Ms. Abbott?
Helen Abbott
Yes. Helen Abbott.
Johnny Dollar
Why?
Detective Joe Friday
Well, we talked to your brother earlier today, Ms. Abbott. He said he brought his stepson, Bruce over here to stay a while. We'd like to see him if we could.
Helen Abbott
Bruce? Well, yes, he was here until about an hour and a half ago. I went to the store, and when I came back, he was gone.
Detective Ed Jacobs
You any idea where we can find him, Ms. Abbott?
Helen Abbott
Well, I telephoned my brother Chester just before you came to the door. Bruce isn't there?
Detective Joe Friday
Yes, ma'.
Johnny Dollar
Am.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Do you mind if we came and looked around, Ms. Abbott? Won't take long.
Helen Abbott
Well, why? I told you, Bruce isn't here. It's the truth. There's no reason to lie about it, is there?
Detective Joe Friday
Oh, no, ma', am, it's not that.
Helen Abbott
Well, then what is it? No reason for me to lie to you.
Detective Joe Friday
How about your brother? We went in and looked the house over from one end to the other. There wasn't a trace of the boy. We drove back to the Abbott nursery and satisfied ourselves the boy wasn't there. Meantime, the home of Chester Abbott's sister in Alhambra was kept under constant surveillance. No one came or went. The next morning, when Ed and I checked in for work as usual at 8:00am we met with Sergeant Al Bargetti.
Detective Al Bargetti
Well, I had half an idea there might be something wrong. What makes you so positive, though?
Detective Ed Jacobs
It's just it, Al. We're not positive. It's the whole setup, I guess. Smells bad.
Detective Al Bargetti
How do you mean, for instance?
Detective Joe Friday
Well, Abbott's lawyer, for one thing. If a man's innocent, he doesn't have his lawyer sit with him and tell him not to answer any questions.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Yeah.
Detective Joe Friday
Number two, the kid's phone call. He didn't show up for that date, you figure?
Detective Al Bargetti
I don't know. Could be he doesn't get along with his stepfather. Happens, you know, Maybe he's trying to get back at him for something or other.
Detective Joe Friday
Could be. Why is Abbott hiding him out then?
Detective Al Bargetti
Pretty sure he's hiding him out.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Way things been going, another way to take it.
Detective Al Bargetti
Mrs. Abbott walked away from her home last Thursday night. Nobody saw her. She took nothing with her. No luggage, no clothes, no money. That's it. You check with her?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Family doctor Yesterday told us Mrs. Abbott was in perfect health. Checked her bank statements, double checked the name through Wanderer's file. Repeaters found missing persons. Couldn't find it in either one.
Detective Al Bargetti
Her relatives too. How you talk to them?
Detective Joe Friday
Some of them, yeah. Hal got a few more to check
Detective Al Bargetti
out this morning, but one thing's certain. No clothes, no money, no luggage. She couldn't have gone very far. You checked all the angles, huh?
Detective Joe Friday
Sheriff's office, the jails, the hospitals. Sent out a teletype and an apb. She's been gone almost a week and nobody's seen her. Now, how's that add up to you?
Detective Al Bargetti
Well, I got an idea.
Detective Joe Friday
Yeah?
Detective Al Bargetti
I hope I'm wrong.
Detective Joe Friday
8:45am Ed and I left the office and continued making the rounds of the missing woman's friends and relatives. We checked at the Western National bank where Mrs. Abbott maintained another account. Her saving statement showed a total balance of $31,564.17. Her checking account had a balance of $842.71. At the farmers Mutual, we found the record of an insurance policy issued to Florence Trumbull Abbott. It was a 20 pay life policy covering the insured in the amount of $30,000. The beneficiary was listed as the insured son, Bruce Trumbull Abbott. If living upon receipt of such due proof. If not, the insured's husband, Chester J. Abbott. By the time we finished checking the missing woman's financial status, we figured we had a fair suspect in the husband, Chester Abbott. From casual reports, we knew he was a frugal man, almost to the point of obsession. If he was greedy as well, if he wanted or needed money badly enough to kill, then he had all the motives necessary to murder his wife. Maybe his stepson too. 6:40pm Ed and I drove back to the office.
Detective Al Bargetti
Go ahead.
Dragnet Announcer
Long day?
Detective Joe Friday
Out of mileage. Wonder if Al's still around. Hey, Bar Getty.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Al?
Detective Al Bargetti
Yeah.
Chester Abbott
Here.
Detective Al Bargetti
That you Friday?
Detective Joe Friday
Yeah.
Detective Al Bargetti
How'd you do? Get anything?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Few things. Pretty fair luck.
Narrator
Good.
Detective Al Bargetti
I got some more for you. Just walked in here 10 minutes ago.
Detective Joe Friday
Who's that?
Detective Al Bargetti
Bruce Abbott. He's waiting in the next room.
Detective Joe Friday
We went into the next room and met the Abbott boy. He was small for a 17 year old, dark haired, thin, a little on the sickly side. He seemed nervous and upset. He told us that he wasn't able to keep the date he made with us on the phone because his stepfather did apparently overhear the conversation and drove the boy immediately to his sister's place in Alhambra. We asked the boy what made him so sure that his stepfather was responsible for his mother's disappearance.
TikTok Promoter
Well, for one thing, all three of us usually go to the early show on Thursday night. Chester, mom and me. But last Thursday we didn't go.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Why was that, son?
TikTok Promoter
Chester said he wasn't feeling too good and he wanted mom to stay home and take care of him. Then he told me to go on ahead to the show, so I did.
Detective Joe Friday
What time did you get home, Bruce?
TikTok Promoter
About a quarter to 10. 10 o'. Clock.
Detective Joe Friday
Did you notice anything unusual when you got home, son?
TikTok Promoter
Not so much, no. Mom wasn't there. I didn't think much about it. Then I thought maybe she was over to one of the neighbors.
Detective Ed Jacobs
You asked your stepfather where she was?
Detective Joe Friday
Uh huh.
TikTok Promoter
He said he didn't know. He said he thought she was over at one of the neighbors too.
Detective Ed Jacobs
What was your stepfather doing when you got home?
TikTok Promoter
Just sitting in the living room reading the paper. I usually don't talk to him too much. I just ask him where mom was and he told me. And then I went back to my room and went to bed.
Detective Joe Friday
You notice anything unusual about the way he acted? Anything different about him at all?
TikTok Promoter
Well, I'm not too sure. He did seem a little nervous though. Jumpy. More than usual, I think.
Johnny Dollar
Mm.
Detective Joe Friday
Anything else?
TikTok Promoter
Well, when I came through the front yard, I noticed the dogs had mud all over their paws. Red, Jaime and George, all three of them. They must have been out in the nursery plots.
Detective Joe Friday
Anything unusual about that?
TikTok Promoter
In a way, yeah. You see, the dogs don't go out in the plots unless Chester's with him. He doesn't want them to trample the seedlings. I noticed Chester had mud on his shoes that night too.
Detective Ed Jacobs
And you figured your stepfather was out digging somewhere in the nursery plots that night, huh?
Detective Joe Friday
Yeah.
TikTok Promoter
That's right. Digging somewhere? He must have been. Can't figure out why, though.
Detective Joe Friday
How do you mean, son?
TikTok Promoter
My stepfather never works at night.
Dragnet Announcer
You are listening to Dragnet Authentic stories of your police force in action.
Detective Joe Friday
Thursday, September 16, 7:05pm we continued talking to the missing woman's 17 year old son, Bruce Abbott. As the interview went on, it became more and more obvious that the boy and his stepfather, Chester Abbott, didn't get along at all. Apparently, the boy was jealous of him and he was jealous of the boy. Besides his prejudice, Bruce also contradicted himself during the course of the questioning. 7:15pm the interview went on.
Detective Ed Jacobs
I understand that all right, son. But you say you can't think of any reason why your father'd be out working in the nursery plots that time of night?
TikTok Promoter
No, sir, I can't. I don't know how he'd get any work done. None of the plots are even lighted. Only the greenhouses.
Detective Joe Friday
Well, is it possible he could have gotten that mud on his shoes working in one of the greenhouses?
TikTok Promoter
No, sir, I don't see how. All the paths in the greenhouses are gravel. It's my job to see they're kept gravel. I know they weren't muddied because I fixed them the day before.
Detective Joe Friday
Well, what do you think it means, Bruce?
TikTok Promoter
I don't know. I don't want to think about it. I just know he's done something. He's done something to her.
Detective Ed Jacobs
That is your stepfather give you any reason for keeping you away from the police officers that came to your house? I mean, the first two officers who showed up?
TikTok Promoter
No. He said people were getting nosy, that's all. He said it might be better for me over at my Aunt Helen's place.
Detective Ed Jacobs
You think your Aunt Helen might know where your mother is?
TikTok Promoter
I don't think so. We hardly ever see Aunt Helen. We don't know her well at all.
Detective Joe Friday
Well, do you know if your mother and stepfather argued very much, Son?
TikTok Promoter
I mean, big arguments Sometimes. Yeah. Mostly about me.
Detective Joe Friday
How do you mean?
TikTok Promoter
Chester's pretty tight, you know. Doesn't like to spend money at all. He and mom used to argue about whether I ought to get paid for the work I did around the nursery. Chester didn't want to pay me.
Detective Joe Friday
That so?
TikTok Promoter
Yeah. When I started working, he promised he'd pay me. I was saving up to buy a 31 Model A. After a couple of weeks, when he didn't pay me, I asked him about it. He told me I ought to be glad to work for him for nothing.
Detective Ed Jacobs
And your Mother argued with him about that.
Detective Joe Friday
Sure.
TikTok Promoter
She got good and mad too. She should have gotten mad. It was her money that bought the nursery anyway.
Detective Ed Jacobs
How'd you happen to get away from your aunt's place, Bruce?
TikTok Promoter
Wasn't too hard. Helen had some shopping to do and she left me alone. She locked the door to my room. Even the screen over the window was nailed down. But I kicked it out and got away. I stayed at a friend's house last night.
Detective Joe Friday
You thought much about where you're gonna stay tonight, son?
TikTok Promoter
Well, I don't know. Sergeant Burghetti, I was talking to him. He asked me if I wanted to go out and have dinner and then stay at his house tonight. I don't know.
Detective Joe Friday
Sounds like a good idea to me.
TikTok Promoter
I don't know. Sure nice of him to ask me.
Detective Ed Jacobs
I think it'd be a lot better for you, son. Why don't you check in the next office, see if Barghetti's ready to leave, huh?
TikTok Promoter
Yeah. Okay, sergeant. Thanks,
Detective Joe Friday
Joe. What do you think? It's hard to say. He might be lying. Before we signed out of the office that night, we met with Captain Lorman and outlined a plan to bring in the husband of the missing woman for questioning alone. We figured it'd serve two purposes. Clarify the boy's position in the case and determine one way or another if the stepfather was withholding information about the disappearance of Mrs. Abbott. The big problem was to bring in Chester Abbott for interrogation without the knowledge of his lawyer. As we'd found out more than once, it was impossible to get anything out of Abbott with his lawyer present. We set up a plan to call at the Abbott home early in the morning, get the suspect out of bed and bring him in before his lawyer could be notified. At 3:30 the following morning, Ed and I met at the office and started for the Abbott place. We brought along a couple of pounds of fresh horse meat to keep the dogs quiet if they raised a fuss. At 10 minutes past 4am we parked our car a few hundred feet down the road from the Abbott nursery and made our way toward the gate. I reached in and tried the latch. The dog started up. How about it, Joe?
Dragnet Announcer
Open?
Detective Joe Friday
No, it's padlocked. We're gonna have to climb the fence. Toss some of that meat over to him, will you?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Okay.
Detective Joe Friday
There. All right, that does it. All right, let's climb the fence.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Keep an eye on the hounds.
Detective Joe Friday
Looks like they can take a lake off. Yeah. Take it easy, Ed. All right.
Detective Al Bargetti
Watch that.
TikTok Promoter
Yeah.
Detective Joe Friday
Here comes that other dog. Get some more of that Meat ready?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Yeah.
Detective Joe Friday
There you are, boy.
Chester Abbott
Go get it.
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
Go on.
Detective Joe Friday
All right. That's fine. Come on, let's hurry.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Have a look, Joe. Windows along the side of the house. Lights just went on.
Detective Joe Friday
Yeah. Come on. Who is it?
Chester Abbott
Who's there?
Detective Al Bargetti
Who is it?
Chester Abbott
I'll set the dogs on you.
Detective Joe Friday
Police officers Abbott, Friday and Jacobs.
Chester Abbott
What kind of business is this? What are you doing out here this time of night?
Detective Ed Jacobs
You're under arrest, Mr. Abbott.
Chester Abbott
What are you talking about?
Detective Ed Jacobs
I think you heard me. You're under arrest.
Chester Abbott
What kind of crazy thing is this? You're gonna pay for this. I'll have your job.
Detective Joe Friday
You want to get your coat?
Chester Abbott
You cops are asking for a pack of trouble, you know that?
Detective Al Bargetti
Get your coat.
Chester Abbott
I'd like to know what you think you're doing. Where's my stepson, anyway? What have you done with him?
Detective Joe Friday
I got a better one for you, mister.
Dragnet Announcer
Huh?
Detective Joe Friday
What have you done with your. 4:25am Ed and I drove the suspect, Chester Abbott, back downtown to the office. He was quiet and sullen. We headed down the hall for the squadroom.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Light still burning in the office?
Detective Joe Friday
Yeah. Probably by Getty. Standing by. All right. Abbott, in there.
Chester Abbott
You're gonna pay for these. You can take my word on that.
Detective Joe Friday
Ed, you want to take him in the office here and stay with him? I'll check with Al.
Detective Al Bargetti
Okay.
Detective Ed Jacobs
All right, Abbott.
Detective Al Bargetti
Joe, you bring him in?
Detective Joe Friday
Yeah, he's next door.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Ed's with him.
Detective Al Bargetti
Tough. Somebody must have seen you.
Detective Joe Friday
No, I don't think so.
Detective Al Bargetti
They must have.
Detective Joe Friday
Why? What do you mean?
Detective Al Bargetti
Abbott's lawyer. He's sitting in the next room.
Detective Joe Friday
How the lawyer had been notified, we couldn't be sure. Again we tried to question Abbott. And again, on the advice of his attorney. He refused to answer practically every question we put to him. We released him. That day, captain Lohrman assigned two men to stake out on the nursery and report on all of Chester Abbott's movements. A little after 7pm Just after nightfall, we tried again to bring the suspect in for questioning without his lawyer's knowledge. It didn't work. The men assigned to stake out on the Abbott place reported definitely that someone was tipping off the attorney. Whenever unknown visitors showed up at the nursery and drove off together with Mr. Abbott, there was nothing we could do about it. The following morning, Al Barghetty came up with a lead.
Detective Al Bargetti
Had a long talk with the boy last night. Think he came up with a pretty fair lead.
Detective Ed Jacobs
How's that?
Detective Al Bargetti
The old man's responsible. We know there's only one way we'll get a conviction.
Detective Joe Friday
Yeah.
Detective Al Bargetti
Find the body and enough evidence to tie him in. Where do we start looking in a new rose bed? It's next to one of the greenhouses in Abbott's nursery.
Dragnet Announcer
Boy tell you this?
Detective Al Bargetti
Yeah. Seems to make sense. We know old man Abbott's crazy about saving a dollar. We found that out from the neighbors and the relatives on the nursery trade. Especially in the limited area Abbott has to work in. You cultivate every foot of ground you have. You plant every foot of soil with something.
Detective Joe Friday
Well, yeah. What's the point?
Detective Al Bargetti
Well, Abbott's not the type to waste anything. He wouldn't let ground lie fallow when he could plant something that might bring in a few dollars next spring. That Bruce tells me his stepfather has every inch of the property planted with something. Everything except a six by eight plot of ground on that rose garden.
Detective Joe Friday
Well, what did the boy say? The plot been vacant for a long.
Detective Al Bargetti
He says his stepfather got it ready for planning a week and a half ago. It's still vacant.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Be worth checking out. How do we do it?
Detective Al Bargetti
We can order up a crew from the crime lab. They can take probings through the plot all around it. They ought to be able to tell us how deep the ground's been worked over lately.
Detective Joe Friday
Okay. What do you figure? Tonight?
Detective Al Bargetti
I think so. Yeah, maybe 11, 12 o'.
Johnny Dollar
Clock.
Detective Joe Friday
What about old man Abbott? You think he's gonna sit still for it?
Detective Al Bargetti
If the hunch pays off, he's gonna sit still a long time.
Detective Joe Friday
It was 10 minutes past 11 that night when we got to the Abbott nursery. Lee Jones and the crime lab crew. Al Bargetti, Ed and two other men from Homicide. The men on stakeout told us Chester Abbott, along with his attorney, had left the house a half hour before in his car, a dark blue coupe. They hadn't returned. Ed brought along another supply of fresh horse meat for the dog. So we didn't have any trouble there. We located the vacant plot of ground in the rose bed next to one of the greenhouses. As Bruce Abbott had described it to Bargetti, the crime lab crew started probing the ground obviously had been worked over recently. And to some depth. They started digging.
Detective Al Bargetti
Anderson, get that light over here, will you?
Chester Abbott
Thanks,
Detective Al Bargetti
Joe. See anything?
Detective Joe Friday
No.
TikTok Promoter
Let's keep digging. Try it over here.
Detective Joe Friday
Yeah. You know, this is it. He wasn't taking any chances. Down a good four or five feet now, wouldn't you say?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Yeah. At least that.
Detective Al Bargetti
Anderson, more light, huh?
TikTok Promoter
All right, let's go at it.
Detective Joe Friday
All right. Wait a minute.
Chester Abbott
Yeah.
Detective Joe Friday
Woman's shoe here. Come on.
Detective Al Bargetti
Just a Matter
Detective Joe Friday
now. That's it. Shoulder.
Detective Al Bargetti
There.
Detective Joe Friday
It's a body. Well, it paid off, Al. The boy had it figured.
Detective Al Bargetti
Yeah, Too bad he was right.
Detective Joe Friday
Ed and I went back to our car and notified communications to broadcast a want for murder on Chester Abbott. His description, together with a description of his car and license number was rebroadcast every 15 minutes. The attorney was contacted and he stated that Mr. Abbott had dropped him off at his home more than an hour before. He knew nothing of his whereabouts. Ed and I went back to check the Abbot home and found the front door unlocked. We went inside and looked around. In one bedroom, we found clothes scattered over the bed and on the floor was only one old suit left. In one closet, on the table next to the bed, we found an airlines timetable. We got to the phone and notified communications to alert all special details at railroad stations, bus terminals and airports and then to get out on apb. After that, we checked with the airlines. One of them told us a man answering Abbott's description had booked passage to Mexico City that night under the name of Charles Fraser. The plane was scheduled to leave at 1:52am at the Burbank airport. We called the detail at the airport and alerted them. Then we drove over to the field to follow through on it. It was 1:32am When Ed and I took up our positions just inside Gate 3 where passengers were boarding Flight 72 for Mexico City. There was no sign of the suspect either on the plane or in the waiting room.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Think you'll show?
Detective Joe Friday
I don't know.
Chester Abbott
Brought your bag over here.
Detective Joe Friday
Where's Bargetti?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Over there by the cocktail line. You see him?
Detective Joe Friday
Oh, yeah. What time you got now?
Detective Ed Jacobs
1:38.
Detective Joe Friday
Plane's due to take off in another four minutes, isn't it?
Johnny Dollar
Mm.
Detective Ed Jacobs
Any sign of him now?
Detective Al Bargetti
No, nothing. Just made the rounds. Checked with Stevens and Cummings. If he got in, he came in somebody's suitcase. Couldn't have possibly gotten through without one of us seeing him.
Detective Joe Friday
Well, he hasn't got much more time. Maybe it's a dead end, huh?
Detective Al Bargetti
Don't see how he could have gotten the wise, do you?
Detective Ed Jacobs
Over there?
Detective Joe Friday
No.
Detective Ed Jacobs
No, by the ticket counter.
Chester Abbott
There.
Detective Al Bargetti
You see him?
Detective Joe Friday
Yeah, that's him. Come on. All right. Just a minute, Abbott.
Chester Abbott
I haven't got time now. I'll miss my plane. If you have anything more to say to me, you can wait till I get back. Frighten out Abbott and take it up from my lawyer.
Detective Joe Friday
I'm in a. I found your wife's body.
Chester Abbott
How's that?
Detective Joe Friday
In the rose bed next to the greenhouse.
Chester Abbott
I don't know what you mean. You must be mistaken.
Detective Ed Jacobs
No mistake. Hands behind your back.
Chester Abbott
What's this all about? I haven't done anything.
Detective Joe Friday
All right, let's go.
Chester Abbott
No, just a minute. You got it wrong. I don't know anything about it.
Detective Joe Friday
We think you do. Now, come on.
Chester Abbott
Wasn't my fault. I didn't know what I was doing. I plead insanity. She drove me to it. We were arguing about the boy and she slapped me. I didn't mean to do it.
Detective Ed Jacobs
All right, let's go.
Johnny Dollar
Abbott.
Chester Abbott
Can you wait just a minute more?
Detective Joe Friday
What for?
Chester Abbott
A plane. One from Mexico City. Funny, isn't it?
Detective Joe Friday
What's that?
Chester Abbott
I was so close.
Detective Joe Friday
Just missed it.
Chester Abbott
Not by more than one minute.
Detective Joe Friday
No, you're wrong about that, Abbott.
Chester Abbott
Just one minute, that's all.
Detective Joe Friday
You missed it before you ever bought your ticket.
Chester Abbott
How do you figure?
Detective Joe Friday
When you first decided to kill your wife? Come on.
Narrator
The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent.
Dragnet Announcer
On December 19, trial was held in Superior Court Department 89. City and county of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Chester Vernon Abbott was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree. The jury failed to recommend clemency. Abbott was executed in the lethal gas chamber. At the State Penitentiary, San Quentin, California. You have just heard Dragnet a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police W.H. parker. Los Angeles Police Department. Technical Advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn and Sergeant Vance Brasher. Heard tonight were Barney Phillips and Herb Ellis. Script by Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schumach, Hal Gibney, spe.
Detective Joe Friday
Now it's counterspy on NBC.
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
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Detective Al Bargetti
Hey, everyone. Check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?
Detective Joe Friday
Oh, no.
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Detective Al Bargetti
Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
Anyways, get a quote@libertymutual.com or with your local agent.
Detective Joe Friday
Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.
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Adam Graham
Welcome back. Well, if this episode sounds familiar, you've been paying incredible attention because this is pretty close to a complete reenactment of the script for the episode. Commonly known among fans as Eric Kelby, it is the second 1949 Dragnet episode to be restaged within about a four month period. While the big overtime made some important changes from the 1949 version, this story is pretty much straight up in terms of every single plot point, the tone, everything, as far as I can tell, is the same. Other than the names of the people involved. I'd be interested to know the reason for the change in names. It's a bit of an odd decision. Script reuses are certainly quite common, but just tweaking names when you're on the same series and you're redoing a script from two years ago or two and a half years ago, seems like an odd choice. Alright, well, listener comments and feedback now. And we have some comments regarding the big phone call. And we start on Patreon with Jeff who writes, why is there no attorney with the alleged thief during this rather hardcore interrogation? Because this episode predates Miranda rights. I think that's part of it. Now, this episode illustrates that you could have a lawyer present, but you needed to plan for it. So in this case, I think it's fair to say that in the big phone call, an arrest wasn't expected and he also didn't have anybody watching out or any plan that he would ever be caught. Who would clue in a lawyer? As we heard in this episode, it could still be quite a challenge for the police, even if they don't have to notify people of their constitutional rights and make sure a lawyer can be present during questioning. If a suspect is prepared, they can have a lawyer ready to go. Dawn asks, do you have to call dial 9 to call outside? And listener and this is from Spotify. A random Spotify user replied, I'll listen to the episode again. I'm not sure they said, well, that was definitely a point. And I, yeah, I don't know the reason for it if it was, you know, just kind of to increase the pressure by continually having that reminder. But we did learn that lesson. Now I have never had and hopefully never will have an occasion to have to make a call from police headquarters in Los Angeles. If I do, I expect I will have to dial 9 to get an outside line. And if I don't, what are we even doing here over on YouTube? I want to thank James for hitting the hot button on the episode the Big Honeymoon. Truly appreciate that. And that's another way to help the YouTube channel episodes get out there. And Cuthbert writes, Dragnet never gets old. Indeed it doesn't. Well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter the day and I want to go ahead and thank I want to thank Peter patreon supporter since April 2020, currently supporting the podcast at the Psalmist level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support. That'll 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. Where, huh?
Detective Joe Friday
What's the big problem?
Johnny Dollar
A little matter of a liquor store holdup. Only I'm afraid this one wasn't so little.
Detective Joe Friday
Then tell me off.
Johnny Dollar
Yeah, sit down, Johnny. For some reason or another, these places that sell bottle goods are a pretty frequent target for stick ups here in Los Angeles. There have been quite a few of them over the years.
Detective Joe Friday
I'm surprised you insure them.
Johnny Dollar
Needless to say, premiums are pretty high and at least so far as our company's concerned, the policies are somewhat limited. That is, insofar as maximum allowable coverage is concerned. Makes sense. On the whole, we've been pretty lucky. By that, I mean, we've had to pay off relatively few claims. But now in the case of Willy Lehman, who's Willy Layman, his store is out in West Los Angeles at 10921 Santa Monica Boulevard. And that's only about a mile from where I'm staying. The old man opened up his place late in 1951.
Detective Joe Friday
Hole?
Johnny Dollar
Yes, 61. Early in 1952, he had his first holdup. The Bandits got away with something over $900, though he bought some insurance from us. Over what? Since then there have been seven more attempted stick ups there. A total of eight in as many years.
Detective Joe Friday
Huh. Then your company must be getting a bit tired of paying off.
Johnny Dollar
No, because after the second hand.
Detective Joe Friday
He know how to use it?
Johnny Dollar
He certainly did. He had a lot of medals from some German outfit he was in during the last war. Anyhow, he suffered no more losses. That is, until last night.
Detective Joe Friday
Oh, how much?
Johnny Dollar
In money?
Detective Joe Friday
What else?
Johnny Dollar
Something like over $400 out of the cash register as nearly as the police can figure from the register slip.
Detective Joe Friday
Or couldn't Layman tell you how much?
Johnny Dollar
No, because you see, Johnny, he also lost his life.
Adam Graham
I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send Your comments to Bucks13Great Detectives.net Follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com Great Detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.
Detective Al Bargetti
Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?
Detective Joe Friday
Oh, no.
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.
Detective Al Bargetti
Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson
Anyways, get a quote@libertymutual.com or with your local agent.
Detective Joe Friday
Liberty, Liberty. Liberty, Liberty. Want to get more work done with less effort? On TikTok, creators are sharing AI automation tips that save time and deliver better results. Tap to discover. Try TikTok now.
Episode: The Big Plant (EP4984)
Host: Adam Graham
Original Air Date: May 27, 2026
Featured Dragnet Episode: February 28, 1952 – "The Big Plant"
Adam Graham presents and discusses the Dragnet episode "The Big Plant", a classic procedural exploring the disappearance of a housewife and the subsequent murder investigation targeting her husband. Graham also provides historical context for Dragnet script reuses, listener feedback, and analysis of the episode’s structure and legacy.
Notable Insight:
Al Bargetti (04:09): “Not this way, it doesn't. Walsh and I went out to talk to the man yesterday. His story doesn't make too much sense... She even left her pocketbook behind full of money.”
Notable Moment:
Chester Abbott (07:31): “These watchdogs of mine are pretty vicious. We can talk here at the gate.”
Key Quote:
Detective Joe Friday (12:28): “She's been gone almost a week and nobody's seen her. Now, how's that add up to you?”
Crucial Testimony:
Bruce (TikTok Promoter, 15:17):
“When I came through the front yard, I noticed the dogs had mud all over their paws. ... The dogs don't go out in the plots unless Chester's with them. ... My stepfather never works at night.”
Memorable Exchange:
Detective Joe Friday (20:44):
“What have you done with your... [wife]?”
Revelatory Moment:
Detective Joe Friday (24:20):
“Woman’s shoe here. Come on. ... It’s a body. Well, it paid off, Al. The boy had it figured.”
Pivotal Confession:
Chester Abbott (27:01):
“Wasn't my fault. I didn't know what I was doing. I plead insanity. She drove me to it. We were arguing about the boy and she slapped me. I didn't mean to do it.”
Closing Reflection:
Detective Joe Friday (27:30):
“You missed it before you ever bought your ticket.”
"Other than the names of the people involved. I'd be interested to know the reason for the change in names. It's a bit of an odd decision... just tweaking names when you're on the same series and you're redoing a script from two years ago or two and a half years ago, seems like an odd choice."
— Adam Graham [30:12]
Listener Questions (patron Jeff):
Why was there no attorney for the thief in a previous episode's interrogation?
Graham explains this predated Miranda rights, but suspects could still have legal protection if prepared—as shown in "The Big Plant."
Production Curiosity:
Random Spotify user and Dawn inquire about the odd repetition ("Do you have to dial 9 to call outside?")—Graham notes it might serve to heighten dramatic tension.
Praise from Listeners:
Cuthbert: "Dragnet never gets old."
James supports via YouTube.
Patreon Acknowledgments:
Thanks to Peter and Ben, Patreon supporters.
For Dragnet fans and new listeners alike, this episode is a prime example of Jack Webb’s precise, methodical police drama format—showcasing dogged detective work, the importance of seemingly minor clues, and the era’s unique approach to recurring radio/TV scripts.