Dragnet: The Big Almost No Show (EP4964)

Summary

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The Great Detectives Present Dragnet (Old Time Radio)

Episode: Dragnet – The Big Almost No Show (EP4964)

Host: Adam Graham
Date: April 30, 2026
Original Airdate of Dragnet Episode: January 31, 1952

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Episode Overview

In this installment, Adam Graham presents a classic Dragnet episode, "The Big Almost No Show," as part of his comprehensive journey through every episode of Dragnet. This story revolves around a sudden and mysterious disappearance, rapidly unfolding into a murder investigation. Graham closes with commentary on the episode’s background, its adaptation to television, and a spotlight on Listener Support.

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Key Discussion Points and Plot Summary

1. The Case: Disappearance and Murder (03:08–15:24)

Introduction by the Narrator & Setup

• [03:08] "The names have been changed to protect the innocent."
• Detective Sgts. Joe Friday and Ed Jacobs are assigned a homicide case where a woman, Edith Tabor, reports her 30-year-old brother, Ralph Tabor, missing. The disappearance is abrupt and uncharacteristic.

Interview with Edith Tabor

• [05:00] Edith is distraught and unsure why Ralph would vanish, as he has no history of leaving without notice or apparent problems in his life.
  • "No, never. I'm very worried, Sergeant." – Edith Tabor [05:52]
• She last spoke with him by phone, confirming dinner and movie plans.
• Both detectives double-check facts and learn Tabor’s friend, Andy Howard, was seen entering Ralph’s apartment with him on the evening he disappeared.

Investigation at Ralph Tabor’s Apartment

• Detectives find the apartment spotless, unusual except for a torn TV aerial wire.
  • "That certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Tabor." – Mrs. Higby, Landlady [10:05]
• The detectives discover a TV is missing and the bed is stuck.
• Upon forcing the bed down, they find Ralph Tabor’s brutally beaten body and a bloody claw hammer beneath it.
  • "Good Lord." – Ed Jacobs [11:31]
  • "One of the worst I've seen." – Joe Friday [11:49]

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2. Widening the Net: Andy Howard Becomes the Main Suspect (13:28–17:55)

Edith Accuses Andy

• Edith believes Andy Howard, Ralph's friend from Navy days, is the killer.
  • "It was Andy Howard. I know it was him. It had to be." – Edith Tabor [13:28]
  • She describes Andy as a manipulative freeloader who had recently fought with Ralph.

Forensics and Leads

• Pawn shops are alerted for the missing TV, and the item is recovered. It had been pawned under Andy Howard’s name, with matching fingerprints.
  • "Picked up four sets of prints off it… Guess this is the one you're looking for." – Crime Lab [16:34]
• Additional investigation reveals Andy owns a sailor’s uniform and distinctive tattoos (American flag, "Betty D.").

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3. The Manhunt – Tracking Andy Howard (17:56–22:57)

Trail to San Diego

• [17:55] San Diego police report someone matching Andy’s description driving Ralph’s car and using his ID shortly after the murder.
  • "They'd have held the man but didn't have the information at the time." – Ed Jacobs [18:35]
• Car abandoned in San Diego; detectives coordinate with local law enforcement.

Interviews with Acquaintances

• Detective obtains information from two women, Helen McClung and Claire Peterson, whom Andy, posing as Ralph, has been socializing with.
• Claire is set up for a meeting with Andy as police arrange a stakeout at her apartment.

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4. The Arrest and Confession (23:08–27:38)

Sting Operation and Apprehension

• The stakeout fails, but a Los Angeles officer later detains Andy, in a sailor's uniform, without ID but matching tattoos.
• Upon interrogation, authorities find him carrying Ralph Tabor’s documents.

Interrogation Room:

• Andy initially denies all involvement, repeatedly stating, "I don't know what happened to Ralph." [25:29]
• Pressed by detectives, Andy unravels emotionally:
  • "It's not as simple as that. I mean, with your best friend especially. It's more of a mistake. I mean, morally. I didn't mean to kill him. I just did. It was a mistake. Terrible mistake." – Andy Howard [27:04]
• Ultimately, Andy confesses, citing complicated feelings and resentment.

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5. Resolution and Sentencing (27:48–28:22)

Trial and Outcome

• Andy Howard is convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to San Quentin, term of 5 years to life.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "What do you say to a man who kills your brother? How do you understand him? What are you telling?" – Edith Tabor [15:24]
• "You should have remembered, Andy, about gratitude... Doesn't mean much when you have to ask for it." – Joe Friday [27:35]
• "One of the worst I’ve seen." – Joe Friday, upon discovering the murder scene [11:49]
• "He did a big favor for Ralph once. He’s been living off it ever since." – Edith Tabor [13:49]

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Adam Graham’s Commentary & Listener Notes

Host’s Reflections [30:24–33:45]

• Adam Graham discusses the title's ambiguity, speculating it may relate to behind-the-scenes production issues rather than the story content.
• Graham notes the episode was later adapted for TV (as "The Big Bet"), with minor plot differences and the addition of Jack Webb’s future Adam-12 regular, William Boyette, in the cast.
• He elaborates on challenges matching radio and TV Dragnet episodes due to their sometimes differing titles and adaptations.
• Recognizes the support of Patreon backer RB.

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [03:08] Dragnet episode opens: Case introduction.
• [05:00] Edith Tabor interview: Details of disappearance.
• [11:31] Murder scene discovery.
• [13:28] Edith's theory and background on Andy.
• [16:29] Forensic breakthrough with the pawned TV set.
• [17:56] Lead from San Diego police – Howard spotted.
• [20:23] Interview with Helen McClung – social connection to suspect.
• [22:07] Stakeout set with Claire; confirmation of Andy's use of victim's identity.
• [25:29] Interrogation and partial confession.
• [27:48] Verdict and sentencing.
• [30:24] Adam Graham’s podcast commentary.

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Tone and Style

The episode maintains the iconic Dragnet tone of spare, methodical police work, with Joe Friday’s clipped, understated delivery. Emotional beats, particularly around Edith Tabor’s grief and Andy Howard’s guilt, provide the story’s weight. Adam Graham’s commentary is insightful but informal, directed toward fans of vintage radio and TV.

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For New Listeners

This summary delivers the episode’s essentials—police procedural elements, emotional core, historical context, and modern fan perspective—making it easy to follow the plot, understand the Dragnet storytelling approach, and appreciate why this series and its fandom endure.

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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, I'm 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. Also, today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. 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 you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.greatdetives.net but now, from January 31, 1952, here is the big almost no show.

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[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 woman reports the disappearance of her 30 year old brother. He's been missing for only two days, but the manner of his disappearance was sudden, out of the ordinary. Your job, investigate.

[Dragnet Announcer]

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.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It was Wednesday, November 14th. It was overcast in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of homicide detail. My partner's Ed Jacobs. The boss is Captain Lorman. My name's Friday. We were on the way out from the office and it was 8:56am when we got to the S&H Paper Company on Fourth Street. The rear entrance.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Where do we find her, Joe? Upstairs?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, main floor. She told me we'd find her in the timekeeper's office. She said it was near the back door entrance. We couldn't miss it.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Let's give a look down the corridor, huh? Maybe one of the workers can tell us.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, right. Looks like some kind of an office there, doesn't it? Just beyond the time clock.

[Andy Howard]

Let's see.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Paymaster, head timekeeper. Yeah, that's it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The door's locked. Ed, you want to wrap on the pay window?

[Sergeant Russ Ormsby]

Yeah.

[Edith Tabor]

Yes?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Police officers, ma'.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Am.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

We have an appointment with Ms. Edith Tabor.

[Edith Tabor]

Oh, yes, officers, I'm Edith Tabor. Just a moment, please. I'll ring the buzzer. Just push on the door.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right. Thank you, ma'. Am. Go ahead, Ed. Right.

[Edith Tabor]

Are you the one I talked to on the phone, Sergeant Friday?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, that's right. This is my partner, Sergeant Jacobs.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

How you do?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

This is about your brother, Ms. Tabor. Ralph Tabor, is that right?

[Edith Tabor]

Yes, that's right. I know there must be something wrong. Ralph's been gone since Sunday. No one's seen him. No one's heard from him. I'm worried sick about it.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Last time you saw him was on Sunday?

[Edith Tabor]

No, I didn't actually see him. I talk to him on the phone. We made a date for dinner. Ralph and I always have dinner together Sunday nights. It's about the only time of the week we do get to see each other.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I see. I believe you told me on the phone you already checked with most of his friends. The places he'd most likely be is

[Edith Tabor]

that I've called everyone I can think of. No one's seen him.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Your brother's never done anything like this before. Miss. Going off without telling anyone?

[Edith Tabor]

No, never. I'm very worried, Sergeant.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Can you think of any reason at all why he'd want to disappear of his own free will, I mean?

[Edith Tabor]

No. No reason in the world for it. He seemed perfectly all right when I talked to him on the phone. Sunday, everything was fine. We made a date for the movies Tuesday night. That was for last night. Picture downtown we wanted to see. He made a special point of it. I just know something must have happened.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Mm. I gather you know most of your brother's friends. You've kept in fairly close touch with him, have you?

[Edith Tabor]

Yes, we get together at least once a week. As I say, I'm four years older than Ralph. I've looked after him since we were kids. We've always been together, last five or six years. Especially ever since Mama died.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Your brother in a pretty stable mental condition, was he? No financial worries? Nothing of that kind?

[Edith Tabor]

No, sir. Nothing I know about.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I'd like to double check this information that you gave me on the phone, Ms. Tabor. The name and address and his description?

[Edith Tabor]

Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The full name. Ralph Lawrence Tabor. 14316 Almaden Street. Male, white American. Occupation, interior decorator. Is that it?

[Edith Tabor]

Yes, that's right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Height, 5 foot, 1155. Dark blonde hair, gray eyes, fair complexion. Birthmark on left side and neck.

[Edith Tabor]

Yes, that's all correct.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Your brother in the habit of carrying large sums of money around with him, do you know?

[Edith Tabor]

No, not that I know of. He has a good job. He's not getting rich at it, though. I don't think I've ever seen Ralph with more than 20, $30 on him at a time.

[Andy Howard]

Mm.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Who was the last person to see him, miss? You any idea?

[Edith Tabor]

Well, I talked to Ralph's landlady. She told me she saw Ralph and this friend of his, Andy Howard, going into Ralph's apartment. That was about 6:00 clock Sunday night. Ralph was supposed to meet me at 7:30. Never showed up.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now, this friend of your brother's, Ms. Taber, this Andy Howard, are you acquainted with him?

[Edith Tabor]

Yes, but I don't know him too well. I only met him two or three times. He lives in the apartment house next door to Ralph's. So the two of them were friends in the Navy together during the war. Good friends.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Have you tried to get in touch with us? Andy Howard?

[Edith Tabor]

Yes. I called Ralph's apartment when he didn't show up for our dinner date Sunday night. There wasn't any answer. So I looked up Andy's number in the phone book and called Him?

[Andy Howard]

Mm.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Was he at home?

[Edith Tabor]

Yes. Tried to talk to him, but it didn't do much good. String.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How's that?

[Edith Tabor]

He pretended he didn't even know me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

After we finished our interview with Edith Tabor, Ed Jacobs and I started out to double check with all the known friends and associates of her brother. We talked to his employer and the people he worked with. None of them had seen him subsequent to 6 o' clock Sunday night. None of them could think of any good reason why he suddenly would want to pick up and leave his job and friends. The people he knew outside of his work told us the same thing. Nobody could explain it. Along the way, we inquired about Ralph Tabor's friend, Andy Howard. Most of the people we talked to knew him as a close friend of Tabor's. We checked at Howard's place of employment, but they told us he hadn't shown up for work since the previous Friday. We drove to Howard's apartment, checked with a manager, and he said that Howard had moved without notice. Late Sunday night, we crossed over to the apartment house next door where Tabor lived, and talked to the landlady and Mrs. Higby. She corroborated the story we'd gotten from Tabor sister that Andy Howard was last seen entering Tabor's apartment at about 6 o' clock Sunday night. Tabor was with him. Mrs. Higby was sure of that. She showed us up to the third floor, to Ralph Tabor's apartment. The two rooms and the adjoining kitchenette were immaculate. There wasn't a thing out of place.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Need us a pin, Joe? Not a thing out order.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, it's the same in the bedroom. Say, Mrs. Higbee.

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

Yes, Sergeant?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Do you provide maid service with the apartments here?

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

No, we don't. We've been thinking about it, though. Haven't quite made up our minds. Such a task getting good, competent health these days.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

The tenants are responsible for the entire upkeep, huh?

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

Yes. Everything with painting, wallpapering, things like that. Doesn't Mr. Tabor keep things spotless, just spotless?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am. There's just one thing I wanted to ask you about. It's over here by the window.

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

Yes.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now, this wire here, apparently an aerial connection for a television set, looks like.

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

Yes, Mr. Tabor does have a television. Why?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, I don't notice a set anywhere in the apartment. Would you have to recall if he sent it out for repairs, anything like that?

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

No, not that I know of. Besides, this doesn't seem like Mr. Tabor at all.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

How do you mean? Ms. Higby.

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

He's always so neat. Fastidious end of that wire there. Looks like it was torn off the connection, doesn't it? Along the window sill, too. Isn't that terrible? Fasteners for the wire rip right out of the woodwork. That certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Tabor.

[Andy Howard]

Mm.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Anyone else besides him have access to this apartment, ma'? Am?

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

No one that I know of. No one besides myself. I mean, I have duplicate keys to all the apartments. Well, I just happened to think.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yes, ma'.

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

Am, If a repairman did move to set out, it's possible my houseboy might know about it. Sam, that's my house boy.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

How would he know about it?

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

Well, it's a rule of the house. All furniture, heavy things like that, they have to be taken down in the freight elevator. It opens right onto the alley in back of the building. It's very handy.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

Sam's the only one who operates that elevator. That's why I say it's possible he might know about it. Would you like to have me ask him?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I wonder if you would, please. Surely.

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

It won't take but a minute and I'll be right back.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thank you, Ms. Hayden.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Joe, you want to have a look over here?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. What do you got?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

This wall bed here. I tried to pull it down.

[Narrator]

It's stuck.

[Andy Howard]

Mm.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Stand right here.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh. Over here.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

See if you notice anything.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, I do. You wanna give me a hand, see if we can't get the bed down? Yeah. Push in on your side, then. Okay.

[Andy Howard]

That's it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Okay, it's coming down now.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Good Lord.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Tabor, you think?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, description seems to fit. Beaten to death. Looks alike, doesn't it?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Something's sticking out under the bedcube. Is there?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, it's a claw hammer. Stains all over it.

[Andy Howard]

Vicious.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Guess the killer wanted to make sure.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's one of the worst I've seen.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Feel sorry for the sister. She was pretty close to him. It's gonna be tough on her.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No tougher than it was for him. 2:38pm we phoned the office, told him what we'd found, and then we put in a call for Lt. Lee Jones and the crime lab crew. While we were waiting, we questioned the landlady again, Mrs. Higby. She said her houseman, Sam, told her he knew nothing about a television set being moved out of Ralph Tabor's apartment. However, it was possible somebody could have taken the set down in the main elevator late at night without being seen. Mrs. Higby also told us that Tabor had a car. We checked the apartment garage, but it was gone. All Mrs. Higby could tell us was that it was a late model car and the Tabor often loaned it to his friend, Andy Howard. Sergeants Al Shambra and Joe lamonica from Homicide arrived and together the four of us interviewed the employees and the tenants in the apartment building. They gave us little or nothing at all. A few minutes before 3pm the crime lab crew showed up and started their preliminary investigation. We put in a call for the coroner. From the obvious lack of fingerprints in usual places around the apartment, it was apparent that the murderer had taken great precautions to cover his tracks. 3:35pm the deputy coroner arrived and after the preliminary investigation was finished, the body was removed to the county morgue. Ed and I went back to the office, checked our DMV and got out on all points on Tabor's car and also on the friend he was last seen with, Andy Howard. R and I turned up a single entry for Howard's criminal record. A drunk driving charge. 5:20pm we met with Edith Taber and broke the news of her brother's death. When she recovered from the shock, we interviewed her briefly.

[Edith Tabor]

It was Andy Howard. I know it was him. It had to be.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Why do you say that, Ms. Tabor? There's something about this man Howard you haven't told us.

[Edith Tabor]

He's no good, Sergeant. He's no good at all. That's what I've been afraid of. I've been afraid of it right along.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, just how do you mean, ma'? Am? He's no good?

[Edith Tabor]

He's a tramp, a bum. He's been living off my brother. He isn't normal. There's something wrong with him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how is it your brother put up with him?

[Edith Tabor]

I told you, he and Ralph were friends in the Navy. He did a big favor for Ralph once. He's been living off it ever since. Taking his clothes, borrowing his car money, never paying it back.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Why do you think he killed your brother, miss?

[Edith Tabor]

I just know it, that's all. He did it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He ever fight with your brother? Would you happen to know? Did he ever threaten him?

[Edith Tabor]

They had a big fight one night about two weeks ago, I think. Andy kept sponging until Ralph got good and sick of it. Told Andy to go out and get a job. That's when the fight started.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You saw it, did you?

[Edith Tabor]

Ralph told me about it. Fist fight in the alley, back of the apartment. Ralph knocked Andy down and he said he'd never forget it. He'd pay Ralph back. A couple of days after that, my brother said the two of them made up. Everything was all right. Ralph should have known better. He should have known better.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Just a few more questions, Ms. Tabor. Can you tell us anything about Andy Howard's background? Where he's from, whose friends are, places he usually goes?

[Edith Tabor]

No, I didn't know much about him. He's from the South, I think. Alabama. Ralph's friends can tell you more about him than I can.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right. Had you heard anything lately about Howard planning to move out of his apartment?

[Edith Tabor]

No, nothing. When I heard that he did move and Ralph was missing, I knew something was wrong. That's why I called you. I'd only known before. Poor Ralph. If I only knew.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, try to take it easy, ma'.

[Andy Howard]

Am.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We'll arrange for a car to drive you home. All right?

[Edith Tabor]

So hard to understand. Hard for anyone to kill Ralph like that. Horrible.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He was so good.

[Edith Tabor]

He was my brother.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yes, ma'.

[Edith Tabor]

Am. What do you say to a man who kills your brother? How do you understand him? What are you telling?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, why even try? What? Let the jury tell him? Before we had the victim's sister, Edith Tabor, driven to her home. We asked her about the television set in her brother's apartment, but she was unable to explain its absence. Burglary detail had already been notified about the case and the pawn shop detail alerted. An APB had been gotten out containing a complete description of the TV set along with the serial numbers. A few minutes after we got back from dinner that night, we had an answer on it. A pawn shop operator on West 7th street called in with the information that he'd taken in. A television set with identical description and serial numbers as that of Tabors. Ed and I drove out to the pawn shop and checked the operator's buy book. The set had been pawned the day after the murder. The serial numbers and description matched in every detail. The description and signature of the man who pawned it matched perfectly with that of Ralph Tabor's friend, Andy Howard. The set was impounded, and just on a chance, we had Dean Bergman dust it for latent fingerprints.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Dean. Oh, hi, Ed. Friday.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How you making out? Any luck?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Not bad. Have a look here.

[Andy Howard]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Picked up four sets of prints off it. All told, these here are the dead man's. These here, they belong to the pawn shop operator.

[Andy Howard]

Mm.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

He's belong to his son. Helps him in the shop. Guess this is the one you're looking for. Two clean index prints.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did you classify them?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Checked them against prints From Andrew Howard's package?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, they match. When we checked in for work the following morning, we got the coroner's report on Ralph Tabor. Cause of death was listed as cerebral hemorrhage and multiple fractures of the skull caused by blows from a heavy blunt object. The other reports from the crime lab didn't give us much help. The better part of the next three days, Ed and I, along with Al Shambra and Joe lamonica, held detailed interviews with the known friends and associates of the murder victim, Ralph Taylor Taber and the number one suspect, Andy Howard. The information we picked up was incorporated in a supplementary all points bulletin and gotten out immediately. We found out that Andy Howard had a sailor's uniform in his possession, and though unauthorized, he wore it frequently. It bore the insignia of a quartermaster first class on the sleeve. We also found out Howard had identical tattoos on each forearm. The picture of an unfurled American flag with the name Betty D. Below it. We had the city covered for the suspect. Four days passed, no trace of him. Saturday, November 24th, we got an urgent call from Homicide Commander Lieutenant Mort Gere in San Diego on the highway.

[Andy Howard]

Uh huh.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

When was that, Mark? I see. Hey, Joe, you got a pencil there?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. Here you go. Thanks, Mark.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

He's pretty sure, huh?

[Andy Howard]

Huh?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Well, yeah, he seems to tie in all right. How's that? Well, I don't know for sure. We'll check with Captain Lorman right now, let you know.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Thanks, Mark. Goodbye.

[Andy Howard]

Good break.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you have to say?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

One of their traffic men down there, fellow by the name of Jack Ladd, stopped a car on the highway going out of town. Speeding.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Ladd says a man answers Andy Howard's description perfectly, right down to the tattoo on the forearm. No doubt about the car the guy was driving was Tabor's description and license number. Even used Tabor's identification.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

When did all this happen?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Day after the murder. They'd have held a man but didn't have the information at the time.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's a bum break. Which way was Howard going, they tell you?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yeah, into town. They figure he's still there someplace.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How do you mean?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Found the car an hour ago, abandoned.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Ten minutes after the phone call from San Diego. Captain Larman checked back in at the office and Ed and I met with him. We told him about the information San Diego had phoned in and he gave Ed and I an immediate okay for the trip south. We went down to the garage, picked up a car, and six hours later we checked in with Sergeant Russ Ormsby. San Diego Homicide.

[Sergeant Russ Ormsby]

What's this, another fishing trip, or are we doing business this time?

[Andy Howard]

Great.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

It's all business, Russ. The Andy Howard thing. Mark. Gear around?

[Sergeant Russ Ormsby]

No, it won't be back till later. I can brief you on it, though. McGuire and I have been working it on this end.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how about Tabor's car? You still got it staked out?

[Sergeant Russ Ormsby]

Yeah, no nibbles yet. What do you figure if nothing happens? Pull it in tomorrow, process it for prints.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Russ Ormsby]

We've had something, warm or not since Mordgier called you.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It looks pretty good. Yeah? What do you got?

[Sergeant Russ Ormsby]

Only came up with it a couple of hours ago. Field interrogation card made out last night, west end of town. Beat officer by the name of Driscoll questioned a man and a girl parked in a car out that way last night. Here's a description on the man.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thanks, Ross. Yeah. Fits Howard all the way.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Ed here couldn't get much closer.

[Sergeant Russ Ormsby]

They checked out. The car they were in belongs to the girl.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Look here, Ed. He's still using Tabor's identification.

[Andy Howard]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right. Where's it go from here, Russ? You got this?

[Sergeant Russ Ormsby]

Andy Howard spotted no beatman, Driscoll. He didn't know the guy from Adam.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah? Where's that leave us?

[Sergeant Russ Ormsby]

The girl Howard was with, Driscoll knew her.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We contacted the beat officer, Driscoll, the girl who'd been spotted sitting in a parked car the night before with murder suspect Andy Howard, was identified as Helen McClung, a waitress in a downtown cocktail bar. A stakeout was placed in her apartment, and she. She was brought in for interrogation.

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

He's not a good friend of mine. I don't know where he lives. Don't know what he does. I hardly even know him.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Sergeant, you were out for a drive with him the night before last night, right?

[Edith Tabor]

Sure.

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

I don't deny that. We went out for a ride.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's all there is to it.

[Sergeant Russ Ormsby]

You sure you don't know where this man lives, Helen?

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

Not exactly, no. He's staying at a hotel downtown, I think. We went for a ride and I dropped him off at the bus line. That's all there was to it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Do you expect to see him again? You have any dates with him in the next couple of days?

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

No. Tell you the truth, I thought I had a date. Didn't work out. Nothing ever works out. Phone this morning. Called it off.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Tell you why?

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

I gave some lame excuse. I found out the real reason, though.

[Sergeant Russ Ormsby]

What's that? You mind telling us?

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

I don't mind. Got a date with my girlfriend instead Claire Peterson burned me up a little, but I don't mind.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where's your girlfriend live? Helen?

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

You mean Claire? Out on Rose Avenue, 1500 block. I'm not sure, though.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Is he gonna pick her up there?

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

I guess so. Why?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

When's the date for? Do you know?

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

Yeah. Tomorrow.

[Dragnet Announcer]

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

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Monday, November 26, 10am after checking her name through San Diego R and I, we finally located the address of the girl, Claire Peterson, who was supposed to have a date with our murder suspect, Andy Howard, that night. She lived in a small apartment house in the southeast end of town. The manager told us that she'd already left for work. We ran it down. The Peterson girl was employed as a cutter in a shirt factory down in the industrial district. We questioned her at her work. A tall, attractive girl, blonde, blue eyes, a small scar on her chin. She kept working while we talked to her.

[Liberty Mutual Couple]

Yeah? I have a date with Ralph Tabor tonight. Something the matter?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Great.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

So, Ms. Peterson, the first place. His name isn't Ralph Tab.

[Andy Howard]

No.

[Liberty Mutual Couple]

I'm sorry, you must be wrong, officer. I was out with him just last Monday. I know, that's. His name's on everything he has. His car, his wallet, all his business papers. Guess you must have made a mistake.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, it's no mistake, man. We checked it out pretty thoroughly. We'd like to talk to you about him if we could, please.

[Liberty Mutual Couple]

Well, there's not too much to tell. I just met him Monday night. He was with my girlfriend, Helen. He wanted to go out with me, so I made a date. I didn't think there was anything wrong.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You said he's to meet you at your apartment, Ms. Peterson. Do you give any specific time when he'd be there?

[Liberty Mutual Couple]

Eight or 8:30, he said. Hey, what's wrong? Do you know there's something wrong with the man? I ought to know, don't you think?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We want him for questioning, ma'.

[Jimmy (Witness)]

Am.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You any idea where he lives?

[Liberty Mutual Couple]

No, I haven't. One of the hotels downtown, I think. Fifth street or Sixth Street? I wouldn't know for sure. Why do you want him? Can't you tell me, please?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

We believe he's committed a murder, Ms. Peterson. Matter of fact, we're sure of it.

[Liberty Mutual Couple]

What do you want me to do?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

If he calls up before your date tonight, don't do anything to discourage. Tell him to meet you. If he wants to postpone the date, try and make him come tonight. If you can't do that, try and find out where he's staying. Don't let him know we talked to you.

[Liberty Mutual Couple]

Well, all right, I can try. You'll be there when he comes to my apartment, I mean?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, we'll be there. You'll be protected all the way.

[Liberty Mutual Couple]

What do you do, ma'?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Am?

[Liberty Mutual Couple]

What do you do? You say he's a murderer. He must be desperate. What do you do? How do you arrest him?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's his choice, ma'. Am. Any way he wants it. As soon as we left the plant where the Peterson girl worked, we called Sergeant Tony McGuire at San Diego Homicide Detail and he made arrangements for an immediate stakeout at the girl's apartment at 7pm Ed and I, along with Russ Ormsby and Tony McGuire, drove out to supplement the men on stakeout at the girls apartment. 8 o', clock, 9, 9:30, 10pm still no sign of the suspect. At midnight, our relief team showed up and we headed back for the office. When we got there, there was a bulletin from the highway patrol reporting that earlier that night a man partially identified as Andy Howard had been seen heading north from San Diego on U.S. highway 101 toward Los Angeles. We got Captain Lorman on the phone, briefed him on the latest developments and told him that photographs of the suspect had been distributed to all officers. The next 10 hours failed to turn up anything new. San Diego officers continued to cover their end. 11:15pm the next day we drove back to Los Angeles and reported ended homicide. There was a note in the book from Lorman asking us to check in early the following morning. So Ed and I signed out and went home to get some sleep. The next morning, 1:45am. Hello? Friday talking. Sorry to wake you up, Friday. This is Hawkins down the business office. Oh, yeah, Hawkins. What do you got? Beat officer out in Wilshire called in two or three minutes ago. He figures he has your murder suspect for you. Andy Howard. Bringing him in now. Well, what about identification? He checked that over. Oh, no identification. He's wearing a sailor's uniform. What about insignia? His rating? Watermaster first class. After I hung up, I phoned Ed, got him out of bed, and the two of us drove down to the office where we picked up the suspect and took him to the interrogation room. During the interrogation, we found a wallet concealed on his person. It contained a driver's license cross and a half a dozen other means of identification. All of them were made out to Ralph Tabor. After an hour of questioning, he'd still admit nothing. He sat hunched over in his chair, tearing an old envelope into small pieces and dropping them on the floor in front of him.

[Andy Howard]

This will make the 10th time I told you. I don't know what happened to Ralph. I didn't take his car, his television set. I didn't leave the city. I wasn't in San Diego last week. Now, if you don't believe me, you'll prove I'm lying.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We didn't pull you in on the guess, Andy. We'll prove it.

[Andy Howard]

You mind telling me how?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We got three people on their way in here right now. Ralph Tabor's sister, his landlady, a man by the name of Sims, pawn shop dealer. Mean anything to you?

[Andy Howard]

My word against theirs.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Three to one, mister. They got the odds in their favor.

[Andy Howard]

Look, why don't we straighten this out once and for all? You think I killed my friend Ralph. Why explain it to me. Why should I kill him?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Look, I wouldn't know, Andy. Maybe you'd like to tell us. His sister says he was pretty good to you.

[Andy Howard]

She was good to me. I guess she didn't tell you what I did for him overseas when we were in the Navy together.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, she didn't tell us.

[Andy Howard]

She wouldn't. Stupid women. I haven't found one of them worth anything. Frustrated. She needs a husband. That's her trouble.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

She claims her brother was paying the bills for you, Andy. He gave you clothes, money, his car. She says you were living off of him.

[Andy Howard]

Lousy woman. That's all the thanks I get for all I did for Ralph. I borrowed a few dollars. Yeah, that's all. Kept throwing it up to me, him and his sister. After all I did for him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What are you trying to say?

[Andy Howard]

Andy could have been different, Ralph and me. What do you want me to say?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did you kill him? Did you kill him, Andy?

[Andy Howard]

You can't explain it that way. It's not as simple as that.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Didn't?

[Andy Howard]

No, it's all mixed up together. It's complicated. It's not simple at all. I mean, with your best friend especially. It's more of a mistake. I mean, morally. I didn't mean to kill him. I just did. It was a mistake. Terrible mistake.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You want to give us a statement, Howard? Stenographer will take it down.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah.

[Andy Howard]

All right. In a minute. Just want to make sure you understand. I mean, about Ralph and all I did for him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Andy Howard]

No gratitude. No gratitude at all. You blame me? I mean, after all I did for him, you blame me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, you should have remembered, Andy, about gratitude.

[Andy Howard]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Doesn't mean much when you have to ask for it.

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent.

[Dragnet Announcer]

On February 4, 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. Andrew Thomas Howard was tried and convicted of murder in the second degree. He is now serving his term in the state penitentiary, San Quentin, California. Second degree murder is punishable by imprisonment from five years to life.

[Narrator]

Ladies and gentlemen, right now, inflation is America's number one menace on the home front. It's the one enemy that can lick America. We can help prevent this by working harder, working better. The fight against inflation will succeed only if all of us get behind it.

[Dragnet Announcer]

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. Heard tonight were Barney Phillips, Joyce McCluskey and Virginia Gregg. Script by Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Next, it's david harding and counterspy on NBC.

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[Liberty Mutual Representative]

to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details. 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.

[Liberty Mutual Couple]

Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Liberty Mutual Representative]

Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Liberty Mutual Couple]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Representative]

Anyways, get a'@libertymutual.com or with your local agent.

[Liberty Mutual Couple]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. Well, a solid missing persons case, this is one where the title raises questions to me because like the big light script, this feels like a title that's based on some production circumstances. And the idea that you would almost not end up recording Dragnet, particularly when they were doing so much of the series by transcription, seems very odd. I mean, in 1952, it was one of the network's premiere programs. It was a show that had a sponsor, so them missing an episode would be kind of a big deal. So I don't know why they almost missed it or if somebody was, I don't know, maybe just a little bit anxious and exaggerating in picking that title. It is also one of those titles that can make it challenging when it comes to matching radio programs to the TV episodes they were adapted from. There were a handful of TV episodes from the seventh season of Dragnet that started to circulate online and I watched one and I thought that episode was an original to TV program, but it wasn't. It was this story adapted to television. Now I haven't watched it in a while and I didn't know if it would be particularly useful to go through it like scene by scene to see where it differs, but I think it actually tracked pretty close. It was during the point that Frank Smith was Friday's partner and they were both actually up for promotion, which they'd end up getting. And so there's a little bit of that in the plot, but other than that, it's very much the same story. For me, it was noteworthy because the actor who played the San Diego police officer was William Boyette. And if you know your Jack Webb television, he played Sergeant McDonald on Adam 12. So that was a bit of a treat. Now, the episode was not titled the Big almost show on YouTube. You can find it as the big Bet. Well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. Thank you to RB patreon supporter since September 2021, currently supporting the podcast at the Master detective level of $15 or more per month. Again, thanks so much for your support, RB 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 will be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet, but join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Dahl or where.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Sure, I remember Jimmy Carter well, yes, sir.

[Jimmy (Witness)]

That's why I'm spending my own money to make this long distance telephone call from the telephone booth here in the drugstore. If you come right up here right away, I can help you solve a murder.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Who's Jimmy?

[Jimmy (Witness)]

But if that murderer ever finds out that I know who he is. Well, that's why I think you better come up here right away. Yeah, why Jimmy see everybody around here and even his own insurance company too. They all thought he just had an accident. His name was Mr. Andrew Parkinson.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Parkinson.

[Jimmy (Witness)]

I see I'm talking kind of fast because I used up all my money in this telephone. But. But Mr. Dowler, I saw this throw him off that bridge.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did he know you saw him?

[Jimmy (Witness)]

Oh, I don't see how he could help it. But he didn't do anything about it, so. Well, maybe he didn't see me after all.

[Sergeant Russ Ormsby]

All right, what's the name of this other man?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The killer.

[Jimmy (Witness)]

Well, his name is.

[Mrs. Higby (Landlady)]

I'm sorry, but your three minutes are up.

[Jimmy (Witness)]

But, Jesus, all the money I have.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I'm sorry, Operator.

[Jimmy (Witness)]

Okay, I'll hang up there.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

The name, Jimmy.

[Jimmy (Witness)]

Goodbye, Mr. Dollar. Will you hurry up and call the

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

name of the killer?

[Jimmy (Witness)]

Goodbye, sir.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No. Reverse the charges. Jimmy. Operator. Operator.

[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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[Liberty Mutual Representative]

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[Liberty Mutual Couple]

Hey, everyone. Check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Liberty Mutual Representative]

Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Liberty Mutual Couple]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Representative]

Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent.

[Liberty Mutual Couple]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.