Dragnet: The Big Cast (EP4676)

Summary

Summary of "The Great Detectives Present Dragnet (Old Time Radio)"

Episode: Dragnet: The Big Cast (EP4676)
Release Date: April 12, 2025
Host: Adam Graham

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Introduction

In this episode of The Great Detectives Present Dragnet, host Adam Graham delves into the gripping Old Time Radio series "Dragnet," presenting the episode titled "The Big Cast." Released on April 12, 2025, this episode offers listeners a detailed journey through a classic Dragnet case, supplemented by Graham's insightful commentary and listener interactions.

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Plot Summary

[03:39] The episode begins with Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner, Ben Romero, working the homicide detail in Los Angeles. They are assigned to investigate the disappearance of Paul Davis, a man who vanished under suspicious circumstances four months prior.

[04:56] The investigation leads them to Henry Ellsworth Ross, a longshoreman with a history of heavy drinking and a violent temper. Upon questioning, Ross appears cooperative but evasive, claiming he knows someone named Paul Davis but denies any involvement in his disappearance.

Throughout the interrogation, Friday and Romero uncover troubling evidence:

• [10:11] A forged pink slip transfers ownership of Paul Davis's Ford Coupe to Henry Carter, whose signatures match Ross's handwriting.
• [14:35] Witnesses place Ross with Davis at various stops, including Bakersfield, where Davis was last seen alive.
• [19:31] Ross eventually confesses to murdering Davis and admits to killing a dozen other men over the past two years for trivial reasons, such as theft or no apparent motive.

Ross's casual demeanor and lack of remorse starkly contrast typical fictional portrayals of deranged killers, highlighting a disturbing level of nonchalance in his actions.

[28:41] The case concludes with Ross being tried, found guilty of multiple first-degree murders, and ultimately executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin State Penitentiary.

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Key Moments and Notable Quotes

• [10:25] Joe Friday: "According to his wife, Paul Davis left Los Angeles by auto a little over four months ago. Was driving up to Oakdale, California to take a job with a dairy company up there. He never got there. He's been missing ever since."

• [12:02] Ben Romero: "Everybody builds up. Murder. It's supposed to be a big thing. Somebody's always killing somebody else for a million dollars. Or maybe over some woman. Some beautiful woman. Same way with the movies. That's where they get it all mixed up."

• [19:37] Joe Friday: "You lied, Henry. 16 times that, right."

• [25:30] Ben Romero: "I was full of faces. Like I. I guess I was really still asleep."

• [28:27] Joe Friday: "No, you got it wrong, Henry."

• [28:35] Ben Romero: "The story you have just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent."

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Host Insights

After the dramatic conclusion of the Dragnet case, Adam Graham offers a profound analysis:

• [29:33] Graham remarks on the chilling nature of Ross's character: "a chilling look into the mind of a serial killer... utterly nonchalant... just a guy talking about what he does."

• He contrasts fictional portrayals with reality: "Lots of crimes happen for small reasons or seemingly no reason at all... They just do it, that's all."

• Graham highlights the unsettling reality of unsolved crimes and the lack of grand motives often depicted in detective fiction.

• Reflecting on character development, he notes the absence of suspects' interviews in radio formats compared to visual media, emphasizing the unique storytelling methods of Old Time Radio.

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Listener Feedback

The episode also features listener comments, enhancing the community engagement:

1. Jonathan's Feedback:

   • Comment: Praises the accuracy of the Passover Seder episode and production quality. Questions why certain criminal actions, like shooting at a cop, weren't fully addressed in the synopsis.
   • Graham's Response: Suggests possible reasons, such as prosecutorial focus or time constraints, acknowledging the complexity of real-life legal proceedings versus their portrayal.

2. jhugs6024's Comment:

   • Comment: Expresses disappointment over the lack of aired interviews with culprits, affecting character development and engagement.
   • Graham's Response: Explains the limitations of radio in depicting visual interviews and addresses the balance between storytelling and format constraints.

3. Patreon Acknowledgment:

   • Jeremy's Support: Recognized as a long-term supporter, highlighting the community's role in sustaining the podcast.

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Conclusion

"Dragnet: The Big Cast" offers a compelling portrayal of a serial killer case, emphasizing the simplicity and randomness that can underlie heinous crimes. Adam Graham's expert narration and analysis provide depth, contrasting fictional detective stories with the often more mundane and terrifying realities of real-world investigations. Listener interactions further enrich the episode, fostering a sense of community and shared enthusiasm for Old Time Radio classics.

For those new to The Great Detectives or "Dragnet," this episode serves as an excellent entry point, showcasing the timeless appeal of methodical police work and the enduring fascination with true crime storytelling.

Transcript

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnet. But first, I do want to encourage you if you're enjoying the podcast to follow us using your favorite podcast software. I also want to let you know about Molly B's. You've had cookies before, but not like this. Molly B's gourmet cookies are the kind of cookies you'll be talking about long after the last crumb. We're talking flavors like Straight Fire with marshmallows, milk chocolate and a kick of cinnamon whiskey. Or the tropical escape of Pina Coladas with coconut, white chocolate and Fruity Pebbles. These aren't just snacks, they're experiences. Each cookie is handcrafted in small batches, so every bite is a melt in your mouth masterpiece, whether you're gifting them or keeping them for yourself. And I won't judge, these cookies elevate the moment. Now, I've got a special deal for you. Go to mollybees.com that's mollybees.com and use the code box 13 at checkout to get 10% off your order. And yes, I'll earn a commission when you use my code. So you're not just treating yourself, you're helping support the show. So don't wait. These cookies are the ultimate treat for anyone with taste buds. Go to mollybz, that's mollybz.com and use code box 13. You'll thank me later. Well, now, from February 8th, 1951, here is the big cast for the ones.

[Joe Friday]

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[Ben Romero]

Ladies and gentlemen, proud to bring you its prize winning radio program. Winner of the Motion Picture Herald Fame award. The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a homicide detail. 12 men drop completely from sight over a short period of time. There's evidence of foul play. Four months pass. You finally locate the leading suspect in the case. Your job. Pick him up.

[Narrator]

Dragnet. The documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case. Transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

[Joe Friday]

It was Wednesday, October 6th. Was sultry in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of homicide. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Thad Brown. Chief of detectives. My name's Friday. We were on the way out from the office and it was 10:45am when we got to Ortega Street. Number 1285.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Second floor.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, room 14.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

They all smell the same, don't they?

[Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Room and housing.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah. No, these are the odd numbers here. Must be down that way, huh?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Yeah, here it is. 14.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, just a minute.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Taking his time.

[Joe Friday]

Try it again, huh?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah. Yeah. All right. Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Police officers. Your name? Henry Ross.

[Ben Romero]

Get out of here. Get out of here. All right.

[Joe Friday]

Come on. All right.

[Ben Romero]

What? What is it? What do you want?

[Joe Friday]

Bed.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Yeah, I got him.

[Ben Romero]

What is this? You guys really cocked?

[Joe Friday]

Come on, get up.

[Ben Romero]

No fooling? No fooling. You really cops? I thought you were faking.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

We showed you our identification at the door.

[Ben Romero]

I thought you were faking. That's the truth. There's a couple of guys out to musk me up. I thought you were them.

[Joe Friday]

Is your name Henry Ross?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, that's right. I thought you were one of those moochers I had a fight with in the bar the other night. Says he's gonna get a pal and come back in and take care of me.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

I ain't got no reason to fight with cops. I didn't do my room any good. Landlady's sure gonna scream.

[Joe Friday]

All right, come on. You want to finish up dressing? Want to talk to you downtown.

[Ben Romero]

What's it about, officer?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Missing person. We'll brief you when we get downtown.

[Ben Romero]

It's all right with me. Would you take these handcuffs off, please? It's kind of hard dressing with them.

[Joe Friday]

All you have to do is put your shoes on. You can make out all right.

[Ben Romero]

I don't know why you had to slap handcuffs on me. I didn't know you were cops.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

You mind if we check through your things, Rolf?

[Ben Romero]

Eh?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Why, you mind?

[Ben Romero]

Oh, go ahead if you want. I got under height, you know. If you'd have spoke up at the door, there wouldn't have been a fight. I thought you were that mooch in a bar and his friend. I thought you were looking for trouble.

[Joe Friday]

You about ready to go?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah. I'd like to brush my teeth off. You don't mind? I got a real mouthful of cotton this morning.

[Joe Friday]

All right. What do you keep your toothbrush?

[Ben Romero]

It's over here. I'll get it.

[Joe Friday]

No, I'll get it. Never mind. Get here?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah. First shelf. It's in the glass. Don't you trust me?

[Joe Friday]

Here you go. Want some toothpaste?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

All right. There you are.

[Ben Romero]

Turn on the water tap, huh? Thanks.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Nothing, Joe. It's pretty clean.

[Ben Romero]

Of course I'm clean. What'd you expect? Anybody could have made the mistake. I didn't know you were cops.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Henry Ellsworth Ross. Is that your full name?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, that's right. I hardly ever use the Ellsworth, though. That's a real lousy name, huh? What's the fetch on all this, officer?

[Joe Friday]

We told you, missing person. Want to talk to you about it.

[Ben Romero]

I don't think I can help you. Nobody I know is missing.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

How about Paul Davis?

[Ben Romero]

Davis? Yeah, I know Davis. I don't know if his name is Paul, though. Been gone a long time, huh, Ms. Davis?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's right.

[Ben Romero]

Something wrong, you think?

[Joe Friday]

We figure murder. After going over his room thoroughly, we took Henry Ellsworth Ross back to the city hall, to the interrogation room. He was a slightly built man, dark hair, brown eyes, swarthy complexion. He was a longshoreman by trade. Among his friends and acquaintances, he was known as a heavy drinker and a man with a violent temper. Ben and I questioned him for a half an hour and got nowhere. He sat across the table, relaxed, scraping at a thick callus on his hand with his fingernail.

[Ben Romero]

I'll tell you the truth. I just don't know what you're getting at. I think I know a guy named Davis, and that's about as far as it goes.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Sure that's all you've got to tell us?

[Ben Romero]

Of course I'm sure. Look, I got a right to call a lawyer if you're gonna sit there and throw a lot of charges at me.

[Joe Friday]

We're not throwing charges at you, Henry. We've got a missing persons case. We'd like to have you cooperate. That's about it.

[Ben Romero]

Well, maybe I'd like to, but I can't. Paul Davis is just a name to me. Maybe I know him. I don't know.

[Joe Friday]

You got that report there, Bill?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Yeah. Just a minute. There you go.

[Joe Friday]

Thanks. Well, here's the way it goes, Henry.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah?

[Joe Friday]

According to his wife, Paul Davis left Los Angeles by auto a little over four months ago. Was driving up to Oakdale, California to take a job with a dairy company up there. He never got there. He's been missing ever since.

[Ben Romero]

So what's the pitch?

[Joe Friday]

All we've been able to find is Davis's car. It's a 36 Ford Coupe 7 Tom792. Was sold a month ago up in Lodi, California. But Davis didn't sell it. A man by the name of Carter signed the pink slip at the time of the sale. Henry Carter.

[Ben Romero]

Sorry don't mean anything to me, Liz.

[Joe Friday]

Carter made it look like Paul Davis had signed the Ford over to him. We checked it out. Davis's signature was Ford's.

[Ben Romero]

That's all supposed to have something to do with me.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Did you ever use the name Henry Carter?

[Ben Romero]

Of course not, Ross. That's the only name I go by.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Never had your name changed, Never used an alias.

[Ben Romero]

I told you, no.

[Joe Friday]

I wonder if you'd mind taking a look at this. Here you go. This here.

[Ben Romero]

What's this got to do with me?

[Joe Friday]

It's the pink slip to Paul Davis. Carr. See these signatures on the back here? Transfer of ownership. You recognize either one of them?

[Ben Romero]

Paul Davis, Henry H. Carter. Huh? Doesn't mean anything to me. Is it supposed to?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

It should. Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

Why?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

The signatures are both in your handwriting.

[Joe Friday]

How about it, Henry?

[Ben Romero]

About what? I don't even know what you're talking about. You're trying to give me the treatment. What's this all about?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Trying to locate Paul Davis.

[Ben Romero]

I'm not even sure I know the guy.

[Joe Friday]

I think you better level Henry. Our handwriting man checked both the signatures. It's your writing.

[Ben Romero]

Then Maybe you better get a new handwriting man. I never saw that slip. I never wrote those signatures. Anybody can copy handwriting.

[Joe Friday]

Got something else for you, Ross. I'd like to have you check it over, see if you can identify it.

[Ben Romero]

What is it?

[Joe Friday]

It's a letter. Want to take a look? Here. Doesn't that mean anything to you?

[Ben Romero]

No, nothing. I hope you're not going to tell me this is my handwriting.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

That's what the report says.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, it's crazy. I never wrote like that in my life.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

All the writing characteristics match up. Same as the signatures on.

[Ben Romero]

All right, maybe they are the same. I didn't write either one. I never wrote like that in my life. Here, let me show you how I wrote.

[Joe Friday]

That's all right, Henry. Ben, do you want to pull the package from R and I?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Okay.

[Ben Romero]

I don't savvy one bit of this, Sergeant. How about laying it out for me?

[Joe Friday]

You can see the name at the bottom of the letter. It's signed Henry Carter. Same as the pink slip.

[Ben Romero]

Well, that is meaning to me.

[Joe Friday]

Well, this letter was sent to the wife of Paul Davis about nine weeks ago. And it signed. It says here that Davis supposedly was too busy to write his wife. So he had this Henry Carter send a letter. He also writes in here that Davis sold his car to Carter.

[Ben Romero]

Somebody trying to cover up, huh?

[Joe Friday]

We think so. We think it's Henry Carter.

[Ben Romero]

This. This Davis guy's been gone about four months.

[Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Ben Romero]

You said you thought Davis was murdered. How come?

[Joe Friday]

Just an idea. Eight men had disappeared from around here in the last 14 months just like Davis. Six more up in the San Joaquin Valley the same way they took off alone on auto trips. Never seen again. Not a trace.

[Ben Romero]

Pretty funny.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Here you go, Jill.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you. You've got your record here, Henry. From Baton Rouge. Sent to Sheriff Plemons for it, huh?

[Ben Romero]

Look, do we have to drag all out again? It's passed.

[Joe Friday]

Just one thing we had to check, Henry. You told us that you never use an alias. Is that right?

[Ben Romero]

All right, I have. I didn't know what you're getting at. I didn't think it was any use dragging out dirty laundry again.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

I asked you if you ever used the name Henry Carter.

[Ben Romero]

Okay, I've used it. It's a common name. There's a lot of Henry Carters around.

[Joe Friday]

We only know one who fits your description.

[Ben Romero]

I'm clean. You know that.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

On the smoke, Henry?

[Ben Romero]

No.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

You?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, thanks.

[Ben Romero]

Let me have one, will you?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Sure. Here you go.

[Ben Romero]

Thanks.

[Joe Friday]

We got a match here. You know, we rode this thing for four months. It's all over the state. Here.

[Ben Romero]

Thanks.

[Joe Friday]

I'll tell you what we got, Henry. We'll let you make up your own mind.

[Ben Romero]

It's not my writing.

[Joe Friday]

On June 4, Paul Davis left Los Angeles and his car headed for Oakdale. Late in the afternoon, he stopped for gas at a service station just beyond San Fernando. The attendant says a man was with Davis. You fit that man's description, Henry.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, I've seen monks like that in court. They get on the stand, they can't even remember their own name.

[Joe Friday]

A couple others. You and Davis stopped for a hamburger just outside of Gorman. There's a man there, he remembers you too. He stopped again in Bakersfield, picked up a quart of oil for the car. You and Davis had a Coke. It's the last time he was seen alive.

[Ben Romero]

That makes me a killer, huh?

[Joe Friday]

A month after that, the pink slip to Davis. Car came through DMV up in Sacramento. That was for the transfer of ownership from Davis to Henry Carter. Both in your handwriting. A couple of weeks later, Mrs. Davis got that letter. Month ago, Davis's car was sold to a dealer in Lodi.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Yeah, we found the dealer. Ross showed him your mug shot. He says you sold him the car.

[Ben Romero]

That all?

[Joe Friday]

It's just the main part. There's more. We've been on the road a lot. We followed you from here to Sacramento and back, Henry. Every stop, every detour. Took us a long time.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, I guess it did.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

What do you say, Ron?

[Ben Romero]

Nothing.

[Joe Friday]

Any way you want it.

[Ben Romero]

Henry, you got another smoke?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Yeah. Yeah. Here you are.

[Ben Romero]

Thanks.

[Joe Friday]

Here.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah. I guess you worked hard on it, huh? All over the state.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

That's right.

[Ben Romero]

Must be pretty hot up in the Valley. Summertime. Dusty, huh?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

We made out.

[Ben Romero]

I've never been up in the Valley in summer. It's too hot for me.

[Joe Friday]

We got people who saw you there.

[Ben Romero]

What's it proved? 10 people and some writing samples. You can't build a case on that. You know it, don't you?

[Joe Friday]

We're gonna try.

[Ben Romero]

You think I murdered Davis? You, sergeant?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

You think I murdered those other guys too, huh? What was it, 10, 12 of them?

[Joe Friday]

We're asking about Davis.

[Ben Romero]

You think I killed him? Tell me the truth. Do you think I murdered Davis?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I think you did.

[Ben Romero]

Uh huh. Well, then you know as well as I do there's only one way to prove it.

[Joe Friday]

Here.

[Ben Romero]

Find his body.

[Joe Friday]

1:15Pm Ben and I took Henry Ross out and fed him some lunch. Then we took him back to the City hall of the interrogation room. Where we continued to question him. It was relaxed and he talked a great deal about everything but the disappearance of Paul Davis. He didn't seem anxious to get away, made no demands for an attorney to represent him. For a full hour, he did most of the talking. He told us about the different homicide cases he'd read up on. He asked us about the 12 men who disappeared in the past months in the same manner Paul Davis had. Was there any trace of him at all? Did we have any leads? How did we think we were going to find him? Well, we finally got around to asking him if he'd submit to a lie detector test. He seemed taken by the idea and agreed to it almost immediately. Ben called Sergeant Berger and made arrangements for the test. We made up a list of key questions. At 5pm we took the suspect to the third floor of the Old City Jail where Sergeant Berger gave him the polygraph test. On the way back to the office, Ross complained he was hungry. We stopped and bought him coffee and donuts. We got back to the interrogation room a little after 6pm the questioning continued. Ross didn't seem to mind at all. He kept talking. We let him talk. 8:00pm he was still going strong.

[Ben Romero]

You remember the Wilson case back in 34, don't you, Sergeant? Woman killed her whole family. Big case, you remember?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Yeah. Pretty tragic.

[Joe Friday]

That a hobby of yours, Henry? Collecting murder stories?

[Ben Romero]

No, no, I just read them. Remember them? I guess I can remember every big murder case in the last 15 years.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

That so?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, just about all of them. I guess it is kind of a hobby. I get a big kick out of it.

[Joe Friday]

I get it, Ben. Excuse me, Henry.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, sure.

[Joe Friday]

Interrogation room, Friday oh, yeah. Burger. Mm. How many? Uh huh. Yeah, okay. Thank you.

[Ben Romero]

You know, there's one thing I get a real big kick out of. Those detective magazines, Mystery stories. The way they make out the murderer.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

How do you mean?

[Ben Romero]

You know, they always build it up into something big. Somebody's always killing somebody else for a million dollars. Or maybe over some woman. Some beautiful woman. Same way with the movies. That's where they get it all mixed up.

[Joe Friday]

I don't think I follow you, Henry.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, sure you do. Every time some guy writes a murder story, he's got to build up a big reason for the killing. A lot of money, beautiful woman. Revenge maybe. Always gotta be a big reason. Motive. Motive. That's what they say.

[Joe Friday]

Well, generally works out that way, doesn't it?

[Ben Romero]

Why, I bet you there's a thousand murder cases in your files without any reason at all. Some people kill. That's all I've heard about lots of them. They just want to kill and they go ahead and do it. Maybe for a few bucks, maybe for nothing. They just do it, that's all.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

That's all?

[Ben Romero]

Sure. You know that. Like this thing you've been talking about. 10, 12 guys disappear. They got a few bucks, maybe they got nothing. Somebody plaza under. And that's all. No big reason. They just do it. So 12 guys are gone. It doesn't mean anything.

[Joe Friday]

That's how you got it figured, huh? Henry?

[Ben Romero]

Huh?

[Joe Friday]

The phone call a minute ago, there was a man who gave you the lie detector test.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, that. Right. How'd it go?

[Joe Friday]

He just finished going over your graph. He got 16 positive reactions.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah? What's that mean?

[Joe Friday]

You lied, Henry. 16 times that, right.

[Ben Romero]

You better tell him to get a new machine. I lied all the way through.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Mind telling us why?

[Ben Romero]

No, I don't mind. I guess I knew you'd find out. Let's go get something to eat first, though. I'm hungry.

[Joe Friday]

No, we better talk a little more.

[Ben Romero]

Henry, let's go. I'll tell you why we're eating. Bring a pencil. We had draw your map.

[Joe Friday]

Map of what?

[Ben Romero]

The canyon where I buried him. Foreign.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Dragnet for the step by step solution to tonight's authentic case history.

[Joe Friday]

Wednesday, 9:55pm Ben and I took Henry Ross across the street. Bought him a Coke at Mac's place, and we took him next door to the Melbourne cafeteria. It was almost closing time. Ross got himself a cottage cheese and pineapple salad, bacon and liver with onions, rye bread, banana pie and coffee. Ben had a hot beef sandwich, mashed potatoes and coffee. I had the same at the back of the cafeteria. One of the busboys was mopping the tile floor. It was a strong smell of disinfectant.

[Ben Romero]

How about that table over there, Sergeant? That all right with you?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Yeah, it's okay. Doesn't make any difference.

[Joe Friday]

That's fine.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

You want some water?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Henry?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, please. All right.

[Joe Friday]

I'll get.

[Ben Romero]

Sir. Oh, boy. Living onions. That sure smells great, huh? Yeah.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

I can't take those onions so well. They repeat on me.

[Ben Romero]

Not me. I can eat anything.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Salt and pepper?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, thanks. Boy, I'm sure hungry. I haven't eaten much today. Did you get a sandwich made with rye bread?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Mm. Mm. Graham bread.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, you should have gotten a rye. Real German rye bread. Yeah. Smell that. Real nice and fresh. There you go, Ben.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Hello. Thanks.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, thank you. You know, all that talk really sharpened up my appetite. Boy, his food tastes good.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Mm.

[Ben Romero]

Jelly Jim.

[Joe Friday]

Uh.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Well, thanks. We brought a pencil along, Henry. He wants to start taking notes.

[Ben Romero]

As good a time as any, I guess. You know, the whole thing just comes right back to what I was trying to tell you there in the office.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah?

[Ben Romero]

What's that? Well, you know all about those phony mystery stories.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah.

[Ben Romero]

Every time there's trouble, there's a big reason behind it. That's phony, that's all. Yeah, sure. It's Paul Davis, for instance. I guess I knew you'd find me out. I knew this morning when you picked me up. You had it figured. Must have been a big job, huh? Finding me.

[Joe Friday]

Mm, pretty big, Henry. You know, a lot of mileage. How'd it happen?

[Ben Romero]

Well, there again, just like I was saying, there's no big reason behind it. I needed a few bucks, and if Davis came along, I guess he was it. Pass me a ketchup with.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Oh, yeah.

[Ben Romero]

Here you are.

[Joe Friday]

I'll get the lid off there.

[Ben Romero]

There you go. Thanks.

[Joe Friday]

Where'd you meet Davis, Henry?

[Ben Romero]

I was hitchhiking out in Ventura. Not a dime in my jeans. I was going up to Maricopa. I thought I had a job up there. And this Davis come along, pick me up.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

You ever know him before that?

[Ben Romero]

No stranger. He said he's going to Oakdale. Little guy gave me a ride.

[Joe Friday]

Go ahead.

[Ben Romero]

Well, we stopped for gas at San Fernando, and I saw he had a few bucks in his wallet. And I guess that's when I got the idea.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

About what?

[Ben Romero]

Killing him. Now, maybe that gives you an idea what I was talking about. You don't need any big reason to kill somebody. Davis said 18 bucks. Now, suppose I told that to a writer, somebody killing the guy for 18 bucks. That wouldn't make much sense, huh? He'd tell you it'd never sell. You need a million dollars. Beautiful woman. Good motive.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Where'd you kill him, Henry?

[Ben Romero]

Just outside of Bakersfield. Little canyon there. I got Davis to buy a fifth of sherry in Bakersfield. He drank some on the way. Hey, pass the salt, huh? Yeah.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

There you are.

[Joe Friday]

Thanks.

[Ben Romero]

Liver's no good without plenty of salt.

[Joe Friday]

How'd you kill Davis, Henry?

[Ben Romero]

That's a funny thing. He drank some of the wine, got a little sleepy. I was just outside of Bakersfield, dark by that time. I spotted this little canyon. I figured it's as good a place as any. Well, so I get some. Pulled off to the side road and had a few more drinks, and I spotted this little shack out there in the middle of nowhere.

[Joe Friday]

Exactly where was this, Henry?

[Ben Romero]

Well, I Can show you. It's maybe two miles north of Bakersville. Got to the shack, finished the wine, went to sleep.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Both of you.

[Ben Romero]

And that's where the funny part comes in, I guess. I killed Davis all right, but I didn't mean it. Oh, brother, get a whiff of that, huh? Why do these monks have to mop up while people are eating?

[Joe Friday]

They'll be through in a minute, Henry.

[Ben Romero]

Fine.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

How'd you mean, Henry? You didn't mean to kill him. You already told us you had the idea.

[Ben Romero]

Well, sure I had the idea. Let me explain, huh? We both went to sleep in the shack, Davis and me. Guess that must have been all about 9:00 at night. I don't know what it was. Maybe the wine, I guess. But I start having nightmares. Yeah. Now, maybe this part sounds like a story, but it's the truth. I had all these dreams. I woke up, but they're still there.

[Joe Friday]

What was that?

[Ben Romero]

Faces. Faces, that's all I could see. I was full of faces. Like I. I guess I was really still asleep.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, Go ahead.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, I. I picked up a two by four and started swinging at them in faces. Funny thing, too. I knew every one of these faces.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

How do you mean?

[Ben Romero]

People I killed. There were only a dozen of them, really, but it seemed like there were a hundred of them all around in the air. Well, I grabbed that two by four and I started swinging. I was cold and sweating all at the same time. And I kept on swinging. And I saw Davis's face and I swung hard. Kept swinging. Didn't he make a sound, his eyes closed. Kept on swinging at his head. I come to, there he was lying on the floor. Seemed to take those other faces away. They didn't bother me after I killed Davis.

[Joe Friday]

What'd you do with him, Henry?

[Ben Romero]

Oh, pulled him outside the shack, dug a hole and buried him. Burned his clothes, took his car and money and drove off. I'll show you, if you like, where I buried him, I mean.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

How about these other men, Ross? These faces you saw, hmm?

[Ben Romero]

Oh. What if I get a little more coffee, huh? It's all gone.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

I'll get him.

[Joe Friday]

Joe? No, no, thanks. Nothing else. What about it, Ross? The other man?

[Ben Romero]

Oh, I don't recall him too well. It's what you said in the office. 10 or 12 of them couple and sack the others down through the valley. Like I say, there was no big reason for killing them. It just happened that way, that's all.

[Joe Friday]

What'd you do with him?

[Ben Romero]

You remember, generally, there's one of them that Stands out. Guy by the name of Slattery. Some kind of salesman. A real crybaby.

[Joe Friday]

Where'd this happen?

[Ben Romero]

No. He picked me up in his car outside of Chowchilla. It was nighttime. He must feel him pretty good. I made him stop on a side road. I hit him with a piece of angle iron. He cried like a baby. Buried him in a field. There he is. One of the faces that I saw. That's funny, huh? It shows you how psychology works, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. What'd you do with this car? Slatteries, I mean.

[Ben Romero]

Drove it down to Mexico and saw it there. Guess that's what I should have done with Davis car.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Oh. Here you go.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, thanks.

[Joe Friday]

These killings are yours. You got any more you want to tell us about?

[Ben Romero]

Well, I told you already, 10 or 12 of them. They're pretty much the same.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

When was the first one?

[Ben Romero]

Oh, maybe 18 months, two years ago. First one wasn't any harder than the last. It's just like I was telling you before.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

Everybody builds up. Murder. It's supposed to be a big thing. Hard to do. All those phony stories. I'd just hit a guy a couple of times or something. That'd be it. A real small thing. Didn't change me any. That's why I say it's. It's all built up.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

You ever been treated for any mental sickness, Ross?

[Ben Romero]

No.

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Why?

[Joe Friday]

You ever been examined by a psychiatrist?

[Ben Romero]

No.

[Joe Friday]

After you killed these men, did it bother you at all?

[Ben Romero]

I just had one dream time. I was with Davis. That's about it. Sure. Good meal, Sergeant?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Thanks.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Okay. You ready, Ben?

[Henry Ellsworth Ross]

Let's go.

[Ben Romero]

Go back upstairs, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. You want to give us a statement?

[Ben Romero]

All right. I had an idea you'd find me. I guess I always knew that you'd find me.

[Joe Friday]

Let's go. Hint.

[Ben Romero]

Guess I proved my point anyway, huh? It's all build up, huh? Murder, killing somebody. Those phony stories. It's all build up. It's cheap.

[Joe Friday]

No, you got it wrong, Henry.

[Ben Romero]

Huh?

[Joe Friday]

Wait till they read you the bill.

[Ben Romero]

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

[Narrator]

On January 7, trial was held in Superior Court Department 86, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Henry Ellsworth Ross was tried and found guilty on two counts of murder in the first degree and received the death sentence. While he indicated that he had murdered the other 10 men, he refused to give any further information regarding the killings or what he had done with the bodies. Ross 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.

[Joe Friday]

Now more excitement with CounterSpy on NBC.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. A great episode of Dragnet. This story is a chilling look into the mind of a serial killer before that phrase was popularized. And what's really chilling about it is how utterly nonchalant he is. No deranged, laughing lunatic, just a guy talking about what he does. No different than anyone might discuss their own job or hobby. Of course, he's right about the contrast between many, if not most killings and the stories you'd find in a detective fiction magazine. Lots of crimes happen for small reasons or seemingly no reason at all. There's a reason why there are so many unsolved crimes out there. Oftentimes there's crimes of passion or robberies gone bad or moments of intoxication. However, if the stories of murder were out of touch with the reality of what went on in the real world most of the time, so was he. He had killed a dozen people deliberately and in a calculated manner to get a few bucks. And other than that one dream, it was no big deal to him at all, which makes him a particularly dangerous and sinister character. But perhaps part of the reason for his low view of human life is this assumption that most people, at their core, are really just like him. The only other thing I'll add on a much lighter note is that I noticed Ben Romero ordered graham bread. We discussed graham bread a few months back when he was sent on an errand for it late at night after a case had been resolved by his wife and was wondering where he'd find it at that time of night. But apparently you could order graham bread in health food restaurants. It does also suggest that Mrs. Romero's use of graham bread had won Sgt. Romero over to it. Well, now we turn to listener comments and feedback. And I have an email here from Jonathan who writes, I never miss a Johnny Dollar episode. Best part of the week lately. I'm really enjoying more and more Dragnet. The production quality with the sounds are really excellent things. The Passover Seder that Joe and Ben were at was incredibly accurate. The prayers in Hebrew were the exact same that are really used. Good show. And then the second thing, there was an episode where they were chasing a thief and he shot at them. In the end, the announcer said the perpetrator was only charged with burglary. Shooting at a cop must still have been a crime. So why did the synopsis miss out on this? It seems odd not charging them for shooting at them. Thanks for the many hours of listening enjoyment. Yours truly, Jonathan well, thanks so much Jonathan. I appreciate your comments. It's tough to imagine that using a firearm in that matter wouldn't be charged. I can't say for sure why it wasn't mentioned. A few things come to mind. It might be a situation where there was a guilty plea and the prosecutor just chose not to bring the gun charge. It also might have been a practice to only mention the underlying crimes that the police were investigating. I can't recall a lot of obstruction or resisting arrest being called out in that segment, and certainly there are many crimes to it could be brought or may even have been brought in real life, but there just may not have been time to cover everything. So those are my best guesses. I can't imagine that it would not have been addressed in some way by the prosecuting attorney when the case was brought up for consideration. And then we've got a comment here from jhugs6024 over on YouTube regarding the big Dance. It always kind of made me a bit disappointed when the culprits didn't have an aired interview on the show. Granted, it didn't happen much, but every now and then you'll get an episode where the bandits feel elusive to there being no character development and interviews. Be that as it may, I still love Dragnet. It got me into old time radio. Keep up the good work, Adam. Well, thanks so much. And I do agree that there is something really satisfying after having followed our heroes through this whole process of investigation, for them to at least have an exchange with the suspect and to get a feel for the people who this whole episode has been about the criminals who have committed this crime. And I don't know, I guess because it's on radio. We also know on some level that there's no one who is actually cast as these criminals on television. You can at least see them, but no such luck on radio. Now it's time to thank our Patreon Supporter of the Day and I want to go ahead and thank Jeremy. Jeremy has been one of our patreon supporters since February 2016, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Jeremy, and that will actually do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. Join us tomorrow for public domain video [e-mail] on YouTube and now on Spotify for podcast. But from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.