Dragnet: The Big Court (EP4959)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives Present Dragnet (Old Time Radio)
Host: Adam Graham
Episode: Dragnet: The Big Court (EP4959)
Date: April 23, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode revisits a classic 1952 Dragnet story, "The Big Court," where Detective Joe Friday and partner Ed Jacobs investigate a robbery and murder case. The episode focuses on the judicial process after a suspect is identified and arrested, exploring issues of eyewitness testimony, physical evidence, and the pursuit of justice—even as police procedures and legal standards from that era differ markedly from today's. Host Adam Graham provides commentary, highlighting both the drama's narrative and its historical context in terms of police work and courtroom practice.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Crime and Initial Investigation

• Case Details: Ex-convict Harold St. Clair is accused of the robbery and murder of tavern owner Charles Holloway. Four witnesses identify St. Clair as the killer, but the case lacks physical evidence and hinges on witness accounts.

• Procedural Background: Friday and Jacobs (the detectives) express skepticism about the strength of eyewitness identification, notably in the absence of confirming evidence.

  "Just one good piece of physical evidence, I'd feel a lot better about him."
  — Detective Friday, [11:38]

2. The Courtroom Testimony

• Key Witness: Agnes Holloway, the victim’s wife, delivers emotional and detailed testimony about the night of the crime, the events leading to her husband's death, and the perpetrator's actions.

  "He put his arm around me, and he had a gun right here. He said, lady, this is a stickup."
  — Agnes Holloway, [07:19]

• Eyewitness Uncertainty: Despite initial positive identifications, witnesses seem less sure under cross-examination, revealing the unreliability of memory after traumatic events.

  "Are you sure you remember the man you saw sitting in the bar that night?"
  — Prosecutor, [21:27]
  "Well, I don't know. I've got them both mixed up, I guess. I'm not sure."
  — Agnes Holloway, [21:31]

3. Police Doubts, Ongoing Investigation, and New Leads

• The detectives investigate further when the evidence against St. Clair seems shaky, especially with the crucial sailor witness still missing and only circumstantial evidence tying St. Clair to the crime.

  "All the angles checked, huh? All of them. Doesn't hold much water. Can't prove it's a lie. Can't prove it's the truth."
  — Detective Friday, [11:48]

• Break in the Case: A different suspect, Lester Jaffe, is apprehended for an unrelated robbery. Physical evidence connects his gun to the bullets that killed Holloway.

  "Comparison microscopic examinations of test bullets fired from the gun taken from Jaffe and the two slugs which had been removed from the body of tavern owner Charles Holloway matched."
  — Detective Friday, [18:40]

4. Case Resolution: Trials, Identification, and Justice

• Show-Up in Court: A critical courtroom moment occurs when the missing sailor, Seaman First Class Roy Maslin, is found and positively identifies Jaffe, not St. Clair, as the murderer.

  "Will you step down from the stand, please, Mr. Maslin? And place your hand on the shoulder of the man who was in the bar with you the night of March 4th."
  — Prosecutor, [27:51]
  "This is the man. Jaffe."
  — Roy Maslin, [28:07]

• Witness Recantations: Previous identifying witnesses admit their error, highlighting fallibility in high-stress identification scenarios.

  "The close resemblance of the two became apparent to the four identifying witnesses. They frankly admitted their mistake and positively identified Jaffe as the killer."
  — Detective Friday, [19:10]

• Justice Served: Jaffe is convicted and executed for the crime; St. Clair is cleared of the murder charge.

5. Host Adam Graham's Commentary

• Graham reflects on the episode's authenticity in capturing 1952-era courtroom procedures, highlighting stark contrasts with present-day law.

  "This wasn't meant to capture the way that Law worked 70 years in the future... This was meant to capture the realism of how courtroom procedures worked back in 1952."
  — Adam Graham, [30:57]

• He discusses questionable courtroom practices depicted, such as prejudicial in-court identification methods, and observes how discovery rules and ethical standards have evolved.

  "In today's world, in a prosecution, this sort of information would be required to be given to the defense attorney as part of discovery..."
  — Adam Graham, [30:57]

6. Listener Feedback & Closing Thoughts

• Graham shares listener comments and addresses the handling of advertisements in episodes, especially when sensitive topics are discussed.
• He thanks Patreon supporters and encourages listeners to engage with the show.

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "[He] said, lady, this is a stickup."—Agnes Holloway, [07:19]
• "Just one good piece of physical evidence, I'd feel a lot better about him."—Detective Friday, [11:38]
• "All the angles checked, huh?...Can't prove it's a lie. Can't prove it's the truth."—Detective Friday, [11:48]
• "He's the only one who really got a close look at the killer. Besides the wife, I mean."—Detective Friday, [12:14]
• "This is the man. Jaffe."—Saeman Roy Maslin, [28:07]
• "Guess he'd like to kill me, huh? You're not the only one, son. Wait till they read him the verdict."—Detective Friday, [28:16]
• "Lester Carl Jaffe was found guilty of murder in the first degree. He was executed in the lethal gas chamber at the State Penitentiary San Quentin, California."—Narrator, [28:32]
• "This wasn't meant to capture the way that Law worked 70 years in the future...this was meant to capture the realism of how courtroom procedures worked back in 1952."—Adam Graham, [30:57]

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Timeline of Major Segments

• [03:07–14:17]: Crime described, witness testimonies, and preliminary hearing drama.
• [15:14–18:16]: Investigation into new suspect Jaffe, physical evidence emerges.
• [19:10–24:29]: Court confusion, faulty witness IDs, scientific testimony.
• [25:03–28:32]: Sailor witness found, positive identification of true killer, verdict delivered.
• [30:57–36:52]: Graham’s reflective commentary on legal practice then vs. now, listener feedback.

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Episode Tone & Style

The podcast maintains a respectful, analytical tone, mirroring the serious nature of the Dragnet episode. Graham’s thoughtful commentary acknowledges differences between past and present judicial practice, offering historical perspective without judgmental hindsight.

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For Listeners

This episode is both a gripping crime procedural and a fascinating look into mid-century legal and policing norms. Adam Graham’s expert commentary helps bridge the gap for modern listeners, providing context and legal insight that enriches appreciation for both Dragnet’s storytelling and the evolution of American criminal justice.

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Transcript

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[Liberty Mutual Customer]

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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, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show 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 become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.greatdetectives.net now from January 24, 1952, here is the big court.

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[Narrator (Dragnet)]

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 robbery detail, an ex Convict is accused of robbery and murder. Four witnesses identify him as the killer. The man's arraigned in municipal court and held to answer. Your job. Investigate. Dragnet. The documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case. Transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

[Detective Friday]

It was Wednesday, March 12. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A robbery detail. My partner's Ed Jacobs. The boss is Captain Didion. My name's Friday. We were on the way over from the office and it was 10:43am when we got to the third floor at the hall of Justice, Municipal Court, Department 82.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

You see him, Joe?

[Detective Friday]

I think so. Yeah, that's him up front, behind the DA's table.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Oh, yeah.

[Detective Friday]

Come on. Hi, Leo.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Oh, hi, Friday. Jacobs. Pull up a chair.

[Detective Friday]

Yeah. Thank you. Who's on the stand first, do you know? Victim's wife, I think.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Oh.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

People versus St. Clair,

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

people ready in this case, your honor. We'd like to proceed with number 23548. You may proceed. Is the defendant ready? Defendant's ready, your honor. Call Agnes Holloway. Agnes Holloway to the stand.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give in the matter now pending before this court will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Sir, Help to God.

[Agnes Holloway]

I do.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

State your name, please.

[Agnes Holloway]

Douglas Holloway.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Calling your attention to the fourth day of March of this year, Mrs. Holloway, did you see the defendant in your place of business at 2301 Naylor Avenue?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes, sir.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

What time of day did you first see him at that location?

[Agnes Holloway]

It was around 9:30.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Will you tell us what you saw the defendant do? For the purpose of the record, may we ask whether that was in the morning or the afternoon? Was that in the morning or in the pm? PM can you tell us what you saw the defendant do and what you heard him say at that place? You mean before the holdup at 9:30? Please tell us what occurred.

[Agnes Holloway]

Well, I came in about 9:30, the place. He was already sitting there at the bar.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Continue.

[Agnes Holloway]

I came in and sat down at the end of the bar. He was sitting about five stools from the door. Friend of mine, Doris Fenway, she's here now. Doris was sitting near him. I went over and talked to Doris for a while. The man didn't say anything. He was just sitting there.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Did you see him drinking anything?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes, he was drinking scotch and soda.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

You're the wife of George Holloway, deceased, is that correct?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Was he present then?

[Agnes Holloway]

Beg your pardon?

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Was your husband, George Holloway, present at that time?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes, he was standing the bar.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

By that, do you mean that your husband, yourself and the defendant were the only persons present?

[Agnes Holloway]

No, my friend, Doris Fenwick. There was a sailor there, too. I don't know who he was. He sat next to the defendant.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

What occurred then?

[Agnes Holloway]

As we were ready to close the front door, my husband noticed the light and the men's washroom.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

I moved that go out. What her husband notice as a conclusion to witness. It may go on.

[Agnes Holloway]

Well, anyway, my husband went back in to put the light out. Doris Fenlick and I went out to the sidewalk and so did the sailor. And the fellow did, too.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

The defendant did?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes. In a minute. I went back inside to see what my husband was doing. And the defendant followed me back in. I was about as far as the music machine. He put his arm around me and he had a gun right here. He said, lady, this is a sticker.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Could you describe the gun you saw?

[Agnes Holloway]

No, I just saw. It looked like a pistol to me. I couldn't tell you the make of it.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

I move that guard. If your honor please, what it looked like.

[Agnes Holloway]

I know it was a gun.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

The motion will be denied. You were inside the building when the defendant did that?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes. He said, good fight or I'll kill you.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

And where was Ms. Fenwick then?

[Agnes Holloway]

She was out on the sidewalk talking to the sailor. I think Doris was expecting her husband to come on the streetcar.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

I'll move that go out. Ms. Fenwick was out on the sidewalk. May stay in and the balance may go out. What did the defendant do after that, Mrs. Holloway?

[Agnes Holloway]

He said, I will shoot you if you don't keep quiet. He made me walk backwards to where my husband was. And I said, johnny, this man has a gun. He says, this is a sticker. And the man said, shut up. And he made my husband put his hands up.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Were you in fear of the gun at that time?

[Agnes Holloway]

No, I didn't have any fear.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Did you believe the defendant would injure you with a gun?

[Agnes Holloway]

I wasn't afraid. I thought, well, it's a hold up and we'll give him the money. And that's all there is to it.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

All right, continue.

[Agnes Holloway]

Well, when we got to the back room, my husband was trying to open the safe. And he says, hurry up. I have your wife covered. Kill her if you don't hurry.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

The defendant said that?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes. My husband Said, don't get nervous. You can have anything we have, but don't shoot her. Then my husband got the safe open and took out the money bag and handed it to the man, the defendant. He grabbed it and then he shot my husband twice.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

The defendant shot your husband twice?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Do you know what the contents of the money bag worth?

[Agnes Holloway]

The about $160.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

At any time did you give this defendant authority or your consent to take that money?

[Agnes Holloway]

No, sir.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

The taking of the money was against your will, is that correct?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

How soon after was it that the officers arrived at the location?

[Agnes Holloway]

It was about seven or eight minutes after that.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Your husband was removed to the hospital?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Do you know when your husband died?

[Agnes Holloway]

He died on the 7th. Friday, 6 o'. Clock.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

You mean on the 7th of March of this year? Yes, 6am did you see your husband in the coroner's office?

[Agnes Holloway]

Pardon me?

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Did you see your husband after death in the coroner's office?

[Agnes Holloway]

No.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

I saw him in the hospital after death. Did you see your husband downstairs in the coroner's office?

[Agnes Holloway]

No. My son did.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Did you see your husband after death?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes, at the mortuary. Monday the 10th, at the mortuary.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

And the person you viewed in death was the same Charles A. Holloway who you knew in life as your husband?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes, sir.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Do you know Grace Thompson?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes, sir. She works for me and my husband.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Was she present at your place of business on this evening?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

When did she leave there, do you.

[Agnes Holloway]

About five minutes to twelve midnight.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Can you fix the precise time when your husband was shot?

[Agnes Holloway]

About 5 minutes after 12.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

5 minutes after 12. How many times was the gun fired?

[Agnes Holloway]

Twice.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

How close was the gun to your husband, Charles Holloway?

[Agnes Holloway]

Must have been about 2ft.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Do you know Marion Shaw?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Was she present on the premises that evening?

[Agnes Holloway]

She was present that evening.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Do you know Mrs. Sam Garber?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Was she present on the premises that evening?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes, sir. And that Taylor was there too. I didn't know him, though.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

All that you've related occurred in the county of Los Angeles, State of California?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes, sir.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Across the family.

[Agnes Holloway]

May I have a drink of water, please, Bailey?

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Would you like to rest a while, Mrs. Holloway?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes, please.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

We'll have a short recess before the cross examination. Joe. Ed.

[Detective Friday]

Yeah, Leo.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Probably won't get to us for a while. You want to go out for a smoke?

[Detective Friday]

Yeah, it's fine with me.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Okay. What's your idea on it, Leo? I don't know enough to have him bound over the superior court. No, I mean, you think Sinclair's the right man? Got me.

[Detective Friday]

Yeah.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Just one Good piece of physical evidence. I'd feel a lot better about him.

[Detective Friday]

Go ahead.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Yeah, thanks. There you go.

[Detective Friday]

Light?

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Yeah, thanks. Thank you. How about St. Clair's Alibi? All the angles checked, huh?

[Detective Friday]

All of them. Doesn't hold much water. Can't prove it's a lie. Can't prove it's the truth.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Sure hate these things. Don't know which way to go. Poor identifying witnesses. We know how wrong they can be.

[Detective Friday]

What about that sailor who was supposed

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

to be in the bar at the time? I know Homicide didn't do any good.

[Detective Friday]

How about you, fella? Oh, same Leo. Nothing yet.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

He was the only one who really got a close look at the killer. Besides the wife, I mean. Killer bumped into him when he ran out of the bar. Yeah. If anyone could identify the right man, the sailor could.

[Detective Friday]

Nobody at the bar saw him before that night. Nobody's seen him since. There's not a trace of him. Sure.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Our best bet. If we could find him, we might put a foundation under this thing.

[Detective Friday]

Yeah, I'll put in with you. There's just one problem.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Yeah?

[Detective Friday]

It's a big navy. Where do we find them? When 58 year old tavern owner Charles Holloway was shot and fatally wounded in a holdup on March 4, there were five people in the immediate vicinity. Holloway's wife, a waitress at the tavern, two women customers and an unidentified sailor. Soon after the shooting, the scene of the crime was gone over thoroughly for all physical evidence. But besides the two fatal bullets, none was found. The preliminary investigation failed to yield any further leads. A search was started for the missing witness, the unidentified sailor. The four known witnesses were brought downtown where they checked through volumes of pictures of ex convicts recently released from the state penitentiaries. All of them identified the mug shot of Harold St. Clair, a recent parolee from Chino where he'd serve time for armed robbery. St. Clair was brought in immediately. In question, he failed to establish an alibi for his whereabouts the night of the hold up and murder. He was arraigned in municipal court and that is preliminary hearing. The first prosecution witness, the wife of the murdered man, Agnes Holloway, singled him out as the killer. By experience. The working detectives found that identifying witnesses under the strain of being present at a horrible crime can often be mistaken in their identification. In this instance, there wasn't anything else we could do. It was all we had. 11:18am the preliminary hearing resumed. The witnesses took the stand in turn and all of them tabbed St Clair as the murderer. Ed and I testified as the arresting officers. At 3:25 that afternoon, the prosecution rested the case for the people. St. Clair's lawyer offered no defense. For the time being,

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

your honor. Mr. Alexander, this time the people move that case number 23529 be decided. Dismissed on the grounds that it states in substance. 23529, is that correct? Yes, your honor. Dismissed on the grounds that it states in substance the offense covered in the present case, 23529 covers the offense of robbery and assault with intent to commit murder under the present victim in our case here, Charles Holloway. He was not dead at the time this case, 23529 was filed. Subsequent to its filing, he died. And the murder count accomplished that complaint. Let the record show that on the motion of the district attorney in the case of People vs. Harold R. St. Clair, number 23529, that case is dismissed. Appearing to me that the offenses in the within deposition mentioned, to wit, count one, murder, a felony, and count two, robbery, a felony, have been committed and that there is sufficient cause to believe the within named defendant, Harold R. St.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

Clair, guilty thereof, I order that he

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

be held to answer to the same and he be committed to the custody of the sheriff of Los Angeles County.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

Without fail,

[Detective Friday]

in the 17 days intervening between St Clair's preliminary hearing and his arraignment in Superior Court, Ed and I, along with Sergeant Stoner Beeson and Leo Tracy, continued our investigation of the case. Physical evidence to either prove or disprove the case against St. Clair was not to be had. We concentrated on trying to find the all important missing witness to the killing, the unidentified sailor. We got out an APB along with special letters and bulletins for distribution to local navy yard commandants as well as navy department officials in Washington requesting help in locating him. It went slow. The day before St. Clair Superior Court arraignment we got our first lead, but not from where we expected. A two time robbery. Loser Lester Jaffe, who bore a close resemblance to St. Clara, was arrested at a check cashing agency on South Hoover trying to pass a forged check. He had several prior arrests and convictions for burglary in adw. And a check of his package showed that he had violated his parole. A.38 caliber S and W revolver found on Jaffe was delivered to Russ Camp in ballistics for examination and comparison. The next day, Monday, March 29, St. Clair came up for his arraignment in Superior Court. Ed and I were there.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

St. Clair, Defendant is present. Ready, your honor.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

Arraign the prisoner,

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Harold R. St. Clair. Is that your true name? That's right. Harold R. St. Clair. By information number 23549, you're charged in count one with a crime of murder. In that honor about March 4th of this year, you did woefully, unlawfully and feloniously and with malice aforethought. Murder one, Charles A. Holloway, a human being. To this charge, how do you now plead? Guilty or not guilty? Not guilty. In comp two of the same information, you're charged with a crime of robbery and that honor about March 4th of this year, you did rob one, Charles A. Holloway. To that charge, how do you now plead? Guilty or not guilty? Not guilty. Joe. Joe, the bell.

[Detective Friday]

Oh, yeah.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

He's motioning to your phone call, I guess.

[Detective Friday]

Must be for you. Yeah. Thanks, Ed.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

Gentlemen, have you agreed on what date is convenient for trial?

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

No agreement as yet, your honor.

[Detective Friday]

Harris.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

A phone call for you, Sergeant.

[Detective Friday]

Right here. Okay, thank you. Friday talking. Yeah, they're right. Yeah. Okay, as soon as we finish here. Yeah, right. Bye.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

Joe.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Alex here wants to know about a trial. Dude, any ideas?

[Detective Friday]

Well, we better get all the time you can, Alex. We're gonna need it.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Anything you say. What's the matter?

[Detective Friday]

We got troubles. I just had a call from Russ Camp and ballistics. Yeah, I figure we got a whole new case to build. What do you mean? Well, the man we've got. St. Clair.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Yeah.

[Detective Friday]

Maybe he's taking the rap for somebody.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

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

[Detective Friday]

March 29, Monday, 4:15pm after the arraignment of Harold St. Clair and Superior Court Ed and I checked with Russ Camp and ballistics. He said he'd run tests on the.38s and W revolver taken from robbery forgery suspect Lester Jaffe the day before. Comparison microscopic examinations of test bullets fired from the gun taken from Jaffe and the two slugs which had been removed from the body of tavern owner Charles Holloway. Maxed. After checking with Brereton at the CII bureau in Sacramento, we discovered new additions to Jaffe's long criminal record. We also found out his known MO Corresponded closely to that of the man who robbed and murdered Mr. Holloway. At a special show up of both St Clair and Jaffe, the close resemblance of the two became apparent to the four identifying witnesses. They frankly admitted their mistake and positively identified Jaffe as the killer. Intensive investigation during the next three weeks uncovered enough evidence and testimony against Jaffe by associates and informers to give us a good foundation for a murder conviction. But we were still without a lead to one of our most essential witnesses. The unidentified sailor. The first suspect, Harold St. Clair, was cleared of the charge but detained on a want from the Denver Police Department. After arraignment and preliminary hearing in municipal court, the arraignment in Superior court, Lester Jaffe went on trial for the holloway killing on June 2nd. Dr. West, the autopsy surgeon, was first to be called by Assistant District Attorney Adolf Alexander. He stated the results of the autopsy on Mr. Holloway and testified as to the cause of death. John Maurer, the police surveyor, was next. He produced the various diagrammatic drawings of the murder scene. The third day of the trial, June 5th.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Garber woman's coming back on friend of Ms. Holloway. Oh, yeah. Mrs. Samuel Garber.

[Detective Friday]

Be seated.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

Proceed with cross examination.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Mrs. Garber. At the time you testified against the former suspect, Harold St. Clair, you were just as positive then, were you not, that the hold up man who killed Mr. Holloway was Harold St. Clair?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes, I was. But I also said he didn't have the same type eyes.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

You were absolutely sure about Harold St. Clair then, weren't you?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes, I guess I was.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

And you identified St. Clair and testified a number of times during that examination that St. Clair was the man, is that right?

[Agnes Holloway]

I said he resembled the man.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

You said he was the man, didn't you?

[Agnes Holloway]

I said I thought he resembled the man.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

You also said there was no doubt of it, didn't you? That the hold up man was Mr. St. Clair?

[Agnes Holloway]

Well, I guess so. I don't know.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

You don't know?

[Agnes Holloway]

No, I guess I don't. I don't remember. I'm not sure.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Mrs. Garber, are you sure you remember the man you saw sitting in the bar that night?

[Agnes Holloway]

Well, I don't know. I've got them both mixed up, I guess. I'm not sure.

[Detective Friday]

During the next two days, the other three identifying witnesses were called to testify and like Mrs. Garber, were badgered by the defense attorney unmercifully. Despite the efforts of Alexander, the prosecuting attorney, it was apparent the jury was being swayed heavily in favor of the defendant. Even the full day and a half Ray Pinker from the crime lab spent on the stand seemed to have little effect in counteracting the damage done by the confused testimony. To prepare the jury for Russ Camp's expert report and for the presentation of scientific facts about the lethal bullets in the murder gun found on Jaffe at the time of his arrest, Pinker and a Assistant District Attorney Alexander gave the jury a thorough briefing on the fundamentals of ballistics. They also pointed out the scientific value of ballistics in determining the guilt or innocence of a defendant. On Thursday, June 12, Russ Camp took the stand as a prosecution witness. And under questioning, presented the findings of the various tests he'd run on the alleged murder weapon.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Mr. Camp, sometime after you had obtained People's Exhibit 13. Did you fire a test bullet or several test bullets from it in the crime laboratory? I did. Did you make a comparison of any of those test bullets with exhibits 3 and 3A. The bullets which killed Charles Holloway?

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

Yes, I did.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Now, in making your comparison and examination under the microscope. After you had completed the mechanical part of your work. And after you'd completed your examination of the observable and comparable sections of the fatal bullets with a test bullet fired from People's Exhibit 13. Did you come to any conclusion with respect to the Holloway fatal bullets? Yes, I did. And what was that conclusion? The conclusion was that the fatal bullets, the Holloway fatal bullets, people's exhibit number 3 and 3A. Were fired through the barrel of people's exhibit number 13.

[Detective Friday]

After another hour of testifying, Russ Camp left the stand. His ballistics report on the murder gun had made an impression on the jury. But we couldn't be sure it was enough to balance the trouble setback. The prosecution received from its own witnesses. As far as we were concerned, Jaffe was the guilty man. There wasn't a doubt about it. But the case against him was apparently inconclusive as far as the jury was concerned. The defense attorney obviously had heard about the unidentified sailor. Who was also present at the scene of the killing. He charged outright in the court that the district attorney was purposely preventing the appearance of the unknown sailor as a witness. And was concealing his identity. As he told the jury. The prosecution was afraid that the testimony of their alleged silent witness would damage its case. Meantime, our intensive search for the missing semen was still underway. Despite half a dozen favorable prosecution witnesses. The case for the People appeared to be on the losing end. Going into the closing days of the trial. Tuesday, June 17th. One of the final defense witnesses was a Mrs. Albert Dolan, who presented a fair alibi for Jaffe. She claimed Jaffe was at night school at the time of the Holloway killing.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Would you say of your own knowledge, that on the night of March 4th. Mr. Jaffe was at the school until midnight?

[Agnes Holloway]

Yes, he was.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

When you left the school, did you

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

go home alone or with somebody?

[Agnes Holloway]

My husband and I drove home with Mr. Jaffe.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Anything else that you can remember?

[Agnes Holloway]

Let me think.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Sure reads a convincing story, huh?

[Detective Friday]

Yeah. I wonder what the connection is.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

I know.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Sure got plenty of them.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

What do you figure, Joe?

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

The jury you think we got a chance?

[Detective Friday]

I don't know. Don't bet on it. Ed.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Joe. Oh, hi.

[Detective Friday]

Little hi.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Going bad? Could be a lot better. It's getting that way. Just got a call from Wilmington over at the squadron.

[Detective Friday]

Oh.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

What about Sailor we've been looking for? We found him.

[Detective Friday]

Before we left the courtroom, Ed and I briefed the Assistant District Attorney, Alexander, on the latest development. He put in a special order to the county jail for Harold St. Clair. Ed and I went across the street and met with a long missing murder witness in the Homicide squadron. The sailor identified himself as Seaman First Class Roy Maslin. He told us that about three and a half weeks before he'd happened to see a copy of the bulletin we'd gotten out on him. He checked with his commanding officer and was returned to the mainland from his post on Midway Island. 3:22pm we returned to the courtroom along with Seaman First Class Roy Maslin and conferred with Assistant District Attorney Alexander. The first murder suspect, Harold St. Clair, had already been brought downstairs to the courtroom from the county jail. He was placed at the opposite end of the council table from the defendant, Lester Jaffe.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

May we approach the bench, your Honor? Come forward. Your Honor, we've just now located a witness in this case. He's in the Armed services and must report back for duty tonight. May we have permission to call this witness out of turn?

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

Permission granted.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

All right.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

Raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give in the matter now pending before this court will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth shall help you God? I do. State your name, please.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Seaman First Class Roy Madison, United States Navy.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

Be seated.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Are you acquainted with the Tavern Cafe at 2301 Naylor Avenue?

[Detective Friday]

Yes, I am.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Were you there on the evening of March 4th of this year?

[Detective Friday]

Yes, I was there a few minutes before midnight.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Will you tell the court in your own words what happened on the premises that night? Well, it was just a couple of minutes before midnight.

[Detective Friday]

People who ran a place that said

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

they were closing up. So I had a nightcap, shot dice for the drinks with this guy next to me.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

I won.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Who was this man?

[Detective Friday]

I didn't know who it was.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

After you had your drinks, did you leave the bar?

[Detective Friday]

Yes, I did. The other guy stayed there. I went out to the sidewalk and

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

stood there talking with one of the

[Detective Friday]

gals I saw in the bar and then heard a couple of shots fired. Somebody inside the joint screamed and hollered or something.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

I was just going through the door to get Inside.

[Detective Friday]

And this man came rushing out. He hit me square on and went down. I remember seeing him run down the street. Same guy I was drinking with.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Would you recognize this man if you saw him again?

[Detective Friday]

Yes, sir, I will.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Is that man in this courtroom now?

[Detective Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Will your honor please direct the defendant to stand alongside of Mr. St. Clair so that this witness may properly identify the man involved.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

Mr. Jaffe, will you stand up, please? Stand to the right of Mr. Sinclair.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Will you step down from the stand, please, Mr. Maslin? And place your hand on the shoulder of the man who was in the bar with you the night of March 4th.

[Detective Friday]

Yes,

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

This is the man.

[Detective Friday]

Jaffe.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Fast work, silly. Really burned up.

[Detective Friday]

Guess he'd like to kill me, huh? You're not the only one, son.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

What?

[Detective Friday]

Wait till they read him the verdict.

[Narrator (Dragnet)]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On June 21, the jury retired to deliberate the case. In a moment, the results of that deliberation. Lester Carl Jaffe was found guilty of murder in the first degree. He was executed in the lethal gas chamber at the State Penitentiary San Quentin, California. Exchange clubs sponsor Crime Prevention week to remind you that the fight against crime is your fight the year round. 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, Big Perrin and Virginia Greg. Script by Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.

[Detective Friday]

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

[Bretzky]

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[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

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 Customer]

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

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

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 Customer]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

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

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. Well, a very interesting episode, and it does a good job at what it's supposed to do. Now, I know that there are people who will listen to this and see, see all of the instances where in terms of modern court procedure and modern police procedure, this looks a bit rough. Friday acted like it was a bit of a surprise that the defense attorney knew about the existence of the sailor. But in today's world, in a prosecution, this sort of information would be required to be given to the defense attorney as part of discovery. And of course, the whole identification at the end in the courtroom was probably really prejudicial because you had the judge identifying which of the two men was the defendant and the witness choosing between those two men, coming right up to them in order to make the decision. But this wasn't meant to capture the way that Law worked 70 years in the future. I mean, how would you even do that? This was meant to capture the realism of how courtroom procedures worked back in 1952. And it does a good job with that. The one thing that really stands out is they used an effect to make the sound of a microphone that a witness might be speaking into or to capture the acoustics of the courtroom. It's interesting to hear, even as someone who doesn't regularly watch courtroom proceedings. But I have a little bit of an understanding of the law from my paralegal training days. Yeah, it's just seeing how things evolved, and they were a lot more raw and less established in terms of the way that certain procedures were handled as well as the constitutional application. And it wasn't just the prosecutor. I mean, you had the defense attorney standing up and accusing the prosecutor of hiding an exculpatory witness. And today, defense attorney can't just decide, you know, I think I'm going to accuse the prosecutor of hiding an exculpatory witness, because why not? Why wouldn't I do that? So this episode's an interesting window into the way things were and went to some effort to go ahead and recreate that. We have a couple of comments regarding the Big Sorrow. First, we go over to Spotify, where Karen writes, this episode was such a lovely tribute to Yarbo. And I appreciate your pre empting of the cigarette ad at the end. I recall listening to this episode before and feeling like that ad landed like a lead balloon after all that had come before it. Thank you for your show and commentary, Adam. I enjoy listening. Thanks, Karen. To be fair, I do actually usually remove cigarette ads. Regardless, I do think it is tricky to have ads on an episode like this. It just. It does tend to be the default. Now, there are certain times in old time radio programs where people will figure it's time to just go ahead and skip the ads. They're the star or the host. Most of the Bing Crosby Christmas programs I've heard the sponsor has actually gone ahead and deferred their commercial messages. And you'll have some occasions where sponsor realizes maybe not a good time to do live ads. I can see how the death of an actor would not be viewed as that sort of occasion by the sponsor. As I said, this sort of program that Webb did, you didn't hear or see quite a bit of. Although I've encountered quite a few episodes of programs that would pay tribute to an actor that died. It just was not the norm in 1951. Over on YouTube, the MDG comments, I could feel their love for Romero and their genuine sadness, relatable and moving. And then finally, we have a comment from our listener survey over at Blueberry. Listener writes. I love the introduction to the episodes and especially the old time episodes themselves. And that one comes from Eric. Thanks so much, Eric. Appreciate you taking the time to fill out our listener survey. Well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. Thank you to Renee, Patreon supporter since December, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Renee. 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 Dollar.

[Detective Friday]

Where Thomas.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Thomas. Yeah, that's right, Ken. What can you tell me about him?

[Ken]

Well, not everybody knew it, Johnny, but he was a mouthpiece for the old Moretti mob. That was some years ago. Oh, when they started the big cleanup. Well, either Thomas couldn't or just plain wouldn't get him off the hook, let them all go to jail and he settled down, retired in his home out in Elmhurst.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Well, he's certainly not there now, Ken.

[Ken]

No, about a year ago, he suddenly sold his place, packed up, moved out west somewhere.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Why, do you know?

[Ken]

Change of climate, I guess. What about him, Johnny?

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Ever hear of Charlie Wentworth?

[Ken]

Are you kidding? He was one of Moretti's trigger men. Casual Charlie, they called him.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

You know where he is now?

[Ken]

Oh, they sent him up to Joliet Prison along with the rest of the mob. Those boys will be in the clink the rest of their natural. Oh, wait a minute. Yeah, Casual Charlie and Snooty Wilson were released. Yeah. And, hey, that was just about the same time that Thomas moved away from here, if that means anything. Maybe.

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

I got a hunch it means everything.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to Box [e-mail] 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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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 Customer]

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

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

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 Customer]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

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

[Liberty Mutual Customer]

Liberty, Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.