Dragnet: The Big Hands (EP4914)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives Present Dragnet: "The Big Hands" (EP4914)

Episode Overview

In this immersive, step-by-step episode of Dragnet, host Adam Graham presents "The Big Hands," originally aired on November 22, 1951. The story follows detectives Joe Friday and Ben Romero as they investigate the murder of an unidentified woman found strangled in a Los Angeles hotel room. This episode is quintessential Dragnet: methodical, detail-oriented, and unflinchingly realistic, showing not only the breakthroughs but also the frustrating dead ends that are part of real police work. Adam Graham comments on the unique pacing and realism, and responds to listener feedback regarding both recent and past episodes.

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Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

1. Case Introduction: The Unidentified Woman

• [05:13-07:45]
  • A woman is found murdered in a hotel room, registered as "John Ross and wife."
  • She checked in alone; no one saw her supposed husband.
  • The victim is described as petite, well-dressed, and her cause of death is strangulation with a broken neck.
  • Initial evidence provides little to go on: no usable fingerprints, missing wallet, one untraceable wedding ring, and clues limited to labels on expensive clothing.

2. Early Investigation: Dead Ends

• [07:45-08:59]
  • Detectives trace clothing to a department store, but it's a cash purchase with no sales records.
  • Extensive canvassing of the surrounding area and interviews with locals turn up nothing.

3. First Possible Identification: False Lead

• [09:10-11:11]
  • Memorable Moment:
    • [10:13] "Maude McLeod used to work together in the circus. Maude was a bareback girl, you know, Best in the country. Real trooper." — Al P. Morgan
  • Al P. Morgan arrives, convinced the victim is his old friend Maude; brings a photograph, but police determine it is not her.

4. Breakthrough: True Identification

• [11:21-12:38]
  • A kickback from Washington via fingerprints finally IDs the victim as Doris Eileen Frazier, former typist at an aircraft plant.
  • Detectives begin constructing her recent history, including addresses and employment.

5. Reconstructing the Victim’s Life

• [13:04-16:32]
  • Key Interview:
    • Landlady Frances Watson (boarding house) describes Doris as troubled, fighting often with an estranged husband (tall, dark-haired, well-dressed).
    • Doris had spoken about divorcing her husband, was frightened of him, and had left intending to go back to him—a detail Watson found perplexing.
  • Doris's employment record shows she lost jobs for lateness and frequent loan requests.

6. Husband as a Suspect: Stephen Arnold

• [17:26-21:14]
  • Detectives find Arnold working at a beach-side hamburger stand; he claims he and Doris were divorcing and that he’d moved to be closer to work.
  • He provides an alibi corroborated by local business owners: "Half a dozen people, anyway... I work till 1am, same as usual." — Stephen Arnold [20:26]
  • Arnold is eliminated as a suspect.

7. Tracking Other Leads: The Mysterious "George"

• [22:28-23:27]
  • Waitress IDs Doris as a regular, often accompanied by a tall, blonde man named George.
  • Recent letters and a car registration lead detectives to "George Crane," who had recently sold his car and changed addresses.

8. Locating and Confronting George Crane

• [24:44-29:39]
  • Police pull Crane’s minor criminal record, trace him to an oil field job in Long Beach.
  • He is interviewed, denies knowing Doris, but eventually, faced with accumulating evidence, breaks down:
    • "Will it go any easier for me if I admit it?... I don't know why I killed her." — George Crane [29:16]
    • "Crane didn't really have any reason. That sounds funny, doesn't it? No reason at all. I just killed her. What am I gonna tell him if I don't have a reason?" — George Crane [29:27]

9. Resolution

• [30:20]
  • George Martin Crane is convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to life in prison.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On police process:
  • "Dragnet often bills itself as taking you step by step with the police on an actual case. From crime to punishment...it is just step by step." — Adam Graham [32:03]
• Comic interlude:
  • Adam notes the light interlude with Mr. Morgan provides needed pacing relief:
    • "I also did like the little bit of comedy relief they worked in with Mr. Morgan, which I think just does help the pacing. So well, you've got just like this little comedic break in the middle, and then on we go." — Adam Graham [32:03]
• Confession:
  • "I don't know why I did it. What am I gonna give for a reason? I don't know why I killed her." — George Crane [29:21]

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Adam Graham’s Analysis

• [32:03-34:55]
  • Adam praises Dragnet's stepwise realism, highlighting how even procedural dead ends are dramatized compellingly.
  • He notes the episode’s unique structure puts listeners right at the start of the investigation, and every step (even failures) is shown.
  • He commends the balance between tension and moments of levity.

---

Listener Comments & Feedback

• [34:55-39:00]
  • Adam reads and responds to various listener comments (about a previous episode, “The Big Hit and Run Killer”), covering issues from suspect behavior to the realism of police interviews and procedures.

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Conclusion

• [39:00-end]
  • Adam thanks Patreon supporter Diane and invites listeners to follow, rate, and review the podcast.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Case intro / Crime discovery: [05:13]
• Early leads & dead ends: [07:45–09:02]
• Comic relief / false ID: [09:10–11:11]
• Victim ID’d as Doris Frazier: [11:21–12:38]
• Victim’s personal life: [13:04–16:32]
• Arnold alibi/exclusion: [17:26–21:14]
• Waitress and George lead: [22:28–23:27]
• George Crane’s confrontation/confession: [24:44–29:39]
• Verdict / case resolution: [30:20]
• Adam Graham’s analysis: [32:03]
• Listener feedback: [34:55]
• Closing/thank-yous: [39:00–end]

---

Overall Tone & Style

Serious, matter-of-fact, and respectful of the grim realities of crime, but punctuated by moments of dry humor and procedural curiosity—both in the original Dragnet script and in Adam Graham's thoughtful commentary. The narrative puts listeners directly into the slow, methodical grind of police investigation, capturing both the tedium and the tension.

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For New Listeners

This episode exemplifies why Dragnet remains a touchstone in crime procedural storytelling. Its methodical plotting, unglamorous truth, and subtle human moments are all on display in “The Big Hands”—with Adam Graham providing insightful context for both old and new fans.

Transcript

[Joe Friday]

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[Joe Friday]

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[Adam Graham]

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[Ben Romero]

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[Joe Friday]

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[Ben Romero]

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[Joe Friday]

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[Ben Romero]

Foreign.

[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 and 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. You can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month at patreon.greatdetectives. but now, from November 22, 1951, here is today's episode. The Big Hands.

[Joe Friday]

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[Ben Romero]

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[Joe Friday]

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[Joe Friday]

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[Ben Romero]

Get started today@weight watchers.com. 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. An unidentified woman is found murdered in a hotel room. Cause of death, strangulation. There's no lead to the identity of the killer. Your job, find him. Dragnet. The documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Law 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.

[Joe Friday]

It was Tuesday, October 27th. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A homicide. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Thad Brown, Chief of detectives. My name's Friday. It was 1:35pm when we got to the old Central Jail building. Third floor, the crime lab.

[Ben Romero]

How you doing, Link? Hi, Ben. Joe.

[Joe Friday]

How's it going? Did you check the stuff yet?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, most of it. Come on back here. Okay, well, this is all of it.

[Joe Friday]

Did you find anything we can get a lead out of?

[Ben Romero]

Nothing too good. No, I don't think you could identify it from what we've got here. The morgue post the body yet?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, just this morning. How about fingerprints, Lee? They find any in that hotel?

[Ben Romero]

No foreign prints? No. Dead end there. What about the woman's purse? Did it show anything? No chance you can see the fabric here. Won't take a print. Contents of the purse here. Usual stuff. Comb, lipstick, keychain, one key on it. Half pack of chewing gum. Coin purse, a dime, two nickels in it, that's all it.

[Joe Friday]

According to the room clerk at the hotel, she had a wallet with her when she checked in. There's no sign of that, was there? Nope.

[Ben Romero]

No sign of it in the hotel room either. Checked everything. Is that the only piece of jewelry found on the body, that wedding ring there? Yeah, it's a cheap ring. No markings on it, no way of tracing it. About the only thing I can tell you, she was pretty well dressed. That's an expensive bag there. Yeah, sure. Not a cheap dress either. Same for a coat and shoes. They cost some money too.

[Joe Friday]

How about labels on any of that stuff?

[Ben Romero]

One on the coat. Yeah, you can see right here. Benworth Department Store, Los Angeles. Coat's fairly new. They might be able to give you something on it. Maybe the people at the hotel get anything there?

[Joe Friday]

Well, it could have been better, Lee. The woman checked in last night around 8 o'.

[Ben Romero]

Clock.

[Joe Friday]

She registered as John Ross and wife.

[Ben Romero]

Anyone see the man with it?

[Joe Friday]

No, nobody. Room clerk says the woman came in alone. She said her husband was out parking the car. So she registered for both of them. Clerk said he left the desk a few minutes after that. Figures the man must have come in sometime while he was gone. Nobody on duty at the desk after midnight. He could have left the hotel anytime after that without being seen.

[Ben Romero]

She registered at 8pm the coroner says she died about 10:30. You're not even sure there was a man with her? Yeah. The woman who was registered next door to the murder room, she told us she heard a man and a woman arguing. It was about 10 o'. Clock. Should have got pretty loud. No idea who the woman really was, huh? I suppose that John Ross and wife business doesn't mean anything.

[Joe Friday]

That's pretty doubtful. But all we got to go on is the physical description from the coroner. She was a small woman, five foot one, 99 and a quarter pounds. Wasn't that it, Ben?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Brown hair, blue eyes, about 31, 32 years old. We got her prints off to Washington.

[Ben Romero]

Got any ideas?

[Joe Friday]

We figured maybe it could be a psycho killer.

[Ben Romero]

How do you figure?

[Joe Friday]

Coroner's report listed strangulation as a cause of death. Yeah, whoever did it made sure her neck was broken. At approximately six o' clock that morning, in a second floor room of a downtown hotel, the body of an unidentified woman was found murdered. Preliminary investigation failed to reveal the true identity of the victim or the killer. As far as physical evidence was concerned, there Wasn't much to go on. The deep bruises on her neck and throat, along with a crushed vertebrae at the base of her skull indicated a savage attack. 1:55pm through the label on the dead woman's coat, we traced the garment to a department store where it had been purchased. But they had no record on it. It was a cash purchase, and the salesgirl couldn't remember the customer. Investigation during the next two days failed to turn up any leads. We showed a morgue picture of the victim to bartenders, waitresses, parking lot attendants in the vicinity of the hotel. They couldn't identify her. We rechecked tenants and employees at the hotel. That got us nothing. Thursday, 5:48pm 1 answer I'd sure like to find.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, victim was a nice looking woman. Well dressed, nice clothes. How come she'd stay in a cheap hotel down the neighborhood like that? It doesn't jibe, for my money.

[Joe Friday]

Well, that's hard to say.

[Ben Romero]

Sure got me stopped. 2 days leg work and we're no play.

[Joe Friday]

Well, we might be in better shape when we get that kick back from Washington.

[Ben Romero]

I sure hope so.

[Joe Friday]

Go ahead.

[Ben Romero]

Hey, excuse me.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. Can we help you?

[Ben Romero]

Well, no. I don't know. I guess that all depends. I'm waiting for a couple of detectives here. Well, who is it you wanted to see? A couple of detectives. Who are they? That's pretty confidential, you know. I have to talk to them. They told me to see Friday and Romero. Ben Friday and Joe Romero. Detectives. Handling the case?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. I'm Joe Friday. This is my partner, Ben Romero. We're handling the case. What'd you want to see us about?

[Ben Romero]

You said you were working on that murder case. That woman they found in the hotel.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir, that's right.

[Ben Romero]

That so? I see your badges.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir. Here's our identification.

[Ben Romero]

Mm. Read about that murder in the paper. You know, you better come over here. Yeah, you're gonna thank me for this. I got all you want to know about that murder. You mind telling us your name, sir? I don't mind. Al P. Morgan was a good friend of hers, you know, used to work with her.

[Joe Friday]

You mean the dead woman?

[Ben Romero]

It's the same one. I never forget a face. Maude McLeod. Saw that picture in the paper, and I said to myself, there's old Maude.

[Joe Friday]

You're pretty sure of that, are you, Mr. Morgan?

[Ben Romero]

Sure, I'm sure. Maud McLeod used to work together in the circus. Maude was a bareback girl, you know, Best in the country. Real trooper. What makes you so sure? It's the same woman. Mr. Morgan, when was the last time you saw this friend of yours? This Maude McLeod? Why, I used to see her all the time. Work the old sells Florida together. Got a photo of her.

[Joe Friday]

Do you mind if we take a look at it, sir?

[Ben Romero]

That's why I came down here. I want to help out. She's got to be identified. Let's see. Got here somewhere. It's old Maude in a circus costume. Yeah, here it is. Take a look at that. It's Maud, ain't it? Well, I don't know, sir. Doesn't seem to be too much resemblance here. Is that right? Afraid you've made a mistake, Mr. Morgan. Thanks for your cooperation anyhow. Appreciate you coming in. Sure it was Maud.

[Joe Friday]

I get it. Homicide, Friday. Oh yeah, Frank, huh? Is that right? What'd it say?

[Ben Romero]

Huh?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Okay, fine. No, we'll pick it up. Yeah, thanks.

[Ben Romero]

Anything?

[Joe Friday]

Communications. They got the kickback from Washington on the dead woman's fingerprints.

[Ben Romero]

And you left.

[Joe Friday]

They got her identified. She worked at an aircraft plant during the war. Name's Doris Frazier.

[Ben Romero]

I can't help but think you fellas are missing a bit. I knew that dead woman well.

[Joe Friday]

She's already been identified, Mr. Morgan. We know who she is. Her name's Doris Fraser.

[Ben Romero]

That's so.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir, that's right.

[Ben Romero]

What do you think of that old mod? She went and changed her name.

[Joe Friday]

Thursday, 6:35pm Ben and I went down the hall to communications and got a copy of the kickback from Washington. The murder victim was identified as Doris Eileen Frazier. She applied for a position as a typist at the Eagle Aircraft plant in Burbank in 1942. Next morning we checked the personnel office at the plant and we found that Doris Fraser had been employed as a typist from 1942 to 1944. In going over her application, we found her last known address listed as 7346 Oakdale Avenue. Her application stated she was single with no previous employment. With no known relatives, we could uncover no further information on the girl. We drove across town to the Oakdale Avenue address. A large apartment building in a better than average neighborhood. The manager told us that Doris Fraser had lived there up to eight months before. He said that a few weeks before she moved, she was married to a tall dark haired man, but he was unable to remember his name. The manager also told us that the newly married couple apparently began having trouble from the day that they were married. We checked the next forwarding address. A boarding house for women in the south end of the city. Ben and I interviewed the woman in charge of Mrs. Frances Watson. We talked to her back in the kitchen of the boarding house while she polished a set of silverware.

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

I saw that picture in the paper. I didn't connect it with Doris, though. She was a much prettier girl when she lived here.

[Ben Romero]

You say she Left here about 18 months ago, Ms. Watson?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Yes, maybe a little more. Might be closer to two years. I'd have to check my rent receipts to be sure.

[Ben Romero]

Did you happen to know anything about the Fraser girl, Ms. Watson? I mean, did you know much about her personal life at all?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Well, of course, I always insist on references. Any good boarding house does, you know? Doris was a nice girl in many ways. Course, she had her shortcomings. I suppose we all do. When she first came here, she seemed like such a nice girl. And then she started to go downhill. I just don't know what got into her.

[Joe Friday]

Well, how do you mean, ma'? Am? Was she in some kind of trouble?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Well, of course, when she first came here, we didn't know it, but she was married. This is a home for single girls. We have our rules and regulations, just like any other respectable place.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, I understand.

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Well, as we came to find out later, Doris wasn't only married, but she was fighting with her husband. I understand he wasn't much at all. She was thinking of getting a divorce, as a matter of fact.

[Joe Friday]

Well, did you ever meet her husband, Ms. Watson?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

No, I never did. I suppose it's just as well. I didn't understand that Doris left him after they'd been married only a few months.

[Ben Romero]

Do you know what his name is, ma'? Am?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

No, I have no idea. Or Doris always used a maiden name when she was with me.

[Ben Romero]

Then you never saw this man, Ms. Watson? He never came to the house here?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

No, I didn't say I never saw him. I said I didn't meet him. Yes, there was once when he came to the house to see Doris.

[Ben Romero]

What was the occasion? You mind telling us about it?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

It was most unpleasant, I can tell you that. Let me see now. Yes, Doris had been here about six months. Even by that time, I was beginning to see the real side of the girl. No character, Sergeant, no character at all. It shows up every time.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am. Wonder if you'd go on, please.

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Well, as I was saying, it was after about six months when this man brought Doris home late one night, about a quarter till midnight, I'd say. Say upset the whole house.

[Ben Romero]

How was that, ma'?

[Joe Friday]

Am?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

The two of Them? This man and Doris, they stood right out there in the hall, had a terrible quarrel. Language, it was dreadful. The top of their lungs, too. My husband went out to quiet them down, but the man left before he had a chance to call him down. They upset the whole house.

[Joe Friday]

Now, this man the Frasier woman was arguing with, you're sure that that was her husband?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Well, as sure as I can be. That's what Doris told me, anyway. The day after, I called her in and told her I just couldn't tolerate behavior like that. It upset her quite a bit. I remember she cried, said it wouldn't happen again. That's when she told me she was trying to get a divorce.

[Joe Friday]

Is that what the big argument was about? Would you know that?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Yes. She said she wanted a divorce. Her husband didn't. He wanted her back with him. Certainly is sad the way some people mix up their lives.

[Ben Romero]

Yes, ma'.

[Joe Friday]

Am.

[Ben Romero]

By any chance, did you get a good look at this man? Husband, I mean.

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Well, he was tall and had dark hair. It's about all I remember. He was well dressed, too.

[Ben Romero]

I see. When Doris Frazier left here, Mrs. Watson, did she leave a forwarding address with you?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

No, she didn't. I haven't any idea where she moved.

[Joe Friday]

What kind of work was she doing while she was living here? Do you have any idea where she was employed?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Yes, that was one of the references she gave me. Furniture company down on Venice Boulevard, if I remember correctly. I have the address. My record book certainly is unfortunate, the whole thing.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, it is.

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Even tried to talk to her before she left. Sat her down and talked to her for a whole afternoon. I guess it was just a waste of time.

[Ben Romero]

How's that man?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Trouble with her husband. Terrible thing. He seemed to treat her so badly to have them fighting all the time. I believe she was actually afraid of him. She told me he was very jealous. He drank, ran around. That's why I couldn't understand it.

[Joe Friday]

You couldn't understand what, ma'?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Am? Doris, when she moved away from here.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

She said she was going back with her husband.

[Joe Friday]

The landlady, Francis Watson, gave us the address of the furniture store where the murder victim had been employed. And we drove down to check with a personnel manager, a Mr. Collins. He said that Doris Fraser had been fired from her job 10 months before. He said she'd been let go because she was constantly late for work and that she got into the habit of asking for salary advances too often. Collins also told us that he'd heard about the trouble between the Frazier woman and her husband. He said he'd seen the husband in the store several times when he came to call for his wife. He identified the husband as Steven Arnold. The description was approximately the same. A tall, well dressed man, dark hair, heavy build. The personnel manager gave us the last known address they had on the victim. The following morning we checked it out. An apartment hotel in the East Wilshire area. She was still registered there together with her husband, Stephen Arnold. But the desk clerk told us that Arnold hadn't been living there for the past three months.

[Ben Romero]

Months?

[Joe Friday]

He had no idea where Arnold had moved. He didn't know where he worked. While the desk clerk stood by, Ben and I went upstairs and checked the apartment.

[Ben Romero]

Anything, Joe?

[Joe Friday]

No, nothing.

[Ben Romero]

Nothing in the bedroom. Like Lee says, she goes in for nice clothes. About all I can figure. What you got there?

[Joe Friday]

See it lying on the desk here? Looks like she started the letter and didn't get to finish it.

[Ben Romero]

What's it say there?

[Joe Friday]

It's dated October 23rd. That's over a week ago. Says, dear George, I've been meaning to write to you before, but that's all.

[Ben Romero]

That's as far as she got, George. First time we've run into that name on this deal. Makes more than one man in her life.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. There's a couple more letters here. They're all addressed to her, unopened.

[Ben Romero]

Let me see.

[Joe Friday]

All we can go by are the return addresses. Telephone bill, ad from a woman's store postcard, Another ad. Here's something. Santa Monica postmark.

[Ben Romero]

Check the name on that return.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Stephen Arnold, 12:35pm we called the office and checked Stephen Arnold through R and I. He had no criminal record. The return address which he'd listed on the envelope of the letter to his wife was 10826 Pacific Front Boulevard. We located it. On the beach. Just below Santa Monica was a small hamburger stand owned and operated by the dead woman's husband.

[Ben Romero]

No, I haven't seen Doris for a couple months anyway. Why? I understand you had an apartment with your wife in the East Wilson neighborhood. Is that right, Mr. Arnold? Yeah, that's right. Mind telling us why you left? No, I don't mind. Want to move closer to my work, that's all. That place is way too far out.

[Joe Friday]

Well, how is it your wife didn't move with you, sir?

[Ben Romero]

She wanted to stay close to town. Doesn't care for the beach much. Bad for his sinus, I guess.

[Joe Friday]

Well, did you have an argument with your wife, Arnold? Some kind of a disagreement? Is that one of the reasons you.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, you might call it that. We're getting a divorce. That so? Yeah, it was the best thing all the way around. Been nothing but fighting and scrapping the last year. Anyway, we decided to call it quits. Will you excuse me a minute? I gotta put some cold drinks in this cooler here. Yeah, go right ahead. What do you care for a cold drink?

[Joe Friday]

No. No, thanks.

[Ben Romero]

Coke, maybe? Nothing.

[Joe Friday]

Did you get the divorce from your wife, Mr. Arnold?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, that's right. I'm divorcing her. Why do you want to know?

[Joe Friday]

You remember that last time you saw your wife? The exact date, I mean?

[Ben Romero]

No, I don't think I remember that. Been at least three months, I'll say that much. You spend most of your time down here at the beach, do you, Mr. Arnold? Yeah, that's right. I get into town once or twice a month. They sure you would like a Coke? No, I don't think. I think I'll have one myself, if you don't mind.

[Joe Friday]

Sure.

[Ben Romero]

I got cold.

[Joe Friday]

One water.

[Ben Romero]

Sure is cold. How about last Tuesday night, sir? You happened to be in town that night. Last time was two, three weeks ago. Anyway, went in to see a show. I was working here last Tuesday night. Work every night except Monday. It's the only night I'm closed up.

[Joe Friday]

Is there anyone who can vouch for that?

[Ben Romero]

I don't think I get this. Why do you want to know?

[Joe Friday]

Well, is there anybody who can vouch for you?

[Ben Romero]

Well, sure. Half a dozen people, anyway. A fellow runs a place next door. The guys in the rest of the stalls up and down the way here, they can all vouch for me. I work till 1am Same as usual. Just a minute. Hey, Vic. Vic. Yeah, Steve? Hop over here for a minute. Something I want to talk to you about. Yeah, just a minute. Okay, Vic. Thanks. He'll be right over. You fellows want a cup of coffee or anything? No, I wouldn't like to have change for that cigarette machine, though, if you don't mind. Oh, sure. There you are. Thanks. Yes, Steve? Hey, these fellows are detectives, Vic. Guess about some kind of jam my wife got into. They want to know where I was last Tuesday night. Yeah, they want somebody to vouch for him. Sure.

[Joe Friday]

Did you see Mr. Arnold last Tuesday night?

[Ben Romero]

I was working next door. Steve was here all night. You are listening to Dragnet Authentic stories of your police force in action.

[Joe Friday]

Saturday, October 31, 2pm Ben and I checked with a dozen different concession operators in the neighborhood of Stephen Arnold's eating place. They all corroborated the fact that on the Night his wife was had met her death in a downtown hotel. Arnold had been working at his stand until 1am despite all the previous indications that he might have been responsible for the murder of his wife, we had to eliminate him as a possible suspect. 2:20pm on the way back into town, we stopped by the apartment hotel where Doris Fraser was living at the time of her murder. After checking further with the tenants and with the help in the building, we found out that the victim had been in the habit of eating most of her meals at restaurants in the immediate neighborhood. After some two hours of checking and running into six restaurants, we found a small coffee shop four blocks from the apartment building where one of the waitresses identified Doris Frazier's picture.

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Yeah, that's her, Officer. Terrible picture, though. She looks so much older.

[Ben Romero]

About how often would you say Ms. Frazier came in here, ma'?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Am? Three or four times a week, I'd say. The bus stops right out there on the corner. She'd usually have breakfast, then grab the bus and go to work. Some nights, coming home from work, she'd stop in here for dinner. Nice girl. Quiet.

[Joe Friday]

Did you get to know her at all, miss? I mean, did you happen to know any of her friends here in the neighborhood?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

No. As I say, she was a quiet person. Not very talkative. Usually read while she was eating. Book or magazine.

[Joe Friday]

Did she ever come in here with anyone else, do you know that?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Yeah, quite a few times. She seemed to have a boyfriend. Of course, she was attractive. Small, you know, but real cute looking.

[Ben Romero]

Do you happen to know any of these men?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

No, I'm sorry, I don't.

[Ben Romero]

Any one of them in particular she came in with very often?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Let's see. I think there was one blonde, good dresser, kind of tall, good looking. They usually came in together for breakfast.

[Joe Friday]

How long ago was this, Miss? Do you recall?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Oh, say, up until a couple of weeks ago. I usually waited on him in the morning. That's how I happen to remember.

[Joe Friday]

I see. Did you ever happen to hear this man's name?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Let me see. George? I think that was it, yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Would you happen to know if he lives in the neighborhood?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

No, I'm sorry, I don't.

[Ben Romero]

Has this man been in here during the past week, do you know?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

Yes, he has. He came in for breakfast.

[Joe Friday]

What day was that?

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

This morning

[Joe Friday]

before we left the coffee shop, we questioned the cashier who came up with the information that the man known as George usually left his car parked at the service station across the street. We left our card and asked the cashier to call us in case the suspect returned at the service station. They also remembered the man known as George, but they told us he hadn't been in for the past month. They'd done some work on his car for him in the past, so they had a record of his license number. We called our DMV and found that the car was registered to a Carl Lucy in East Hollywood. 4:45pm we drove out and interviewed Lucy at his home, but he came nowhere near the description of the suspect. He told us that he had purchased the car six weeks before from a man known as George Crane. He described Crane as tall, blonde and well dressed. From the bill of sale, we got Crane's address, a motel on East Manchester. The manager there told us that George Crane had moved a week before. He said that Crane had left no forwarding address, but he did remember where he worked. He was a driller in one of the oil fields down in Long Beach. We checked the oil company's personnel office downtown, but they were closed for the day. 6:18pm we went back to the office and pulled a package on George Crane from R and I.

[Ben Romero]

Get anything on him?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, he's got a record. Here's the package. Here. Yeah, Nothing very heavy. Drunk charge two years ago, another one last year. Disorderly conduct, resisting arrest. That's about all. Let's see.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, description checks out all the way.

[Joe Friday]

You called the night office of that oil company, did you?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah. They couldn't tell us anything. Said call back first thing in the morning. Wanna reach. I got it.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Homicide, Friday. Who? How's that? Oh, yeah, sure. Yes, sir.

[Ben Romero]

No.

[Joe Friday]

No, sir. I'm afraid not. Yeah. Thanks anyway. You bet. Yeah. Yeah. Goodbye. Well, that does it.

[Ben Romero]

Why?

[Joe Friday]

That guy who was in here the other day, you remember that? Alfred P. Morgan or whatever it was.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, what did he want?

[Joe Friday]

Wanted to buy us a drink. He's celebrating, huh? His old friend Maude. He just found her. 8am the next morning. We checked with the personnel department of the oil company's downtown offices. They told us that George Crane was employed as a driller, that he'd been working for the company for the past five years and that he had a good employment record. They told us he was on the day shift and that he was scheduled to report for work on Rig 16 at the Long beach field. At 8 o' clock that morning, Ben and I got in the car, drove down to Long beach, where we located the murder suspect, George Crane, at work in the field.

[Ben Romero]

Doris Frazier. No, I'm sorry, Sergeant. I don't think I know Anybody by that name? How about Doris Arnold, Mr. Crane. Would you know anybody by that name, Arnold? No. No, I'm afraid not. What's it all about? You own a car, do you, sir? Yeah, that's it right over there. That dark sedan. Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Have you had it long?

[Ben Romero]

Oh, I've had it a couple of weeks. Last one I had was giving me a lot of trouble.

[Joe Friday]

Did you trade it in?

[Ben Romero]

No, I sold it to a private party. Fell out in Hollywood. You mind taking a look at this picture, Mr. Crane? Yeah. Doesn't look like anybody I know. Why, am I supposed to?

[Joe Friday]

We think you should. Yes, sir.

[Ben Romero]

I don't think I'll follow you. Do you spend any time around the East Wilshire district, Crane? East Wiltshire, you said? Yeah. No, I probably been over there a couple of times. Not lately, though. How about the coffee shop on the corner of Gramercy and Marengo? You ever been in there? Not that I remember, no. Well, a waitress in that coffee shop and the cashier, too. They say they've got a pretty regular customer. He fits your description exactly. You sure you've never been in there? Well, I'm not positive. I wouldn't swear I've never been in the place. What's the difference anyway?

[Joe Friday]

Well, how about that server station across the street from the coffee shop? You ever parked your car there? They ever do any work on it for you?

[Ben Romero]

Oh, say, I bet I know the place you're talking about.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, I've been there quite a few times. Good station. They've done some good jobs in the car for me. I remember it now.

[Joe Friday]

Well, then I guess you remember the coffee shop, Crane.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, I think I do now. Right across the street from the station, that is.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's right.

[Ben Romero]

Well, what do you want to know about it? When's the last time you were in there, Crane? Well, to tell you the truth, I couldn't be sure. We talked to a waitress in there yesterday. She said you were in that morning for breakfast. Do you remember that? She's way off the track on that one, I can tell you that. I wasn't near the place yesterday morning.

[Joe Friday]

Well, the cashier remembers you, too. She says you were in. How about it, Crane?

[Ben Romero]

Look, what difference does it make? What's this thing all about, anyway?

[Joe Friday]

Want to take it up another look at this picture?

[Ben Romero]

Well, I told you once, I don't know the woman. I never saw her before in my life.

[Joe Friday]

Why don't you give it some thought?

[Ben Romero]

Huh?

[Joe Friday]

I said, why don't you give it some thought? You remember East Wilshire. You remember the service station. You finally remember the coffee shop. Maybe you can remember her if you try.

[Ben Romero]

I don't know her. I never saw her in my. Look, let's go in the shed where we can hear each other, huh? All right. Now that's a little better. The waitress in the place says you were in there quite a few times with a woman. You usually came in for breakfast. You stopped going there about two weeks ago. I don't know her. What's the matter, Clyn? You figure you got something to hide? I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know her. What do you figure she's got to do with me? Anyway?

[Joe Friday]

We checked her apartment, mister. We found a letter she was writing to you. You about ready to tell us?

[Ben Romero]

What's a letter? That doesn't mean anything. Can't prove anything about a letter. What are you thinking, anyway?

[Joe Friday]

We think you're lying, Crane. We think you got a reason for it. What do you say?

[Ben Romero]

Doesn't prove anything. Maybe I knew her and that doesn't mean anything at all.

[Joe Friday]

We think it does.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah. We think you killed her. That the way it looks to you? That's the way it looks. I don't think you can prove it.

[Joe Friday]

We're gonna try. Now, how about it?

[Ben Romero]

Will it go any easier for me if I admit it?

[Joe Friday]

That's not up to us.

[Ben Romero]

I don't know why I did it. What am I gonna give for a reason? I don't know why I killed her.

[Joe Friday]

I wouldn't know.

[Ben Romero]

Crane didn't really have any reason. That sounds funny, doesn't it? No reason at all. I just killed her. What am I gonna tell him if I don't have a reason? How can I ask him to let me off easy? How can I ask him?

[Joe Friday]

I don't know, but they'll have an answer.

[Ben Romero]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On February 8, trial was held in Superior Court Department 92, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. And now, here is our star, Jack Webb.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you, friends, all of us on Dragnet. Sincerely hope that all of you enjoyed a happy Thanksgiving.

[Ben Romero]

George Martin Crane was tried and convicted in Superior Court of murder in the first degree. He is now serving a life term in the state penitentiary. You have just heard, Dragnet. A series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police W.H. parker, Los Angeles Police Department. Next, counter spy fights international intrigue. Stay tuned to NBC.

[Joe Friday]

I'm here on the job site with Dale, who's a framing contractor.

[Ben Romero]

Hey, good morning. Dale traded up to Geico commercial auto

[Joe Friday]

insurance for all his business vehicles.

[Ben Romero]

We here where he needs us most. Yep, they sure are.

[Adam Graham]

We make it easy for him to

[Ben Romero]

save on all his insurance needs, all

[Joe Friday]

in one place with coverage that fits his business and bottom line.

[Adam Graham]

Oh, I shouldn't have looked down.

[Ben Romero]

It's all right.

[Adam Graham]

We're so far up here.

[Ben Romero]

Look at me. Take a deep breath. I'm good. So good. Get a commercial auto insurance quote [e-mail] and see how much you could save.

[Joe Friday]

It feels good to Geico.

[Ben Romero]

The sun shining, birds are singing, and all feels right in the world. Until the season changes and suddenly you lose your motivation to get out of bed. In fact, one in five people experience some form of depression no matter the season or time of year. At the American Psychiatric association foundation, our vision is to build a mentally healthy nation for all because we want you

[Joe Friday]

to live your best life and be

[Mrs. Frances Watson]

your best you all year round.

[Ben Romero]

Please visit mentallyhealthynation.org to learn more.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. This episode is textbook Dragnet, but it is very well realized. We essentially hear them and their investigative process as they follow lead after lead, beginning with an unidentified woman strangled in a hotel room, to really getting details about her and her life and at last, finding her killer. It was a laborious process. Even when they found the car and the license plate. No, that didn't get them there. Dragnet often bills itself as taking you step by step with the police on an actual case. From crime to punishment. But usually there's kind of a middle of the investigation that really gets emphasized, and we. We get enough to understand what's gone on before, and then we're kind of put, you know, several steps into the investigation. But here, you know, it is just step by step. Okay, this didn't work well. We learned this, and now we do this. It's just a fascinating thing. It should not work as well as it does, but. But again, it's just Web's ability to make these details and each element realistic and interesting that is such a hallmark of Dragnet. And I also did like the little bit of comedy relief they worked in with Mr. Morgan, which I think just does help the pacing. So well, you've got just like this little comedic break in the middle, and then on we go. Got two of them, actually, and I'm glad that at least he got good news with his friend Maude. Well, now we turn to listener comments and feedback. And we start over on Patreon. We've got quite a few comments regarding the big hit and run killer. Jeff writes the suspect, Miller, letting some guy named Paul, he seems to barely know, go off with his bakery truck to supposedly move a television from. Seems ridiculous on the face of it. Also, if Miller left the bakery for a few minutes to say goodbye to some friends at a nearby hotel, why weren't those friends contacted to back up that part of his alibi? Bear questions. I would say that you're right, that it was ridiculous on the face of it, and that's why he needed to prove that he done it. Because if the police were able to find corroborating evidence.

[Ben Romero]

Evidence.

[Adam Graham]

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my client just loaned this truck. No, we don't know his full name. No, we don't have any proof. He actually borrowed it. As to the friends in the hotel, like I said, that's another fair question. Now, a lot of people can use the friend thing kind of loosely. It could refer to somebody he had met a long time ago, ran into again, and they said, hey, before I leave town, why don't you come by the hotel and say goodbye? But he didn't have the information or could use it to refer to people who were in town temporarily he had met and befriended. You know, I mean, a guy who loans his bakery truck to somebody is apt to do these sort of things. So I can see him having friends that he doesn't have their address for, that he met them at some point. Now, you would think that they could check with the hotel, but the desk clerk may not have even seen him going up. So I tend to assume that they looked into it, but just could not find any corroboration for that detail of his alibi. And then, Kevin comments. Leave it to Sergeant Friday to continually stomp on suspects. Constitutional rights. No warrants or lawyers ever present. The depth of this episode was shockingly simple. All the information provided after one phone call, the ticket lady with eight minutes till she could take a break and talk right inside to start questioning. Doctor, I know you're doing brain surgery right now, but we'd like to ask some questions. It's really important. Apparently, no writer ever asked, does this sound real? Well, Kevin, believe me, on Dragnet, writers more than anywhere else ask, does this sound real? I think that there is a subtle distinction between performing brain surgery and working as a movie theater ticket taker. It's slightly less complex. And in this case, there weren't really people who were coming by during this time, which is believable because there are times where it's really kind of slow. Plus, let's just be honest here, that you're sitting in your ticket window and you see this car come right in front of your eyes and run down this elderly woman and her grandson. That's something that is very upsetting, maybe even traumatic, depending on how you define that. And she probably just wanted to talk about it. I think the most unrealistic thing to say is yeah, let me go ahead and just sit here and twiddle my thumbs waiting for somebody to want to buy a ticket. You witness something like that and you want to talk about it. And you know, if you are minded, you want to see the person who did that caught injustice done. And I think that was her mode and I didn't feel that was unrealistic at all. Dr. Whodunit observes. Did not see that coming over on Instagram Brains Benton writes what a twisty story. Daniel Miller, the truck deli guy, may not have been the hit and run driver, but boy is he guilty of a lot of bad judgment and decision, lends the company truck to someone he doesn't know the name of and leaves his part time job to say goodbye to some other friends and changes his story constantly. I guess he was lucky the real guilty party fessed up. I don't know if I'd say the guy fessed up as much was called out. But yeah, I think that the incredible thing about Dragnet is that you are dealing with true life stories. There is every reason to disbelieve him, but it is one of the greatest twists in the whole history of this program that as absurd as this man's story was, he was telling the truth and of course a lot of bad judgment. And you can speculate on that as well because you add up his hours. The guy is working around 70 hours a week and that can leave you burnt out and lead to you making less than great decisions. Or you can also be needing to do that because you've made some less than great decisions. Either way, definitely guilty of bad judgment, but thankfully for him that's not a crime. Alright, well now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Diane, a Patreon supporter Since July of 2023, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support Diane. And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your 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 and. But join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Dollar Ware.

[Ben Romero]

Johnny Dollar Insurance, if you do. That's right. Now, look, I want you to let me into his apartment. Yes, sir. Right this way. Something wrong, Mr. Dollar? Just a routine investigation. Oh. I was sure he'd done nothing wrong. Oh, why do you say that? Nice, quiet old man like him. Why should he? Only excitement he ever has is when his niece comes to visit with him. His niece? Yes, sir. Name's Virginia. Ginny Lockhart. Wonderful girl. Sort of drops in here to look after him once in a while, cook him a good meal. Now, here we are. Hmm. Well, it sure looks like he left in a hurry. Closets open, doors pulled out. Where can I find this niece you mentioned? Why didn't you see her when you just came in? That girl who bumped into me down in the lobby, that was Jenny Lockhart. It must have been.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box Thirteenreatetectives.net follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives. Check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com greatdetectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.