Dragnet: The Big Hit and Run Killer (EP4904)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives Present Dragnet – “The Big Hit and Run Killer” (EP4904)
Host: Adam Graham
Original Air Date: February 5, 2026
Episode Air Date (Dragnet): November 8, 1951

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Adam Graham guides listeners through “The Big Hit and Run Killer,” a classic Dragnet radio drama originally aired in 1951. The story follows Sergeant Joe Friday and his colleagues as they investigate the tragic hit-and-run killing of an elderly woman and her grandson in Los Angeles. The episode delves into the challenges of finding the culprit amid misleading leads, unreliable alibis, and the emotional toll of such a senseless crime. Graham reflects on the episode’s unusual twists, and how the real-life foundation of Dragnet’s stories often leads to more unexpected outcomes than fiction.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Crime and Initial Investigation

• [03:09-04:16]
  • The episode opens with the narration:

    “An elderly woman and her nine-year-old grandson are struck down in a pedestrian crosswalk by a speeding truck. The woman is killed instantly... your job, find him.”

• Friday and his partner, Ben Romero, respond to the late-night tragedy and begin canvassing witnesses.
• The box office cashier provides crucial details: the truck is described as a tan bakery delivery panel with black lettering (Bakery), either Chevrolet or Ford, but no one sees the license plate.

“The truck hit them both together. It's funny the things you notice. The boy was carrying a little box of candy. ...the candy was spilled all over the street. Just couldn't help but I got sick to my stomach.”
— Box Office Cashier [05:21]

2. Lack of Evidence and Narrowing the Search

• [08:33-09:02]
  • Crime lab yields scant evidence; only fragments of glass from the probable headlight.
  • The officers narrow down the suspect trucks to those from Nielsen’s Wholesale Bakery, which owns a large fleet of tan, black-lettered vehicles. Only one company matches the description.

3. First Suspect: Arthur V. Singer

• [11:19-14:45]
  • Singer, a bakery truck driver, becomes a suspect due to recent accident-related damage to his truck.
  • After pressing for details, Singer supplies a believable alibi: he was involved in a minor accident with another driver who confirms Singer’s account, placing him away from the scene during the hit-and-run.

“Told this was starting out too easy.”
— Officer Joe McGowan [14:23]

4. Second Suspect: Daniel Miller and the “Unbelievable Alibi”

• [15:05-19:36]
  • Next, focus shifts to Daniel Miller, whose bakery truck fits the description and was located with fresh damage.
  • Miller claims he loaned the truck to “Paul,” a regular coffee shop customer, but cannot provide Paul’s last name or address.
  • Miller gives shifting, contradictory accounts of his whereabouts—the initial claim of working all night is disproven when a customer states Miller was absent at a crucial time.

“It really does feel like an utterly unbelievable nonsense alibi... you would not make this up because it is such a transparently nonsensical story.”
— Adam Graham [30:26]

5. Investigation and Interrogation

• [19:36-22:26]
  • The detectives confront Miller. He changes his story multiple times and fails to provide proof of his alibi; no witnesses can confirm he was at work during the window of the crime.
  • Miller is arrested on suspicion but adamantly insists “Paul” is real.

“Because you don't make sense, mister. You're trying to sell us a story and you haven't got one ounce of proof to back it up... you come up with a solid story... or you're going to be resting your back in the main jail.”
— Sergeant Friday [19:54]

6. Relentless Police Work & the “Paul” Lead

• [23:49-25:08]
  • Despite skepticism, Friday and Romero continue pursuing the “Paul” angle out of a sense of fairness, even as time passes with no solid evidence.

“I still got that funny hunch. It's possible he might be telling the truth.”
— Sergeant Friday [24:04]

• Eventually, a friend of Miller’s claims to have seen Paul at a hotel.

7. The Real Killer: Paul Barton Unmasked

• [25:08-28:05]
  • Paul Barton is found; his story unravels under questioning. His previous drunk driving conviction surfaces, and when confronted, Barton denies involvement until Miller appears.

“Nice going, Paul. Where you been? I said, where you been? What'd you do with the truck?”
— Daniel Miller [27:04]

• In a heated exchange, Barton breaks down and, while insisting the hit-and-run was an accident and that he “only had two drinks,” he is finally implicated by Miller and his own contradictions.

“They killed a little boy and his grandmother.”
— Sergeant Friday [28:05]

8. Resolution and Legal Aftermath

• [28:15-29:26]
  • Barton is filed on for hit-and-run felony and manslaughter. He is convicted of the hit-and-run felony and sentenced under section 480 of the California State Vehicle Code.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the nature of moral guilt in such crimes:

  “There can be very little difference between a crime of neglect and a crime that's been willfully premeditated. ...Oftentimes the crime masquerades under the guise of an accident. Morally, it adds up to murder just as surely as if the person had taken a gun and shot the victim down.”
  — Sergeant Friday [13:13]

• Detectives’ dogged pursuit of truth:

  “It's the job of the police officer to prove guilt or innocence. Not guilt alone.”
  — Sergeant Friday [22:57]

• Adam Graham’s meta-commentary on the story’s realism:

  “This story serves as yet another reminder that people can behave oddly, and sometimes even more oddly in real life than authors of fiction might imagine.”
  — Adam Graham [31:50]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:09] — Case Introduction and Crime Description
• [05:21] — Eyewitness Account (Box Office Cashier)
• [09:02] — Identifying Potential Bakery Truck Suspects
• [11:19] — First Suspect Interview (Arthur Singer)
• [15:05] — Discovery of Damaged Truck; Daniel Miller Interview
• [19:36] — Miller’s Interrogation, False Alibi Exposed
• [22:26] — Miller Booked; Search for “Paul” Continues
• [25:08] — Detectives Track Down Paul Barton
• [27:04] — Showdown Between Miller and Barton
• [28:15] — Legal Resolution of the Case
• [30:26] — Host Adam Graham’s Reflections

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Adam Graham’s Reflections

• Personal Take:
  Adam remarks on how the episode stands out due to the strangeness and apparent implausibility of the suspect’s alibi, noting that “only in a series based in real cases would you see such odd human behavior presented so sincerely” ([30:26]). He observes how Dragnet’s commitment to realism sometimes outpaces the most imaginative fiction writers.

• Final Thoughts:
  Graham thanks longtime Patreon supporter Lisa, encourages listeners to follow and review the podcast, and teases upcoming episodes for fans of vintage radio drama.

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In Summary:
“The Big Hit and Run Killer” is an atmospheric and methodical police procedural that highlights both the painstaking process of clearing innocent suspects and the unpredictable, sometimes bizarre, truths of real-life crime. Through persistent investigation amid dubious alibis and deceptive stories, Friday and his team uphold Dragnet’s ethos: “Just the facts.”

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Transcript

[Sergeant Friday]

Can you grab one more thing?

[Daniel Miller]

I'll come back up for you.

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[Daniel Miller]

Really? You can have another one.

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[Paul Barton]

It.

[Podcast Host 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 before we get started, 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, Pillbox 15913. That's P.O. box 15913, Boise, ID 83715. And you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month by going to patreon.greatdetectives.net but from November 8, 1951, here is the big hit and run killer.

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[Narrator]

The story you're about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a traffic investigation, hit run, felony detail, an elderly woman and her nine Year old grandson are struck down in a pedestrian crosswalk by a speeding truck. The woman is killed instantly. Witnesses fail to get the license number. The hit run driver escapes.

[Paul Barton]

Your job, Find him.

[Narrator]

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

[Sergeant Friday]

Was Tuesday, December 21st. It was windy in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of traffic division, hit and run felony detail. My partner's Ben Romero, the Boss. This is Captain Calfy, Commander Aid. My name's Friday. It was 10:51pm when we got to the Carlton theater. The box office.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Thank you.

[Box Office Cashier]

How many, please?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Police officers, ma'. Am. Like to talk to you for a minute if we could.

[Box Office Cashier]

Oh, yes. You mean about the accident?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Yes, ma'.

[Sergeant Friday]

Am.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

One of the officers in the traffic car across the street, he told us you're one of the people who saw it happen.

[Box Office Cashier]

Yes, that's right. Terrible thing it was. An old lady and her grandson, you know.

[Sergeant Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am. Would it be possible for you to get a relief for a little while? A few questions we'd like to ask you about. It won't take very long.

[Box Office Cashier]

Well, I'll be off duty at 11. That's when the box office closed. Eight minutes to 11 now. Would you like to wait?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

All right, ma'?

[Daniel Miller]

Am.

[Sergeant Friday]

Fine.

[Box Office Cashier]

Cold wind out there. Would you like to wait in here? Right around back here, I'll open the door for you.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

All right, ma'.

[Sergeant Friday]

Am.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Thank you. Yeah, it's nice and warm.

[Box Office Cashier]

Did anybody get the license number? Do you know, officer, I mean, on that truck that ran him down?

[Sergeant Friday]

No, not that we know of. We understand the officers in the traffic car talked to you. You didn't see the number either?

[Box Office Cashier]

No, I'm sorry, I didn't. The whole thing happened so fast. I saw the old lady grab the little boy, pull him next to her. It was an awful thing. The truck hit them both together. It's funny the things you notice. Boy was carrying a little box of candy. I heard this terrible thud when the truck hit them. I looked and the candy was spilled all over the street. Just couldn't help but I got sick to my stomach.

[Sergeant Friday]

Yes, ma', am.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

I can understand.

[Sergeant Friday]

Now, about this truck that ran them down. Do you think you'd know it if you ever saw it again?

[Box Office Cashier]

I'm not sure. I think I Might? Yes, it was one of those delivery trucks. You know, I think you'd call it a panel truck. It was a light tan color all over, and there was black lettering on the side.

[Sergeant Friday]

Mm. Could you make out any of the lettering at all?

[Box Office Cashier]

Well, I think there were three or four words painted on the side, and I know one of them was bakery. I'm sure that.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Did you recognize what maker truck it was, ma'?

[Paul Barton]

Am?

[Sergeant Friday]

The year?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

The model?

[Box Office Cashier]

It was a late model. I'm pretty sure of that. Either a Chevrolet or a Ford. I'd say one of those regular delivery trucks like some bakeries use.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

You sure about that word you saw lettered on the side? It said bakery.

[Box Office Cashier]

Yes, I'm positive of that.

[Sergeant Friday]

Now, anything else out of the ordinary that you might have noticed about the truck, ma'? Am? Anything outstanding that might have caught your eye?

[Box Office Cashier]

No, I'm sorry, officer. That's about all I can tell you. How is the old lady, do you know? And the little boy? Could they tell you anything?

[Sergeant Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am. The woman's dead. She was killed instantly. They've taken the youngster over to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital. Afraid he's in pretty bad shape, too.

[Box Office Cashier]

Terrible shame. Poor old lady. She lives right here in the neighborhood, you know. Seen her shopping in the market next door here Saturday afternoon. It's just tragic.

[Sergeant Friday]

Yes, ma', am, it is.

[Box Office Cashier]

Boy's her grandson, you know. Somebody said he was down visiting her for the Christmas vacation. Seemed like a nice kid, well behaved. She seemed so proud of him. Sure be a sad Christmas for the family.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Just one more question, ma'. Am. When the boy and his grandmother were crossing the street, would you say the visibility was good? I mean, is there any reason why it would have been hard for a driver to see them?

[Box Office Cashier]

No reason in the world, officer. It's a clear night. You can see how well the intersections lighted up. All the Christmas lights strung up along here. The lights from the theater marquee was just as well lighted then as it is now.

[Sergeant Friday]

Yeah, I see.

[Box Office Cashier]

The intersection was perfectly clear. No other cars around. Boy had a white sweater on. The old lady was wearing a light colored coat. Certainly easy to see the traffic light, too. It said stop. I can't understand why that driver didn't see him.

[Sergeant Friday]

No, ma'. Am, Neither can we.

[Box Office Cashier]

How could anybody do such a thing? It just isn't any excuse for it. No excuse in the world. It was downright murder.

[Sergeant Friday]

Well, maybe that explains it.

[Daniel Miller]

What?

[Sergeant Friday]

That's why I kept going. 11:35pm Ben and I finished interviewing the cashier. In the theater box office. And then we called the officer and had them get out a supplementary broadcast and an APB on the description of the hit and run vehicle. We went back across the street to the scene of the accident where the officers in the T car along with the crew from the crime lab were finishing up their preliminary investigation. We interviewed two more witnesses to the hit run accident, but they were unable to tell us anything that we didn't already know. When we got back to the office, we put in a call to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital where they told us the nine year old boy struck down by the hit run driver was still in a critical truck condition. The husband of the 64 year old woman who had been killed instantly was brought downtown to the morgue where he identified the body. The next morning we got out a special bulletin to all garages, auto repair and paint shops throughout the city to be on the lookout for a late model tan panel truck. Black lettering on the sides with damage to the front end. 8:30am I checked with communications and then I went back to the office. Hi.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Just check with Georgia Street Joe. Ask him about the boy, the old lady's grandson.

[Sergeant Friday]

How's he doing?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

About the same. Critical condition. That's about all he'll say.

[Sergeant Friday]

It's a lousy shame.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Communications get any kickback on the orpoint yet?

[Sergeant Friday]

No, nothing at all. Did you get in touch with the crime lab?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Yeah. They're not gonna be able to help much.

[Sergeant Friday]

What'd they find out there? Anything at all?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Just what we saw. A few small pieces of glass. Probably from one of the headlights on the truck. You don't think they're gonna be able to do much with them. There's not enough way to go on.

[Sergeant Friday]

That's the only physical evidence they got, huh?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

That's all. Might be able to tie it down a little tighter if we could find that panel.

[Sergeant Friday]

Yeah. You start checking on that bakery truck angle yet?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

McGowan and I called every bakery in town. Got it pretty well narrowed down. There's only two companies that use 10 late model panels for delivery trucks. Only one of them uses black lettering on the sides of the truck. Other company says they use red lettering.

[Sergeant Friday]

Which one has the black?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

I got it right here. Outfit called Nielsen's Wholesale Bakery. They got A fleet of 173 trucks, all the same tan color, black lettering on both sides. Late model Ford delivery truck.

[Sergeant Friday]

They tell you whether or not any of their drivers could have been making deliveries that time of night? 10:30, 11:00 clock.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Yeah, there were about a Dozen of them out on deliveries. More of them to account for than that, though.

[Sergeant Friday]

How do you mean?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

All their drivers are allowed to take the trucks home with them when they are off duty if they want to.

[Sergeant Friday]

Yeah.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

I'm afraid he's gonna mean checking out every one of them.

[Sergeant Friday]

You know, we might as well get moving on it. They're gonna give us some kind of

[Officer Joe McGowan]

a list to work with. Are they? Yeah, I've got it all set up with them. I'll get it. Accident Investigation. O'. Mero. Oh, yes, sir. That's all. I see you're right. Thank you. Rotten deal.

[Sergeant Friday]

Yeah. What's the matter?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

That young kid, the grandson?

[Sergeant Friday]

Yeah.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

He just died.

[Sergeant Friday]

Many times and on many different occasions. The police officer has it proved to him that there can be very little difference between a crime of neglect and a crime that's been willfully premeditated. If you look at it closely enough, you can judge it for yourself. How much difference, for example, as far as moral guilt is concerned, is there between the following? Number one, a man who plans a killing, takes up a gun, finds his victim and shoots him to death. Or number two, the man who thinks he has to look out for no one's welfare but his own, gets behind the wheel of a car, disregards the ordinary rules of safety and proceeds to commit homicide with a motor vehicle. Oftentimes the crime masquerades under the guise of an accident. Morally, no matter how you spell it, it adds up to murder just as surely as if the person had taken a gun and shot the victim down. The way it looked to us, the hit and run killing of the elderly woman and her grandson was a Prime example. Wednesday, December 22nd. Ben and I began checking out the delivery trucks owned by Nielsen's Wholesale Bakery. Late that afternoon, we located one of the trucks with recent damage to the front end. We checked and found the driver's name was Arthur V. Singer. We drove out to his home to interview him.

[Paul Barton]

No, I wasn't working last night, officer. I was off. What's it all about?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Did you spend the night at home, Mr. Singer, or were you out?

[Paul Barton]

Was home part of the time. After dinner I went downtown, Did a little bowling. Our neighborhood team bowls every Tuesday night.

[Sergeant Friday]

Where is that, sir?

[Paul Barton]

Place downtown? It's on West 7th. Got a pretty good team.

[Sergeant Friday]

Did you drive down, Mr. Singer, or

[Officer Joe McGowan]

did you take the bus?

[Paul Barton]

No, I drove down. Had the company truck with me. Let us use them when we're off duty. We pay for the gas.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Did you drive down by yourself or was there someone else with you?

[Paul Barton]

No, I was alone. The other boys had their cars.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

When did you leave the bowling alley, you remember?

[Paul Barton]

About 10, 10, 15, I'd say.

[Sergeant Friday]

How'd you drive home, Mr. Singer? I mean, what route did you take?

[Paul Barton]

Oh, I drove straight out West 7th. Got the Coronado, came over Coronado to the house here. Why do you want to know?

[Sergeant Friday]

What time did you get home?

[Paul Barton]

About quarter to 11.

[Sergeant Friday]

Yes.

[Paul Barton]

Wouldn't be about that little scrape I had last night, would it?

[Sergeant Friday]

What was that?

[Paul Barton]

Down at 7th and Grandview, right by Westlake park there. Old guy in the car ahead. He stopped fast, right in front of me. Didn't even signal.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

All right.

[Paul Barton]

I almost plowed right into him. Lucky I was watching. I slammed on the brakes, turned in toward the curb. Should have seen it. I clipped the headlight and the right fender against the telephone pole. Had to take the truck in this morning, get it fixed up.

[Sergeant Friday]

Are there any witnesses to this accident that you had, Singer?

[Paul Barton]

Yeah, a half dozen people saw it.

[Sergeant Friday]

Did you get any names and addresses?

[Paul Barton]

Well, no, I didn't. I was so teed off about the whole thing, I guess I didn't think about it.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Is there anyone at all we can check with? Anybody to corroborate your story?

[Paul Barton]

Just the old guy in that car. Sure, a lousy driver. I really chewed him out.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Did you get his name and address?

[Paul Barton]

No, but I took down his license number. Wasn't gonna pay for that damage. He admitted it was his fault.

[Sergeant Friday]

I see. Do you mind giving us that license number?

[Paul Barton]

No, if I can find it. Wrote it down on the back of an old envelope. Thought I put it in my jacket when I looked this morning, wasn't there. It's around someplace. So I'll check around again before I leave for work. It's bound to turn up.

[Sergeant Friday]

I'd like to have you look FOR IT Now, Mr. Singer, if you would. It's pretty important.

[Paul Barton]

Wow. I think I get it, Officer. What's this all about anyway?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Preliminary investigation. Want to see if you can find that number for us.

[Paul Barton]

Why? What's it have to do with an investigation? I didn't do anything. That old man was his fault.

[Sergeant Friday]

Well, a bakery truck was involved in a serious accident last night. The same kind that you were driving. Afraid you're going to need some kind of an alibi, Mr. Singer.

[Paul Barton]

Alibi? I don't know what you mean. Why do I have to have an alibi?

[Sergeant Friday]

Well, just take my word for it, you're going to need one.

[Paul Barton]

Why do I need one?

[Sergeant Friday]

Two reasons. Yeah, A nine year old boy and his grandmother. We continued questioning the suspect, Arthur Singer, but he denied any knowledge of the hit record accident the night before at the intersection of Drexel and Pico Boulevard. We stayed with him while he searched his home for the license number of the car, which he said caused him to have his accident the night before. After half an hour of looking, he came up with a number scribbled on a scrap of paper, which he'd found back in one corner on the floor of his closet. We put in a call to RDMV and they came back with the information that the license number was registered to a Mr. Thomas Foley on Lankershim Boulevard. We drove out to the address to check with Mr. Foley, but there was nobody home. We left our card along with a message to contact us as soon as possible. 4:15pm Ben and I got back to the office at 4:35. Mr. Foley returned our call?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Yes, that's right. Well, you did, huh? I see. Well, what time was that? Do you remember? Well, all right, Mr. Foley, thank you very much. We may be contacting you later. Right. Bye.

[Sergeant Friday]

What'd you get?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Thought this was starting out too easy.

[Paul Barton]

Why?

[Sergeant Friday]

What'd he say?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Apparently this Arthur Singer's telling us the truth. Mr. Foley says he did have a little scrape with a bakery truck last night. Described Singer as a driver of the drug.

[Sergeant Friday]

What about the location? Is Foley pretty sure about that?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Grandview in West 7. Says it happened about 10:35 last night. That put Singer about three miles from the scene of the hit run. It's impossible, Joe.

[Sergeant Friday]

Yeah?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

This Mr. Foley's right. Singer couldn't have done it. Wasn't anywhere near the scene.

[Sergeant Friday]

Sure thought he was it, didn't you?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

We can drive out and double check. Was Foley. Can't think of any reason why you'd lie about it, can you?

[Sergeant Friday]

So I'll get it. Accident investigation, Friday. Yeah, Ted.

[Narrator]

Where?

[Sergeant Friday]

Yeah. Nobody, huh? Yeah, Right away. Thanks. It's moving a little fast. Got a piece of luck here.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Who was it?

[Sergeant Friday]

Ted Zimmerman. He and McClendon are down south end of town. Yeah, the hit and run truck. They think maybe they found it. 4:28pm Ben and I left the office. Office and drove to the south end of the city, where we met with Sergeant Zimmerman and McClendon a block from where the tan panel bakery truck had been located. As soon as the truck had been discovered, an immediate stakeout was placed on it. A code 5 was broadcast on the vehicle's location, warning all units to stay away so as not to discourage the suspect in case he Decided it was safe to return and get the truck. Ben and I drove down the side street where the truck was parked and got a good look at the front end of it. The right headlight was damaged and so was the right foam. While Zimmerman and McClendon remained on stakeout, Ben and I contacted the Nielsen Bakery people again. Gave them the number of the truck and they traced down the driver's name for us. He was listed as Daniel Miller. He'd been employed by the bakery for the past three years and he had a good record. They told us this was his day off, 5:30pm we checked at his home address, but his wife told us he wasn't there. She said that besides driving a truck for the bakery, he also had a part time job. At night he worked as a counterman at a small coffee shop out on Wilshire Boulevard. We drove out to the coffee shop and interviewed him on the job.

[Daniel Miller]

No, I'm sorry, I don't know where the truck is. I wish I did.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

What happened, Mr. Miller? Was it stolen?

[Daniel Miller]

No, no, not exactly. Fella that comes in here quite a bit. His name's Paul. Good customer. He borrowed the truck from me last night. Said he'd only be gone an hour. Haven't seen him since.

[Sergeant Friday]

Where does this man live, this friend of yours? Paul?

[Daniel Miller]

Well, to tell you the truth, I don't know. Good customer. He comes in quite a bit at night when I'm working. Gotten to know him pretty well. He asked to borrow the truck for an hour. Didn't think much about it. Let him have it. Is there anything wrong?

[Sergeant Friday]

What's this? Paul's last name?

[Daniel Miller]

You know, I guess I don't. Never thought to ask him, as a matter of fact. Guess they never had any reason to.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

About what time was it last night that you loaned him the truck?

[Daniel Miller]

Little after 8 o', clock, I think it was. He said he wanted to take his television set over to a guy he knew and get it fixed. He told me he'd be back by 10 o' clock at the latest.

[Sergeant Friday]

And you don't know where this man lives? You have no idea at all how to get in touch with?

[Daniel Miller]

No, I guess I don't, Sergeant. Why?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

You're in the habit of lending the truck to strangers?

[Daniel Miller]

No, not usually. Well, what's your beef anyway? What's this all about?

[Sergeant Friday]

What are your hours here at the coffee shop, Miller? When do you check in for work and when do you leave?

[Daniel Miller]

I check in at seven o'.

[Paul Barton]

Clock.

[Daniel Miller]

I go a straight five hours to midnight. That's when we close out midnight.

[Sergeant Friday]

You worked that shift last night, did you? Seven p.m. straight through to midnight?

[Daniel Miller]

That's right. Monday through Saturday, six days a week. That's a schedule. It's just a part time job for me. Extra dough, you know. My regular job is driving the truck to the bakery.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Was anyone around last night when your friend Paul came in to borrow the truck? Maybe another customer? Waitress? Somebody we could double check with?

[Daniel Miller]

There were a couple other customers in the place. Don't know who they were though. Why do you have to double check anyway? I haven't done anything. I loaned Paul a truck, that's all.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Well, have you any way at all of proving you were here from 7 to 12 last night? Must have been some customers you waited on that you remember?

[Daniel Miller]

Sure. There are at least half dozen of them. They'll tell you I was here.

[Sergeant Friday]

Like to have their names and addresses, if you don't mind. Miller.

[Daniel Miller]

Yeah. Excuse me a minute, huh? Got a customer to wait?

[Sergeant Friday]

Sure, go right ahead.

[Paul Barton]

All right.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Dan. I missed you last night.

[Daniel Miller]

All right, Fred, what do you have?

[Paul Barton]

Coffee.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Couple of those donuts back there, powdered sugar ones.

[Daniel Miller]

Okay.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Me and the missus dropped in for

[Paul Barton]

a sandwich after the show last night looking for you.

[Daniel Miller]

That so?

[Paul Barton]

Yeah, about 10:30. Where were you, Dan?

[Sergeant Friday]

7:15pm Wednesday, December 22nd. We continued questioning the hit run suspect, Daniel Miller for a full hour. But he seemed to be unable to account for his time the previous night. His first story was that he'd been on duty behind the counter in the coffee shop without a break between the hours of 7pm and midnight. Then after the customer entered and disclosed that he was in the coffee shop at 10:30 the night before and that Miller was nowhere about, the suspect switched his story. He said he thought he left the coffee shop briefly for about 15 minutes between 10:30 and 10:45pm to run down the street to a hotel to say goodbye to some friends of his who were leaving for New York. We checked at the hotel, but they didn't know Miller and they hadn't seen him the night before. They were sure of it. We returned to the coffee shop and took up the questioning of the suspect all over again. But he made little or no sense at all. Apparently he was piling up lie after lie in an effort to cover his tracks before and after the hit and run murder the night before, 7:48pm Ben and I pulled Miller off the job at the coffee shop and took him downtown to the interrogation room.

[Daniel Miller]

I'm telling you, it's the truth. I wasn't in that truck last night. I wasn't in an accident. I don't know what you're talking about.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Well, then give us something to go on, Miller. You've ended three different stories so far. Not one of them's been.

[Daniel Miller]

I'm telling you the truth. What are you trying to hang this on me for? I didn't have a wreck and I didn't kill anybody. Why are you picking on me?

[Sergeant Friday]

Because you don't make sense, mister. You're trying to sell us a story and you haven't got one ounce of proof to back it up. That bakery truck you're responsible for is the same truck that killed the old woman and the little boy. Now, you come up with a solid story that we can check on it, you're gonna be resting your back in the main jail.

[Daniel Miller]

No wonder they call you cops, dumb. I wasn't in that truck last night. Can't you get that through your heads? I wasn't in the truck. I didn't have an accident.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Then prove it to us, Mr. Miller. That's all we're waiting for.

[Daniel Miller]

Listen, call Bill Calder. He's a good customer. He was in last night. I think he'll tell you. Go ahead and call him. He'll back up what I say.

[Sergeant Friday]

What's his number? Do you know?

[Daniel Miller]

Yeah, I got it right here in my wallet. Bill can tell you. Yeah, here it is.

[Sergeant Friday]

Thank you. Hello? William Calder there, please? Yes, ma'. Am. It's important. All right. Will you have him call Michigan 5211? Yeah, 5211. That's extension 2512. Right. Thank you very much. He's busy. He'll call back in a minute.

[Daniel Miller]

He'll tell you the truth. I was in the coffee shop all night. Just those couple of minutes I ran down to the hotel to say goodbye to those friends of mine. That's the only time I left the place.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

How come you couldn't tell us that to begin with, Miller? You say you've got nothing to hide. Well, why do you have to hand us three different stories? Which one are we supposed to believe?

[Daniel Miller]

I got nervous, that's all. When you first come in and started to ask questions. I didn't know what it was all about. I didn't know there was any trouble. I just loaned the truck to this guy Paul as a favor. How'd I know what he was going to do, getting himself in a jam like that?

[Sergeant Friday]

All right, now, try to look at it from where we stand, Miller. You loan out your truck to a man you don't know his last name. You don't know where he lives. You say he must have been driving the truck when the lady and the boy were killed?

[Daniel Miller]

Sure. He must have been driving it. I wasn't. I was back at the coffee shop. I was there until midnight.

[Sergeant Friday]

All right, then prove it to us. If you know the man well enough to loan him the truck, you ought to be able to find him.

[Daniel Miller]

They must be Bill Coler. He'll tell you. Go ahead. See what he says.

[Sergeant Friday]

Interrogation room Friday. Oh, yeah, Mr. Kohler. Well, my name's Sergeant Friday. LAPD accident investigation. Friday? Yes, sir, that's right. Wonder if you'd tell me if you know a Daniel Miller. Mm. When's the last time you saw him? Do you remember? I see the place where he works, the coffee shop. Were you in there last night, by any chance? Did you see Miller in there? You're sure? Yes, sir. No, sir. That's all for now. Thank you very much. We're gonna contact you later on. Thank you. Goodbye.

[Daniel Miller]

Well, how about it? He told you, didn't he? That enough for you?

[Sergeant Friday]

He says he hasn't been in the coffee shop for three days. 9:45pm Our interrogation of the hit and run suspect, Daniel Miller went on. At his suggestion, we called half a dozen people who he figured might substantiate his alibi, but none of them were able to. Miller continued to deny any knowledge of the hit run killing, but he still couldn't account for his whereabouts at the exact hour the nine year old boy and his grandmother were run down. The time element especially didn't work in his favor. Nothing worked in his favor. 11:30pm, Ben and I took Daniel Miller over to the main jail where he was booked in on suspicion of 480 VC. The following afternoon, his lawyer obtained a writ and he was released from custody. The writ was returnable in five days. He came immediately to the office to plead with Ben and I to help him find Paul, the man who'd borrowed his truck, and thus clear himself. We took him up on it either way. We figured we'd get to the bottom of it. If Miller dreamed up the character Paul to escape blame for the hit and run killing, we were bound to find out sooner or later if Miller was telling the truth. We had little reason to believe he was. And a man named Paul had borrowed the truck the night of the hit and run killing. We were bound to find that out too. In any event, we had to investigate. It's the job of the police officer to prove guilt or innocence. Not guilt Alone. Two days passed, and then another two the Monday following the Christmas weekend. We were ready to call a halt.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

I don't know what else we can do. I think we've given enough time, don't you?

[Sergeant Friday]

The deeper we get into it, the more it looks like Miller's our man. I still can't make up my mind.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Why do you have to be stubborn about it? We've checked every possible angle on this story. We still haven't an ounce of proof that this guy Paul he talks about even exists. We can't string along with Miller forever.

[Sergeant Friday]

I suppose you're right. We've given him a square enough break on it. I still got that funny hunch. It's possible he might be telling the truth.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

We've gone four straight days on it. Joe having come across one lead to back up his. It's too much for me. I can't buy it anymore.

[Daniel Miller]

Sergeant.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Hello.

[Sergeant Friday]

How are you, Miller?

[Daniel Miller]

I'm okay. Glad to see you. I've been looking for you.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

We've been looking for your friend Miller. Still haven't found a trace of him.

[Daniel Miller]

That's why I came down to see. A friend of mine called me this morning. He knows this guy Paul I told you about. He says he saw him last night going into a hotel down on South Flower.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

How come we haven't heard from this friend of yours before? We've checked through twice on the list of everybody you know.

[Daniel Miller]

This fella's been out of town. Just when he heard about the jam I was in, he called me about seeing Paul.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Mm.

[Sergeant Friday]

This hotel Paul was supposed to have been seen going into. Have you got the address of that?

[Daniel Miller]

Yeah, it's over on south flower, right near 12th. Want to go over there with me? Right now? This friend of mine wouldn't kid me. Paul must be there.

[Sergeant Friday]

You're sure about that?

[Daniel Miller]

He must be there. I'll bet a month's pay on it.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

You might be low, mister. What stands to cost you a lot more than that.

[Sergeant Friday]

We went up to the third floor to room 318. But the man registered as police, Paul Barton, wasn't in. He'd left no word at the desk as to when he'd return. We sent Miller home and told him to wait for our call. Ben and I went on stakeout at the hotel. At 7:25 that night, Paul Barton returned to his room and we began questioning him. He showed no signs of being upset. His answers were quick, straightforward, and they seemed to make sense. The interview went on a half hour, an hour, and Barton began to Grow a little nervous. He contradicted himself. Big holes began to show up in his story as to how and where he'd spent his time. The night of the hit run killing. 8:45pm Ben and I took Barton back to the office. We found Zimmerman in the squadron and had him phone Miller at his home and ask him to come downtown as soon as possible. Meantime, we checked Paul Barton through R and I and then we took him to the interrogation room where the questioning went on.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

You're a little mixed up about that, aren't you, Mr. Barton? I thought you said you went to that boy downtown about 10pm and then you went to. Now you tell us you went to your sister's house first and then you went to the bar downtown. Now, which is it?

[Paul Barton]

Well, that's getting a little high handed, isn't it? Why do I have to account for my time to you?

[Sergeant Friday]

If it wasn't important, we wouldn't be asking you. I think you know that.

[Paul Barton]

Well, I don't know anything of the kind. You're trying to take advantage of me. That's the only impression I can get. I think I've answered enough of your questions.

[Daniel Miller]

I'm going back to the hotel.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Just a minute, Barton. There's one more thing. Last time you were arrested for a traffic violation, you want to tell us what the charge was?

[Paul Barton]

What?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

I think you heard me.

[Paul Barton]

Well, that was a year ago. I was driving a little too fast, going up Beverly Boulevard. And what's that got to do with our record?

[Sergeant Friday]

Bureau says the charge was for drunk driving. Your license was revoked, isn't that right?

[Paul Barton]

Well, so what? I haven't been driving. I haven't been near a car.

[Sergeant Friday]

What about last Tuesday night?

[Paul Barton]

Huh?

[Sergeant Friday]

Last Tuesday night, did you do any driving then?

[Paul Barton]

No. No, of course not.

[Sergeant Friday]

Sure about that?

[Paul Barton]

You're not trapping me. I answered all your questions.

[Sergeant Friday]

I'm getting right where you are, mister. Stay put. Ben, you want to check next door, see if Miller's coming with you?

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Yeah, okay.

[Paul Barton]

You can't make me stay here.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

It's illegal.

[Paul Barton]

You got nothing to hold me on.

[Sergeant Friday]

All right, then. There's nothing to worry about. This won't take very long. We got a man by the name of Miller coming in. He says he thinks he knows you.

[Paul Barton]

Miller?

[Daniel Miller]

I don't know any Miller. Nice going, Paul. Where you been? I said, where you been? What'd you do with the truck?

[Sergeant Friday]

Grab him, Ben.

[Narrator]

Grab him.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Settle down. Settle down.

[Daniel Miller]

Come on, mister.

[Officer Joe McGowan]

Settle down.

[Paul Barton]

I didn't do it. I didn't do a thing. I. Well, look, you can't prove it. You can't prove I did.

[Daniel Miller]

They're gonna prove it, Paul. I'm gonna help him prove it. You should have been a real good friend.

[Paul Barton]

Look, give me a break, Danny. I didn't mean it. Honestly, I didn't mean it.

[Daniel Miller]

I loan you the truck, you get boozed up. You run down the little kid and the grandmother, then you take off and leave me holding the sack like I did it.

[Paul Barton]

I didn't mean it, Danny. It was an accident. I wasn't boozed up.

[Daniel Miller]

Yeah, you're a real good friend. I hope you get it in the neck. I hope you get it with both barrels.

[Paul Barton]

Look, Sergeant, that's not true. I wasn't boozed up. I only had two drinks. Now, believe me, that's all I had. Yeah, I couldn't have been drunk. It doesn't affect me that way. Two drinks never hurt me. Couple of drinks never hurt anybody.

[Sergeant Friday]

They killed a little boy and his grandmother.

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On February 28, trial was held in Superior Court Department 87, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Paul Barton was filed on for violation of the State vehicle code section 480, a hit and run felony, and also for manslaughter, two counts. He was convicted only for section 480 and received sentence as prescribed by law. A hit and run felony is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for not less than one nor more than five years. 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.

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[Podcast Host Adam Graham]

Welcome back. This is a story that I really do have a great place in my heart for, because it's a bit unusual, different from so many other Dragnet episodes. And particularly when we come to this man who's working the second job, it really does feel like an utterly unbelievable nonsense alibi. In fact, if you weren't dealing with a case or a series that used true life cases, you would not make this up because it is such a transparently nonsensical story. And indeed, I think the first time I encountered the episode, I thought we were heading towards a point where by helping him out, they would actually find evidence that he really was involved and he'd see that the lie was pointless. And that has happened on Dragnet a few times. But this one took a really big turn towards the end because right up until the end, it looked like the same sort of flim flam. You know, he told a story, but they could find no corroboration for it. They tried to reach out to his friends and the people whose names he. He'd given them, and they couldn't find anyone until at last he's able to come through. And we get a really good confrontation at the end with someone that, like I said, the first time I encountered this, and I think it's when I saw it on television, I really thought that it was a case where he was making the whole part about Paul up. But this story serves as yet another reminder that people can behave oddly, and sometimes even more oddly in real life than authors of fiction might imagine. Well, now we turn to our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Lisa. Patreon supporter since April of 2016, currently supporting the podcast at the Psalmist level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Lisa. 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'll be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet, but join us back here tomorrow. For yours truly, Johnny Dollar.

[Insurance Agent]

Wear that' after waiting 20 years for this sole beneficiary to show up.

[Paul Barton]

20 years?

[Insurance Agent]

Well, like I told you, the insured was Albert Schuyler Kingman, 65 grand.

[Paul Barton]

Yes.

[Insurance Agent]

He was a widower, lived up near Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and he had a son named Henry. Henry was his sole heir and beneficiary of his policy. Okay, and you say that Kingman died 20 years ago. Yes, during that big hurricane back in 38. Remember? It did about $40 million damage up and down the coast. Earl, I was a mere child of sure. How old was Henry? Well, he was 10. Just a kid. Anyhow, it was several days before the old man's body was found. And the boy? No trace of him. Disappeared in due course of time. Because of the statute of limitations, the old man's estate was. Well, I guess it went to the state. But not his insurance, huh? No, no. We kept the matter of the insurance open. Company policy requires a lot of legal finagling, but in the company's history, they've turned up beneficiaries as much as 15, 18 years after death. How? By advertising. And that's what accounts for the sudden appearance of two Henry Kingmans, each claiming to be the beneficiary of Albert Kingman's policy. And each having a logical, legitimate story, each saying he didn't know about the insurance until he saw.

[Podcast Host 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 and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com Great. Detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off at Amica Insurance.

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