Dragnet: The Big Honeymoon (EP4969)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives Present Dragnet (Old Time Radio) – EP4969: “The Big Honeymoon”
Host: Adam Graham | Date: May 7, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Adam Graham presents the Dragnet radio drama “The Big Honeymoon” (original air date: February 7, 1952). This case centers on a con artist who exploits women through fraudulent marriages—targeting lonely heiresses and single women, promising love and companionship, only to swindle them out of large sums of money. The investigation led by Sergeant Joe Friday and partner Ed Jacobs peels back layers of grief, greed, and misplaced trust while following the trail of “Charles R. Reynolds” (a.k.a. Frank Richland), and ultimately highlights the tragic consequences for his victims and persistent police work that leads to his arrest.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Technical Delay and Setup

• [01:28] Host Adam Graham notes an unusual technical delay before Dragnet begins, but reassures listeners that only introductory comments were missed.

2. Interview with Ms. Wagner (Victim’s Sister)

• [03:13–09:17]

  • Setting: Detectives Friday and Jacobs visit Ms. Wagner, mourning sister of victim Dorothy Wagner, as she packs to move out after her sister’s suicide.

  • Ms. Wagner’s Perspective:

    • Bitterly describes the relationship between Dorothy and “Charles Reynolds,” whom she labels a fortune hunter (“Foolish woman. I gave her credit for more sense.” [04:08])
    • Explains that Dorothy met Reynolds at the hotel; he claimed to know their late father and quickly wooed Dorothy.
    • Reveals the marriage was hasty—just over two weeks after meeting.
    • Details how Reynolds convinced Dorothy to exchange $10,000 checks to fund an around-the-world honeymoon he never intended to take.
    • After Reynolds vanished, Dorothy despaired and took her own life: “No trace of him. Of course, his check's worthless. We found that out.” ([06:55])
    • Ms. Wagner muses on her own cautiousness with men, contrasts with Dorothy, and laments the family's disgrace.

  • Notable Quote:

    • Ms. Wagner: “I mean, plain, out and out murder, in my opinion. Might just as well have taken a gun and killed her.” ([03:44])
    • Joe Friday: “It trades on one of the most natural and normal instincts a man or a woman has. A desire for companionship, a home and a family. And for the sake of an easy dollar, it betrays the victim and the instinct ruthlessly, regardless of the consequences.” ([09:34])

3. Police Investigation Unfolds

• [09:17–13:04]
  • Detectives trace Reynolds’ MO and discover his real identity: Frank L. Richland, a seasoned conman with an alias list “as long as your arm.” ([11:17])
  • Cross-referencing with Chicago police reveals his ongoing use of the marriage bunko scheme.
  • Friday reflects on the challenge of warning potential victims before they’re swindled: “How are you gonna warn a woman about a thief before her purse is gone?” ([12:33])
  • Legwork reveals Reynolds always paid cash and left little traceable evidence.

4. Hotel Staff Interview – Henry Kingsbury (Head Waiter)

• [13:47–16:03]
  • Kingsbury cooperated with Reynolds, accepting tips in exchange for introducing him to wealthy, single female guests.
  • Admits to pointing out the Wagner sisters and facilitating introductions; feels some guilt after Dorothy’s suicide:
    • Kingsbury: “I felt sorry about Ms. Wagner. I went to the funeral. They couldn't say I'm to blame, could they?” ([15:55])
    • Friday: “She's dead, mister. You figure it.” ([16:03])

5. New Victim: Hagar Lindstrom

• [17:02–20:12]
  • Another woman, Ms. Lindstrom, shares her nearly-identical experience:
    • Meets “Richland,” believes his story of English wealth.
    • Married him in Mexico with her brother Lars in tow.
    • Swindled out of $3,000 through an exchanged check for a promised honeymoon.
    • Both Lindstrom and her brother recognize Richland's mugshot.

6. Helen Stokes – Con Artist Associate

• [21:44–23:11]
  • Detectives learn from Forgery that Helen Stokes, a female con artist, had dealings with Richland—swapping rubber checks with him.
  • She offers assistance in exchange for leniency, describing Richland as “lover boy.”
  • Stokes reveals a tip: Richland is planning to visit a friend in Venice the week of October 31.

7. Arrest and Identification

• [23:50–26:53]
  • Stakeout yields Richland’s arrest at a cottage; he initially denies all involvement.
  • Police arrange confrontations:
    • Ms. Wagner and Hagar Lindstrom both positively identify him.
    • Lindstrom plaintively confronts Richland:
      • “He married me, John. You wanted to be my husband. You said that. Why did you want to hurt me?” ([25:49])
    • Richland finally admits, still showing no remorse, jokes about Lindstrom’s brother Lars accompanying them on the honeymoon:
      • “That big clown. Her brother Lars. Yeah. How'd you like to take that along? On a honeymoon?” ([26:39])

8. Case Outcome & Legal Consequences

• [26:53–28:14]
  • Narrator details the real‐world sentences:
    • Frank Richland convicted of two counts of grand theft and three counts of forgery.
    • Sentenced to state penitentiary at San Quentin, with transfer to Chicago for further prosecution.

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Adam Graham’s Commentary & Listener Feedback

Host Thoughts

• [29:27]
  • Graham notes the rarity of technical interruptions and points out the exploration of complex emotions, especially regarding Ms. Wagner’s attitude toward her sister and the implications of the victims’ desires for companionship.
  • Graham comments on the validity (though not the criminality) of Richland’s reluctance regarding Hagar Lindstrom’s wish to include her brother on the honeymoon, but quickly reaffirms: “not to count her out of her money.”

Listener Letter — Courtroom Episodes

• [29:27]
  • “Interesting to hear an episode with court scenes included since that it is often overlooked part of police on the radio.” — Jeff (via Patreon)
  • Graham agrees, observing that Dragnet rarely dramatizes courtroom proceedings, with a few exceptions on radio and television.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Ms. Wagner: “She should have known better, a woman her age.” ([07:10])
• Joe Friday: “The marriage racket's as old as any con game on earth. And as con games go, it's one of the lowest.” ([09:33])
• Kingsbury: “He said when some prominent women came into the dining room, wealthy women – would I point them out to him? ... I couldn't see any harm in it. He put a twenty dollar bill in my hand. I said yes, I would. After all, we have to look out for ourselves.” ([14:29])
• Hagar Lindstrom: “We make good living. Not easy, though. That's why it was so bad. Mr. Ishland. $3,000 he took. ... We thought he loved me.” ([18:28])
• Ed Jacobs / Joe Friday: “How are you gonna warn a woman about a thief before her purse is Gone.” ([12:32])
• Lindstrom confronting Richland: “He married me, John. ... Why did you want to hurt me?” ([25:49])
• Richland’s callousness: “That big clown. Her brother Lars. Yeah. How'd you like to take that along? On a honeymoon?” ([26:39])

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Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 01:28 | Adam Graham introduces Dragnet episode | | 03:13–09:17| Interview with Ms. Wagner (victim’s sister) | | 09:17–13:04| Police investigation, cross-referencing aliases | | 13:47–16:03| Head waiter Kingsbury discusses facilitating con | | 17:02–20:12| Second victim, Hagar Lindstrom, recounts deception | | 21:44–23:11| Helen Stokes reveals Richland’s plan | | 23:50–26:53| Arrest, confrontation, and confessions | | 26:53–28:14| Trial results and sentencing | | 29:27 | Adam Graham’s commentary and listener feedback |

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Tone and Language Notes

• The tone is procedural, somber, and analytical—typical of Dragnet—with emotional moments (particularly from victims).
• Joe Friday’s comments are terse, reflective, and weighted with moral perspective.
• Ms. Wagner and Lindstrom express pain and bitterness; Richland remains flippant and unrepentant.
• Adam Graham’s closing comments blend reflection and matter-of-fact wrap-up.

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Conclusion

“The Big Honeymoon” offers listeners a window into both the low cunning of a romance con artist and the pain felt by his victims, alongside the steady, persistent pursuit by Dragnet’s detectives. The episode raises questions about trust, loneliness, and the timelessness of confidence games, concluding with justice—however belated—brought to its heartless perpetrator. Adam Graham’s addition of thoughtful comments and listener feedback rounds out an engaging hour of classic radio drama.

Transcript

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[Podcast Host Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Seattle. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnet. But first I want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And today's program is also brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show on a one time basis. Support.greatdetectives.net and become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.greatdetactives.net but now, from February 7, 1952, here is the big honeymoon.

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[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Ladies and gentlemen, due to technical difficulties beyond our control at the moment, the Dragnet program originally scheduled has been postponed temporarily. It will be heard in just a few moments. Friday we're on the way. It was 10:38am when we got to Paris Avenue. Number 213.

[Hagar Lindstrom]

Yes.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

How do you do, Ms. Wagner. Police officers, I'm Sergeant Jacobs. As my partner. Sergeant Friday.

[Ms. Wagner]

Oh, yes, Sergeant. I've been expecting you. Would you come in, please?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thank you very much.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Thank you.

[Ms. Wagner]

Hope you'll excuse the way the house looks, officers. Right in the middle of packing, getting ready to move.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

I understand. Try not to keep you, Ms. Wagner.

[Ms. Wagner]

So much to do. Making arrangements for Dorothy's funeral. The undertaker, then all this moving business on top of it. I couldn't bear to stay here any longer, though.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, we understand. We'll make it as brief as we can. I'd like to have you tell us about this trouble that your sister had. As much as you know about it.

[Ms. Wagner]

I mean, plain, out and out murder, in my opinion. Might just as well have taken a gun and killed her. No difference.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You knew all about the relationship between your sister Dorothy and this man Reynolds, is that correct?

[Ms. Wagner]

Yes, right from the beginning. I was there when they met. Would you mind if I went ahead packing these few things here? My sister's things. I'd like to finish up before I leave. Have an appointment at noon. The mortuary.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Surely you're right ahead.

[Ms. Wagner]

A few books, Knick knacks. Personal things at Dorothy's. Foolish woman. I gave her credit for more sense.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now, about this man Reynolds, Ms. Wagner.

[Ms. Wagner]

I saw through him right from the start. I tried to tell Dorothy he was a fortune hunter, money hungry. Of course, she wouldn't listen. She always knew better.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Charles R. Reynolds. Is that the name you knew him by, ma'?

[Ms. Wagner]

Am? Yes, that's right. Dorothy and I met him one Sunday night in the hotel dining room. Two of us always had dinner at the hotel Sunday nights. Every Sunday.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

That's the Hotel Allen Wiltshire you told us about?

[Ms. Wagner]

That's correct. Be exactly a month this coming Sunday. Came up to our table, introduced himself. Claimed he knew my father when he was alive. Dad owned some big packing plants in the East. Died nine years ago. Left the estate to Dorothy and me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I see. Would you have anything to add to the description that you gave us on Reynolds, Ms. Wagner? I mean, can you think of anything unusual about him at all? Scars, peculiar mannerisms, anything like that?

[Ms. Wagner]

No, nothing special. Dressed well, as I say, apparently cultured, well traveled. He was handsome enough. I knew it was only after our money, though. Playing up to Dorothy that way. Kissing her hand, taking her out all the time. Probably would have tried the same thing with me. It's lucky I knew better.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

How did you? After the first meeting with him, Ms. Wagner, did he start dating your sister Dorothy right away?

[Ms. Wagner]

Yes, the next night. Called here at our home and asked Dorothy to the Theater, I think. He was going to ask me, but he was too smart for that. I knew him for what he.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Huh.

[Ms. Wagner]

Imagine that poem Ms. Dorothy wrote in high school. Love poems, silly. She never did get it out of her head.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You and your sister lived alone here in the house, did you, ma'?

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Am?

[Ms. Wagner]

Yes, Dorothy and I and the maids. I don't want to stay here after what's happened, though. I'm going to my cousin's in Vermont. Never wanted to see this place again.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am. I can understand. How soon after you met Reynolds did he marry your sister?

[Ms. Wagner]

Little over two weeks. He'd been seeing her almost every night. Taking her out dancing to the theaters, big dinners, bringing her home late. And sit here in the living room. I could hear them from my bedroom upstairs, laughing. Him telling her how beautiful she was. 42 year old woman. Imagine that.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You're about the same age your sister

[Ms. Wagner]

was, just about a little older. People always took us for twins, though. Here's a snapshot of me taken in my 20s. The boy with me there. He wanted to marry me. Our money, of course. That's all he wanted. Too bad Dorothy never seemed to realize that about men. Girls from wealthy families, they have to be careful.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We understand Reynolds took your sister out of town to be married, Is that right?

[Ms. Wagner]

Yes, Las Vegas. Reynolds had told her his bank funds were tied up temporarily in a Canadian bank. He wrote Dorothy a check for $10,000 and she gave him her check for the same amount. He said he wanted to book reservations for around the world trip for both of them.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I see.

[Ms. Wagner]

The same day Dorothy gave him the check, he cashed it. The bank called her about it and she said it was perfectly all right. An hour after he cashed it, Reynolds disappeared. No trace of him. Of course, his check's worthless. We found that out.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You figured that's the only reason your sister took her own life?

[Ms. Wagner]

There's no other reason. Wasn't the money so much? Dorothy has her share of the estate. It's a shame, I suppose. Awful shame, disappointment. She should have known better, a woman her age.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Had your sister ever been married before, Miss Wagner?

[Ms. Wagner]

Yes, when she was 18. Ran off to Chicago and married a young fellow. She claimed she loved him, too. Naturally, he was after our money. My father and I went and brought her home. We had the marriage annulled. It was that way all her life. Half a dozen men. They brought Dorothy nothing but misery. This was the last, this Charles Reynolds.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How about his background, ma'?

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Am?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

His business connections? He ever mentioned any of that to

[Ms. Wagner]

you or your sister claimed he had interests all over South America, Australia. Seemed to have plenty of money. Guess his kind always has. Do you think you'll find him?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We're gonna try, Ms. Wanger.

[Ms. Wagner]

Dorothy went upstairs to her bedroom and stayed there. She looked so strange. She took out some press flowers from a book. Some boy had given them to her once years ago. I don't know who. She just sat on the edge of her bed and stared at them. Old press flowers. Next morning the maid came upstairs and Dorothy was lying on the floor, empty bottle of pills next to her. Awful disgrace. Never happened before in our family.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

If you don't mind, Ms. Wagner, we'd like to get as many particulars about this man Reynolds as you can remember.

[Hagar Lindstrom]

There.

[Ms. Wagner]

That's the last. I don't know what else to tell you, Officer. All I know is I was young when Dorothy was young. I could have had a man if I wanted. But I didn't run off when I was 18 to marry a boy. I knew my duty. It wasn't proper. It wasn't a love. I didn't run off as a middle aged woman to marry a fortune hunter either. What made her do it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I wouldn't know, ma'.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Am.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

She was your sister.

[Ms. Wagner]

What kind of a man was he? What kind of a mind making love, kissing her just to take her money? Imagine selling somebody with a kiss.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, it's not the first time, ma'.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Am.

[Ms. Wagner]

Is that so?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Look it up.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

You'll find it in the Bible.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

11:18am we continued to interview the victim's sister for another 40 minutes. And then we left the Wagner home, drove back to the office and continued our investigation of the suspect, Charles R. Reynolds. As far as we were concerned, the criminal was new to us, but the crime wasn't. The marriage racket's as old as any

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

con game on earth.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

And as con games go, it's one of the lowest. It trades on one of the most natural and normal instincts a man or a woman has. A desire for companionship, a home and a family. And for the sake of an easy dollar, it betrays the victim and the instinct ruthlessly, regardless of the consequences. In the case of 42 year old heiress Dorothy Wagner, the disappointment was too much to cope with. For her. The marriage game ended in the front parlor of a mortuary on South Hoover Street. For the suspect, Charles Reynolds, it had continued to be a paying business until he was stopped after homicide detail completed their investigation of the case and it was definitely determined that Dorothy Wagner took her own life. The matter was turned over to us. 11:50am we got off a request to Las Vegas asking them for all the information on the marriage. And then I contacted the stats office and asked them to make a run on the suspect for us based on his detailed description and also on his method of operation. I went back down the hall and met Ed Jacobs at the R. And I counter. How you doing?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Not too much luck, Joe Forger didn't come up with anything either. Nothing on him in their files.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's not much of a start, is it?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Apparently this is the first time he's worked the town horns. We couldn't find anything on the name. Not in the main file anyway.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you got there?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

I asked John to check the correspondence file. He came up with this?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Uh huh. Out of Chicago.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

He came in over three months ago. Inquiry from their bunco detail. Suspect name right here. Frank L. Richland.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Same angle. Mary dragged.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Mm.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, the MO's pretty close. Any description?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Well, here. What do you think?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Six foot, £170, gray, wavy hair, blue eyes, fair complexion. That's fairly close. Could be.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Mm.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Here's the alias list Richland uses as long as your arm. Here's one caught our eye. Reynolds, alias George A. Reynolds, Thomas r. Reynolds, alias C.H. reynolds, alias Charles R. Reynolds.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Wants on him for forgery, bunco, grand theft. Lot of experience. How about a mug shot on this one?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Mm, none attached. No LA contacts either.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, we better get off a wire to Chicago pd, have them send us what they can on them. Ought to prove it one way or the other. By the end of the week, maybe, huh?

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Copy his name down here. Frank L. Richland. Correspondence number C143732. Chicago case number D61232. Attention. Lieutenant Smiles.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I was just thinking, Ed.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Huh?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The last time anyone saw Reynolds, when was it? 10, 12 days ago.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

10 days ago? Yeah, September 23rd. Same day he cashed the check and took a run out.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, if he's working the city for the first time, he must figure he's had some fair luck. 10,000 on the first try is pretty encouraging. Yeah, if he gets the idea the town's a gold mine, he's not gonna pull out stakes here.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Figures. Probably trying to reach a couple other women with the same angle. Could be he's working on it now.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's the problem.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

What do you mean?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The women say he's been romancing three or four of them around town. He's got them all primed.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Huh.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How are you gonna warn a woman about a thief before her purse is Gone. After getting off a wire to Chicago regarding the suspect, which was in addition to the broadcast in the APB we'd gotten out on him, Ed Jacobs and I continued checking out the various contacts that he'd made in the city. We checked stores where he shopped, banks where he allegedly did business. Restaurants and hotels which he reportedly patronized. It took three days of dull, steady legwork. You can say it much faster than

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

you can do it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All of the bank references, without exception, were falsified. Where he made purchases, it was strictly cash dealing. The same for the restaurants he'd frequented. Besides meager descriptions of the man, the restaurant employees weren't able to help us much. At one of the two hotels where we learned he was a guest for a full month, we finally netted half a lead. One of the bell boys told us that the man known as Charles Reynolds seemed to be pretty friendly with the head waiter in the hotel dining room, a Henry Kingsbury. We located Kingsbury in the dining room in mid afternoon, directing arrangements for a large private party to be held that night. Across the dance floor, the orchestra was on the bandstand, rehearsing, the musicians in their shirt sleeves. Kingsbury was reserved, not too cooperative.

[Henry Kingsbury]

Yes, I was acquainted with Mr. Reynolds. No more than the other guests, though.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

That's not the way we get it. Mr. Kingsbury, we hear you were pretty friendly with him.

[Henry Kingsbury]

Only as far as my job goes, that's my business. Making people feel at home, making them comfortable.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We understand Reynolds was a pretty heavy tipper. Is that right?

[Henry Kingsbury]

Oh, it's just good care of me and the boys, the waiters. Very generous.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did he expect anything special in return for the tips that he gave you?

[Henry Kingsbury]

I don't think I understand.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Oh, I think you do. How about it?

[Henry Kingsbury]

Well, he was always very good to us. All of us. I could hardly refuse.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Refuse what?

[Henry Kingsbury]

When he first moved into the hotel, he became friendly with me. Introduced himself. Gave me a good tip in advance

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

to take care of him.

[Henry Kingsbury]

First few nights here, he spent at the cocktail bar. You know, meeting people, buying a few drinks, getting acquainted. Third or fourth night. That's when he asked me.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Yeah?

[Henry Kingsbury]

He said when some prominent women came into the dining room, wealthy women would I point them out to him? Single women, of course.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Mm.

[Henry Kingsbury]

I couldn't see any harm in it. He put a twenty dollar bill in my hand. I said yes, I would. After all, we have to look out for ourselves.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did he expect anything else for those tips?

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

I don't know.

[Henry Kingsbury]

I don't think it'd be right if I told you.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You know why we're here, Mr. Kingsbury. We leveled with him. We expect you to do the same with us.

[Henry Kingsbury]

Well, there was the two Wagner sisters. They came here every Sunday night for dinner.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Regular routine for them. Yeah.

[Henry Kingsbury]

Mr. Reynolds was at the bar. He asked who they were, and I told him. He seemed impressed. He asked me to help with an introduction to them, and I did. Next afternoon, he came to me again. He said he was taking one of the Wagner sisters to dinner that night. It was important to him. He gave me another big tip. Said he wanted us to roll out the red carpet for him that night.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What'd that consist of?

[Henry Kingsbury]

Well, special consideration. The best treatment in the house, you know. I was to act as if I'd known him for years. Well, he was a good tip. I did what he asked. As I say, we have to look out for ourselves.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

This happened more than once today?

[Henry Kingsbury]

Two or three times, yeah. Miss. Wagner. Dorothy Wagner. She seemed impressed. At the time, I didn't think anything was wrong with her.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You actually didn't know Reynolds, is that right? You'd never seen him before?

[Henry Kingsbury]

Well, I suppose, yes. I only found out later, though, reading the papers. I mean, what really happened? I didn't know what he was at the time.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You couldn't see what Reynolds was up to? You didn't know what he was doing?

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

No.

[Henry Kingsbury]

Naturally not. He was a good tipper, that's all I know. It was the money.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We have to look out for ourselves.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Yeah.

[Henry Kingsbury]

I felt sorry about Ms. Wagner. I went to the funeral. They couldn't say I'm to blame, could they?

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

What happened?

[Henry Kingsbury]

I mean, it's not on my conscience. You wouldn't say so, would you?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

She's dead, mister. You figure it. Thursday, October 13th. The investigation continued. Still no sign of the suspect. We got an answer from Las Vegas and also from the Chicago PD's bunco detail on our inquiries. They enclosed mug shots and fingerprint classification of the suspect, Frank Richland, alias Charles R. Reynolds. The pictures were shown to witnesses and acquaintances who'd known the suspect. And they definitely established Frank Richland and Charles Reynolds as one and the same person. We got out a supplementary APB containing the latest information on the suspect. Saturday, October 15th, we got our second complaint on the marriage bunko artist. This time from the proprietress of a small chain of lunch counters in the San Pedro area, a Ms. Hagar Lindstrom. Ed and I drove down to the harbor area where we interviewed her at one of her lunch counters. She identified Richland's mug shot. Her story of the marriage swindle matched closely with that of the previous victim, Dorothy Wagner.

[Hagar Lindstrom]

Yeah, he was a fine gentleman, Mr. Yan Richland. I don't know what happened. They don't know what to say.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

He told you was from England, Ms. Lindstrom. Is that right?

[Hagar Lindstrom]

Yeah. He talked like English when he could speak good English. Like from London or someplace. Says he builds boats. Big ones.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I beg your pardon, ma'?

[Hagar Lindstrom]

Am. Big boats. Oh, yes, he told me that's his business. He said he had lots of money. We would sail around the world on a honeymoon. Maybe he will come back still. I hope so.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I wouldn't count on that. Ms. Lindstrom, would you tell us this, please? How'd you happen to meet this man Richland?

[Hagar Lindstrom]

At the hotel up the street. The big hotel. They can show it to you. The one on Jackson Street?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Am.

[Hagar Lindstrom]

They seem to know he was rich man. Nice clothes he wore. He spent money a lot. When we got married, we spent lots of money.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Where were you married, ma'? Am?

[Hagar Lindstrom]

We went down to Mexico one weekend. We went down there and we got married. It was romantic. Very nice. Even Lars liked it.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Who's that, ma'?

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Am?

[Hagar Lindstrom]

Lars. That's him down the counter there. Lars, My brother.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, your brother went along with you when you got married, is that right?

[Hagar Lindstrom]

Lars and I go every place together. He don't do anything without Lars. Mr. Richland was nice about it. He does seem to mind. Lars. Just a minute. They call him Lars, huh? Lars. Lars and I run the business together. At the soda fountains. We have. It's a long time. We have. Work at it. Hard work.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Yes, ma'.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Am.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Guess so.

[Hagar Lindstrom]

We make good living. Not easy, though. That's why it was so bad. Mr. Ishland. $3,000 he took. These are the police, Lars. They want to know about Mr. Ashland.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

How do you do?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

How are you, sir?

[Henry Kingsbury]

He was no good.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

When they find them, they hit him. Now, the $3,000 he got from you,

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

ma', am, how did that work?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I mean, did you give him the money?

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Lend it to him?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Just what was it?

[Hagar Lindstrom]

When we came back from Mexico from being married, Mr. Ashland and me and Lars. He said he was waiting for money from his bank in New York. Mr. Ishland said that he wrote me a check for $3,000. I gave him our check for 3,000. Even Lars thought it was all right. Didn't you, Lars?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, he was crazy.

[Henry Kingsbury]

His check was no good. He beat him up. He punch him good.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

That's quite a bit of money, Ms. Lindstrom. What kind of a story did he give you?

[Hagar Lindstrom]

He would buy the tickets for a honeymoon trip. That's what he said. A long trip together. Romantic. Mr. Whisper and me and Lars. He didn't mind Lars coming along either. Did he lost?

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

No, he didn't mind.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now, this Richland disappeared right after he cashed your check?

[Hagar Lindstrom]

Yes, sir. He got the money and he was gone six days ago. We never hurt him. I don't know why he did this to us. He thought he loved me. He thought he was my husband.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

We haven't seen or heard anything of him since he disappeared.

[Hagar Lindstrom]

Not me, nor ours. But maybe they know. That's why they call you officers.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yes, ma'.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Am.

[Hagar Lindstrom]

We have this friend, Antonia M. Swenson. He met Mr. Richland once when he was here. Swenson called us on the telephone. He said he saw Mr. Island downtown going into the hotel.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Are you sure it was Richland?

[Hagar Lindstrom]

Yeah, he said he thought so.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How long ago did he see him?

[Hagar Lindstrom]

Last night.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We got on the phone right away and talked to the friend of the Lindstroms, James Swenson. He gave us the name and location of the downtown hotel where he thought he'd seen the suspect Richland the night before. Ed called the hotel and checked with the desk clerk.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yeah, that's right. Fairly tall, wavy gray hair, fair complexion. Might be registered as John Richland.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Mm, that's right.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Okay, we'll check with you later.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Bye.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Any luck?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Guy registered his Harold Richland. Descriptions match.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

He's still there.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Checked out this morning.

[Narrator / Announcer]

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

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Saturday, October 15, 2:30pm Ed Jacobs and I drove back downtown to the hotel where the BUNCO suspect Richland supposedly had been staying. The desk clerk definitely identified his mug shot and told us that the man registered as Harold Richland had checked out a few minutes before 9am that morning. No forwarding address. We examined the room he'd been staying in, talked to the residents and the employees of the hotel, but we failed to come up with a single lead as to the suspect's whereabouts. During the week that followed, we received three different kickbacks on the all points we'd gotten out on Richland. We checked each one of them out, but they failed to materialize into anything. We stayed on it. October 19th, Wednesday, 7:50am Morning.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Hi.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

What's D. Charlie Frost called from Forgery and went over to talk to him. Came up with something on the Richland thing.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Yeah?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Picked up a woman last night, name of Helen Stokes got a good size record checks. Bunko records.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Got her this time on a check beef. She wrote one for $3,500.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Yeah? Well, how's it tie in with us?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Check was made out to Harold Richland,

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

8:15am we signed out, drove over to the main jail and had the forgery suspect, Helen Stokes, brought to one of the interrogation rooms. She was a dark haired, fairly attractive woman in her early 30s. As a bunco artist, she apparently knew her trade pretty well. She was relaxed and talkative. She told us Richland had introduced himself to her at a Palm Springs resort

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

the week before when the business of the check come up.

[Helen Stokes]

Soon as we got back in town, he gave me the story. His money was in a New York bank. I played along with a gag. He wrote me a piece of wallpaper for 3, $500. I did the same for him. What's the difference? Nobody hurt. Both check. Solid rubber.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Maybe you forget, ma', am, there's a law against it.

[Helen Stokes]

It's only a gag. I told you that. You would have loved to have seen his face when you found out the check was a phony. You don't think they're gonna push the charge against me, do you?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No. We've already told you, miss, you wrote a bad one. There's a law against it.

[Helen Stokes]

I was only stringing him along. I knew his check was a phony, too. I didn't have anything to gain. Look, suppose I help you find him. Will you give me a hand on this? See I get a break.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

We can't make any promises. You cooperate, helps find Richland to be taken into consideration.

[Ms. Wagner]

All right, you're on.

[Helen Stokes]

You can tell lover boy I tipped you.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You know where Richland is now?

[Helen Stokes]

I can come close to it.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

How do you mean?

[Ms. Wagner]

I know where I'll be next week

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

on further questioning. Helen Stokes told us that on one occasion while she was at Palm Springs with Richland, she prowled his hotel room, went through his personal effects and read his correspondence. She told us that she read one letter from a friend of Richland's inviting him for a visit the week of October 31st. She also noted Richland's answer. Accepting the invitation. She said the friend's name was Maurice Archer and that the letter came from an Ocean Boulevard address in the beach town of Venice. We went back to the office, ran Archer's name through R and I and found out that he had a previous criminal record of petty theft and grand theft. We located him in an Ocean Boulevard address and brought him in for interrogation. If There was any trouble, he wanted

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

no part of it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

After talking to him only a few minutes, he broke down and told us where we could find Richland. An address out near the end of Melrose Avenue. It was an apartment court. The suspect was registered in one of the rear cottages under the name of Reynolds. He wasn't at home. Ed and I went on stakeout inside the cottage.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

We waited.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

6:30pm

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Somebody coming in?

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Hold it right there, mister.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Police officers. What's this?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Hands out in the open.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Come on up.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

I don't understand this. Want to shake them down in? Yeah. All right. It's clean. Look, I don't know what you want, officers, but this is a mistake.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Your name Charles Reynolds?

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Reynolds? No, my name's Richland. That'll do. Let's go.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Now, just a minute, please.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

What am I accused of? Who's accusing?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Last pigeon you had lined up, she wanted us to tell you. Helen Stokes.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Stokes? Phony dame. You can't believe her, officer. She's phony. She's nothing but a con artist. That's a good reason to believe her. What? Takes one to know. One.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

7:05pm after checking through the cottage, Ed and I drove Richland downtown and took him to the interrogation room.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

He'd admit Nothing.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We called Ms. Wagner, the sister of his first victim, and she was still in town. She agreed to come down to the office to confront the suspect. So did the second victim, Hagar Lindstrom and her brother, Lars. Cars were set out to pick them up. At a special show up, Richland was picked out as the guilty man. We took him back to the interrogation room. Ms. Wagner was the first one called in. She again identified Richland, alias Reynolds, as the man who had married and swindled her sister dorothy.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

All right, Ms. Wagner, that'll be all. Thanks very much for coming.

[Hagar Lindstrom]

Him?

[Ms. Wagner]

Yes, all right. Thank you.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Look, I don't know that woman. I'm not trying to be stubborn, but

[Henry Kingsbury]

I'm afraid you're wrong.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

I'm not the man you want.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Lindstroms are outside, Joe.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Waiting. All right, bring him in.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Ms. Lindstrom.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Mr. Lindstrom, come in, please.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Miss Lindstrom.

[Hagar Lindstrom]

Mr. L. Yeah, it's him.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Yeah. I don't know you. I've never seen you before.

[Hagar Lindstrom]

He married me, John. You wanted to be my husband. You said that. Why did you want to hurt me?

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Sorry, I don't know.

[Hagar Lindstrom]

You said for you and me and Lars to go on the boat. Honeymoon. Around the world, you and me and Marcia said all those things. Why did you Want to hurt us?

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Oh, that enough for you? I don't know what they're talking about. Hey, baked you up.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Take it easy, Mr. Lars.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Lies.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He said we all go around the world.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Honeymoon. All right, all right. Get him out of here.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Okay, Mr. Newsom. Thanks.

[Hagar Lindstrom]

It's no good. Lars. Come.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Chief, out this way, please. Yeah. Find him. He hates him. Thank you very much.

[Hagar Lindstrom]

Hey, Darth. All right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, Rickson. You ready to give us a statement?

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

All right. I'll tell you, you can't blame me for that one, though. You wouldn't have gone through with that deal yourself. Nobody would have.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

What's wrong? Nice looking girl.

[Frank Richland / Charles Reynolds (Suspect)]

Sure. I don't mean that. What do you mean? That big clown. Her brother Lars. Yeah. How'd you like to take that along? On a honeymoon?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

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

[Narrator / Announcer]

On January 14, trial was held in Superior Court Department 88, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Frank Richland was tried and convicted of two counts of grand theft and three counts of forgery of a fictitious name. After serving his term in the state penitentiary at San Quentin, California, he is to be released to Chicago authorities for prosecution. Grand theft is punishable by imprisonment for not less than 1 nor more than 10 years. Forgery of a fictitious name is punishable by imprisonment from 2 to 14 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. Heard tonight were Barney Phillips and Virginia Greg. Script by Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.

[Henry Kingsbury]

February 18th.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Hear the gala city service silver radio jubilee on NBC.

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[Podcast Host Adam Graham]

Welcome back. Well, that little technical delay at the beginning was a bit rare and different, but really all we missed was the sort of introductory comments, so we essentially do get the whole story. This one is an interesting one and certainly a couple of interesting marriage cases. You definitely feel like that there was a bit more going on with the sister and her feelings. And while I can sort of understand the sentiment of why he didn't want to marry the second victim, the fact that she wanted to take her brother along on the honeymoon is a perfectly valid reason to not marry her, but not to count her out of her money. All right, listener comments and feedback now. And we go to a comment from Jeff on Patreon, who writes regarding the big court. Interesting to hear an episode with court scenes included since that it is often overlooked part of police on the radio. And that is a good point. We rarely get to experience and this wasn't just on radio, but television as well. We rarely get to experience a whole courtroom aspect on Dragnet, either TV or radio. Yeah, and you occasionally get a scene or two, something like what you got in the big lamp. And they also had that grand jury scene in the 1954 Dragnet movie. But because the episodes are usually structured around the investigations, you don't get a whole lot of time in court. And kind of to make up for that, Dragnet did do a couple of court focused episodes. The other one I can think of is the courtroom from season four of the 1960s Dragnet. Well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And thank you to Kpass Patreon supporter since May 2023, currently supporting the podcast at the Chalmes level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, kpass, and that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We will be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet, but join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Dolor.

[Mr. Dollar]

Where Mr. Dollar, make yourself at home.

[Henry Kingsbury]

Well, I must say, you aren't at

[Mr. Dollar]

all upset about the loss of your warehouse. Should I be? Sit down. Sure, Mr. Dollar. That building's been a losing proposition for years because of its bad location because of zoning restrictions and the cost of tearing it down. I've done nothing but lose money on it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh.

[Mr. Dollar]

But I've been very careful to keep up the insurance. So now that it's gone up in flames, I shall at long last collect on it. $340,000. That's right. And with whatever I can get from some other misguided investor of the land itself, I'll be sitting pretty. I see. Now, don't get any funny ideas, Mr. Investigator. The police have found nothing whatsoever to suggest arson. Nor will they. You sound pretty sure of that. I'm sure of it.

[Henry Kingsbury]

Even if it were a job that you didn't have done?

[Mr. Dollar]

I'm sure of it. You know something, Mr. Barnwell?

[Henry Kingsbury]

I'm not.

[Mr. Dollar]

So if you can be of any help in putting through my.

[Henry Kingsbury]

Did you hear what I said?

[Mr. Dollar]

I heard. Mr. Dollar doesn't worry me a bit.

[Podcast Host Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to Box [e-mail] follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com Great detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

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[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Liberty Mutual Co-Spokesperson]

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

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, no.

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We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Liberty Mutual Co-Spokesperson]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

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

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