Dragnet: The Big Juvenile Division (EP4949)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives Present Dragnet (Old Time Radio) Episode: Dragnet: The Big Juvenile Division (EP4949) Host: Adam Graham
Date: April 9, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Adam Graham presents and discusses the Dragnet radio episode "The Big Juvenile Division" (original air date January 17, 1952). The case centers around a looming gang war between juvenile gangs on Los Angeles' East Side, highlighting the tragic consequences when law enforcement lacks support from the community and, especially, from parents. After airing the original episode, Graham reflects on its themes, emphasizing Dragnet’s focus on parental responsibility and the limitations of police work in crime prevention without community cooperation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background and Context

• Multiple juvenile gangs on the East Side of Los Angeles are rumored to be preparing for an all-out war, with members arming themselves with homemade weapons like brass knuckles and knives.
• The police recognize the gravity of the situation but face challenges due to uncooperative parents and the organizational skill of ringleaders.

2. Police Investigation

• Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ed Jacobs join the Hollenbeck Juvenile Division to investigate.
• They are briefed on the five main gangs: the Purple Heart Gang, Blue Devils, Apaches, Happy Valley, and Rose Hill, with membership ranging from junior high to high school-age boys.
• The Apaches, under Robert Lawson, are identified as the principal instigators, trying to force rival gangs to join or face a fight.

Notable Quotes:

• "We figure we got a young Hitler on our hands. A kid by the name of Robert Lawson."
  — (Liberty Mutual Spokesperson/Bill Gardner, 08:07)

• "San Quentin's full of people we don't understand."
  — Sgt. Joe Friday, 09:20

3. Parental Denial and Community Response

• Parents are summoned for a meeting. While most promise to supervise their children and keep them out of gangs, some deny any issue, accuse the police of exaggerating, or fail to show up—including Lawson's parents.
• Mrs. Lawson demonstrates classic denial, holding to the belief that her high-IQ son is not involved in gangs, despite evidence and police warnings.

Notable Quotes:

• "We didn't spoil him. Robert just isn't like that."
  — Mrs. Lawson, 11:21
• "If the mother can't believe her own son, who can she believe?"
  — Mrs. Lawson, 11:52

4. Escalation and Tragedy

• Despite efforts, the gang war erupts near a cemetery. The result is multiple injuries and the death of Robert Lawson, stabbed during the fight.
• The emotional interview with Ann Porter, Lawson’s girlfriend, exposes the raw aftermath and senselessness of youth violence.

Memorable Moments & Quotes:

• "There's gonna be big trouble. What do you think's gonna happen when 200 kids tangle in a fight with knives and brass knuckles? Now use your head."
  — Sgt. Friday to Robert Lawson, 14:26

• (After the gang fight is discovered) "Gang war. It's already started."
  — Captain Stein, 17:11

• "He had a chain under his coat. When he went up to Jumpy, Bob had a cigarette in his mouth. He told Jumpy to light it for him. It's supposed to mean he's chicken if he does it... Bob took out the chain, hit him across the face with it."
  — Ann Porter, 20:53

• "You're lying. You know dad. It won't be all right."
  — Ann Porter, 22:30

5. Aftermath and Accountability

• Warren Stone ("Jumpy") is identified as Lawson’s killer. Despite his denial, his fingerprints are found on the murder weapon, and eventually, he confesses:
  "I killed him." — Warren Stone, 25:01

• The episode ends with a poignant confrontation with Mrs. Lawson, who blames the police for her son's death, refusing to acknowledge his role in the violence.

• Friday reminds her that someone else understood Lawson well:
  "There was somebody else. ... The boy who killed him." — Friday, 27:24

6. Episode Resolution

• Warren Stone is charged with murder, other ringleaders with battery; all are committed to state youth institutions.
• The case is depicted as a "preventable, slow-motion tragedy," underscoring the recurring Dragnet theme of parental neglect as a root of juvenile crime.

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Main episode introduction and context – [01:28]
• Gangs identified & sent for police help – [05:03–06:01]
• Weapons and escalation evidence – [07:31–07:57]
• Discussion with Mrs. Lawson – [10:46–12:44]
• Direct warning and confrontation with Robert Lawson – [13:29–15:45]
• Implementation of area curfews – [16:36–16:53]
• Discovery of the aftermath and Lawson’s body – [18:27–19:07]
• Ann Porter's recounting of fight and loss – [20:07–22:56]
• Police question Warren Stone ("Jumpy") – [24:27–25:01]
• Informing Mrs. Lawson of her son's death – [25:34–27:13]
• Episode outro: charges and consequences – [27:39–28:13]
• Adam Graham’s reflective commentary – [30:15–31:50]

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Adam Graham’s Reflections (Post-Episode Commentary)

• Graham notes the distinction between this and other Dragnet episodes:
  "This episode instead emphasizes the limits on the police in preventing crime without necessary cooperation."
  (Adam Graham, 30:27)

• He underscores that Dragnet is less about demonizing youth, and more a critique of "absent or clueless parents" who refuse to take responsibility or heed warnings, often until too late.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Parental Denial:
  "Wouldn't it be better to try and understand these boys instead of picking on them, persecuting them?"
  — Mrs. Lawson, 12:21

• On Police Limitations:
  "We tried to warn him. We tried to warn all of them. We're sorry."
  — Sgt. Friday, 25:47

• On the Responsibility of Adults:
  "Last time we came here to your house, we tried to make you understand."
  — Sgt. Friday, 27:05

• Episode Moral:
  "Once again, you have a revisiting of a recurring theme of Dragnet, of a lack of parental responsibility leading to tragedy."
  — Adam Graham, 31:04

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Conclusion

This Dragnet episode delivers a powerful message about juvenile crime, not as an inevitability but as a problem often exacerbated by parental denial and lack of timely intervention. Dramatic storytelling is paired with a sobering look at the limits of police authority, culminating in a cautionary tale about responsibility—parental, societal, and personal.

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Transcript

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnet. But first, I do want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. And you can support the show on a one time basis by mailing a donation to Adam Graham, P.O. box 15913. That's P.O. box 15913, Boise, ID 83715. Thank you so much for your support. You can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per day just by going to patreon.greatdetectives.net well now it is time for today's episode. The Big juvenile division from January 17, 1952.

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[Narrator]

The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innoc.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Sergeant.

[Narrator]

You're a detective sergeant you're assigned a homicide special detail. There are rumors of an impending war between juvenile gangs in your city. Reportedly, members of both gangs are well supplied with homemade weapons. You don't know when the fighting will break out. You don't know where Your job.

[Frank Kerber]

Stop it,

[Announcer]

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 Joe Friday]

It was Tuesday, October 14th. It was cloudy in Los Angeles. We were working a special detail out of Homicide Division. My partner's Ed Jacobs. The boss is Captain Lorman. My name's Friday. It was 1:18pm when I got to 2015 East First street, the second floor, Hollenbeck. Juvenile Division. Joe. Hi. What'd you find out? Nothing yet.

[Frank Kerber]

Gardner had to go next door.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He'll be back in a minute.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Give us a rundown on a thing Friday. Ed.

[Frank Kerber]

Hi, Gardner.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Hi. How you doing?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Good to see you. How are things going downtown?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, not bad. A little slow. Hear you got problems.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Lots of them. Captain Briefy on any of it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No. He told us to check with you, you'd fill us in. Said maybe you could use some help.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

All we can get. We're sitting on top of a bomb out here. We don't know when it's going to go off.

[Frank Kerber]

What's a pitch, Gardner?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Juvenile gangs. Five of them this time. The way we get it, they're ready for trouble. All of them?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

High school kids?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Most of them. Some of them are in junior high.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how come five gangs? What are they planning, a free for all?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

It's a long story. They've been building up to this thing for months. All Eastside kids. We hear it's supposed to be an open war. Here's a list of the different gangs involved.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thanks.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

You can see there. Same crowds we've been riding herd on for the last couple of years.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We got the Purple Heart gang, the Blue Devils, the Apaches, Happy Valley, Rose Hill.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Here's a breakdown on each one of them. Hard to get exact figures, but we think it's fairly accurate. Purple Heart Gang, 26 members. Leader Harold Fry, age 17. Blue Devils, 18 members. Leaders, Jack Holland, age 17, and Bertram Willis, 16. The Apaches, 22 members. Leader Robert Lawson, 17. They're supposed to be the strongest bunch. Well, Happy Valley Gang, 20 members. Leaders, Roy Martin, 16, and Joseph Gomez, 16. Rose Hill Gang, 16 members. Leader Thomas Resnick, 18.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, well, what's behind it, Gardner? I mean, the gang war that they're supposed to be planning.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

A lot of factors enter into it. I guess it's my own idea. The Apache gangster, most of the promoting.

[Frank Kerber]

What's the object anyway?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

The usual big shot idea. Some high school kids get the Apaches, figure they're gonna run the whole east side. They've already scared the Happy Valley gang and the Blue Devils into joining up with them.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how'd they manage that?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

I'd like to find out myself.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how about the other two crowds there? Rose Hill and the Purple Heart bunch?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

The story I get is they won't come in with the Apaches. That's supposed to be the reason for the war. Either they join up with the Apaches or they fight them. That's a warning they got. Hmm.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Pretty.

[Frank Kerber]

Playing it big time, huh?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

All the way. 16, 17 year olds. They got gang lieutenants, they got their own cars, their own hideouts. Some of them even had their girlfriends running with them. Same age, none of them over 17.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where'd you get your information, Bill?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Half a dozen kids. Most of them from the Blue Devils and the Happy Valley gang. They were mixed up in a couple of after school fights in Hollenbeck Park. The stories they gave us are enough to curl your hair.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah? How do you mean?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

About the big war they're gonna have. One of the girls we picked up gave us most of it. Fifteen year old, says her boyfriend's one of the big shots with the Blue Devils.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What'd she have to say?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Talked about it like it was some kind of a game they were playing. Said the Rose Hill and the Purple Heart gangs were teaming up so they could stand up against the other three. They've been getting ready for the war for six weeks. They're really organizing.

[Frank Kerber]

I don't get it. Who's doing the organizing? Who's promoting it?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

I got an idea about that. Get to it in a minute. Take a look at these over here.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Samples of the different weapons the gangs are getting together for the big fight.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Crazy kids.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Brass knuckles, homemade saps. All kinds.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's this here, Garden.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Have a look. Homemade stiletto. Good six inch blade. Kids are supposed to have dozens of them. Another one here. Look at this. Ice pick. Anything you can think of. You name it, we got it.

[Frank Kerber]

It's gonna be wholesale murder if we can't find a way to stop it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You been able to figure what the real trouble is, Bill?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

I got an idea. Yeah? You asked about the gangs teaming Up a minute ago.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

We figure we got a young Hitler on our hands. A kid by the name of Robert Lawson. He's supposed to be the ringleader of the Apache gang. Moved in about a year ago from the Middle West.

[Frank Kerber]

How much you know about him?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Wrote a letter to the city where you originally came from. Bad juvenile record. We talked to the boy a couple of times. His parents, too. Didn't do much good. Never had enough to file a petition on him and bring him to the attention of the juvenile court. We know he's responsible for a lot of the trouble we got, but he always has some other kid do it for him. Never does it himself.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You think he's responsible for working up the gang? More ideas, eh?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

We figure he's our biggest problem. We've tried everything to reach the Lawson kid and settle him down. Checked with the teachers at his school, the principal, vice principal. They can't handle him. They figure on expelling him if he doesn't straighten out.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How about the other youngsters in these gangs? I mean, besides this Lawson boy here?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

We've got notifications out for them and their parents. They're supposed to be in here tomorrow night, 7:30. Maybe we can break Lawson's hold on these kids.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Sure.

[Frank Kerber]

Got me. What's the matter with this Lawson boy's parents? Don't they know what's going on? Can't they control them?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

He tried to talk to the parents. They think we're wrong. They're proud of the kid. He's got a high iq. They think he's a natural born leader. Oh, sure, yeah. The mother says people just don't understand the boy.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, maybe you should have told him, huh? San Quentin's full of people we don't understand. The following night, Wednesday, October 15, the members and ringleaders of the various juvenile gangs, along with their parents, showed up at Hollenbeck Juvenile Division as requested. In questioning each of the youngsters, we definitely confirmed the reports we had of the impending gang war. The interviews also revealed that if and when the fighting did start, it would be more serious than we had first figured. For one thing, there were more youngsters involved than we thought. The gangs had been recruiting new members by the dozen in preparation for the street fights. For another thing, we found out the teenagers weren't carrying around 8 inch knives and brass knuckles just for show. If fighting started, they were ready and willing to use them. We weren't sure how much we could count on it. But after interviewing the parents and advising them how serious the situation was, they Promised their full cooperation. Most of them agreed they'd maintain strict check on their youngsters and keep them out of all neighborhood gang activities. Some of the parents took a resentful attitude. They insisted the gangs were harmless. They accused us of picking on the youngsters. A few of the parents didn't even show up at the meeting. Among these were the parents of 17 year old Robert Lawson, the boy who seemed to be promoting most of the trouble. The following morning my partner Ed Jacobs and I drove out to his home and we talked with his mother. She was friendly, but not too cooperative.

[Mrs. Lawson]

I don't know why you say that, Sergeant. I appreciate you worrying about my boy, but I'm sure it's not as bad as you think.

[Frank Kerber]

I don't mean to contradict you, Mrs. Lawson, but I'm afraid it is a lot worse than you think.

[Mrs. Lawson]

It's what the other officer said too. But you really don't have any proof, do you? I mean, a few idle rumors. You certainly can't accuse Robert on that basis.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We're not accusing Robert of anything, ma'. Am. It's not the point. What we're trying to do is to head off the trouble before it starts.

[Frank Kerber]

You were living in the Middle west before you came to Los Angeles, that right, ma'?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Am?

[Mrs. Lawson]

Yes, that's right. Nebraska.

[Frank Kerber]

Wasn't your boy in some kind of trouble back there?

[Mrs. Lawson]

Yes, but it didn't amount to anything. Could have been avoided so easily. They just didn't understand Robert. That was the whole trouble.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Is he an only child, ma'?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Am?

[Mrs. Lawson]

Yes, just Robert. But he's not spoiled. I know it's a great temptation with an only child, but we didn't spoil him. Robert just isn't like that.

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

Uh huh.

[Frank Kerber]

You allow him quite a bit of freedom, do you, ma'? Am? I mean, does he go out at night very often?

[Mrs. Lawson]

Well, he is 17 years old going on 18. Yes. My husband and I allow him to go out as often as he likes as long as he keeps up with his studies. Robert's always done very well. Always tops in his class.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Do you know where he spends his time? When he goes out at night?

[Mrs. Lawson]

He's usually down at the gym or at the library.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You know that for a fact, do you?

[Mrs. Lawson]

I trust Robert, if that's what you mean. He tells me that's where he's going, I believe him. The mother can't believe her own son. Who can she believe?

[Frank Kerber]

How about the company your boy keeps? You know any of his friends, Mrs. Lawson?

[Mrs. Lawson]

Few, yes. There's the Miller boy and Jack Holland. They seem to be fine boys.

[Frank Kerber]

Miller and Holland.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Yes. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with them.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, there is, ma'.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Am.

[Mrs. Lawson]

What?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Both of them have juvenile records. Both of them belong to your son's gang.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Really, Sergeant, how can you say that? It isn't fair. Wouldn't it be better to try and understand these boys instead of picking on them, persecuting them?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I don't know how we're gonna make you understand, Mrs. Lawson. We're not picking on them. We're not persecuting them. We know there's a gang problem. We know your boy's one of those. At the bottom of it, if something isn't done, there's gonna be trouble. We're gonna stop it before it begins. We're gonna have to have your help.

[Mrs. Lawson]

I'm perfectly willing to cooperate. You know that. That must be Robert now. Excuse me, Robert. Bob, is that you?

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Would you come in here a minute, Bob? We're in the living room.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

What do you want?

[Mrs. Lawson]

These are police officers. Bobby, this is Sergeant Friday. Sergeant Jacobs, is that right?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am. How are you? How do you do?

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

Hi. How about something to eat? Don't you have anything ready?

[Mrs. Lawson]

I wasn't expecting you, Bob. Won't take me a minute, though. You sit down there. I'll go out and get a snack together for you. Can I fix you a sandwich, Officer?

[Ann Porter]

A cup of coffee?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, thank you. Thanks very much.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Won't be a minute, Bob. We were just talking about you when you came in.

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

What's it about, Sergeant? You want to see me, or do you just want to talk to my mother?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

As long as you're here, we'd like to talk to both of you.

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

Bob, we gotta take off pretty fast. Just came home to get something to eat. What's it about?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's about Geronimo. That's the gang's code word for the war you're setting up, isn't it?

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[Frank Kerber]

Your gang, Bob.

[Announcer]

The Apaches.

[Frank Kerber]

We talked to half a dozen of them last night down at the Juvenile Division.

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

All right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now, look, son. We've got the names of everybody in your gang. We know the whole setup. You go ahead with your idea and you're gonna buy a lot of trouble.

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

A couple of cops were here last week and said the same thing. I don't know any more about it now than I did then, honest. What's the pitch, anyway?

[Frank Kerber]

You know what the pitch is, youngster.

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

I don't. Honest. You're trying to say I'm in a gang, is that it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You're in it up to your neck, son. Now why don't you come off it? We've got you pegged. And everybody that runs with you, that includes the girlfriends you got in the gang. You're not fooling anybody.

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

You must be a little crazy. I'm not in a gang. Never even heard of one around here.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now you listen to me, boy. You can take this as a warning or a piece of advice. Either way, you and your friends keep on playing punk gangsters and we're gonna lean on you. You understand?

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

What is this? Trying to scare me?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

If it'll make you change your mind, yeah. If this street war comes off, there's gonna be big trouble. What do you think's gonna happen when 200 kids tangle in a fight with knives and brass knuckles? Now use your head.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Hey there, Bob. Nice melt. And I stole a hot St. Bacon and tomato sandwiches.

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

You always make the soup too hot.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Oh, I didn't mean to. Let it cool off for a minute. Then Bob has to eat and hurry along. OFFICES Is there anything else you wanted to talk to him about?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No. I think you've heard everything we have to say. I wish you'd think it over, Mrs. Lawson. You too, Bob.

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

Nothing to think over. They're trying to say I'm in a gang. They think I'm the leader.

[Mrs. Lawson]

You told him, didn't you, son?

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

Sure. They don't blame me.

[Mrs. Lawson]

I wish I could make you understand, Sargent. He's not a gang leader. Robert's telling the truth.

[Frank Kerber]

Afraid he isn't, ma'.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Am.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Well, he is. I know he is. I mean, after all, he's my son. I'm in a position to know him better than you do.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[Mrs. Lawson]

If he was lying, I'd know it. I wish I could make you understand. Mother is the only one who really knows her boy. I know. Robert's telling the truth. Aren't you, Robert? Robert? That's so, isn't it? You're telling the truth, aren't you?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Sure.

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

How about some more soup?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Before we left the house, we tried again to talk to Robert Lawson and his mother. But it was no use. She believed every word he said. And he apparently refused to believe the possible consequences of the war he was planning for his gang of juveniles. We drove downtown and had an interview with the boy's father. At his work he was even less cooperative. He took on a belligerent attitude, accused us of persecuting his son and ordered us out of the office, along with Sergeant Bill Gardner and Frank Kerber. We spent the rest of the afternoon and most of the following day checking with parents of youngsters who had been recently recruited into one of the various east side gangs. Most of them were cooperative. Late that afternoon, Bill Gardner, Ed and myself met with Captain Stein back at Hollenbeck Juvenile. Strict curfew all over the area.

[Captain Stein]

We can start tonight.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you figure? Just on the weekends?

[Captain Stein]

Every night, Sunday to Sunday. I'll get some more men in to help out. Every youngster out in the street after 10 o' clock gets stopped, Every one of them caught with knives, saps, brass knuckles or anything like them, they're going to be pulled in and filed on, no exceptions. Be a lot safer in custody than mixing it in the gang fight.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, Oughta help. Might teach some of the parents a lesson anyway.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Yeah.

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

Excuse me.

[Captain Stein]

Do you ever know the vision, Stein?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where was that? When?

[Robert 'Bob' Lawson]

Uh, yeah, right away.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Let's hustle.

[Captain Stein]

At Evergreen Avenue, out near the cemetery.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, what is it?

[Captain Stein]

Curfew was a good idea. We got it.

[Frank Kerber]

Too late, huh?

[Captain Stein]

Gang war. It's already started.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Before we left the office, we had communications notify all J cars on the special detail to proceed at once to the scene of the major 415 call. Ten cars were ordered to cruise the area surrounding the actual scene of the fight and to pick up any and all members of the juvenile gangs who showed any evidence of having been in the fight or had in their possession any deadly weapon. Captain Stein, Bill Gardner, Ed and myself left the office on a Code 3 and drove out to the scene of the gang fight. When we got there, all the JJ cars and three radio crews had the area blocked off. An ambulance crew was treating more than a dozen youngsters who had been injured during the fight. One of the youngsters had a lacerated eye. He'd been blinded. Most of the other victims would carry scars for the rest of their lives. The juveniles who'd taken part in the battle and who'd been lucky enough to escape without serious injury, were being loaded into the J cars and the radio cars. They were to be removed to juvenile headquarters at 1335 Georgia street for further investigation. Together with Bill Gardner and Frank Kerber, Ed and I began covering the area, collecting dozens of homemade weapons used in the gang fight. They'd be turned over to Pete Brown, Holland Beck Juvenile, to be booked as evidence.

[Narrator]

Joe.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, Ed? Come here a minute. Over here. Yeah, Have a look.

[Frank Kerber]

Piece of chain. Bloodstains on it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Lousy. How vicious can it get?

[Ann Porter]

Bobby, come on.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right. Across the street there. The car on the driveway.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Oh, yeah.

[Ann Porter]

Help him. He's hurt. Somebody help him. Bobby.

[Narrator]

What's the trouble, Bobby?

[Ann Porter]

He was in the fight. One of the gang, they stabbed him. He's in the car.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Come on.

[Frank Kerber]

What is it, Joe?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Take a look.

[Frank Kerber]

The Lawson boy, huh?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. Knife in his chest.

[Frank Kerber]

Want me to get the doctor?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. Call a coroner too.

[Announcer]

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

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thursday, October 16, 5:35pm after the discovery of Robert Lawson's body in the car parked in the driveway adjoining the cemetery grounds, ed brought the doctor over from the ambulance. The 17 year old Lawson boy was pronounced dead. The doctor made out the prescribed form and marked it DOA. While we waited for the crime lab crew and the coroner to get there, Ed and I questioned the girl who'd led us to the body. She identified herself as Ann Porter, age 16. She told us she was Bob Lawson's girlfriend. She readily admitted accompanying him to the scene of the gang fight that afternoon.

[Ann Porter]

I knew what it was gonna be like. I knew right then. Came closer. Bob told the kids to get ready. They were a little ways from us when they stopped the other gang with Purple hearts.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Ann Porter]

There's a kid by the name of Jumpy. He's the leader. He stepped out in front of them and called to Bob. Called him a bad name, said bad things.

[Frank Kerber]

This boy you called Jumpy, do you know his real name, Ann?

[Ann Porter]

No. Jumpy's only his nickname. I know him when I see him though. I can point him out.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, what happened after he called Bob?

[Ann Porter]

I don't know.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What?

[Ann Porter]

I don't know. I'm not sure. Everything seemed to happen at once. Bob swore at me, pushed me back. Told me to get out of the way. Then he walked up to this kid, Jumpy. Right in front of their whole gang. I screamed at Bob. I screamed at him not to.

[Frank Kerber]

Why'd you scream? What'd he do?

[Ann Porter]

He had a chain under his coat. It was kind of a short whip, like. Bob had it doubled up.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Ann Porter]

When he went up to Jumpy, Bob had a cigarette in his mouth. He told Jumpy to light it for him. It's supposed to mean he's chicken if he does it. Jumpy laughed at him. Bob took out the chain, hit him across the face with it. Hit him with all his might. It knocked Jumpy down. Laying on the sidewalk, his face was cut. Bad Bob had the chain. Kept hitting him with it. Then somebody gave a yell and both the Gang started fighting.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Were you close to Bob Lawson most of the time?

[Ann Porter]

No, not first. There was a lot of yelling and kicking and fighting going on. I ran around and was looking and finally saw Bob. Not sure. It happened so fast.

[Frank Kerber]

What happened then?

[Ann Porter]

I'm not sure. I thought I saw Jumpy pull a knife on Bob. Long and thin. Maybe an ice pick.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Ann Porter]

Bobby was still hitting with the chain. It looked like Jumpy hit Bob in the chest with something. Right over the heart.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Bobby stopped.

[Ann Porter]

Jumpy did it again. Bobby got white.

[Mrs. Lawson]

He looked sick.

[Ann Porter]

He turned around and started to run.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What happened then?

[Ann Porter]

Bobby kept running. I knew he was hurt. I went after him. I saw him fall. But he got up. He kept running. Then one of the other gang grabbed me. They hit me.

[Frank Kerber]

It's all right. I understand.

[Ann Porter]

I didn't find Bob until the fight was over. Heard the cops, cars coming, sirens coming around from everywhere. I felt sick. I finally found Bob though. He was laying in the back seat of the car. Just laying there.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's when you called out?

[Mrs. Lawson]

Yes.

[Ann Porter]

I guess I knew it soon as I looked at him. Dead. White as a sheet. It ain't easy, see. Not when you find somebody dead. Not somebody you love.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, youngster.

[Frank Kerber]

It'll be all right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It'll be all right.

[Ann Porter]

You're lying. You know dad. It won't be all right.

[Frank Kerber]

Take it easy, Ann.

[Ann Porter]

I love Bob. Didn't you know that when he graduated, the first thing. We were gonna get married. As soon as he got out of school, we'd be married. We'd be married.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Anne Ham?

[Ann Porter]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How old are you?

[Ann Porter]

I'm 16. Why?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Nothing. It happens to practically everybody.

[Ann Porter]

What?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

People seem to make a lot of mistakes when they're. 6:30pm the crime lab crew arrived, took pictures of the entire scene along with all physical evidence and dusted the murder weapon, an eight inch knife for fingerprints. The coroner arrived and after we'd completed our investigation he removed the body to the county morgue along with a policewoman. We took Robert Lawson's girlfriend, 16 year old Ann Porter down to Georgia Street Juvenile Division to the assembly room. There a special show up was held of all the boys involved in the afternoon's fight. The Porter girl identified a 17 year old by the name of Warren Stone, nicknamed Jumpy, as the boy who'd stabbed Robert Lawson to death. At least a dozen other subjects in the case identified the boy by his nickname Jumpy. Three members of either gang involved in the fight declared in sworn statements that Warren Stone was the boy who'd attacked the Lawson boy. With a homemade knife. Statements were taken from all concerned and the ringleaders of the gangs were detained. The other subjects were released to their parents custody after being notified that they would be filed on and a hearing held in juvenile court. Ann Porter was returned home by a policewoman. 7:55pm Ed Jacobs and I took the subject, Warren Stone, to the captain's office where we tried to question him about the murder. He refused to say anything. I told you the truth. I told you the whole story. I don't have to tell you again. We're pretty sure you didn't tell us the truth. One, we know you tangled with Bob Lawson in that fight this afternoon. No, I didn't.

[Frank Kerber]

We've got statements from a dozen kids, son. They say Lawson had a piece of chain. He kept slugging you with it. They say you pulled a knife and stabbed him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How do they know? A lot of kids there had knives. Anybody could have stabbed him. Why are you picking on me? It was your knife. It was your knife that killed him. Your initials on it. I lost the knife in the fight. Somebody could have picked it up, used it. No, that won't do, youngster. The handle of the knife's been processed. Your fingerprints are all over it.

[Frank Kerber]

I'm out of time,

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Warren.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Come on now. What do you got to say?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Nothing.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I killed him. 8:40pm Warren Stone was booked in at Georgia Street Jail on suspicion of 187pc murder. Ed and I got in the car and drove out to the home of the murder victim to notify his parents. Mr. And Mrs. Robert Lawson. Mr. Lawson wasn't home from work yet. We broke the news of her son's death to Mrs. Lawson as gently as we could. She became hysterical and we called the family doctor who gave her sedatives. Later, when she recovered herself a bit, she asked for the full story. We told her.

[Mrs. Lawson]

How could it happen, Bobby? How could it happen?

[Frank Kerber]

Sorry, man. There's not much we can say. We tried everything we could to stop it.

[Mrs. Lawson]

You didn't stop it. You let them kill Bobby. You let them kill him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, ma'. Am. We tried to warn him. We tried to warn all of them. We're sorry.

[Mrs. Lawson]

You're not sorry. You didn't try. Bob's dead. Everything I had. He's 17 years old and he's dead. I can thank you for that. My only baby.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We're sorry you feel that way, Mrs. Lawson.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Why shouldn't I feel that way? You call yourselves policemen? That boy who killed Bobby, you should have had him in jail in the first place young killer. Running around lose you as guilty as he is.

[Frank Kerber]

I'm not defending him, ma', am, but he wasn't a young killer. Didn't even have a juvenile record.

[Mrs. Lawson]

I don't care anything about records. He's a killer. He took a knife and he killed Bob. And you let him do it. You let him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I think we better be going in. Yeah. You or your husband will have to identify the bodyman. Tomorrow morning will be all right. The county morgue.

[Mrs. Lawson]

Dear God.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You'll have to be at the coroner's inquest, too. You'll be notified about the time and the date.

[Mrs. Lawson]

I hope you have to live with this. I hope you live with it like I have to live with it. I hope it drives you crazy.

[Frank Kerber]

I know how you feel, ma', am, but you're wrong. I think you'll realize that they murdered Bob.

[Mrs. Lawson]

You let them kill him. I'll always remember that.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right. Then you remember something else. Last time we came here to your house, we tried to make you understand.

[Mrs. Lawson]

You didn't know Bobby. You didn't understand him. I was the only one. I always knew what he was thinking, what he wanted, what he was going to do. I was the only one.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, ma'. Am. There was somebody else.

[Mrs. Lawson]

What?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The boy who killed him.

[Narrator]

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

[Announcer]

On November 7, the hearing was held in Juvenile Court Department 38. City and county of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that hearing.

[Narrator]

And now here is our star, Jack Webb.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thank you. George Feniman. Friends, just as a hobby, I've been collecting early jazz records. Blues and two beat music like Leon Bix Beiderbeck used to play. And of course, just about everything Benny Goodman has done. I've always tried to build my collection on quality.

[Announcer]

Seventeen year old Warren Ernest Stone was filed on alleging violation of 187pc murder. The rest of the juvenile gang ringleaders were filed on alleging 242pc battery. They were all made wards of the juvenile court. And placed in detention homes under the supervision of the State Youth Authority. They are still confined in state institutions for juveniles. 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, Charles Smith and Eddie Firestone. Script by Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.

[Narrator]

Next, it's David Harding.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Encounter Spy on NBC.

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. I should note that while most of the TV adaptations of radio shows have the same episode title, the TV version of this is generally known as the Big War. And it's one of the only season 7 episodes of the TV series in circulation. It's a different sort of Dragnet, I think. The typical Dragnet episode tends to highlight the methods and the tools that police have at solving crime. This episode instead emphasizes the limits on the police in preventing crime without the necessary cooperation. Because what happened at the war was a very preventable slow motion tragedy. And it had to be very frustrating for the officers who actually experienced this because they had parents who just would not cooperate, would not deal with reality, and in particular, the ringleader who made the whole thing come off. And once again, you have a revisiting of a recurring theme of Dragnet, of a lack of parental responsibility leading to tragedy. And again, I do think it's a bit of a misnomer that Dragnet was very, very hard on kids or very critical of kids. Much more critical of absent or clueless parents. All right, listener comments and feedback now. And we start on Spotify with a comment regarding the Big Red Part. One doctor Whodunit wrote, I heard the teaser on Broadway's My Beat, so I knew Joe was going to go undercover and I thought, poor Romero, he never gets to do it. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I won't hear him again. I'm missing a guy who's been dead 75 years. Well, thank you so much. Appreciate the comment and the sentiment. I definitely get it. And I hope that you appreciate next week's encores, which I'm aiming to include GIST programs featuring Barton Yarborough and guest roles over on the site called X. Ichabod writes, I love the old Dragnet radio program. I also like season one of the Dragnet TV series. It was a really solid short season, I guess referring to the 51 series. But he also mentions you tease us, Adam, by only showing part one. Well, well, I wasn't the one that decided to make it a two parter. That one's on Jack whip over on YouTube. Some comments regarding the Big Sorrow. Kathy writes a touching tribute and James says, long live Romero. Well, now it is time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. Thank you to Blaine, patreon Supporter since January 2017, currently supporting the podcast at the rookie level of $2 or more per month. Thank you for your support, Blaine. And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcasts software and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back in two weeks with another episode of Dragnet as we will take a recording break next week, but join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny doll, or where Mr. Balderstein

[Johnny Doll]

and his party were just cruising around. They were just taking life easy.

[Arthur]

Baldeston is the owner of the yacht HB Boston.

[Johnny Doll]

Oh, he's a big stockbroker. He lives here in Beverly Hills at 3124 North Roxbury Drive.

[Arthur]

And what's the name of his yacht?

[Johnny Doll]

The Baldero. Oh, it is a tremendous engine. It's from. It's over 100ft from stem to stern.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

Wow.

[Johnny Doll]

Feet long.

[Arthur]

Arthur, where does he keep it now?

[Johnny Doll]

What is he. Oh, at his dock. He's down there in Balbo.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (Bird Comment)]

You know where? Balboa.

[Johnny Doll]

Yes, yes. Oh, one of the nicest places by the ocean in all of California. Now, Johnny, if I ever wanted to

[Arthur]

retire, who were the guests on board?

[Johnny Doll]

Well, let me see. His wife, of course, and Mr. And Mrs. Gerald Hooper and young Richard Spidel and Lee Woolway.

[Arthur]

Just cruising around, huh?

[Johnny Doll]

Yes, but they'd planned to sail on up to San Francisco for that big charity ball up there on the 30th. That's why they all had their finest clothes and most expensive jewelry with them. Oh, yes, sir. $390,000 worth of jewelry stolen? Oh, yes, plus a few other things, too. Mostly silverware, things like that. Actually, it was reported to me by one of the guests on the yacht. These.

[Arthur]

These pirates simply pulled alongside in the middle of the night, held them at gunpoint, took the stuff and left.

[Johnny Doll]

That's right. There were two of them.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, my.

[Johnny Doll]

They must have been horrid. Fellas.

[Arthur]

Just where off the coast of Mexico did this happen?

[Johnny Doll]

Well, I'm not quite sure. Mr. O.F. baldiston was there. Well, he was kind of vague about where it happened. You know, he's kind of vague.

[Arthur]

Maybe I better talk to him.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box13greatdetectives.net Follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and follow us on Instagram instagram.com Great detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

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