Dragnet: The Big Lease (EP4899)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives Present Dragnet (Old Time Radio)
Episode: Dragnet: The Big Lease (EP4899)
Host: Adam Graham
Date: January 29, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, host Adam Graham presents the 1951 Dragnet episode "The Big Lease." The story follows Sergeants Joe Friday and Ben Romero as they investigate the mysterious disappearance of a wealthy, retired businessman, Chester Dylan. The case explores initial suspicions of suicide, delves into possible foul play, and ultimately unravels through methodical police work, clever interrogations, and a pivotal forgery clue. Adam Graham bookends the dramatization with personal commentary on the procedural aspects and thanks to Patreon supporters.

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Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

1. Case Introduction & Initial Leads

Timestamp: 03:05–09:02

• Joe Friday and Ben Romero are assigned the case after receiving a letter from Chester Dylan's sister, Gladys, who is concerned after losing contact with him.
• They interview Lucille Banner, who rented Dylan's house, for any clues about his whereabouts.
  • Banner explains Dylan recently took a trip to New York and asked her to hold his rent checks.
  • No forwarding address provided; Dylan was depressed after his wife’s recent death.

Memorable Moment
"Last time I saw him, he did say something kind of funny. He said, where I'm going, I won't need the money." — Lucille Banner, [07:50]

2. Checking Financial and Social Connections

Timestamp: 09:03–13:23

• The detectives consult Mr. Harrison, Dylan's bank manager, and learn that:
  • Dylan withdrew $2,400 in cash before leaving for his trip.
  • He had no other known properties, business contacts, or local relatives.
  • Harrison and others affirm Dylan was depressed but seemed to recover slightly before leaving.
• The detectives question why someone planning suicide would need such a large sum of money.

Notable Exchange
"Why do you need the $2,400 to do it?" — Joe Friday, [12:22]

3. Investigating Digs into Personal Life

Timestamp: 13:24–16:49

• At Dylan’s last known address, the apartment manager refers them to Raymond Shaffer, a friend.
• Shaffer hasn’t seen Dylan since November but is receiving Dylan’s mail.
• Detectives discover two suitcases belonging to Dylan and his late wife—odd, since most travelers take their luggage with them.
• The suitcases contain personal items, but nothing of evident value or that provides immediate leads.

4. The Breakthrough: The Forgery Clue

Timestamp: 16:50–21:22

• At Union Department Store, the detectives find a recent charge on the Dillons' account… signed by Mrs. Dylan, who was already deceased.
• The sale slip with a forged signature and evidence of a $418 purchase in women's clothing leads them to track down the salesgirl, Laura Van Kirk.
• Van Kirk describes the purchaser—a woman in her late 30s to early 40s, "plain looking," light brown hair, wore smart horn-rimmed glasses. This matches Lucille Banner’s description.

Memorable Moment
"Would you take a look at this picture, miss? Now, does that look like the woman you waited on?" — Joe Friday
"No, that's not her. The woman I waited on was much younger...She wore glasses. I'm sure of that." — Laura Van Kirk, [19:58]

5. Evidence Mounts: All Eyes on Lucille Banner

Timestamp: 21:23–23:55

• Handwriting analysis confirms Lucille Banner forged Mrs. Dylan’s signature.
• Further investigation at the Dylan house (now sublet by Banner) involves questioning the gardener, Julio, who details Banner’s unusual request for a compost box built inside the greenhouse, over a specific, marked place.

Memorable Moment
"She had to have it built in a certain place. Right in the greenhouse. Little piece of ground in there. The box had to go right on top of it." — Julio, [23:38]

6. Climax: The Truth Unearthed

Timestamp: 24:04–27:32

• The detectives confront Banner with the forgery evidence; she denies everything, but Friday and Romero bring her (and Julio) to Dylan’s old house for a backyard search.
• Under questioning, Banner begins to unravel emotionally:
  • She admits to killing Chester Dylan during an argument after he refused her offer of marriage.
  • She confesses to burying him—and the murder weapon—under the specially built compost box in the greenhouse.

Confession
"He was so old, he needed a woman. And you'll tell you that he needed me." — Lucille Banner, [27:24]
"I offered to marry him, and he wouldn't do it. All he could do was think about his wife. ...I had a gun, and I killed him. I killed him." — Lucille Banner, [27:08]

7. Resolution & Aftermath

Timestamp: 27:42–28:41

• The narrator reveals Banner was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life at Tehachapi, California.

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Host Analysis & Commentary

Timestamp: 29:52–32:56

• Adam Graham remarks on the suspicious circumstances of Banner holding Dylan’s rent checks, noting:
  • "As a landlord, you’re taking a big risk... it seems to me that it would make a lot more sense for her to deposit checks into his bank account than to hold checks for an indeterminate amount of time." ([29:57])
  • He questions the procedural step of compiling a list of all known female forgery suspects rather than focusing immediately on Banner, but acknowledges that "box checking" is often part of real police work.

Notable Quote from Host

"Probably one of the only times that I kind of question the sort of rote procedure that they end up following of beginning the work of compiling a list of all known female forgery suspects." — Adam Graham, [30:50]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Where I'm going, I won't need the money." — Chester Dylan (via Lucille Banner), [07:50]
• "Did you kill Chester Dylan? Did you kill him, Ms. Banner?" — Ben Romero, [26:17]
• "He was so old, he needed a woman. And you'll tell you that he needed me." — Lucille Banner, [27:24]
• "Well, I guess you made a mistake." — Joe Friday
  "No, Sergeant. He did." — Lucille Banner, [27:31]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [03:05] — Case Introduction & Homicide Assignment
• [07:50] — Suspicious Last Words from Dylan
• [10:28] — Bank Withdrawal Revealed
• [15:18] — Discovery of Suitcases Left Behind
• [17:31] — Forged Purchase by 'Mrs. Dylan'
• [19:29] — Salesgirl's Description Points to Lucille Banner
• [21:23] — Handwriting Analysis Confirms Banner Forgery
• [23:38] — Gardener's Revelations About Compost Box
• [27:08] — Banner’s Emotional Murder Confession
• [29:52] — Adam Graham's Analytical Commentary

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Tone and Style

The episode maintains Dragnet’s signature, documentary-style gravity, blending measured skepticism with procedural rigor. Dialogue is clipped and detail-oriented, with host Adam Graham’s commentary providing a modern, practical lens on the story’s plausibility and investigative techniques.

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Summary for New Listeners

This Dragnet episode exemplifies the progression from apparent routine inquiry to a tightly woven murder investigation. Joe Friday and Ben Romero’s methodical questioning, attention to detail, and use of handwriting analysis lead them to the key suspect, Lucille Banner, whose emotional confession cements the case. Adam Graham’s modern perspective bookends the dramatization, providing extra insight for fans of classic radio and true crime.

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For fans of Old Time Radio and police procedurals, "The Big Lease" delivers both the nostalgia of Dragnet’s tight scripting and a reminder that behind every meticulously-filed case, there’s both human motive and the tenacity of everyday detectives.

Transcript

[Lucille Banner]

Are you really buying a car online on autotrader right now? Really? At a playground? Yeah, really. Look at these listings from dealers. Wow, your search can really get that specific. Really? And you just put in your info and boom, car's in your budget. Mom needs a second. Honey. You can really have it delivered. Really? Or I can pick it up at the dealership. One sec, sweetie. Mommy's buying a car.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Mommy, look.

[Lucille Banner]

I think your kid is walking up the slide again.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Really?

[Lucille Banner]

Autotrader, buy your car online. Really? Are you really buying a car online on autotrader right now? Really? I can get super specific with dealer listings and see cars based on my budget. You can really have it delivered or pick it up. I think kid is walking up the slide.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Really? Autotrader, buy your car online?

[Lucille Banner]

Really?

[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Orlando, Florida, 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, if you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Also, today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show on a one time basis by mailing a donation to Adam Graham, Pillbox 15913. That's P.O. box 15913, Boise, ID 83715. And you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month by going to patreon.greatdetectives.net but now, from November 1, 1951, here is the big lease.

[Lucille Banner]

Are you really buying a car online on autotrader right now? Really? I can get super specific with dealer listings and see cars based on my budget. You can really have it delivered or pick it up.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Mommy, look.

[Lucille Banner]

Kid is walking up the slide.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Really?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Auto trader, Buy your car online?

[Lucille Banner]

Really?

[Narrator]

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight in Miami, Florida,

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

a group of men are gathered together

[Narrator]

for their annual conference.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

For their day in, day out service to the public.

[Narrator]

Dragnet honors the 58th Annual Conference of the International association of Chiefs of Police. The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You're assigned a homicide detail. A wealthy retired businessman suddenly disappears. You've got two possibilities to work on.

[Narrator]

Suspicion of suicide, suspicion of foul play. There's no lead to the man's whereabouts.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Your job.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Find him.

[Narrator]

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

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It was Wednesday, February 6th. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A homicide detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Thad Brown, Chief of Detectives. My name's Friday. I was on the way back from the Record Bureau and it was 11:18am when I got to room 42, homicide.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Joe. Hi.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did she show up yet?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, a couple of minutes ago. She's waiting for us now in the next room.

[Narrator]

Did you talk to her at all?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

No. Seems to be a nice enough woman. I don't know how much help she's gonna be. Yeah, go ahead. Miss Banner, I'd like to have you meet my partner, Sergeant Friday. Joe, this is Miss Banner.

[Lucille Banner]

Hello. I'm sorry I wasn't home when you stopped by yesterday, Sergeant. I got the card you left, though. I called in as soon as I got home.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, thanks for coming in, Ms. Banner. We have a few questions we'd like to ask you. Won't take very long.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

We have a communication from a Gladys Dillon back in New York. Ms. Ban. It's about her brother, Chester Dillon. We understand you rented his home from him out on Ralston Avenue, Mr. Dillon.

[Lucille Banner]

Well, yes. I've got a two year lease on the house. I rented it from him last November.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, according to the letter we got from Mr. Dillon's sister, she's worried about him. She hasn't heard from him in some time. Have you any idea where we could contact him?

[Lucille Banner]

Well, the last I heard, he left on a trip to New York. That was about eight weeks ago, I'd say. You see, I usually sent the check for the rent, the apartment he had here. And when he left on his trip, he told me to hold on to the rent checks and he'd collect them when he got back.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

How long did he say he'd be gone?

[Lucille Banner]

I don't remember definitely. I think he said four or five months.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He didn't leave any forwarding address? Any place you could contact him back east?

[Lucille Banner]

No, he didn't. He just wanted to get away. Didn't want to be bothered with anyone. He wasn't feeling very well. Very depressed, poor man.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, why was that, ma'?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Am?

[Lucille Banner]

Do you know his wife died just a few months ago, you know.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

No, ma', am, we didn't know. All we got from his sister was that she hadn't heard from Dylan. She was worrying. She didn't give us any other information.

[Lucille Banner]

Oh, yes. Mrs. Dylan died in. Last September, I think it was. Poor man felt terrible about it. Couldn't seem to get over it. That's why he rented the house to me. Reminded him too much of her.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am. I understand.

[Lucille Banner]

Lovely home they have. Mr. Dolan said he really didn't want to rent it, but he couldn't stand being alone in the house. It was a large place, you know.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Am.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We checked with the people living in the house. Now, we understand you leased the place to them last month.

[Lucille Banner]

I subleased it, yes. You see, it just got too big for me. It was nice at first, but it got to be an awful lot of work. I rented it to this family and took a smaller house down the street.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Would you happen to know any of Mr. Dylan's friends in the city, Ms. Banner? Anyone we could contact who might know where we can locate him?

[Lucille Banner]

I don't know. He didn't seem to have any friends. He and his wife had only been in the city a year before she died. He was retired, you know.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yes, ma'. Am. We talked to some of the neighbors out there. They couldn't tell us much about him.

[Lucille Banner]

Maybe some of the people he did business with might know something. Have you tried the neighborhood bank out there? I know that's where Mr. Dillon had his account.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, ma', am, we haven't.

[Lucille Banner]

Well, I can give the bank's address. It's about all, though.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

That's the only contact you know of?

[Lucille Banner]

I'm afraid so, yes. I didn't know much about Mr. Dillon's private affairs. Whenever I talked to him, it seemed the only thing he had on his mind was his wife's death. Just couldn't seem to get over it. Seemed like he didn't want to get over it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You mentioned that when you leased his home, Mr. Dillon took an apartment. Do you happen to have that address, Ms.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Banner?

[Lucille Banner]

Well, I don't have it with me now, but I have it at home. I can call in and give it to you, if you like.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

If you would, please.

[Lucille Banner]

Certainly.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Well, thank you very much.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Ms. Banner.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You have our card. When you hear anything at all from Mr. Dillon, we'd appreciate it if you'd call it.

[Lucille Banner]

Surely. I'll call you right away. You think something could have happened to him?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, it's possible. We don't know. All we have is a letter from his sister.

[Lucille Banner]

Does seem kind of strange, doesn't it? Wasn't Feeling too well. I wondered why he hadn't contacted me about sending the rent money to him. He's such a nice man, Mr. Dillon. I certainly hope nothing's happened to him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, you say he was very depressed about his wife's death, ma'. Am. Would you say that it was getting to be a little abnormal with him, maybe?

[Lucille Banner]

Well, I wouldn't know about that, Sergeant, but I didn't know. He brooded about it all the time. He felt that he'd lost everything. Didn't seem to want to go on.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

He ever give an indication that maybe he might take his own life? I mean, all this brooding over his wife.

[Lucille Banner]

Well, no, nothing definite. Just depressed and moody all the time. Oh, now that I remember it, the last time I saw him, he did say something kind of funny.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Am.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What was that?

[Lucille Banner]

It was the day before he left. We were talking about the rent money, and I asked him if I couldn't send it to him. He got kind of a strange look on his face. Yeah, he said, where I'm going, I won't need the money.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The day before we called on Lucille Banner for an interview. A letter had been received from a Ms. Gladys Dylan in Elmira, New York. Her request was routine. It was one of thousands of similar letters received every year by police departments all over the country. Each one of them has to be worked out to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. The person who's reported missing and the person looking for them. It's an enormous job, requiring thousands of man hours annually. Like the dozens of other investigations handled by the police officer, some of them end happily, some of them in tragedy. Whatever the result, the finding of a lost person is just as important a function of your local police department as any other investigation. Gladys Dillon hadn't heard from her brother recently. She was worried about him. She asked us to investigate. Our initial interview with Lucille Banner, the woman who'd rented Chester Dillon's home, failed to yield much of a lead as to his whereabouts. The only source of additional information she could offer was the neighborhood bank where Dylan had his account. One o' clock that afternoon, Ben and I drove out to interview the manager of the bank. A Mr. Harrison.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yes, that's right. Mr. Dillon's had his account with us ever since he came to Los Angeles. I know him quite well. Is there something you'd like to know about him? Yes, sir, there is. We had a request from his sister in New York. She'd like to look in. Well, I'm pretty sure his account's still open here Matter of fact, I'm positive it isn't this moment. I'll have one of the clerks get his file.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Thank you, Mr. Harrison. That reminds me, I almost forgot.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I gotta get to the bank tomorrow. For sure. Payment on my car is a day past due already? Only got two mavens left. You're doing fine.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I got another eight months to go.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Not so fine. Two more payments to go and now the wife wants a new one. Never fails. Here we are, Sergeant. Just as I thought. Mr. Dillon's account is still open. Uh huh.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

There have been any recent deposits or withdrawals on the account?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Have a look here. Uh huh. Just as I thought. Nothing since he left on his trip. That last withdrawal date was November 27th. He mentioned to you that he was going on a trip, did he? Yes, I think he said he was going back to New York, more or less. A vacation trip. See, his wife died recently. He didn't take it too well.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, we understand. Did he leave any instructions about his account with you, Mr. Harrison? Any address you could contact him at

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

if you had to? No, he didn't leave any instructions with me. No address. Just a vacation trip. He said he didn't expect to be gone too long. Did he mention how long it would be? 5 or 6 weeks. I think that's what he said. I happened to talk to him about it because at the time he made quite a sizable withdrawal. I thought maybe he was a little unhappy with our service.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How much was the withdrawal, sir?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Let's see. Here it is. November 27th. He withdrew $2,400.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Was that in cash or in traveler's checks? Do you know that

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

now shows here that it was in cash. Mr. Harrison, you said a minute ago that you knew Mr. Dillon pretty well. Yes, that's right. He used to stop and chat with me whenever he'd come in the bank. That was usually once a week. I didn't know him socially, though. You mentioned he seemed to take his wife's death pretty hard. What would you say his mental condition was last time saw him? All right? I'd say just after his wife's death. He wasn't in very good shape. Brooded about it quite a bit. Then he began to pull out of it. Seemed to be in a fairly good frame of mind. Planned this vacation. Was looking forward to it. I see. Why do you ask? Is something wrong? No, sir. Not that we know of. Routine check? That's about the size of it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Does Dylan have any other real estate besides the house on Ralston? Avenue. Would you happen to know that?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Not to my knowledge, no. He has no other business connections in Los Angeles. Here are all his references, right here. See, most of them are charge accounts and so forth. I remember the time he opened his account with us. He told me he was retired. He and his wife came out here for their help. They have any relatives out here, do you know? Mr. No. From what I understand, both of their families are in the East. They don't have any children. According to his application, very few relatives.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

And since Dylan was in here last November to make that withdrawal, you've had no communications from him at all?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

No, sir, I haven't. But seems to be the trouble. You have an idea something might be wrong? Nothing definite, no, sir. We've been told about his feeling depressed over his wife's death. And there was some indication he might possibly have done away with himself. After what you've told us, it doesn't seem too likely. I don't know. I wouldn't like to commit myself. As I say, he did seem to be getting over it. I didn't know him that well, though. Might be entirely possible he was devoted to Mrs. Dylan. Maybe he could have taken his own life. I don't know.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, it leaves a big question to answer, doesn't it?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

What's that?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Why do you need the $2,400 to do it? 1:25pm we continued interviewing the bank manager, Mr. Harrison, but he was unable to come up with any further leads. Before we left the bank, he gave us a complete list of all of Chester Dylan's references. We gave him our card and he told us he would pass along immediately any information he might get on the whereabouts of Mr. Dillon. 145. We went back to the office where we got a call from Lucille Banner. She gave us Dylan's last known address and we drove out to check. It was an apartment court in the Pico Crenshaw area. We talked to the manager and she told us that Dylan had moved out three months before. On November 22, he told her that he was moving in with a close friend of his and he gave her his forwarding address. It turned out to be a single story frame cottage located in one of the older residential districts of the city. The name on the mailbox read Raymond L. Shaffer. We rang the bell and a man who identified himself as Raymond Shaver ushered us into a small living room. He told us that he was from the same town in the east that the Dylan's came from and that he was a longtime friend of theirs?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

No, I haven't seen Chester for months. Last November, I think it was that last time I saw him. You say at that time, Dylan was living in the apartment down in the Crenshaw area? Mitchie? Yeah, that's right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You mean he never came here to live with you?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

No, it's just like I told you before. He talked about moving in here with me, but he never did. Haven't any idea where he is.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, he gave your name here as a forwarding address. Schaefer. Have you been getting his mail?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, matter of fact, I have. He told me he was going to do that. Never came to pick it up, though. Seemed funny to me. You're still getting his mail here, is that right? Yeah, it's still coming. Not much of it. Maybe a letter a week. Mostly bills and advertising.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

This list of names you've given us, sir, these are all the people in the east Mr. Dillon was acquainted with. People he might contact on his trip back there.

[Lucille Banner]

Is that right?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

That's all of them, far as I know. He hadn't been back there yet, though.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How do you know that?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I got a letter from my sister Gert a couple of days ago. If Chester was in town, Gert would have known about it. He would have been sure to stop by and see her. I wish I could help you. Tell you the truth, I'm getting a little worried about him myself.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, you just have one more question, Mr. Shaver. Do you know if Mr. Dillon was in the habit of carrying large sums of money around with him?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

No, I don't think so. Chester was pretty cautious that way. Wasn't too free with a dollar, you know.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Would you happen to know if he had a large sum of money with him the last time you saw him?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

No. If he did have, he didn't mention it. I see. You can't think of anything else that might give us a lead on Mr. Dillon's whereabouts? Anything at all? I think I've told you everything. I wish there was something I could tell you that had helped. I sure hope nothing's happened to it. Yes, sir. Now, would you mind showing us that mail you're holding for Dylan, please? Oh, sure, sir. Right over here in the desk. There you are. That's all of it. Mm. Thank you. Anything, Joe?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, not much.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Bills, circulars.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Here's one with a New York postmark. Elmira, probably from his sister. Another one, only three days old, from the Union department store. A couple more earlier dates on it.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

That's about it. Yeah, I'll copy down the Return addresses on it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Fine.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Mr. Schaffer? Yeah? This suitcase by the desk here, Initials on it. CLD yeah, CLD Is that your bag, Shaper? Oh, no. I forgot to tell you. Chester left that here one day. How was that? Well, that was one day just before he was going to leave on his vacation. He brought over here and said he'd like to leave it with me. Forgot to mention it to you.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did you bring anything else with him?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, he brought another suitcase with him just like this one I ain't got in the other room. He said he wanted to leave him here while he was on his vacation. I'm sorry I forgot to mention it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Maybe you forgot something else.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Shaver.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What? Most people take their suitcases on a trip, don't they? 2:30pm we continued questioning Raymond Shaffer. We opened the two suitcases labeled with the initials of Chester Dylan and found an assortment of personal items which Shaffer told us belonged to Dylan and his late wife. Small pictures, cigarette boxes, books, similar articles which apparently would not be taken on a vacation trip. None of them were of any great value. After we left Shaffer's home, we checked him through R and I and found he had no criminal record. We checked further with friends and acquaintances of both men and found nothing to indicate that Shaffer was in any way involved in the disappearance of Chester Dylan. 3:30pm we called the office and found that there'd been no answer so far to the broadcast and missing persons bulletins that we'd gotten out on Dylan. We started checking the references given us by the bank. First was the Union Department store. It was located on Main street in the south end of town. We checked with the credit department to see what information we could get from them.

[Lucille Banner]

Yes, here's the file on the Dillons right here. Mr. Ellen, Sarah J. On Ralston Avenue?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yes, ma'. Am. That's one.

[Lucille Banner]

What information would you like, sir?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We're trying to locate Mr. Dillon, ma'. Am. Have you had any recent change of address on that account?

[Lucille Banner]

No, we haven't. If they moved, you know.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, we believe so. We don't know his present address, though.

[Lucille Banner]

Well, we do have an outstanding bill of theirs, I noticed. Sent them several form letters. Been trying to contact them ourselves.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Have there been any recent charges on that account? You know, let's see.

[Lucille Banner]

Nothing too recent. No. Last charge was made on December 5th. Yes, Thursday, December 5th.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

That's a couple of weeks after he disappeared. Joe.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Sorry.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What was that charge for, ma'?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Am?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What did Mr. Dillon buy?

[Lucille Banner]

Oh, Mr. Dillon didn't buy anything. The slip was signed by Mrs. Dylan.

[Narrator]

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

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

4:15pm Thursday, February 7th. As soon as the clerk in the credit department at the Union Department Store showed us the sale slip with the late Mrs. Sarah Dillon signature on it, we had the date on the sale slip double checked immediately. The data shown on the slip was correct beyond any doubt. December 5th. That was a little more than two and a half months after Sarah Dillon had died. Who the person was who forged her signature or why they'd forged it, we had no idea. The amount of the charge purchase as shown on the sale slip was for $418, all of it for women's clothing. We attempted to check with a sales girl who handled the purchase, a Laura Van Kirk, but we were told it was her day off. We called her home. They told us that she was gone for the day and couldn't be located. They said she'd be at work the following morning. 4:40pm Ben and I took the sales slip with a Ford signature on it and drove back to the office. We went directly to forgery detail, briefed them on our findings and gave them the sales slip. Then we drove back to the home of the Dylan's friend Raymond Shaffer, and checked through the two suitcases. There we came up with a small photo of Mrs. Dillon, along with exemplars of her handwriting as well as her husband's, which we found in an autograph album in one of the suitcases. The handwriting samples were checked against the signature on the sales slip, but neither of them matched. The work of compiling a list of all known female forgery suspects was begun immediately. The following morning, Ben and I went back to the Union department store where we interviewed the salesgirl, Laura Van Kirk, who'd handled the purchase.

[Lucille Banner]

Yes, I remember making the sale, Officer. I'm not too sure about the woman who bought the things, though. I mean, what she looked like.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Well, could you try to describe her force, Ms. Van Kirk? Just as well as you can remember.

[Lucille Banner]

She had light brown hair. I'm pretty sure that. Not too old, maybe in her late 30s, early 40s. She was a plain looking woman, 5 foot 5 or 6, thin, as I remember. She wore glasses. I remember that too.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I see you got that picture of Ms. Dylan there, Ben. Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Here you are.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Would you take a look at this picture, miss? Now, does that look like the woman you waited on?

[Lucille Banner]

No, no, that's not her. The woman I waited on was much younger. She had light brown hair too. Not gray. Thin face, I think. And she wore glasses. I'm sure that.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Do you remember if there was a man with her, Ms. Van Kirk, or was she alone?

[Lucille Banner]

No, she was alone. Now that I remember. There was something very different about the glasses she wore. I don't know if that's important or not.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What about her glasses?

[Lucille Banner]

They were horn rimmed, as I remember. Very light color. And there was some metal work along the top edge of the frame. Very smart looking. Gold metal all along the top.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Light brown hair, slight build, thin face, late 30s or early 40s. Wore light horn rimmed glasses. And gold metal on the frame.

[Lucille Banner]

Yes, that's right.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Check me if I'm wrong, Joe. That description sound familiar?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Just what I was thinking.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Horn rimmed glasses, metal work on them. The woman who came to see us at the office.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, you got it. Lucille Banner. Ben and I went back to the office and had Lucille Banner checked through R and I. She had no criminal record. Then we drove to the home on Ralston Avenue which Chester Dillon had leased to Lucille Banner and which she in turn had sublet. We obtained a copy of the lease which. Which the Banner woman had with the current tenants and which bore her signature. We brought the copy of the lease downtown, gave it to Don Meyer in handwriting and asked him to compare Lucille Banner's signature with the signature on the sale slip that we'd obtained from the Union Department Store. Fifteen minutes later, he called us at the office with the result.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, Don. Mm, that so? You're right. Thanks a lot. What'd he get? Says there's no question in his mind. Yeah, both signatures match perfectly.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What the reason was behind Lucille Banners forging the signature of Mrs. Dylan on the sales slip, we didn't know. Whether or not it had any connection with the disappearance of Chester Dylan, we didn't know. As soon as we got the handwriting report from Don Meyer, Ben and I left the office immediately and drove to the bungalow which the Banner woman was renting on Ralston Avenue. It was a block down the street from the Dillon house. Lucille Banner wasn't at home, but a neighborhood gardener trimming the lawn in front of her house told us that she was expected back shortly. The gardener, who identified himself only as Julio, volunteered that he also did gardening work for Ms. Banner when she occupied the Dylan home. He'd also worked for the Dylan's when they lived in the house. He told us he liked the Dylan's quite a bit, but that he didn't have much use for Ms. Banner. He seemed to be up on all the news in the neighborhood. He trimmed the hedges of the lawn with hand shears as we talked to him.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Can you tell us Anything about Ms. Dillon and Ms. Banner, Julio? How'd they seem to get along? You know, they get along all right, I guess. When I work at the big house down there for Miss Banner. That's before she moved. I would see Mr. Dillon there. He would be at the house maybe once, two times a week. Ms. Banner would ask him to come over, cook dinner for him.

[Lucille Banner]

Ms.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Banner likes him, I think. Mr. Dylan. I don't know about him. He wasn't feeling so good. Still thinking about his wife. Here, I finish up this clipping now. There. All done.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You mentioned you don't like Ms. Banner very much, Julio. Why is that? She ever give you a reason not to like her?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

She's a little crazy, I think. Funny woman. When I used to work at the big house for her in the garden, she would watch me all the time, follow me all around, tell me to do all kind of crazy jobs. She can be good pay, though. So I do them. How do you mean, Julia? What kind of crazy jobs? The compost box for fertilizer, you know. She wanted me to build one for her in the backyard. That was down the street at the Dillon house. Mm. Crazy woman. She want me to build a compost box in the greenhouse. Have a special place mark by whoever heard of that. To build a compost box inside a greenhouse. Crazy. Well, did you build it for us? Yes, but not inside the greenhouse. I built it outside, right next door to the greenhouse. When she come outside, she'd go crazy. Almost call me names.

[Lucille Banner]

Crazy.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

She made me tear it up. Then she made me build it inside the greenhouse, right on the place she had marked for it. Sounds queer, doesn't it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

When did all this happen, Julio? Do you remember when you built the compost box?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I mean, a couple of months ago. About that. It was just after Mr. Dylan went away. I tried to tell Ms. Banner, who ever heard of a compost box in a greenhouse? She wouldn't listen. She had to have it built in a certain place. Right in the greenhouse. Little piece of ground in there. The box had to go right on top of it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You figured she acted pretty strange about it, do you?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You think she had something there? Little piece of ground. You think she has something to hide?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

1:15pm Lucille Banner returned home, and Ben and I went inside the house with her, where we questioned her in the living room. Outside in the front yard, the gardener, Julio, continued working on the lawn. Lucille Banner was Calm and composed. We questioned her about the forged signature on the sale slip. She would admit nothing.

[Lucille Banner]

The whole thing's too silly to even comment on. I don't know what you're talking about, Sergeant.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

We think you do, Ms. Banner. Our handwriting. Manage. Check the two signatures. One on the sales slip and one on the lease. They both match. They were written by the same person. There's no doubt about it. And check thoroughly.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now, what about it, Ms. Banner? There's no way out of it. You ought to know that.

[Lucille Banner]

I'll deny it, that's all. I'll keep on denying it. I wasn't in that store and I didn't forge anything. Signatures. Why would I do a thing like that? What kind of a woman do you think I am?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, all we know are the facts, ma'. Am. Now, why don't you give us a straight story? It's going to save time and trouble for everybody concerned.

[Lucille Banner]

You've heard everything I've got to say. This thing's ridiculous. It's stupid. I'm not answering any more questions.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You want to get your hat and coat, Miss Banner? Pray. You'll have to come downtown with us.

[Lucille Banner]

What good's that going to do? I'll just keep on denying it. You can't make me say I did a thing like that.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I want to get your coat, please.

[Lucille Banner]

It's right here. All right.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yes, ma'.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Am.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Car's right out in front of you.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Hold it a minute, will you be?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, okay.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Julio.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

See a minute?

[Lucille Banner]

Sure.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Hello, Ms. Banner.

[Lucille Banner]

Julia.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Favor I'd like to ask of you, Julio. You got a couple of minutes to spare?

[Lucille Banner]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You want something?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We want to take a look in the backyard of the house down the street. Mr. Dillon's house. Like to have you come along with us, Julio. Won't take very long.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Sure. Okay, I'll come along.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I'll bring it up. Shovel along, will you, Julio? Like to check something?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, okay. I bring one. All right.

[Lucille Banner]

Ms. Benny, what's this about? What are you trying to do?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Something we want to check in the Dylan's backyard. It won't take long.

[Lucille Banner]

What would it have to do with me? I don't have anything to do with that house. I don't even live there anymore. You realize that, don't you?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yes, ma', am, we realize it.

[Lucille Banner]

I'll call my lawyer. I'll call him as soon as I get to a phone.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's right,

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Jaleel. Back this way, Sergeant. Through the gate.

[Lucille Banner]

What are you trying to do to me? You know I Don't live here anymore. I don't even have anything to do with this place.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You did live here, ma'. Am. You lived here when Mr. Dylan disappeared. Isn't that right?

[Lucille Banner]

What are you trying to say? You've got no business on this property. You've got no business here at all.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yes, ma', am, we have.

[Lucille Banner]

What?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Did you kill Jester Dylan? Did you kill him, Ms. Bennett?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, Julio. The compost box in the greenhouse.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Do you want to start digging in the compost box? Yeah, okay.

[Lucille Banner]

He was an old man. So old he was sick, ma'.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Am.

[Lucille Banner]

He didn't want to live anymore. He didn't have any reason for living. Why shouldn't he give me the house? Why shouldn't I have his money? I was nice to him. I cooked for him, wanted to take care of him. He just didn't want to live anymore, that's all.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

All right, Julio.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You can hold it up.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You want to tell us?

[Lucille Banner]

Man, he needed a woman. Anybody could tell that he needed me. He got along fine, Chester and me. I offered to marry him, and he wouldn't do it. All he could do was think about his wife. She was dead. He'd sit around and talk about her all the time.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You killed him. Is that what you're trying to say?

[Lucille Banner]

I wanted to marry Chester and take care of him. He wouldn't do it. We had an argument in the kitchen one night. I had a gun and I killed him. I killed him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Is that where you buried him? In the greenhouse?

[Lucille Banner]

Yes. I buried him deep. The gun, too. He'll be all right.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Poor Chester. Yeah.

[Lucille Banner]

He was so old. He needed a woman. And he'll tell you that he needed me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, I guess you made a mistake.

[Lucille Banner]

No, Sergeant. He did.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Lucille Banner]

He didn't want me.

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On June 2, trial was held in Superior Court Department 86, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Lucille Marie Banner was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree. She received a sentence as prescribed by law. She is now serving a life term in the state penitentiary for women. Tehachapi, California. 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.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Stay tuned for counter spy, next on NBC.

[Tyler Redick]

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[Sergeant Ben Romero]

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. Well, an interesting case. Now, I don't know whether it was somehow remembering the way that this episode concluded from having heard this episode as well as seen it before, although it's been a few years since I've encountered this at all. But the whole arrangement about having her hold his checks and give them when they got back was a bit suspicious because as a landlord, you're taking a big risk that something might come up and the money might get spent. And even as a renter, I don't like the idea of that because it just messes up your bookkeeping to have this extra money in the bank that you're gonna have to pay out. Although her subleasing the house might solve that problem. But still, it seems to me that it would make a lot more sense for her to deposit checks into his bank account than to hold checks for an indeterminate amount of time. Though I guess if she was going for the suicide narrative, it might make sense of him just not thinking clearly. But still, once the evidence came forward that really disproved that, I think they should have started thinking of her. And probably one of the only times that I kind of question the sort of rote procedure that they end up following of beginning the work of compiling a list of all known for female forgery suspects. I mean, I guess it might take quite a while to get the list together and it might be a case of better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. But still, it seems less likely that a generic female forgery suspect's going to be the key to this case. And more specifically, someone who had in some way interacted with, with the missing man or his wife. But I guess there's a certain amount of box checking that you just have to do on police procedure. No matter how, like, unlikely, it's going to be fruitful. All right, well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day and I want to go ahead and thank Margie. Patreon Supporter since June 2016, currently supporting the podcast at the detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Margie. And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We will be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet, but join us back here tomorrow. For yours truly, Johnny Dollar Wear.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Stop right there. Don't come any closer. Oh, well, now just a minute, mister. Who are you? What are you doing around here, stranger, huh? Yeah, I guess you call me a stranger. But look, maybe you the stranger I'm looking for. Get out of that car with your hands up over your head and don't try no funny business. Hey, what is this, a hold up? Do like I tell you to and be quick about it. Okay, whatever you say. Come on. Come on. I like. Can't seem to. This door doesn't seem to want to. You trying to pull some trick Open that door.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, it's stuck, I guess.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Here, I'll do it. Now then. I'm kidding. Yeah, now I'll take that gun.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, no.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You won.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to Box13greatdetives.net follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com greatdetectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

[Tyler Redick]

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[Sergeant Ben Romero]

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[Sergeant Joe Friday]

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