Dragnet: The Big Red, Part One (EP4939)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives Present Dragnet (Old Time Radio) Host: Adam Graham
Episode: Dragnet: The Big Red, Part One (EP4939)
Date: March 26, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Adam Graham features Part One of "The Big Red," a classic Dragnet story broadcast originally on January 3, 1952. The episode follows Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ed Jacobs as they work to infiltrate and take down a major narcotics ring operating in Los Angeles. The case is jump-started by a tip from a reformed ex-con, and soon spirals into dangerous undercover work, tense negotiations, betrayal, and physical danger. Adam also shares insights into the series’ character dynamics and reads listener questions and feedback, reflecting on the enduring appeal of Dragnet and its evolved partner relationships.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Summary

1. Setup and Main Case Introduction

• [03:14] The episode opens with Dragnet’s signature promise that the story is true, with names changed to protect the innocent.
• A former suspect, Jack Wallace, contacts Friday claiming to have inside information on a narcotics ring led by “Cadillac Red.”
• Friday meets Jack in Lincoln Park, where Jack shares that a new group of narcotics pushers, out of New York, are struggling to establish contacts in Los Angeles.

Notable Quote:

"Your job: Check it out." – Opening narration [03:14]

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2. Undercover Arrangements

• [04:47–08:13] Jack Wallace reveals he’s been solicited to push drugs for Red’s gang and wants to pay Friday back for kindnesses shown to his family.
• He agrees to introduce Friday, posing as a buyer (“Paul Lindsay from Fresno”), to Cadillac Red.
• The conversation establishes the danger and desperation around the narcotics operation.

Notable Quote:

"You get around it, you handle it. You start to chippy with it. Before you know it, you hooked yourself. You figure what you want to do. I'll help all I can. I owe you that much."
– Jack Wallace [06:33]

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3. Police Department’s Strategic Response

• [08:43–10:16] Friday and Jacobs brief Captain Kearney. The plan is to go deep undercover: check into a hotel under aliases, install a recording “bug,” and await further contacts.
• Crime lab technicians are involved for sample analysis; the operation is tightly coordinated for evidence gathering and personal safety.

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4. The Sting Operation Begins

• [12:15–15:18] Through Jack, Friday as “Lindsay” meets Cadillac Red at a hotel to negotiate a drug purchase.
• A tense, suspicious back-and-forth unfolds about quality (purity) and price. Red is cautious, probing Friday’s background.
• After hard bargaining, they agree: Friday will buy 20 ounces at $300/ounce; further contact is arranged.

Notable Quote:

"I'm here to do business if you're ready. I am. If you're not, say so. I haven't got the time to play cozy with you."
– Friday (as Paul Lindsay) [12:47]

"You're not the only pusher in town."
– Friday [13:02]

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5. Danger Strikes: Ambush and Aftermath

• [18:23–20:03] Friday goes to collect a drug sample as arranged—only to be ambushed and beaten by Red’s henchmen.
• He recovers and reports to his partner and Captain Kearney at a secret location. The team debates if the cover is blown or if the criminals are simply suspicious.

Notable Quote:

"Suppose we pick him up now. What do we got on them? A misdemeanor battery. 30 days in jail and they're out again. We're right back where we started."
– Friday [20:18]

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6. Back to the Gang – Keeping the Cover

• [21:22–23:01] Friday boldly returns to Red’s hotel, confronting the gang about the attack, maintaining his undercover “businessman” persona.
• Red appears shocked at the rough treatment, blames his men (not Friday), and agrees to move forward with the deal.

Notable Quote:

"I wouldn't trust them with my laundry." – Friday, deriding Red’s use of unreliable, addicted henchmen [22:26]

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7. The Bust: Climax at the Norwich Grill

• [23:59–27:06] Arrangements are made for the drug handoff in a public grill.
• Friday meets Stan, one of Red’s pushers, and after a careful check of the package and the money—all part of a police sting—the trap is sprung as the police converge.

Notable Quote:

"You just made a big deal."
– Friday to Stan after the arrest [26:57]

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8. Case Outcome & Closing Notes

• [27:41] The suspects are booked and, to protect the investigation, their arrest is concealed as they assist police with the rest of the gang. The story concludes with a promise of Part Two in the next episode.

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Adam Graham’s Post-Episode Analysis

9. Host’s Reflections & Listener Feedback

• [31:20–??] Adam discusses why he considers “The Big Red” among the top 25 Dragnet episodes—especially Friday’s resilience in undercover work and the realism brought to both criminal and police roles.
• He notes how Friday’s undercover persona is convincing due to high-level criminal paranoia, especially about dealing with “users.”
• Adam reflects on the change in Dragnet’s partner dynamics after the Ben Romero era, lauding Romero’s role in humanizing the series and Friday as a character.

Notable Quote:

"If he was a drug dealer, he is very much all business and doing due diligence, and because of that, he is able to carry this into some quite frankly dangerous territory." – Adam Graham [31:20]

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10. Listener Comments and Technical Questions

• Listeners reminisce about Barton Yarborough (Ben Romero) and his chemistry with Jack Webb.
• Detailed questions about police procedures—marking bills, real-life currency tracing, and how the system worked compared to radio portrayal—are answered thoughtfully by Adam.
• Listeners engage in dialogue about nitty-gritty realism (“no way one stenographer could record all bills...”), which Adam addresses by clarifying historical police resources and division of labor.

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11. Appreciation and Patreon Support

• Adam reads supporters’ notes and expresses gratitude for their ongoing encouragement—both material and moral.
• He closes with reminders to subscribe, rate, and review, and teases next week’s Dragnet and the following day’s Johnny Dollar episode.

Notable Quote:

"Ben Romero brought the humanity to the role, and I think that became a part of the formula ... It not only helped the show, it helped Friday as a character." – Adam Graham [36:00 (approx.)]

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "I’m not gonna start pushing the junk again. ... I owe you that much." (Jack Wallace – 06:33)
• "I'm here to do business if you're ready. I am. If you're not, say so. I haven't got the time to play cozy with you." (Friday, as Paul Lindsay – 12:47)
• "Suppose we pick him up now. What do we got on them? ... We're right back where we started." (Friday – 20:18)
• "I wouldn't trust them with my laundry." (Friday – 22:26)
• "You just made a big deal." (Friday, after the pusher is arrested – 26:57)
• "Ben Romero brought the humanity to the role, and I think that became a part of the formula." (Adam Graham – [~36:00])
• "If he was a drug dealer, he is very much all business and doing due diligence ... dangerous territory." (Adam Graham – [31:20])

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Important Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 03:14 | Opening of Dragnet Story | | 04:47 | Friday meets Jack Wallace | | 08:43 | Briefing with Captain Kearney | | 12:15 | First meeting with Cadillac Red | | 18:23 | Friday ambushed at narcotics pickup | | 21:22 | Friday confronts Red after being beaten | | 23:59 | Handoff and sting at Norwich Grill | | 27:41 | Case wrap-up and booking of suspects | | 31:20 | Adam Graham’s analysis begins | | 36:00 | Reflections on Ben Romero’s legacy |

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Tone & Style

The tone of both the Dragnet narrative and Adam’s commentary is matter-of-fact, but also personal and analytical, with Adam showing deep affection and informed critical appreciation for the series. The episode is immersive, professional, and distinctly old-time radio in style—with an emphasis on authentic police work, cautious optimism, and understated drama.

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Summary prepared for listeners who missed the episode; all major story beats, memorable dialogue, and host insights are covered for full context and engagement.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[C]

Liberty. Liberty.

[B]

Liberty.

[C]

Liberty it.

[D]

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. Today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show by mailing a donation to Adam Graham, P.O. box 15913, Boise, ID 83715. And I want to thank Ron and Nancy and Carl and Carolyn and Sherry for supporting the podcast that way. Thank you so much for your support and you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. Join just go to patreon.greatdetectives.net well, now, from January 3rd, 1952, here is the Big Red

[A]

Bubba Wallace here from 2311 Racing. You know what's slower than a pace car waiting at the car wash. That's when I fire up Chumba Casino. It turns those slow minutes into fast fun. With new games every week, you'll never get bored. Next time you're stuck in the slow lane, speed up with Chumb play [e-mail] let's Chumba.

[B]

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[E]

The story you are about to hear is True. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a narcotics detail. You receive a call from a former suspect you arrested. He wants to meet with you. He claims he has information and contacts with a big narcotics ring. Your job. Check it out, 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.

[B]

Was Tuesday, August 9th. It was warm in Los Angeles Coddocks Division. My partner's Ed Jacobs. The boss is Captain Kearney. My name's Friday. It was 7:28pm when I got to Lincoln Park. The west entrance.

[C]

Hey, sir.

[B]

Got a couple of bags of peanuts, please.

[C]

Yeah, sure thing. Ten a bag. That'll be 20 cents.

[B]

All right. Thank you.

[C]

Thank you.

[B]

Hi.

[C]

Friday, Jack would have come over sooner. I saw you walking around the park. Wanted to make sure you weren't tailed.

[B]

Yeah, I made sure of that before I came in. Let's go over and sit down. Okay.

[C]

Say, there's a lot of stuff just came in town. Some new pushers came with it.

[B]

You know that. I heard some talk.

[C]

Like to knock them over. I got the contact.

[B]

What's in it for you, Jack? Couple of reasons. Yeah?

[C]

One thing, I'd like to pay you back. I got out of jail last week. I talked to the wife. She told me what you've been doing for her and the kids while I've been up.

[B]

Nice family, Jack. You let them down.

[C]

And you didn't. I'm not gonna forget it. Wife still has that job you got her. The kid's asthma's a lot better, too. Appreciate you finding that place in Tuhunga for him. It sure helps.

[B]

I was glad to do it. Want some peanuts?

[C]

Yeah, thanks.

[B]

Now, what about this narco ring you mentioned?

[C]

Remember Snuffy Brain. Busted him the same time he did me. Got a year.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Just before I got out of county last week, he told me to go see a guy, get me a job.

[B]

What kind of a job?

[C]

Same kind you busted me on before, pushing his stuff.

[B]

What's the guy's name?

[C]

Cadillac. Red.

[B]

Hmm.

[C]

Yeah, New York, I think. Likes to drive big cars. I guess that's how he got the name.

[B]

What's the story on him?

[C]

Red's been in town a month. Four or five guys with him, all from the East. Red says they got a Big one to unload. Six kilos.

[B]

Heroin?

[C]

Mm. Mexican stuff. They seem to be having trouble.

[B]

What do you mean?

[C]

Finding pushers, setting up a deal. The only contact they had out here was Snuffy. He's in a can. They're shopping around.

[B]

How about some more peanuts? Jack.

[C]

Yeah?

[B]

You talked to this Red, did you? Mm. What's he asking from you?

[C]

Like I said, he wants me to start pushing stuff for him. He need contact's bad. I'll let him hang. I didn't say one way or the other. He's gonna phone me tonight.

[B]

That so? Well, you figure you'll tell him?

[C]

Depends on you. Friday. I know one thing. I'm not gonna start pushing the junk again. You get around it, you handle it. You start to chippy with it. Before you know it, you hooked yourself. You figure what you want to do. I'll help all I can. I owe you that much.

[B]

You pretty sure the gang needs contacts.

[C]

Hungry for him? Sitting on 20 ounces of junk, can't find anyone to trust to push it to. They got problems.

[B]

Yeah. Think you could give me an office to him? Pass me off as a buyer? Friend of yours, maybe?

[C]

Good chance. How do you want to do it?

[B]

Well, let him know you have a friend who's ready for a buy. Tell him I'm from up north. Make it Fresno. Red Mountain neighborhood. Is that all right? Okay.

[C]

Sounds good.

[B]

Nice man. Cadillac Red. He's gonna phone you tonight. Is that right?

[C]

Mm. I'll call you as soon as I hear from you.

[B]

I'm fine. Don't call me at the office here. This is my home phone. Don't worry about it. It's a silent number. I can't trace it.

[C]

Mm.

[B]

When you call there, if I'm not in, leave the message with my mother. Okay? Your mother.

[C]

Okay. Pleasant 49321. Okay, I'll ring it.

[B]

How much do you know about this Red? He impressed you as a big operator?

[C]

Middle size, I guess. He's out in New York. That's about all I know for sure. Same for the rest of the gang. Supposed to be handling quality stuff real good.

[B]

How good?

[C]

Red claims it tests out 40%. I don't know what his asking price is.

[B]

Where's this Red staying? Did you find that out?

[C]

No, he wouldn't tell me. He was at a hotel on West 7th, but he moved yesterday. Nervous guy, doesn't settle on in one place. Guess he's got a right to be shaky. All of them have.

[B]

How do you mean?

[C]

Got all that dough in the white stuff. Close to 50 G's worth. Kill him. If you knock him over, grab the junk.

[B]

We'll kill a lot more if we don't. Before I left our informant, Jack Wallace. We set up a plan for future contacts. In case of any emergency, I would not attempt to get in touch with him at his rooming house at 3rd and Olive Streets. Instead, I'd contact him at his work, the Joe Adonis Meat Market on West Temple, where he was employed as a butcher. Wallace also promised to try to get me a sample of the heroin from the narcotics ring. 10:50pm I checked back in at the office and briefed Captain Kearney.

[C]

Sounds a little fantastic, Joe. Six kilos. If it's true, it's a break a cop gets once in a lifetime.

[B]

That's the way Wallace tells it. I can't figure any reason why he'd lie to me.

[C]

How about this front man, Red? You checked him out yet?

[B]

Well, Ed's checking him through the moniker file now. He's a New York operator. That's all Wallace could tell me.

[C]

You got any idea where the plant is?

[B]

No, I don't. Wallace didn't even know where Red was living. Red's supposed to have a meet with him tonight. I gave him my home phone, told him not to contact the office.

[C]

You got any court cases pending?

[B]

No, but I got two I was gonna file on tomorrow.

[C]

You better give me the packages. I'll have Lew Walters assign them to somebody else. You and Jacob stay with this gang. Put him to bed and get him up.

[B]

All right.

[C]

Wallace is gonna try to get you a sample of the junk, huh?

[B]

Yeah, he said he'd try.

[E]

Captain Joe.

[B]

Hi. Hi, Ed. You dig up anything? I don't know.

[E]

Found one Cadillac. Red could be our boy.

[C]

You get a mug on him? No.

[E]

All we have is correspondence from New York. There was a want on him back in 1945. Same thing.

[C]

Narcotics.

[E]

Later that year, the want was canceled.

[C]

He was picked up, no disposition. You want us to radiogram New York for a rundown on him? No. Let's not stir it up. Starting tomorrow, you two stay away from here. Get yourselves fixed up in a hotel room downtown. Let me know where you're staying.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Call me at 2 o' clock sharp in the afternoon. I'll make it a point to be here. Better call me on the inside line.

[E]

Right, skipper. Where do you think we ought to set up, Joe?

[B]

Oh, I don't know. How about Pop Sherman's place down there on Hill Street? He'll cooperate. You know what that stuff did to his Boy.

[C]

Yeah, okay.

[B]

You want to check in tonight?

[C]

No, my wife's going to scream her

[B]

head off as it is.

[C]

You better make it in the morning, huh?

[B]

All right with me.

[C]

Narcotics. Kearney. Oh, yes, ma'.

[B]

Am.

[C]

Just a minute. From you, Joe.

[B]

Okay, thank you. Friday talking. Oh, yeah, Ma. Did he say what time? Yeah, okay. No, don't worry. I'll get a bite downtown, then I'll be home. Yeah. Yeah, okay. Bye. My mother. Wallace just called my home, left a message for me. Yeah, he had the meat with Red. He's got the sample. At 7:30 the next morning, Ed Jacobs and I checked in at Pop Sherman's Hotel on South Hill street and took adjoining rooms. We'd left all possible identification in our lockers at the office. At 9:30am technicians from our crime lab arrived and installed a bug in my room and set up the receiver next door in Ed's room. In the event any of the gang happened to come to my room, they'd be able to record the conversation. I registered as Paul Lindsay, San Diego, California. Ed registered as Ray Morrissey, Sacramento. At 11am I went alone to Adonis Meat Market. Where our informant, Jack Wallace, handed me a dummy package, which I took back to the hotel. Inside the package, I found a sample of the narcotics along with a note from Wallace. He wrote that he'd arranged a meet with Red for that night. I was to pick up Wallace in front of the subway terminal building, the Hill street side, at 9:30pm I gave the sample of heroin to Ed, who took it to the crime lab, where Sergeant J. Allen ran a test on it. The sample tested out within 40%. For the drug market, it's considered good quality. At 9:20 that night, I left the hotel and walked five blocks north to the Hill street entrance of the subway terminal building. Wallace was there waiting for me. He said we were to meet Red at a hotel on West 54th Street. 9:47pm we got to the hotel, went to a room on the second floor.

[C]

This one here.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah. Who's this? It's Jack

[B]

Money.

[C]

Red, this is my friend I was telling you about. Yeah, Paul Lindsay.

[B]

Paul, this is Red.

[C]

Hi.

[B]

Yeah. I hear you got some H to unload, huh? Hmm?

[C]

I don't know what you talking about.

[B]

What is this, Jack? You giving me a bump?

[C]

Steer here.

[B]

Relax, huh? It's all right.

[C]

He's solid, Red.

[B]

You can talk.

[C]

He talks too fast and too much.

[B]

I'm here to do business if you're ready. I am. If you're not, say so. I haven't got the time to play cozy with you.

[C]

Well, now, take it easy with you get along a lot better.

[B]

What do you want? Jack vouched for me. Isn't that enough for you?

[C]

The guy who vouched for Jack's in the county jail. We haven't been able to talk to. Where have you done business before?

[B]

Well, I could ask you the same thing. Now, look, mister, we got one thing in common here. You got something to sell. Maybe I want to buy it. If we can't get together, let's forget the whole thing right now. You're not the only pusher in town.

[C]

There's a chair over there. Why don't you sit down? I'll fix a couple of drinks.

[B]

Jack can fix them. Let's find out if you and I can get together.

[C]

All right. St. Paul bourbon and water.

[B]

Yeah. Well, how about it? How much you got to sell?

[C]

Take it easy, huh? There's no rush. We could talk better over a couple of drinks.

[B]

Well, maybe you got the time, mister. I haven't. How much can you furnish me with?

[C]

More than you can buy, from the looks of it. Hey, Red, you got any lemons? Uh, no. No lemon twist in it, Paul. That all right?

[B]

Yeah, it's all right. Make it light, will you? Now, this junk you got, what's it test?

[C]

It's the best this town's seen in a long time. It's 50% or better.

[B]

Well, who you trying to con? My tester used your sample this afternoon. He says it won't go 40%. Okay.

[C]

You know where you can get better, Paul? Here you are, Red.

[B]

Thank you.

[C]

How about it, Lindsey? Do we do business?

[B]

Maybe.

[C]

Oh, who's playing cozy now?

[B]

Well, if I do go, it won't be for standard price. Your junk isn't worth it.

[C]

It's 40%. I don't care what your tester says. An ounce will cost you 400.

[B]

No, not to me, it won't. I'm not paying out good money for milk sugar. I want a big buy and I want quality, but not at 400 an ounce.

[C]

Maybe we can work something out. Why get excited?

[B]

Because I don't like chicken operators. I don't like stalling around. Now, if you got an offer, let's make it.

[C]

Price is gonna depend on a lot of things. How much merchandise you're gonna want?

[B]

20 ounces. I got customers up north. Have to have it for them the 15th of the month.

[C]

Up north where?

[B]

San Francisco? Sacramento.

[C]

That's funny. We checked on that.

[B]

Yeah?

[C]

Yeah, the hotel you're at you're registered for San Diego?

[B]

Yeah. Good address. I never been there.

[C]

I heard some talk about you. You ever worked Fresno?

[B]

Maybe. I take customers where I find them.

[C]

20 ounces, huh? the minimum.

[B]

For your stuff? Yeah. Now what's the price?

[C]

I think we might get together. It's a pretty good buy. Might work out a discount on it.

[B]

How much?

[C]

Three and a quarter an ounce. I figure that's reasonable.

[B]

Maybe you do. I don't. 275. I can't go better. If I didn't need this stuff right now, I wouldn't offer that.

[C]

Split the difference. 20 ounces. 300 an ounce. You can't do better than you know it.

[B]

No.

[C]

How about it? 300 ounce.

[B]

I'm not lining up for a soft touch. I want another sample when I move on.

[C]

You get it now. What do you say?

[B]

All right. You got a deal. 20 ounces. When do I get this stuff?

[C]

We'll get in touch with you tomorrow. Reject you. Six thousand. You sure you got the money?

[B]

I got it. Now what's the setup?

[C]

Tomorrow you'll get the wood. All right.

[B]

If I don't hear by 4pm I'll know you're gone hinky. I'll look up somebody else.

[C]

Go here.

[B]

How about it, Jack? You ready to go?

[C]

Yeah. Okay.

[B]

See you later. Red.

[C]

Jack? Yeah? You got a wife and a couple of kids? That's right.

[B]

Are they?

[C]

Jack. Okay.

[B]

Fine.

[C]

Why not? I'll talk to you later.

[B]

Jack. 10:40pm the informant. Jack Wallace and I took a cab back downtown and I dropped him off. I got to a pay telephone, called Captain Kearney and my partner Ed Jacobs. And we set up a meeting. 11:20pm the three of us met on a side street out in the North Wilshire district. And I briefed them on what had happened. In order to prevent any possible harm to either Wallace or his family. The captain told me he'd have them placed under 24 hour surveillance. His children would be kept under observation. Going and coming from school the next morning. I stayed close to my hotel room. Waiting for a contact from either Red or another member of the gang. 1:05pm Hello?

[C]

Lindsay is Red.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

That talk we had last night. You still interested?

[B]

Well, yeah. Aren't you?

[C]

I'll be out on Mission Road. 11:30 tonight. West End of the park. Out there you'll get your sample.

[B]

Mission Road. All right. You gonna be there? No. How? I know your man. He might make a mistake.

[C]

You won't make a mistake. He knows you.

[B]

I hung up the phone and checked with Ed Jacobs next door to see if he'd picked up the conversation on his receiver. He told me he'd notify captain Kearney of the plan for that night and that the captain would be in the office if I wanted to contact him on the inside line. As soon as I picked up the sample of heroin, I was to return to my hotel room and Ed would immediately take it back to the crime lab for analysis. 1:30pm I left the hotel, went downtown to a pay phone, called home and talked to my mother. She said there hadn't been any phone calls. I walked around for a couple of hours, went to a late afternoon show, and then I went over to Frank Tang's place for dinner. 11:15pm I caught a yellow streetcar going north on Main street and rode to the end of the line on Mission road. Was about 300 yards from there to the designated meeting place, the west end of the park. The place was dark, completely deserted. 11:25pm 11:30. Lindsay. Yeah, Package.

[C]

You want eucalyptus tree back there in the middle of the park.

[B]

Where?

[C]

Straight back there. You can't miss it. You'll find the package under a rock at the bottom of the tree. See you later.

[B]

I started to cross the park. The eucalyptus tree pointed out was about 200ft from the edge of the road. There was a narrow path, hemmed with shrubbery, leading up to the base of the tree. There was a large rock beside it. I bent down and looked under the rock. There was nothing there. I started to turn, but it was too late.

[C]

All right, wise guy, give him the hoot. Stan. Give it to me. Shake his pocket, Stan. No identification on him. He's clean. Let's go. He's got his sample.

[E]

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

[B]

When I came to, it was a few minutes past midnight. The bruises on my face and head were beginning to swell. I felt dazed, sick to my stomach. I made my way out of the park and down the road to a public phone booth where I called my partner, Ed Jacobs. He came out right away and drove me back to the hotel. Ed put in a call to Captain Kearney and he made arrangements to have a doctor sent over to examine me. He treated me for numerous cuts and bruises about the face and head and the upper part of the body. There were no serious injuries. At 10 minutes past 1, Captain Kearney called back and wanted to know if Ed and I could meet him at his home. He didn't want to take the chance of being seen around our hotel. Ed and I Drove out to his house in the Silver Lake District.

[C]

Come on in. Sit down.

[E]

Yeah, thanks, Skipper.

[C]

How do you feel, Joe?

[B]

My side hurts a little. Fair, I guess.

[C]

Yeah. He really gave you a working over. Do you recognize any of them?

[B]

Yeah, one guy. I don't know his name, though.

[E]

What do you think, Skipper? Round up the whole bunch of them?

[B]

No, that's not gonna help any. Suppose we pick him up now. What do we got on them? A misdemeanor battery. 30 days in jail and they're out again. We're right back where we started.

[C]

What do you figure is wrong, Joe? Think they got hinky?

[B]

I don't know. I can't figure it.

[C]

I think you better take a couple of days off. Go home and rest up. Let some of those bruises heal.

[B]

The whole thing could be blown by that time. The deal will be cold. If we're gonna make it pay, I gotta stay on it.

[E]

How do you know they haven't made you for a cop?

[C]

The deal might be cold right now.

[B]

Yeah, that's possible.

[E]

What other reason would they have for tamping you?

[C]

How about your friend Jack Wallace? He might have a straight story. Ask him about it.

[B]

No, I'll do better. I'll ask Red. Captain Kearney finally agreed to go on with the plan. With the understanding that Ed Jacobs and another man from our office would have me under surveillance at all times. It was understood that I'd go back to Red's hotel room to see if I could pick up the loose ends. Jacobs and another officer would follow me to the hotel and remain within calling distance. 2:10am I got to the hotel on West 5th street and went up to the second floor to Red's room.

[E]

Yeah?

[C]

Who's there?

[B]

Lindsey.

[C]

How you doing, Lindsey?

[B]

Aussie pig.

[C]

Gotta lay off, huh?

[D]

I ought to break your back.

[C]

Wait a minute, Lindsay. Wait a minute. What's this all about?

[B]

You want to know? You set your hoods on me. Look at my face.

[C]

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

[B]

I went back to pick up the sample. This is what happens. How big do you punks think he are?

[C]

All right, Stan. What happened out there? Not much. You said he was acting smart. We thought we'd cool him off a little. I told you to keep an eye on him, that's all. Not to rough him up. Oh, he's a crybaby. We hardly touch him. Oh, shut up. Every time you get on that H, you get muscle happy. I've warned you before, Stan. Now this is the last time. You better quit. Chipping. With that junk. You cause any more trouble like this and you're out. Understand? He's a crybaby, Red. We didn't hurt him. I heard enough from you. Now go on, take a.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

You see Max, tell him I want him. Yeah, all right. Sorry, Lindsay. These things happen sometimes. Can't be helped.

[B]

Why do you keep punks like that around? I thought you were too smart to connect with users. They could get both of us in trouble.

[C]

Oh, they'll be all right. Relax. Every once in a while I get GED up and I have to straighten them out.

[B]

I wouldn't trust them with my laundry.

[C]

They're all right for what? I use them for the good errand boys. I get you a drink?

[B]

No.

[C]

All right. What about the stuff? You ready to move on the deal?

[B]

I've been ready. I told you I needed the step of the 15th.

[C]

How about tomorrow night?

[B]

What's the matter with right now?

[C]

Oh, now, you know better than that. I don't. Keep the plan around here. I'll call you at 8 o'clock tonight.

[B]

I still haven't got the sample.

[C]

You don't need one. It's as good as the first one you got. Come on, what are you stalling for? I'm getting tired of the sample Yak. If you don't want to buy, say

[B]

so you'll bring it to my hotel tomorrow night. No.

[C]

I'll call you. I'll tell you where you can pick it up. 20 ounces, 300 an ounce, right?

[B]

Yeah. No phony stuff. You keep your hands on the table. So a lot. You deliver the merchandise, I'll pay the money.

[C]

What are you worrying about? I trust you. Why can't you trust me?

[B]

Yeah, sure I did. Look at my face. 3:05am I left red and went back downtown to my hotel room. A few minutes after I got in, I heard ed Jacobs and Lt. Lou Walters enter the adjoining room. I checked the hallway first, and then I went next door and briefed him on what had happened with Red. I told him I'd let Ed know about the time and the place of the meet as soon as I heard. Waller said he'd keep enough men ready at the office to cover the area on short notice. I went back to my room, took a shower and got some sleep. At 8 o' clock that night, I was in my room, standing by the phone. I waited. No call. 8:30. 9 o'.

[C]

Clock.

[B]

9:15. Still no word. 9:25pm

[C]

Hello, Lindsay, this is Red. Sorry I'm late. I couldn't get to the plan.

[B]

What's the pitch?

[C]

It's all set. Norwich Grill, West 7th Street.

[B]

When?

[C]

10:30 shot.

[B]

Before he hung up, Red told me to meet one of his pushers. In the last booth at the back end of the grill. He said I'd recognize him. The man would have the package of heroin wrapped in newspapers. I was to hand him $6,000 and he would give me the package. I immediately contacted Ed in the room next door. And he notified the office at 10:15pm I left the hotel with a dummy package of money containing six mark bills. 10:28pm I got to the Norwich Grill on West 7th Street. It was almost empty. I went to the rear booth Where I found one of Red's pushers. Stan, drinking coffee.

[C]

Right on the dot. Sit down, Lindsay.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Let's not camp on this thing. You got the money?

[B]

I done business with you before. Where's the stuff?

[C]

Didn't Red tell you where to be?

[B]

Yeah, wrapped up in that newspaper. He told me there'd be some stuff under a rock one time. It wasn't there. I want to look.

[C]

What's the matter? Don't you trust me?

[B]

You think I got a reason to? All right. Have a look

[C]

here. Are you satisfied?

[B]

No. Open it. All right.

[C]

It's all there. I saw it. Made up enough for you?

[B]

Yeah. Okay. You just made a deal.

[C]

Yeah. What do you have?

[B]

Coffee. Black piece of apple pie.

[C]

All right. You? Coffee.

[B]

All right.

[C]

Okay. Stuff's there. Now how about the loot?

[B]

I got it.

[C]

Let's have it.

[B]

Six GS.

[C]

Brad wants me back in a hurry.

[B]

Relax. We'll have some coffee. This is a big deal.

[C]

Money now. How about it?

[B]

All right. There you go. What's the matter with you? What are you shaking about? Nothing.

[C]

A little nervous. Red wouldn't let me have a fixed pour left. Getting a little sick. Gonna have a look here.

[B]

What are you doing? Red told me to tell you not to open it till you got it back to him.

[C]

Who are you kidding, mister?

[B]

All right. You go ahead and open it up. You'll have to answer for it, not me. Sure.

[C]

Hey, what's the deal? Only a few bills in here. The rest of it's paper. You trying to beat us?

[B]

It's already done.

[C]

You won't get away with this. We'll fix you. Max is outside Friday. We saw him take the envelope. You get the stuff?

[B]

Yeah, right here.

[E]

Guy waiting outside. Joe, we got him.

[C]

They're taking them in now. Cops. Lousy cops. Will Red hears about this? He will.

[B]

Heads.

[E]

Yeah, I'll get him. Okay, let's go.

[C]

Come on, fella, move. What are you grabbing me for? I deliver the stuff, that's all. These big deals aren't mine. I'm small time. Fix once in a while, that's all I want. Just little fix. This is the biggest deal I ever made.

[B]

Yeah, sure.

[C]

It's the truth now. What about Red? He's got a lot of this stuff left. This guy's above him. Big dealers. Why don't you get them?

[E]

We'll get them.

[C]

You'll never guess who the other two are. They're real high powers. Big deals. Nothing but big deals. You won't bust them a hundred years.

[B]

Yeah. Let's go. Get my coat, will you, Ed? Please?

[C]

Yeah, okay. Hey, you forgot your check. Who's gonna pay for the coffee?

[B]

He will. Who? This one.

[C]

Me?

[B]

Yeah. You just made a big deal.

[E]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On August 13, the booking was made at the Los Angeles Police Department, Watts substation. City and county of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that booking. And now, here is our star, Jack Webb.

[B]

Thank you, George Finniman. Friends, last year we were honored with thousands of letters from listeners all over the country. Well, thanks to.

[E]

The two suspects, Stanley Parish and Max Higby were booked at the Watts substation on suspicion the Narcotic act, felony. After a meeting in the District Attorney's office they expressed their desire to assist the police in the apprehension of the outstanding members of the gang. They were filed on and before a magistrate in municipal court. They waived their right to a preliminary hearing to conceal the fact of their arrest. Next week, the Big Red Part Two. Ladies and gentlemen, to build our strength against aggression, we must equip our armed forces with the weapons of war. At the same time, we must produce adequate supplies of civilian goods in order to keep prices down and defeat inflation. We can meet this double challenge by raising our productivity by turning out more goods and services for every hour we work and by refusing to let up until our nation is secure. Remember, the better we produce, the stronger we grow. 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. Department. Heard tonight were Barney Phillips and Stacy Harris. Script by Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.

[B]

Every day during every one of your waking hours NBC broadcast the very finest

[C]

in comedy, mystery, music, drama, news and

[B]

programs of public service. So always set your dial to NBC the leader in radio programming. Counterspy fights, international intrigue. Next on NBC.

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[D]

Welcome back. Okay, I really do enjoy this episode. It's does make my top 25 list of the best dragnet stories of all time. And there are a few things I really admire about it. I think the main thing is just Friday's dedication to staying in this role despite getting some serious punches. I mean quite literally. And he is able to move believably about that world, which I think that some people who like, know the character on a very shallow basis would be like, yeah, he would scream cop. But the fact is when you get into high level narcotics trades, there are lots of people who are very careful, who are very cautious and follow very strong guidelines for what they do so that they don't get caught. And so the one thing I was thinking, I was listening to this, particularly when he called Red out on the fact that he was using users as carriers. By the way, he's right that that is dumb. I mean, it's going to happen if you are a retail pusher, but when you are dealing with moving large quantities out to drug dealers, you don't want someone hooked on the product. So it's not like Joe Friday's inventing a character here. It's just Joe Friday. But if he was a drug dealer and he is very much all business and doing due diligence, and because of that, he is able to carry this into some quite frankly dangerous territory. I think this was also a great story for the time period. I don't know when this script had been planned for, but it does work really well for this post Romero era. It gives some space to write a story where the relationship between Joe and his partner is not nearly so reliant on a relationship with the partner. All right, well, listener comments and feedback and we have a few comments from Spotify and we start out on with some thoughts on the big overtime Harrison wrote. I don't know if I'm ready for Barton Yarborough's last episode. I remembered when I heard the first episode without him in it. He was such a perfect fit for Dragnet and Jack Webb as a co star. And dawn says with this being the last Ben Romero episode, we should praise what he did for Dragnet. He was the most like me on my police force. I too would be talking about how stinky the stakeout room is, wondering about the cost of rent at a crime SC and having a second lunch because it smells good. Without him, the police force would be clinical. Joe Friday and authoritarian overlords. Ben was a true partner rather than a sidekick. That becomes the norm from here. And I think you're right on what is different about him as a partner who stood on an equal level to Joe Friday, both in terms of rank and in terms of storytelling. That would not be the case once you get firmly into the Frank Smith era. What I think does continue on is the humanity which I think Ben brought to the series. And it would become more important as Tom went on and as their efforts to give Friday a home life and more human touches kind of went by the board. There's a sense that Joe Friday became iconic as the embodiment of the police, as an implacable symbol of law and order who was married to the job. Probably the best comparison, and I know it's not completely apt. Is Batman. If that had been the whole series, I think that Dragnet would not have been nearly as popular or lasted as long or had as deep of an influence. Ben Romero brought the humanity to the role, and I think that became a part of the formula. And certainly it not only helped the show, it helped Friday as a character, as I think his partners tended to bring out aspects of his character that you just don't see in the investigations and their efforts to try to get him into normal human situations, such as dating or having a night at Friends for dinner. It often doesn't work out, but I think it does add some depth to the series. So I think that the other partners did continue that legacy, although in their own way. Mechanic 66 wrote that since one of the bills they recovered was a five dollar bill, the ransom money was obviously in small bills. The fastest stenographer couldn't record serial numbers faster than 7 in a minute. I figured it took around 800 bills to make up the 10k. No way one stenographer could have got them all recorded in less than 12 hours. Well, I appreciate the question. It does make an assumption though. Well, a couple. First that they were all small bills, and second, that there was only one stenographer. Now the script says that each bell was recorded by a stenographer, but it doesn't say it was the same one. And oftentimes they would have teens to do this sort of work. So I might get stack A back from Bob, Stack B back from Sharon, and Stack C back from Charles. Each worked through their own stack. Each bill was recorded by a single police stenographer, but not necessarily the same stenographer for each bill. Another thing to keep in mind is that this was from a very old case, most likely since it was also used on the 1949 episode of Dragnet. So it's possible the amount of the ransom may have been less in real life, but the five dollar bill was actually a bill and ball just because of the change in prices. So thanks for the question on that. And then Peter ask, I have a similar concern about the mark bills that ended up in circulation. How did the salespeople notify the police so quickly? Does anyone really believe that merchants are checking every single number of every single bill every time a transaction is made? That's not how it worked in real life police work. And the script doesn't really say that it was. Generally they would send this sort of information around to banks and also to large concerns. And so this would tend to be caught when banks were processing their deposits or a big store was doing their cash count. So we are told on the episode that the first mark bill showed up at a used car lot and then two hours later another at a department store. So reasonably, it may have been a situation where a bank completed its processing and reporting for the used car lot and let them know, hey, you have one of the bills that was given to the kidnapper. And then two hours later when this department store was doing its cash count and they were going through and they said, oh, we had one of these bills come through this person's department. And the police ask her, do you remember having seen this man? Then she recalls it. So it's not an instant process and but I think it is fairly realistic, if a bit simplified and maybe compressed a bit for radio storytelling time. And then we go to YouTube where reincer comments regarding the Big Canaries. I wonder if the Big Story did a version of this. That's actually a great thought. I'm not certain, but it would make sense of why the reporter was present in the story. It was something that I think some people wondered about. If there was actually a real life reporter who played a key role in that case, then that would make sense. Now whether there's actually a Big Story episode about this, I don't know. Looking at the titles, nothing stands out to me as being this story, but I've only looked at the episodes that are in circulation. The Big Story is a series where 90% of the radio episodes are not in circulation. It's possible. I'm not going to check through the 360 odd additional scripts just to find out, but possible. And of course there was the Big Story television show which may have adapted some stories that the radio series didn't cover. Now we turn to the notes actually sent along with the donations which I typically read first, but I, I, I forgot and got into the questions. But I do want to thank those who sent along notes with their donations. Ron and Nancy Wright, still listening and still loving all you do with your programs. Thanks. Then Sherry writes just a note to thank you again for your hard work producing your wonderful detective podcast. It is obvious that you love what you're doing. Your compassionate analysis of the sometimes bad boys like Sam Spade, Philip Marleau, Boston Blackie, make sure detectives come alive. It recognizes the dual nature of man and therefore brings them alive. Again, thank you and God bless you. Well, thank you so much, Sherry. I appreciate your support and your kind words. Now it's time to thank our Patreon Supporter of the Day and I want to thank Old Time Radio fan patreon supporters since September 2023, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support. And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet, but join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Where Cats.

[C]

Oui, Monsieur d'. Alaire. This is your old. Your very dear friend, Le Chaguis. Very dear friend, huh? Now listen, you telephone George Reed that you have some real hot information about a painting his company insured. Ah, oui. Et Madonna bleu. What did you call the Blue Madonna? Okay, how much you want this time? Oh, monsieur, you touch me to the quick. While one might think that I slave and suffer and risk my life on your behalf, only for money. How much to my sec? 1,000, dummy. A thousand? Look, if your info's worth anything, I'll send you a check for 50 bucks. 50 bucks? No.

[D]

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 from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

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